• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1971-1982
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• 2017

Piliated Lactobacillus rhamnosus (pLR) strains possess higher adherent capacity than non-piliated strains. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize probiotic pLR strains in human fecal samples. To this end, mouse polyclonal antiserum (anti-SpaA) against the recombinant pilus protein (SpaA) of L. rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) was prepared and tested for its reactivity and specificity. With the anti-SpaA, a method combining the de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar plating separation and colony immunoblotting (CIB) was developed to isolate pLR from 124 human fecal samples. The genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the resultant pLR isolates were compared by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting, and examination of adhesion to Caco-2 cells, hydrophobicity, autoaggregation, and in vitro gastrointestinal tolerance. Anti-SpaA specifically reacted with three pLR strains of 25 test strains, as assessed by western blotting, immunofluorescence flow cytometry, and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) assays. The optimized MRS agar separation plus anti-SpaA-based CIB procedure could quantitatively detect $2.5{\times}10^3CFU/ml$ of pLR colonies spiked in $10^6CFU/ml$ of background bacteria. Eight pLR strains were identified in 124 human fecal samples, and were confirmed by 16S RNA gene sequencing and IEM identification. RAPD fingerprinting of the pLR strains revealed seven different patterns, of which only two isolates from infants showed the same RAPD profiles with LGG. Strain PLR06 was obtained with high adhesion and autoaggregation activities, hydrophobicity, and gastrointestinal tolerance. Anti-SpaA-based CIB is a rapid and inexpensive method for the preliminary screening of novel adherent L. rhamnosus strains for commercial purposes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.1467-1474
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• 2013

To develop a starter culture system for the fermentation of mukeunji, we introduced lactic acid bacteria and yeast isolated from mukeunji into kimchi fermentation as a single or a mixed culture. On evaluating mukeunji flavor, we found that the mixed starter kimchi prepared with two strains, ML17 and MY7, gave the best sensory score. These strains were identified as Lactobacillus (Lb.) curvatus ML17 and Saccharomyces (S.) servazzii MY7 by molecular identification method. The fermentative characteristics of starter kimchi were investigated by measuring changes in the physicochemical and microfloral characteristics during the fermentation. The decrease in pH and increase in acidity in the starter kimchi were faster compared to respective values of control kimchi. There was a gradual decrease in hardness of starter kimchi, which was still slow compared to hardness decrease in control kimchi. Microbial analysis of starter kimchi revealed that Lb. curvatus ML17 and S. servazzii MY7 were the dominant organisms during the entire fermentation period. The lactic acid and citric acid contents of starter kimchi were higher than those of the control kimchi after 90 days of fermentation. By sensory evaluation, the starter kimchi scored higher in appearance, mukeunji flavor, sourness, carbonated flavor, savory taste, texture, and overall acceptability, but lower in off-flavor than the control kimchi.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.503-508
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• 2005

Screening for antilisterial activity was performed in about three thousand isolates of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Chinese cabbage kimchi, and finally based on the relatively stronger antilisterial activities eight bacterial strains were selected. The bacteria were further characterized in terms of their tolerance to artificial gastric juice, pH 2.5, bile salts (0.3% oxgall), and to the different NaCl concentrations. Of the isolates, YK005 was especially investigated for its physiological characteristics due to its inhibitory activity against gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes as well as gram-negative Escherichia coli O157:H7, as they have been constantly reported to be resistant against bacteriocins produced by a number of LAB strains. YK005 was found to be rod-shaped, $3.8\;{\mu}m$ long ${\times}\;0.5\;{\mu}m$ wide, non-sporeforming, non-motile, catalase-negative, and produced gas from glucose (heterolactic). Based on the biochemical data obtained by API 50 CHL medium, the isolate was tentatively identified as Lactobacillus brevis. To validate the result obtained by the biochemical identification, rRNA-based PCR experiments using a pair of species-specific primers for L. brevis were conducted and a single band of 1400 bp was observed, which strongly indicated that YK005 belongs to L. brevis. The LAB isolates are potentially exploited as human probiotic organisms and are employed to control some food-borne pathogens like L. monocytogenes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.620-631
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• 2015

