• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.326-329
• /
• 2005

A worker who grinded the inner parts of camshafts for automobile engines using water-soluble metalworking fluid (MWF) for 14 years was diagnosed with sinusitis. We postulated that the outbreak of sinusitis could be associated with exposure to microbes contaminated in water-soluble MWF during the grinding operation. To suggest responsible agents for this outbreak, quantitative exposure assessment for chemical and biological agents and prevalence of work-related respiratory symptoms by questionnaire were studied. The exposure ranges of MWF mist (0.59 $mg/m^3$to 2.12 $mg/m^3$) measured during grinding exceeded 0.5 $mg/m^3$ of the recommended exposure limit (REL). Grinder's exposures to bacteria, fungi and endotoxins were also generally higher than not only the proposed standards, but also those reported by several studies to identify the cause of respiratory effects. Statistical test indicated that the prevalence rate of reported symptoms related to nasal cavities showed no significant differences among the operations. Evaluation on grinding operation characteristics and quantitative exposure assessment indicated that repeated exposure to MWF mist including microbes contaminated from the use of water-soluble MWF may cause respiratory diseases like sinusitis or at least increase susceptibility to the development of sinusitis

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.1120-1126
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to screen probiotic bifidobacteria for their ability to bind and neutralize lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Escherichia coli and to verify the relationship between LPS-binding ability, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), and inhibition of LPS-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion by HT-29 cells of the various bifidobacterial strains. Ninety bifidobacteria isolates from human feces were assessed for their ability to bind fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled LPS from E. coli. Isolates showing 30-60% binding were designated LPS-high binding (LPS-H) and those with less than 15% binding were designated LPS-low binding (LPS-L). The CSH, autoaggregation (AA), and inhibition of LPS-induced IL-8 release from HT-29 cells of the LPS-H and LPS-L groups were evaluated. Five bifidobacteria strains showed high levels of LPS binding, CSH, AA, and inhibition of IL-8 release. However, statistically significant correlations between LPS binding, CSH, AA, and reduction of IL-8 release were not found. Although we could isolate bifidobacteria with high LPS-binding ability, CSH, AA, and inhibition of IL-8 release, each characteristic should be considered as strain dependent. Bifidobacteria with high LPS binding and inhibition of IL-8 release may be good agents for preventing inflammation by neutralizing Gram-negative endotoxins and improving intestinal health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.105-116
• /
• 2013

Background: In Korea, there is low awareness of the respiratory health problems caused by the use of humidifiers, leading to a lack of governmental measures. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to review cases of varying degrees of humidifier lung and fever in connection with the use of humidifiers and to summarize the probable environmental agents causing these cases. Methods: We searched all articles reporting on humidifier lung, humidifier fever, and humidifier diseases caused by the use of a humidifier both at home and in the workplace. Results: We summarized a number of cases of varying degrees of respiratory diseases resulting from inhalation of water mist of humidifiers containing various species of bacteria and fungi and their toxins. Type of respiratory disease connected with humidifier lung includes interstitial pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, fever and several respiratory symptoms. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Actinomycetes, endotoxins and contaminated humidifier water were the most commonly suspected probable environmental agents causing humidifier lung. In Korea, the use of humidifier biocide is suspected as a likely cause of fatal lung injury including death and lung transplantation. Conclusion: Governmental policy should be devised and measures including a national surveillance system should be taken to prevent humidifier lung caused by the use of humidifiers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.10
• /
• pp.1614-1625
• /
• 2018

Periodontitis, which is a severe inflammatory disease caused by endotoxins secreted from oral pathogens, destructs gingival tissue and alveolar bone. Curcuma xanthorrhiza, commonly called Java turmeric, has been shown to possess anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study evaluated the inhibitory effect of C. xanthorrhiza supercritical extract (CXS) standardized with xanthorrhizol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced periodontitis in an animal model. LPS was topically injected into the periodontium of Sprague-Dawley rats to induce periodontitis and CXS (30 and $100mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}day^{-1}$) was orally administered after day 12. Histologically, CXS inhibited the collapse of gingival tissue by preventing cell infiltration. CXS significantly downregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and inflammation-related biomarkers, such as nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) in gingival tissue. CXS also improved bone remodeling by downregulating osteoclastic transcription factors, such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells c1 (NFATc1), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and cathepsin K. In addition, CXS upregulated osteoblast differentiation-related markers, alkaline phosphate (ALP) and collagen type I alpha (COLA1). Thus, CXS can ameliorate periodontitis by inhibiting inflammation and improving bone remodeling.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.109-119
• /
• 1994

An essential fact in the regeneration of new periodontal tissue after periodontal therapy is the reattachment of collagen fibers to the tooth. Two phenomena play a fundamental role in preventing new connective tissue attachment to the exposed root surface ; 1) The apical migration of the junctional epithelium 2) The contamination of cementum by toxic substances, especially endotoxins. Authors have used rat submucosal implantation of root sections to study the connective tissue healing to periodontally diseaed root, previously planed and demineralized with citric acid and tetracycline- HCl. The results were obtained as follows. 1. The connective tissue attachment was increased in tetracycline, citric acid, non disease, scaling and root planing order and inflammatory reaction was seen in the rat teeth, no treatment group. 2. Collagen fiber attachment at the dentin surface was more increased than cementum surface 3. In 2 week of citric acid and tetracycline-HCl specimens, osteoid was seen near the fibrotic band. 4. In the MT view, collagen fiber formation was increased with time and the numerous collagen fiber and connective tissue was more densly attached to the tooth surfaces in the tetracycline-HCl group than the citric acid group.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.783-790
• /
• 2007

