• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.594-603
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• 2009

The genus Bacillus includes a variety of diverse bacterial species, which are widespread throughout the environment due to their ubiquitous nature. A well-known member of the genus, Bacillus cereus, is a food poisoning bacterium causing both emetic and diarrhoeal disease. Other Bacillus species, particularly B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, and B. thuringiensis, have also recently been recognized as causative agents of food poisoning. However, reviews and research pertaining to bacilli have focused on B. cereus. Here, we review the literature regarding the potentially toxigenic Bacillus species and the toxins produced that are associated with food poisoning.

• Biodesign
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.96-99
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• 2018

The gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of abscesses, sinusitis and food poisoning. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains has caused significant clinical issues worldwide. The HslU-HslV complex was first identified as a prokaryotic homolog of eukaryotic proteasomes. HslU is an unfoldase that mediates the unfolding of the substrate proteins, and it works with the protease HslV in the complex. To date, the protein complex has been mostly studied in gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we report the purification and crystallization of the full-length HslU from S. aureus. The crystal diffracted X-rays to a $3.5{\AA}$ resolution, revealing that the crystals belong to space group $P2_1$, with unit cell parameters of a = 166.5, b = 189.6, $c=226.6{\AA}$, and ${\beta}=108.1^{\circ}$. We solved the phage problem by molecular replacement using the structure of HslU from Haemophilus influenzae as a search model. The cell content analysis with this molecular replacement solution revealed that 24 molecules are contained in the asymmetric unit. This structure provides insight into the structural and mechanistic difference of the HslUV complex of gram-positive bacteria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.743-748
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• 2005

Histamine can be produced at early spoilage stage through decarboxylation of histidine in red-flesh fish by Proteus morganii, Hafnia alvei or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Allergic food poisoning is resulted from the histamine produced when the freshness of Mackerel degrades. Conversely it has been reported that there are bacteria which decompose histamine at the later stage. We isolated histamine decomposers from salted mackerel and studied the characteristics to help establish hygienic measure to prevent outbreak of salted mackerel food poisoning. All the samples were purchased through local supermarket. Histamine decomposers were isolated using restriction medium using histamine 10 species were selected. Identification of these isolates were carried out by the comparison of 16S rDNA partial sequence; as a result, we identified Pseudomonas putida strain RA2 and Halomonas marina, Uncultured Arctic sea ice bacterium clone ARKXV1/2-136, Halomonas venusta, Psychrobacter sp. HS5323, Pseudomonas putida KT2440, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Klebsiella terrigena (Raoultella terrigena), Alteromonadaceae bacterium T1, Shewanella massilia with homology of $100\%,{\;}100\%,{\;}99\%,{\;}99\%,{\;}99\%,{\;}99\%,{\;}100\%,{\;}95\%,{\;}99\%,{\;}and{\;}100\%$respectively. Turbidometry determination method and enzymic method were employed to determine the ability of histamine decomposition. Among those species Shewanella massilia showed the highest in ability of histamine decomposition. From these results we confirmed various histamine decomposer were present in salted mackerel product in the market.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.318-323
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• 2009

The aim of this work was to investigate the antibacterial effect of the food-poisoning bacterium, Salmonella enteritidis JK-15 exposed to rose extracts. Initially, the isolate S. enteritidis JK-15 was enriched and isolated from stale food. BIOLOG and 16S rRNA analyses revealed that strain S. enteritidis JK-15 was 98% similar to the S. enteritidis species cluster; therefore we have designated this strain as S. enteritidis JK-15. Bactericidal effects of S. enteritidis JK-15 exposed to rose extracts ranging from 5 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml were monitored, and complete bactericidal effects were achieved within 6 h at 100 mg/ml and 12 h at 50 mg/ml, respectively. SDSPAGE with silver staining revealed that the amount of lipopolysaccharides increased or decreased in the strain S. enteritidis JK-15 treated to different concentrations and exposing periods of rose extracts in exponentially growing cultures. Scanning electron microscopic analysis, demonstrated the presence of irregular rod shapes with umbilicated surfaces for cells treated with rose extracts.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.410-412
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• 2005

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative bacterium which acts as a causative agent for food poisoning. Studies with respect to specific extracellular proteins of V. parahaemolyticus would be useful for the development of specific detection methods against V. parahaemolyticus. In our present study, outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of V. parahaemolyticus were obtained from insoluble traction of 1% sarkosyl treated-cell wall materials. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the presence of several conserved outer membrane proteins among five strains of V. parahaemolyticus, and three bands were identified as V. parahaemolyticus OMPs through MALDI-TOF analysis. Polyclonal antibodies enriched with anti-OmpU were obtained from immunized rabbits. The antibodies against these proteins may be useful for the development of detection methods for V. parahaemolyticus.

