• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.290-298
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• 2013

The genus Mycobacterium includes crucial animal and human pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and Mycobacterium bovis. Although it is important to understand the genetic basis for their virulence and persistence in host, genetic analysis in mycobacteria was hampered by a lack of sufficient genetic tools. Therefore, many functional vectors as molecular genetic tools have been designed for understanding mycobacterial biology, and the application of these tools to mycobacteria has accelerated the study of mechanisms involved in virulence and gene expression. To overcome the pre-existing problems in genetic manipulation of mycobacteria, this paper reports new vector systems as effective genetic tools in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Three vectors were developed; pKOTs is a suicide vector for mutagenesis containing a temperature-sensitive replication origin (TSRO) and the sacB gene encoding levansucrase as a counterselectable marker. pMV306lacZ is an integrative lacZ transcriptional fusion vector that can be inserted into chromosomal DNA by site-specific recombination. pTnMod-OKmTs is a minitransposon vector harboring the TSRO that can be used in random mutagenesis. It was demonstrated in this study that these vectors effectively worked in M. smegmatis. The vector systems reported here are expected to successfully applicable to future research of mycobacterial molecular genetics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.578-583
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• 2010

It has been reported that extracts of globe thistle (Echinops spp.) and thistle (Circium spp., Carduus spp. and Onopordum spp.) have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. Methanol extracts of Echinops setifer and Carduus spp. were used to test and see if the extracts of these plants could suppress growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium fortuitum. Although extract of Echinops setifer showed no anti-mycobacterial activities, extract of Carduus spp. showed inhibition zones when tested with filter discs. Genomic DNA was isolated from Carduus spp. and PCR was performed to clone a DNA fragment containing ITS1, 5.8S rRNA gene and ITS2. A 733-bp PCR product was obtained and its DNA sequence was reported to the GenBank (accession number GU188570). BLAST search of the obtained DNA sequence did not show a match with any DNA sequences in the Genbank. Carduus crispus and Carduus defloratus had the closest phylogenetic relationships to this plant.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.87-91
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• 1987

The in vitro interactions between antibiotics(ampicillin, kanamycin, cephalexin, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol) and ginseng saponin were studied by the chessboard method against bacteria(Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacterium smegmatis). Ampicillin, kanamycin, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol against Bacillus subtilis, and ampicillin and cephalexin against Staphylococcus aureus were synergistic in the presence of gi­nseng saponin. Whereas kanamycin, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol against Staphylococcus aureus, and ampicillin, Kanamycin, cephalexin, oxytetracycline and chlorampheniol against Escherichia coli, and ampicillin, kanamycin, and chloramphenicol against Pseudomonas aer­uginosa, and ampicillin and chloramphenicol against Mycobacterium smegmatis were indiffer­ent in the presence of ginseng saponin. Antagonisms between antibiotics and ginseng saponin were not observed in this study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1992.05a
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• pp.22-22
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• 1992

국내의 토양에서 Streptomyces spp.를 분리하였고 이 중 항균활성이 우수한 균주들을 선별하였다. 이들 균주들을 적절한 조건에서 배양하여 얻은 배양액을 이온 교한 수지와 흡착 크로마토그래피를 행하여 항생물질들을 분리하였다. 이들 항생물질들은 Bacillus subtilis, Pyricularia oryzae, Alternaria mail, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , 및 Escherichia coli에 강한 항균활성을 나타내었다. 각 항생물질들을 산으로 가수분해하고 흡착관 크로마토그래피로 가수분해 생성물을 분리하였다. 분리한 항생물질과 가수분해 생성물들의 $^1$IH-NMR, $13^{C}$ -NMR, FAB-Mass 스펙트럼을 분석하여 구조를 연구하였다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1401-1411
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• 2019

Mycobacterial cell walls comprise thick and diverse lipids and glycolipids that act as a permeability barrier to antibiotics or other chemical agents. The use of OH radicals from a non-thermal plasma jet (NTPJ) for the inactivation of mycobacteria in aqueous solution was adopted as a novel approach. Addition of water vapor in a nitrogen plasma jet generated OH radicals, which converted to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) that inactivated non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis and pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. A stable plasma plume was obtained from a nitrogen plasma jet with 1.91 W of power, killing Escherichia coli and mycobacteria effectively, whereas addition of catalase decreased the effects of the former. Mycobacteria were more resistant than E. coli to NTPJ treatment. Plasma treatment enhanced intracellular ROS production and upregulation of genes related to ROS stress responses (thiolrelated oxidoreductases, such as SseA and DoxX, and ferric uptake regulator furA). Morphological changes of M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis H37Rv were observed after 5 min treatment with $N_2+H_2O$ plasma, but not of pre-incubated sample with catalase. This finding indicates that the bactericidal efficacy of NTPJ is related to the toxicity of OH and $H_2O_2$ radicals in cells. Therefore, our study suggests that NTPJ treatment may effectively control pulmonary infections caused by M. tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) such as M. avium or M. abscessus in water.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.154-157
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• 2003

