• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.642-647
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• 2010

This study examined the antimicrobial activity of Myagropsis yendoi (MY). The antimicrobial activity of ethanol and aqueous MY extracts were measured using a paper disc assay. The MY ethanol extract had the best antimicrobial activity. It inhibited the growth of Candida tropicalis and Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Listeria innocua, L. monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus at 4 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the MY ethanol extract ranged from 0.1 to 0.5%. The MY ethanol extract inhibited the growth of B. subtilis and L. innocuaat concentrations of 0.15% and 0.1%, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the MY ethanol extract was not affected by heating at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min or pH 2.10. Therefore, the main substances responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the MY ethanol extract are believed to be stable with changing heat and pH.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2106-2115
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• 2016

To identify the global effects of (p)ppGpp in the gram-positive bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, which exhibits remarkable resistance to radiation and other stresses, RelA/SpoT homolog (RSHs) mutants were constructed by direct deletion mutagenesis. The results showed that RelA has both synthesis and hydrolysis domains of (p)ppGpp, whereas RelQ only synthesizes (p)ppGpp in D. radiodurans. The growth assay for mutants and complementation analysis revealed that deletion of relA and relQ sensitized the cells to $H_2O_2$, heat shock, and amino acid limitation. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed that the bifunctional RelA is involved in DNA repair, molecular chaperone functions, transcription, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and metabolism, suggesting that relA maintains the cellular (p)ppGpp levels and plays a crucial role in oxidative resistance in D. radiodurans. The D. radiodurans relA and relQ genes are responsible for (p)ppGpp synthesis/hydrolysis and (p)ppGpp hydrolysis, respectively. (p)ppGpp integrates a general stress response with a targeted re-programming of gene regulation to allow bacteria to respond appropriately towards heat shock, oxidative stress, and starvation. This is the first identification of RelA and RelQ involvement in response to oxidative, heat shock, and starvation stresses in D. radiodurans, which further elucidates the remarkable resistance of this bacterium to stresses.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2007

Spongy Alphonso mangoes were found to be infected with Staphylococcus bacteria. A Gram positive Staphylococcus strain was isolated from spongy pulp and identified from CABI Bioscience, UK, by partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis and by morphological and biochemical characterization through IMTECH, Chandigarh, India. Although identification by both of these methods indicated the organism belonged to same genus, different species names were given. Changes in total phenolics, reducing, and non-reducing sugars, respiration rate, total carotenoids, peroxidase(POX), and catalase activities were monitored during ripening of these fruits. The climacteric rise in spongy fruits was marked by an increase in respiration rate and a decrease in sugar content. Total phenolics content increased in spongy fruits as compared to ripe non-spongy fruits. Development of corky white tissue in spongy fruits was associated with about a 2.5-fold reduction in total carotenoids and a concomitant increase in lipoxygenase-mediated, $\beta$-carotene co-oxidation. A marked decrease in soluble protein content and about a 1.5-fold increase in POX activity was observed. Maximum POX activity was confined to 50-70%$(NH_4)_2SO_4$ fraction. The intense dark bands visible after POX specific substrate staining of the Native gel indicated a high expression of isoenzymes of POX in spongy fruits. Similarly, changes in levels of catalase activity were also observed in spongy fruits. The results suggest that infection of Alphonso mangoes with Staphylococcus bacteria affects the normal ripening processes of the fruit interfering with the carbohydrate and carotenoid metabolism. Also, the studies indicate the expression of POX and catalase enzymes as a plant defense response to microbial invasion.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.493-504
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to find out the antimicrobial activities of Ramaria botrytis (Fr.) extracts against oral pathogens. Methods: The antimicrobial activities of Ramaria botrytis (Fr.) extracts were evaluated against oral pathogens by the disc diffusion assay, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ethyl acetate extracts were determined by broth dilution method. The strains used in this study were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus ratti, Streptococcus criceti, Actinomyces israelii, Actinomyces viscosus and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Results: The ethyl acetate extract of Ramaria botrytis (Fr.) effectively inhibited the growth of oral bacteria compared with acetone or ethanol extract. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited MIC values ranging from 3.75 to 15.00 mg/ml, and it showed antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and negative oral bacteria. Conclusions: The ethyl acetate extracts from Ramaria botrytis (Fr.) showed the antimicrobial activities against ten oral bacteria. Thus, the extract of Ramaria botrytis (Fr.) may be considered as an effective natural antimicrobial agent for the prevention of oral pathogens.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 1995

For development of microbial additives applicable to in-vessel composting system of food waste, thermophilic bacteria which showed amylase, protease, lipase and cellulase activity were isolated from soil, compost and food waste. Among 81 isolates, the growth characteristic of 20 strains with high enzyme activity were examined. All strains are Gram positive rod with catalase activity and 17 strains are spore formers. At $50^{\circ}C$, most of the strains were able to grow from pH 5 to pH 10 and in presence of 8% of NaCl. In trypticase soy broth, the growth of these strains was greatly increased by aeration, but decreased at elevated temperature above $50^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.155-157
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• 2001

