• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.130-140
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• 2017

It is vital to understand the changing characteristics of interphase microbial communities and interspecies synergism during the fermentation of Chinese liquors. In this study, microbial communities in the three indispensable phases (pit mud, zaopei, and huangshui) of Luzhou-flavored liquor manufacturing pits and their shifts during cellars use were first investigated by polyphasic culture-independent approaches. The archaeal and eubacterial communities in the three phases were quantitatively assessed by combined phospholipid ether lipids/phospholipid fatty acid analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. In addition, qualitative information regarding the microbial community was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Results suggested that the interphase microbial community profiles were quite different, and the proportions of specific microbial groups evolved gradually. Anaerobic bacteria and gram-positive bacteria were dominant and their numbers were higher in pit mud ($10^9$ cells/g) than in huangshui ($10^7$ cells/ml) and zaopei ($10^7$ cells/g). Hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea were the dominant archaea, and their proportions were virtually unchanged in pit mud (around 65%), whereas they first increased and then decreased in zaopei (59%-82%-47%) and increased with pit age in huangshui (82%-92%). Interactions between microbial communities, especially between eubacteria and methanogens, played a key role in the formation of favorable niches for liquor fermentation. Furthermore, daqu (an essential saccharifying and fermentative agent) and metabolic regulation parameters greatly affected the microbial community.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 1995

The effect of inorganic phosphate on the fermentative production of aminopeptidase M inhibitors MR-387A and B by Streptomyces sp. SL-387 has been studied. With inorganic phosphate concentrations higher than 0.78 mM, an inverse correlation was found between the maximum inhibitor production and the initial phosphate concentration added. Growth sensitivity of this actinomycete to arsenate, a phosphate analogue, and the use of magnesium carbonate, a phosphate-trapping agent, suggested that the inhibitor formation was under phosphate repression. Exogenous ATP further increased the degree of phosphate interference in both phosphate-repressed and non repressed culture conditions. The use of a phosphate analogue and a protein synthesis inhibitor also suggested that the phosphate itself repressed inhibitor formation.

• The Korea Genome Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.44.2-44.2
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• 2003

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop an agent-based computing platform enabling simulation of on-farm produce contamination by enteric foodborne pathogens, which is herein called PPMCS (Preharvest Produce Microbial Contamination Simulator). Also, fecal contamination of preharvest produce was simulated using PPMCS. Although Agent-based Modeling and Simulation, the tool applied in this study, is rather popular in where socio-economical human behaviors or ecological fate of animals in their niche are to be predicted, the incidence of on-farm produce contamination which are thought to be sporadic has never been simulated using this tool. The agents in PPMCS including crop, animal as a source of fecal contamination, and fly as a vector spreading the fecal contamination are given their intrinsic behaviors that are set to be executed at certain probability. Once all these agents are on-set following the intrinsic behavioral rules, consequences as the sum of all the behaviors in the system can be monitored real-time. When fecal contamination of preharvest produce was simulated in PPMCS as numbers of animals, flies, and initially contaminated plants change, the number of animals intruding cropping area affected most on the number of contaminated plants at harvest. For further application, the behaviors and variables of the agents are adjustable depending on user's own scenario of interest. This feature allows PPMCS to be utilized in where different simulating conditions are tested.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.2 s.95
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• pp.137-144
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• 2007

Yam, Prunella was stepwise extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. Anti-microbial activity of each extract was investigated. Hexane extract was tested for anti-microbial effect on Streptocaccus mutans, one of causative factor of dental caries. Methanol extracts of 7 plants were investigated to anti-microbial effects on S. mutans KCTC 5316, P. gingivalis KCTC 5352, S. aureus KCTC 1927 by means of agar diffusion method. Methanol extract of Yam and Prunella revealed anti-microbial activity against S. mutans, P. gingivalis, and S. aureus. Also, hexane fraction of Yam revealed anti-microbial activity against S. mutans. In sequence of hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol fraction by Prunelia acted as potent anti-microbial agent on P. gingivalis. The measured MIC of hexane fraction of Yam and Prunella on S. mutans KCTC 5316 strain was 0.25 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml and the MIC of hexane fraction of Prunella on S. aureus was 0.5 mg/ml. The hexane fraction of Yam and Prunella suppressed viable ceil counts(VCC) of S. mutans, especially after 24 hrs. The Prunella hexane fraction suppressed VCC of S. aureus, after 12 and 24 hrs. Tested concentrations were 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml. the results were compared with control (0 mg/ml). The pH of S. mutans media and GTase activity were determined to evaluate the anticariogenic activity of Yam, Prunella hexane fraction. The pH were increased from 5.6 to 7.0-7.2 in concentration of 2.0 mg/ml. Yam hexane extraction revealed 35% inhibition to GTase activity and Punella inhibited 25% of GTase. These results suggest that the hexane extracts of Yam and prunella have Antibacterial activities against S. mutans, P. gingivalis, S. aureus and have preventive effect on dental caries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.93.2-94
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• 2003

