• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.402-409
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• 2006

Although microorganisms are, in fact, the most diverse and abundant type of organism on Earth, the ecological functions of microbial populations remains poorly understood. A variety of bacteria including marine Vibrios encounter numerous ecological challenges, such as UV light, predation, competition, and seasonal variations in seawater including pH, salinity, nutrient levels, temperature and so forth. In order to survive and proliferate under variable conditions, they have to develop elaborate means of communication to meet the challenges to which they are exposed. In bacteria, a range of biological functions have recently been found to be regulated by a population density-dependent cell-cell signaling mechanism known as quorum-sensing (QS). In other words, bacterial cells sense population density by monitoring the presence of self-produced extracellular autoinducers (AI). N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-dependent quorum-sensing was first discovered in two luminescent marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio harveyi. The LuxI/R system of V. fischeriis the paradigm of Gram-negative quorum-sensing systems. At high population density, the accumulated signalstrigger the expression of target genes and thereby initiate a new set of biological activities. Several QS systems have been identified so far. Among them, an AHL-dependent QS system has been found to control biofilm formation in several bacterial species, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Burkholderia cepacia, and Serratia liquefaciens. Bacterial biofilm is a structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix that adheres to an inert or living surface. Extracellular signal molecules have been implicated in biofilm formation. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain NT1(traR, tra::lacZ749) and Chromobacterium violaceum strain CV026 are used as biosensors to detect AHL signals. Quorum sensing in lactic acid bacteria involves peptides that are directly sensed by membrane-located histidine kinases, after which the signal is transmitted to an intracellular regulator. In the nisin autoregulation process in Lactococcus lactis, the NisK protein acts as the sensor for nisin, and NisR protein as the response regulator activatingthe transcription of target genes. For control over growth and survival in bacterial communities, various strategies need to be developed by which receptors of the signal molecules are interfered with or the synthesis and release of the molecules is controlled. However, much is still unknown about the metabolic processes involved in such signal transduction and whether or not various foods and food ingredients may affect communication between spoilage or pathogenic bacteria. In five to ten years, we will be able to discover new signal molecules, some of which may have applications in food preservation to inhibit the growth of pathogens on foods.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2015

Quorum sensing (QS) is involved in the process of cell-to-cell communication and as a gene regulatory mechanism, which has been implicated in bacterial pathogenicity. Bacteria use this QS system to control a variety of physiological processes. In this study, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract (PPE) was first screened for its ability to inhibit QS in bio-reporter strains (Chromobacterium violaceum and C. violaceum CV026). Next, the ability of PPE to inhibit swimming motility and biofilm formation was examined in Y. enterocolitica. Additionally, changes in the expression of specific genes involved in the synthesis of the N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs; yenI and yenR) and in the flagellar regulon (fliA, fleB and flhDC) were evaluated by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. The results show that PPE specifically inhibited and reduced QS-controlled violacein production by 78.5% in C. violaceum CV026, and decreased QS-associated biofilm formation and swimming motility in Y. enterocolitica without significantly affecting bacterial growth. These inhibitory effects were also associated with the down-regulation of gene expression involved in the synthesis of AHLs and in motility. Our results suggest that PPE could be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent enteropathogens in humans, as well as highlight the need to further investigate the in vivo properties of PPE for clinical applications.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.25 no.A
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• pp.133-139
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• 2005

In this study, as MBBR(Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) process using waste tire media is suggested for retrofitting with advanced wastewater treatment and the removal property of organic matter and nutrient and the capacity of media are evaluated through long-term operation with pilot plant following seasons, the application capacity of retrofitting with MBBR process to a existing wastewater treatment is studied. As a result of the long-term operation of the process, it is proved that there is no loss and abrasion of media, and also that it is possible to secure the sufficient attached bio-mass. The values of organic matter and nutrient in effluent are suitable for the strict discharged water quality standards in every season including winter.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.452-459
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• 2007

Nutrient removal hybrid process to use suspended and attached growth microorganisms and apply the contact and stabilization process was process obtaining good results to HRT within 6 hours to dominate nitrifier and to promote separation and growth of autotrophs and heterotrophs to pack with EPS(Expanded Poly-Styrene) media in nitrification reactor. An average effluent quality of this process was below 5.2 mg/L, 7.3 mg/L, 4.9 mg/L as $BOD_5,\;COD_{Mn}$, SS concentration and 6.8 mg/L, 0.6 mg/L as T-N, T-P concentration. Also, An average removal efficiency of this process was 94.6%, 79.8%, 94.9% as $BOD_5,\;COD_{Mn}$, SS and 70.8%, 76.9% as T-N, T-P. 16S-rRNA analysis result of microorganisms attached to EPS media was researched Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus blown to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria cluster to include Gallionella and these microorganisms were researched to involve about 6% of biofilm attached EPS media. Consequently, this process was treated below 10 mg/L and 1.0mg/L as T-N, T-P concentration at short hydraulic retention time(about 6 hr) to dominate nitrifier.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.1085-1093
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate anoxic-RBC (rotating biological contactor) and its application in advanced municipal wastewater treatment process to remove biologically organics and ammonia nitrogen. Effluent COD and nitrogen concentration increased as the increase of volumetric loading rate. But, the concentration changes of NO$_2$$\^$-/ -N and NO$_3$$\^$-/ -N were little, as compared to COD and NH$_4$$\^$+/ -N. When the volumetric loading rate increased, COD removal efficiency and nitrification appeared very high as 96.7∼98.8% and 92.5∼98.8%, respectively. However, denitrification rate decreased to 76.2∼88.0%. These results showed that the change of volumetric loading rate affected to the denitrification rate more than COD removal efficiency or nitrification rate. The surface loading rates applied to RBC were 0.13～6.0lg COD/㎡-day and 0.312∼1.677g NH$_4$$\^$+/-N㎡-day and they were increased as the increase of volumetric loading rate. However, the nitrification rate showed higher than 90%. The thickness of the biofilm in RBC was 0.130 ∼0.141mm and the density of biofilm was 79.62∼83.78mg/㎤. They were increased as surface loading rate increased. From batch kinetic tests, the k$\_$maxH/ and k$\_$maxN/ were obtained as 1.586 g C/g VSS-day, and 0.276 g N/g VSS-day, respectively. Kinetic constants of denitrifer in anoxic reactor, Y, k$\_$e/, K$\_$s/, and k were 0.678 mg VSS/mg N, 0.0032 day$\^$-1/, 29.0 mg N/l , and 0.108 day$\^$-l/, respectively. P and K$\_$s/, values of nitrification and organics removal in RBC were 0.556 g N/㎡-day and 18.71 g COD/㎡-day, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.784-791
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• 2007

