• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.187-192
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• 2009

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in host defense by sensing invading microbial pathogens. The stimulation of TLRs by microbial components triggers the activation of the myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-$\beta$ (TRIF)-dependent downstream signaling pathways. TLR/MyD88 signaling pathway induces the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and IL-$1{\beta}$. On the other hand, TLR/TRIF signaling pathway induces the delayed-activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and the expression of type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN-inducible genes. The divalent heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is clearly toxic to most mammalian organ systems, especially the immune system. Yet, the underlying toxic mechanism(s) remain unclear. Cd inhibits the MyD88-dependent pathway by ceasing the activity of inhibitor-${\kappa}B$ kinase. However, it is not known whether Cd inhibits the TRIF-dependent pathway. Presently, Cd inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF3 activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid. Cd inhibited LPS-induced IRF3 phosphorylation and IFN-inducible genes such as interferon inducible protein-10 and regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). These results suggest that Cd can modulate TRIF-dependent signaling pathways of TLRs.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.202-206
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• 2000

까나리 액젓 부산물의 자원화를 위한 연구의 일환으로 까나리 액젓부산물을 건조, 분쇄하여 미생물 배지로의 활용 가능성을 조사하였다. 조사 균주로는 Escherichia coli$(Gram^-)$, Bacillus subtilis$(Gram^+)$ 발광미생물인 Photobacterium phosphoreum을 이용하였으며, 기준 LB 배지와 비교 분석하였다. 일반적으로 까나리 액젓부산물 배지는 E. coli나 B. subtilis와 같은 미생물에 필요한 일부 성분이 LB 배지에 비해 부족함을 보였다. 탄소원은 까나리 부산물 자체에 충분한 것으로 나타났으며, growth factor yeast extract 0.5%를 까나리 액젓부산물배지에 첨가하거나, 단백질원인 0.5% peptone과 0.3%의 yeast extract 혼합물을 보강한 까나리 액젓 부산물배지에서는 LB 배지와 같은 세포증식을 보였으며 각 까나리 액젓부산물배지의 제조단가는 LB 배지 조성단가의 46%, 19% 정도로 매우 저렴하였다. 또한 P. phosphoreum은 까나리 부산물 배지에 염과 glycerol을 첨가한 결과 생체발광을 보였다. 따라서 폐기 처분되고 있는 까나리 액젓부산물을 미생물배지로의 자원화와 환경오염문제를 해결할 수 있는 가능성을 제시하였다.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.377-384
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• 2012

온도조건이 유기물의 질소무기화율, 인지질 지방산유래 미생물 분포와 군집구조에 미치는 영향을 평가하고자 수행하였다. 비화산회토양 30 g에 입상유기질비료, 음식물퇴비, 돈분퇴비를 각각 2 g씩 잘 혼합한 후 $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$에서 항온배양을 하면서 질소 무기화량과 인지질 지방산 함량을 분석하였다. 질소 무기화율은 온도와 비례하여 증가하였으며 음식물퇴비>입상유기질비료>돈분퇴비 순으로 질소무기화율이 높았다. 지방산 유래 미생물 그룹의 분포는 온도, 유기물종류에 따라 차이를 보였으며 시간이 경과 할수록 미생물의 밀도는 감소하는 경향을 나타냈다. G-/G+, F/B, Unsat/sat비는 온도가 올라가면서 감소하였다. 인지질 지방산 함량을 이용하여 주성분 분석을 한 결과 270일에 온도에 따라 입상유기질비료는 뚜렷한 미생물군집구조를 보였다. 결론적으로 미생물 활성은 온도, 유기물 종류에 따라 상대적인 민감도와 시기별로 차이를 보였다.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.467-474
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• 2012

본 연구는 토양과 온도조건이 질소무기화율, 인지질 지방산유래 미생물 분포와 군집구조에 미치는 영향을 평가하고자 수행하였다. 화산회토양 30 g에 입상유기질비료, 음식물퇴비, 돈분퇴비를 각각 2 g씩 잘 혼합한 후 $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$에서 항온배양을 하면서 질소 무기화율과 인지질 지방산 함량을 분석하였다. 질소 무기화율은 온도와 비례하여 증가하였으며 음식물퇴비>입상유기질비료>돈분퇴비 순으로 질소무기화율이 높았다. 지방산 유래 미생물 그룹의 분포는 온도, 유기물종류에 따라 차이를 보였으며 시간이 경과 할수록 미생물의 밀도는 감소하는 경향을 나타냈다. G-/G+, F/B, Unsat/sat 비는 온도가 $10^{\circ}C$씩 올라갈수록 감소하였고 cy19:0/$18:1{\omega}7c$비는 음식물퇴비와 돈분퇴비에서 증가하였다. PLFA 함량을 이용한 주성분 분석 결과 초기 (75일)는 $10^{\circ}C$, 후기 (270일)는 $30^{\circ}C$에서 온도요인에 따라 뚜렷하게 미생물 군집을 보였으며 시간이 경과 할수록 군집이동이 나타냈다.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.443-450
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• 2015

