• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2022

The spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive opportunistic pathogen, has increased due to the frequent use of antibiotics. Inhibition of the quorum-sensing systems of biofilm-producing strains using plant extracts represents an efficient approach for controlling infections. Torilis japonica is a medicinal herb showing various bioactivities; however, no studies have reported the anti-biofilm effects of T. japonica extracts against drug-resistant S. aureus. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of T. japonica ethanol extract (TJE) on biofilm production in methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) KCTC 1927, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) KCCM 40510, and MRSA KCCM 40511. Biofilm assays showed that TJE could inhibit biofilm formation in all strains. Furthermore, the hemolysis of sheep blood was found to be reduced when the strains were treated with TJE. The mRNA expression of agrA, sarA, icaA, hla, and RNAIII was evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to determine the effect of TJE on the regulation of genes encoding quorum sensing-related virulence factors in MSSA and MRSA. The expression of hla reduced in a concentration-dependent manner upon treatment with TJE. Moreover, the expression levels of other genes were significantly reduced compared to those in the control group. In conclusion, TJE can suppress biofilm formation and virulence factor-related gene expression in MSSA and MRSA strains. The extract may therefore be used to develop treatments for infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 1978

28 strains of Enterococci isolated at doctorless areas in Korea from Oct. 1976 through Mar. 1977 and 30 strains of Enterococci isolated at Seoul National University Hospital from Sep. 1976 through Dec. 1976 were examined for susceptibilities to 14 antimicrobial agents by agar dilution method. The susceptibilities of two groups to each antimicrobial agent were compared and incidence of resistant strains in each antimicrobial agent, incidence of multiply resistant strains and correlations in the antimicrobial susceptibility of 58 strains of Enterococci among 14 antimicrobial agents were analyzed. 1. With Tetracycline, Oxytetracline, Doxycycline, Minocycline and Erythromycin, the mean MIC's of Enterococci isolated at Seoul National University Hospital were 1.9-2.5 times higher than those of Enterococci isolated at doctorless areas, though there were no statistical significance. 2. Frequency of resistant strains in Enterococci isolated at Seoul National University Hospital was the highest with Cephalexin(100%), Gentamicin(100%), and Streptomycin(100%), followed by Kanamycin(93.3%), Carbenicillin(90%), Tetracycline(26.7%), Oxytetracycline(26.7%), Doxycycline(26.7%), Minocycline(20%), Erythromycin(10%), Troleandomycin(10%), Penicillin(6.7%), Cotrimoxazole(6.7%) and Ampicillin(0%). 3. Frequency of resistant strains in Enterococci isolated at doctorless areas was the highest with Kanamycin(100%) and Streptomycin(100%), followed by Cephalexin(96.4%), Gentamicin(96.4%), Carbenicillin(92.9%), Tetracycline(10.7%), Oxytetracycline(10.7%), Doxycycline(10.7%), Minocycline(10.7%), Cotrimoxazole(10.7%), Penicillin(3.6%), Ampicillin(0%), Erythromycin(0%), and Troeandomycin(0%). 4. In study with Penicillin, Ampicillin, Tetracycline, Cotrimoxazole, Erythromycin and Troleandomycin, there were no multiply resistant strains in Enterococci isolated at doctorless areas, while 4 strains of Enterococci isolated at Seoul National University Hospital showed multiple resistance. 5. There were high correlation in susceptibility of 58 strains of Enterococci among Tetracycline, Oxytetracycline, Doxycycline and Minocycline(correlation coefficients 0.86-0.97). Correlation coefficients of susceptibility among penicillin analogues(Penicillin, Ampicillin, Carbenicillin and Cephalexin) ranged between 0.75-0.89. Correlation coefficients of susceptibility among aminoglycosides(Kanamycin, Gentamicin and Streptomycin) ranged between 0.09-0.51.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2024

The emergence and spread of Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to quinolone antibacterial agents, has made it difficult to treat infectious diseases. Accordingly, this study examined the molecular epidemiological characteristics of quinolone-resistant S. aureus (QRSA) to obtain helpful data for treatment. Mutations in mecA and SCCmec typing, gyrA, and gyrB genes were investigated for QRSA strains isolated from the blood culture specimens at a general hospital in Daejeon Metropolitan City. The ciprofloxacin-resistant strains in SCCmec typing were II (44 strains, 73%), IVa (five strains, 8%), III, and V (one strain, 2%); the non-typeable strains (11 strains, 18%), and levofloxacin (LVX) and moxifloxacin (MXF) strains were II (44 strains, 73%), IVa (five strains, 8%), III, and V (one strain, 2%); the non-typeable strains were 10 (17%). In both gyrA and gyrB regions, there were 58 mutations, or 96.7%. In LVX, there were 56 mutations or 93.3%, and in MXF, there were 57 mutations or 95%. Twelve mutations, six mutations each in gyrA and gyrB, were identified for the QRSA strain. The resistance rate for the quinolone antibiotics of QRSA studied was approximately 98%, and 12 mutations, six each in gyrA and gyrB, were identified in the QRSA strain. Therefore, the rational use of antibiotics needs to be improved.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 2005

