• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.1047-1054
• /
• 2013

Witches' broom of lime is a disease caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia, which represents the most significant global threat to the production of lime trees (Citrus aurantifolia). Conventional disease management strategies have shown little success, and new approaches based on genetic engineering need to be considered. The expression of recombinant antibodies and fragments thereof in plant cells is a powerful approach that can be used to suppress plant pathogens. We have developed a single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFvIMP6) against the immunodominant membrane protein (IMP) of witches' broom phytoplasma and expressed it in different plant cell compartments. We isolated scFvIMP6 from a naïve scFv phage display library and expressed it in bacteria to demonstrate its binding activity against both recombinant IMP and intact phytoplasma cells. The expression of scFvIMP6 in plants was evaluated by transferring the scFvIMP6 cDNA to plant expression vectors featuring constitutive or phloem specific promoters in cassettes with or without secretion signals, therefore causing the protein to accumulate either in the cytosol or apoplast. All constructs were transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana by agroinfiltration, and antibodies of the anticipated size were detected by immunoblotting. Plant-derived scFvIMP6 was purified by affinity chromatography, and specific binding to recombinant IMP was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results indicate that scFvIMP6 binds with high activity and can be used for the detection of Ca. Phytoplasma aurantifolia and is also a suitable candidate for stable expression in lime trees to suppress witches' broom of lime.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.9
• /
• pp.1268-1276
• /
• 2012

The emergence and dissemination of carbapenem-resistant bacteria have resulted in limitations of antibiotic treatment and potential outbreaks of metallo-${\beta}$-lactamase (MBL) producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to carbapenems. In this study, we conducted molecular characterization of the MBL genes of the ${\beta}$-lactam drug-resistant P. aeruginosa and prepared basic data for treatment and prevention of proliferation of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections. Forty-two P. aeruginosa isolates of 254 were resistant to imipenem or meropenem. Among the 42 isolates, 28 isolates were positive for the Hodge test, and 23 isolates were positive for the EDTA-disk synergy test (EDST). MBLs were detected in 59.5% (25/42) of P. aeruginosa isolates. Eight isolates harbored $bla_{IMP-6}$, whereas 17 isolates harbored $bla_{VIM-2}$. The $bla_{IMP-6}$ gene was in a class 1 integron containing five gene cassettes: $bla_{IMP-6}$, qac, aacA4, $bla_{OXA-1}$, and aadA1. Some strains that produce IMP-6 and VIM-2 showed epidemiological relationships. The $bla_{IMP-6}$ gene in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa showed an identical pattern to a gene cassette that was reported at a hospital in Daegu, Korea. Therefore, MBL-producing P. aeruginosa is already endemic in the community. We are concerned that the existence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria containing the blaMBL gene may increase pressure on antibiotic selection when treating infections. We believe that we should select appropriate antibiotics based on the antibiotic susceptibility test and continue the research to prohibit the emergence and spread of antibiotics resistant bacteria.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 1988

In attempts to obtain IMP Producting strains, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes ATCC 6872 was treated wilts N.1.6. Adenine-guanine requiring mutants were obtained from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes ATCC 6872, and then a strain of them was selected for production of IMP and named Brevibacterium ammoniagenes No.9(ade', gu'). The production of IMP by Brevibacterium ammoniagenes nuts No.9 was about 3mg/ml for 4 day of culture. The optimal concentration of adenine and guanine was 150mg/mg.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.368-372
• /
• 1984

This paper deals with a rapid method for determination of ATP and its related compounds in fish and shellfish products using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The HPLC used is a HPLC/ALC-224 equiped with UV-spectrophotometer (254 nm) as detector and integrator (Yanagimoto system-1000). The column used is a stainless steel tubing ($30.0\;cm{\times}3.9\;mm\;i.d.$) packed with ${\mu}-Bon-dapak\;C_{18}$. A mixture of $1\%$ triethylamine-phosphoric acid(pH6.5) was used as an eluent and the flow rate of the eluent was controlled at 2 ml/min. For the separation of ATP and its related compounds, a standard mixture of ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, inosine and hypoxanthine was subjected to HPLC under the above mentioned conditions. Six peaks were obtained with retention times within 20 min, and elution order were hypoxanthine, IMP, inosine, AMP, ADP and ATP. But 5'-IMP and 5'-GMP fractions were not separated by this method. In generally, IMP content in boiled-dried fish and shellfish products purchased from the market was comparatively higher than that of other nucleotides. Especially, boiled-dried big eye herring marked higher value in IMP content than other boiled-dried ones. Hypoxanthine and inosine were major components of ATP-related compounds in dried products and seasoned-dried ones. And IMP content in seasoned-dried products was higher than that of dried ones. This fact is suggested that a part of IMP in seasoned-dried ones was derived from flavoring matter (MSG, 5'-IMP and 5'-GMP) which is added during the seasoning treatment.

