• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 1979

Ninety-five strains of Shigella, 70 of Salmonella paratyphi A, and 230 of Salmonella typhi were tested for their resistance to drugs. Also studied was the inhibition and elimination of drug resistance. All except one strain of Shigella consisted of 79 Sh. flexneri and 16 Sh. sonnei were multiply resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, and splfisomidine. Among them, 70 strains were resistant to ampicillin and carbenicillin, 80 to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 22 to nalidixic acid, and one to kanamycin, but strain resistant to gentamicin, cephaloridine, and rifampin was not encountered. All strains of S. paratyphi A and S. typhi were susceptible to drugs tested, except sulfisomidine and rifampin, for which all S. paratyphi A were slightly resistant to sulfisomidine and the majority of S. paratyphi A and S. typhi were slightly resistant to rifampin. Approximately 80% of multiply drug-resistant Shigella transferred their resistance to E. coli by conjugation, and the resistance was considered to be mediated by R plasmids. The frequency of transfer of drug resistance varied by donor strains and recipients, but not by selecting drugs. Resistance to nalidixic acid was not transferred by conjugation to the recipients. Drug-resistant Shigella strains successively subcultured in nutrient agar stabs contained clones resistant to drugs and those susceptible to drugs, but the ratio of resistant and susceptible clones varied by strains. The multiply drug-resistant S. typhi and Shigella strains were found to not lose completely their drug resistance by subculture in media. Acriflavine has some effect on the elimination of drug resistance mediated by R plasmids, but the effect varied markedly by strains. Atabrine has no effect among strains tested. The combination of drugs increased the drug actions in majority of cases with synergistic or additive effects.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.410-417
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• 2010

Several extracellular protease-producing bacteria were isolated from Chungkookjang, a traditional Korean food of fermented soybeans, on skim milk agar plates. Among these bacteria, strain D14 exhibited the highest production (15.2 U/mL) and specific activity (40.0 U/mg protein) of extracellular protease activity as assessed on growth in a protease induction medium composed of 1% (w/v) soluble starch, 1.5% (w/v) skim milk, 0.5% (w/v) yeast extract, and 2% (w/v) NaCl. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on morphological and physiological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence. A BLAST search of 16S rDNA sequences revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis strain NCIB 3610. The 16S rDNA sequence homology was 99.9%. Our isolate produced the highest level of protease when grown in a protease induction medium containing 1% (w/v) sorbitol and 0.5% (w/v) yeast extract. Fructose and glucose reduced enzyme production to 12.7% and 35.9%, respectively, of the level seen when the strain was grown in medium containing soluble starch. Soytone also reduced enzyme production to 61.4% of the level noted when the strain was grown in medium containing yeast extract.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.517-527
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• 2009

Background: Bronchiectasis (BE) remains a rare respiratory disease in Korea. This retrospective study was done to investigate the potential pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) that cause in patients with BE, through the use of sputum specimens. Methods: One hundred eleven adult patients, who had undergone chest computed tomography (CT), sputum gram stain/culture, and BE detected by chest CT, were included in this study. Sputum adequacy was determined by using Murray-Washington classification. Results: The mean (${\pm}$SD) age of patients was 60.9 (${\pm}$14.0). The number of PPMs was 167 (67%) in the total 248 isolated organisms. The most frequent PPMs were P. aeruginosa (23.4%), K. pneumoniae (10.5%), and S. aureus (8.4%). The proportion of adequate sputum (AS) was 25.8% in the total sputum specimens. The patients with AS were 41 (37%) and the patients with inadequate sputum (IS) were 70 (63%). The proportion of P. aeruginosa was higher in AS compared to that of IS (44% vs. 19%, p=0.004). The BE score was also higher in P. aeruginosa (+) patients compared to that of P. aeruginosa (-) patients (10.8 vs. 7.6, p=0.001). Conclusion: Although the proportion of AS in the total sputum was low, PPMs were isolated in most patients with BE. It is likely that P. aeruginosa was isolated in AS and AS patients had higher BE scores.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1980

