• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2004

Chinese cabbage ('Baechu') Kimchi was fermented at the three different temperatures right after it was prepared. Samples were taken everyday for measuring bacterial populations, pH, and titratable acidity through the whole periods of fermentation up to 50 days. pH values and developed acidity were significantly affected by the fermenting temperatures of 4, 10, and $20^{\circ}C$, suggesting that different bacterial flora has been established by the temperatures exposed. The modified MRS agar containing vancomycin (300 $\mu$g/mL) was used for isolating the vancomycin-resistant LAB strains and 127 isolates were finally obtained. Of the LAB isolates, 13 isolates were subjected to the identification experiments based on the biochemical characteristics and the molecular-typing approach, an ITS-PCR, whether they belong to the genus Leuconostoc or not. The data obtained from API 50 CHL kit resulted that six isolates were identified as the members of Leuconostoc and six as Lactobacillus brevis strains except for a single isolate YKI 30-0401, which was not able to be identified because its biochemical traits were not matched to the database of API 50 CHL kit. It was noted that some isolates were distinct in a couple of some biochemical characteristics compared with those of the reference Leuconostoc species. To overcome the limitations experienced in the commercial identification products above, an ITS-PCR experiment was also conducted for the isolates, resulting that eight isolates belong to Leu. mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides or dextranicum with a single band of 564 bp, and four to L. brevis strains. The ITS-PCR profiles clearly differentiated the closely-related LAB isolates for which same results were obtained by the biochemical method. This molecular approach, however, failed to produce the amplicons for the YKI 20-1003, leaving the strain unidentified. Judging from the identification data obtained in the Kimchi fermented at $4^{\circ}C$ or $10^{\circ}C$, Leuconostoc spp. including Leu. mesenteroides/dextranicum were likely predominant species in the earlier stage and L. brevis occurred at the high level through the whole period. By contrast, L. brevis, as one of the major flora, possibly lead the fermentation from the beginning in the Kimchi fermented at $20^{\circ}C$.}C$.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2018

This study was conducted to isolate the cellulolytic bacteria able to grow on LB- Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar trypan blue medium from the mixed forest and Larix leptolepis stands. Three bacterial strains with high activity against both CMC and xylan were isolated. Both API kit test and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the three different isolates belong to the gene Bacillus. Therefore, the isolates named as Bacillus sp. EFL1, Bacillus sp. EFL2, and Bacillus sp. EFP3. The optimum growth temperature of Bacillus sp. EFL1, EFL2, and EFP3 were $37^{\circ}C$. The optimum temperature for CMCase and xylanase from Bacillus sp. EFL1 were $50^{\circ}C$. The optimum pH of Bacillus sp. EFL1 xylanase was pH 5.0 but the optimum pH of CMCase from Bacillus sp. EFL1 was pH 6.0. The optimum temperature of CMCase and xylanase from Bacillus sp. EFL2 was $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The optimum pH of CMCase of Bacillus sp. EFL2 was 5.0, whereas xylanase showed high activity at pH 3.0-9.0. The optimum temperature for CMCase and xylanase of Bacillus sp. EFP3 was $50^{\circ}C$. The optimum pH for CMCase and xylanse was 5.0 and 4.0, respectively. CMCases from Bacillus sp. EFL1, EFL2, and EFP3 were thermally unstable. Although xylanase from Bacillus sp. EFL1 and EFP3 showed to be thermally unstable, xylanase from Bacillus sp. EFL2 showed to be thermally stable. Therefore, Bacillus sp. EFL2 has great potential for animal feed, biofuels, and food industry applications.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the functional activities of microorganisms isolated from kochujang, such as fibrinolytic, immunostimulating, and cytotoxical activities, and to apply these microorganisms to kochujang products. Ninety-one microbial strains with proteolytic activity were selected from 294 strains isolated from traditional and commercial kochujang. Three strains (TPP 0014, TPP 6013, and TPP 6015) with high fibrinolytic activity were tested for their immunostimulating and cytotoxical activities. For the assessment of macrophage activation, cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor, $interleukin-1{\alpha}$ and nitrogen oxide were measured with the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. In addition, the cytotoxical activities of the three strains were examined by MTT assay on the colon cancer cell line SNU-C4 and normal cell line CHO-K1. Using an API identifying kit, two of the microbial strains (TPP 0014 and TPP 6015) were identified as Bacillus stearothermophilus and the other strain (TPP 6013) was identified as B. amyloliquefacience.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1152-1161
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• 2007

