• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.245-249
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• 1989

Extracellular proteases of Bacillus licheniformis were partially purified using ammonium sulfate fractionation and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography. The partial purification permited the weparation of two different protease activities, type I and type II. Protease type I is an enzyme with rather high protealytic activity toward dasein and was highly susceptible to organofluoride and EDTA inhibitions. It showed maximal proteolytic activity at pH 7.5 and was rapidly denatured at $71^{\circ}C$. Protease type II is a protease with relatively lower proteolytic activity than the type I. It was also inhibited by 10mM of EDTA and 1mM of PMSF by 30 min incubation. The enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 8.0 and was denatured relatively slowly at $71^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.409-417
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• 2018

Biologically produced 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) has diverse industrial applications. In this study, schematic isolation and screening procedures were designed to obtain generally regarded as safe (GRAS) and efficient 2,3-BDO producers. Over 4,000 candidate strains were isolated by pretreatment and enrichment, and the isolated Bacillus strains were further screened by morphological, biochemical, and genomic analyses. The screened strains were then used to test the utilization of the most common carbon (glucose, xylose, fructose, sucrose) and nitrogen (yeast extract, corn steep liquor) sources for the economical production of 2,3-BDO. Two-stage fed-batch fermentation was finally carried out to enhance 2,3-BDO production. In consequence, a newly isolated Bacillus licheniformis GSC3102 strain produced 92.0 g/l of total 2,3-BDO with an overall productivity and yield of 1.40 g/l/h and 0.423 g/g glucose, respectively, using a cheap and abundant nitrogen source. These results strongly suggest that B. licheniformis, which is found widely in nature, can be used as a host strain for the industrial fermentative production of 2,3-BDO.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2001

This study was conducted to estimate the cultural characteristics, the production of antibiotic, and the selection of optimal media for mass culture of Bacillus licheniformis N1 isolate which was previously reported as an antagonistic bacterium to Botrytis cinerea. We investigated initial pH, temperatures and shaking speed for good cultural conditions and antibiotics production by N1 isolate. According to the results, the optimal conditions of initial pH, temperatures, and shaking speed were determined to be pH 5.0~5.5, 30~35$^{\circ}C$ and 250 rpm, respectively. Also, the optimal conditions for the antagonism by N1 isolate highly appeared in the initial pH as 5.0, and the mycelial growth inhibition was high when the substances used such as glucose or corn starch as carbon sources, and biji(soybean curd residue) flour as a nitrogen source. Furthermore, inhibitory area was significantly expanded, when 3% or 5% of corn starch was added into 5% of Biji flour as nitrogen source, were respectivley selected for mass culture of N1 isolate. Among them, 5% Biji flour medium showed higher cell density more than 10 times that in NB medium after 48 hour incubation. Therefore, the optimal medium was determined as 5% biji flour added 3~5% of corn starch for high density of cells.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.29 no.A
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• pp.161-167
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• 2009

The bifunctional Xylanase-Cellulase hybrid protein was constructed by gene fusion. Two genes corresponding to endoxylanase gene (xylS) and endocellulase gene (celA) were amplified by PCR from Bacillus licleniformis NBL420. It was then linked through splicing by overlap extension (SOE) by PCR method. The two resulting fused hybrids, xyl/cel and cel/xyl, which differ by its orientation, were confirmed by its nucleotide sequencings. One of two fusion genes, xyl/cel was successfully expressed into pET22b(+) vector (pxyl/cel) with bifunctional xylanase-cellulase activity. On the contrary, the other cel/xyl fusion protein showed only cellulase activity with much decreased xylanase activity. Enzymatic properties of Xyl/Cel fusion protein were investigated regarding optimum pH, optimum temp, thermostability, and pH stability. It was revealed that Xyl/Cel fusion protein retained the bifunctional xylanase-cellulase activities eventhough two enzymes were connected with each other directly. These informations could be useful for construction of other hybrid proteins as well as increased range of substrate utilization.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.447-455
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• 2021

Strains of four Bacillus spp. were respectively inoculated into sterilized soybeans and the free amino acid profiles of the resulting cultures were analyzed to discern their metabolic traits. After 30 days of culture, B. licheniformis showed the highest production of serine, threonine, and glutamic acid; B. subtilis exhibited the highest production of alanine, asparagine, glycine, leucine, proline, tryptophan, and lysine. B. velezensis increased the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration to >200% of that in the control samples. B. sonorensis produced a somewhat similar amino acid profile with B. licheniformis. Comparative genomic analysis of the four Bacillus strains and the genetic profiles of the produced free amino acids revealed that genes involved in glutamate and arginine metabolism were not common to the four strains. The genes gadA/B (encoding a glutamate decarboxylase), rocE (amino acid permease), and puuD (γ-glutamyl-γ-aminobutyrate hydrolase) determined GABA production, and their presence was species-specific. Taken together, B. licheniformis and B. velezensis were respectively shown to have high potential to increase concentrations of glutamic acid and GABA, while B. subtilis has the ability to increase essential amino acid concentrations in fermented soybean foods.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 2004

