• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.559-581
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• 2021

The coastal marine ecosystems of Vietnam are one of the global biodiversity hotspots, but the biodiversity of marine fungi is not well known. To fill this major gap of knowledge, we assessed the genetic diversity (ITS sequence) of 75 fungal strains isolated from 11 surface coastal marine and deeper waters in Nha Trang Bay and Van Phong Bay using a culture-dependent approach and 5 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) of fungi in three representative sampling sites using next-generation sequencing. The results from both approaches shared similar fungal taxonomy to the most abundant phylum (Ascomycota), genera (Candida and Aspergillus) and species (Candida blankii) but were different at less common taxa. Culturable fungal strains in this study belong to 3 phyla, 5 subdivisions, 7 classes, 12 orders, 17 families, 22 genera and at least 40 species, of which 29 species have been identified and several species are likely novel. Among identified species, 12 and 28 are new records in global and Vietnamese marine areas, respectively. The analysis of enzyme activity and the checklist of trophic mode and guild assignment provided valuable additional biological information and suggested the ecological function of planktonic fungi in the marine food web. This is the largest dataset of marine fungal biodiversity on morphology, phylogeny and enzyme activity in the tropical coastal ecosystems of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Biogeographic aspects, ecological factors and human impact may structure mycoplankton communities in such aquatic habitats.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2020

This article emphasized the physiological characteristics of the selected marine microalgal strains obtained from the culture collection of the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK). Therefore, in this study, 13 different marine microalgal strains belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta were analyzed for the composition of fatty acids, elements, photosynthetic pigments, and monosaccharides, as well as the lipid and protein contents. The results presented that the primary fatty acids were palmitic (C_16:0), palmitoleic (C_16:1 n-7), stearic (C_18:0), oleic (C_18:1 n-9), linoleic (C_18:2 n-6), and α-linolenic (ALA, C_18:3 n-3) acid in the evaluated microalgae. The lipid contents of heterotrophically grown strains ranged from 15.1% to 20.4%. The calorific values of the strains were between 17.4 MJ kg^-1 and 21.3 MJ kg^-1. The major monosaccharides were galactose, glucose, and mannose, while the primary photosynthetic pigments were chlorophyll-a (Chla), chlorophyll-b (Chlb), and lutein, respectively. Based on the results, the microalgal strains showed high potentials in the use of microalgae-based technologies to produce biochemicals, food, and renewable fuels as they are rich in sustainable sources of high-value bio-compounds, such as antioxidants, carbohydrates, and fatty acids.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.22-29
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• 2017

A unicellular green alga was axenically isolated from the Port of Jeongja, Ulsan, Korea. Morphological, molecular, and biochemical analyses revealed that the isolate belonged to Heterochlorella luteoviridis. This is the first report of this species in Korea. The microalgal strain was named as H. luteoviridis MM0014 and its growth, lipid composition, and biomass properties were investigated. The strain thrived over a wide range of temperatures ($5-30^{\circ}C$) and withstood up to 0.5 M NaCl. The results of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis showed that the isolate was rich in nutritionally important polyunsaturated fatty acids. Its major fatty acids were linoleic acid (35.6%) and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (16.2%). Thus, this indigenous marine microalga is a potential alternative source of ${\omega}3$ and ${\omega}6$ polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are currently obtained from fish and plant oils. Ultimate analysis indicated that the gross calorific value was $19.7MJ\;kg^{-1}$. In addition, the biomass may serve as an excellent animal feed because of its high protein content (51.5%). Therefore, H. luteoviridis MM0014 shows promise for applications in the production of microalgae-based biochemicals and biomass feedstock.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.9.1-9.6
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• 2020

Background: Fucosterol is a compound commonly found in algae that has various biological activities. The purpose of this study was to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) validation method for fucosterol and to compare the fucosterol contents of 11 algal species from Ulleungdo, Korea. Method: In this study, we successfully isolated and identified fucosterol from a 70% EtOH extract of Sargassum miyabei, and subsequently conducted specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, and precision analyses for development of an HPLC validation method. Fucosterol contents were compared using the established HPLC validation conditions. Results: We successfully isolated fucosterol from a 70% EtOH extract of S. miyabei and identified it based on spectroscopic analysis. On the basis of HPLC validation using the fucosterol isolated from S. miyabei, we confirmed specificity (8.5 min), linearity (R² = 0.9998), LOD (3.20 ㎍ mL^-1), LOQ (9.77 ㎍ mL^-1), accuracy (intra-day and inter-day variation, 90-110%), and precision (RSD, 1.07%). Fucosterol contents in the 11 assessed algal species ranged from 0.22 to 81.67 mg g^-1, with the highest content being recorded in a 70% EtOH extract of Desmarestia tabacoides (81.67 mg g^-1), followed by that of Agarum clathratum (78.70 mg g^-1). Conclusions: The results indicate that 70% EtOH extracts of D. tabacoides and A. clathratum containing fucosterol with various effects can be potential alternative sources of fucosterol.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.428-436
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• 2021

