• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization of the stomach mucosa and duodenum is the major cause of acute and chronic gastroduodenal pathology in humans. Efforts to find effective anti-bacterial strategies against H. pylori for the non-antibiotic control of H. pylori infection are urgently required. In this study, we used whey to prepare glycomacropeptide (GMP), from which sialic acid (G-SA) was enzymatically isolated. We investigated the anti-bacterial effects of G-SA against H. pylori in vitro and in an H. pylori-infected murine model. MATERIALS/METHODS: The anti-bacterial activity of G-SA was measured in vitro using the macrodilution method, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) production was measured in H. pylori and AGS cell co-cultures by ELISA. For in vivo study, G-SA 5 g/kg body weight (bw)/day and H. pylori were administered to mice three times over one week. After one week, G-SA 5 g/kg bw/day alone was administered every day for one week. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were measured by ELISA to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of G-SA. In addition, real-time PCR was performed to measure the genetic expression of cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA). RESULTS: G-SA inhibited the growth of H. pylori and suppressed IL-8 production in H. pylori and in AGS cell co-cultures in vitro. In the in vivo assay, administration of G-SA reduced levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines whereas IL-10 level increased. Also, G-SA suppressed the expression of cagA in the stomach of H. pylori-infected mice. CONCLUSION: G-SA possesses anti-H. pylori activity as well as an anti-H. pylori-induced gastric inflammatory effect in an experimental H. pylori-infected murine model. G-SA has potential as an alternative to antibiotics for the prevention of H. pylori infection and H. pylori-induced gastric disease prevention.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1500-1509
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• 2020

Drought is a major abiotic factor and has drastically reduced crop yield globally, thus damaging the agricultural industry. Drought stress decreases crop productivity by negatively affecting crop morphological, physiological, and biochemical factors. The use of drought tolerant bacteria improves agricultural productivity by counteracting the negative effects of drought stress on crops. In this study, we isolated bacteria from the rhizosphere of broccoli field located in Daehaw-myeon, Republic of Korea. Sixty bacterial isolates were screened for their growth-promoting capacity, in vitro abscisic acid (ABA), and sugar production activities. Among these, bacterial isolates YNA59 was selected based on their plant growth-promoting bacteria traits, ABA, and sugar production activities. Isolate YNA59 highly tolerated oxidative stress, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and produces superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities in the culture broth. YNA59 treatment on broccoli significantly enhanced plant growth attributes, chlorophyll content, and moisture content under drought stress conditions. Under drought stress, the endogenous levels of ABA, jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) increased; however, inoculation of YNA59 markedly reduced ABA (877 ± 22 ng/g) and JA (169.36 ± 20.74 ng/g) content, while it enhanced SA levels (176.55 ± 9.58 ng/g). Antioxidant analysis showed that the bacterial isolate YNA59 inoculated into broccoli plants contained significantly higher levels of SOD, CAT, and APX, with a decrease in GPX levels. The bacterial isolate YNA59 was therefore identified as Variovorax sp. YNA59. Our current findings suggest that newly isolated drought tolerant rhizospheric Variovorax sp. YNA59 is a useful stress-evading rhizobacterium that improved drought-stress tolerance of broccoli and could be used as a bio-fertilizer under drought conditions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.485-496
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• 2019

Sealing of leakage in waterfront or water-retaining structures is one of the major issues in geotechnical engineering practices. With demands for biological methods as sustainable ground improvement techniques, bioclogging, defined as the reduction in hydraulic conductivity of soils caused by microbial activities, has been considered as an alternative to the chemical grout techniques for its economic advantages and eco-friendliness of microbial by-products. This study investigated the feasibility of bioaugmentation and biostimulation methods to induce fermentation-based bioclogging effect in coarse sands. In the bioaugmentation experiments, effects of various parameters and conditions, including grain size, pH, and biogenic gas generation, on hydraulic conductivity reduction were examined through a series of column experiments while Leuconostoc mesenteroides, which produce an insoluble biopolymer called dextran, was used as the model bacteria. The column test results demonstrate that the accumulation of bacterial biopolymer can readily reduce the hydraulic conductivity by three-to-four orders of magnitudes or by 99.9-99.99% in well-controlled environments. In the biostimulation experiments, two inoculums of indigenous soil bacteria sampled from waterfront embankments were prepared and their bioclogging efficiency was examined. With one inoculum containing species capable of fermentation and biopolymer production, the hydraulic conductivity reduction by two orders of magnitude was achieved, however, no clogging was found with the other inoculum. This implies that presence of indigenous species capable of biopolymer production and their population, if any, play a key role in causing bioclogging, because of competition with other indigenous bacteria. The presented results provide fundamental insights into the bacterial biopolymer formation mechanism, its effect on soil permeability, and potential of engineering bacterial clogging in subsurface.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.479-489
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• 1999

