• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.582-588
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• 2004

Eighty one bacterial strains of parathion degrading bacteria were isolated from soil samples that were contaminated with pesticide in Daejeon area. Among them, one bacterial strain was finally selected in media containing parathion as the sole source of carbon and energy, and this strain was identified as Pseudomonas rhodesiae H5 through physiological and biochemical tests, and analysis of its 16S rRNA sequence. Pseudomonas rhodesiae H5 was able to utilize various carbohydrates but did not utilize sorbose as sole carbon source. Pseudomonas rhodesiae H5 was resistance to ampicillin, spectinomycin, and mitomycin C but sensitive to kanamycin and chloramphenicol. And this strain showed high resistance up to several milligrams of heavy metals such as $BaCl_2$, LiCl, and $MnSO_4$. Optimal growth condition for temperature and pH of P. rhodesiae H5 was 3$0^{\circ}C$, and pH 7.0, respectively. It can be presumed that P. rhodesiae H5 hydrolyzed an organophosphate bond of parathion, forming p-nitrophenol, and then metabolized via ortho-ring cleavage mechanism.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.21 no.4 s.53
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• pp.222-226
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• 1982

Changes in levels of phenolic compounds such as total phenols, flavonols and anthocyanins in Macrophoma-infected apples were studied at various developmental stages of apple fruits. The amounts of total phenols in apple fruit flesh and peel drastically decreased as apples became mature. Apple rot resulted in concentration of total phenols somewhat lower than those of healthy apple flesh. The decline in amount of total phenols was distinct in infected fruit flesh of the cultivar Fuji, which was more susceptible to Macrophoma sp. than the cultivar Miller. Higher amounts of total phenols were found in infected than in heathy fruit peel. In the case of the cultivar Miller, increased accumulation of total phenols was pronounced in infected peel. Apple rot resulted in concentrations of flavonols much higher than those of healthy apples. In particular, the drastically increased accumulation of flavonols was detected in infected peel at the first collection on 10 July, when the cultivars tested were completely resistant to Macrophoma sp. Production of anthocyanins was increased considerably by apple rot: anthocyanins in infected fruits of the cultivar Miller increased markedly as compared with their concentration from healthy fruits. These results suggest that the altered phenolic metabolism in apple fruits may be associated with the development of apple rot.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.864-872
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• 2017

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) consists of highly glycosylated ${\alpha}-$ and ${\beta}-subunits$ and is a unique member of the gonadotropin family, because it elicits the response characteristics of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in species other than the horse. To directly assess the biological function of $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$, we constructed mammalian expressing vectors of equine luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptors (eLH/CGR). The activity of $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ in vitro assayed in transient transfected CHO-K1 cells and in stably transfected PathHunter Parental cells with eLH/CGR was investigated. $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ was efficiently secreted in the CHO-K1 suspension cell media, and the quantity detected was about 200 mIU/ml from 1 to 7 days after transfection. In the western blot analysis, the $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ protein was broadly identified to be about 40~45 kDa molecular weight. The cAMP stimulation in CHO-K1 cells expressing eLH/CGR was determined to evaluate the activity of $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$. The cAMP concentration increased in direct proportion to the concentration of the $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$. The $EC_{50}$ value in the transient transfected CHO-K1 cells was $8.1{\pm}6.5ng$. The stable cell lines of eLH/CGR were established in the PathHunter Parental cells expressing ${\beta}-arrestin$. We found that $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ had full LH activity in the PathHunter Parental cells expressing eLH/CGR. The $EC_{50}$ value in transient and stable cells was $5.0{\pm}4.7ng/ml$ and $4.5{\pm}5.2ng/ml$, respectively. These results suggest that $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ has a biological activity in a cell expressing eLH/CGR. These stable cells expressed in PathHunter Parental cells could be useful for elucidating the functional mechanisms of deglycosylated $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ mutants.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.256-263
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• 2007

