• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.425-429
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• 2003

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen for cattle, causing various forms of subclinical and clinical mastitis and could be a causative agent of food poisoning, it produces various superantigenic exotoxins which have a great public health significance. A total of 72 S. aureus clinical isolates from dairy farms located in Kyunggi Province Korea were examined for the species identification by biochemical method, and for the detection of $\beta$-lactamase, enterotoxin and other exotoxins genes by PCR. The results of species identification by biochemical method agreed with those of PCR done with species specific primer STA-AU. $\beta$-lactamase is an enzyme closely associated with the resistance to antibiotic penicillin, which is an important means of treatment of mastitis, all the isolates were positive for the presence of genes encoding $\beta$-lactamase, which were reproduced in penicillin susceptibility disc assay. Six types of toxin genes, Staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE)A, SEB, SEC, SEE, toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) and exfoliative toxin A (ET A) were detected in 72 isolates by PCR associated genotypic method in this study, none of the isolates carried the genes for enterotoxin D (SED) and exfoliative toxin B (ETB). The occurrence rate of exotoxin genes rated as 12.5%, and the precision of the PCR identification results has been confirmed using the reference strains.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.177-188
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• 2001

Mastitis is one of the most significant cause of economic loss to the dairy industry. Especially, Staphylococcus aureus is a major contagious mastitis-causing pathogen in dairy cattle. Because of its high transmission rate and resistance to antibiotic therapy, staphylococcal mastitis presents a constant threat to the dairy industry. Staphylococcal enterotoxin C(SEC) produced by S aureus has been known as one of superantigens which are able to stimulate a large proportion of T lymphocytes independently of their antigenic specificity. In this experiment, we have conducted preliminary studies with mice and lactating cows to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the experimental vaccine consists of SEC mutant antigen on controlling the bovine mastitis associated with S aureus infections. The average value of somatic cell counts in quarter milk, isolation rate of S aureus were consistently decreased in SEC-SER vaccinated groups, whereas antibody titers were highly increased in SEC-SER vaccinated groups. Peripheral blood were also collected from the lactating cows to determine the proportion of leukocyte subpopulation associated with humoral immunity(HI) and cell mediated immunity(CMI). Proportion of leukocyte subpopulation expressing $BoCD2^+$(total T lymphocyte), $BoCD4^+$(T helper cell), $BoCD8^+$(T cytotoxic/suppressor cell) and NonT/NonB lymphocyte which are involved in CMI in SEC-SER vaccinated groups were decreased for the initial stage after first vaccination and then increased from ten weeks after first vaccination maintaining elevated level till 14 weeks after vaccination. In contrast, proportion of monocyte, MHC class II and B lymphocyte which are associated with the production of primary immune response in SEC-SER vaccinated groups were increased for the initial period and then decreased from ten weeks after first vaccination. We present evidence that vaccination of SEC-SER mutant antigen in lactating cows induced a significant proliferation of bovine T lymphocytes. These results suggest that SEC-SER mutant antigen used in this experiment might be one of potential immunogen in developing innovative vaccine against bovine IMI associated with S aureus. Additional challenge trials should be carried out to evaluate substantial protection against S aureus under the commercial farm conditions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.15.1-15.16
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• 2022

Foreign molecules, including viruses and bacteria-derived toxins, can also induce airway inflammation. However, to the best of our knowledge, the roles of these molecules in the development of airway inflammation have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we investigated the precise role and synergistic effect of virus-mimicking double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in macrophages and epithelial cells. To identify cytokine expression profiles, both the THP-1-derived macrophages and BEAS-2B epithelial cells were stimulated with dsRNA or SEB. A total of 21 cytokines were evaluated in the culture supernatants. We observed that stimulation with dsRNA induced cytokine production in both cell types. However, cytokine production was not induced in SEB-stimulated epithelial cells, compared to the macrophages. The synergistic effect of dsRNA and SEB was evaluated observing cytokine level and intracellular phospho-signaling. Fifteen different types were detected in high-dose dsRNA-stimulated epithelial cells, and 12 distinct types were detected in macrophages; those found in macrophages lacked interferon production compared to the epithelial cells. Notably, a synergistic effect of cytokine induction by co-stimulation of dsRNA and SEB was observed mainly in epithelial cells, via activation of most intracellular phosphor-signaling. However, macrophages only showed an accumulative effect. This study showed that the type and severity of cytokine productions from the epithelium or macrophages could be affected by different intensities and a combination of dsRNA and SEB. Further studies with this approach may improve our understanding of the development and exacerbation of airway inflammation and asthma.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.83-90
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• 2007

