• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.29-45
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The object of this study was to observe the in vitro antibacterial effects of Yeonkyokeumpae-jeon (YKKPJ) have been used for treating various gynecological diseases including mastitis in Korea, and individual six kinds of herbal composition aqueous extracts - Forsythiae Fructus (FF), Millettiae Caulis (MC), Lonicerae Flos (LF), Fritillaria Thunbergii Bulb (FT), Taraxci Herba (TH) and Prunellae Spica (PS) against E. coli. Methods: Antibacterial activities against E. coli of YKKPJ, FF, MC, LF, FT, TH and PS aqueous extracts were detected using standard agar microdilution methods. In addition, the effects on the bacterial growth curve were also monitored at MIC and $MIC{\times}2$ levels. The effects on the intracellular killing and bacterial invasion of individual test materials were also observed using Raw 264.7 and MCF-7. The results were compared with ciprofloxacin, a second generation of quinolone antibiotics in the present study. Results: MIC of YKKPJ, FF, MC, LF, FT, TH, PS aqueous extracts against E. coli were detected as $0.039{\pm}0.013mg/ml$, $0.064{\pm}0.033mg/ml$, $0.108{\pm}0.053mg/ml$, $0.078{\pm}0.027mg/ml$, $16.250{\pm}8.385mg/ml$, $15.625{\pm}9.375mg/ml$, $0.254{\pm}0.131mg/ml$, repectively. YKKPJ, FF, MC, LF, FT, TH, PS aqueous extracts showed antibacterial effects against to E. coli, except for FT and TH, which were showed negligible antibacterial effects, respectively. In addition, ciprofloxacin with YKKPJ, FF, MC, LF and PS aqueous extracts also showed marked dosage-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth, and favorable inhibitory effects on the both bacterial invasion and intracellular killing assays using MCF-7 and Raw 264.7 cells were detected in this experiment. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study suggest that traditional polyherbal formula YKKPJ aqueous extracts showed more favorable antibacterial activities as compared to individual six kinds of herbal composition aqueous extracts. The antibacterial effects of YKKPJ against E. coli considered as results of complicated synergic effects of their six kinds of herbal components rather than simple antibacterial effects of single herbal components. It means, YKKPJ aqueous extracts may show potent anti-infectious effects against E. coil for mastitis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.673-679
• /
• 2016

The development of safe and effective anti-cancer compounds has been seriously required to prevent and treat development of tumor in recent years. Among them, natural compounds derived traditional medicinal stuffs have been paid to attention as an anti-cancer candidate. In this study, aesculetin is a main component of a widely known as a medicinal stuff. It was reported that aesculetin has various biological effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, but its effect related to cell invasion was not discovered. Therefore, in this study, the effect of aesculetin on antioxidant and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) was investigated in human fibrosarcoma cells, HT1080. First of all, aesculetin showed the scavenging activity of DPPH radical and reducing power in a dose dependent manner. As a result of cytotoxicity, the nontoxic concentration of aesculetin was below 2 μM in HT1080 cells performed by MTT assay. In addition, aesculetin displayed the inhibitory effect on MMP-9 activity related to cell invasion in experiment carried out by gelatin zymography assay. Furthermore, aesculetin increased the expression level of TIMP-1 but decreased the expression level of MMP-9 stimulated with PMA in western blot assay. Furthermore, aesculetin remarkably inhibited cell invasion related to metastasis a dose dependent manner. Above results suggest that aesculetin could exert chemopreventive effect through inhibition of activity and expression of MMP-9 related to cell invasion.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 1987

In order to determine the virulence properties of eleven strains of Sh. flexneri isolated from diarrheal patients the congo red test, the $Ser{\acute{e}}ny$ test, the HeLa cell invasion test and electrophoresis of plasmids were carried out. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Virulent strains were not determined by the result of Congo red absorption test. 2. Virulent strains showed positive reaction by the Sereny test and the HeLa cells invasion, but avirulent strains revealed negative reaction at those tests. 3. The temperature condition of bacterial growth was a factor of virulent expression. 4. Virulent strains were mostly possessed of a 130.3 Mdal plasmid, but avirulent strains were not.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1543-1552
• /
• 2019

