• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1148-1153
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• 2007

Streptococcus mutans is considered one of the primary etiologic agents of dental caries. we studied the effect of the ethanol extracts of Tribuli fructus (T. fructus) on the growth, biofilm formation, acid production, adhesion and insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans. The ethanol extracts of T. fructus showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition at the concentration of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 mg/ml compared to the control group. In the biofilm assay, the ethanol extracts of T. fructus inhibited formation of biofilm synthesized by S. mutans at the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml. The extracts markedly inhibited S. mutans adherence to HA treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by more than 50% at the concentration 0.05 mg/ml. On the activity of glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water insoluble glucan form sucrose, ethanol extract of T. fructus showed more than 10% inhibition over the concentration of 0.025 mg/ml. Hence, we conclude that T. fructus might be a candidate of anticaries agent. Further studies are necessary to clarify the active constituents of T. fructus responsible for such biomolecular activities.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2015

Bacterial infection is one of the most common and universal cause of disease spreading associated with medical and surgical environment. Antimicrobial function of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) will be useful for making hygienic environments. Here, we synthesized the PVC composite by the addition of inorganic bacteriocide containing silver, zinc and zeolite. And we investigated the growth inhibition rate for Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae which were analyzed in the presence of PVC composite with different doses of inorganic bacteriocide (1~15 wt%). Bacterial proliferation was significantly inhibited by 3 wt% of inorganic bacteriocide containing PVC composite. And we found the inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation by 5 wt% of inorganic bacteriocide containing PVC composite by the observation of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our data suggested that the antimicrobial effect of inorganic bacteriocide was caused by disturbing the bacterial biofilm formation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2012

Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication system, which is used by many bacteria to regulate diverse gene expression in response to changes in population density. Bacteria recognize the differences in cell density by sensing the concentration of signal molecules such as N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2). In particular, QS plays a key role in biofilm formation, which is a specific bacterial group behavior. Biofilms are dense aggregates of packed microbial communities that grow on surfaces, and are embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). QS regulates biofilm dispersal as well as the production of EPS. In some bacteria, biofilm formations are regulated by c-di-GMP-mediated signaling as well as QS, thus the two signaling systems are mutually connected. Biofilms are one of the major virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria. In addition, they cause numerous problems in industrial fields, such as the biofouling of pipes, tanks and membrane bioreactors (MBR). Therefore, the interference of QS, referred to as quorum quenching (QQ) has received a great deal of attention. To inhibit biofilm formation, several strategies to disrupt bacterial QS have been reported, and many enzymes which can degrade or modify the signal molecule AHL have been studied. QQ enzymes, such as AHL-lactonase, AHL-acylase, and oxidoreductases may offer great potential for the effective control of biofilm formation and membrane biofouling in the future. This review describes the process of bacterial QS, biofilm formation, and the close relationship between them. Finally, QQ enzymes and their applications for the reduction of biofouling are also discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2022

This study was investigated to evaluate the potential of Stewartia koreana Nakai as an oral healthcare material. The inhibitory effects of extracts on the biofilm formation and fimbriae genes expression of Porphyromonas gingivalis were determined by minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC), biofilm biomass staining, SEM, and qRT-PCR analysis. The S. koreana Nakai branch was extracted into 70% ethanol, and bacteriostatic MIC of extracts against P. gingivalis were 0.6 mg/ml. In P. gingivalis cultures treated with 0.2-2.0 mg/ml of extract, biofilm production rate was significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The morphology of treated and untreated samples was observed by SEM, and cell aggregation and biofilm were only observed in those treated with extract. Subsequently, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression on fimbriae genes fimA and fimB was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, it can be suggested that S. koreana branch extract has the potential to be used as naturally derived oral healthcare material because of its bacteriostatic action and inhibition of P. gingivalis biofilm formation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.263-267
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to determine whether the antibacterial activity of chitosan-modified Fe₃O₄ (CS@Fe₃O₄) nanomaterials against Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is mediated through changes in biofilm formation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. For this purpose, the broth dilution method was used to examine the effect of CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on bacterial growth. The effects of CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on biofilm formation were measured using a semi-quantitative crystal violet staining assay. In addition, a bacterial ROS detection kit was used to detect the production of ROS in bacteria. The results showed that CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles had a significant inhibitory effect on the colony growth and biofilm formation of drug-resistant A. baumannii (p < 0.05). The ROS stress assay revealed significantly higher ROS levels in A. baumannii subjected to CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle treatment than the control group (p < 0.05). Thus, we demonstrated for the first time that CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles had an inhibitory effect on A. baumannii in vitro, and that the antibacterial effect of CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on drug-resistant A. baumannii was more significant than on drug-sensitive bacteria. Our findings suggest that the antibacterial mechanism of CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles is mediated through inhibition of biofilm formation in drug-resistant bacteria, as well as stimulation of A. baumannii to produce ROS. In summary, our data indicate that CS@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles could be used to treat infections caused by drug-resistant A. baumannii.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.173-184
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• 1990

