• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2001

Tryptic activation of the 130-kDa Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4B $\delta$-endotoxin produced protease-resistant products of ca. 47 kDa and ca. 21 kDa. The 21-kDa fragment was identified as the N-terminal five-helix bundle (${\alpha}1-{\alpha}5$,) which is a potential candidate for membrane insertion and pore formation. In this study, we constructed the recombinant clone over-expressing this putative pore-forming (PPF) fragment as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. The partially purified inclusions were composed of a 23-kDa protein, which cross-reacted with Cry4B antibodies, and whose N-terminus was identical to that of the 130-kDa protein. Dissimilar to protoxin inclusions, the PPF inclusions were only soluble when the carbonate buffer, pH 9.0, was supplemented with 6 M urea. After renaturation via a stepwise dialysis, the refolded PPF protein appeared to exist as an oligomer and was structurally stable upon trypsin treatment. Unlike the 130kDa protoxin, the refolded protein was able to release entrapped glucose from liposomes, and showed comparable activity to the full-length activated toxin, although it lacks larvicidal activity These results, therefore, support the notion that the PPF fragment that consists of ${\alpha}1-{\alpha}5$ of the activated Cry4B toxin is involved in membrane pore-formation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.829-835
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• 2004

A fibrinolytic enzyme has been found in several bacteria isolated from fermented food. This study was carried out to investigate the purification and characteristics of the fibrinolytic enzyme produced by Bacillus subtilis KCK-7 originated from Chungkookjang. The fibrinolytic enzyme was purified to homogeneity from the culture supernatant using ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose and on Sephadex G-100. The final specific activity of the purified enzyme increased 11.0-fold, and the protein amount in the purified enzyme was about 16% of that in the culture supernatant. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be about 45,000 by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were pH 7.0 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme activity was relatively stable up to $60^{\circ}C$ over the pH range of 7.0-10.0. The fibrinolytic enzyme activity increased by $Ca^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$, whereas it was inhibited by $Hg^{2+}$ and $Ba^{2+}$. In addition, it was severely inhibited by PMSF and DFT. It is suggested that the purified enzyme was a serine protease for the fibrinolysis. The purified enzyme could completely hydrolyze fibrin in vitro within 8 h. Hence, it is suggested that the purified enzyme can be put into practice as an effective thrombolytic agent.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.500-505
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• 2009

The fibrinolytic enzyme, subtilisin D5, was purified from the culture supernatant of the isolated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DJ-5. The molecular weight of subtilisin D5 was estimated to be 30 kDa. Subtilisin D5 was optimally active at pH 10.0 and $45^{\circ}C$. Subtilisin D5 had high degrading activity for the A$\alpha$-chain of human fibrinogen and hydrolyzed the $B{\beta}$-chain slowly, but did not affect the $\gamma$-chain, indicating that it is an $\alpha$-fibrinogenase. Subtilisin D5 was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating that it belongs to the serine protease. The specific activity (F/C, fibrinolytic/caseinolytic activity) of subtilisin D5 was 2.37 and 3.52 times higher than those of subtilisin BPN' and Carlsberg, respectively. Subtilisin D5 exhibited high specificity for Meo-Suc-Arg-Pro-Tyr-pNA (S-2586), a synthetic chromogenic substrate for chymotrypsin. The first 15 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence of subtilisin D5 are AQSVPYGISQIKAPA; this sequence is identical to that of subtilisin NAT and subtilisin E.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.296-304
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• 1994

