• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.502-510
• /
• 2009

Although the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) has already been expressed in several different systems, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, studies regarding the synthesis of LTB into oligomeric structures of pentameric size in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been limited. Therefore, this study used a functional signal peptide of the amylase 1A protein from rice to direct the yeast-expressed LTB towards the endoplasmci reticulum to oligomerize with the expected pentameric size. The expression and assembly of the recombinant LTB were confirmed in both the cell-free extract and culture media of the recombinant strain using a Western blot analysis. The binding of the LTB pentamers to intestinal epithelial cell membrane glycolipid receptors was further verified using a GM1-ganglioside enzyme-linked inmmunosorbent assay (GM1-ELISA). On the basis of the GM1-ELISA results, pentameric LTB proteins comprised approximately 0.5-2.0% of the total soluble proteins, and the maximum quantity of secreted LTB was estimated to be 3 mg/l after a 3-day cultivation period. Consequently, the synthesis of LTB monomers and their assembly into biologically active aligomers in a recombinant S. cerevisiae strain demonstrated the feasibility of using a GRAS microorganism-based adjuvant, as well as the development of carriers against mucosal disease.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2019

Vibrio cholerae is a very important pathogenic bacterium that has to be monitored in seafood and ships' ballast water. Various methods have been developed to identify this bacterium, yet these methods are time-consuming and have limitations for their sensitivity to detect contamination. The purpose of the present study was to develop a robust and reliable method for identifying V. cholerae. Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes were developed to use for PNA-based asymmetrical real-time PCR techniques. The toxigenic Cholera enterotoxin subunit B (ctxB) gene was selected as a target for detecting V. cholerae and the gene was synthesized as a positive template for conventional and real-time PCR. Real-time PCR primers and PNA probes were designed and standard curves were produced for the quantitative analysis. The selected PNA probes reacted specifically to V. cholerae without any ambiguity, even among closely related species, and the detection limit was 0.1 cfu/100 mL. Taken together, the PNA probes and asymmetrical qPCR methods developed in this present study could contribute to the rapid, accurate monitoring of V. cholerae in marine environments, and as well as in seafood and ships' ballast waters.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.226.2-226.2
• /
• 2003

The FimH subunit of type 1-fimbriated Escherichia coli has been determined as a major cause of urinary tract infection. To produce a possible vaccine antigen against urinary tract infection, the fimH gene was genetically linked to the Itxa2b gene, which was then cloned into the pMAL -p2E expression vector. The chimaeric construction of pMALfimH/Itxa2b was transformed into Escherichia coli TB1 and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was analyzed. (omitted)

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 1991

Enterotoxigenic E. coli is one of the major causative agents of the infantile diarrhea and traveler's diarrhea. The heat-stable enterotoxin(ST) is thought to be a virulence factor in the pathogenesis of the diarrhea and to be a maker for identification of the enterotoxingeic E. coli from non pathogenic E. coli. The isolate of enterotoxigenlc E. coli was isolated from swine during 1989 year(from 5 to 10 month) in the Kyong-gi and Chung-Cheong provinces, and three strains(KM-4, KM-7 and KM-12) was selected from 189 isolates of ST producing E. coli. The detection of a ST produced of the isolated E. coli was performed by the infant mouse assay(IMA). This study was designed to know optimal conditions for the production of the ST and the molecular properties of plasmids of the enterotoxigenic E. coli. Amount of ST produced were the most at initial pH 8.5~9.0 of succinate salts medium culture. The cultural time of the same medium was accumulated the highest level of ST was at the 14 to 16 hours, and then stationary phase was at the 20 hours. From this experiment the KM-7 strain was selected among ST producing strains by IMA. Partial plasmid-curing experiment was done to select plasmid encoding for ST among other plasmids and then comparing the plasmid pattern of ST producing strain(KM-7) with those of other ST non-producing strains, it is found that ST gene exists on the about 80 Kbp plasmid. Each fragment of this plasmid digested with EcoRl was ligated to vector pBR 322 and transformed into E. coli K-12. A clone producing ST(eKT 53) was selected by IMA. The EcoRl digestion pattern of the isolated plasmid(pKD 37) from the ST producing clone it is indicated that the size of the inserted fragment in eKT 53 strain is 16 Kbp. The cultured supernatant of eKT 53 strain was positive result of ST production in IMA.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.177-188
• /
• 2001

