• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2005

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax toxin is a tripartite toxin comprising of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). PA is the receptor-binding component, which facilitates the entry of LF or EF onto the cytosol. LF is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease, which is a critical virulence factor in cytotoxicity of infected animals. Therefore, it is of interest to develop its potent inhibitors for the neutralization of anthrax toxin. The first step to identify the inhibitors is the development of a rapid, sensitive, and simple assay method with a high-throughput ability. Much efforts have been concentrated on the preparation of powerful assays and on the screening of inhibitors using these system. In the present study, we have tried to construct anthrax lethal factor in yeast expression system to prepare cell-based high-throughput assay system. Here, we have shown the results covering the construction of a new vector system, subcloning of LF gene, and the expression of target gene. Our results are first trial to express LF gene in eukaryote and provide the basic steps in design of cell-based assay system.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to develop a method for direct determination of phagocytic activities in human circulatic systems and to measure the phagocytic activities in human leukocytes from the alcoholics, since phagocytic activity was considered to be very important in human immune mechanism at early stage for the health care of the alcoholics. The subjects for this study were 130 among which 95 males and 3 females were diagnosed as alcoholism and 32 was healthy blood donors. A thin layer of heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I was placed on a plastic dish and reacted with whole blood to measure the phagocytic plaque formation by human leukocytes. In order to determine the health conditions of the subjects, some clinical laboratory tests, such as white blood cell counts, hemoglobin contents (Hgb), mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells(MCV), serum electrophoresis, B and T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocyte subtypes and phytohemagglutination test were also implemented. Compared to the non-alcoholism, new and old alcoholic inpatients showed statistically significant differences on levels of Hgb and MCV (p<0.05), but showed that T and B-lymphocyte numbers decreased and Helper T cell/Suppressor T cell ratio ($1.6{\pm}0.8$%) increased. Compared to non-alcoholism, phagocytic plaque activities of leukocytes from alcoholic patients decreased significantly and an unusual pattern in phagocytic plaque was observed, showing a strange body and chain shaped phagocytosis. Based upon these results, it is concluded that a phagocytic-plaques of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I by leukocytes was very simple and useful method for the early immunological determination of phagocytic activities in alcoholic patients without requiring any special equipments.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 2000

A Baczllus circdans KCTC3004 $\alpha$-amylase gene contained in a recombinant plasmid pAL850 was transferred into a new shuttle vector plasmid pALSIlI by ligating linearlzed DNAs of pUC19 and pUB110. B. subtilis RM125 and B. megatenurn ATCC14945 transfonned with pALS111 produced the $\alpha$-amylase substantially Most of the enzyme was produced during the exponential growth period. The maxiinurn activities of the $\alpha$-amylase produced by the Bucillus transformants were compared with that of the B. circulans gene donor strain. The B. subtilis RM125(pALS111) enzyme showed the actlvicy 95 times higher than that of the gene donor cells, followed by the B, nzegaterium ATCC14945(pALSlll) enzyme with activity 34 limes higher than that of the gene donor cells. While E coli secreted about 10% of the produced enzyme, B. subtilis excreted the enzyme inlo the medium wholly and B. megaterirun about 98% ofthe total product. The plasmid pALSI11 was quite stable inB. nzegaterium (92%), inoderately stable in B. subtilis (76%), but was unstable in E. coli (38%). The SDS-PAGE and zymogram of this enzyme produced in E. coli(pALS111), B. subtilis( pALS111) or B. megateril~m (pALS111) indicated a molecular weight of 55,000. The enzymes overproduced in three different host cells hydrolyzed starch to produce mainly maltoaiose and mallooligosaccharides.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 1994

