• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.587-593
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• 2008

Microbial exopolysaccharide (EPS) is a biothickener that can be added to a wide variety of food products, where it serves as a viscosifying, stabilizing, emulsifying, and gelling agent. The objective of this study was to investigate the optimum conditions of pH, incubation temperature, and whey protein concentration (WPC) for EPS production by Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 9595. We found that maximal EPS production was achieved at a pH of 5.5 and temperature of $37^{\circ}C$. At the same fermentation conditions, EPS production was affected by the addition of L. rhamnosus GG (a weak-EPS producer). After growth for 24 hr, total EPS production was $583{\pm}15.4mg/L$ in the single culture system, and $865{\pm}22.6\;mg/L$ in the co-culture system with L. rhamnosus GG. Based on the presence of WPC, EPS production dramatically increased from $583{\pm}15.4$ (under no WPC supplementation) to $1,011{\pm}14.7\;mg/L$ (under supplementation with 1.0% WPC). These results suggest that WPC supplementation and the co-culture systems coupled with small portions of weak-EPS producing strain can play an important role in the enhancement of EPS production.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.989-996
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• 2012

Nitrate contamination of water environments can create serious problems such as eutrophication of rivers. Conventional biological processes for nitrate removal by heterotrophic denitrification often need additional organic substrates as carbon sources and electron donors. We tried to accelerate biological denitrification by using bioelectrochemical reactor (BER) in which electrode works as an electron donor. Denitrification activity of 8 environmental samples from various sediments, soils, groundwaters, and sludges were tested to establish an efficient enrichment culture for BER. The established enrichment culture from a soil sample showed stable denitrification activity without any nitrite accumulation. Microbial community analysis by using PCR-DGGE method revealed that dominant denitrifiers in the enrichment culture were Pantoea sp., Cronobacter sakazakii, and Castellaniella defragrans. Denitrification rate ($0.08kg/m^3{\cdot}day$) of the enrichment culture in BER with electrode poised at -0.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl) was higher than that ($2.1{\times}10^{-2}kg/m^3{\cdot}day$) of BER without any poised potential. This results suggested that biological denitrification would be improved by supplying potential throughout electrode in BER. Further research using BER without any organic substrate addition is needed to apply this system for bioremediation of water and wastewater contaminated by nitrate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2001

Nonactin is the parent compound of a group of ionophore antibiotics, that known as the macrotetrolides. In previous report, in th course of screening superoxide radical-generating compounds from microbial sources, we first screened Streptomyces viridochromogenes JM-4151 that produces nonactin. It was proved that nonactin is superoxide radical-producing compound. In present study, we examined the optimal culture conditions of nonacin. Th optimal culture conditions for nonactin production were as follows: 1% soluble starch, 1% yeast extract, 0.2% ammonium nitrate, 0.06% magnesium sulfate, 0.2% calcium carbonate, initial pH 7.0 at 28$^{\circ}C$ for 96 h. The highest nonactin production was achieved in the production medium of initial pH7.0 at 28$^{\circ}C$ for 96h. The threshold level of dissolved oxygen was found to be above 33.2% at 28$^{\circ}C$ when 1% soluble starch was used as a carbon source. These results suggest that S. viridochromogenes JM-4151 might be a possible strain for industrial nonactin producer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1978

In order to develop the processes for the production of fermented feed from cellulosic agricultural by-product, cereal straw, by th action of cellulolytic fungus, the properties of the cellulolytic enzyme produced by Trichoderma sp. KI 7-2 was studied. A higher enzyme activity was obtained in the culture added by 1％ rice or barley straw powder than in the culture of pure cellulose. The crude enzyme was prepared by precipitating from 20∼60％ saturated ammonium sulphate of the culture supernatant. The optimum conditions for the enzyme reaction were temperature of of 50$^{\circ}C$ and pH 4.2. The crude enzyme was static at 50$^{\circ}C$ for two hours and at pH between 4 and 6. These properties were adopted for the fermented feed production, and several production. Thus, several processes of semisolid culture were devicced to up grade tile fermented feed and to develop into the acceptable quality.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.542-549
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• 2018

Background Despite the increasing popularity of prosthetic breast reconstruction, scant data exist on the microbiological profile of drainage fluid from closed-suction drains and the relationship thereof to surgical-site infections (SSIs) in breast reconstruction surgery. This study aimed to determine whether bacteria isolated from drainage fluid were associated with the development of SSIs, and whether the bacterial profile of drainage fluid could be a clinically useful predictor of SSIs. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of 61 women who underwent tissue expander/implant or direct-to-implant reconstructions. Patient demographics and culture studies of drainage fluid from suction drains collected on postoperative day 7 were evaluated. Results Sixteen patients (26.23%) were culture-positive, and 45 patients (73.77%) were culture-negative. The most frequently isolated bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci, followed by Staphylococcus aureus. SSIs were diagnosed in seven patients and were mostly resolved by systemic antibiotics; however, the tissue expander or implant was explanted in two patients. Positive culture of drainage fluid from closed-suction drains was significantly associated with the development of SSIs (P<0.05). The positive predictive value was 37.50%, and the negative predictive value was 97.78%. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate a significant association between the microbiological profile of drainage fluid from closed-suction drains and the development of SSIs in patients with prosthetic breast reconstructions. The high negative predictive value suggests that microbial testing of drainage fluid from closed-suction drains may have clinical utility. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.614-622
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• 2013

