• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2017

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the urogenital infections occurring in women worldwide. Candida albicans is generally observed among various types of microorganisms causing VVC. Antibiotic therapy is typical, and the use of Lactobacilli probiotics is to be recognized as a promising alternative. The aim of this study was to select vaginal lactobacilli with probiotic properties against C. albicans. In a previous study, we isolated 38 lactobacilli from vagina of Korean women and 20 isolates were shown to inhibit C. albicans. We further selected 10 isolates which were able to inhibit C. albicans less than $10^5CFU/mL$. Among these selected strains, Lactobacillus salivarius MG242 (identified by 16s rRNA sequencing) was finally selected based on its strong anti-candidal activity, acid/bile salt resistance and adhesion property. Indirect adhesion activity of MG242 measured by auto-aggregation assay showed more than 60% auto-aggregation after 5 h standing. Taken these results together, the selected strain MG242 may have potential for application in vagina health related products.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 1986

The antifungal activities of amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, and ketoconazole in combination of amphotericin B/ketoconazole and 5-fluorocytosine/ketoconazole were determined against 42 strains of Candida spp. isolated from oral cavity. Among 42 strains of Candida species, 36 strains of Candida albicans, 2 strains of Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis 1 strain of Candida krusei and Candida stellatoidea were identified. The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine and ketoconazole for these strains were ranged from 0.05-1.56 mcg/ml, 12.5->100.0 mcg/ml and 0.2-50.0 mcg/ml. In all of the experimental strains, amphotericin B had the greatest antifungal activity on a dilution basis. When a microtiter checkerboard technique was used 5-fluorocytosine acted synergistically with ketoconazole against all strains, whereas amphotericin B has a reduced effect. The killing curve experiments with on strain of Candida albicans WMC-85024 demonstrated that the combination of amphotericin B/ketoconazole and 5-fluorocytosine/ketoconazole produced a decrease in number of colony forming unit of >3 logs in 72 hours.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2021

To prevent the secondary hospital-acquired infection (cross-infection) from occurring in the general radiographic room in the department of radiology, the microbial measurement was conducted at the points making direct close contact with radiologists and patients. For the case of radiologists, the microbial measurement and incubation were focused on the x-ray tube handle of the radiation generating device, and, for the case of patients, the microbial measurement and incubation were focused on the chin supporting device, chest-contact point, and handle. Once disinfected with Aniosurf, the sterilized media were gathered and identified, and the microorganisms were confirmed. Based on the identification results, it was confirmed that the points making direct close contact with radiologists showed a value of 103 CFU for Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus spp. and Candida spp., and that the points making direct close contact with patients showed a value of 103~5 CFU for Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcu faecium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM(Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacteria) and Candida spp.. It was also confirmed that the types and number of microorganisms gathered from the points making direct close contact with patients were greater. Fortunately, most of the involved microorganisms were observed to be on the skin surface and are known to become extinct when disinfected in accordance with the hospital-acquired infection control rules. However, since even minor exposure to such microorganisms may be lethal for patients with reduced immunity, caution must be taken. In particular, since the points making contact with patients showed a high level of microbial measurement, it was thought that it would be necessary for radiologists and personnel having frequent access to strictly disinfect the parts, such as instruments and handles, making frequent contact with patients. The purpose of this study was to announce the importance of safe microbial control in the radiographic inspection room in hospital, and this study is expected to be used as the baseline data for preventing hospital-acquired secondary infection and Nth infectious diseases.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2016

The role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in honey as antifungal activity has received little attention and their mechanism of inhibitory of fungi is not fully understood. In this study, LAB were isolated from honey samples from Malaysia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Twenty-five isolates were confirmed LAB by catalase test and Gram staining, and were screened for antifungal activity. Four LAB showed inhibitory activity against Candida spp. using the dual agar overlay method. And they were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum HS isolated from Al-Seder honey, Lactobacillus curvatus HH isolated from Al-Hanon honey, Pediococcus acidilactici HC isolated from Tualang honey and Pediococcus pentosaceus HM isolated from Al-Maray honey by the 16S rDNA sequence. The growth of Candida glabrata ATCC 2001 was strongly inhibited (>15.0 mm) and (10~15 mm) by the isolates of L. curvatus HH and P. pentosaceus HM, respectively. The antifungal activity of the crude supernatant (cell free supernatant, CFS) was evaluated using well diffusion method. The CFS showed high antifungal activity against Candida spp. especially The CFS of L. curvatus HH was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited growth of C. glabrata ATCC 2001, C. parapsilosis ATCC 2201, and C. tropicalis ATCC 750 with inhibitory zone 22.0, 15.6, and 14.7 mm, respectively. While CFS of P. pentosaceus HM was significantly (p < 0.05) effective against C. krusei, C. glabrata, and C. albicans with inhibition zone 17.2, 16.0, and 13.3 mm, respectively. The results indicated that LAB isolated from honey produced compounds which can be used to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic Candida species.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.206.1-206.1
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• 2002

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.435-441
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• 1997

