• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.771-776
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• 2005

In recent days, there is much interest in the biocidal activity of silver since silver is known to be safe and effective as disinfectant and biocidal material against coliforms and viruses. In particular, nano silted silver particles which can be used as effective biocidal material received more attention. Accordingly, it is important to investigate antimicrobial activity and mechanism of nano sized silver particles prepared in a cost-effective manner. In this study, nano sized silver particles were prepared via photoreduction of a silver salt ($AgNO_3$) in the bulk phase of $PEO_{20}-PPO_{70}-PEO_{20}$ (Pluronic 123) block copolymer The antimicrobial efficacy of silver nano particles against E. coli was investigated and compared with that of silver ion as the concentration of silver nano particles, pH ($5.6{\sim}8.2$), temperature ($4^{\circ}C{\sim}35^{\circ}C$) varied in aqueous system. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine the nature of damaged microorganism with nano sized silver particles and silver ion. This study showed that antimicrobial efficacy of silver nano particles was approximately one twentieth than that of silver ion. It was more biocidal at higher pH in contrast with silver ion. In addition, nano silver particles was demonstrated to disrupt the outer membrane of E. coli, subsequently causing their aggregation. On the other hand, silver ion diffused into the cell damaging the cytoplasmic membrane without disrupting the outer membrane of E. coli.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 1989

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE, EC 3, 4 21, 11), a major causative factor in the induction of pulmonary emphysema, were purified by two steps of liquid chromatography. Purified elastases were cross-reacted with antibody to human neutrophil elastases. Methicillin and cefamandole, which are known as inhibitors of cell wall synthesis of microorganisms, could inhibit the activity of human neutrophil elastase up to 50% with 10mM of both agents and $IC_{50}$ of methicillin was 9.8 mM. Gentamicin, one of the aminoglycosides, also inhibits human neutrophil elastases up to 60% of original activity with 10 mM of this agent and $IC_{50}$ was 9.0 mM. We could demonstrate similar effects in oxytetracycline. 10 mM of oxytetracycline inhibited 95% of human neutrophil elastase and $IC_{50}$ was 0.3 mM. Overall, oxytetracycline, cefamandole and methicillin are strong inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase, and they could be a drug of cholice for the diseases which were known as pathogenesis related to elastase. We also suggest that the mechanism of action of these antibitics are different from the mechanism of antimicrobial effects like inhibition of both cell wall synthesis and protein synthesis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.392-399
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• 2007

Objective : Arsenic trioxide ($As_2O_3$) has been used as an anticancer agent in traditional Chinese medicine for thousand years and berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid present that has indicated significant antimicrobial activity. We have examined the combined anticancer effects of $As_2O_3$ and berberine against the human neuroblastoma (HNB) SH-SY5Y cells in vitro, and to elucidate underlying molecular mechanism. Methods : HNB SH-SY5Y cells were treated with $2\;{\mu}M\;As_2O_3$ and $75\;{\mu}g/ml$ berberine, and their survival, cell death mechanism as well as synergistic cytotoxic effects were estimated by using MTT assay, DAPI staining, agarose gel electrophoresis, flow cytometric analysis, and western blot analysis. Results : The combined treatment of two drugs also markedly decreased cell viability. The cytotoxic effects of two drugs were revealed as apoptosis characterized by chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The apoptotic cytotoxicity was accompanied by activation of caspase-3 protease as well as decreased the expression of Bcl-2, Bid, and Bcl-x/L. In addition, the cells treated with combination of two drugs also showed significantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and lipid peroxidation compared to cells $As_2O_3$or berberine only. Conclusion : Combined treatment of $As_2O_3$ with berberine induced activation of apoptotic signaling pathways in HNB SH-SY5Y cells. These results suggest that the possibility of the combined treatment of two chemotherapeutic agents with low concentration improving cytotoxic effect for cancer cells with minimal side effects.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2013

Chelidonium majus (CM) contains several isoquinoline alkaloids that have been reported to have various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immune-modulatory, and antitumoral. It has been reported that the extract of CM had an antioxidant potential, however the mechanism has not been verified. In this study, we found that CM extract activated FOXO3a. FOXO3a is a transcription factor that involved in various biological processes such as cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, DNA repair, and ROS detoxification. Transcriptional activities of FOXO3a were regulated by post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. Protein level of FOXO3a was increased by CM extract. Promoter activities of FOXO-transcriptional target genes such as MnSOD, p27 and GADD45 were activated by CM extract in a dose dependent manner. In addition, protein level of MnSOD, major antioxidant enzyme, was increased by CM extract. Thereby ROS level was decreased by CM in old HEF cells. These results suggest that CM extract has an antioxidant activity through FOXO activation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2016

Objectives: Mellitine, a major component of bee venom (BV, Apis mellifera), is more active against gram positive than gram negative bacteria. Moreover, BV has been reported to have multiple effects, including antibacterial, antivirus, and anti-inflammation effects, in various types of cells. In addition, wasp venom has been reported to have antibacterial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of BV against selected gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains of medical importance. Methods: This investigation was set up to evaluate the antibacterial activity of BV against six grams positive and gram negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Three concentrations of crude BV and standard antibiotic (gentamicin) disks as positive controls were tested by using the disc diffusion method. Results: BV was found to have a significant antibacterial effect against E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella typhyimurium in all three concentrations tested. However, BV had no noticeable effect on other tested bacteria for any of the three doses tested. Conclusion: The results of the current study indicate that BV inhibits the growth and survival of bacterial strains and that BV can be used as a complementary antimicrobial agent against pathogenic bacteria. BV lacked the effective proteins necessary for it to exhibit antibacterial activity for some specific strains while being very effective against other specific strains. Thus, one may conclude, that Apis mellifera venom may have a specific mechanism that allows it to have an antibacterial effect on certain susceptible bacteria, but that mechanism is not well understood.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.255-266
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• 2020

