• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2015

This study studied samples taken off surfaces at three sites (Unit chairs, light handles, cuspidors) of 19 dental hospitals and 28 clinics located in Gyeonggi-do and Incheon, South Korea. The bacterial contamination levels of surfaces were $44.82{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in cuspidors, higher than in unit chairs ($5.47{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) and light handles ($16.28{\times}10^3CFU/mL$). The values were statistically higher at dental hospitals than at dental clinics, the greater number of patients being associated with the higher bacterial cell count in the cuspidors. The results of identifying the strains isolated purely from surfaces at dental clinic showed Gram positive 47.3% and Gram negative 52.7%. Among Gram positive, the most numberous bacteria were Micrococcus luteus (10.9%), Bacillus pumilus (3.6%), and Staphylococcus aureus (3.6%). Among Gram negative, the most numberous bacteria were Acinetobacter ursingii (5.5%), Brevundimonas diminuta (4.5%), Chryseobacterium (Flavo.) indologenes (CDC IIb) (4.5%), and Methylobacterium sp. (4.5%). This study measures the level of bacterial contamination and identifies the strains isolated in dental clinics. It recognizes the importance of infection control, and the results of the study may be considered as the basis for establishing specific plans for prevention of infection.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.283-287
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• 2003

This study was performed to identify the microorganisms from air conditioners and to investigate hygiene management on air conditioners. Eight species of bacteria were isolated and identified from twenty samples of coolers in air conditioners; Pantoea sp., Bacillus circulans, Bacillus pumilus, Corynebacterium, Flavimonas oryzihabitans, Ochrobacterum anthropi, Micrococcus sp., and non fermented bacilli (NFB). One thousand and three hundreds twenty-two persons who used air conditioners in their houses were investigated about the state of hygiene management in their air conditioners. One thousand and one hundred thirty eight persons (86%) of the total investigated persons ventilated their air conditioners and 1,128 persons (85%) of them cleaned their air conditioners. However, 864 persons (66%) of them did not clean filters and 1,089 persons (82%) did not clean the heat exchangers, both of which air conditioners could be easily contaminated by microorganisms. From these results, we could conclude that the contaminants, bacteria as mentioned the above, in air conditioners could cause human disease such as respiratory infections if the number of bacteria increase in air conditioners. Thus, the removal of contaminants and the improved hygiene of the air conditioners can prevent human diseases caused by the released bacteria during the use of air conditioners.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.454-461
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• 2015

This study aims to classify the biotope types based on the vegetation community in built-up areas by different land use and to map the plant communities. By classifying biotopes according to a taxonomic system, the characteristics of a biological community can be well-represented. The biotope classification indexes for the target area include human behavioral factors such as land use intensity, land-use patterns and land-cover types. The type classification was divided into four hierarchic ranks starting with Biotope Class, next by Biotope Group and Biotope Type and lastly by Biotope Sub-Type. The Biotope Class was first divided into two areas: the areas improved by humans and the areas unimproved by humans. The improved areas were again divided into permeable and non-permeable regions on the Biotope Group level. In the Biotope Type level, permeable paving areas were divided into areas with wide gap pavers and those with narrow gap pavers. The differential species of each biotope type are Lindera glauca, Conyza canadensis, Mazus pumilus, Vicia tetrasperma, Crepidiastrum sonchifolium, Zoysis japonica, Potentilla supina and Festuca arundinacea. The results of this study suggest that the biotope classification methodology, using a subjective phytosociological approach, is a useful and valuable tool and the results also suggest the possibility of applying more objective and scientific methods in mapping and classifying various environments.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.134-144
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate physicochemical and microbiological properties during composting process when pig manure was composted with some bulking agents(Saw dust, Rice hull, Crushed wood). The pig manure consisted of 2.95% total nitrogen, 4.55% $P_2O_5$, 2.07% $K_2O$, 81.2% organic matter and 14.0 C/N, dry base. The inorganic content of bulking agents were similar one another, and C/N ratio was Saw dust 392. Rice hull 91.5, Crushed wood 266. The temperature of Saw dust composting slowly increased at initial stage, whereas one of Rice hull and Crushed wood rapidly increased and stabilized similarly to outdoor temperature after about 2 month. The pH of compost increased during initial 1 month after decreasing, but thereafter decreased rapidly. The C/N ratio rapidly decreased at initial stage, and it slowly decreased after 1 month. Total nitrogen somewhat increased according to composting process. Ammonium-nitrogen increased until 60th day, and thereafter it was rapidly inclined to decrease. The population of aerobic bacteria, Bacillus spp., actinomycetes and fungi increased up to > $10^{10}cfu\;g^{-1}$ fresh weight, > $10^7$, > $10^8$ and > $10^6$, respectively in Rice hull and Crushed wood composting, and more than ones in Saw dust composting, and specially actinomycetes. The persuasive Bacillus spp. isolated from composting process were B. lentimorbus, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, B. megaterium, etc.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.398-409
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• 2018