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify secondary metabolites from Sonchus brachyotus and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we isolated three flavonoids from a 70% EtOH extract by Medium Pressure Liquid Chromatography (MPLC) and prep-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). To evaluate the biological activities (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory) of these flavonoids, their in vitro inhibitory activities against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, nitric oxide (NO) production, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) secretion were determined. We successfully identified three flavonoids, namely luteolin (1), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (2), and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide (3) by spectral analyses. Luteolin (1) at 20 ㎍/mL inhibited ROS generation, NO production, and PGE₂ secretion by 48.6%, 61.28% and 12.10%, respectively, and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (2) inhibited NO and PGE₂ generation by 67.03% and 20.82%, respectively. Luteolin (1) and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (2) showed similar anti-inflammatory activities; however, luteolin (1) was observed to be a stronger antioxidant. Besides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, S. brachyotus extract containing luteolin (1) and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (2) is considered to possess diverse biological activities. The results indicate that S. brachyotus is an edible medicinal plant, which is believed to be significant resource of functional foods.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2019

Over the past few decades, microalgae-based biotechnology conjugated with innovative CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering has been attracted much attention for the cost-effective and eco-friendly value-added compounds production. However, the discharge of reproducible living modified organism (LMO) into environmental condition potentially causes serious problem in aquatic environment, and thus it is essential to assess potential environmental risk for human health. Accordingly, in this study, we monitored discharged genetically modified microalgae (GMM) near the research complex which is located in Daejeon, South Korea. After testing samples obtained from 6 points of near streams, several green-colored microalgal colonies were detected under hygromicin-containing agar plate. By identification of selection marker genes, the GMM was not detected from all the samples. For the lab-scale environmental risk assessment of GMM, acute toxicity test using rotifer Brachionus calcyflorus was performed by feeding GMM. After feeding, there was no significant difference in mortality between WT and transformant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. According to further analysis of horizontal transfer of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-coding gene after 24 h of incubation in synthetic freshwater, we concluded that the GFP-expressed gene not transferred into predator. However, further risk assessments and construction of standard methods including prolonged toxicity test are required for the accurate ecological risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.507-528
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• 2015

The Fish Collection Project collected 356 fish species from the Southern Sea of Korea during 2010-2012, 55 more than previously collected. The fishes belonged to 3 classes, 29 orders and 128 families. The 5 dominant orders, Perciformes, Scorpaeniformes, Pleuronectiformes, Tetraodontiformes, and Clupeiformes, accounted for ~80% of the identified species. Additionally, 126 species were collected from the Southern Sea for the first time, while 85 species that had been found in previous collections were not seen. The species variety of fish in the Southern Sea may be influenced by its unique oceanographic conditions such as increased water temperatures in coastal areas, so regular surveys would assist our understanding of the fish community. We suggest that various collection methods, including diving, be used to collect fish species inhabiting rocky shore or deep-sea areas, where commercial fishing gear is difficult to deploy.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2020

Marine yeasts have tremendous potential in industrial applications but have received less attention than terrestrial yeasts and marine filamentous fungi. In this study, we have screened marine yeasts for amylolytic activity and identified an amylase-producing strain PH-Gra1 isolated from sea algae. PH-Gra1 formed as a coral-red colony on yeast-peptone-dextrose (YPD) agar; the maximum radial growth was observed at 22 ℃, pH 6.5 without addition of NaCl to the media. Based on the morphology and phylogenetic analyses derived from sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and a D1/D2 domain of large subunit of ribosomal DNA, PH-Gra1 was designated Sporidiobolus pararoseus. S. pararoseus is frequently isolated from marine environments and known to produce lipids, carotenoids, and several enzymes. However, its amylolytic activity, particularly the optimum conditions for enzyme activity and stability, has not been previously characterized in detail. The extracellular crude enzyme of PH-Gra1 displayed its maximum amylolytic activity at 55 ℃, pH 6.5, and 0%-3.0% (w/v) NaCl under the tested conditions, and the activity increased with time over the 180-min incubation period. In addition, the crude enzyme hydrolyzed potato starch more actively than corn and wheat starch, and was stable at temperatures ranging from 15 ℃ to 45 ℃ for 2 h. This report provides a basis for additional studies of marine yeasts that will facilitate industrial applications.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.83-83
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• 2017

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2021

Global warming has affected the distribution of organisms for decades and has displayed rapid ascent recently. Research into the effects on tropical organisms are vital. Padina boryana is a resourceful marine microalgae in the Maldives Sea in the Laccadive region. A 70% ethanol extraction (PBE) of this seaweed was used to investigate its antioxidant potential. Both in vitro and in vivo models were implemented. PBE exhibited protective potential against H₂O₂ induced apoptosis. ROS levels were suppressed due to PBE. PBE expressed a cytoprotective nature. In vivo experiments involving the zebra fish model conformed its validity. The antioxidant efficacy of PBE was dose dependent. Study outcomes suggest PBE has potential as a novel and valuable marine resource to aid the functional food and cosmeceutical industries.