Seong-Yun Jeong

Antibacterial activity of aminoderivatized chitosans against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

This work describes the anti-MRSA activity of aminoderivatized chitosans. Two kinds of aminoethyl-chitosans (AEC), AEC90 and AEC50, having degrees of deacetylation of 90% and 50%, respectively, exhibited the strongest anti-MRSA activities by presenting MICs of 16-64 microg/mL against two standard strains and twelve clinical isolates. The bactericidal activity, thermal and pH stability, and cell membrane integrity effects of AEC90 and AEC50 are also discussed.

Glucosamine increases vascular contraction through activation of RhoA/Rho kinase pathway in isolated rat aorta

Diabetes is a well-known independent risk factor for vascular disease. However, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. It has been reported that increased influx of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) induces O-GlcNAcylation of proteins, leading to insulin resistance. In this study, we determined whether or not O-GlcNAc modification of proteins could increase vessel contraction. Using an endothelium-denuded aortic ring, we observed that glucosamine induced OGlcNAcylation of proteins and augmented vessel contraction stimulated by U46619, a thromboxane A(2) agonist, via augmentation of the phosphorylation of MLC(20), MYPT1(Thr855), and CPI17, but not phenylephrine. Pretreatment with OGT inhibitor significantly ameliorated glucosamine-induced vessel constriction. Glucosamine treatment also increased RhoA activity, which was also attenuated by OGT inhibitor. In conclusion, glucosamine, a product of glucose influx via the HBP in a diabetic state, increases vascular contraction, at least in part, through activation of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, which may be due to O-GlcNAcylation.

Anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) substance from the marine bacterium Pseudomonas sp. UJ-6

A multivalent approach to discover a novel antibiotic substance against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a marine bacterium, UJ-6, exhibiting an antibacterial activity against MRSA was isolated from seawater. The isolated strain was identified to be Pseudomonas sp. by the morphology, biochemical, and genetical analyses. The ethyl acetate extract of Pseudomonas sp. UJ-6 culture showed significant ant-MRSA activity. Bioassay-guided isolation of the extract using a growth inhibitory assay led to the isolation and identification of an active compound exhibiting anti-MRSA activity. Based on the analyses of the physicochemical and spectroscopic data including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass, the compound was identified to be 1-acetyl-beta-carboline. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compound was determined to be in a range of 32-128 μg/ml against MRSA strains. The MIC values against MRSA were superior or equal to those of other natural compounds such as catechins, suggesting that 1-acetyl-beta-carboline would be a good candidate in applications of the treatment of MRSA infection.

Isolation of an algicide from a marine bacterium and its effects against the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella and other harmful algal bloom species

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify bacteria demonstrating an algicidal effect against Alexandrium catenella and to determine the activity and range of any algicide discovered. The morphological and biochemical attributes of an algicidal bacterium, isolate YS-3, and analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed it to be a member of the genus Brachybacterium. This organism, designated Brachybacterium sp. YS-3, showed the greatest effect against A. catenella cells of all bacteria isolated, and is assumed to produce secondary metabolites. When 10% solutions of culture filtrates from this strain were applied to A. catenella cultures, over 90% of cells were killed within 9 h. Bioassay-guided isolation of the algicide involved led to the purification and identification of an active compound. Based on physicochemical and spectroscopic data, including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass analyses, this compound was identified as 1-acetyl-β-carboline. This algicide showed significant activity against A. catenella and a wide range of harmful algal bloom (HAB)-forming species. Taken together, our results suggest that Brachybacterium sp. YS-3 and its algicide represent promising candidates for use in HAB control.

Isolation and Degradation Activity of a TBTCl (Tributyltin Chloride) Resistant Bacteriain Gwangyang Bay

BACKGROUND: Tributyltin chloride is among the most toxic compounds known for aquatic ecosystems. Microorganisms are responsible for removal of TBTCl. Nevertheless, only a limited number of marine bacteria were investigated for biodegradation of TBTCl in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of TBTCl resistant bacteria ranged from to cfu/mL in the seawater, and ranged from to cfu/g in the surface sediment, respectively. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of TBTCl resistant bacteria were investigated by API 20NE and other tests. The most abundant species of TBTCl resistant bacteria were Vibrio spp. (19.2%), Bacillus spp. (16.2%), Aeromonas spp. (15.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (13.1%), etc. Eleven TBTCl resistant isolates also had a resistance to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn). Among them, isolate T7 showing the strong TBTCl-resistance was selected. This isolate was identified as the genus Pantoea by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and designated as Pantoea sp. T7. In addition, this bacterium was cultivated up to the growth of 50.7% after 60 hrs at TBTCl concentration of . TBTCl-degrading activity of Pantoea sp. T7 was measured by GC-FPD analysis. As a result of biological TBTCl-degradation at TBTCl concentration of , TBTCl-removal efficiency of Pantoeasp. T7 was 62.7% after 40 hrs. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that Pantoea sp. T7 is potentially useful for the bioremediation of TBT contamination.

The Algicidal Activity of Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 and its Algicide against Alexandrium catenella and other Harmful Algal Bloom Species

Received: 14 May 2015 / Revised: 21 May 2015 / Accepted: 4 June 2015 Copyright c 2015 The Korean Society of Environmental Agriculture This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.