• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.709-717
• /
• 2015

Airborne bacteria from hog farms may have detrimental impacts on human health, particularly in terms of antibiotic resistance and pathogen zoonosis. Despite human health risks, very little is known about the composition and diversity of airborne bacteria from hog farms and hog-related spray fields. We used pyrosequencing analysis of 16S rRNA genes to compare airborne bacterial communities in a North Carolina hog farm and lagoon spray field. In addition, we isolated and identified antibiotic-resistant bacteria from both air samples. Based on 16S rRNA gene pyrosequence analysis, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla in airborne bacterial communities from both hog farm and spray field sites. Within the Firmicutes genera, Clostridium spp. were more abundant in the hog farm, whereas Staphylococcus spp. were higher in the spray field. The presence of opportunitic pathogens, including several Staphylococcus species and Propionibacterium acnes, was detected in both bioaerosol communities based on phylogenetic analysis. The isolation and identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from air samples also showed similar results with dominance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in both hog farm and spray field air. Thus, the existence of opportunistic pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria in airborne communities evidences potential health risks to farmers and other residents from swine bioaerosol exposure.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.177-182
• /
• 1993

From 84 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus species, ten strains showing inducible resistance to MLS antibiotics were selected by disk agar diffusion method. Colony hybridization was executed using two MLS inducible resistance genes, ermA and ermC, previously identified from S. aureus as probes. S. hemolyticus 401 and S. epidermidis 542 whose genes were not homologous to those probes were finally selected. It was determined that the resistance genes of S. hemolyticus 401 and S. epidermidis 542 were not homologous to ermA, ermC and ermAM by Southern hybridization. S. epidermidis 542 had a plasmid DNA. To know if the plasmid may have genes related to inducible resistance, it was attempted to transform B. subtilis BR151 and S. aureus RN4220 with the plasmid prepared from S. epidermidis 542. It was shown that the gene related to inducible resistance to MLS antibiotics did not exist in this plasmid. These results indicate that two clinical isolates of S. hemolyticus 401 and S. epidermidis 542 had novel genes which were not homologous to MLS resistance genes identified previously. It was assumed that these genes may exist in chromosomal DNA.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.137-143
• /
• 2014

Dental professionals are repeatedly exposed to many microorganisms present in both blood and saliva. Thus, dental professionals are at a greater risk of acquiring and spreading infections, and the implementation of infections control guidelines is necessary. Cellular phones have become a necessary device for communicating in hospitals. Cellular phones contaminated with bacteria may serve as a fomite in the transmission of pathogens by the hands of medical personnel. Nevertheless, studies about rate and levels of bacterial contamination of cellular phones have been extremely limited with regards to dental personnel. The purpose of this study was to identify bacterial flora on the cellular phones of dentists by a molecular biological method using the 16S rRNA cloning and sequencing method. We acquired total 200 clones from dentists' cell phones and identified the bacterial species. Pseudomonas (34.6%), Lactobacillus (18.5%), Azomonas (11.5%), and Janthinobacterium (6%) were the dominant genera on dentists' cell phones. The oral bacteria identified were Anaerococcus lactolyticus, Gibbsiella dentisursi, Lactobacills leiae, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oligofermentans, and Streptococcus sanguinis. Pathogenic bacteria and opportunistic pathogens such as Carnobacterium funditum, Raoultella planticola, Shigella flexneri, Lactobacillus iners, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were also identified.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.1841-1851
• /
• 2019

Garcinol, a well-known medicinal phytochemical, was extracted and isolated from the dried fruit rinds of Garcinia quaesita Pierre. In this study, garcinol has successfully used to reduce silver ions to silver in order to synthesize garcinol-capped silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs). The formation and the structure of G-AgNPs were confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of garcinol and G-AgNPs were investigated by well diffusion assays, broth micro-dilution assays and time-kill kinetics studies against five microbial species, including Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and clinically isolated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The formation of G-AgNPs is a promising novel approach to enhancing the biological activeness of silver nanoparticles, and to increase the water solubility of garcinol which creates a broad range of therapeutic applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.673-676
• /
• 2007

A two-step triplex PCR assay targeting the mecA, femA, and nuc genes was developed for the detection of methicillin resistance genes harbored by some Staphylococcus aureus isolates and for the simultaneous identification of such isolates at the species level. The triplex PCR revealed the presence of the femA and nuc genes in all the S. aureus isolates examined (n=105). Forty-four clinical isolates were mecA positive and no foodborne isolates were mecA positive. The PCR results had a 98 or 99% correlation with the results of PBP2a latex agglutination tests or oxacillin susceptibility tests, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.163-164
• /
• 2001

