• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.490-494
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• 2011

Although bacterial outbreaks from ready-to-eat foods have increased, little information is available on microbial quality of sprouts in markets. Fifty sprouts and 30 salads were collected from wholesale markets. Total aerobic count (TAC), coliform, Escherichia coli, and some pathogens were detected. TAC for sprouts was 7.95 log CFU/g and 6.70 for salads, indicating that sprouts were more contaminated by 1 log CFU/g than that of salads. The numbers of coliform were 6.69 log CFU/g for sprouts and 5.42 for salads. E. coli was detected in 16 of 50 sprout samples at 2.38 log CFU/g and eight of 30 salads at 2.21 log CFU/g. Bacillus cereus was detected in 29 of 50 sprout samples and 16 of 30 salads, and the counts were mostly <3 log CFU/g. Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, and Clostridium perfringens were not detected. Therefore, although pathogens may not be a high risk for these foods, the high TAC and E. coli contamination require improved production and distribution methods, particularly for sprouts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.461-466
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• 2010

A cylindrical UV sterilization system was developed to decrease microorganisms in centrifuged Takju (CT). CT was run through 110 strips of honey comb type-teflon tubes and 9 UV lamps (1395 W) were equipped between teflon tubes. The optimum sterilization condition of CT was fixed for 1.5 min at 2 L/min in overall quality aspects; also, 5~6 log cycle decrease of viable cell numbers of total bacteria and yeast was observed at this operating condition. Quality changes of UV-sterilized CT were examined by UV irradiation of CT followed by storing at $30^{\circ}C$ for 8 days. To evaluate quality changes of UV-sterilized CT, pH, amino nitrogen content, acidity, reducing sugar content and viable cell numbers of total bacteria and yeast were measured. The growth of yeast and bacteria was retarded, showing around $10^8\;CFU/mL$ even after 4 days and $10^8\;CFU/mL$ after 6 days, respectively. Also, UV sterilized CT showed no changes in pH, titratable acidity, and amino nitrogen content during storage except reducing sugar content. UV sterilization did not cause significant difference in L, a, and b values between CT and UV-sterilized CT over the storage period.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the hygiene condition of PC room(internet cafe) in Seoul Korea. From July 2004 to December, 34 samples were collected, there's an average of $9.0{\times}10^4$ CFU/ml on keyboards, $2{\times}10$ CFU/ml on mouse and $5{\times}10^3$ CFU/ml on door konbs toilets, suggesting that keyboards and mouse are more contaminated than toilet door knobs. Seven antimicrobial resistant strains were isolated from PC Rooms. Two isolates were resistant to methicillin and erythromycin, while five isolates were resistant to gentamicin, ampicllin, cefotaxim, and chloramphenicol. By identification, these strains were identified as Staphylococcus aureus (2 strains). Actinobacillus ureae (4 strains) and Pasteurella multocida (1 strain), respectively. Pasteurella multocida and Actinobacillus ureae are potentially pathogenic bacteria. Actinobacillus ureae, formerly, known as Pasteurella ureae, is an uncommon of the upper respiratory tract in humans. Pasteurella multocida is a part of the normal flora in the nasopharynx of many domestic animals. We concluded that Staphylococcus aureus is highly resistant to erythromycin and methicillin over $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, while Pasteurella multocida and Actinobacillus ureae is highly resistant to gentamicin, ampicillinover over $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 2003

Two aims of the present study were the evaluation of hygienic, microbial safety on food services of elementary schools in Western Gyeongnam province, and then, the construction of database for the SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operation Procedures) practice. A total of 98 samples were collected from drinking water, waterworks, kitchen utensils, kitchen equipments, employees and cooked foods. Total bacteria was counted and pathogenic bacteria such E. coli, salmonella, yersinia, vibrio parahaemolyticus and staphylococcus were identified based on the biochemical analysis. Following are the results: the number of bacteria showed from 1.0x10$^2$CFU/ mL to 1.0x10$^{6}$ CFU/mL in most samples, which the level exceeds normal range. Over 1.0x10$^{5}$ CFU/ml bacteria were observed from the kimchi in 4 places (B, C, D, E), because cooked food such as kimchi had not been heated. As a rule, the bacterium level in place B was higher than that in any of the other places. E-coli were isolated from kitchen knives (C, E) and Kimchi (E): staphylococci were isolated from drinking water (A), hands (D), refrigerator (E) and apron (E). But, salmonella, vibrio and yersinia were not detected in anywhere. In conclusion, the presence of bacteria and pathogenic agents in school food service was closely related to hygienic practice. For that reason, it is necessary to have more systematic and efficient management in order to enhance the food safety.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.254-260
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• 2014

Sulfur compound includes major electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration. In this study, cultivation-based study on sulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria of various wetlands of Korea was attempted. To isolate sulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria, anaerobic roll tube method was used to obtain typical black colonies of sulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria. Total 11 strains obtained were tentatively identified based on comparative 16S rDNA similarity and physiological property analysis. All sulfate-reducing bacteria (8 strains) belonged to genus Desulfovibrio with >99% 16S rDNA similarities. Three sulfur reducing bacteria were also isolated: two and one isolates were affiliated with Sulfurospirillum and Desulfitobacterium, respectively. These sulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria were able to utilize lactate and pyruvate and sulfite and thiosulfate as common electron donors and electron acceptors, respectively. This case study will provide fundamental information for obtaining useful indigenous sulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria from Korean wetlands employing various combinations of cultivation conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.728-733
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• 2007

