• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2019

Pseudomonas tolaasii causes brown blotch disease on the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Various pathogenic strains of P. tolaasii were isolated and divided into three subtypes, $P1{\alpha}$, $P1{\beta}$, and $P1{\gamma}$. For phage therapy, bacteriophages against to these subtype strains were applied to mushroom cultivation and very successful to prevent from the disease. In this study, bacteriophages were isolated against the representative strains of subtype pathogens and their polyclonal antibodies were synthesized to investigate structural relationship among capsid proteins of phages. Phage preparations over $10^{10}pfu/mL$ were injected to rabbit thigh muscle and polyclonal antibodies were obtained after three times of boost injection. Titers of the antibodies obtained were over $2{\times}10^7Ab/mL$ for the phage ${\phi}6264$, $1{\times}10^6Ab/mL$ for the phage ${\phi}HK2$, and $1{\times}10^7Ab/mL$ for the phage ${\phi}HK19$ and phage ${\phi}HK23$. High specific activities were observed between antibodies and the corresponding bacteriophages. Some cross-reactivities between the antibodies and non-corresponding bacteriophages were also measured. Antibody $Ab{\phi}6264$ inactivated all phages of $P1{\alpha}$ subtype and only phage ${\phi}HK16$ among $P1{\beta}$ subtype phages. Antibody $Ab{\phi}HK23$ of $P1{\gamma}$ subtype neutralized all phages of $P1{\beta}$ subtype as well as the phage ${\phi}HK23$, showing the widest phage-inactivation range. When the structural-similarity studies of phages were investigated by using phage antibodies, closeness obtained by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes of pathogenic strains were quite different from that of polyclonal antibody-specific structural similarity of phage capsid proteins. In conclusion, there is weak correlation between the host strain specificity of bacteriophage and its capsid structural similarity measured by phage antibodies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.861-870
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• 2019

This study was undertaken to establish optimum medium compositions for cost-effective mannitol production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides SRCM201425 isolated from kimchi. L. mesenteroides SRCM21425 from kimchi was selected for efficient mannitol production based on fructose analysis and identified by its 16S rRNA gene sequence, as well as by carbohydrate fermentation pattern analysis. To enhance mannitol production by L. mesenteroides SRCM201425, the effects of carbon, nitrogen, and mineral sources on mannitol production were first determined using Plackett-Burman design (PBD). The effects of 11 variables on mannitol production were investigated of which three variables, fructose, sucrose, and peptone, were selected. In the second step, each concentration of fructose, sucrose, and peptone was optimized using a central composite design (CCD) and response surface analysis. The predicted concentrations of fructose, sucrose, and peptone were 38.68 g/l, 30 g/l, and 39.67 g/l, respectively. The mathematical response model was reliable, with a coefficient of determination of $R^2=0.9185$. Mannitol production increased 20-fold as compared with the MRS medium, corresponding to a mannitol yield 97.46% when compared to MRS supplemented with 100 g/l of fructose in flask system. Furthermore, the production in the optimized medium was cost-effective. The findings of this study can be expected to be useful in biological production for catalytic hydrogenation causing byproduct and additional production costs.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.41-47
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• 2015

Objectives : Due to the morphological similarity of the pericarp and description of multi-species in National Pharmacopoeia of Korea and China, the Zanthoxylum Pericarpium is difficult to authenticate adulterant in species levels. Therefore, we introduced the sequence analysis of DNA barcode and identification of single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) to establish a reliable tool for the distinction of Zanthoxylum Pericarpium from its adulterants. Methods : To analyze DNA barcode region, genomic DNA was extracted from twenty-four specimens of authentic Zanthoxylum species and inauthentic adulterant and the individual internal transcribed spacer regions (rDNA-ITS and ITS2) of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene were amplified using ITS1, ITS2-S2F, and ITS4 primer. For identification of species-specific sequences, a comparative analysis was performed using entire DNA barcode sequences. Results : In comparison of four Zanthoxylum ITS2 sequences, we identified 16, 4, 6, and 4 distinct species-specific nucleotides enough to distinguish Z. schinifolium, Z. bungeanum, Z. piperitum, and Z. simulans, respectively. The sequence differences were available genetic marker to discriminate four species. Futhermore, phylogenetic relationship revealed a clear classification between different Zanthoxylum species showing 4 different clusters. These results indicated that comparative analysis of ITS2 DNA barcode was an useful genetic marker to authenticate Zanthoxylum Pericarpium in species levels. Conclusions : The marker nucleotides, enough to distinguish Z. schinifolium, Z. piperitum, Z. bungeanum, and Z. simulans, were obtained at 30 SNP marker nucleotides from ITS2 sequences. These differences could be used to authenticate official Zanthoxylum Pericarpium from its adulterants as well as discriminating each four species.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2015

