• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1267-1272
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and infection status of Salmonella species (spp.) in 25 conventional pig farms by traditional fecal culture and serological methods to develop a Salmonella control program for Korean pig farms. The individual seroprevalence of Salmonella spp. in pigs reared in the 25 pig farms was 83.1% in sows and 6.4-32% in different aged pig groups, with the total seroprevalence 28.4% (141/848). The seroprevalence of the tested pigs increased in accordance with the decrease in maternal antibody and the rearing period on these farms. Of note, all the 25 pig farms contained at least two or more anti-Salmonella antibody-positive sows. In the fecal cultures Salmonella spp. were isolated only in three (12.0%, 3/25) of 16 serologically Salmonella-suspected farms (64.0%, 16/25), showing the limitation of the fecal culture method and the need for serum assays to understand the exact status of Salmonella infection in swine herds, which likely contain subclinically infected pigs or carriers. The results highlight the need to establish a supply system of Salmonella-free gilts for the promotion of a national Salmonella control program on swine farms in Korea. Further studies will be needed to develop an effective monitoring system for the implementation of a national Salmonella control program.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.379-389
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• 2008

This study was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of raw and cooked foods served in the elementary school food service. Raw and cooked food samples were collected from 11 selected elementary schools in both June to July and September to October of 2005. Petrifilm plates were used to determine (in duplicate) total aerobic colony counts (PAC), Enterobacteriaceae (PE), coliform counts (PCC), and E. coli counts (PEC). Heavy contamination of Enterobacteriaceae (from 0.08 to 7.40 log CFU/g) and total coliform (0.50 to 6.52 log CFU/g) were observed in raw materials and cooked foods. Escherichia coli (E. coli) were detected in the sample of currant tomato (3.70 log CFU/g), sesame leaf (3.59 log CFU/g), dropwort (0.20 log CFU/g), crown daisy (3.15 log CFU/g), parsley (3.00 log CFU/g), peeled green onion (1.74 log CFU/g), frozen pork (0.65 log CFU/g), frozen beef (0.20 or 1.50 log CFU/g), chicken (1.78 log CFU/g), and young radish leaf seasoned with soybean paste (1.24 log CFU/g). Multiplex PCR system was used to determine the food-borne pathogens: Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), Shigella spp., B. cereus was detected in 19 samples of raw materials and 8 samples of cooked foods. With regard to quantitative analysis, B. cereus counts exceeded 5.46, 3.48 and 1.79 log CFU/g in sesame leaf, peeled green onion and seasoned mungbean jelly, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on 2 samples of frozen beefs, and its biochemical characteristics of one beef sample was confirmed with API 20E kit (93.7%). L. monocytogenes was detected in fried rice paper dumpling, but the presumptive colonies were not detected onto the conventional plate. C. jejuni was detected in peeled & washed onion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1562-1570
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to develop fertilizer which promotes plant growth as well as suppressing pathogenic fungi. The fertilizer was made from the mixture of Ju-Back (Korean rice wine cake) and indigenous rhizosphere-bacterium. The main ingredients of Ju-Back were investigated as 6.04% total nitrogen, 42.59% total carbohydrate, 1.01% available phosphate, 73.42% organic matter, 7.72% potassium oxide, 1.35% calcium oxide, 0.53% magnesium oxide. The enzyme activities of Ju-Back were estimated to be 980 units/g for ${\alpha}-amylase$, 300 units/g for glucoamylase, and 1800 units/g for acid pretense. Indigenous rhizosphere bacteria which produced antifungal agent were isolated from soil, and was selected KMU-13 strain which can antagonize against various plant pathogenic fungi (Botrytis cinerea KACC 40573, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum KACC 41065, Fusairum oxysporum KACC 40052, Pythium aphanidermatum KACC 40156, Phytophthora capsici KACC 40476 and Glomerella cingulata KACC 40299). KMU-13 strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis KMU-13 by biochemical and 16s rDNA analysis. The organic fertilizer was made as prototype which was composed 20% Ju-Back, 70% carrier, 9.7% microorganism cultivated solution, 0.3% trace-element. We also investigated an application of fertilizer using Ju-Back for cultivating lettuce (Lactuca sativar) which were grown in three soil conditions that had chemical fertilizer, barnyard manure, lime power, urea, potassium chloride and superphosphate as a control, the whole quantity (80 kg/10a) of posted fertilizer with the control and the half quantity (40 kg/10a) with the control. The growth characteristics were examined and analysed with several weeks interval from 3 weeks to 8 weeks on head length (cm), head width (cm/head), number of leaf and fresh weight (g/plant). The results are summarized as follows. The head width and fresh weight of lettuce were the highest at posted fertilizer 1 (whole quantity) was applied chemical, organic matter (Ju-Back) and carrier. The head length was the highest at posted fertilizer 2 (whole quantity) was applied Ju-Back only.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.994-1002
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• 2009

