• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.10
• /
• pp.1021-1027
• /
• 2008

In this study, biofilm process was introduced for treating nonpoint source pollutants. The ceramic media were provided for biofilm growth in the reactors. The packing ratio of ceramic media was 5% and 15(v/v)%, respectively. Thereafter, the reactors were operated intermittently with the different interevent periods such as 0, 5, 10 and 15 days, respectively. The removal efficiencies of COD and NH$_4{^+}$-N were investigated at the different operating conditions such as media packing ratio, temperature, and interevent period. Additionally, Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis(DGGE) and INT-dehydrogenase activity(DHA) test were conducted to observe the microbial community and activity in the biofilm. Consequently, the interevent period seemed to have no significant influence on the COD removal efficiency. COD was removed within 6$\sim$8 hours at 25$^{\circ}C$ and about 15 hours at 10$^{\circ}C$. DGGE profiles showed that the initial species of microorganisms were changed from seeded activated sludge into the microorganisms detected in sediments. INT-DHA test also showed that the activities of microorgnaisms were not decreased even in the 15 days of interevent period.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.448-454
• /
• 2010

This study investigated the effect of PCE and TCE as electron acceptors on the bacterial composition of dechlorinating communities. The enrichment cultures reductively dechlorinating PCE and TCE were developed from three environment samples using acetate as electron donor. The cultures were prepared by sequential enrichment, which was seeded with sediment and dredged soil. Denatured gradient gel electrophresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene fragment was used to compare the microbial communities of these three enrichment cultures. After incubation for 4 weeks, the removal efficiencies of PCE and TCE were highest from Yeocheon site (87.37% and 84.46%, respectively). PCE and TCE as electron acceptors affected the bacterial diversity and community profiles in the enrichment cultures. DGGE analysis showed that the dominant bacteria in PCE and TCE enrichment were belonged to Clostridium sp., Desulfotomaculum sp., and uncultured bacteria.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.17.1-17.14
• /
• 2022

We aimed to investigate associations of dietary diversity (DD) with gut microbial diversity and the development of hen's egg allergy (HEA) in infants. We enrolled 68 infants in a high-risk group and 32 infants in a control group based on a family history of allergic diseases. All infants were followed from birth until 12 months of age. We collected infant feeding data, and DD was defined using 3 measures: the World Health Organization definition of minimum DD, food group diversity, and food allergen diversity. Gut microbiome profiles and expression of cytokines were evaluated by bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. High DD scores at 3 and 4 months were associated with a lower risk of developing HEA in the high-risk group, but not in the control group. In the high-risk group, high DD scores at 3, 4, and 5 months of age were associated with an increase in Chao1 index at 6 months. We found that the gene expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-8 were higher among infants who had lower DD scores compared to those who had higher DD scores in high-risk infants. Additionally, high-risk infants with a higher FAD score at 5 months of age showed a reduced gene expression of IL-13. Increasing DD within 6 months of life may increase gut microbial diversity, and thus reduce the development of HEA in infants with a family history of allergic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2015

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of by-products of herbal medicines on performance, enteric microflora and blood biochemical profiles and immunological parameters in broiler chicks. A total of ninety-six, 3-d-old birds were assigned to a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 0.15 % (HM1), 0.3% (HM2) or 0.5% (HM3) by-products of herbal medicines. There was a significantly (p<0.05) improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) in birds fed diet supplemented with 0.15% by-products of herbal medicines (HM1) compared with the control birds during starter period (3~21 days). However, no difference in body weight, feed intake, total gain and FCR among treatment groups was observed during the entire feeding period (3~35 days). The colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli and Lactobacilli in the digesta of ileo-cecum was not also affected by dietary treatment. Serum AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and glucose decreased (p<0.05) in birds fed diets supplemented with herbal medicines compared with those fed the basal diet. In particular, the birds fed diets supplemented with herbal medicines showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in blood mean corpuscular volume (MCV) level compared with the control birds. However, the most of blood biochemical and hematological parameters and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA) were not affected by the dietary treatment. In conclusion, the low level of dietary herbal medicines showed beneficial effects on FCR during starter period and liver functions, suggesting that by-products of herbal medicines may be applicable as functional feed additives in birds.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 2005

A one-dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate vertical profiles of electron acceptors and their reduced species in benthic sediments. The model accounted for microbial degradation of organic matter and subsequent chemical reactions of interest using stoichiometric relationships. Depending on the dominant electron acceptors utilized by microorganisms, the benthic sediments were assumed to be vertically subdivided into six zones: (1) aerobic respiration, (2) denitrification, (3) manganese reduction, (4) iron reduction, (5) sulfate reduction, and (6) methanogenesis. The utilizations of electron acceptors in the biologically mediated oxidation of organic matter were represented by Monod-type expression. The mass balance equations formulated for the reactive transport of organic matter, electron acceptors, and their corresponding reduced species in the sediments were solved utilizing an iterative multistep numerical method. The ability of model to simulate a freshwater sediments system was tested by comparing simulation results against published data obtained from lake sediments. The simulation results reasonably agreed with field measurements for most species, except for ammonia. This result showed that the C/N ratio (106/16) in the sediments is lower than what the Redfield formula prescribes. Since accurate estimates of vertical profiles of electron acceptors and their reduced species are important to determine the mobility and bioavailability of trace metals in the sediments, the model has potential application to assess the stability of selected trace metals in the sediments.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.222-229
• /
• 2009

