KwangCheol Casey Jeong

In situ structure of the Legionella Dot/Icm type IV secretion system by electron cryotomography

Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are large macromolecular machines that translocate protein and DNA and are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple human diseases. Here, using electron cryotomography (ECT), we report the in situ structure of the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4BSS) utilized by the human pathogen Legionella pneumophila. This is the first structure of a type IVB secretion system, and also the first structure of any T4SS in situ. While the Dot/Icm system shares almost no sequence similarity with type IVA secretion systems (T4ASSs), its overall structure is seen here to be remarkably similar to previously reported T4ASS structures (those encoded by the R388 plasmid in Escherichia coli and the cag pathogenicity island in Helicobacter pylori). This structural similarity suggests shared aspects of mechanism. However, compared to the negative‐stain reconstruction of the purified T4ASS from the R388 plasmid, the L. pneumophila Dot/Icm system is approximately twice as long and wide and exhibits several additional large densities, reflecting type‐specific elaborations and potentially better structural preservation in situ.

Application, mode of action, and in vivo activity of chitosan and its micro- and nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents: A review

Chitosan is widely used as an antimicrobial agent due to its biodegradability, nontoxicity, and antimicrobial properties. Although in vitro antimicrobial activity of chitosan and its derivatives were reviewed recently, its in vivo activity is not recapitulated sufficiently. This review will focus on recent studies of in vivo antimicrobial activity of chitosan and its micro- and nanoparticles to enhance food safety and animal diseases treatment. Three major factors affecting the antimicrobial activity include microbial, intrinsic, and environmental factors are discussed. The accepted and potential mechanisms regarding the use of chitosan and its micro- and nanoparticles are discussed to further understand their antimicrobial properties.

Chitosan Microparticles Exert Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity against Antibiotic-Resistant Micro-organisms without Increasing Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is growing exponentially, increasing public health concerns for humans and animals. In the current study, we investigated the antimicrobial features of chitosan microparticles (CM), engineered from chitosan by ion gelation, seeking potential application for treating infectious disease caused by multidrug resistant microorganisms. CM showed excellent antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms, including clinically important antibiotic-resistant pathogens without raising resistant mutants in serial passage assays over a period of 15 days, which is a significantly long passage compared to tested antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine. In addition, CM treatment did not cause cross-resistance, which is frequently observed with other antibiotics and triggers multidrug resistance. Furthermore, CM activity was examined in simulated gastrointestinal fluids that CM encounter when orally administered. Antimicrobial activity of CM was exceptionally strong to eliminate pathogens completely. CM at a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL killed E. coli O157:H7 (5 × 10(8) CFU/mL) completely in synthetic gastric fluid within 20 min. Risk assessment of CM, in an in vitro animal model, revealed that CM did not disrupt the digestibility, pH or total volatile fatty acid production, indicating that CM likely do not affect the functionality of the rumen. Given all the advantages, CM can serve as a great candidate to treat infectious disease, especially those caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens without adverse side effects.

Colonization of Beef Cattle by Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli during the First Year of Life: A Cohort Study.

Each year Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are responsible for 2.8 million acute illnesses around the world and > 250,000 cases in the US. Lowering the prevalence of this pathogen in animal reservoirs has the potential to reduce STEC outbreaks in humans by controlling its entrance into the food chain. However, factors that modulate the colonization and persistence of STEC in beef cattle remain largely unidentified. This study evaluated if animal physiological factors such as age, breed, sex, and weight gain influenced the shedding of STEC in beef cattle. A cohort of beef calves (n = 260) from a multi-breed beef calf population was sampled every three months after birth to measure prevalence and concentration of STEC during the first year of life. Metagenomic analysis was also used to understand the association between the STEC colonization and the composition of gut microflora. This study identified that beef calves were more likely to shed STEC during the first 6 months and that STEC shedding decreased as the animal matured. Animal breed group, sex of the calf, and average weight gain were not significantly associated with STEC colonization. The metagenomic analysis revealed for the first time that STEC colonization was correlated with a lower diversity of gut microflora, which increases as the cattle matured. Given these findings, intervention strategies that segregate younger animals, more likely to be colonized by STEC from older animals that are ready to be harvested, could be investigated as a method to reduce zoonotic transmission of STEC from cattle to humans.

Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo risk assessments of chitosan microparticles using human epithelial cells and Caenorhabditis elegans

The safety of using nano- and microparticles is a developing concern. In this study, we conducted risk assessments of chitosan microparticles (CMs) using in vitro human epithelial cell lines and in vivo animal model, Caenorhabditis elegans. After engineering of various CMs, we screened four CMs based on antimicrobial activity, which is a potential usage for disease treatment caused by multidrug resistant bacteria, and evaluated for risk assessments. CMs, with strong antimicrobial activity, and inorganic nanoparticles (SiO2, TiO2, and ZnO) did not cause toxicity in human cells measured by cell membrane integrity, mitochondria activity, and reactive oxygen species concentration. However, when applied to C. elegans, only CMs generated with low molecular weight chitosan and tripolyphosphate at 0.1% did not affect the lifespan, while the other CMs and inorganic nanoparticles shortened the lifespan, suggesting that they may cause subtle toxicity. These results suggest that C. elegans could be a sensitive animal model to measure low level of toxicity of nano- and microparticles. Taken together, although CMs do not cause toxicity at working concentrations of antimicrobial activity in human epithelial cells, they may cause toxicity at high concentration, suggesting that nano- and microparicles should be thoroughly investigated before they are applied.

Identification and Characterization of Cefotaxime Resistant Bacteria in Beef Cattle

Third-generation cephalosporins are an important class of antibiotics that are widely used in treatment of serious Gram-negative bacterial infections. In this study, we report the isolation of bacteria resistant to the third-generation cephalosporin cefotaxime from cattle with no previous cefotaxime antibiotic exposure. The prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant bacteria was examined by a combination of culture based and molecular typing methods in beef cattle (n = 1341) from 8 herds located in North Central Florida. The overall prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant bacteria was 15.8% (95% CI: 13.9, 17.8), varied between farms, and ranged from 5.2% to 100%. A subset of isolates (n = 23) was further characterized for the cefotaxime minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and antibiotic susceptibility against 10 different antibiotics, sequencing of nine β- lactamase genes, and species identification by 16S rRNA sequencing. Most of the bacterial isolates were resistant to cefotaxime (concentrations, > 64 μg/mL) and showed high levels of multi-drug resistance. Full length 16S rRNA sequences (~1300 bp) revealed that most of the isolates were not primary human or animal pathogens; rather were more typical of commensal, soil, or other environmental origin. Six extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes identical to those in clinical human isolates were identified. Our study highlights the potential for carriage of cefotaxime resistance (including “human” ESBL genes) by the bacterial flora of food animals with no history of cefotaxime antibiotic exposure. A better understanding of the origin and transmission of resistance genes in these pre-harvest settings will be critical to development of strategies to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms to hospitals and communities.

Draft Genome Sequence of an Escherichia coli O8:H19 Sequence Type 708 Strain Isolated from a Holstein Dairy Cow with Metritis.

ABSTRACT We present here the genome sequence of Escherichia coli O8:H19 strain KCJ852, belonging to multilocus sequence type (MLST) 708, isolated from the uterus of a cow with a bovine postpartum uterine infection known as metritis. Genomic investigation of KCJ852 will help us understand its virulence potential.

Polar targeting and assembly of the Legionella Dot/Icm type IV secretion system (T4SS) by T6SS-related components

Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, survives and replicates inside amoebae and macrophages by injecting a large number of protein effectors into the host cells’ cytoplasm via the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4BSS). Previously, we showed that the Dot/Icm T4BSS is localized to both poles of the bacterium and that polar secretion is necessary for the proper targeting of the Legionella containing vacuole (LCV). Here we show that polar targeting of the Dot/Icm core-transmembrane subcomplex (DotC, DotD, DotF, DotG and DotH) is mediated by two Dot/Icm proteins, DotU and IcmF, which are able to localize to the poles of L. pneumophila by themselves. Interestingly, DotU and IcmF are homologs of the T6SS components TssL and TssM, which are part of the T6SS membrane complex (MC). We propose that Legionella co-opted these T6SS components to a novel function that mediates subcellular localization and assembly of this T4SS. Finally, in depth examination of the biogenesis pathway revealed that polar targeting and assembly of the Legionella T4BSS apparatus is mediated by an innovative “outside-inside” mechanism.

Simultaneous Detection of Four Foodborne Viruses in Food Samples Using a One-Step Multiplex Reverse Transcription PCR

A one-step multiplex reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method comprising six primer sets (for the detection of norovirus GI and GII, hepatitis A virus, rotavirus, and astrovirus) was developed to simultaneously detect four kinds of pathogenic viruses. The size of the PCR products for norovirus GI and GII, hepatitis A virus (VP3/VP1 and P2A regions), rotavirus, and astrovirus were 330, 164, 244, 198, 629, and 449 bp, respectively. The RT-PCR with the six primer sets showed specificity for the pathogenic viruses. The detection limit of the developed multiplex RT-PCR, as evaluated using serially diluted viral RNAs, was comparable to that of one-step single RT-PCR. Moreover, this multiplex RT-PCR was evaluated using food samples such as water, oysters, lettuce, and vegetable product. These food samples were artificially spiked with the four kinds of viruses in diverse combinations, and the spiked viruses in all food samples were detected successfully.

Application of chitosan microparticles for mitigation of Salmonella in agricultural water

The activity of chitosan microparticles (CM) was examined using a matrix of conditions in order to assess the efficacy of CM as a mitigation against various strains of Salmonella enterica in agricultural water.