• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.422-427
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to investigate the concentration of total coliforms in sewage effluents during the period from August 2004 to October 2005. The removal efficiency range of multi-tube method and plate count method were $31.3{\sim}99.5%$ and $66.8{\sim}99.2%$, respectively. Though a correlation between the multi-tube method and the plate count method in the same sample is low, not only is an experimental procedure very simple, but the time required also is short. The seasonal correlation between methods showed more sensitive spring and summer than autumn and winter. So the study indicated plate count method can be used in rapid and reliance identification of total coliform more than the multi-tube method.

• Mycobiology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.191-195
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• 2003

Ethanol treatment method was attempted for the selective isolation of ethanol-tolerant fungi from two sites of rice paddy fields around Seoul area. The vertical and seasonal fluctuation of the fungal population were also investigated. The ethanol-tolerant fungi were Talaromyces stipitatus, T. flavus var. flavus, T. helicus var. major, Eupenicillium javanicum, Emericellopsis terricolor, Pseudourotium zonatum, Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium frequentans, P. janthinellum, and P. verruculosum. The most dominant species isolated by this method was T. stipitatus. It was found that the numbers of fungal species and colony forming units(CFUs) of ethanol-tolerant fungi were higher in Ascomycota than in Deuteromycota. A particular tendency appeared the highest CFUs in autumn, but lower in spring and winter. T. stipitatus was the dominant species of ethanol tolerant microfungi. This result would suggest that membrane lipid composition of ethanol-tolerant fungi isolated from the soils may play on important role in the ethanol tolerance.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.250-253
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• 2000

The effects of high relative humidity (RH) on the physicochemical properties and microbial activity of mature green tomatoes ('Dombito') during refrigerated storage were determined at three temperatures (5, 10, and $15^{\circ}C$) and four different RH levels (91, 94, 97, and 99%). At each temperature, the weight loss rates of tomatoes at different levels of RH were significantly (p<0.05) different from each other. For the samples stored at $10^{\circ}C$, the weight losses were generally higher than those for the samples at $15^{\circ}C$ within the same RH level (i.e., greater vapor pressure deficit). The color change rates ('a' value) showed positive slopes, indicating that the tomato color was changing from green to red. Neither bacteria nor fungi caused visible damages to the samples, and the microbial counts were below 650 colony forming units/$cm^2$ during the test period.

• BioChip Journal
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2018

Bacillus cereus can cause blood infections (i.e., sepsis). Its early detection is very important for treating patients. However, an antibody with high binding affinity to B. cereus is not currently available. Bacteriophage cell wall-binding domain (CBD) has strong and specific binding affinity to B. cereus. Here, we report the improvement in the sensitivity of an ATP bioluminescence assay for B. cereus detection using CBD-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles (CBD-MNPs). The assay was able to detect as few as 10 colony forming units (CFU) per mL and $10^3CFU\;per\;mL$ in buffer and blood. CBD-MNPs did not show any cross-reactivity with other microorganisms. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the ATP assay for the detection of B. cereus.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.58.1-58.8
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• 2021

Objectives: This study addresses the effect of using nanoparticles (np) on the antimicrobial properties of bioactive glass (BAG) when used in intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) biofilms. Materials and Methods: E. faecalis biofilms, grown inside 90 root canals for 21 days, were randomly divided into 4 groups according to the antimicrobial regimen followed (n = 20; BAG-np, BAG, calcium hydroxide [CaOH], and saline). After 1 week, residual live bacteria were quantified in terms of colony-forming units (CFU), while dead bacteria were assessed with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Results: Although there was a statistically significant decrease in the mean CFU value among all groups, the nano-group performed the best. The highest percentage of dead bacteria was detected in the BAG-np group, with a significant difference from the BAG group. Conclusions: The reduction of particle size and use of a nano-form of BAG improved the antimicrobial properties of the intracanal treatment of E. faecalis biofilms

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.459-465
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• 1999

