• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.221-230
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• 2005

Recently there has been a rapid accumulation of knowledge of microbial life in cold and frozen ecosystems. This understanding has revealed the extensive diversity of psychrophilic prokaryotes. Cultivation-based and molecular-based surveys have been performed in Antarctic habitats ranging from glacial ice to continental shelf sediments. Results indicate that psychrophilic taxa permeate throughout the Bacteria while they represent a more mysterious element of diversity in the Archaea owing to a notable lack of cultured strains. In certain cold climate ecosystems the diversity of psychrophilic populations reach levels comparable to the richest temperate equivalents. Within these communities must exist tremendous genetic diversify that is potentially of fundamental and of practical value. So far this genetic pool has been hardly explored. Only recently have genomic data become available for various psychrophilic prokaryotes and more is required. This owes to the fact that psychrophilic microbes possess manifold mechanisms for cold adaptations, which not only Provide enhanced survival and Persistence but Probably also contributes to niche specialisation. These mechanisms, including cold-active and ice-active proteins, polyunsaturated lipids and exopolysaccharides also have a great interest to biotechnologists.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.384-389
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• 2009

To isolate lactic acid bacteria having high exopolysaccharides (EPS) production ability, 50 strains were initially isolated from the sourdough. Twenty-one strains formed highly mucoid colonies on the sucrose agar medium, which are indicative of active EPS synthesis. DU-07, DU-10, DU-12, DU-19, and DU-21 produced $11.51{\pm}0.167$, $13.09{\pm}0.193$, $12.72{\pm}0.108$, $11.61{\pm}0.284$, and $13.32{\pm}0.094\;g/L$ EPS, respectively, in MRS medium. The isolated strains, DU-10, DU-12, and DU-21, were identified as Enterococcus flavescens, Enterococcus faecium, and Lactobacillus amylovorus, respectively, by using API 50CHL kit and determining partial sequences of their 16S rDNA. Especially, L. amylovorus DU-21 showed the highest production of EPS, as well as the highest inhibitory activities against pathogenic (p<0.05). Interestingly, the L. amylovorus DU-21 seem to be endemic to sourdough fermentations, as they have not been isolated from other environments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.1331-1337
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• 2006

A mathematical model has been proposed for the batch culture of Agaricus blazei with mixed carbon sources of glucose and dextrin. In the proposed model, the metabolism of A. blazei was divided into three parts: cell growth, exopolysaccharides (EPS) production, and another EPS production pathway activated by dextrin hydrolysis. Each pathway was described mathematically and incorporated into the mechanistic model structure. Batch cultures were carried out with six different carbon source compositions. Although parameters were estimated by using the experimental data from the two extreme cases such as glucose only and dextrin only, the model represented well the profiles of glucose, cell mass, and EPS concentrations for all the six different carbon source mixtures, showing a good interpolation capability. Of note, the lag in EPS production could be quite precisely predicted by assuming that the glucose-to-cell mass ratio was the governing factor for EPS production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권11호
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• pp.1184-1192
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• 2011

A bacterial isolate (strain JS-2) characterized as Bacillus sp. was challenged with high concentrations of toxic selenite ions. The microbe was found to transform the toxic, soluble, colorless selenite (${SeO_3}^{2-}$) oxyions to nontoxic, insoluble, red elemental selenium ($Se^0$). This process of biotransformation was accompanied by cytoplasmic and surface accumulation of electron dense selenium ($Se^0$) granules, as revealed in electron micrographs. The cells grown in the presence of selenite oxyions secreted large quantities of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). There were quantitative and qualitative differences in the cell wall fatty acids of the culture grown in the presence of selenite ions. The relative percentage of total saturated fatty acid and cyclic fatty acid increased significantly, whereas the amount of total unsaturated fatty acids decreased when the cells were exposed to selenite stress. All these physiological adaptive responses evidently indicate a potentially important role of cell wall fatty acids and extracellular polymeric substances in determining bacterial adaptation towards selenite-induced toxicity, which thereby explains the remarkable competitiveness and ability of this microbe to survive the environmental stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권7호
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• pp.1227-1234
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• 2008

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen that produces and secretes exopolysaccharides (EPS), in which cells are embedded to form a highly organized community structure called biofilm. Here, we characterized the role of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) and EPS (PEL) overproduction in the wspF mutant phenotypes of P. aeruginosa PA14 (wrinkly appearance, hyperadherence, impaired motilities, and reduced virulence in acute infections). We confirmed that the elevated c-di-GMP level plays a key role in all the wspF mutant phenotypes listed above, as assessed by ectopic expression of a c-di-GMP-degrading phophodiesterase (PvrR) in the wspF mutant. In contrast, PEL EPS, which is overproduced in the wspF mutant, was necessary for wrinkly appearance and hyperadherence, but not for the impaired flagellar motilities and the attenuated virulence of the wspF mutant. These results suggest that c-di-GMP affects flagellar motility and virulence, independently of EPS production and surface adherence of this bacterium.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.334-345
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• 2018

