• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2018

In the present study, mec complex typing and SCCmec typing were performed to analyze the molecular genetic characteristics of 20 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from clinical specimens and 4 strains isolated from the ICU environments of secondary medical institutions in a Chungnam province, Korea, from June to July of 2017. Among a total of 20 MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens, 8 cases (40%) were SCCmec type II, one case (5%) was SCCmec type IVa, and 11 cases (55%) were not-typeable in SCCmec type analysis. Among 4 MRSA isolates from the ICU environment, one strain did not have the mecA gene and 3 strains were typed as SCCmec types II, III, and IVa, respectively. Data from the present study showed that the origin of MRSA isolated from the clinical specimens was different from those from the ICU environment in most cases but the origin was concordant in one case. In this case, MRSA might be transmitted by healthcare workers to the ICU environment. Further study with a large number of cases and other hospital infection-related microorganisms will be needed. This continuous follow-up study might provide useful information on infection control in medical institutions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1916-1924
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• 2019

Outbreaks of staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) causing serious human diseases and economic losses have been reported globally. Furthermore, the spread of Staphylococcus aureus with increased resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents has become a major concern in the food industries and medicine. Here, we isolated an endolysin LysSAP8, as one of the peptidoglycan hydrolases, derived from the bacteriophage SAP8 infecting S. aureus. This endolysin was tagged with a 6×His at the C-terminal of the target protein and purified using affinity chromatography. LysSAP8 demonstrated lytic activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, which included a majority of the staphylococcal strains tested in this study as well as the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA); however, no such activity was observed against other gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, LysSAP8 could maintain bactericidal activity until 0.1 nM working concentration and after heat treatment at 37℃ for 30 min. The ability of LysSAP8 to lyse cells under varying conditions of temperature (4-43℃), pH (3-9), and NaCl concentrations (0-1,000 mM), and divalent metal ions (Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Zn²⁺) was examined. At the optimized condition, LysSAP8 could disrupt approximately 3.46 log CFU/ml of the planktonic cells in their exponential phase of growth within 30 min. In this study, we have suggested that LysSAP8 could be a potent alternative as a biocontrol agent that can be used to combat MRSA.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.146-149
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• 2009

Purpose: Foot infections are common complications in patients with diabetes. The patients are usually immune-compromised; therefore the pathogens could be resistant to narrow spectrum antibiotics. Those drugs, however, are categorized as specially managed antibiotics, and access are difficult without confirming of the pathogens. Our aim was to analyze the common pathogens in diabetic foot infection and figure out the proper antibiotics. Materials and Methods: We studied 68 patients treated with diabetic foot infection. The pathogens which caused the infection and their sensitivity to initial antibiotics were analyzed. We also investigated the change of the antibiotics after the confirming of the culture result and average time to get the result. Results: Among the 68 patients, 56 (82%) received cephalosporin and beta-lactam antibiotics. Only 12 (18%) who were confirmed the drug resistant pathogens from previous culture, were treated with broad spectrum antibiotics such as vancomycin and tazoperan. Average culture study time was 6 days. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was cultured in 19 patients (28%), Methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococcus (MRCNS) in 11 patietns (17%), pseudomonas in 11 patients (17%). Total 44 (65%) including 3 of other antibiotics resistant pathogen needed broad spectrum antibiotics. Thirty two patients (47%) were resistant to initial antibiotics.irt follow up culture, 2 MRSA and 2 MRCNS were found. The antibiotics resistant pathogens were confirmed in 48 (71%) patients at last. Conclusion: Diabetic patients with foot infection need proper antibiotics from initial treatment. The proper broad spectrum antibiotics should assigned to the patients from the first time without the confirming of the culture results.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2017

Objectives : Infectious diseases by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a growing problem worldwide. Characteristic of MRSA is endlessly mutation to resist antibiotics. Daehwanggo (DHG) is one of the oriental medicine prescriptions contained in Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine. Daehwanggo was mainly used for external preparation from old times. The purpose of this study is to confirm possibility as supplementary drug of DHG about antibiotics through observation of synergy effect between DHG and commercial antibiotics and to observe restriction on growth of MRSA on any pathway through observation of mechanism. Methods : The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of DHG against MRSA is $500{\sim}2000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ by broth dilution method. In the checkerboard method, the combinations of DHG with antibiotics has partial synergistic effect or synergy effect and DHG markedly reduced the MICs of the antibiotics oxacillin (OX), gentamicin (GT) against MRSA. In the inhibition of resistance mechanism of DHG against MRSA, the expression of resistance gene and protein about ${\beta}-lactam$ antibiotic was reduced. Also, we observed the effect of DHG about cell membrane permeability against MRSA, and confirmed that DHG suppressed growth of strains by increasing cell membrane permeability. Results : Basis on the result, we speculate that DHG increase antibacterial activity of antibiotics against MRSA by changing the structure of cell wall of MRSA. Conclusions : These data suggest that Daehwanggo possesses possibility as supplementary drug about antibiotics against MRSA.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial effects of herb for removing dampness and promoting urination against vaginal microbes. Methods : Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA), Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginitis-induced microbes. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coil HB101 were used for normal vaginal florae. And herbs for removing dampness and promoting urination(Dianthi herbs. Tokoro Rhizoma, Saururi Herbs, Pyrrosiae Folium, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba, Plantaginis Semen, Tetrapanacis Medulla, Polygoni Avicularis Herba, Malvae Semen, Akebiae Caulis, Kochiae Fructus, Lygodii Spora) were used. Antimicrobial activities were estimated by the change of optical densities and colony test in vitro. Results : Plantaginis Semen, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba and Lygodii Spora had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against MRSA and Gardnerella vaginalis. Polygoni Avicularis Herba had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA and Gardnerella vaginalis. Malvae Semen and Kochiae Fructus had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against MRSA. Dianthi Herba had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against Gardnerella vaginalis. Conclusion : According to these results, we can suggest that Plantaginis Semen, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba, Lygodii Spora, Polygoni Avicularis Herba, Malvae Semen, Kochiae Fructus and Dianthi Herba would be available to the antimicrobial agent for vaginitis-induced microbe in vitro.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1031-1036
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• 2005