Attempts were made to control Diatrype stigma occurred on the bed-log of shiitake by resistant shiitake strains. In selection test of resistant shiitake strains, 67 out of 77 strains tested were proved to be resistant to D. stigma. Among them, 13 strains including KFRI 5 were effective to inhibit the access of D. stigma, and 7 strains including KFRI 180 remarkably invaded the territory of D. stigma. Among 31 shiitake strains made by hybridization of resistant strains for D. stigma, 8 strains including KFRI 537 inhibited the access of D. stigma, and 4 strains including KFRI 545 invaded the territory of D. stigma. The effects of temperatures and inoculation orders to the resistance were confirmed in PDA plates and test tubes filled with sawdust of Quercus acutissima. Four kinds of temperature treatments as follows were tested: (1) continuous incubation at $14^{\circ}C$, (2) continuous incubation at $25^{\circ}C$, (3) changing of incubation temperature from $14^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$ as soon as mycelia of both shiitake and D. stigma meet together, (4) changing of incubation temperature from $25^{\circ}C$ to $14^{\circ}C$ as soon as mycelia of both shiitake and D. stigma meet together. Three kinds of inoculation procedure were tested: (1) inoculation of shiitake 3 days ahead of D. stigma inoculation, (2) inoculation of D. stigma 3 days ahead of shiitake inoculation, (3) simultaneous inoculation of both fungi. In PDA plate test, the strain KFRI 137 showed outstanding ability to inhibit mycelial growth of D. stigma and the strain KFRI 180 invaded into the territory of D. stigma in most of treatments. Hybrid strains, KFRI 545, 546, and 547 were more resistant than their parent strains, KFRI 488 and 405. In test tube examinations, all the strains of shiitake showed high resistance at the treatment of change in temperature from $14^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$ when mycelia of both shiitake and D. stigma meet together. On the other hand, resistance of all the strains growing at $25^{\circ}C$ decreased when the temperature was changed into $14^{\circ}C$ after mycelia of both fungi. In these cases, the resistance reached to 7~20% of the highest resistance. The strain KFRI 259 invaded the territory of D. stigma, contrary to PDA plate test. Among the strains, KFRI 393 strain was the most resistant under the continuous incubation at $25^{\circ}C$.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2007

We determined the sequences of the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA and gyrB for 21 clinical strains of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and levofloxacin. The clinical strains were isolated from the specimens of three general hospitals in Busan. In the present study, we found mutations in type II topoisomerase (DNA gyrase) genes for all strains. We confirmed that some genera of Enterobacteriaceae of clinical specimen exhibited decreased sensitivity to fluroquinolone due to changes in Ser-83$\rightarrow$Leu and Asp-87$\rightarrow$Asn types on gyrA and alterations in Glu-465$\rightarrow$Arg and Ser-492$\rightarrow$Asn type on gyrB. All the twenty-one strains had a missense mutation in gyrA (codon 83 and 87). Three of them had an additional mutation in gyrB (codon 465 or 492), but one of them had an additional mutation in gyrB (codon 426, 427, 491, 495 and 496). The strains which had two mutations in type II topoisomerase genes (gyrA and gyrB) were significantly more resistant to fluoroquinolones than those with a single mutation in gyrA (mean MICs of ciprofloxacin: $\geq8\mu$g/ml, mean MICs of levofloxacin: $\geq16\mu$g/ml). Interestingly, the examination of silent nucleotide changes n the gyrA and gyrB genes revealed six different patterns of DNA polymorphism, respectively. Fifteen strains of the twenty-one strains bearing the gyrase A mutation shared the same polymorphism and eleven strains of the twenty-one strains bearing the gyrase B mutation shared the same polymorphism.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.381-385
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• 1986

Twenty strains of penicillin(PC)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ($MIC{\geqq}32U/ml$) were chosen randomly from recent isolates and submitted to the present experiment to see what effect the combined antibiotic action of moxalactam(MX) and fosfomycin(FM) would bring about on the cells, using MS-2 system. 1. The conventional agar dilution method and the rapid automatic MS-2 system were used in measuring the MICs of MX and FM against each strain and the comparison of the data obtained revealed no significant difference between the two methods in the titer and distribution of the MICs. 2. The automatic MS-2 system was, therefore, used alone in determining the combined growth inhibitory effect of MX and FM because of its more rapidness, and the obtained results were that most of the PC-resistant strains(16 out of 20, 80%) were synergistically inhibited by the two antibiotic combination while additive effect was observed in the remaining 4 strains(20%). 3. Thus, it is suggested that the growth of PC-resistant staphylococcal cells may be synergistically inhibited by MX and FM combination and the efficiency of two antibiotic action as well as MIC of single antibiotic may be more rapidly determined by the MS-2 system than by the conventional method.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.312-316
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• 2005

