• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.14
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• 2020

The emergence of livestock-associated (LA)-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in livestock animal has become a significant zoonotic concern. In the present study, we investigated nationwide prevalence of LA-MRSA across pork production chain including pig farms, slaughterhouses, and retail markets. A total of 40 MRSA strains were isolated during the investigation and the overall prevalence of MRSA was 3.4% (n = 37), 0.6% (n = 2), and 0.4% (n = 1) in pig farms, slaughterhouses, and retail markets, respectively. Multilocus sequence typing analyses revealed that the 2 most significant clonal lineages in pork production chain in Korea were ST398 (n = 25) and ST541 (n = 6). All of the 40 MRSA isolates were further characterized to investigate key genotypic and phenotypic correlates associated with the emergence and spread of clonal complex 398 (CC398; ST398, and ST541) LA-MRSA. Although the prevalence of swine-associated MRSA was still relatively low and mostly restricted to pig farms, multidrug-resistant CC398 LA-MRSA isolates with new spa types (t18102 and t18103) were identified as a major clonal lineage. The CC398 LA-MRSA strains tended to exhibit increased levels of multiple drug resistance (MDR) phenotype compared with non-CC398 MRSA strains. Of note, in comparison with non-CC398 MRSA isolates, CC398 LA-MRSA isolates exhibited significantly enhanced tetracycline (TET) and zinc resistance. These findings suggested that co-selection pressure associated with MDR phenotype, especially TET resistance, and zinc resistance may have played a significant role in the emergence and persistence of CC398 LA-MRSA in pig farms in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2013

Staphylococcus aureus is the most important pathogen in nosocomial infections, including bloodstream infections. Prompt identification of S. aureus from blood cultures and detection of methicillin resistance are essential in cases of suspected sepsis. We have studied a new method for the sequence-specific visual detection of minute amounts of nucleic acids using intercalating reaction by addition of SYBR Green to amplicons of LAMP, and it's a unique gene amplification method in which DNA can be isothermally amplified using only one enzyme. Staphylococcus-LAMP, which targets the spa gene, encoding S.aureus-specific protein A, and the mecA gene, encoding penicillin-binding protein-2' for methicillin resistance, detected MRSA and MRSE. In this study, by using LAMP assay, I detected for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis concentration in the clinical sample. The detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis was tested by using serial 10-fold dilutions standard solution. I have accurate detected the limit of detection, sensitity, specificity and reproducibility of the assay. The Bio-chip based LAMP assay allowed easy, rapid, accurate and sensitive detection of infection with Staphylococcus and especially applicable in a resource-limited situation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.555-558
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• 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent multidrug-resistant pathogen known for its resistance to a variety of antibiotics. To combat this, a wide range of antibiotics, including quinolones, is utilized. While the efficacy of quinolones against S. aureus has been established, the rise in quinolone-resistant strains, particularly in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), has necessitated a shift in their usage patterns. Genomic sequencing plays a crucial role as it offers insights into the genetic mechanisms of resistance. Thus, we report the complete genome sequence of an oxolinic acid-resistant strain of S. aureus isolated from sweet potato leaves, a crop commonly cultivated in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2016

A novel Amycolatopsis strain KCTC 29142 was isolated and characterized based on the polyphasic taxonomic analysis including morphological observation, phylogenetic analysis, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics. The ethyl acetate extract of strain KCTC 29142 culture broth showed strong antibacterial activity and the active compound was identified as siderochelin A, a ferrous-ion chelating compound. In this study, siderochelin A showed good activity against multi-drug resistant pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumanii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The minimum inhibitory activity against clinical isolates was also determined.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.244-248
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• 2020

Skin and soft tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can occur especially in community populations such as military training camps. We investigated antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolated from nasal swabs in healthy army trainees. From January 2018 to March 2018, one MRSA strain was isolated from nasal swab and hand of healthy army trainees. mecA gene detection, SCCmec and mec complex typing were performed to analyze the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolates. As a result, SCCmec and mec complex type of MRSA isolate from military trainees was not-typeable (n=1). In conclusion, not-typeable subtype of MRSA isolate from military trainees need to be confirmed by continuous follow-up study to determine whether there is a different genotype or a new subtype of genotype present in the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.397-401
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• 1997

