• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.757-763
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• 2006

In our previous studies, we have isolated bacteria from BTEX-contaminated sediment, which utilized BTEX as a sole carbon source and $NO_3$-N as an electron acceptor. For the possibility of field application, we have applied co-culture of those isolates in the BTEX-contaminated soil and evaluated their biodegradation efficiencies. To investigate the relationship between the isolates and indigenous microorganism in soil, changes of microbial community structure in soil samples with respect to time were monitored. To examine this, soil samples were artificially contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene. BTEX-degrading bacteria such as Pseudomonas stutzeri strain 15(DQ 202712), Klebsiells sp. strain 20(DQ 202715) and Citrobacter sp. strain A(DQ 202713) were injected into the soil samples in the ratio of 2:1:1. Our results showed that the highest BTEX biodegradation efficiency was achieved when both BTEX and $NO_3-N$ existed simultaneously. The change in soil microbial community structure was characterized by PCR-DGGE analysis comparing the relative DGGE band intensities. The band intensities of indigenous microorganisms in the soil were reduced by injecting co-culture of the three isolates. On the contrary, the relative band intensities of the isolates were increased. Among the three isolates, Pseudomonas stutzeri strain 15 rendered the highest band intensity. This indicates that the Pseudomonas stutzeri was the dominant microbial species found in the soil samples.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2010

The bacterial community structure of two marine sponges, Spirastrella abata and Cinachyrella sp. collected from Jeju Island, in April 2009, was analyzed by 16S rDNA-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). DGGE banding patterns indicated 8 and 7 bands for Spirastrella abata and Cinachyrella sp., respectively. Comparative sequence analysis of variable DGGE bands revealed from 92% to 100% similarity to the known published sequences. The bacterial groups associated with Spirastrella abata were Alphaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria. The bacterial community of Cinachyrella sp. consisted of Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Alphaproteobacteria was common and predominant in both the sponge species. Deltaproteobacteria was found only in Spirastrella abata while Actinobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were found only in Cinachyrella sp. The results revealed that though the common bacterial group was found in both the sponges, the bacterial community profiles differed between the two sponge species obtained from the same geographical location.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1161-1169
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• 2008

The removals of TCE and PCE vapor with or without a supply of toluene as a primary substrate were compared in a biofiltration process, and the variations of microbial communities associated with the removal were also investigated. As a result of investigations on the removals of TCE/PCE in a biofilter B within which TCE/PCE-acclimated sludge was attached on the surface of media without a supply of primary substrate, and those in another biofilter A where toluene-acclimated sludge was attached with a supply of toluene as a primary substrate, followings were found: (i) parts of microbes responsible to the decomposition of toluene vapor participate in the removal of chlorinated VOCs such as TCE and PCE, and (ii) effective biological removals of TCE and PCE vapor do not necessarily need cometabolism. Sequencing of 16S rDNA obtained from the band profile of DGGE (Denaturating Gradient Gel Electrophoresis), it was confirmed that: (i) uncultured alpha proteobacterium, uncultured Desulfitobacterium, uncultured Rhodobacteraceae bacterium, Cupriavidus necator, and Pseudomonas putida were found to be toluene-decomposing microbes, (ii) alpha proteobacterium HTCC396 is a TCE-removing microbe, (iii) Desulfitobacterium sp. is a PCE-decomposing microbe, and (iv) particularly, uncultured Desulfitobacterium sp. is probably a microbe decomposable not only toluene but also various chlorinated VOC vapor including TCE and PCE.

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

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.406-414
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• 2013

The influence of a gradual increase in salinity on the diversity of aquatic bacterial in rivers was demonstrated. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to analyze the bacterial community shift downstream in the Hyeongsan River until it joins the open ocean. Four water samples were taken from the river showing the salinity gradients of 0.02%, 1.48%, 2.63%, and 3.62%. The samples were collected from four arbitrary stations in 2.91 km intervals on average, and a DGGE analysis was performed. Based on the results of this analysis, phylogenetic similarity identification, tree analysis, and a comparison of each station were performed. The results strongly suggested that the response of the bacterial community response was concomitant to gradual changes in salinity, which implies that salt concentration is a major factor in shifting the microbiota in aquatic habitats. The results also imply a huge diversity in a relatively small area upstream from the river mouth, compared to that in open oceans or coastal regions. Therefore, areas downstream towards a river mouth or delta are could be good starting points in the search for new bacterial species and strains ("biotypes").