• Journal of Science Criminal Investigation
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2017

In the forensic microbiology laboratories, microorganism analyses from food are requested. There have been several cases of Bacillus cereus isolated from the samples requested to the National Forensic Service. B. cereus is an important pathogenic bacterium which can cause food-borne outbreaks. Therefore, we isolated B. cereus from anchovy aekjeot recently requested for microbial examination and identified using MSId based on the 16S rDNA sequence and real-time PCR method. We also conducted PCR for detection of diarrheal toxin genes and an emetic toxin gene and found the presence of nheABC, bceT and entFM diarrheal toxin genes in the B. cereus isolate. There are several clinically important food-poisoning bacteria that should be noted during inspection. In particular, B. cereus can cause food poisoning even when cooked foods are ingested, because B. cereus forms endo-spore which confers strong environmental resistance and heat resistance to the bacteria, and the bacterial emetic toxin also has heat resistance. Here we highlight the importance to distinguish clinically important bacteria such as B. cereus from food specimens, and we expect this study will provide procedures for identification of B. cereus and detection of the bacterial toxin genes for future cases in the forensic microbiology laboratories.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.20 no.1 s.55
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• pp.12-22
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• 2005

This study was performed to survey distribution of microorganisms and food-borne pathogenic bacterium in order to estimate microbiological safety in seonsik and saengsik. Total aerobic bacteria was detected over $10^5\;CFU/g$ in raw materials($4.3\%$) and products($35.7\%$) of saengsik. Coliforms were detected over $10^2\;CFU/g$ in seonsik products($27.3\%$) and in raw materials($4.3\%$) and products($35.7\%$) of saengsik. Cl. perfringens was detected in saengsik products($4.8\%$). B. cereus was detected in raw materials($12.5\%$) and products($18.2\%$) of seonsik and raw materials($13.0\%$) and products($23.8\%$) of saengsik. Concentration and detection rate of microorganisms in products were higher than raw materials. These results show some food hygiene problems but do not cause food poisoning because concentration of Clostridium perfringens and B. cereus were lower than $10^5\;CFU/g$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze bacteriological and chemical hazards in minimally processed commercial fish products, including Hwangtae (freeze-dried pollock), dried anchovy, fermented anchovy sauce, and salted and dried yellow croaker. Escherichia coli counts from all samples were below the regulation limits of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Standards on Quality of Seafood and Seafood Products (Food Code). However, the food poisoning bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was detected at levels above $1.0{\times}10^2$ colony forming units (CFU)/g in Hwangtae, dried anchovy, and salted and dried yellow croaker, which are commonly ingested without heating and pose bacteriological hazards. The detection of S. aureus, an organism indicative of poor personal hygiene, which can be introduced by employees and multiply during distribution, indicates the necessity of improving the sanitary control of minimally processed commercial fish products. Histamine was not detected from dried anchovy or salted and dried yellow croaker, but was detected at some of the highest levels in fermented anchovy sauces. This result suggests that efforts to reduce the amount of histamine in fermented anchovy sauces are required.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.400-404
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• 2004

This study was conducted to find the antimicrobial activity of garlic extracts by various processing methods(boiled, pan fried, microwave heated, pickled). Ethanol and water extracts from garlic sample were prepared and antimicrobial activities were determined against 10 microoganisms ; food borne pathogens, food poisoning microoganisms, food-related bacteria and yeasts. The ethanol extracts from the fresh and pickled garlic showed antimicrobial activities for test microoganisms, except lactic acid bacteria and yeast. However, the antimicrobial activities were decreased by heat treatment. The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of the fresh garlic extracts was determined to 0.1 mg/mL against an gram positive bacterium and 0.5 mg/mL against an gram negative bacterium. The antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extracts were affected by heating methods and not by pHs.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.512-526
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• 2020

Synthetic nitrite is considered an undesirable preservative for meat products; thus, controlling synthetic nitrite concentrations is important from the standpoint of food safety. We investigated 1,000 species of microorganisms from various kimchi preparations for their potential use as a starter culture for the production of nitrites. We used 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis to select a starter culture with excellent nitrite and nitric oxide productivity, which we subsequently identified as Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113. That starter culture was grown in NaCl (up to 9%; w/v) at 10℃-40℃; its optimum growth was observed at 30℃ at pH 4.0-10.0. It exhibited nonproteolytic activity and antibacterial activity against Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that causes food poisoning symptoms. Analysis of Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113 with an API ZYM system did not reveal the presence of β-glucuronidase, and tests of the starter culture on 5% (v/v) sheep blood agar showed no hemolytic activity. Our results demonstrated the remarkable stability of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113, especially in strain negative for staphylococcal enterotoxins and sensitive to clinically relevant antibiotics. Moreover, Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113 exhibited a 45.5% conversion rate of nitrate to nitrite, with nitrate levels reduced to 25% after 36 h of culturing in the minimal medium supplemented with nitrate (200 ppm). The results clearly demonstrated the safety and utility of Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113, and therefore its suitability as a starter culture.