• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.491-496
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• 2008

To develop a freshness indicator of Chonggak-kimchi for marketing purposes, Chonggak-kimchi was prepared and pH, total acidity, total aerobic bacterial load, lactic acid bacterial levels, and reducing sugar content were measured. Sensory evaluation tests on product stored at $4^{\circ}C,\;10^{\circ}C,\;and\;20^{\circ}C$, were performed. The pH increased slightly early in storage, and then decreased to pH 4.2-4.3 for all samples. The rate of decrease of pH rose with increasing storage temperature. Total acidity values rapidly increased after 1, 5, and 7 days of storage at $20^{\circ}C,\;10^{\circ}C,\;and\;4^{\circ}C$, respectively. Populations of total aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria increased slightly until 4 days, 10 days, and 30 days of storage at $20^{\circ}C,\;10^{\circ}C,\;and\;4^{\circ}C$, respectively, and then decreased drastically. Sensory evaluation data showed that Chonggak-kimchi was edible until 4 days(pH 4.5), 10 days(pH 4.4), and 30 days(pH 4.3) of storage at $20^{\circ}C,\;10^{\circ}C,\;and\;4^{\circ}C$, respectively. These results clearly suggest that the shelf-life of Chonggak-kimchi depends on storage temperature, and the pH limit for marketing is 4.3; this is a freshness indicator for Chonggak-kimchi.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2001

Kochujangs(fermented hot pepper-soybean paste) were prepared either using traditional meju (koji for kochujang) or controlled meju fermented by pure isolates (P-1, P-2), which were screened from traditional meju collected at Sunchang area. The isolates were characterized for their superiority on amylase and protease activities, and overall flavor of the culture on cooked soybean. Bacterial cell counts were not different in all treatments of kochujang during fermentation. The mold counts of each treatment dropped to undetectable level after 40 and 60 days of fermentation, respectively. Heat treatment($60^{\circ}C$, 15 min) before fermentation stopped gas formation and had no effect on bacterial cell count, but the growth of yeast was depressed. Total accumulative volume of gas produced during kochujang fermentation was depended on load of yeast in kochujang and the kochujang using P-2 koji produced least amount of gas among all treatments. The amylase and protease activities of kochujang were not significantly different among traditional and controlled kochujangs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.667-675
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• 2021

Streptococcus agalactiae is an important bacterial pathogen and causative agent of diseases including neonatal sepsis and meningitis, as well as infections in healthy adults and pregnant women. Although antibiotic treatments effectively relieve symptoms, the emergence and transmission of multidrug-resistant strains indicate the need for an effective immunotherapy. Effector T helper (Th) 17 cells are a relatively newly discovered subpopulation of helper CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, and which, by expressing interleukin (IL)-17A, play crucial roles in host defenses against a variety of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. However, whether S. agalactiae infection can induce the differentiation of CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 cells, and whether IL-17A can play an effective role against S. agalactiae infections, are still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the responses of CD4⁺ T cells and their defensive effects after S. agalactiae infection. The results showed that S. agalactiae infection induces not only the formation of Th1 cells expressing interferon (IFN)-γ, but also the differentiation of mouse splenic CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 cells, which highly express IL-17A. In addition, the bacterial load of S. agalactiae was significantly increased and decreased in organs as determined by antibody neutralization and IL-17A addition experiments, respectively. The results confirmed that IL-17A is required by the host to defend against S. agalactiae and that it plays an important role in effectively eliminating S. agalactiae. Our findings therefore prompt us to adopt effective methods to regulate the expression of IL-17A as a potent strategy for the prevention and treatment of S. agalactiae infection.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.261-271
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• 2018

Purpose: Few studies have examined periodontal pathogens from saliva samples in periodontally healthy young adults. The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence of periodontopathic bacteria and to quantify periodontal pathogens in saliva samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in periodontally healthy Korean young adults under 35 years of age. Methods: Nine major periodontal pathogens were analyzed by real-time PCR in saliva from 94 periodontally healthy young adults. Quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Eikenella corrodens was performed by DNA copy number measurement. Results: F. nucleatum and E. corrodens were detected in all subjects; the numbers of positive samples were 87 (92.6%), 91 (96.8%), and 90 (95.7%) for P. gingivalis, P. anaerobius, and C. rectus, respectively. Other pathogens were also detected in periodontally healthy subjects. Analysis of DNA copy numbers revealed that the most abundant periodontal pathogen was F. nucleatum, which was significantly more prevalent than all other bacteria (P<0.001), followed by P. anaerobius, P. gingivalis, E. corrodens, C. rectus, and T. denticola. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of each bacterium between men and women. The DNA copy number of total bacteria was significantly higher in men than in women. Conclusions: Major periodontal pathogens were prevalent in the saliva of periodontally healthy Korean young adults. Therefore, we suggest that the development of periodontal disease should not be overlooked in periodontally healthy young people, as it can arise due to periodontal pathogen imbalance and host susceptibility.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.287-291
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• 2005

Quality properties of Kimchi added with king oyster mushroom(Pleurotus eryngil) was evaluated during the fermentation at $5^{\circ}C$. Until 7 days, pH of Kimdhi was rapidly decreased. The titratable acidity of Kimchi was in inverse state to the pH. Kimchi added with the mushroom showed a lower pH with a higher titratable acidity than those of control. Total microbial load and lactic acid bacterial count were maximized at 18 days, thereafter slowly decreased. king oyster mushroom Kimchi added with showed an antioxidant activity. The effect was dependent fo the amount of much room, and radical scavenging activity and content of total phenolic compounds was the highest in eddition of $30\%$ king oyster mushroom.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.203-208
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• 2014

