• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.654-660
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• 1998

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Glomerella cingulata are the most important pathogens causing anthracnose which may reduce the stand rate and yield on wide kinds of plants including strawberry. Average occurrence rate of anthracnose is 36.9% on major strawberry cropping areas in Korea. We newly found that C. gloeosporioides which does not forming a sexual stage, infects strawberry and differs in some characteristics concerning virulence, cultural and morphological properties to G. cingulata which has a sexual stage. C. gloeosporioides was mainly isolated from the crown with 35.2% rate, while G. cingulata was largely isolated from petiole, runner with 40.9% rate in infected strawberry plants. These two pathogens showed significant differences in cultural characteristics such as perfect stage formation, temperature response as well as benomyl resistance. It was demonstrated that C. gloeosporioides has significantly stronger pathogenicity than G. cingulata in pathogenicity test carried on strawberry plants to various strawberry cultivars. Akihime, Akaneko and Nyoho forcing cultured strawberry cultivars, considered to be susceptible, while semiforcing cultured cultivars, such as Suhong and Holowase, were shown resistant to both pathogens. In non-wound inoculation, C. gloeosporioides was shown pathogenicity on the apple fruit, but G. cingulata could not infect it.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2016

The ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola (synonym Zymoseptoria tritici) is an important pathogen of wheat causing economically significant losses. The primary nutritional mode of this fungus is thought to be hemibiotrophic. This pathogenic lifestyle is associated with an early biotrophic stage of nutrient uptake followed by a necrotrophic stage aided possibly by production of a toxin or reactive oxygen species (ROS). In many other fungi, the genes CREA and AREA are important during the biotrophic stage of infection, while the NOXa gene product is important during necrotrophic growth. To test the hypothesis that these genes are important for pathogenicity of M. graminicola, we employed an over-expression strategy for the selected target genes CREA, AREA, and NOXa, which might function as regulators of nutrient acquisition or ROS generation. Increased expressions of CREA, AREA, and NOXa in M. graminicola were confirmed via quantitative real-time PCR and strains were subsequently assayed for pathogenicity. Among them, the NOXa over-expression strain, NO2, resulted in significantly increased virulence. Moreover, instead of the usual filamentous growth, we observed a predominance of yeast-like growth of NO2 which was correlated with ROS production. Our data indicate that ROS generation via NOXa is important to pathogenicity as well as development in M. graminicola.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2017

To obtain useful data on root rot in Korean ginseng, we performed phylogenetic analysis and pathogenicity test for Cylindrocarpon destructans isolated from peony. Cylindrocarpon destructans isolates from peony were proven to cause ginseng root rot. The isolate KACC44663 was identified as Ilyonectria robusta under the new classification system, which belongs to the I. radicicola species complex. This is the first report of the pathogenic isolate, which was isolated from another host plant, but not ginseng, that can cause root rot disease on ginseng in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.263-269
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• 2016

Temperate phages have been suggested to carry virulence factors and other lysogenic conversion genes that play important roles in pathogenicity. In this study, phage TEM123 in wild-type Staphylococcus aureus from food sources was analyzed with respect to its morphology, genome sequence, and antibiotic resistance conversion ability. Phage TEM123 from a mitomycin C-induced lysate of S. aureus was isolated from foods. Morphological analysis under a transmission electron microscope revealed that it belonged to the family Siphoviridae. The genome of phage TEM123 consisted of a double-stranded DNA of 43,786 bp with a G+C content of 34.06%. A bioinformatics analysis of the phage genome identified 43 putative open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encoded a protein that was nearly identical to the metallo-β-lactamase enzymes that degrade β-lactam antibiotics. After transduction to S. aureus with phage TEM123, the metallo-β-lactamase gene was confirmed in the transductant by PCR and sequencing analyses. In a β-lactam antibiotic susceptibility test, the transductant was more highly resistant to β-lactam antibiotics than S. aureus S133. Phage TEM123 might play a role in the transfer of β-lactam antibiotic resistance determinants in S. aureus. Therefore, we suggest that the prophage of S. aureus with its exotoxin is a risk factor for food safety in the food chain through lateral gene transfer.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.870-877
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• 2020

Twenty-three Bacillus cereus strain isolated from commercial jeotgal were investigated for 11 toxin genes and susceptibility to 25 different antimicrobials. The hemolytic enterotoxins hblA, hblC, and hblD were detected in 13.0%, and non-hemolytic enterotoxins nheA, nheB, and nheC were detected in 26.1%, 100%, and 100% of the isolates, respectively. The positive rates of cytK, entFM, becT, hlyII, and ces were 73.9%, 60.9%, 26.1%, 8.7%, and 0.0%, respectively. According to the disk diffusion susceptibility test, all of the strains studied were resistant to cefuroxime, followed by cefoxitin (78.3%), oxacillin (78.3%), ampicillin (69.6%), penicillin G (69.6%), and amoxicillin (65.2%). However, all the strains were susceptible to 11 other antimicrobials, including amikacin, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin. The average minimum inhibitory concentrations of amoxicillin, ampicillin, and cefuroxime against B. cereus were 462.9, 235.0, and 135.0 ㎍/mL, respectively. These results highlight the need for sanitizing commercial jeotgal, and provide evidence to help reduce the risk of jeotgal contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.76-85
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• 2022