In the ecology and epidemiologic studies on various serotypes of atypical mycobacteria(AM), Schaefer's bacterial agglutination test(BA) provided the basis of the serologic procedures. Recently, attempts have been made to modify and to simplify the Schaefer's BA such as a slide agglutination test(Engel & Beerwald, 1970), a "simplified" BA(Reznikov & Leggo, 1972), an agglutination inhibition test(Richards & Eacret, 1972) and "micromethod"(Thoen et al., 1975). The BA, however, was not widely applied as a routine laboratory test mainly because it requires much times and labors to perform and partley because it is not applicable to hydrophobic strains either often encountered in the isolation of AM in the clinical bacteriology or stock strains maintained in the laboratory. On the contrary, fluorescent antibody technique with mycobacteria may have advantages over the BA because it is far more simpler in serologic procedures and is applicable to all strains of mycobacteria regardless of smooth or rough types of cultures. At the present, it is well known that the type-specific antigens are lacking on the surface of rough type of AM compared to that on smooth type of strain, but the antigenicity on the surface of the hydrophobic strains of AM which resulted from a series of subculture and the strain in the laboratory for 3 to 6 months has not been clarified. In this study, an attempt to serotype the hydrophobic strains of M. scrofulaceum serotype 41, 42 and 43 by fluorescent anti-complement(FAC) technique was made. The FAC technique with mycobacteria was also described in detail. In the summary, the complement fixing antibody titres of reference sera to smooth types of homologous serotype was highest, but the antibody titres of reference sera to hydrophobic strains of serotypes, 41, 42 and 43 gave two-to 8-folds lower than those to smooth type of strains. Although the sensitivity of type-specific antigens on the hydrophobic strains to reference sera was much lower, using the two units of reference sera determined by titration with hydrophobic strains, three serotypes, i. e., 41, 42 and 43 were specifically differentiated one another by FAC technique. This result indicated that the hydrophobic strains which were maintained in the laboratory at least for 6 months still retain type-specific antigen detectable by FAC technique.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 1999

This study has been performed to deveope a yeast strain having high ${\alpha}$-amylase production ability using nuclear transfer method. Hybrids formed between the strains of Saccharomyces fiburigera KCTC 7393 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC 7049 (tyr-, ura-)were obtained by nuclear transfer technique. Nuclei isolated from the wild type S. fiburigera strain were transfered into auxotrophic mutants S. cerevisiae and selected the hybrids showing an increased starch degrading capability were selected (MN-16). This transformant grew best and produced maximal ${\alpha}$-amylase activity on the medium containing 2% (V/V) soluble starch. ${\alpha}$-Amylase from MN-16 was purified electrophoretically homogenety and its properties were investigated. The enzyme was purified about 10.6 fold with an overall yield 9.7% from the culture medium by ammonium sulfate fractionation. DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography, and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the ${\alpha}$-amylase was estimated to be 53,000 daltons by SDS-PAGE and by gel permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme showed the maximum activity at pH 5.5 and 40${\circ}C$. The km value for soluble starch was 2.5㎎/㎖. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of $Ca^{2+}, Co^{2+}, EDTA, Mg^{2+}, Mn^{2+}, Zn^{2+}$, but inhibited by $Cu^{2+}, Fe^{2+}$, and $Ni^{2+}$

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1071-1076
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• 2008

Purpose : Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent cause of lower respiratory infections in infants and young children. Early detection allows quarantining of infected inpatients to prevent nosocomial transmission and to choose a treatment. To achieve rapid reporting, to facilitate prompt antiviral therapy, and to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, an easy, rapid diagnostic method for RSV is needed. We evaluated a lateral flow immunochromatography (RSV Respi-Strip test) and EIA (Enzyme immuno assay) compared to RT-PCR. Methods : From April 2007 to March 2008, 112 consecutive respiratory specimens (nasopharyngeal aspirates, throat swabs, tracheal aspirates, sputum) from patients who were suffering from the clinical signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infection were enrolled in Busan. A total of 112 patients were tested with RSV Respi-Strip (Corio-BioConcept, Belgium), EIA, and RT-PCR at the same time. Results : Of the 112 specimens tested, the number of children who showed positive results at RT-PCR and Respi-Strip were 45 and 42, respectively. The Respi-Strip rapid antigen test had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 94%. The positive and negative predictive values were 90% and 92%, respectively. The agreement was 83%. Conclusion : In our study, the rapid antigen test had as much sensitivity as any method for detection of RSV. The test has many advantages such as easy performance, simple interpretation, and rapid results. If the rapid antigen test is widely applied in the clinical setting, the may be useful for diagnostic and epidemiological studies of RSV infection.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2015

