• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.600-606
• /
• 2006

Spore forming actinobacteria (sporoactinobacteria) isolated from soils with an acidic pH in Pinus thunbergii forests and coal mine waste were subjected to taxonomic characterization. For the isolation of acidophilic actinobacteria, acidified starch casein agar (pH adjusted to 4-5) was used. The numbers of actinobacteria growing in acidic media were between $3.2{\times}10^4$ and $8.0{\times}10^6$ CFU/g soil. Forty three acidophilic actinobacterial strains were isolated and their 16S rDNA sequences were determined. The isolates were divided into eight distinctive phylogenetic clusters within the variation encompassed by the family Streptomycetaceae. Four clusters among them were assigned to the genus Streptacidiphilus, whereas the remaining four were assigned to Streptomyces. The clusters belonging to either Streptomyces or Streptacidiphilus did not form a monophyletic clade. The growth pH profiles indicated that the representative isolates grew best between pH 5 and 6. It is evident from this study that acidity has played a critical role in the differentiation of the family Streptomycetaceae, and also that different mechanisms might have resulted in the evolution of two groups, Streptacidiphilus (strict acidophiles) and neutrotolerant acidophilic Streptomyces. The effect of geographic separation was clearly seen among the Streptacidiphilus isolates, which may be a key factor in speciation of the genus.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.265-273
• /
• 2011

Bacterial diversity based on the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences was determined for soil samples from two abandoned mine sites and the corresponding enrichment cultures using soil sample as key inoculum. Sequencing analysis of DGGE bands obtained from both the soil samples matched mostly with sequences of uncultured and newly described organisms, or organisms recently associated with the acid mine drainage environment. However, the enrichment of soil samples in ferrous sulfate and elemental sulfur media yielded sequences that were consistent with well-known iron- and sulfur-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria. Analysis of enrichment cultures of soil samples from Dalsung mine revealed abundant ${\gamma}$-$Proteobacteria$, whereas that of Gubong mine sample displayed acidophilic groups of ${\gamma}$-$Proteobacteria$, ${\alpha}$-$Proteobacteria$, $Actinobacteria$ and $Firmicutes$. Chemical elemental analysis of the mine samples indicated that the Dalsung site contained more iron and sulfate along with other toxic components as compared with those of the Gubong site. Biogeochemistry was believed to be the primary control on the acidophilic bacterial group in the enrichment samples.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 1995

A probability identification matrix of acidophilic Streptomyces was constructed. The phenetic data of the strains were derived from numerical classification described by Seong et al. The minimum number of diagnostic characters was determined using computer programs for calculation of different separation indices. The resulting matrix consisted of 25 clusters versus 53 characters. Theoretical evaluation of this matrix was achieved by estimating the chuster overlap and the identification scores for the Hypothetical Median Organisms (HMO) and for the representatives of each cluster. Cluster overlap was found to be relatively small. Identification scores for the HMO and the randomly selected representatives of each cluster were satisfactory. The matrix was assessed practically by applying the matrix to the identification of unknown isolates. Of the unknown isolates, 71.9% were clearly identified to one of eight clusters. The numerical classification data was also used to design a selective isolation medium for antibiotic-producing organisms. Four chemical substances including 2 antibiotics were determined by the DLACHAR program as diagnostic for the isolation of target organisms which have antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus. It was possible to detect the increased rate of selective isolation on the synthesized medium. Theresults show that the numerical phenetic data can be applied to a variety of purposes, such as construction of identification matrix and selective isolation medium for acidophilic antinomycetes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.9
• /
• pp.1110-1119
• /
• 2022

Fe-S clusters are versatile and essential cofactors that participate in multiple and fundamental biological processes. In Escherichia coli, the biogenesis of these cofactors requires either the housekeeping Isc pathway, or the stress-induced Suf pathway which plays a general role under conditions of oxidative stress or iron limitation. In the present work, the Fe-S cluster assembly Isc and Suf systems of acidophilic Bacteria and Archaea, which thrive in highly oxidative environments, were studied. This analysis revealed that acidophilic microorganisms have a complete set of genes encoding for a single system (either Suf or Isc). In acidophilic Proteobacteria and Nitrospirae, a complete set of isc genes (iscRSUAX-hscBA-fdx), but not genes coding for the Suf system, was detected. The activity of the Isc system was studied in Leptospirillum sp. CF-1 (Nitrospirae). RT-PCR experiments showed that eight candidate genes were co-transcribed and conform the isc operon in this strain. Additionally, RT-qPCR assays showed that the expression of the iscS gene was significantly up-regulated in cells exposed to oxidative stress imposed by 260 mM Fe₂(SO₄)₃ for 1 h or iron starvation for 3 h. The activity of cysteine desulfurase (IscS) in CF-1 cell extracts was also upregulated under such conditions. Thus, the Isc system from Leptospirillum sp. CF-1 seems to play an active role in stressful environments. These results contribute to a better understanding of the distribution and role of Fe-S cluster protein biogenesis systems in organisms that thrive in extreme environmental conditions.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.127-131
• /
• 1995

