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Measles and varicella still occur in the general population despite the widespread vaccination against them, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are still at risk of exposure to these diseases. Here, we evaluated the seroprevalence of measles and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in HCWs and the trend of seroprevalence according to age, birth year, and occupational group. The serostatuses of measles and VZV of HCWs during new employee medical examinations between October 2015 and October 2021 were included. Thereafter, the trends of seroprevalence according to age, birth year, and occupational groups were evaluated. Overall, 2070 and 1827 HCWs were evaluated for VZV and measles serostatus, respectively. The seroprevalences of VZV and measles were 91% (1884/2070) and 70% (1284/1827), respectively. Younger HCWs had a significantly lower seroprevalence of measles (p = 0.02, age) and VZV (p = 0.003, birth year and p < 0.001, age). The seroprevalence of measles and VZV was significantly higher among doctors and nursing assistants than among nurses and other HCWs (p < 0.001 in both). In conclusion, the seroprevalence of measles and VZV significantly decreased in younger HCWs. Additionally, monitoring the serostatus of measles and VZV and the immunization of susceptible HCWs are required to prepare and control infectious diseases in healthcare facilities.

In order to formulate and implement a community-based suicide prevention program, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of these programs, it is necessary to understand the epidemiological characteristics of self-harm. Clinical data were collected from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) data panel in Korea for patients seen after self-harm episodes. Socioeconomic factors were collected from Statistics Korea. Variables representing SP provisions (SPPs) were collected from the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Increasing the number of mental health providers resulted in lower annual emergency department visit rate after self-harm (VRSH) in the entire population, as well as in both the young and elderly populations. An increase in the mental health budget led to a significant reduction in VRSHs. However, the number of suicide prevention centers did not have any significant association with the VRSH. This study also provides substantial evidence that community-based SPPs are effective in preventing self-harm.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, coccobacillus-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain H23T48T, was isolated from the faecal sample of an oriental stork collected from the Seoul Grand Park Zoo in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Optimal growth of strain H23T48Twas observed at 30–37 °C, pH 8 and with 3 % (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain H23T48Twas closely related to the genusFlaviflexus, with 97.0 and 96.7 % sequence similarities toFlaviflexus salsibiostraticolaEBR4-1-2TandFlaviflexus huanghaiensisH5T, respectively. Strain H23T48Tpossessed MK-9(H4) as the major menaquinone and C16 : 0(42.4 %), C18 : 1 ω9c(31.3 %) and C14 : 0(17.7 %) as the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified lipids, six unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified glycophospholipids. The amino acid composition of the cell-wall peptidoglycan wasl-alanine,l-lysine,d-glutamic acid,l-aspartic acid and glycine. The genomic G+C content of strain H23T48Tis 59.5 mol% and the average nucleotide identity value between H23T48TandF. salsibiostraticolaKCT C33148T(=EBR4-1-2T) is 75.5 %. Based on the obtained data, strain H23T48Trepresents a novel species of the genusFlaviflexus, for which the nameFlaviflexus ciconiaesp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H23T48T(=KCTC 49253T=JCM 33282T).

A novel, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain H21T32T, was isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana. Cells formed cocci grouped in pairs, tetrads or conglomerates, and colonies on solid medium were pale yellow. Strain H21T32T belonged to the genus Jeotgalibaca , family Carnobacteriaceae , order Lactobacillales and class Bacilli . The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strain showed 97.06–97.34, 96.17–96.31 and 95.93–96.07 % similarity to the type strains of Jeotgalibaca arthritidis , J. porci and J. dankookensis , respectively. The strain grew at 10–37 °C (optimum temperature: 30 °C), with 0–7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum salinity: 0.5 %) and at pH 7–9 (optimum pH: 8). The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω9c, C18 : 1 ω9c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Respiratory quinones were not detected. Sugar components of the peptidoglycan were rhamnose, ribose and glucose. Amino acid components of the cell wall were l-alanine, d-glucose, l-lysine, glycine and aspartic acid. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.1 mol%. Average nucleotide identity between strain H21T32T and J. arthritidis CECT 9157T was 77.02 %, confirming that strain H21T32T represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibaca , for which the name Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H21T32T (=KCTC 33991T=JCM 33222T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, reddish-orange-coloured, gliding bacterial strain, designated L12M1T, was isolated from the gut of the Korean scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain L12M1T formed a monophyletic clade with the strains in the genus Flammeovirga and showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flammeovirga kamogawensis YS10T (98.66 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain L12M1T were iso-C15 : 0 and C20 : 4ω6,9,12,15c. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major polyamines were spermidine, cadaverine and the minor polyamine was putrescine. The DNA G+C content was 32.1 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, biochemical, chemotaxonomic and genotypic results indicated that strain L12M1T represents a novel species of the genus Flammeovirga , for which the name Flammeovirga pectinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L12M1T (=KCTC 62750T=JCM 33169T).

