• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.398-403
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• 2007

The effectiveness of phage biocontrol depends on the activity of bacteriophage in a given environment. In order to investigate the infectivity and the stability of bacteriophages in representative environments, three virulent phages, Listeria phage A511, Salmonella phage Felix O1, and Escherichia coli phage T7, were subjected to different temperatures, pHs and salt concentrations (NaCl). Phage infectivity was also determined in the presence of divalent cations ($Mg^{2+}$ or $Ca^{2+}$). As a result, three phages exhibited a wide range of survival rates under various environments. Phage infectivity was directly correlated with bacterial growth under the applied conditions. One exception was Felix O1 that did not kill Salmonella grown in low pH (4.5). The failure was attributed to defective adsorption of Felix O1. This finding is significant as it provides an explanation for the inefficient phage biocontrol. Therefore, such information is crucial to improve phage biocontrol of pathogens.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.203-206
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• 1997

Takju is a traditional alcoholic beverage that has been prepared by fermenting the cooked rice and Nuruk (Korean-style bran koji). During fermentation. bacterial contamination is a problem which inhibits the growth of yeast and thus lowers the ethanol production from starch of rice, and causes souring. Major contaminants were known to be gram-positive acid producers at the early stage of fermentation. This problem would be solved if the contaminated bacteria could be controlled. Nisin, a GRAS-grade preservative, was added at the level of 500 iu/g as it retards the growth of the gram-positive bacteria. It was possible to control acid and ethanol production during fermentation. This process increased the ethanol production by 2 % comparing with control.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.580-583
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• 2007

Phytase activity was examined with various bifidobacterial strains cultured statically in MRS broth at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr. Seven Bifidobacterium species showed mostly an intracellular phytase activity, though their specific activities were very low. The highest specific activity was found in Bifidobacterium animalis B33 strain, among 7 bifidobacteria tested. The specific activity was highest during the exponential growth phase. Carbohydrates and the concentration of phosphorus sources had an effect on the phytase activity and bacterial growth. Glucose was the most favorable carbohydrate for the phytase activity. Phytate inhibited the cell growth, and phytase activity decreased with increase of phytate concentration. The phytase activity was even higher in the static microaerophilic growth than that in anaerobic state, despite the stimulated growth in anaerobic growth. The optimal pH ranges were comparatively broad, but the optimal temperatures were $50^{\circ}C$ for all tested strains. The phytase activity was most active at pH 6.5 and $50^{\circ}C$ for B. animalis B33 strain.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2002

Factors affecting the production of bacterial cellulose and organic acids in Kombucha fermentation were investigated. Kombucha was obtained by the fermentation (for 12 days at 3$0^{\circ}C$) of the green/black tea extract, supplemented with 10% white sugar, using an Oriental tea fungus as starter. Hitgher initial pH increased acid production with decreased cellulose production. With a cellulose pellicle or tea fungus broth as a starter, a 1~3 mm thick cellulose layer developed as a top layer every four days, and was removed subsequently while continuing fermentation. Addition of 30 mL tea fungus broth (13%, v/v) in Kombucha fermentation resulted in maximum production of a cellulose pellicle, indicating weak acid production. Yield of cellulose production at an early stage of fermentation was also higher when Kombucha was inoculated with a cellulose pellicle. In fact, addition of 1% (v/v) alcoholic beverage in the Kombucha fermentation activated the cellulose production, coupled with four times higher acid production.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.257-260
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• 2006

The correlation between microbiological and sensory quality indexes was investigated for Korean seasoned side dishes stored under chilled conditions, by using both published data and experimental evaluation. Aerobic bacterial counts on the perishable Korean side dishes showed high inverse correlation with sensory quality and could also be regarded as a main cause of sensory quality deterioration. Therefore, monitoring or estimating the microbial growth on these products should be an effective means for estimating and extending their shelf life.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.348-355
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• 2021