Invasion of enteric bacteria, such as Salmonella and invasive E. coli, into intestinal epithelial cells induces proinflammatory gene responses and finally epithelial cell apoptosis. In this study, we asked whether invasive bacterial infection of human intestinal epithelial cells could upregulate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression and whether increased COX-2 expression could influence intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and prostaglandin (PG) $E_2$ production were upregulated in HT-29 colon epithelial cells which were infected with S. dublin or invasive E. coli, as examined by quantitative RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay. Inhibition of COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production using NS-398, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, showed a significant increase of epithelial cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in HT-29 cells infected with invasive bacteria. However, the addition of valerylsalicylate, a specific COX-1 inhibitor, did not change apoptosis in S. dublin-infected HT-29 cells. These results suggest that up regulated COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in response to invasive bacterial infection could contribute to host defense by inhibiting apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2011

Objective : This study was performed to compare anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-bacterial effects of Cuscutae Semen(CS) extracted with two kinds of solvents, ethanol and distilled water. Methods : Two kinds of CS extractions were prepared 20, 50, 100 ${\mu}l/mg$. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-inflammation effect was measured by inhibitory efficacy of NO Production in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-oxidation effect was measured by DPPH Radical scavenging ability in HaCaT cell. The anti-bacterial effect was measured by inhibition zone diameter on Propionibacterium acnes. Results : 1. Two kinds(100 ${\mu}l/mg$) of CS extraction groups had 50% cytotoxicity in Raw 264.7 cell. 2. All of CS extraction groups were not showed significantly inhibitory effect on NO production. 3. All of CS extracted with ethanol only showed dose-dependently significantly scavenging effect of DPPH radicals. 4. Two kinds of CS extractions did not have a inhibitory effect on Propionibactrium acnes. Conclusion : Two kinds(100 ${\mu}l/mg$) of CS extraction groups have 50% cytotoxicity. Two kinds of CS extractions have not the inhibitory effect on NO production and Propionibactrium acnes. CS groups extracted with ethanol only have a significantly scavenging ability of DPPH radicals. This study suggests that CS extracted with ethanol was effective in anti-oxidation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2011

Objective : This study was performed to compare anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-bacterial effects of Ligustici Rhizoma (LR) extracted with two kinds of solvents, ethanol and distilled water. Methods : It is prepared two kinds of LR extracts 20, 50, 100 ${\mu}l/mg$ by first. MTT assay way to measure cytotoxicity is formed in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-inflammation effect is measured by ability to inhibit production of NO in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-oxidation effect was measured by DPPH Radical scavenging ability in HaCaT cell. The anti-bacterial effect was measured by inhibition zone diameter on Propionibacterium acnes. Results : 1. LR (20 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol was showed 80% cytotoxicity, LR (50 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol and LR (20, 50 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with water were showed 70% cytotoxicity, LR (100 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol and LR (100 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with water were showed 60% cytotoxicity in Raw 264.7 cell. 2. LR (100 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol was showed more significantly inhibitory effect on NO production than the water extraction. 3. Two kinds of LR extraction groups did not show significantly scavenging effect of DPPH radicals. 4. Two kinds of LR extractions did not have a inhibitory effect on Propionibactrium acnes. Conclusion : Two kinds of LR extracts have not cytotoxicity, statistically significant ability to scavenge DPPH radicals and effect to inhibit Propionibactrium acnes. LR extracted with ethanol only have a little effect to inhibit NO production. This study proposes that LR extracted with ethanol is more effective in anti-inflammation.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2018

Nucleotide-binding domain 1 (Nod1) is a cytosolic receptor that is responsible for the recognition of a bacterial peptidoglycan motif containing meso-diaminophimelic acid. In this study, we sought to identify the role of Nod1 in host defense in vivo against pulmonary infection by multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Wildtype (WT) and Nod1-deficient mice were intranasally infected with $3{\times}10^7CFU$ of A. baumannii and sacrificed at 1 and 3 days post-infection (dpi). Bacterial CFUs, cytokines production, histopathology, and mouse ${\beta}$-defensins (mBD) in the lungs of infected mice were evaluated. The production of cytokines in response to A. baumannii was also measured in WT and Nod1-deficient macrophages. The bacterial clearance in the lungs was not affected by Nod1 deficiency. Levels of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in the lung homogenates were comparable at days 1 and 3 between WT and Nod1-deficient mice, except the $TNF-{\alpha}$ level at day 3, which was higher in Nod1-deficient mice. There was no significant difference in lung pathology and expression of mBDs (mBD1, 2, 3, and 4) between WT and Nod1-deficient mice infected with A. baumannii. The production of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and NO by macrophages in response to A. baumannii was also comparable in WT and Nod1-deficient mice. Our results indicated that Nod1 does not play an important role in host immune responses against A. baumannii infection.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.387-400
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• 2023