Background Healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and is associated with morbidity and mortality. The use of antibiotics is an important risk factor for healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection. We evaluated the correlation between the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection and antibiotic consumption, according to antibiotic class. Methods Patients with healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection from January 2017 to December 2018 at Konkuk University Medical Center (a tertiary medical center) were included. We evaluated changes in the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection and antibiotic consumption. The correlation between the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection and antibiotic consumption was evaluated two ways: without a time interval and with 1-month interval matching. Results A total of 446 episodes of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection occurred during the study period. The incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection was 9.3 episodes per 10,000 patient-days, and increased significantly. We observed an increase in the consumption of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors, and a decrease in the consumption of other classes of antibiotics, with a significant decrease in the consumption of fluoroquinolones, glycopeptides, and clindamycin (P = 0.01, P P = 0.001, respectively). The consumption of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors was independently correlated with the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection in the analysis without a time interval. When the analysis was conducted with 1-month interval matching, glycopeptide consumption was independently associated with the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection. Conclusions Despite the reduction in fluoroquinolone and clindamycin consumption, the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection increased during the study period, and was correlated with increased consumption of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors. Reduced consumption of specific antibiotics may be insufficient to reduce the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection.

Background Invertebrates are a very attractive subject for studying host-microbe interactions because of their simple gut microbial community and host diversity. Studying the composition of invertebrate gut microbiota and the determining factors is essential for understanding their symbiotic mechanism. Cephalopods are invertebrates that have similar biological properties to vertebrates such as closed circulation system, an advanced nervous system, and a well-differentiated digestive system. However, it is not currently known whether their microbiomes have more in common with vertebrates or invertebrates. This study reports on the microbial composition of six cephalopod species and compares them with other mollusk and marine fish microbiomes to investigate the factors that shape the gut microbiota. Results Each cephalopod gut consisted of a distinct consortium of microbes, with Photobacterium and Mycoplasma identified as core taxa. The gut microbial composition of cephalopod reflected their host phylogeny, the importance of which was supported by a detailed oligotype-level analysis of operational taxonomic units assigned to Photobacterium and Mycoplasma. Photobacterium typically inhabited multiple hosts, whereas Mycoplasma tended to show host-specific colonization. Furthermore, we showed that class Cephalopoda has a distinct gut microbial community from those of other mollusk groups or marine fish. We also showed that the gut microbiota of phylum Mollusca was determined by host phylogeny, habitat, and diet. Conclusion We have provided the first comparative analysis of cephalopod and mollusk gut microbial communities. The gut microbial community of cephalopods is composed of distinctive microbes and is strongly associated with their phylogeny. The Photobacterium and Mycoplasma genera are core taxa within the cephalopod gut microbiota. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiomes reflect host phylogeny, habitat, and diet. It is hoped that these data can contribute to future studies on invertebrate–microbe interactions.

