• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2019

This study monitored changes in the level of heterotrophic bacteria in the filtrate and investigated the effect of stagnant water on it, using a batch-operated, gravity-driven membrane system for household water treatment. The filtration test was carried out in the presence and absence of stagnant water in the filtrate line. The results showed that stagnant water accelerated the heterotrophic bacteria levels, measured by heterotrophic plate count, even though the heterotrophic plate count of the filtrate finally increased up to $10^5CFU/mL$ regardless of the presence of stagnant water. When the change in heterotrophic plate count of a batch was monitored over filtration time, heterotrophic plate count of the filtrate rapidly decreased within 5 min for each batch filtration. Biofilm formation on the filtrate line was observed in the presence of stagnant water. The biofilm fully covered the filtrate line and contained numerous microorganisms. During storage after filtration, heterotrophic plate count increased exponentially. To improve the filtrate quality of a filtration-based household water treatment system, therefore, the stagnant water in the filtrate line should be minimized, the filtrate produced at the first 5 min is recommended not to be used as potable water, and the storage of filtrate should be avoided.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.57-65
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• 2019

This study assessed the contribution of emergent vegetation (Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, and Nelumbo nucifera) to the submerged surface area, the amount of biofilms attached to the submerged portions of the plants, and the treatment performance of a free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland. Results showed that a 1% increase ($31m^2$) in the vegetative area resulted in an increase of $220m^2$ of submerged surface area, and 0.48 kg Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) of attached biofilm. As the vegetation coverage increased, effluent organic matter and total Kjeldahl nitrogen decreased. Conversely, a higher nitrate concentration was found in the effluent as a result of increased nitrification and incomplete denitrification, which was limited by the availability of a carbon source. In addition, a larger vegetation coverage resulted in a higher phosphorus in the effluent, most likely released from senescent biofilms and sediments, which resulted from the partial suppression of algal growth. Based on the results, it was recommended that constructed wetlands should be operated with a vegetation coverage of just under 50% to maximize pollutant removal.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in the dental field. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the most important bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. In a previous study, we confirmed that the essential oil of Chrysanthemum boreale has antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Alpha-pinene is one of the major chemical components of Chrysanthemum boreale essential oil. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of ${\alpha}-pinene$ on cariogenic properties such as growth, acid production, biofilm formation, and bactericidal activity on S. mutans. Alpha-pinene at a concentration range of 0.25-0.5 mg/mL significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans and acid production of S. mutans. Biofilm formation was significantly inhibited at > 0.0625 mg/mL ${\alpha}-pinene$, similar to the data from scanning electronic microscopy. Under confocal laser scanning microscopy, the bacterial viability was decreased by ${\alpha}-pinene$ in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that ${\alpha}-pinene$ may be a useful agent for inhibiting the cariogenic properties of S. mutans.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.88.1-88.13
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• 2020

Background: Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacterium that causes listeriosis mainly in immunocompromised hosts. It can also cause foodborne outbreaks and has the ability to adapt to various environments. Peptide uptake in gram-positive bacteria is enabled by oligopeptide permeases (Opp) in a process that depends on ATP hydrolysis by OppD and F. Previously a putative protein Lmo2193 was predicted to be OppD, but little is known about the role of OppD in major processes of L. monocytogenes, such as growth, virulence, and biofilm formation. Objectives: To determine whether the virulence traits of L. monocytogenes are related to OppD. Methods: In this study, Lmo2193 gene deletion and complementation strains of L. monocytogenes were generated and compared with a wild-type strain for the following: adhesiveness, invasion ability, intracellular survival, proliferation, 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) to mice, and the amount bacteria in the mouse liver, spleen, and brain. Results: The results showed that virulence of the deletion strain was 1.34 and 0.5 orders of magnitude higher than that of the wild-type and complementation strains, respectively. The function of Lmo2193 was predicted and verified as OppD from the ATPase superfamily. Deletion of lmo2193 affected the normal growth of L. monocytogenes, reduced its virulence in cells and mice, and affected its ability to form biofilms. Conclusions: Deletion of the oligopeptide transporter Lmo2193 decreases the virulence of L. monocytogenes. These effects may be related to OppD's function, which provides a new perspective on the regulation of oligopeptide transporters in L. monocytogenes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.243-251
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• 2011