A total of 59 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from corn stover silage. According to phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences and recA gene polymerase chain reaction amplification, these LAB isolates were identified as five species: Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum subsp. plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Enterococcus mundtii, Weissella cibaria and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, respectively. Those strains were also screened for antimicrobial activity using a dual-culture agar plate assay. Based on excluding the effects of organic acids and hydrogen peroxide, two L. plantarum subsp. plantarum strains ZZU 203 and 204, which strongly inhibited Salmonella enterica ATCC $43971^T$, Micrococcus luteus ATCC $4698^T$ and Escherichia coli ATCC $11775^T$ were selected for further research on sensitivity of the antimicrobial substance to heat, pH and protease. Cell-free culture supernatants of the two strains exhibited strong heat stability (60 min at $100^{\circ}C$), but the antimicrobial activity was eliminated after treatment at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. The antimicrobial substance remained active under acidic condition (pH 2.0 to 6.0), but became inactive under neutral and alkaline condition (pH 7.0 to 9.0). In addition, the antimicrobial activities of these two strains decreased remarkably after digestion by protease K. These results preliminarily suggest that the desirable antimicrobial activity of strains ZZU 203 and 204 is the result of the production of a bacteriocin-like substance, and these two strains with antimicrobial activity could be used as silage additives to inhibit proliferation of unwanted microorganism during ensiling and preserve nutrients of silage. The nature of the antimicrobial substances is being investigated in our laboratory.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 2003

A number of different sources, such as composts, leachates, and pig feces samples, were collected from different pig farms in Korea, and several microorganisms were screened for their ability to deodorize the malodorous gases. Consequently, a novel malodorous gases-deodorizing bacterial strain, KJ-108. was isolated, because it was highly abundant in nitrate-supplemented minimal medium ($MM-NO_3^-$) under anaerobic culture conditions. Airtight crimp-sealed serum bottles containing $MM-NO_3^-$ , medium were inoculated with KJ-108. Nitrate concentration was decreased rapidly after 20 h of incubation, and incubation was carried out until nitrite production reached almost zero. Taxonomic identification, including 16S rDNA base sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, indicated that the isolate had $100\%$ homology in its 165 rDNA base sequence with Lactobacillus pentosus. Among the volatile fatty acids, acetic acid contained in large amounts in fresh piggery slurry was decreased by about $40\%$ after 50 h incubation with strain KJ-108. n-Butyric acid, n-valeric acid, and isovaleric acid were gradually decreased, and isobutyric acid and capronic acid were dramatically eliminated at theinitial period with the treatment. Moreover, NH, removal efficiency reached a maximum of $98.5\%$ after 50 h of incubation, but the concentration of $H_2S$ was not changed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.843-852
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• 2018

Objectives: The study aimed to isolate the abundant bacteria in dental caries in children and to investigate the bacterial species involved in addition to those that have been previously reported. Methods: The specimens were collected from the supragingival plaques of each dental caries area, pit and fissure caries, deep dentinal caries, smooth surface caries, and dental caries, and from healthy subjects in the control group. Bacteria were cultured from these specimens, DNA was extracted from the isolated bacteria, and the 16S rRNA gene sequences were analyzed and identified. Results: Based on the results of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis for the 90 strains of dominant bacteria from the 45 specimens, 5, 7, 8, 7, and 13 species were identified from the supragingival plaques from healthy teeth, pit and fissure caries, deep dentinal caries, smooth surface caries, and dental caries, respectively. In healthy teeth, Actinomyces naeslundii dominated. Corynebacterium durum, Ralstonia pickettii, and Streptococcus intermedius showed equal distribution. The dominant bacterial species in dental caries, S. sanguinis, showed the greatest difference in prevalence in pit and fissure caries. In deep dentinal caries, S. mutans and Lactobacillus rhamnosus were dominant; in smooth surface caries, S. mutans and S. sanguinis were dominant; and in the supragingival plaques of dental caries, S. sanguinis and S. mutans were dominant. Conclusions: The bacterial species isolated from dental caries encompassed four phyla, eight genera, and 22 species. In addition, the SS1-2 strain, belonging to the genus Neisseria, was identified as a new species from among the isolated strains.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2004