Plant immune responses can be triggered by chemicals, microbes, pathogens, insects, or abiotic stresses. In particular, induced systemic resistance (ISR) refers to the activation of the immune system due to a plant's interaction with beneficial microorganisms. The phenolic compound, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), which is produced by beneficial Pseudomonas spp., acts as an ISR elicitor, yet DAPG's mechanism in ISR remains unclear. In this study, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing the DAPG hydrolase gene (phlG) were generated to investigate the functioning of DAPG in ISR. DAPG was applied onto 3-week-old A. thaliana Col-0 and these primed plants showed resistance to the pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. However, in the phlG transgenic A. thaliana, the ISR was not triggered against these pathogens. The DAPG-mediated ISR phenotype was impaired in transgenic A. thaliana plants overexpressing phlG, thus showing similar disease severity when compared to untreated control plants. Furthermore, the DAPG-treated A. thaliana Col-0 showed an increase in their gene expression levels of PDF1.2 and WRKY70 but this failed to occur in the phlG transgenic lines. Collectively, these experimental results indicate that jasmonic acid/ethylene signal-based defense system is effectively disabled in phlG transgenic A. thaliana lines.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.30.1-30.16
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• 2024

Background: Biofilms, such as those from Staphylococcus epidermidis, are generally insensitive to traditional antimicrobial agents, making it difficult to inhibit their formation. Although quercetin has excellent antibiofilm effects, its clinical applications are limited by the lack of sustained and targeted release at the site of S. epidermidis infection. Objectives: Polyethylene glycol-quercetin nanoparticles (PQ-NPs)-loaded gelatin-N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (N,O-CMCS) composite nanogels were prepared and assessed for the on-demand release potential for reducing S. epidermidis biofilm formation. Methods: The formation mechanism, physicochemical characterization, and antibiofilm activity of PQ-nanogels against S. epidermidis were studied. Results: Physicochemical characterization confirmed that PQ-nanogels had been prepared by the electrostatic interactions between gelatin and N,O-CMCS with sodium tripolyphosphate. The PQ-nanogels exhibited obvious pH and gelatinase-responsive to achieve on-demand release in the micro-environment (pH 5.5 and gelatinase) of S. epidermidis. In addition, PQ-nanogels had excellent antibiofilm activity, and the potential antibiofilm mechanism may enhance its antibiofilm activity by reducing its relative biofilm formation, surface hydrophobicity, exopolysaccharides production, and eDNA production. Conclusions: This study will guide the development of the dual responsiveness (pH and gelatinase) of nanogels to achieve on-demand release for reducing S. epidermidis biofilm formation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2008

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens. It is associated with hospitals is now being isolated in the community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of photodynamic therapy using Photogem and 630 nm LED on MRSA and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The broth cultured MRSA and MSSA incubated with various concentrations of Photogem (500,50,5 and $0.5{\mu}g/mL$) for 4 h. Then 630 nm LED was given at $9\;J/cm^2$, $20{\mu}l$ of the exposed bacteria solution was inoculated onto agar plate. Plates were incubated for 24 hand colonies were counted. The PDT group was effective in killing MRSA and MSSA at the Photogem dose of $50{\mu}g/mL$. But MSSA is more sensitive than MRSA in photodynamic effect. Other groups (light only, sensitizer only, or no treatment) observed no bacterial cell killing. These results raise the possibility of using PDT with or without antimicrobial drugs to eradicate MRSA and MSSA. In order to confirm this result, we need to further study bacterial death mechanism and in vivo study.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), an oriental herbal medicine, has been known to improve liver function, and has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, little is known about the immune-enhancing effects of PG and its mechanism. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fermented PG extract (FPGE), which has increased platycodin D content, activates the immune response in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured using Griess reagent. Cytokine messenger RNA levels of were monitored by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying immunomodulatory actions of FPGE in RAW 264.7 cells, we have conducted luciferase reporter gene assay and western blotting. RESULTS: We found that FPGE treatment induced macrophage cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. FPGE also modulated the expression of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. The activation and phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were increased by FPGE treatment. Moreover, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide, an activator of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), significantly reduced both lipopolysaccharides- and FPGE-induced NF-κB reporter gene activity. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings suggest that FPGE may be a novel immune-enhancing agent acting via AMPK-NF-κB signaling pathway.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.217-221
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• 2008

Dung beetle larvae at the $3^{rd}$ instar were injected with lipopolysaccaride and inducible proteins were examined within a pI level of 3-10 and a size level by proteomics, including 1-D SDS PAGE analysis and antibacterial assay. The immune infected larvae extracts provided seven protein bands in one-dimensional electrophoresis and its antibacterial activity also checked. Hemolymph protein from immune infected larvae of the dung beetle were separated by twodimensional gel electrophoresis and compared with those from native larvae. In 2-D gel electrophoresis, we detected 63 immune infected unique and 32 up-regulated proteins, and 36 proteins that were down-regulated or not present in treated gel. Ten protein spots from unique proteins and those presented as different level of abundance in infected and native larvae were specially expressed. These differentially expressed proteins were proposed to be involved in the defense mechanism against microorganism.