• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.247-259
• /
• 2008

Terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis, one of rapid culture-independent microbial community analysis methods, was used to determine the lactic acid bacterial complexity and dynamics during kimchi fermentation at $15^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$. At both temperatures, the common presence of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lc. inhae, Lc. kimchi, Weissella koreensis, W. cibaria, Lactobacillus sakei, Lb. curvatus, Lb. plantarum, Lb. paraplantarum, Lb. pentosus, and Lb. brevis was predicted. Lc. citreum and Enterococcus faecalis were detected at $15^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$, respectively. W. koreensis predominated during the mid stage of kimchi fermentation whereas lactobacilli were dominants during later stage. Lb. sakei and Lb. curvatus became dominants regardless of fermentation temperature but the growth of Lb. plantarum, Lb. paraplantarum, Lb. pentosus, and Lb. brevis was restricted at psychrophilic temperature. Some species of leuconostocs were maintained until the later stage of kimchi fermentation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2008

This study aimed to investigate the biofilm formation, bacterial regrowth, and bacterial community structure in the granular-activated carbon (GAC) filter adsorbers (FAs) used in water treatment plants. In 2005 and 2006, raw water, settled water, GAC FA by depth, and filtered water were collected twice a year from water treatment plants (WTPs) B and S. The number of heterotrophic bacteria, including mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, in such collected waters was investigated along with the total number of coliforms therein. Heterotrophic bacteria were detected in most samples, mainly at the surface layers of the GAC FAs, and fewer such bacteria were found in the lower and bottom layers. An increase in the bacterial number, however, was observed in the samples from various depths of the GAC FAs in WTPs B and S compared with the surface layers. An increase in the bacterial number was also detected in the filtered water. This may indicate that there is a regrowth of the bacteria in the GAC FA. Considering, however, that heterotrophic bacteria were not found in the filtered water, it can be deduced that most bacteria are removed in the chlorination process. Coliforms were detected at the surface layer of the GAC FAs, but their regrowth was not observed. MicroLog systems were used to identify the bacteria community distribution. Eight genera and 14 species, including Pseudomonas spp., were detected in WTP B, and 8 genera and 9 species, including Aeromonas spp., in WTP S. Further studies are required to elucidate their role in the biofilms in water treatment processes.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2016

Arctic microalgae thrive and support primary production in extremely cold environment. Three Arctic green microalgal strains collected from freshwater near Dasan Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Arctic, were analyzed to evaluate the optimal growth conditions and contents of fatty acids. The optimal growth temperature for KNF0022, KNF0024, and KNF0032 was between 4 and 8℃. Among the three microalgal strains, KNF0032 showed the maximal cell number of 1.6 × 107 cells mL^-1 at 4℃. The contents of fatty acids in microalgae biomass of KNF0022, KNF0024, and KNF0032 cultured for 75 days were 37.34, 73.25, and 144.35 mg g^-1 dry cell weight, respectively. The common fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) analyzed from Arctic green microalgae consisted of palmitic acid methyl ester (C16:0), 5,8,11-heptadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (C17:3), oleic acid methyl ester (C18:1), linoleic acid methyl ester (C18:2), and α-linolenic acid methyl ester (C18:3). KNF0022 had high levels of heptadecanoic acid methyl ester (26.58%) and heptadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (22.17% of the total FAMEs). In KNF0024 and KNF0032, more than 72.09% of the total FAMEs consisted of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Oleic acid methyl ester from KNF0032 was detected at a high level of 20.13% of the FAMEs. Arctic freshwater microalgae are able to increase the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids under a wide range of growth temperatures and can also be used to produce valuable industrial materials.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.191-203
• /
• 2018

