• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1902-1907
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• 2015

This study is the first report of the entire nucleotide sequence of an inositol phosphoceramide synthase gene from the stress-tolerant yeast Pichia kudriavzevii (PkAUR1). Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame that spans 1,443 bp and encodes a 480-amino-acid-residue protein with the highest sequence similarity (41.7%) to Aur1 from Spathaspora passalidarum. A phenotypic assay with transformed S. cerevisiae and P. kudriavzevii indicated that two amino acid residues, Phe166 and Gly249, play crucial roles in the resistance to aureobasidin A, which is consistent with previous reports for other fungal Aur1s. The GenBank Accession No. for PkAUR1 is KP729614.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.198-207
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• 2018

Objective: This study investigated the association of yeast species with improved aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR) silages with prolonged ensiling, and clarified the characteristics of yeast species and their role during aerobic deterioration. Methods: Whole crop corn (WCC) silages and TMR silages formulated with WCC were ensiled for 7, 14, 28, and 56 d and used for an aerobic stability test. Predominant yeast species were isolated from different periods and identified by sequencing analyses of the 26S rRNA gene D1/D2 domain. Characteristics (assimilation and tolerance) of the yeast species and their role during aerobic deterioration were investigated. Results: In addition to species of Candida glabrata and Pichia kudriavzevii (P. kudriavzevii) previously isolated in WCC and TMR, Pichia manshurica (P. manshurica), Candida ethanolica (C. ethanolica), and Zygosaccharomyces bailii (Z. bailii) isolated at great frequency during deterioration, were capable of assimilating lactic or acetic acid and tolerant to acetic acid and might function more in deteriorating TMR silages at early fermentation (7 d and 14 d). With ensiling prolonged to 28 d, silages became more (p<0.01) stable when exposed to air, coinciding with the inhibition of yeast to below the detection limit. Species of P. manshurica that were predominant in deteriorating WCC silages were not detectable in TMR silages. In addition, the predominant yeast species of Z. bailii in deteriorating TMR silages at later fermentation (28 d and 56 d) were not observed in both WCC and WCC silages. Conclusion: The inhibition of yeasts, particularly P. kudriavzevii, probably account for the improved aerobic stability of TMR silages at later fermentation. Fewer species seemed to be involved in aerobic deterioration of silages at later fermentation and Z. bailii was most likely to initiate the aerobic deterioration of TMR silages at later fermentation. The use of WCC in TMR might not influence the predominant yeast species during aerobic deterioration of TMR silages.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.286-291
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• 2013

Soybean pastes with 8% (w/w) salinity were prepared instead of soybean paste with 14% (w/w) salinity to meet the growing demands of Korean's low sodium diet. After aging, white films had appeared on the surface of all low-salted soybean pastes [8% (w/w) salinity] unlike high-salted soybean pastes [14% (w/w) salinity]. All of eight microbes isolated from the surface film were identified as Pichia kudriavzevii. Eleven Bacillus strains with good characteristics of fermentation were isolated from traditionally fermented soybean pastes in order to preserve their unique flavors and aromas after aging, and as a result of analyzing the biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA sequences, those were identified as B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, and B. methylotrophicus. All of the Bacillus isolates had antagonistic activities against 8 isolates of the film-forming yeasts and harbored the genes for synthesis of antimicrobial surfactants including lichenysin and/or surfactin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.232-238
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• 2012