Salmonella is a common zoonotic and foodborne pathogen that causes high morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In this study, we established and validated a polymerase spiral reaction (PSR) assay which targeted the conserved invasion gene (invA) of Salmonella by SYBR Green I indicator methods. Subsequently, assays for determination of the optimal conditions for optimal specificity and sensitivity of PSR were performed. We performed comprehensive evaluations using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and real-time PCR. A total number of 532 samples of daily food were analyzed by PSR. Twenty-seven bacterial strains were tested in the specificity assay, from which positive results were obtained only for 14-Salmonella strains. However, none of the 13 non-Salmonella strains was amplified. Similarly with LAMP and real-time PCR, the detection limit of the PSR assay was 50 CFU/ml. The PSR method was also successfully applied to evaluate the contamination with Salmonella in 532 samples of daily food, corroborating traditional culture method data. The novel PSR method is simple, sensitive, and rapid and provides new insights into the prevention and detection of foodborne diseases.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2011

Free-living amoebae ingest several kinds of bacteria. In other words, the bacteria can survive within free-living amoeba. To determine how Escherichia coli K1 isolate causing neonatal encephalitis and non-pathogenic K12 interact with free-living amoebae, e.g., Acanthamoeba castellanii (T1), A. astronyxis (T7), Naegleria fowleri, association, invasion and survival assays were performed. To understand pathogenicity of free-living amoebae, in vitro cytotoxicity assay were performed using murine macrophages. T1 destroyed macrophages about 64% but T7 did very few target cells. On the other hand, N. fowleri which needed other growth conditions rather than Acanthamoeba destroyed more than T1 as shown by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. In association assays for E. coli binding to amoebae, the T7 exhibited significantly higher association with E. coli, compared with the T1 isolates (P<0.01). Interestingly, N. fowleri exhibited similar percentages of association as T1. Once E. coli bacteria attach or associate with free-living amoeba, they can penetrate into the amoebae. In invasion assays, the K1 (0.67%) within T1 was observed compared with K12 (0%). E. coli K1 and K12 exhibited high association with N. fowleri and bacterial CFU. To determine the fate of E. coli in long-term survival within free-living amoebae, intracellular survival assays were performed by incubating E. coli with free-living amoebae in PBS for 24 h. Intracellular E. coli K1 within T1 (2.5%) and T7 (1.8%) were recovered and grown, while K12 were not found. N. fowleri was not invaded and here it was not recovered.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.454-464
• /
• 2018

Salivary microbiota alterations can correlate with dental caries development in children, and mechanisms mediating this association need to be studied in further detail. Our study explored salivary microbiota shifts in children and their association with the incidence of dental caries with dentine involvement. Salivary samples were collected from children with caries and their subsequently matched caries-free controls before and after caries development. The microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene-based high-throughput sequencing. The salivary microbiota was more diverse in caries-free subjects than in those with dental caries with dentine involvement (DC). Although both groups exhibited similar shifts in microbiota composition, an association with caries was found by function prediction. Analysis of potential microbiome functions revealed that Granulicatella, Streptococcus, Bulleidia, and Staphylococcus in the DC group could be associated with the bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, phosphotransferase system, and ${\text\tiny{D}}-alanine$ metabolism, whereas Neisseria, Lautropia, and Leptotrichia in caries-free subjects could be associated with bacterial motility protein genes, linoleic acid metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis, suggesting that functional differences in the salivary microbiota may be associated with caries formation. These results expand the current understanding of the functional significance of the salivary microbiome in caries development, and may facilitate the identification of novel biomarkers and treatment targets.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.263-267
• /
• 2021

Periodontal disease is primarily associated with bacterial infection such as dental plaque. Dental plaque, an oral biofilm harboring a complex microbial community, can cause various inflammatory reactions in periodontal tissue. In many cases, the local bacterial invasion and host-mediated immune responses lead to severe alveolar bone destruction. To date, plaque control, non-surgical, and surgical interventions have been the conventional periodontal treatment modalities. Although adjuvant therapies including antibiotics or supplements have accompanied these procedures, their usage has been limited by antibiotic resistance, as well as their partial effectiveness. Therefore, new strategies are needed to control local inflammation in the periodontium and host immune responses. In recent years, target molecules that modulate microbial signaling mechanisms, host inflammatory substances, and bone immune responses have received considerable attention by researchers. In this review, we introduce three approaches that suggest a way forward for the development of new treatments for periodontal disease; (1) quorum quenching using quorum sensing inhibitors, (2) inflammasome targeting, and (3) use of FDA-approved anabolic agents, including Teriparatide and sclerostin antibody.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.479-489
• /
• 1999