In our previous studies, we selected three antagonistic bacteria, KJ1R5, KJ2C12, and KJ9C8 against Phytophthora capsici, the casual agent of Phytophthora blight of pepper. For elucidating production, root colonization, and total microbial activity were investigated. The dual culture assay was accomplished to elucidate existence of antibiotics. In this assay, any antagonistic bacteria did not inhibit growth of six important fungal plant pathogens, suggesting that these antagonists do not produce antibiotics. root surface or rhizosphere soil colonizations were examined with spontaneous rifampicin-resistant mutants equal to antagonistic ability of wild types. KJ2C12 colonized consistently rhizosphere soil while yellowish colonies of KJ1R5 and KJ9C8 well colonized root surfaces and rhizosphere soil. Total microbial activity in pots treated with the antagonistic bacteria was measured using fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis. total microbial activity of three antagonistic bacteria treatments was significantly higher than that of buffer-treated control until 4days after treatment. However, total microbial activity of treatment of three antagonistic bacteria decreased after 7 days. These results indicate that the antagonistic bacteria, KJ1R5 and KJ9C8 colonized and protected roots well against Phytophthora blight of pepper through competition of infection courts, especially competitions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1164-1169
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• 2005

Characteristics of sophorolipid and rhamnolipid were evaluated as antifungal agents against plant pathogenic fungi. Eight percent of mycelial growth of plant pathogen (Phytophthora sp. and Pythium sp.) was inhibited by 200 mg/l of rhamnolipid or 500 mg/l of sophorolipid, and zoospore motility of Phytophthora sp. decreased by $90\%$ at 50 mg/l of rhamnolipid and $80\%$ at 100 mg/l of sophorolipid. The effective concentrations for zoospore lysis were two times higher than those of zoospore motility inhibition. The highest zoospore lysis was observed with Phytophthora capsici; $80\%$ lysis at 100 mg/I of di-rhamnolipid or lactonic sophorolipid, showing the dependency of structure on the lysis. In the pot test, the damping-off disease incidence ratio decreased to $42\%\;and\;33\%$ of control value at 2,000 mg/l sophorolipid and rhamnolipid, respectively. These results showed the potential of microbial glycolipid biosurfactants as an effective antifungal agent against damping-off plant pathogens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.315-321
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• 1994

In order to prevent the postharvest decay and to promote the freshness retention of fruits and vegetables grapefruit seed extract(GFSE), natural microorganism control agent, was applied to the preservation of fresh fruits and vegetables. Freshfruits and vegetables treated with GFSE and stored in polyethylene film (0.1mm) at 1$0^{\circ}C$-15$^{\circ}C$ of natural low temperature low kept better qualities in color and texture than the GFSE -not- treated control. The treatment using GFSE ina 250ppm to 500ppm concentration seemed to be an effective one for the control of Botrytis cinerea isolated in red wine grapes. After 4 weeks of storage the firmness rate of cucumbers treated with the dilute GFSE was four times higher than that of non-treated ones. GFSE showed effective inhibitory action towards plant pathological bacteria and fungi which were involved in the decay of fruits and vegetables. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of GFSE towards them were in the range of 250ppm to 500ppm .Direct visualization of microbial cells and spores using electron microscopy showed microbial cells and fungal spores the function of which was destroyed by treating with the dilute solutions of GFSE. It was observed that GFSE would reduced disease damages and have bactericide & fungicide properties during the storage of such fruits and vegetables as egg plant, wild edible greens , kumquat, and kiwi fruit.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.20-32
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Bacterial shot hole of stone fruits is a seriuos plant disease caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap). Techniques to control the disease are required. In this study, microorganisms with antibacterial activity were isolated to develop as a microbial agent against the bacterial shot hole. METHODS AND RESULTS: An isolate with the strongest activity among the isolates was identified as Streptomyces avidinii based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and designated Streptomyces sp. J46. J46 showed suppression of bacterial leaf spot with a control value of 90% at 10 times-diluted cell free supernatant. To investigate antibacterial metabolites produced by J46, the supernatant of J46 was extracted with organic solvents, and the extracts were subjected to chromatography works. Antibacterial metabolites were not extractable with organic solvents. Both reverse and normal phase techniques were not successful because the metabolites were extremely water soluble. The antibacterial metabolites were not volatiles but protein compounds based on hydrolysis enzyme treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that Streptomyces sp. J46 may be a potential as an microbial agent against bacterial shot hole. Further study to identify the metabolites is required in more detail.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.651-661
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• 2019

Targeting the pathogen viability using drugs is associated with development of drug resistance due to selective pressure. Hence, there is an increased interest in developing agents that target bacterial virulence. In this study, the inhibitory effect of ciclopirox, an antifungal agent with iron chelation potential, on the microbial virulence factors was evaluated in 26 clinical MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates collected from Alexandria Main University Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Egypt. Treatment with 9 ㎍/ml ciclopirox inhibited the hemolytic activity in 70% isolates, reduced pyocyanin production, decreased protease secretion in 46% isolates, lowered twitching and swarming motility, and decreased biofilm formation by 1.5- to 4.5-fold. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that treatment with ciclopirox downregulated the expression levels of alkaline protease (aprA) and pyocyanin (phzA1). Ciclopirox is used to treat hematological malignancies and the systemic administration of ciclopirox is reported to have adequate oral absorption with a satisfactory drug safety profile. It is important to calculate the appropriate clinical dose and therapeutic index to reposition ciclopirox from a topical antifungal agent to a promising virulence-modifying agent agent against P. aeruginosa, a problematic Gram-negative pathogen.