• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.204-207
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• 2006

A total of 398 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (99), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (99), enterococci (100), Streptococcus pyogenes (18) and Streptococcus agalatiae (82) were in Korean tertiary hospital from Dec. 2004 to Mar, 2005. When minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC), phenotypes and genotypes were determined, 70% of S. aureus, 65.7% of CNS, 78% of enterococci and 37.8% of S. agalatiae were resistant to erythromycin and 95.7% of erythromycin-resistant (EMR) S. aureus, 92.3% of EMR CNS and all of EMR enterococci and S. agalatiae had erm of the methylase gene or msr(A) of the efflux gene.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2008

Macrolide antimicrobial agents including erythromycin, roxithromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin are commonly used in the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children. Newer macrolides that have structural modifications of older drug erythromycin show improved change in the spectrum of activity, dosing, and administration. However, recent studies reported that increasing use of macrolide antibiotics is the main force driving the development of macrolide resistance in streptococci. In particular, azithromycin use is more likely to select for macrolide resistance with Streptococcus pneumoniae than is clarithromycin use, a possible reflection of its much longer half life. Recently, erythromycin resistance rates of S. pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes are rapidly increasing in Korea. Two main mechanisms of acquired macrolide resistance have been described, altered binding site on the bacterial ribosome encoded by the ermB gene and active macrolide efflux pump encoded by the mef gene. Relationship between the susceptibility of S. pneumoniae and the response to macrolides has been shown in studies of acute otitis media, but less clear in cases of pneumonia. This article reviews the spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetic properties, mechanisms of action and resistance, and clinical implication of resistance on the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2015

In order to study the effect of the receptor protein (SeaR), which is isolated from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, we introduced the SeaR gene to Streptomyces virginiae as host strains. An effective transformation procedure for S. virginiae was established based on transconjugation by Escherichia coli ET12567/pUZ8002 with a ${\varphi}C31$-derived integration vector, pSET152, which contained int, oriT, attP, and $ermEp^{\ast}$ (erythromycin promotor). Therefore, the pEV615 was introduced into S. virginiae by conjugation and integrated at the attB locus in the chromosome of the recipients by the ${\varphi}C31$ integrase (int) function. Transformants of S. virginiae containing the SeaR gene were confirmed by PCR and transcriptional expression of the SeaR gene in the transformants was analyzed by RT-PCR, respectively. And, we examined the production time of virginiamycins in the culture media of both the transformants and the wild type. The production time of virginiamycins in the wild type and transformants was the same. When 100 ng/ml of synthetic $VB-C_6$ was added to the state of 6 or 8 hour cultivation of wild type and transformants, respectively, the virginiamycins production was induced, meaning that the virginiamycins production in the wild type was detected 2 h early than transformants. From these results, SeaR expression was also affected to virginiamycins production in transformants derived from S. virginiae. In this study, we showed that the SeaR protein worked as a repressor in transformants.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2016

For comparison of tetracycline-resistant ($Tc^R$) genes, we obtained 21 and 14 $Tc^R$ Staphylococcus spp. from marine environment and human patient, respectively. Although all isolates from human were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, higher proportion of $Tc^R$ isolates (12 out of 14) from human were utilizing tet(M) gene compared to that of $Tc^R$ isolates (6 out of 21) from marine environment. Additionally, collaborated utilization of tet(M) and erm(A) in $Tc^R-Em^R$ S. aureus in human patient, but not in $Tc^R$ Staphylococcus spp. isolates from marine environment was also characterized. Based on the nucleotide sequence of transposon related to $Tc^R$ gene, we confirmed the origin of tet(M) gene in $Tc^R$ Staphylococci isolated from marine environments and human are derived from Tn916/1545-like and Tn5801 transposon, respectively. It is the first report showing the presence of Tn5801 in all $Tc^R$ S. aureus carrying tet(M) in human patient. Alignment of the fully sequenced tet(M) from marine environmental isolates was also agreed with the determined transposons by showing the genomic mosaic structure composed with three genomic parts from Tn916/1545 and unknown transposons. Genetic characteristics of these tet(M) in environmental isolates were similar to each other but different from those in isolates from human showing only tet(M) from Tn916/5801 type. It may imply the presence of less dramatic communication of antibiotic resistant genes between Staphylococci isolated from marine environment and human.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2015

Secondary metabolism in actinomycetes has been known to be controlled by a small molecule, ${\gamma}$-butyrolactone autoregulator, the binding of which to each corresponding receptor leads to the regulation of the transcriptional expression of the secondary metabolites. We expected that expression of an autoregulator receptor or a pleiotropic regulator in a non-host was to be gained insight of effective production of new metabolic materials. In order to study the function of the receptor protein (seaR), which is isolated from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, we introduced the seaR gene to Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) as host strains. An effective transformation procedure for S. coelicolor A3(2) was established based on transconjugation by Escherichia coli ET12567/pUZ8002 with a ${\varphi}C31$-derived integration vector, pSET152, which contained int, oriT, attP and $ermEp^*$ (erythromycin promotor). Therefore, the pEV615 was introduced into S. coelicolor A3(2) by conjugation and integrated at the attB locus in the chromosome of the recipients by the ${\varphi}C31$ integrase (int) function. Exconjugant of S. coelicolor A3(2) containing the seaR gene was confirmed by PCR and transcriptional expression of the seaR gene in the transformant was analyzed by RT-PCR. In case of S. coelicolor A3(2), a phenotype microarray was used to analyze the phenotype of transformant compared with wild type by seaR expression. After that, in order to confirm the accuracy of the results obtained from the phenotype microarray, an antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out. This test indicated that sensitivity of the transformant was higher than wild type in tetracycline case. These results indicated that some biosynthesis genes or resistance genes for tetracycline biosynthesis in transformant might be repressed by seaR expression. Therefore, subsequent experiments, analysis of transcriptional pattern of genes for tetracycline production or resistance, are needed to confirm whether biosynthesis genes or resistance genes for tetracycline are repressed or not.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-377
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• 2009

