• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2008

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of cultivars and compost on soil microbial activities and diversities in a red pepper-grown field. Compost was applied with 0, 30, and 60M/T $ha^{-1}$ in April and then red pepper seedlings of "Yong-go 4" and "Koeun" were transplanted in May 2007. Soil samples were collected in early August 2007. Measurement of microbial activities was based on a dehydrogenase assay and a fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis. Soil microbial community was characterized with Biolog $EcoPlate^{TM}$ and phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA). Red pepper cultivars did not differentiate the selected soil chemical and microbial properties. Soil pH and soil microbial community changed by amending the soil with 30 and 60 M/T $ha^{-1}$ of compost, and the soil organic matter and potassium content, and soil microbial activities increased in soils amended with 60 M/T $ha^{-1}$ of compost. Red pepper cultivar induced a little different soil chemical properties and microbial activity in soils amended with 60 M/T $ha^{-1}$ of compost even though significant differences were not found in those properties. In conclusion the effects of compost on soil chemical and microbial properties were much higher than red pepper cultivars in short-term period but the effects of red pepper cultivars should be investigated in long-term field test.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

Candida biofilms are organized microbial communities growing on the surfaces of host tissues or indwelling medical devices, and the biofilms show enhanced resistance against the conventional antifungal agents. The roots of Coptidis chinensis have been widely used for medicinal purposes in East Asia. The present study was aimed to assess the effect of C. chinensis aqueous extract upon preformed biofilms of 10 clinical Candida albicans isolates and the antifungal activities which contribute to inhibit the C. albicans biofilm formation. Its effect on preformed biofilms was judged using XTT [2,3-Bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide)] reduction assay, and metabolic activity of all tested strains was reduced significantly ($57.3{\pm}14.7%$) at $98{\mu}g/ml$ of the C. chinensis extract. The extract damaged the cell membrane of C. albicans which was analyzed by fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide staining. The anticandidal activity was fungicidal, and the extract obstructed the adhesion of C. albicans biofilms to polystyrene surfaces, arrested C. albicans cells at $G_o/G_1$ as well, and reduced the growth of biofilms or budding yeasts finally. The data suggest that C. chinensis has multiple antifungal effects on target fungi resulting in preventing the formation of biofilms. Therefore, C. chinensis holds great promise for exploring antifungal agents from natural products in treating and eliminating biofilm-associated Candida infection.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2009

Soil microbial activity and diversity are affected by organic sources applied to improve soil quality and fluctuate seasonally. We investigated the effects of municipal compost (MC), poultry litter (PL), and cover crops of spring oats and red clover (RC) on soil enzyme activities, and soil bacterial community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) in a Mexico silt loam in North Central Missouri, USA. Temporal patterns of these parameters were observed by periodic five soil sampling from spring to fall over a two year period. MC increased soil dehydrogenase (DH) activity consistently beginning about three months after MC application; fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity significantly began to increase by the September of the first year but fluctuated during the following period. DH activity responded more directly to the amount or properties of organic residues in soils while FDA hydrolysis and CLPP were generally influenced by composition of organic sources, and enzyme activities and CLPP showed seasonal variation, which depended on organic sources and soil moisture. MC and cover crops may be useful organic sources for enhancing general soil microbial activity and altering soil microbial diversity, respectively. Because microbial activities and diversity are dynamic and subject to seasonal changes, the effects of organic amendments on these parameters should be investigated frequently during a growing season.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.334-341
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• 2004

