• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1486-1494
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• 2013

A high protease-producing strain was isolated and identified from the digestive tract of octopus vulgaris by detecting a hydrolysis circle of protease and its activity. The strain was identified by morphology observation, biochemical experiments, and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The protease obtained from the strain was purified by a three-step process involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, carboxy methyl-cellulose (CM-52) cation-exchange chromatography, and DEAE-Sephadex A50 anion-exchange chromatography. The properties of protease were characterized as well. The strain Bacillus sp. QDV-3, which produced the highest activity of protease, was isolated. On the basis of the phenotypic and biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene-sequencing studies, the isolate was identified as follows: domain: Bacteria; phylum: Firmicutes; class: Bacilli; order: Bacillales; family: Bacillaceae; and genus: Bacillus. The isolate was shown to have a 99.2% similarity with Bacillus flexus. A high active protease designated as QDV-E, with a molecular weight of 61.6 kDa, was obtained. The enzyme was found to be active in the pH range of 9.0-9.5 and its optimum temperature was $40^{\circ}C$. The protease activity retained more than 96% at the temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) inhibited the enzyme activity, thus confirming that this protease isolated from Bacillus sp. QDV-3 is an alkaline serine protease. Metal ions, $Mn^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$, were determined to enhance the protease activity, whereas $Ba^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, and $Cu^{2+}$ were found to inactivate the enzyme.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.34-39
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• 1998

For more convenient and rapidly isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis(Bti), 1) heat treatment spore forming bacteria, 2) growth in enrichment culture media for Bacillus sp. and 3) selection of bacteria producing a lecithinase for Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, were performed. Spore forming bacteria were counted 4.8 $\times $ 10$^{8}$cells/g soil on NAPGCY media, 9.2 $\times $ 10$^{7}$cells/g soil on NA media, and 3.6 $\times $ 10$^{8}$cells/g soil on NAAC media, respectively. Bacteria producing only a lecithinase were reached at 25.2% on medium contained egg york, bacteria only producing a delta-endotoxin were reached at 23.2% by phase contrast microscope, and bacteria producing a lecithinase & a delta-endotoxin simultaneously were reached at 13.7%. Bacillus thuringiensis which producing a lecithinase and a delta-endotoxin simultaneously among bacteria producing a lecithinase, were reached at 56.5%; A half of Bacillus thuringiensis was produced a delta-endotoxin, but not produced a lecithinase. Among 8 isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis, two strain of Bti which has a mosquito-cidal toxin, were detected by PCR using a specific primer of $\delta $-endotoxin gene from Bti.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.404-416
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• 2020

Bacteria that are resistant to high temperatures and alkaline environments are essential for the biological repair of damaged concrete. Alkaliphilic and halotolerant Bacillus sp. AK13 was isolated from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus sacchariflorus. Unlike other tested Bacillus species, the AK13 strain grows at pH 13 and withstands 11% (w/v) NaCl. Growth of the AK13 strain at elevated pH without urea promoted calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) formation. Irregular vaterite-like CaCO₃ minerals that were tightly attached to cells were observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the presence of CaCO₃ around the cell. Isotope ration mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the majority of CO₃^2- ions in the CaCO₃ were produced by cellular respiration rather than being derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The minerals produced from calcium acetate-added growth medium formed smaller crystals than those formed in calcium lactate-added medium. Strain AK13 appears to heal cracks on mortar specimens when applied as a pelletized spore powder. Alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. AK13 is a promising candidate for self-healing agents in concrete.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 1983

One of Streptomyces sp. was screened as an antibiotic producing strain against Gram positive bacteria specifically from about one hundred Actinomycetes collections. The isolated KM-48 strain, indexed in our collection, was secreted an anbitiotic in nutrient broth culture. The active principle was extracted with acetone from the lyophilized solid of cultured filtrate. The nonadsorbed elute in aluminium oxide was isolated as a purified homogeneity which revealed a sing1e spot under ultra-violet beam on avicel thin layer chromatography. The isolated antibiotic was sensitive specifically against the Gram positive bacteria and fungi. About fifty percent inhibition of the control growth on Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was 18$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$. The antibiotic was lavile against thermotreatment and stabled in acidic condition remarkably. The KM-48 was identified as a similar strain to Streptomyces tsusimaensis on its morphological and cultural characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.84-86
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• 2014

Mass production of biocontrol agent is an essential step for its commercial use. Media composition and culture conditions for production of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SKU-78, a potential biocontrol agent against bacterial wilts, were optimized by a flask culture. Low cost media combining nitrogen and carbon sources were tested. Maximum cell growth (> $2{\times}10^9$ CFU/ml) was obtained in a medium of 5% soy flour combined with 3% corn starch after 24 h cultivation. The optimum initial pH, temperature and shaking speed was 5.5, $30^{\circ}C$ and 150-250 rpm, respectively. Fermentation of SKU-78 was scaled up in 30 L fermenter and the profiles of cell density, pH, dissolved oxygen and spore formation were recorded. After 8 h lag phase, exponential growth occurred and reached at maximum viable cell number ($1.2{\times}10^{11}$ CFU/ml) after 20 h. The SKU-78 strain grown in a low cost medium exhibited the high suppression of bacterial wilts. The results indicate that SKU-78 strain can be produced in a low cost medium and provide a basis for scaling up to industrial level.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.229-234
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• 2004

