• Advances in nano research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-109
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• 2015

Citrate ion is a commonly used reductant in metal colloid synthesis, undergoes strong surface interaction with silver nanocrystallites. The slow crystal growth observed as a result of the interaction between the silver surface and the citrate ion makes this reduction process unique compared to other chemical and radiolytic synthetic methods. The antimicrobial effects of silver (Ag) ion or salts are well known, but the effects of citrate coated Ag nanoparticles (CAgNPs) are scant. Herein, we have isolated biofilm causative bacteria and fungi from drinking water PVC pipe lines. Stable CAgNPs were prepared and the formation of CAgNPs was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopic analysis and recorded the localized surface plasmon resonance of CAgNPs at 430 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis revealed C=O and O-H bending vibrations due to organic capping of silver responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the CAgNPs. X-ray diffraction micrograph indicated the face centered cubic structure of the formed CAgNPs, and morphological studies including size (average size 50 nm) were carried out using transmission electron microscopy. The hydrodynamic diameter (60.7 nm) and zeta potential (-27.6 mV) were measured using the dynamic light scattering technique. The antimicrobial activity of CAgNPs was evaluated (in vitro) against the isolated fungi, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria using disc diffusion method and results revealed that CAgNPs with 170ppm concentration are having significant antimicrobial effects against an array of microbes tested.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.294-300
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• 2018

Cometabolism technology was employed to degrade lignin wastewater in Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor. Cometabolic system (with glucose and lignin in inflow) and the control group (only lignin in inflow) were established to do a comparative study. In contrast with the control group, the average removal rates of lignin increased by 14.7% and total oarganic carbon increased by 32% in the cometabolic system with glucose as growth substrate, under the condition of 5 mg/L DO, $0.2kgCOD/(m^3{\cdot}d)$ lignin and glucose $1.0kgCOD/(m^3{\cdot}d)$. Functional groups of lignin are degraded effectively in cometabolic system proved by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer, and the degradation products were amides (mainly including acetamide, N-ethylacetamide and N, N-diethylacetamide), alcohols (mainly including glycerol and ethylene glycol) and acids. Meanwhile, results of Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis showed great differences in microbial population richness between cometabolic system and the control group. The Margalef's richness index and Shannon-Wiener's diversity index of microorganism in cometabolic system were 3.075 and 2.61, respectively. The results showed that extra addition of glucose, with a concentration of 943 mg/L, was beneficial to lignin biodegradation in cometabolic system.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2017

The Automobile HVAC system is a habitat for odor-associated fungal communities. We investigated the odor-associated fungal community in an automobile HVAC system using a high-throughput DNA sequencing method. The fungal community structure was evaluated via metagenome analysis. At the phylum level, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were detected, accounting for 43.41% and 56.49% of the fungal community in the HVAC system, respectively. Columnosphaeria (8.31%), Didymella (5.60%), Davidiella (5.50%), Microxyphium (4.24%), unclassified Pleosporales (2.90%), and Cladosporium (2.79%) were abundant at phylum of Ascomycota and Christiansenia (36.72%), Rhodotorula (10.48%), and Sporidiobolus (2.34%) were abundant at phylum of Basidiomycota. A total of 22 genera of fungi were isolated and identified from the evaporators of the HVAC systems which support fungal growth and biofilm formation. Among them, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria are the most representative odor-associated fungi in HVAC systems. They were reported to form biofilm on the surface of HVAC systems with other bacteria by hypha. In addition, they produce various mVOCs such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, acetic acid, butanoic acid, and methyl isobutyl ketone. Our findings may be useful for extending the understanding of odor-associated fungal communities in automobile HVAC systems.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2022