An immunochromatography (ICG) strip test based on a monoclonal antibody for the rapid detection of L. monocytogenes in meat and processed-meat samples was developed in this study. A monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific to L. monocytogenes was produced from cloned hybridoma cells (FKLM-3B12-37) and used to develop an ICG strip test. The antibody showed a stronger binding to L. monocytogenes than other Listeria species, and a weak cross-reaction to S. aureus based on an ELISA. The detection limit of the ICG strip test was $10^5\;cell/ml$. In total, 116 meat and processed-meat samples were collected and analyzed using both the ICG strip test and a PCR. The ICG strip test and PCR indicated L. monocytogenes contamination in 34 and 27 meat samples, respectively. The 7 meat samples not identified as L. monocytogenes positive by the PCR were also tested using an API kit and found to be contaminated by Listeria species. In conclusion, the ICG strip test results agreed well with those obtained using the PCR and API kit. Thus, the developed ICG has potential use as a primary screening tool for L. monocytogenes in various foods and agricultural products, generating results within 20 min without complicated steps.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.442-448
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• 2013

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a representative group of probiotics and used in many fermented foods and beverages. Several recent studies have shown that LAB are present in makgeolli which is a traditional Korean alcoholic beverage. However, most LAB are intolerant of more than 6% (v/v) alcohol concentrations. For this reason, alcohol-tolerant LAB are isolated from kimchi, makgeolli and nuruk using alcohol containing selective media. After being cultured in MRS broth containing 13% (v/v) alcohol, the two strains which showed the highest increasing O.D values, were finally selected. As results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical characterization using an API kit, the two species were identified as Pediococcus acidilactici K3 and S1. In addition, the identified two strains produced bacteriocins against Staphylococcus aureus. When compared with the P. acidilactici type strain, the two selected strains possessed two to three time higher growth on 12-13% (v/v) alcohol containing MRS broth. The viability of P. acidilactici K3 and S1 when inoculated in makgeolli and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ did not decrease through a period of one month indicating that the selected strains can be used for LAB containing makgeolli.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.363-370
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• 2007

In order to identify probiotic microorganisms, 25 isolates of Lactobacillus sp. were selected from kimchi based on their growth rates, lactic acid production and salt tolerance. The isolate JK-01 was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by the API kit and 16S rDNA analysis (99.9% of homology), and named as L. plantarum JK-01. The maximum number of L. plantarum JK-01 was reached at 18 hr fermentation in MRS broth and the pH gradually decreased to 4.5. L. plantarum JK-01 showed high enzyme activities for xylanase, amylase, protease, and phytase on MRS agar plates containing each substrate. L. plantarum JK-01 showed high resistance to acidic pH and bile salts, and grew well even at pH 2.0 and 1.0% bile salt. In particular, L. plantarum JK-01 showed high heat stability as shown by $3.3{\times}10^3$ CFU/mL at $60^{\circ}C$. The isolate showed remarkable antimicrobial activity against E. coli in MRS broth based on its disappearance after 18 hr and clear zone formation using a paper disk assay. These results suggest that L. plantarum JK-01 may be probiotic in nature.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2009

