• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.301-309
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• 2009

The use of bioactive materials derived from microorganisms and plants has played a role in pest management in environmentally-friendly agriculture (EFA) system. In Korea, a number of agricultural agents for the control of insect pests have been registered officially as biopesticides and marketed widely. However, most of the biopesticides has a limitation in the resource availability of bioactive materials, which has been one of main problems related to the commercialization of agricultural agents. Plant materials and microbial metabolites are the best sources as starting components to commercialize natural-occurring agricultural agents for pest management. The lack of modernized system for the standardization and quality control of the starting materials, however, has also received as a main problem related to the commercialization of agricultural agents. Considered that EFA business has kept growing bigger and bigger with global economic status, the commercialization of agricultural agents is necessary to meet the required number of agricultural agents officially available in EFA. This study describes the status and future prospects of pest control agents in EFA. A number of main issues hindered in the commercialization of agricultural agents are discussed in order to present a promising approach to successful commercialization.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.101-104
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• 1996

During the screening of inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I from microbial secondary metabolites, Streptomyces melanosporofaciens 7489 which was capable of producing high level of inhibitor was selected from soil. The active compound (7489-1) was purified from the culture broth by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. The inhibitor was identified as dibutyl phthalate by spectroscopic methods of UV, $^{1}H$-NMR, $^{13}C$-NMR, DEPT and EI-MS. 7489-1 showed a strong inhibitory activity against topoisomerase I with 10 ${\mu}$M of $IC_{50}$ value.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2020

Streptomyces griseus S4-7, a well-characterized keystone taxon among strawberry microbial communities, shows exceptional disease-preventing ability. The whole-genome sequence, functional genes, and bioactive secondary metabolites of the strain have been described in previous studies. However, proteomics studies of not only the S4-7 strain, but also the Streptomyces genus as a whole, remain limited to date. Therefore, in the present study, we created a proteomics reference map for S. griseus S4-7. Additionally, analysis of differentially expressed proteins was performed against a wblE2 mutant, which was deficient in spore chain development and did not express an antifungal activity-regulatory transcription factor. We believe that our data provide a foundation for further in-depth studies of functional keystone taxa of the phytobiome and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions, especially those involving the Streptomyces genus.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.414-420
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• 2015

Flavonoids, such as fisetin (3,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone), are plant secondary metabolites. It has been reported that fisetin is able to perform numerous pharmacological roles including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer activities; however, the exact anti-inflammatory mechanism of fisetin is not understood. In this study, the pharmacological action modes of fisetin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage-like cells were elucidated by using immunoblotting analysis, kinase assays, and an overexpression strategy. Fisetin diminished the release of nitric oxide (NO) and reduced the mRNA levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without displaying cytotoxicity. This compound also blocked the nuclear translocation of p65/nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$. In agreement, the upstream phosphorylation events for NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, composed of Src, Syk, and I${\kappa}B{\alpha}$, were also reduced by fisetin. The phospho-Src level, triggered by overexpression of wild-type Src, was also inhibited by fisetin. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that fisetin can be considered a bioactive immunomodulatory compound with anti-inflammatory properties through suppression of Src and Syk activities.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 1993

During the screening of inhibitors against protein kinase CCPKC) and the bleb formation of K562 cell induced by phorbol ester from microbial secondary metabolites, MT-2007 was purified by solvent extraction, and chromatographic techniques from Actinomycetes isolate No. 2007-18. It showed completely suppression of bleb formation of K562 cell surface induced by phorbol 12.13dibutylate at the concentration of 503.9 11M and ICso on PKC was 31.4 11M. Its structure was postulated as lasalocid A sodium salt by physico-chemical properties and UV, IR. MS, IH-NMR.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.316-320
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• 2017

Alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), a dibenzopyrone derivative, was isolated from Alternaria brassicae along with altertoxin II (ATX-II). The compounds were tested for the inhibitory activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO), which catalyzes neurotransmitting monoamines. AME was found to be a highly potent and selective inhibitor of human MAO-A with an $IC_{50}$ value of $1.71{\mu}M$; however, it was found to be ineffective for MAO-B inhibition. ATX-II was not effective for the inhibition of either MAO-A or MAO-B. The inhibition of MAO-A using AME was apparently instantaneous. MAO-A activity was almost completely recovered after the dilution of the inhibited enzyme with an excess amount of AME, suggesting AME is a reversible inhibitor. AME showed mixed inhibition for MAO-A in Lineweaver-Burk plots with a $K_i$ value of $0.34{\mu}M$. The findings of this study suggest that microbial metabolites and dibenzopyrone could be potent MAO inhibitors. In addition, AME could be a useful lead compound for developing reversible MAO-A inhibitors to treat depression, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.131-145
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• 2020

