• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1270-1279
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• 2011

Bealmijang is a short-term aged paste made from meju, which is a brick of fermented soybeans and other ingredients. Different types of bealmijang are available depending on the geographic region or ingredients used. However, no study has clarified the microbial diversity of these types. We identified 17 and 14 fungal species from black soybean meju (BSM) and buckwheat meju (BWM), respectively, on the basis of morphology, culture characteristics, and internal transcribed spacer and ${\beta}$-tubulin gene sequencing. In both meju, Aspergillus oryzae, Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium polonicum, P. steckii, Cladosporium tenuissimum, C. cladosporioides, C. uredinicola, and yeast species Pichia burtonii were commonly found. Moreover, A. flavus, A. niger, P. crustosum, P. citrinum, Eurotium niveoglaucum, Absidia corymbifera, Setomelanomma holmii, Cladosporium spp. and unclassified species were identified from BSM. A. clavatus, Mucor circinelloides, M. racemosus, P. brevicompactum, Davidiella tassiana, and Cladosporium spp. were isolated from BWM. Fast growing Zygomycetous fungi is considered important for the early stage of meju fermentation, and A. oryae and A. niger might play a pivotal role in meju fermentation owing to their excellent enzyme productive activities. It is supposed that Penicillium sp. and Pichia burtonii could contribute to the flavor of the final food products. Identification of this fungal diversity will be useful for understanding the microbiota that participate in meju fermentation, and these fungal isolates can be utilized in the fermented foods and biotechnology industries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.210-224
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• 2018

Warqe (Ensete ventricosum) has been traditionally fermented in an earthen pit to yield a carbohydrate-rich food product named kocho, for generations. A fermentation enhancer (gammaa) was added to this fermenting mass to enhance the fermentation process. The objectives of this study were to assess the physicochemical properties and microbiota of the kocho fermentation enhancer culture to reduce losses. Cross-sectional study design was implemented to collect 131 gammaa samples on the first day of fermentation. The samples were further classified into four groups according to the duration of fermentation (14, 21, 30, and 60 days) practised in various households traditionally. The results showed that the fermentation time significantly affected the physicochemical properties and microbial load of gammaa (p < 0.01). As the fermentation progressed from day 1 to 60, the pH decreased and the titratable acidity increased. The total coliform, Enterobacteriaceae, aerobicmesophilic bacteria (AMB), yeast, and mould counts were significantly reduced at the end of fermentation. In contrast, the number of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) increased significantly until day 30 of fermentation, because of the ability of the LAB to grow at low pH. Lactobacillus species from LAB isolates and Enter obacteriaceae from AMB isolates were the most abundant microorganisms in gammaa fermentation. However, the Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacilli species count showed decreasing and increasing trends, respectively, as the fermentation progressed. These isolates must be investigated further to identify the species and strain, so as to develop gammaa at the commercial scale.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1347-1356
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• 2013

Tricholoma matsutake, an ectomycorrhiza that has mutual relationships with the rootlet of Pinus denisflora, forms a fruiting body that serves as a valuable food in Asia. However, the artificial culture of this fungus has not been successful. Soil fungi, including T. matsutake, coexist with many other microorganisms and plants; therefore, complex microbial communities have an influence on the fruiting body formation of T. matsutake. Here, we report on the structures of fungal communities associated with the fairy ring of T. matsutake through the pyrosequencing method. Soil samples were collected inside the fairy ring zone, in the fairy ring zone, and outside the fairy ring zone. A total of 37,125 sequencing reads were obtained and 728 to 1,962 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were observed in the sampling zones. The fairy ring zone had the lowest OTUs and the lowest fungal diversity of all sampling zones. The number of OTUs and fungal taxa inside and outside the fairy ring zone was, respectively, about 2 times and 1.5 times higher than the fairy ring. Taxonomic analysis showed that each sampling zone has different fungal communities. In particular, out of 209 genera total, 6 genera in the fairy ring zone, such as Hemimycena, were uniquely present and 31 genera, such as Mycena, Boletopsis, and Repetophragma, were specifically absent. The results of metagenomic analysis based on the pyrosequencing indicate a decrease of fungal communities in the fairy ring zone and changes of fungal communities depending on the fairy ring growth of T. matsutake.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.35-49
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• 2003

