• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.743-748
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• 2020

Sulfate is a reductant that competes for electrons and may lower CH₄ production in the rumen. This study was designed to evaluate the beneficial effect of detoxified sulfur powder supplementation on in vitro rumen fermentation and methane mitigation. A ruminally cannulated Holstein Friesian cow was used as a rumen fluid source, and commercial pelleted concentrate was used as a substrate at 1 g dry matter. Treatments included the addition of detoxified sulfur powder at the rate of 0% (Control), 0.2% (T1), 0.4% (T2), 0.6% (T3), 0.8% (T4), and 1.0% (T5) as dry matter (DM) basis. The pH, total gas (TG), methane (CH₄) production, DM digestibility, organic matter (OM) digestibility, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) production were analyzed after 12 hr of incubation. The results showed that CH₄ production was significantly lowest in T1 (13.78 ml) but highest in the control (20.16 ml). Insignificantly higher total VFA was observed in control and T1 (64.99 and 64.28 mM, respectively) compared to other treatments after 12 hr of incubation. After 12 hr of incubation, the significantly lowest acetate:propionate was observed in T1 (1.90) while the highest was observed in T4 (2.44). However, no significant differences were recorded for pH, TG, DM digestibility, OM digestibility, acetate, propionate, and butyrate between the control and T1. Total number of bacterial DNA copies was significantly lower in the treatment group than the control. Therefore, it can be concluded from this study that detoxified sulfur at 0.2% inclusion level is optimal for production performance and ruminal CH₄ mitigation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.796-803
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• 2013

Property changes and bacterial characterizations by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) were investigated during the fermentation of Makgeollies by 5 isolated yeast strains. Changes of pH were large between day 0 (pH 6) and day 2 (pH 3) and showed less variation after then. ANOVA analyses revealed that pHs were statistically different with fermentation times (p<0.001), while strains (p=0.60) did not. Acidities were changed from 0.19 to 1.04% and showed rather high increase from day 2, and fermentation times (p<0.001) and strains (p=0.006) represented statistical differences. All strains showed less than 0.150% at amino-type nitrogen contents except S strain showed 0.442% at day 8, and there were no statistical differences with fermentation times (p=0.4558) and strains (p=0.3513). Saccharinities of C strain were higher from day 4, and fermentation times (p<0.0001) and strains (p=0.007) showed statistical differences. Large variation of alcohol concentrations (%) were observed between day 0 (0%) and day 2 (10%) and showed less variation after day 2, and there was no statistical difference with strains. Dominant prokaryotes were Lactobacillus fermentum and Pediococcus pentosaceus, which producing acids and functional materials. Dominant eukaryote was Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which might be resulted from addition of yeasts.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2014

Community-acquired antimicrobial resistant bacteria are an emerging problem world-wide. In Korea, resistant bacteria are more prevalent than in other industrialized countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation frequency of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), Pseudomonas, and Enterobacteriaceae from surrounding environment (home, colleges, public transportation system and possessions) in Seoul, and to examine the level of drug resistance to 13 antimicrobial agents, which are in wide spread clinical use in Korea, as well as new agent, tigecycline in Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Of total 239 samples, 18 (7.5%) MRS, 10 (4.2%) Pseudomonas, and 30 (12.6%) Entarobacteriaceae were isolated. A total of 5 (2.1%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were detected in home (2 samples), colleges (1 sample), and et cetera (2 sample). A total of 5 (2.1%) Escherichia coli were detected in in home (1 samples), public transportations (3 sample), and et cetera (1 sample). Resistance to cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, ${\beta}$-lactams, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides was found in 71.9%, 71.9%, 68.8%, 68.8%, 50.0%, and 25.0% of 32 Enterobacteriaceae isolates, respectively. Also, resistance rate to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole of the isolates was a 43.8%. Moreover, 59.4% of the isolates were resistant to new agent, tigecycline and resistance to all agents tested was observed in 3 isolates. Five E. coli isolates were resistant to most of the agents tested, but some of them were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. This study can serve as a data point for future comparisons of possible changes in antibiotic resistance levels in surrounding environment. And multilateral strategies for preventing the incidence and spread of antibiotic resistance are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.422-427
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the microbiological contamination levels of Dutch coffee products marketed in Korea. The temperature conditions during distribution and storage were also considered in this experiment. Retailed Dutch coffee were purchased from regional cafes, that is, these were self-blended by the cafes, and the marketed products were purchased from department stores and from Internet sites. The 21 samples were blended in a coffee house and 9 were obtained from department stores or were delivered from internet sites. House blended Dutch coffee contained $35.2{\pm}15.8CFU/mL$ of general bacteria, and this increased to $78.4{\pm}29.7CFU/mL$ at room temperature or $51.2{\pm}32.1CFU/mL$ after refrigeration for 5 days. These almost reached the highest criteria level for the Korea Food Sanitation Law. After 10 days, the count increased to $98.5{\pm}58.4CFU/mL$ at room temperature and $86.7{\pm}44.2CFU/mL$ at refrigeration temperature. In the Dutch coffee for distribution, $39.6{\pm}20.1CFU/mL$ of general bacteria were detected, but these did not increase after 5 days or 10 days both for room temperature and under refrigeration. The Coliform group was not found in any kind of Dutch coffee, and Fungi was founded in 60% of the Dutch samples purchased in coffee houses, department stores, and shopping sites mall. On day 0 day, $2.6{\pm}1.7CFU/mL$ of fungi were detected in the coffee house Dutch, and it did not increase significantly during the storage period at room and in a cold temperature. $3.5{\pm}3.4CFU/mL$ of fungi were detected in the Dutch coffee for distribution, and it didn't increase during further storage under any temperature.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2016