The inhibition degree of the isolated bacteria on plaque formation of Streptococcus mutans, and the effect of these bacterial genus on the concentration of total bacteria in saliva were assessed with the following. The effectiveness of the isolated bacteria on the inhibition of plaque formation was assessed culturing Streptococcus mutans in the beaker with orthodontic wires. The mean weight of plaque produced on a wire was 152mg in the culture of Streptococcus mutans only, whereas being reduced to 4mg, 78mg, or 72mg in the combined culture of Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus durans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, or Streptococcus oralis. The colony forming units (CFU) of Streptococcus mutans were $3.6{\times}10^8$ per ml in the culture of Streptococcus mutans, only, wheras being $1.4{\times}10^6,\;5.6{\times}10^6,\;or\;3.8{\times}10^6$ per ml in the combined culture of Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus durans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, or Streptococcus oralis. When saliva from children was inoculated on brain heart infusion agar, the colony forming units of bacteria were $4.8{\times}10^6\;to\;1.3{\times}10^9$ per ml of saliva. The concentration of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, or Streptococcus inhibiting Streptococcus mutans in saliva was not proportioned to that of total bacteria replicated on brain heart infusion agar. These results indicate that the isolated bacteria inhibited the replication of Streptococcus mutans, resulting into inhibiting the formation of plaque, but the concentration of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, or Streptococcus inhibiting Streptococcus mutans, in saliva might not affect the total bacterial concentration of saliva.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.158-167
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to study the effects of the utilization of ethanol solution in infection control of dental implant hand drivers, a common practice in dental prosthodontic clinics. Materials and Methods: Infection control methods were divided into two groups. One swabbed with 83% ethanol gauze and the other immersed in 83% ethanol solution for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 300 second intervals after inoculation of the dental implant hand drivers with Staphylococcus aureus. After measuring the number of colony forming units and analyzing the optical density, the effects of infection control in the experimental group were compared with the positive control group without infection control after inoculation with bacteria and the negative control group without inoculation with bacteria after sterilization. Results: The number of colony forming units and optical density analysis showed a statistically significant difference compared to the positive control. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference between the negative control and the group immersed in the 83% ethanol solution for more than 150 seconds. Conclusion: It is recommended to use the ethanol solution as a pre-cleaning process before sterilization, since the intermediate-level disinfection method using ethanol solution alone for the infection control of the dental implant hand driver cannot clinically secure the sterility.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.390-396
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate endodontic irrigation methods with $EndoVac^{(R)}$ and $EndoActivator^{(R)}$ in the elimination of Enterococcus faecalis from the root canals. Extracted 70 human single-rooted teeth were used. The canals were instrumented by a crown-down technique with .04 taper ProFile to ISO size 40. After the teeth were autoclaved, the canals were inoculated with E. faecalis and incubated for 48 h. The teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups of 20 teeth each according to canal irrigation methods and two control groups as follows: group 1 - $EndoVac^{(R)}$; group 2 - $EndoActivator^{(R)}$; group 3-Conventional needle irrigation method. After canal irrigation using 2.5% NaOCl. first samples (S1) were taken using sterile paper point. And the canals were filled with sterile brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and incubated for 24 h, then second samples (S2) were taken. The samples were cultured on BHI agar plate to determine the numbers of colony forming units (CFU). In first sampling (S1), only one canal of conventional method among the all experimental groups was positive cultured. In second sampling (S2), $EndoVac^{(R)}$ group showed the least positive culture numbers of E. faecalis. There was statistically significant difference between the $EndoVac^{(R)}$ and conventional needle irrigation methods in the mean value of Log CFU. According to the results of this study, $EndoVac^{(R)}$ showed better efficacy than conventional needle irrigation method in the elimination of E. faecalis from the root canal.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2005

We evaluated the PCR assay and two commercialized PCR kits for the detection of mycoplasma in veterinary via live vaccines. The PCR assay could specifically detect all the tested Mycoplasma spp. and Acholeplasma spp., whereas two commercialized PCR kits did not. Also, the specificity of the PCR assay showed that 4 reference strains and 7 field isolates belonging to avian mycoplasma species could be all detected. The sensitivity of the PCR assay was determined using pure cultured Mycoplasma spp. and Acholeplasma spp. with a range of 1 to 100 colony forming units/ml in 9 CFR Mycoplasma broth. To test the availability of the PCR assay for veterinary live viral vaccines, A. laidlawii was artificially inoculated into the swine transmissible gastroenteritis-rota virus combined vaccine and canine parvovirus vaccine, respectively and the sensitivity of the PCR assay was similar with the result of cultured samples. In this study, the PCR assays could be used as rapid and sensitive methods for the detection of mycoplasma in veterinary live viral vaccines.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.427-439
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aims to investigate differences in microbial contamination according to the duration and environment of mask wearing. Methods: Forty-five participants were recruited from workers in an offices, multi-purpose facilities, and a schools. After wearing of KF94 mask for two. four, and six hours, the microorganisms adsorbed on the outer and inner layers of the mask were inoculated on BAP(Blood Agar Plate), Chocolate agar, and SDA plates. The bacterial count (CFUs: colony-forming units) cultured in each plate was measured and analyzed for changes in filtration efficiency. Results: The microbial contamination of masks worn in classrooms, offices, and multi-purpose facilities showed a significant difference depending on the environment (p<0.000). The measured CFUs increased significantly according to the time wearing the mask. The difference between the inner and outer layers of the mask was also significant (p<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in the filtration efficiency of the masks by duration time (p=0.515). Conclusions: Masks worn by workers in the offices, multi-purpose facilities, and schools showed an increase of microbial contamination with the amount of time wearing the mask. The results indicate that the masks used in daily life may have adverse health effects if they are worn for a long time or reused over several days without the realizing that the masks can be contaminated with biological hazards. Guidelines on the safe threshold time for mask use should be established through further research.