• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 1978

One hundred and three clinical isolates of enterococci were examined for susceptibility to 8 antibiotics, and transferability and transfer frequency of R plasmid. Ampicillin was the most active, followed in decreasing order by rifampin, amikacin and chloramphenicol, and tetracycline. High-level resistance(${\geq}2,000{\mu}g/ml$) to kanamycin, streptomycin, and gentamicin, known as the most active of the aminoglycosides to enterococcus, was present in 26.2%, 21.4%, and 18.3% of the isolates, respectively. In the drug susceptibility of the species, S. zymogenes was the most resistant and S. durans was the most sensitive to tested antibiotics. We could observed the transferability of enterococcal R plasmid in mixed culture: among the 28 strains which showed multiple drug resistance, 17 strains transferred all or part of their resistance with $2{\times}10^{-4}-2{\times}10^{-6}%$ of transfer frequency to a plasmid-free recipient, S. faecalis strain JH 2-2.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.974-981
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• 2020

Sequence type 410 (ST410) of Escherichia coli is an extraintestinal pathogen associated with multi drug resistance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the horizontal propagation pathway of a high-risk clone of E. coli ST410 that produces Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). blaKPC-encoding E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates were evaluated, and complete sequencing and comparative analysis of blaKPC-encoding plasmids from E. coli and K. pneumoniae, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, polymerase chain reaction, multilocus sequence typing, and conjugal transfer of plasmids were performed. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for plasmids mediating KPC-2 production in E. coli and K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Strains E. coli CPEc171209 and K. pneumoniae CPKp171210 were identified as ST410 and ST307, respectively. CPEc171209 harbored five plasmids belonging to serotype O8:H21, which is in the antimicrobial-resistant clade C4/H24. The CPKp171210 isolate harbored three plasmids. Both strains harbored various additional antimicrobial resistance genes. The IncX3 plasmid pECBHS_9_5 harbored blaKPC-2 within a truncated Tn4401a transposon, which also contains blaSHV-182 with duplicated conjugative elements. This plasmid displayed 100% identity with the IncX3 plasmid pKPBHS_10_3 from the K. pneumoniae CPKp171210 ST307 strain. The genes responsible for the conjugal transfer of the IncX3 plasmid included tra/trb clusters and pil genes coding the type IV pilus. ST410 can be transmitted between patients, posing an elevated risk in clinical settings. The emergence of a KPC-producing E. coli strain (ST410) is concerning because the blaKPC-2-bearing plasmids may carry treatment resistance across species barriers. Transgenic translocation occurs among carbapenem-resistant bacteria, which may spread rapidly via horizontal migration.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.331-337
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• 1988

This paper dealt with the distribution of Salmonella (S) infection on 4 herds in Kyungju and Taegu during the period from May to October 1986. Isolated Salmonella were examined for serotypes, antimicrobial drug resistance and detection of R plasmid. The results obtained were summarised as followings: 1. Of total 4.622 samples from 4 herds, 67 Salmonella were isolated from 51 samples(1.1%), and their serovar strains were S typhimurium 6, S derby 5, S infantis 4, S bareilly 4, S dublin 3, S anatum 2, S montevideo 2 and untypable 41. 2. The isolation rate of Salmonella was higher in summer and autumn. 3. Of the 67 strains examined, 45 (67.2%) were resistant to one or more antibiotics, such as ampicillin (Am), cephalothin (Ce), chloramphenicol (Cm), rifampicin (Rf), sulfadimethoxine (Su), and tetracycline (Tc), and higher resistant to Sm (40.2%), Ce (31.3%), Am (23.9%). 4. Of the 45 resistant Salmonella strains, 44 (97.8%) harbored conjugative R plasmids and the transfer frequency of Sm (100%), Ce (95.2%), Tc (91.0%) and Su (80.0%) resistance was much higher than that of the other drug resistance. 5. The most common resistant patterns were Sm, Ce, AmCeCmSmSuTc, and AmCe. 6. In 4 herds, the incidience of drug resistance was 57.7%~100% and transfer frequency of conjugative R plasmid was 96.1%~100%.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1991

Several arsenic compound-resistant bacteria were isolated from Jung-Rang stream. The isolates, D-3, D-12, and D-14 were characterized phenotypically and genetically, and identified as Serratia liquefaciens, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. A plasmid of 67kb was found in Klebsiella oxytoca D-12 and designated as pMH12. Transfer of this plasmid from D-12 to E. coli HB101 was occurred, and the resulting transconjugant strains expressed the same level of heavy metal resistance as the donor strain. The physical presence of this plasmid in transconjugant was detected with agarose gel electrophoresis. Arsenite-sensitive derivatives of isolate D-12 were obtained with Mitomycin C treatment which cured pMH12. Antibiotics and heavy metal resistances were also examined to be used as a proper marker for the isolates in gene cloning. Isolate D-12 has resistance to several heavy metal ions such as $Cd^{2+}$ , $Zn^{2+}$ and $Hg^{ 2+}$ Also, all the other arsenite resistant isolates showed resistance to several heavy metal ions and antibiotics.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 1997

