• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2017

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common gram-positive bacterium that causes serious infections in humans and animals. With the continuous emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, antibiotics have limited efficacy in treating MRSA infections. Accordingly, novel agents that act on new targets are desperately needed to combat these infections. S. aureus alpha-hemolysin plays an indispensable role in its pathogenicity. In this study, we demonstrate that sclareol, a fragrant chemical compound found in clary sage, can prominently decrease alpha-hemolysin secretion in S. aureus strain USA300 at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Hemolysis assays, western-blotting, and RT-PCR were used to detect the production of alpha-hemolysin in the culture supernatant. When USA300 was co-cultured with A549 epithelial cells, sclareol could protect the A549 cells at a final concentration of $8{\mu}g/ml$. The protective capability of sclareol against the USA300-mediated injury of A549 cells was further shown by cytotoxicity assays and live/dead analysis. In conclusion, sclareol was shown to inhibit the production of S. aureus alpha-hemolysin. Sclareol has potential for development as a new agent to treat S. aureus infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.8
• /
• pp.1170-1176
• /
• 2012

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of ${\alpha}$-cyperone on S. aureus. We used a hemolysin test to examine the hemolytic activity in supernatants of S. aureus cultured with increasing concentrations of ${\alpha}$-cyperone. In addition, we evaluated the production of ${\alpha}$-hemolysin (Hla) by Western blotting. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to test the expression of hla (the gene encoding Hla) and agr (accessory gene regulator). Furthermore, we investigated the protective effect of ${\alpha}$-cyperone on Hla-induced injury of A549 lung cells by live/dead and cytotoxicity assays. We showed that in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of ${\alpha}$-cyperone, Hla production was markedly inhibited. Moreover, ${\alpha}$-cyperone protected lung cells from Hla-induced injury. These findings indicate that ${\alpha}$-cyperone is a promising inhibitor of Hla production by S. aureus and protects lung cells from this bacterium. Thus, ${\alpha}$-cyperone may provide the basis for a new strategy to combat S. aureus pneumonia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.10
• /
• pp.1253-1261
• /
• 2022

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection causes dramatic harm to human health as well as to livestock development. As an important virulence factor, alpha-hemolysin (hla) is critical in the process of S. aureus infection. In this report, we found that bavachin, a natural flavonoid, not only efficiently inhibited the hemolytic activity of hla, but was also capable of inhibiting it on transcriptional and translational levels. Moreover, further data revealed that bavachin had no neutralizing activity on hla, which did not affect the formation of hla heptamers and exhibited no effects on the hla thermal stability. In vitro assays showed that bavachin was able to reduce the S. aureus-induced damage of A549 cells. Thus, bavachin repressed the lethality of pneumonia infection, lung bacterial load and lung tissue inflammation in mice, providing potent protection to mice models in vivo. Our results indicated that bavachin has the potential for development as a candidate hla inhibitor against S. aureus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.330-336
• /
• 2004

Fifty-two pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from the environments of Busan and Yeosu, Korea. Forty-three of these strains showed protease activities, whereas 4 strains showed $\alpha / \beta$ hemolysin activities and 6 strains had urease activities. Their pathogenic factors were not overlapping except one strain, which had both protease and hemolysin activities. The 6 urease-positive strains (V. parahaemolyticus YKB4, YKB14, S25, YFB20, YFO21, and YFO22) showed the same biochemical characteristics as a reference strain [V. parahaemolyticus KCTC 2471 (urease-negative)], except for urease production. The 6 urease-positive strains showed different urease activities in their culture supernatant during the growth. The urease activity of S25 increased sharply at the late exponential phase, and was the highest at the initial stationary phase and was kept until the late stationary phase. The other 5 isolates, except C25, showed urease activities at the mid-stationary phase and increased steadily until the late stationary phase, when the urease activity was maximal. To compare the degree of virulence of V. parahaemolyticus with different pathogenic factors, hemolysin, protease, or urease-positive strains were injected into groups of 10 each of ICR mice (7- to l0-week-old males). The lethal rates of urease-positive V. parahaemolyticus, YKB14, YKB4, and S25, were significantly high, being 50, 70, and 80%, respectively. Protease-positive V. parahaemolyticus strains FM39 and FM50 showed 40% and 60% of lethal rate, respectively. Hemolysin-positive V. parahaemolyticus strains S34 and S72 had no mortality, similar to nonpathogenic V. parahaemolyticus FM12.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.139-153
• /
• 1996