Fragilariopsis cylindrus is one of the most successful psychrophiles in the Southern Ocean. To investigate the molecular mechanism of biomineralization in this species, we attempted to synchronize F. cylindrus growth, since new cell wall formation is tightly coupled to the cell division process. Nutrient limitation analysis showed that F. cylindrus cultures rapidly stopped growing when deprived of silicate or light, while growth continued to a certain extent in the absence of nitrate. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that deprivation of either silicate or light could effectively arrest the cell cycle of this diatom species at the G1 phase, suggesting that synchrony can be established using either factor. Fluorescence labeling of new cell walls was faintly detectable as early as approximately 6 h after silicon repletion or light irradiation, and labeling was markedly intensified by 18 h. It is revealed that the synthesis of girdle bands begins before valve synthesis in this species, with active valve synthesis occurring during the G2 / M phase. Expression profiling revealed that selective member(s) of the F. cylindrus SIT genes (FcSIT) respond to silicate and light, with a different set of genes being responsive to each factor. The Si / light double depletion experiments demonstrated that expression of one FcSIT gene is possibly correlated to transition to G2 / M phase of the cell cycle, when the valve is actively formed.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.12
• /
• pp.1086-1095
• /
• 2015

The psychrophilic organism Colwellia psychrerythraea strain 34H produces extracellular polysaccharide substances to tolerate cold environments. Sedoheptulose 7-phosphate isomerase (GmhA) is essential for producing $\small{D}$-glycero-$\small{D}$-mannoheptose 7-phosphate, a key mediator in the lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway. We determined the crystal structure of GmhA from C. psychrerythraea strain 34H (CpsGmhA, UniProtKB code: Q47VU0) at a resolution of $2.8{\AA}$. The tetrameric structure is similar to that of homologous GmhA structures. Interestingly, one of the catalytic residues, glutamate, which has been reported to be critical for the activity of other homologous GmhA enzymes, is replaced by a glutamine residue in the CpsGmhA protein. We also found differences in the conformations of several other catalytic residues. Extensive structural and sequence analyses reveal that CpsGmhA shows high similarity to Escherichia coli DnaA initiatorassociating protein A (DiaA). Therefore, the CpsGmhA structure reported here may provide insight into the structural and functional correlations between GmhA and DiaA among specific microorganisms.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.spc
• /
• pp.39-47
• /
• 2014

Sponge in Lake Baikal is an unique organism. Microorganisms in sponges are assumed as precious resources for bioactive materials. For understanding the bacterial community in Baikalian sponges by cultivation, 92 strains of bacteria were isolated from lake water and 2 species of sponges, Baikalospongia sp. and Lubomirskia sp., Thirty five bacterial strains are isolated from ambient water near the sponge, 27 bacterial strains from Baikalospongia sp., 30 bacterial strains from Lubomirskia sp.. As a result, 78.3% and 57.6% of isolated bacterial strains has amylase and protease activity respectively, while strains with cellulose and lipase activities were 38.0% and 34.8%. By 16S rRNA sequence analysis of selected strains, 13 strains which were isolated from Baikalospongia sp. were belong to Pseudomonas spp.. Whereas, 14 strains which were isolated from Lubomirskia sp. were Pseudomonas spp., Buttiauxella agrestis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Yersinia ruckeri, Bacillus spp., Paenibacillus spp., Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus simplex, Brevibacterium spp., Acinetobacter lwoffii. In culture media, Pseudomonas spp. dominance was supposed that according to allelophathy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.809-814
• /
• 2021

This study was performed to evaluate the microbiological quality of fresh cut fruits in Korea. Forty freshly cut fruit samples were assessed for aerobic mesophilic count (AM), aerobic psychrophilic count (AP), total coliform, generic Escherichia coli, yeast and mold (YM), Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157:H7. The average value for AM, AP, and YM was 4.51, 5.35, and 4.31 log CFU/g, respectively. The average of the total coliform was 2.42 log CFU/g, and E. coli was not detected in all samples. For foodborne pathogen bacteria, B. cereus and S. aureus were detected in 2.5 and 7.5% samples, respectively, and Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in all samples. Among the samples, pear generally had the highest contamination level. Therefore, to assure the safety of fresh cut fruits, low temperature and thorough hygiene management should be implemented.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2019

