• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.257-264
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• 2011

Seventy five methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains and 24 methicillin- susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) were isolated from clinical specimens obtained from a hospital in Suncheon, Jeonnam province, Korea, from July to December, 2009. Antibiotic resistance was determined using the disc diffusion method. Genes encoding enterotoxin (SE), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), exfoliative toxin (ET) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) were detected by multiplex PCR-mediated amplification using specific primers. Sixty (80%) MRSA isolates possessed either one or more toxin genes and the most common pattern that coexisted in MRSA was seb, sec, seg, sei and tst (22.7%) followed by coexistence of sec, seg, sei and tst genes (18.7%). Gene pvl encoding leukocidin was not found. Significant correlation between the production of sec, seg, sei and tst genes was found. MRSAs were resistant to erythromycin (89% of the isolates), gentamicin (70.7%), ciprofloxacin (69.3%), clindamycin (61.3%) and tetracycline (58.7%), while MSSAs were susceptible to the antibiotics with the exception of erythromycin. Toxin genes seb, sec and tst were related to the tetracycline resistance of MRSA.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.83-106
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the probiotics(acid and bile resistance, fermentation properties, viability, cholesterol assimilation, antimicrobial activity, antimutagenicity, and immunoactivation) of the strains of bifidobacteria isolated from healthy Koreans and to investigate the effects of oral administration of Bifidobacterium longum A-2 on the fecal microflora, ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity, pH values, Ammonia concentration. The experimental results are summarized as follows: The probiotics were tested for 23 strains including three commer챠al strains as controls. Compared to other strains, strains of A-2 and A-9 showed more acid resistance whereas A-2, A-5, A-13, A-14, A-18 and A-22 showed excellent bile resistances. The properties of bifidobacteria during fermentation were tested. Strains of A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-6, and A-23 resulted in less than pH 4.5 and titratable acidity over 0.90 after 24 hr of fermentation. When the strains of A-2 was grown with glucose, maltose, and fructooligosaccharide, the acetic acid production were higher than with sorbitol and mannitol. The storage stability of the strains of A-2 and A-22 were tesed, indicating the strain A-2 was more stable over 10 days of storage at both $4^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ than A-22. The strains of A-8, A-10, A-11, A-12 and A-20 assimilated more than 30% of cholesterol included in the media. The strains of A-1 and A-2 showed antimicrobial activity against Sta. aureus. The antimutagenicity of the strains were also tested, showing that the mutation was suppressed more by three strains(A-2, A-12, and A-23). In addition, strain A-5 improved immunological activity(phagocytosis, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6) more than other strains. In the effects of oral administration of Bif. longum A-2, the number of fecal bifidobacteria was siginificantly increased(p<0.01) and the level of fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ also was siginificantly reduced(p<0.05). However there were no siginificant differences in the level of Lαctobacilli, Enterobacteriaceae, Clostridium perfringens, pH and ammonia by the administration. The results suggested that Bif. longum A-2 may be met the criteria for probiotics culture.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2004

Recently, the rapid increase and global spread of extended-spectrum $\beta-lactamase$ producing clinical isolates has become a serious problem. The incidence of extended-spectrum $\beta-lactamase$ producing clinical isolates of Escherichia coli in Korea and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents were investigated. Total 233 isolates of E. coli were obtained from urine from hospitalized patients in Guro hospital, Korea University in 2001. One hun­dred and eighty four isolates $(78.9\%)$ were resistant to ampicillin, 80 isolates $(34.3\%)$ were resistant to ceph­alothin, 93 isolates $(39.9\%)$ were resistant to gentamicin, and 64 isolates $(27.5\%)$ were resistant to norfloxacin. Among 233 isolates, 17 isolates $(7.3\%)$ were positive as determined by the double disk synergy test. When min­imal inhibitory concentrations were assayed with additional 6 antimicrobial agents, 13 isolates $(76.5\%)$ were multi-drug resistant to at least four different class antimicrobial agents. Extended-spectrum $\beta-lactamase$ were characterized with isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing. They were TEM-1 in 5 iso­lates, TEM-15 in 1 isolate, TEM-20 in 1 isolate, TEM-52 in 4 isolates, TEM-1 and AmpC in 2 isolates, TEM-1 and OXA-30 in 1 isolate, TEM-1 and OXA-33 in 1 isolate, TEM-1, CTX-M-3, and AmpC in 1 isolate, but SHV was not detected. Antimicrobial resistance genes were transferred to animal isolate of E. coli (CCARM No. 1203) by the filter mating method. Extended spectrum $\beta-lactamase$ producers studied in the current study have low correlation to each other as determined by random amplified polymorphic DNA and pulsed field gel elec­trophoresis. This is a contradictory result from the general hypothesis that extended-spectrum $\beta-lactamase$ pro­ducers in one hospital is a result from a clonal spread.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.427-434
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• 2017

