• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-helicobacter activity of the ethanol extract of Sohamhyoongtang (Coptidis Rhizoma, Pinelliae Tuber and Trichosanthis Semen) and Coptidis Rhizoma total alkaloids, which is one of the components of Sohamhyoongtang. Crude ethanol extract of Sohamhyoongtang (ESHHT) and Coptidis Rhizoma total alkaloids (CRTA) were used for this experiment. Five different types of H. pylori (including H. pylori 26695) were used as test strain. To determine anti-helicobacter activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by agar dilution method. The effect of ESHHT and CRTA on the gene expression of H. pylori was investigated by quantitative realtime-PCR (qRT-PCR). MICs of ESHHT against five H. pylori strains were $250{\sim}500{\mu}g/ml$ and MICs of CRTA against five H. pylori strains were $50{\sim}200{\mu}g/ml$. Four representative virulence genes of H. pylori, cagA, ureA, ureB and ureI were tested as target genes for qRT-PCR. According to the qRT-PCR results, both ESHHT and CRTA markedly repressed the expression of cagA gene of H. pylori 26695 (6.91 and 20 folds respecively). These results showed that the ESHHT and CRTA demonstrated antihelicobacter properties, suggesting their potential use in gastritis or duodenal ulcer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.291-295
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• 2010

The onset, severity, and ultimate outcome of malaria infection are influenced by parasite-expressed virulence factors and individual host responses to these determinants, In both humans and mice, liver injury is involved after parasite entry, which persists until the erythrocyte stage after infection with the fatal strain Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has strong anti-apoptotic effects in various kinds of cells, and also has diverse metabolic functions. In this work, Pf-subtilisin-like protease 2 (Pf-Sub2) 5' untranslated region (UTR) was analyzed and its transcriptional activity was estimated by luciferase expression. Fourteen TATA boxes were observed but only one Oct-1 and c-Myb were done. In addition, host HGF interaction with Pf-Sub2 was evaluated by co-transfection of HGF- and Pf-Sub2-cloned vector. Interestingly, -1,422/+12 UTR exhibited the strongest luciferase activity but -329 to + 12 UTR did not exhibit luciferase activity. Moreover, as compared with the control of unexpressed HGF, the HGF protein suppressed luciferase expression driven by the 5' untranslated region of the Pf-Sub2 promoter. Taken together, it is suggested that HGF controls and interacts with the promoter region of the Pf-Sub2 gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2008

Vibrio vulnificus produces siderophores, low-molecular-weight iron-chelating compounds, to obtain iron under conditions of iron deprivation. To identify genes associated with the biosynthesis of siderophore in V. vulnificus MO6-24/O, we screened clones with mini-Tn5 random insertions for those showing decreased production of siderophore. Among 6,000 clones screened, nine such clones were selected. These clones contain the transposon inserted in VV2_0830 (GenBank accession number) that is a homolog of a nonribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS). There is an another NRPS module, VV2_0831, 49-bp upstream to VV2_0830. We named these two genes vvs (Vibrio vulnificus siderophore synthase) A and B, respectively. Mutation of either vvsA or vvsB showed a decreased production of siderophore. The expression of an NRPS-lux fusion was negatively modulated by the presence of iron, and the regulation was dependent on Fur (ferric uptake regulator). However, the expression of the NRPS genes was still not fully derepressed in the iron-rich condition, even in furnull mutant cells, suggesting that some other unknown factors are involved in the regulation of the genes. We also demonstrated that the NRPS genes are important for virulence of the pathogen in a mice model.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2010

We studied on the proteomic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii KI-1 tachyzoites which were originally isolated from a Korean patient, and compared with those of the well-known virulent RH strain using 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), mass spectrometry, and quantitative real-time PCR. Two-dimensional separation of the total proteins isolated from KI-1 tachyzoites revealed up to 150 spots, of which 121 were consistent with those of RH tachyzoites. Of the remaining 29 spots, 14 showed greater than 5-fold difference in density between the KI-1 and RH tachyzoites at a pH of 5.0-8.0. Among the 14 spots, 5 from the KI-1 isolate and 7 from the RH strain were identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and database searches. The spots from the KI-1 tachyzoties were dense granule proteins (GRA 2,3,6, and 7), hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGRPTase), and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase). The spots from the RH strain were surface antigen 1 (SAG 1), L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), actin, chorismate synthase, peroximal catalase, hexokinase, bifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHTR-TS), and nucleosidetriphosphatases (NTPases). Quantitative real-time PCR supported our mass spectrometric results by showing the elevated expression of the genes encoding GRA 2,3, and 6 and UPRTase in the KI-1 tachyzoites and those encoding GRA 7, SAG 1, NTPase, and chorismate synthase in the RH tachyzoites. These observations demonstrate that the protein compositions of KI-1 and RH tachyzoites are similar but differential protein expression is involved in virulence.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.389-395
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• 2009