The gene bolA was discovered in the 80's, but unraveling its function in the cell has proven to be a complex task. The BolA protein has pleiotropic effects over cell physiology, altering growth and morphology, inducing biofilm formation, and regulating the balance of several membrane proteins. Recently, BolA was shown to be a transcription factor by repressing the expression of the mreB gene. The present report shows that BolA is a transcriptional regulator of the dacA and dacC genes, thus regulating both DD-carboxypeptidases PBP5 and PBP6 and thereby demonstrating the versatility of BolA as a cellular regulator. In this work, we also demonstrate that reduction of cell growth and survival can be connected to the overexpression of the bolA gene in different E. coli backgrounds, particularly in the exponential growth phase. The most interesting finding is that overproduction of BolA affects bacterial growth differently depending on whether the cells were inoculated directly from a plate culture or from an overnight batch culture. This strengthens the idea that BolA can be engaged in the coordination of genes that adapt the cell physiology in order to enhance cell adaptation and survival under stress conditions.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

Candida 바이오필름은 숙주조직이나 인체에 삽입된 의료기구의 표면에 자라는 진균의 군락으로 전통적인 항진균제에 대한 내성을 유발한다. 황련(Coptidis chinensis)의 뿌리는 극동지방에서 의료용 목적으로 널리 사용되어 왔다. 본 연구의 목적은 임상에서 분리한 C. albicans 바이오필름 형성 균주가 형성한 바이오필름에 대한 C. chinensis 수용성 추출물의 효과와 C. albicans 바이오필름 형성을 저해하는 데 기여하는 항진균활성을 평가하는 데 있다. 바이오필름에 대한 효과는 XTT [2,3-Bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide)] 환원분석법을 사용하였으며, 조사된 모든 균주에 대한 대사활성은 $98{\mu}g/ml$의 C. chinensis 수용성 추출물에 의해 현저하게 감소($57.3{\pm}14.7%$)되어 유의성 있는 항바이오필름 활성을 나타내었다. Fluorescein diacetate와 propidium iodide로 이중 염색한 결과 C. chinensis 추출물은 C. albicans의 세포막을 손상시켰다. C. chinensis 수용성 추출물은 살진균 활성을 나타냈고, C. albicans 바이오필름의 폴리스티렌 표면으로의 부착을 억제하였으며 C. albicans를 $G_o/G_1$기에 머무르게 하여 바이오필름이나 출아법에 의한 증식을 억제시켰다. 본 연구의 결과는 C. chinensis 추출물이 목표가 되는 C. albicans에 복합적으로 유해한 효과를 내어 궁극적으로는 C. albicans 바이오필름 형성을 억제함을 나타낸다. 따라서 C. chinensis 추출물은 바이오필름과 관련된 캔디다의 감염을 치료하고 제거하기 위한 천연물 기반항진균제 개발에 대한 높은 가능성을 가진다.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.106-112
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• 2007

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria(AOB)는 $NH_4^+-N$을 $NO_2^--N$으로 산화시키며, 생물학적 질산화 단계에서 율속 단계로 작용하기 때문에 중요한 미생물이다. AOB의 성장은 용존산소, 온도, pH 등의 환경 인자에 영향을 받는다. 본 연구에서는 DO 농도가 AOB에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위해 세라믹 메디아가 충전된 4개의 호기성 생물막 반응기의 DO 농도를 각각 1, 3, 5, 7 mg/L로 운전하였다. 운전결과, 5 mg/L 이상에서 안정적인 질산화 효율을 얻을 수 있었다. AOB의 특성을 조사하기 위해 AOB의 16S rRNA와 amoA gene을 target으로 PCR을 이용한 DGGE와 cloning을 실시하였으며, 이들의 활성을 조사하기 위해 INT-DHA를 측정하였다. DO 농도 변화에 따른 각 반응기별 질산화 효율에 차이가 있었음에도 불구하고, DGGE 및 cloning 결과, AOB 군집 및 Nitrosomonas sp.의 비율의 변화는 거의 없었다. DO 농도가 감소함에 따라 AOB의 활성도가 감소한다는 것을 INT-DHA 측정으로 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 DO 농도는 AOB 군집의 변화 보다는 활성에 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단되었다.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.397-405
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• 2020

