• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.263-272
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• 2010

One hundred sixty three strains showing different colony morphological characteristics on different concentration of marine agar (MA) plates were isolated from ambient seawater near Dokdo island. Bacterial diversity and distributions were studied by phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences. One hundred sixty three strains were partially sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically. They were composed of 5 phyla, of which gamma-proteobacteria (58%), alpha-proteobacteria (20%), bacteriodetes (16%) were predominant. They were affiliated with 90 species. The 16S rRNA sequence similarity of the isolates was in 93.3 to 100 % range to reported sequence data. Thirty six isolates of among them were assumed to be novel species candidates based on similarity analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Overall, Proteobacteria and Bacteriodetes of the Dokdo coastal sea water showed a high diversity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2013

A novel bioactive molecule produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Bn1 (Bt-Bn1), isolated from a common pest of hazelnut, Balaninus nucum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was determined, purified, and characterized in this study. The Bt-Bn1 strain was investigated for antibacterial activity with an agar spot assay and well diffusion assay against B. cereus, B. weinhenstephenensis, L. monocytogenes, P. savastanoi, P. syringae, P. lemoignei, and many other B. thuringiensis strains. The production of bioactive molecule was determined at the early logarithmic phase in the growth cycle of strain Bt-Bn1 and its production continued until the beginning of the stationary phase. The mode of action of this molecule displayed bacteriocidal or bacteriolytic effect depending on the concentration. The bioactive molecule was purified 78-fold from the bacteria supernatant with ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and HPLC, respectively. The molecular mass of this molecule was estimated via SDS-PAGE and confirmed by the ESI-TOFMS as 3,139 Da. The bioactive molecule was also determined to be a heat-stable, pH-stable (range 6-8), and proteinase K sensitive antibacterial peptide, similar to bacteriocins. Based on all characteristics determined in this study, the purified bacteriocin was named as thuricin Bn1 because of the similarities to the previously identified thuricin-like bacteriocin produced by the various B. thuringiensis strains. Plasmid elution studies showed that gene responsible for the production of thuricin Bn1 is located on the chromosome of Bt-Bn1. Therefore, it is a novel bacteriocin and the first recorded one produced by an insect originated bacterium. It has potential usage for the control of many different pathogenic and spoilage bacteria in the food industry, agriculture, and various other areas.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.226-233
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• 2017

Jeung-pyun, a fermented rice cake, is prepared by fermenting rice sourdough using makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine, in the presence of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The goal of this study was to conduct biochemical and microbial analyses of five different rice sourdoughs, each fermented with a different commercial makgeolli, using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. All sourdough samples fermented with different makgeolli for 6.5 h showed different profiles in pH, total titratable acidity, organic acid concentration, and microbial growth. LAB belonging to different genera were identified based on colony morphology on modified MRS and sourdough bacteria agar medium. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses of the five sourdoughs showed different bands corresponding to LAB and yeast. 16S/26S rRNA gene sequence analyses of the samples confirmed that the predominant LAB in the five fermented rice doughs was Lactobacillus plantarum, Lb. pentosus, and Lb. brevis. Various other Lactobacillus spp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were common in all five fermented samples. This study provides comprehensive and comparative information on the microflora involved in fermentation of rice sourdough and signifies the need to develop effective starters to enrich the quality of jeung-pyun.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 1995

Compared to the first and second-generation cephalosporins, the third-generation cephalosporins are remarkably stable against hydrolysis by the $\beta$-lactamases produced by aerobic gram-negative bacilli, such as Enterobacteriaceae. Among these bacteria, the most prevalent plasmid-encoded $\beta$-lactamase is TEM-1 $\beta$-lactamase belonging to class A or group 2b. This enzyme is produced constitutively and is principally active against peniciflins and old cephalosporins rather than third-generafion cephalosporins, carbapenems and mmobactams. However, new TEM type $\beta$-lactamases including TEM-9 and TEM-12 evolved through point mutations in a gene encoding $\beta$-lactamase have been discovered from patients during chemotherapy. These $\beta$-lactamases are known to be capable of hydrolyzing most of the third-generatim cephalosporins. To study the prevalence of $\beta$-lactamases from clinical isolates collected in Korea. the minimal inhibitory concentratims(MICs) of several third-generation cephalosporins against 628 clinical isolates were determined by agar dilution methods, and $\beta$-lactamas-producing bacteria were isolated by use of cefinase disc. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, clinical isolates harboring a gene for TEM type $\beta$-lactamase were identified among the $\beta$-lactamase producing strains. Twentiy three percent of the clinical isolates was resistant to the thirdgeneration cephalosporins, and more than 90% of resistant cells produced various $\beta$-lactamases. TFM type $\beta$-lactamases were dominant in gram-negative bacilli, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter species. These results suggest the necessity of the development of new cephalosporins which are stable against $\beta$-lactamases like TEM.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 1996

The preparation of Enterococcus faecalis RSI is used as a therapeutics for human intestinal disorders. However, the microbe in this preparation is usually very sensitive to rifampicin and fluoroquinolones. If this preparation is taken with rifampicin or fluoroquinolones, its therapeutic effect can not be expected. E. faecalis RFR11, containing resistance to rifampicin was obtained by MNNG mutation method. Serial passage of E. faecalis RFR11 produced E. feacalis OFR16 on agar with 2-fold minimal inhibitory concentration of ofloxacin produced. E. feacalis OFR16 was resistant to fluoroquinolones up to 8-256 fold higher than that for the original strain. E. faecalis OFR16 also exhibited identical characteristics with the parent strain when they were tested for lactic acid formation and growth inhibition of E. coli MB4-5737 and Shigella sonnei MB4-10411. From in vitro test, it was identified that rifampicin and ofloxacin is not inactivated by certain factors of E. faecalis OFR16. Conclusively. E. faecalis OFR16, rifampicin and fluoroquinolones resistant mutant, is an efficient strain that has insensitivity against rifampicin and fluoroquinolones and original biochemical characteristics of the parent strain.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1601-1604
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• 2007

