• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.740-747
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• 2014

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a very serious disease in rice-growing regions of the world. In spite of their economic importance, there are no effective ways of protecting rice plants from this disease. Bacteriophages infecting Xoo affect the population dynamics of the pathogen and consequently the occurrence of the disease. In this study, we investigated the diversity, host range, and infectivity of Xoo phages, and their use as a bicontrol agent on BLB was tested. Among the 34 phages that were isolated from floodwater in paddy fields, 29 belonged to the Myoviridae family, which suggests that the dominant phage in the ecosystem was Myoviridae. The isolated phages were classified into two groups based on plaque size produced on the lawn of Xoo. In general, there was a negative relationship between plaque size and host range, and interestingly the phages having a narrow host range had low efficiency of infectivity. The deduced protein sequence analysis of htf genes indicated that the gene was not a determinant of host specificity. Although the difference in host range and infectivity depending on morphotype needs to be addressed, the results revealed deeper understanding of the interaction between the phages and Xoo strains in floodwater and damp soil environments. The phage mixtures reduced the occurrence of BLB when they were treated with skim milk. The results indicate that the Xoo phages could be used as an alternative control method to increase the control efficacy and reduce the use of agrochemicals.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.325-339
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• 2022

Endophytes ascertain a symbiotic relationship with plants as promoters of growth, defense mechanism etc. This study is a first report to screen the endophytic population in Waltheria indica, a tropical medicinal plant. 5 bacterial and 3 fungal strains in leaves, 3 bacterial and 1 yeast species in stems were differentiated morphologically and identified by biochemical and molecular methods. The phylogenetic tree of the isolated endophytes was constructed using MEGA X. Silver nanoparticles were biosynthesized from a rare endophytic bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans isolated from the leaf of W. indica. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-Visible spectrophotometer that evidenced a strong absorption band at 408.5 nm of UV-Visible range with crystalline nature and average particle size of 16.4 nm by Particle size analyzer. The Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectrum displayed the presence of various functional groups that stabilized the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction peaks were conferred to face centered cubic structure. Transmission Electron Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope revealed the spherical-shaped, polycrystalline nature with the presence of elemental silver analyzed by Energy Dispersive of X-Ray spectrum. Selected area electron diffraction also confirmed the orientation of AgNPs at 111, 200, 220, 311 planes similar to X-ray diffraction analysis. The synthesized nanoparticles are evaluated for antimicrobial activity against 7 bacterial and 3 fungal pathogens. A good zone of inhibition was observed against pathogenic bacteria than fungal pathogens. Thus the study could hold a key aspect in drug discovery research and other pharmacological conducts of human clinical conditions.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

Although asymptomatic bacteriuria, cystitis, and acute pyelonephritis (APN) have been categorized as urinary tract infections (UTIs), the immunopathogenesis of each disease is different. APN shows an age predilection; the majority of children (over 70-80%) with APN are under 1-2 years of age, with a male predominance. After 1-2 years of age, female predominance has been reported. This finding suggests that the immature immune state of infancy may be associated with the pathogenesis of APN. Escherichia coli is the most common etiologic agent; other uropathogens associated with UTIs originate from the host and comprise normal flora that are continuously altered by environmental factors. Therefore, uropathogens may have characteristics different from those of extraneous bacterial pathogens. Although antibiotic-resistant uropathogens, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing strains, are increasing in Korea and worldwide, treatment failure is rare in immune-competent children. The immunopathogenesis of APN remains unknown. Intact bacteria may not be the causative substances in renal cell injury; rather, smaller substances produced during bacterial replication may be responsible for renal cell injury and scarring. Moreover, substances from host cells such as proinflammatory cytokines may be involved in renal cell injury. A dimercaptosuccinic acid scan is used to detect the site of bacterial replication in the renal parenchyma, and may be influenced by the size of the focus and the stage of APN. Traditional aggressive studies used to identify vesicoureteral reflux after the first episode of APN have been modified because of rare cases of chronic kidney disease in patients with recurrent UTI.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 1995