Daqu, a traditional fermentation starter, has been used to produce attractively flavored foods such as vinegar and Chinese liquor for thousands of years. Although Bacillus spp. are one of the dominant microorganisms in Daqu, more precise information is needed to reveal why and how Bacillus became dominant in Daqu, and next, to assess the impact of Bacillus sp. on Daqu and its derived products. We combined culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to study the ecology of Bacillus during Daqu incubation. Throughout the incubation, 67 presumptive Bacillus spp. isolates were obtained, 52 of which were confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing. The identified organisms belonged to 8 Bacillus species: B. licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. cereus, B. circulans, B. megaterium, B. pumilus, and B. anthracis. A primer set specific for Bacillus and related genera was used in a selective PCR study, followed by a nested DGGE PCR targeting the V9 region of the 16S rDNA. Species identified from the PCR-DGGE fingerprints were related to B. licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. pumilus, B. benzoevorans, and B. foraminis. The predominant species was found to be B. licheniformis. Certain B. licheniformis strains exhibited potent antimicrobial activities. The greatest species diversity occurred at the Liangmei stage of Daqu incubation. To date, we lack sufficient knowledge of Bacillus distribution in Daqu. Elucidating the ecology of Bacillus during Daqu incubation would enable the impact of Bacillus on Daqu to be accessed, and the quality and stabilization of Daqu-derived products to be optimized.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.642-647
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• 2012

Eight continuous culture fermenters were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate various nutritional values of Kochia (Kochia scoparia) compared with Atriplex (Atriplex dimorphostegia). Dried and pelleted samples (leaves and stems) provided substrate for metabolism by ruminal microbes maintained in a continuous culture fermentation system. Results indicated that there were no differences (p>0.05) in dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility between the two halophytic plants. Atriplex had higher (p<0.05) organic matter (OM) digestibility compared with Kochia. Neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) digestibility of Atriplex (411 g/kg) was higher (p<0.05) than that of Kochia (348 g/kg), however acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility was higher (p<0.05) in Kochia compared with Atriplex (406 vs. 234 g/kg). There were no differences (p>0.05) between the two halophytic plants in molar proportion of acetate and propionate, but the concentration of butyrate and valerate in Kochia were about two fold of Atriplex (p<0.05). When Kochia provided substrate to the microbes, protein synthesis was higher (p<0.05) compared with feeding Atriplex (5.96 vs. 4.85 g N/kg of OM truly digested). It was concluded that Kochia scoparia and Atriplex dimorphostegia had similar digestibility of DM and CP. It appears that these halophytic plants may not have enough digestible energy for high producing ruminants.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.469-472
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• 2002

Solid state fermentation was performed for the production of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae HY-2 using wheat bran media containing rice bran. Fungal growth in a solid state fermentation system was estimated by viable cell count, spore count, and mycelial biomass. It was used chemical method measuring N-acetyl-glucosamine (chitin) content for estimating of mycelial biomass. In static flask culture, viable cell reached 2.40 ${\times}$ $10^8$ cfu/g at 23 days of culture at $27^{\circ}C$ and then mycelial biomass was 41.59 mg/g. Specific growth rate(${\mu}$ max) was 0.0418 $h^{-1}$ between 3 and 9 days when estimated by viable cell count and was 0.00976 $h^{-1}$ between 9 and 17 days when N-acetylglucosamine content was measured. Viable cells reached 1.12 ${\times}$ $10^8$ cfu/g in polypropylene-bag at 28 days of culture at $27^{\circ}C$. Formulated microbial pesticide containing M. anisopliae HY-2 were tested their bio-activity against Chestnut Brown Chafer (Adoretus tenuimaculatus). The protection rate of the liquid culture showed 13 ${\sim}$ 26 % with 1st to 3rd instar, and spore suspension of M. anisopliae HY-2 showed 56 ${\sim}$ 64%. Conidia produced by large scale solid-state fermentation showed 20 ${\sim}$ 27 % activity 60 ${\sim}$ 64 % with M. anisopliae HY-2.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.408-413
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• 2006

We assessed the ability of a Pseudonocardia sp. from soil samples to bioconvert vitamin $D_3$. The optimal culture conditions for the bioconversion of vitamin $D_3$ to active $1{\alpha}$,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ were investigated by varying the carbon and nitrogen sources, the metal salt concentrations, the initial pH, and the temperature. Microbial transformations were carried out with the addition of vitamin $D_3$ dissolved in ethanol. They were sampled by extraction with methanol-dichloromethane and the samples were examined by HPLC. Optimum culture conditions were found to be 0.4% yeast extract, 1% glucose, 3% starch, 1% fish meal, 0.2% NaCl, 0.01% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.2% $CaCO_3$, 0.01% NaF, and pH 7.0 at $28^{\circ}C$. The optimal timing of the addition of vitamin $D_3$ for the production of calcitriol by Pseudonocardia autotrophica ID9302 was concurrent with the inoculation of seed culture broth. Maximum calcitriol productivity and the yield of bioconversion reached a value of 10.4mg/L and 10.4% respectively on the 7th day in a 75L fementer jar under the above conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.878-884
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• 1996

A bacterial strain, designated as Bacillu sp. IJ-3 strain, was shown to produce the extracellular soy protein coagulating enzyme and culture conditions for the production of enzyme by this microbial strain was investigated. The culture medium giving a maximum soy protein coagulating activity was consist of 20%(w/v) soymilk, 2.0%(w/v) glucose, 4.0%(w/v) yeast extract, 5.0%(w/v) polypeptone and 1.0%(w/v) potassium phosphate, monobasic. Initial pH was optimal at 6.0 and the enzyme activity in the culture usually reached a maximal level of fermentation at $35^{\circ}C.$ After the culture medium adjustment where required, enzyme activity was reached maximum at 72 hour of cultivation but this enzyme activity was reduced quickly. It can be assumed that Bacillu sp. IJ-3 strain enzyme has a specificity toward the 75 globulin.