• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.184-187
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• 2008

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) is an important metabolic intermediate in living organisms and participates in many reactions as a methyl group donor. SAM has been used as a dietary supplement and is proposed to have beneficial effects on the liver and brain. The aim of this study was to find lactic acid bacteria with high SAM-producing ability to be used as SAM enhancing probiotics. We used high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify the amount of SAM produced, and found that Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 produced a significantly higher amount of SAM than other Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus strains. The effect of various carbon and nitrogen sources on SAM production was examined. This study confirmed that Bifidobacterium may be utilized as a source of SAM in the functional food industry.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.14-14
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• 2015

Fungi are of particular interest due to their capacity to produce an extensive array of secondary metabolites. While many secondary metabolites have no known functions to the producing fungal organisms, these metabolites have tremendous importance to humans with beneficial (e.g., antibiotics) or detrimental (e.g., mycotoxins) properties. In this study, two important filamentous fungi, Fusarium verticillioides and Mycosphaerella graminicola were selected as target species and the genes regulatory functions on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolisms were studied. Functional genomics including forward and reverse genetics, and proteomics were utilized to better understand the complex secondary metabolism regulations in both F. verticillioides and M. graminicola. Identified genes in either F. verticillioides or M. graminicola background were CPP1 (a putative protein phosphatase gene), GAC1 (encoding a GTPase activating protein), MCC1(encoding c-type cyclin), and the velvet gene, MVE1. Our data suggest that there are diverse regulatory genes on fungal secondary metabolites with distinct or overlapping functional roles.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 2002

With Increasing awareness towards environment-friendly and non-toxic pesticide azadirachtin obtained from neon tree (Azadirachta indica) is gaining more and more importance. Its broad-spectrum activity, Peculiar mode of action. eco-friendly and non-toxic action towards beneficial organisms has offered many advantages over chemical pesticides. All currently use commercial formulations based on azadirachtin contains azadirachtin extracted from seeds of naturally grown whole plants which is labour intensive process depending upon many uncontrollable geographical and climatic factors. Plant tissue culture can be a potential process for the pro-duction, offering consistent, stable and controlled supply of this bioactive compound, However the research on tissue culture aspects of production are in preliminary stage and requires culture and process optimization for the development of a commercially viable process. This review states the present status and future challenges of plant tissue culture for azadirachtin production.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.633-647
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• 2014

Biopolymers, polymers produced by living organisms, are used in various fields (e.g., medical, food, cosmetic, medicine) due to their beneficial properties. Recently, biopolymers have been used for control of soil erosion, stabilization of aggregate, and to enhance drilling. However, the inter-particle behavior of such polymers on soil behavior are poorly understood. In this study, an artificial biopolymer (${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan) was used as an engineered soil additive for Korean residual soil (i.e., hwangtoh). The geotechnical behavior of the Korean residual soil, after treatment with ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan, were measured through a series of laboratory approaches and then analyzed. As the biopolymer content in soil increased, so did its compactibility, Atterberg limits, plasticity index, swelling index, and shear modulus. However, the treatment had no effect on the compressional stiffness of the residual soil, and the polymer induced bio-clogging of the soil's pore spaces while resulting in a decrease in hydraulic conductivity.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Probiotics are traditionally defined as viable microorganisms that have a beneficial effect in the prevention and treatment of pathologic conditions when they are ingested. Although there is a relatively large volume of literature that supports the use of probiotics to prevent or treat intestinal disorders, the scientific basis behind probiotic use has only recently been established, and clinical studies on this topic are just beginning to get published. Currently, the best studied probiotics are lactic acid bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. Other organisms used as probiotics in humans include Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sp., Enterococcus sp., Bacteroides sp., Bacillus sp., Propionibacterium sp., and various fungi, and some probiotic preparations contain more than one bacterial strain. Probiotic use for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile induced intestinal disease as well as for other gastrointestinal disorders has been discussed in this review.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.171-187
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• 2019