In this study, in an attempt to search for functional cosmetic ingredients from higher fungal, we have produced exopolysaccharides (GF-l, approximately carbohydrate 75％, protein 25％) and polysaccharide (GF-2) of mycelium extract, by submerged culture of Grifolafrondosa. For applications in anti-aging cosmetic field, we investigated the diverse biological activities. Antioxidant activity and inhibition of Matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs) were investigated enzymatic assays by measuring the superoxide scavenging activity using xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and the proteolytic activity of MMPs using EnzChek Collagenase/Gelatinase kits, respectively. GF-l polysacchairde showed inhibition of superoxide radical by 90％ at a concentration of 0.2％ (w/v) and inhibition of collagenase by 45％ at 0.2％ (w/v). GF-2 polysaccharide of mycelium extract also exhibited good antioxidant activity. However, MMPs inhibition activity was relatively lower level compared to GF-l polysaccharides. The treatment of human dermal fibroblast (HDF) with GF-l and GF-2 polysaccharides increased the proliferation of fibroblast by approximately 23-25％ at a concentration of 0.5％ (w/v), also showed collagen synthesis increase in HDF by about 50％ at 0.5％ (w/v) compared to that of untreated control. We also report the moisturizing effects of polysaccharides in cosmetic products (O/W emulation) and its own ingredient, in vitro and in vivo. The GF-1 polysaccharide showed higher moisturizing ability than sodium hyaluronate, which is the most commonly used moisturizers ingredient. These results suggest the GF-l polysaccharide, protein-bound polysaccharide, may be used as an ingredient for new moisturizing and anti-aging cosmeceuticals.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

In this study, the contamination level was measured using an ATP meter using adenosine triphosphate bioluminescent material to find effective infection control to compensate for the disadvantages of the microbial culture method used for hygiene control of ultrasound probe. The convex probes were selected from six ultrasound probe in the hospital, and the samples were taken in real time before and after cleaning to check the contamination of the probe. In order to classify the pollution degree using the APT meter was classified by category. A total of 78 samples were collected from the ultrasound probe. When the pollution levels before and after cleaning were classified by category, 76.6% of the samples were classified into category 3·4 before cleaning, but they decreased to 23.3% after cleaning. 13.3% before cleaning was in category 1, but increased to 43.3% after cleaning. By classifying the pollution level, it was confirmed that the pollution level was significantly reduced by category. Until now, there was no suitable criterion for determining the contamination level by using ATP meter in medical machines where sample area is small and reused. In this study, criteria for each category were set to measure the contamination level of ATP meter suitable for small sample area such as ultrasound probe, so that contamination level could be determined in real time at the site. Therefore, it is considered that hygiene management for ultrasound probe can be more actively performed.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.77-82
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• 2008

Innate immune response is initiated by the recognition of unique microbial molecular patterns through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). The purpose of this study is to dissect the expression of various PRRs in gingival epithelial cells of differentiated versus undifferentiated states. Differentiation of immortalized human gingival epithelial HOK-16B cells was induced by culture in the presence of high $Ca^{2+}$ at increased cell density. The expression levels of various PRRs in HOK-16B cells were examined by realtime reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) and flow cytometry. In addition, the expression of human beta defensins (HBDs) was examined by real time RT-PCR and the amounts of secreted cytokines were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In undifferentiated HOK-16B cells, NACHT-LRR-PYDcontaining protein (NALP) 2 was expressed most abundantly, and toll like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) 1, and NOD2 were expressed in substantial levels. However, TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, ICE protease-activating factor (IPAF), and NALP6 were hardly expressed. In differentiated cells, the levels of NOD2, NALP2, and TLR4 were different from those in undifferentiated cells at RNA but not at protein levels. Interestingly, differentiated cells expressed the increased levels of HBD-1 and -3 but secreted reduced amount of IL-8. In conclusion, the repertoire of PRRs expressed by gingival epithelial cells is limited, and undifferentiated and differentiated cells express similar levels of PRRs.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2008