In order to express the FLP recombinase in B. mori cultured cell line, BmN-4, transient expression system using a heat shock protein gene (hsp70) promoter of Dorosophilla melnogaster was constructed. This vector was designated as pHsSV. Activity strength of the hsp70 promoter was compared with that of immediate early gene (IE-1) and polyhedrin gene of BmNPV employing the E. coli $\beta$-galactosidase gene as a reporter gene. The result showed that the pHs $\beta$-gal plasmid vector expressed the $\beta$-galactosidase at 2nd and 3rd day after the transfer of plasmid DNA into BmN-4 cells, which was similar to that of pIE1 $\beta$-gal vector, but different from that of a recombinant virus, vBm $\beta$-gal. For the construction of FLP recombinase transient expression vector, the FLP recombinase gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction technique. To express the FLP recombinase, this gene was inserted into pHsSV plasmid vector, under the control of the hsp70 promotor, and tranfected in BmN-4 cells. The expressed FLP recombinase was estimated at 44kDa on a 12.5% SDS-PAGE.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1989

This paper dealt with the distribution of Shigella spp. on 5 piggeries in Taegu and Kyungpook during the period from August to October 1987. Isolated Shigella were examined for serogrouping, antimicrobial drug resistance and detection of R plasmid. Genetic properties of R plasmid in Shigella have examined to fertility inhibition (Fi) and gel electrophoresis was performed for the isolation of plasmid DNA. The results obtained were summarised as followings; 1. Of total 2,978 samples from 5 piggeries, 82 strains (2.8%) of Shigella spp. were isolated from 82 samples. The isolated strains were identified as S dysenteriae (60 strains), S flexneri (20 strains) and S sonnei (2 strains). 2. Of the 82 strains examined 67 (95.1%) were resistant to one or more antibiotics, such as ampicillin (Am), chloramphenicol (Cm), kanamycin (Km), nalidixic acid (Na), rifampicin (Rf), streptomycin (Sm), sulfademethoxine (Su), and tetracycline (Tc) and higher resistant to Su (90.2%), Sm (63.4%) and Tc (63.4%). 3. Of the 78 resistant Shigella strains 26 (33.3%) harbored conjugative R plasmids and the transfer frequency of Sm (50.0%), Cm(33.3%) resistance was much higher than that of the other drug resistance. 4. The most common resistant patterns were SmSuTc, Su and AmSmSuTc. 5. Out of the 26 Shigella R plasm ids examined for Fi, 14(53.8%) were $Fi^+$ and the remainder were $Fi^-$. 6. The plasmid DNA profiles in Shigella spp. (9 strains) isolated from pigs were confirmed as being 2 to 9 fragments by the gel electrophoresis. Their molecular size ranged 2.17 to 87.62 kilobase (Kb). All strains of Shigella spp. consisted in 15.4 Kb plasmids.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 1990

These studies were made to assess the present stage of resistance of Shigella species to antibiotics and to find characteristics of R-plasmid of these bacteria. From 1986 to 1988, 125 strains of Shigella species were isolated from patients specimens collected in Chung Cheong-do Hospital, Kyunghee Medical Center, city an provincial health & environmental institutes. These specimens were tested for resistance to 12 kinds of antimicrobial agents by agar dilution method. Using Muller-Hinton agar for the assay of drug resistance and Trypticane Soy Broth as propagating medium for conjugation. All the strains (100%) were resistant to one or more antibiotics. Drug resistance patterns of isolated strains were found as the highest resistance to ampicillin (98%) in 1986, to tetracycline (98%) in 1987, to tetracycline (100%) in 1988, all strains were sensitive to gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin. Chronologically, resistance decreased gradually as it was shown in relation to kanamycin, rifampicin in 1986, 1987 and 1988, (4%, 2%) (4%, 2%) (0%, 0%) respectively. But, resistance was increased year by year as it was shown in relation to tetracycline, nalidixic acid, streptomycin in 1986, 1987, 1988 (89%, 19%, 45%) (98%, 46%, 71%) and (100%, 58%, 88%). The resistance in correlation to more than 5 drugs, which was 13 strains among 47 strains in 1986, 38 strains among 87 strains in 1987, 23 strains among 26 strains in 1988, was increased gradually. In the transfer test of drug resistance by conjugation methods, the rate which was 3 strains (50%) in 1986, 8 strains (62%) in 1987, 3 strains (100%) in 1988, was increased gradually. When the donor strains were conjugated with the recipient strains, the conjugation rate was high in the multiple resistant strains. The relationships of transferring patterns of drug resistance and molecular weight of R-plasmid were variable. However, only a plasmid which has more than 35 Mgd was transferred.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.3676-3680
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• 2012

An Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-based plasmid contains the EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) gene and EBV replication origin (oriP) sequence. Since EBNA1 (the only EBV-encoded protein) is combined with oriP, it is replicated simultaneously with chromosomal DNA in human, primate, and canine cells and is faithfully segregated at a stable copy number upon cell division. Consequently, it can be used to stably express gene inserts over a prolonged time in target cells. We have previously shown that the polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer can be surface-modified with L-arginine. Arginine is present at a high frequency in the transactivator of transcription (Tat) sequences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It presents high membrane permeability and permits effective transfer of DNA inside the cells. In this study, we constructed two kinds of recombinant DNA by inserting the luciferase gene and enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) gene as reporter genes into the pCEP4 plasmid vector. We measured dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential after preparing PAMAM-based cationic polymer/EBV-based plasmid complexes. We performed transfection of HEK 293 cell lines with the polyplexes, and monitored luciferase activity and green fluorescence protein (GFP) expression. Our results show that PAMAM-based cationic polymer/EBV plasmid complexes provide enhanced and sustained gene expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1862-1869
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• 2020

The spread of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance has posed a serious threat to public health owing to its effects on the emergence of pandrug-resistant bacteria. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and characteristics of mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli isolated from retail meat samples in Korea. In total, 1,205 E. coli strains were isolated from 3,234 retail meat samples in Korea. All E. coli strains were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and were examined for the presence of mcr-1 gene. All mcr-1-positive E. coli (n = 10, 0.8%) from retail meat were subjected to pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The transferability of mcr-1 gene was determined by conjugation assays. The mcr-1-positive strains exhibited diverse clonal types. Our mcr-1 genes were located in plasmids belonged to the IncI2 (n = 1) and IncX4 (n = 8) types, which were reported to be prevalent in Asia and worldwide, respectively. Most mcr-1 genes from mcr-1-positive strains (9/10) were transferable to the recipient strain and the transfer frequencies ranged from 2.4 × 10-3 to 9.8 × 10-6. Our data suggest that the specific types of plasmid may play an important role in spreading plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Korea. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the retail meat may be an important tool for disseminating plasmid-mediated colistin resistance.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-53
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• 1987

Multiply resistant Shigella strains isolated in Taegu area were subjected for the characterization of R plasmids. All strains isolated in 1984 and 1985 were susceptible to gentamicin, amikacin, and cephalothin, and most strains were susceptible to kanamycin (Km) and rifampin by agar dilution antimicrobial susceptibility test. The resistance frequency of S. flexneri against ampicillin (Ap) was higher than that of S. sonnei. The strains resistant to sulfisomidine (Su) and trimethoprim (Tp) were found at higher frequency in S. sonnei than in S. flexneri. The most prevalent resistance pattern of S. flexneri was chloramphenicol (Cm) tetracycline (Tc) streptomycin (Sm) Ap, followed by the pattern of CmTcSmSuApTp, CmTcSmSuApTp nalidixic acid, and CmTcSmSuAp in the decreasing order. The antibiogram of CmTcSmSuTp was found to be the most frequent pattern in S. sonnei. The ratio of conjugal transfer of S. flexneri was 47% and 75% of S. sonnei. The average number of plasmid harboring in Shigella was 4 and the size of plasmid ranged 1.3 to 134 megadalton (Mdal). Most S. flexneri carried plasmids of 2 to 3 Mdal and S. sonnei carried those of 3 to 4 Mdal size. The sizes of conjugative plasmids ranged 40-90 Mdal. The incompatibility group (Inc) F II plasmids (54-59 Mdal) were most frequent and rare Inc B plasmids (60 Mdal) of isolates in 1979 and 1980 and Inc FI (87 Mdal) of 1983 isolates were able to be classified by the colony test with standard reference plasmids. The R plasmids of known Inc group were tested for the restriction endonuclease analysis. The pattern of plasmids digested by EcoRl were apparently different by the Inc group but there was no significant difference between species or by the resistance patterns. Nonconjugative plasmids and their phenotypes were identified by transformation test. The transformants were resistant to less than two drugs. Colicin producing transformants carried the Col plasmid of 3.7 or 3.9 Mdal size. $Ap^r$ plasmids derived from S. sonnei were found to be mobilized by transfer factor RT641 to E. coli #CS100. $Ap^r$ plasm ids of same size shared by S. flexneri, S. sonnei, and E. coli were digested with Pstl. All of them showed two restriction fragments of 2.8 kilobase(kb) and 0.7kb. Other plasmids ($Sm^r\;Su^r$) derived from S. flexneri, S. boydii, and S. sonnei were digested with Pstl and they showed same restriction fragment patterns of 3.1kb and 2.9kb. The plasmid profiles of three strains of S. sonnei producing colicin and showing same resistance pattern of CmTcSmSuApTpKm appeared to be similar. Restriction patterns by EcoRl and the behavior of plasmids in conjugation or transformation process were also similar between those plasmids. The restriction patterns were significantly different between the plasmids of Inc FI group and those of unclassified Inc group.