• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.900-908
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• 2016

The effects of algal inoculation on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN) removal, and indigenous bacterial dynamics were investigated in municipal wastewater. Experiments were conducted with municipal wastewater inoculated with either Chlorella vulgaris AG10032, Selenastrum gracile UTEX 325, or Scenedesmus quadricauda AG 10308. C. vulgaris and S. gracile as fast growing algae in municipal wastewater, performed high COD and TN removal in contrast to Sc. quadricauda. The indigenous bacterial dynamics revealed by 16S rRNA gene amplification showed different bacterial shifts in response to different algal inoculations. The dominant bacterial genera of either algal case were characterized as heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria. Our results suggest that selection of indigenous bacteria that symbiotically interact with algal species is important for better performance of wastewater treatment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.363-367
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• 2003

Batch experiments were performed to determine optimum conditions for biopile. The batch experiments results showed that 12.5 to 17.9% of moisture content was effective to biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon regardless of soil texture. Total heterotrophic bacteria populations in the inoculum-treated soil were greater than of the control and nutrient-amended soil in the early stage, but the populations in the inoculum and nutrient-amended soil were not different significantly from those in the latter stage regardless of soil texture. The same trend was observed for petroleum hydrocarbon degrading bacteria populations. The results of the biodegradation capacity experiments showed that there was a decline in the TPH concentrations during the experiments and no significant difference on the biodegradation was observed by treatment in silt soil. Changes of n-C17/pristane and n-C18/phytane ratios in all treated soil were significantly more than those of control. This is a strong indication of biodegradation. The TPH removal rate was calculated at 60% in all treated soil.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2008

Seasonal distribution of various microorganisms was investigated in the effluent water in various sewage treatment plants from January to November in 2007. The target microorganisms were composed of total heterotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli, coliform and enteric bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Yeast and Mold. The number of total bacteria and the indicator microorganisms, such as E. coli, coliform, and Enterobacteriacea, were increased during the summer season. S. aureus, however, was not influenced by the weather, showing higher number even in November and January in most sewage treatment plants investigated. Meanwhile, disinfection methods employed in various plants had no direct relationship with the growth of microorganisms, and small-scaled plants were found to be more effective than large-scaled ones in the sterilization of microorganisms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.197-201
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• 2004

This study was to determine the prevalence of Legionella species in public spas and to know that the presence of Legionella was correlated with other microbiological parameters. A total of 81 water samples were collected from 30 different public spas and sudatoriums so called zzimzilbang in Korea. Although Legionella was not detected in the influent water and the cold tub water, of the 38 samples of hot and warm water taken from public tubs, 11(28.8%) were found to be positive for Legionella spp. All of the isolates were identified as a species L. pneumophila serogroups 1 and 2-14 by latex agglutination. And HPC concentrations in all spas water isolated Legionella were above the level of $10^4\;cfu/ml$.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1999

The Biolog redox technology was carried out for evaluation of acidification effect on microbial communities at each stage of pH gradient microcosm. While the number of heterotrophic bacterial population and activities of extracellular enzyme decreased as the pH decreased, the number of total bacteria in the microcosm was not affected. The average color development of sample at each pH-gradient showed a sigmoidal curve, and at higher pH, more overall color development appeared in Biolog plates. Average color development value in Biolog plates was stabilized at 50 hours as an optimum incubation time. The color production in the Biolog plates was caused by cell density at above pH 5.0, but by cell activity below pH 4.0. Principal component analysis of color responses revealed distinctive patterns among the pH-gradient microcosm samples.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.513-521
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to detect indicator bacteria in drinking spring water (DSW) samples in Seoul Metropolitan City, and to identify their genus through 16S rRNA sequencing and then assessing the genetic relation of their strains. Methods: For indicator bacteria detection and identification of total coliforms, we analyzed DSW between the spring and summer seasons. In particular, DSW samples were chosen from sites repeatedly found unsatisfactory in recent years. Results: Heterotrophic plate counts of DSW in the spring and summer season were investigated in the range of 0-550 and 0-800 CFU/mL, respectively. Total coliforms of these were 0-1,900 and 0-2,100 CFU/100mL, fecal coliforms were 0-600 and 0-550 CFU/100mL, and Escherichia coli were 0-7 and 0-326 MPN/100mL. The detection ratio of fecal pollution indicators and that of fecal coliforms increased to 58.6% in the summer from 12.5% in the spring and Escherichia coli increased to 51.4% from 4.7%. As a result of genetic analysis on the isolated bacteria, the genus of total coliforms was classified in the order of Enterobacter spp. 12.7%, Serratia spp. 7.3%, E. hermanii 6.4%, Rahnella spp. 5.5%, Hafnia spp. 4.5%, Escherichia coli 3.6%, Klebsiella spp. 3.6% in the spring season. In the summer season, it was classified in order of Klebsiella spp. 16.6%, Enterobacter spp. 13.0%, Escherichia coli 11.0%, Serratia spp. 8.6%, Raoultella spp. 7.0%, Kluyvera spp. 5.6% and Citrobacter spp. 3.0%. Conclusions: The increase of fecal pollution in summer indicates that special attention to drinking DSW is required.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.244-250
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• 2008