Porcine E coli infection is a disease caused by Enterotoxin produced by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC). Enteric colibacillosis has become an economically important disease in pigs as a result of increasing intensification of farrowing management. The present study undertaken to obtain the antibiotic sensitivity and distribution of serogroups and pili producibility test of ETEC from E. coli isolates in Chonnam. The results obtained were as follows. 1. A total of 71 isolates identified as E, coli employing IMViC system from rectal specimens of 54 piglets with diarrhea. 2. In antibiotic sensitivity test, isolates showed high sensitivity to AN, CM, Fox, GM, but resistance to EM, NA TC. 3. The distribution of 25 Isolates of serogroups were 0141:K85(11.3%), 08:K87(8.5%), 064:K (5.6%), 0138:K8l (4.2%), 0139 :K82(2.8%), 0157:K88ac(1.4%) and 0149:K9l (1.4%). 4. MRHA of guinea pig erythrocytes was detected in 8 out of 25OK serotypes and 9 out of 46 unidentified serotypes. MRHA titers of serotypes showed from 64 to 128 in 0141: K85, 2 in 0138:K8l and no titers in 0139:K82. 5. The production of heat labile enterotoxin of ETEC was detect 39 out of 52 isolates showed $\beta$-hemolysin, 7 out of 52 isolates showed ${\gamma}$-hemolysin and 6 out of 52 isolates showed ${\gamma}$-hemolysin by $GM_1$ganglioside ELISA. The distribution of LT toxin were in 12 isolate showed $\beta$-hemolysin, 2 isolates showed ${\alpha}$-hemolysin and 3 isolates showed ${\gamma}$-hemolysin in 25 OK serotypes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.596-602
• /
• 2016

Staphylococcus aureus, like other gram-positive pathogens, has evolved a large repertoire of virulence factors as a powerful weapon to subvert the host immune system, among which alpha-hemolysin (Hla), a secreted pore-forming cytotoxin, plays a preeminent role. We observed a concentration-dependent reduction in Hla production by S. aureus in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of isorhamnetin, a flavonoid from the fruits of Hippophae rhamnoides L., which has little antibacterial activity. We further evaluate the effect of isorhamnetin on the transcription of the Hla-encoding gene hla and RNAIII, an effector molecule in the agr system. Isorhamnetin significantly down-regulated RNAIII expression and subsequently inhibited hla transcription. In a co-culture of S. aureus and lung cells, topical isorhamnetin treatment protected against S. aureus-induced cell injury. Isorhamnetin may represent a leading compound for the development of anti-virulence drugs against S. aureus infections.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.359-370
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out to Investigate the biochemical characteristics, antibiotic susceptibility, serogroups and pili producibility test of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC) isolated from piglets with diarrhea in Kangwon province from March to October 1996. 1. Sixty eight E coli strains were isolated from 72 piglets with diarrhea and the biochemical and cultural reaction were compared with the classification criteria of Edwards and Ewing. 2. The serogroups of 26 isolates were classified as 08 : K87 6(8.8%), O20 : K1O1 4(5.9%), O141 : K85 4(5.9%), 09 : K103 : P987 3(4.4%), O45 : K 2(2.9%) 0139 : K82 2(2.9%), O64 : $K^{-}$2(2.9%), O149 : K91 1(1.5%), O157 : K88ac 1(1.5%) and O115 : $K^{-}$1(1.5%), respectively. 3. In antibiotic susceptibility test, the isolates showed high susceptible to Ak, Eno, Na, Gm, Am and Km, whereas resistance to Tc, Sm and Cf. 4. Sixty one strains(89.7%) of 68 I coli Isolates were resistant to one or more drugs. The isolates resistant to 2 and 3 or more drugs were 60.3% and 19.1%, respectively. Amog the 16 multiple resistant patterns, Sm Tc(11.5% ), Cf Sm Tc(11.5% ), Cf Cp Sm Su Tc(9.8% ) and Cf Cp Sm Su Tc(8.2%) patterns were frequently observed. 5. MRHA of guinea pig erythrocytes was detected in 9 out of 26 OK serotype and 9 out of 42 unidentified serotypes. MRHA titers of serotypes showed from 16 to 32 in O141 : K85 and no titers in O139 : K82. 6. By the GM1 ganglioside ELISA, $\beta$-, $\alpha$-, and $\gamma$-hemolysin producing strains was detected as 36, 6, and 5 from heat labile enterotoxin(LT) of 47 ETEC, respectively. The distribution of LT toxin from 112 isolates was showed $\beta$- hemolysin, 2 isolates $\alpha$-hemolysin and 3 isolates $\gamma$-hemol-ysin from 26 OK serotypes.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.169-191
• /
• 1997