The east coast of the Korean Peninsula is susceptible to fires because of the low rainfall in winter and spring, and large forest fires have occurred in this area. Lack of fresh water to combat fires has hampered efforts to prevent widespread forest fires in this region. Seawater has not been used as a suppressant because of possible detrimental effects of salt. We investigated the mobility of saline water in the forest soil and their effect on the microbial activity. Using a fire-fighting helicopter, seawater was sprayed over three plots (50 × 100 m) located on the eastern slope of the Baekdu mountain range in South Korea in April, 2011. We sampled the soil in April 4, May 20, and August 5 to determine the amount of salt that remained in the soil. The electrical conductivity value of the soil decreased to <400 μS/cm over a 1-month period. Approximately, four months after the application of seawater, the electrical conductivity value and Na⁺ content in all treatment plots did not significantly differ to those of the control plot, and total microbial activity also recovered to that of the control. Our results indicate that the amount of rainfall, soil physical-chemical properties, and topological factors may be a critical factor determining the mobility of saline water in forest soil.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.99-106
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• 2017

Background: Plants over-expressing Arabidopsis ABF3 (abscisic acid-responsive element-binding factor 3) have enhanced tolerance to various environmental stresses, especially drought. Using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis, we compared the rhizosphere-associated structures of microbial communities for transgenic potato containing this gene and conventional "Jopoong" plants. Results: During a 2-year field experiment, fungal richness, evenness, and diversity varied by year, increasing in 2010 when a moderate water deficit occurred. By contrast, the bacterial richness decreased in 2010 while evenness and diversity were similar in both years. No significant difference was observed in any indices for either sampling time or plant line. Although the composition of the microbial communities (defined as T-RF profiles) changed according to year and sampling time, differences were not significant between the transgenic and control plants. Conclusions: The results in this study suggest that the insertion of ABF3 into potato has no detectable (by current T-RFLP technique) effects on rhizosphere communities, and that any possible influences, if any, can be masked by seasonal or yearly variations.

• 상하수도학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.503-509
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• 2013

Electrochemical redox capacity of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) electrode is an important factor in the power density. This study was conducted to investigate the redox capacity of surface modified anode and cathode electrodes by measuring their conductivities. An anode electrode was modified with nitric acid and a cathode electrode was modified with heat treatment. The anode electrode modified with 20 % of the nitric acid concentration showed the highest conductivity of $6.2{\mu}S/cm/g$ and the maximum power density of $306.0mW/m^2$ when used in a MFC. The cathode electrode modified at $472^{\circ}C$ for 18 min showed the highest conductivity of $5.2{\mu}S/cm/g$ and the maximum power density of $276.20mW/m^2$ when used in a MFC. On the other hand, an MFC using both the electrodes showed the highest maximum power density of $408.2mW/m^2$. Meanwhile, a control MFC without modified electrodes generated very small voltage (0.014 mV), so the power density could not be measured.

• 한국농공학회논문집
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2013

Probability distribution of microbes in wastewater is a crucial factor to be determined for microbial risk assessment associated with its reuse. The objective of this study was to investigate probability distribution of an indicator microorganism in wastewater. Daily total coliform counts measured from nationwide wastewater treatment plants in 2010 by the Ministry of Environment were used for statistical analysis. Basic statistics and probability distributions were estimated in the three different spatial scales using the MS Excel software and FARD2006 model. Overall, wastewater from manure and livestock treatment plants demonstrated greater median coliform counts than from sewage and village treatment plants. Generalized logistic (GLO) and 2-parameter Weibull (WBU2) appeared to be the two probability distributions that fitted best for total coliform numbers in wastewater. The study results of microbial statistics and probability distributions would provide useful data for quantitative assessment of microbial risk from agricultural wastewater reuse.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.107-116
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• 2019

Nitrogen removal, nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emission and microbial community in sequencing batch and continuous-flow intermittent aeration processes were investigated. Two sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) and two continuous-flow multiple anoxic and aerobic reactors (CMRs) were operated under high dissolved oxygen (DO) (SBR-H and CMR-H) and low DO (SBR-L and CMR-L) concentrations, respectively. Nitrogen removal was enhanced under CMR and low DO conditions (CMR-L). The highest total inorganic nitrogen removal efficiency of 91.5% was achieved. Higher nitrifying and denitrifying activities in SBRs were observed. CMRs possessed higher $N_2O$ emission factors during nitrification in the presence of organics, with the highest $N_2O$ emission factor of 60.7% in CMR-L. SBR and low DO conditions promoted $N_2O$ emission during denitrification. CMR systems had higher microbial diversity. Candidatus Accumulibacter, Nitrosomonadaceae and putative denitrifiers ($N_2O$ reducers and producers) were responsible for $N_2O$ emission.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권10호
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• pp.1257-1267
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• 2023

Although rational genetic engineering is nowadays the favored method for microbial strain improvement, building up mutant libraries based on directed evolution for improvement is still in many cases the better option. In this regard, the demand for precise and efficient screening methods for mutants with high performance has stimulated the development of biosensor-based high-throughput screening strategies. Genetically encoded biosensors provide powerful tools to couple the desired phenotype to a detectable signal, such as fluorescence and growth rate. Herein, we review recent advances in engineering several classes of biosensors and their applications in directed evolution. Furthermore, we compare and discuss the screening advantages and limitations of two-component biosensors, transcription-factor-based biosensors, and RNA-based biosensors. Engineering these biosensors has focused mainly on modifying the expression level or structure of the biosensor components to optimize the dynamic range, specificity, and detection range. Finally, the applications of biosensors in the evolution of proteins, metabolic pathways, and genome-scale metabolic networks are described. This review provides potential guidance in the design of biosensors and their applications in improving the bioproduction of microbial cell factories through directed evolution.