Antibiotic substances were produced by Bacillus subtilis YB-70, a potential biocontrol agent found to suppress root-rot of eggplant (Solanum melonggena L) caused by Fusarium solani, in a dextrose glutamate medium and isolated by isoelectric precipitation. Partial purification was performed by column chromatography on silica gel with two solvent systems: chloroform-methanol and methanol-chloroform-water as eluting solvents, This active fraction YBS-1 s contained antifungal activity were soluble in ethanol, methanol, and water, but were not soluble in other solvents including acetone, butanol, ethyl ether, dimethylformamide, propanol, and etc. High performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatographic separation of YBS-1s showed that they have been composed of three biological active bands that were named YBS-1A, -1B, and -1C. The substances were stable to heat and resistant to protease. YBS-1s were active against a wide range of plant pathogenic fungi but did not inhibit the growth of bacteria and yeasts. They were not only fungicidal but also fungistatic against chlamydospores of F. solani. The $ED_{50}$ values for the chlamydospore germination and the germ-tube growth of F. solani were $O.725\mu\textrm{m}/ml\;and\;O.562\mu\textrm{m}/ml$, respectively. Microscopic observations proved the substances restricted the growth of phytopathogenic fungus F. solani by spore burst followed by dissolving of its germ-tube, and caused abnormal hyphal swelling after application to chlamydospores or growing hyphae. Cultural filtrate of B; subtilis YB-70 also suppressed the development of root-rot of eggplant in pot tests.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2013

Cyt2Aa2 is a mosquito larvicidal and cytolytic toxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. darmstadiensis. The toxin becomes inactive when isoleucine at position 150 was replaced by alanine. To investigate the functional role of this position, Ile150 was substituted with Leu, Phe, Glu and Lys. All mutant proteins were produced at high level, solubilized in carbonate buffer and yielded protease activated product similar to those of the wild type. Intrinsic fluorescence spectra analysis suggested that these mutants retain similar folding to the wild type. However, mosquito larvicidal and hemolytic activities dramatically decreased for the I150K and were completely abolished for I150A and I150F mutants. Membrane binding and oligomerization assays demonstrated that only I150E and I150L could bind and form oligomers on lipid membrane similar to that of the wild type. Our results suggest that amino acid at position 150 plays an important role during membrane binding and oligomerization of Cyt2Aa2 toxin.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.549-554
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• 2006

To standardize a manufacturing method and improve the quality of traditional kochujang, eight-types of meju with different shapes (brick, grain) were prepared using Aspergillus oryzae (A.o) or Aspergillus sojae (A.s) alone or in combination with Bacillus subtilis (B.s). The physicochemical characteristics and enzyme activities of the various meju were compared during fermentation for 12 days at $28^{\circ}C$. The moisture content of both the brick- and grain-shaped meju were gradually decreased from an initial content of 50.47 to 54.89% to a content of 12.91 to 16.25% on day 12 of fermentation. The neutral protease activities of the brick-shaped meju ranged from $1.19{\pm}0.12$ to $1.25{\pm}0.28\;unit/mL$, and were similar for all treatments. The ${\alpha}$-amylase activities in A.s+B.s treatment of brick-shaped and grain-shaped meju were the highest, $11{\pm}0.6$ and $9{\pm}0.7\;unit/mL$, respectively. The ${\beta}$-amylase activities ranged from $1.53{\pm}0.01$ to $1.56{\pm}0.02\;unit/mL$, and were similar for all treatments. The amino type nitrogen content of A.o+B.s brick-shaped meju was the highest, $0.39{\pm}0.03%$. We confirmed that the brick-shaped meju prepared with A. oryzae and B. subtilis could be used to prepare traditional kochujang to improve the quality of the product.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.850-860
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• 2023

The effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis supplementation on hybrid grouper Epinephelus akaara ♀×Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ were evaluated. The fish were fed a basal diet and five other diets consisting of 0.6% mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis and mixture of each 0.15% prebiotic and all the probiotics (designated as MOS, LP, BS, BL, and SYN) for 56 days. Growth performance and feed utilization showed no significant differences among all experimental groups. Lipid level of whole-body was significantly high in MOS and BL groups. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase was significantly low in BL and SYN groups. Nitro-blue tetrazolium, lysozyme and anti-protease, and glutathione peroxidase in BS, SYN, and all probiotic groups, respectively, were significantly high. Intestinal Vibrio bacteria was significantly low in all probiotic and SYN groups. Gene expression of interleukin-1β and interleukin-10 in SYN group; transforming growth factor β2 in MOS and BS groups, toll-like receptor 2-2 in BS and BL groups; and C-type lectin in MOS, LP and SYN groups were significantly upregulated. Our findings indicate that mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis could improve innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammation, and intestinal microbiota of hybrid grouper.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.346-357
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• 2024