Novel food materials can be produced based on biotechnology such as genetic recombination, microbial fermentation, and enzymatic engineering by utilizing living organisms such as animal, plant, and microorganism or by applying the enzymes isolated from them. Especially, exploration and development of novel prebiotics and probiotics attracted great attention worldwide in the food industry, of which the research and industrial trends in food biotechnology field are promoting the production of next generation sweeteners and proliferation of beneficial bacteria in gastrointestinal tract. Development and commercialization of novel food materials by domestic bioprocessing technology have been sluggish due to the GMO/LMO food safety issues. Meanwhile, the US and EU do not perceive badly about gene manipulation technology, and the research is most active in the fields of crops and GMMs, respectively. Genetic scissors, which are considered as next generation technology, are notable since foreign genes do not remain in final products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2021

Caffeine, a methylxanthine analog of purine bases, is a compound that is largely consumed in beverages and medications for psychoactive and diuretic effects and plays many beneficial roles in neuronal stimulation and enhancement of anti-tumor immune responses by blocking adenosine receptors in higher organisms. In single-cell eukaryotes, however, caffeine somehow impairs cellular fitness by compromising cell wall integrity, inhibiting target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and growth, and overriding cell cycle arrest caused by DNA damage. Among its multiple inhibitory targets, caffeine specifically interacts with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-related kinases causing radiosensitization and cytotoxicity via specialized intermediate molecules. Caffeine potentiates the lethality of cells in conjunction with several other stressors such as oxidants, irradiation, and various toxic compounds through largely unknown mechanisms. In this review, recent findings on caffeine effects and cellular detoxification schemes are highlighted and discussed with an emphasis on the inhibitory interactions between caffeine and its multiple targets in eukaryotic microorganisms such as budding and fission yeasts.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.25 no.1 s.80
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• pp.10-19
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• 1997

Fusarium wilt of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is caused by the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani (FOR) which mainly attacks Raphanus spp. The pathogen is a soil-borne and forms chlamydospores in infected plant residues in soil. Infected pathogen colonizes the vascular tissue, leading to necrosis of the vascular tissue. Growth promoting beneficial organisms such as Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS374 (strain WCS374), P. putida RE10 (strain RE10) and Pseudomonas sp. EN415 (strain EN415) were used for microorganisms-mediated induction of systemic resistance in radish against Fusarium wilt. In this bioassy, the pathogens and bacteria were treated into soil separately or concurrently, and mixed the bacteria with the different level of combination. Significant suppression of the disease by bacterial treatments was generally observed in pot bioassy. The disease incidence of the control recorded 46.5% in the internal observation and 21.1% in the external observation, respectively. The disease incidence of P. putida RE10 recorded 12.2% in the internal observation and 7.8% in the external observation, respectively. However, the disease incidence of P. fluorescens WCS374 which was proved to be highly suppressive to Fusarium wilt indicated 45.6% in the internal observation and 27.8% in the external observation, respectively. The disease incidence of P. putida RE10 mixed with P. fluorescens WCS374 or Pseudomonas sp. EN415 was in the range of 10.0-22.1%. On the other hand, the disease incidence of P. putida RE10 mixed with Pseudomonas sp. EN415 was in the range of 7.8-20.2%. The colonization by FOR was observed in the range of $2.4-5.1{\times}10^3/g$ on the root surface and $0.7-1.3{\times}10^3/g$ in the soil, but the numbers were not statistically different. As compared with $3.8{\times}10^3/g$ root of the control, the colonization of infested ROR indicated $2.9{\times}10^3/g$ root in separate treatments of P. putida RE10, and less than $3.8{\times}10^3/g$ root of the control. Also, the colonization of FOR recorded $5.1{\times}10^3/g$ root in mixed treatments of 3 bacterial strains such as P. putida RE10, P. fluorescens WCS374 and Pseudomonas sp. EN415. The colonization of FOR in soil was less than that of FOR in root part. Based on soil or root part, the colonization of ROR didn't indicate a significant difference. The colonization of introduced 3 fluorescent pseudomonads was observed in the range of $2.3-4.0{\times}10^7/g$ in the root surface and $0.9-1.8{\times}10^7/g$ in soil, but the bacterial densities were significantly different. When growth promoting organisms were introduced into the soil, the population of Pseudomonas sp. in the root part treated with P. putida RE10 was similar in number to the control and recorded the low numerical value as compared with any other treatments. The population density of Pseudomonas sp. in the treatment of P. putida RE10 indicated significant differences in the root part, but didn't show significant differences in soil. The population densities of infested FOR and introduced bacteria on the root were high in contrast to those of soil. P. putida RE10 and Pseudomonas sp. EN415 used in this experiment appeared to induce the resistance of the host against Fusarium wilt.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1974

