• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.422-430
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• 2018

The inappropriate and widespread use of quinolones in humans and animals may cause accelerated emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant determinants. In this study, we investigated quinolone resistance mechanisms in a total of 65 nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli isolated from swine rectal swabs (N=40) and clinical specimens (N=25). Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by the disk diffusion method. PCR and DNA sequencing were performed for investigations of genes and mutations associated with quinolone resistance. In our study, 62 of 65 nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli harbored mutations in gyrA, parC, and/or parE genes; of the 65 isolates, 62 (95.4%) had mutations in the gyrA gene, 35 (53.8%) had mutations in the parC gene, 7 (10.8%) had mutations in the parE gene. The 35 isolates harbored mutations in two genes, gyrA and parC. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants were investigated in the 65 isolates. Thirteen of 65 nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli contained the qnrS gene and 10 of those isolates had mutations in the gyrA, parC, and/or parE genes. We confirmed that an important mechanism of quinolone resistance in E. coli isolated from human and swine involves chromosomal mutations in the gyrA, parC, and/or parE genes with increasing use of quinolone for treatment or additives.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1735-1743
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• 2010

The full-length genes gyrB (2,415 bp), parC (2,277 bp), and parE (1,896 bp) in Edwardsiella tarda were cloned by PCR with degenerate primers based on the sequence of the respective quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR), followed by elongation of 5' and 3' ends using cassette ligation-mediated PCR (CLMP). Analysis of the cloned genes revealed open reading frames (ORFs) encoding proteins of 804 (GyrB), 758 (ParC), and 631 (ParE) amino acids with conserved gyrase/topoisomerase features and motifs important for enzymatic function. The ORFs were preceded by putative promoters, ribosome binding sites, and inverted repeats with the potential to form cruciform structures for binding of DNA-binding proteins. When comparing the deduced amino acid sequences of E. tarda GyrB, ParC, and ParE with those of the corresponding proteins in other bacteria, they were found to be most closely related to Escherichia coli GyrB (87.6% identity), Klebsiella pneumoniae ParC (78.8% identity), and Salmonella Typhimurium ParE (89.5% identity), respectively. The two topoisomerase genes, parC and parE, were found to be contiguous on the E. tarda chromosome. All 18 quinolone-resistant isolates obtained from Korea thus far did not contain subunit alternations apart from a substitution in GyrA (Ser83$\rightarrow$Arg). However, an alteration in the QRDR of ParC (Ser84$\rightarrow$Ile) following an amino acid substitution in GyrA (Asp87$\rightarrow$Gly) was detected in E. tarda mutants selected in vitro at $8{\mu}g/ml$ ciprofloxacin (CIP). A mutant with a GyrB (Ser464$\rightarrow$Leu) and GyrA (Asp87$\rightarrow$Gly) substitution did not show a significant increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CIP. None of the in vitro mutants exhibited mutations in parE. Thus, gyrA and parC should be considered to be the primary and secondary targets, respectively, of quinolones in E. tarda.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.349-357
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• 1993

Polyarylate(PAR)-nylon 6 block copolymers of various block lengths were prepared by the anionic polymerization of ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactam using the polymeric activator from hydroxy-difuncrtional PAR and toluene diisocyanate. Phase separated morphology of PAR-nylon 6 block copolymer was suggerted from the thermal properties measured by differential scanning calorometry(d.s.c.). Partial miscbility between PAR block and nylon 6 block of the block copolymers was more evident at shorter length of constituent blocks. In binary blends of PAR-nylon 6 block copolymer with PAR or nylon 6 homopolymer, molecular-level mixing of homopolymers with corresponding blocks of block copolymer was supposed from the thermal properties measured by d.s.c..

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.538-544
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• 2008

Activated protein C (APC) is thought to exert antiinflammatory activities through the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR)-dependent cleavage of protease activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) in endothelial cells. Since thrombin cleaves PAR-1 with $\sim$3-4-orders of magnitude higher efficiency, and PAR-1 is a target for proinflammatory activities of thrombin, it is not understood how APC can elicit protective responses through the cleavage of PAR-1. In this study, we demonstrate that EPCR is associated with caveolin-1 in endothelial lipid rafts, but its occupancy by protein C leads to its dissociation from caveolin-1 and subsequent recruitment of PAR-1 to protective signaling pathways through the coupling of PAR-1 to Gi-protein. When EPCR is bound by protein C, the PAR-1-dependent protective response in endothelial cells can be mediated by either thrombin or APC. These results provide a new paradigm for understanding the mechanism through which PAR-1 and EPCR participate in cellular signaling events in endothelial cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.507-514
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• 2004

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the clinical specimens has a mutation on the QRDR (quinolone resistance determining region). There were obvious mutations in both gyrA and parC gene which are major targets of quinolone. Simultaneous mutations were found two sites or more on these genes in all of ten strains. GyrB or parE gene had only silent mutation without converted amino acids. We confirmed that P. aeruginosa from clinical specimens exhibited decreased sensitivity to fluroquiolone due to changed Thr-83→lle and Asp-87→Asn types on gyrA and altered Ser-87→Leu type on parC. This is the first finding that a new Met-93→Thr type on parC as well as mutations on gyrB or parE genes differed from existing patterns. This study showed more mutations of gyrA rather than parC, suggesting that change of Type Ⅳ topoisomerase is more serious than that of type Ⅱ (DNA gyrase).