Mastitis is one of the most significant cause of economic loss to the dairy industry. Especially, Staphylococcus aureus is a major contagious mastitis-causing pathogen in dairy cattle. Because of its high transmission rate and resistance to antibiotic therapy, staphylococcal mastitis presents a constant threat to the dairy industry. Staphylococcal enterotoxin C(SEC) produced by S aureus has been known as one of superantigens which are able to stimulate a large proportion of T lymphocytes independently of their antigenic specificity. In this experiment, we have conducted preliminary studies with mice and lactating cows to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the experimental vaccine consists of SEC mutant antigen on controlling the bovine mastitis associated with S aureus infections. The average value of somatic cell counts in quarter milk, isolation rate of S aureus were consistently decreased in SEC-SER vaccinated groups, whereas antibody titers were highly increased in SEC-SER vaccinated groups. Peripheral blood were also collected from the lactating cows to determine the proportion of leukocyte subpopulation associated with humoral immunity(HI) and cell mediated immunity(CMI). Proportion of leukocyte subpopulation expressing $BoCD2^+$(total T lymphocyte), $BoCD4^+$(T helper cell), $BoCD8^+$(T cytotoxic/suppressor cell) and NonT/NonB lymphocyte which are involved in CMI in SEC-SER vaccinated groups were decreased for the initial stage after first vaccination and then increased from ten weeks after first vaccination maintaining elevated level till 14 weeks after vaccination. In contrast, proportion of monocyte, MHC class II and B lymphocyte which are associated with the production of primary immune response in SEC-SER vaccinated groups were increased for the initial period and then decreased from ten weeks after first vaccination. We present evidence that vaccination of SEC-SER mutant antigen in lactating cows induced a significant proliferation of bovine T lymphocytes. These results suggest that SEC-SER mutant antigen used in this experiment might be one of potential immunogen in developing innovative vaccine against bovine IMI associated with S aureus. Additional challenge trials should be carried out to evaluate substantial protection against S aureus under the commercial farm conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.76-83
• /
• 1992

Enterotoxigenic E. coli is one of the major causative agents of the infantile diarrhea and traveler's diarrhea. The heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) is thought to be a virulence factor in the pathogenesis of the diarrhea and to be a maker for identification of the enterotoxigenic E. coli from non pathogenic E. coli. ST producing E. coli KM-7 strain was isolated from the swine and molecular cloning of ST gene of KM-7 strain. Transformant eKT-53 $(ST^+,\;LT^-)$ was selected by infant mouse assay (IMA). The culture supernatant of eKT-53 strain was performed purification by multipled steps. The culture supernatant (crude ST) was purified by sequentially applying batch adsorption chromatography on Amberlite XAD-2 resin, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel anion exchanger, gel filtration chromatography on Bio-Gel P-6 and preparative polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. About 113-fold purification was achieved with a yield of about 11% of crude ST and the minimum effective dose(MED) of this purified ST was about 2.8ng in IMA. Homogeneity of purified ST was demonstrated by showing a single band in analytical SDS polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.661-669
• /
• 2020

Samgak-Kimbap is a popular ready-to-eat (RTE) food at convenience stores, in Korea. Although Samgak-Kimbap is distributed through the cold chain supply system, inappropriate temperature storage conditions prior to consumption are a cause of concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of Staphylococcus aureus growth in Samgak-Kimbap in the retail market. The prevalence and contamination levels of S. aureus in Samgak-Kimbap (n=170) were monitored, and the predictive growth model of a five-strain cocktail of enterotoxin-producing S. aureus (SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, and SEE) was developed in Samgak-Kimbap as a function of temperature (4, 10, 11, 20, 25, and 37℃). We could not observe the growth of S. aureus and enterotoxin-producing S. aureus in Samgak-Kimbap at temperatures below 10℃. The probability of illness with S. aureus per serving of Samgak-Kimbap was 1.44×10-10 per day. The most influential factor in increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses was the contamination level of S. aureus in Samgak-Kimbap.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.7
• /
• pp.938-943
• /
• 2007