Species that belong to the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (Acb) complex are major causes of hospital-acquired infections. They are important opportunistic pathogens. These species are usually multidrug resistant (MDR), and the therapeutic options to treat the infections caused by these species are limited. In the present study, we investigated fluoroquinolone resistance mechanisms in 53 ciprofloxacin resistant Acinetobacter species isolates in Chungcheong, Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined using the disk-diffusion method. Detections of genes and identification of mutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance were carried out using PCR and DNA sequencing. In our study, 47 out of 53 ciprofloxacin resistant Acinetobacter isolates harbored sense mutations at the 83rd residue (serine to leucine) in the gyrA gene as well as at the 80th residue (serine to leucine) in the parC gene. Among the 47 isolates harboring sense mutations in gyrA and parC gene, 44 isolates were A. baumannii and 3 isolates were A. pittii. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants were detected in isolates in our study. Among the 46 ciprofloxacin resistant A. baumannii isolates, 41 showed type A, B, or F banding patterns on their REP-PCR profiles. This result suggests that clonal relation and horizontal spreading of the bacterial isolates have been around hospitals in Chungcheong area. To prevent colonization and disseminations of fluoroquinolone resistance Acb complex isolates, continuous investigation and monitoring of antimicrobial resistant determinants of MDR isolates are needed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2006

The emergence of extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase producing bacteria is causing very serious problems in Korea. Although there have been many reports about these bacteria Isolated from patients and clinical specimens, there is no report of extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase producing organisms isolated from natural environment in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the biological characteristics and extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase types of eighteen strains of extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolated from a slaughterhouse in Pusan in Korea during 2002 to 2004. Extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases were identified by double-disk synergy test, conjugation, isoelectric focusing values and gene sequencing. Eight strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and two strains of Eschericha coli were isolated kom pigs and transferred extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase genes to recipient Escherichia coli J53 (sodium azide resistant and ceftazidime senstive) strain by conjugation. The conjugants of extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase genes were alignments and translated to amino acids by BCM and NCBI blast. Eight conjugants of Klebsiella pneumonae were typed TEM-52, and two strains of Escherichia coli, SHV-12, but CMY-1 type were not detected in this study.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.158-161
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• 2015

Bacterial dermatitis is common disease that is necessary to treat with antibiotics. In recent, antibiotic-resistant bacteria is being increased in worldwide. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of resistant genes in Staphylococcus (S.) pseudintermedius isolated from dogs, and to compare the resistant gene profile with the result of antibiotic disc diffusion test. A total of seven S. pseudintermedius was included in the study. Bacterial identification was performed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis. S. pseudintermedius isolates had more than one antibiotic resistant gene (mecA, blaZ and aac(6')/aph(2"). While all isolates were PCR positive to blaZ gene, only two isolates were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanate. Among five isolates harboring gentamicin resistance, one isolate was negative to aac(6')/aph(2")-targeted PCR. Taken together, the results suggest that resistant gene-targeted PCR and disc diffusion test are complementary to detect antibiotic resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2010

