• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.366-370
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• 2004

Four chitinase producing bacteria, Arthrobacter nicotinae CH4, Arthrobacter nicotinae CHI3, Arthrobacter sp. CH5 and Micrococcus sp. CH3, were isolated from small crabs and shrimps. We investigated the optimum medium condition for the production of enzyme and high cell mass. The preferable medium composition was as follows: colchitin 0.1 %(w/v), glycerol 0.25%(w/v) and yeast extract 0.05%(w/v) in minimal midium ($K_{2}HPO_{4}$ 0.7 g/l, $KH_{2}PO_{4}$ 0.3 g/l, $MgSO_{4}{\cdot}5H_{2}O$ 0.5 g/l, $FeSO_{4}}{\cdot}7H_{2}O$ 0.01 g/l, $ZnSO_{4}$ 0.001 g/l, $MnCI_2$ 0.001 g/l, pH 7.0). This cell culture medium could be used directly as sample for measuring chitinase activity. Because it hardly conreducing sugar such as glucose (blank value=0), the detected reducing sugar can be considered as a chitinase reaction product. The results can be used for easy preparation method for determination of enzyme activity and analysis of enzyme-substrate reaction in step of screening of chitinase producing bacteria.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.222-226
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• 2015

The chitinase-producing bacterial strain C-1 is one of the key chitinase-producing biocontrol agents used for effective bioformulations for biological control. These bioformulations are mixed cultures of various chitinolytic bacteria. However, the precise identification, biocontrol activity, and the underlying mechanisms of the strain C-1 have not been investigated so far. Therefore, we evaluated in planta biocontrol efficacies of C-1 and determined the draft genome sequence of the strain in this study. The bacterial C-1 strain was identified as a novel Serratia sp. by a phylogenic analysis of its 16S rRNA sequence. The Serratia sp. C-1 bacterial cultures showed strong in planta biocontrol efficacies against some major phytopathogenic fungal diseases. The draft genome sequence of Serratia sp. C-1 indicated that the C-1 strain is a novel strain harboring a subset of genes that may be involved in its biocontrol activities.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.131-138
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• 2014

In this study, we isolated two novel chitinase producing bacterial strains from yellow loess samples collected from Jullanamdo province. The chitinase producing bacteria were isolated based on the zone size of clearance in the chitin agar plates. Both of them were gram positive, rod ($2{\sim}3{\times}0.3{\sim}0.4{\mu}m$), spore-forming, and motility positive. They were facultative anaerobic, catalase positive and hydrolyzed starch, gelatin, and casein. From the 16s rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates were labeled as Bacillus licheniformis KYLS-CU01 and B. licheniformis KYLS-CU02. The isolates showed higher extracellular chitinase activities than B. licheniformis ATCC 14580 as a control. The optimum temperature and pH for chitinase production were $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0, respectively. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the culture medium for efficient production of the chitinase. Under this optimal condition, 1.5 times higher chitinase activity of B. licheniformis KYLS-CU02 was obtained. Extracellular chitinases of the two isolates were purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion-exchange DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The specific activities of purified chitinase from B. licheniformis KYLS-CU01 and B. licheniformis KYLS-CU02 were 7.65 and 5.21 U/mg protein, respectively. The molecular weights of the two purified chitinases were 59 kDa. Further, the purified chitinase of B. licheniformis KYLS-CU01 showed high antifungal activity against Fusarium sp.. In conclusion, these two bacterial isolates can be used as a biopesticide to control pathogenic fungi.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 2017

Recent worldwide demand for organic and sustainable agriculture products is driving the development of formulations of biopesticides effective in the field. Biopesticides have the benefit of environmentally-friendly qualities. However, biocontrol approaches largely have been ineffective in controlling plant pests in field conditions. Previously, we developed a cost-effective biocontrol formulation containing chitin and chitinase-producing biocontrol bacteria with field efficacy. This formulated product has successfully suppressed various plant diseases in the field conditions. In this review, we focus on ecological aspects and the potential mechanisms underpinning the success of chitinase-producing bacteria. In addition, we discuss the possibility on-site cultivation of the formulated products to further strengthen the approach as being farmer friendly and successful.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2018

Chitinases are glycosyl hydrolases which cleave the ${\beta}$-1,4 linkage of chitin into oligo or monomers of N-acetylglucosamine. These bacterial enzymes have been used for a wide range of applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, we isolated two potential chitinolytic strains, BAO-01 and BAO-02, from salt-fermented shrimp, which were shown to belong to the genus Salinivibrio through genetic characterization using 16S rRNA. These isolates were gram-positive, rod-shaped, and non-spore forming. BAO-01 showed greater growth and chitinase activity than BAO-02 after the incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 4 days. Both strains grew on a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources, pH values, temperatures, and salt levels. However, they showed minor biochemical differences. In addition, their antimicrobial activities against foodborne pathogens and antibiotic susceptibilities were evaluated. These Salinivibrio spp. did not show bioamine production, hemolytic activity, and mucin degradation. Therefore, the in vitro screening results suggested that these bacteria could be widely used as new candidates for chitin hydrolyzation and seafood fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2005

