• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.468-474
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• 1997

The chemical composition and hypocholoesterolaemic effect of Nostoc commune were studied. Proximate analysis data, composition of dietary fiber and oxalic acid-ammonium oxalate soluble substance of Nostoc commune were presented. Thirty rats were fed with the one of the following diet for three weeks: The control diet contained 0.75% cholesterol, 0.25% sodium cholate and 5% cellulose powder, CF was cholesterol free, PNC, ONC and RNC diet contained 7.2% powder, 2.2% extracts and 5% residue of Nostoc commune respectively. The lipid components of serum were assayed. The concentration of the total cholesterol was significantly lower in PNC, ONC than the control. The concentration of the total cholesterol was significantly lower in PNC, ONC than the control. The concentration of HDL-choloesterol was significantly higher in PNC than the control. The concentration of LDL, VLDL and chylomicron were comparatively lower in CF and PNC. The concentration of seum triglyceride and phospholipid was lower in PNC group than in the other group.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.544-551
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• 2003

Interactive effects of UV-B and Cd on growth, pigment, photosynthesis, and lipid peroxidation have been studied in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc; all the tested cyanobacteria showed differential sensitivity to different dosage of UV-B and Cd alone as well as in combination. Phycocyanin was severely affected by UV-B and Cd by all the strains; the degree of pigment bleaching was most pronounced in Anabaena followed by Microcystis and Nostoc. $UV-B_2+Cd_2$ produced nearly 83, 78, and 65% inhibition of phycocyanin in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc, respectively. The above treatment also significantly decreased the contents of Chl ${\alpha}$ and carotenoid. Presence of capsule in Microcystis protected the phycocyanin bleaching as compared to decapsulated cells. Laboratory-grown Microcystis revealed about 75 and 80% inhibition, following $UV-B_2+Cd_2$ treatment, respectively. in capsulated and decapsulated cells. Damage caused by Cd was more pronounced than UV-B. Inhibition of photosynthesis did occur in all the test strains, being maximum in Anabaena. PS II was the most sensitive component of the electron transport chain, showing 84, 80, and 70% inhibition in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc, respectively. As compared to control, significant lipid peroxidation (6.5-fold higher) was observed in Anabaena with $UV-B_2+Cd_2$, $^{14}C-uptake$ was more susceptible to Cd and Uv-B than oxygen-evolution. Approximately 84, 80, and 76% inhibition of $^{14}C-uptake$ was observed in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc, respectively. Similarly, $UV-B_2+Cd_2$ inhibited APT content of Anabaena by 87%. This ,study suggests that inhibition of carbon fixation was due to decreased ATP content of the test cyanobacteria by UV-B+Cd, where Anabaena was the most sensitive and Nostoc the most tolerant.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

Two strains isolated from a subtropical region in China, were morphologically identified as a Nostoc-like species, but its taxonomic identity was unknown. In this study, these two strains were taxonomically and phylogenetically characterized based on polyphasic approach combining morphological and genetic characteristics. Though both were virtually indistinguishable from Nostoc in field and cultured material, these two strains were phylogenetically distinct from Nostoc based on 16S rRNA phylogeny. The 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer rRNA secondary structure of these strains showed the unique pattern of D1-D1', Box-B, and V3 helix, which distinguished them from other Nostoc-like heterocytous genera. A unique cluster separated from Nostoc sensu stricto supports the establishment of Violetonostoc gen. nov. with the type species as Violetonostoc minutum sp. nov.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.240-246
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• 2006

Cyanobacteria are present abundantly in rice fields and are important in helping to maintain rice fields fertility through nitrogen fixation. Many rice fields soil contain a high density of cyanobactera, and over 50% of cyanobacterial genera that are in existence in rice paddy fields are heterocystous filamentous forms. A total of 142 isolates of heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria were screened from 100 soil samples taken from rice paddy fields in 10 different locations across Korea, classified according to their morphological characteristics under light microscopy, and their susceptibly to fungicides examined. The collected blue-green alga were classified into a total of 14 genera, including seven genera of filamentous cyanobacteria and seven genera of nonfilamentous cyanobacteria. In particular, 142 heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria were isolated and classified into six genera, including Anabaena, Nostoc, Calothrix, Cylindrospermum, Nodularia, Scytomena, and Tolypotrix. Yet, over 90% of the heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria isolated from the rice paddy fields belonged to two genera: Anabaena and Nostoc. The response of 129 $N_2-fixing$ cyanobacterial isolates, 53 Anabaena and 76 Nostoc, to 10 fungicides was then investigated. The results showed that the Nostoc spp. were more tolerant of the ten tested fungicides than the Anabaena spp., and among the ten tested fungicides, benomyl showed the highest acute toxicity to Anabaena spp. and Nostoc spp. In conclusion, although benomyl is a very useful agent to control phytopathogenic fungi, the application of this fungicide to rice fields should be considered because of its toxicity to the heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2004