A peptide inhibiting HIV-1 pretense was isolated from the hydrolysate of manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) proteins digested with thermolysin. The peptide was purified by using membrane filtration, gel permeation chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and reverse phase HPLC, The amino acid sequence of the peptide was determined to be Ile-Tyr-Glu-Gly. This tetrapeptide sequence exists in some proteins of Physarum polycephalum and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Chemically synthesized Ile-Tyr-Glu-Gly showed the $IC_{50}$/ value of 22.3 $\mu$M.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2024

Antibiotics are substances produced by microorganisms that kill or inhibit and are essential for infectious diseases management. This study aimed to provide basic data for overcoming antibiotic resistance in the marine bacterium LJ-18. The API 20NE and API 50CH kits were used to identify this microorganism. Morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties were investigated using MacFaddin's manuals. Subsequently, isolated LJ-18 was found to belong to a genus of Streptomyces that forms mycelia. LJ-18 also grew well at 28-32℃ on modified Bennett's agar. To isolate and purify the antibacterial compound, LJ-18 culture was divided into ethyl acetate and distilled water fractions. Considerable antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was confirmed in the C₁₈ ODS open column fractions. Peak 2 compound was obtained using reversed-phase HPLC. As a result, this compound had a significant antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. In particular, it showed strong activity against MRSA, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 1996

As part of our search for less toxic antimicrobial agents from natural resources, antimicrobial activity of rutin isolated from Sophora japonica was tested in vitro against four kinds of gram positive bacteria and four kinds of gram negative bacteria by serial broth dilution method. Among eight kinds of bacteria tested, the antimicrobial activity of rutin was the most potent against Mycobacterium smegmatis showing MIC of $375\;{\mu}g/ml$. The acute toxicity of rutin was examined in mice and rats. and $LD_{50}$ value administered intraperitoneally in mice was 650 mg/kg(Confidence limit: 894-1,473 mg/kg). There were no significant changes in serum biochemical values and histopathological changes as compared with those of control after intraperitoneal administration with rutin in rats.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2003

Among a number of antigens characterized in M leprae, an etiological agent of Leprosy, the 18 kDa antigen, is unique to M leprae. We have previously determined a sequence specific element in the 18 kDa gene of M leprae, which confers transcriptional repression. In this report, we have examined if the element could be applied to genes other than the 18 kDa gene of M leprae. To identify the roles of the regulatory sequence in heterologous promoter, we have constructed pB3 vector series, which contains BCG hsp65 promoter and the M leprae 18 kDa transcription repression responsive element in tandem using LacZ gene as a reporter gene. Cloning of hsp65 promoters of M bovis BCG or M smegmatis in front of LacZ gene resulted in normal $\beta$­galactosidase activity as expected. However, when the sequence element was placed between the promoter and the LacZ gene, $\beta$-galactosidase activity was reduced 10-fold less. Also we have examined with pB3(-) vector, that harbors the transcription repression responsive element in a reversed orientation, the $\beta$-galactosidase activity was found to be similar to pB3(+) vector. Thus, these results further confirm that M leprae 18 kDa transcription repression responsive element could regulate BCG hsp65 heterologous promoter and that the element could act as an operator for the transcription of mycobacteria.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2006

The in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extracts of Ledum palustre L. were investigated. Using GC-MS analysis, we identified 37 compounds in the essential oil, constituting 87.58% of the total oil. There are several monoterpenes, of which sabinene is the major compound ($16{\sim}17%$). There are several oxygenated monoterpenes of which terpinen-4-ol(7.6%) and myrtenal (3.5%) are the main constituents. $\beta$-Selinene, a-selinene, $\gamma$-elemene, a-caryophyllene are the main sesquiterpenes ($2{\sim}6%$ range). The oil strongly reduced the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical ($IC_{50}=1.56{\mu}g/mL$) formation and exhibited a hydroxyl radical scavenging effect in the $Fe^{3+}-EDTA-H_2O_2$ deoxyribose system ($IC_{50}=2.7{\mu}g/mL$), and also inhibited the nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation of rat liver homogenate ($IC_{50}=13.5{\mu}g/mL$). The polar phase of the extract showed antioxidant activity. The oil showed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Clostridium perfringens, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Acinetobacter lwoffii and Candida krusei while the water-insoluble parts of the methanolic extracts exhibited slight or no activity. This study confirms that the essential oil of Ledum palustre L. possesses antioxidant and low antimicrobial properties in vitro.