Polysaccharides were prepared from Orostachys japonicus by extration with hot steam water (OJPl). The OIPl fraction was further purified by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration chromatography to produce FI (polysaccharides) and FII (oligosaccharides) fraction. The average molecular masses o fFI and FII fraction were determined to be 3050 kDa and 13 kDa, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of OIPl was tested against 8 strains of bacteria and one strain of yeast by the disc diffusion method, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) method and broth dilution method. The OIPl exhibited a very strong growth inhibition to Candida albicans. The OIPl remarkably sup­pressed the growth of Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. The OIPl showed higher growth inhibition to Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than propolis, positive control. When the anticancer activity of the OIPl, FI or FII was examined against human cancer cell lines and the Sarcoma 180 cells, these widely suppressed the proliferation of cell lines in the MTT assay and morphology study. Especially, they remarkably inhibited the growth of A549, HeLa and AGS cells. Also treatment of cancer cells with OJPl, FI or FII induced apoptotic cell death characterized by DNA fragmentation. The OJPl, FI or FII exhibiting various biological activities such as antimicrobial activity and anticancer activity is expected to be developed as new biohealth products.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.169-179
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenosides are the main pharmacological components of Panax ginseng root, which are thought to be primarily responsible for the suppressing effect on oxidative stress. Methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorption capacity were applied to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the ginsenosides. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells were incubated with ginsenosides extracted by pulsed electric field (PEF) and solvent cold soak extraction (SCSE) for 24 h and then the injury was induced by $40{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$. The cell viability and surface morphology of HEK-293 cells were studied using MTS assay and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate fluorescent probe assay was used to measure the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The intracellular antioxidant activities of ginsenosides were evaluated by cellular antioxidant activity assay in HepG2 cells. Results: The PEF extracts displayed the higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and stronger oxygen radical absorption capacity (with an oxygen radical absorption capacity value of $14.48{\pm}4.04{\mu}M\;TE\;per\;{\mu}g/mL$). The HEK-293 cell model also suggested that the protective effect of PEF extracts was dose-dependently greater than SCSE extracts. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay further proved that PEF extracts are more active (8% higher than SCSE extracts) in reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images showed that the HEK-293 cells, which were treated with PEF extracts, maintained more intact surface morphology. Cellular antioxidant activity values indicated that ginsenosides extracted by PEF had stronger cellular antioxidant activity than SCSE ginsenosides extracts. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the antioxidative effect of ginsenosides extracted by PEF in vitro. Furthermore, rather than SCSE, PEF may be more useful as an alternative extraction technique for the extraction of ginsenosides with enhanced antioxidant activity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.264-272
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• 2022

Background: The current conventional drug susceptibility test (DST) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) takes several weeks of incubation to obtain results. As a rapid method, molecular DST requires only a few days to get the results but does not fully cover the phenotypic resistance. A new rapid method based on the ability of viable Mtb bacilli to hydrolyze fluorescein diacetate to free fluorescein with detection of fluorescent mycobacteria by flow cytometric analysis, was recently developed. Methods: To evaluate this cytometric method, we tested 39 clinical isolates which were susceptible or resistant to isoniazid (INH) or rifampin (RIF), or ethambutol (EMB) by phenotypic or molecular DST methods and compared the results. Results: The susceptibility was determined by measuring the viability rate of Mtb and all the isolates which were tested with INH, RIF, and EMB showed susceptibility results concordant with those by the phenotypic solid and liquid media methods. The isolates having no mutations in the molecular DST but resistance in the conventional phenotypic DST were also resistant in this cytometric method. These results suggest that the flow cytometric DST method is faster than conventional agar phenotypic DST and may complement the results of molecular DST. Conclusion: In conclusion, the cytometric method could provide quick and more accurate information that would help clinicians to choose more effective drugs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.93.2-94
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• 2003

In our previous studies, we selected three antagonistic bacteria, KJ1R5, KJ2C12, and KJ9C8 against Phytophthora capsici, the casual agent of Phytophthora blight of pepper. For elucidating production, root colonization, and total microbial activity were investigated. The dual culture assay was accomplished to elucidate existence of antibiotics. In this assay, any antagonistic bacteria did not inhibit growth of six important fungal plant pathogens, suggesting that these antagonists do not produce antibiotics. root surface or rhizosphere soil colonizations were examined with spontaneous rifampicin-resistant mutants equal to antagonistic ability of wild types. KJ2C12 colonized consistently rhizosphere soil while yellowish colonies of KJ1R5 and KJ9C8 well colonized root surfaces and rhizosphere soil. Total microbial activity in pots treated with the antagonistic bacteria was measured using fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis. total microbial activity of three antagonistic bacteria treatments was significantly higher than that of buffer-treated control until 4days after treatment. However, total microbial activity of treatment of three antagonistic bacteria decreased after 7 days. These results indicate that the antagonistic bacteria, KJ1R5 and KJ9C8 colonized and protected roots well against Phytophthora blight of pepper through competition of infection courts, especially competitions.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 1995

