• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.245-254
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• 2022

Cellulases are a group of biocatalyst enzymes that are capable of degrading cellulosic biomass present in the natural environment and produced by a large number of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, etc. In the current study, we isolated, screened and characterized cellulase-producing bacteria from soil. Three cellulose-degrading species were isolated based on clear zone using Congo red stain on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar plates. These bacterial isolates, named as HB2, HS5 and HS9, were subsequently characterized by morphological and biochemical tests as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, the bacterial isolates were identified as Bacillus cerus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stratosphericus. Moreover, for maximum cellulase production, different growth parameters were optimized. Maximum optical density for growth was also noted at pH 7.0 for 48 h for all three isolates. Optical density was high for all three isolates using meat extract as a nitrogen source for 48 h. The pH profile of all three strains was quite similar but the maximum enzyme activity was observed at pH 7.0. Maximum cellulase production by all three bacterial isolates was noted when using lactose as a carbon rather than nitrogen and peptone. Further studies are needed for identification of new isolates in this region having maximum cellulolytic activity. Our findings indicate that this enzyme has various potential industrial applications.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.307-311
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• 2022

The genus Areotetes van Achterberg & Li, 2013 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae), which is endoparasitoid of mining or infesting of fruit dipterous larvae, have been reported for the first time in China. Currently, four species of the genus Areotetes have been known from the province Hunan and Fujian, China. In this study the genus Areotetes with Areotetes carinuliferus van Achterberg & Li, 2013 is reported for the first time from Korea. Material studied in the present study were collected by sweeping in Mt Gongchi, Eochungdo, Province Jeonbuk, Korea. Herein, diagnosis of genus, description, distribution, and diagnostic illustration of A. carinuliferus are provided. In addition, DNA barcode data of the partial gene of mitochondrial cytochorome c oxidase subunit I (COI) are included.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4636-4643
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• 2022

A time-of-flight and energy (TOF-E) detection system for the measurement of ²³⁶U accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) has been developed to improve the ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity at Micro Analysis Laboratory, Tandem accelerator (MALT), The University of Tokyo. With observing TOF distribution of ²³⁵U, ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U, this TOF-E detection system has clearly separated ²³⁶U from the interference of ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U when measuring three kinds of uranium standards. In addition, we have developed a novel method combining kernel-based density estimation method and multi-Gaussian fitting method to estimate the ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity of the TOF-E detection system. Using this new estimation method, 3.4 × 10^-12 of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity and 1.9 ns of time resolution are obtained. ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity of TOF-E detection system has improved two orders of magnitude better than that of previous gas ionization chamber. Moreover, unknown species other than uranium isotopes were also observed in the measurement of a surface soil sample, which has demonstrated that TOF-E detection system has a higher sensitivity in particle identification. With its high sensibility in mass determination, this TOF-E detection system could also be used in other heavy isotope AMS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1076-1083
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• 2023

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable and biocompatible bioplastic. Effective PHB degradation in nutrient-poor environments is required for industrial and practical applications of PHB. To screen for PHB-degrading strains, PHB double-layer plates were prepared and three new Bacillus infantis species with PHB-degrading ability were isolated from the soil. In addition, phaZ and bdhA of all isolated B. infantis were confirmed using a Bacillus sp. universal primer set and established polymerase chain reaction conditions. To evaluate the effective PHB degradation ability under nutrient-deficient conditions, PHB film degradation was performed in mineral medium, resulting in a PHB degradation rate of 98.71% for B. infantis PD3, which was confirmed in 5 d. Physical changes in the degraded PHB films were analyzed. The decrease in molecular weight due to biodegradation was confirmed using gel permeation chromatography and surface erosion of the PHB film was observed using scanning electron microscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on B. infantis showing its excellent PHB degradation ability and is expected to contribute to PHB commercialization and industrial composting.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.64-64
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• 2020

Bakanae disease, caused by several Fusarium species, imposes serious limitations to the productivity of rice across the globe. The incidence of this disease has been shown to increase, particularly in major rice-growing countries. Thus, the use of high resistant rice cultivars offers a comparative advantage, such as being cost effective, and could be preferred to the use of fungicides. In this research, we used a tropical japonica rice variety, Zenith, a bakanae disease resistant line selected as donor parent. A RIL population (F_8:9) composed of 180 lines generated from a cross between Ilpum and Zenith was used. In primary mapping, a QTL was detected on the short arm of chromosome 1, covering about 3.5 Mb region flanked by RM1331 and RM3530 markers. The resistance QTL, qBK1^Z, explained about 30.93% of the total phenotype variation (PVE, logarith of the odds (LOD) of 13.43). Location of qBK1^Z was further narrowed down to 730 kb through fine mapping using additional RM markers, including those previously reported and developed by Sid markers. Furthermore, there is a growing need to improving resistance to bakanae disease and promoting breeding efficiency using MAS from qBK1^Z region. The new QTL, qBK1^Z, developed by the current study is expected to be used as foundation to promoting breeding efficiency with an enhanced resistance against bakanae disease. Moreover, this study provides useful information for developing resistant rice lines carrying single or multiple major QTLs using gene pyramiding approach and marker-assisted breeding.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 1989

