• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.1841-1847
• /
• 2008

Vibrio vulnificus is a causative agent of serious diseases in humans, resulting from the contact of wound with seawater or consumption of raw seafood. Several studies aimed at detecting V. vulnificus have targeted vvh as a representative virulence toxin gene belonging to the bacterium. In this study, we targeted the rpoS gene, a general stress regulator, to detect V. vulnificus. PCR specificity was identified by amplification of 8 V. vulnificus templates and by the loss of a PCR product with 36 non-V. vulnificus strains. The PCR assay had the 273-bp fragment and the sensitivity of 10 pg DNA from V. vulnificus. SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR assay targeting the rpoS gene showed a melting temperature of approximately $84^{\circ}C$ for the V. vulnificus strains. The minimum level of detection by real-time PCR was 2 pg of purified genomic DNA, or $10^3$ V. vulnificus cells from pure cultured broth and $10^3$ cells in 1 g of oyster tissue homogenates. These data indicate that real-time PCR is a sensitive, species-specific, and rapid method for detecting this bacterium, using the rpoS gene in pure cultures and in infected oyster tissues.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.7
• /
• pp.905-913
• /
• 2014

Lj-RGD3, an RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) toxin protein from the salivary gland of Lampetra japonica, exhibits antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Lj-RGD3 has three RGD motifs and shows homology to histidine-rich glycoprotein. We synthesised two mutant derivatives of Lj-RGD3: Lj-26, which lacks all three RGD motifs and contains no His residues; and Lj-112, which lacks only the three RGD motifs. We investigated the effects of the wild-type and mutated toxins on a gram-positive bacterium (Escherichia coli), a gram-negative bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus), and a fungus (C. albicans). rLj-RGD3 and its mutants exhibited antifungal but not antibacterial activity, as measured by a radial diffusion assay. The C. albicans inhibition zone induced by rLj-112 was larger than that induced by the other proteins, and its inhibitory effect on C. albicans was dose-dependent. In viable-count assays, the rLj-112 MIC was $7.7{\mu}M$, whereas the MIC of the positive control (ketoconazole) was $15{\mu}M$. Time-kill kinetics demonstrated that rLj-112 effectively killed C. albicans at $1{\times}$ and $2{\times}$ MIC within 12 and 6 h, respectively. Electron microscopy analysis showed that rLj-RGD3 and rLj-112 induced C. albicans lysis. Our results demonstrate a novel anticandidal activity for rLj-RGD3 and its mutant derivatives.

• International Neurourology Journal
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.275-286
• /
• 2018

Purpose: OnabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT-A) is a promising therapy for treating neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to carry out an in-depth review and to make an objective estimation of the efficacy and safety of BoNT-A on NDO after SCI. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for all relevant articles published from 2001 to 2016 that referred to NDO, SCI, and BoNT-A or botulinum toxin A. All data were recorded in an Excel spreadsheet by 2 individual reviewers. Review Manager version 5.3 was used to carry out the meta-analysis. Results: This analysis included 17 studies involving 1,455 patients. Compared with placebo and baseline, BoNT-A was effective in increasing maximum cystometric capacity, volume at first involuntary detrusor contraction, cystometric bladder capacity (all P<0.00001), compliance (P=0.001), and the number of patients with complete dryness (P=0.0003), and decreasing detrusor pressure, the number of patients with no involuntary detrusor contractions, the maximum flow rate, the incidence of detrusor overactivity (all P<0.00001), and the number of urinary incontinence episodes (P=0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between doses of 200 U and 300 U or between injections into the detrusor and submucosa. There were no life-threatening adverse events. Conclusions: BoNT-A is effective and safe in treating NDO after SCI. There were no statistically significant differences between doses of 200 U and 300 U or between injecting into the detrusor and submucosa. However, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.241-261
• /
• 2021

Amphidinium species are amongst the most abundant benthic dinoflagellates in marine intertidal sandy ecosystems. Some of them produce a variety of bioactive compounds that have both harmful effects and pharmaceutical potential. In this study, Amphidinium cells were isolated from intertidal sand collected from the East China Sea. The two strains established were subjected to detailed examination by light, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The vegetative cells had a minute, irregular, and triangular-shaped epicone deflected to the left, thus fitting the description of Amphidinium sensu stricto. These strains are distinguished from other Amphidinium species by combination characteristics: (1) longitudinal flagellum inserted in the lower third of the cell; (2) icicle-shaped scales, 276 ± 17 nm in length, on the cell body surface; (3) asymmetrical hypocone with the left side longer than the right; and (4) presence of immotile cells. Therefore, they are described here as Amphidinium stirisquamtum sp. nov. The molecular tree inferred from small subunit rRNA, large subunit rRNA, and internal transcribed spacer-5.8S sequences revealed that A. stirisquamtum is grouped together with the type species of Amphidinium, A. operculatum, in a fully supported clade, but is distantly related to other Amphidinium species bearing body scale. Live A.stirisquamtum cells greatly affected the survival of rotifers and brine shrimp, their primary grazers, making them more susceptible to predation by the higher tropic level consumers in the food web. This will increase the risk of introducing toxicity, and consequently, the bioaccumulation of toxins through marine food webs.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.488-500
• /
• 2022