In the present study, biogenic amine-forming Bacillus spp. and bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from Doenjang were generally identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of cheonggukjang prepared using the isolated strains were investigated. Biogenic amine-producing bacteria from the samples were identified as Bacillus licheniformis DB102, B. subtilis DB203, B. stearothermophilus DB206, B. pumilus DB209, B. subtilis DB310, B. coagulans DB311, B. cereus DB313, B. amyloliquefaciens DB714, B. amylolique-faciens DB915, B. licheniformis DB917, B. cereus DB1019, B. subtilis DB1020, B. megaterium DB1022. The bacteriocin-producing LAB showed antibacterial effect against biogenic amine-producing Bacillus spp. were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum DLA205, L. brevis DLA501, L. fermentum DLA509, L. acidophilus DLA703, and Enterococcus faecalis DLA804. The bacteriocin produced by the LAB significantly decreased the viable numbers and the amine production ability of the biogenic amine-forming Bacillus spp. in a concentration dependent manner. Therefore, the pH, ammonia nitrogen and biogenic amine content of cheonggukjang prepared by mixed culture of the LAB and Bacillus spp. were significantly decreased compared to the control group.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.310-315
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• 2015

Certain bacterial species associate with plant roots in soil. The plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) stimulate plant growth and yield in greenhouse and field. Here, we examined whether application of known bacilli PGPR strains stimulated growth and asexual reproduction in the succulent plant Kalanchoe daigremontiana. Four PGPR strains B. amyloliquefaciens IN937a, B. cereus BS107, B. pumilus INR7, and B. subtilis GB03 were applied to young plantlets by soil-drenching, and plant growth and development was monitored for three months. Aerial growth was significantly stimulated in PGPR-inoculated plants, which was observed as increases in plant height, shoot weight, and stem width. The stimulated growth influenced plant development by increasing the total number of leaves per plant. Treatment with bacilli also increased the total root biomass compared with that of control plants, and led to a 2-fold increase in asexual reproduction and plantlet formation on the leaf. Collectively, our results firstly demonstrate that Bacillus spp. promote vegetative development of K. daigremontiana, and the enhanced growth stimulates asexual reproduction and plantlet formation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1103-1109
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to isolate mesophilic chicken feather-degrading bacteria and to evaluate feather hydrolysate as alternative biofertilizer. Isolate RS7 was isolated from compost and identified as Bacillus pumilus according to API analysis and l6S rDNA sequencing analysis. Chicken feathers were completely degraded after 5 days of cultivation at $30^{\circ}C$. Feather hydrolysate treated by B. pumilius RS7 positively influenced Helianthus sannuus L. (sunflower) growth (e.g. growth rate, number and dry weight of leave, and flowering rate). These results suggest that feather hydrolysate prepared using B. pumilius RS7 could successfully be used as alternative biofertilizer, thereby reducing the environmental impact of feather waste from the poultry industry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 1998

A gene coding for ${\beta}$-xylosidase from thermophilic xylanolytic Bacillus sp. KK-1 was cloned into Escherichia coli using plasmid pBR322. Recombinant plasmid DNAs were isloated from E. coli clones which were capable of hydrolyzing 4-methylumbelliferyl-${\beta}$-D xylopyranoside. Restriction analysis showed the DNAs to share a common insert DNA. Xylo-oligosaccharides, including xylotriose, xylotetraose, xylopentaose, and xylobiose were hydrolyzed to form xylose as an end product by cell-free extracts of the E. coli clones, confirming that the cloned gene from strain KK-1 is ${\beta}$-xylosidase gene. The ${\beta}$-xylosidase gene of strain KK-1 designated as xylB was completely sequenced. The xylB gene consisted of an open reading frame of 1,602 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 533 amino acid residues, and a TGA stop codon. The 3' flanking region contained one stem-loop structure which may be involved in transcriptional termination. The deduced amino acid sequence of the KK-1 ${\beta}$-xylosidase was highly homologous to the ${\beta}$-xylosidases of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus, but it showed no similarity to a thermostable ${\beta}$-xylosidase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.253-261
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• 2012

We isolated and characterized novel duck feather-degrading bacteria producing keratinase. Twelve strains were isolated from soil and faces at poultry farm, and decayed feathers. They were identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus, Pseudomonas geniculata, Pseudomonas hibiscicola, Exiquobacterium profundum, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Bacillus thuringiensis, Thermomonas koreensis, respectively, by phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Generally, the level of keratinase production was not proportional to feather degradation rate. The highest keratinolytic activity was observed in the culture inoculated with Chryseobacterium indologenes D27. Although all strains did not degrade human hair, strains tested effectively degraded chicken feather(53.8-91.4%), wool(40.4-93.0%) and human nail (51.0-82.9%). These results suggest that strains isolated could be not only used to improve the nutritional value of recalcitrant feather waste but also is a potential candidate for biotechnological processes of keratin hydrolysis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2011

The chitinase-producing strain SC081 was isolated from Korean traditional soy sauce and identified as Bacillus atrophaeus based on a phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence and a phenotypic analysis. A gene encoding chitinase from B. atrophaeus SC081 was cloned in Escherichia coli and was named SCChi-1 (GQ360078). The SCChi-1 nucleotide sequences were composed of 1788 base pairs and 596 amino acids, which were 92.6, 89.6, 89.3, and 78.9% identical to those of Bacillus subtilis (ABG57262), Bacillus pumilus (ABI15082), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (ABO15008), and Bacillus licheniformis (ACF40833), respectively. A recombinant SCChi-1 containing a hexahistidine tag at the amino-terminus was constructed, overexpressed, and purified in E. coli to characterize SCChi-1. $H_6SCChi$-1 revealed a hydrolytic band on zymograms containing 0.1% glycol chitin and showed the highest lytic activity on colloidal chitin and acidic chitosan. The optimal temperature and pH for chitinolytic activity were $50^{\circ}C$ and pH 8.0, respectively.