Metacercariae of the genus Stictodora encysted in the head tissue of Acanthogobius navimanus (the gobies) caught at Sachun-gun, Kyongnam Province, were identified to be Stictodora Zari Yamaguti, 1939 (Trematoda: Heterophyidae), a new parasite fauna in Korea. The metacercariae were 0.39∼,0.43 mm by 0.32∼0.35 mm in size, long elliptical, and with a thin and transparent cyst wall. Total 200 metacercariae were collected from 50 gobies. In order to obtain adult worms two kittens and a Puppy were infected each with 34∼100 metacercariae, and total 33 adults were recovered between the day 4 and day 8 post-infection. The S. sari adults measured 0.95∼1.18 mm long and 0.26∼0.32 mm wide and the eggs in uteri 0.028∼0.033 mm by 0.017∼0.020 mm. The most characteristic morphological feature of these flukes was the presence of a gonotyl and gonotyl spines arranged in two groups; densely crowded group of 30~40 spines and linearly-arranged one of 30∼40 spines, together of which made a comma(or reversed comma) shape along the lateral margin of the gonotyl. It has been proved by this study that 5. sari is distributed in southern coasts of Korea.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2011

Recently, new ginseng cultivars having superior agricultural traits have been developed in Korea. For newly developed plant cultivars, the identification of distinctiveness is very important factors not only in plant cultivar management but also in breeding programs. Thus, eighty-five inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers were applied to detect polymorphisms among six major Korean ginseng cultivars and two foreign ginsengs. A total of 197 polymorphic bands with an average 5.8 polymorphic bands and 2.9 banding patterns per assay unit across six Korean ginseng cultivars and foreign ginsengs from 236 amplified ISSR loci with an average 6.9 loci per assay unit were generated by 34 out of 85 ISSR primers. Three species of Panax ginseng including the Korean ginseng cultivars, P. quinquefolius, and P. notoginseng, could be readily discriminated using most tested primers. UBC-821, UBC-868, and UBC-878 generated polymorphic bands among the six Korean ginseng cultivars, and could distinguish them from foreign ginsengs. Sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker system was introduced in order to increase the reproducibility of the polymorphism. One SCAR marker, PgI821C650, was successfully converted from the randomly amplified polymorphism by UBC-821. It showed the expected dominant polymorphism among ginseng samples. In addition, the specific polymorphism for Sunwon was generated by treating Taq I restriction enzyme to polymerase chain reaction products of PgI821C650. These results will serve as useful DNA markers for identification of Korean ginseng, especially Sunwon cultivar, seed management, and molecular breeding program supplemented with marker-assisted selection.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2016

A new poty-like virus was isolated from plants of winter daphne (Daphne odora) that showed virus-like symptoms on leaves, from four regions of Korea during 2014. Filamentous-shaped particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy of preparations extracted from symptomatic leaves and examined by the direct negative stain method. RT-PCR assay showed that three samples were positive for both Cucumber mosaic virus and potyvirus, and only one sample was positive for potyvirus only. A BLAST comparison to partial sequences from helper-component proteinase, cylindrical inclusion and coat protein genes detected the highest nucleotide identity of 76%, 72%, and 72% with Daphne mosaic virus, respectively, levels below the potyvirus species discrimination threshold. The new potyvirus was isolated using indicator plants (Chenopodium amaranticolor), in which local lesions were produced. In this study, we identified a novel potyvirus from winter daphne, which we have named Daphne mottle virus (DapMoV).

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to isolate lactic acid bacteria, useful in the fermentation industry from Hahyangju Nuruk. Five strains were isolated, and identified as Lactobacillus based on growth inhibition by 10% (v/v) alcohol at pH 4.0. Isolated strains were identified to species, and named Lactobacillus plantarum L-3, L. sakei L-10, and L. curvatus strains L-8, L-11, and L-12. Morphological characteristics, physiological data, carbohydrate fermentation patterns, and 16S rRNA sequence data, were all used to characterize the bacterial isolates. L. plantarum L-3 showed the highest lactic acid productivity of all isolates, but grew only poony in the presence of 10% (v/v) alcohol at pH 4.0. The other strains exhibited lower lactic acid productivity than did L. plantarum L-3 and did not grow in the presence of 10% (v/v) alcohol at pH 4.0. The optimal temperature and pH for lactic acid production were $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0 7.0, respectively. The lactic acid productivity of L. plantarum L-3, L. sakei L-10 and the three L. curvatus strains L-8, L-11, and L-12 were (% v/v of culture supematant) 1.55, 1.0, 1.06, 1.0, and 0.99, respectively, at $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0. While L. plantarum L-3 suffered growth inhibition in the presence of 10% (v/v) alcohol, growth of the other strains was inhibited at 8% (v/v) alcohol.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.135-143
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• 2009

There is currently increased interest in the identification of antioxidant compounds that are pharmacologically potent and have low or no side effects. Plants produce significant amounts of antioxidants to prevent the oxidative stress caused by photons and oxygen, therefore they represent a potential source of new compounds with antioxidant activity. Moutan Root Sark (MRS) has been frequently used as analgesic. antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and remedies for female diseases. In this study. the antioxidant activity of extract from MRS was studied in vitro methods by measuring the antioxidant activity by TEAC, measuring the scavenging effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) [superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical] and on reactive nitrogen species (RNS) [nitric oxide and peroxynitrite] as well as measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$ induced human LDL oxidation and the inhibitory effect on collagen induced platelet aggregation. The MRS extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity, as well as an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation and on platelet aggregation. In conclusion, the MRS extracts have anti-oxidative and anti-atherosclerotic effects in vitro system, which can be used for developing pharmaceutical drug against oxidative stress and atherosclerosis.