• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.386-392
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• 2015

A novel recombinant bacmid, bEasyBm, that enables the easy and fast generation of pure recombinant baculovirus without any purification step was constructed. In bEasyBm, attR recombination sites were introduced to facilitate the generation of a recombinant viral genome by in vitro transposition. Moreover, the extracellular RNase gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, barnase, was expressed under the control of the Cotesia plutellae bracovirus early promoter to negatively select against the nonrecombinant background. The bEasyBm bacmid could only replicate in host insect cells when the barnase gene was replaced with the gene of interest by in vitro transposition. When bEasyBm was transposed with pDualBac-EGFP, the resulting recombinant virus, EasyBm-EGFP, showed high levels of EGFP expression efficiency compared with that of non-purified recombinant virus BmGOZA-EGFP, which was constructed using the bBmGOZA system. In addition, nonrecombinant backgrounds were not detected in unpurified EasyBm-EGFP stocks. Based on these results, a high-throughput system for the generation of multiple recombinant viruses at a time was established.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1162-1168
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• 2007

Although widely used as a host for recombinant protein production, Escherichia coli is unsuitable for massive screening of recombinant clones, owing to its poor secretion of proteins. A vector system containing T4 holin and T7 lysozyme genes under the control of the ptsG promoter derivative that is inducible in the absence of glucose was developed for programmed cell lysis of E. coli. Because E. coli harboring the vector grows well in the presence of glucose, but is lysed upon glucose exhaustion, the activity of the foreign gene expressed in E. coli can be monitored easily without an additional step for cell disruption after the foreign gene is expressed sufficiently with an appropriate concentration of glucose. The effectiveness of the vector was demonstrated by efficient screening of the amylase gene from a Bacillus subtilis genomic library. This vector system is expected to provide a more efficient and economic screening of bioactive products from DNA libraries in large quantities.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2015

Tyrosinase inhibitors are an important component of cosmetic products. Our previous studies have proposed that eckol isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia cava, can be explored as a tyrosinase inhibitor. However, cellular activities and mechanism of action of eckol remain unknown. Therefore, the current study analyzed the eckol binding modes using the crystal structure of Bacillus megaterium tyrosinase. The effects of eckol on melanin synthesis induced by ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone in B16F10 melanoma cells were also investigated. We predicted the 3D structure of tyrosinase and used a docking algorithm to simulate binding between tyrosinase and eckol. These molecular modeling studies were successful (calculated binding energy value, $-115.84kcal\;mol^{-1}$) and indicated that eckol interacts with Asn205, His208, and Arg209. Furthermore, eckol markedly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. We also found that eckol decreased the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP) 1, and TRP2. These results indicate that eckol is a potent inhibitor of melanogenesis, and this finding may be useful for the development of novel pharmaceutical and cosmetic agents.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.851-855
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• 2006

Acarviosine-glucose (AcvGlc) is an ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor and has similar inhibitory activity to acarbose in vitro. We synthesized AcvGlc by treating acarbose with Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase and fed C57BL/6J and db/db mice with diets containing purified AcvGlc and acarbose for 1 week. AcvGlc (50 and 100 mg/100 g diet) significantly reduced plasma glucose and triglyceride levels in db/db mice by 42 and 51 %, respectively (p<0.0001). The hypoglycemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects of AcvGlc were slightly, but significantly, greater than those seen with acarbose treatment (p<0.0001) in C57BL/6J mice. In an oral glucose tolerance test, glucose tolerance was significantly improved at all time points (p<0.01). The expression of two novel glucose transporters (GLUTs), GLUT10 and GLUT12, were examined by Western blot analysis. GLUT10 was markedly increased in the db/db livers. After AcvGlc treatment, the expression of hepatic GLUT10 was decreased whereas intestinal GLUT12 was significantly increased in both strains of mice. Our results show that AcvGlc improves plasma lipid and glucose metabolism slightly more than acarbose. Regulation of hepatic GLUT10 and intestinal GLUT12 may be important in controlling blood glucose levels.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2391-2399
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• 2014

Novel dual responsive pectin hydrogels composed from poly(acrylamidoglycolic acid-co-vinylcaprolactam)/Pectin (PAV-PC) and also PAV-PC hydrogels are used as templates for the production of silver nanoparticles. 5-Fluorouracil is an anticancer drug and has been loaded in situ into PAV-PC hydrogels. Structure and morphology characterization of PAV-PC hydrogels were investigated by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction studies, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed a molecular level dispersion of the drug in PAV-PC hydrogels. In vitro release of 5-fluorouracil from the PAV-PC hydrogels has been carried out in GIT fluids as well as in various temperatures. 5-Fluorouracil released from PAV-PC hydrogels was 50% at pH 1.2, and 85% at pH 7.4 within 24 h. The release profile was characterized with PAV-PC hydrogels and initial burst effect was significantly reduced in two buffer media (1.2 and 7.4), followed by a continuous and controlled release phase, the drug release mechanism from polymer was due to Fickian diffusion. In situ fabrication of silver nanoparticles inside the hydrogel network via the reduction of sodium borohydrate by PAV-PC chains led to hydrogel nanocomposites. The diameter of the nanocomposites was about 50-100 nm, suitable for uptake within the gastrointestinal tract due to their nanosize range and mucoadhesive properties. These nanocomposite PAV-PC hydrogels showed strong antimicrobial activity towards Bacillus subtilis (G+ve) and Escherichia coli (G-ve).

