• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.627-631
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• 2007

The factors affecting on sludge sedimentation are reported as F/M ratio, ingredient, composition of influent substrate, dissolved oxygen concentration, temperature, pH, filamentous bacteria and SRT. Aeration tank applying Bacillus sp. has an important role for maintaining the dominant microorganism species to make steady progress for spore growth affecting sedimentation. This research aims to investigate the affecting factor for the sedimentation in B3 system and RABC system with aeration tank applying tapered aeration. Extracellular polymeric substances(EPS), protein and carbohydrate can be produced for the extreme condition, that is down to 0.2 mg/L of dissolved oxygen in the aeration tank. This research found out the relation between the sedimentation and the EPS production, especially the ratio of protein/carbohydrate. The spore of Bacillus sp. was formed at the low DO then microorganisms produced EPS. The results showed that the production of EPS was 109.95 mgEPS/gSS at 1.6 mg/L of DO, however it was 131.77 mgEPS/gSS at 0.5 mg/L of DO. The sedimentation was affected by protein content in EPS and the ratio of protein and carbohydrate. The settleability of sludge was not affected by the ratio of protein/carbohydrate in B3 process, meanwhile settleability was affected by the ratio of it in RABC process, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2013

Butanol-resistant bacteria were isolated from butanol solvent. The cell growth of isolated strains declined with increasing concentrations of butanol, and isolated strain BRS02 displayed more resistance to 12.5 g/L of butanol than other isolated strains. In addition, strain BRS251, which was resistant to even higher concentrations of butanol, was developed by the mutation of BRS02 using UV. BRS251 could grow in LB medium containing up to 17.5 g/L of butanol, 32.5 g/L of propanol, or 6 g/L of pentanol, whereas the control strain Escherichia coli was found to be tolerant to 7.5 g/L of butanol, 20 g/L of propanol, or 2 g/L of pentanol. The isolated BRS02, a Gram(+) bacterium seen to have a cocci form under the microscope, grew in 6.5% NaCl. According to biochemical tests, BRS02 can metabolize and produce acid with D-galactose, D-maltose, D-mannitol, D-mannose, methyl-${\beta}$-Dglucopyranoside, D-ribose, sucrose, or D-trehalose, as carbon sources. Also, this strain showed resistance to bacitracin, vibriostatic agent O/129, and optochin, alongside positive activities for arginine dihydrolase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, and urease. The BRS02 strain was identified as Staphylococcus sp. by analyses of the 16S rRNA gene, phylogenetic tree, and biochemical tests.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 1986

In order to improve effectiveness of rhizobia-legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation, ecological and physiological characteristics of indigenous rhizobia distributed in Korea soil, that is, the effects of soybean cultivation, physico-chemical properties and climate on the population of indigenous rhizobia and other soil microbes were investigated. The results were summarized as follows: The population of indigenous rhizobia were ranged from $5.1{\times}10^4$ cells to $196.8{\times}10^4$ cells per gram of soil in soybean cultivated soils but from $1.6{\times}10^4$ cells to $78.6{\times}10^4$ cells per gram of soil in soybean un-cultivated soils sampled from 9 different agro-climate zone. The highest population was observed in a soybean cultivated loamy soil from southern part of Korea. The content of available phosphate, exchangeable Ca, Mg, Cu, and B in soil were positively correlated but active Fe, exchangeable Al, Na, and $SO_4$ were inversely correlated to the population of indigenous rhizobia. The inverse relationship was observed between the number of indigenous rhizobia and actinomycetes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.801-808
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• 2017