This study was carried out to screen the antifungal activity against Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum dematium, and Colletotrichum coccodes. Bacterial isolate GP-P8 from pepper soil was found to be effective against the tested pathogens with an average inhibition rate of 70.7% in in vitro dual culture assays. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis result showed that the effective bacterial isolate as Bacillus siamensis. Biochemical characterization of GP-P8 was also performed. According to the results, protease and cellulose, siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, starch hydrolysis, and indole-3-acetic acid production were shown by the GP-P8. Using specific primers, genes involved in the production of antibiotics, such as iturin, fengycin, difficidin, bacilysin, bacillibactin, surfactin, macrolactin, and bacillaene were also detected in B. siamensis GP-P8. Identification and analysis of volatile organic compounds through solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) revealed that acetoin and 2,3-butanediol were produced by isolate GP-P8. In vivo tests showed that GP-P8 significantly reduced the anthracnose disease caused by C. acutatum, and enhanced the growth of pepper plant. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of pepper fruits revealed that GP-P8 treated pepper plants showed increased expression of immune genes such as CaPR1, CaPR4, CaNPR1, CaMAPK4, CaJA2, and CaERF53. These results strongly suggest that GP-P8 could be a promising biocontrol agent against pepper anthracnose disease and possibly a pepper plant growth-promoting agent.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.280-289
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• 2015

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an economically important crop in worldwide. While the consumption of the maize is steadily increasing, the yield is decreasing due to continuous mono-cultivation and infection of soil-borne fungal pathogens such as Fusarium species. Recently, stalk rot disease in maize, caused by F. subglutinans and F. temperatum has been reported in Korea. In this study, we isolated bacterial isolates in rhizosphere soil of maize and subsequently tested for antagonistic activities against F. subglutinans and F. temperatum. A total of 1,357 bacterial strains were isolated from rhizosphere. Among them three bacterial isolates (GC02, GC07, GC08) were selected, based on antagonistic effects against Fusarium species. The isolates GC02 and GC07 were most efficient in inhibiting the mycelium growth of the pathogens. The three isolates GC02, GC07 and GC08 were identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. thuringiensis using 16S rRNA sequence analysis, respectively. GC02 and GC07 bacterial suspensions were able to suppress over 80% conidial germination of the pathogens. GC02, GC07 and GC08 were capable of producing large quantities of protease enzymes, whereas the isolates GC07 and GC08 produced cellulase enzymes. The isolates GC02 and GC07 were more efficient in phosphate solubilization and siderophore production than GC08. Analysis of disease suppression revealed that GC07 was most effective in suppressing the disease development of stalk rot. It was also found that B. methylotrophicus GC02 and B. amyloliquefaciens GC07 have an ability to inhibit the growth of other plant pathogenic fungi. This study indicated B. methylotrophicus GC02 and B. amyloliquefaciens GC07 has potential for being used for the development of a biological control agent.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.457-465
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• 2008

Eight Bacillus thuringiensis strains activated against mosquito larva were compared their characterization. Spherical-shaped parasporal inclusion of B. thuringiensis subsp. tohokuensis CAB167 was observed by phase-contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. $LC_{50}$ values of B. thuringiensis subsp. tohokuensis CAB167 against Culex pipiens molestus, Culex pipiens pallens, and Aedes aegyti were 173, 190 and 580 ng/ml, respectively. B. thuringiensis subsp. tohokuensis CAB167 had a parasporal inclusion containing 4 major protein components, for example, 135, 80, 49 and 28-kDa by SDS-PAGE. Otherwise, after trypsin digestion of parasporal inclusion, SDS-PAGE was showed new protease-resistant peptides at 72 and 63-kDa. Activated toxins of isolated CAB167 were different from other reference strains on a serological by immuno-diffusion test.