This study investigated the hazard analysis of ready-to-eat sandwiches sold in various establishments. Sandwich samples were collected from convenience stores, discount stores, sandwich chain stores, bakery shops, fast-food chain stores, and food service operations located in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. Out of 174 samples, 18 (10.3%) contained coagulase positive staphylococci with counts ranging from 0.30 to 4.08 log CFU/g. There was significant seasonal difference in Staphylococcus aureus isolation; the average count in summer (3.24 log CFU/g) was 3 times higher than that of winter (1.10 log CFU/g) (P<0.001). According to the microbiological guidelines of PHLS for ready-to-eat foods, 95.4% of the samples were acceptable. As a result of enterotoxin producing experimental data ($35^{\circ}C$, pH 5.8, NaCl 0.5%), enterotoxin was not produced in a sandwich until Staphylococcus aureus increased to a level greater than 4.95 log CFU/g. This microbiological hazard analysis data could be applied to future studies on quantitative risk assessment of ready-to-eat foods.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2005

The generation of secretory IgA antibodies (Abs) for specific immune protection of mucosal surfaces depends on stimulation of the mucosal immune system, but this is not effectively achieved by parenteral or even oral administration of most soluble antigens. Thus, to produce a possible vaccine antigen against urinary tract infections, the uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) adhesin was genetically coupled to the heat-labile Escherichia coli enterotoxin A2B (ltxa2b) gene and cloned into a pMAL-p2E expression vector. The chimeric construction of pMALfimH/ltxa2b was then transformed into E. coli K-12 TB1 and its nucleotide sequence was verified. The chimeric protein was then purified by applying the affinity chromatography. The purified chimeric protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and westem blotting using antibodies to the maltose binding protein (MBP) or the heat labile E. coli subunit B (LTXB), plus the N-terminal amino acid sequence was analyzedd. The orderly-assembled chimeric protein was confirmed by a modified $G_{M1}$-ganglioside ELISA using antibodies to adhesin. The results indicate that the purified chimeric protein was an Adhesin/LTXA2B protein containing UPEC adhesin and the $G_{M1}$-ganglioside binding activity of LTXB. thisstudy also demonstrate that peroral administration of this chimeric immunogen in mice elicited high level of secretory IgA (sIgA) and serum IgG Abs to the UPEC adhesin. The results suggest that the genetically linked LTXA2B acts as a useful mucosal adjuvant, and that adhesin/LTXA2A chimeric protein might be a potential antigen for oral immunization against UPEC.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.7.1-7.14
• /
• 2022

Background: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is a primary cause of livestock diarrhea. Therefore, effective vaccines are needed to reduce the incidence of ETEC infection. Objectives: Our study aimed to develop a multivalent ETEC vaccine targeting major virulence factors of ETEC, including enterotoxins and fimbriae. Methods: SLS (STa-LTB-STb) recombinant enterotoxin and fimbriae proteins (F4, F5, F6, F18, and F41) were prepared to develop a multivalent vaccine. A total of 65 mice were immunized subcutaneously by vaccines and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The levels of specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days post-vaccination (dpv). A challenge test with a lethal dose of ETEC was performed, and the survival rate of the mice in each group was recorded. Feces and intestine washes were collected to measure the concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Results: Anti-SLS and anti-fimbriae-specific IgG in serums of antigen-vaccinated mice were significantly higher than those of the control group. Immunization with the SLS enterotoxin and multivalent vaccine increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations. Compared to diarrheal symptoms and 100% death of mice in the control group, mice inoculated with the multivalent vaccine showed an 80% survival rate without any symptom of diarrhea, while SLS and fimbriae vaccinated groups showed 60 and 70% survival rates, respectively. Conclusions: Both SLS and fimbriae proteins can serve as vaccine antigens, and the combination of these two antigens can elicit stronger immune responses. The results suggest that the multivalent vaccine can be successfully used for preventing ETEC in important livestock.