• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2018

This study was carried out to isolate soil bacteria with antimicrobial activity and evaluate antimicrobial substances produced by isolated bacteria. Among many isolates Bacillus subtilis DS660 and Paenibacillus polymyxa DS842 showed high antimicrobial activities against 6 species of microbial residents on human skin and 3 species of pathogenic bacteria. DS660 and DS842 showed 15.3~26.8 and 11.3~27.5 mm of inhibition zone diameter, respectively on nutrient agar medium against most target bacteria and fungi. DS660 and DS842 produced $57{\pm}8$ and $170{\pm}15{\mu}mol/ml$ of siderophore, respectively as an antimicrobial substance. Analysis of ethyl acetate extract of culture supernatants of DS660 and DS842 suggested production of glycolipid biosurfactant which reduced surface tension of culture supernatant of DS660 and DS842 from 60.0 to 40.3 and 30.3 mN/m, respectively. DS660 and DS842 also showed $169.2{\pm}9.9$ and $357.2{\pm}13.7nmol/min/mg$ protein of ${\beta}-1,3$-glucanase activity, respectively, and hydrolyzed cell wall components of 3 bacterial species. These results suggest that B. subtilis DS660 and P. polymyxa DS842 may be utilized as an environment-friendly biocontrol agent against some skin microbes and pathogenic bacteria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2019

Streptococcus iniae is a typical fish pathogen causing streptococcosis and it can also cause zoonotic infectious diseases. We studied S. iniae FP5228 isolated from infected olive flounder in Wando, Korea. In a study to find virulence factors in FP5228, we found that the number of live bacteria decreased dramatically in culture medium containing S. iniae FP5228 for more than 24 hr. This phenomenon was hypothesized to be related to Toxin ${\zeta}$ and Antitoxin ${\varepsilon}$ genes, components of the Toxin/ Antitoxin (TA) system on the 14 kb plasmid of FP5228. We used a protein overexpression system to identify it. The pBP1140 vector system was constructed to regulate the expression of Toxin ${\zeta}$ and Antitoxin ${\varepsilon}$ by IPTG and Arabinose. E. coli/pBP1140 strain grew slowly in early growth under toxin expression condition, and it was confirmed by microscopic observation that the strain became longer. S. iniae CK287, lacking a 14 kb plasmid of S. iniae FP5228 strain, was constructed. CK287 bacterial cells did not show rapid killing during culture, and the ability to produce biofilm was also decreased, and toxicity was weakened in cytotoxicity test and fish test. These results suggest that the TA system is involved in physiological regulation and expression of virulence factors in S. iniae FP5228.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2019

A comparative study between commercially available mycobacteria growth indicator tubes (MGIT) in the BACTEC MGIT 960 System and the conventional Ogawa media was carried out to assess the effectiveness of the re-decontaminating process for the recovery of mycobacteria. Processed specimens with 5% sodium hydroxide and 0.5% N-acetyl-L-cysteine were inoculated into MGIT and Ogawa media. The acid fast bacilli (AFB) recovered from the cultures were identified using a mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) antigen kit. If contaminants were observed in the MGIT tubes within five days, a decontaminating process was repeated. A total of 1,190 out of 4,790 (24.8%) specimens showed positive results using the BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Among them, 278 specimens were reprocessed. When the MGIT and Ogawa results were compared, it showed discordant results (weighted kappa value: 0.283). One TB and 10 nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were newly detected in MGIT only. The likely benefit of the re-decontaminating process is the detection of additional mycobacteria that could not be detected without a re-decontaminating process despite being small in number. In addition to the combination of MGIT and Ogawa, the re-decontaminating process is recommended in the case of contaminations to recover mycobacteria.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.93-112
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• 2019