Kumjungsansung-Makgeolli$^{(R)}$ is a traditional Korean rice wine that is fermented from traditional nuruk and rice. In this study, we performed the PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis targeting the 16S and 28S rRNA genes to characterize bacterial and fungal diversity during Makgeolli fermentation. The predominant bacteria in the PCR-DGGE profile during Makgeolli fermentation were Lactobacillus spp. (Lactobacillus curvatus, L. kisonensis, L. plantarum, L. sakei, and L. gasseri), Pediococcus spp. (P. acidilactici, P. parvulus, P. agglomerans, and P. pentosaceus), Pantoea spp. (P. agglomerans and P. ananatis), and Citrobacter freundii; these were identified on the base of analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The dominant bacterium during Makgeolli fermentation was L. curvatus. The predominant fungi in PCR-DGGE profile during Makgeolli fermentation were Pichia kudriavzevii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Asidia idahoensis, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, and Torulaspora delbrueckii, and these were identified on the basis of analysis of 28S rRNA gene sequences. The dominant fungal species during Makgeolli fermentation changed from P. kudriavzevii at 0-2 days incubation to S. cerevisiae at 3-6 days incubation. This study suggests that PCR-DGGE analysis could be a suitable tool for the understanding of microbial diversity and structure during Makgeolli fermentation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.110-116
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• 2012

Nuruk plays a significant role in the flavor and quality of Takju and Yakju, which are produced through saccharification and alcohol fermentation by various microorganisms. In this study, we identified microbial strains isolated from a plate count and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis targeting the 16S and 28S rRNA genes, in order to characterize bacterial and fungal diversity in Sansung Nuruk. The numbers of bacteria and fungi in Nuruk were $1.5{\times}10^9$ CFU/g and $2.2{\tims}10^8$ CFU/g, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the predominant bacteria in the isolates and PCR-DGGE profile of Nuruk were Kocuria spp., Pantoea spp., Lactobacillus spp., Pediococcus spp., Weissella spp., Staphylococcus spp., endophytic bacterium, uncultured Gamma-proteobacteria, uncultured Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Dominant bacteria from the PCR-DGGE profile were Pediococcous pentosaceus and uncultured Cyanobacteria. The 28S rRNA gene sequence indicated the predominant fungi in the isolates and PCR-DGGE profile to be Trichomonascus spp. Pichia spp., Torulaspora spp., Wickerhamomyces spp., Sacharomycopsis spp., Lichtheimia spp., Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp. Aspergillus spp., and Cladosporium spp. Dominant fungi from the PCR-DGGE profile were Pichia kudriavzevii and Aspergillus oryzae. The PCR-DGGE technique was used for the first time in this study to assess a microbial community in Nuruk and proved to be an effective protocol for profiling microbial diversity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.797-807
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• 2023

To improve the functionality of mulberry, samples were fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum JCM 1149 (LP) or Pichia kudriavzevii Atz-EN-01 (PK), and their antioxidant and anti-obesity activities were compared to those of unfermented mulberry. After fermenting for 60 hr, the total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the PK-fermented mulberry (PKFM) and LP-fermented mulberry (LPFM) was 1.5-fold and 2-fold higher, respectively, while the total anthocyanin content was 1.3-fold and 1.5-fold higher in the PKFM and LPFM, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be 16.3% higher (86% vs. 100%) after PK fermentation and 8.1% higher (86% vs. 93%) after LP fermentation. The lipase inhibitory activity of the LPFM and PKFM was 62.9% and 52.5%, respectively. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with unfermented mulberry, LPFM, or PKFM at 200, 400, or 800 ㎍/ml and stained with oil-red-O. A slight difference in the staining was observed in samples treated with 400 ㎍/ml. However, treatment with 800 ㎍/ml significantly reduced staining compared to the control, and the LPFM exhibited relatively higher adipogenesis inhibitory activity than the PKFM. Blood triglyceride content increased by 9.5% in the high-fat diet group, but decreased by 17.1% in the control group, 37.1% in the LPFM group, and 41.6% in the PKFM group. The blood triglyceride content of the LPFM group decreased by 43.1% and 21.4% compared to the high-fat diet group and the control group, respectively, and that of the PKFM group decreased by 48.6% and 28.9% compared to the same groups. In conclusion, the results indicate that fermented mulberry has increased antioxidant activity, lipase inhibitory activity, and adipogenesis inhibition activity, and decreased blood triglyceride content compared to unfermented mulberry.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2018