The present study investigated the protective effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum culture supernatants (BbSC) and intracellular cell-free extracts (BbICFE) on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) against ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation. HDFs were treated with UV-B, UV-B+BbCS, and UV-B+BbICFE. Treatment of UV-B-irradiated HDFs with BbCS and BbICFE significantly increased cell viability compared to UV-B-irradiated HDFs. BbCS treatment reduced senescence in HDFs by approximately 40.0%. Moreover, sub-G1 phase was significantly reduced in BbCS- and BbICFE-treated HDFs (3.3% and 4.5%, respectively). The effect of UV-B on oxidative damage of HDFs was measured by dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Fluorescence intensity significantly increased in UV-B-irradiated HDFs. Inhibition of cellular reactive oxygen species in HDFs treated with 0.01% BbCS was the highest at 34.1%. Levels of p21 and p53 protein expression induced by UV-B irradiation were reduced by treatment with BbCS and BbICFE (47.0% and 35.6%, respectively). These results show that BbCS and BbICFE reduce UV-B-induced cellular senescence and apoptosis in HDFs. Thus, BbCS and BbICFE can be used as potential agents for protection of UV-B-induced skin cell damage.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

Methylophaga aminosulfidovorans SK1 (KCTC 10323 BP) can utilize trimethylamine as a sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy source. The bacterial flavin-containing monooxygenase (bFMO) gene was identified in the strain and the recombinant enzyme expressed in E. coli oxidized trimethylamine. To study the function and regulation of the bfmo, over 8,000 nucleotide sequences of the neighboring regions including the bfmo were determined. Three open reading frames proceeding to the bfmo gene encoded analogues to highly conserved nitrate/nitrite sensing two-component system regulators and a methyl accepting protein. Two small open reading frames just downstream of the bfmo gene showed no similar proteins of known functions but the sequences were conserved among other bacteria. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the six putative genes consisted of three transcription units. The three regulatory genes located upstream of the bfmo gene formed two separate transcription units. The bfmo and the two downstream genes were transcribed from a single promoter.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.351-356
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• 2016

Bacterial blotch caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii is one of the major diseases of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. Application of bacteriophages is a very useful tool to decrease the density of pathogens and it has been successful to making disease-free cultivation area, known as phage therapy. Effect of phages on pathogen sterilization is very limited to the specific host strains. Minor variations of the host strains may cause changes in phage sensitivity. The phage-resistant strains of P. tolaasii were isolated and their pathogenic characters were investigated to improve the effectiveness of phage therapy. In the phylogenetic analysis, both phage-resistant strains and the corresponding host strains were identical based on the sequence comparison of 16S rRNA genes. The pathogenic characters, such as hemolytic activity and brown blotch formation, were measured on the phage-resistant strains and no correlation between phage-resistance and pathogenic characters was observed. Nevertheless, pathogenic characters were sometimes changed in the phage-resistant strains depending on the host strains. In order to make the phage therapy successful, the bacteriophages having a wide host range should be isolated.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.400-407
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• 2003

In microbial coal desulfurization process (MCDP) by using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, the effect of process variables on pyritic sulfur removal efficiency has been investigated. The inhibitory effect of toxic materials contained in coal matrix on the activity of desulfurizing bacteria have been evaluated in coal extracts, and the results showed that the method was useful to evaluate the applicability of a coal which is to be desulfurization to MCDP. The removal efficiency increased with decreasing particle size and decreases with increasing pulp density, but has no significant influence of particle size and pup densities at high pulp densities over 20 wt%. The mass transfers of gaseous nutrients such as oxygen and carbon dioxide into coal slurry with various pulp densities and coal particle size has been studied in an airlift bioreactor. Mass transfer coefficient was independent of pulp density in coal slurry with fine particle below 175 $\mu\textrm{m}$, but significantly decreased with increasing pulp density over 225 $\mu\textrm{m}$. The coal particles over 575 $\mu\textrm{m}$ were significantly settled to the bottom of bioreactor resulting in poor mixing. Considering mass transfer, pulp density and coal mixing, an optimal size of coal particle for the microbial coal desulfurization process seems to be about 500 $\mu\textrm{m}$.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2014