Ruminal protozoa, especially entodiniomorphs, engulf other members of the rumen microbiome in large numbers; and they release oligopeptides and amino acids, which can be fermented to ammonia and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) by amino acid-fermenting bacteria (AAFB). Studies using defaunated (protozoa-free) sheep have demonstrated that ruminal protozoa considerably increase intraruminal nitrogen recycling but decrease nitrogen utilization efficiency in ruminants. However, direct interactions between ruminal protozoa and AAFB have not been demonstrated because of their inability to establish axenic cultures of any ruminal protozoan. Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the interaction between Entodinium caudatum, which is the most predominant rumen ciliate species, and an AAFB consortium in terms of feed degradation and ammonia production along with the microbial population shift of select bacterial species (Prevotella ruminicola, Clostridium aminophilum, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius). From an Ent. caudatum culture that had been maintained by daily feeding and transfers every 3 or 4 days, the bacteria and methanogens loosely associated with Ent. caudatum cells were removed by filtration and washing. An AAFB consortium was established by repeated transfers and enrichment with casamino acids as the sole substrate. The cultures of Ent. caudatum alone (Ec) and AAFB alone (AAFB) and the co-culture of Ent. caudatum and AAFB (Ec + AAFB) were set up in three replicates and incubated at 39℃ for 72 h. The digestibility of dry matter (DM) and fiber (NDF), VFA profiles, ammonia concentrations, pH, and microscopic counts of Ent. caudatum were compared among the three cultures. The co-culture of AAFB and Ent. caudatum enhanced DM degradation, VFA production, and Ent. caudatum cell counts; conversely, it decreased acetate: propionate ratio although the total bacterial abundance was similar between Ec and the Ec + AAFB co-culture after 24 h incubation. The ammonia production and relative abundance of C. aminophilum and P. anaerobius did not differ between AAFB alone and the Ec + AAFB co-culture. Our results indicate that Ent. caudatum and AAFB could have a mutualistic interaction that benefited each other, but their interactions were complex and might not increase ammoniagenesis. Further research should examine how such interactions affect the population dynamics of AAFB.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 2024

Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, a plant pathogenic bacterium that can survive for a long time in soil and water, causes lethal wilt in the Solanaceae family. Sigma S is a part of the RNA polymerase complex, which regulates gene expression during bacterial stress response or stationary phase. In this study, we investigated the role of sigma S in R. pseudosolanacearum under stress conditions using a rpoS-defective mutant strain of R. pseudosolanacearum and its wild-type strain. The phenotypes of rpoS-defective mutant were complemented by introducing the original rpoS gene. There were no differences observed in bacterial growth rate and exopolysaccharide production between the wild-type strain and the rpoS mutant. However, the wild-type strain responded more sensitively to nutrient deficiency compared to the mutant strain. Under the nutrient deficiency, the rpoS mutant maintained a high bacterial viability for a longer period, while the viability of the wild-type strain declined rapidly. Furthermore, a significant difference in pH was observed between the culture supernatant of the wild-type strain and the mutant strain. The pH of the culture supernatant for the wild-type strain decreased rapidly during bacterial growth, leading to medium acidification. The rapid decline in the wild-type strain's viability may be associated with medium acidification and bacterial sensitivity to acidity during transition to the stationary phase. Interestingly, the rpoS mutant strain cannot utilize acetic acid, D-alanine, D-trehalose, and L-histidine. These results suggest that sigma S of R. pseudosolanacearum regulates the production or utilization of organic acids and controls cell death during stationary phase under nutrient deficiency.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1156-1162
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• 2010

During ethanol fermentation, bacterial strains may encounter various stresses, such as ethanol and acid shock, which adversely affect cell viability and the production of ethanol. Therefore, ethanologenic strains that tolerate abiotic stresses are highly desirable. Bacteria of the genus Deinococcus are extremely resistant to ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, and desiccation, and therefore constitute an important pool of extreme resistance genes. The irrE gene encodes a general switch responsible for the extreme radioresistance of D. radiodurans. Here, we present evidence that IrrE, acting as a global regulator, confers high stress tolerance to a Zymomonas mobilis strain. Expression of the gene protected Z. mobilis cells against ethanol, acid, osmotic, and thermal shocks. It also markedly improved cell viability, the expression levels and enzyme activities of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase, and the production of ethanol under both ethanol and acid stresses. These data suggest that irrE is a potentially promising gene for improving the abiotic stress tolerance of ethanologenic bacterial strains.