Objectives Superimposed multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) co-infection can be associated with worse outcomes in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even if these patients were managed with strict airborne and contact precautions. Identifying risk factors for isolation of MDROs is critical to COVID-19 treatment. Methods All eligible adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia from 10 hospitals in the Republic of Korea between February 2020 and May 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Using this cohort, epidemiology and risk factors for isolation of MDROs were evaluated. Results Of 152 patients, 47 with microbial culture results were included. Twenty isolates of MDROs from 13 (28%) patients were cultured. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (five isolates) was the most common MDRO, followed by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (four isolates). MDROs were mostly isolated from sputum samples (80%, 16/20). The median time from hospitalization to MDRO isolation was 28 days (interquartile range, 18–38 days). In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with MDRO isolation (62% versus 15%; p = 0.001). Use of systemic corticosteroids after diagnosis of COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 15.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.34–97.01; p = 0.004) and long-term care facility (LTCF) stay before diagnosis of COVID-19 (aOR: 6.09; 95% CI: 1.02–36.49; p = 0.048) were associated with MDRO isolation. Conclusions MDROs were isolated from 28% of COVID-19 pneumonia patients with culture data and 8.6% of the entire cohort. Previous LTCF stay and adjunctive corticosteroid use were risk factors for the isolation of MDROs. Strict infection prevention strategies may be needed in these COVID-19 patients with risk factors.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, obligate aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, and flagellated bacterium, designated S11R28T, was isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean shiner, Coreoleuciscus splendidus. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain S11R28T was identified as member of the genus Undibacterium in class Betaproteobacteria , and was closely related to Undibacterium parvum DSM 23061T (98.49 %). The isolate grew at 4–25 °C, pH 6–9, with 0 % (w/v) NaCl, and grew optimally at 20 °C, pH 8, in the absence of NaCl. The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 and summed features 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The strain possessed diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine as predominant polar lipids, and ubiquinone Q-8 as a respiratory quinone. The polyamine profile composed of 2-hydroxyputrescine, spermidine, putrescine, and benzoic acid. A genomic DNA G+C content was 51.4 mol%. The average nucleotide identity between strains S11R28T and U. parvum DSM 23061T was 78.66 %. Thus, Undibacterium piscinae can be considered a novel species within the genus Undibacterium with the type strain S11R28T (=KCTC 62668T=JCM 33224T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, non-violet-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain H11R3T, was isolated from the feces of Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana, collected from Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that H11R3T formed a monophyletic clade with Iodobacter fluviatilis DSM 3764T, Iodobacter arcticus DSM 100243T, and Iodobacter limnosediminis DSM 103822T, with sequence similarities of 98.8, 98.6 and 98.4 %, respectively. H11R3T grew optimally at 15 °C, pH 8, with 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8), and polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, four unidentified phospholipids, and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 and C16 : 0, and the DNA G+C content of the genome is 48.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between strains H11R3T and I. fluviatilis NCTC 11159T (=DSM 3764T) is 83.7 %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain H11R3T represents a novel species of the genus Iodobacter for which the name Iodobacter ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H11R3T (=KCTC 62666T=JCM 33283T).

A novel bacterial isolate, designated as strain BM15T, was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a blood cockle, Tegillarca granosa, which was collected from the foreshore of Beolgyo-eup, Republic of Korea. Strain BM15T was Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic and short-rod-shaped. Optimum growth of the isolate occurred at 20 °C, in the presence of 4 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain BM15T belonged to the genus Paracoccus and had more than 97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to ‘ Paracoccus zhejiangensis ’ J6 (97.40 % similarity) and Paracoccus lutimaris HDM-25T (97.04 %). The polar lipid profile of strain BM15T comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid and two unidentified lipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major cellular fatty acid (>20 %) was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The complete genome sequence of strain BM15T comprised 3,759,866 bp with 62.2 mol% G+C content. The results of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analyses indicated that strain BM15T represents a novel species in the genus Paracoccus , for which the name Paracoccus tegillarcae is proposed. The type strain is BM15T (=KCTC 72032T=JCM 33289T).

Methods for distinguishing catheter-related candidemia (CRC) from non-CRC before catheter removal remain limited. We thus evaluated the diagnostic performance of differential time to positivity (DTP) to diagnose CRC in neutropenic cancer patients with suspected CRC. Of the 35 patients enrolled, 15 (43%) with CRC (six definite and nine probable) and 17 (49%) with non-CRC were finally analyzed. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff value of DTP for diagnosing CRC was ≥1.45 hours with the sensitivity 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51–95) and specificity 100% (95% CI, 80–100), respectively.