A bacteriocin-producing bacterium identified as Bacillus licheniformis was isolated from soybean sauce. Antibacterial activity was confirmed by paper disc diffusion method, using Micrococcus luteus as a test organism. The bacteriocin also showed antibacterial activities against Bacillus sphaericus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus planiarum, Paenibacillus polymyxa, and Pediococcus dextrinicus. Optimal culture conditions for the production of bacteriocin was attained by growing the cells in an MRS medium at a pH of 6.5~ 7.0 and a temperature of 37$^\circ$C for 36$\sim$48 hr. Solvents such as chloroform, ethanol, acetone, and acetonitrile had little effect on bacteriocin activity. However, about 50% of bacteriocin activity diminished with treatment of methanol and isopropanol at the final concentration of 50% at 25$^\circ$C for 1 hr. It was stable against a pH variation range from 3.0 and 7.0, but the activity reduced to 50% at a pH range from 9.0 to 11.0. It's activity was not affected by heat treatment at 100$^\circ$C for 30 min and 50% of activity was retained after heat treatment at 100$^\circ$C for 60 min, showing high thermostability. The bacteriocin was purified to a homogeneity through ammonium sulfate precipitation, SP-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography, and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The entire purification protocol led to a 75-fold increase in specific activity and a 13.5% yield of bacteriocin activity. The molecular weight of purified bacteriocin was estimated to be about 2.5 kDa by tricine-SDS-PAGE.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.50-57
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• 2015

Control of nematode has become difficult owing to the restricted use of effective soil fumigant, methyl bromide, and other non-fumigant nematicides. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop microbial nematicide to replace chemical nematicides. In this study, the 50% aqueous methanol extraction solution of fermentation broths of 2,700 actinomycete strains were tested for their nematicidal activity against second stage of juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne incognita. As the results, only the 50% aqueous methanol extraction solution of AN110065, at 20% equivalent to 10% fermentation broth, showed strong nematicidal activity with 78.9% of mortality 24 h after treatment and 94.1% of mortality at 72 h. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the strain sequence was 99.78% identical to Streptomyces netropsis. The extract of S. netropsis AN110065 fermentation broth was successively partitioned with ethyl acetate and butanol and then the ethyl acetate, butanol and water layers were investigated for their nematicidal activity against the M. incognita. At $1000{\mu}g/ml$, ethyl acetate layer showed the strongest activity of 83.5% of juvenile mortality 72 h after treatment. The pot experiment using the fermentation broth of AN110065 on tomato plant against M. incognita displayed that it evidently suppressed gall formation at a 10-fold diluent treatment. The tomato plants treated with the fermentation broth of S. netropsis AN110065 did not show any phytotoxicity. The results suggest that S. netropsis AN110065 has a potential to serve as microbial nematicide in organic agriculture.

• Annals of Clinical Microbiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.80-85
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the bactericidal effects of copper, brass (copper 78%, tin 22%), and stainless steel against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREFM), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA). Methods: The isolates (MRSA, VREFM, MRPA) used in this study were mixed wild type 3 strains isolated from patients treated at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital in 2017. These strains showed patterns of multidrug resistance. The lyophilized strains were inoculated into and incubated for 24 hr in tryptic soy broth at $35^{\circ}C$. The initial bacterial inoculum concentration was adjusted to $10^5CFU/mL$. A 100-mL bacterial suspension was incubated in containers made of brass (copper 78%, tin 22%), copper (above 99% purity), and stainless steel at $35^{\circ}C$. Viable counts of bacteria strains were measured for 9 days. Results: In this study, the bactericidal effects of copper and brass on MRSA, VREFM, and MRPA were verified. The bactericidal effect of stainless steel was much weaker than those of copper and brass. The bactericidal effect was stronger on MRPA than on MRSA or VREFM. Conclusion: To prevent cross infection of multidrug resistant bacteria in hospitals, further studies of longer duration are needed for testing of copper materials on objects such as door knobs, faucets, and bed rails.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2007

With a broad objective for the development of microbial based fertilizers, a total of 373 strains were isolated from rhizoplane and rhizosphere of pepper, tomato, lettuce, pasture, and grass. The efficacy of the isolates to augument overall plant growth was evaluated. After screening for their plant growth promotion and antagonistic properties in vitro efficient strains were further selected. The most efficient strains was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequences and biochemical techniques and was designated as Bacillus subtilis S37-2. The strains facilitated plant growth and inhibited the plant phathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum (KACC 40037, Rhizoctonia solani (KACC 40140), and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (KACC 40457). Pot based bioassay using lettuce as test plant was conducted by inoculating suspension ($10^5$ to $10^8cells\;mL^{-1}$) of B. subtilis S37-2 to the rhizosphere of lettuce cultivated in soil pots. Compared with non-inoculated pots, marked increase in leaf (42.3%) and root mass (48.7%) was observed in the inoculation group where the 50ml of cell mixture ($8.7{\times}10^8cells\;ml^{-1}$) was applied to the rhizosphere of letuce either once or twice. Antagonistic effects of B. subtilis S37-2 strain on S. sclerotiorum (KACC 40457) were tested. All the tested lettuce plants perished after 9 days in treatment containing only S. sclerotiorum, but only 17% of lettuce was perished in the inoculation plot. B. subtilis grew well in the TSB culture medium. The isolates grew better in yeast extracts than peptone and tryptone as nitrogen source. The growth rate was 2~4 times greater at $37^{\circ}C$ as compared with $30^{\circ}C$ incubation temperature. B. subitlis S37-2 produced $0.1{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of IAA (indole 3-acetic acid) in the TSB medium containing L-tryptophan($20mg\;L^{-1}$) in 24 hours.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.304-312
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• 2024