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 1994

Forty nine clinical isolates of S. aureus showing resistance to erythromycin(EM) were selected from 83 strains isolated recently in Korea. Fourteen strains of S. aureus showing inducible resistance to MLS antibiotics were selected by disc agar diffusion method. Colony hydridization was executed using two MLS inducible resistance genes, ermA and ermC, identified previously from S. aureus as probes. S. aureus 375 and S. aureus 507 whose genes were not homologous to those probes were finally selected. It was confirmed that the resistance genes of S. aureus 375 and S. aureus 507 had no homology with those probes in southern hybridization test using ermA, ermC and ermAM as probes. It was determined that S. aureus 375 had a plasmid whose size was about 35 kb. To know if the plasmid may have the genes related to inducible resistance to MLS antibiotics, it was attempted to transform Bacillus subtillis BR151 and S. aureus RN4220 with the plasmid isolated from S. aureus 375. It was shown that the gene related to inducible resistance to MLS antibiotics did not exist in this plasmid. These results indicate that two clinical isolates of S. aureus showing inducible resistance to MLS antibiotics have novel genes that have no homology with MLS resistance genes identified so far. It is assumed that these genes may exist in chromosomal DNA.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2012

Biocontrol microbes have mainly been screened among large collections of microorganisms $via.$ nutrient-rich $in$ $vitro$ assays to identify novel and effective isolates. However, thus far, isolates from only a few genera, mainly spore-forming bacilli, have been commercially developed. In order to isolate field-effective biocontrol microbes, we screened for more than 200 oligotrophic bacterial strains, isolated from rhizospheres of various soil samples in Korea, which induced systemic resistance against the soft-rot disease caused by $Pectobacterium$ $carotovorum$ SCC1; we subsequently conducted in $planta$ bioassay screening. Two oligotrophic bacterial strains were selected for induced systemic disease resistance against the $Tobacco$ $Mosaic$ $Virus$ and the gray mold disease caused by $Botrytis$ $cinerea$. The oligotrophic bacterial strains were identified as $Pseudomonas$ $manteilii$ B001 and $Bacillus$ $cereus$ C003 by biochemical analysis and the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence. These bacterial strains did not exhibit any antifungal activities against plant pathogenic fungi but evidenced several other beneficial biocontrol traits, including phosphate solubilization and gelatin utilization. Collectively, our results indicate that the isolated oligotrophic bacterial strains possessing induced systemic disease resistance could provide useful tools as effective biopesticides and might be successfully used as cost-effective and preventive biocontrol agents in the field.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.100-106
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• 2020

Coix lacryma-jobi (Hanjeli) is known to posses anti-microbial properties. Therefore, phytochemical compounds of C. lacryma-jobi have been studied to produce novel antimicrobial agents as treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.The objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of the C. lacryma-jobi oil against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. The phytochemical composition of the oil was determined via gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Moreover, agar disk and agar well diffusion were employed to screen the antibacterial activity of the oil. An agar well diffusion test was implemented to determinate MIC's (minimum inhibitory concentrations). Dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropylester, 1,3-dioctanoin, N-methoxy-N-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thiopyran6-carboxamide, propanamide, 5-Amino-1-(quinolin-8-yl)-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide, and pyridine were identified in the C. lacryma-jobi oil. The MIC value of the oil was 0.031 g/L and the MBC of the oil was 0.125 g/L effective in all test bacteria. Dodecanoic acid displayed inhibitory activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, our research demonstrated C. lacryma-jobi (Hanjeli) oil exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. These research suggest that C. lacryma-jobi root oil could be used for medicinal purposes; however clinical and in vivo tests must be performed to evaluate its potential as an antibacterial agent.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.771-779
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activities (FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH), and antibacterial properties of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) extracts. Lotus leaves, stems, and seed pods were extracted with deionized water at $95^{\circ}C$, and with 70.5% ethanol at $85^{\circ}C$. The TPC ranged from 8.12 to 215.12 GAE mg/g. The ethanol extract of the seed pod had the highest TPC, and the TPC of the corresponding deionized water extract was 161.45 mg/g. FRAP values ranged from 104.03 to $3,546.39TEAC\;{\mu}mol/g$, ABTS radical cation scavenging activities ranged from 105.11 to $3,956.94TEAC\;{\mu}mol/g$, and DPPH radical scavenging activities ranged from 37.29 to $2,549.46TEAC\;{\mu}mol/g$. $EC_{50}$ values ranged from 0.26 to 9.63 mg/mL, and 0.31 to 21.21 mg/mL for ABTS and DPPH, respectively. The ethanol and deionized water extracts of the seed pod showed higher TPC and stronger antioxidant properties (FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH) than those of characteristic of the leaf extracts. The ethanol and deionized water extracts of the seed pod showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with inhibition zones of 9.0 to 14.0 mm, and the ethanol extract of the leaf showed antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus with inhibition zones of 9.0 and 10.0 mm, respectively. Thus, the lotus seed pod could be used to produce novel teas, and could be a potential source of therapeutic ingredients for food and medicine.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 2019

The porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptide (PMAP), one of the cathelicidin family members, contains small cationic peptides with amphipathic properties. We used a putative lysozyme originated from the bacteriophage P22 (P22 lysozyme) as a fusion partner, which was connected to the N-terminus of the PMAP36 peptide, to markedly increase the expression levels of recombinant PMAP36. The PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein with high solubility was produced in Escherichia coli. The final purified yield was approximately 1.8 mg/L. The purified PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein exhibited antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis). Furthermore, we estimated its hemolytic activity against pig erythrocytes as 6% at the high concentration ($128{\mu}M$) of the PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein. Compared with the PMAP36 peptide (12%), our fusion protein exhibited half of the hemolytic activity. Overall, our recombinant PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein sustained the antimicrobial activity with the lower hemolytic activity associated with the synthetic PMAP36 peptide. This study suggests that the PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion system could be a crucial addition to the plethora of novel antimicrobials.