Tarak is a traditional Korean fermented milk product, which is prepared by the addition of rice wine to milk. The major microbial strains found in Tarak are Leuconostoc citreum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Pichia kudriavzevii. The activity of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Korean foods of Taraki against the carcinogenic bacteria Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Cronobacter sakazakii was characterized. Tarak extract significantly increased the proliferation of T-lymphocyte Jurkat (clone E6-1) cells. Tarak also inhibited the tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis induced by an ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in pituitary intermediate lobe.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.287-306
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• 2023

According to our previous study, 500 species of yeast exist in Korea, including nine variants comprising 142 genera and 48 classes in two phyla. Additionally, 4,483 fungal species have been documented at the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR). However, despite the industrial use of several yeasts, only 173 species formed part of the National Species List of Korea (NSLK) as of December 2021, mainly due to the lack of taxonomic descriptions. This study aimed to investigate the taxonomy of seven newly isolated yeast species (Hyphopichia burtonii, Starmerella sorbosivorans, Cyberlindnera mycetangii, Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum, Nakazawaea ernobii, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Schizosaccharomyces japonicus) for inclusion in the NSLK. The strains were clustered for the phylogenetic analysis of fungal rDNA (D1/D2-26S) sequences. This study provides descriptions of their cell morphology and physiological characteristics, the results of which confirm the indigenous origin of these seven species in Korea and recommend their inclusion in the NSLK.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1891-1907
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• 2016

Yeasts that are present in marine environments have evolved to survive hostile environments that are characterized by high exogenous salt content, high concentrations of inhibitory compounds, and low soluble carbon and nitrogen levels. Therefore, yeasts isolated from marine environments could have interesting characteristics for industrial applications. However, the application of marine yeast in research or industry is currently very limited owing to the lack of a suitable isolation method. Current methods for isolation suffer from fungal interference and/or low number of yeast isolates. In this paper, an efficient and non-laborious isolation method has been developed and successfully isolated large numbers of yeasts without bacterial or fungal growth. The new method includes a three-cycle enrichment step followed by an isolation step and a confirmation step. Using this method, 116 marine yeast strains were isolated from 14 marine samples collected in the UK, Egypt, and the USA. These strains were further evaluated for the utilization of fermentable sugars (glucose, xylose, mannitol, and galactose) using a phenotypic microarray assay. Seventeen strains with higher sugar utilization capacity than the reference terrestrial yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 2592 were selected for identification by sequencing of the ITS and D1/D2 domains. These strains belonged to six species: S. cerevisiae, Candida tropicalis, Candida viswanathii, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Candida glabrata, and Pichia kudriavzevii. The ability of these strains for improved sugar utilization using seawater-based media was confirmed and, therefore, they could potentially be utilized in fermentations using marine biomass in seawater media, particularly for the production of bioethanol and other biochemical products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.1109-1114
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• 2013

Microbial community analysis was performed on Tarak, a traditional Korean fermented milk product, by 16S rDNA cloning and pyrosequencing to obtain basic data for the standardization and systematization of the Tarak manufacturing process. Microbial analysis of the prokaryotic community revealed a slight difference in microbial abundance between Bontarak (n) and Tarak (n+1), but Firmicute was dominant at the phylum level. At the genus level, the Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc genera constituted over 90% of the population in Bontarak, but Lactococcus was the dominant genus in Tarak. Bontarak and Tarak showed further differences at the species level. Leuconostoc citreum was the dominant species in Bontarak, constituting 40% of the population. In eukaryotic community analysis, all samples were composed of Ascomycota at the phylum level. At the genus level, Saccharomyces was dominant in Bontarak (85% of the population), while Issatchenkia was dominant in Tarak (95% of the population). At the species level, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was detected at a relative abundance in Bontarak (82%), and Pichia kudriavzevii was the dominant species in Tarak, with a relative abundance of 95%. Sensory evaluation indicated that Tarak had a better appearance and texture than Bontarak. As sweetness was not significantly different between the two samples just slightly higher in Tarak, this was likely due to a significant decrease in sourness in Tarak. These results suggest that the microbial community used affects the quality of Tarak produced. Thus, a stable microbial community must be maintained for the production of Tarak with consistent quality.