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2007

The advanced bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soil through the exploration of bacterial interaction with plants was studied. A diesel-degrading rhizobacterium, Rhodococcus sp.412, and a plant species, Zea mays, having tolerant against diesel was selected. Zea mays was seeded in uncontaminated soil or diesel-contaminated soil with or without Rhodococcus sp. 412. After cultivating for 30 days, the growth of Zea mays in the contaminated soil inoculated with Rhodococcus sp. 412 was better than that in the contaminated soil without the bacterium. The residual diesel concentrations were lowered by seeding Zea mays or inoculating Rhodococctis sp. 412. These results Indicate that the simultaneous use of Zea mays and Rhodococcus sp. 412 can give beneficial effect to the remediation of oil-contaminated soil. Bacterial community was characterized using a 16S rDNA PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting method. The similarities of DGGE fingerprints were $20.8{\sim}39.9%$ between the uncontaminated soil and diesel contaminated soil. The similarities of DGGE fingerprints were $21.9%{\sim}53.6%$ between the uncontaminated soil samples, and $31.6%{\sim}50.0%$ between the diesel-contaminated soil samples. This results indicated that the structure of bacterial community was significantly influence by diesel contamination.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.183.1-183
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• 2005

• The Microorganisms and Industry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.2-12
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• 2001

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2015

We have examined the correlation between the physicochemical and microbiological environment variables for the different layers of oak forest soil in Mt. Gyeryong, Korea. The result shows that there is a high correlation in the environment variables between the soil parameters of the fermented (F) layer and humus (H) layer. In particular, the pH level in the F layer shows a high correlation with C and N, while the various organic acids of the H layer turns out to be closely correlated with soil bacteria density. As we evaluated phylogenetic characteristics of bacterial populations by DGGE analysis with DNA extracted. Total of 175 bands including 43 bands from litter (L) layer, 42 bands from F layer, 43 bands from H layer and 47 bands from rhizosphere (A) layer were selected as the major DGGE band of oak forest soil. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, 175 DGGE bands were classified into 32 orders in 7 phylum. The heat map was analyzed in order to compare the quantity of the base sequences of each order and based on the clustering of the different layers of oak forest soil, the result confirms that the F layer and H layer belong to a different cluster from that of L layer and A layer. Furthermore, it also showed that approximately 50% of the total microbial population in different layers is ${\alpha}$-proteobacteria, which indicates that they belong to the dominant system group. In particular, Rhizobiales, Burkholderiales and Actinobacteriales were observed in all the seasons and layers of oak forest soil, which confirms that they are the indigenous soil bacterial community in oak forest soil.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1290-1298
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• 2017

Intestinal microbiota is an important factor in the development of immune defense mechanisms in the human body. Treatments with anticancer agents, such as 5-Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, and Oxaliplatin, significantly change the temporal stability and environment of intestinal bacterial flora. The anticancer treatment chemotherapy often depresses the immune system and induces side effects, such as diarrhea. This study investigated the effects anticancer agents have on the intestinal microbial ecosystems of patients with gastric cancer. An exploration of the diversity and temporal stability of the dominant bacteria was undertaken using a DGGE with the 16S rDNA gene. Researchers collected stool samples from patients zero, two and eight weeks after the patients started chemotherapy. After the treatment with anticancer agents, the bacteria strains Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Lactobacillus gasseri, Parabacteroides distasonis and Enterobacter sp. increased. This study focused on the survival of the beneficial microorganisms Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the intestines of cancer patients. The administration of antigastric cancer agents significantly decreased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium populations and only moderately affected the main bacterial groups in the patients' intestinal ecosystems. The results showed the versatility of a cultivation independent-PCR DGGE analysis regarding the visual monitoring of ecological diversity and anticancer agent-induced changes in patients' complex intestinal microbial ecosystems.