• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 1993

The Enterobacter cloacae biofilms developed on slide glasses and galvanized-iron coupons were applied to test the attached bacterial resistance to chlorination. The chlorine resistances of biofilm bacteria grown on the slide glasses and galvanized-iron coupons were 14 and 480 times that of the suspended bacteria, respectively. The chlorine resistance of particleattached bacterial populations was 48 times that of suspended bacterial populations. The biofilm bacterial densities developed on the slide glasses and galvanized-iron coupons which were immersed in the flowing tap water for 75 days were $4.75 {\times} 10^{4}$ and $1.12 {\times} 10^5 cfu/cm^{2}$ It is concluded that main mechanisms of enteric or HPC bacterial resistance to chlorination in tap waters are bacterial attachment or . adsorption to particles or bacterial aggregations and formation of biofilms on the inner wall of distribution systems by escaped bacteria from chlorination in water treatment processes, which results in bacterial regrowth in water distribution systems.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.5 s.92
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• pp.431-439
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• 2006

This research was conducted using a model home plumbing system composed of copper, stainless steel, galvanized iron, carbon steel, and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe. The number of bacteria present in stainless steel pipe and PVC was higher than other pipes. High turbidity and zinc release were found in galvanized iron pipe material and detected during the first 6 months. Conversely, there was a decrease in turbidity and zinc release after 6 months resulting in levels similar to other pipes. Copper concentration decreased as operation times increased. In this experiment, the number of bacteria detected in biofilm for a copper pipe continued to increase. Pipe material influenced bacterial numbers in biofilm and water. This showed that elevated chlorine could not control bacterial growth in biofilm for galvanized iron and stainless steel systems. It also suggested that the dosing of chlorine might not be available for all kinds of pipes. Therefore, another complementary method should be introduced to manage biofilm effectively in water distribution systems.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.282-285
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• 2001

The microbial community structure and in situ spatial distribution of ammonia oxidizing and nitrite oxidizing bacteria in nitrifying biofilm of an upflow biological aerated filter system were investigated. The reactor had been continuously operated under high free ammonia concentration and low DO concentration for nitrite accumulation more than 2 years before the experiment. Fluorescence in situ hybridization

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2010

To understand the effects of acclimation schemes on the formation of anode biofilms, different electrical performances are characterized in this study, with the roles of suspended and attached bacteria in single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The results show that the generation of current in single-chamber MFCs is significantly affected by the development of a biofilm matrix on the anode surface containing abundant immobilized microorganisms. The long-term operation with suspended microorganisms was demonstrated to form a dense biofilm matrix that was able to reduce the activation loss in MFCs. Also, a Pt-coated anode was not favorable for the initial or long-term bacterial attachment due to its high hydrophobicity (contact angle = $124^{\circ}$), which promotes easy detachment of the biofilm from the anode surface. Maximum power ($655.0\;mW/m^2$) was obtained at a current density of $3,358.8\;mA/m^2$ in the MFCs with longer acclimation periods. It was found that a dense biofilm was able to enhance the charge transfer rates due to the complex development of a biofilm matrix anchoring the electrochemically active microorganisms together on the anode surface. Among the major components of the extracellular polymeric substance, carbohydrates ($85.7\;mg/m^2_{anode}$) and proteins ($81.0\;mg/m^2_{anode}$) in the dense anode biofilm accounted for 17 and 19%, respectively, which are greater than those in the sparse anode biofilm.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1242-1248
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• 2017

Several medicinal plants are ethnomedically used in Korea as agents for treating infection, anti-inflammation, and pain relief. However, beyond typical inhibitory effects on cell growth, little is known about the potential anti-biofilm activity of these herbs, which may help to prevent cavities and maintain good oral health. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of the methanol extracts of 37 Korean medicinal plants against dental pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, which synergize their virulence so as to induce the formation of plaque biofilms in the oral cavity. The antimicrobial activities were investigated by broth dilution and disk diffusion assay. The anti-biofilm and antioxidant activities were evaluated based on the inhibitory effect against glucosyltransferase (GTase) and the DPPH assay, respectively. Among 37 herbs, eight plant extracts presented growth and biofilm inhibitory activities against both etiologic bacteria. Among them, the methanol extracts (1.0 mg/ml) from Camellia japonica and Thuja orientalis significantly inhibited the growth of both bacteria by over 76% and over 83% in liquid media, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of these methanol extracts were determined to be 0.5 mg/ml using a disk diffusion assay on solid agar media. Biofilm formation was inhibited by more than 92.4% and 98.0%, respectively, using the same concentration of each extract. The present results demonstrate that the medicinal plants C. japonica and T. orientalis are potentially useful as antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents in preventing dental diseases.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2024