We performed the biochemical characteristics, molecular epidemiologocal analysis, and drug susceptibility test on V. vulnificus isolated from environmental sources in Incheon. For this study, 233 strains were isolated from seawater, sediment, shellfish. V. vulnificus isolates were divided into 15 biochemical groups, which were positive for ONPG and Amygdalin test. Among the 209 strains, 206 (98.6%) strains and 110 (52.6%) strains revealed positive for vvhA and viuB gene, and the viuB gene detection rates of V. vulnificus from seawater, shellfish and sediment were 48%, 48.5% and 61.6%, respectively. From disc diffusion test on 175 isolates, most of strains were sensitive to Imipenem (100.0%), Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (98.9%), Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin (98.3%), Ampicillin/sulbactam (97.1%), Ohloramphenicol (96.6%), Cefepime (94.9%) and Ceftriaxone (94.8%), multi-drug resistance rates was 31.5% of seawater, 34.4% of sediment and 29.2% of shellfish. PFGE was performed on 233 V. vulnificus isolates with the objective of investigating the extent of genetic diversity of these isolates in our region. We could find that at least 126 different PFGE patterns were generated according by 90% of similarity and 13 clusters by 58% of similarity. The major cluster was type I (44.6%) during the most of the year, and type J was frequent pattern in June and October. There were 9 distinct PFGE types in July, 8 types in August, 7 types in June, 6 types in September, 5 types in October 3 types in May and 1 type in March.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2014

This study was carried out in order to develop a biological control of anthracnose of red pepper caused by fungal pathogens. In particular, this study focuses on the Colletotrichum species, which includes important fungal pathogens causing a great deal of damage to red pepper. Antagonistic bacteria were isolated from the soil of pepper fields, which were then tested for biocontrol activity against the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides anthracnose pathogen of pepper. Based on the 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the isolated bacterial strain CS-52 was identical to Bacillus sp. The culture broth of Bacillus sp. CS-52 had antifungal activity toward the hyphae and spores of C. gloeosporioides. Moreover, the substances with antifungal activity were optimized when Bacillus sp. CS-52 was grown aerobically in a medium composed of 0.5% glucose, 0.7% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.2% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.3% $NH_4NO_3$, 0.01% $MnSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and 0.15% yeast extract at $30^{\circ}C$. The inhibition of spore formation resulting from cellulase, siderophores, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), were produced at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, respectively. Bacillus sp. CS-52 also exhibited its potent fungicidal activity against anthracnose in an in vivo test, at a level of 70% when compared to chemical fungicides. These results identified substances with antifungal activity produced by Bacillus sp. CS-52 for the biological control of major plant pathogens in red pepper. Further studies will investigate the synergistic effect promoting better growth and antifungal activity by the formulation of substances with antifungal activity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2008

Hydrophytes such as Spirodela polyrhiza form dormant turions to withstand cold winters. The turion is an anatomically distinct structure from which a vegetative frond arises later during germination. The turions sink to the bottom of the pond when temperatures drop and remain there throughout the winter. In the spring, they float to the surface and germinate into a new frond from the turion primordium. Unlike fronds, turions are known to possess small aerenchyma, starch grains, and relatively dense cytoplasm. These features allow the turions to survive the cold winter season at the bottom of the pond. Spirodela polyrhiza has been investigated previously to a great extent, especially in its physiological, biochemical and ecological attributes. However, a little is known about the structural features of the frond and turion during turion development. Thus, the aim of the present study was to reveal the structural characteristics of the frond and turion with regard to tissue differentiation, aerenchyma development, starch distribution, and ultrastructure, with the use of electron microscopy. A moderate degree of mesophyll tissue differentiation was found in the frond, whereas the turion did not exhibit such differentiation. Within the frond tissue, approximately $37{\sim}45%$ of the cellular volume was occupied by a large aerenchyma, but only $9{\sim}15%$ was taken up by the aerenchyma in the turion. The turion cells, especially those of the turion primordium, were derived from frond cells, and contained cytoplasm. Their cytoplasm was densely packed with plastids, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, and microtubules. Plasmodesmata were also well developed within these cells. The most striking feature observed was the distribution of starch grains within the plastids of turion cells. Before the turion sank to the bottom of the pond, a considerable amount of starch accumulated in the plastid stroma. The starch grains dissolved when temperatures rose in the spring, and this promptly provided the nutrients which the primordium needed for turion germination. The turion therefore, was an appropriate dormant structure for free-floating, reduced hydrophytes like Spirodela polyhriza due to its small aerenchyma and large starch grains that aided in the purpose of sinking below the surface of the water to survive cold winters. The new fronds that arose from such turions grew rapidly in the spring, beginning the new life cycle.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.819-826
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• 2006

