• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.483-490
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• 1992

In order to understand the transfer behavior of a particular gene in water environments, kanamycin resistance ($Km^r$) gene was tracked by Southern hybridization with DNA probe in its conjugal transfer. A $Km^r$ natural bacterial isolate and genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) constructed from the isolate were used as donor for conjugal transfer of the $Km^r$ gene. The transfer frequencies of the $Km^r$ gene from GMM strains were generally 10 to 100 times higher than those from the natural isolate. The conjugants obtained from GMM strains in LB broth had more plasmids newly appeared, and particularly the conjugants in A Wand FW waters revealed more rearrangement in their plasmids as a function of conjugation time. When plasmids of the conjugants obtained in LB broth were Southern hybridized with DNA probe of the $Km^r$ gene, the $Km^r$ plasmids in the conjugants were detected at the same position of the plasmids in donor cells, in spite of the fact that the plasmids were highly rearranged in conjugant cells. But the $Km^r$ plasmids in the donor of DKI and DKC601, and DKC600 were not identified in the conjugants obtained after 50 h conjugation in AW and after 30 h in AW, respectively. The size of the $Km^r$ plasmids showing hybridization signal were a little changed in the conjugants obtained in A Wand FW waters. Therefore, the method of Southern hybridization with DNA probe was proved to be very specific and useful for tracking of particular genes in water environments.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.555-562
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• 2018

Background: The emerging mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, is an ongoing worldwide concern and an evaluation of clinical isolates harboring this gene is required in Korea. We investigated mcr-1-possessing Enterobacteriaceae among Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated in Korea, and compared the genetic details of the plasmids with those in Escherichia coli isolates from livestock. Methods: Among 9,396 Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates collected between 2010 and 2015, 1,347 (14.3%) strains were resistant to colistin and those were screened for mcr-1 by PCR. Colistin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by microdilution, and conjugal transfer of the mcr-1-harboring plasmids was assessed by direct mating. Whole genomes of three mcr-1-positive Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates and 11 livestock-origin mcr-1-positive E. coli isolates were sequenced. Results: Two E. coli and one Enterobacter aerogenes clinical isolates carried carried IncI2 plasmids harboring mcr-1, which conferred colistin resistance (E. coli MIC, 4 mg/L; E. aerogenes MIC, 32 mg/L). The strains possessed the complete conjugal machinery except for E. aerogenes harboring a truncated prepilin peptidase. The E. coli plasmid transferred more efficiently to E. coli than to Klebsiella pneumoniae or Enterobacter cloacae recipients. Among the three bacterial hosts, the colistin MIC was the highest for E. coli owing to the higher mcr-1-plasmid copy number and mcr-1 expression levels. Ten mcr-1-positive chicken-origin E. coli strains also possessed mcr-1-harboring IncI2 plasmids closely related to that in the clinical E. aerogenes isolate, and the remaining one porcine-origin E. coli possessed an mcr-1-harboring IncX4 plasmid. Conclusions: mcr-1-harboring IncI2 plasmids were identified in clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates. These plasmids were closely associated with those in chicken-origin E. coli strains in Korea, supporting the concept of mcr-1 dissemination between humans and livestock.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 1997

Two gentamicin resistance R plasmids, pGM5 and pGM6, containing aacC2 gene were selected from environmental isolates. The gentamicin resistance determinants of R plasmids were cloned into the BamHI site of pUC18. Restriction enzyme map of inserted region of recombinant plasmids, pSYS and pSY6, and PCR results indicated that Tn3 sequence was located upstream of gentamicin resistance gene. Based on the restriction maps and susceptibility tests, it was concluded that the sequence of bla and 3' inverted repeat of Tn3 play a important roles in the expression of gentamicin resistance gene.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2012