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

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.648-653
• /
• 2012

The present study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with nucleotide (inosine monophosphate product, IMP) on the growth performance, feed utilization, and non-specific immune responses of juvenile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Triplicate groups of tilapia (initial body weight, $7.4{\pm}0.04$ g) were fed experimental diets containing 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% IMP. Fish were fed six times a day until apparent satiation for 13 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, final body weight and food utilization of fish fed 0.1% IMP were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. Results of hematological parameters were not affected by dietary IMP. However, blood protein level was significantly higher in the 0.05% treatment, as compared to that of the control and 0.2% IMP diets. Myeloperoxidase activity was higher in fish fed 0.1% IMP than in fish fed the control and 0.2% IMP diets. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with IMP can enhance the growth performance, feed utilization, and innate immune response of juvenile tilapia. The optimal IMP supplementation level appears to be 0.1% in practical feed formulations for tilapia.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.785-792
• /
• 2013

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary nucleotides (NT) on the growth performance, hematological parameters, and innate immune responses of red seabream Pagrus major. In Expt I, six experimental diets were formulated: a control, four that contained each NT at a level of 0.15% (inosine monophosphate, IMP; adenosine monophosphate, AMP; guanosine monophosphate, GMP; and uridine monophosphate, UMP), and one with a 1:1:1:1 mixture of NTs (IMP, AMP, GMP, and UMP). In Expt II, five experimental diets were formulated that contained 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0% IMP (commercial product). Triplicate groups of juvenile (initial body weight 33.1 g) and growing (initial body weight 120 g) red seabream were fed one of the experimental diets to apparent satiation for 8 weeks in Expt I and 12 weeks in Expt II. In Expt I, fish fed diets with NT had higher growth performance than the control group. The nitroblue tetrazolium and lysozyme activities were higher in fish fed the mixed-NT diet, and lowest in the control group. In Expt II, the final body weight and feed utilization of fish fed the 0.1% IMP diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control or 1.0% IMP diets. Diet palatability was improved significantly when 0.1% IMP was added. The lysozyme activity was higher in fish fed diets with 0.4-1.0% than in the control group. These results suggest that supplementation of 0.15% IMP and Mixed-NTs in diet can enhance the growth and immune responses in juvenile red seabream. The optimum IMP level appears to be 0.2% in practical feed formulation for growing red seabream.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.867-872
• /
• 2002

This study was performed to investigate the optimum process conditions for manufacturing yeast extract from waste brewer's yeast using various enzymes. Contents of IMP, GMP, free amino acids, and crude protein of yeast extracts were measured by enzymes treatment. Crude protein contents of yeast extracts subjected to cell wall digestion enzyme treatment were 21.1, 33.6, and 28.0% for the control grouup, glucanase (0.5%, 12 h), and tunicase (1%, 18 h), respectively. Crude protein contents of yeast extracts subjected to protease treatment were 22.0, 30.8, and 29.8% for control group, bromelin (1%, 3 h), and protamex (1%, 3 h), respectively. Crude protein content of yeast extract subjected to glucanase and protamex mixed treatment was 34.4%. The total contents of IMP and GMP of yeast extracts subjected to G+P+A (glucanase+phosphodiesterase+adenyldeminase) and G+Pro+P+A (glucanase+protamex+phosphodiesterase+adenyldeaminase) treatments were 1,066 and 1,047 mg/100 g, respectively. The content of free amino acids of yeast extract was the highest (2,302 mg/100 g) in G+Pro+P+A treatment. Optimum concentration and process condition of enzyme treatment to obtain yeast extract with high IMP, GMP, and free amino acid content were in the order of glucanase (0.5%, 12 h), protamex (1%, 3h), phosphodiesterase (0.1%, 3 h) and adenyldeaminase (1%, 1.5 h) treatments.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.444-452
• /
• 2019

Carbapenem resistance, mediated by the major acquired metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) genes, has been increasingly reported, particularly for clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. Of the 191 nonduplicate clinical isolates of the carbapenem-nonsusceptible Acinetobacter spp. evaluated, 125 isolates (65.4%) were positive for the modified imipenem or meropenem-Hodge test, and 49 isolates (25.7%) were positive for the imipenem-EDTA+SMA double disk synergy test (DDS). PCR and sequencing of the bla_VIM-2-allele and bla_IMP-1-allele showed that 29 A. baumannii isolates and 1 A. calcoaceticus isolate had bla_VIM-2, whereas 16 A. baumannii isolates and 2 A. calcoaceticus isolates had bla_IMP-6; 1 isolate of the A. genomospecies 3 had bla_VIM-2 and bla_AIM-1. All the above MBL genes belong to class 1 integron. The size of class 1 integron encompassing bla_VIM-2 or bla_IMP-6 ranges from 2.8 kb to 3.2 kb in clinical isolates of A. baumannii, and 3.2 kb to 3.5 kb in clinical isolates of A. genomospecies 3. bla_VIM-2 was most often located first or second in the class 1 integron, and these integrons often included aacA4. Due to dispersion of the MBL-producing Acinetobacter spp. as well as integron, which may encompass various resistance genes, there is an expectation for the increase of multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including resistance of carbapenems such as imipenem or meropenem. Hence, the development of new antimicrobial agents for treating severe Acinetobacter spp. infections is needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.417-422
• /
• 1993

This study was designed to determine the changes of ATP-related compounds, especially the concentration of IMP, and compares the relationship between IMP and flavor of pork loin chops during storage as three different storage temperatures (include $4^{\circ}C$ CF and PF). Pork loin chops were kept under $4^{\circ}C$ $-1.5{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ (control freezing storage) and $-3{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ (partially freezing storage). The changes of TBA values, ATP-related compounds, pH values, in CF stored samples were higher than PF stored samples, but it had lower TBA values than $4^{\circ}C$ storage. The IMP concentration reached their peak after 2 days in $4^{\circ}C$, 5 days in CF and 7 days in PF storage, and the ATP, ADP, AMP contents of the loin chops showed minimum, respectively. Flavor of meat sensory score for $4^{\circ}C$ stored samples were more intense (p<0.05) than CF and PF samples on day 2 of storage. However, after storage for 5 days, flavor scores for CF samples were more intense (p<0.05) than $4^{\circ}C$ and PF samples. Flavor scores for PF samples were more intense (p<0.05) than $4^{\circ}C$ and CF on day 7 of storage. As the meat with the peak of IMP contents was most preferred, it was considered that the content of IMP was related to the flavor of meat and that CF, PF had influence on the IMP content.