• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

This study's aim was to isolate microorganisms producing agarase with a high activity, with possible applications in improving the performance of the pretreatment processes for bioethanol production. Marine algaes were collected from the south coast of Korea, from which three kinds of microorganisms were isolated. After a 4-day culture of these strains at $25^{\circ}C$, crude enzymes were obtained from culture supernatant or cell-free extract by ammonium sulfate precipitation and membrane dialysis. Agarase activity was observed in these crude enzymes. Notably higher specific activity was observed in the crude enzyme obtained from the culture supernatant rather than that from the cell-free extract. This indicates that a secreted enzyme has a much greater activity than a cellular enzyme. Crude enzymes from the GNUM08122 strain were inferred to have ${\alpha}$-agarase activity because release of p-nitrophenol was observed, possibly due to the cleavage of p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranoside. The 16S rRNA sequence of GNUM08122 showed a close relationship to Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549 (99.8%) and Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis IMA 14160 (99.7%), which led us to assign it to the genus Pseudoalteromonas. Biochemical and physiological study revealed that this strain can grow well at $40^{\circ}C$ under a wide range of pH (pH 4~8) in high-salt conditions (10% NaCl).

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.344-350
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• 2006

An Antiviral producing bacterial strain was isolated from ginseng root environment in Hongcheon, Kangwon province of Republic of Korea. Identification of this bacterial strain was performed by physiological and biochemical tests along with 16S rRNA analyses. The results revealed that the bacterium was closer to genus Serratia, which was named as Gsm01. The strain was grown in Mannitol-Glutamate-Yeast (MGY) broth for 48 h. The culture was centrifuged and the filtrate obtained was tested for its ability to control Cucumber mosaic virus strain Y (CMV-Y) in greenhouse and field experiments. In the green house experiments, CF was evaluated for its ability to protect local host, Chenopodium amaranticolor and systemic host of CMV, Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi-nc. It was found that, CF treatment reduced viral infection by 98% in local host; C. amaranticolor. The N. tabacum cv. Xanthi-nc plants treated with CF did not show visible viral symptoms 15 days post inoculation (dpi) and remained symptomless throughout the periods of the study. To evaluate effectiveness of CF under field conditions, experiment was carried out in a polyvinyl house. It was observed that, 52% plants were protected from viral diseases compared to non-treated plants, increasing the crop yield. This is the first report showing antiviral activity of a Serratia spp. against CMV.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2021

A bacterial strain isolated from a Malva verticillata leaf was identified as Bacillus velezensis MV2 based on the 16S rRNA sequencing results. Complete genome sequencing revealed that B. velezensis MV2 possessed a single 4,191,702-bp contig with 45.57% GC content. Generally, Bacillus spp. are known to produce diverse antimicrobial compounds including bacteriocins, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides. Antimicrobial compounds in the B. velezensis MV2 were extracted from culture supernatants using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The crude extracts showed antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria; however, they were more effective against gram-positive bacteria. The extracts also showed antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi such as Fusarium fujikuroi and F. graminearum. In time-kill assays, these antimicrobial compounds showed bactericidal activity against Bacillus cereus, used as indicator strain. To predict the type of antimicrobial compounds produced by this strain, we used the antiSMASH algorithm. Forty-seven secondary metabolites were predicted to be synthesized in MV2, and among them, fourteen were identified with a similarity of 80% or more with those previously identified. Based on the antimicrobial properties, the antimicrobial compounds may be nonribosomal peptides or polyketides. These compounds possess the potential to be used as biopesticides in the food and agricultural industry as an alternative to antibiotics.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.285-287
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• 2016