목 적 : 포도알균 열상 피부 증후군(Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome)은 포도알균의 피부박탈성 독소에 의하여 전신성 수포와 낙설을 일으키는 포도알균의 피부 감염증의 한 형태이다. 환자들의 임상양상과 치료의 결과, 합병증 등을 알고 자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 2002년 2월부터 2005년 12월까지 특징적인 피부병변을 보여 포도알균 열상 피부 증후군으로 진단된 53명의 환자들을 대상으로 의무기록을 후향적으로 검토하였고 임상형을 전신형, 중간형, 부전형 등으로 분류하고 2003년 9월이후 부터 발생한 환자의 비강 내 검체를 이용하여 원인 균 및 독소를 규명하였다. 결 과 : 1) 연구기간 동안 4S로 진단되어 치료한 환자는 총 53명이었다. 발병연령은 생후 20일부터 7세까지 분포하였으며, 평균연령은 2.8세였다. 성별은 남자가 35명이었고 여자는 18명으로 남여 성비는 1.9:1이었다. 2) 임상적인 유형은 전신형이 6례(11%), 중간형이 29례(55%), 부전형이 18례(34%)로 중간형이 가장 많았다. 대부분의 환자에서 혈액 검사 상 백혈구 증다증이나 C반응단백의 증가는 없었다. 3) 2003년 9월 이후에 15명 환자의 비강에서 얻은 검체 중 14명의 환자에서 얻은 검체에서 포도알균을 분리하였고 피부박탈성 독소는 독소 B의 유전자를 확인하였고 Panton-Valentine leukocidin의 유전자는 음성으로 나왔다. 4) 입원하여 치료받은 환자의 경우 평균 입원 기간은 7.3일이었으며 사용한 항생제는 amoxacillin/clavulanate, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefuroxime, vancomycin 등이었다. 모든 환자에서 전신적인 낙설이 나타났으며 임상형이나 사용한 항생제 종류에 관계없이 모든 환자가 특별한 합병증이 없이 회복이 되었다. 결 론 : 창원과 인근 지역에서 단기간 내에 지역사회 획득 메치실린 내성 포도알균감염으로 인한 다수의 4S 환자가 연속적으로 발생하였으며 원인은 피부박탈성 독소 B이었다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.255-265
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• 2016

Objectives: Mobile phones have become one of the most essential accessories in daily life. However, they may act as reservoir of infectious pathogens if they are used without hygienic practices in their handling. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate food-borne pathogens from mobile phones and investigate the characteristics of toxin genes and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Methods: A total of 146 mobile phones were collected from 83 middle- and 63 high-school students in Busan. The surfaces of the mobile phones were aseptically swabbed. Results: Among the food-borne pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were detected in 26 (17.8%), 20 (13.7%) and four (2.7%) samples, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences according to school level, gender or phone type. None of four E. coli strains had pathogenic toxic genes. All of the B. cereus strains carried at least three different toxin genes among the nine enterotoxin and emetic toxin genes. Three out of 20 B. cereus strains (15%) possessed emetic toxin genes, which are rarely detected in food-poisoning cases in Korea. Among the 26 strains of S. aureus, the detection rate of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes, toxic shock syndrome toxin (tsst) and factors essential for methicillin resistance (femA) were 84.6%, 7.7% and 100%, respectively. In the antibiotic susceptibility test, there was no methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). Conclusion: The results show that students' mobile phones in Busan were contaminated by food-borne pathogens which carried various toxic genes. Therefore, regular phone disinfection and hand hygiene is important in order to reduce cross-contamination.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제79권4호
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• pp.295-301
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• 2016

