• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2015

Bioaerosols are comprised of particles 0.02-100 μm in size that originate in natural and artificial environments, and as a result of human activities. They consist of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa; fungal spores; microbial toxins; pollen; plant or animal material; expectorated liquid from humans; and glucans (peptidoglycan and β-glucan). Bioaerosols can cause respiratory and other diseases in humans and animals. In this study, bioaerosol samples acquired from agricultural sources, livestock, a sewage treatment plant, a beach, and a pristine area were analyzed to identify and phylogenetically characterize culturable microorganisms. The isolated bacteria exhibited regional differences, with different species dominating. However, Bacillus cereus was isolated in all samples, with a total of 31 strains isolated from all areas, and Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated from an indoor poultry farm. In addition, bacteria determined to be of novel genus or species of the genera Domibacillus, Chryceobacterium, Nocardioides and family Comamonadaceae were isolated from the agricultural, livestock and beach environments.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2018

Dimorphic fungi are characterized by the production of mycelia in the environment or when incubated at lower temperatures ($25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$) on media. The conversion to yeast occurs when invading a human body or when incubated at elevated temperatures ($35{\sim}37^{\circ}C$). Dimorphic fungi cause systemic infection and occur only in endemic regions; they can cause deep mycosis, which invades tissues and organs. Imported thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen has five genera, such as Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Thus far, 30 cases of dimorphic fungi have been reported in Korea, including C. immitis in 18, H. capsulatum in 5, B. dermatitidis in 3, and T. marneffei in 4 cases. Three 3 cases of C. immitis, 2 cases of H. capsulatum, 1 case of B. dermatitidis, and 1 case of Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei were reported in Korea, even though no experience of an epidemic was present. None the dimorphic fungi except for Sporothrix schenkii (Dimorphic fungi) occur in Korea but are caused by endemic fungi that can be found only in specific regions and limited areas of foreign countries. Considering the trends of migratory locals and the increasing number of immigrants living in and returning home, the incidence of imported infections is expected to increase.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.spc
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• pp.20-28
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• 2009

The sustainability of conventional agriculture which is characterized by input dependent and ecologically simplified food production system is vague. Chemicals and present practices used in agriculture are not only costly but also have widespread implications on human and animal health, food quality and safety and environmental quality. Thus there is a need for alternative farming practices to sustain food production for the escalating population and conserve environment for future generations. The present research scenario in the area of plant microbe interactions for maintaining sustainable agriculture suggests that the level of internal regulation in agro-ecosystems is largely dependent on the level of plant and microbial diversity present in the soil. In agro-ecosystems, biodiversity performs a variety of ecological services beyond the production of food, including recycling of nutrients, regulation of microclimate and local hydrological processes, suppression of undesirable organisms and detoxification of noxious chemicals. Controlling the soil microflora to enhance the predominance of beneficial and effective microorganisms can help improve and maintain soil chemical and physical properties. The role of beneficial soil microorganisms in sustainable productivity has been well construed. Some plant bacteria referred to as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can contribute to improve plant growth, nutrient uptake and microbial diversity when inoculated to plants. Term PGPR was initially used to describe strains of naturally occurring non-symbiotic soil bacteria have the ability to colonize plant roots and stimulate plant growth PGPR activity has been reported in strains belonging to several other genera, such as Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Arthrobacter Bacillus, Burkhokderia, Methylobacterium, and Pseudomonas etc. PGPR stimulate plant growth directly either by synthesizing hormones such as indole acetic acid or by promoting nutrition, for example, by phosphate solubilization or more generally by accelerating mineralization processes. They can also stimulate growth indirectly, acting as biocontrol agents by protecting the plant against soil borne fungal pathogens or deleterious bacteria. Present review focuses on some recent developments to evolve strategies for better biotechnological exploitation of PGPR's.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1197-1204
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• 2018