이 연구의 목적은 불소 민감성(fluoride-sensitive) Streptococcus mutans (FS S. mutans ) 와 불소 저항성(fluoride-resistant) Streptococcus mutans (FR S. mutans )의 우식원성 특성을 비교하는 것이다. S. mutans ATCC 25175 균주를 NaF (70 ppm)를 포함한 trypticase soy broth에서 40일 동안 배양하여 FR S. mutans를 획득하였다. 2% 자당 유무에 따른 FS와 FR S. mutans의 성장과 산 생성 변화를 비교하였고, 타액 세균을 이용하여 FS와 FR S. mutans 바이오필름을 형성하여 공초점 레이저 현미경으로 관찰하고 세균 수를 측정하였다. 또한 RT-PCR을 통해 FS와 FR S. mutans의 gtf 유전자 발현 정도를 비교하였다. FR S. mutans는 FS S. mutans 보다 자당을 이용한 성장과 산 생성이 모두 낮았다. 타액 세균과 단일 균주 바이오필름의 형성 또한 FR S. mutans가 FS S. mutans 보다 적었고, 더 낮은 gtfB, gtfC 및 gtfD 발현을 보였다. 이 연구를 통해 FR S. mutans는 FS S. mutans 보다 감소된 우식원성 특성을 가지고 있음을 관찰하였고, 불소의 주기적 사용은 S. mutans 세균의 활성을 낮추어 우식 발생을 줄이는데 도움이 될 수 있을 것이다.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.242-249
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• 1998

The engineering aspect of water treatment processes in the recirculating aquaculture system was studied. To recycle the water in the aquaculture system, a wastewater treatment process was required to maintain high water quality for the growth and health of the cultured fish. In this study, three different biofilm processes were used to reduce the concentration of organic matters and ammonia from the recirculating water - two phase fluidized bed, three phase fluidized bed, and trickling filter. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the optimum treatment conditions of the biofilm processes for the recirculating aquaculture system, and thereby reduce the volume of biofilm processes, which are commonly used for the recycle water treatment processes for aquaculture. The result of this study showed that the removal efficiency of organic matters by trickling filter was found to be lower than that of the fluidized bed. In the trickling filter system, anthracite showed better organic removal efficiency than crushed stone as a media. In the two phase fluidized bed, the maximum removal efficiency of either organics or ammonia was obtained when both the packing rate of media was maintained to $40\%$ of total reactor depth excepting sediment zone and the bed expansion rate was maintained to $100\%$. When 100 tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) of each average 200g was reared, the pollutant production rate was 0.07g $NH_4\;^+-N/kg$ fish/day and 0.06g P04-3-P/kg fish/day, and sludge production rate was 0.39 g SS/kg fish/day. In the two phase and three phase fluidized bed, the volume of water treatment tank could be calculated from an empirical equation by using the relationship between the influent COD to $NH_4\;^+-N$ ratio (C/N, -), media concentration (Cm, g/L), influent ammonia nitrogen concentration (Ni, mg/L), effluent ammonia nitrogen concentration (Ne, mg/L), bed expansion rate $(E,\;\%)$, and influent flowrate $(Q,\;m^3/hr)$. The empirical equation from this study is $$V_2\;=\;10^{3.1279}\;C/N^{3.5461}\;C_m\;^{-3.7473}\;N_i\;^{4.6477}\;E^{0.0326}\;N_e\;^{-0..8849}\;Q\;(Two\;Phase\;FB) V_3\;=\;10^{11.7507}\;C/N^{-1.2330}\;C_m\;^{-6.5715}\;N_i\;^{1.5091}\;N_e\;^{-1.8489}\;Q (Three\;Phase\;FB)$$

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.357-366
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• 2015

쿼럼센싱은 세포 간의 의사소통 방법이며 박테리아의 병원성과 관련된 유전자들의 조절메커니즘이다. 박테리아는 다양한 생리학적 과정들을 제어하기 위해 이 쿼럼센싱 시스템을 활용한다. 본 연구에서 석류(Punica granatum L.) 껍질 추출물이 바이오 리포터 균주인 Chromobacterium violaceum 과 C. violaceum CV026에서 쿼럼센싱 억제능을 갖는 것으로 1차 선별되어 식중독균인 Y. enterocolitica에서 편모에 의한 운동능과 바이오필름형성 억제능에 대한 석류껍질 추출물의 효과에 대한 다음 실험을 수행하였다. 추가로 N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs)의 합성(yenI and yenR)과 편모 레귤론(fliA, fleB and flhDC) 에 관련된 특정유전자의 발현변화를 역전사 중합효소연쇄반응법으로 평가하였다. 결과는 석류껍질 추출물이 C. violaceum CV026에서 쿼럼센싱으로 제어되는 바이오레신 생산을 78.5%까지 억제하였으며, Y. enterocolitica에서는 세포의 성장에 영향을 주지 않고 바이오필름 형성과 편모 운동성을 현저히 감소시키는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 억제 효과는 AHLs의 합성과 운동성에 관여하는 유전자 발현을 down-regulation 하는 결과와도 일치하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 석류껍질 추출물의 임상 적용을 위하여 생체 내 특성에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요하다는 것뿐 아니라 석류껍질 추출물이 사람의 위장관염을 방지하기 위한 잠재적인 치료제가 될 수 있다는 것을 보여준다.