The present research program was conducted to characterize a strain of actinomycetes producing an anti methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) antibiotic. Soil samples were collected from various sites in Korea and a number of actinomycetes were isolated from the soil samples by applying selective agar for actinomycetes. Among over 400 isolates, a strain (AMLK-135) producing anti-MRSA antibiotic against S. aureus TK 784 was selected. According to the morphological and physiological characteristics, the strain AMLK-135 was confirmed to belong to the genus Streptomyces. From the results of species identification with the TAXON program, the strain AMLK-135 was shown to belong to major cluster 5 (Streptomyces exfoliatus), but it had a low simple matching coefficient ($S_{SM}$ SM/) value to member organisms of major cluster 5. Percentage ($\%$) of strain further away of the strain AMLK-135 was low (1.9400) and it was placed further away than the outer-most members in major cluster 5. Therefore, the strain AMLK-135 was identified as a new species of the genus Streptomyces.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to obtain the basic information for the improvement of dental environment by investigating the presence of methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or VRSA) isolated from dental health care workers (DHCWs) and environment of the Chosun University Dental Hospital (CUDH) and a private dental clinic (control group). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was isolated from anterior nares of 42 DHCWS and 38 sites, unit chairss, x-ray devices, computers, etc., at 10 departments of the CUDH and 20 DHCWs and 11 sites at the private dental clinic. S. aureus was isolated on mannitol salt agar plate and confirmed by PCR with S. aureus species-specific primer. Antimicrobial susceptibility test of clinical isolates of S. aureus against several antibiotics including methicillin (oxacillin) was performed by investigating minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using broth microdilution assay. In addition, PCR was performed to detect the methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant gene. The data showed that one strain of S. aureus was isolated from DHCWs of the CUDH and three strains of S. aureus was isolated from 3 samples of the private dental clinic, respectively. All of the isolates from the CUDH and the private dental clinic had resistance to penicillin G, amoxicillin and vancomycin and susceptibility to oxacillin and ciprofloxacin. The S. aureus strains were already obtained the resistance to penicillin G and amoxicillin. These results suggest that two dental clinics were under relatively safe environment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2024

At the present study, it was aimed to explore the states of antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from 1,360 chickens, pigs and cattle carcass (400 chickens, 480 pigs and 480 cattle) in Daegu province from January 2022 to December 2022. Among 1,360 samples, 81 of S. aureus were isolated cattle (1.4%), pigs (7.7%) and chickens (9.2%). In antimicrobial susceptibility test, all of the isolates were demonstrated susceptibility to rifampin. But the isolates were showed resistance other antibiotics in order of tetracycline (62.9%), ciprofloxacin (62.9%), tobramycin (58.0%), gentamicin (51.8%), amikacin (40.7%), penicillin (39.5%), clindamycin (35.8%), enrofloxacin (33.3%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (30.8%), oxacillin (30.8%), minocycline (29.6%), erythromycin (25.9%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (20.9%), chloramphenicol (12.3%), cefoxitin (9.8%). Among the 81 S. aureus isolates, 25 (30.8%) methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were observed. Seven (28.0%) of 25 MRSA harbored mecA gene. About 96% of MRSA were multidrug resistance to at least 3 more drugs. A continuous monitoring and surveillance program to prevent antimicrobial resistance in livestock products is demanded.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2020

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and causes skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). The present study examined the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolated from nasal swabs in clinical patients. SCCmec type of MRSA isolates from clinical patients were analyzed: 24 cases were SCCmec type-II; two cases were type-II/IVa; one case was type-II/V; one case was type-IVa; 11 cases were not-typeable. The mec complex type of MRSA isolates from clinical patients were analyzed: 29 cases were mec complex type A, and 10 cases were not-typeable, but type B was not found in the present study. In conclusion, SCCmec type-II and mec complex type A were the most dominant MRSA subtypes among the MRSA isolates from a nasal swab of patients, and the results were similar to other studies on hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA). These results can not only provide basic data for hospital infection management but also be a good guideline for MRSA infections in the Republic of Korea.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 1999

Psammaplin A, a natural bromotyrosine derivative from an associated form of two sponges (Poecillastra sp. and jaspis sp.) was found to possess the antimicrobial effect on the Gram-positive bacteria, especially on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The minimal inhibitory concentration of psammaplin A against twenty one MRSAs ranged from 0.781 to 6.25 ${\mu}g/ml$, which that of ciprofloxacin was 0.391~3.125${\mu}g/ml$. Psammaplin A could not bind to penicillin binding protein, but inhibited the DNA synthesis and the DNA gyrase activity with the respective 50% (DNA synthesis) and 100% (DNA gyrase) inhibitory concentration 2.83 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. These results indicate that psammaplin A has a considerable antibacterial activity, although restricted to a somewhat narrow range of bacteria, probably by inhibiting DNA gyrase.