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth in processed meat products produces slime. In this study, 10 different biofilm-forming LAB, including Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Levilactobacillus brevis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc citreum, Weissella viridescens, and Latilactobacillus sakei, were isolated from various meat products and identified based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. To inhibit biofilm formation by LABs, Eisenia bicycles methanolic extract (EB) and ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EA) were used as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents, respectively. Furthermore, EA and EB were employed to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) such as EB-AuNPs and EA-AuNPs, which could serve as antibiofilm agents against the isolated LAB. These findings demonstrate that EA, EB-AuNPs, and EA-AuNPs exhibit significant antibacterial activity against the isolated LAB. Furthermore, EB-AuNPs reduced L. citreum biofilm production, whereas EA-AuNPs inhibited L. mesenteroides and L. brevis biofilm formation. The current results suggest that EB-AuNPs and EA-AuNPs can be used as nanomaterials to inhibit LAB that form biofilms on meat products.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.148-154
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• 2007

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of low concentration of oxygen on reduction of perchlorate, especially low perchlorate influent concentrations in a biofilm reactor, as well as the effect of flow pattern in a biofilm reactor. Dissolved oxygen averaging 1 mg/L did not inhibit reduction of influent perchlorate from 23 to $426\;{\mu}g/L$ in the biofilm reactors when sufficient acetate was added, probably due to limitation of oxygen diffusion into the biofilm. Influent perchlorate ranging from 23 to $426\;{\mu}g/L$ was reduced to below detection level ($4\;{\mu}g/L$) in the presence of 1 mg/L dissolved oxygen (DO). Chloride was produced in a ratio of $0.37gCl^-/g{ClO_4}^-$ and $0.35gCl^-/g{ClO_4}^-$ in plug flow and recirculation biofilm reactor which is similar to stoichiometric amount ($0.36gCl^-/g{ClO_4}^-$) indicating complete perchlorate reduction at $426\;{\mu}g/L$ of ${ClO_4}^-$ feeding. At $23\;{\mu}g/L$L influent perchlorate, total biomass solids were 3.18 g and 2.81 g in the plug flow and recirculation biofilm reactors. The most probable number(MPN) analysis for perchlorate-reducing bacteria showed $10^4$ to $10^5\;cells/cm^2$ in both biofilm reactors throughout the experiments. The effluent perchlorate concentrations were not significantly different in the two different flow regimes, plug flow and recirculation biofilm reactors.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2013

A dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) inoculated with Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and supplemented with lactate as an organic fuel was employed in this study. Biofilm formed on the anodic electrode was examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing that the amount of biofilm was increased with repeated cycles of MFC operation. The maximum current production was notably increased from the first cycle ($1,310.0{\pm}22.3mA/m^2$) to the final cycle ($1,539.4{\pm}25.8mA/m^2$) of MFC run. Coulombic efficiency was also increased from $89.4%{\pm}0.2%$ to $98.9%{\pm}0.5%$. We suggest that the current production efficiency was related to the biomass of biofilm formed on the electrode, which was also increased as the MFC run was repeated. It was also found that D. desulfuricans, which colonized on the electrode, produced filaments or nano-pili. Nano-pili were effective for the attachment of cells on the electrode. In addition, the nano-pili provided a cell-to-cell link and stimulated the development of thicker electroactive biofilm, and therefore, they facilitated electron transfer to the anode. Conclusively, the biofilm of D. desulfuricans enhanced the current production in the MFC as a result of effective attachment of cells and electron transfer from the cell network to the electrode.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2014

Dental plaque resides passively at a site and makes an active contribution to the maintenance of health. The bacterial composition of plaque remains relatively stable despite regular exposure to minor environmental stress. This stability, homeostasis is due to a dynamic balance of microbial interactions. However, the homeostasis can break down, leading to shifts in the balance of the microflora. This change can be a sign of initial dental caries. It is proposed that disease can be prevented or treated not only by targeting the putative pathogens but also by interfering with the processes that drive the breakdown in homeostasis. It is essential to understand the plaque as a mixed species biofilm. In this essay I reviewed an extension of the caries ecological hypothesis to explain the relation between dynamic changes in the phenotypic/genotypic properties of plaque bacteria and the demineralization and remineralization balance of the dental caries process. We will have the strategies to impact significantly on clinical practice as understanding dental biofilm.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1558-1562
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• 2007

To elucidate the influence of pipe materials on the VBNC (viable but nonculturable) state and bacterial numbers in drinking water, biofilm and effluent from stainless steel, galvanized iron, and polyvinyl chloride pipe wafers were analyzed. Although no HPC (heterotrophic plate count) was detected in the chlorinated influent of the model system, a DVC (direct viable count) still existed in the range between 3- and 4-log cells/ml. Significantly high numbers of HPC and DVC were found both in biofilm and in the effluent of the model system. The pipe material, exposure time, and the season were all relevant to the concentrations of VBNC and HPC bacteria detected. These findings indicate the importance of determining the number of VBNC cells and the type of pipe materials to estimate the HPC concentration in water distribution systems and thus the need of determining a DVC in evaluating disinfection efficiency.