This study is an experimental research on the treatment of phenolic wastes by Rotating Biological Contactors(RBC). The objective of this study is to determine the optimum range of influent phenol concentration and organic loading rate. Organic removal rates were analyzed with increasing organic loading and influent phenol concentration, together with the observation of microorganism. Biomass, SCOD, and phenol concentration were measured under the steady state after a step change of influent phenol concentration. As the result, at the phenol concentration less then 98.8 mg/L there were no evidence of substrate inhibition. As the results, organic removal rates in each stage at various organic loading, were decreased with increasing phenol concentration. First order kinetic was observed on the removal of SCOD for which phenol concentration is within the range of substrate inhibition. And also, microorganisms were changed with influent phenol concentration. Namely, at low influent phenol concentration, thin biofilm with filamentous growth was produced. To the contrary, thick biofilm with nonfilamentous growth was produced at high influent phenol concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2013

A combined process consisted of a biofilm reactor and a continuously stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) was investigated for highly loaded ammonium wastewater treatment via nitrite accumulation. To enhance ammonium oxidizing bacteria over nitrite oxidizing bacteria on the surface of carriers, the biofilm reactor was operated at temperature of $35^{\circ}C$ for more than three months but the influent ammonium (500 mg-N/L) was partially oxidized to nitrite (240 mg-N/L). As pH was increased from 7.5 to 8.0, nitrite accumulation was fully achieved due to the inhibition of nitrite oxidizing bacteria under high free ammonia concentration. The biofilm reactor performance was severely deteriorated at the hydraulic retention time of 12 hr, at which incomplete nitrification of ammonia was observed. Various solubilization methods were applied to sewage sludge for enhancing its biodegradability and the combined method, alkaline followed by ultrasonic, gave the highest solubilization efficiency (58%); the solubilized solution was used as the external carbon source for denitrification reaction in CSTR. FISH analysis showed that the dominant microorganisms on the carriers were ammonium oxidizing bacteria such as Nitrosomonas spp. and Nitrospirar spp. but low amounts of nitrite oxidizing bacteria as Nitrobacter spp. was also detected.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.110-115
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of medicinal plants as oral health materials derived from natural products. Among the extracts from 200 medicinal plants grown in Nepal, Laos, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China, stem extracts from Diospyros malabarica (1 mg/disc) showed the highest antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC33277 and Streptococcus mutans ATCC25175. The D. malabarica stem extracts showed antibacterial activity similar to chlorhexidine, sodium lauryl sulfate, and triclosan, which were used as a positive control, as well as higher antibacterial activity against S. mutans ATCC25175 than P. gingivalis ATCC33277. The D. malabarica stem extracts showed bactericidal action (MBC, 0.4 mg/ml) against P. gingivalis ATCC33277 and bacteriostatic action against S. mutans ATCC25175. The biofilm production rate of S. mutans ATCC25175 and the expression of the comX gene associated to biofilm formation in the cultures treated with 0.2-1.0 mg/ml of D. malabarica stem extracts were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that D. malabarica stem extracts can be used as oral health material derived from natural materials, as demonstrated by the bacteriostatic action and inhibition of biofilm formation against S. mutans ATCC25175.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2013

In the present work, the reactors that harbor bacterial biofilms including ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and heterotrophic bacteria were treated with a continuous dose of chlorite ($0.66{\pm}0.01mg/L$) either with or without monochloramine at $1.77{\pm}0.03mg/L$. Both chlorite alone and combined chlorite-monochloramine applications effectively reduced biofilm and bulk AOB levels to near or below the detection limit ($0.6MPN/cm^2$ and 0.2 MPN/ml). The combined chlorite-monochloramine application exhibited greater AOB inactivation than chlorite alone. Unlike AOB, heterotrophic plate count (HPC) was unaffected by chlorite alone. In contrast to chlorite-only application, a combination of chlorite and monochloramine resulted in a significant reduction in HPC levels with log reductions of 3.1 and 3.0 for biofilm and bulk water, respectively. The results demonstrate that the combined chlorite-monochloramine application can provide an effective treatment for the inhibition of AOB and heterotrophic bacteria in a drinking water distribution system.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2018

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the most common foodborne pathogens responsible for outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis, which can lead to the life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome. In this study, we identified phytochemicals that specifically inhibit the expression of LEE operon in E. coli O157:H7. Among phytochemicals, diosmin decreased the adherence of E. coli O157:H7 towards Caco-2 cells in vitro (p<0.01) and its biofilm formation activity (p<0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcripts of Ler-regulated genes and genes related to curli production were significantly reduced in the presence of diosmin. However, diosmin does not affect bacterial viability, indicating that the resistance rate to diosmin was remarkably low. Overall, these results provide significant insights into the development of a novel anti-infective agent that is different from conventional antibiotics.