The microbiota-gut-brain axis, which refers to the bidirectional communication pathway between gut bacteria and the central nervous system, has a profound effect on important brain processes, from the synthesis of neurotransmitters to the modulation of complex behaviors such as sociability and anxiety. Previous studies have revealed that the gut microbiota is potentially related to not only gastrointestinal disturbances, but also social impairment and repetitive behavior-core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although studies have been conducted to characterize the microbial composition in patients with ASD, the results are heterogeneous. Nevertheless, it is clear that there is a difference in the composition of the gut microbiota between ASD and typically developed individuals, and animal studies have repeatedly suggested that the gut microbiota plays an important role in ASD pathophysiology. This possibility is supported by abnormalities in metabolites produced by the gut microbiota and the association between altered immune responses and the gut microbiota observed in ASD patients. Based on these findings, various attempts have been made to use the microbiota in ASD treatment. The results reported to date suggest that microbiota-based therapies may be effective for ASD, but largescale, well-designed studies are needed to confirm this.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.473-485
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• 2019

Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is an economically important crop and a bacterial canker disease, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), is the most destructive disease in kiwifruit production. Therefore, prevent and control of the disease is a critical issue in kiwifruit industry worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no reliable control methods have been developed. Recently, interest in disease control using microbial agents is growing. However, kiwifruit microbiota and their roles in the disease control is mainly remaining unknown. In this study, we secured bacterial libraries from kiwifruit ecospheres (rhizosphere, endospere, and phyllosphere) and screened reliable biocontrol strains against Psa. As the results, Streptomyces racemochromogenes W1SF4, Streptomyces sp. W3SF9 and S. parvulus KPB2 were selected as anti-Psa agents from the libraries. The strains showed forcible antibacterial activity as well as exceptional colonization ability on rhizosphere or phyllosphere of kiwifruit. Genome analyses of the strains suggested that the strains may produce several anti-Psa secondary metabolites. Our results will contribute to develop biocontrol strains against the kiwifruit canker pathogen and the disease management strategies.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.404-409
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• 2023

This study investigates the relationship between cancer cachexia and the gut microbiota, focusing on the influence of cancer on microbial composition. Lewis lung cancer cell allografts were used to induce cachexia in mice, and body and muscle weight changes were monitored. Fecal samples were collected for targeted metabolomic analysis for short chain fatty acids and microbiome analysis. The cachexia group exhibited lower alpha diversity and distinct beta diversity in gut microbiota, compared to the control group. Differential abundance analysis revealed higher Bifidobacterium and Romboutsia, but lower Streptococcus abundance in the cachexia group. Additionally, lower proportions of acetate and butyrate were observed in the cachexia group. The study observed that the impact of cancer cachexia on gut microbiota and their generated metabolites was significant, indicating a host-to-gut microbiota axis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1111-1118
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• 2023

As a long-term condition that affects the airways and lungs, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by inflammation, emphysema, breathlessness, chronic cough, and sputum production. Currently, the bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed for COPD are mostly off-target, warranting new disease management strategies. Accumulating research has revealed the gut-lung axis to be a bidirectional communication system. Cigarette smoke, a major exacerbating factor in COPD and lung inflammation, affects gut microbiota composition and diversity, causing gut microbiota dysbiosis, a condition that has recently been described in COPD patients and animal models. For this review, we focused on the gut-lung axis, which is influenced by gut microbial metabolites, bacterial translocation, and immune cell modulation. Further, we have summarized the findings of preclinical and clinical studies on the association between gut microbiota and COPD to provide a basis for using gut microbiota in therapeutic strategies against COPD. Our review also proposes that further research on probiotics, prebiotics, short-chain fatty acids, and fecal microbiota transplantation could assist therapeutic approaches targeting the gut microbiota to alleviate COPD.