Blood is one of the most important clinical specimens for the isolation of bacteria. A rapid isolation and a high isolation rate of bacteria are very important in blood culture because bacteremic patients are mostly in grave condition. Various blood culture media which support growth of most fastidious bacteria are available commercially. However, growth of bacteria are frequently delayed because of antibacterial activity of blood. Sodium polyanethol sulfonate(Liquoid) has been reported to inactivate the antibacterial substance and disrupt phagocytic cells. The beneficial effect of SPS is well recognized in the isolation of gram-positive bacteria. However, the effect does not seem to be prominent for gram-negative bacilli isolation mainly due to the rapidity of their growth. It has been experienced with Sal. typhi that the growth is much slower than that of other gram-negative bacilli. For the rapid growth of the organism, use of bile broth has been recommended. Although Sal. typhi is the most frequently isolated organism at present, about one half of total isolates are other organisms and, in case bile broth is used, other media which support growth of these organisms should be used together. Fluid thioglycollate medium(FTM) which is always used in blood culture to isolate anaerobes is inferior to brain heart infusion(BHI) for the isolation of aerobes. This study was done to determine the effect of SPS on the isolation of Sal. typhi from blood. During the Sep. 1973 to Sep. 1974 study period, 2460 blood cultures were made from the Severance hospital patients: BHI and FTM sets 1431 specimens, BHI with SPS(0.05%) and FTM sets 396 specimens, BHI and FTM with SPS sets 359 specimens, BHI and BHI with SPS sets 274 specimens. Mean incubation time required for the macroscopic detection of growth of Sal. typhi were 3.5 days on BHI and 2.7 days on BHI with SPS. The 0.8 day difference was statistically significant. On FTM the mean incubation time was 3.8 days while it was 2.9 days on FTM with SPS. The 0.9 day difference was statistically significant. The result on BHI with and without SPS sets showed faster growth on BRI with SPS in 7 specimens and slower growth in one specimen and the remaining 12 showed growth at the same time. These specimens had mean incubation time of 3.2 days on BHI and 2.3 days on BHI with SPS. The 0.9 day difference was statistically significant. This study indicates beneficial effect of SPS for the rapid isolation of Sal. typhi from clinical blood specimens.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2015

Environment-friendly growth enhancers for rice are being promoted to reverse the negative impact of intensive chemical-based and conventional rice farming on yield sustainability and environmental problems. Several rhizosphere microorganisms and pyroligneous acids (PA) had demonstrated beneficial influence on growth, yield and grain quality of rice. Since most of the previous study had evaluated the effect of PGPR and PA on paddy rice singly, the effect of combined application of these on the growth and yield of paddy rice and on some soil chemical properties were determined. A four factorial pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of PGPR, PA in combination with fertilizers and on different soil types. There were 54 treatment combinations including the control with three replications under complete randomized design. Plant growth parameters were evaluated using standard procedures during tillering and heading stages. Rice yield and some soil chemical properties were determined at harvest. Results showed that inoculation of Bacillus licheniformis and Fusarium fujikuroi enhanced plant growth by increasing the plant height which could be ascribe to its ability to promote IAA and GA production in plants. Inoculation of Rhizobium phaseoli enhanced chlorophyll content indicative to its ability to improve the N nutrition. However, these plant growth benefits during the vegetative stage were override by the fertilizer application effect especially during the maturity stage and grain yield. High fertilization rates on coarse-textured soil without nutrient loss resulted to high available nutrients and consequently high yield. Wood vinegar application however improved nutrient availability in soil which could be beneficial for improving soil quality. Further evaluation is necessary to fully assess the potential benefits that could be derived from inoculation of these organisms and wood vinegar application in different soil environment especially under different field conditions.