• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.353-365
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• 2000

After their first appearance on Earth, bacteria have exerted significant influence on geochemical behavior of elements. Numerous evidence of their control on geochemistry through geologic history has been observed in a variety of natural environments. They have mediated weathering rate, formation of secondary minerals, redox transformation of metals and metalloids, and thus global cycling of elements. Such ability of bacteria receives so considerable attention from microbiologists, mineralogists, geologists, soil scientists, limnologists, oceanographers, and atmospheric scientists as well as geochemists that a new and interdisciplinary field of research called 'geomicrobiology' is currently expanding. Some recent subjects of geomicrobiology which are studied extensively are as follows: 1) Functional groups distributed on bacterial cell walls adsorb dissolved cations onto cell surfaces by electrostatic surface complexation, which is followed by hydrous mineral formation. 2) Dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria conserve energy to support growth by oxidation of organic matter coupled to reduction of some oxidized metals and/or metalloids. They can be effectively used in remediating environments contaminated with U, As, Se, and Cr. 3) Bacteria increase the rate of mineral dissolution by excreting proton and ligands such as organic acids into aqueous system. 4) Thorough investigation on the effects of biofilm on geochemical processes is needed, because most bacteria are adsorbed on solid substrates and form biofilms in natural settings.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2014

Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) lactonase has been proved to be the AHL-degrading enzyme with the highest substrate specificity for AHL molecules and has shown a considerable potential as low-cost and efficient quorum quenching (QQ) technique. However, few studies focused on its inhibitory effect on biofilm formation which is also a quorum sensing (QS)-regulated phenomenon. In this study, QQ activity of six isolates from biofouled reverse osmosis membranes was studied using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 as biosensors under various conditions. All of the isolates belonged to the genus Bacillus and showed QQ activity regardless of the acyl chain length or substitution of AHL molecule. The isolates were capable of significantly inhibiting biofilm formation (46.7-58.3%) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and produced heat-sensitive extracellular QQ substances. The LC-MS analysis of the QQ activity of a selected isolate, RO1S-5, revealed the degradation of N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12 AHL) and the production of corresponding acyl homoserine (3-oxo-C12-HS), which indicated the activity of AHL lactonase. The broad AHL substrate range and high substrate specificity suggested that the isolate would be useful for the control of biofilm-related pathogenesis and biofouling in industrial processes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2007

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria(AOB) oxidize ammonia to nitrite and are important microorganisms which control nitrification. Several environmental factors such as dissolved oxygen(DO), temperature and pH influence the growth of AOB. In this work, to assess the effect of DO concentration on AOB, four aerobic biofilm reactors packed with ceramic media were operated 1, 3, 5 and 7 mgDO/L, respectively. The optimal DO concentration with stable nitrification efficiency in aerobic biofilm reactor was above 5.0 mg/L. To assess the relationship between the DO concentration and the characteristics of AOB in aerobic biofiim reactor, DGGE and cloning based on PCR targeting 16S rRNA and amoA gene were performed. Additionally, INT-DHA activity test was proceeded to estimate the activity of AOB. As the results of DGCE and cloning, the community of AOB and the ratio of Nitrosomonas sp. changed little in spite of different nitrification efficiencies. INT-DHA activity test showed that the activity of AOB decreased as DO concentration decreased. It means that DO concentration does not affect the community of AOB, but the activity of AOB.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.219-230
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of single- and dualspecies in vitro oral biofilms made by static and dynamic methods. Methods: Hydroxyapatite (HA) disks, 12.7 mm in diameter and 3 mm thick, were coated with processed saliva for 4 hours. The disks were divided into a static method group and a dynamic method group. The disks treated with a static method were cultured in 12-well plates, and the disks in the dynamic method group were cultured in a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) biofilm reactor for 72 hours. In the single- and dual-species biofilms, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis were used, and the amount of adhering bacteria, proportions of species, and bacterial reduction of chlorhexidine were examined. Bacterial adhesion was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results: Compared with the biofilms made using the static method, the biofilms made using the dynamic method had significantly lower amounts of adhering and looser bacterial accumulation in SEM and CLSM images. The proportion of P. gingivalis was higher in the dynamic method group than in the static method group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the biofilm thickness and bacterial reduction by chlorhexidine showed no significant differences between the 2 methods. Conclusions: When used to reproduce periodontal biofilms composed of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis, the dynamic method (CDC biofilm reactor) formed looser biofilms containing fewer bacteria than the well plate. However, this difference did not influence the thickness of the biofilms or the activity of chlorhexidine. Therefore, both methods are useful for mimicking periodontitis-associated oral biofilms.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2015

Quorum sensing (QS) is involved in the process of cell-to-cell communication and as a gene regulatory mechanism, which has been implicated in bacterial pathogenicity. Bacteria use this QS system to control a variety of physiological processes. In this study, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract (PPE) was first screened for its ability to inhibit QS in bio-reporter strains (Chromobacterium violaceum and C. violaceum CV026). Next, the ability of PPE to inhibit swimming motility and biofilm formation was examined in Y. enterocolitica. Additionally, changes in the expression of specific genes involved in the synthesis of the N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs; yenI and yenR) and in the flagellar regulon (fliA, fleB and flhDC) were evaluated by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. The results show that PPE specifically inhibited and reduced QS-controlled violacein production by 78.5% in C. violaceum CV026, and decreased QS-associated biofilm formation and swimming motility in Y. enterocolitica without significantly affecting bacterial growth. These inhibitory effects were also associated with the down-regulation of gene expression involved in the synthesis of AHLs and in motility. Our results suggest that PPE could be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent enteropathogens in humans, as well as highlight the need to further investigate the in vivo properties of PPE for clinical applications.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.435-444
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• 2009