Fermentative $H_2$ production was studied using microbial consortia isolated from heat-treated ($90{\circ}C$, 20 min) sewage sludge. Important parameters investigated were carbon(C) and nitrogen(N)-sources, C/N ratio, phosphate concentration, pH and temperature during anaerobic cultivation in serum bottles. Starch, ribose, sucrose and glucose were good C-sources for the culture growth and $H_2$ production. Yeast extract was better N-source than $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ or peptone when individually added to the synthetic media, however the combination of above three N-sources exhibited the additional effect for cell growth and $H_2$ evolution. Addition of 100 mM phosphate as a buffering agent prevented the rapid pH drop during the cultivation. The optimum initial pH for the cell growth was at 7.0, whereas $H_2$ production was observed at pH 5.5. Optimum temperature for the cell growth and $H_2$ production was $37{\circ}C$. Initial C/N ratio of 1.22 in the media using glucose and yeast extract as the C- and N-sources, respectively, showed the $H_2$ yield 1.0 mol $H_2$/mol glucose.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.241-244
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• 2000

Continuous $H_2$ production from CO and water was studied in a trickle bed reactor(TBR) using Rhodopspedomonas palustris P4. To achieve high cell density, R. palustris P4 were cultivated by a fed-batch culture mode under chemoheterotrophic and aerobic condition, and final cell concentration was 13 g/L. TBR could provide sufficient residence time for CO to contact with cell suspension circulating TBR. The maximum CO uptake rate was found to be 16 mmol/L/hr at gas retention time of 50 min and CO partial pressure of 0.4 atm. In our correlation of the experimental data with mathematical model of TBR, the TBR operation with P4 was found to be lie in an intermediate state between mass transfer limitation and kinetic limitation. Due to the high cell density as well as hydrogen production activity in this study, TBR operation showed a superior performance to other previous reports on microbial hydrogen production.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.345-356
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• 2004

The triclosan was shown to have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effect with inhibition of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether and how $PGE_2$ could be inhibited by triclosan in human gingival fibroblast. Human gingival fibroblast-1 cells (ATCC CRL2014) were pre-treated for 1 hour with triclosan (0.001 ${\mu}/ml{\sim}10$ ${\mu}/ml$) and then stimulated with $TNF-{\alpha}$ (1.0 ng/ml). $PGE_2$ synthesis was evaluated by ELISA and gene expression of COX-1 and COX-2 was evaluated by RT-PCR after $TNF-{\alpha}$, triclosan, and NS-398 (COX-2 inhibitor, 5, ${\mu}M$) and/ or cycloheximide (protein synthesis inhibitor, 2 ${\mu}g/ml$). Triclosan was cytotoxic to human gingival fibroblasts in the concentration higher than 1.0 ${\mu}g/ml$ for longer than 24 hours in tissue culture. The $PGE_2$ synthesis was inhibited by triclosan in dose-dependent manner. Greater COX-2 mRNA suppression was observed with triclosan (0.1 ${\mu}g/ml$) than with $TNF-{\alpha}$ alone, without change in COX-1 gene expression. Inhibitory effects of triclosan on $PGE_2$ synthesis disappeared in presence of cycloheximide. This study suggests that triclosan inhibit prostaglandin $E_2$ at the level of COX-2 gene regulation and require de novo protein synthesis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.545-550
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• 2004

The study of available genotypes (biodiversity analysis) in bacterial communities is of growing importance in several fields such as ecology, environmental technology, clinical diagnostics, etc. These culture-independent genotyping techniques, especially amplifying 16S rRNA genes, attempt to overcome some shortcomings of conventional cultivation method. Biodiversity analysis based on molecular technique were laborious for base-calling chromatogram, trimming primer sites, correcting strand directions, electing representative operation taxonomic units (OTU), etc. Also, biologists wanted intuitively to confirm results of the above processes. For making up these demands, we developed the web application based on Folder-Process-Filter (FPF) modeling with correspondence to classical Model-View-Controller model. The model of web application leads to keep virtues of simplicity and directness for development and management of the stepwise web interfaces. The web application was developed in Perl and CGI on Linux workstation. It can be freely accessed from http://home.pusan.ac.kr/～genome/tools/rat.htm.