Spore-forming Bacillus species are commercially available probiotic formulations for application in humans. They have health benefits and help prevent disease in hosts by combating entero-pathogens and ameliorating antibiotic-associated diarrhea. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of these benefits remain unclear. Here, we report the draft genome of a potential probiotic strain of Bacillus clausii B106. We mapped and compared the probiotic profile of B106 with other reference genomes. The draft genome analysis of B106 revealed the presence of ADI pathway genes, indicating its ability to tolerate acidic pH and bile salts. Genes encoding fibronectin binding proteins, enolase, as well as a gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides underscored the potential of B106 to adhere to the intestinal epithelium and colonize the human gut. Genes encoding bacteriocins were also detected, indicating the antimicrobial ability of this isolate. The presence of genes encoding vitamins, including Riboflavin, Folate, and Biotin, also indicated the health-promoting ability of B106. Resistance of B106 to multiple antibiotics was evident from the presence of genes encoding resistance to chloramphenicol, ${\beta}$-lactams, Vancomycin, Tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides. The findings indicate the significance of B. clausii B106 administration during antibiotic treatment and its potential value as a probiotic strain to replenish the health-promoting and disease-preventing gut flora following antibiotic treatment.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.463-481
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• 2022

Phosphorous (P) is considered to be one of the key essential elements demanded by crop plants. Approximately 70 - 90% of phosphatic fertilizers applied to crops are fixed in soil as Ca, Fe, and Al metal cations, which are insoluble and thus not readily available for plant uptake. Therefore, most soils are deficient in plant available P. This is usually rectified by applying phosphate fertilizers continuously, although this is not economically viable or environmentally acceptable. The present paper reviews the mechanisms involved with phosphate solubilization and mineralization by phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) with the associated factors that determine the success. PSMs are effectively involved in mediating the bioavailability of soil P. Their contribution includes mineralization of organic P solubilization of inorganic P minerals, and storing sizable amounts of P in biomass through different mechanisms such as the production of organic and inorganic acids, H₂S, siderophores, exopolysaccharides, and production of enzymes such as phosphatases, phytase, and phosphonatases/C-P lyases, which are capable of chelating the metal ions, forming complexes, and making plant available P. PSMs manifest a wide range of metabolic functions in different environments, resulting in significantly higher plant growth, enhanced soil properties, and increased biological activities. Therefore, development of bio-inoculants with efficient novel PSM strains and further investigations on exploring such strains from diverse ecological niches with multifunctional plant-growth-promoting traits are needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.1599-1604
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• 2022

Storage stability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria is a critical factor for their cost-effectiveness. Long-term storage of lactic acid bacteria enables microbial industry to reduce distribution costs. Herein, we investigated the effect of cold adaptation under supercooling conditions at -5℃ on the viability of Leuconostoc mesenteroides WiKim32 during the freeze-drying process and subsequent storage. Cold adaptation increased the thickness of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and improved the viability of freeze-dried Leu. mesenteroides WiKim32. Compared to non-adapted cells, cold-adapted cells showed a 35.4% increase in EPS thickness under supercooling conditions. The viability of EPS-hydrolyzed cells was lower than that of untreated cells, implying that EPS plays a role in protection during the freeze-drying process. Cold adaptation increased the storage stability of freeze-dried Leu. mesenteroides WiKim32. Fifty-six days after storage, the highest viability (71.3%) was achieved with cold adaptation at -5℃. When EPS-containing broth was added prior to the freeze-drying process, the viability further increased to 82.7%. These results imply that cold adaptation by supercooling pretreatment would be a good strategy for the long-term storage of Leu. mesenteroides WiKim32.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.902-910
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• 2024

The anti-cancer effects of heat-killed Enterococcus faecium KU22001 (KU22001), KU22002, and KU22005 isolated from human infant feces were investigated. The anti-proliferative activity of these strains against various cancer cell lines was evaluated using the MTT assay. To determine the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) with potential anti-cancer effect, ethanol precipitation and phenol-sulfuric acid method was used with the cell free supernatant of strains grown at 25℃ or 37℃. The EPS yield of E. faecium strains was higher at 25℃ than at 37℃. Among these E. faecium strains, KU22001 grown at 25℃ was associated with the highest bax/bcl-2 ratio, effective apoptosis rate, cell cycle arrest in the G₀/G₁ phase, and condensation of the nucleus in the cervical cancer HeLa cell line. In conclusion, these results suggest that KU22001 can be beneficial owing to the anti-cancer effects and production of functional materials, such as EPS.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.510-514
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• 2007

Twenty-five bacterial strains that secrete mucous materials were isolated from sediment obtained from King George Island, Antarctica. Seven of these strains proved capable of producing cryoprotective exopolysaccharides. The strain KOPRI 21653 was selected for the further study of an anti-ice-nucleating polysaccharide (ANP), which originated from a polar region. KOPRI 21653 was identified as Pseudoalteromonas arctica as the result of 16S rRNA analysis. The exopolysaccharide, P-21653, was purified completely from the KOPRI 21653 cell culture via column chromatography and protease treatment. The principal sugar components of P-21653 were determined to be galactose and glucose, at a ratio of 1:1.5, via GC-MS analysis. The cryoprotective activity of P-21653 was characterized via an E. coli viability test. In the presence of 0.1% (w/v) P-21653, the survival ratio of E. coli cells was as high as 82.6% over three repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The survival ratio decreased drastically to 71.5 and 48.1 %, respectively, in five and seven repeated cycle conditions; however, the survival ratios were greater over three (96.6-92.1%) to seven (100.5-91.6%) freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of 0.5 and 1.0% (w/v) P-21653. In addition, at much lower concentrations (0.1-1.0%), P-21653 resulted in survival ratios (83.1-98.4%) similar to those of two commercially available cryoprotectants ($V_{EG}$ plus X-1000, 92.9% and $V_{M3}$, 95.3%), which were utilized at the recommended concentrations (90%). The biochemical characteristics of exopolysaccharide P-21653 reflect that this compound may be developed as a useful cryoprotectant for use in medical applications and in the food industry.