Most fungal infections by opportunistic yeast pathogens such as Candida spp. are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with lowered immune. Previous studies have reported that some strains of Candida secret secondary metabolites play an important role in the decreasing of immunity in the infected patient. In this study, 110 Candida spp. were isolated from different clinical specimens from Baghdad hospitals. Candida isolates were identified by conventional methods, they were processed for Candida speciation on CHROMagar. The results of identification were confirmed by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Phylogenetic trees were analyzed with reference strains deposited in GenBank. Antifungal susceptibility testing was evaluated by the disc diffusion method and performed as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) M44-A document. Candida isolates investigated produce secondary metabolites gliotoxin with HPLC technique and quantification. Out of 110 Candida isolates, C. albicans (66.36%) was the most frequent isolate, followed by the isolates of C. tropicalis (10.9%) and C. glabrata (6.36%) respectively. Concerning the antifungal susceptibility test, Candida isolates showed a high level of susceptibility to Miconazole (70.9%), Itraconazole (68.2%), and Nystatine (64.5%). The ability of obtained isolates of Candida spp. to produce gliotoxin on RPMI medium was investigated, only 28 isolates had the ability to secret this toxin in culture filtrates. The highest concentrations were detected in C. albicans (1.048 ㎍/ml). Gliotoxin productivity of other Candida species was significantly lower. The retention time for gliotoxin was approximately 5.08 min.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.172-179
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to assess the disease incidence and distribution of toxigenic in Korean triticale. The pathogen of triticale that cause Fusarium head blight were isolated from five different triticale cultivars that cultivated in Suwon Korea at 2021 year. The 72 candidate were classified as a Fusarium asiaticum by morphology analysis and by ITS1, TEF-1α gene sequence analysis. And the results of pathogenicity with 72 isolates on seedling triticale, 71 isolates were showed disease symptom. Also, seven out of 71 Fusarium isolates were inoculated on the wheat, to test the pathogenicity on the different host. The results showed more low pathogenicity on the wheat than triticale. The results of analysis of toxin type with 72 isolates, 64.6% isolates were produced nivalenol type toxin and other 4.6% and 30.8% isolates were produce 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, respectively. To select fungicide for control, the 72 Fusarium isolates were cultivated on the media that containing four kinds fungicide. The captan, hexaconazole, and difenoconazole·propiconazole treated Fusarium isolates were not showed resistance response against each fungicide. However, six isolates out of 72 isolates, showed resistance response to fludioxonil. This study is first report that F. asiaticum causes Fusarium head blight disease of triticale in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.288-291
• /
• 1988

We have veen already reported the distribution of PSP of bivalve mollusca in southern coast of Korea and also analyzed their characteristics. The purpose of this study was to develop detoxification method for PSP infested sea mussel, Mytilus edulis, by rearing methods or processing treatments. There was no significant detoxification effect when the PSP infested sea mussel was reared in a tank with water recirculation system, but the toxicity of sea mussel rapidly decreased during the rearing time in a water flow system with filtered water. The detoxification rate of PSP during the rearing for 5 days in a water flow system tank with $15-17^{\circ}C$ of sea water was $94\%$ in case of high toxic sample with more than $2,600{\mu}g/100g$ and about $40\%$ in case of low toxic sample with less than $100{\mu}g/100g$. The toxicity of PSP extracted from the sample with 0.1N/ HCl solution was about 2-5 times higher than that extracted with distilled water. When sea mussel contained $100-150{\mu}g-PSP$ per 100g of edible meat was boiled for 30 min with tap water, the toxicity was destroyed as the level of PSP undetected by mouse assay. We can suggest that boiling of sea mussel with tap water was one of the most significant detoxification methods, but it was not enough to be safe in case of extremely high intoxicated sea mussel with PSP. For example, the digestive gland of sea mussel contained more than $9593{\mu}g/100g$ was heated in a can with tap water at $116^{\circ}C$ for 65 min. the residual PSP was more than $170{\mu}g$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.297-302
• /
• 1988