Chinese cabbage ('Baechu') Kimchi was fermented at the three different temperatures right after it was prepared. Samples were taken everyday for measuring bacterial populations, pH, and titratable acidity through the whole periods of fermentation up to 50 days. pH values and developed acidity were significantly affected by the fermenting temperatures of 4, 10, and $20^{\circ}C$, suggesting that different bacterial flora has been established by the temperatures exposed. The modified MRS agar containing vancomycin (300 $\mu$g/mL) was used for isolating the vancomycin-resistant LAB strains and 127 isolates were finally obtained. Of the LAB isolates, 13 isolates were subjected to the identification experiments based on the biochemical characteristics and the molecular-typing approach, an ITS-PCR, whether they belong to the genus Leuconostoc or not. The data obtained from API 50 CHL kit resulted that six isolates were identified as the members of Leuconostoc and six as Lactobacillus brevis strains except for a single isolate YKI 30-0401, which was not able to be identified because its biochemical traits were not matched to the database of API 50 CHL kit. It was noted that some isolates were distinct in a couple of some biochemical characteristics compared with those of the reference Leuconostoc species. To overcome the limitations experienced in the commercial identification products above, an ITS-PCR experiment was also conducted for the isolates, resulting that eight isolates belong to Leu. mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides or dextranicum with a single band of 564 bp, and four to L. brevis strains. The ITS-PCR profiles clearly differentiated the closely-related LAB isolates for which same results were obtained by the biochemical method. This molecular approach, however, failed to produce the amplicons for the YKI 20-1003, leaving the strain unidentified. Judging from the identification data obtained in the Kimchi fermented at $4^{\circ}C$ or $10^{\circ}C$, Leuconostoc spp. including Leu. mesenteroides/dextranicum were likely predominant species in the earlier stage and L. brevis occurred at the high level through the whole period. By contrast, L. brevis, as one of the major flora, possibly lead the fermentation from the beginning in the Kimchi fermented at $20^{\circ}C$.}C$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.423-428
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• 2000

Bacteriocins are classified as proteins which are produced by heterogeneous groups of bacteria, having and antimicrobial effect of the closely related organisms. Recently, bacteriocins derived from lactic acid bacteria and other food-related organisms have been the subject of much research on potential food biopreservatives. The goal of this study was to screen and characterize the bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria from Jeot-gal(commercial fermented fish foods). All bacteriocinogenic isolates were identified as lactic acid bacteria. Isolates NK24, NK34, and SA72 were tentatively identified as Lactobacillus brevis, according to the API 50 CHL kit database. All antimicrobial substances produced from four lactic acid bacteria isolates completely lost their antibacterial activity after being treated with some proteases, indicating to their proteinaceous nature. The bacteriocin produced from isolates NK24, NK34, and SA72 showed a broad spectrum of activity when compared to those produced from isolate SA131. All bacteriocins isolated during the course of this study showed a bactericidal mode of inhibition.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2000

Three lactic acid bacteria (C-1 K-3 and T-1 strain) were isolated from Nuruk and characterized subsequently. They were useful strains for production of lactic acid and their growth was inhibited at 10% ethanol pH 4 These strains were identified as lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NR C-1 Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenterides NR K-3 and pediococcus pentosaceus NR T-1 respectively by morphological physiological and biochemical characterization Lac lactis subsp lactis NR C-1 showed the highest lactic acid productivity. Leu measenteroides subsp mesenteroides NR K-3 showed stable lactic acid productivity and its growth was inhibited at pH 4. P pentosaceus NR T-1 had lower lactic acid productivity than the other two bacteria but it could not grow at 10% ethanol pH 4 The lactic acid productivity of these three strains in MRS broth were higher than that in Skim milk media the optimum pH and temperature for the lactic acid production of the three strains were 30-32$^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0∼6.8 Glucose was the optimal carbon souorce for the lactic acid production. In terms of antagonism lac lactis subsp lactis NR c-1 showed somewhat inhibitory efects against some Gram positive rod and cocci such as Lactobacillus brevis and Streptococcus mitis. And Leu mesenteroides subsp mesenteroides NR K-3 showed the inhibitory effects against Streptococcus mitis but P. pentosaceus NR T-1 didn't show any inhibitory effects against tested strains.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.924-931
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• 2004

A bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterium, which strongly inhibited the Lactobacillus plantarum recognized as an important acid spoilage microorganism in kimchi fermentation, was isolated from kimchi. From morphological, physiological, sugar fermentation, biochemical tests, and l6S rDNA sequencing results, the isolate was identified as an Enterococcus sp. and designated as Enterococcus sp. K25. The bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus sp. K25 inhibited several Gram-positive bacteria, including Lb. plantarum, whereas it did not inhibit Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. Optimal temperature and pH for the bacteriocin production were $25^\circ{C}$ and 5.5, respectively. Enterococcus sp. K25 was applied to kimchi manufacturing alone and together with other preservatives (i.e., chitosan and fumaric acid). In addition, growth of lactic acid bacteria, pH, and titratable acidity (TA) were measured during aging at $5^\circ{C}$ and $10^\circ{C}$. Inoculation of Enterococcus sp. K25 together with fumaric acid showed the most synergistic effect on extension of kimchi shelf-life. Compared to control (no addition), the treatment prolonged the kimchi shelf-life up to 6 days, whereupon the eight-point TA value recognized as the edible limit was reached.