• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 1996

The effect of the extracellular protease of Salmonella schottmulleri on human serum constituents such as immunoglobulins, hemoglobin and lysozyme and tissue constituents such as fibronectin and collagens was investigated. This protease degraded collagens (type I and III), fibronectin and serum proteins such as human hemoglobin and lysozyme. Bovine serum albumin was degraded slightly. Thus, the present study suggested the possibility that this protease is not only played an important role in invasion of S. schottmulleri by degrading the constituent proteins such as collagens and fibronectin but also induced complications observed in septicemia and chronic infections by degrading the serum proteins. This protease is also capable of degrading defence-oriented humoral proteins, immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM). Furthermore, it is toxic to HEp-2 cells. These findings clarified the possible role of Salmonella protease as a virulence factor in the pathogenesis of Salmonella infections.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 1999

Helicobacter pylori is the etiologic agent of human gastritis and peptic ulceration and produces urease as the major protein component on its surface. H. pylori urease is known to serve as a major virulence factor and a potent immunogen. Deletion mutageneses were performed in the H. pylori urease accessory genes by using combinations of restriction enzymes and other DNA modifying enzymes in order to assess the function of these accessory gene products in the expression of the active urease. Selective disruptions in the accessory gene regions resulted in complete abolishment of the urease activity, which is consistent with other bacterial ureases. Interestingly, deletions in ureE-containing regions caused reduced expression of the structural enzyme subunits.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.91-104
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• 2024

This narrative review describes genomic characteristic, serotyping, immunogenicity, and vaccine development of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide (CPS). CPS is a primary virulence factor of S. pneumoniae. The genomic characteristics of S. pneumoniae CPS, including the role of biosynthetic gene and genetic variation within cps (capsule polysaccharide) locus which may lead to serotype replacement are still being investigated. One hundred unique serotypes of S. pneumoniae have been identified through various methods of serotyping using phenotypic and genotypic approach. The advantages and limitations of each method are various, emphasizing the need for accurate and comprehensive serotyping for effective disease surveillance and vaccine targeting. In addition, we elaborate the critical role of CPS in vaccine development by providing an overview of immunogenicity, ongoing research of pneumococcal vaccines, and the impact on disease burden.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 1987

Colonization factor antigen I(CFA I) has been shown to be one of several virulence factors that promote attachment of enterotoxigenic E. coli(ETEC) to small intestinal epithelial cells of humans. The ability of ETEC to produce mannose-resistant hemagglutination(MRHA) of human blood group A has been used to detect CFA I. To determine gastrointestinal carriage in Korean children of E. coli with MRHA and CFA I, 116 strains of E. coli from diarrheal children admitted to Hanyang University Hospital were examined for MRHA of human erythrocytes and the presence of CFA I. Of 45 ETEC strains, 18(40%) gave a positive MRHA($MRHA^+$) and eight(18%) were positive for CFA I(CFA $I^+$). ETEC with CFA I were all heat-stable enterotoxin(ST) producers and two of these strains were of serogroups $O_{25}$. Of 17 classic enteropathogenic E. coli(EPEC), 7(41%) were $MRHA^+$ but all were negative for CFA I(CFA $I^-$). Of 30 enteroadherent E. coli(EAEC) strains, 11(37%) were $MRHA^+$ and one was CFA $I^+$. Of 24 nonpathogenic E. coli, 4(17%) were $MRHA^+$ but all were CFA $I^-$. It was shown that MRHA was common in all strains of E. coli, CFA I was limited only to ST producing ETEC and EAEC; although MRHA is a useful screening procedure, serologic tests seem to be necessary to comfirm CFA I production. CFA I was associated with a lower proportion of ETEC isolates in Korea than has been reported for other locations.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.242-247
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• 2008

In the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, the yeast-to-hyphal transition occurs in response to a broad range of environmental stimuli and is considered to be a major virulence factor. To address whether the zinc homeostasis affects the growth or pathogenicity of C. albicans, we functionally characterized the zinc-finger protein Csr1 during filamentation. The deduced amino acid sequence of Csr1 showed a 49% similarity to the zinc-specific transcription factor, Zap1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sequential disruptions of CSR1 were carried out in diploid C. albicans. The csr1/csr1 mutant strain showed severe growth defects under zinc-limited growth conditions and the filamentation defect under hypha-inducing media. The colony morphology and the germ-tube formation were significantly affected by the csr1 mutation. The expression of the hyphae-specific gene HWP1 was also impaired in csr1/csr1 cells. The C. albicans homologs of ZRTl and ZRT2, which are zinc-transporter genes in S. cerevisiae, were isolated. High-copy number plasmids of these genes suppressed the filamentation defect of the csr1/csr1 mutant strain. We propose that the filamentation phenotype of C. albicans is closely associated with the zinc homeostasis in the cells and that Csr1 plays a critical role in this regulation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.431-436
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• 2011

The onset, severity, and ultimate outcome of malaria infection are influenced by parasite-expressed virulence factors as well as by individual host responses to these determinants. In both humans and mice, liver injury follows parasite entry, persisting to the erythrocytic stage in the case of infection with the fatal strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Hepatic nuclear factor (HNF)-$1{\alpha}$ is a master regulator of not only the liver damage and adaptive responses but also diverse metabolic functions. In this study, we analyzed the expression of host HNF-$1{\alpha}$ in relation to malaria infection and evaluated its interaction with the 5'-untranslated region of subtilisin-like protease 2 (subtilase, Sub2). Recombinant human HNF-$1{\alpha}$ expressed by a lentiviral vector (LV HNF-$1{\alpha}$) was introduced into mice. Interestingly, differences in the activity of the 5'-untranslated region of the Pf-Sub2 promoter were detected in 293T cells, and LV HNF-$1{\alpha}$ was observed to influence promoter activity, suggesting that host HNF-$1{\alpha}$ interacts with the Sub2 gene.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.291-295
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• 2010