Microalgae research is gaining momentum because of their potential biotechnological applications, including the generation of biofuels. Genome sequencing analysis of two model microalgal species, polar free-living Coccomyxa sp. C-169 and symbiotic Chlorella sp. NC64A, revealed insights into the factors responsible for their lifestyle and unravelled biotechnologically valuable proteins. However, genome sequence analysis under-explored cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), heme-thiolate proteins ubiquitously present in species belonging to different biological kingdoms. In this study we performed genome data-mining, annotation and comparative analysis of P450s in these two model algal species. Sixty-nine P450s were found in two algal species. Coccomyxa sp. showed 40 P450s and Chlorella sp. showed 29 P450s in their genome. Sixty-eight P450s (>100 amino acid in length) were grouped into 32 P450 families and 46 P450 subfamilies. Among the P450 families, 27 P450 families were novel and not found in other biological kingdoms. The new P450 families are CYP745-CYP747, CYP845-CYP863, and CYP904-CYP908. Five P450 families, CYP51, CYP97, CYP710, CYP745, and CYP746, were commonly found between two algal species and 16 and 11 P450 families were unique to Coccomyxa sp. and Chlorella sp. Synteny analysis and gene-structure analysis revealed P450 duplications in both species. Functional analysis based on homolog P450s suggested that CYP51 and CYP710 family members are involved in membrane ergosterol biosynthesis. CYP55 and CYP97 family members are involved in nitric oxide reduction and biosynthesis of carotenoids. This is the first report on comparative analysis of P450s in the microalgal species Coccomyxa sp. C-169 and Chlorella sp. NC64A.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2005

The development of microbial inoculant was conducted using a by-product of oriental herbal medicine. The constituent of the by-product, which was high in organic matter, was 11.3% of crude protein, 5.1% of crude lipid, 49.7% of NDF (neutral detergent fiber), and 33.8% of ADF (acid detergent fiber). Microorganisms isolated from the by-product of oriental herbal medicine were 35 species. Among them, 6 bacterial species, 4 fungal species, 2 actnomycetes species, and 1 yeast species were effective in the utilization of the by-products. The 13 strains screened were tested for the plant growth-promoting effect in soybean seedling. BL-333 strain was found to increase the soybean yield by about 23% as compared with control. The strain BL-333 was identified as Paenibacillus marcerans. P. marcerans BL-333 showed high anti-fungal activities against virulent fungi, especially Fusarium sp. and Collectotrichum sp. Yields of plants which were inoculated with microbial inoculant prepared with P. marcerans BL-333 and by-product of oriental herbal medicine were found to be higher than control by $3{\sim}24%$. The yield was especially promoted in lettuce, radish, chinese cabbage and cucumber plants.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.105-110
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• 2004

Microorganism (strain DF 218) producing thermostable pretense was isolated from Korean soil and compost. It was Gram-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, and spore-forming with yellowish white colony color, Temperature range for growth at pH 6.5 was $30-65^{\circ}C$, with optimum growth at $60^{\circ}C$. pH range for growth at $60^{\circ}C$ was 5-7 with optimum of 6.5, which indicates strain DF 218 to be thermophilic. The 16S rDNA sequence of strain DF 218 had 95% sequence similarity with that of Bacillus flexus. Based on physiological properties and phylogenetic analysis, we proposed the isolated strain as Bacillus sp. DF 218. Pretense was produced aerobically at $60^{\circ}C$ for 32 hr in a medium (pH 6.5) containing 1% each trypton, glucose, and NaCl. Its molecular weight was estimated as 61 kDa, with optimum temperature and pH of $60^{\circ}C$ and 7.5, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.419-426
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• 2006

A thermophilic microorganism, strain JE 375, which produces a thermostable protease, was isolated from soil and compost in Korea. This gram-positive, rod-shaped, catalase positive, motility positive, and hemolysis ${\beta}$ containing organism was implicated in glucose fermentation, mannitol fermentation, xylose oxidation, aerobic activity and spore formation. The color of the colony was yellowish white. The temperature range for growth at pH 6.5 was between 55 and $70^{\circ}C$, with an optimum growth temperature of $65^{\circ}C$. This result confirmed the strain JE 375 as a thermophilic microorganism. The enzyme was produced aerobically at $65^{\circ}C$ during 20 hr in a medium (pH 6.5) containing 1% trypton. 1% maltose, 0.5% yeast extract and 1% NaCl. The 16S rDNA of strain JE 375 had 97.6% sequence similarity with the 16S rDNA of Bacillus caldoxyloyticus. On the basis of biochemical and physiological properties and phylogenetic analysis, we named the isolated strain as Bacillus sp. JE 375. The thermostable protease from Bacillus sp. JE 375 had been partially purified and characterized. The molecular weight of the enzyme was deduced from SDS-PAGE and gel chromatography as 55 kDa and its optimal temperature was $60^{\circ}C$. The enzyme showed its highest activity at pH 7.5 and was stable from pH 7.0 to 8.0.