• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2021

Marine sponges contain pharmacologically attractive substances that exhibit strong cytotoxicity and are used as materials to isolate potential drug candidates. However, with a growing interest in marine ecosystem conservation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to gather a sponge for natural product research. To build a database to cope with this issue, we measured the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity of 181 sponge extracts. As a result, we found 17 samples with neuroprotective effects and 14 samples with anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to compare the components contained in each sample, and based on HPLC profiles, a dendrogram according to similarity was created. The results of this study suggested the possibility of discovering the active compounds in the sponge and laid the basis for efficient research on the sponge.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.298-301
• /
• 2019

We investigated the development of allotriploid embryos derived from a cross between female starry flounder Platichthys stellatus and male stone flounder Kareius bicoloratus. The second cleavage, mid-blastula, gastrula, and Kupffer's vesicle appearance stages, and hatching of embryos began 3.7, 25.6, 45.7, 87.7, and 213.2 h after cold shock at $6^{\circ}C$, respectively. The hatching and development time of triploid interspecific hybrid eggs was approximately the same as those of diploid starry flounder eggs at the same incubation temperature.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.311-317
• /
• 2022

Seed germination and seedling growth of a halophyte, Suaeda japonica were examined to measure the effects of seed preservation periods and various soil compositions in the mudflat of Saemangeum, Korea. Seed germination declined from 74.30% to 44.30% as the preservation period increased from 4 months to 12 months. After 14 days of seeding, seed germination was lowest in sandy soil (SS) at 8.67% and highest in earthworm cast+leaf mold (EC+LM) at 67.33%, showing 4~5 times higher than SS. The average lengths of seedlings were 12.20 mm in SS and 42.20 mm in EC+LM, respectively. These results suggest that seed germination and seedling growth enhanced in the soil that has more organic matter. In the experiment mixing Saemangeum soil (SMS), seed germination was from 4.00% in SMS to 88.00% in the soil of SMS+EC+LM after 14 days. Similar growth patterns were observed in the length of seedlings from 5.00 mm in SMS to 49.60 mm in SMS+EC+LM. The present results indicate that a population of Suaeda japonica could be established by stimulating seed germination and seedling growth by the addition of organic matters such as EC, LM, and EC+LM in the Saemangeum mud flat.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.38-43
• /
• 2019

The deformity occurring at the early developmental stage of red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) causes detrimental effects on the process of juvenile production. In this study, we have compared the expressions of several key genes (insulin like growth factor 1: IGF-1, bone morphogenic protein 4: BMP4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ: PPARγ, matrix Gla protein: MGP) for morphogenesis between normal and 2 types (cephalic and jaw) of deformed juvenile fish. Expression of these genes were investigated in the brain, liver and muscle of each group of fish (n=20) by real-time PCR. Expression of IGF-1 and BMP4 mRNA in the brain and liver showed significant difference between normal and deformed fish (p<0.05). However, no difference was observed in the expression of PPARγ and MGP mRNA between normal and deformed fish in any tissues. It seems certain that IGF-1 and BMP4 are associated with the state of deformity in juvenile red spotted grouper.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.8-17
• /
• 2016

The family Pristiophoridae belonging to the order Pristiophoriformes consists of about 8 species and 2 genera in the world. Among them, only one species (Pristiophorus japonicus) is distributed in northwestern Pacific. The family is characterized by having an elongated and flattened rostrum with laterally projecting a low of sharp teeth. In order to clarify variability of local populations of P. japonicus, we investigated 16 individuals collected from four locations (Korea, n=6; Miyagi, n=1; Kochi Pref., n=1; Okinawa, n=8) for morphological and molecular analyses. Morphological analysis showed that there may exist three morphotypes, of which A morphotype (Korea, Miyagi, Kochi Pref.) has a short snout (26.8% of TL), being most similar to syntypes of P. japonicus. On the other hand, B morphotype (Okinawa) has a long (31.7% of TL) and wider snout (snout width at nostrils 5.2 times pre-oral length) and, C morphotype (Okinawa) has a long (31.7% of TL) and narrower snout (6.3 times). Molecular analysis using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b DNA sequences (386 base pairs) showed that the K2P distance between A and C morphotypes were 2.1~2.7%, but those within A morphotype were 0.0~0.5%. We identified A morphotype as P. japonicus, and designated B and C morphotypes as Pristiophorus sp. 1 and Pristiophorus sp. 2, respectively. Further studies are required to elucidate the taxonomic status of two morphotypes of the sawshark in Okinawa.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2021