Purpose: This pilot study assessed the immediate in vivo effect of high peak pulse power neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser monotherapy on selected red/orange complex periodontal pathogens in deep human periodontal pockets. Methods: Twelve adults with severe periodontitis were treated with the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP®) surgical protocol, wherein a free-running, digitally pulsed, Nd:YAG dental laser was used as the initial therapeutic step before mechanical root debridement. Using a flexible optical fiber in a handpiece, Nd:YAG laser energy, at a density of 196 J/cm² and a high peak pulse power of 1,333 W/pulse, was directed parallel to untreated tooth root surfaces in sequential coronal-apical passes to clinical periodontal probing depths, for a total applied energy dose of approximately 8-12 joules per millimeter of periodontal probing depth at each periodontal site. Subgingival biofilm specimens were collected from each patient before and immediately after Nd:YAG laser monotherapy from periodontal pockets exhibiting ≥6 mm probing depths and bleeding on probing. Selected red/orange complex periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Parvimonas micra, and Campylobacter species) were quantified in the subgingival samples using established anaerobic culture techniques. Results: All immediate post-treatment subgingival biofilm specimens continued to yield microbial growth after Nd:YAG laser monotherapy. The mean levels of total cultivable red/orange complex periodontal pathogens per patient significantly decreased from 12.0% pretreatment to 4.9% (a 59.2% decrease) immediately after Nd:YAG laser monotherapy, with 3 (25%) patients rendered culture-negative for all evaluated red/orange complex periodontal pathogens. Conclusions: High peak pulse power Nd:YAG laser monotherapy, used as the initial step in the LANAP® surgical protocol on mature subgingival biofilms, immediately induced significant reductions of nearly 60% in the mean total cultivable red/orange complex periodontal pathogen proportions per patient prior to mechanical root instrumentation and the rest of the LANAP® surgical protocol.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2013

Candida biofilms are self-organized microbial communities growing on the surfaces of host tissues and medical devices. These biofilms have been displaying increasing resistance against conventional antifungal agents. The roots of Scutellaria baicalensis have been widely used for medicinal purpose throughout East Asia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of S. baicalensis aqueous extract upon the preformed biofilms of 10 clinical C. albicans isolates, and assess the mechanism of the antibiofilm activity. Its effect on preformed biofilm was judged using an XTT reduction assay and the metabolic activity of all tested strains were reduced ($57.7{\pm}17.3$%) at MIC values. The S. baicalenis extract inhibited (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthase activity. The effect of S. baicalensis on the morphology of C. albicans was related to the changes in growth caused by inhibiting glucan synthesis; most cells were round and swollen, and cell walls were densely stained or ruptured. The anticandidal activity was fungicidal, and the extract also arrested C. albicans cells at $G_0/G_1$. The data suggest that S. baicalensis has multiple fatal effects on target fungi, which ultimately result in cell wall disruption and killing by inhibiting (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthesis. Therefore, S. baicalensis holds great promise for use in treating and eliminating biofilm-associated Candida infections.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1386-1392
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• 2019

This study investigated the potential of dye plants as natural oral health products. The antibacterial activity of ethanol stem extracts of A. japonica, R. verniciflua Stokes, G. jasminoides, D. morbifera, P. amurense Rupr., and S. japonica against P. gingivalis KCTC 5352, S. mutans KCTC3065, S. downei KCTC3634, S. sanguinis KCTC3284, and S. gordonii KCTC 3286 was confirmed. Among the stem extracts from 6 dye plants grown in Korea, ethanol extract from A. japonica stem (1 mg/disc) showed the highest antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis KCTC5352. The A. japonica stem extracts showed antibacterial activity similar to chlorhexidine, which was used as a positive control. The MIC and MBC of P. gingivalis KCTC5352 were 0.4 mg/ml and 0.6 mg/ml, respectively. The biofilm production rate and cell growth of P. gingivalis KCTC5352 in the cultures treated with 0.2-2.0 mg/ml of A. japonica extract were significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the mRNA expression of the superoxide dismutase and fimA associated with fimbriae formation in these cultures was suppressed, also in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, it is concluded that A. japonica stem extracts can be used as an oral health product derived from natural materials, as demonstrated by its antibacterial action against and inhibition of biofilm formation of P. gingivalis KCTC5352.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.465-472
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• 2019