To evaluate bacteriological water quality, samples were taken from drinking water dispensers placed at S company (S-C) and U highschool (U-H) in Ulsan. The medians of heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) were 53 CFU/ml for the 74 water samples of S-C and 80 CFU/ml for the 36 cold water samples of U-H, and 38% of the S-C and 42% of the U-H samples showed HPC bacterial concentrations higher than 100 CFU/ml. Coliform bacteria were detected from one sample of S-C. To determine the major source of bacterial contamination, water samples were taken daily for $6\sim8$ days from the bottled water containers as well as the faucets of an experimental water dispenser. While the average HPCs in the bottled water containers were 33 CFU/ml for the first and 132 CFU/ml for the 2nd analysis, the HPC concentration in the cold water samples was 1,022 CFU/ml for the 2nd analysis. These results suggest that the majority of bacteria detected in the cold water samples were originated from the biofilms on the surface of water passages within the water dispensers. There was no significant increase in HPC bacterial concentrations within the bottled water container after installation on the water dispenser. We could isolate and tentatively identify 3 genera 6 species of Gram-positive and 7 genera 7 species of Gram-negative bacteria from the plate count agar plates of U-H samples. Among the isolates, 72% were observed as Gram-positive, and Micrococcus spp. was the most abundant with 54% of the total, followed by Sphingomonas paucimobilis with 16%. It appears that most of the HPC bacteria detected in water dispensers originate from indoor airborne bacteria, which may play important roles in the formation of biofilms on the surface of water passages within the water dispensers.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2015

Observed trends in climate change, globalization and an aging population have an effect on public health conditions in Korea, prompting a reevaluation of current environmental regulations. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the total coliform (TC) standard, which is the only microbiological standard in the current regulation regime for hot spring water, by estimating correlation with the presence/absence of Legionella, a non-fecal opportunistic pathogen with heat-tolerance. Microbiological data in 7 studies that surveyed Legionella in hot spring waters were subjected to meta-analyses with the odds ratio (OR) as the effect size. The presence/absence of Legionella was significantly correlated to TC levels [OR = 3.1(1.5–6.4, 95% CI), p = 0.002]. Due to there being no direct explanation as to the reason for the occurrence of TC, mesophilic fecal bacteria, being coupled with Legionella presence, the mechanism of the correlation between the two kinds of bacteria was further investigated. Legionella presence was more prevalent with a high heterotrophic plate count [HPC; 4.0(2.2–7.2); p < 0.001] and water temperature [4.3(1.4–13.6), p = 0.011] when the temperature range was <40℃. However, it was reverse-correlated with water temperature when the temperature was >50℃ [0.2(0.1–0.4), p < 0.001]. Therefore, bacterial standing crops in hot spring waters appear to be determined by water temperature in general, and this forces TC and Legionella levels be correlated. In accordance with this relationship, HPC rather than TC reflect the levels of non-fecal contamination better. Therefore, employing HPC as the sole microbiological standard, or adding HPC into the current standard of hot spring water assessment, is suggested as a proactive measure to prevent health issues arising from contamination.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

