• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2007

We investigated the phenotypic characteristics by using API20E, APIZYM and determined minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 7 antibiotics in motile aeromonads isolated from freshwater fishes in Korea and Japan, and 4 American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains. All isolates (n=7) were identified as motile Aeromonas species according to API20E test. Lysine decarboxylase activity and acid production from 4 different carbohydrates including mannitol, rhamnose, amygdalin and arabinose were observed in various strains. In enzymatic activities by APIZYM, all isolates showed negative reactions in valine and cystine arylamidases, α-chymotrypsin, α-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, α-glucosidase, α-mannosidase and α-fucosidase. Although the intensities of each enzymatic activity were diverse in alkaline phosphatase, esterase-lipase, leucine arylamidase, β-galactosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, all isolates showed positive reactions. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin sodium (MIC>100㎍/ml), but sensitive to chloramphenicol (MIC≤1.6㎍/ml). However, recently isolated strains (AC9804, AC0202 and GMA0361) were commonly resistant to tetracycline (MIC=50㎍/ml). Furthermore, AC9804 was resistant to oxolinic acid (MIC=12.5㎍/ml). GMA0361 was resistant to kanamycin sulfate (MIC>100㎍/ml) and streptomycin sulfate (MIC>100 ㎍/ml).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.541-545
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• 2007

The potential to produce biogenic amines was investigated in microbial strains isolated from fermented soybean paste, cheonggukjang. The typical levels of 11 biogenic amines, including putrescine, histamine, and tryptamine, were analyzed in commercial cheonggukjang. The tyramine and histamine levels in the samples ranged from 4.2 to 483.1 mg $kg^{-1}$ and 0.2 to $70.3mg\;kg^{-l}$, respectively. A total of 4 microbial strains of Bacillus sp. were isolated from cheonggukjang. The Bacillus sp. were identified as B. amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis based on phenotypic characteristics, which included using the VITEK system. The screening plate method for detecting amino acid decarboxylase positive microorganisms was performed. The results fer amino decarboxylation were positive, and biogenic amine formation was evaluated by the confirmation of amine-forming capacity.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2010

The study performed to identify the type of ESBL against strains which are producing extendedspectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases and isolated from sewage in Suyeong sewage disposal plant, Busan Environmental Corporation. By the standard activated sludge method, Suyeong sewage disposal plant purify living and lavatory sewage gathering from the northeast Busan and the facility purify total 550,000 tons of living sewage disposal a day. 14 strains were isolated by double disk synergy test and the third generation cepha-antibiotics test. Indole, methyl-red, Voges-Proskauer, Simmon's citrate, decarboxylasedihydrolase and sugar-fermentation tests identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=4) and Escherichia coli (n=10). Plasmid-mediated transmission test against isolated 14 strains proved 11 strains transmitted resistance to recipient E. coli J53 (sodium $azide^R$, $ceftazidime^S$). 9 strains of conjugant were expressed ESBL genes transferred from parental strain but 2 conjugants did not expressed. The type of ESBL from each strain was determined by isoelectric focusing points, DNA and amino acids sequencing. The results indicated that the types of ESBL transmitted to recipient E. coli J53 were TEM-1, the parental TEM type and SHV-12 type.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2007

The physiological responses of microorganisms to specific nutrient limitation can be regulated at the transcriptional levels. In this study, in order to develop the Pichia pastoris-derived promoter inducible by nutrient-limited condition, we constructed cDNA libraries using RT-PCR of total RNA from P. pastoris in steady-states of phosphate-limited chemostat with different dilution rates. Various genes were detected from cDNA library. Among these genes, the gene encoding putative sodium/phosphate ($Na^+$/Pi) symporter (NPS), high affinity transporter of phosphate, was detected. It was observed that expression of NPS increased in a manner specific to phosphate-limited condition through Northern blot. Therefore, it is thought that the promoter from NPS gene may have the potential as auto-inducible promoter by phosphate-limited culture condition without inducer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2017