This study was conducted to characterize strain Y10, isolated from discarded chicken feathers. Strain Y10 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens through phenotypic and 16S rRNA gene analysis. B. amyloliquefaciens Y10 exhibited plant growth-promoting activities, including the production of fungal cell-degrading enzymes (cellulase, lipase, protease, and pectinase), siderophores, ammonia, and indoleacetic acid. Furthermore, strain Y10 was able to inhibit the mycelial growth of several phytopathogenic fungi. When 0.1% sucrose as a carbon source and 0.05% casein as a nitrogen source were added to the basal medium, adjusted to pH 10, and cultured at 35℃, the degradation rate of chicken feathers by strain Y10 was about two times higher than that of the basal medium, with the feathers almost completely degraded in four days. Strain Y10 also degraded various keratin substrates, including duck feathers, wool, and human nails. It was confirmed that the feather hydrolyzates prepared using strain Y10 exhibited antioxidant activities, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (EC₅₀ = 0.38 mg/ml) and superoxide dismutase-like activity (EC₅₀ = 183.7 mg/ml). These results suggest that B. amyloliquefaciens Y10 is a potential candidate for the development of bioinoculants and feed additives applicable to the agricultural and livestock industries, as well as the microbiological treatment of keratin waste.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2024

This study was conducted to selection and investigate appropriate conditions for mass production of antagonistic microbes to control cobweb disease caused by Cladobotryum mycophilum. A grampositive bacterium was isolated from spent substrate of Agaricus bisporus and showed significant antagonistic activity against Cladobotryum mycophilum. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus altitudinis. based on the cultural, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA sequence. The isolate is saprophytic, but not parasitic nor pathogenic to cultivated mushroom whereas it showed strong inhibitory effects against C. mycophilum cells in vitro. The control efficacy of B. altitudinis HC7 against cobweb disease of C. mycophilum was up to 78.2% on Agaricus bisporus. The suppressive bacterium may be useful for the development of biocontrol system. To define the appropriate conditions for the mass production of the Bacillus altitudinis HC7, we have investigated appropriate culture conditions and effects of various nutrient source on the bacterial growth. The appropriate initial pH and temperature were determined as pH 6.0 and 30℃, respectively. The appropriate concentration of medium elements for the growth of pathogen inhibitor bacterium(Bacillus altitudinis HC7) was determined as follows: 3.0% soluble startch, 10% soytone, 1.0% (NH₄)₂HPO₄, 1.0 mmol KCl, and 0.5% L-asparagine.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.1
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• pp.73-87
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• 2024

Wolfiporia hoelen (Fr.) Y.C.Dai & V. Papp, commonly known as Poria cocos, is a significant traditional herb used for medicinal and culinary purposes Asian and European countries. Many studies have confirmed that the main components of W. hoelen have pharmacological activities and thatits extract has been shown to affect bone metabolism. This study aimed to the potential of a 50% ethanol extract of the sclerotium of W. hoelen for preventing and treating bone diseases. The ethanol extract was systematically fractionated using n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate. The dichloromethane fraction caused an approximately 29% increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) differentiation activity in C2C12 cells compared to the control. Four compounds isolated from this active dichloromethane fraction were identified through instrumental analysis and literature references as 3α-dehydrotrametenolic acid, ergosterol, pachymic acid, and dehydrotumulosic acid. All four compounds were evaluated at increasing concentrations (1, 3, 10, 30, and 100 μM) to determine their effects on ALP differentiation activity in C2C12 cells and RANKL-induced inhibition activity in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs), with a concurrent assessment of cytotoxicity at these concentrations. At a concentration of 3 μM, dehydrotumulosic acid caused a 160% increase in ALP activity, 24% higher than in the BMP-2 control. BMMs treated with dehydrotumulosic acid at concentrations between 10 and 100 μM showed a substantial 15-86% decrease in RANKL-induced inhibition activity compared to the control, with distinct patterns of RANKL inhibition and cytotoxicity observed at 10 μM. These findings suggest that the ethanol extract from the sclerotium of W. hoelen has potential to modulate bone-cell differentiation, while highlighting the possible benefits of dehydrotumulosic acid isolated from the dichloromethane fraction of W. hoelen for preventing and treating osteoporosis.