The gene for ${\beta}-agarase$ of an Agarivorans sp. JA-1 was expressed in Bacillus subtilis DB104, 168 and ISW1214 strains for mass-production. Among 3 host strains, B. subtilis ISW1214 secreted the highest amount of recombinant ${\beta}-agarase$ with a specific activity of 201 U/mg and 360 mg of protein into culture broth. This was approximately 130-fold higher than the production in E. coli as an expression host. Recombinant enzyme produced neoagarooligosaccharides such as neoagarohexaose, neoagarotetraose, and neoagarobiose from agar. Produced neoagarooligosaccharides showed antibacterial activities against gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive B. subtilis at a concentration of 1.5%. These data suggest that neoagarooligosaccharides could be an useful preservative for food industry.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.459-465
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, Chemical antiseptics have become great problems for health and environmental, so that developing of new substitutes for chemical antiseptics is more and more important. Natural product is a kind of environment-friendly additive that could be used as antiseptic in food industry. Thuja orientalis cv Aurea Nana is a gymnospermous plant of the family Cupressaceae, native to northwestern China and widely naturalised elsewhere in Korea and Japan. This study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial potential of various organic extracts from T. orientalis cones against some food-borne and food-spoilage bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hexane extract (HE), chloroform extract (CE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE) and methanol extract (ME) were obtained from female cones of T. orientalis. The antibacterial activities of various extracts were tested by standard agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against five gram-positive and six gram-negative bacteria. Cell viability and morphology change of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943 treated with hexane extract were also observed. The various extracts displayed remarkable antibacterial effects against all the gram-positive bacteria but did not show any effect against the gram-negative bacteria. Hexane extract has the highest inhibitory effect on cell viability of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943. SEM observation also demonstrated the damaging effect of the hexane extract on the morphology of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943 at the minimum inhibitory concentration. CONCLUSION(s): The tested gram-positive bacteria were significantly inhibited by organic extracts of T. orientalis cone. Hexane extract was the most potent against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 10943, as evidenced by the lowest MIC level and the complete inhibition of cell viability within shortest exposure time, along with SEM observation.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.383-391
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• 2020

Use of nanoparticles (NPs) in several commercial products has led to emergence of novel contaminants of air, soil and water bodies. The NPs may exhibit greater ecotoxicity due to nano-scale dependent properties over their bulk counterparts. The present investigation explores the effect of in vitro supplementation of TiO₂, silica and silver NPs on radial growth and ultrastructural changes in the hyphae and spores of two mushroom genera, Ganoderma lucidum and Volvariella volvaceae. A concentration dependent decrease in radial growth on NP amended potato dextrose agar medium was recorded. However, in comparison to control, there was decrease in radial diameter on supplementation with TiO₂ NPs while an increase was recorded for silica and silver NPs amendments as compared to their bulk salts at same concentrations after 48 h of incubation. Optical microscopy studies showed decrease in the number of spores while increase in spore diameter and thinning of hyphal diameter on NPs supplementation. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of fungal growth showed presence of deflated and oblong spores in two fruiting strains of Ganoderma while Volvariella exhibited decreased sporulation. Further, hyphal thinning and branching was recorded in response to NP amendments in both the test mushrooms. Enhancement of protein content was observed on NP compared to bulk supplementation for all cultures, concentrations and hours of incubation except for TiO₂ NPs. Likewise, bulk and NP supplementations (at 100 mg L^-1) resulted in enhanced laccase activity with occurrence of laccase specific protein bands on SDS-PAGE analysis.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.177-180
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• 2012

The acid and bile tolerance changes of 5 different lactic acid bacteria (LAB; Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus debruekii) with gamma irradiation were evaluated. The abilities of LAB to survive in the acidic conditions at the stomach and the bile acidic conditions at the beginning of the small intestine are the key functions for applying LAB to probiotics. In the results, all of LAB survived more than 50% after incubation in PBS (pH 2.5) for 2 hr, which indicated more than half of LAB are possible to pass through the stomach. However, gamma irradiation decreased the acid tolerances of LAB. The bile tolerances of all bacteria except Lactobacillus acidophilus were observed to survive at a 3% oxgall concentration in MRS, and 1 kGy of gamma irradiation to LAB did not affect any bile tolerances changes. But gamma irradiated Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus casei (3 kGy) showed decreasing survival rate with oxgall added MAS agar. In conclusion, gamma irradiation should be applied to yogurt or fermented foods with care because LAB could be changes their properties on acid and bile tolerances.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.231-236
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• 2011

'Ggoma' is a new Hibiscus dwarf type variety developed by gamma irradiation at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). This study was conducted to determine the best optimum cultural callus formation and shoot regeneration condition. Sterilized leaf tissues were cultured on MS (Marashige and skoog's) medium containing 3% sucrose, 0.8% agar with different concentration and combination of TDZ, 2, 4-D, KT, BA, and 2iP for 4 weeks in vitro culture. MS medium containing 2,4-D $0.1mg\;l^{-1}$ and BA $0.5mg\;l^{-1}$ were most effective on callus formation and growth. After 4 weeks, callus was transferred on BA (0.5, 1, $1.5mg\;l^{-1}$) and TDZ (0.1, 0.2, $0.3mg\;l^{-1}$) for shoot formation. The best condition for inducing the shoot from callus was BA $1.5mg\;l^{-1}$ and TDZ $0.3mg\;l^{-1}$. This result will be useful for the rapid multiplication of Hibiscus syriacus L.var. Ggoma.