Background: The efficacy of standard treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is declining because of antibiotic resistance. Clarithromycin resistance is also increasing in many Asian countries. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of H. pylori infection and clinical association in Laos. Materials and Methods: A total of 329 Lao dyspeptic patients who underwent gastroscopy at Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Laos during December 2010-March 2012 were enrolled in this study. During gastroscopy, 4 biopsies were collected (2 each from the antrum and body) for CLO-test and histopathology. Only the positive CLO-test gastric tissues was stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ in a freezer until DNA was extracted and a GenoType$^{(R)}$HelicoDR test was conducted for detecting mutations in the rrl gene encoding 23S rRNA (clarithromycin resistance) and mutations in gyrA gene (fluoroquinolone resistance). Results: Of the total, 119 Lao patients (36.2%) were infected with H. pylori including 59 males (49.6%) and 60 females (50.4%) with a mean age of 46 years. Clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone resistance of H. pylori infection was demonstrated in 15 (12.6%) and 16 strains (13.4%) respectively. In clarithromycin resistance, the number of patients who had education above primary school and $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$ were significantly higher than those who had education below primary school and BMI<$25kg/m^2$ (23.1% vs 7.5%, P-value= 0.036 and 20.5% vs 8%, P-value= 0.048, respectively). In fluoroquinolone resistance, the number of lowland Lao was significantly higher than those of non-lowland (highland and midland) Lao ethnic groups (16.7% vs 0%, P-value= 0.039). Conclusions: H. pylori infections remain common in Laos. Clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone resistance with H. pylori infection are growing problems. Education above primary school and $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$ might be predictors for clarithromycin resistance and lowland Lao ethnicity might be predictors for fluoroquinolone resistance with H. pylori infection in Laos.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2023

Microbacterium elymi KUDC0405^T was isolated from the rhizosphere of Elymus tsukushiensis from the Dokdo Islands. The KUDC0405^T strain was Gram-stain-positive, non-spore forming, non-motile, and facultatively anaerobic bacteria. Strain KUDC0405^T was a rod-shaped bacterium with size dimensions of 0.3-0.4 × 0.7-0.8 ㎛. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, KUDC0405^T was most closely related to Microbacterium bovistercoris NEAU-LLE^T (97.8%) and Microbacterium pseudoresistens CC-5209^T (97.6%). The dDDH (digital DNA-DNA hybridization) values between KUDC0405^T and M. bovistercoris NEAU-LLE^T and M. pseudoresistens CC-5209^T were below 17.3% and 17.5%, respectively. The ANI (average nucleotide identity) values among strains KUDC0405^T, M. bovistercoris NEAU-LLE^T, and M. pseudoresistens CC-5209^T were 86.6% and 80.7%, respectively. The AAI (average amino acid identity) values were 64.66% and 64.97%, respectively, between KUDC0405^T and its closest related type strains. The genome contained 3,596 CDCs, three rRNAs, 46 tRNAs, and three non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The genomic DNA GC content was 70.4%. The polar lipids included diphosphatydilglycerol, glycolipid, phosphatydilglycerol, and unknown phospholipid, and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C_17:0 and iso-C_16:0. Strain KUDC0405^T contained MK-12 as the major menaquinone. Based on genotypic, phylogenetic, and phenotypic properties, strain KUDC0405^T should be considered a novel species within the genus Microbacterium, for which we propose the name M. elymi sp. nov., and the type strain as KUDC0405^T (=KCTC 49411^T, =CGMCC1.18472^T).

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.224-235
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• 2018

Temperature is an important environmental factor that can greatly influence the cultivation of Auricularia cornea. In this study, lignin peroxidase, laccase, manganese peroxidase, and cellulose in A. cornea fruiting bodies were tested under five different temperatures ($20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, $35^{\circ}C$, and $40^{\circ}C$) in three different culture periods (10 days, 20 days and 30 days). In addition, the V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes in the substrate of A. cornea cultivated for 30 days at different temperatures were sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology to explore the structure and diversity of bacterial communities in the substrate. Temperature and culture days had a significant effect on the activities of the four enzymes, and changes in activity were not synchronized with changes in temperature and culture days. Overall, we obtained 487,694 sequences from 15 samples and assigned them to 16 bacterial phyla. Bacterial community composition and structure in the substrate changed when the temperature was above $35^{\circ}C$. The relative abundances of some bacteria were significantly affected by temperature. A total of 35 genera at five temperatures in the substrate were correlated, and 41 functional pathways were predicted in the study. Bacterial genes associated with the membrane transport pathway had the highest average abundance (16.16%), and this increased at $35^{\circ}C$ and $40^{\circ}C$. Generally, different temperatures had impacts on the physiological activity of A. cornea and the bacterial community in the substrate; therefore, the data presented herein should facilitate cultivation of A. cornea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1231-1240
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• 2021

