• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 1980

Investigation on modification of aflatoxin structures by Pseudomonads was attempted as a biological detoxifiying process of mycotoxins. Firstly, when any variation of aflatoxin yield of Aspergillus parasiticus in a mixed culture with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined, there was no noticible effect by growth of Pseudomonads on aflatoxin yield of Asperillus sp. Secondly, when capacity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizing aflatoxin as a carbon source for its growth was tested, there was some indication that aflatoxin might be used for growth of Pseudomonads. It was also noticed that the residual aflatoxin showed different migrating pattern compared with that of the intact aflatoxin by thin layer chromatography. Thirdly, the cell-free extract prepared from Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in a glucose minimal medium supplemented with aflatoxin and the intact aflatoxins were incubated in the presence of $Mg^{++}$. After a certain length of incubation period, the reaction mixtures were applied on TLC plates. As a result, aflatoxins in the reaction mixture migrated differently as the control did. Such results may indicate that some changes of aflatoxin properties were induced by Pseudomonads.

• Mycobiology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2003

Chemical analysis of salted fish was analyzed in 60 samples collected from various moloha markets in Sohag, Qena and Aswan Governorates, Upper Egypt. Moloha contained 52.9% water content, while organic matter content represented 71.79% of dry weight and 33.81%($338.12{\pm}8.64mg\;g^{-1}$) of fresh weight. Total salts and soluble salts represented 13.29% and 10.19%($132.88{\pm}7.65\;and\;101.93{\pm}5.76mg\;g^{-1}$ of fresh weight), respectively. pH values were more or less neutral. Mycological investigation of examined samples revealed that fifty-five fungal species and one variety belonging to 11 genera were identified. The fungal genera of highest occurrence and their respective number of species were Aspergillus(A. flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. montevidensis, A. ficuum, A. parasiticus and A. mangini) and Penicillium(P. citrinum, P. puberulum, P. aurantiogriseum and P. roquefortii). On the other hand, yeast represented 18.2% and 3.0% of total counts of fungi on Czapeks-dextrose agar and 15%NaCl-Czapeks-dextrose agar media, respectively. Samples were assayed for potential presence of mycotoxins. Ten out of 60 samples(16.7%) were proved to be toxic. It is the first record of mycotoxins contamination of salted fish in Egypt. The ability of 340 isolates of recovered fungi was screened for production of mycotoxins and extracellular enzymes.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2001

Generally, non-aflatoxigenic fungi, such as Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus are main microflora in Korean traditional fermented foods including Meju and soybean paste, but sometimes, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus can be contaminated and accumulated aflatoxins during fermentation and storage. So the screening of aflatoxigenic strains in fermented traditional food is very important to improve the sanitary quality of those foods. In this work, we screened aflatoxin producing fungi from commercial Meju and soybean paste in Western Gyeongnam by immunoassay. Samples were randomly purchased from market of the commercial Meju(10 EA) and soybean paste(20 EA) in nine areas of Western Gyeongnam. Of the samples collected,24 strains and 22 strains of Aspergillus sp. were isolated from Meju and soybean paste, respectively. The isolated strains were cultured on SLS media at $25^{\circ}C$ for 15 days. The cultured broth were extracted with ethyl acetate and were analysed to determine aflatoxin B$_1$(AFB$_1$) by direct competitive ELISA(DC-ELISA). Six strains(25%) isolated from Meju, and 2 strains(9%) isolated from saybean paste, were confined as aflatoxin producing strains. The average range of aflatoxin productivity of isolates from Meju was 54.6 $\pm$ 38.7 ng/ml and that from soybean paste was 11.1 $\pm$ 8.6 ng/ml, respectively. Among them, isolated strain No. M-5-4 produced a high level of AFBl and showed 98.26 ng/ml of AFB$_1$. Every isolates were also re-confined their AFB$_1$productivity by thin layer chromatography(TLC). The TLC results also showed same trend as DC-ELISA results. As the above results, the screening of hazard mycotoxigenic fungi from traditional fermented foods should be necessary for the safety and the application of HACCP system in the food manufactory in Korea.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2002

Occurrence and characteristics of infectious fungi and physiologically abnormal Paecilomyces tenuipes were examined. These unfavorable fungi are recently known to cause yield loss, decreased quality of products in artificial cultivation farms of P. tenuipes. Total 529 fungal isolates were collected from 22 farms of 7 provinces. These isolates were composed of physiologically abnormal P. tenuipes strains and other infectious fungal strains, which constituted 23.2% and 50.9%, respectively. Physiologically abnormal P. tenuipes strains showed irregular synemata, and absence of local color. They were divided into 4 types or C-l, C-2, C-3 and C-4. Other infectious fungal strains were identified to 5 species, Beauveria bassiana, Fusarium sp., P fumosoroseus, Tricothecium roseum, Aspergillus parasiticus, which were 22.1, 13.8, 7.6, 4.0 and 3.4%, respectively. All of them were hyphomycetous fungi, did not produce synemata, and revealed faster growth rate than that of P. tenuipes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 1978