Nuclease was secreted to the environmental media from the Escherichia coli JM107 tranformant harboring the extracellular nuclease gene of Serratia marcescens in the plasmid of pNUC4. Under the growth conditions, the amount of secreted enzyme was increased in parallel with bacterial growth conditions, the amount of secreted enzyme was increased in parallel with bacterial growth. The enzyme was purified using chromatofraphic procedures of Matrex green gel and heparin agarose affinity gel, resulted in 50-fold purification with 15% recovery of the enzyme. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 29Kda by sodium dodecylsulfate denaturing gel electrophoresis. Using the purified enzyme, polyclonal antibody was obtained from the rabbit. The specificity of the antibody was confirmed by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitaion. For the investigation of cellular distribution of the enzyme, cells were fractionated into three fractions; cytoplasm, periplasm and extracellular fluid. While more than 80% of the enzymatic activity was detected in the extracellular fluid and periplasm, a little was found in the cytoplasm, indicating that the enzyme was likely to be immediately exported to the membrane for excretion after biosynthesis. These results were confirmed again by immunocytochemistry technique using the antibody.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.196-202
• /
• 2000

A gene for cellulolytic xylanase of Bacillus circulnns ATCC21365 was cloned on pUC 19 in Eschwichia coli. The recombinant plasniid pXLI80 contained an 1.8 id, inselt composed of0.5 kb and 1.3 kb PslI fragments derived from B, circulans. The 0.5 kh fragment in the upstream region of 1.3 kb one was confirmed lo be indispensable for not only expression but also hyperexpression of the cloned gene. The transformant overproduced the xylanase 135 times greater than that produced by the orlginal B circulnns. The optimum pH and temperature of the cloned enzyme we]-e pH 5.2 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. Heal pretl-eatment at TEX>$55^{\circ}C$C for 1 Indid not cause inhibition of the activity of this enzyme. The elm.ynie could hydl-olyre CMC and lichenan as well as xylan to produce xylose(or GI), xylohiose(or G2) and xylolnose(or G3) as inah products. Hence We defined the cloned enzyme as a cellulolytic xylanase. The SDS-PAG electrophoretic mobility and zyiiogram of this enzyme derived from whole cell extracts or c~~lture supematants or E. coli(pXL180) indicated a molecular weight of 45,000 and nonprocessing of the enzyme in the peilplasln of E. coli.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.225-230
• /
• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of cadmium ion on activities of cadmium-adapted malate dehydrogenase (adapted-MDH), which is defined to be an enzyme obtained from an extreme cadmium-tolerant yeast Hansenula anomaul B-7 grown in medium containing 1 mM cadmium ion. Cadmium-nonadapted malate dehydrogenase (nonadapted-MDH), which is defined to be enzyme expressed in the cells grown in $Cd^{2+}$ -free medium was also characterized by the same manner. Activities of the adapted-MDH and the nonadapted-MDH were strongly induced to 450% and to 150% in comparision with the control examined with 1 mM $Cd^{2+}$, respectively. The adapted-MDH activity was stimulated to 147%, 150%, and 135% compared with the control analyzed with 1 mM $Zn^{2+}$, 1 mM $Mn^{2+}$, and 1 mM $Ca^{2+}$, respectively and to 925%, and 250% compared with the control analyzed in the presence of 2 mM $Cd^{2+}$, and 2.5 mM $Zn^{2+}$, respectively. Km values of the adapted-MDH and the nonadapted-MDH were calculated to be the same 6.9 mM for L-malate, respectively. The Km value of the nonadapted-MDH was not changed by $Cd^{2+}$ while Vmax of the nonadapted-MDH was increased by $Cd^{2+}$. In contrast, both the Km and the Vmax values of the adapted-MDH were changed by $Cd^{2+}$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.212-218
• /
• 1998