Bacteria in the polar region are under strong light and ultraviolet radiation. In this study, we investigated the effects of light on the growth of a psychrophilic bacterium, Sphingomonas sp. PAMC 26621, isolated from an Arctic lichen Cetraria sp. The growth of the strain in the light was lower than that in the dark. Surprisingly, thiamine increased the growth of Sphingomonas sp. PAMC 26621 in M9 minimal medium under light conditions. Thiamine increased the growth of the strain in a concentration-dependent manner along with ascorbic acid. N-acetylcysteine had no effect on the growth of the strain in the light. Thiamine and ascorbic acid also increased the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase. The results of this study indicate that thiamine provided by the lichen symbiosis system plays an important role in light-induced oxidative stress in this Arctic bacterium as an antioxidant. Our study provide insight into the biochemistry and physiology of Arctic bacteria under strong light and ultraviolet radiation.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2001.11a
• /
• pp.39-45
• /
• 2001

Extremophiles are unique microorganisms that are adapted to survive in ecological niches such as high or low temperatures, extremes of pH, high salt concentrations and high pressure. These unusual microorganisms have unique biochemical features which can be exploited for use in the biotechnological industries. Due to the high biodiversity of extremophilic archaea and bacteria and their existence in various biotopes a variety of biocatalysts with different physicochemical properties have been discovered. The extreme molecular stability of their enzymes, membranes and the synthesis of unique organic compounds and polymers make extremophiles interesting candidates for basic and applied research. Some of the enzymes from extremophiles, especially hyperthermophilic marine microorganisms (growth above $85^{\circ}C$), have already been purified in our laboratory. These include the enzyme systems from Pyrococcus, Pyrodictium, Thermococcus and Thermotoga sp. that are involved in polysacharide modification and protein bioconversion. Only recently, the genome of the thermoalkaliphilic strain. Anaerobranca gottschalkii has been completely sequenced providing a unique resource of novel biocatalysts that are active at high temperature and pH. The gene encoding the branching enzyme from this organism was cloned and expressed in a mesophilic host and finally characterized. A novel glucoamylase was purified from an aerobic archaeon which shows optimal activity at $90^{\circ}C$ and pH 2.0. This thermoacidophilic archaeon Picrophilus oshimae grows optimally at pH 0.7 and $60^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, we were able to detect thermoactive proteases from two anaerobic isolates which are able to hydrolyze feather keratin completely at $80^{\circ}C$ forming amino acids and peptides. In addition, new marine psychrophilic isolates will be presented that are able to secrete enzymes such as lipases, proteases and amylases possessing high activity below the freezing point of water.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.221-230
• /
• 2015

Ground bed cultivation method for shiitake mushroom (Phogo; Lentinula edodes) has been advanced to use the oak-sawdust composted by microorganisms. This method has some advantages in saving the labors and improving productivity. The aim of this study is to analyze microbial community in oak sawdust and to provide the information for efficient cultivation of shiitake mushroom. In process of composting, the proportions of thermophiles increased from 10% to 80%. This results show the microbial community succession from mesophilic bacteria to thermophilic bacteria. T-RFLP analysis and nucleotide sequencing of 16S rRNA gene demonstrated that the change of dominant bacteria coupled with shifts in each stages. The family of Enterobacteriaceae as a mesophilic bacteria were dominant (100%) in oak sawdust sample, but Amycolatopsis (49.0%) and Saccharopolyspora (26.5%) as a thermophilic Actinomycetes were dominant in the last day of composting. In hyphal growth stage, Leuconostoc (psychrophilic bacteria) was dominant (75.0%). The composting process of sawdust is very important for growth of mushroom mycelium. Therefore, there is need for the further study for the Amycolatopsis as thermophilic Actinomycetes.