Aflatoxin, a mixture of the at least four toxic and carcinogenic metabolites, is known to be produced by only a few fungi. The toxins were designated aflatoxins because they were produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus(A. flavus). However, at least four other toxins and other species of the genus A. niger, A. parasiticus A. ruber and wentii have been reported to produce aflatoxins. And also the identical compounds may also be produced by molds, the Pencillium. At least four different species of Penicilliurn have been reported to produce aflatoxins (P. citrinurn, P. frequentans, P. puberulurn. and P. variable). So it is now known that the problem of Aflatoxin is not restricted to the single species A. flavus, even though that is a very common mold. Also additional aflatoxins have been discorvered. For sereral years, only four aflatoxins were known: $B_1, B_2, G_1$ and $G_2$, so designated by reason of their fluorescence and chromatographic charateristics. It is now known that there are really two new toxic materials in the milk. During the past year(1966) they were christened aflatoxin $M_1$ and $M_2$, since they were first found in milk. The two other and most recently discorvered aflatoxins were isolated late in 1966 from cultures of A. flavus, and were designated aflatoxin $B_2a$ and aflatoxin $G_2a$. In order to obtain a breaf information about extent of contamination of foodstuffs by aflatoxin which is known to produce eight different mold, aflatoxin detection of cereals and fermented foods on sale, such as polished rice, barley, wheat, wheat flour, lentil, red bean, soy bean, noodle, kochuj ang and Dwenjang (fermented soy bean paste) and chong Kuk, were carried out. The results of this investigation were summarized as follows: The hexane:$CHCl_3$ extracts of polished rice, barley wheat, wheat flour, lentil, red bean, noodle and kochujang yielded fluorescent spots on thin layer plates. However their Rfvalues were different from those of authentic aflatoxins. The fluorescent substances of the extract from soy bean, Dwenjang and chong kuk showed very similar Rf values to those of the standard aflatoxins. By two dimensional thin layer chromatography and comparison of ultra violet absorption spectra, it was found that these fluorescent substances were not aflatoxins. To conclude, aflatoxins themselves were not detected directly in those samples tested.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.53-64
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• 1970

In order to study ecology of microorganisms during Takju brewing, microflora changes were examined fromm the start to the sixth day of Takju fermentation in 24 hours intervals. Takju made from rice, flour and dried sweet potato in a liter volume open container at the laboratory and a sanple of Takju brewing factory were studied for their microflora and their changes during fermentationl together with a sample of Kokja. Results obtained were as follows ; 1. The followings were the identified microorganisms in Kokja. The molds ; Absidia spinosa, Aspergillus parasiticus. The yeasts ; Candida melinii, Candida Solani, Hansenula anomala. The bacteria ; Luctobacillus casei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus. 2. Torulopsis inconspicua, Lactobacillus casei, Leuconotoc mesenteroides, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus were isolated from main mash of laboratory-made Takju samples. The yeast, Torupsis inconspicua which was not present in Kokja and, probably of a contaminant yeast, dominated the yeast flora of Takju mash of rice, flour and sweet potato of labotatory brewing. The laboratory brewing lost also always showed large population of lactic acid bacteria flora. 3. None of the wild yeasts which were present in Kokja appeared in Takju mashes. The Kokja appears to be of no use as the yeast source for Takju fermentation. Also the Kokja appears to be of not so effective amylolytic and proteolytic enzyme sources considering the microflora characteristics. Probably the major role of Kokja in Takju fermentation may be to contribute in taste formation. 4. Inoculation of Sacharomyces cerevisiae into the mash to the level of $10^7$ ml at the start of fermentation greatly changed the ecological aspects eliminating conditions of rather slow rising of natural contaminant yeast populaiton and fermentation which might give rise to prosperity of lactic acid and Bacillus bacteria that would be avoidable. 5. Examination of microflora of the large factory scale Takju fermentation showed the quite similar pattern of microflora and their changes to that of the cultured yeast-inoculated laboratory batch Takju fermentation. The cultured yeast dominated as the only predominant microflora, and the lactic acid bacteria flora were completely suppressed and aerobic bacteria, greatly. Probably this may be the regular microflora pattern of normal Takju fermentation. The role of lactic acid bacteria and aerobic bacteria in Takju fermentation may not be clear yet from this experiment alone.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.989-1002
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• 2022