Forty seven strains of yeast were isolated from traditional Meju and were identified as Saccharomyces spp. (7 strains), Zygosaccharomyces spp. (7 strains), Kluyveromyces spp. and Hansenula spp. (each 5 strains), Rhodotorular spp. (8 strains), Candida spp. (12 strains), Pichia spp. and Debaryomyces spp. from results of their microbiological characteristics. The optimal medium for growth of all the yeasts was YM media and the optimal initial pH of the medium was 6.0. The optimum temperature for growth was 30$circ$ and among them, Sacch. exiguus OE-5, Sacch. cerevisiae OE-16, Sacch. kluyveri C-1 strains were thermotolerant yeasts which could grow at 40$circ$C.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.909-912
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• 2005

In the course of screening for selective growth inhibitors against the mycelial form of Candida albicans, we isolated a Streptomyces sp. A6792 from soils. The inhibitor was isolated from the above bacterium and identified through several spectral analyses with UV and mass spectrophotometries, and various NMR. The compound was determined to be a macrocyclic dilactone antibiotic, IKD-8344 (molecular weight: 844, molecular formula: $C_{48}H_{76}O_{12}$). The compound selectively inhibited the growth of mycelial form of C. albicans with an MIC of 6.25 ${\mu}g/ml$. It also exhibited strong inhibitory effect preferentially on the mycelial form of various Candida spp. including C. krusei, C. tropicalis, and C. lusitaniae, with MICs ranging from 1.56 to 25 ${\mu}g$/ml. Furthermore, the compound showed no significant toxicity against SPF ICR mice up to 60 mg/kg. These results suggest that IKD-8344 is a useful lead compound for the development of novel antifungal agents, based on the preferential growth inhibition against Candida spp.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.358-364
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• 2017

Asymmetric PCR preferentially amplifies one DNA strand for use in DNA hybridization studies. Linear-After-The-Exponential-PCR (LATE-PCR) is an advanced asymmetric PCR method which uses innovatively designed primers at different concentrations. This study aimed to optimise LATE-PCR parameters to produce single-stranded DNA of Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. for detection via probe hybridisation. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was used to design limiting primer and excess primer for LATE-PCR. Primer annealing and melting temperature, difference of melting temperature between limiting and excess primer and concentration of primers were optimized. In order to confirm the presence of single-stranded DNA, the LATE-PCR product was hybridised with digoxigenin labeled complementary oligonucleotide probe specific for each fungal genus and detected using anti-digoxigenin antibody by dot blotting. Important parameters that determine the production of single-stranded DNA in a LATE-PCR reaction are difference of melting temperature between the limiting and excess primer of at least $5^{\circ}C$ and primer concentration ratio of excess primer to limiting primer at 20:1. LATE-PCR products of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Aspergillus terreus at up to 1:100 dilution and after 1 h hybridization time, successfully hybridised to respective oligonucleotide probes with no cross reactivity observed between each fungal genus probe and non-target products. For Aspergillus fumigatus, LATE-PCR products were detected at 1:10 dilution and after overnight hybridisation. These results indicate high detection sensitivity for single-stranded DNA produced by LATE-PCR. In conclusion, this advancement of PCR may be utilised to detect fungal pathogens which can aid the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2020

Although Candida albicans is the major fungal pathogen of candidemia, severe infections by non-albicans Candida (NAC) spp. have been increasing in recent years. Among NAC spp., C. glabrata has emerged as the second most common pathogen. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate its structure, epidemiology, and basic biology. In the present study, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed with a total of 102 C. glabrata clinical isolates that were isolated from various types of clinical specimen. For MLST, six housekeeping genes-FKS, LEU2, NMT1, TRP1, UGP1, and URA3-were amplified and sequenced. The results were analyzed using the C. glabrata database. Out of a total of 3,345 base-pair DNA sequences, 49 variable nucleotide sites were found, and the results showed that 12 different sequence types (ST) were identified from the 102 clinical isolates. The data also demonstrated that the undetermined ST1 was the most predominant ST in Korea. Further, seven undetermined STs (UST) containing UST2-8 were classified at specific loci. The data from this study may provide a fundamental database for further studies on C. glabrata, including its epidemiology and evolution. The data may also contribute to the development of novel antifungal agents and diagnostic tests.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.393-398
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to verify the antifungal properties of various herbal medicines belonging to the Ranunculaceae family and to find an extraction method effective in inhibiting fungal growth. When antifungal activity was measured in a liquid medium with extracts obtained by either hot water extraction or organic solvent extraction of the herbal medicines Clematis apiifolia, Coptis chinensis, and Pusatilla chinensis, effective results were obtained from the chloroform extract. In addition, fungal growth inhibition experiments were performed on unicellular fungi, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida lusitaniae, and on filamentous fungi, such as Pythium ultimum, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Fusarium oxysporum, using disk diffusion experiments on solid media. It was confirmed that P. chinensis extract has excellent antifungal properties against Candida spp. and C. apiifolia extract against filamentous mold. Finally, GC-MS analysis was performed to explore the useful antifungal substances present in the extract. As a result of the study, thurbergenone from C. apiifolia and 16-hydroxycleroda-3, 13(14)-dien-15, 16-olide (16-HCDO) from C. chinensis were confirmed as antifungal candidates. In conclusion, it was confirmed that C. apiifolia, C. chinensis, and P. chinensis have antifungal activity against various fungi, and in GC-MS analysis, all herbal medicines were confirmed to have different antifungal candidates. These results indicate that the Ranunculaceae family has evolved in several directions for fungal resistance traits.