• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.617-627
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• 2018

Environmental stressors like pathogens and toxins may depress the animal immune system through invasion of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) tract, where they may impair performance and production, as well as lead to increased mortality rates. Therefore, protection of the GIT tract and improving animal health are top priorities in animal production. Being natural-sourced materials, phytochemicals are potential feed additives possessing multiple functions, including: anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral and antioxidative properties. This paper focuses on immunity-related physiological parameters regulated by phytochemicals, such as carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, curcumin, and thymol; many studies have proven that these phytochemicals can improve animal performance and production. On the molecular level, the impact of inflammatory gene expression on underlying mechanisms was also examined, as were the effects of environmental stimuli and phytochemicals in initiating nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways and improving health conditions.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.103-107
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• 1999

Even if odorous compounds remain very low concentration in water, it cause strong odor. Because Geosmin and most of odorous compound had very low vaporization, those were difficult to analyze with GC/MSD and Purge & Trap. So, we needed pre-treatment method for decreasing amounts of extracting solvents, improving recovery efficiencies and increasing analytical efficiencies. This study developed efficient technology for analyzing odorous compounds, using various adsorbents and extracting solvents. The optimum adsorbent was XAD resins. Especially, XAD-2, XAD-7 and XAD-2010 were superior, but XAD-2 of these and the optimum extraction solvent is MTBE. Other extraction solvents' efficiency is in order of MTBE>Dichloromethane>n-Hexane>Diethylether. The optimum NaCl dosage for increasing efficiency is 5 g in liquid-liquid extraction method. The shaking time(0~24hr) has no concern with adsorption efficiency. The optimum adsorbent is XAD-2 resin and extraction solvent is MTBE. Dosing NaCl, adsorption efficiency is increased in liquid-liquid extraction method, but NaCl has no effect on liquid-solid extraction method. In this experimental results, this algae toxins(Mycrocystin, Anatoxin etc.).

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.834-840
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• 2010

To find out the toxin production characteristics of Korean harmful cyanobacteria, we isolated 14 cyanobacterial strains from Korean lakes and rivers and analyzed the kinds and cellular content of microcystins (MCYSTs) of cyanobacterial isolates using cultured biomass. And we measured the MCYSTs production by growth phase of two representative toxic strains, Microcystis aeruginosa (HG-015) and Anabaena planktonica (HG-012). Among seven cyanobacteral species, Microcystis wesenbergii showed the highest cellular MCYSTs content. MCYST-RR was the most dominant toxin reaching more than 85% of MCYSTs produced by isolated cyanbacterial strains. During the mass culture, Microcystis aeruginosa (HG-015) showed the highest yield and accumulation of MCYSTs in the exponential growth phase. However the cellular content of chlorophyll a and MCYSTs of Anabaena planktonica (HG-012) showed higher value in the stationary and early death phase than in the exponential growth phase. Our results suggest that control and removal of harmful cyanobacterial bloom before exponential growth phase may be effective to prevent health risk of cyanobacterial toxins in the drinking water sources.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제58권4호
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• pp.349-354
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• 2015

Brown blotch disease in cultivated mushrooms is caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii, which secretes a lipodepsipeptide, tolaasin. Tolaasin is a pore-forming toxin in the cell membranes, thus destroying the fruiting body structure of mushroom. In this study, we isolated pathogenic bacteria from mushrooms that had symptoms of brown blotch disease. In order to identify these bacteria, their 16S rRNA genes were sequenced and analyzed. Pathogenic bacteria identified as Pseudomonas species were thirty five and classified into five subgroups: P1 to P5. Each subgroup showed different metabolic profile measured by API 20NE kit. Fifty percent of the bacteria were identified as P. tolaasii (P1 subgroup). All five subgroups caused the formation of brown blotches on mushroom tissues and the optimum temperature was 25oC, indicating that they may be able to secrete causal factors, such as tolaasin and similar peptide toxins. These results show that there are at least five different pathogenic Pseudomonas species as blotch-causing bacteria and, therefore, strains from the P2 to P5 subgroups should be also considered and studied as pathogens in order to improve the quality and yield of mushroom production.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.405-415
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• 2019

Microcystins (MCs) are toxins produced by cyanobacteria causing a major environmental threat to water resources worldwide. Although several MCs have been reported in previous studies, microcystin-LR (m-LR) has been extensively studied as it is highly toxic. Among the several techniques employed for the removal of this toxin, adsorption with AC has been extensively studied. AC has gained wide attention as an effective adsorbent of m-LR due to its ubiquity, high sorption capacity, cost effectiveness and renewability. In this review, the adsorption of m-LR onto AC was evaluated using the information available in existing scientific literature. The effects of the pore volume and surface chemistry of AC on the adsorption of m-LR considering the structural and chemical properties of ACs were also discussed. Furthermore, we identified the parameters that influence adsorption, including natural organic matter (NOM), pH, and ionic strength during the m-LR adsorption process. The effect of these parameters on MCs adsorption onto AC from previous studied is compiled and highlighted. This review may provide new insights into future activated carbon-m-LR adsorption research, and broaden its application prospects.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.223-230
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• 2023

Harmful algae blooms have become a serious environmental problem in major river basins in Korea. They are known to produce various algal organic matters (AOMs) including intracellular organic matters (IOMs) and extracellular organic matters (EOMs). Generally AOMs cannot be easily removed by coagulation/flocculation process in conventional drinking water plants. AOMs produced by blue-green algae also include various toxins such as Microcystins, Anatoxin-a, and Saxitoxin known to have harmful effects on living organisms in aquatic environment. In this study, toxic effects of EOMs produced by three different algae species (Microcystis sp., Anabaena sp., and Oscillatoria sp.) on zebrafish were investigated using electroencephalography (EEG) recording method, a technology for recording brain activity. Electroencephalographic changes in zebrafish revealed that a low EOM had a negative effect on zebrafish compared to both Anabaena sp. and Oscillatoria sp. at 30 ppm EOM exposures. This result might be due to Microcystins present in EOMs produced by Microcystis sp. As a result of power spectrum density anallysis, exposure to EOMs produced by Microcystis sp. caused a state of vigilance in zebrafish. This EEG based toxicity test can be used to examine effects of harmful materials at low levels on living organisms in an aquatic system.

