• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.40.1-40.20
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• 2021

Mycobacteroides abscessus (previously Mycobacterium abscessus; Mabc), one of rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), is an important pathogen of NTM pulmonary diseases (NTM-PDs) in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Mabc infection is chronic and often challenging to treat due to drug resistance, motivating the development of new therapeutics. Despite this, there is a lack of understanding of the relationship between Mabc and the immune system. This review highlights recent progress in the molecular architecture of Mabc and host interactions. We discuss several microbial components that take advantage of host immune defenses, host defense pathways that can overcome Mabc pathogenesis, and how host-pathogen interactions determine the outcomes of Mabc infection. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions during Mabc infection will enable the identification of biomarkers and/or drugs to control immune pathogenesis and protect against NTM infection.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.201-209
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• 2012

Apoptosis is a physiological programmed cell death process. Tubercle bacilli inhibit apoptosis of alveolar macrophages and phagolysosome fusion. We investigated whether the Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic member, Bfl-1/A1, plays an important role in the anti-apoptotic process during mycobacterial infection. PMA-treated human monocytoid THP-1 cells were infected with mycobacteria (H37Rv, BCG, and K-strain) at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 for 0, 1.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 48, or 72 h. In addition, PMA-treated THP-1 cells were pretreated with specific inhibitors for 45 min before stimulation with mycobacteria at an MOI of 10 for 4 h. After the indicated time, the cells were subject to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, and a Bfl-1/A1-specific Western blot was performed. In PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells, the expression level of Bfl-1/A1 mRNA was increased by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H37Rv infection. The mRNA level of Bfl-1/A1 peaked 3 h after MTB infection, then declined gradually until 9 h. However, Bfl-1/A1 mRNA induction gradually re-increased from 24 h to 72 h after MTB infection. No difference in Bfl-1/A1 expression was detected following infection with MTB H37Rv, K-strain, or M. bovis BCG. These results were not dependent on mycobacterial virulence. Moreover, mRNA levels of other anti-apoptotic molecules (Mcl-1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL) were not increased after MTB H37Rv or K-strain infection. These results suggest that mycobacteria induce the innate immune host defense mechanisms that utilize Bfl-1/A1 molecules at early time points, regardless of virulence.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.745-752
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• 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common mycobacterial infection in developing countries, requiring a rapid, accurate, and well-differentiated detection/diagnosis. For the rapid detection and discrimination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) from non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), a novel, simple, and primer-combined single-step multiplex PCR using three primer pairs (6110F-6110R, 1081F-1081R, and 23SF-23SR; annealing on each of IS6110, IS1081, and 23S rDNA targets), hereafter referred to as a triplex PCR, has been developed and evaluated. The expected product for IS6110 is 416 bp, for IS1081 is 300 bp, and for 23S rDNA is 206 bp by single PCR, which was used to verify the specificity of primers and the identity of MTC using DNA extracted from the M. tuberculosis H37Rv reference strain (ATCC, USA) and other mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) templates. The triplex PCR assay showed 100% specificity and 96% sensitivity; the limit of detection for mycobacteria was ~100 fg; and it failed to amplify any target from DNA of MOTT (50 samples tested). Of 307 blinded clinical samples, overall 205 positive M. tuberculosis samples were detected by single PCR, 142 by conventional culture, and 90 by AFB smear methods. Remarkably, the triplex PCR could subsequently detect 55 positive M. tuberculosis from 165 culture-negative and 115 from 217 AFB smear-negative samples. The triplex PCR, targeting three regions in the M. tuberculosis genome, has proved to be an efficient tool for increasing positive detection/discrimination of this bacterium from clinical samples.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.313-317
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• 2015

결핵균의 감염이 증가함에 따라 결핵을 진단하고 치료하는 데 있어서 빠르고 민감한 진단방법이 필수적이다. Mycobacteria를 배양하는 것이 적어도 3주에서 8주정도 기간이 걸리고, 또한 AFB의 현미경적 검경의 민감도가 낮다. 최근에는 PCR방법이 결핵균을 검출하고 진단하는데 사용되고 있다. 특히 병리조직학적 폐 외 감염의 진단을 하기 위해 실시하고 있다. 병원에서 76개의 조직검체를 배양하고 nested PCR을 실시하여 배양결과와 비교 분석 하였다. 76개의 조직검체 중 배양 결과 양성인 검체가 31개, 음성으로 나온 검체가 45개로 나타났다. 배양결과 양성인 31개 검체 중 nested PCR을 실시해서 양성으로 나온 검체 22개(71%)가 양성으로 나타났고, 배양결과 음성인 45개 검체 중 nested PCR을 실시해서 음성으로 나온 검체는 36개(80%)로 나타났다. nested PCR의 민감도는 71%이고 특이도는 80%이다. 또한 양성 예측률은 71% 음성 예측률은 80%로 나타났다. Nested PCR 방법은 민감하고 신속하게 MTC을 검출 할 수 있다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.473-479
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• 2011