The present paper describes partial results of the study on the activities of microbes in the soil of Quercus mongolica forest from July, 1994 to April, 1995. To determine the relationship between structure and function of soil microbial ecosystem, the author investigated the seasonal change of physical environmental factors, microbial population and soil enzyme activities. The changes of pH was not significant and the temperature of surface soil was 2℃ higher than lower soil through out the year. Moisture contents (％) of soil samples ranged from 7.64％ to 42.11％. However, soils of site 3 at Mt. Komdan in which vegetation is successional have higher moisture content than the others. The bacterial population increased in summer, but continuously decreased in autumn and winter, and then reincreased again in spring. Bacterial population of surface soil was higher than those of 30 cm depth all the year round. Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) was about two-fold higher throughout in surface soil compared to those of lower soil. And the correlation coefficient between DHA and bacterial population size was 0,713, It was suggested that DHA could be used as a primary index of soil microbial population and activity in soil ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 1992

KB 101 is a bacterial wilt(Pseudomonas solanaceamm E.F. Smith) and black shank (Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan Var. nicotianae Waterhouse) resistant cultivar of burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) KB 101 was developed by the Korea Ginseng&Tobacco Research Institute, and released in 1987. KB 101 was developed from a single plant selection in the F2 generation derived from the double cross, [(Burley 21X Burley 37) X (Burley 64X Ky 16)]. Burley 37 and Burley 64 were the source of resistance to bacterial wilt and black shank. Yield trials were conducted in the Fs through F6 generations at the four Exp. Stn. of Korea Ginseng &Tobacco Research Institute as JB 7705-1. On-farm yield trials were conducted in the F7 through F9 generations at the 45 locations of burley tobacco growing area from 1984 to 1986 as KB 101. KB 101 has an erect growth habit similar to that of Burley 21: plant size is larger and has more leaves than those of Burley 21. It is late maturing cultivar that flowers approximately 3 days later than Burley 21. The physical characteristics and chemical composition of KB 101 were similar to those of Burley 21.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.22-26
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• 2002

There are a number of ways in which environmental microbiology and microbial ecology will benefit from DNA micro array technology. These include community genome arrays, SSU rDNA arrays, environmental functional gene arrays, population biology arrays, and there are clearly more different applications of microarray technology that can be applied to relevant problems in environmental microbiology. Two types of the applications, bacterial identification chip and functional gene detection chip, will be presented. For the bacterial identification chip, a new approach employing random genome fragments that eliminates the disadvantages of traditional DNA-DNA hybridization is proposed to identify and type bacteria based on genomic DNA-DNA similarity. Bacterial genomes are fragmented randomly, and representative fragments are spotted on a glass slide and then hybridized to test genomes. Resulting hybridization profiles are used in statistical procedures to identify test strains. Second, the direct binding version of microarray with a different array design and hybridization scheme is proposed to quantify target genes in environmental samples. Reference DNA was employed to normalize variations in spot size and hybridization. The approach for designing quantitative microarrays and the inferred equation from this study provide a simple and convenient way to estimate the target gene concentration from the hybridization signal ratio.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.490-494
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• 1999

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the coronal leakage of obligate anaerobes into root canals obturated with two different techniques. 48 extracted human teeth with straight, single root canals were prepared with crown-down technique with Profile under copious irrigation until the master apical file was size 40. The teeth were divided randomly into experimental groups (40 teeth) and control groups (8 teeth). In the experimental groups, 20 teeth were obturated with lateral condensation and other 20 teeth were obturated with continuous wave technique with System B. Coronal leakage of two root canal filing technique was evaluated using anaerobic bacterial leakage model with Fusobacterium nucleatum(ATCC 25586) for 60 days. The results were as follows 1. The incidence of bacterial leakage of experimental groups was 65% in group 1 (lateral condensation) and 60% in group 2 (continuous wave technique with System B). This difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). 2. There was no statistically significant difference(P>0.05) in leakage score between group 1 (lateral condensation) and group2 (continuous wave technique with System B).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.845-851
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• 2008