Bacteria strains with high activities of extracellular enzymes (protease, fibrinolytic enzyme, amylase, cellulase, and lipase) were isolated from Jeju traditional fermented soybean paste (Doenjang), and characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and physiological properties. Protease activities were higher in JR14, JR19, JR25, JR32, JR38, JR47, and JR64 than Bacillus subtilis KCCM 12027 (standard strain). Amylase activities were shown in JR6, JR25, JR38, JR56 and JR81, while not in KCCM12027. Cellulase activities were higher in JR6, JR14, JR48, and JR65 than those of other isolated strains and KCCM 12027 whereas lipase activities were the higher in JR-14 and JR-48. Thrombolytic activity in JR19 with high hemolysis activity were 192% compared with that of plasmin as a positive control. Zymogram analysis indicated that the thrombolytic active strains had 4~5 bands in the molecular weight range of 25~75 kDa. Gene sequence analysis of rRNA revealed that the isolated stains had 99% homology with Bacillus species, and the thrombolytic active stain JR19 was B. stratosphericus $41KF2a^T$.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.406-413
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• 2018

The emergence of carbapenem resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become an increasing problem worldwide. In particular, $metallo-{\beta}-lactamases$ (MBLs) are responsible for the high-level resistance to carbapenem. Sequence type 235 (ST235) has been found internationally in a multidrug-resistant clone and is involved in the dissemination of genes encoding IMP-6 and VIM-2. This study examined the prevalence of MBLs and the epidemiological relationship in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolates obtained from a tertiary hospital in Daejeon, Korea, between March 2008 and June 2014. The antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined using the disk-diffusion method and PCR and DNA sequencing were used to identify the MBL genes. In addition, an epidemiological relationship was investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Among the 110 CRPA isolates, 32 isolates (29.1%) were MBL-producers; the major type was IMP-6 (29 isolates, 90.6%). VIM-2 was identified in 3 isolates (9.4%) of ST357. IMP-6-producing isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and belonged to ST235. ST235 (55 isolates, 50.0%) was the clone most frequently detected and has gradually emerged during a seven-year period. To prevent the spread of MDR ST235 P. aeruginosa isolates, the current widespread use of carbapenems needs to be curtailed, and novel continuous monitoring strategies should be developed as soon as possible.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.569-576
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• 2002

Background : Chlamydia pneumoniae is one of common causes in upper and lower respiratory infections. Isolating C. pneumoniae from clinical specimens is very difficult due to the characteristics of the organism. Recently, we succeeded in isolating C. pneumoniae from a Korean patient, who suffered from acute pharyngitis. This is the first isolate from a clinical specimen in Korea. Methods : We attained a nasopharyngeal swab from a 22-year-old female patient, and inoculated it on a monolayer of the Hep-2 cell line. After 8 passages, we found the inclusion bodies of C. pneumoniae by an immunofluorescence(IF) test. The species-specific monoclonal antibody IF staining and species-specific PCR were done to confirm the species of the isolate, and electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphology. Results : The isolated was confirmed to be C. pneumoniae by species-specific IF and PCR, and the strain was named LKK-1. The shape of the elementary body was round and with a narrow periplasmic space, as shown by electron microscopy, which is similar to the Japanese strain, but not the Western strain. Conclusion : We succeeded in isolating C. pneumoniae from a 22-year-old patient with acute pharyngitis, which is the first isolate in Korea. In the future, this Korean strain will be useful to the study of C. pneumoniae.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.349-354
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• 2016

The emergence and dissemination of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamse (ESBL) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates make it more difficult to treatment of bacterial infections. In our study, we detected ESBL genes and investigated antimicrobial susceptibility of K. pneumoniae isolates in Chungcheong province. In addition, clonality among the isolates was analyzed by repetitive element sequence (REP)-PCR. Twenty-one of 102 K. pneumoniae isolates produced CTX-M-14 and/or CTX-M-15 and showed high level (over 70%) resistance to third cephalosporins. CTX-M type ESBL producing K. pneumoniae strains isolated in our study showed diverse clonality and some of the isolates have been disseminated in the community. Enhancing infection control will be needed to prevent dissemination of the K. pneumoniae isolates. In addition, for more effective control of resistant bacteria it is considered necessary to monitor the database constructed through convergence of biological investigation and statistical analysis of antimicrobial resistance genes.