The onset, severity, and ultimate outcome of malaria infection are influenced by parasite-expressed virulence factors and individual host responses to these determinants, In both humans and mice, liver injury is involved after parasite entry, which persists until the erythrocyte stage after infection with the fatal strain Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has strong anti-apoptotic effects in various kinds of cells, and also has diverse metabolic functions. In this work, Pf-subtilisin-like protease 2 (Pf-Sub2) 5' untranslated region (UTR) was analyzed and its transcriptional activity was estimated by luciferase expression. Fourteen TATA boxes were observed but only one Oct-1 and c-Myb were done. In addition, host HGF interaction with Pf-Sub2 was evaluated by co-transfection of HGF- and Pf-Sub2-cloned vector. Interestingly, -1,422/+12 UTR exhibited the strongest luciferase activity but -329 to + 12 UTR did not exhibit luciferase activity. Moreover, as compared with the control of unexpressed HGF, the HGF protein suppressed luciferase expression driven by the 5' untranslated region of the Pf-Sub2 promoter. Taken together, it is suggested that HGF controls and interacts with the promoter region of the Pf-Sub2 gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1337-1350
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• 2023

Caproic acid is a precursor substance for the synthesis of ethyl caproate, the main flavor substance of nongxiangxing baijiu liquor. In this study, Clostridium butyricum GD1-1, a strain with high caproic acid concentration (3.86 g/l), was isolated from the storage pit mud of nongxiangxing baijiu for sequencing and analysis. The strain's genome was 3,840,048 bp in length with 4,050 open reading frames. In addition, virulence factor annotation analysis showed C. butyricum GD1-1 to be safe at the genetic level. However, the annotation results using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Automatic Annotation Server predicted a deficiency in the strain's synthesis of alanine, methionine, and biotin. These results were confirmed by essential nutrient factor validation experiments. Furthermore, the optimized medium conditions for caproic acid concentration by strain GD1-1 were (g/l): glucose 30, NaCl 5, yeast extract 10, peptone 10, beef paste 10, sodium acetate 11, L-cysteine 0.6, biotin 0.004, starch 2, and 2.0% ethanol. The optimized fermentation conditions for caproic acid production by C. butyricum GD1-1 on a single-factor basis were: 5% inoculum volume, 35℃, pH 7, and 90% loading volume. Under optimal conditions, the caproic acid concentration of strain GD1-1 reached 5.42 g/l, which was 1.40 times higher than the initial concentration. C. butyricum GD1-1 could be further used in caproic acid production, NXXB pit mud strengthening and maintenance, and artificial pit mud preparation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2011

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes various infections on urinary track, cornea, respiratory track, and burn wound site, and mainly relies on quorum sensing (QS) for its virulence. To control the infectivity of P. aeruginosa, we previously synthesized the structural analogues of a major QS signal, N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL) to use as a QS inhibitor. Two of them (5b and 5f) had been confirmed to have an inhibitory effect on LasR, a major QS signal receptor of P. aeruginosa in the screening by the recombinant Escherichia coli reporter. To further evaluate these compounds, we tested their efficacy to control the QS and virulence of P. aeruginosa. Unlike the result from E. coli reporter, both 5b and 5f failed to affect the LasR activity in P. aeruginosa, but instead they selectively affected the activity of QscR, another 3OC12-HSL receptor of P. aeruginosa. Interestingly, their effect on QscR was complex and opposite to what we obtained with E. coli system. Both 5b and 5f enhanced the QscR activity at the low concentration range (< 10 ${\mu}m$), but high concentration of 5f (${\approx}$1 mM) strongly inhibited QscR. While 5b and 5f didn't affect the production of proteases, the key virulence factor, they significantly reduced the biofilm formation that is important in mediating chronic infections. Especially, 5f inhibited the initial attachment of P. aeruginosa, rather than the biofilm maturation. Based on our results, we suggest that 5f can be applied for an anti-biofilm agent without increasing virulence of P. aeruginosa.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.107-111
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• 2010

Treponema denticola is a gram-negative anaerobe that can cause periodontal disease. The adhesion of this bacterium to host tissues is considered to be the primary event in the colonization and infection of a host. Fibrinogen is generally found in damaged tissues resulting from periodontitis. The binding ability of T. denticola to fibrinogen may therefore be an important virulence factor in inducing periodontal diseases. It has been reported recently that oral spirochetes can be labeled with fluorescent fatty acids and we speculated that this labeling method could be used in an oral spirochete binding assay. The binding of several different strains of T. denticola to immobilized human fibrinogen was therefore tested using the fluorescent fatty acid labeling method. In the case of immobilized fibrinogen, the T. denticola ATCC 35405 strain showed saturable binding to immobilized fibrinogen. Indeed, all four different T. denticola strains tested in this experiment, T. denticola ATCC 35405, T. denticola ATCC 33520, T. denticola ATCC 35404 and T. denticola OTK showed binding to fibrinogen. The fluorescent fatty acid labeling method thus shows utility in binding assays for T. denticola, different strains of which can generally bind to immobilized fibrinogen.