In order to improve the cryopreservatory techniques of livestock embryos, the quick freezing method which is directly plunged in liquid nitrogen via prefreezing procedure without freezing machine was carried out for mouse embryos treated with permeable and nonpermeable cryoprotectants. The viability of frozen-thawed embryos were evaluated by FDA vital dye test. The results obtained was summaried as follows: 1. A total of 720 embryos were recovered from frozen embryos for viability test. Evalution of the fluorescein diacetate(FDA) vital dye test with mice embryos were resulted of 2.3 total mean score - evaluted in orderly higher mean grade of P3 453 (63%), P2 133(18%), P1 51(7%) and P0 83(12%). 2. An all-round evalution of these combination, the highest viability was showed in 3M ethylene glycol + 0. 25M trehalose treated with the copper prefreezing. 3. Effects of permeable and nonpermeable cryoprotectants combination were evaluated by means FDA score. 3M ethylene glycol + 0.25M trehalose showed the highest survival rates of 2.8 mean FDA score. 4. Effects of permeable cryoprotectants were evaluated by mean FDA score but the results were not significantly different each other. 5. In evalution of the nonpermeable cryoprotectants, 0. 25M trehalose obtalned higher mean FDA score than of 0.25M sucrose and it was significantly different(P<0.05). 6. There was no significantly difference between copper and stainless-steel in prefreezing procedures.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 1997

This experiment was carried out to determine the possibility of using FDA on the selection of viable bovine immature oocytes. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows; 1. The rates of nuclear maturation (metaphase II) of bovine oocytes according to FDA concentration were 92.5% (37/40) in the control and those rates in the dilution on FDA to 1:400,000, 1:800,000 and 1:1,600,000 were 74.4% (67/90), 80.3% (38/46) and 71.1% (32/45), respectively. 2. The fertilization rate ( 2-cell) in the control was 72.2% (39/54) and those rates in the dilution of FDA to 1:400,000, 1:800,000 and 1:1,600,000 were 28.8% (23/80), 66.7% (32/48) and 62.2% (28/45), respectively. In these results, a, pp.opriate concentration of FDA to bovine immature oocytes was 1:800,000. 3. Effect of FDA treatment to the blastocyst development of bovine oocytes was indicated that control was 22.2% (18/81) and FDA treatment groups which were classified to strong, partial and weak were 21.4% (36/168), 14.5% (9/62) and 0% (0/15), respectively. This result suggested that in vitro development to the blastocyst was severely reduced except strong group according to the FDA fluorescent level (P<0.05) and that using FDA is possible to select of bovine oocytes.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to examine the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during micromanipulation procedures in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Bovine enucleated oocytes were electrofused with donor cells, activated by a combination of Ca-ionophore and 6-dimethylaminopurine culture. Oocytes and embryos were stained in dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate or 3'-(p-hydroxyphenyl) fluorescein dye and the $H_2O_2$ or $^.OH$ radical levels were measured. $In$ $vitro$ fertilization (IVF) was performed for controls. The samples were examined with a fluorescent microscope, and fluorescence intensity was analyzed in each oocyte and embryo. The $H_2O_2$ and $^.OH$ radical levels of reconstituted oocytes were increased during manipulation (37.2~49.7 and 51.0~55.2 pixels, respectively) as compared to those of mature oocytes ($p$<0.05). During early $In$ $vitro$ culture, the ROS levels of SCNT embryos were significantly higher than those of IVF embryos ($p$<0.05). These results suggest that the cellular stress during micromanipulation procedures can generate the ROS in bovine SCNT embryos.