Fermented foods are considered as an integral part of the global human diet. Fermented foods also have unique microbial communities such as bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that are essential to the fermentation process and affect final product characteristics. Despite the ecological importance of virus, little is known about the diversity and ecological role of virus in the food ecosystem. In this study, the viral and host bacterial communities from 10 representative samples of Korean and Chinese kimchi were analyzed in triplicate using next-generation sequencing technology. The overall structures of bacterial and viral communities were dominated by lactic acid bacteria in phylum Firmicutes and bacteriophages in order Caudovirales, respectively. For the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses, bacteriophage in family Microviridae were dominant in Korean kimchi. After correction for multiple comparisons using false discovery rate (FDR, P 0.05), the relative abundances of 6 bacterial taxa and 33 viral host taxa at the genus level were significantly different between Korean and Chinese kimchi. Notably, in beta-diversity analysis, viral communities were much more clearly separated according to their geographical origin (PERMANOVA pseudo-F = 11.57, P 0.001 in Bray-Curtis PCoA) than bacterial communities (pseudo-F = 4.75, P 0.001 in unweighted UniFrac PCoA). Thus, viral metagenomics represents a potentially useful in-depth analytical method for determining the geographical origins of fermented foods.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize two novel bacterial strains, designated as HDW11T and HDW19T, isolated from intestine samples of the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus and the diving beetle Cybister lewisianus, respectively. Both isolates were Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic and non-motile. Strain HDW11T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 8 and in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl. Strain HDW19T grew optimally at 25 °C, pH 7 and in the presence of 0.3% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome sequences revealed that strain HDW11T is a member of the genus Brevilactibacter and is closely related to Brevilactibacter flavus VG341T [with 97.9% 16S rRNA sequence identity and 79.1% average nucleotide identity (ANI)], and that strain HDW19T belongs to the genus Weissella and is closely related to W. koreensis KCTC 3621T (with 98.9% 16S rRNA sequence identity and 79.5% ANI). The major cellular fatty acids of strains HDW11T and HDW19T were C18:1 ω9c and anteiso-C15:0, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone of strain HDW11T was MK-9 (H4). The major polar lipid components of strain HDW11T were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, and the major polar lipid component of strain HDW19T was diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content of strains HDW11T and HDW19T were 72.1 and 37.2 mol%, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses suggest that strain HDW11T represents a novel species within the genus Brevilactibacter , and that strain HDW19T represents a novel species within the genus Weissella . We propose the name Brevilactibacter coleopterorum sp. nov. for strain HDW11T (=KACC 21335T=KCTC 49320T=JCM 33680T) and the name Weissella coleopterorum for strain HDW19T (=KACC 21347T=KCTC 43114T=JCM 33684T).

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize a novel bacterium, designated as strain HDW20T, isolated from the intestine of the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus. The isolate was Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, coccus-shaped, and formed pale orange colonies. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Tessaracoccus in the phylum Actinobacteria and was closely related to T. flavescens SST-39T, T. defluvii JCM 17540T, and T. aquimaris NSG39T, with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.5 % and a highest average nucleotide identity (ANI) value of 80.6 %. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω9c and anteiso-C15 : 0. The main respiratory quinone was MK-9 (H4). The major polar lipid components were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.0 %. The isolate contains ʟʟ-diaminopimelic acid, ʟ-alanine, and ʟ-lysine as amino acid components, and ribose, glucose, and galactose as sugar components of the cell wall peptidoglycan. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses suggested that strain HDW20T represents a novel species within the genus Tessaracoccus . We propose the name Tessaracoccus coleopterorum sp. nov. The type strain is HDW20T (=KACC 21348T=KCTC 49324T=JCM 33674T).

Background: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is an important complication of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) and a major cause of mortality. This study evaluated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of BSI that occur during ECMO application according to microbial etiology. Methods: Adult patients who underwent ECMO from January 2009 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed for BSI episodes at a 2,700-bed, tertiary center. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics and outcomes of BSI were evaluated and were compared for etiologic groups (gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, and fungi groups). Risk factors for 14-day mortality were analyzed. Results: A total of 1,100 patients underwent ECMO during the study period, and 65 BSI episodes occurred in 61 patients. The BSI incidence was 8.3 episodes/1,000 ECMO days, which significantly decreased over time ( P = 0.03), primarily in gram-positive cocci BSI. Gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, and fungi accounted for 38%, 40%, and 22% of the 73 blood isolates, respectively. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Catheter-related infection (CRI) and pneumonia were the most common sources of BSI; 52% of gram-positive cocci BSIs and 79% of fungi BSIs were caused by CRI, and 75% of gram-negative BSIs by pneumonia. Patients with gram-negative rods BSI died more frequently and earlier than those with other BSIs. Independent risk factors for 14-day mortality were older age and gram-negative rods BSI. Conclusions: The decreased BSI incidence during ECMO was mainly because of the decrease of gram-positive cocci BSI. The high early mortality of gram-negative rods BSI makes prevention and adequate treatment necessary.