Receptor binding plays an important role in determining host specificity of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$-endotoxins. Mutations in domains II and III have suggested the participation of certain residues in receptor recognition and insect specificity. In the present study, we expressed the cloned domain II-III fragment of Cry4Ba and examined its binding characteristics to mosquito-larval midgut proteins. The 43-kDa Cry4Ba-domain II-III protein over-expressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies was only soluble when carbonate buffer, pH 10.0 was supplemented with 4M urea. After renaturation via stepwise dialysis and subsequent purification, the refolded domain II-III protein, which specifically reacts with anti Cry4Ba-domain III monoclonal antibody, predominantly exists as a $\beta$-sheet structure determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. In vitro binding analysis to both histological midgut tissue sections and brush border membrane proteins prepared from susceptible Aedes aegypti mosquito-larvae revealed that the isolated Cry4Ba-domain II-III protein showed binding functionality comparable to the 65-kDa full-length active toxin. Altogether, the data present the 43-kDa Cry4Ba fragment comprising domains II and III that was produced in isolation was able to retain its receptor-binding characteristics to the target larval midgut proteins.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.163-171
• /
• 2007

Functional elements of the conserved helix 7 in the poreforming domain of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$- endotoxins have not yet been clearly identified. Here, we initially performed alanine substitutions of four highly conserved aromatic residues, $Trp^{243}$, $Phe^{246}$, $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$, in helix 7 of the Cry4Ba mosquito-larvicidal protein. All mutant toxins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli as 130-kDa protoxins at levels comparable to the wild-type. Bioassays against Stegomyia aegypti mosquito larvae revealed that only W243A, Y249A or F264A mutant toxins displayed a dramatic decrease in toxicity. Further mutagenic analysis showed that replacements with an aromatic residue particularly at $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ still retained the high-level toxin activity. In addition, a nearly complete loss in larvicidal activity was found for Y249L/F264L or F264A/ Y249A double mutants, confirming the involvement in toxicity of both aromatic residues which face towards the same direction. Furthermore, the Y249L/F264L mutant was found to be structurally stable upon toxin solubilisation and trypsin digestion, albeit a small change in the circular dichroism spectrum. Altogether, the present study provides for the first time an insight into the highly conserved aromaticity of $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ within helix 7 playing an important role in larvicidal activity of the Cry4Ba toxin.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.358-364
• /
• 1998

New microbial-control agents were prepared with B. thuringiensis strain NT0423 having unique properties which are different with other B. thuringiensis strains belonging to serotype 7[Kor. J. Appl. Entomol. 32: 426-432.]. Three B. thuringiensis formulations designated as BioBact 10%, 20% and 40%, were made with various combinations of adjuvants. These formulations showed good physical properties in wettability, suspensibility, particle size and adherence. In addition the result of SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that $\delta$-endotoxins remain stably in all formulations. Among the tested formulations, two wettable powder formulations, BioBact 20% and 40%, comprising 20% and 40% of B. thuringiensis technical powder showed the effective control against diamondback moth larvae (Plutella xylostella) in laboratory and field tests. Especially, when compared with commercial B. thuringiensis formulations (A and B commercial formulations) in field evaluation, BioBact 20% and 40% formulations showed equal activity up to 80% lethality and a good persistence effect which remain on leaves at least 7 days.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.292-297
• /
• 2004

The current model for the mechanism of action of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$-endotoxins involves the penetration of the ${\alpha}4-{\alpha}5$ hairpin into the target midgut epithelial cell membranes, followed by pore formation. In this study, PCR-based mutagenesis was employed to identify a critical residue within the ${\alpha}4-{\alpha}5$ loop of the 130-kDa Cry4A mosquito-larvicidal protein. Alanine-substitutions of two charged (Asp-198 and Asp-200) and four polar (Asn-190, Asn-195, Tyr-201 and Tyr-202) residues in the ${\alpha}4-{\alpha}5$ loop were performed. Like the wild-type, all of the mutant toxins were over-expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. When E. coli cells expressing each mutant toxin were bioassayed against Aedes aegypti larvae, larvicidal activity was completely abolished for the substitution of only Tyr-202, while replacements at the other positions still retained a high level of toxicity. Further replacement of Tyr-202 with an aromatic side chain, phenylalanine, did not affect the toxicity. These results revealed a crucial role in toxin activity for the conserved aromatic residue at the 202 position within the ${\alpha}4-{\alpha}5$ loop of the Cry4A toxin.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.237-247
• /
• 2014

Polysaccharides prepared from marine algae sometimes contain contaminants such as polyphenols and endotoxins that may mislead their bona fide biological activities. In this study, we examined bioactive contaminants in commercially available fucoindan from Fucus vesiculosus, along with ascophyllan and fucoidan from Ascophyllum nodosum. F. vesiculosus fucoidan inhibited the growth of Vibrio alginolyticus in a concentration-dependent manner ($0-1,000{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$). However, the antibacterial activity of the fucoidan significantly reduced after methanol-extraction, and the methanol-extract showed a potent antibacterial activity. The extract also showed cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 and U937 cells, and induced apoptotic nuclear morphological changes in U937 cells. These results suggest that the antibacterial activity of the fucoidan is partly due to the methanol-extractable contaminants that can also contribute to the cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 and U937 cells. On the other hand, the activities to induce secretion of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ from RAW264.7 cells were observed in the fucoidan even after methanol extraction, and the extract had no such activities. Our observations suggest that commercially available fucoidan should be purified prior to biochemical use.