This study investigated the role of plasmids and their relationship with the multiple antibiotic resistance of 30 Vibrios sp. isolated from molluscs and crustaceans sampled from the Kerala coastal waters of India. The biochemical identification and antibiotic resistance profiles were determined, followed by the plasmid profiles, conjugation and transformation efficiencies. The results showed a considerable difference in the level of bacterial resistance to various antibiotics; while all 30 strains were found to be MAR Vibrios sp. and their resistance patterns varied. All the strains were resistant to amoxycillin, ampicillin and carbeniciliin. 87% were resistant to rifampicin; 74% to cefuroxime; 67 to streptomycin; 53% to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin and 47% to furazolidone and nalidixic acid. In addition to their antibiotic resistance, the plasmid DNA of the MAR Vibrios strains isolated from the molluscs and crustaceans was also studied. Nine strains isolated from crustaceans and molluscs were found to harbor 1-3 plasmids with sizes varying from 5. 98 kb to 19. 36 kb. The average transformation efficiency was about $5{\times}10^{-8}$ and the conjugation efficiency varied from $2.1{\times}10^{-3}$ to $10^{-9}$. A further study of antibiotic resistance patterns may be useful to test the extent of drug resistance in seafoods and help to devise a nationwide antibiotic policy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.303-313
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• 1989

To investigate the epidemiological trait of intestinal diseases of animals caused by thermophilic Campyllobacter spp., isolation of etiological agent was carried out and the profiles of plasmids and the transfer of resistance plasmid in the isolated Campylobacter spp. were examined. The results were as follows. 1. A total of 110 isolates of C jejuni and C coli were subjected to the test for the presence of plasmid DNA. Of the isolates examined, 60% of the isolates were noted to harbor plasmid DNA. Plasmid occurrencer ate from pigs, chickens and cattle were 76.2%, 61.7% and 37.7%, respectively. The plasmids of a large molecular weight, ranging from 36 Md to 86Md, were identified with the strains of tetracycline resistant. 2. Transfer frequency of tetracycline resistant plasmids was higher in the case of the filter mating method than in the broth mating method by the factor of 10~1,000. 3. Tetracycline resistant plasmids of C jejuni were transferrable to C jejuni and C coli by conjugation. In a low frequency, the transfer of tetracycline plasmid was also possible to Vibrio parahemolyticus. However, it was impossible to transfer to Streptococcus fecalis, E coli and Vibrio cholerae. 4. Tetracycline resistant plasmids of C jejuni were impossible to transfer to Campylobacter spp. and related bacteria by transformation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 1992

This paper dealt with plasmid DNA profile in 98 Salmonella(S) isolated from pigs and cattle sources in Taegu, Gyeongbook and Gyeongnam during the period from 1984 to 1987. Also we were studied for restriction enzyme analysis of the plasmid DNA, and mouse infection, Sereny test and normal setum resistance test in guinea pig for S typhimurium and S enteritidis harbored or cured 60 megadalton(Md) plasmid and 36 Md plasmid, respectively. Of the 13 Salmonella isolated from cattle, 7 Salmonella harbored one or more plasmids and molecular sizes of the large plasmids were 60 Md for S typhimurium and 36 Md for S enteritidis. Of the 85 Salmonella isolated from pigs, 47 Salmonella were confirmed as being one or more plasmids, and all the S typimurium stains harbored 60 Md plasmid. In enzyme digestion with 8 types of restriction endonuclease for 60 Md plasmid DNA of S typhimurium, cleavage patterns were varied to enzymes, and the DNA was segmented into 4 to 15 fragments. In restriction enzyme analysis of 36 Md plasmid DNA obtained from four strains of S. enteritidis, the DNA showed the same cleavage patterns obtained with Eco RI, Hind III and Bam H I, and was segmented into 3 to 5 fragments. In virulence for mice by measuring the 50% lethal dose ($LD_{50}$), the $LD_{50}$ values obtained for 60 Md virulence-associated plasmid harbored strains of S typhimurium and 36 Md virulence-associated plasmid of S enteritidis were up to $10^4$-fold lower than the values obtained for the plasmid-cured strains of the same serotype. Only the plasmid harbored strains were resistant to the bactericidal activity of 90% guinea pig serum, and only they gave positive responses in sereny test. We suggested that their plasmid DNA might be associated with virulence for mice.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to obtain the most efficient combination of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains and Ti plasmids for the construction of dicotyledonous plant vector system. Ti plasmid-curing A. tumefaciens A136 and KU12C3 were transformed with four kinds of Ti plasmids, pTiBo542, pTiA6, pTiKU12 and pTiAch5, respectively. The stems of 28 species of dicotyledonous plants were then inoculated with these transformants and examined for crown gall formation. The different combination of A. tumefaciens strains and Ti plasmids showed quite a difference in terms of the crown gall formation. Agrobacterium strins A136 and KU12C3 have a same plant host range in case that both strains harour the same kind of Ti plasmid, pTiBo542 or pTiAch5. However, the above-mentioned both strains have quite different host range in the event of containing the same Ti plasmid, pTiKU12 or pTiA6. In case that KU12C3 contains pTiA6 or pTiKU12, this strain has a wider plant host range than A136. The plant host range of pTiBo542 is the widest, followed by pTiA6, pTiKU12 and pTiAch5. Twelve plants among 28 tested plants are not transformed by any virulent Agrobacterium strains used in this study. In conclusion, A. tumefaciens KU12C3 and A136 harboring pTiBo542 showed the widest host range for transforming dicotyledonous plants. Also, it was acertained that the host range of Ti plasmids is affected by chromosomal level.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 1993