Bacteriophages (phages) are known determinants of kimchi microbial ecology. Lactobacillus plantarum is related to kimchi over-acidification during the late stages of kimchi fermentation. A phage infecting Lac. plantarum was isolated from kimchi and characterized. The phage population for kimchi in a market was 2.3 log particles/mL, which corresponded to 32% of the bacterial population on a log scale. The isolated phage was designated as ΦLP12116. ΦLP12116 which belonged to the Siphoviridae family and has a very narrow host range, infecting only Lac. plantarum. The phage was stable at a lactic acid concentration of 1.0% and pH 4.0 at 4℃, indicating that it could survive in kimchi. In the kimchi extract broth treated by the phage, the growth of Lac. plantarum KCCM 12116 was inhibited by 2.2 log CFU/mL compared to the growth in non-phage-treated broth. Therefore, this study suggests that the growth of Lac. plantarum, which is known as an acid-producing strain during late fermentation in kimchi, may be controlled using the phage.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.376-386
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial hazards posed by food utensils and fixtures in food service operations at selected middle and high schools located in Seoul, Korea. Methods: We collected 200 samples of utensils and fixtures including cups, spoons/chopsticks, food trays and tables from five different schools in Seoul. Target microorganisms of this study were divided into two groups: total bacterial count and total coliform as indicators of microbial contamination and Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus as pathogens of food poisoning. We used selective media to quantify microbial concentration and 16S rRNA PCR assay for qualitative analysis. In addition, intensive interviews with nutritionists were conducted and observations were made to identify factors that may affect microbial contamination. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the relationship between the microbial concentration and operation characteristics of each operation. Results: The level of microbial concentration in school B and C were significantly lower than in school A, D and E (p<0.05). Some samples from school A, D and E showed over 3.4 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ (total bacterial count) and 1.0 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ (total coliform), which requires immediate hygienic action. The number of customers per staff member, periodicity of hygiene education for staff and daily operation time of sterilizers were also found to be important factors related with the microbial contamination of food service operations. Conclusions: These results suggested that not only a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) approach, but also efforts to assess internal risk factors within operations be needed to reduce the microbial contamination of food utensils and fixtures. This study is expected to provide preliminary data for assessing microbial hazards in food service operations.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.579-588
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• 2007

The effects of packaging methods on the quality of beef and pork jerky samples prepared Korean- style were investigated in terms of their pH, water activities ($A_w$), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values, total bacterial counts, and sensory evaluations during storage at room temperature ($25^{\circ}C$ for 90 days. The jerky was subjected to plastic packaging and vacuum packaging conditions at $25^{\circ}C$ Levels of pH slightly decreased during storage (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the packaging methods. (p>0.05) Also, water activity decreased as storage time passed (p<0.05), and vacuum packaging resulted in a higher water activity value than plastic packaging. The hardness value of the jerky in plastic packaging was higher than that in vacuum packaging (p<0.05). In addition, hardness and TBA increased over the storage periods (p<0.05). The total bacterial counts in of the vacuum packaged jerky were lower than those of the plastic packaged jerky. The vacuum packaging treatments had higher scores than the plastic packaging treatments for all sensory traits. Based on our findings, we conclude that vacuum packaging is a more effective storage method than plastic packaging for jerky.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.31.1-31.11
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• 2017

Background: Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide-2 (LEAP-2) is an important component of innate immune system in teleosts. In order to understand isoform-specific involvement and regulation of LEAP-2 genes in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis, Cypriniformes), a commercially important food fish, this study was aimed to characterize gene structure and expression characteristics of two paralog LEAP-2 isoforms. Results: Mud loach LEAP-2 isoforms (LEAP-2A and LEAP-2B) showed conserved features in the core structure of mature peptides characterized by four Cys residues to form two disulfide bonds. The two paralog isoforms represented a tripartite genomic organization, known as a common structure of vertebrate LEAP-2 genes. Bioinformatic analysis predicted various transcription factor binding motifs in the 5'-flanking regions of mud loach LEAP-2 genes with regard to development and immune response. Mud loach LEAP-2A and LEAP-2B isoforms exhibited different tissue expression patterns and were developmentally regulated. Both isoforms are rapidly modulated toward upregulation during bacterial challenge in an isoform and/or tissue-dependent fashion. Conclusion: Both LEAP-2 isoforms play protective roles not only in embryonic and larval development but also in early immune response to bacterial invasion in mud loach. The regulation pattern of the two isoform genes under basal and stimulated conditions would be isoform-specific, suggestive of a certain degree of functional divergence between isoforms in innate immune system in this species.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.201-216
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• 2021

During an investigation of indigenous prokaryotic species in the Republic of Korea, a total of 38 bacterial strains belonging to the class Gammaproteobacteria were isolated from diverse environments. Samples were collected from soil, seawater, sand, sedimentary soil, rabbit feces, rat intestines, marine wetland, and tidal flats. The strains were identified to the species level using the high 16S rRNA gene sequences and showed high similarity (>98.7%) with the closest bacterial species and formed a robust clade in the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree; it was determined that each strain belonged to independent, predefined bacteria species within the class Gammaproteobacteria. The 38 strains of Gammaproteobacteria analyzed in this study have not been reported in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, this study describes 20 genera of 13 families in 8 orders: Aeromonadales, Alteromonadales, Cellvibrionales, Enterobacterales, Lysobacterales, Oceanospirillales, Pseudomonadales, and Vibrionales. For each species, we describe Gram reaction, strain ID, isolation source, colony and cell morphology, cultural, physiological, and basic biochemical characteristics.