Development of a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification-Coupled CRISPR/Cas12a Platform for Rapid Detection of Antimicrobial-Resistant Genes in Carbapenem-Resistant .

The worldwide spread of carbapenemase-producing (CPE) represents a significant threat owing to the high mortality and morbidity rates. Traditional diagnostic methods are often too slow and complex for rapid point-of-care testing. Therefore, we developed a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-coupled CRISPR/Cas12a system (RCCS), a rapid, accurate, and simple diagnostic platform for detecting antimicrobial-resistant genes.

Gut Microbiota and New Microbiome-Targeted Drugs for Infections.

is a major causative pathogen for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and infections (CDIs) may lead to life-threatening diseases in clinical settings. Most of the risk factors for the incidence of CDIs, i.e.

Sublethal Sodium Hypochlorite Exposure: Impact on Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division Efflux Pump Overexpression and Cross-Resistance to Imipenem.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is widely used in public healthcare facilities; this exposure can result in the development of bacterial tolerance to disinfectants, which has known links to antibiotic cross-resistance. However, the mechanism through which cross-resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants develops remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the phenotypic and transcriptomic changes caused by disinfectant exposure in Gram-negative bacteria and determine the cause of cross-resistance to antibiotics.

Alteration in the Morphological and Transcriptomic Profiles of after Exposure to Colistin.

is often highly resistant to multiple antimicrobials, posing a risk of treatment failure, and colistin is a "last resort" for treatment of the bacterial infection. However, colistin resistance is easily developed when the bacteria are exposed to the drug, and a comprehensive analysis of colistin-mediated changes in colistin-susceptible and -resistant is needed. In this study, using an isogenic pair of colistin-susceptible and -resistant isolates, alterations in morphologic and transcriptomic characteristics associated with colistin resistance were revealed.

Discerning the dissemination mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes through whole genome sequencing of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli isolated from veterinary clinics and farms in South Korea.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria are resistant to most beta-lactams, including third-generation cephalosporins, limiting the treatment methods against the infections they cause. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing of ESBL-producing E. coli to determine the mechanisms underlying the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.

Effect of Temperature on Carbapenemase-Encoding Plasmid Transfer in .

Bacteria causing human infections can develop antibiotic resistance due to various factors. Temperature affects bacterial growth and gene transfer; however, studies exploring the association between the changes in local temperature and antibiotic resistance are limited. Here, we investigated the effects of local temperatures on the distribution of antibiotic resistance and transmission of carbapenemase-producing using the data on Klebsiella pneumoniae from sentinel hospitals in eight regions included in the Korea Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System between 2017 and 2021.

Distribution of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Diarrheagenic Clonal Complex 10 Isolates from Patients with Diarrhea in the Republic of Korea.

ESBL-producing is a public health concern in healthcare settings and the community. Between 2009 and 2018, a total of 187 ESBL-producing pathogenic isolates were identified, and clonal complex (CC) 10 was the predominant clone ( = 57). This study aimed to characterize the ESBL-producing pathogenic CC10 strains obtained from patients with diarrhea to improve our understanding of CC10 distribution in the Republic of Korea.

Improved Immunogenicity of the Inactivated F Genotype Mumps Vaccine against Diverse Circulating Mumps Viruses in Mice.

Mumps is an acute infectious disease caused by the mumps virus (MuV). Despite high global vaccination coverage, mumps outbreaks continue to occur, even in vaccinated populations. Therefore, we aimed to identify candidate vaccines that can induce an immunogenic response against diverse MuV genotypes with greater efficacy than the currently available options.

Characteristics of Escherichia coli Urine Isolates and Risk Factors for Secondary Bloodstream Infections in Patients with Urinary Tract Infections.

Escherichia coli is responsible for more than 80% of all incidences of urinary tract infections (UTIs). We assessed a total of 636 cases of patients with E. coli UTIs occurring in June 2019 in eight tertiary hospitals in South Korea for the traits of patients with E.

Development of an attenuated smallpox vaccine candidate: The KVAC103 strain.

Smallpox, a disease caused by the variola virus, is one of the most dangerous diseases and had killed numerous people before it was eradicated in 1980. However, smallpox has emerged as the most threatening bio-terrorism agent; as the first- and second-generation smallpox vaccines have been controversial and have caused severe adverse reactions, new demands for safe smallpox vaccines have been raised and some attenuated smallpox vaccines have been developed. We have developed a cell culture-based highly attenuated third-generation smallpox vaccine candidate KVAC103 strain by 103 serial passages of the Lancy-Vaxina strain derived from the Lister in Vero cells.