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of cultured wild-ginseng powder or its fermented culture byproduct on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass and meat quality in finishing pigs. The animals used in the experiment were a total of 36 Landrace×Yorkshire and weighted 65.81±2.02kg. The experimental diets were basis diet, 2.5% wild-ginseng fermented culture byproduct of B. subtilis replaced lupin in basis diet and 0.2% cultured wild-ginseng powder replaced lupin in basis diet to CON, T1 and T2 for 60 days, respectively. The pigs were allotted at 4 pigs per pen with three replicate pens per treatment by completely randomized design. In growth performance, ADG was not significantly different between treatments. ADFI was significantly lower (P<0.05) in T1 and T2 than in CON. Feed/Gain was not different between treatments. In plasma's biochemical composition, total protein was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 than in CON. Blood urea nitrogen was not different between treatments. Glucose and albumin were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 than in other treatments. Calcium was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 than in CON. Inorganic phosphate was significantly higher in T1 than in other treatments. In plasma's lipid composition, triglyceride was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 than in other treatments. Total cholesterol was not different between treatments. HDL cholesterol was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 than in other treatments. In carcass and meat quality, carcass weight, dressing precent, meat precent and back-fat thickness were not significantly different between treatments. Moisture and crude fat were also not significantly different between treatments. The results indicate that growth performance, carcass and meat quality were not affected but plasma's biochemical and/or lipid composition were affected when replaced with wild-ginseng fermented culture byproduct of B. subtilis and cultured wild-ginseng. Our research indicates that wild-ginseng fermented culture byproduct of B. subtilis and cultured wild-ginseng powder were able to using with pig's diet in finishing period.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.502-513
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• 2016

In this study, heavy metal distributions in the tissues of feral pigeon (Columba livia) were characterized using samples collected from bio-monitoring sites (Hangang Park and Hampyeong Park) of the NESB (National Environmental Specimen Bank), Korea, in order to evaluate the feasibility of feral pigeons as an indicator for the environmental monitoring. Cadmium (Cd) was analyzed to be accumulated in kidneys at higher concentration than in the other tissues. Such trend can also be found in the reviews on the Cd accumulations of the 34 cases including 17 avian species which showed that 31 cases had the highest Cd concentrations in the kidney among tissues. However, lead (Pb) was found to be richest in the bones in this study. 17 cases out of 30 reviewed cases had the highest Pb concentration in bones, whereas other 10 cases showed the highest concentration in kidneys, and 3 cases in livers. Therefore, kidneys together with bones can be a main target organ to test cadmium exposure to different habitat environments depending on physiological traits of birds. Zinc (Zn) was found to be the highest concentration in the pigeon livers of Hangang Park, but not in the bones. In contrast, the 13 cases of 16 reviewed cases had the highest Zn concentration in bones, and the 3 cases in livers. In addition, the heavy metal distribution patterns in relations to the metal accumulation mechanisms (a competition between Pb and Ca, a function of methallothionein protein, and etc.) were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2004

