• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2011

In this study, we determined the changes in microbial numbers in solar salts according to the manufacturing process and storage duration. The salt samples were harvested from salt farms in Shinan (area 2) and Yeonggwang (area 1). They were serially diluted ten-fold and then placed on 4 kinds of cultivable media (mannitol salt agar, eosin methylene blue, plate count agar, and trypticase soy agar). After incubation, we obtained 62 halophilic isolates from the salt samples. Coliform and general bacteria were not detected in all salt samples. By 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, we found 12 kinds of halophilic bacteria belonging to the genera Halobacillus, Halomonas, Bacillus, Idiomarina, Marinobacter, Pseudoalteromonas, Vibrio, Salinivibrio, Virgibacillus, Alteromonas, Staphylococcus and some un-known stains. In our study, we discovered two novel species that have a 16S rDNA sequence similarity below 97%.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.88-97
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of microbiological contamination of kitchen utensils and environments of food service operations at university located in Seoul, Korea. Methods: We collected swab samples from the surfaces of knives, chopping boards, floors, and drains, as well as drinking water and airborne bacteria samples from 20 food service operations. Three bacterial indicators and five food poisoning bacteria were measured quantitatively and qualitatively, respectively. We used selective culture media and the PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA gene for the microbiological analysis. Results: We detected bacterial indicators on knives or chopping boards in eight different food service operations and, three food service operations (I, M, and O) showed more than 3 log colony forming units $(CFU)/100cm^2$ on their knives, significantly higher than the others. The levels of bacterial indicators on the floors and drains in the cooking areas were much higher than those on the cooking utensils. S. aureus was detected on 10 floors and 8 drains. Culturable bacteria were identified in 5 drinking water samples, and food service operation B ($431.1CFU/m^3$) and C ($551.2CFU/m^3$) showed more than $400CFU/m^3$ of total airborne bacteria. Conclusions: These results suggest that some of food service operations in this study may require additional investigation to secure the microbial safety of cooking environments. In addition, further actions including hygiene education for employees and proper guidelines to maintain clean cooking environments should be prepared.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.266-274
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• 2000

Understanding of microbial community structure in soil-root system is necessary to use beneficial soil and rhizosphere microbes for improvement of crop production and biocontrol. The knowledge of behavior and function of microbes in soil-root system plays a key role for the application of beneficial inocula. Because the majority of the intact bacteria in soil are unable to grow on nutrient media, both culturable and nonculturable bacteria have to be studied together. In our study, culture-independent survey of bacterial community in the soil-root system of red pepper fields was conducted by the sequence analysis of three universal clone libraries of genes which code for small-subunit rRNA (rDNA). Universal small subunit rRNA primers were used to amplify DNA extracted from each sample and PCR products were cloned into pGEM-T. Out of 27 clones sequenced, 25 clones were from domain bacteria. Two of the rDNA sequences were derived from eukaryotic organelles. Within the domain bacteria, several kingdoms were represented : the Proteobacteria (16 clones). Cytophyga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides group (2 clones). the high G+C content gram-positive group(1 clone) and 4 unknown clones.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2009

This study was aimed at the analysis of prokaryote communities in Korean traditional fermented food, jeotgal, and isolation of a novel strain from jeotgal by using culture-dependent and molecular biological approaches. Seventeen kinds of jeotgal were selected on the basis of its origins and sources. The samples were inoculated on 12 kinds of media. 308 isolates were selected randomly by morphological features, and its 16S rRNA gene sequences was amplified by PCR technique with bacteria and archaea specific primers (8F, 21F, and 1492R). The 16S rRNA gene sequences were compared with those in EzTaxon and GenBank databases. DNA-DNA hybridization was performed to identify a novel strain. As a result, the majority of the isolates were lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc, Weisella, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Carnobacterium, Marinilactibacillus), Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Brevibacterium, Microbacterium and Kocuria in 17 kinds of jeotgal. The strains belonging to Salinicoccus, Halomonas, Cobetia, Lentibacillus, Paracoccus, and Psychrobacter were isolated as minor ones. Fourteen novel species were identified based on phylogenetic analysis.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.657-672
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• 2008

The purposes of this study are to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwaters around Keumsan municipal landfill, and to evaluate the contaminant dispersion from the landfill and its environmental impact. To achieve these goals, groundwater quality logging, hydrochemical analysis, multivariate statistical analysis, and contaminant transport modeling were performed. The water quality logging indicated a leaking from the landfill at the depth of 4-12m around a leachate sump. Electrical conductivity data indicated that groundwaters within 70-100m from landfill were affected by the landfill leakage. Principal components 1 and 2 obtained from principal components analysis (PCA) reflect the influence of leachate and the characteristics of aquifer media, respectively. The results of principal component analysis also indicated the natural attenuation processes such as cation exchange, sorption, and microbial biodegradation. The modeling results showed that groundwater flow westward along a valley from the landfill and contaminants transport accordingly.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2003