Calf diarrhea is a common disease in young claves and is still a major cause of productivity and economic loss in livestock farms. Fecal samples from Korean native cattle (n=100) with diarrhea from 64 farms in Gwangju area, Korea from september 2017 to December 2018 were examined for shedding of important protozoan parasitic, viral and bacterial pathogens using culture, rapid test kit and PCR methods. Of 57 (89.1%) of the 64 Korean native cattle farms examined had samples infected with at least one of the investigated pathogens. Among 100 fecal samples, 88 samples were positive for at least one the twelve pathogens and 51 samples were simultaneously positive for two or more pathogens by culture and PCR assay. Bovine group A rotavirus (BRV) was the most common pathogen, found in 43/100 (43.0%) samples on 32/64 (50.0%) farms. Subsequently, kobuvirus (30.0%), pathogenic E. coli (29.0%), bovine parvovirus (17.0%), Giardia spp. (13.0%), Eimeria spp. (10.0%), Clostridium perfringens type A (8.0%), bovine torovirus (8.0%), bovine viral diarrhea virus (6.0%), bovine coronavirus (5.0%), bovine norovirus (2.0%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (2.0%) were detected. Nebovirus, kırklareli virus, bovine adenovirus, Salmonella spp. and intestinal parasites were not detected. Of the 72 calves sampled in this age group, 64 (88.9%) samples were positive for at least one enteropathogen. BRV was identified in 34/72 (47.2%) samples from 27/48 (56.3%) farms. Subsequently, pathogenic E. coli (30.6%), kobuvirus (29.2%), BPaV (22.2%), Giardia spp. (15.3%), Eimeria spp. (9.7%), BVDV (6.9%), Cl. perfringens type A (6.9%), BCoV (4.6%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (2.8%) were detected in fecal samples. A total of ninety-six strains of E. coli were isolated from one hundred fecal samples collected from Korean native cattle with diarrhea. The presence of stx1, stx2, eaeA, LT, STa, STb, ehxA, saa, F4, F5(K99), F6, F17, F18 and F41 genes in the isolates was investigated by PCR. Out of ninety-six E. coli isolates screened for specific genes, 30 strains E. coli were identified to harbor shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) 7 (7.3%), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) 8 (8.3%), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) 6 (6.3%), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) 2 (2.1%) and STEC/ETEC hybrid 7 (7.3%). This study provides epidemiological estimates of the prevalence of Korean native cattle's enteropathogens in Gwangju area, Korea, which would be used for cattle farmers and veterinarians to select appropriate therapeutic method.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.511-519
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of infection control in dental office and the degree of infection control practice of dental hygienists. A self-reported questionnaire was answered by 193 dental hygienists working in dental hospitals or dental clinics in Gyeonggi and Incheon areas. The number of bacteria was measured sample of surface dental unit chair shoulder backrests and light handles from 19 dental hospitals and 28 dental clinics. It was responded that impression or occlusion bodies were routinely disinfected in 52.6% of the dental hospitals and dental prosthesis were routinely disinfected in 46.4% in dental clinics. The dental hospital and clinics disinfect the surface each 26.3%, 25% after the patient treatment. The dental hospital and clinic were detected bacteria $5.02^*10\^3CFU/mL$, $1^*10\^4CFU/mL$, from dental unit chair backrest, respectively and $8.32^*10\^3CFU/mL$, $4.26^*10\^4CFU/mL$ from light handles, respectively. At the conclusion of this investigation, it can be kept from infection source in dental office is to make the right selection and use of the personal protective equipments and to improve the practice level by regular and active education. The same infection control practice should be done by institutionalizing and mandating infection control practice.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2019

Purpose: Campylobacter species are common causes of bacterial enteritis. There is limited knowledge on its prevalence and clinical features because of its fastidious culture conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical features of Campylobacter enteritis in children. Methods: We obtained stool specimens from patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis in the Department of Pediatrics, Nowon Eulji Medical Center (NEMC) and identified the pathogens by performing cultures or polymerase chain reactions (PCR). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with Campylobacter enteritis at NEMC between January 2012 and December 2017. Results: Overall, 123 patients were diagnosed with Campylobacter enteritis (60 by culture and PCR in EnterNet and 110 by multiplex PCR). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of patients was 12 years (IQR, 8 to 16 years). The disease occurred all year round, but 69.9% from June to September. Symptoms included diarrhea (97.6%), fever (96.7%), abdominal pain (94.3%), vomiting (37.4%), and headache (34.1%). Compared with other treatments, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a shorter hospitalization period (P<0.05). Conclusions: Campylobacter enteritis is common during summer and mostly infects adolescent patients. It causes severe abdominal pain and fever preceding the onset of diarrhea. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics reduces the duration of the disease.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2019