Three novel bacterial strains, HDW9AT, HDW9BT, and HDW9CT, isolated from the intestine of the diving beetles Cybister lewisianus and Cybister brevis, were characterized as three novel species using a polyphasic approach. The isolates were Gram-staining-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped. They grew optimally at 30°C (pH 7) in the presence of 0.5% (wt/vol) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they belong to the genus Leucobacter and are closely related to L. denitrificans M1T8B10T (98.4-98.7% sequence similarity). Average nucleotide identity (ANI) values among the isolates were 76.4-84.1%. ANI values for the isolates and the closest taxonomic species, L. denitrificans KACC 14055T, were 72.3-73.1%. The isolates showed ANI values of < 76.5% with all analyzable Leucobacter strains in the EzBioCloud database. The genomic DNA G + C content of the isolates was 60.3-62.5%. The polar lipid components were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and other unidentified glycolipids, phospholipids, and lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0, and anteiso-C17:0. MK-10 was the major respiratory quinone, and MK-7 and MK-11 were the minor respiratory quinones. The whole-cell sugar components of the isolates were ribose, glucose, galactose, and mannose. The isolates harbored L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid, L-serine, L-lysine, L-aspartic acid, glycine, and D-glutamic acid within the cell wall peptidoglycan. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses, strains HDW9AT, HDW9BT, and HDW9CT represent three novel species within the genus Leucobacter. We propose the name Leucobacter coleopterorum sp. nov. for strain HDW9AT (= KACC 21331T = KCTC 49317T = JCM 33667T), the name Leucobacter insecticola sp. nov. for strain HDW9BT (= KACC 21332T = KCTC 49318T = JCM 33668T), and the name Leucobacter viscericola sp. nov. for strain HDW9CT (= KACC 21333T = KCTC 49319T = JCM 33669T).

Implantable devices have emerged as a promising industry. It is inevitable that these devices will require a power source to operate in vivo . Thus, to power implantable medical devices, biofuel cells (BFCs) that generate electricity using glucose without an external power supply have been considered. Although implantable BFCs have been developed for application in vivo , they are limited by their bulky electrodes and low power density. In the present study, we attempted to apply to living mice an implantable enzymatic BFC (EBFC) that was previously reported to be a high-power EBFC comprising carbon nanotube yarn electrodes. To improve their mechanical properties and for convenient implantation, the electrodes were coated with Nafion and twisted into a micro-sized, two-ply, one-body system. When the two-ply EBFC system was implanted in the abdominal cavity of mice, it provided a high-power density of 0.3 mW/cm2. The two-ply EBFC system was injected through a needle using a syringe without surgery and the inflammatory response in vivo initially induced by the injection of the EBFC system was attenuated after 7 days, indicating the biocompatibility of the system in vivo .

In this study, we produced grid climate data sets of 1km×1km and 5km×5km horizontal resolutions based on MK (Modified Korean)-PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model), a statistical method that can estimate grid data of horizontal high-resolution using observational station data in Korea. To compare the MK-PRISM performance according to resolution, RMSEs of 1km resolution data and 5km resolution data were calculated and analyzed. The RMSEs of the two data sets were similar, but the results classified according to the elevation were different. The 1km high resolution estimated data was shown to better reflect the impact of the terrain for the daily mean temperature and daily maximum temperature, whereas the difference between the two data sets for daily minimum temperature was not statistically significant at each elevation. Furthermore, we also divided the temperature data into 9-classes based on the observed temperatures, and then compared the estimated performance of the two data sets according to elevation. For the low temperature group, performance of the 1 km resolution data at high elevations outperformed that of the 5 km resolution data, regardless of the season. In addition, we have verified the improved PRIDE (PRism based Dynamic downscaling Error correction) model, which can produce future high-resolution scenarios data using the results of RCM and MK-PRISM.

This study evaluated the mutagenicity and acute toxicity of the juice extract of nutricultured Brassica napus containing vanadium (BECV). The BECV was prepared by nutriculture for 7 days in Jeju water containing vanadium. The mutagenic effects of BECV were investigated using the bacterial reverse mutation test, chromosome aberration test, and micronucleus test. Based on the results of the mutagenicity test, we propose that BECV is not a mutagenicity-inducing agent. In the acute oral toxicity study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered a single limiting dose of 0.014, 0.14, or 1.4 μg BECV/kg body weight; the rats were then observed for 7 days. No acute lethal effect was observed at the maximal dose of 1.4 μg BECV/kg body weight. In the subacute study, male and female rats were administered once daily, by oral gavage, a dose of 0.028, 0.14, and 0.7 μg/kg body weight of BECV for 28 days. No significant toxicity was observed not only hematological, biochemical, and pathological parameters but also the body and organ weights when compared to controls. The level of BECV with no observed adverse effects in male and female rats was 0.7 μg/kg body weight (concentration of vanadium in BECV) in the subacute toxicity study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the antidiabetic effect of an extract of nutricultured Brassica napus containing vanadium (BECV). The BECV was prepared following nutriculture of B. napus with a Jeju water vanadium concentrate for 7 day. The BECV was administered to db/db mice for 8 weeks at different dosages (0.028, 0.14, and 0.7 μg/kg; as vanadium concentration in BECV). After 8 weeks, the BECV results showed mouse blood glucose concentrations to significantly decrease, in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the results for control mice. In addition, the concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin were significantly lower after 8 weeks of administration of 0.7 μg/kg BECV. Therefore, the BECV may have protective effects against type 2 diabetes.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped, flagellated bacterial strain, designated AMac2203T, was isolated from the gut of the cinereous vulture, Aegypiusmonachus, collected from the Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Republic of Korea. Strain AMac2203T grew optimally at 15–25 °C, pH 7–8 and in the presence of 3–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 97.4–97.9 % and 96.9–97.3 % sequence similarities of the 16S rRNA genes to its counterparts in Oceanisphaera profunda SM1222T and Oceanisphaera ostreae T-w6T, respectively. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of strain AMac2203T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 0 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c, 33.6 %), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c, 24.5 %) and C16 : 0 (19.9 %). The primary isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8. Polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified amino lipid and an unidentified lipid. Based on complete genome sequencing of strain AMac2203T and the closest related type strain, O. profunda , the OrthoANI value is 77.5 %, which is below the 95 % cut-off for species demarcation. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain AMac2203T is 47.1 mol%. Thus, strain AMac2203T represents a novel species candidate of the genus Oceanisphaera . We propose the name Oceanisphaera avium sp. nov., with strain AMac2203T (=KCTC 62118T=JCM 32207T) as the type strain.

With the growing demand for electronic medical devices for healthcare applications, we studied an implantable supercapacitor that can operate in an implantable electronic device. Here, we report a flexible implantable fiber supercapacitor for an in vivo energy storage device. The fiber supercapacitor has a high flexibility and a high potential to be applied in an implant device because the fiber can be implanted in the blood vessel and the wound can be stitched with the fiber-like suture. The fiber electrodes were fabricated in a biscrolling process that trapped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/ferritin nanoclusters within multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) sheets that provide mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. In addition, the supercapacitor is biocompatible because the MWNT sheets are coated with biocompatible materials such as PEDOT:PSS and ferritin. The areal capacitance of the PEDOT:PSS/ferritin/MWNT fiber supercapacitor was 32.9 mF/cm2 in a phosphate buffered saline solution, and the areal energy density was 0.82 μWh/cm2; these values are 52 times higher than that of the guest-free MWNT yarn. The supercapacitor operated well in a mouse and exhibited excellent biocompatibility; the capacitance was maintained above 90% in the mouse after eight days.

We present the genome sequence of Kushneria marisflavi KCCM 80003T isolated from Yellow Sea in Korea. The complete genome of KCCM 80003T consisted of a single, circular chromosome of 3,667,185bp, with an average G+C content of 59.05%, and 3287 coding sequences, 12 rRNAs, and 66 tRNAs. Kushneria marisflavi KCCM 80003T, belonging to the family Halomonadaceae, exhibited resistance to high salt concentrations and possessed potassium metabolism- or osmotic stress-related coding sequences, including potassium homeostasis, ectoine biosynthesis and regulation, choline and betaine uptake, and betaine biosynthesis features in the genome. These results provide a basis for understanding resistance strategies to osmotic stress at the genetic level and accordingly have implications for genetic engineering and biotechnology.