TolC is an outer membrane porin protein and an essential component of drug efflux and type-I secretion systems in Gram-negative bacteria. TolC comprises a periplasmic $\alpha$-helical barrel domain and a membrane-embedded $\beta$-barrel domain. TdeA, a functional and structural homolog of TolC, is required for toxin and drug export in the pathogenic oral bacterium Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Here, we report the expression of the periplasmic domain of TdeA as a soluble protein by substitution of the membrane-embedded domain with short linkers, which enabled us to purify the protein in the absence of detergent. We confirmed the structural integrity of the TdeA periplasmic domain by size-exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and electron microscopy, which together showed that the periplasmic domain of the TolC protein family fold correctly on its own. We further demonstrated that the periplasmic domain of TdeA interacts with peptidoglycans of the bacterial cell wall, which supports the idea that completely folded TolC family proteins traverse the peptidoglycan layer to interact with inner membrane transporters.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 1999

In order to eventually fabricate an analytical system for infectious microorganisms, we synthesized major immunochemical components, utilized them for the construction of model system, and investigated an assay concept for bacterial whole cells. For the preparation of system components, a polyclonal antibody, against Salmonella thompson as model analyte, purified by immuno-affinity chromatography was used to chemically link to streptavidin or an enzyme, horseradish peroxidase(HRP). The antibody and streptavidin was modified with sulfosuccinimidyl 4-[N-maleimidomethyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylate and N-succinimidyl-3-[2-pyridyldithio]propionate(subsequently activated by dithiotheritol), respectively. The modified components were reacted to synthesize antibody-streptavidin conjugates which were then purified on a two-layer chromatography column of diaminobiotin gel and Sephadex G-100. For antibody-HRP conjugates, HRP molecules were activated by $NalO_4$ oxidation and then coupled to immunoglobulin. After stabilizing with ($NaCNBH_3$, the conjugates were purified by size exclusion chromatography on Biogel A5M column. To devise a model system, such produced components were combined with a dot-blotter in which a nitrocellulose membrane($12{\mu}m$ pre size) with immobilized biotin was already located. The analyte (S. thompson cells) was reacted with the both antibody conjugates in a liquid phase, and the complexes formed were captured on the membrane surfaces by applying vacuum in the bottom compartment of the blotter to invoke biotin-streptavidin reaction. Under optimal conditions, the system enabled to identify the analytical concept for bacterial whole cells, and the lower limit of detection was approximately $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$($10^5-10^6$ cells/m$m{\ell}$). The controlling factors were the concentrations of each antibody conjugate that caused agglutination in the presence of analyte as they increased.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.284-289
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• 1997

A Gram (-), rod-shaped bacterium $2.3{\sim}2.8{\times}0.45{\mu}m$ in size which exhibited growth-inhibiting effects against a cyanobacterium (Anabaena cylindrica) was isolated from Daechung Dam Reservoir. This isolate was identified as Moraxella sp. and designated Moracella sp. CK-1. Hollow zones formed around bacterial colonies on the cyanobacterial lawn. In a mixed-culture of A. cylindrica and the isolate, each microorganism grew inverse-proportionally, and the cyanobacterial vegetative cells completely disappeared within 24 hours. On treatment with Moraxella sp. CK-1, cell walls of A. cylindrica disappeared, but sheathes remained in a more electron dense form. The unit membrane such as thylakoidal membrane was stable to bacterial lysing activity. This bacterium showed a broad action spectrum against cyanobacteria. The growth-inhibiting activity of Moracella sp. CK-1 against A. cylindrica is believed to be performed through the excretion of active substances.