• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1430-1437
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• 2021

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium found in powdered infant formula and is fatal to neonates. Antibiotic resistance has emerged owing to overuse of antibiotics. Therefore, demand for high-yield bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics has increased. Accordingly, we developed a modified mass-production method for bacteriophages by introducing a two-stage self-cycling (TSSC) process, which yielded high-concentration bacteriophage solutions by replenishing the nutritional medium at the beginning of each process, without additional challenge. pH of the culture medium was monitored in real-time during C. sakazakii growth and bacteriophage CS01 propagation, and the changes in various parameters were assessed. The pH of the culture medium dropped to 5.8 when the host bacteria reached the early log phase (OD₅₄₀ = 0.3). After challenge, it decreased to 4.65 and then recovered to 4.94; therefore, we set the optimum pH to challenge the phage at 5.8 and that to harvest the phage at 4.94. We then compared phage production during the TSSC process in jar-type bioreactors and the batch culture process in shaker flasks. In the same volume of LB medium, the concentration of the phage titer solution obtained with the TSSC process was 24 times higher than that obtained with the batch culture process. Moreover, we stably obtained high concentrations of bacteriophage solutions for three cycles with the TSSC process. Overall, this modified TSSC process could simplify large-scale production of bacteriophage CS01 and reduce the unit cost of phage titer solution. These results could contribute to curing infants infected with antibiotic-resistant C. sakazakii.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.251-255
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• 2015

To optimize the medium composition of Undaria pinnatifida as a pH modulator the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum industrial scale, we analyzed the pH and growth characteristics of L. plantarum in basal medium. Subsequently, the medium compositions addition of carbon, nitrogen sources and buffering agents were optimized. When 0.5% yeast extract and 2% glucose, L. plantarum grew to maximum cell density in experimental condition. However, the growth of L. plantarum rapidly pH 4.0 in basal medium. A high alkali-ash value and low cost-effective utilization n the waste part as examined. ddition of U. pinnatifida extract alleviated the serious decrease. Among them, juice of U. pinnatifida was most helpful for the growth of L. plantarum ($36.3{\pm}1.810^8CFU/mL$). These results show that U. pinnatifida be large-scale cultivation of L. plantarum. This optimized U. pinnatifida medium can be used for safe and economical production of Lactobacillus.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.883-893
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• 2023

While South Korea's dependence on imported grains is very high, droughts impacts from exporting countries have been overlooked. Using the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI), this study globally analyzed frequency, extent, and long-term trends of agricultural droughts and their relation to natural oscillations and global crop prices. Results showed that global-scale correlations were found between ESI and soil moisture anomalies, and they were particularly strong in crop cultivation areas. The high correlations in crop cultivation areas imply a strong land-atmosphere coupling, which can lead to relatively large yield losses with a minor soil moisture deficits. ESI showed a clear decreasing trend in crop cultivation areas from 1991 to 2022, and this trend may continue due to global warming. The sharp increases in the grain prices in 2012 and 2022 were likely related to increased drought areas in major grain-exporting countries, and they seemed to elevate South Korea's producer price index. This study suggests the need for drought risk management for grain-exporting countries to reduce socioeconomic impacts in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.6_1
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• pp.1231-1244
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• 2022

The frequency of exposure of field crops to stress situations is increasing due to abnormal weather conditions. In South Korea, large-scale diseases in representative paddy rice cultivation area were happened. There are limits to field investigation on the crop damage due to large-scale. Satellite-based remote sensing techniques are useful for monitoring crops in cities and counties, but the sensitivity of vegetation index measured from satellite under abnormal growth of crop should be evaluated. The goal is to evaluate satellite-based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) retrieved from different spatial scales using drone imagery. In this study, Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellites were used and they have spatial resolution of 10 and 30 m. Drone-based NDVI, which was resampled to the scale of satellite data, had correlation of 0.867-0.940 with Sentinel-2 NDVI and of 0.813-0.934 with Landsat-8 NDVI. When the effects of bias were minimized, Sentinel-2 NDVI had a normalized root mean square error of 0.2 to 2.8% less than that of the drone NDVI compared to Landsat-8 NDVI. In addition, Sentinel-2 NDVI had the constant error values regardless of diseases damage. On the other hand, Landsat-8 NDVI had different error values depending on degree of diseases. Considering the large error at the boundary of agricultural field, high spatial resolution data is more effective in monitoring crops.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.367-374
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• 2000

The composition of dissolved gases and nutrients in a liquid medium were determined for establishment of the optimum conditions for in vitro culture of Helicobacter pylori. A microaerobic condition facored by the organism was prepared by adjusting the partial pressure of the gas, agitation speed, and viscosity of the medium. The gaseous concentrations were controlled by utilizing CampyPak Plus that reduced oxygen while augmenting carbon dioxide. Agitation of the broth facilitated the oxygen transfer to the cells, yet inhibited the growth at high rates. An increase of viscosity in the medium repressed the culture although this variable was relatively insignificant. The chemical constituents of the liquid broth were examined to establish an economic model for H. pylori cultivation. The microbe required a neutral pH for optimum growth, and yet was also able to proliferate in an acidic condition, presumably by releasing the acidity-modulating enzyme, urease. Cyclodextrin and casamino acid were investigated as growth enhancers in place of serum, while yeast extract unexpectedly inhibited the cells. A low concentration of glucose, the unique carbon source for the organism, increased the cell density, yet high concentrations resulted in an adverse effect. Under optimally dissolved gas conditions, the cell concentration in brucella broth supplemented with serum substitutes and glucose reached $1.6{\times}10^8$ viable cells/ml which was approximately 50% higher than that obtained in the liquid medium added with only cyclodextrin or serum.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2012

