• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2008

In this study, glucose-inducible intergenic sequences were used to generate bioreporters of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that could monitor environmental pollutants. Luciferase genes LuxAB from the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri under the control of glucose-inducible intergenic seqeucens of eight genes (atpI, ndbA, ctaD1, tkt, pgi, pdh, ppc, and cydA) were successfully expressed in the cyano-bacterial transformants, showing 5-25 fold increases in biolumeniscence upon exposure to glucose. In addition, glucose-inducible cyanobacterial bioreporters were very sensitive to various chemicals such as heavy metals ($Hg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$), electron transport inhibitors (DCMU, DBMIB, $CN^-$), and antibiotics (chloramphenicol and rifampicin). These glucose-inducible cyanobacterial bioreporters would be useful to develop biosensors for rapid screening of environmental samples.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1265-1270
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to determine the antibiotypes, SCCmec subtypes, PVL carriage, and genetic diversity of MRSA strains from a tertiary hospital. Sixty-six MRSA strains were selected randomly (2003, 2004, and 2007) and tested for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene, mecA gene, and SCCmec type via a PCR. The antibiograms were determined using a standard disc diffusion method, and the genetic diversity of the isolates was determined by PFGE. Thirty-four antibiograms were obtained, with 55% of the 66 strains exhibiting resistance to more than 4 antimicrobials. All the isolates remained susceptible to vancomycin, and low resistance rates were noted for fusidic acid (11%), rifampicin (11%), and clindamycin acid (19%). The MRSA isolates that were multisensitive (n=12) were SCCmec type IV, whereas the rest (multiresistant) were SCCmec type III. Only two isolates (SCCmec type IV) tested positive for PVL, whereas all the isolates were mecA-positive. The PFGE was very discriminative and subtyped the 66 isolates into 55 pulsotypes (F=0.31-1.0). The multisensitive isolates were distinctly different from the multidrug-resistant MRSA. In conclusion, no vancomycin-resistant isolate was observed. The Malaysian MDR MRSA isolates were mostly SCCmec type III and negative for PVL. These strains were genetically distinct from the SCCmec type IV strains, which were sensitive to SXT, tetracycline, and erythromycin. Only two strains were SCCmec IV and PVL-positive. The infections in the hospital concerned were probably caused by multiple subtypes of MRSA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1276-1284
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• 2006

Listeria monocytogenes is a well-known high-risk foodborne pathogen that grows at refrigeration temperature and is responsible for outbreaks of listeriosis. We report here the incidence of L. monocytogenes in fresh chicken carcasses and present genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes isolates. In this study, 25 g of chicken carcasses from markets in Korea were examined according to the FDA method, and presumptive isolates were confirmed by multiplex PCR assay. L. monocytogenes isolates were analyzed by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis using restriction enzymes, ApaI and AscI, to obtain strain-specific DNA fragments profiles. Antimicrobial resistance of L. monocytogenes strains against generally used antibiotics (Penicillin G, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, Vancomycin, Cephalothin, Rifampicin, Erythromycin, Ampicillin, Gentamicin, Streptomycin, and Chloramphenicol) were analyzed by NCCLS protocols to examine the presence of antimicrobial resistance in natural L. monocytogenes. Of a total 274 chicken samples, 81 samples (29.6%) were positive for L. monocytogenes. Listeria innocua (50.1%), Listeria welshimeri (6.9%), and Listeria grayi (11.3%) were also detected. PFGE analysis, using restriction enzymes ApaI and AscI, showed 27 pulsotypes of L. monocytogenes. Antimicrobial resistance analysis confirmed the existence of antimicrobial resistance for penicillin G and tetracycline in isolated L. monocytogenes strains.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2018