Cephalopods, in particular octopus (Octopus vulgaris), have the ability to alter their appearance or body pattern by showing a wide range of camouflage by virtue of their chromatophores, which contain nanostructured granules of ommochrome pigments. Recently, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ommochromes have become of great interest; therefore, in this study, the pH-dependent redox effect of the extraction solvent on the antioxidant potential and the structural characterization of the pigments were evaluated. Cell viability was determined by the microdilution method in broth by turbidity, MTT, resazurin, as well as fluorescence microscopy kit assays. A Live/Dead Double Staining Kit and an ROS Kit were used to elucidate the possible inhibitory mechanisms of ommochromes against bacterial and fungal strains. The results obtained revealed that the redox state alters the color changes of the ommochromes and is dependent on the pH in the extraction solvent. Natural phenoxazinone (ommochromes) is moderately toxic to the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella Typhimurium and Candida albicans, while the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and the filamentous fungi Aspergillus parasiticus, Alternaria spp. and Fusarium verticillioides, were tolerant to these pigments. UV/visible spectral scanning and Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) suggest the presence of reduced ommatin in methanol/ HCl extract with high intrinsic fluorescence.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate contamination levels of aflatoxins, the secondary metabolites produced by fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, in herbal medicine. Herbs is susceptible to these fungi infections through its growth harvest, transport and storage. This study determine the aflatoxin $B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$ and $G_2$ levels by HPLC-florescence detector coupled with photochemical enhancement in 558 samples herbal medicine distributed in Korea and China. Also, We checked a transfer ratio of aflatoxins from raw herbal medicines to herbal medicine extract. Hot water extraction of herbal medicines was prepared by air pressure and high pressure condition. The analytical method for aflatoxins was validated in this method. In results recoveries of the analytical method were ranged from 67.4% to 96.2% and, limits of detection and quantitation for aflatoxins were $0.015{\sim}0.138\;{\mu}g/kg$ and $0.046{\sim}0.418\;{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. According to the results of monitoring on aflatoxins in herbal medicine, aflatoxins 1.7 ug/kg $B_1$ and 0.9 ug/kg $G_1$ were detected in only one sample of Strychni Ignatii Semen, and 0.8 ug/kg $G_1$ in Strychni Semen. About 13.6~51.3% of aflatoxins were transferred to hot water extract. Although the detected levels are under the permitted levels for aflatoxins in herbal medicine, these amounts should be considered in regard to overall daily exposure to mycotoxins.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 1990

This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the grapefruit seed extract (GFSE) The antimicrobial activity of GFSE was strong enough against such bacteria as Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio fluvialis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia sp. Growth of the above strains was inhibited by the GFSE'S concentration of 50 ppm. The growth of Vibrio vulnificus was completely inhibited by adding the 50 ppm GFSE to the nutrient broth medium with $3\%$ NaCl. The cell counts of Vibrio uulnfficus $5.2\times10^5$ at first in $5\%$ skim milk containing GFSE 0, 10, 30, 50 and 100 ppm were reduced to 35, 48, $5.6\times10^2,\;5.3\times10^3\;and\;9.6\times10^3/ml$ after 120 hours, respectively. And growth of Aspergillus Parasiticus, Asperillus versicolor, Penicillium funiculosum, Py-renochaeta terrestris and Trichoderma viride were inhibited by the concentration of GFSE 100, 50, 100, 10 and 30 ppm, respectively. The shelf life of Mulkimchi containing GFSE 50 and 100 ppm was 20 days longer than the control during storage at $5^{\circ}C\;and\;20^{\circ}C$.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2011

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of the molds of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. They are highly carcinogenic compounds and can affect a wide range of vegetable commodities such as cereals (especially corn), nuts, peanuts, fruits and oil seeds, in the field and during storage. In fact, oilseeds are often stored for weeks in conditions that promote the mould growth, and the possible consequent presence of aflatoxins in oilseeds can lead to their transfer in oil. In addition, aflatoxins can be found as a natural contaminant in multi-cereals and beans making baby food for infants and young-children. The objective of this study was to validate the liquid extraction method or develop an analytical method for edible oil and infant-children foods. Therefore, this study developed condition of extract for aflatoxins ($B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$ and $G_2$) in edible oil using a high performance liquid chromatography with florescence detector (HPLC/FLD). Aflatoxins were extracted from edible oil samples by means of MSPD (Matrix solid phased dispersion), utilizing $C_{18}$ as dispersing material and purified by using immunoaffinity column. The gression line coefficients were above 0.999. The recoveries for aflatoxins ranged from 85.9 to 93.0%, and relative standard deviations were below 5.7%. The new developed method of aflatoxins effectively enhanced recoveries by using MSPD-Immunoaffinity column compared with liquid extraction. The analytical method for liquid extraction of aflatoxin was appropriate for infant-children food. Reviewing the current method, the recoveries of aflatoxins ($B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$ and $G_2$) were 89.5~92.3%.