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

This paper proposes automatic precision approach radar (PAR) control system using digital signal to increase the safety of aircraft, and discrete event systems specification (DEVS) methodology is utilized to verify the proposed system. Traditionally, a landing aircraft is controlled by the human voice of a final approach controller. However, the voice information can be missed during transmission, and pilots may also act improperly because of incorrectness of auditory signals. The proposed system enables the stable operation of the aircraft, regardless of the pilot's capability. Communicating DEVS (C-DEVS) is used to analyze and verify the behavior of the proposed system. A composed C-DEVS atomic model has overall composed discrete state sets of models, and the state sequence acquired through full state search is utilized to verify the safeness and the liveness of a system behavior. The C-DEVS model of the proposed system shows the same behavior with the traditional PAR control system.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2016

Ureaplasma species can normally colonize in the bodies of healthy individuals. Their colonization is associated with various diseases including non-gonococcal urethritis, chorioamnionitis, neonatal meningitis, and prematurity. In 2012, the sum of the resistant and intermediate resistant rates of Ureaplasma spp. to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was 66.08% and 92.69%, respectively. DNA point mutations in the genes encoding DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II) and topoisomerase IV are commonly responsible for fluoroquinolone resistance. Each enzyme is composed of two subunits encoded by gyrA and gyrB genes for DNA gyrase and parC and parE genes for topoisomerase IV. In the current study, these genes were sequenced in order to determine the role of amino acid substitutions in Ureaplasma spp. clinical isolates. From December 2012 to May 2013, we examined mutation patterns of the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) in Ureaplasma spp. DNA sequences in the QRDR region of Ureaplasma clinical isolates were compared with those of reference strains including U. urealyticum serovar 8 (ATCC 27618) and U. parvum serovar 3 (ATCC 27815). Mutations were detected in all ofloxacin- and ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates, however no mutations were detected in drug-susceptible isolates. Most of the mutations related to fluoroquinolone resistance occurred in the parC gene, causing amino acid substitutions. Newly found amino acid substitutions in this study were Asn481Ser in GyrB; Phe149Leu, Asp150Met, Asp151Ile, and Ser152Val in ParC; and Pro446Ser and Arg448Lys in ParE. Continuous monitoring and accumulation of mutation data in fluoroquinolone-resistant Ureaplasma clinical isolates are essential to determining the tendency and to understanding the mechanisms underlying antimicrobial resistance.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.643-646
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• 2014

Objective: This study aimed to explore the expression of tissue factor (TF), protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and influence on invasiveness. Methods: Stable MCF-7 cells transfected with TF cDNA and with TF ShRNA were established. TF, PAR-2, and MMP-9 protein expression was analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence and invasiveness was evaluated using a cell invasion test. Effects of an exogenous PAR-2 agonist were also examined. Results: TF protein expression significantly differed between the TF cDNA and TF ShRNA groups. MMP-9 protein expression was significantly correlated with TF protein expression, but PAR-2 protein expression was unaffected. The PAR-2 agonist significantly enhanced MMP-9 expression and slightly increased TF and PAR-2 expression in the TF ShRNA group, but did not significantly affect protein expression in MCF-7 cells transfected with TF cDNA. TF and MMP-9 expression was positively correlated with the invasiveness of tumor cells. Conclusion: TF, PAR-2, and MMP-9 affect invasiveness of MCF-7 cells. TF may increase MMP-9 expression by activating PAR-2.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2002

A total of twenty-five norfloxacin resistant Escherichia coli were isolated from Joongrang-chun stream, a branch of the Han River in Seoul, Korea from May to July in 2000 and their norfloxacin resistance mechanism was characterized for target site mutation, permeability, and efflux pump. Fourteen iso- lates contained the same three mutations, Ser83→Leu and Asp87→Asn in GyrA and Ser90→ lle in ParC. Six isolates had Ser83→Leu and Asp87→Tyr in GyrA and Ser87→lle in ParC while one isolate had Ser83→Leu and Va1103→Ala in GyrA and Ser80→lle in ParC. Two isolates had mutation(s) in GyrA without any mutation in ParC. Two isolates had Ser80→Arg in ParC instead of the commonly found Ser80→lle. Every norfloxacin resistant isolate had an efflux system but the correlation between the efflux activity and MIC was not observed. The amount of OmpF for norfloxacin permeability decreased in resistant isolates compared to the susceptible strains. When amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed, these isolates showed no similarity to each other or clinical isolates.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.12-29
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect on factors related lactation after administration of Palmul-tang in postpartum C57BL/6N mice. Materials and Methods: Experimental groups were divided into control group post-par group and pre-par group. Pre-par and post-par group were administered Palmul-tang(p.o) twice a week for 4 weeks or 3 weeks respectively. Control group was administered normal saline for 3 weeks. Then we observed morphological change, immunohistochemical density and milk protein gene expression of factors related lactation within mammary gland of postpartum mice. Results: In post-par and pre-par groups, adipose tissue within mammary gland significantly decreased, and ductal branch and alveoli prominently developed than that of control group at 1~3 weeks after administraion of Palmul-tang. In post-par and pre-par groups, density of immunoreactivity on oxytocin, prolactin, estrogen and progesterone receptors in mammary glandular tissue significantly increased than that of control group. mRNA expression of $\beta$-casein and placental lactogen (PL)-1 in post-par group was more increased than that of control and pre-par groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that Palmul-tang significantly improved factors related lactation at postpartum period.