[ $(+)-Lyoniresinol-3{\alpha}-O-\beta-D-glucopyranoside$ ] (1) was isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the root bark from Lycium chinense Miller, and its structure was determined using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy including DEPT, HMQC, and HMBC. $(+)-Lyoniresinol-3{\alpha}-O-\beta-D-glucopyranoside$ exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from patients, and human pathogenic fungi without having any hemolytic effect on human erythrocytes. In particular, compound 1 induced the accumulation of intracellular trehalose on C. albicans as stress response to the drug, and disrupted the dimorphic transition that forms pseudo-hyphae caused by the pathogenesis. This indicates that $(+)-Lyoniresinol-3{\alpha}-O-\beta-D-glucopyranoside$ has excellent potential as a lead compound for the development of antibiotic agents.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 2016

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a multidrug-resistant(MDR) strain. (+)-Usnic acid(UA) is uniquely found in lichens, and is especially abundant in genera such as Usnea and Cladonia. UA has antimicrobial activity against human and plant pathogens. Therefore, UA may be a good antibacterial drug candidate for clinical development. In search of a natural products capable of inhibiting this multidrug-resistant bacteria, we have investigated the antimicrobial activity of UA against 17 different strains of the bacterium. In this study, the effects of a combination of UA and permeable agents against MRSA were investigated. For the measurement of cell wall permeability, UA with concentration of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA) was used. In the other hand, Sodium azide($NaN_3$) was used as inhibitors of ATPase. Against the 17 strains, the minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of UA were in the range of $7.81-31.25{\mu}g/ml$. EDTA or $NaN_3$ cooperation against MRSA showed synergistic activity on cell wall. UA and in combination with EDTA and $NaN_3$ could lead to the development of new combination antibiotics against MRSA infection.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2008

Purpose : Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (4S) is uncommon, but reports of 4S are on the increase during the recent years. The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical features and associated factors of 4S during the recent 10 years. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and microbiologic results of 63 patients (27 neonates and 36 children) from January 1998 to December 2007. Results : Since 2003, the incidence of 4S has increased. The mean age of the patients was 16.3 months and the gender ratio was 1:1. The clinical types of 4S were 38 cases of the abortive type (60%), 19 cases of the intermediate type (30%) and 6 cases of the generalized type (10%). The culture results were 36 cases of Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 4 cases of Methicillin sensitive S. aureus and 17 cases of no growth. The patients were treated with semi-synthetic penicillin. For the 9 patients who had MRSA isolated and who didn't improve with penicillin, they were treated with vancomycin instead of penicillin. All the patients had no complications. 4S abruptly increased in 2005, and especially in neonates, due to an MRSA outbreak at a local nursery room. The associated factors of 4S in neonates were hospitalization (27 cases), including nursery infection in 2005 (18 cases) and dermatitis (1 case). There was an unknown origin for some children, and the suggested factors for their infection were community acquired infection (24 cases), atopic dermatitis (9 cases) and hospitalization (3 cases). Conclusion : 4S has recently been increasing. The major associated factors of 4S are a history of hospitalization, an outbreak in a nursery room, atopic dermatitis and community acquired infection.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2011

The plant species reported here are used by traditional healers in Gabon for different ailments such as wounds, malaria, fever, gonorrhea or diarrhea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of 7 plants (Strombosiopsis tetrandra, Tetraberlinia bifoliolata, Dichapetalum barbatum, Guibourtia demeusii, Dacryodes normandii, Manniophytum fulvum, Paropsia grewoides) against different strains of both Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Salmonella. Disc diffusion was first used to determine the antimicrobial effectiveness of the plants' ethanolic extracts. Then the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the crude extracts of either leaves or stem barks of the 7 plants were determined using broth micro-dilution. The ethanolic plant extracts showed very good activity against both MRSA and Salmonella strains where the MICs ranged from $250\;{\mu}g/ml$ to $1000\;{\mu}g/ml$. The study shows that many of the tested plants used by Gabonese traditional healers have antimicrobial activities and give support to their traditional use.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.73-80
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• 2023

Broad range of fatty acids were reported to show antimicrobial activities against broad range of microorganisms. However, possible changes of the antibacterial activity of a fatty acid based on structural variations are largely unknown. This study was focused on determination and comparison of the antimicrobial activities of the medium chain fatty acids, based on the position of carboxyl groups on either terminal end, against the representative food-pathogenic bacteria. Over all, mono-carboxyl medium chain fatty acids (MC-MCFA) presented stronger antimicrobial activities against the food-pathogenic bacteria tested including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) than di-carboxyl medium chain fatty acid (DC-MCFA). In addition, some of MC-MCFA and DC-MCFA showed high possibility to be used as a synergistic adjuvant for both the commercial β-lactam family antibiotics and aminoglycoside family antibiotics against MRSA.