Bifidobacterium spp. is nonpathogenic, gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria, which inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. In breast-fed infants, bifidobacteria comprise morethan 90％ of the gut bacterial population. Bifidobacteria spp. are used in commericial fermented dairy products and have been suggested to exert health promoting effects on the host by maintaining intestinal microflora balances, improving lactose tolerance, reducing serum cholesterol levels, increasing synthesis of vitamins, and aiding the immune enchancement and anticarcinogenic activity for the host. These beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium are strain-related. Therefore continued efforts to improve strain characteristics are warranted. in these respect, development of vector system for Bifidobacterium is very important not only for the strain improvement but also because Bifidobacterium is most promising in serving as a delivery system for the useful gene products, such as vaccine or anticarcinogenic polypeptides, into human intestinal tract. For developing vector system, we have characterized several bifidobacterial plasmids at genetic level and developed several shuttle vectors between E. coli and Bifidobacterium using them. Also, we have cloned and sequenced several metabolic genes and food grade selection marker. Also we have obtained bifidobacterial surface protein, which will be used as the mediator for surface display of foreign genes. Recently we have succeeded in expressing amylase and GFP in Bifidobacterium using our own expression vector system. Now we are in a very exciting stage for the molecular breeding and safe delivery system using probiotic Bifidobacterium strains.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2006

The rabbit pyrogen test and Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay have been used to detect endotoxins present in vaccines. Currently, the rabbit pyrogen test is used to detect endotoxins in hepatitis B (HB) vaccines, even though the HB surface protein, which is the active ingredient, is overexpressed in and purified from eukaryotic cells that lack these endotoxins. Although the LAL clot assay is sensitive and reliable and can be used to replace the rabbit pyrogen test, its reaction is limited by the lack of responsiveness to the Gram-positive bacterial components. Furthermore, aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccine can interfere with the LAL assay. In contrast, macrophages can detect the endotoxin as well as other pyrogens, and secrete $TNF-{\alpha}$. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine the possibility of replacing the animal tests with a more efficient $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion assay. With this in mind, we determined if aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccines affects the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion assay. HB vaccines and the HB protein solutions spiked with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced the same level of dose-dependent $TNF{\alpha}$ secretion and temperature increase in rabbits, indicating that aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccine does not interfere with the pyrogenic response in rabbits, nor does it interfere with $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion. In addition, the $TNF-{\alpha}$ assay was found to be more sensitive than the LAL assay, and correlated well with the pyrogen test and the LAL assay. These results suggest that the $TNF-{\alpha}$ assay in RAW264.7 cells is a good substitute for the current pyrogen assays that are used for detecting LPS in HB vaccines as well as in other vaccines containing aluminum.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.858-863
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• 2002

An antimicrobial compound was isolated from the MeOH extract of Catalpa ovata G.$D_{ON}$ fruits, and its structure was Identified as 4,9-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-Uihydronaphtho[2,3-b]pyran-5,10-dione (HMNP). The antimicrobial activity of the Un was determined by measuring the dose-response inhibiton of microbial growth in liquid cultures and then compared with that of lapachol, a well known antimicrobial 1,4-naphthoquinone. The antimicrobial activity of the HMNP was more effective than that of lapachol over a wide range of test organisms. Gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and fungi ($IC_{50}$ $20-75\muM$) were found to be more sensitive to the HMNP than Cram-negative bacteria ($IC_{50}$ > $100\muM$). The HMNP also inhibited germination of spores of many fungi. The morphological defurmation of the fungal spores was induced by the treatment of HMNP, as illustrated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.260-266
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• 2007

A thermophilic bacterium capable of poly (L-lactide)(PLLA) degradation was isolated from cultivating soil in Korea. The isolate was Gram positive rod-shaped bacterium, and was identified as Geobacillus caldoxylosilyticus based on the 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The strain proved to be a new PLLA degrading bacterium which has not been reported in the open literatures yet. The degradation activity of the strain was assessed in a sterilized compost inoculated with the strain under controlled compost condition at $58^{\circ}C$ for 40 days. The strain mineralized 66%, 57%, 41% and 40% of PLLA5000, PLLA11000, PLLA34000 and PLLA256000 whose weight average molecular weights were 5000, 11000, 34000 and 256000, respectively. Incorporation of 0.1% each of gelatin, yeast extract and ammonium sulfate in the compost containing PLLA256000 as a nutritional supplement raised the biodegradation activity by 27%, 13% and 10%, respectively. Increase of the inoculum size from $10^9cfu\;g^{-1}\;to\;10^{10}cfu\;g^{-1}\;and\;10^{11}cfu\;g^{-1}$ also enhanced the biodegradation activity by 14% and 20%, respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1175-1183
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• 1997

Background. Infective endocarditis s an uncommon but serious disease in children. Optimal treatment strategy, especially surgical indications, continues to evolve. Method. In this report, we retrospectively reviewed 19 patients who underwent operations in Seoul National University Children's Hospital for infective endocarditis between September 1986 and February 1996. There were 8 male and 11 female patients(mean age 70.6 months) and their main symptoms were fever and dyspnea. Preoperative echocardiography detected vegetation in 14 cases out of 19. Congenital anomalies were in 15 cases and acquired forms were in 4 cases. Causative organisms were identified in 12 cases and Gram-positive cocci were in 7 cases. Adequate preoperative antibiotic management was done. Result. With cardiopulmonary bypass in all cases, surgical corrections including vegetation removal were performed. 4 patients died after operations(21.1%). All the mortality cases were having underlying complex cardiac anomalies. There were no late deaths. Act arial survival rate was 79.0% at 1 year and 79.0% at 5 year and reoperationfree survival rate was 73.7% at 1 year and 73.7% at 5 year. Collclusion. Despite advances in antibiotic therapy, early surgical treatment is imperative in a significant subset, and concurrent intracardiac repair should be appropriate.