Cutaneous microvasculature plays a critical role in age-associated skin changes. A considerable reduction of number and size of vessels has been observed in the upper dermis of elderly skin. Forsythiae fructus (FF), the dried fruit of plant Forsythia suspensa (F. suspensa), has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and bacterial diseases. However, its regulatory effect on angiogenic responses has not been elucidated in skin. Therefore, we analyzed secretory profiles upon treatment of FF extract using array designed to detect angiogenesis-associated mediators in human keratinocytes. Because keratinocyte-derived VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) has been regarded as a potent factor for new microvasculature under the epidermis, we further investigated the effect of FF extract on VEGF production. We observed that the VEGF expression of mRNA and protein level was increased by about 2 folds in a dose-dependent manner after FF extract treatment. In signaling experiments, FF extract induced rapid p38 MAPK activation within 5 min, and the activation was totally abrogated by pretreatment with a p38 MAPK specific inhibitor. The FF-induced VEGF upregulation was also significantly attenuated by a p38 MAPK inhibition. Taken together, FF extract induces VEGF production via p38 MAPK activation in human epidermal keratinocytes. These novel findings suggest that FF is useful as a potential agent with pro-angiogenic activity and may help to improve age-dependent reduction of the microvasculature in aged skin or to heal skin wound.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1056-1061
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• 2018

This article reports an agar-degrading marine bacterium and characterizes its agarase. The agar-degrading marine bacterium, KC-1, was isolated from seawater on the shores of Sacheon, in Gyeongnam province, Korea, using Marine Broth 2216 agar medium. To identify the agar-degrading bacterium as Agarivorans sp. KC-1, phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence was used. An extracellular agarase was prepared from a culture medium of Agarivorans sp. KC-1, and used for the characterization of enzyme. The relative activities at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and $70^{\circ}C$ were 65, 91, 96, 100, 77, and 35%, respectively. The relative activities at pH 5, 6, 7, and 8 were 93, 100, 87, and 82%, respectively. The extracellular agarase showed maximum activity (254 units/l) at pH 6.0 and $50^{\circ}C$ in 20 mM of Tris-HCl buffer. The agarase activity was maintained at 90% or more until 2 hr exposure at $20^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$ and $40^{\circ}C$, but it was found that the activity decreased sharply from $60^{\circ}C$. A zymogram analysis showed that Agarivorans sp. KC-1 produced 3 agar-degrading enzymes that had molecular weights of 130, 80, and 69 kDa. A thin layer chromatography analysis suggested that Agarivorans sp. KC-1 produced extracellular ${\beta}$-agarases as it hydrolyzed agarose to produce neoagarooligosaccharides, including neoagarohexaose (21.6%), neoagarotetraose (32.2%), and neoagarobiose (46.2%). These results suggest that Agarivorans sp. KC-1 and its thermotolerant ${\beta}$-agarase would be useful for the production of neoagarooligosaccharides that inhibit bacterial growth and delay starch degradation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1156-1163
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• 2015

The present study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of four different medicinal plants in a cyclophosphamide-treated Balb/c mouse model. One of the four plants, Ulmus macrocarpa, showed partial resistance against immune suppression induced by cyclophosphamide. The bark of U. macrocarpa, commonly known as the Chinese elm, has been used as a pharmaceutical material in Korean traditional medicine to treat bacterial inflammation and induce wound healing. In this study, water extract of U. macrocarpa, named DEU-7, was used for its immunomodulating functional activity. DEU-7 increased the weight of the spleen and the number of splenocytes but did not significantly affect the liver, kidney, and thymus in vivo. A splenocyte viability assay confirmed that DEU-7 influenced ex vivo splenocyte survival. DEU-7 also increased the levels of cytokines, such as IL-2 and IL-4, and immunoglobulins, such as IgM, IgG, and IgA. These results indicated that DEU-7 is involved in the activation of T and B lymphocytes. In addition, DEU-7 was able to maintain the production of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ, in the condition of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression, suggesting that DEU-7 activated innate immune cells, even under immune suppression. We concluded that DEU-7 aids immunological homeostasis, thereby preventing immune suppression, and aids both innate and adaptive immune response by maintaining the levels of various cytokines and immunoglobulins. Consequently, it is worth investigating the potential of DEU-7 as a supplemental source for immune-enhancing agents.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.130-139
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• 2016