Invasion of enteric bacteria, such as Salmonella and invasive E. coli, into intestinal epithelial cells induces proinflammatory gene responses and finally epithelial cell apoptosis. In this study, we asked whether invasive bacterial infection of human intestinal epithelial cells could upregulate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression and whether increased COX-2 expression could influence intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and prostaglandin (PG) $E_2$ production were upregulated in HT-29 colon epithelial cells which were infected with S. dublin or invasive E. coli, as examined by quantitative RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay. Inhibition of COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production using NS-398, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, showed a significant increase of epithelial cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in HT-29 cells infected with invasive bacteria. However, the addition of valerylsalicylate, a specific COX-1 inhibitor, did not change apoptosis in S. dublin-infected HT-29 cells. These results suggest that up regulated COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in response to invasive bacterial infection could contribute to host defense by inhibiting apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1997 no.11
• /
• pp.249-254
• /
• 1997

ABA-type block copolymers composed of poly(L-leucine)(PLL) as the A component and poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) as the B component were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-leucine N-carboxyanhydride initiated by primary amino group located at both ends of PEG chain. A silver sulfadiazine(AgSD)-impregnated wound dressing of sponge-type was prepared by the lyophilization method. Morphological structure of this wound dressing obtained by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) was composed of a dense skin layer and a macroporous inner sponge layer. Equilibrium water content(EWC) of wound dressing was above 10%. It increased with an increased of PEO content in the block copolymer due to the hydrophilicity of PEO. AgSD release from AgSD- impregnated wound dressing in PBS buffer(pH=7.4) was dependent on PEG composition in the block copolymer. Therefore, EWC and release of AgSD can be control by PEG composition. Antibacterial capacity of AgSD-impregnated wound dressing was examined in agar plate against Pseudmonas aeruginosa and Stapplococus aruous. Cytotoxicity of the wound dressing was evaluated by studing mouse skin fibroblast(L929). From the behavior of antimicrobial releasing and the investigation of the suppression of bacterial proliferation, it was supposed that the wound dressing containing antibiotics could protect the wound surfaces from bacterial invasion to suppress the bacterial proliferation effectively. In cytotoxicity observation, cellular damage was reduced by the control led released of AgSD from the LEL sponge matrix of AgSD-medicated wound dressing. In vivo test, granulous tissue formation and wound contraction or the AgSD and DHEA impregnated wound dressing were aster than any other groups.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.1305-1309
• /
• 2020

Insects possess biological defense systems that can effectively combat the invasion of external microorganisms and viruses, thereby supporting their survival in diverse environments. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a fast-acting weapon against invading pathogens, including various bacterial or fungal strains. A 37-residue antimicrobial peptide, papiliocin, derived from the swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus larvae, showed significant antimicrobial activities against several human pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Jelleines, isolated as novel antibacterial peptides from the Royal Jelly (RJ) of bees, exhibit broad-spectrum protection against microbial infections. In this study, we developed a novel antimicrobial peptide, PAJE (RWKIFKKPFKISIHL-NH₂), which is a hybrid peptide prepared by combining 1-7 amino acid residues (RWKIFKK-NH₂) of papiliocin and 1-8 amino acid residues (PFKISIHL-NH₂) of Jelleine-1 to alter length, charge distribution, net charge, volume, amphipaticity, and improve bacterial membrane interactions. This novel peptide exhibited increased hydrophobicity and net positive charge for binding effectively to the negatively charged membrane. PAJE demonstrated antimicrobial activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, with very low toxicity to eukaryotic cells and an inexpensive process of synthesis. Collectively, these findings suggest that this novel peptide possesses great potential as an antimicrobial agent.