Background: Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization to staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) has been recently considered to be related to allergic disease, including asthma. Despite studies on specific IgE (sIgE) to SE and its relationship to asthma diagnosis and severity, the association of sIgE to SE with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) remains unclear. Methods: We enrolled 81 asthma patients admitted to the Severance Hospital in Korea from March 1, 2013, to February 28, 2015 and retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of the enrolled subjects. The serum levels of sIgE to SE (A/B) of all subjects was measured using the ImmunoCAP 250 (Phadia) system with SE-sIgE positive defined as >0.10 kU/mL. Results: The SE-sIgE level was not significantly correlated with asthma severity (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [$FEV_1$], $FEV_1$/forced vital capacity, sputum eosinophils, and serum eosinophils), whereas the SE-sIgE level in patients with positive AHR ($mean{\pm}standard$ error of the mean, $0.606{\pm}0.273kU/mL$) was significantly higher than that in patients with negative AHR ($0.062{\pm}0.015kU/mL$, p=0.034). In regression analysis, SE sensitization (sIgE to SE ${\geq}0.010kU/mL$) was a significant risk factor for AHR, after adjustment for age, sex, $FEV_1$, and sputum eosinophils (odds ratio, 7.090; 95% confidence interval, 1.180-42.600; p=0.032). Prevalence of SE sensitization was higher in patients with allergic rhinitis and non-atopic asthma patients, as compared to patients without allergic rhinitis and atopic asthma patients, respectively, but without statistical significance. Conclusion: SE sensitization is significantly associated with AHR.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권9호
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• pp.1323-1329
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• 2021

Micro-scale magnetic beads are widely used for isolation of proteins, DNA, and cells, leading to the development of in vitro diagnostics. Efficient isolation of target biomolecules is one of the keys to developing a simple and rapid point-of-care diagnostic. A zinc finger protein (ZFP) is a double-stranded (ds) DNA-binding domain, providing a useful scaffold for direct reading of the sequence information. Here, we utilized two engineered ZFPs (Stx2-268 and SEB-435) to detect the Shiga toxin (stx2) gene and the staphylococcal enterotoxin B (seb) gene present in foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli O157 and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Engineered ZFPs are immobilized on a paramagnetic bead as a detection platform to efficiently isolate the target dsDNA-ZFP bound complex. The small paramagnetic beads provide a high surface area to volume ratio, allowing more ZFPs to be immobilized on the beads, which leads to increased target DNA detection. The fluorescence signal was measured upon ZFP binding to fluorophore-labeled target dsDNA. In this study, our system provided a detection limit of ≤ 60 fmol and demonstrated high specificity with multiplexing capability, suggesting a potential for development into a simple and reliable diagnostic for detecting multiple pathogens without target amplification.

• 한국군사과학기술학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.516-527
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• 2024

Rapid, early, accurate detection and identification of the various pathogenic agents associated with the development of biological weapons is critical in preventing loss of life and limiting the impact of these organisms when used against civilian or military targets. The aim of this study was to produce a system for the simple, rapid, accurate and simultaneous detection and identification of Ricin, Botulinum toxin B and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B as a proof of principle for developing field appropriate reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification systems for the accurate identification of potential biological threats. These systems were designed to facilitate the identification of potential threats even in remote or resource-limited locations.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권7호통권87호
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• pp.948-955
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• 2007

생체 면역반응에 중요한 역할을 하는 호중구의 세포사멸은 자연적으로 일어나거나 여러 외부자극에 의한 신호의 전달에 의해 증가하거나 지연된다. 또한 사이토카인과 같은 분화제에 의해 세포사멸이 지연되고 항원 제시 기능을 가진 수지상 세포로 분화되기도 한다. 본 연구에서는 세포사멸 억제제와 사이토카인을 이용한 시스템에서 호중구가 수지상 세포로 분화되는가를 조사하였다. Pancaspase와 serine protease의 억제제인 zVAD-fmk와 AEBSF를 처리하였을 때 호중구의 세포사멸은 현저히 감소되며 AEBSF는 caspase-3와 serine protease활성을 모두 억제하였다. 호중구의 세포사멸을 효과적으로 억제하는 AEBSF와 함께 분화제로 널리 쓰이는 CM-CSF를 같이 처리하여 3일 동안 배양하면 수지상 세포에서 높이 발현되는 CD8O, CD83 및 MHC class ll의 세포표면 마커의 발현이 증가하였다. AEBSF와 CM-CSF를 처리한 호중구를 T-세포와 함께 배양하였을 때 SEB가 존재할 경우 T-세포가 증식되었으며 SEB가 없이도 $IFN{\gamma}$는 생성되었다. 이들 결과들로 부터 serine protease 억제제인 AEBSF를 호중구에 처리하여 세포사멸을 효과적으로 억제하는 것과 수지상 세포로의 분화를 촉진하는 사이토카인인 CM-CSF의작용을 나타내게 하는 조건과는 서로 상호적으로 연관되어 작용할 수 있다는 것을 제시하고 있다.