Members of the genus Bacillus are known to play an important role in promoting plant growth and protecting plants against phytopathogenic microorganisms. In this study, 21 isolates of Bacillus spp. were obtained from the root micro-ecosystem of Suaeda glauca. Analysis of the 16S rRNA genes indicated that the isolates belong to the species Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus aryabhattai and Brevibacterium frigoritolerans. One of the interesting findings of this study is that the four strains B1, B5, B16 and B21 are dominant in rhizosphere soil. Based on gyrA, gyrB, and rpoB gene analyses, B1, B5, and B21 were identified as B. amyloliquefaciens and B16 was identified as B. velezensis. Estimation of antifungal activity showed that the isolate B1 had a significant inhibitory effect on Fusarium verticillioides, B5 and B16 on Colletotrichum capsici (syd.) Butl, and B21 on Rhizoctonia cerealis van der Hoeven. The four strains grew well in medium with 1-10% NaCl, a pH value of 5-8, and promoted the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results indicate that these strains may be promising agents for the biocontrol and promotion of plant growth and further study of the relevant bacteria will provide a useful reference for the development of microbial resources.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2011

Forty yeast strains isolated from soils taken from different locations in Egypt were tested for their P-solubilizing activities on the basis of analyzing the clear zone around colonies growing on a tricalcium phosphate medium after incubation for 5 days at $25^{\circ}C$, denoted as the solubilization index (SI). Nine isolates that exhibited P-solubilization potential with an SI ranging from 1.19 to 2.76 were genetically characterized as five yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces cerevisiae and four non-Saccharomyces, based on a PCR analysis of the ITS1-26S region amplied by SC1/SC2 species-specific primers. The highest P-solubilization efficiency was demonstrated by isolate PSY- 4, which was identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a sequence analysis of the variable D1/D2 domain of the 26S rDNA. The effects of single and mixed inoculations with yeast PSY-4 and Bacillus polymyxa on the P-uptake and growth of corn were tested in a greenhouse experiment using different levels of a phosphorus chemical fertilizer (50, 100, and 200 kg/ha super phosphate 15.5% $P_2O_5$). The results showed that inoculating the corn with yeast PSY-4 or B. polymyxa caused significant increases in the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots. The P-fertilization level also had a significant influence on the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots when increasing the P-level from 50 up to 200 kg/ha. Dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 200 kg/ha gave higher values for the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots, yet these increases were nonsignificant when compared with dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 100 kg/ha. The best increases were obtained from dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 100 kg/ha, which induced the following percentage increases in the shoot and root dry weights, and P-uptake in the shoots and roots; 16.22%, 46.92%, 10.09%, and 31.07%, respectively, when compared with the uninoculated control (fertilized with 100 kg/ha).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1194-1200
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• 2012

Lactic acid bacteria are generally recognized as beneficial probiotic organisms. Recent studies revealed that the potential of probiotic strains was essentially dependent on the bacterial-binding and adhesion capabilities to gut epithelial cells and the hydrophobicity of the cell surface. In this study, we screened some indigenous lactic acid bacteria from Kimchi and selected one lactic acid bacterium as a potential probiotic based on its cell surface hydrophobicity. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of probiotic isolates indicated that the selected isolate (BCNU 9070 strain) was a member of Pediococcus pentosaceus. P. pentosaceus BCNU 9070 showed resistance to bile acids and acidic pH. The P. pentosaceus BCNU 9070 strain also inhibited the cell growth of six food-borne pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella sonnei. In addition, the P. pentosaceus BCNU 9070 strain expressed bile salt hydrolase activity and showed an ability to assimilate cholesterol in vitro. On the basis of these results, P. pentosaceus BCNU 9070 is considered to have probiotic potential for applications in functional foodstuffs.