We previously observed that the transcription of some flagellar genes decreased in Salmonella Typhimurium tdcA mutant, which is a gene encoding the transcriptional activator of the tdc operon. Since flagella-mediated bacterial motility accelerates the invasion of Salmonella, we have examined the effect of tdcA mutation on the invasive ability as well as the flagellar biosynthesis in S. Typhimurium. A tdcA mutation caused defects in motility and formation of flagellin protein, FliC in S. Typhimurium. Invasion assays in the presence of a centrifugal force confirmed that the defect of flagellum synthesis decreases the ability of Salmonella to invade into cultured epithelial cells. In addition, we also found that the expression of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1) genes required for Salmonella invasion was down-regulated in the tdcA mutant because of the decreased expression of fliZ, a positive regulator of SPI1 transcriptional activator, hilA. Finally, the virulence of a S. Typhimurium tdcA mutant was attenuated compared to a wild type when administered orally. This study implies the role of tdcA in the invasion process of S. Typhimurium.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.436-442
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• 2010

Objective: Transmission of S. mutans, a major dental caries pathogen, occurs mainly during the first 2.5 years of age. Children appear to acquire S. mutans mostly from their mothers, but few studies have investigated preventive effect of xylitol to S. mutans transmission from mother to child. The aim of this study was to perform a follow-up evaluation the preventive effect of xylitol chewing gum of the S. mutans of children's oral cavities, which included the characteristics of vertical transmission from mother to child. Methods: The mothers voluntarily participating in a women's oral health prevention program were divided into two groups (a control and a xylitol group). The subjects were 20 mother-child pairs, who were monitored for 30 months. Xylitol chewing gum group had consumed 2 gum pellets, 3 times a day for 24 months, and then they were followed until 30 months. At baseline, 24 and 30 months whole stimulated saliva samples were collected from the mothers. Children were also recruited from 6 months to 30 months after birth and were collected their dental plaque samples. After isolation and identification, the analysis of the colony count, transmission electron microscopy and real-time RT-PCR were performed to analyze the characteristics of S. mutans. Results: The S. mutans counts decreased steadily in the xylitol group at 24 months, but increased at 30 months. The similar results were showed at their children. While the glucan synthesis was decreased at xylitol group both mother and child. The expression of gtfB, gtfD and ftf were significantly reduced in the xylitol group both mother and child (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate that chewing xylitol gum over a long period may decrease the expression of the genes associated virulence and reduced the glucan synthesis of S. mutans, which can result the preventing the mother-to-child transmission of S. mutans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.598-606
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• 2003

Salmonella encodes an enterotoxin (Stn) which possesses biological activity similar to the cholera toxin. Stn contributes significantly to the overall virulence of S. typhimurium in a murine model. The production of Stn is enhanced in a high-osmolarity medium and by contact with epithelial cells. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo transcriptional regulations of the sin promoter revealed two promoters, P1 and P2. The P1 promoter identified by a primer extension analysis of stn mRNA exhibited a switching mechanism in vivo. Depending on the growth stage, transcription was initiated from different start sites termed $P1_S\;and\;P1_E$. $P1_S$, recognized by RNA polymerase containing ${\sigma}^S(E{\sigma}^S),\;and\;P1_E$, recognized by $E{\sigma}^70$, were activated during the stationary and exponential phases, respectively, while $P1_S\;and\;P1_E$ were both negatively regulated by CRPㆍcAMP and H-NS. Results revealed that $P1_S$ was the responsible promoter activated under a high osmolarity and low pH. The P2 promoter was identified 45 nucleotides downstream from $P1_E$ and negatively controlled by CRPㆍcAMP in vitro. No P2 activity was detected in vivo. The regulation of stn expression monitored using a Pstn::egfp fusion indicated that $E{\sigma}^S$ was required for the induction of stn and various factors were involved in stn regulation inside animal cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.973-983
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• 2019

