• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

The production of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases ($ESBL_S$) is the main mechanism of bacterial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams, whose prevalence varies depending on the different geographical areas. In the last years it has increased notably to the point of being considered a health problem of great importance. The characterization of the ESBLs producing Klebsiella penumoniae strains present in clinical isolates is time-consuming. I describe here the development of a new system, which consists of a multiplex PCR. I found 51 K. pneumoniae strains to be presumptive strains ESBLs producers by clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The double disc synergy test showed 47 positive K. pneumoniae, which were K. pneumoniae isolates. All ESBLs producing K. pneumoniae strains were resistant to antibiotic amikacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. By multiplex PCR analysis, $bla_{TEM}$ gene in 17 strains 44 $bla_{SHV}$ genes and $bla_{CTX}$ genes in 33 strains were identified. In this study, the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was a good method to detect and differentiate ESBLs producing K. penumoniae strains in clinical isolates.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2007

To develop a rapid and reliable single-tube-based PCR technique for detection simultaneously the quinolone resistance qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes. After multiple alignment, primers were designed to detect known qnr variants. I was used for A total of 43 extented-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases (ESBLs) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from university hospital were tested for screening, as with qnr genes. In optimized conditions, all positive controls confirmed the specificity of the PCR primers. Out of 43 isolates, qnrA genes were detected 19 (44.2%), qnrB genes 5 (11.7%), qnrS genes 15 (34.9%) and 8 (18.6%) isolates were not detected. I report here a fast and reliable technique for rapid screening of qnr positive strains to be used for epidemiological surveys.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.2295-2302
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• 2014

The study aims primarily to evaluate the resistance of antibiotics and the prevalence of these enzymes among Escherichia coli the most frequent isolate of Enterobacteriaceae producing Extended-Spectrum ${\beta}$-Lactamase(ESBLs), to differentiate the types of enzymes in these isolates. Total 74(26.2%) Strains of producing ESBLs among the 282 E. coli isolates were isolated from hospitals of Chungcheong area (Daejeon, Chungnam, and Chungbuk) during a 6 month-period from February to July, 2013. 282 E. coli isolates including ESBL shown resistance rates of aztreonam 30.8%, Cefotaxim 30.9%, and Ceftazidime 32.2%, 74 isolates producing ESBLs in E. coli were resistant rates to Aztreonam 58.1%, Cefotaxim 100%, and Ceftazidime 63.5% of ${\beta}$-lactam antibiotics. CTX-M-2 (48 isolates) was the most prevalent type of ESBLs identified. Followed the order of frequency by PER-1 (28 isolates), VEB-1 (26 isolates) and CTX-M-8 (20 isolates), of the 74 isolates, 2 isolates only showed GES-1 in Chungnam province. Accurate identification type of ESBLs would aid in hospital infection control. This would give aid to the physician to prescribe more appropriate antibiotics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.394-401
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• 2016

Recently, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, a genome editing technology, was shown to be versatile in treating several antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to kill extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. ESBL bacteria are mostly multidrug resistant (MDR), and have plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes that can be easily transferred to other members of the bacterial community by horizontal gene transfer. To restore sensitivity to antibiotics in these bacteria, we searched for a CRISPR/Cas9 target sequence that was conserved among >1,000 ESBL mutants. There was only one target sequence for each TEM- and SHV-type ESBL, with each of these sequences found in ~200 ESBL strains of each type. Furthermore, we showed that these target sequences can be exploited to re-sensitize MDR cells in which resistance is mediated by genes that are not the target of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, but by genes that are present on the same plasmid as target genes. We believe our Re-Sensitization to Antibiotics from Resistance (ReSAFR) technology, which enhances the practical value of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, will be an effective method of treatment against plasmid-carrying MDR bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.270-276
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• 2016

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), particularly those of the CTX-M types, are the predominant resistance determinants of Escherichia coli that are rapidly spreading worldwide. To determine CTX-M types, E. coli isolates were collected from retail chickens (n = 390) and environmental samples from chicken farms (n = 32) and slaughterhouses (n = 67) in Korea. Fifteen strains harboring bla_CTX-M genes were isolated from 358 E. coli isolates. The most common CTX-M type was eight of CTX-M-15, followed by six of CTX-M-1 and one of CTX-M-14. The bla_CTX-M genes were identified in the isolates from retail chickens (n = 9), followed by feces, water pipes, floors, and walls. Conjugations confirmed the transferability of the plasmids carrying bla_CTX-M genes to the recipient E. coli J53 strain. Furthermore, eight addiction systems carried by the replicons in CTX-M types were confirmed. The dominant system was identified as ccdAB, vagCD, and pndAC in donor strains and transconjugants. The clonal relationship between the two strains carrying bla_CTX-M genes indicates that E. coli may transmit from the farm to retail chickens, suggesting a possible public health risk. Our findings demonstrate that the detection of CTX-M types in E. coli isolates is important for tracking ESBL production in animals, and suggest linkage of multiple addiction systems in plasmids bearing bla_CTX-M genes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1191-1196
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• 2013

Among Gram-negative pathogens in Korea, the incidence of resistance to third generation cephalosporins is becoming an ever-increasing problem. The production of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (ESBL) is the main mechanism of bacterial resistance to a third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams. Accurate identification of the ESBL genes are necessary for surveillance and epidemiological studies of the mode of transmission in the hospital. This study was conducted to detect the genes encoding ESBL of 46 K. penumoniae isolated from Daejeon, Chungnam and Chungbuk regional university hospitals from February to August in 2012. The phenotypes of the isolated specimens were examined according to the combination disc test (CDT) by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Forty two ESBL producing K. penumoniae isolates could be detected using ceftazidime (CAZ) discs with and without clavulanate (CLA). By CDT, 42 K. pneumoniae strains were confirmed to be ESBL strains. Genotyping was performed by multiplex PCR with type-specific primers. By PCR analysis, TEM gene in 46 strains, SHV gene in 37 strains and CTX-M genes in 14 strains were identified. Ten isolates did carry genes encoding ESBLs of all types TEM, SHV and CTX-M. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was better to detect and differentiate ESBL producing K. penumoniae strains in clinical isolates.