A number of bacterial species produce extracellular lipases. Among them, many lipase genes have been cloned and sequenced. A comparison of primary sequences revealed only very limited sequence homology among them. Based on the sequence homologies and molecular sizes (Mr), bacterial lipases were classified into four discrete groups. From soil samples taken around Taejon, five different lipase-producing bacteria were isolated; Proteus vulgaris K80, Bacillus stearothermophilus Ll, B. pumilus B26, Staphylococcus haemolyticus L62, S. aureus B56. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that Staphylococcus lipase genes (L62 and B56) composed of pre-pro-mature parts, Bacillus lipase genes (Ll and B26) pre-mature parts, and Proteus lipase gene (K80) mature part only. In addition, the molecular sizes of their mature parts were quite different from 19,000 to 45,000. Finally, they had very little homology (less than 20％) in their amino acid sequences. Judging from the above results, lipase K80 belonged to bacterial lipase Group I, lipase L1 and lipase B26 Group III, and lipase L62 and lipase B56 Group IV. This diversity in their primary structures was also reflected in their enzymatic properties; temperature effects, pH effects, substrate specificity, detergent effects, and so on.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.566-574
• /
• 1999

This study was conducted to examine the outbreak rate and the causative agents of otitis externa in 26 dogs (49 ears ; 23 dogs = bilateral, 3 dogs = unilateral), and the normal microfloras of external ear canal in 68 dogs(133 ears ; 65 dogs = bilateral, 3 dogs = unilateral ) in Taegu, 1997. The breed, living environment, sex, age and season distribution of otitic dogs were as follows : Dogs with erect and hairy ears(42.3%), pendulous and hairy ears(38.5%), indoor(92.3%), female(65.4%) and below one year old(38.5%) were more prevalent. According to season, otitis externa was mainly occurred between July and October. The major causative agents of canine otitis externa were Malassezia pachydermatis (32.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (26.5%) and S intermedius (16.3%). In the microorganism isolated 39 otitic ear canals, single infection was 53.8% and mixed infection was 46.2%. The normal microfloras of canine external ear canal were fungi including M pachydermatis, Aspergillus spp, Microsporum canis, Alternaria spp, Verticillium spp and Yeast, and bacteria including Staphylococcus spp(10 species including S xylosus), Bacillus spp, Corynebacterium spp, Listeria spp, Actinomyces pyogenes and Escherichia coli. No growth was 34.6%.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.407-413
• /
• 2004

Specimens collected from various pyogenic lesions of dogs were culturally examined for staphylococci and all staphylococcal isolates obtained from the specimens were also tested for susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents. A total of 123 isolates of staphylococci were identified. Of these, 120 were Staphylococcus intermedius and 3 were S aureus. All isolates were susceptible to oxacillin, cefazolin, cephalothin and amikacin, whereas more than 85% of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin, penicillin G and tetracycline. S intermedius isolates could be divided into 8 different biotypes by biotyping with the most common type accounting for 66.7% of the isolates. One hundred and seventeen(97.5%) isolates could be also divided into 26 different antibiogram patterns. The predominant antibiogram type accounted for 34.2% of the isolates. Antibiogram typing was found to be effective in distinguishing epidemiologically related isolates of S intermedius.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.381-387
• /
• 2006

We analyzed the total yields and composition of essential oils in leaf extracts of Nepeta cataria by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-six compounds representing 97.0% of total oil were detected. The major constituents of essential oils in Nepeta cataria were nepetalactone (90.9%), unidentified compound (Retention time 17.35; 1.82%), 1,8-cineol (1.49%), ${\beta}-caryophyllene$ (1.12%), and ${\beta}-pinene$ (1.078%). The volatile compounds in leaf extracts of N. cataria concentrated to nepetalactone ($88.83{\sim}93.33%$) remarkably. In the essential oil of N. cataria cis,trans-nepetalactone ($30.2{\sim}37.8%$) and cis,cis-nepetalactone ($31.5{\sim}37.0%$) were found as the main constituents. The effects of essential oil of N. cataria on the growth of six microorganisms (Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were investigated. The essential oil of N. cataria had strong inhibitory effect on the growth of three fungal species (Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, and B. amyloliquefaciens). The essential oil from N. cataria was found to have a low antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, while no activity were found against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results indicate the significant antimicrobial effect, which may be depended on the yield of nepetalactone.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.1315-1321
• /
• 2018

Bacteriocin is ribosomally synthesized by bacteria and inhibits closely related species. In this study we aimed at isolating lactic acid bacteria producing bacteriocin presenting anti-staphylococcal activity. A Lactococcus lactis strain was isolated from kimchi for the purpose and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. As preliminary tests, optimal culture conditions, stabilities against heat, solvents, and enzymes treatments, and type of action (bacteriostatic or bactericidal) of the bacteriocin were investigated. The optimal culture conditions for production of the bacteriocin were MRS broth medium and $25^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$ culture temperatures. The bacteriocin was acidic and the activity was abolished by a protease treatment. Its stability was maintained at $100^{\circ}C$ for 15 min and under treatments of various organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetonitrile, and chloroform. Finally, the bacteriocin showed bactericidal action against Staphylococcus aureus where 200 AU/mL of the bacteriocin decreased the viable cell count (CFU/mL) of S. aureus by 2.5 log scale, compared with a control (no bacteriocin added) after 4-h incubation.