Hyangpaeyangyeongtang, which was first prescribed in the book of Euijonggumgam (醫宗金鑑), has been widely applied to the treatment of scrofula and carbuncle in the neck and tumor as well in the oriental medicine. The Fritillariae roylei bulbus was also used as an anti-tumor medicine. In order to investigate the effect of Hyangpaeyangyeongtang and Fritillariae roylei bulbus extracts on the immune responses to the epithelioma induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and prostaglandin-$F_2{\alpha}$ in mice, the change of epithelioma size was observed and delayed type hypersensitivity, hemagglutinin titer, hemolysin titer, rosette forming cells, natural killer cell activity, lymphocyte transformation, productivity of interleukin-2 and phagocytic activity were also measured. The results were as follows; 1. The epithelioma size was decreased with statistical significance in the Hyangpaeyangyeongtang group at the 14th day, as compared with the control group. 2. Delayed type hypersensitivity was not shown any decrease in the Hyangpaeyangyeongtang group and the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group, as compared with the control group. 3. Hemagglutinin titer was increased with statistical significance in the Hyangpaeyangyeongtang group, but not in the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group as compared with the control group. 4. Hemolysin titer was increased with statistical significance in the Hyangpaeyangyeongtang group, but not in the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group as compared with the control group. 5. Rosette forming cells were not increased in the Hyangpaeyangyeong tang group, but increased with statistical significance in the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group as compared with the control group. 6. Natural killer cell activity at the ratio 100:1 of effector cells to target cells was increased with statistical significance in the Hyangpaeyayeongngtang group and the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group respectively, and the natural killer cell activity at the ratio of 50:1 and 10:1 of effector cells to target cells Hyangpaeyangyeongtang group was increased with statistical significance as compared with the control group. 7. Lymphocyte transformation was increased in the Hyangpaeyangyeong tang group and the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group respectively, as compared with the control group. 8. Productivity of interleukin-2 was increased in the Hyangpaeyangyecing tang group and the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group respectively, as compared with the control group. 9. Phagocytic activity was not shown any decrease in the Hyangpaeyangyeongtang group and the Fritillariae roylei bulbus group, as compared with the control group.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.178-182
• /
• 2002

The authors identified 68 Vibrio strains from Gwangan beach seawater from June to October in 2001. We identified them as 19 strains of Vibrio alginolyticus, 15 strains of V. vulnificus, 15 strains of V. parahaemolyticus, 11 strains of V. cholerae non O1, 7 strains of V. fluvialis and just one strain of V. hollisae. They showed their typical biochemical characteristics by API 20E kit (bioMerieux), respectively. It was examined whether their cultural supernatants had enzymatic activities such as hemolysin, protease or urease. The 46 strains showed hemolytic activities and/or protease activities. But we could not find any strain which had urease activity. All isolates of V. cholerae non O1 showed $\beta$ hemolysis. The others showed $\alpha$ hemolysis or did not show clear zones on sheep blood agar plates. These results of Kanagawa phenomenon were not always correspondant with hemolytic activities of cultural supernatants at late log phase. Some strains had higher hemolytic activities despite of showing protease activities on skim milk agar plates and in litmus milk media. On the other hand, some strains showed protease activities but did not show hemolytic activities. Therefore we could guess that there were the relationships between hemolysins and proteases produced by pathogenic vibrios.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.148-152
• /
• 2014

A mutant strain of Lactobacillus paracasei (ML-7) was derived by ultraviolet irradiation of the parent L. paracasei LS-2 strain, followed by colony selection on pH 3.5 MRS agar plates, on which L. paracasei LS-2 cannot grow. The L. paracasei ML-7 mutant strain produced an increased amount of organic acids compared to the L. paracasei LS-2 parent strain. Broiler chickens were randomly fed with one of three experimental diets: a basal diet as a control, and basal diets supplemented with 0.3% of the L. paracasei LS-2 and L. paracasei ML-7 strains. When concluding the study, the final body weights of the broilers fed with the supplemented basal diets were found to be significantly higher (1.9% for LS-2 and 6.2% for ML-7) than the control broiler group. Broilers fed with basal diet supplemented with the mutant L. paracasei ML-7 strain showed increased body weight and food intake, compared to broilers fed with the basal diet with or without the parent L. paracasei LS-2 strain.