Feathers, which are almost pure keratin protein, are produced in large amounts as a waste by-product at poultry-processing plants. Keratinolytic enzymes may have important uses in biotechnological processes involving keratin-containing wastes from poultry and leather processes. In this study, screening and identification of keratin-degrading bacteria were investigated. Five keratin-degrading bacterial strains (F3-1, F3-4, F7-1, C1-1, C1-2) were isolated from compost and decayed chicken feather. On the basis of morphological, physiological studies, and Biolog system, all isolates were identified as the genus Bacillus. Among them, the strain F7-1 had the highest feather-degrading activity and was selected for further taxonomical study. Phylogenetic analysis of strain F7-1 based on comparison of 165 rDNA sequences revealed that this strain is closely related to Bacillus megaterium.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2017

Microbial strains exhibiting proteolytic activity were isolated from kimchi, one of traditional fermented foods in Korea. Eight strains formed clear zones around their colonies when grown on TSA plates supplemented with skim milk. MBE/L865 exhibited 2.6-fold higher protease activity than that of control strain (Bacillus subtilis KCTC13112). MBE/L865 was identified as B. subtilis and deposited in the Korean Collection for Type Cultures under the accession number of KCCM43059. The optimum growth conditions for B. subtilis KCCM43059 were determined to be $37^{\circ}C$ and pH 8. The strain showed maximum protease activity ($429.37{\pm}18.65U/mg$ protein) at $60^{\circ}C$ and pH 6. Further, B. subtilis KCCM43059 had a higher salt (NaCl) tolerance than that of the control strain.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.90-101
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• 2022

Pathogenicity of eight Bacillus strains to seedlings of four cotton cultivars was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Each of the tested cultivars was individually treated with powdered inoculum of each bacterial strain. Untreated seeds were planted as control treatments in autoclaved soil. Effects of the tested strains on levels and activities of some biochemical components of the infected seedlings were also assayed. The biochemical components included total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins, total free amino acids, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenols, and lipid peroxidation. ANOVA showed that Bacillus strain (B) was a very highly significant source of variation in damping-off and dry weight. Cotton cultivar (V) was a nonsignificant source of variation in damping-off while it was a significant source of variation in dry weight. B × V interaction was a significant source of variation in damping-off and a nonsignificant source of variation in dry weight. Bacillus strain was the most important source of variation as it accounted for 59.36 and 64.99% of the explained (model) variation in damping-off and dry weight, respectively. The lack of significant correlation between levels and activities of the assayed biochemical components and incidence of damping-off clearly demonstrated that these biochemical components were not involved in the pathogenicity of the tested strains. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the pathogenicity of the tested strains could be due to the effect of cell wall degrading enzymes of pathogenic toxins. Based on the results of the present study, Bacillus strains should be considered in studying the etiology of cotton seedling damping-off.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.858-864
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• 2008

In the greenhouse fields for fruits and vegetables during the winter in Korea, there are serious damages by the sclerotium diseases due to the low temperature and humidity. This study was carried out to select an antagonic agent for the biological control of the sclerotium diseases. The 55 antagonic agents were selected from the rhizosphere in soil where the fruits and vegetables were cultivated in the green house fields, and strain AB02 among the tested isolates was estimated to be the strongest antagonist against the sclerotium disease. Using strain AB02, the antifungal spectrum was tested against 5 different plant pathogens. According to the results of the test, strain AB02 . showed the high antagonistic effect against Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. For the experiment of biological control against the sclerotium disease, it was estimated the suppression effect and the control effect by the strain in the pot experiment using the green perilla. According to the result of the pot experiments, the suppression effect was 40% and the control effect was 62%, respectively. For the stimulation effect of the tested plant growth by strain AB02 compared to the control, it was improved as 120% for the total length, 141% for the liveweight, 121% for the total number of leaves, 185% for the leaf area, and 327% for the liveweight of the root, respectively. Strain AB02 showing the antagonistic effect against the sclerotium disease and the stimulation effect for the plant growth was identified as Bacillus sp.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.334-340
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• 2009

For the isolation of a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, strain YK-5 was selected from approximately 400 thermostable strains isolated from special soil samples. Strain YK-5 produced an antifungal compound, and optimum carbon and nitrogen sources for the production of the antifungal compound were investigated against Aspergillus flavus as a test strain. Modified LB medium containing 1% peptone, 1% yeast extract and 5% black sugar was determined to be the optimal medium for growth and antifungal compound production. Culture broth of strain YK-5 potently inhibited growth of the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum KACC 40052 for 7 days. The plant growth-promotion function of strain YK-5 was tested against radish and rice in pot trials. Leaf number, plant height and root length in YK-5-treated radish markedly exceeded (> 60%) those of untreated radish. Leaf length and white rootlet development were markedly more prominent than in commercially-treated rice plants. Strain YK-5 was determined to be Bacillus subtilis YK-5 by physiological, chemotaxonomical, and phylogenetical analyses.