Biogenic amines such as histamine, tyramine, cadaverine, and putrescine may have detrimental effects on consumers' health; therefore, they must be considered hazardous substances in foods. In recent years, the application of microorganisms that can degrade biogenic amines has become an emerging method for reducing the amount of these amines in foods. Primarily, Bacillus sp. BCNU 9171 was isolated from Doenjang, a Korean traditional fermented soybean paste. The inhibitory effects of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Bacillus sp. BCNU 9171 on biogenic amine production by 4 amine-positive food pathogenic bacteria were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our results showed that 4 different CFS concentrations-10% [1 ml CFS + 9 ml histidine decarboxylase broth (HDB)], 25% (2.5 ml CFS + 7.5 ml HDB), 50% (5 ml CFS + 5 ml HDB), and 75% (7.5 ml CFS + 2.5 ml HDB)-reduced the biogenic amine production up to 87% compared with that of the control without CFS. These results suggested that it is advisable to use Bacillus sp. strain BCNU 9171 as a starter organism for the manufacture of fermented foods and to ensure food safety since it prevents the accumulation of high amounts of biogenic amines in fermented foods by amine-positive bacteria.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2005

RT-PCR is an useful method to investigate the expression of target gene as detection tools. Although RT-PCR is the powerful detection method for tissues, it was difficult to amplify the target gene product using the single cell. To clarify the expression level of the genes related to Parkinson's disease (PD), I performed the laser dissection of single cell from Substantia nigra. I examined the mRNA expression level in the dopaminergic neuron isolated from the PD patients by the single cell RT-PCR method. It is known that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) are involved in biosynthesis of the catecholamine such as dopamine. Little has been known about the gene expression features of these enzymes in single dopaminergic neuron. I could detect the specific gene products in single cell level. The different expression was observed in PD-related gene products from the single neuron of PD patients. Interestingly, TH gene expression was significantly decreased with comparing the ratio of decrease in other PD-related genes. Hence, I represented data that indicate the RT-PCR method described in this report is an effective method in detecting a specific single-cell mRNA level related with diseases.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 1999

To develop a chemopreventive strategy based on the different stages of premalignant lesions, we hypothesized that the inhibitory effect of chemopreventive agents is influenced by different promotion stages during carcinogenesis. DMBA-TPA-induced skin carcinogenesis was used with ICR mice and chlorophyllin (CHL) was applied as a chemopreventive agent. In vitro assay was performed with Salmonella typhi. TA100 to observe any anti-mutagenic activity of CHL against DMBA. Pre-initiation and pre-promotion effects of CHL were observed by CHL treatment before initiation and before promotion. To evaluate the inhibitory effect at different promotion stages, each group was divided into three subgroups after TPA promotion for 6, 18 and 24 weeks, respectively ; the first subgroup was immediately sacrificed after termination of TPA, the second subgroup was treated with CHL, and the third subgroup was sacrificed 8 weeks after termination of TPA without CHL treatment. The degrees of epithelial dysplasia, papilloma formation, and invasive carcinoma were observed histologically, and GST-Pi expression was observed immunohistochemically. ODC mRNA level was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results showed : CHL dose-dependently inhibited the mutation of Salmonella typhi. TA100; the incidence of epithelial dysplasia and papilloma formation was lower in pre-initiation and pre-promotion CHL-treated mice than DMBA-TPA-treated mice; no invasive carcinoma developed in pre-initiation CHL-treated groups, while 67% of DMBA-TPA treated mice had carcinomas; GST-Pi expression decreased when CHL was treated before initiation and before promotion; and when CHL was treated after termination of TPA application at 18 and 24- week-TPA promotion stages, respectively, the incidence of epithelial dysplasia and papilloma was markedly reduced compared to non-treated groups. When comparing the incidence of epithelial dysplasia and papilloma between the immediately-sacrificed subgroup and the non-treated group with a waiting period, we speculated that the 18-week-TPA promotion stage might belong to the promoter-independent progression stage. At the 18-week-TPA promotion stage, the level of ODC mRNA in the CHL-treated group was clearly reduced to the level of normal tissue. Taking these results together, CHL showed both anti-initiation and anti-promotion effects, while the inhibitory effect of CHL was prominent in the 18-week-TPA promotion stage. However, CHL seems to be incapable of completely blocking the progression in the 24-week-TPA promotion stage.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.88.2-98
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• 2002