Objective: The objective was to characterize the fermentative and microbiological profile of Tifton 85 bermudagrass haylage with different layers of polyethylene film and storage time. Methods: The experimental design consisted of a randomized block design with four and six wrapping layers (100 and 150 microns in total. respectively) allocated in the main plots, through repeated measures analysis (30, 60, and 90 days of storage) with four replicates. Results: The storage time and number of wrapping layers did not show changes in the population of Clostridium and lactic acid bacteria. A decrease was observed in the enterobacteria population with an increase in the storage period in the two wrapping layers studied. Upon opening of the haylage at 30 days, the population of Bacillus was lower in haylages made with six layers of wrapping (3.63 log colony forming units/g). No growth of Listeria sp. or Salmonella sp. was observed during the experimental period. The fungal genera with a greater occurrence were Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp. The following mycotoxins were not detected: ochratoxin A, fumonisins, and zearalenone. Relative to the organic butyric, propionic, and acetic acids, the haylages presented a low concentration of lactic acid; this may have prevented a drop in the pH, which was high when the silos were opened (5.4). The levels of ammoniacal nitrogen and soluble carbohydrates presented no variation among the number of wrapping layers, with an overall average of 35.55 and 38.04 g/kg. Conclusion: Tifton 85 bermudagrass haylage wrapped with four and six layers presented adequate fermentation and microbiological characteristics in the evaluated periods.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.282-289
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• 2022

Background: Airborne fungi are ubiquitous in the air and exposure to an airborne fungus can be a significant risk factor. The composition of fungi has been potentially important for human health, especially for respiratory diseases like asthma and atopic dermatitis. Therefore, we attempted to ascertain what kind of airborne fungi affect human health at a nationwide level. Objectives: This study was carried out to provide information on indoor fungi distribution at multi-use facilities throughout South Korea. Methods: We classified our data by region and public facility after collection, cultivation, and identification via the sequencing of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region. We investigated whether or not the proliferation of HaCaT cells was affected by the identified airborne fungi. Results: In our data, the most isolated airborne fungi by region were Penicillium spp (Seoul, Daegu), Periconia sp (Gyeonggi-do), Iprex sp (Gangwon-do), Phanerochaete sp (Busan), Bjerkandera sp (Gwangju), and Aspergillus sp (Jeju-do). In the public facilities, the most detected fungi were Cladosporium sp (public transport), Penicillium sp (apartment house, retail market, financial institution, karaoke room), Bjerokandera sp (underground parking lot, public toilet, medical institution), Periconia sp (retail store), and Fusarium sp (general restaurant). Next, we selected twenty airborne fungi to examine their cytotoxicity and proliferation of human skin cells. In this experiment, the proliferation of the cells was influenced by most of the identified fungi. In case of the cytotoxicity test, most genera except for Rhodotorula sp and Moesziomyces sp showed cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells. Conclusions: The distribution of mold in the indoor air in multi-use facilities in South Korea differs from region to region, and this is an indicator that should be considered in future health impact studies. In addition, as a result of culturing about 20 types of bacteria dominant in indoor air, it was found that most (90%) inhibit the growth of skin cells, which can be harmful to health. An in-depth study of the health effects of floating fungi is needed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2011