Background: Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of hematuresis and uterine bleeding in Korea. It has been reported to have anti-obesity, anti-diabetes and anti-inflammaotry effect by regulating the inflammatory signaling pathway. However, the preventive effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb on gastritis has not been elucidated. Thus, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of the water extract of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb (APW) using HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis rat models. Method and Results: Gastritis was induced in rats by HCl/EtOH administration. The rats in each group were orally administered with two doses of APW (100 and 500 mg/kg). Omeprazole was used as a positive control drug. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) levels in stomach. The treatment with 500 mg/kg APW reduced the gastric ulcer area. The APW treatment prevented a decreased in $PGE_2$ concentration induced by HCl/EtOH in rats. In the micronucleus test, the ratio of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes to polychromatic erythrocytes showed no significant change in the APW-treated group compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results indicate that APW could be used to prevent the gastritis caused by the HCl/EtOH-induced damage to stomach lining. In addition, the APW treatment showed no significant change in results of the micronucleus test. However, further experiments are required to determine how APW influenced the secretion of mucus and gastric acid using the chromosome aberration test and bacterial reverse mutation assay.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2019

This study investigated the antibacterial effects of BioZone atmospheric plasma (AP) against Bacillus cereus (F4810/72) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) as the major foodborne bacteria on the surface of dried filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer) fillets. The fillets were experimentally contaminated with 7-8 log CFU/mL of B. cereus or S. aureus using a spot inoculation method. Bacterial counts were measured by standard plate method on tryptic soy agar, and were significantly reduced with the increase in the treatment time (1, 3, 5 or 20 min) of AP on the fillets (p < 0.05). The reductions of the pathogens by AP treatment ranged from 0.9 to 2.93 logCFU/g for B. cereus and from 1.04 to 2.55 logCFU/g for S. aureus. A reduction of >1-logCFU/g for B. cereus and S. aureus was observed on the fillets treated with AP for >3 min. The differences in color on the Hunter scale (L=light vs. dark, a=red vs. green, b=yellow vs. blue) of the fillets were not significantly different between the nontreated (control) and AP-treated fillets (p>0.05). This study suggested that 3 min of AP could be effective in reducing >90% of the bacteria without causing any concomitant changes in the color of the fillets.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.522-528
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• 2018

Saemimyeon, a Tongil type, medium-late maturing rice variety, is especially used for preparing rice noodles. Its high amylose content was developed to fit market demands and to be affordable for rice processing industries. One of the high yielding lines, Milyang181 (Hanareum), was used in the final three-way cross of $IR50^*2$/YR18241-B-B-115-1-1 for yield improvement and cultivation stabilization, including disease resistance. YR24235-10-1-3, a high yielding and compact plant type, was selected and named Milyang278 after yield test at NICS (RDA, Miryang) in 2010. It was subjected to regional yield test at six sites in the middle and southern plain areas of South Korea. Saemimyeon heading occurs on August 12 and is a mid-late maturing cultivar, with resistance to leaf blast, rice stripe virus, and bacterial blight (K1-K3a), but it is susceptible to major diseases and insect pest infestation. Saemimyeon showed a high amylose content of 26.7%, with a relatively low KOH digestion value of 3.5, which are key factors in rice noodles and pasta processing. In the local adaptability tests, the yield of Saemimyeon was 7.08 MT/ha-an increase of approximately 106% compared to that of Dasan. Thus, Saemimyeon is suitable for cultivation in the southern and middle plain areas of South Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1251-1257
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• 2019

Peptidoglycan (PG) is found in atheromatous lesions of arteries, where monocytes/macrophages express inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$). This study investigated the effects of PG on $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression and examined possible cellular factors involved in $TNF-{\alpha}$ upregulation. The overall aim was to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammatory responses to bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns in the artery. Exposure of human THP-1 monocytic cells to PG enhanced the secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and induced its gene transcription. Inhibition of TLR-2/4 with OxPAPC significantly inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$ gene expression, whereas inhibition of LPS by polymyxin B did not. The PG-induced expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ was also significantly suppressed by pharmacological inhibitors that modulate activities of cellular signaling molecules; for example, U0126 (an ERK inhibitor), SB202190 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), and SP6001250 (a JNK inhibitor) significantly attenuated PG-induced transcription of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and secretion of its gene product. $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression was also inhibited by rapamycin (an mTOR inhibitor), LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor), and Akt inhibitor IV (an Akt inhibitor). ROS-regulating compounds, like NAC and DPI, also significantly attenuated $TNF{\alpha}$ expression induced by PG. These results suggest that PG induces $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression in monocytes/macrophages by multiple molecules, including TLR-2, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, MAPKs, and ROS.