The biological characteristics of Bacillus sp.CPB-St as a probiotic strain to control fish streptococcosis was determined. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing, Bacillus sp.CPB-St was identified as Bacillus pumilus and named B. pumilus CPB-St (Abbreviated as CPB-St). Growth inhibitory activity of CPB-St against Streptococcus spp. was examined at three different incubation temperatures ($20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, and $30^{\circ}C$) and three culture media (NA, TSA, and BHIA) based on the diameter of inhibition zone. Its activity (inhibition zone of 11~29 mm) at $20^{\circ}C$ was higher than that (12~21 mm) at $30^{\circ}C$. Its activity (29 mm) in NA media was the same as that (29 mm) in TSA media. However, it was higher than that (22 mm) in BHIA media. The inhibitory activity of CPB-St against Streptococcus spp. was high at pH7. However, its activity was the same at salinity of 0.5% to 3%. CPB-St showed maximum growth after incubation at $25^{\circ}C$ for 48 h. To use CPB-St as probiotics, settlement studies in fish intestine and its efficacy through feeding are needed. CPB-St was highly resistant to gastric juice at pH4 and flounder's bile salt as well as deoxycholic acid at $300{\mu}g/ml$. CPB-St showed optimal viability in 1% NaCl. It showed similar growth in 0% to 7% NaCl. CPB-St could tolerate $-20^{\circ}C$ and $-70^{\circ}C$ for 45 min. There was no difference in the growth of the strain between room temperature and $4^{\circ}C$. Fish diet supplemented with CPB-St could be stored at low temperature without cell loss. Therefore, CPB-St might be used as probiotics to control streptococcosis of fish.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2011

Enterobacteria were isolated in the gut of the predacious multicolored Asian ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis, and their effects to the development of H. axyridis were examined. Populations of H. axyridis in this experiment were collected from Kimjae at Cheonbuk province (JK population), Geumsan at Chungnam province (CK population) and laboratory population at Laboratory of Insect Physiology in Chungnam National University, Daejeon. Thirty-four enterobacteria isolates were purified and isolated from the digestive tract of H. axyridis, and a total of 4 strains were classified into group by analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. About 70% of total isolates were phylogenetic groups of Bacillus genus and Staphylococcus genus, and they were commonly separated from the digestive tract of H. axyridis. After investigating their susceptibility against antibiotics with 18 representative enterobacteria isolates, ofloxacin and penicillin were selected for examination in this study of their ability to inhibit the growth of all of isolates. In order to remove the enterobacteria from the aphids, ofloxacin and penicillin were given to the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and the turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi. These aphids were provided to H. axyridis as prey. The weight of pupa, developmental periods of each larval instar, the number of eggs and their hatching ratio of H. axyridis with treatment aphids were lower compared with non-treatment aphids. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a representative enterobacteria and commonly isolated from the digestive tract of H. axyridis. In the absence of S. saprophyticus, the developmental periods of each larval instar increased; however, the weights of pupa, the number of eggs, and their hatching ratio decreased.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2017

As an effort to find a potential biopreservative, we isolated bacterial strains producing bacteriocin from fermented foods. A strain was finally selected and characteristics of the bacteriocin were investigated. The selected strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis E9-1 based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis. The culture supernatant of B. subtilis E9-1 showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Subtilisin A, ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, trypsin and proteinase K inactivated the antimicrobial activity, which means its proteinaceous nature, a bacteriocin. The bacteriocin activity was fully retained at the pH range from 2.0 to 8.0 and stable at up to $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. Solvents such as ethanol, isopropanol and methanol had no effect on the antimicrobial activity at the concentration of 100% but acetone and acetonitrile reduced the activity at up to 100% concentration. Cell growth of four indicator strains was dramatically decreased in dose-dependent manner. Listeria monocytogenes was the most sensitive, but Enterococcus faecium was the most resistant. Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus showed the medium sensitivity. The bacteriocin showed its antimicrobial activity against B. cereus and L. monocytogenes via bactericidal action. The number of viable cells of L. monocytogenes started to reduce after addition of bacteriocin to the minced beef. The bacteriocin was purified through acetone concentration, gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC. The whole purification step led to a 6.82 fold increase in the specific activity and 6% yield of bacteriocin activity. The molecular weight of the purified bacteriocin was determined to be 3.3 kDa by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 1996