Despite the fungal abundance in honey and bee bread, little is known about the fungal gut community of the honey bee and its effect on host fitness. Using pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 region amplicons, we analysed the bacterial and fungal gut communities of the honey bee as affected by the host social status. Both communities were significantly affected by the host social status. The bacterial gut community was similar to those characterised in previous studies. The fungal gut communities of most worker bees were highly dominated by Saccharomyces but foraging bees and queens were colonised by diverse fungal species and Zygosaccharomyces, respectively. The high fungal density and positive correlation between Saccharomyces species and Lactobacillus species, known yeast antagonists, were only observed in the nurse bee; this suggested that the conflict between Saccharomyces and Lactobacillus was compromised by the metabolism of the host and/or other gut microbes. PICRUSt analysis revealed significant differences in enriched gene clusters of the bacterial gut communities of the nurse and foraging bees, suggesting that different host social status might induce changes in the gut microbiota, and, that consequently, gut microbial community shifts to adapt to the gut environment.

The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Litsea japonica fruit flesh extract (LJF-HE) on gastritis in an indomethacin-induced SD rat model. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: G1 (normal group), G2 (control group, indomethacin-induced gastritis), G3 (positive group, indomethacin-induced gastritis and ranitidine 50 mg/kg), G4 (LJF-HE-L group, indomethacin-induced gastritis and L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 30 mg/kg), G5 (LJF-HE-M group, indomethacin-induced gastritis and L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 60 mg/kg), G6 (LJF-HE-H group, indomethacin-induced gastritis and L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 120 mg/kg). In the group treated with LJF-HE (G4, G5, and G6), gastric mucosal damage, gastric juice secretion and pepsin activity were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Additionally, there were decreases in the expression of cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK-2r), histamine receptor H2 (H2r) and H+/K+ ATPase in the gastric lesions. The plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1β significantly decreased in LJF-HE (G4, G5, and G6) treated groups compared with control. The plasma level of PGE2 was also significantly increased by LJF-HE (G5 and G6). These results suggest that LJF-HE (G4, G5, and G6) has the ability to inhibit on indomethacin-induced gastritis.

A halophilic bacterial strain, X49T, was isolated from the Korean traditional salt-fermented seafood Daemi-jeot. X49T was an obligately aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, motile, oval or rod-shaped (0.5–1.0×1.2–3.2 µm) bacterium. After 2 days of growth, colonies on Marine agar medium were orange and circular with entire margins. X49T growth was detected at 10–37 °C and pH 4.5–8.5 in the presence of 0–26 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain X49T was most similar to that of the type strain of Kushneria marisflavi SW32T and shared a sequence similarity of 94.7–98.6 % with type strains of species of the genus Kushneria . The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C12 : 0 3OH. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q9 (93 %), and minor quinones were Q8 (4 %) and Q10 (3 %). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, two unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 59.1 mol%. The level of the ANI value between strain X49T and K. marisflavi SW32T, the most closely related species of the genus Kushneria , was 89.32 %. Based on the low ANI value, strain X49T and its reference strains represent genotypically distinct species. Based on this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain X49T represents a novel species of the genus Kushneria . The name Kushneria konosiri sp. nov. is proposed and the type strain is X49T (=KACC 14623T=JCM 16805T).

As part of a study to investigate the microbial diversity in the intestine of Apis mellifera, we isolated strain MRM1T from the midgut. MRM1T was a Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore forming and rod-shaped bacteria. Creamy beige-coloured colonies were circular with entire margins in Lactobacilli MRS agar. The strain grew at 25–37 °C (optimum, 30–37 °C) and at a pH range of 4.0 to 9.0 (optimum pH, 7.0–8.5). The strain tolerated 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal growth occurred in the absence of NaCl). On the basis of the results of a phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, we determined that MRM1T represents a member of the genus Bombella with the highest sequence similarity to Bombella intestini LMG 28161T (98.8 %). The major quinone was Q10, and dominant fatty acids (>10 %) were C19 : 0cyclo ω8c (33.6 %), C16 : 0 (22.2 %), C18 : 1ω7c (15.9 %) and C14 : 0 (12.5 %). The polar lipid profile of MRM1T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of MRM1T was 59.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, MRM1T represents a novel species of the genus Bombella , for which the name Bombella apis sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain MRM1T (=KCTC 52452T=JCM 31623T).