In this study, a biodegradable packaging film was developed using two marine algae, Gelidium amansii, and Sargassum horneri. The chemical properties and microstructure of the developed film were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-Mass spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, the mechanical properties and toxicity of the film were evaluated using the ISO 1924 and IEC 62321 methods, respectively. The biodegradability of the film was evaluated according to ISO 14855-1:2012 method. The film was primarily made of cellulose and had biodegradability that was about 17 times greater than that of PBS, a representative eco-friendly plastic. Moreover, the mechanical properties improved by approximately 40% compared to the seaweed-based film of the previous study. The virulence test revealed that the content of all of the toxic substances listed in IEC62321 was below the measurement limit. An egg carton that can be used in practice was manufactured in accordance with ISO 534, and its applicability was tested using the biodegradable packaging film prepared.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1996

Escherichia coli is one of the most common etiological agents in urinary tract infection. An important virulence factor is the adhesive capacity of E. coli to uroepithelial cell, mediated by bacterial fimbriae. The Adhesion property has been regarded as an important virulence determinant in urinary tract infections. A total of 60 patients, who were diagnosed microbiologically as urinary tract infections, were examined by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Uropathogenic E. coli with recombinant plasmid were positive for mannose resistant hemagglutination (MRHA). For identification of p-fimbriae subtype in uropathogenic E. coli, In the immunoblot analysis, specific bands in the range of p-fimbriae molecular weight of 17KD-22KD were identified. For the distribution of p-fimbriae subtype in the patient sera, 34/60(56.7%) were positive for $F7_1$, 28/60(46.7%) were positive for $F7_2$, and 30/60(50%) were positive for F13 with immunoblotting method. similar trends were observed in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relatively good specificity(92.6%) and sensitivity(90%) were found in the ELISA test system using mixed antigens of purified $F7_1$, $F7_2$, and F13 p-fimbriae, and 60 sera from patients with urinary tract infections. In conclusion The serological tests were convenient method in diagnosis of urinary tract infections. among those ELISA could be recommended in diagnosis of urinary tract infections.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2006

The shigellae are common etiological agents of bacillary dysentery in humans and primates. During four years from 2002 to 2005, 22 strains of Shigella spp. were isolated from the diarrheic patients in Seoul region. All of them were identified as S. flexneri by biochemical tests and serotyping. The prevalence of serotypes were variable by year, but the major serotypes were 2a and 3a. In an antimicrobial susceptibility test, all of the isolates were resistant to streptomycin and tetracycline, and susceptible to amikacin, kanamycin, cefoxitin, and gentamicin. All of the isolates showed the multi-resistant patterns over 3 drugs. By analysis of the plasmid profile the isolates were classified into 7 groups (P1~P7). Serotypes 2a and 2b were distributed to P1, P2, P3, and P4. Serotype 3a was differentiated to P5 and serotype 3b, to P6 and serotype 4a, to P7. PCR results showed that all isolates were positive for two virulence genes, ipaH and ial, but none of the strains had stx gene. The set1A and set1B genes were detected from 12 isolates (54.5%) that belonged to serotype 2a and 2b. The sen gene was detected from 19 isolates (86.4%). The 22 isolates showed 12 to 17 DNA fragments in the sizes ranging from 20.5 kb to 1135 kb, resulting in 13 patterns by the PFGE with Not I digestion. The PFGE patterns of the isolates showed the close relation with the serotypes, but no relations with year of isolation and antimicrobial resistance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.136-150
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• 2015

Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tabaci is a plant pathogenic bacterium that causes wildfire disease in tobacco plants. In P. syringae pv. tabaci, PsyI, a LuxI-type protein, acts as an AHL synthase, while primary and secondary sequence analysis of PsyR has revealed that it is a homolog of the LuxR-type transcriptional regulator that responds to AHL molecules. In this study, using phenotypic and genetic analyses in P. syringae pv. tabaci, we show the effect of PsyR protein as a quorum-sensing (QS) transcriptional regulator. Regulatory effects of PsyR on swarming motility and production of siderophores, tabtoxin, and N-acyl homoserine lactones were examined via phenotypic assays, and confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Further qRT-PCR showed that PsyR regulates expression of these virulence genes in response to environmental signals. However, an upstream region of the gene was not bound with purified MBP-PsyR protein; rather, PsyR was only able to shift the upstream region of psyI. These results suggested that PsyR may be indirectly controlled via intermediate-regulatory systems and that auto-regulation by PsyR does not occur.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.553-560
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• 2005

The stf (Salmonella typhimurium fimbriae) operon consisting of stfA(CDEFG assumes to encode putative fimbriae. The complete stf operon is existed in S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis, whereas it is absent in S. typhi. Analyses of the amino acid residues between major subunit StfA of the Stf fimbriae and those of known other fimbriaes suggested that Stf belongs to class I type fimbriae. Through comparison of StfD chaperone with the other fimbrial chaperones, and of C-terminus in subunits of Stf fimbriae, it belongs to FGS (with a short Fl-G1 loop) subfamily. In order to investigate the expression of stf operon, we have constructed a Salmonella strain containing a chromosomal stfA::lacZYA transcriptional fusion, resulting in S. typhimurium $_X8532$. The strain $_X8532$ lacked the expression of \beta-galactosidase$ under normal culture conditions. However, with longer incubation time of the S. typhimurium $_X8532$, we have isolated 21 individual strains exhibiting $Lac^+$ phenotype. $Lac^+$ phenotype was appeared as approximately 0.03 frequency per generation. All isolates expressed lacZ constitutively in the various environmental conditions. Various global regulatory proteins including RpoS, OmpR, and CpxR were not involved in the regulation of the stf operon. A S. typhimurium $_X8661$ mutant lacking stfAC function attenuated 6.7 folds more than that of wild type $_X3761$ in the mouse virulence test, suggesting in the somehow involved in the Salmonella pathogenesis.