In situ stabilization of heavy metals through adsorption onto indigenous bacterial biofilm developed on soil particles was investigated. Biofilms were developed in soil columns by supply of various carbon sources such as acetate, lactate and glucose. During development of biofilms, acetate, lactate, and glucose solutions were flew out from the soil columns with volume ratios of 98.5%, 97.3%, and 94.7%, respectively, when compared with soil column supplied with deionized water. Decrease in effluent amounts through the soil columns amended with carbon sources over time indicated the formation of biofilms resulting in decrease of soil porosity. Solutions of Cd, Cr(VI), Cu, Pb, and Zn were injected into the biofilms supported on soil particles in the columns, and the dissolved heavy metals in effluents were determined. Concentrations of dissolved Cd, Cr(VI), Cu, and Zn in the effluents through biofilm columns were lower than those of control column supplied with deionized water. The result was likely due to enhanced adsorption of the metals onto biofilms. Efficiency of metal removal by biofilms depended on the type of carbon sources supplied. The enhanced removal of dissolved heavy metals by bacterial biofilms in this study may be effectively applied to technical development of in situ stabilization of heavy metals in natural soil formation contaminated with heavy metals.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.219-232
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• 2007

Odors from manures are a major problem for livestock production. The most significant odorous compounds in animal manure a.e volatile fatty acids(VFAs). This work reviews the VFAs from the anaerobic sequencing biofilm batch reactor(ASBBR), anaerobic sequencing batch reactor(ASBR), solid compost batch reactor(SCBR), and aerobic sequencing batch reactor(SBR) associated with the animal manure biological treatment. First, we describe and quantify VFAs from animal manure biological treatment and discuss biofiltration for odor control. Then we review certain fundamentals aspects about Anaerobic and aerobic SBR, composting of animal manure, manure compost biofilter for odorous VFAs control, SBR for nitrogen removal, and ASBR for animal wastewater treatment systems considered important for the resource recovery and air quality. Finally, we present an overview for the future needs and current experience of the biological systems engineering for animal manure management and odor control.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.164-173
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of a newly devised toothbrush with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on Porphyromonas gingivalis attached to sandblasted and acid-etched titanium surfaces. Methods: The study included a control group, a commercial photodynamic therapy (PDT) group, and 3 test groups (B, BL, and BLE). The disks in the PDT group were placed in methylene blue and then irradiated with a diode laser. The B disks were only brushed, the BL disks were brushed with an LED toothbrush, and the BLE disks were placed into erythrosine and then brushed with an LED toothbrush. After the different treatments, bacteria were detached from the disks and spread on selective agar. The number of viable bacteria and percentage of bacterial reduction were determined from colony counts. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to visualize bacterial alterations. Results: The number of viable bacteria in the BLE group was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P<0.05). Scanning electron microscopy showed that bacterial cell walls were intact in the control and B groups, but changed after commercial PDT and LED exposure. Conclusions: The findings suggest that an LED toothbrush with erythrosine treatment was more effective than a commercial PDT kit in reducing the number of P. gingivalis cells attached to surface-modified titanium in vitro.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.319-329
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• 2019

Purpose: Direct application of atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJs) has been established as an effective method of microbial decontamination. This study aimed to investigate the bactericidal effect of direct application of an APPJ using helium gas (He-APPJ) on Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms on sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium discs. Methods: On the SLA discs covered by P. gingivalis biofilms, an APPJ with helium (He) as a discharge gas was applied at 3 different time intervals (0, 3, and 5 minutes). To evaluate the effect of the plasma itself, the He gas-only group was used as the control group. The bactericidal effect of the He-APPJ was determined by the number of colony-forming units. Bacterial viability was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and bacterial morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: As the plasma treatment time increased, the amount of P. gingivalis decreased, and the difference was statistically significant. In the SEM images, compared to the control group, the bacterial biofilm structure on SLA discs treated by the He-APPJ for more than 3 minutes was destroyed. In addition, the CLSM images showed consistent results. Even in sites distant from the area of direct He-APPJ exposure, decontamination effects were observed in both SEM and CLSM images. Conclusions: He-APPJ application was effective in removing P. gingivalis biofilm on SLA titanium discs in an in vitro experiment.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 2020

This study is aimed to evaluate and compare the surface roughness and microbial adhesion to alkasite restorative material (Cention N), resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI), and composite resin. And to examine the correlation between bacterial adhesion and surface roughness by different finishing systems. Specimens were fabricated in disk shapes and divided into four groups by finishing methods (control, carbide bur, fine grit diamond bur, and white stone bur). Surface roughness was tested by atomic force microscope and surface observation was performed by scanning electron microscope. Colony forming units were measured after incubating Streptococcus mutans biofilm on specimens using CDC biofilm reactor. Cention N surface roughness was less than 0.2 ㎛ after finishing procedure. Control specimens of resin and Cention N specimens were significantly (p = 0.01) rougher. Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC = 0.13) indicated a weak correlation between surface roughness and S. mutans adhesion to the specimens. Compared with resin specimens, RMGI and Cention N showed lower microbial adhesion. Surface roughness and bacterial adhesion were not significantly different, regardless of the finishing systems.