To assess microbiological indoor air quality in kindergartens, concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms were seasonally determined at three kindergartens in Ulsan from April, 2002 to January, 2003. Sampling was performed with an impaction-type air sampler and three different media. The numbers of bacteria grown on Staphylococcus medium were between 84 and 4,150 MPN/m3 with an average of 827 MPN/m3, and those on standard method agar ranged from 50 to 2,636 MPN/m3 with an average of 580 MPN/m3. The bacterial concentrations were highest in summer, followed by fall, spring, and winter, and were significantly correlated with indoor temperature. Among the colonies, 45.6~61.0% were observed as Gram-positive cocci and 8.5~20.6% were Gramnegative rods. Micrococcus species were the dominant organisms. The numbers of fungi ranged from 0 to 1,888 MPN/m3(661 MPN/m3 average) based on colony counts with dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar. On average, the fungal concentrations were highest in summer and lowest in winter. Penicillium species and Aspergillus species were identified from the colonies. The obtained data can be utilized as a step to set a guideline for bioaerosols in indoor environment of schools.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 2015

To study the halobacterial diversity at the rhizospheric soil of coastal plant native to Dokdo islands, several host plant were selected and its rhizospheric soil was sampled. Soil sample was diluted serially and pure isolation was done by sub-culture using marine agar media. 26 halophilic strains cultivable at the marine medium containig concentration of 9.0% sodium chloride were selected among total 161 isolates. Their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences extracted from genomic DNA were analyzed and partially identified. Furthermore, to identify their genetic relationship, phylogenetic tree was deduced. Total 26 strains were belongs to Firmicutes (30.8%), Gamma proteobacteria (53.8%), Bacteroidetes (7.7%), Alpha proteobacteria (7.7%), and Actinobacteria (7.7%). These results showed the specific difference from previous researches which has been reported the microbial flora of soil or sea water around the Dokdo islands. Furthermore, 4 among 26 halophilic strains grew at above 12.0% NaCl concentrated marine broth, and 2 strains Idiomarina abyssalis LM4H23 and Halomonas huangheensis AS4H13 grew at 15.0% concentration. These halophilic strains thought to overcoming the severe stress like high salt concentration or variation derived from Dokdo-specific climate and might have unknown, specific relationship with their host coastal plant native to Dokdo islands.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2008

Modern automated culture systems have increased the isolation rate of microorganisms and shortened the time to detection, reducing experimental errors in diagnosis of infecting agents. BacT/ALERT 3D system is based on the colorimetric detection of $CO_2$ produced by the growing microorganisms. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the detection system, sterility test were performed using 6 bacteria. With standard aerobic and anaerobic bottles containing the liquid media, both three aerobic bacteria (P. aeruginosa, M. luteus, B. subtilis) and a facultative bacterium S. aureus were detected up to 1 CFU in 31.44 hr. In addition, growth of anaerobic C. sporogenes was recognized up to 1 CFU in 15.96 hr. The slowly growing bacteria P. acnes was detected up to 10,000 CFU in 129.36 hr. In comparison with conventional culture method, BacT/ALERT 3D automated culture system was more sensitive and saved detection time up to$2\sim10$ hr. Therefore, this automated culture system enables to efficiently detect bacteria in clinical samples and biological medicines.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2005

This study focuses on investigating roles of microorganisms in decontamination of reed rhizosphere in Sunchon Bay, Korea, which is considered one of the marsh and mud environment severely affected by human activities such as agriculture and fisheries. In general, the bay is known to play the role of the buffering zone to reduce the sudden impact or change by environmental stresses. In our initial efforts to elucidate the microbial functions in decontamination process in reed rhizosphere, pure bacteria capable of degrading aromatic hydrocarbons were isolated from reed (Phragmites communis) rhizosphere of Sunchon bay by enrichment culture using either benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, or xylene (BTEX) as a sole source of carbon and energy. Measurement of the rates of BTEX degradation and cell growth during the incubation in BTEX media under several temperature conditions demonstrated maximized degradation of BTEX at $37^{\circ}C$ in both strains. Both strains were also resistant to all the heavy metals and antibiotics tested in this study, as well as they grew well at $42^{\circ}C$. Identification of the isolates based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, and a variety of phenotypic and morphologic properties revealed that the two strains capable of BTEX catabolism were among Microbacterium sp., and Rhodococcus sp. with over $95{\%}$ confidence, designated Microbacterium sp. EMB-1 and Rhodococcus sp. EMB-2, respectively This result suggested that in the rhizosphere of reed, one of major salt marsh plants they might play an important roles in decontamination process of reed rhizosphere contaminated with petroleum such as BTEX.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2011

Perchlorate ($ClO_4^-$) is a contaminant found in surface water and soil/ground water. Autotrophic perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB) use hydrogen gas ($H_2$) as an electron donor to remove perchlorate. Since iron corrosion can produce $H_2$, feasibility of autotrophic perchlorate-removal using zero-valent iron (ZVI) was examined in this study using activated sludge that is easily available from a wastewater treatment plant. Batch test showed that activated sludge microorganisms could successfully degrade perchlorate in the presence of ZVI. The perchlorate biodegradation was confirmed by molar yield of $Cl^-$ as perchlorate was degraded. Scanning electron microscope revealed that rod-shaped microorganisms on the surface of iron particles used for the autotrophic perchlorate-removal, suggesting that iron particles could serve as supporting media for the formation of biofilm as well. DGGE analyses revealed that microbial profile of the inoculum (activated sludge) was different from that of biofilm sample obtained from the ZVI-added enrichment culture used for $ClO_4^-$-degradation. A major band of the biofilm sample was most closely related to the class Clostridia.