Adenylyl cyclase (AC)는 ATP로부터 cAMP를 형성하는 반응을 촉매한다. AC에 의해 생산된 cAMP는 다양한 신호전달 경로에서 이차전달자로 사용되고 많은 종에서 다양한 세포기능을 조절한다. AC는 1차구조에 따라 6개의 그룹으로 나눌 수 있다. 진핵생물과 Mycobacterium 속에 속하는 세균에서는 class III에 속하는 AC만이 발견된다. Class III에 속하는 AC의 경우 catalytic cyclase 도메인이 dimer를 형성해야만 활성부위가 형성되고 활성을 가지게 된다. 포유류의 AC는 하나의 polypeptide에 2개의 catalytic cyclase 도메인을 가지고 있고, 이 두 개의 도메인이 intramolecular dimerization을 통해서 활성부위를 형성한다. 반면에 mycobacteria의 AC는 polypeptide에 한 개의 catalytic cyclase 도메인을 가지고 있고, homodimer의 4차구조를 형성하여 활성을 가지게 된다. Class III AC의 활성을 위해서 필요한 6개의 아미노산 잔기가 활성부위에 잘 보존되어 있다. 이 6개의 아미노산 잔기는 $Mg^{2+}$과 결합을 하는 2개의 aspartate 잔기쌍, 기질특이성을 부여하는 lysine-aspartate 잔기쌍, 그리고 반응 전이상태를 안정화시키는 arginine-asparagine 잔기쌍들로 이루어져 있다. Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv에서는 16개의 AC 유전자가 발견되었으며, 이 AC의 연구된 특성에 대해 본 총설에서 다룰 것이다.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.260-267
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• 2023

We aimed to investigate the proportions of MTB- and NTM-positive tests and the distribution patterns of species isolated by contracted testing agencies in South Korea. Respiratory specimens submitted to contracted testing agencies in South Korea for AFB culture from January 2014 to December 2021 were included (533,713 specimens in total). Trends based on MTB and NTM detection, patient sex and age, culture medium type, and testing year were analyzed. MTB and NTM positive detection increased in the patients. The average ages of MTB- and NTM-positive patients increased in those aged ≥61 years. For solid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 5.9% in 2014 to 3.3% in 2018 and increased to 4.7% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 2.1% in 2014 to 3.4% in 2018 and 3.7% in 2021. For liquid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 8.3% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and increased to 6.0% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 3.5% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and decreased to 5.3% in 2021. An isolation ratio reversal between MTB and NTM was observed in 2018. In this study, we provide information on mycobacterial isolation rates and species distributions using AFB culture test results from Korea's referral laboratories. Increased MTB- and NTM-isolation rates were observed in individuals aged ≥60 years, indicating the need for regular testing and focused management for them. Expanding liquid culture applications, which show higher positivity rates than solid culture methods, is necessary.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제86권1호
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• pp.47-56
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• 2023

Background: There is a global increase in isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The aim of the study was to analyze longitudinal trends of NTM identification and pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Methods: NTM recovery rates, distribution of NTM species identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of NTM at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 52,456 specimens from 21,264 patients were submitted for mycobacterial culture, of which 2,521 from 1,410 patients were NTM positive over five years (January 2016 to December 2020). NTM isolation showed an increasing trend from 2016 to 2020 (p<0.001, test for trend) mainly caused by Mycobacterium avium complex. The vast majority of M. avium complex were susceptible to key agents clarithromycin and amikacin. For Mycobacterium kansasii, resistance to rifampin and clarithromycin is rare. Amikacin was the most effective drug against Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus and Mycobacterium subspecies massiliense. Most of M. subspecies massiliense were susceptible to clarithromycin, while the majority of M. abscessus subspecies abscessus were resistant to clarithromycin (p<0.001). Conclusion: There was an increasing trend of NTM isolation in our hospital. Resistance to key drugs was uncommon for most NTM species except for M. abscessus subspecies abscessus against clarithromycin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.635-643
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• 2002