Bacillus species were isolated from swine manure to develope the microbial additive suitable for the rapid com-posting. The 3 of 4 isolated strains were identified as Bacillus cereus KD-2, B. pumilus KD-3, and B. licheni-formis KD-4. Bacillus sp. KD-1 was, however, not highly identical with any Bacillus sp. The isolated strains were analyzed their growth rates, enzyme activities, and antibacterial activities. The maximum growth tem-peratures of KD-1, KD-2, KD-3 and KD-4 were $45^{\circ}C$, $50^{\circ}C$, $53^{\circ}C$, and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activities of pro-tease or amylase in mixed culture of 4 strains were similar in the range of $37^{\circ}C$ to $53^{\circ}C$ and activities of lipase in the range of $37^{\circ}C$ to $42^{\circ}C$ were twice higher than those of lipase in the range of $47^{\circ}C$ to $53^{\circ}C$. The antibacterial activity of KD-l, KD-2, or KD-3 against each other was not detected. That of KD-4 against KD-1, KD-2, or KD-3 was, however, detected. The organic compound and C/N ratio of compost fermented by the mixed culture were determined as 61.9% and 22.4%, respectively. The concentration of the ammonia gas was 12.35 mg/l in the liquid compost.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2012

We studied the effect of fermented Rhus verniciflua stem bark (FRVSB) extract (used in herbal med-icine by Koreans) on the microbial growth and enzyme activity of 12 soybean-fermenting microorganisms, including Bacillus spp., lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and other harmful bacteria. The ethanol and methanol extracts of FRVSB inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, and in the disk diffusion assay, their inhibition zone diameters were 11.06-12.23, 12.32-18.38, 11.47-11.84, and 13.59-14.21 mm, respectively. The water extract did not show any inhibitory effect. In fact, the water extract addition enhanced the growth of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis by 1.3-4.5 fold and that of B. cereus by 1.2-1.4 fold. However, the water extract did not affect the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus mesenteroides, Saccharomyces cer-evisiae, and Escherichia coli. The addition of water extract increased the amylase and protease activity of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.473-481
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• 2018

Owing to its high protein secretion capacity, simple nutritional requirements, and GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status, Bacillus licheniformis is widely used as a host for the industrial production of enzymes, antibiotics, and peptides. However, as compared with its close relative Bacillus subtilis, little is known about the physiology and stress responses of B. licheniformis. To explore its temperature-stress metabolome, B. licheniformis strains ATCC 14580 and B186, with respective optimal growth temperatures of $42^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$, were cultured at $42^{\circ}C$, $50^{\circ}C$, and $60^{\circ}C$ and their corresponding metabolic profiles were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analyses. It was found that with increased growth temperatures, the two B. licheniformis strains displayed elevated cellular levels of proline, glutamate, lysine, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, and octadecanoic acid, and decreased levels of glutamine and octadecenoic acid. Regulation of amino acid and fatty acid metabolism is likely to be associated with the evolution of protective biochemical mechanisms of B. licheniformis. Our results will help to optimize the industrial use of B. licheniformis and other important Bacillus species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.403-410
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• 2010

In order to produce high-quality fermenting composts, a microorganism was isolated from the natural world. The bacterium has not only in high enzyme activities but also had good antimicrobial activities against phytopathogenic microorganisms. Its cultivating characteristics were then investigated. Bacterium KJ-9, which contains high CMCase, protease and chitinase activities and excellent antimicrobial activities against phytopathogenic microorganisms, was separated from leaf mold and identified as Bacillus licheniformis by two methods: Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology and API 50 CHL Carbohydrate Test Kit (Bio Merieux, France) using an ATB (Automated Identification) computer system (Bio Merieux, France). Optimal medium for cultivation of B. licheniformis was 2% soluble starch as a carbon source, 0.5% yeast extract as a nitrogen source and 0.05% $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$. Optimal growth conditions of pH, temperature and shake speed were pH 7.0, $50^{\circ}C$ and 180 rpm, respectively. Culture broth of B. licheniformis KJ-9 cultured for 36~60 hr was effective in fungicidal activities against plant pathogens including Botrytis cinerea, Corynespora cassicola, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2013

A facultative bacterium producing cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes was isolated from the rumen of a native Korean goat. The bacterium was identified as a Bacillus licheniformis on the basis of biochemical and morphological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequences, and has been designated Bacillus licheniformis JK7. Endoglucanase activities were higher than those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase and xylanase at all temperatures. Xylanase had the lowest activity among the three enzymes examined. The optimum temperature for the enzymes of Bacillus licheniformis JK7 was $70^{\circ}C$ for endoglucanase (0.75 U/ml) and $50^{\circ}C$ for ${\beta}$-glucosidase and xylanase (0.63 U/ml, 0.44 U/ml, respectively). All three enzymes were stable at a temperature range of 20 to $50^{\circ}C$. At $50^{\circ}C$, endoglucanse, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and xylanase had 90.29, 94.80, and 88.69% residual activity, respectively. The optimal pH for the three enzymes was 5.0, at which their activity was 1.46, 1.10, and 1.08 U/ml, respectively. The activity of all three enzymes was stable in the pH range of 3.0 to 6.0. Endoglucanase activity was increased 113% by $K^+$, while $K^+$, $Zn^+$, and tween 20 enhanced ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity. Xylanase showed considerable activity even in presence of selected chemical additives, with the exception of $Mn^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$. The broad range of optimum temperatures (20 to $40^{\circ}C$) and the stability under acidic pH (4 to 6) suggest that the cellulolytic enzymes of Bacillus licheniformis JK7 may be good candidates for use in the biofuel industry.