Jinshil Kim

The gut microbiota benefits the host by limiting enteric pathogen expansion (colonization resistance), partially via the production of inhibitory metabolites. Propionate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by microbiota members, is proposed to mediate colonization resistance against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Tm). Here, we show that S. Tm overcomes the inhibitory effects of propionate by using it as a carbon source for anaerobic respiration. We determine that propionate metabolis

Human infections with Campylobacter are primarily associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry meat. In this study, we isolated Campylobacter jejuni from retail raw chicken and duck meat in Korea and compared their aerotolerance, antibiotic resistance, and virulence gene prevalence. Whereas C. jejuni isolates from chicken dominantly belonged to multilocus sequence typing (MLST) clonal complex (CC)-21, CC-45 is the common MLST sequence type in duck meat isolates. C. jejuni strains from

The results in this study demonstrate that retail chicken in South Korea is highly contaminated with MDR ESBL-EC and may serve as a reservoir for transmitting ExPEC to humans.

A number of studies from different countries have characterized mcr-1-harboring plasmids isolated from food; however, nothing has been reported about it in South Korea. In this study, we report the characterization of mcr-1 plasmids from pan drug-resistant (PDR) Escherichia coli strains isolated from retail food in the country. Colistin-resistant E. coli strains were isolated from retail raw chicken, and PCR was carried out to detect the mcr-1 gene. Whole genome sequencing of the mcr-1-positive

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) commensal Escherichia coli is a major reservoir that disseminates antimicrobial resistance to humans through the consumption of contaminated foods, such as retail poultry products. This study aimed to control AMR E. coli on retail chicken using a broad host range phage cocktail. Five phages (JEP1, 4, 6, 7, and 8) were isolated and used to construct a phage cocktail after testing infectivity on 67 AMR E. coli strains isolated from retail chicken. Transmission electro

OBJECTIVE: In Korea, patients with terminal cancer are often caught out of the loop in end-of-life (EoL) care discussions. Healthcare professionals also have difficulty engaging in such communication in a variety of healthcare contexts. Therefore, the objective of our study was to develop a communication model for EoL care decision making compatible with the clinical environment in Korea. METHODS: Using focus-group interview methodology, participants included eight doctors and five nurses who pr

Diastolic dysfunction was associated with obesity and/or hypertension. The cumulative risk of obesity and hypertension and their impact on diastolic dysfunction which could be modifiable could reduce exercise capacity.

OBJECTIVE: The Korean advance directive (K-AD) comprises a value statement, treatment directives, preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), artificial ventilation, tube feeding, and hospice care, as well as a proxy appointment. The K-AD can facilitate a patient's decision making with respect to end-of-life (EoL) care. The present study aimed to examine the extent to which patient-caregiver dyads would use the K-AD and agree on EoL care decisions. METHODS: Using a descriptive study des

Since contaminated poultry meat is the major source of transmitting <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> to humans, the isolation of <i>Campylobacter</i> from poultry carcasses is frequently performed in many countries as a baseline survey to ensure food safety. However, existing isolation methods have technical limitations in isolating this fastidious bacterium, such as a growth competition with indigenous bacteria in food samples. In this study, we compared the differences in microbiota compositions be

Assembly of the peptidoglycan is crucial in maintaining viability of bacteria and in defining bacterial cell shapes, both of which are important for existence in the ecological niche that the organism occupies. Here, eight crystal structures for a member of the cell-shape-determining class of Campylobacter jejuni, the peptidoglycan peptidase 3 (Pgp3), are reported. Characterization of the turnover chemistry of Pgp3 reveals cell wall D,D-endopeptidase and D,D-carboxypeptidase activities. Catalysi

Originating from poultry, particularly chickens, Campylobacter jejuni is the leading foodborne pathogen worldwide and a major cause of campylobacteriosis. Isolating C. jejuni is difficult due to its specific growth requirements, the presence of viable but non-culturable bacteria, and because it is often masked by competing flora. Currently, there is no optimized method for isolating C. jejuni from chicken feces. Here, we evaluated the method for isolating C. jejuni from chicken feces using cultu

Oxygen-sensitive foodborne pathogens must withstand oxygen toxicity in aerobic environments during transmission to humans. C. jejuni is a major cause of gastroenteritis, accounting for 400 million to 500 million infection cases worldwide per year. As an obligate microaerophile, C. jejuni is sensitive to air-level oxygen.