• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.706-709
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• 2002

Bacterial bioluminescence has been known to be a highly valuable reporter system for its potential application as an effective and simple environmental monitoring method for toxic compounds. In this short report, we constructed a streptomycetes-Escherichia coli shuttle vector-containing bioluminescence system and evaluated its potential application for toxic compounds monitoring. The luxAB biolurninescence genes from Vibrio harveyi were cloned into a streptornycetes-E. coli shuttle vector (named pESK004) and functionally expressed in Streptomyces lividans. The recombinant S. lividans containing pESK004 exhibited an optimal biolurninescence at the optical density ($OD_{600\;nm}$) of 0.4-0.5 and aldehyde concentration of 0.005%. When the recombinant bioluminescence streptomycetes was exposed to a toxic compound such as heavy metals, chlorinated phenols, or pesticides, the bioluminescence was decreased proportionally to the concentration of toxic compound in the assay mixture. The $EC_{50}$ (effective concentration to decrease 50% of the bioluminescence prior to exposure) values in the recombinant biolurninescence streptomycetes for mercury, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and malathion were measured at 2.2 ppm, 144.0 ppm, and 82.4 ppm, respectively. The degree of sensitivity and specificity pattern toward these toxic compounds characterized in this recombinant bioluminescence streptomycetes were unique when compared with previously reported bacterial bioluminescence systems, and this revealed that a recombinant bioluminescence streptomycetes might provide an alternative or complementary system for potential environmental monitoring.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2019

Screening microorganisms that can produce glucan hydrolases for industrial, environmental, and biomedical applications is important. Herein, we describe a novel approach to perform glucan hydrolase screening-based on analysis of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) spectra-which involves degradation of the oligo- and polysaccharides. As a proof-of-concept study, glucan hydrolases that could break down glucans made of several glucose units were used to demonstrate the MALDI-MS-based enzyme assay. First, the enzyme activities of ${\alpha}$-amylase and cellulase on a mixture of glucan oligosaccharides were successfully discriminated, where changes of the MALDI-MS profiles directly reflected the glucan hydrolase activities. Next, we validated that this MALDI-MS-based enzyme assay could be applied to glucan polysaccharides (i.e., pullulan, lichenan, and schizophyllan). Finally, the bacterial glucan hydrolase activities were screened on 96-well plate-based platforms, using cell lysates or samples of secreted enzyme. Our results demonstrated that the MALDI-MS-based enzyme assay system would be useful for investigating bacterial glucoside hydrolases in a high-throughput manner.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2003

The genotoxicity of pendimethalin [N-(l-ethylpropyl)-2, 6-dinitro-3, 4-xylidine, C$\_$13/H$\_$19/N$_3$O$_4$, M.W.=281.3, CAS No. 40487-42-1], one of selective herbicide, was evaluated in bacterial gene mutation system, chromosome aberration in mammalian cell system and in vivo micronucleus assay with rodent. In bacterial gene mutation assay, pendimethalin revealed dose-dependent mutagenic potential in 313 ∼ 5,000 ${\mu}$g/plate of Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 1537 both in the absence and presence of S-9 metabolic activation system, and TA 100 only in the absence of S-9 mixture. In the TA 1535, slight increase of revertant was also observed in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. No mutagenic potential was observed in the TA 1535 without metabolic activation system and TA l00 in the presence of S-9 mixture. In mammalian cell system using Chinese hamster lung (CHL) fibroblast, no clastogenicity of pendimethalin was observed both in the absence and presence of S-9 metabolic activation system in the concentration range of 2.32∼9.28 ${\mu}$g/ml. And also, in vivo bone marrow micronucleus assay, pendimethalin revealed no clastogenic potential in the dose range of 203∼810 mg/kg body weight after oral administration in mice. Consequently, in vitro chromosome aberration with mammalian cells and in vivo bone marrow micronucleus assay revealed no clastogenic potential of pendimethalin. However, pendimethalin revealed mutagenic potential in bacterial gene mutation assay.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxicity of Litsea japonica fruit-hexane extract (LJF-HE). In order to examine the genotoxicity, we carried out bacterial reverse mutation assay, chromosome aberration assay, and a micronucleus induction (MN) test according to the OECD and the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) toxicity test guidelines. In the bacterial reverse mutation assay, no significant increase in revertant colonies, nor bacterial toxicity, was observed in the LJF-HE treatment group, regardless of the absence or presence of metabolic activation by the S9 mixture. However, in the positive control group, revertant colony counts were shown to be more than twice that of the negative control group. The chromosome aberration test showed that the repetition rate of abnormal chromosome aberration was less than 5%, regardless of the treatment time, and with or without the S9 mixture. No significant change was observed when (p < 0.05) compared with the negative control group. The micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) repetition rate of the polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) showed no significant changes when compared with the negative control group (p < 0.05). The PCE portion of total erythrocytes also showed no significant changes (p < 0.05). These results showed that LJF-HE had no significant genotoxic effects.

• Mycobiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2002

Soil bacteria were screened for the ability to control cucumber anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare through induced systemic resistance(ISR). Sixty-four bacterial strains having in vitro antifungal activity were used for selecting ISR-inducing strains in cucumber. Cucumber seeds(cv. Baeknokdadagi) were sown in potting mixtures incorporated with the soil bacteria, at a rate of ca. $10^8$ cells per gram of the mixture. Two week-old plants were then transplanted into the steam-sterilized soil. Three leaf-stage plants were inoculated with a conidial suspension($5{\times}10^5$ conidia/ml) of C. orbiculare. Diseased leaf area(%) and number of lesions per $cm^2$ leaf were evaluated on third leaves of the plants, $5{\sim}6$ days after inoculation. Among 64 strains tested, nine strains, GC-B19, GC-B35, GK-B18, MM-B22, PK-B14, RC-B41, RC-B64, RC-B65, and RC-B77 significantly(P=0.05) reduced anthracnose disease compared to the untreated control. In contrast, some bacterial strains promoted susceptibility of cucumber to the disease. From the repeated experiments using the nine bacterial strains, GC-B19, MM-B22, PK-B14, and RC-B65 significantly(P=0.05) reduced both diseased leaf area(%) and number of lesions per $cm^2$ leaf in at lease one experiment. These strains with control efficacy of $37{\sim}80%$ were determined to be effective ISR-inducing strains.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-41
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• 2003

Bacterial soft rot by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora is one of the diseases causing the biggest damages in Chinese cabbage cultivation. This study was conducted to evaluate disease resistance of Chinese cabbage cultivars and breeding lines to E. carotovora subsp. carotovora by new inoculation method, mineral oil inoculation method, inoculating 10 ml of the mixture (4:1, v/v) of bacterial suspension and mineral oil on the central bases of Chinease cabbage seedling. Total 43 Chinese cabbage cultivars and lines obtained from 3 domestic seed companies and universities were screened for disease resistance using the above mentioned inoculation method. This screening test showed that Chinese cabbage C3-26, C3-28, C3-29 and C29-51-51-53 lines were resistant, Gangta, Gumchonyealgali, Mini, DB50, Jibu, Pyungchng, Sanchon and Yellow King No.2 cultivars were susceptible, and the others were moderate resistant.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2021

The present study was aimed to estimate the effect of ensiling period and bacterial inoculants on chemical compositions and fermentation characteristics on rye silage harvested at delayed stage. Rye (Secale cereale L.) was harvested after 20 days of heading stage (29.4% dry matter, DM). The harvested rye forage was applied with different inoculants following: applications of distilled water (CON), Lactobacillus brevis (LBB), Leuconostoc holzapfelii (LCH), or mixture of LBB and LCH at 1:1 ratio (MIX). Each forage was ensiled into 20 L mini bucket silo (5 kg) for 50 (E50D) and 100 (E100D) days in triplicates. The E50D silages had higher in vitro digestibilities of DM (IVDMD, p<0.001) and neutral detergent fiber (IVNDFD, p=0.013), and lactate (p=0.009), and acetate (p=0.011) than those of E100D, but lower pH, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and yeast. By inoculant application, LCH had highest IVDMD and IVNDFD (p<0.05), while MIX had highest lactate and lowest pH (p<0.05). The CON and LCH in E50D had highest LAB and yeast (p<0.05), whereas LBB in E100D had lowest (p<0.05). Therefore, this study concluded that LCH application improved the nutrient digesbility (IVDMD and IVNDFD) of lignified rye silage, and longer ensiling period for 100 days enhanced the fermentation characteristics of silage compared to ensiling for 50 days.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2001

In an attempt to evaluate the possibility of producing an organic fertilizer using sediments from coastal farming areas, the chemical composition, bacteriological quality and heavy metals in the sediments alkalized by conditions : a 1:4 mixture of dry sediment to food wastes and the addition of 30% quicklime to the mixture. According to the classification standard for compost constituent by Higgins, all composts had a low or intermediate grade in T-N and $K_2O$ content, a low grade in $P_2O_5$ and a high grade in CaO and MgO content. Stabilization by quicklime and magnesium hydroxide is likely to inhibit th bacterial decomposition of organic matter and the actigity of pathogenic organic. Raising the pH of stabilized sediment to 12 for 2 hours(PSRP criteria of EPA) allowed 99.99% of the coliform group, fecal group and viable cell count to be reduced. the results suggested that the crude fertilizer produced by alkaline stabilization method was innoxious and thereby the sediments from coastal farming areas could be used as organic fertilizer.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.301-311
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• 2015

To enhance Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) efficacy, four Cry toxins were purified from four different Bt strains and assessed in their combined efficacy. The Cry mixtures significantly expanded their target insect spectra. Bacterial culture broth of Xenorhabdus nematophila (Xn) significantly suppressed insect cellular immune response and increased Cry toxicity. The addition of Xn culture broth to Cry mixture significantly enhanced Bt efficacy in target insect spectrum and insecticidal activity.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.363-368
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• 2004

In order to investigate the effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA), as a pore former, on the controlled release of an antibiotic from a biodegradable polymeric device, polycaprolactone (PCL)-cefadroxil matrices were prepared by the solvent casting method. The amount of cefadroxil released from various formulations at $37^{\circ}C$ was measured by HPLC. The duration of antimicrobial activity of matrices against S. aureus was evaluated by measuring the diameters of the inhibition zone. The morphology of the matrices was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The release rate and extent of cefadroxil from PCL matrix increased as the loading dose and particle size of BSA/cefadroxil mixture powder increased. Cefadroxil released from the matrix exhibited antibacterial activity for up to 4 days. SEM of the cross-section of matrix showed the typical channel formation after 3 days of release study. Thus, a biodegradable polymeric matrix loaded with antibiotic/BSA mixture can effectively prevent bacterial infection on its surface, thereby bringing about an enhancement of biocompatibility of biomaterials.