The objective of this study is to identify plasmids of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1(B. t k HD-1) toxic to lepidopteran larvae. The results from agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that the bacterium contained 9 plasmids with approximate sizes of 1.4, 4.9, 5.4, 9.3, 10, 29, 44, 52, and 150 megadaltons(Md). By treating the wild type of B. t k HD-1 with either SDS or EtBr as curing agent, 26 cured mutants of the bacterium were obtained, 9 of them were crystallifereous(cry+) and the others acrystallifereous(cry-). Plasmids from B. t k HD-1 were transferred to B. cereus 569 strR cry- recipients(Bc569 M1). Among 13 isolates of Bc569 M1 transcipient, 11 of them were capable of producing the crystal toxic proteins. The plasmid patterns of Bc569 M1 transcipients and partially curved mutants of B. t k HD-1 on agarose gel electrophoresis suggested that the 29 and 44Md plasmids should be involved in the production of crystalline toxic proteins.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 1988

Samples used for the enrichment culture were collected from the sea water of suspected chronic petroleum contamination in the vicinity of Pusan, Chungmu and Ulsan ports, Korea. Alkaline Iysis and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were employed to screen these isolates for the presence of plasmid DNA. There were n little differences in the percentage of isolates containing plasmids between sampling sites of unpolluted sen water (22％) and polluted son water (25％). Bacterial isolates taken from the Bunker-C oil enriched culture showed significantly more plasmid incidence (29％). About two thirds of strains grown on a variety of hydrocarbons were Gram negative strains of which 33％ contained one or more plasmids. Multiple plasmids were observed in 23％ of the plasmid-carrying strains. Forty one percent of the plasmids detected were estimated to have a mass of 20 kb or more.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.17-31
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• 1986

Forty clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens were tested for their susceptibility to 19 antimicrobial drugs and studied on the molecular characteristics of R plasmids. Cefotaxime (Ct) was the most effective drug and only 2 (5%) strains were resistant to this drug. Thirteen to 18% of strains were resistant to cefoperazone (Cz), amikacin (Ak). and trimethoprim (Tp), and 28 to 40% were resistant to piperacillin (Pi), nalidixic acid (Na), gentamicin (Gm), and cefoxitin (Cx). A majority of strains were resistant to carbenicillin (Cb), tobramycin (Tp), kanamycin (Km), and cefamandole (Cd), and all to cephalothin. One half of the isolates were resistant to 10 or more drugs. $MIC_{90}$ of Pi to Gm-resistant strains (Gm') were 8 times higher than that to Gm-susceptible strains (Gm'), but $MIC_{90}$ of Ak, Cx, Ct, and Cz were almost the same between both Gm' and Gm' strains. Nine (23.7%) strains among 38 of multiply drug-resistant S. marcescens transferred conjugally their partial patterns of resistance to E. coli or Klebsiella strains, and two S. marcescens strains producing bacteriocin transferred their resistance to Klebsiella only, but not to E. coli. The plasmid profiles of S. marcescens were studied by the methods of SDS lysis and agarose gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four (60%) strains carried one to four plasmids of 1.4. to 144 Mdal, and conjugative R plasmids of 49 to 127 Mdal were noted in transconjugants. MIC levels of drugs in transconjugants were variable by the R plasmids and recipient strains.