• 환경생물
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.113-125
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• 2011

Seabirds have adapted to life in marine environments. More than 25% of the bird species observed in South Korea are seabirds, using the coast area of Korean peninsula as a stop-over and wintering, and breeding site. The aims of this review are to provide information about migratory and resident Korean seabirds and to discuss the methods that are currently employed to monitor the marine environment. In Korea, it has been reported that more than 400,000 individuals of seabirds breed on Nando Islet, Chilbaldo Islet, Guguldo Islet, Sasudo Islet, Hongdo Islet and Dokdo Islet. In 2010, approximately 160,000 seabirds also visited South Korea during the winter. Two of the main treats were introduced wildlife and habitat destruction by humans. Seabirds are monitored mainly at the population and individual levels. The assessment of population sizes and biomagnifications of pollutants are performed preferably at the community and population levels. Behaviour, growth, morphological characteristics, and breeding success is analyzed at the individual level and employed to gauge the health of the marine environment. In addition, we could suggest that molecular technique of seabirds successfully adopted to investigate the effects of pollutants and toxins in the marine environment.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2018

Microcystin-LR, one of algal toxins induced by the eutrophication of a reservoir, is known to be harmful to human by adversely affecting our liver and brain. Hypochlorous acid is very efficient to remove Microcystin-LR in a clear well. The previous researches showed that CT, pH and temperature affected removal rate in batch tests. It was noted that hydrodynamic properties of clear well could also influence its removal rate. A mathematical model was built using an axial dispersion reactor model and software was used to simulate the removal rate. The model consisted of the second order differential equations including dispersion, convection, Microcystin-LR reaction with chlorine. Kinetic constants were obtained through batch tests with chlorine. They were $0.430{\times}10^{-3}L/mg/sec$ and $0.143{\times}10^{-3}L/mg/sec$ for pH 7.0 and 8.1, respectively. The axial dispersion reactor model was shown to be useful for the numerical model through conservative tracer tests. The numerical model successfully estimated the removal rate of Microcyctin-LR in a clear well. Numerical simulations showed that a small dispersion number, low pH and long hydraulic retention time were critical for higher removal rate with same chlorine dosage. This model could be used to optimize the operation of a clear well during an eutrophication season.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.215-223
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• 2016

This study is to investigate the biological, biochemical and cytotoxic effects of puffer fish (Arothron stellatus) toxin extracts under in-vitro condition. Extracted toxins from various organs of puffer fish were purified by using active charcoal column, and Bio-gel-P2 column chromatography. The lethality of toxin was tested in crabs, which consists of neurotoxic compounds. The degree of the brine shrimp lethality assay was found directly proportional to the concentration of the toxin extracts, which was well supported by hemolytic assay. The experimental results suggested that the gonad was found higher toxins than the liver and muscles. The mortality rate of brine shrimp nauplii was increased with the raise of concentrations of toxin level. Among the different doses and time dependent cytotoxic effect of human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells were showed $4.0{\mu}g/mL$ of toxin, which was effectively inhibited cancer cell proliferation. HPLC and TLC analysis was revealed that the A. stellatus toxin contains tetrodotoxin (TTX), related compounds 4-epi TTX and anhydro-TTX. The present results suggested that the A. stellatus contain TTX as a major and anh-TTX as a minor toxin. It could be the potential candidate in the field of anticancer drug discovery against human cervical cancer cells. The present data is confirming that the puffer fish toxin as an interesting source of novel bioactive natural compounds with potent applications in pharmacology.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.625-631
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• 2003

While phytoplankton diversity and productivity in the Southern Ocean has been widely studied in recent years, most attention has been given to elucidating environmental factors that affect the dynamics of micro-plankton (mainly diatoms) and nano-plankton (mainly Phaeocystis antarctica). Only limited effects have been given to studying the occurrence and the potential risks associated with the blooming of dinoflagellates in the relevant waters. This study focused on the appearance and toxicological characteristics of a toxic dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense, identified and isolated from the Drake Passage in a research cruise from November to December 2001 The appearance of A. tamarense in the Southern Ocean indicates the risk of a paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) outbreak there and is therefore of scientific concern. Results showed that while the overall quantity of A. tamarense in water samples from 30meters below the sea surface often comprised less than 0.1% of the total population of phytoplankton, the highest concentration of A. tamarense (20 cells $L^{-1}$) was recorded in the portion of the Southern Ocean between the southern end of South America and the Falkland Islands. Waters near the Polar Front contained the second highest concentrations of 10-15 cells $L^{-1}$. A. tamarense was however rarely found in waters near the southern side of the Polar Front, indicating that cold sea temperatures near the Antarctic ice does not favor the growth of this dinoflagellate. One strain of A. tamarense from this cruise was isolated and cultured for further study in the laboratory. Experiments showed that this strain of A. tamarense has a high tolerance to temperature variations and could survive at temperatures ranging from $5-26^{\circ}C$. This shows the cosmopolitan nature off. tamarense. With regard to the algal toxins produced, this strain of A. tamarense produced mainly C-2 toxins but very little saxitoxin and gonyailtoxin. The toxicological property of this A. tamarense strain coincided with a massive death of penguins in the Falkland Islands in December 2002 to January 2003.