This study was performed to evaluate effect of different fertilization management practices on soil microbial activities and community structure using soil enzyme activities and PLFA contents in volcanic ash citrus orchard soil. Six experiment plots have differently managed based on the recommended application rate(NPK) of chemical fertilizer and compost for 13 years. Experiment plots were composed of no-fertilization(control), compost only, half amount of NPK with compost (1/2NPK+COM), NPK, NPK with compost(NPK+COM), and 3 times amount of NPK(3NPK). Soil samples collected in early March, May, July, and September 2007. Urease activity was high at NPK+COM in March, May, and September. It was higher in NPK+COM than in NPK. Urease activity decreased according to the order NPK>compost>control in March and May; compost>NPK>control in July and September. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly higher in 1/2NPK+COM($4.3ug\;TPF\;g^{-1}\;24h^{-1}$) than in control($2.4ug\;TPF\;g^{-1}\;24h^{-1}$), May. $\beta$-glucosidase activity was significantly higher in NPK and 1/2NPK+COM than in control, May. In March, Total PLFA contents were higher in NPK+COM($349.2n\;mol\;g^{-1}$) than in 3NPK($228.5n\;mol\;g^{-1}$). And that were higher in 1/2NPK+COM($237.8n\;mol\;g^{-1}$) than in 3NPK($133.1n\;mol\;g^{-1}$), May. Distribution ratio of soil microbial groups by PLFA biomaker were not significantly difference in between seasonal and treatments. Principal component analysis by PLFA profiles showed that microbial community in compost and 3NPK plot were different compared with other treatments in March. But Differences in compost and 3NPK plot were not found in May. Our result showed that the change of microbial community structure affected by fertilization effect and seasonable variation.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2004

Changes in the bacterial populations of a 5-stage biological nutrient removal (BNR) process, with a step feed system for wastewater treatment, were monitored by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S ribosomal DNA fragments. DGGE analysis indicated seasonal community changes were observed, however, community profiles of the total bacteria of each reactor showed only minor differences in the samples obtained from the same season. The number of major bands was higher in the summer samples, and decreased during the winter period, indicating that the microbial community structure became simpler at low temperatures. Since the nitrogen and phosphate removal efficiencies were highly maintained throughout the winter operation period, the bacteria which still remaining in the winter sample can be considered important, playing a key role in the present 5-stage BNR sludge. The prominent DGGE bands were excised, and sequenced to gain insight into the identities of the predominant bacterial populations present, and most were found to not be closely related to previously characterized bacteria. These data suggest the importance of culture-independent methods for the quality control of wastewater treatment.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2018

In this study, the chemical composition of bacterial melanin isolated from the Streptomyces glaucescens strain was elucidated by ultra-high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. Ultra-high-resolution mass profiles of the microbial melanin product were acquired using a 15 Tesla FT-ICR mass spectrometer in positive and negative ion modes via electrospray ionization to obtain more complete descriptions of the molecular compositions of melanin-derived organic constituents. A mass resolving power of 500,000 (at m/z 400) was achieved for all spectra while collecting 400 scans per sample with a 4 M transient. The results of this analysis revealed that the melanin pigment isolated from S. glaucescens predominantly exhibits CHON and CHO species, which belong to the proteins class of compounds, with the mean C/O and C/N ratios of 4.3 and 13.1, thus suggesting that the melanin could be eumelanin. This analytical approach could be utilized to investigate the molecular compositions of a variety of natural or synthetic melanins. The compositional features of melanins are important for understanding their formation mechanisms and physico-chemical properties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.887-896
• /
• 2019

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based pathogen identification relies on the ribosomal protein spectra provided in the proprietary database. Although these mass spectra can discern various pathogens at species level, the spectra-based method still has limitations in identifying closely-related microbial species. In this study, to overcome the limits of the current MALDI-TOF MS identification method using ribosomal protein spectra, we applied MALDI-TOF MS of low-mass profiling to the identification of two genetically related Bacillus species, the food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus, and the insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis. The mass spectra of small molecules from 17 type strains of two bacilli were compared to the morphological, biochemical, and genetic identification methods of pathogens. The specific mass peaks in the low-mass range (m/z 500-3,000) successfully identified various closely-related strains belonging to these two reference species. The intensity profiles of the MALDI-TOF mass spectra clearly revealed the differences between the two genetically-related species at strain level. We suggest that small molecules with low molecular weight, 714.2 and 906.5 m/z can be potential mass biomarkers used for reliable identification of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.939-947
• /
• 2008

PCR-DGGE method was applied to analyze changes of microbial community in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) bioreactor with various DO concentrations. In the analysis of eubacterial community, band profiles of DGGE were similar with 2 or 1 mg/L DO concentrations in the reactor. Experimental results led to 16 different bacteria being identified, including 5 dominant strains(3 strains of Uncultured Bacterium, 1 strains of Bacillus, 1 strains of Uncultured Bacteroidetes). DGGE results at 0.5 mg/L DO concentration led to 12 strains being identified, including 7 dominant strains(5 strains of Uncultured Bacterium, 2 strains of Zoogloea sp.). DGGE results at 0.1 mg/L DO concentration led to 11 strains being identified, including 3 dominant strains(1 strains of Uncultured Bacterium, 2 strains of Zoogloea sp.). In DGGE band profiles of $\beta$-AOB($\beta$-Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria), only one band was observed. This band had 97% similarity with Nitrosomonas sp. done DNB Y20. This band was clearly observed at the 2, 1 and 0.5 mg/L DO concentrations, while the brightness of the band at 0.1 mg/L DO concentration was mostly dimmed. In DGGE band profiles of denitrification process, 5 bands(3 strains of Uncultured organism containing nirS, 2 strains of Uncultured organism containing nirK) were observed. Among those bands, the brightness of one band was gradually increased at the lower DO concentrations. This band has 86% identity with Uncultured organism clone eS1 cd1 nirS gene, partial cds. Based on this result, it could be concluded that Uncultured organism clone eS1 cd1 nirS gene, partial cds is a predominant microorganism in the denitrification process.