There is a burgeoning number of products on the market that contain probiotics, but do they do you any good? What exactly are probiotics? They have been defined as living organisms that, when ingested in sufficient quantities, provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are often referred to as "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics have been claimed, amongst other things, to (i) reduce the incidence of colon cancer and other diseases of the colon, such as IBS, (ii) stimulate the immune system, (iii) have anti-hypertensive and anti-cholesterolemic properties, (iv) mitigate against the effect of antibiotics on the intestinal microbiota, and (v) protect against gastrointestinal infections. However, the scientific basis for many of these claims is not well-established. Indeed, the European Food Safety Authority has denied the use of several health claims associated with probiotics, particularly those related to mitigation of diarrhea following consumption of antibiotics. Thus, there is a need for research on the mechanisms of action of probiotics. We have been mainly interested in the use of probiotics to control enteric infections. There are several possible modes of action to explain how probiotics may protect the host from enteric pathogens, including competitive exclusion and immunomodulation. We have shown that probiotics produce bioactive molecules that interfere with bacterial cell-cell communication (also called quorum sensing), and this results in a down-regulation of virulence genes that are responsible for attachment of the pathogen to the gastrointestinal epithelium. These bioactive molecules act on a variety of bacteria, including enterohemorrhagic and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens, and there is evidence that they can inhibit the formation of biofilms by Listeria monocytogenes. These bioactive molecules, which are peptidic in nature, can exert their effects not only in vitro but also in vivo, and we have shown that they mitigate against E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in mice and Salmonella and E. coli K88 infections in pigs. They can be delivered in foods such as yoghurt and maintain their activity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to evaluate antimicrobial effects of organic acid and some natural occurring antimicrobials against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from various origins (vegetables, peanut, pea leaf, kim-bab, person, perilla leaf, and animal) and to calculate their MIC and MBC values. Five organic acids (acetic, lactic, citric, malic, and propionic acid), three essential oils (carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol), and two other natural antimicrobials (nisin and cinnamic acid) were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against 113 strains of S. aureus using combination treatments. Propionic acid (7%), nisin (1%), thymol (1%), carvacrol (1%) showed antimicrobial activities against S. aureus strains in agar disc diffusion test. And, carvacrol, thymol, and nisin were found to be the most effective with the lowest MIC values of 0.0313%, 0.0625%, and 0.0625% against S.aureus, respectively. Propionic acid (0.2313%) and citric acid (0.6000%) were the most effective among organic acids tested. Therefore, these five antimicrobials were selected for next combination treatments. Combination of propionic acid and citric acid were showed the strongest inhibitory effectiveness against S. aureus among combination treatments. These results suggest that organic acid such as propionic and citric acid, and natural occurring antimicrobial such as nisin, carvacrol, and thymol might be possibly used as preservatives for inhibiting S. aureus in foods.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 1999

In order to investigate the immune response induced by supplementation of herb medical stuff in diet on the nile tilapia. Oreochromis niloticus, experiments were performed with feeding of four different experimental diets supplemented with 2% ginseng. Panax ginseng, 3% Kugija. Lycium chinense, 3% Hasuo, Polygonum multiflorum, 2% Omija, Schizandra chinensis, respectively, for 84 days. The non-specific immune responses changed during the feeding period were investigated at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks in each group. Average body weight of the nile tilapia with supplemented diets was heavier than control group. The fish fed on diet supplemented with 3% Kugija showed the better growth than the other tested groups. Complement activity such as complete hemolytic activity ($CH_{50}$) and bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli tended to be increased by the supplementation of herb medical stuff. The lysozyme activity of serum and adherent phagocyte activity showed higher in the fish fec on diet supplemented with 3% kugija than the other tested groups. In respect to the RPS against experimental Edwardsiella tarda infection, all of the group fed on the herb medical stuff in diet appeared higher response compared with control group. From these results, herb medical stuff (Panax ginseng, Lycium chinense. Polygonum multiflorum, Schizandra chinensis) might be used a additives of diet for the increasing of non-specific immune response or resistance against bacterial fish diseases.