Nucleocapsid protein (NP)which exists in the particle of hantavirus and surrounds the viral RNA genome is one of the major structural proteins and plays role of antigen to elicit the antibody detected predorminantly right after infection of the virus in the patients of hemorragic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)or experimental animals. NP is important target antigen in serological diagnostic system of HFRS utilizing whole antigens from the native virus particle, such as IFA, ELISA and Western blotting. Therefore, the preparation of this protein in the level of higher quantity and purity is desirasble for developed dianosis of the disease. The purpose of this study is the cloning of NP gene which exists in the S genome segment of Maaji (MAA) virus and expression of the gene to obtain qualified, genetically engineered NP to be utilized as an immunodiagnostic antigen. First of all, for the purpose of amplifing the MAA-NP gene by PCR, the specific primers were built from the known nucleotide sequence of Hantaan viral NP gene. The viral cDNA of the NP gene was synthesized by using the primers and RNase $H^-$ AMV reverse transcriptase. Thereafter, using this cDNA as a template, the NP gene was amplified specifically by Taq DNA polymrerase. The pT7blue (R)T-overhang vector systems were used for cloning of the amplified NP gene. The expression system was consisted of BL21 (DE3)pLysS and pET16b as a host and a plasmid repectively. Into Ndel site of pET16b, NP gene was ligated with cohesive end for the expression. Insertion of NP gene in the plasmid was confirmed by PCR and mini prep methods. For expression, IPTG was used and the expressed protein was characterized by Western blotting. The MAA-NP was expressed as the form of inclusion body (insoluble fraction)and the protein purified by affinity and metal chealating columns reacted specifically with the sera from patients of HFRS as to be tested by ELISA and Western blotting.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2013

Biofilm formed on stainless and copper in water treatment plant was investigated for sixteen weeks. Biofilm reactor was specially designed for this study. It was similar to that of a real distribution pipe. Raw water, coagulated, settled, filtered and treated water were used in this study. The average number of heterotrophic bacteria counts was $1.6{\times}10^4CFU/ml$, $5.8{\times}10^3CFU/ml$, $1.8{\times}10^3CFU/ml$, $1.3{\times}10^2CFU/ml$, 1 CFU/ml, respectively. Density of biofilm bacteria formed on stainless and copper pipes in raw, coagulated and settled water increased above $2.9{\times}10^3CFU/cm^2$ within second weeks while more biofilm bacteria counts were found on the stainless pipe than on the copper pipe. In case of filtered water (free residue chlorine 0.44 mg/L), there was no significant difference in the number of biofilm bacteria on both pipes and biofilm bacteria below $18CFU/cm^2$ were detected on both pipe materials after fifth weeks. Biofilm bacteria were not detected on both pipe materials in treated water (free residue chlorine 0.88 mg/L). According to the results of DGGE analysis, Sphingomonadacae was a dominant species of biofilm bacteria formed on the stainless pipe while the copper pipe had Bradyrhizobiaceae and Sphingomonadaceae as dominant bands. In case of filtered water, a few bands (similar to Propionibacterium sp., Sphingomonas sp., Escherichia sp., and etc.) that have 16S rRNA sequences were detected in biofilm bacteria formed on both pipes after fifth weeks. Stainless pipe had higher species richness and diversity than the copper pipe.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2016

Perchlorate (ClO₄⁻) is an emerging pollutant detected in surface water, soil, and groundwater. Previous studies provided experimental evidence of autotrophic ClO₄⁻ removal with elemental sulfur (S⁰) particles and activated sludge, which are inexpensive and easily available, respectively. In addition, ClO₄⁻ removal efficiency was shown to increase when an enrichment culture was used as an inoculum instead of activated sludge. PCR-DGGE was employed in the present study to investigate the microbial community in the enrichment culture that removed ClO₄⁻ autotrophically. Microorganisms in the enrichment culture showed 99.71% or more ClO₄⁻ removal efficiency after a 7-day incubation when the initial concentration was approximately 120 mg ClO₄⁻/l. Genomic DNA was isolated from the enriched culture and its inoculum (activated sludge), and used for PCR-DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes. Microbial compositions of the enrichment culture and the activated sludge were different, as determined by their different DGGE profiles. The difference in DGGE banding patterns suggests that environmental conditions of the enrichment culture caused a change in the microbial community composition of the inoculated activated sludge. Dominant DGGE bands in the enrichment culture sample were affiliated with the classes β-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes. Further investigation is warranted to reveal the metabolic roles of the dominant populations in the ClO₄⁻ degradation process, along with their isolation.