This study was conducted to analyze the difference in mechanically improved properties by distinguishing α-chitin and β-chitin for Poly(L-lactic acid)(PLLA). First, dissolution of chitins was established by mixing polar solvents hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in appropriate proportions. Under these conditions, the dissolved chitin was used for electrospinning with other polymers. The electrospun nanofibers of the PLLA and chitins were successfully produced. Compared to the pristine state, when chitin was added to PLLA, the tensile strength increased 1.41 times (α-chitin), by 1.61 times (β- chitin), respectively. Based on this, it was confirmed that α- and β- chitin could be strategically used for different polymers. The results also suggest that chitin can be applied to various fields as good reinforcing material as well as electrospinning.

We compared the antibacterial activities of spermidine and astaxanthin against two gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus parauberis and S. iniae to find new antibacterial candidates. We also evaluated the preventive effects of spermidine against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in C2C12 myoblasts. Our results indicated that spermidine has more significant antibacterial activities than astaxanthin against both two fish pathogenic bacteria as well as gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli used as a control group. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of spermidine were 0.25 mM and 1 mM against S. parauberis, 1 mM and 3 mM against S. iniae, and 0.5 mM and 1.5 mM against E. coli, respectively. In addition, the postantibiotic effect lasted from 7 h, 5 h and 6 h for S. parauberis, S. iniae and E. coli, respectively. The results also showed that the decreased C2C12 cell viability by H₂O₂ could be attributed to the induction of DNA damage and apoptosis accompanied by the increased production of reactive oxygen species, which was remarkably protected by spermidine. Additionally, the antioxidant effect of spermidine was associated with the activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway. According to the data, spermidine may be a potential lead compound which can be further optimized to discover novel antibacterial and antioxidant agents.

Over the past few decades, microalgae-based biotechnology conjugated with innovative CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering has been attracted much attention for the cost-effective and eco-friendly value-added compounds production. However, the discharge of reproducible living modified organism (LMO) into environmental condition potentially causes serious problem in aquatic environment, and thus it is essential to assess potential environmental risk for human health. Accordingly, in this study, we monitored discharged genetically modified microalgae (GMM) near the research complex which is located in Daejeon, South Korea. After testing samples obtained from 6 points of near streams, several green-colored microalgal colonies were detected under hygromicin-containing agar plate. By identification of selection marker genes, the GMM was not detected from all the samples. For the lab-scale environmental risk assessment of GMM, acute toxicity test using rotifer Brachionus calcyflorus was performed by feeding GMM. After feeding, there was no significant difference in mortality between WT and transformant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. According to further analysis of horizontal transfer of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-coding gene after 24 h of incubation in synthetic freshwater, we concluded that the GFP-expressed gene not transferred into predator. However, further risk assessments and construction of standard methods including prolonged toxicity test are required for the accurate ecological risk assessment.

We investigated the variation of morphological features, density, biomass and characteristics of reproductive shoot on Zostera marina. This species was monthly monitored and collected during a year in Tongyeong (from January 2016 to December 2016). Morphological features, biomass and density showed significantly seasonal variation (p<0.001). Dimensions of Z. marina were highest in spring and early summer but lowest in winter. Biomass and leaf density of Z. marina showed highest value in May (4,700.5 g w·wt m^-2) and June (858.0 leaves m^-2) respectively and lowest value in November (515.9 g w·wt m^-2 and 312.0 leaves m^-2). Reproductive shoot was monitored from April (13℃) to June (21℃) and grew up to ca. 200 cm. Spathe length, spadix weight, numbers and weight of fruit showed significantly different on monthly. None mature flowers were monitored in April but matured flowers, fruits were founded in May and seed releasing were occurred in June.

Previously, agar obtained from Gelidum sp. has a small molecular weight and has the disadvantage of inherent viscosity properties and poor functionality as a dietary fiber. In order to improve aforementioned disadvantages, agar having a fluidity that can be added to food at a higher concentration that a powder agar having a gelling property at low concertation was manufactured. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity of agar hydrolysates was evaluated to confirm their potential as a functional material. As a result, agar hydrolysates significantly reduced NO levels secreted by LPS-activated macrophages and inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX-2, which are inflammatory mediators that regulates NO secretion in macrophages. Furthermore, in in vivo zebrafish embryos model results demonstrated significant reduction of LPS induced NO production after the treatment of agar hydrolysate hydrolyzed for 360 min. In addition, ROS production and cell death by stresses were also reduced in LPS-exposed embryos after the treatment of agar hydrolysis product hydrolyzed for 360 min. Taken together, agar hydrolysate hydrolyzed for 360 min can be easily added into food due to their fluidity and used as a food ingredient that inhibits inflammation due to their anti-inflammatory property.

In this study, effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) starvation on the cell growth and fatty acid (FA) production of newly isolated freshwater microalgae were investigated. The microalgae were identified as Chlorella sp. and Parachlorella sp. through 18S rRNA sequencing. Optimal culture temperature and light intensity were investigated using a high-throughput photobioreator, and the result was validated in 0.5 L bubble column photobioreactors using BG-11 without NaNO₃ and/or K₂HPO₄. Under nutrient starvation conditions, total FA contents of the microalgae were significantly changed rather than FA composition. Starvation of both N and P was most effective for increasing FA contents in Parachlorella sp (24.4±0.1%) whereas highest FA contents (42.6±1.8%) was achieved when only P was starved in Chlorella sp. among tested conditions. These results suggest an effective strategy for increasing FA production from microalgae using appropriate nutrient starvation.

In this study, the stability of the extracted natural pigments against light, temperature, pH, metal ions, and antimicrobial activity were evaluated in marine bacteria Zooshikella sp. 17TA. The pigment of the strain used in the study was red with maximum absorption at a wavelength of 541 nm. The stability of the pigment was evaluated by measuring the absorbance while preserving for 15 days and examining the retention rate. After 15 days of irradiation, the pigment of this bacterium showed 98% retention in the dark and 91% retention in the temperature range of -20℃ ~ 30℃. When the pH was in the range 4-7, the retention was about 80%, and the retention rate was higher than 85% for all kinds of metal ions except for CuCl₂, ZnCl₂, and KCl. The bacterial pigments showed high stability under the given irradiated pH, temperature, and metal ion conditions and had shown activity against gram-positive strains. These results suggest that this highly conserved microbial pigment can be applied to the food industry.