The discharge of waste nutrient solution from greenhouse to natural ecosystem leads to the accumulation of excess nutrients that results in contamination or eutrophication. There is a need to recycle the waste nutrient solution in order to prevent the environmental hazards. The amount and kind of nutrients in waste nutrient solution might be enough to grow photosynthetic microorganisms. Hence in the present study, we examined the growth and mass cultivation of cyanobacteria in the waste nutrient solution with an objective of removing N and P and concomitantly, its mass cultivation. Four photosynthetic filamentous cyanobacteria (Anabaena HA101, HA701 and Nostoc HN601, HN701) isolated from composts and soils of the Chungnam province were used as culture strains. Among the isolates, Nostoc HN601 performed faster growth rate and higher N and P uptake in the BG-II ($NO_3{^-}$) medium when compared to those of other cyanobacterial strains. Finally, the selected isolate was tested under optimum conditions (airflow at the rate of $1L\;min^{-1}$. in 15 L reactor, initial pH 8) in waste nutrient solution from tomato hydroponic in green house condition. Results showed to remove 100% phosphate from the waste nutrient solution in the tomato hydroponics recorded over a period of 7 days. The growth rate of Nostoc HN601 was $16mg\;Chl-a\;L^{-1}$ in the waste nutrient solution from tomato hydroponics with optimum condition, whereas growth rate of Nostoc HN601 was only $9.8mg\;Chl-a\;L^{-1}$ in BG-11 media. Nitrogen fixing capacity of Nostoc HN601 was $20.9nmol\;C_2H_4\;mg^{-1}\;Chl-a\;h^{-1}$ in N-free BG-11. The total nitrogen and total phosphate concentration of Nostoc HN601 were 63.3 mg N gram dry weight $(GDW)^{-1}$ and $19.1mg\;P\;GDW^{-1}$ respectively. Collectively, cyanobacterial mass production using waste nutrient solution under green house condition might be suitable for recycling and cleaning of waste nutrient solution from hydroponic culture system. Biomass of cyanobacteria, cultivated in waste nutrient solution, could be used as biofertilizer.

• Mycobiology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2008

The present study was undertaken to explore the inhibitory effect of cyanobacterial extracts of Nostoc commune FA-103 against the tomato-wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. In an optimal medium, cell growth, antifungal activity, and antifungal compound production could be increased 2.7-fold, 4.1-fold, and 13.4-fold, respectively. A crude algal extract had a similar effect as mancozeb at the recommended dose, both in laboratory and pot tests. In vitro and in vivo fungal growth, spore sporulation and fungal infection of wilt pathogen in tomato seeds were significantly inhibited by cyanobacterial extracts. Nostoc commune FA-103 extracts have potential for the suppression of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1506-1512
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• 2010

The present study examined the salinity-induced oxidative damage and differential response of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants of Nostoc muscorum. As compared with carotenoid content that showed induction, the chlorophyll and phycocyanin contents were inhibited after salt stress. Acceleration of lipid peroxidation and peroxide production suggested the onset of oxidative damage. The activities of all studied enzymatic antioxidants were significantly increased by salt stress, with maximum induction occuring with superoxide dismutase (154.8% at 200 mM NaCl treatment). Interestingly, under severe stress condition (250 mM NaCl), ascorbate peroxidase seemed to be more crucial than catalase for peroxide scavenging. Among the studied nonenzymatic antioxidants, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was induced maximally (56.0%); however, ascorbate and reduced glutathione were increased by only 8.9% after 250 mM NaCl treatment as compared with control cells. Therefore, salinity was found to induce the antioxidative defense system of N. muscorum.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.252-254
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• 2012

The lichen species Polychidium muscicola was found in South Korea for the first time and this is the first record of the genus Polychidium from the Korean peninsula. This species is characterized by a dichotomously branched minute thallus with clustered cells of Nostoc as the photobiont. A detailed description and illustrations of this species are provided.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2012

Cyanobacteria are well known for their production of a multitude of highly toxic and / or allelopathic compounds. Among the photosynthetic microorganisms, cyanobacteria, belonging to the genus Nostoc are regarded as good candidate for producing biologically active secondary metabolites which are highly toxic to humans and other animals. Since so many reports have been published on the poisoning of different animals from drinking water contaminated with cyanobacteria toxins, it might be assumed that bioactive compounds are found only in aquatic species causes toxicity. However, the discovery of several dead dogs, mice, ducks, and fish around paddy fields, prompted us to study the toxic compounds in a strain of Nostoc which is most abundant in the paddy fields of Iran, using polymerase chain reaction and liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector and mass spectrophotometer. Results of molecular analysis demonstrated that the ASN_M strain contains the nosF gene. Also, the result of ion chromatograms and $MS^2$ fragmentation patterns showed that while there were three different peptidic compound classes (anabaenopeptin, cryptophycin, and nostocyclopeptides), there were no signs of the presence of anatoxin-a, homoanatoxin-a, hassallidin or microcystins. Moreover, a remarkable antifungal activity was identified in the methanolic extracts. Based on the results, this study suggests that three diverse groups of potentially bioactive compounds might account for the death of these animals. This case is the first documented incident of toxicity from aquatic cyanobacteria related intoxication in dogs, mice, and aquatic organisms in Iran.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.381-385
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• 2000

The effect and interaction of Ca and B on exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis in the diazotrophically growing cyanobacterium. Nostoc spongiaeforme, was investigated. The absence of B inhibited EPS synthesis 1.56-fold ($16\mu\textrm{g}$ glucose equivalent/mg dry weight, 16 d) over the control cells ($25\mu\textrm{g}$ glucose equivalent) grown in medium containing 0.5 mM Ca and $8{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ B. When B concentration was raised to $40{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, EPS production was stimulated 1.8-fold. Reduction of Ca concentraion to one-half (0.25 mM) resulted in increased B demand (16$\muM$) by the cells for EPS production at par with the normal sets. However, without Ca, EPS production also increased as B increased. Addition of B to a Ca-free medium stimulated cyanobacterial diazotrophic growth as well as synthesis of Chl a and phycocyanin (0-8 d). The data suggest B-dependent diazotrophic growth during Ca-deficiency and point to and important interactive role of Ca and B in regulation of cyanobacterial EPS synthesis.