Candida albicans is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes infections. Candidiasis is often related to antifungal resistance because the pathogen has the ability to form biofilms. In a previous study, we found that the Salvia miltiorriza ethanol extract demonstrated anticandidal activity by altering membrane permeability and inhibiting the cell wall synthesis in C. albicans. Our results here demonstrate that $78{\mu}g/ml$ of the S. miltiorriza extract significantly diminished the early stage biofilms formed by 10 clinical C. albicans isolates by 51.3%; this was analyzed by 2,3-Bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide salt (XTT) reduction assay. The effect of the S. miltiorrhiza extract on the adhesion of C. albicans cells to polystyrene plates and germ tube formation was examined via microscopic investigation. Although the density of the adhered cells was remarkably reduced up on incubation with $39{\mu}g/ml$ S. miltiorrhiza extract, germ tube formation by C. albicans was rarely affected. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the S. miltiorrhiza extract downregulated the expression of C. albicans hypha-specific genes, EAP1 by 34.7% (p < 0.001), ALS1 by 45.0% (p < 0.001), ALS3 by 48.1% (p < 0.001), and ECE1 by 21.3% (p = 0.006), respectively. Our data suggest that the S. miltiorrhiza ethanol extract significantly inhibited the early stage of biofilm formation by C. albicans by interfering with cell adhesion, by downregulating EAP1, ALS1 and ALS3, and presumably by modifying the cell wall and membrane structure.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.792-802
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• 2022

In this study, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Sophora japonica extracts were investigated to determine the potential of S. japonica as a functional food and medicinal materials. S. japonica was divided into flowers, fruits, and branches, and ethanol extraction was used. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were significantly higher in the flower and fruit extracts than in the branch extracts, but the ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity and ORAC value were higher in the branch extracts. Among the ethanol extracts of S. japonica, branch extracts showed strong antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis, and the MIC was 0.2 mg/ml. Branch extracts showed bacteriostatic activity against P. gingivalis at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml or less and bactericidal activity at a concentration of 0.6 mg/ml or more. Biofilm biomass production and cell growth of P. gingivalis in the culture medium treated with the branch extract at a concentration of 0.2-2.0 mg/ml were significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the mRNA expression of fimA and mfa1 associated with fimbriae formation in these cultures was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, S. japonica branch extracts can be used as functional food and medicinal materials, as demonstrated by their antioxidant and antibacterial activities against P. gingivalis and the inhibition of biofilm formation resulting from P. gingivalis.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.121-128
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• 2007

This study performed in order to evaluate the effects of pipe materials on corrosion and bacteria regrowth using a laboratory scale batch test. Two varieties of feed water with different microbial conditions were selected: tap water, surface river water (Han River water), and five pipe materials; carbon steel, copper, galvanized iron, stainless steel, and PVC, Carbon steel and galvanized iron pipes showed higher corrosion rates than other materials. In terms of attached bacterial growth, pipes with PVC and stainless steel showed higher bacteria concentration compared to other materials. Pseudomonas vesicularis was the predominant bacteria found on biofilm. The behavior of bacterial growth in the pipes was observed using a scanning electron microscope.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.330-337
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of Stewartia koreana as oral healthcare materials. The antibacterial activity of ethanol extracts from leaves and branches of S. koreana against oral bacteria was confirmed. The leaf and branch extracts (1 mg/disc) showed antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis only among several tested oral bacteria. The leaf extracts showed higher antibacterial activity, with values similar to those of chlorhexidine, which was used as a positive control. The MIC of the leaf extract against P. gingivalis was 0.4 mg/ml and showed bacteriostatic action. The inhibitory effects of the extract on biofilm formation and on gene expression related to biofilm formation by P. gingivalis were determined by biofilm biomass staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and qRT-PCR analysis. The biofilm production rate and cell growth of P. gingivalis in the cultures treated with 0.2-2.0 mg/ml of S. koreana leaf extracts were significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect on the formation of P. gingivalis biofilms at concentrations of 1 mg/ml was confirmed by SEM. The qRT-PCR analysis showed concentration-dependent suppression of the fimA and fimB gene expression associated with fimbriae formation in the cultures treated with 0.2-2.0 mg/ml S. koreana leaf extract. These results support the conclusion that S. koreana leaf extracts can be used as oral healthcare materials derived from natural materials, as demonstrated by the antibacterial action and inhibition of biofilm formation of P. gingivalis.