In this study, we compared the levels of methylotrophic bacterial community diversity in the leaf samples of 19 rice cultivars collected from three regions of Korea. Nineteen pink pigmented isolates showing characteristic growth on methanol were obtained. Physiological and biochemical characters of each isolate were examined according to methods described in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. When phylotypes were defined by performing numerical analysis of 37 characteristics, four distinct clusters were formed. The two reference strains, Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 and Methylobacterium fujisawaense KACC10744 were found to group under cluster IV and cluster III respectively. Cluster I diverged on the basis of nitrate reduction and four isolates showed tolerance upto 0.5 M NaCl concentrations. Two strains in cluster I and III were found to possess methane utilizing properties. Most of the isolates in all the four clusters utilized monosaccharides, disaccharide and polyols as carbon source. When the isolates were subjected for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) analysis in the presence of L-tryptophan, only 8 isolates exhibited IAA production. In addition, the nitrogen source in the medium was found to influence the IAA production. Addition of $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in the medium led to a 2 to 30 fold increase in the indole synthesis. However, $KNO_3$, $NH_4NO_3$ and $NH_4Cl$ substitution did not significantly stimulate the synthesis of IAA in the growth medium. Result of gnotobiotic root elongation assay significantly increased roots and shoots lengths, and number of lateral roots, which is mediated by IAA production in the culture medium. The rice seedlings primary roots from seeds treated with methylotrophic isolates were on average 27 to 56% longer than the roots from seeds treated with the uninoculated seeds. In addition, application of different high concentrations of authentic IAA ($400g\;mL^{-1}$) to roots of rice seedlings inhibited root growth. However, the IAA concentration from 10 to $200g\;mL^{-1}$, IAA promoted root growth of rice seedlings. These results suggest that bacterial IAA plays a major role in the development of the host plant root system.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.117-135
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• 2016

The present study was performed to develop a functional raw food material from hydrolyzed whey protein powder (23%-GNANA) medication containing sialic acid as a marker compound that is naturally occurring at 7% concentration in GMP (glycomacropeptide). GMP is used worldwide in foodstuffs for babies and infants and is obtained from the milk protein as safe food. While the purpose of our detailed evaluation was aimed to assess preliminary NOAEL values for and above 2,000 mg/kg/day, a clinical dose allowance for 23%-GNANA (as per characteristic of a functional health product, a highly refined test substance of 23% (v/v) sialic acid combined in GMP), at the same time we also wanted to assess the safety of GMP hydrolyzate lacking sialic acid but with identical properties as GMP. Animal safety evaluation was conducted using 23%-GNANA as the test substance, produced from hydrolyzed whey protein powder (product name: HELICOBACTROL-23; provided by Medinutrol Inc. [Korea]; composed of 23% sialic acid and GMP protein) after isolating the sialic acid using enzymes approved as food additives, with GMP as a raw material, and subsequently increasing the content of xx up to 23% through 80% (v/v) ethanol soaking and concentrating, in accordance with GLP Guideline. The animal safety evaluation mentioned above was made on the basis of toxicity in SPF Sprague-Dawley female and male rats dosed with 10 mL of the test substance diluted to 0, 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg directly into their stomachs for 90 d. This was determined in terms of the general symptoms and animal viability, weight and amount of feed intake, eye examination, uracrasia tests, hematological and blood biochemical disorder tests, blood coagulation test, abnormal intestine weight, abnormalities during postmortem and histopathological examinations. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Based on the toxicity determination, a certain minor effect associated with the test substance was observed in male rats with no major effects of the tested substance, in comparison with the control group dosed with sterilized water. Nevertheless, the NOAEL value, evaluated as per toxicity criteria, was verified as 5,000 mg/kg/day (P<0.05). Similarly, for female rats, a certain minor effect associated with the test substance was observed in 5,000 mg/kg/day dosed group, with no major effect, yet the NOAEL value (as assessed as per toxicity criteria) was determined to be 5,000 mg/kg/day (P<0.05), which was the same as for male rats. Accordingly, the NOAEL values of the test substances for all female and male rats were finally verified as 5,000 mg/kg/day (P<0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that the 23%-GNANA test substance exceeds 2,000 mg/kg/day, the clinical allowance characteristic for functional health food, and was finally evaluated to cause no safety concerns when used as a raw material in functional health food production, which was the ultimate goal of the present study.