A wide arry of naturally occurring substances particularly those present in dietary and medicinal plants, have been reported to possess substantial cancer chemopreventive properties. Certain phytochemicals retain strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties which appear to contribute to their chemopreventive or chemoprotective activities. Inducible cyclooxygenase(COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are important enzymes that mediate inflammatory processes. There is some evidence that expression of both COX-2 and iNOS is co-regulated by the eukaryotic transcription factor NF-$textsc{k}$B. Increased expression of COX-2 and/or iNOS has been associated with pathophysiology of certain types of human cancers as well as inflammatory diseases. Since inflammation is closely linked to tumor promotion, substances with potent anti-inflammatory activies are anticipated to exert chemopreventive effects on carcinogenesis, particularly in the promotion stage. An example is curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa L., Zingiberaceae), that strongly occurring diaryl heptanoids structurally related to curcumin have substantial anti-tumor promotional activities in two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis. Thus, yakuchinone A [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-3heptanone] and yakuchinone B [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'methoxyphenyl)-7-phenylhept-1-en-3-one] present in Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel (Zingiberacease) attenuate phorbol ester-induced inflammation and papilloma formation in female ICR mice. These diarylheptanoids also suppressed phorbol ester-induced activation of epdermal ornithine decarboxylase and its mRNA expression when applied onto shaven backs of mice. Yakuchinone A and B as well as curcumin inhibited phorbol ester-induced expression of COX-2 and iNOS and their mRNA in mouse skin via inactivation of NF-$textsc{k}$B. Capsaicin, a major pungent ingredient of red pepper also attenuated phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation. Similar suppression of COX-2 and iNOS and down-regulation of NF-$textsc{k}$B activation for its DNA binding were observed with the ginsenosied Rg3 and the ethanol extract of Artemisia asiatica. We have also found that certain anti-inflammatory phytochemicals exert inhibitory effects on phorbol ester-induced COX-2 expression and NF-$textsc{k}$B activation in immortalized human breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells in culture. One of the plausible mechanisms undelying inhibition by aforementioned phytochemicals of phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation involves interference with degragation of the inhibitory unit, I$textsc{k}$Ba, which blocks subsequent nuclear translocation of the functionally active p65 subunit of NF-$textsc{k}$B. the activation of epidermal NF-$textsc{k}$B by phorbol ester and subsequent induction of COX-2 hence appear to play an important role in intracellular signaling pathwasy leading to tumor promotion and targeted inhibition of NF-$textsc{k}$B may provide a new promising cancer chemopreventive strategy.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 2015

It has been known for some time to the wine industry that non-Saccharomyces yeasts play an important role in increasing volatile components through the secretion of extracellular enzymes. The objective of this study was to investigate what types of enzymes are produced by 1,007 non-Saccharomyces yeast strains isolated from Korean fermented foods. Among 1,007 yeast strains, the 566, 45 and 401 strains displayed β-glucosidase, glucanase and protease activity, respectively. In addition, the 563 and 610 strains possessed tolerances against cerulenin and TFL, and the 307 strain was tolerant to 15% ethanol. Yeasts producing harmful biogenic amines and hydrogen sulfide were excluded from further study, and eventually 12 yeast strains belonging to the genera Wickerhamomyces, Hanseniaspora, Pichia, Saccharomyces were identified, based on the 26S rRNA gene sequences. Among the 12 strains, the 9 and 5 strains possessed glucose and ethanol tolerance, respectively. Yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces produced more than 8% alcohol, but non-Saccharomyces yeasts produced only 3% alcohol.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.437-447
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• 1999

Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) results from the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic $\beta$ cells by a progressive $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmune process. The pathogenesis of autoimmune IDDM has been extensively studied for the past two decades using animal models such as the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse and the Bio-Breeding (BB) rat. However, the initial events that trigger the immune responses leading to the selective destruction of the $\beta$ cells are poorly understood. It is thought that $\beta$ cell auto-antigens are involved in the triggering of $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmunity. Among a dozen putative $\beta$ cell autoantigens, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has bee proposed as perhaps the strongest candidate in both humans and the NOD mouse. In the NOD mouse, GAD, as compared with other $\beta$ cell autoantigens, provokes the earliest T cell proliferative response. The suppression of GAD expression in the $\beta$ cells results in the prevention of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. In addition, the major populations of cells infiltrating the iselts during the early stage of insulitis in BB rats and NOD mice are macrophages and dendritic cells. The inactivation of macrophages in NOD mice results in the prevention of T cell mediated autoimmune diabetes. Macrophages are primary contributors to the creation of the immune environment conducive to the development and activation of $\beta$cell-specific Th1-type CD4+ T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells that cause autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are both believed to be important for the destruction of $\beta$ cells. These cells, as final effectors, can kill the insulin-producing $\beta$ cells by the induction of apoptosis. In addition, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells release granzyme and cytolysin (perforin), which are also toxic to $\beta$ cells. In this way, macrophages, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells act synergistically to kill the $\beta$ cells in conjunction with $\beta$ cell autoantigens and MHC class I and II antigens, resulting in the onset of autoimmune type I diabetes.