There were few data for the distribution of the indicator organisms in the commercial plant foods, and for the normal flora and for the foodborne agents within the country. First of all it must be investigated the distribution of the indicator organisms. And also it is very important to prepare the sanitation criteria for the plant foods through the microbiological examination and the investigation of tendency to change of the indicator organisms according to the storage temperature and period. The average number of total viable counts for grains was 2.9$\times$105/g, psychrophilic bacteria 2.9$\times$105/g, heterotrophic bacteria 3.1$\times$105/g, heat-resistant bacteria 2.1$\times$103/g, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 23/g. That for beans was 6.3$\times$102/g, psychrophile 34/g, heterotroph 1.7$\times$102/g. That for sesames was 1.4$\times$105/g, coliform 350/g, psychrophile 7.4$\times$104/g, heterotroph 5.8$\times$104/g, Pseud. aeruginosa 2.3$\times$103/g. heat-resistant bacteria 150/g. That for potatoes was 2.0$\times$107/g, coliform 5.0$\times$104/g, psychrophile 1.8$\times$107, heterotroph 1.4$\times$107/g, heat-resistant bacteria 3.3$\times$104/, Staphylococcus 2.7$\times$105/g, fecal streptococcus 4.5$\times$103/g, Pseud. aeruginosa 7.0$\times$103/g. That for mushrooms was 1.2$\times$108/g, psychrophile 9.4$\times$107/g, heterotroph 1.0$\times$109/g, heat-resistant bacteria 1.6$\times$105/g, Pseud. aeruginosa 1.3$\times$103/g. That for vegetables was 5.9$\times$1011/g, coliform 1.8$\times$106g/, Staphylococcus 1.1$\times$1012/g, heterotroph 8.4$\times$1011/g, heat-resistant bacteria 7.6$\times$106/g, Staphylococcus 1.1$\times$107/g, fecal streptococcus 1.1$\times$104/g, Pseud. aerugniosa 5.2$\times$104/g. That for nuts 3.9$\times$104/g, coliform 3.9$\times$103/g, psychrophile 4.0$\times$104/g, heterotroph 3.2$\times$104/g, heat-resistant bacteria 400/g. In commercial grains and beans, SPC, psychrophile, heterotroph and heat-resistant bacteria stored at 1$0^{\circ}C$, 2$0^{\circ}C$, 3$0^{\circ}C$ were constant. Staphylococcus, coliform, Pseud. aeruginosa were decreased a little n grains, but were not detected in beans. In mushrooms, all indicator organisms were increased as time goes on and were increased rapidly at 2$0^{\circ}C$. In sesames, coliform was not detected at all temperature. psychrophile was increased for 7 days, the others were constant. In potatoes, SPC, psychrophile, heat-resistant bacteria, heterotroph had a tendency to increase and the others were constant. In vegetables, indicator organisms were had a tendency to increase, psychrophile, heterotroph were rapidly increased after 7 days. In nuts, SPC, coliform, psychrophile heterotroph, heat-resistant bacteria, Pseud. aeruginosa were constant, staphylococcus and fecal streptococcus were not detected.

• ALGAE
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 2002

We investigated the association of Chlorella vulgaris and E. coli W9110 in removal of total organic carbon with the lab-scaled continuous river water flow system (CRWFS). Artificial wastewater was applied at two levels of organic carbon concentration; 1,335 $mg{\cdot}l^{-1}$ in the treatment (T)-1 and 267 $mg{\cdot}l^{-1}$ in T-2. The highest densities of C. vulgaris were $8.3{\times10^6\;cells{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ in T-1 and $6.9{\times}10^6\;cells{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ in T-2. The maximum densities of E. coli W3110 were $2.0{\times}10^8$ clony forming unit (CFU)${\cdot}ml^{-1}$ in T-1 and $3.9{\times}10^8\;CFU{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ in T-2. The densities increased during the first 11 days in T-q and 4 days in T-2, and decreased rapidly till 35th day, then increased slightly afterwards. This trend was prominent in T-2. It was inplied that wider range of nutrients was required in the growth of heterotrophic bacteria in T-2 than in T-1. The algal biomass should be increased effectively for the successful removal of organic carbon.