Calcium Solubilization Ability and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Hydrolyzed Casein.

This study performed to evaluate the applicability of functional dairy food materials by comparing the calcium solubilization ability and anti-inflammatory effects of hydrolyzed casein protein. Commercial enzyme (Alcalase; Neutrase; Protamex; Flavourzyme) was added to the 10% casein solution to prepare the casein hydrolysates. Samples obtained every hour [1:200 (w/v)].

A Different Epidemiology of Enterovirus A and Enterovirus B Co-circulating in Korea, 2012-2019.

Background: Enteroviruses (EVs) occur frequently worldwide and are known to be associated with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations from mild syndromes to neurological disease. To understand the epidemiology of EV in Korea, we characterized EV-infected cases during 2012-2019 based on national surveillance.

Methods: We collected specimens from patients with suspected EV infections and analyzed the data using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and VP1 gene sequencing.

Enhanced effect of modified Zika virus E antigen on the immunogenicity of DNA vaccine.

It has been reported worldwide that the Zika virus (ZIKV) could be transmitted through placentas and sexual contact. ZIKV can also cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, microcephaly and neurological abnormalities. However, there are no approved vaccines available.

B Cell-Based Vaccine Transduced With ESAT6-Expressing Vaccinia Virus and Presenting α-Galactosylceramide Is a Novel Vaccine Candidate Against ESAT6-Expressing Mycobacterial Diseases.

Early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT6) is a potent immunogenic antigen expressed in as well as in some non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), such as . is one of the most clinically relevant species of NTM that causes mycobacterial lung disease, which is clinically indistinguishable from tuberculosis. In the current study, we designed a novel cell-based vaccine using B cells that were transduced with vaccinia virus expressing ESAT6 (vacESAT6), and presenting α-galactosylceramide (αGC), a ligand of invariant NKT cells.

The immunogenicity and protection effect of an inactivated coxsackievirus A6, A10, and A16 vaccine against hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Coxsackievirus belongs to the Enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family and is one of the major pathogens associated with human hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Historically, outbreaks of HFMD have mainly been caused by enterovirus 71 and coxsackievirus A16. Recently, coxsackieviruses A6 and A10 have been associated with increased occurrences of sporadic HFMD cases and outbreak events globally.

An inactivated hand-foot-and-mouth disease vaccine using the enterovirus 71 (C4a) strain isolated from a Korean patient induces a strong immunogenic response in mice.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major causative agent of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) frequently occurring in children. HFMD induced by EV71 can cause serious health problems and has been reported worldwide, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. In this study, we assessed the immunogenicity of a formalin-inactivated HFMD vaccine using an EV71 strain (FI-EV71 C4a) isolated from a Korean patient.

Outbreak of Imipenemase-1-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant in an Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant (CRE) with acquired metallo β-lactamase (MBL) resistance have been increasingly reported worldwide and associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Here, an outbreak of genetically related strains of producing the imipenemase (IMP)-1 MBL in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) in Korea is reported.

Methods: Since isolating carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) at the MICU of the hospital on August 10, 2011, surveillance cultures for CRE in 31 hospitalized patients were performed from August to September 2011.

Sequence analysis of the first C2 subgenogroup strain of enterovirus 71 isolated in Korea.

Background: Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is an important causative agent of hand-foot-and-mouth disease with severe neurological complications, which may lead to death in children. Large outbreaks caused by EV71 have frequently occurred in Asia-Pacific region.

Objectives: In Korea, the outbreaks have been caused by EV71 subgenogroups C3, and C4.

Analysis of the roles of glucose transporter 1 and hexokinase 2 in the metabolism of glucose by extrahepatic bile duct cancer cells.

Purpose Of The Report: Extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) cancer varies in uptake of FDG. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and hexokinase (HK) 2 in the glucose metabolism of EHD cancer cells using immunohistochemistry and 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with EHD cancer who underwent baseline PET/CT and surgery were studied.

Successful containment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae by strict contact precautions without active surveillance.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a growing problem worldwide. Guidelines focus on carbapenemase-producing organisms, and little is known about whether strict adherence to infection control measures is effective for CRE without carbapenemase. During 2009, CRE increased markedly in a tertiary hospital, and enhanced infection control measures without active surveillance were adopted.