Presence and distribution of bacteria and fungi in inner compartment of PCs(Personal Computers) were investigated. Samples for the analysis were collected from inside of PCs which had been used in various facilities including public computer facilities, laboratories and computer training rooms of a university. Total number of PC examined in this study was 51 each. When the total CFU(colony forming unit) of the inner compartment of the PCs was measured, the bacterial count was found to be dependent on the operation time(total running time) of PCs. When the distribution of bacteria in the inner compartment of PCs was estimated, CPU(Central Processing Unit) cooling fan area showed the highest bacterial concentration(average 605 $CFU/cm^2$). In the case of the fungi, various opportunistic pathogens including Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. were isolated and identified in the inner compartment of PCs. And the average of bacterial number in the dust collected from the PCs was 212 CFU/mg. These results indicated that handling of PC might have a risk of infection by the microorganism.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2010

A pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant combined with rotating biological contactor and tapered aeration reactors was operated with the wastewater discharged from a food factory for 5 months. The bacterial communities of this plant were investigated by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes. In spite of high concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus as well as organic carbon, removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus was 98%, 93%, and 95%, respectively. Bacterial community at the initial operation stage was clearly distinguished from that of the stable operation stage. The most predominant phylum in the sample of stable stage was Bacteroidetes. Major population of operation period was Haliscomenobacter, Sphaerotilus, and candidate division TM7, which were classified as filamentous bacteria. However, sludge bulking caused by these bacteria was not observed. The population that has a close relationship with Haliscomenobacter increased during the stable operation stage, emerging as the most predominant group. These results suggest that the filamentous bacteria participated in nutrient removal when using rotating biological contactor and tapered aeration reactor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1986

In order to examine related bacteria on the maturation of cured loin ham, bacteria isolated during curing periods from ham, which counted coliform group, psychrotrophic and halo-tolerant bacteria. The results are as follows; The isolated bacteria from ham during the curing period were Staphylococcus spp. 24 strains, Bacillus spp. 21 strains, Lactobacillus spp. 10 strains, Coryneform 2 strains. Microbacterium spp. 2 strains and Gram negative rods 8 strains. Micrococcus spp. were identified M. varians 12 strains and M. luteus 3 strains, and Streptococcus spp. identified S. faecium 14 strains, S. lactis 2 strains. Lactobacillus spp. were isolated L. Plantarum 4 strains, L. brevis and L. casei 1 strains. In the case of cured ham, the number of coliform group and psychrotrophic bacteria were decreased but halo-tolerant bacteria were increased for 10 days of curing period. On the brine solution. the number of coliform group, psychrotrophic and halo-tolerant bacteria were increased for 10 days. 4 days and 20 days, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2002

In an artificial pH-gradient batch culture system, the author analyzed the effects of acidification on the species composition of heterotrophic bacteria. As the result of this study, it was found that the numbers of total bacteria were not affected by acidification and that the population size of heterotrophic bacteria decreased as pH became lower. The heterotrophic bacteria isolated from all of the pH gradient were 12 genera and 22 species, and among them, gram negative and gram positive bacteria were 04% and 30%, respectively. As pH decreased, the distribution rate of gram negative bacteria increased while that of gram positive bacteria decreased. Regarding to distribution rate of genuses in each pH gradient, 13 genuses appeared at pH 7 while only 5 genuses appeared at pH 3, which means that the diversity of genera decrease as pH decreased. The activities of extracellular enzyme showed the ranges of $0.008-0.292\;\mu{M}\ell^{-1}\;hr^{-1}$ in bioreactor system. The enzymatic activities decreased rapidly below pH 5 and then sustained 5-38% at the lower pH values.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 1997

In an artificial pH-gradient hatch culture system, the author analyzed the effects of acidification on the species composition of heterotrophic bacteria. As the result of this study, it was found that the numbers of total bacteria were not affected by acidification and that the population size of heterotrophic bacteria decreased as pH became lower. The heterotrophic bacteria isolated from all of the pH gradient were 12 genera and 22 species. and among them, gram negative and gram positive bacteria were 64% and 36%, respectivcly. As pH decreased, the distribution rate of gram negative bacteria increased while that of gram positive bacteria decreased. Regarding to distrihution rate of genuses in each pH gradient, 13 genuses appeared at pH 7 while only 5 genuses appeared at pH 3. which means that the diversity of genera decrease as pH decreased. As a result of cluster analysis, diversity indices 01 species had ranges from 1.13 to 2.37, and decreased as pH decreased. In order to evaluate the diversity of different size samples, we analyzed the expected number of species appearance according to pH by rarefaction method. The statistical significance of species diversity was verified by the fact that the number decreased at lower pH.