Tetracycline (TC) is one of the antibiotics used for treatment of bacterial infection in Korea. Inadequate usage and abuse cause the resistance to antibiotics, like Tetracycline, Erythromycin, and Fluoroquinolone. It can also affect severe economic loss in aquaculture field in Korea. We isolated 101 bacterial samples from diseased fish at aquaculture sites in Gyeonggi-do during 2015~2018. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method has been used to determine distribution and to identify bacterial isolates resistant to antibiotics including Oxytetracycline (OTC), Ampicillin (AMP), Clindamycin (CLI), Enrofloxacin (ENRO), Gentamycin (GEN). TC resistant isolates were confirmed antibiotic resistant genes by conventional PCR. Bacterial isolates were identified as Aeromonas spp. (43.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (4.0%) and Vibrio spp. (5.0%). It was confirmed that multi-resistant isolates (77.2%) were predominant over single-resistant one (22.8%). TC resistant genes like tet(A), tet(D), tet(E), tet(G), tet(M), and tet(S) were detected and tet(A) was the most prevalent. Aeromonas spp. is a dominant strain in bacterial infections in fishes of aquaculture sites, and further investigation on various antibiotic resistance genes will be needed for clear understanding of aquaculture sites in Gyeonggi-do.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.124-132
• /
• 2017

Microbial secondary metabolites of marine organisms are regarded as major sources of structurally and biologically novel compounds with numerous potential uses. Sponge-microbe associations are among the most interesting sources for exploring bioactive compounds. In this study, the bacterial strain Microbulbifer sp. (127CP7-12) was isolated from the Asian marine sponge Hymeniacidon sinapium collected at an intertidal zone on the west coast of Korea. Cultured bacteria produced a violet pigment, and optimal culture conditions for violet pigment production were investigated. Maximum production of the violet pigment from the strain culture was observed under the conditions of $25^{\circ}C$, pH 6.0, and 3% NaCl. Acetone provided better extraction of the pigment from fermented broth compared with ethanol and methanol. The proposed structure of the major component in the extracted crude pigment was determined via high-performance liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and UV spectra analyses, which showed that the metabolite was the promising bioactive compound violacein. This study describes the examination of marine bioactive materials from microbe-engaged metabolites and the ecological implications of the sponge-microbe association in a changing ocean.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.248-255
• /
• 2019

This research confirmed the diversity and characterization of gut microorganisms isolated from the intestinal organs of Muraenesox cinereus, collected on the Samcheonpo Coast and Seocheon Coast in South Korea. To isolate strains, Marine agar medium was basically used and cultivated at $37^{\circ}C$ and pH7 for several days aerobically. After single colony isolation, totally 49 pure single-colonies were isolated and phylogenetic analysis was carried out based on the result of 16S rRNA gene DNA sequencing, indicating that isolated strains were divided into 3 phyla, 13 families, 15 genera, 34 species and 49 strains. Proteobacteria phylum, the main phyletic group, comprised 83.7% with 8 families, 8 genera and 26 species of Aeromonadaceae, Pseudoalteromonadaceae, Shewanellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Morganellaceae, Moraxellaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Vibrionaceae. To confirm whether isolated strain can produce industrially useful enzyme or not, amylase, lipase, and protease enzyme assays were performed individually, showing that 39 strains possessed at least one enzyme activity. Especially the Aeromonas sp. strains showed all enzyme activity tested. This result indicated that isolated strains have shown the possibility of the industrial application. Therefore, this study has contributed for securing domestic genetic resources and the expansion of scientific knowledge of the gut microbial community in Muraenesox cinereus of South Korea.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.96-105
• /
• 2019

The mugilidae fishes are common euryhaline species that live in coastal marine waters to freshwater areas. The taxonomy and nomenclature of the mugilidae fishes still remain unresolved because of their morphological similarities. Among the mugilidae fishes, most commonly consumed in Korea, are grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and red lip mullet (Chelon haematocheilus). It is generally called 'mullet' without distinguishing between two mullets. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the scientific names and common names of mullet species used in Korea from the domestic journals and Korean old documents. The scientific name of grey mullet is M. cephalus, but that of redlip mullet is C. haematocheilus. But the genus of redlip mullet is still mixed with Chelon, Mugil, and Liza. The standard name of two mullet is not distinguished in the Korean dictionary, but they were clearly distinguished in the Japanese, English, and Chinese dictionaries. In the ancient Korean references, the mullet was called 'Chieo' or 'Sueo'. In most of the old literature, the distinction between grey mullet and redlip mullet is not clear. However, in Jasaneobo, it was written separately from grey mullet and redlip mullet, and attaching "ga" was different from now. The Korean standard name of redlip mullet is 'gasungeo', however, the fishermen in Jeollado and Gyoungsangdo call it 'chamsungeo'. Considering the negative perception of 'ga' character, it is proposed to change 'cham(眞)' instead of 'ga(假)' to improve economic value of red lip mullet.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.58-62
• /
• 2008

A novel agar-degrading bacterium SL-12 was isolated from seashore of Kijang at Busan, Korea, and cultured in marine broth 2216 media. Isolated bacterium SL-12 was identified as Glaciecola genus by 16S rDNA sequencing with 98% identity. The optimum pH of the enzyme activity was 7.0 and the optimum temperature for the reaction was $30^{\circ}C$. The enzyme hydrolyzed neoagarohexaose to yield neoagarobiose as the main product, indicating that the enzyme is ${\beta}$-agarase. Thus, isolated bacterium and the enzyme would be useful for the industrial production of neoagarobiose.