Sequential changes in cell proliferation during the development of epitherial kidney tumors induced in rats were investigated by autoradiographic determination of the $^3H$-thymidine-labeling index. Renal cell tumors were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of N-nitrosomorpholine at the concentration of 120 mg/l in the drinking water for 7 weeks. At different times between 12 and 34 weeks after withdrawal of the carcinogen (stop model) animals were sacrificed. According to cytological criteria, neoplastic lesions were classified into clear cell, acidophilic cell, basophilic cell and oncocytic tumors. The labeling index was found to be increased in all types of preneoplastic tubules as compared to their corresponding original tubules. A much stronger elevation of cell proliferation was ocurred during the development of renal cell tumors from preneoplastic tubules. Of four tumor types, acidophilic cell tumor showed the highest labeling index while oncocytoma exhibited the lowest proliferative activity. These findings are in good accordance with the clinical observations that acidophilic cell tumors have a worse prognosis than oncocytoma. The data presented in this study suggest that the individual proliferation rates may be an objective biological marker of kidney tumor aggressiveness.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.112-118
• /
• 2000

A new gene encoding an acidophilic TEX>$\alpha$-amylase of Bacillus cil-culans KCTC3004 was cloned into Eschericlzia coli using pUC19 as a vector. The gene localized in the 5.8 kb PstI DNA fragment was expressed independently of its orientation in the cloning vector showing enzyme activity about 40 times greater than that produced by the original B, circulans The optimum pH and temperature of the cloned enzyme were pH 3.6 and 45^{\circ}C.$ respectively. The enzyme hydrolyzed starch to produce maltotriose and maltooligosaccharides. The SDS-PAGE and zymopram of the enzyme produced in E coli(p.4L850) indicated a molecular weight of 55,000.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 1993

A new strain of acidophilic, acetogenic bacterium, Acetobacter sp. strain HA was isolated by selective enrichment from the traditionally fermented rice wine vinegar in Korea. It was a gram-negative, non-motile short rod and oxidized acetate and lactate. The optimal temperature and pH for growth were $28^{\circ}C$ and 4.0, respectively. The strain HA differed from other Acetobacter species by growing well on methanol, xylitol, inositol, dulcitol, D-xylose, L-arabinose, and D-mannose as sole sources of carbon and energy. The isolated strain HA did not produce $\gamma$-pyrones from glucose and did not produce ketone bodies from glycerol. The quinone system used in this study was an ubiquinone-9 isoprene unit. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA was 50.7 mol%, and the major cellular fatty acids were $C_{18:1} and C_{16:0}$.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.179-184
• /
• 1990

Bone metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma appears to be peculiar when clinical manifestation of liver disease is not apparent, and initial diagnosis of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma by fine needle aspiration cytology is rarely obtained. We experienced a case of 45-year-old man with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in the sacrum, which was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. The intrahepatic mass, measuring 1.2 cm in diameter and kept unchanged in size for two years, was never proved to be hepatocellular carcinoma histopathologically. The aspirated neoplastic cells were mostly in sheets, showing abundant acidophilic cytoplasm and large, round, centrally located nuclei with single, prominent acidophilic mucleoli. In the cell block section, diagnosis of metastatic well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma was made without difficulty, and definite trabecular fashion with sinusoidal endothelial cell lining was found.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.256-262
• /
• 1993

Nine novel cyclodextrin glycosytransferase-producing bacteria were isolated from soil in a low acidic pH (3-4) medium at high temperature (45-60C). The isolated acidophilic bacteria were identified as Bacillus acidocaldarius. Highest yield of enzyme was obtained by using the following medium: 4% raw potato, 1% peptone, 0.1% yeast extract, 0.02% (NH4)2SO4, 0.05% MgSO4, 0.02% CaCl2, 0.3% KH2PO4. The crude enzyme showed a very broad pH-activity curve and had two optium pH ranges at 30 and 5.0-6.0. The crude enzyme was most active at 90C.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.145-148
• /
• 1997

Two dead and two terminally sick badgers with signs of lacrimation and nasal discharge were submitted to the Pathology Division of the National Veterinary Research Institute for necropsy. The major gross findings included chronic dermatitis and pneumonia. histologically intracytoplasmic and intranuclear acidophilic inclusion bodies consistent with Canine Distemper (CD) virus particles in lung kidney urinary bladder skin foot pad stomach and small intestine. Additionally there were diffuse bronchointerstitial pneumonia hyperkeratosis of foot pads and focal non-suppurative encephalitis. Canine distemper infection in these badgers was further confirmed by immuofluorescent technique which demonstrated CD virus-specific antigens in lung and kidney sections.