The rapid increase in number and diversity of Extended Spectrum ${\beta}$-Lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae in natural aquatic environment is a major health concern worldwide. This study investigates abundance and distribution of ESBL producing multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae and molecular characterization of ESBL genes among isolates from highly polluted stretch of river Yamuna, India. Water samples were collected from ten different sites distributed across Delhi stretch of river Yamuna, during 2014-15. A total of 506 non duplicate Enterobacteriaceae isolates were obtained. Phenotypic detection of ESBL production and antibiotic sensitivity for 15 different antibiotics were performed according to CLSI guidelines (Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute, 2015). A subset of ESBL positive Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene and screened for ESBL genes, such as $bla_{CTX-M}$, $bla_{TEM}$ and $bla_{OXA}$. Out of 506 non-duplicate bacterial isolates obtained, 175 (34.58%) were positive for ESBL production. Susceptibility pattern for fifteen antibiotics used in this study revealed higher resistance to cefazolin, rifampicin and ampicillin. A high proportion (76.57%) of ESBL positive isolates showed multidrug resistance phenotype, with MAR index of 0.39 at Buddha Vihar and Old Delhi Railway bridge sampling site. Identification and PCR based characterization of ESBL genes revealed the prevalence of $bla_{CTX-M}$ and $bla_{TEM}$ genes to be 88.33% and 61.66%, respectively. Co-occurrence of $bla_{CTX-M}$ and $bla_{TEM}$ genes was detected in 58.33% of the resistant bacteria. The $bla_{OXA}$ gene was not detected in any isolates. This study highlights deteriorating condition of urban aquatic environment due to rising level of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae with multidrug resistance phenotype.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.660-666
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• 2005

The intestinal microbiota are important to the host with regard to resistance they impart against bacterial infections and their involvement in mediating metabolic functions. Lactic acid producing bacteria such as Lactobacillus play an important physiological role in these matters. The aim of the present study was to isolate Lactobacillus sp. that inhibits enteric pathogens. Initially, 17 isolates from healthy Koreans were collected on Lactobacillus selective medium. Resistance of the isolates to antibiotics including rifampicin, streptomycin, clindamycin and vancomycin was measured. One of the isolate was identified as Lactobacillus ruminus on the basis of bacterial cell morphology, cultural characteristic and biochemical characteristics, 16S rRNA sequence analysis and PCR-RAPD. Antimicrobial activity of the bacterium against Vancomycin Intermediate Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) was measured. About $10^4$ cells of VISA or VRE were mixed with 1, 5, and 9 mL of L. ruminus SPM 0211 and the final volume was adjusted to 10 mL with brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. The cell suspension was incubated for 3, 6, 9, and 24 h, serially diluted and then plated on BHI agar plates. As numbers of L. ruminus SPM 0211 were increased, viable cell count of VISA and VRE decreased. The strongest antimicrobial activity of SPM 0211 was observed after 9 h incubation in any mixture, almost completely inhibiting the growth of these two bacteria. The results suggest that the freshly isolated L. ruminus SPM 0211 may be used as a pro-biotic microbe that prevents the colonization of enteric pathogens and can thereby promote good gastrointestinal health.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 1986

This paper deals with the isolation of Salmonella on 3 herds during the period from May 1984 to May 1985. Isolated Salmonella were examined for serotypes, adhesive fimbriae, antibiotic susceptibility and detection of R plasmid. The results were as follows; Of total 1505 cattle, 24 Salmonella were isolated from 18 cattle (1.2%) and their serotypes were S. enteritidis (9 strains), S. derby(4 strains), S. infantis (1 strain), $C_1$ group(8 strains), $C_2$ group(1 strain) and untypable(1 strain). Twelve strains of Salmonella were isolated from 227 cattle with diarrhea and their serotypes were S. enteritidis(4 strains), S. derby(3 strains), S. infantis(1 strain), $C_1$ group(3 strains) and untypable(1 strain). The isolation rate of Salmonella in cattle varied from 1.6 to 0.9% in 3 herds, it was higher in summer and autumn and lower with the age. Of total 24 strains, 23 were adhesive type 1 fimbriae. Antibiotic susceptibility test of Salmonella isolated was performed by the agar dilution method, using 9 antibiotics as follows: ampicillin(Am), chloramphenicol(Cm), gentamicin(Gm), kanamycin(Km), nalidixic acid(Na), rifampicin(Rf), streptomycin(Sm), sulfadimethoxine(Su) and tetracycline(Tc). All the strains tested were susceptible to Am, Cm, Gm, Km, Na, Rf and Tc. Of total 24 strains, 23(95.8%) were resistant to Su and 14(58.3%) to Sm. Of the 23 resistant Salmonella strains, all the strains were found to carry R plasmid. Among them, two strains which had the R plasmid conferring SmSu resistance was transferable at $25^{\circ}C$ only.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 2017