To develop a new natural antibiotics from Koran plant resources for dealing with the current situation regarding the rapid increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogen, the in vitro inhibitory activities of essential oils from the young leaves of Glehnia littoralis (Umbelliferae) as well as its main constituents were evaluated against susceptible and resistant species of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The essential oil fraction of G. littoralis and its main components, $\alpha-and\;\beta-pinene$, exhibited significant inhibitory activities against the antibiotic-susceptible and resistant strains of S. pneumoniae, with MICs (minimum inhibiting concentrations) ranging from 4.0mg/ml to 16mg/ml. No remarkable differences were shown between the susceptible and resistant strains. Moreover, the disk diffusion test disclosed that these inhibitory activities were dose­dependent. Furthermore, data from the checkerboard titer test with FICIs (fractional inhibiting concentration indices) from 0.15 to 0.28 indicated synergisms between norfloxacin and $\alpha-or\;{\beta}-pinene$ in activity against S. pneumoniae KCCM49629 and S. pneumoniae CCARM4059.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.719-724
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• 2018

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for a number of infections in humans that are difficult to treat, and as a result, is a substantial contributor to morbidity and mortality. In the present study, in search of natural products capable of inhibiting this multidrug-resistant bacterium, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root. The antibacterial activities of EtOH extract of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root and its n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH and water fractions were evaluated against 15 strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 1 standard methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strain by using the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay, colorimetric assay using MTT test, checkerboard dilution test. Antimicrobial activity of n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root was remarkable. Against the 16 strains, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were in the range of $31.25-62.5{\mu}g/ml$ and FICI values for n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root+AM and n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root+OX were checkerboard method performed using the MRSA, MSSA and one clinical isolate strains via MICI 0.12-1 and 0.25-0.75, showing the increase of synergistic effect. When combined together, these antibiotic effects were dramatically increased. These effective combinations could be new promising agents in the management of MRSA.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.447-455
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to understand the concentration, diversity, and antibiotic characteristics of staphylococci present in the indoor air of child-care facilities. Methods: Air sampling was performed from October 2012 to January 2013 in 120 child-care facilities in Seoul, Korea. Methicillin-resistant bacteria were selected from the total obtained airborne bacteria and subjected to 16S rRNA analysis for methicillin-resistant staphylococcal species determination. Identified staphylococcal strains were tested for resistance to a range of antibiotics. Results: Average total airborne bacterial concentration was $508.9{\pm}246.3CFU/m^3$. Indoor concentration of total airborne bacteria had a significant positive correlation with the $CO_2$ concentration in the child-care facilities. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci were present in 13.3% of the child-care facilities studied. A total of four species (S. epidermidis, S. cohnii, S. saprophyticus, S. sp.) and 55 strains were identified from the indoor air of the child-care facilities. Staphylococcus cohnii was the most common species (54.5%), followed by S. epidermidis (38.2%). All of the isolated staphylococcal strains exhibited high resistance to oxacillin, erythromycin, mupirocin, and ceftizoxime. Especially, S. saprophyticus strains showed more multidrug resistance to oxacillin, vancomycin, clindamycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, ceftizoxime, mupirocin, and tetracycline than did other species. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a monitoring system for multidrug-resistant bacteria is needed in facilities for children, as the community-associated infections of these bacteria are increasing.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2003

Most of food poisoning is frequently raised from mass catering. Especially, staphylococci takes the large part of pathogenic agents which are related to the hygienic condition. Among total 98 samples, four staphylococci were isolated from food service environment such as drinking water (A), hands (D), refrigerator and apron (E) of 5 elementary school (A, B, C, D, E) in Gyeongnam Province. These isolated strains are characterized as 1 MRCNS (Methicilline Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus aureus) and 3 MSCPS (Methicilline Sensitive Coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus). Also, production of enterotoxin B (sob gene) were examined by PCR which has known as a big problem because of their temperature resistance. Hence, PCR was performed on isolated 4 staphylococci. The all 4 isolated Staphylococcus aureus have 477 bp of seb gene. Antibiotics susceptibility test was completed on PCR detected strains. All strains were fully resistance to ampicillin and penicillin. The drinking water of A place has resistance to oxacilline, therefore this strain turned out to be MRSA (Methicilline Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus).