• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.107-111
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• 2013

To investigate the possible usage as probiotics, we isolated and identified one strain of bacillus from Korean traditional food, Jeotgal. The isolate was identified as Bacillus megaterium KS12 by examining its biochemical properties and 16S rRNA sequence analysis (99% similarity). B. megaterium KS12 exhibited high viability in artificial gastric juice for 3 h and in artificial bile salts for 24 h, about 14.4 and 14%, respectively. The herbal digestive medicine containing the isolate showed high starch hydrolytic activity and proteolytic activities (about 6-fold) compared to traditional herbal digestive medicine. The viable cells in the herbal digestive medicine containing the isolate were higher than those of traditional herbal digestive medicine.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2013

To isolate antagonistic bacteria against sclerotinia rot of lettuce, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, soil samples were collected from the diseased greenhouse field in Namyangju city, Gyeong-gi province from 2007 to 2008. A total of 196 bacterial isolates were isolated using serial dilution method. In dual culture assay in vitro, 26 isolates showed more than 80% of inhibition rates of mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the 26 isolates were identified as Bacillus megaterium, B. cereus, B. subtilis, Arthrobacter nicotianae, A. ramosus, Pseudomonas filiscindens, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Brevibacterium frigoritolerans and Sphingobacterium faecium. The 26 isolates inhibited the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum up to 80% and the sclerotial germination 0-100%. In the greenhouse pot test of ten isolates conducted in summer, 2 isolates B. megaterium (DK6) and B. cereus (C210) showed control efficacy on sclerotia viability of S. sclerotiorum, 20% and 35%, respectively. In the greenhouse pot test in winter, the disease incidence of the control group was 80%, whereas those of 9 isolates among 26 were approximately 20%. From the result, the 9 isolates are expected as potentially antagonistic bacteria for biological control of sclerotinia rot of lettuce caused by S. sclerotiorum.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1682-1688
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• 2007

To develop multifunctional microbial inoculant, microorganisms with antagonistic activity and biofertilizing activity were screened. Pantoea agglomerans and Bacillus megaterium from our laboratory culture collection, and strain MF12 from soil near poultry farm in Miryang were selected. On the basis of morphological, physiological studies and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, isolate MF12 was identified as the Bacillus pumilis. Three strains were studied for insoluble phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production, ammonification ability, hydrolytic enzyme production and antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi. P. agglomerans did not produce any visible clear zone on agar plate containing 0.5% $Ca_3(PO_4){_2}$ as a sole phosphorus source. However, this strain could solubilize insoluble phosphate in liquid medium. All strains produced IAA ranged from $3{\sim}639{\mu}g/ml$ depending on culture time and had ammonification ability. Among three strains, only P. agglomerans produced siderophore. P. agglomerans produced pectinase and lipase, B. megaterium produced amylase, protease and lipase while B. pumilis produced protease and lipase. P. agglomerans showed antifungal activities against phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. B. pumilis showed antifungal activities against Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Phythium ultimum.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 1986.12a
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• pp.524.3-524
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• 1986

Carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) produced by cloned B. megaterium was found to contain 5.2% carbohydrate but no metal ion. The enzyme was isoelectric at pH 7.23 and was high is basic amino acids. The N-terminal of the enzyme was glutamic acid. The cellulolytic activity of this enzyme was extended to the small molecular substrates such as from cellotriose to cellopentaose. In additon, the enzyme showed transglycoslation activity. The pK values of the enzyme we estimated to be 4.4 and 6.7, andthat of the enzyme-substrate complex were 4.2 and 7.2, respectively. The enzyme was not affected by the treatment with iodoacetic acid, but the modification of enzyme with carbodiimide and diethyl pyrocarbonate resulted in a marked loss of the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the active site of enzyme essentially contains carboxylic and imidazole group of amino acid residues.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2000

In order to develop the enzymatic hydrolysis system concerned with taste and flavor, strains having the high hydrolyzing activity on the soy protein were selected from some traditional Mejus. Two molds and one bacterium producing enzymes which were different in character of hydrolysis were isolated and identified. Leucine and azodye enzyme activities of both M4 and M5 were relatively high among in the isolated molds. And, leucine enzyme activity of B16 was the lowest in the isolated bacteria. These strains were isolated as microorganisms having a dissimilar hydrolysis pattern on the soy protein by enzymatic reactions. Mold M4 on the culture solid media was mycelium colors of white and its sclerotia colors were changed from white to black. According to the result of slide culture, radial conidial head, subclavate vesicle, conidia of subglobose, stipes of uncolored with smooth walls and metula and phialides were existed. Because M4 was taxonomically similar to the characteristics of Aspergillus oryzae (ahlburg) species, M4 was identified and named as Aspergillus oryzae M4.Mold M5 showed white and black mycelium on the MEA medium. Mold M5 colony exhibited grayish-green color and have long(7 mm) sporangiophores at slide culture. Sporangia became brownish-gray and the wall of larger sporangia was broken to form small collars, and smaller sporangia were fomed continually from large basal membrane. Columella is globose and hyaline, and sporangiospores are ellipsoidal of small diameter$(80\;{\mu}m)$. Because M5 was taxonomically similar to the Mucor circinelloides of zygomycetes, M5 was was identified and named as Mucor circinelloides M5. Bacteria B16 colony was opaque white, circular and lobate, and had rod shaped endospore. B16 was found positive in stain, catalase, ${\beta}-glucosidse$ and V-P tests. B16 was found to utilize D-fructose, ${\alpha}-D-glucose$, maltose, D-mannose, D-raffinose, stachyose and sucrose. By the morphological and physiological results, the characteristics of B16 was thought to correspond to that of Bacillus megaterium. However, fatty acid composition was similar to Paenibacillus marcerans, requiring further study for the definite identification. Accordingly, Bacteria B16 was provisionally classified and named as Bacillus megaterium B16.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.255-259
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• 1986

The aflatoxin production by Aspergillus ATCC 15517 decreased in the mixed culture with Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus kawachii, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, or with Aspergillus shirousamii to 1.3%, 13.8%, 1.3%, 0.7%, or 38.5% of that of monoculture respectively. These koji molds degraded $75%{\sim}100%$ of added aflatoxin $B_1\;(791{\mu}g/50ml\;YES medium)$. A. awamori secreted during growth aflatoxin degrading factor(s) which was heat-labile. The degraded aflatoxin by the factor(s) showed no toxicity against Bacillus megaterium NRRL B-1368.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2007

The Bio Best Bacillus(B3) and Rotating Activated Bacillus Contactor(RABC) processes, in which Bacillus strains are predominating, are reported to remove nitrogen and phosphorus as well as organic matter effectively. Nevertheless the nutrient removal characteristics of the Bacillus strains have not been studied in detail so far. This study investigated the organic and nutrient removal by Bacillus strains, Bacillus megaterium(KCTC 3007), Paenibacillus polymyxa(KCTC 3627), and Bacillus sp. A12, C21, F12, and L1(isolated from a B3 process), by incubating the strains in 0.2% nutrient broth at $30^{\circ}C$. Burkholderia cepacia(KCTC 2966), a common activated sludge organism, was used as a reference species for comparison. Although the degradation rate was affected by the population sire, the specific removal rates of organic matter by Bacillus strains were greater by $2\sim5$ times than that of Burkholderia. In particular, the culture bottles inoculated with the endospores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus sp. C21, F12, and N12 showed significantly higher degradation rate than those of vegetative cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.147-151
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• 2000

A gene, nprM, from Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14945 was obtained by PCR using primers synthesized based on two nprM sequences from two different strains, and cloned into Escherichia coli. The gene nprM encoded an extracellular neutral protease, and the molecular mass of the expressed enzyme was estimated to be approximately 36kDa on a denaturating gel. The enzyme was activated by $Ca^{2+}$, and the optimum concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ was 5 mM. The enzyme was inhibited by EDTA but not by PMSF. The optimal pH and temperature of the cloned enzyme were $50^{\circ}C and pH 7.5-8.0, respectively, and were similar to those of the enzyme from the gene gonor cell. The cloned NprM caused internal cleavage of the native endoglucanase of B. subtilis BSE616 as a model foregin protein, and resulted in a small truncated but still active endoglucanase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1546-1554
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• 2010

A bacterial strain capable of producing extracellular ${\alpha}$-galactosidase was isolated from a sample of sugarcane industrial waste. Microbiological, physiological, and biochemical studies revealed that the isolate belonged to Bacillus sp. Furthermore, based on a 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the new isolate was identified as Bacillus megaterium VHM1. The production of ${\alpha}$-galactosidase was optimized based on various physical culture conditions. Guar gum and yeast extract acted as the best carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The optimum pH was 7.5 and the enzyme remained stable over a pH range of 5-9. The enzyme was optimally active at $55^{\circ}C$ and thermostable with a half-life of 120 min, yet lost 90% of its residual activity within 120 min at $60^{\circ}C$. One mM concentrations of $Ag^2$, $Cu^2$, and $Hg^{2+}$ strongly inhibited the ${\alpha}$-galactosidase, whereas the metal ions $Fe^2$, $Mn^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ had no effect on the ${\alpha}$-galactosidase activity, and $Zn^{2+}$, $Ni^{2+}$, and $Ca^{2+}$ reduced the enzyme activity slightly. When treated with the B. megaterium VHM1 enzyme, the flatulence-causing sugars in soymilk were completely hydrolyzed within 1.5 h.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2018

In our previous studies, Bacillus megaterium KU143, Microbacterium testaceum KU313, and Pseudomonas protegens AS15 have been shown to be antagonistic to Aspergillus flavus in stored rice grains. In this study, the biocontrol activities of these strains were evaluated against Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium fellutanum, and Penicillium islandicum, which are predominant in stored rice grains. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the bacterial strains were evaluated against the fungi on media and rice grains, respectively. The antifungal activities of the volatiles produced by the strains against fungal development and population were also tested using I-plates. In in vitro tests, the strains produced secondary metabolites capable of reducing conidial germination, germ-tube elongation, and mycelial growth of all the tested fungi. In in vivo tests, the strains significantly inhibited the fungal growth in rice grains. Additionally, in I-plate tests, strains KU143 and AS15 produced volatiles that significantly inhibited not only mycelial growth, sporulation, and conidial germination of the fungi on media but also fungal populations on rice grains. GC-MS analysis of the volatiles by strains KU143 and AS15 identified 12 and 17 compounds, respectively. Among these, the antifungal compound, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indole, was produced by strain KU143 and the antimicrobial compounds, 2-butyl 1-octanal, dimethyl disulfide, 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1-heptanol, and 4-trifluoroacetoxyhexadecane, were produced by strain AS15. These results suggest that the tested strains producing extracellular metabolites and/or volatiles may have a broad spectrum of antifungal activities against the grain fungi. In particular, B. megaterium KU143 and P. protegens AS15 may be potential biocontrol agents against Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. during rice grain storage.