A methane-oxidizing bacterium was isolated from rice paddy field soil around Jeollanam-do province, Korea, and characterized. The isolate was gram-negative, orange pigmented and short rod ($1.1-1.2{\times}1.6-1.9{\mu}m$). It was catalase and urease-negative but oxidase-positive. The strain utilized methane and methanol as sole carbon and energy sources. It had an ability to grow with an optimum pH 7.0 and an optimum growth temperature $30^{\circ}C$. The strain was resistant to antibiotic polymyxin B but sensitive to streptomycin, kanamycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol and rifampicin. The isolate required copper for their growth with concentration range of $2-25{\mu}M$, with an optimum of $10{\mu}M$. Under optimal culture condition, specific cell growth rate and generation time were found to be $0.046hr^{-1}$ and 15.13 hr, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the strain formed a tight phylogenetic lineage with Methylomonas koyamae with a value of 99.4% gene sequence homology. So, we named the isolate as Methylomonas sp. SM4. 8.6 mM methanol was accumulated in the reaction mixture containing 70 mM sodium formate and 40 mM $MgCl_2$ (MDH inhibitor) under atmosphere of methane:air (40:60) mixture for 24 hr at $30^{\circ}C$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.936-943
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• 2007

Previously it was reported that promoter of groES-groEL operon of Staphylococcus aureus is induced by various cellwall active antibiotics. In order to exploit the above promoter for identifying novel antistaphylococcal drugs, we have cloned the promoter containing region ($P_g$) of groES-groEL operon of S. aureus Newman and found that the above promoter is induced by sublethal concentrations of many antibiotics including cell-wall active antibiotics. A reporter S. aureus RN4220 strain (designated SAU006) was constructed by inserting the $P_g$-lacZ transcriptional fusion into its chromosome. Agarose-based assay developed with SAU006 shows that $P_g$ in single-copy is also induced distinctly by different classes of antibiotics. Data indicate that ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, ampicillin, and cephalothin are strong inducers, whereas, tetracycline, streptomycin and vancomycin induce the above promoter weakly. Sublethal concentrations of ciprofloxacin and ampicilin even have induced $P_g$ efficiently in microtiter plate grown SAU006. Additional studies show for the first time that above promoter is also induced weakly by arsenate salt and hydrogen peroxide. Taken together, we suggest that our simple and sensitive assay systems with SAU006 could be utilized for screening and detecting not only novel antistaphylococcal compounds but also different toxic chemicals.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 1999

A novel chromosomal gene tagging technique using a specific fragment of the fatty acid desaturase-like open reading frame (des-like ORF) from the tox-argK gene cluster of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola was developed to identify Xanthomonas spp.released into the environment as biocontrol agents. X. campestris pv. convolvuli FB-635, a pathogen of Convolvulus arvensis L., (bindweed), was chosen as the organism in which to develop and test the system. A 0.52 kb DES fragment amplified from P. syringae pv. phaseolicola C-199 was inserted into pGX15, a cosmid clone containing a 10.3 kb Eco RI-HindIII fragment derived from the xanthomonadin biosynthetic gene cluster contained in plasmid pIG102, to create a pigG::DES insertion. The 10.8 kb EcoRI-BamHI fragment carrying the pigG:: DES insertion was cloned into pLAFR3 to generate pLXP22. pLXP22 was then conjugated into X. campestris pv. convolvuli FB-635 and the pigG::DES insertion integrated into the bacterial chromosome by marker exchange. Rifampicin resistant, tetracycline sensitive, starch hydrolyzing, white colonies were used to differentiate the marked strain from yellow pigmented wild-type ones. PCR primers specific for the unique DES fragment were used for direct detection of the marked strain. Result showed the marked strain could be detected at very low levels even in the presence of high levels of other closely related or competitive bacteria. This PCR-based DES-tagging system provides a rapid and specific tool for directly monitoring the dispersal and persistence of Xanthomonas spp.released into the environment.

• 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%.