Halitosis is a generally accepted marker of diseases in the oral cavity and of systemic and gastrointestinal disorders. Based on these authors' previous findings (that (1) there is a close association between H. pylori infection and halitosis; (2) Korea red ginseng may suppress the colonization of H. pylori, fight H. pylori-induced cytotoxicity, and impose significant anti-inflammatory actions in patients with chronic gastritis; and (3) H. pylori infection is linked with the generation of significant levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), and the levels of VSCs correlate significantly with H. pylori-associated mucosal damages), in the current study, the authors documented the molecular mechanisms of Korea red ginseng's efficacy in ameliorating halitosis. When the RAW 264.7 cells were treated with the $H_2S$ releasing compound NaHS, the mRNA expression of cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CSE), IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS were more significantly induced compared with the vehicle-treated group. The cytoskeletal components of ezrin's and moesin's mRNA expressions were elevated by NaHS treatment accompanied by the activation of MAPK, p38, and ERK. Korea red ginseng pretreatment reduced both the NaHS-induced CSE expression and the proinflammatory genes (e.g., IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS) in a concentration-dependent manner. The ERM expression and the phosphorylation of p38 were also significantly reduced by Korea-red-ginseng pretreatment. Overall, Korea red ginseng pretreatment imposed significant anti-inflammatory effects through the downregulation of the NaHS-triggered proinflammatory gene expression, CSE, and ERM mRNA expression. Korea red ginseng could thus be said to be a key remedy of halitosis and to be effective in relieving gastric inflammation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.1
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• pp.30-33
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• 2014

We report the first Korean case of lung diseases caused by Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii in a previously healthy male, except for a previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchiectasis. All serial isolates are identified as M. abscessus subsp. bolletii by multi-locus sequence analysis based on the hsp65, rpoB, and 16S rRNA fragments. At the genetic level, the isolate has the erm(41) gene with a T28 sequevar, associated with clarithromycin resistance, and no rrl mutation. The isolate is resistant to clarithromycin. Although the symptoms and radiographic findings have improved after combination of antibiotics, the follow-up sputum cultures are persistently positive.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.295-298
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• 2006

Actinomycetes are ubiquitous Gram-positive soil bacteria and a group of the most important industrial microorganisms for the biosynthesis of many valuable secondary metabolites as well as the source of various bioconversion enzymes. Cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (CYP), a hemebinding protein, is known to be involved in the modification of various natural compounds, including polyketides, fatty acids, steroids, and some aromatic compounds. Previously, six different novel CYP genes were isolated from a rare actinomycetes called Sebekia benihana, and they were completely sequenced, revealing significant amino acid similarities to previously known CYP genes involved in Streptomyces secondary metabolism. In the present study, these six CYP genes were functionally expressed in Streptomyces lividans, using an $ermE^{*}$ promoter-containing Streptomyces expression vector. Among six CYP genes, two S. benihana CYP genes (CYP503 and CYP504) showed strong hydroxylation activities toward 7-ethoxycoumarin. Furthermore, the recombinant S. lividans containing both the S. benihana CYP506-ferredoxin genes as well as the S. coelicolor feredoxin reductase gene also demonstrated cyclosporin A hydroxylation activity, suggesting potential application of actinomycetes CYPs for the biocatalysts of natural product bioconversion.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.132-137
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• 2010

The skc gene encoding streptokinase (SK) with a molecular mass of approximately 47.4 kDa was cloned from Streptococcus equisimilis ATCC 9542 and heterologously overexpressed in Streptomyces lividans TK24 and E. coli using various strong promoters. When the promoter for sprT [Streptomyces griseus trypsin (SGT)] was used in the host S. lividans TK24, a 47.4-kDa protein was detected along with a smaller hydrolyzed protein (44 kDa), suggesting that posttranslational hydrolysis had occurred as has been reported in other expression systems. The casein/plasminogen plate assay revealed that the plasmid construct containing the SGT signal peptide was superior to that containing the SK signal peptide in terms of SK production. Maximal production of SK was calculated to be about 0.25 unit/ml of culture broth, a value that was five times higher than that obtained with other expression systems using ermE and tipA promoters in the same host. When the skc gene was expressed in E. coli BL21(${\Delta}DE3$)pLys under the control of the T7 promoter, a relatively large amount of SK was expressed in soluble form without hydrolysis. SK activity in E. coli/pET28a-$T7_pSK_m$ was more than 2 units/ml of culture broth, even though about half of the expressed protein formed an inactive inclusion body.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9805-9812
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• 2014

Radixin, a member of the ERM (ezrin-radixin-moesin) family, plays important roles in cell motility, invasion and tumor progression. It is expressed in a variety of normal and neoplastic cells, including many types of epithelial and lymphoid examples. However, its function in glioblastomas remains elusive. Thus, in this study, radixin gene expression was first examined in the glioblastoma cells, then suppressed with a lentivirus-mediated short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) method.We found that there were high levels of radixin expression in glioblastoma U251cells. Radixin shRNA caused down-regulation of radixin gene expression and when radixin-silenced cells were implanted into nude mice, tumor growth was significantly inhibited as compared to blank control cells or nonsense shRNA cells. In addition, microvessel density in the tumors was significantly reduced. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and E-cadherin were up-regulated in radixin- suppressed glioblastoma U251 cells. In contrast, MMP9 was down-regulated. Taken together, our findings suggest that radixin is involved in GBM cell migration and invasion, and implicate TSP-1, E-cadherin and MMP9 as metastasis-inducing factors.