식품분자미생물학연구실 Molecular Food Microbiology Lab

연구영역. 신규 박테리오파지의 분리·분석 및 식품 응용 연구, 식중독균/병원균의 검출 및 제어법 연구,

                   식중독균의 독성 및 병원성 조절 기작 연구, 식품유래 유익/유해균의 생리조절 기작 및 응용 연구

연구실. 연세대학교 생활과학대학 (삼성관) 622호
전화번호. 02-2123-4660    
홈페이지. https://sites.google.com/view/ymfm

지도교수. 김민식 교수

Food poisoning caused by various foodborne pathogens threatens our health and the public health, and consequently, poses huge burdens on the socio-economy. Although antibiotics targeting essential functions of the bacteria have been successfully controlled these "bad guys", recent emergence of drug-resistant pathogens, a.k.a. super bugs, forces human beings to prepare alternative antimicrobial agents.

In this context, Molecular Food Microbiology Lab. investigates the possibility of bacteriophages and endolysins as novel antimicrobial agents. Bacteriophages, a.k.a. phages, are bacterial viruses that infect bacteria only. After specific recognition of host receptors, phages inject its nucleic acids into host bacterial cells. Propagation of phage particles within bacterial cells are ended with a 'burst' of phage-infected bacteria by phage-derived lytic enzymes, endolysins. Using important major foodborne pathogens including Salmonella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, Cronobacter sakazakii, Campylobacter jejuni and Stapylococcus spp. as model bacteria, we try to isolate, characterize, and genetically engineer the novel bacteriophages from environmental samples. The mechanisms on how these phages interact with host bacteria are also studied in molecular level to efficiently control and detect the harmful foodborne pathogens from our daily food and food processing environment.

Understanding the basic mechanisms underlying bacterial virulence and pathogenicity through in vitro and in vivo experiments is another our goal for pathogen control. We expect to find new targets for novel antimicrobial agents based on the better understand on the mechanisms, and thus, we will be able to unusually but efficiently control the virulence of harmful foodborne pathogens.

1. Isolation and characterization of novel bacteriophages from local environmental / biological samples.
2. Whole & comparative genomic analysis of isolated phages with next generation sequencing and bioinformatic tools.
3. Preventive and therapeutic application of phages & endolysins that will be able to replacing the conventional antibiotics in the fields of food safety & infectious diseases.
4. Construction of engineered phages & endolysins having novel functions (e.g., reporting/detecting pathogens).
5. Exploring new therapeutic targets in foodborne pathogens by determining factors & mechanisms that regulate the pathogen's virulence and pathogenicity.
6. Improvement/modification of microbial flora (microbiota) in food, food production/processing environment, and human beings using useful microbial resources (e.g., bacteriophages, endolysins, antagonistic microorganisms, etc.)

식품분자미생물학연구실은 식품 내에 존재하는 혹은 식품 생산 및 가공 과정에서 접하게 되는 각종 미생물들을 대상으로 분자미생물학 및 유전체학, 세포생물학 등의 접근을 통하여 미생물의 생리적 기전을 밝히고 이를 응용하는 연구를 수행하고 있다. 특히 식품 안전을 끊임없이 위협하고 있는 살모넬라균, 병원성 대장균, 크로노박터균, 캠필로박터균, 황색포도상구균 등 주요 식품 유래 유해세균들을 신속히 검출하고 효과적으로 제어하기 위하여 박테리오파지 및 엔도라이신을 활용한 새로운 기술 및 제제 개발을 목표로 관련 기초 및 응용 연구를 수행하고 있다. 박테리오파지는 세균을 특이적으로 감염하는 바이러스로 타깃이 되는 유해균만을 특이적으로 감염하여 사멸시키기 때문에 최근 항생제 내성균, 이른바 슈퍼 박테리아(super bacteria)가 출현해 인류의 생존을 위협하고 있는 시점에서 항생제를 대신할 대체 항미생물제제로 큰 주목을 받고 있다. 또한 엔도라이신은 박테리오파지 유래의 세균 분해 효소로 역시 효과적이면서 특이적인 항미생물제제로 각광받고 있다.