It is well known that iron is critical for bacterial growth and pathogenic virulence. Due to chemical similarity, $Ga^{3+}$ competes with $Fe^{3+}$ for binding to compounds that usually bind $Fe^{3+}$, thereby interfering with various essential biological reactions. In our present study, gallium(III) nitrate [$Ga(NO_3)_3$] could repress the growth of V. splendidus Vs without complete inhibition. In the presence of $Ga(NO_3)_3$, the secretion of homogentisic acid-melanin (HGA-melanin) in V. splendidus Vs cells could be increased by 4.8-fold, compared to that in the absence of $Ga(NO_3)_3$. HGA-melanin possessed the ability to reduce $Fe^{3+}$ to $Fe^{2+}$. In addition, HGA-melanin increased the mRNA levels of feoA and feoB, genes coding Fe2+ transport system proteins to 1.86- and 6.1-fold, respectively, and promoted bacterial growth to 139.2%. Similarly, the mRNA expression of feoA and feoB was upregulated 4.11-fold and 2.71-fold in the presence of $640{\mu}M$ $Ga(NO_3)_3$, respectively. In conclusion, our study suggested that although $Ga(NO_3)_3$ could interfere with the growth of V. splendidus Vs, it could also stimulate both the production of $Fe^{3+}$-reducing HGA-melanin and the expression of feoA and feoB, which facilitate $Fe^{2+}$ transport in V. splendidus Vs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.790-800
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• 2022

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is one of the most valuable medicinal plants which is enriched in anti-microbe secondary metabolites and widely used in traditional medicine. Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic fungus that causes gray mold disease in a broad range of hosts. B. cinerea could overcome the ginseng defense and cause serious leaf and root diseases with unknown mechanism. Methods: We conducted simultaneous transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the host to investigate the defense response of ginseng affected by B. cinerea. The gene deletion and replacement were then performed to study the pathogenic gene in B. cinerea during ginseng - fungi interaction. Results: Upon B. cinerea infection, ginseng defense responses were switched from the activation to repression, thus the expression of many defense genes decreased and the biosynthesis of antifungal metabolites were reduced. Particularly, ginseng metabolites like kaempferol, quercetin and luteolin which could inhibit fungi growth were decreased after B. cinerea infection. B. cinerea quercetin dioxygenase (Qdo) involved in catalyzing flavonoids degradation and ∆BcQdo mutants showed increased substrates accumulation and reduced disease development. Conclusion: This work indicates the flavonoids play a role in ginseng defense and BcQdo involves in B. cinerea virulence towards the P. ginseng. B. cinerea promotes disease development in ginseng by suppressing of defense related genes expression and reduction of antifungal metabolites biosynthesis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.39-47
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• 2009

Objectives : Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (Huanglian Jiedu Tang; HHT) has been widely used for purging' 'fire' and lessening virulence of any pathogenic organism. However it has been rarely conducted to evaluate the immuno-biological activity. In this study, we evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of HHT in LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells. Methods : Cells were treated with $1\;{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS 1 h prior to the addition of HHT. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The production of NO was determined by reacting cultured medium with Griess reagent. PGE2 and proinflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA. Expression of iNOS, COX-2, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and NF-${\kappa}B$ were analyzed by immunoblot analysis. Results : All three doses of HHT (0.03, 0.10 and 0.30 mg/ml) had no significant cytotoxicity during the entire experimental period. The levels of NO and PGE2 were dramatically augmented by LPS compared to control. However, HHT extract dose-dependently reduced these increases. Expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein were also decreased by treatment with HHT extract. Furthermore, HHT extract significantly reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ which is critical in regulating inflammation through transcription of iNOS and COX-2. In addition, HHT extract reduced the elevated production of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. Conclusions : The results in this study demonstrate that HHT extract exerts anti-inflammatory activities through the inhibition of NO, PGE2 and proinflammatory cytokines production via the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$.