The present work aims to use a biofilter technology(aerated submerged filters) for the aerobic transformation at laboratory-scale of olive washing water(OWW) generated in the first steps of olive oil processing, as well as the genetic profiling and identification to the species level of the bacteria involved in the formation of the biofilm, by means of TGGE. Chemical parameters, such as biological oxygen demand at five days($BOD_5$) and chemical oxygen demand(COD), decreased markedly(up to 90 and 85%, respectively) by the biological treatment, and the efficiency of the process was significantly affected by aeration and inlet flow rates. The total polyphenol content of inlet OWW was only moderately reduced(around 50% decrease of the inlet content) after the biofilter treatment, under the conditions tested. Partial 16S rRNA genes were amplified using total DNA extracted from the biofilm and separated by TGGE. Sequences of isolated bands were mostly affiliated to the $\alpha-subclass$ of Proteobacteria, and often branched in the periphery of bacteria] genera commonly present in soil(Rhizobium, Reichenowia, Agrobacterium, and Sphingomonas). The data obtained by the experimentation at laboratory scale provided results that support the suitability of the submerged filter technology for the treatment of olive washing waters with the purpose of its reutilization.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2006

Bio-filtration processes using honeycomb tubes (process 1) and aeration and manganese-sand filtration (process 2) were evaluated for the biological manganese removal efficiency. The concentration of manganese at effluent was stabilized after 20days operation in process 1. It was estimated the required time for attaching and growing microorganisms to honeycomb tubes. In long term of operation periods, manganese removal efficiency was dropped for the excessively attached biofilm and manganese dioxide to honeycomb tubes. It took several days for normal operation in process 2, after that manganese removal efficiency was increased to 98% and stabilized for 1.5 years. Microorganisms in process 1 and 2 were isolated and cultured to characterize manganese-oxidizing bacteria. Among the four types of colony, light brown colony was turned blue color by leuco crystal violet spot test. Stenotropomonas genus, known as manganese-oxidizing bacteria, was identified by 16S rDNA partial sequencing analysis which was isolated in process 1 and 2. For the biological treatment to remove manganese, these two considerations are important. One is to choose the proper media attaching manganese oxidant, another one is to define the cultural condition of isolated manganese-oxidizing bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.675-681
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• 2013

There have been many studies on biofilter process regarding satisfactory water quality and the operational conditions of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). For effective nitrification processes, it is necessary to dynamically identify and apply nitrifying microorganisms. Physical, chemical and biological processes concerning biofilms can be applied and influential factors including substrate, dissolved oxygen concentrations, organic matter, temperature, pH, alkalinity, salinity and mixing velocity intensity need to be considered. Also, designing and managing the process based on the dynamic interpretation of these factors are prerequisites for engineering applications of the biofilter process. This paper draws on current literature on the kinetics of nitrification of biofilms in the biofilter process. Influential factors for nitrification are crucial during the biofilter process and are expected to be critical in informing the design and operation of recirculating aquaculture systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 2009

PPCP (pharmaceuticals and personal care products) is known as micropollutant that is released from wastewater treatment plant. Research represents that these contaminants have increased in the last 10 years. This study tries to make four different trickling filter systems using plastic fiber media to remove PPCP such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, caffeine. The results of the experiment that compares the process efficiencies of four different systems (A, B, C and D) using HBC media show that almost all the reactor has around 95% removal efficiency. Slope type HBC reactor has twice higher efficiency rather than submerged type reactor to remove PPCP in water system. In 8 hours, 89% of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, caffeine are removed in slope type reactor while 39% of them in submerged type.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.59-69
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• 1998

Biological treatment systems generally can be divided into two main classes of a suspended sludge process and attached one like a fluidized bed reactor. These process are considered to bring remarkable change in species composition of microorganisms, due to difference of a state of biofilm, a concentration and diffusion velocity of dissolved oxygen, a concentration and diffusion velocity of substance or poisonous matter. The change of species composition bring different treatment result for influence factors like F/M ratio, DO concentration, pH or poisonous matter. This study is to investigate the reaction characteristics of both microorganisms, namely, a suspended sludge and attached sludge, through the changes of pH, temperature and substance concentration.