• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.1895-1904
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• 2015

Foodborne illness associated with food service establishments is an important food safety issue in Korea. In this study, foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and hygiene indicator organisms [total viable cell counts (TVC), coliforms] were analyzed for food and environmental samples from foodservice establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of detected foodborne pathogens were also characterized. A total of 179 samples, including food (n=66), utensil (n=68), and environmental samples (n=45), were collected from eight food service establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Average contamination levels of TVC for foods (including raw materials) and environmental samples were 4.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g, respectively. Average contamination levels of coliforms were 2.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g for foods and environmental swab samples, respectively. B. cereus contamination was detected in food samples with an average of 2.1 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected only in raw materials, and S. aureus was positive in raw materials as well as environmental swab samples. Other foodborne pathogens were not detected in all samples. The entire B. cereus isolates possessed at least one of the diarrheal toxin genes (hblACD, nheABC, entFM, and cytK enterotoxin gene). However, ces gene encoding emetic toxin was not detected in B. cereus isolates. S. aureus isolates (n=16) contained at least one or more of the tested enterotoxin genes, except for tst gene. For E. coli and S. aureus, 92.7% and 37.5% of the isolates were susceptible against 16 and 19 antimicrobials, respectively. The analyzed microbial hazards could provide useful information for quantitative microbial risk assessment and food safety management system to control foodborne illness outbreaks in food service establishments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1510-1517
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• 2012

To evaluate the probiotic potential of Bacillus polyfermenticus CJ6 isolated from meju, a Korean traditional soybean fermentation starter, its functionality and safety were investigated. B. polyfermenticus CJ6 was sensitive to all antibiotics listed by the European Food Safety Authority. The strain was also non-hemolytic, carried no emetic toxin or enterotoxin genes, and produced no enterotoxins. The resistance of B. polyfermenticus CJ6 vegetative cells and spores to simulated gastrointestinal conditions was high (60-100% survival rate). B. polyfermenticus CJ6 produced high amounts (0.36 g as a purified lyophilized form) of ${\gamma}$-polyglutamic acid (PGA). We speculate that the improved cell viability and the production of ${\gamma}$-PGA have a significant correlation. Adhesion of the strain to Caco-2 and HT-29 cells was weaker than that of the reference strain (Lb. rhamnosus GG), but it was comparable to or stronger than those of reported Bacillus spp. When B. polyfermenticus CJ6 spores were given orally to mice, the number of cells excreted in the feces was 4-fold higher than the original inocula. This suggests the inoculated spores propagated within the intestinal tract of the mice. This idea was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, which revealed directly that B. polyfermenticus CJ6 cells germinated and adhered within the gastrointestinal tract of mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that B. polyfermenticus CJ6 has probiotic potential for both human consumption and use in animal feeds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.85-87
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• 2013

An outbreak of Staphylococcus aureus infections occurred in a university with an enrollment of 80 students in the city of Daejon, Republic of Korea. All nine S. aureus isolates from patients (n = 7), staff members (n = 1), and the fried chicken served as the lunch (n = 1) harbored the enterotoxin A gene and showed an identical antibioticresistant profile, PFGE banding pattern (STAS16.001), and sequence type, ST 6. These results suggested that the outbreak was associated with eating the fried chicken that had been handled by an infected staff member. This case report demonstrated a practical approach to identifying the source and transmission of an infection.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 1987

Adherence to HEp-2 cells has been proposed as a virulence characteristic of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). The role of the HEp-2 adherent E. coli was evaluated in a group of children with endemic diarrhea admitted to Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul, Korea. HEp-2-adherent E. coli was detected in fecal samples of 59 (59%) of 100 cases and ten (22.7%) of 44 concurrent control children (p<0.0005). Adherence was exhibited by 15 serogroups and subgroups, but within these groups more than one adherence pattern was frequently observed. Of 17 strains belonging to traditional infantile EPEC serogroups, 12(70.6%) gave a positive adherence. Of 45 enterotoxin producing strains, 24 (53.3%) gave a positive adherence. HEp-2-adherent strains that did not belong to classic EPEC serogroups and did not produce heat-stable and/or heat-labile enterotoxins(referred as enteroadherent E. coli, EAEC) was found in 29 (29%) of the patients with diarrhea and in six (13.6%) of the well children (p<0.05). From 22 of the 29 cases, no pathogen other than EAEC was isolated. These findings strongly implicate EAEC as the cause of diarrhea in the children. Our study supports the concept that EAEC may be an important cause of endemic diarrhea in Korean children.