To understand contribution of thermophilic microorganisms in decomposition of litter deposits on shore of lakes, we surveyed a lakeshore litter deposit for bacteria growing at $60^{\circ}C$. Ten thermophilic isolates were selected for in-depth characterization, based on their high capacity to degrade high molecular weight organic compounds. Based on phylogenetic analysis on their 16S rRNA gene sequences, all isolates were identified as Geobacillus. The optimal growth temperature and pH of the strains ranged $55{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ and 6.0${\sim}$8.0, respectively. Salinity was inhibitory to the growth of the isolates, showing marked decrease of growth rates at 3% salinity. Based on activities of hydrolytic enzymes and profiles of carbohydrate utilization (determined by API 50 CHB kit), three G. stearothermophilus strains showed patterns clearly distinctive from other isolates. Two G. kaustophilus strains also demonstrated distinctiveness in their metabolic pattern and ecological parameters. However, ecological and metabolic profiles of the other five isolates were more variable and showed some degree of digression from their phylogenetic classification. Therefore, it could be concluded that endospore-forming thermophilic bacteria in lakeshore litter deposits contribute to degradation of organic materials with diverse ecological niches while having successions similar to microbial flora in compost. We propose that the thermophilic isolates and/or their thermo-tolerant enzymes can be applied to industrial processes as appropriate mixtures.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2008

Two hundred and sixty-eight bacterial strains were isolated from pine mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake) basal soil. In the course of screening for antifungal activity against seven plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria panax, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosprioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytopthora capsici, Pythium ultimum, Rizoctonia solani) of isolates, strain KM1-15 showed strong antibiotic activity against Alternaria panax and Colletotrichum gloeosprioides. In determining its relationship on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence, KM1-15 strain was most closely related to Bacillus $koguryoae^T$ (AY904033) (99.62%). When assayed with the API 50CHE Kit, unlike Bacillus koguryoae, it is positive for utilization of L-arabinose, cellobiose, inulin, and D-turanose. Results of cellular fatty acid analysis showed that major cellular fatty acids were 15:0 anteiso (35.78%) and 17:0 anteiso (17.97%). In particular, hydroxyl fatty acids such as 13:0 iso 3-OH, 14:0 iso 3-OH, 15:0 iso 3-OH, and 17:0 iso 3-OH were only restricted to strain KM1-15. DNA G+C content was 43.7 mol% and quinone system was MK-7 (100%) in strain KM1-15.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.86-89
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• 2011

Phytophthora blight and anthracnose disease caused by Phytophthora capsici and Collectotrichum gloeosporioides are the most important devastating diseases of red pepper plants, worldwide. Five different bacterial isolates were isolated from the red pepper rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil and subsequently tested for antagonistic activity against P. capsisi and C. gloeosporioides. The area of the inhibition zone was taken as a measure for antagonistic activity. Among the 5 isolates tested, S54 exhibited a maximum antagonistic activity under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In greenhouse studies the isolate has successfully reduced the disease symptom. Protect value was 80.8% (Phytophthora blight) and 81.9% (Anthrancnose disease), whereas the infection rate of control plants was 21.3% and 23.2%. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence and API 50CHB Kit analysis the most effective isolate was identified as Bacillus subtilis. The results of the study indicate that the stratin S54 could be used as an potential biological control of Phytophthora blight and anthracnose disease of red pepper.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2005

To search probiotic microorganisms, we isolated Lactobacillus sp. from kefir, The Lactobacillus sp. strain showed $99.5\%$ of identity to species Lactobacillus rhamnosus by API kit. Lactobacillus rhamnosus showed high resistances to acidic environment, which grew well even at pH 2.0 and $1.0\%$ bile salt Enzyme activity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus was higher in amylase ($0.673\;{\mu}mol/min/mg$) than that in xylanase ($0.288\;{\mu}mol/min/mg$), cellulase($0.117\;{\mu}mol/min/mg$) and phytase($0.269\;{\mu}mol/min/mg$). Especially, the Lactobacillus rhamnosus showed high heat stability which remained $1{\times}10^6\;CFU/ml$ at $60^{\circ}C$. The maximum numbers of Lactobacillus rhamnosus on growth owe was reached at 24 h fermentation and pH was decreased to 4.6. The resistances of Lactobacillus rhamnosus to acidic pH and bile salt were better than that of Lactobacillus acidophilus used as control. When Lactobacillus rhamnosus was cultured with E. coli in MRS broth, E. coli was disappeared after 18 h. These result suggest that the isolated Lactobacillus rhamnosus has a useful probiotics properties.