We have veen already reported the distribution of PSP of bivalve mollusca in southern coast of Korea and also analyzed their characteristics. The purpose of this study was to develop detoxification method for PSP infested sea mussel, Mytilus edulis, by rearing methods or processing treatments. There was no significant detoxification effect when the PSP infested sea mussel was reared in a tank with water recirculation system, but the toxicity of sea mussel rapidly decreased during the rearing time in a water flow system with filtered water. The detoxification rate of PSP during the rearing for 5 days in a water flow system tank with $15-17^{\circ}C$ of sea water was $94\%$ in case of high toxic sample with more than $2,600{\mu}g/100g$ and about $40\%$ in case of low toxic sample with less than $100{\mu}g/100g$. The toxicity of PSP extracted from the sample with 0.1N/ HCl solution was about 2-5 times higher than that extracted with distilled water. When sea mussel contained $100-150{\mu}g-PSP$ per 100g of edible meat was boiled for 30 min with tap water, the toxicity was destroyed as the level of PSP undetected by mouse assay. We can suggest that boiling of sea mussel with tap water was one of the most significant detoxification methods, but it was not enough to be safe in case of extremely high intoxicated sea mussel with PSP. For example, the digestive gland of sea mussel contained more than $9593{\mu}g/100g$ was heated in a can with tap water at $116^{\circ}C$ for 65 min. the residual PSP was more than $170{\mu}g$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.287-297
• /
• 2001

Contraction of smooth muscle is initiated by an increase in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ leading to activation of $Ca^{2+}$/ calmodulin-dependnet myosin light chain (MLC) kinase and phosphorylation of MLC. The types of contraction and signaling mechanisms mediating contraction differ depending on the region. The involvement of these different mechanisms varies depending on the source of $Ca^{2+}$ and the kinetic of $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization. $Ca^{2+}$ mobilizing agonists stimulate different phospholipases $(PLC-{\beta},\;PLD\;and\;PLA_2)$ to generate one or more $Ca^{2+}$ mobilizing messengers $(IP_3\;and\;AA),$ and diacylglycerol (DAG), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). The relative contributions of $PLC-{\beta},\;PLA_2$ and PLD to generate second messengers vary greatly between cells and types of contraction. In smooth muscle cell derived form the circular muscle layer of the intestine, preferential hydrolysis of $PIP_2$ and generation of $IP_3$ and $IP_3-dependent\;Ca^{2+}$ release initiate the contraction. In smooth muscle cells derived from longitudinal muscle layer of the intestine, preferential hydrolysis of PC by PLA2, generation of AA and AA-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ influx, cADP ribose formation and $Ca^{2+}-induced\;Ca^{2+}$ release initiate the contraction. Sustained contraction, however, in both cell types is mediated by $Ca^{2+}-independent$ mechanism involving activation of $PKC-{\varepsilon}$ by DAG derived form PLD. A functional linkage between $G_{13},$ RhoA, ROCK, $PKC-{\varepsilon},$ CPI-17 and MLC phosphorylation in sustained contraction has been implicated. Contraction of normal esophageal circular muscle (ESO) in response to acetylcholine (ACh) is linked to $M_2$ muscarinic receptors activating at least three intracellular phospholipases, i.e. phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), phospholipase D (PLD) and the high molecular weight (85 kDa) cytosolic phospholipase $A_2\;(cPLA_2)$ to induce phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism, production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and arachidonic acid (AA), resulting in activation of a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway. In contrast, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) contraction induced by maximally effective doses of ACh is mediated by muscarinic $M_3$ receptors, linked to pertussis toxin-insensitive GTP-binding proteins of the $G_{q/11}$ type. They activate phospholipase C, which hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate $(PIP_2),$ producing inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate $(IP_3)$ and DAG. $IP_3$ causes release of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and formation of a $Ca^{2+}$-calmodulin complex, resulting in activation of myosin light chain kinase and contraction through a calmodulin-dependent pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.358-363
• /
• 2014

We was investigated parasporal inclusion proteins change to use industrial medium of new strain Bacillus thuringiensis CAB 565, CAB 566. To confirm medium's oxygen efficient consist of glucose and yeast extract, we was conducted oxygen transfer coefficients (KLa) of medium's concentration and impeller in 20 l-Jar fermentor. When to increase air flow rate and medium concentration, KLa rate is rise. Also it is effective on agitation rate 200 rpm, but KLa rate is decrease when to rise agitation rate. To hold dissolved oxygen rate (upper 50%), Air flow rate is steadily increase on culture to use microsparger. When 16 hour of culture stage, B.t. CAB 565 and B.t. CAB 566 harvested respectively $2.3{\times}10^{10}$, $1.8{\times}10^{10}$ viable cell/ml. When 54 hour, B.t. CAB565, 566 harvested respectively $1.9{\times}10^{10}$, $1.4{\times}10^{10}spore/ml$. To resulting carbon's concentration, It is the most effective that glucose concentration is contained 5% in medium.