Bioaerosols generated from wastewater treatment plants may create health risks for plant workers and nearby residents. To determine the levels of culturable airborne bacteria and fungi in bioaerosols, samples were seasonally collected above and near the aeration tanks of one feces-urine and three sewage treatment plants in Ulsan, Korea with an impaction-type sampler. In the feces-urine treatment plant, concentrations of heterotrophic bacteria were between $1.3({\pm}0.2){\times}10^3$ and $2.6({\pm}1.2){\times}10^4$ MPN/$m^3$ above the aeration tank and between $1.7({\pm}1.0){\times}10^2$ and $7.2({\pm}2.2){\times}10^3$ MPN/$m^3$ near the aeration tank. Coliform bacteria were detected both above and near the aeration tank. In cases of sewage treatment plant, the numbers of heterotrophic bacteria ranged from $1.9({\pm}1.2){\times}10^1$ to $1.8({\pm}1.2){\times}10^4$ MPN/$m^3$ above the aeration tank and from $5.0({\pm}2.8){\times}10^0$ to $6.6({\pm}2.0){\times}10^3$ MPN/$m^3$ near the aeration tank. At reference sites, the concentrations of heterotrophs in ambient air were measured between $7.0{\times}10^0$ and $2.7{\times}10^1$ MPN/$m^3$. When we isolated and tentatively identified heterotrophic bacteria, Pseudomonas luteola was the most dominant species in bioaerosols from wastewater treatment plants, whereas the most abundant one in reference samples was Micrococcus sp. When we measured fungal concentrations in bioaerosols, they were rather similar regardless of sampling locations and seasons, and such genera as Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Penicillium were commonly identified.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2012

Bioaerosols generated from composting facilities and landfills may create health risks for workers and nearby residents. To determine the levels of culturable airborne bacteria and fungi in bioaerosols, samples were seasonally collected at a composting facility and a landfill in Ulsan, Korea with an impaction-type sampler. Concentrations of heterotrophic bacteria averaged (in $MPN/m^3$) $6.5{\times}10^3$ (range $1.5{\times}10^2-1.5{\times}10^4$) in the composting facility and $3.9{\times}10^3$ (range $6.0{\times}10^1-9.3{\times}10^3$) at the entrance of the facility. These concentrations were 460 and 280 times higher than those of reference sites. Coliform bacteria were detected both inside and entrance of the facility. On the landfill, heterotrophic bacterial concentrations averaged (in $MPN/m^3$) $4.9{\times}10^2$ (range $1.7{\times}10^2-1.0{\times}10^3$), while they averaged $3.7{\times}10^2$ (range $4.8{\times}10^1-1.3{\times}10^3$) at the parking lot of the landfill. These concentrations were 35 and 26 times higher than those of reference sites. When we isolated and tentatively identified heterotrophic bacteria, Pseudomonas luteola was the most dominant species in bioaerosols from the composting facility, whereas the most abundant one in reference samples was Micrococcus sp. Average concentrations of airborne fungi were measured between $4.8{\times}10^2$ and $7.9{\times}10^2\;MPN/m^3$ depending on sites, which were 2.1-3.4 times higher compared to those of reference sites. While Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Penicillium were commonly identified fungal genera, genus Aspergillus was identified only in bioaerosols from the composting facility.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2011

Almost 10~30% of vegetables were discarded by the spoilage from farms to tables. After harvest, vegetables are often spoiled by a wide variety of microorganisms including many bacterial and fungal species. This investigation was conducted to extent the knowledge of relationship the spoilage of vegetables and the diversity of microbes. The total aerobic bacterial numbers in fresh lettuce, perilla leaf, and chicory were $2.6{\sim}2.7{\times}10^6$, $4.6{\times}10^5$, $1.2{\times}10^6\;CFU/g$ of fresh weight, respectively. The most common bacterial species were Pseudomonas spp., Alysiella spp., and Burkholderia spp., and other 18 more genera were involved in. After one week of incubation of those vegetables at $28^{\circ}C$, the microbial diversity had been changed. The total aerobic bacterial numbers increased to $1.1{\sim}4.6{\times}10^8$, $4.9{\times}10^7$, and $7.6{\times}10^8\;CFU/g$ of fresh weight for lettuce, perilla leaf, and chicory that is about $10^2$ times increased bacterial numbers than that before spoilage. However, the diversity of microbes isolated had been simplified and fewer bacterial species had been isolated. The most bacterial population (~48%) was taken up by Pseudomonas spp., and followed by Arthrobacter spp. and Bacillus spp. The spoilage activity of individual bacterial isolates had been tested using axenic lettuce plants. Among tested isolates, Pseudomonas fluorescence and Pantoea agglomerans caused severe spoilage on lettuce.