Interest in commercial cultivation and product development of Cordyceps species has shown a recent increase. Due to its biochemical and pharmacological effects, Cordyceps militaris, commonly known as orange caterpillar fungus, is being investigated with great interest. Cultivation of C. militaris has been practiced on a large scale in order to fulfill a demand for scientific investigation and product development. Isolates of C. militaris can be easily established from both spores and tissue. For isolation of spores, ascospores released from mature stromata are trapped in sterile medium. Multi-ascospore isolates, as well as combinations of single ascospore strains, are used for production of fruiting bodies. Progeny ascospore strains can be isolated from artificial fruiting bodies, thus, the cycle of fruiting body production can be continued for a long period of time. In this study, we examined fruiting body production from multi-ascospore isolates and their progeny strains for three generations. $F_1$ progeny strains generally produced a larger number of fruiting bodies, compared with their mother multi-ascospore isolates; however, $F_2$ and $F_3$ progeny strains produced fewer fruiting bodies. Optimum preservation conditions could help to increase the vitality of the progeny strains. In order to retain the fruiting ability of the strains, further testing of various methods of preservation and different methods for isolation should be performed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 1997

Under the light intensity of 25-72$\mu$E/ m$^{2}$/s Botryococcus braunii UTEX 572 grew faster than Botryococcus sp. GE 24 isolated from a freshwater lake. The specific growth rate ($\mu$) of B. braunii UTEX 572 was highest at 0.260 (1/day) on a dry weight basis in Chu 13 medium from 1 to 9 days of incubation and then continuously decreased. Carbohydrate concentration and cellular nitrogen and phosphorus contents of B. braunii UTEX 572 gradually decreased with light intensity over a range of 25-72$\mu$E/m$^{2}$2/s, whereas the concentrations of protein and cellular N:P ratio increased with light intensity. Chlorophyll-a concentration showed a decreasing tendency with light intensity. The dry weight of B. braunii UTEX 572 increased in the highest rate of 83 mg/l/day at pH 8.0. When the N: P ratio of Chu 13 medium was adjusted to 50: 1 by addition of nitrogen source, dry weight increasing rate was 115 mg/l/day between 20 and 28 days of incubation which was the highest value during the cultivation. Cell growth in an open culture of B. braunii UTEX 572 was highest with Chu 13 medium, whereas that with Chu 13 medium adjusted to pH 7.0, containing 250 mg/l penicillin, or containing 1% glucose was reduced on a large scale. However, this result shows the possibility of the mass cultivation of B. braunii UTEX 572 in an open system competing with other microorganisms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.415-418
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• 2017

Recently, the demand for energy efficiency improvement technology through the connection of waste heat energy and SmartGrid has been increasing. Thus, investments for the cultivation of high value crops and produce is increasing through research aimed at synthetic technology in real-time utilization of smart farms and waste heat energy with the concept of using container greenhouses and plant factories. In this aspect, we have carried out research on a practical application technology that will help farmers to increase the economic effectiveness of LED based plant factories in terms of energy efficiency. This can provide opportunities to connect with the large scale automated smart farms in the future. In this study, we focused on the economic effectiveness of crop cultivation using cooling technology in a container greenhouse through waste heat energy. Hereafter, in order to further advance the technology of real-time monitoring/control of the absorption chiller which is used through the container greenhouses and waste heat energy by using IOT, we would like to propose research on new ideas of agricultural technology that can maximize the utility of cooling energy by operating a mobile gateway based on Raspberry PI.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1325-1334
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• 2022

Global warming has accelerated in recent decades due to the continuous consumption of petroleum-based fuels. Cyanobacteria-derived biofuels are a promising carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels that may help achieve a cleaner environment. Here, we propose an effective strategy based on the large-scale cultivation of a newly isolated cyanobacterial strain to produce phycobiliprotein and biodiesel, thus demonstrating the potential commercial applicability of the isolated microalgal strain. A native cyanobacterium was isolated from Goryeong, Korea, and identified as Pseudanabaena mucicola GO0704 through 16s RNA analysis. The potential exploitation of P. mucicola GO0704 was explored by analyzing several parameters for mixotrophic culture, and optimal growth was achieved through the addition of sodium acetate (1 g/l) to the BG-11 medium. Next, the cultures were scaled up to a stirred-tank bioreactor in mixotrophic conditions to maximize the productivity of biomass and metabolites. The biomass, phycobiliprotein, and fatty acids concentrations in sodium acetate-treated cells were enhanced, and the highest biodiesel productivity (8.1 mg/l/d) was achieved at 96 h. Finally, the properties of the fuel derived from P. mucicola GO0704 were estimated with converted biodiesels according to the composition of fatty acids. Most of the characteristics of the final product, except for the cloud point, were compliant with international biodiesel standards [ASTM 6761 (US) and EN 14214 (Europe)].