A novel bacterium, designated as strain AM134T, was isolated from the gut of a purple sea urchin (Heliocidaris crassispina) gathered from the coastal waters of Dokdo, Korea. Strain AM134T was Gram-stain-negative, both catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic and showed a rod-coccus cell cycle. Optimum growth occurred at 30 °C, in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain AM134T belonged to the genus Microbulbifer in the family Alteromonadaceae and had high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (>97 %) with Microbulbifer epialgicus F-104T (98.9 % similarity) and Microbulbifer variabilis Ni-2088T (98.6 % similarity). The polar lipid profile of strain AM134T was composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, three unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified amino lipid and six unidentified lipids. The major respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c) and C16 : 0. The DNA–DNA hybridization analysis showed that the strain shared less than 28 % genomic relatedness with Microbulbifer epialgicus DSM 18651T (27±3 %) and Microbulbifer variabilis ATCC 700307T (15±1 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 56.1 mol%. The results of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analyses suggest that strain AM134T represents a novel species in the genus Microbulbifer , for which the name Microbulbifer echini is proposed. The type strain is AM134T (=KACC 18258T=JCM 30400T).

A novel strain, designated AM23T, was isolated from the gut of a purple sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispina collected from the coastal waters of the Korean island Dokdo. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain AM23T belonged to the genus Arthrobacter in the family Micrococcaceae and shared highest sequence similarity with Arthrobacter agilis DSM 20550T (98.77 %). Strain AM23T was catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and grew optimally at 20 °C, in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7. The isolate was a Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, strictly aerobic and coccus-shaped bacterium. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The polar lipids of strain AM23T were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, one unidentified glycolipid and four unidentified lipids. The components of the cell-wall peptidoglycan were lysine, glutamic acid and alanine and the predominant cell-wall sugars were galactose, mannose, rhamnose and ribose. The major respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone MK-9(H2). The genomic DNA G+C content was 67.3 mol% and the DNA–DNA hybridization values showed the strain shared less than 29 % genomic relatedness with A. agilis DSM 20550T. The results of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analysis indicate that strain AM23T represents a novel species in the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter echini sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AM23T ( = KACC 18260T = DSM 29493T).

Kushneria konosiri X49T is a member of the Halomonadaceae family within the order Oceanospirillales and can be isolated from salt-fermented larval gizzard shad. The genome of K. konosiri X49T reported here provides a genetic basis for its halophilic character. Diverse genes were involved in salt-in and -out strategies enabling adaptation of X49T to hypersaline environments. Due to resistance to high salt concentrations, genome research of K. konosiri X49T will contribute to the improvement of environmental and biotechnological usage by enhancing understanding of the osmotic equilibrium in the cytoplasm. Its genome consists of 3,584,631 bp, with an average G + C content of 59.1%, and 3261 coding sequences, 12 rRNAs, 66 tRNAs, and 8 miscRNAs.

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively aerobic, spore-forming, oxidase-positive, catalase- and DNase-negative, rod-shaped and motile bacterial strain, AR23208T, was isolated from the gut of a cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), collected at Seoul Grand Park Zoo (Republic of Korea). Strain AR23208T grew optimally at 25–30 °C, at pH 7 and in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain AR23208T shared 98.2 and 97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Tumebacillus algifaecis THMBR28T and Tumebacillus lipolyticus NIO-S10T, respectively. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of strain AR23208T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 4 (anteiso-C17 : 1 B and/or iso-C17 : 1 I) and anteiso-C15 : 0 and the primary isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, six unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid and ten unidentified lipids. The sugar components of the cell wall peptidoglycan were ribose and arabinose. The amino acids of the cell wall peptidoglycan were l-alanine, aspartic acid, meso-diaminopimelic acid, l-glutamic acid, glycine and l-lysine. The OrthoANI value based on the complete genome sequence of strain AR23208T and the closest related strain, T. algifaecis THMBR28T, was 80.4 %. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain AR23208T was 56.0 mol%. Based on the data presented in the current study, strain AR23208T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tumebacillus , for which the name Tumebacillus avium sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AR23208T (=KCTC 33929T=JCM 32188T).