A bacterial strain, producing an excellent lipolytic enzyme, was isolated from the intestinal tracts of an earthworm (Eisenia fetida). The strain was identified as Aeromonas hydrophila by phenotypic, chemotaxonomic characteristics and 16S ribosomal DNA analysis, and was designated as Aeromona hydrophila PL43. The lipolytic enzyme from A. hydrophila PL43 was purified via 35−45% ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-sepharose fast flow ion-exchange, and sephacryl S-300HR gel filtration chromatography. The yield of the purified enzyme was 3.7% and 2.5% of the total activity of crude extracts with p-nitrophenyl butyrate (pNPB) and p-nitrophenyl palmitate (pNPP) as substrates, respectively. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was approximately 74 kDa using gel filtration, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and zymography. The optimal activity of purified enzyme was observed at 50℃ and pH 8.0 using pNPB, and 60℃ and pH 8.0 using pNPP. The purified enzyme was stable in the ranges 20− 60℃ and pH 7.0−10.0. The activity of purified enzyme was inhibited by PMSF, pepstatin A, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe²⁺, but was recovered by metal chelating of EDTA. The K_m and V_max values of the purified enzyme were 1.07 mM and 7.27 mM/min using pNPB and 1.43 mM and 2.72 mM/min using pNPP, respectively.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.583-590
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• 2019

As the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables increases, food poisoning caused by foodborne pathogen contamination is not decreasing. To prevent the contamination of produce, a quick and easy, low-cost, environmentally-safe disinfection method that does not affect produce freshness or quality is needed. This study demonstrates a new-concept, circulating-water disinfection system that purifies water by using newly developed 'LED-PS (photosensitizer)-induced ROS generation unit'. Using various types of LED-PS induced ROS generation units, we investigated the conditions for reducing the density of various pathogenic bacteria by more than 3 log CFU / mL in 1 hour. The major operational factors affecting the density reduction of the LED-PS-induced ROS generation unit were analyzed. Depending on bacteria species, the density reduction rate was varied. The effect of the units on reducing the density of Bacillus cereus and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum was high, but the effect on foodborne bacteria such as Escherichia coli was relatively low. In this circulating water disinfection system, the density reduction effect tended to increase as the flow rate increased and the initial bacterial density decreased. As the amount of PS absorbed beads increased, the density reduction effect increased exponentially in some bacteria. Model 3280, a double cylindrical unit connecting two single cylindrical units, could completely sterilize more than 3 log CFU/mL of B. cereus and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in 30 minutes of LED irradiation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2003

Purpose : Infection with Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli, an emerging human pathogen found particularly in young children under 5 years of age, causes a spectrum of illnesses with high morbidity and mortality, ranging from diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Host mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLT-I toxicity. The experiments described here were designed to investigate the effect of SLT-I on TNF-${\alpha}$ production and to understand the effect of TNF-${\alpha}$ on GB3 expression. We also further examine the relationship between the Gb3 level and the differential susceptibility of cells to the cytotoxic action of SLT-I. Methods : The effect of purified SLT-1 from E. coli O157 : H7 (ATCC 43890) on tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) production in Raw264.7 cells was investigated. Many mediators regulate endothelial cell membrane expression of the glycolipid globotriaosyleramide (Gb3), which serves as the toxin receptor, suggesting that the host response to the toxin or other bacterial products may contribute to pathogenesis by regulating target cell sensitivity to the toxins. Therefore, the relationships between Gb3 expression and cytotoxicity against SLT-I on three types of cells were evaluated. Results : Detectable levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ were produced as early as six hours after induction and continued to increase during 48 hours by SLT-I. It was also found that Vero cells and dendritic cells (DC2.4 cells) expressed high levels of Gb3, 83% and 68%, respectively, and that Raw264.7 cells had a low level of Gb3 (29%) and appeared refractory to cytotoxicity against SLT-I. Vero cells and DC2.4 cells expressing high levels of Gb3 were highly susceptible to SLT-I. Furthermore, macrophages showed a resistance to SLT-I cytotoxicity, despite the fact that Gb3 expression was enhanced. Conclusion : These results strongly suggest that the expression of Gb3 is necessary but not sufficient to confer sensitivity of macrophages to SLT-I and further underpin the important role of SLT-I and its Gb3 receptors in the pathogenesis of E. coli O157 infection.