• 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
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.447-452
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• 2007

In this study, we compared the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 138 MRSA isolates obtained from adult and pediatric patients (adult, 50; children, 88). The resistance rates against gentamicin, clindamycin, and ciprofloxacin were much higher in the adult MRSA isolates than in the pediatric MRSA isolates. The ermC gene, which is responsible for inducible clindamycin resistance, was detected in 52(59.1%) of the 88 pediatric MRSA isolates but in only 5(10.0%) of the 50 adult MRSA isolates. MRSA isolates of clonal type ST5 with an integration of SCCmec type II/II variants was the most predominant clone among the adult isolates, while clonal type ST72 with an integration of SCCmec IV/IVA was the most predominant clone among the pediatric MRSA isolates. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 were prevalent among the adult MRSA isolates but not among the pediatric MRSA isolates. The results of this study demonstrated remarkable differences between adult and pediatric MRSA isolates in terms of their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, SCCmec type, multilocus sequence type, staphylococcal toxin genes, and erythromycin resistance genes.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the microbiological contamination on commonly used hand towels in the child care centers and to investigate the toxin gene and toxin production ability of food-borne pathogens. A total of 22 commonly used hand towels including 7 for before use and 15 for during use were tested. The average number of total aerobic bacteria and fungi were 6.2 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ and 4.1 log CFU/100 $cm^2$. Coliform bacteria were detected in 4 out of 7 before used towels (57.1%) and all of during used towels (100%). These results showed that the sanitary conditions of hand towels in the child care centers should be improved promptly. Among the pathogenic bacteria, Staph. aureus and B. cereus without Salmonella spp. were detected in 5 (22.7%) and 11 (50.0%) out of 22 hand towels. All of Staphy. aureus isolated in this study did not possess any toxin genes and did not produce enterotoxin. The detection rate of hblC, hblD, and hblA toxin genes in B. cereus was 72.7, 72.7, and 54.5% respectively. The possession rate of nheA, nheB, and nheC toxin genes showed 81.8, 72.7, and 54.5% respectively. The cytK and entFM toxin genes were presented at 45.5 and 90.0% in B. cereus. The HBL was detected in 8 out of 11 B. cereus isolates (72.7%) and 5 B. cereus isolates produced NHE (45.5%). Ten out of eleven B. cereus isolates (90.9%) produced one or more enterotoxin such as HBL and NHE. From the results, using a private hand towel or paper towel is required to prevent the cross-contamination between commonly used hand towel and children's hands in the child care center.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.483-488
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• 2008

Foodborne pathogenic bacteria in various food samples in Korea were monitored and the obtained data was statistically analyzed. A total of 1,240 food samples including 280 sashimi, 244 processed frozen products, 258 kimbab (cooked rice wrapped with seaweed), 337 soybean pastes were obtained from 7 cities including Seoul in Korea. Microorganisms tested were Bacillus cereus, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, and Clostridium perfringens. The contaminated microorganisms in food samples were comprised of 10.55% B. cereus, 2.7% S. aureus, 2.0% V. parahaemolyticus, 0.8% C. perfringens, 0.2% Y. enterocolitica, and 0.1% of L. monocytogenes, respectively. Salmonella spp., C. jejuni, and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in any of the food samples. Particularly, B. cereus that harbors the enterotoxin gene was detected in various foods and regions in Korea, therefore it should be a given special consideration not to allow the hazardous level of contamination.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.171-178
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• 1984

Many reports have been made concerning underlying and associated conditions causing pseudomembranous colitis and it has been documented that occurrence of pseudomembranous colitis is related with antibiotics administration. Recent study showed that Clostridium difficile produced enterotoxin by colonization in intestinal wall and leading into pseudomembranous colitis. Diagnosis is based on positive culture of Clostridium difficile, positive test of Clostridium difficile toxin and specific histological findings after observation of whitish plaque on colonoscopic or sigmoidoscopic examination. Authors have experienced one case of pseudomembranous colitis developing after long term ampicillin administration in a case with colon cancer associated with diarrhea and diagnosis was confirmed by typical pseudomembrane on biopsy following classical whitish plaque observation on sigmoidoscopic examination. Symptoms have been ameliorated by discontinuation of antibiotics and administration of metronidazole in four days and disappearance of whitish plaque on repeated sigmoidoscopic examination and improvement of clinical symptoms after 9 days of medication.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2013

A total of 301 samples of bovine liver, spleen and omasum were collected from butchers and restaurants in Gwangju, Korea during 2012 and all samples were subjected to bacteriological examination and antibiotic residues. Also, this study was performed to survey the consciousness for hygiene of livestock workers who are handling bovine by-products in Gwangju. The detection rate of aerobic plate count (APC) was higher in summer than in other seasons in all by-products (P=0.000). The detection rate of E. coli count was lower in the liver than the spleen and omasum (P=0.000). Twenty four of the samples (8.0%) were contaminated with S. aureus while one spleen sample (0.3%) was contaminated with L. monocytogenes and finally 10 (3.3%) of the liver and omasum samples were contaminated with Cl. perfringens. Five of the twenty-four S. aureus isolates harbored enterotoxin gene. However, the cpe gene of Cl. perfingens was not detected among any of the 10 isolates. Antibiotic residues were not detected in the liver samples. The consciousness survey's results showed that most of them (58.8%) were safe.