연구배경 : 완전 자동화된 액체배양법과 기존의 고체배양법을 이용하여 폐결핵환자의 객담내 mycobacterium의 신속검출율 및 양성판정시까지의 시간을 비교하고자 하였다. 방 법 : 2002년 1월 1일부터 2002년 6월 30일 사이에 본원에 입원 혹은 외래에서 폐결핵으로 치료중인 환자 127명의 객담검체를 이용하였으며, 배양 중 오염된 28개의 검체(MB/BacT system 18개, L-J배지 14개, 4검체는 두 배양법 모두에서 오염)를 제외한 99명의 객담검체를 대상으로 하였다. 검체는 4% NaOH로 전처치한 후 4300rpm으로 20분간 원심분리한 후 멸균된 phosphate buffer(pH 6.8)를 첨가하여 2ml로 만들어 MB/BacT bottle에 0.5ml, Lowenstein-Jensen배지에 0.25ml를 접종한 후 $35-37^{\circ}C$에 6-12주간 배양하면서 균검출율과 양성판정시까지의 시간을 비교하였다. 결 과 : MB/Bact system과 L-J배양볍 중 어느 한 방법에서 균성장이 발견된 검제는 677B (67.7%) 였다. 두배양법 모두에서 균성장이 발견된 겸체는 5252.5%) 개였으며, MB/BacT에서만 발견된 검체는 15개 (15.2%) 였으나 L-J배양법에서만 발견된 경우는 없었다. 객담검체의 ZN염색법으로 항산균 집균도말겸사상 양성인 검체는 58개, 음성인 검체는 41개였다. 58개의 도말양성 검체 가운데 MB/BacT system에 양성을 보인 검체는 %개 (96.6%), L-J배지양성은 467B (79.3%) 였으며, 균성장 평균 발견시간은 각각 11.0일과 23.5일이었다. 41개의 도말음성검체 가운데 MB/BacT system에 양성을 보인 검체는 11개 (26.8%), L-J배지양성은 6개 (14.6%)였으며, 균성장 평균 발견시간은 각각 13.7일과 27.6일 이었다. 전체적으로 MB/BacT system과 L-J배양법에서 균성장 발견시 간은 각각 $13.3{\pm}8.3$일, $27.2{\pm}0.9$일이었다. 결 론 : 완전 자동화된 MB/BacT system은 L-J배지에 비해 mycobacterium의 검출율이 높고 발견시간이 단축되었다. MB/BacT는 방사성 물질을 사용하지 않는 장점이 있으므로 모든 검사실에 사용하기에 적당할 것으로 보이며, 균동정을 위하여 특이한 DNA probe와 병용하면 CDC가 권고한 결과보고 시간에 근접할 수 있을 것으로 생각되었다.

• 대한미생물학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 1980

In the ecology and epidemiologic studies on various serotypes of atypical mycobacteria(AM), Schaefer's bacterial agglutination test(BA) provided the basis of the serologic procedures. Recently, attempts have been made to modify and to simplify the Schaefer's BA such as a slide agglutination test(Engel & Beerwald, 1970), a "simplified" BA(Reznikov & Leggo, 1972), an agglutination inhibition test(Richards & Eacret, 1972) and "micromethod"(Thoen et al., 1975). The BA, however, was not widely applied as a routine laboratory test mainly because it requires much times and labors to perform and partley because it is not applicable to hydrophobic strains either often encountered in the isolation of AM in the clinical bacteriology or stock strains maintained in the laboratory. On the contrary, fluorescent antibody technique with mycobacteria may have advantages over the BA because it is far more simpler in serologic procedures and is applicable to all strains of mycobacteria regardless of smooth or rough types of cultures. At the present, it is well known that the type-specific antigens are lacking on the surface of rough type of AM compared to that on smooth type of strain, but the antigenicity on the surface of the hydrophobic strains of AM which resulted from a series of subculture and the strain in the laboratory for 3 to 6 months has not been clarified. In this study, an attempt to serotype the hydrophobic strains of M. scrofulaceum serotype 41, 42 and 43 by fluorescent anti-complement(FAC) technique was made. The FAC technique with mycobacteria was also described in detail. In the summary, the complement fixing antibody titres of reference sera to smooth types of homologous serotype was highest, but the antibody titres of reference sera to hydrophobic strains of serotypes, 41, 42 and 43 gave two-to 8-folds lower than those to smooth type of strains. Although the sensitivity of type-specific antigens on the hydrophobic strains to reference sera was much lower, using the two units of reference sera determined by titration with hydrophobic strains, three serotypes, i. e., 41, 42 and 43 were specifically differentiated one another by FAC technique. This result indicated that the hydrophobic strains which were maintained in the laboratory at least for 6 months still retain type-specific antigen detectable by FAC technique.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.435-438
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• 2017

비결핵 항상균(Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, NTM) M. avium-intracellular complex (MAC), M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. abscessus, M. kansasii 등을 함유한다. 비결핵 항상균은 자연 환경속에 서식하며 다양한 가축등에 감염한다. 그리고 사람한테는 기회감염을 유발하여 사회적 경제적 문제를 야기한다. 본 연구는 면역결핍 사람한테 기회감염을 유발하는 비결핵 항상균이 사람들이 흔히 이용하는 다중이용시설내 존재 유무를 확인하기위해 40개 에어컨 먼지를 채취하여 직접 AFB 염색, 직접 PCR, 간접 AFB 염색, 간접 PCR 등을 실시했다. 그 결과 채취한 샘플의 직접 AFB 염색, 직접 PCR 에서는 인형결핵균(MTB), 비결핵 항상균 모두 발견되지 않았다. 배양된 집락을 이용한 간접 AFB 염색, 간접 PCR 결과 인형결핵균 (MTB)은 모두 음성반응을 나타냈으며, 비결핵 항상균은 40개 샘풀 중 2개(5%)에서 양성반응을 나타냈다. 본 실험결과는 자연 내 비결핵 항상균이 존재한다는 사실을 증명했으며 비결핵 항상균이 기회감염의 원인임을 감안했을 때 다중이용시설의 청결한 위생처리가 중요함을 암시한다. 다만 비결핵 항상균의 종(species) 감별과 기회감염 유발 유무는 좀 더 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.