Sungkyunkwan University · Engineering
Professor Sung-Min Kim's research lab focuses on neurocognitive mechanisms and microbial pathogenesis, with a dual emphasis on enhancing cognitive function through natural compounds and understanding bacterial biofilm formation. The lab investigates the molecular and behavioral effects of gintonin, a ginseng-derived compound, on memory and synaptic plasticity, exploring its potential as a noninvasive cognitive enhancer. Concurrently, the lab examines the role of curli fimbriae and biofilm formation in pathogenic Enterobacter cloacae, particularly the genetic regulation and structural characteristics underlying biofilm development. These interdisciplinary efforts bridge neuroscience and microbiology, aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies for cognitive disorders and antimicrobial interventions.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Our observations suggest that the systemic gintonin administration could successfully improve contextual memory formation at the molecular and synaptic levels as well as the behavioral level. Therefore, oral administration of gintonin may serve as an effective noninvasive, nonsurgical method of enhancing cognitive functions.
In this study, we examined the biofilm forming ability, the mRNA expression of curli genes and the morphologies of curli fimbriae and biofilms in clinical isolates of Enterobacter cloacae. The csgBA operon was found in 11 (78.6%) of the 14 isolates. The ability of E. cloacae isolates to form biofilms was significantly correlated with the mRNA expression level of the csgA and csgD genes. The curli protein fimbriae appeared as tangled fibers and the curli-proficient strain formed mature biofilms.
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