An obligately methylotrophic bacterium which produces extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) was isolated through methanol-enrichment culture technique. The isolate was aerobic, nonmotile, and gram negative rod and exibited catalase, but no oxidase, activity. Plasmid, carotenoid, and poly-${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric acid were not found. The guanine plus cytosine content of DNA was 52-56%. The isolate was found to grow only on methanol and monomethylamine. Growth was optimal ($t_d=2.4h$) at $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.5 in a mineral medium containing 0.5% (v/v) methanol, 25 mM phosphate, and 0.212% ammonium sulfate. Methanol was assimilated through the ribulose monophosphate pathway. Maximun amount of EPS was produced in cells growing at the mid-stationary growth phase at $30^{\circ}C$ in a mineral medium (PH 6.5) containing 1.0% (v/v) methanol in the CIN ratio of 54.7. Thin-layer chromatographic and high performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that the EPS was composed of glucose and galactose. EPS which was not treated with ethanol (Pbe) exhibited stable viscosity under various concentrations of salts and temperatures hut showed high viscosity at low pH. EPS precipitated with ethanol (Pae) was found to be more stable in viscosity than the Pbe at various salt concentrations, temperatures, and pH. The Pae also exhibited higher viscosity than the Pbe and xanthan gum. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the lyophilized Pbe and Pae have a multi-layered structure and a structure of thick fibers, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.375-380
• /
• 2011

We isolated an endophytic actionmycete from root tissues of rice plant collected from paddy field near Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. Surface sterilized roots were laid on the selective agar plates and incubated. The powdery actinomycete colonies appeared on the root surface after four weeks incubation. We isolated a strain JK-5 among them and could determine its taxonomical position as Streptomyces diastaticus subsp. ardesiacus by using 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. The chemotaxonomical and morphological studies confirmed the taxonomical position of the strain JK-5. The shape of aerial hyphae was flexible and they contained spore chains with more than 30 smooth spherical spores per chain. Cell walls contained LL-diaminopimelic acid. There was no characteristic sugar in whole-cell hydrolysates. The major fatty acids were anteiso-15:0, anteiso-17:0 and iso-16:0. The specific menaquinones, MK-9 ($H_6$), MK-9 ($H_8$), were detected. The GC content was 72%. Antifungal activities of the strain JK-5 were relatively strong against fungal plant pathogens. The endophytic growth of the strain JK-5 was confirmed by SEM observation of the root and stem of the infected rice plant.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.97-102
• /
• 2017

Catechol type siderophore different from 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) was produced from Acinetobacter sp. B-W grown in medium containing L-glutamic acid as both carbon and nitrogen sole sources at $28^{\circ}C$. Optimal concentration of glutamic acid for siderophore production was 3% and production of siderophore was decreased above 3% glutamic acid. In previous report, siderophore, 2, 3-DHB was produced from strain B-W grown in medium containing glucose as carbon source and glutamic acid as nitrogen source. Rf value of siderophore produced from strain B-W grown in medium glutamic acid as both carbon and nitrogen sole sources at $28^{\circ}C$ was 0.32, while 2, 3-DHB was 0.84 in butanol-acetic acid-water (12:3:5) as developing solvent. Antioxidative activity of 2, 3-DHB was not detected in that siderophore produced from glutamic acid. Catechol nature of siderophore was detected by Arnow test. Although in iron-limited media optimal cell growth was identified at $36^{\circ}C$, significant quantities of siderophore were produced only at $28^{\circ}C$. Biosynthesis of siderophore was strongly inhibited by growth at $36^{\circ}C$. Production of siderophore was completely inhibited by $10{\mu}M\;FeCl_3$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.208-213
• /
• 2018

Activation of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF{\kappa}B$) leads to the inflammatory process. During this $NF{\kappa}B$-dependent inflammation process, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are expressed in the inflammatory cells. Our previous data indicated that a specific septapeptide (GVAWWMY) from the soybean extract fermented by Bacillus licheniformis B1 inhibited iNOS mRNA expression and NO production in cultured macrophage cells. Our further experiments revealed that treatment of same septapeptide resulted in inhibition of LPS-induced $NF{\kappa}B$ activation by reversing degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, an inhibitory protein for $NF{\kappa}B$. The molecular docking indicated that the septapeptide binds to $I{\kappa}B$ kinase ${\beta}$ ($IKK{\beta}$), and thus it can inhibit phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Supporting this, the binding site for the septapeptide has the highest affinity (-8.7 kcal/mol) and the site was located at the kinase domain (KD) of $IKK{\beta}$, which can significantly affect the kinase activity of $IKK{\beta}$.