To gain insights into the effect of MexB gene under the short interfering RNA (siRNA), we synthesized 21 bp siRNA duplexes against the MexB gene. RT-PCR was performed to determine whether the siRNA inhibited the expression of MexB mRNA. Changes in antibiotic susceptibility in response to siRNA were measured by the E-test method. The efficacy of siRNAs was determined in a murine model of chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection. MexB-siRNAs inhibited both mRNA expression and the activity of P. aeruginosa in vitro. In vivo, siRNA was effective in reducing the bacterial load in the model of chronic lung infection and the P. aeruginosa-induced pathological changes. MexB-siRNA treatment enhanced the production of inflammatory cytokines in the early infection stage (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that targeting of MexB with siRNA appears to be a novel strategy for treating P. aeruginosa infections.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2011

Objectives: To estimate the microbial contaminant load discharged from livestock farms, we randomly selected livestock farmers of cattle, swine, and fowl and collected bacterial strains from domestic animals' feces and compost samples. Recently, as multi-antibiotic-resistant bacteria and super bacteria showing resistance to a variety of antibiotics have been reported one after another, the ecological and health hazard of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is emerging as an important issue. Methods: Monitored indicator microorganism constituents were totak coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), and aerobic bacteria. The multi-antibiotic-resistant bacteria were identified from investigated indicator microorganisms by 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: By microbiological analysis, the largest population of aerobic bacteria ($1.5{\times}10^5$ CFU/g) was found in cattle fecal compost, and total coliforms ($1.1{\times}10^7$ CFU/g) and fecal coliforms ($1.0{\times}10^5$ CFU/g) were found primarily in swine fecal compost, while the lowest population was found in fowl fecal compost. Among the 67 strains separated from aerobic bacteria, five strains expressing high antibiotic resistance were selected in each sample. We found the multi-antibiotic resistant strains to be Shigella boydii, Staphylococcus lentus, Acinetobacter sp. and Brevibacterium luteolum. Conclusions: These results suggest that increasing numbers of multi-antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment have a close relation to the reckless use of antibiotics with livestock.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2018

A sidestream contains the filtrate or concentrate from the belt filter press, filter backwash and supernatant from sludge digesters. The sidestream flow, which heads back into the sewage treatment train, is about 1-3% less than the influent flow. However, the sidestream can increase the nutrient load since it contains high concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. In this study, the removal of PO4-P with organic matter characteristics and bacteriological changes during the sidestream treatment via ladle furnace (LF) slag was investigated. The sidestream used in this study consisted of 11-14% PO4-P and 3.2-3.6% soluble chemical oxygen demand in influent loading rates. LF slag, which had a relatively high $Ca^{2+}$ release compared to other slags, was used to remove $PO_4-P$ from the sidestream. The phosphate removal rates increased as the slag particle size decreased 19.1% (2.0-4.0 mm, 25.2% (1.0-2.0 mm) and 79.9% (0.5-1.0 mm). The removal rates of dissolved organic carbon, soluble chemical oxygen demand, color and aromatic organic matter ($UV_{254}$) were 17.6, 41.7, 90.2 and 77.3%, respectively. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices and liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection demonstrated that the sidestream treatment via LF slag was effective in the removal of biopolymers. However, the removal of dissolved organic matter was not significant during the treatment. The intact bacterial biomass decreased from $1.64{\times}10^8cells/mL$ to $1.05{\times}10^8cells/mL$. The use of LF slag was effective for the removal of phosphate and the removal efficiency of phosphate was greater than 80% for up to 100 bed volumes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.210-214
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• 2001

Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) was added in preparation of kimchi, and the quality was evaluated during fermentation at $10^{\circ}C$. Kimchi showed a rapid decrease in pH until 11 days, but revealed a retarded decrease thereafter. Titratable acidity increased sharply until 15 days, but increased slowly thereafter. Treatment with 5% enoki mushroom showed a lower pH and titratable acidity than control. Total microbial load and lactic acid bacterial count were maximum at 5 days, and were about $2.0{\times}10^{8}\;CFU/ml$. Radical scavenging activity was greater in enoki mushroom added kimchi after 11 days, and it was mainly due to the materials soluble in methanol and ethanol. Kimchi with 5% enoki mushroom showed higher scores than others in color and taste for sensory evaluation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate hand washing awareness of females and load of indicator bacteria on their hands. This study focused on the variation according to their age. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey and bacterial analysis of indicator bacteria were carried out for 100 Korean women in their age from 20 s to 60 s. Hand samples were collected through a modified glovejuice method. Results: In the survey, significant difference (p < 0.05) was found among the age groups in the use of hand washing agents. The levels of aerobic colony count (ACC) were the highest in both hands among the 20s (p < 0.05). The levels of Escherichia coli were higher in both hands in their 20s and 30s. No significant difference was found in the levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. However, the positive rates of S. aureus (left hand, 37.5~47.1%; right hand, 58.5~62.5%) and Salmonella spp. (left hand, 25.0~52.9%; right hand, 37.5~64.7%) were higher in the hands of the 20s and 30s, and then showed decreasing trend according to increase of age. The effect of hand washing frequency on the ACC level of hands was significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results indicate that there was no remarkable difference of hand hygiene awareness among female age groups. The detection of S. aureus and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some females in each age group revealed poor hand hygiene practices. The significant effect of hand washing frequency on the ACC level suggests that frequent hand washing is helpful to reduce hand contamination.