Project application in disease mechanism research
:Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention(KCDC)

Our project is about modeling the interactions between different strains of bacteria in a given condition, and its goal is to add more and more factors related to their behaviors and ultimately create a model that accurately depicts their behaviors and interactions in the environment.

Therefore, we were interested in whether concurrent infections, or microbial infections with multiple pathogens involved are commonplace, and if our models could be of any use. To obtain information on current situations and researches in the field, we contacted the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention(KCDC).

We contacted division leader Sungsun Kim and deputy director Sunghan Kim of Bacterial Disease Research division, Center for Infectious Diseases Research in KCDC and conducted an interview regarding the subject.

First of all, simultaneous infection of multiple pathogens are possible, and there are occasional reports of such cases in tick-borne diseases or food-borne diseases. There are also reports of neuraminidases from influenza infections enabling easier invasions of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

However, we received skeptical responses on whether our modeling could be applied to actual cases, since there are numerous factors affecting the infection. In the case of gastro-intestinal infections, for example, the virulence factor between species can differ greatly. Some kinds of bacteria need to amass to millions before causing anything, while others need only tens of microbes to start causing visible symptoms. Furthermore, actual cases vary greatly in both environmental conditions and surrounding biomes. The environment for microbes has enormous differences in different parts of the human body, and the surrounding microbiomes are just as diverse. Finally, some species that cause chronic infections such as tuberculosis can bypass the limitations of growth rates, so although the growth rates of bacteria can be a major index, it does not necessarily represent the infection itself.

In conclusion, we were able to identify a number of factors that need to be added and improved to our model before we can actually utilize it, and we also confirmed the lack of researches and tools in this direction, which calls for additional follow-up researches and improvements on our project.

Project application in Food source assessment and biosafety
:Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)

Q&A with Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)

KUAS believed that our project could have a positive influence on society in various ways, one of which is the food sector. We wondered how it would be if we put microorganisms in food sources by conducting a study on the relative merits of microorganisms (namely the survival of microorganisms) using evolutionary game theory in the microbial system.

Therefore, we had the following questions in relation to our project, and we proceeded with an email interview with the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) regarding the relevant regulations.

1. Can genetically engineered microorganisms be used as a food source, or a means of production for food sources?

: Intestinal bacteria may cause problems during livestock product safety inspection.

2. In this situation, if a probiotics product genetically engineered to regulate the survival of beneficial bacteria and the reduction of harmful bacteria is developed, what kind of safety inspection would be needed?

We asked Woo Young Jung from the Department of Microorganisms in the MFDS, and we were able to get precise regulations regarding probiotics and genetically engineered microorganisms.

1. Risk assessment (rapid toxicity) is required in order to use microorganism as a food source. There are strong regulations regarding food sources that can be used in food processing, and microorganisms that are not registered are banned.

2. Certain strains may cause disease or resistance to antibiotics, so it may be improper to use them as probiotics.

The following materials are required for risk assessment: Antibiotic Resistance Profile, Production of Antibiotics, Pathogenic Potential, Metabolic Activities, Hemolytic Potential, Side Effects during clinical period. Once the aforementioned data is sent to the MFDS Department of Food Standard, the Committee of Food Hygiene Assessment (which includes professors in related fields, research institutes and industry experts) determines whether or not the product can be listed on the food processing list.

Along with this, we were able to get a food source guide (food source management system handbook) where we found the exact criterion on the possibility of eating microorganisms that we were looking for: “Edibility of microorganisms is evaluated by Common Standard about Food, Food Source Standard, Food Source Assessment Standard. Based on submitted data, food safety is examined. Major submission data is 1) Basic characteristic of the strain (binominal nomenclature) 2) Evidence that is used as source for existing food 3) Data that can prove safety as a food which includes the strain such as animal toxicity test results etc...”

Through this interview with the MFDS, we were able to learn about the application scope and safety standard when extending ‘Evolutionary Game theory in microbial system’ theory to our society. Specifically in this case, it was about the microorganism of the foods that we consume.

Education and exhibition consideration targeting children
:Gwacheon National Science Museum