Many isolates from soil of Korean ginseng rhizosphere did not show remarkable growth on full strength of the conventional nutrient broth (NB medium) but grew on its 100-fold dilution (DNB medium). Six hundred-forty strains were isolated as oligotrophic bacteria. In the course of screening for new bioactive compounds from oligotrophic bacteria from soil, 8 strains which had appeared to form of clear zone on a medium containing colloidal chitin as a sole carbon source were selected for further studies. Strain CR42 hydrolyzed a fluorogenic analogue of chitin, 4-methylumbelliferyl-D-glucosaminide (MUF-NAG) . Mo st of the culture supernatant of these isolates hydrolyzed 4-methylumbelliferyl-D-N,N'-diacetylchitobioside (MUF-diNAG). The isolates were heterogeneous and categorized to gamma- and beta-proteobacteria, Bacillaceae, Actinobactepia, and Bacteroides by 16S rRNA analysis. Two strains, WR164 and CR18, had a 16S rRNA sequence of $95-96\%$ identical to uncultured bacteria. It was observed that CR2 and CR75 could inhibit the growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with hyphal extention-inhibition assay on PDA plate supplemented with $1\%$ colloidal chitin.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1188-1192
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• 2003

Chitinase producing bacteria, Arthrobacter nicotianae CH4 and A. nicotianae CH13, were isolated from small crabs by an enrichment culture using chitin as the sole carbon source. Crude chitinases from the two isolated strains, A. nicotianae CH4 and A. nicotianae CH13, were stable in the pH range of $3.0{\sim}9.0$ and in the temperature range of $20{\sim}60^{\circ}C$. The reducing sugar $(GlcNAc)_1$, or $(GlcNAc)_4$, corresponding to over 98% of the enzyme reaction products, was obtained. The production of functional $(GlcNAc)_1$ and $(GlcNAc)_4$ from A. nicotianae CH13 and A. nicotianae CH4, respectively, from the chitinases was useful. The chitinase system of A. nicotianae CH13 was supposed to be endo- and exo-chitinase, and N-acetylglucosaminidase.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.171-175
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• 2006

Chitin compost and broth were used to suppress club root. Individual cabbage seedlings were transplanted into pots(3500 ml) containing a mixture of 3% chitin compost and 50 ml of chitin broth (T1) or the same quantity control compost and control compost broth(T2). The media in each pot was then infected with Plasmodiophora brassicae. Samples were taken at 6, 7 and 8 weeks after transplanting. The population of chitinase producing bacteria in T1 was consistently larger than that observed in T2. Chitinase activity in the T1 rhizosphere was two-fold greater than that of T2 at each time point observed. Shoot dry weight, leaf number and leaf area in T1 were enhanced 20%, 10% and 12% relative to those seen in T2, respectively. The disease index and root mortality at 8 weeks after transplanting were reduced by 50% and 25% in T1 compared to T2, respectively. Results presented in this study are strongly indicative that chitin compost and broth suppress clubroot in Chinese cabbage.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.346-356
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Chemical fungicides not only may pollute the ecosystem but also can be environmentally hazardous, as the chemicals accumulate in soil. Biological control is a frequently-used environment-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides in phytopathogen management. However, the use of microbial products as fungicides has limitations. This study isolated and characterized a three-antifungal-enzyme (chitinase, cellulase, and ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase)-producing bacterium, and examined the conditions required to optimize the production of the antifungal enzymes. METHOD AND RESULTS: The antifungal enzymes chitinase, cellulase, and ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase were produced by bacteria isolated from an sawmill in Korea. Based on the 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the bacterial strain AM50 was identical to Streptomyces sp. And their antifungal activity was optimized when Streptomyces sp. AM50 was grown aerobically in a medium composed of 0.4% chitin, 0.4% starch, 0.2% ammonium sulfate, 0.11% $Na_2HPO_4$, 0.07% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.0001% $MgSO_4$, and 0.0001% $MnSO_4$ at $30^{\circ}C$. A culture broth of Streptomyces sp. AM50 showed antifungal activity towards the hyphae of plant pathogenic fungi, including hyphae swelling and lysis in P. capsici, factors that may contribute to its suppression of plant pathogenic fungi. CONCLUSION(S): This study demonstrated the multiantifungal enzyme production by Streptomyces sp. AM50 for the biological control of major plant pathogens. Further studies will investigate the synergistic effect, to the growth regulations by biogenic amines and antifungal enzyme gene promoter.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2022

L-asparaginase (ASNase) is a therapeutic enzyme used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Currently, the most widely used ASNases are originated from bacteria. However, owing to the adverse effects of bacterial ASNases, new resources for ASNase production should be explored. Fungal enzymes are considered efficient and compatible resources of natural products for diverse applications. In particular, fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma are well-known producers of several commercial enzymes including cellulase, chitinase, and xylanase. However, enzyme production by marine-derived Trichoderma spp. remains to be elucidated. While screening for extracellular ASNase-producing fungi from marine environments, we found four strains showing extracellular ASNase activity. Based on the morphological and phylogenetic analyses using sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1α), the Trichoderma isolates were identified as T. afroharzianum, T. asperellem, T. citrinoviride, and Trichoderma sp. 1. All four strains showed different ASNase activities depending on the carbon sources. T. asperellem MABIK FU00000795 showed the highest ASNase value with lactose as a carbon source. Based on our findings, we propose that marine-derived Trichoderma spp. are potential candidates for novel ASNase production.