Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the community based on participants in the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a nationwide cross-sectional surveillance system that assesses the health and nutritional status of the Korean population. To evaluate the occurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the community, we investigated the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the sera of KNHANES participants.

Methods: Subjects were recruited between April 24 and December 12, 2020.

Characterization and validation of an alternative reference bacterium Korean Pharmacopoeia Staphylococcus aureus strain.

The National Culture Collection of Pathogens (NCCP) is a microbial resource bank in Korea that collects pathogen resources causing infectious disease in human and distributes them for research and education. The NCCP bank attempts to discover strains with various characteristics and specific purposes to provide diverse resources to researchers. Staphylococcus aureus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 6538P is used as a reference strain in the microbial assay for antibiotics in the Korean and in the United States Pharmacopoeias.

Evaluation of global evolutionary variations in the early stage of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

To understand the origin of variants and their evolutionary history in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, time-scaled phylogenetic and gene variation analyses were performed. The mutation patterns and evolution characteristics were examined using the Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees (BEAST) with 349 whole-genome sequences available by March 2020. The results revealed five phylogenetic clusters (Groups A-E), with 408 nucleotide variants.

Cohnella cholangitidis sp. nov., a novel species of the genus Cohnella isolated from a clinical specimen in Korea.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain 1605-214, was isolated from the blood sample of a patient with cholangitis. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain 1605-214 belonged to the genus Cohnella and exhibited 97.9% sequence identity with Cohnella luojiensis DSM 24270 (GQ214052).

Distribution of Pathogen Resources by the National Culture Collection for Pathogens in South Korea from 2015 to 2019.

The National Culture Collection for Pathogens (NCCP) in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is in charge of the collection, quality control, and commercialization of pathogens and of information on pathogens that cause infectious diseases, and distributes them to be utilized for promoting public health and the health care industry. Since the NCCP Task Force was established in 2009 and the law for collection, management, and exploitation of pathogen resources became effective in 2017, NCCP has been responsible for the deposition, registration, and preservation of pathogen resources. Herein, we provide information on the recent status of pathogen resource distribution over the past 5 years and pathogen resources that are available for distribution presently.

Complete Genome Sequences of Micrococcus luteus Strains NCCP 15687 and NCCP 16831, Isolated in South Korea.

In this study, the complete genome sequences of strains NCCP 15687 and NCCP 16831 were determined and deposited in the National Culture Collection for Pathogens (NCCP) of South Korea. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples from patients infected with .

Serious Adverse Transfusion Reactions Reported in the National Recipient-Triggered Trace Back System in Korea (2006-2014).

Background: Adverse transfusion reactions (ATRs) are clinically relevant to patients with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to review the cases of ATR reported in the recipient-triggered trace back system for a recent nine-year period in Korea.

Methods: Nine-year data obtained from 2006 to 2014 by the trace back system at the Division of Human Blood Safety Surveillance of the Korean Centers for Disease Control (KCDC) were reviewed.

Genotyping of 22 blood group antigen polymorphisms and establishing a national recipient registry in the Korean population.

It is often difficult for standard blood banks in Korea to supply adequate amounts of blood for patients with rare phenotype. Moreover, the definition of a blood in need is ambiguous, and much remains to be learned. In this study, we determined the prevalence of various red blood cell (RBC) antigens from a donor viewpoint and estimated the demand for specific antigen-negative blood from a patient viewpoint.

Lon Mutant of Brucella abortus Induces Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Murine J774.A1 Macrophage.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to isolate a Brucella lon mutant and to analyze the cytokine response of B. lon mutant during macrophage infection.

Methods: A wild-type Brucella abortus strain was mutagenized by Tn5 transposition.

Cervical lymphadenitis in a patient coinfected with Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella henselae.

Cat scratch disease, caused by Bartonella henselae, is a worldwide zoonosis that is most frequently associated with the bite or scratch of a kitten under 6 months of age, as well as from a fleabite. Toxoplsma gondii is also another important zoonotic agent in cats and humans, which is mainly acquired by ingestion of food or water that is contaminated with oocytes shed by cats or by eating undercooked or raw meat containing tissue cysts. Here, we report a first case of young patient with cervical lymphadenitis, which shows serological and histological evidence of B.

[Seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers in Korea].

Objectives: The incidence of zoonoses in Korea has increased recently. However, the study of high risk groups for zoonoses has not been conducted to date in Korea. Thus, we did this study to obtain data on brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers in Korea.

Brucella endocarditis with splenic abscess: a report of the first case diagnosed in Korea.

Human brucellosis has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, which includes endocarditis, a focal complication that is uncommon yet responsible for the majority of associated deaths. The most successful treatment outcomes of Brucella endocarditis have been reported with usage of both antimicrobial agents and surgery. However, there are few reports on the treatment of Brucella endocarditis using antibiotics only.

Cytokine response in Balb/c mice infected with Francisella tularensis LVS and the Pohang isolate.

We investigated the immune response induced by the Francisella (F.) tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) and the Pohang isolate. After the Balb/c mice were infected intradermally (i.

Analysis of cellular fatty acids in Orientia tsutsugamushi as taxonomic markers.

Six Orientia strains including 3 prototype strains such as Gilliam, Karp, and Kato, and 3 strains (Boryong, Pajoo, and Yongworl) isolated in Korea, were studied for the profiles of their cellular fatty acids. All tested strains contained octadecenoic acid C (18: 1) omega 9 c(57.3 +/- 3.