• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.851-860
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• 2020

Shrimp in seasoned soy sauce (S-SS) is a popular seafood product in Korea, but it could be potentially hazardous; thus, this study was conducted to investigate its safety. Commercial S-SS were collected and analyzed for pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), hygenic indicator microorganisms (viable cell count, coliforms, and Escherichia coli), food poisoning bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Listeria monocytogenes), preservatives (dehydroacetic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and its salt, parahydroxybenzoate), tar colorants, and sensory properties. Domestic and foreign standards were also investigated for S-SS. Commercial S-SS ranged from to 6.2-7.3 for pH, 13.7-39.1 mg/100 g for VBN, and 4.6-6.9 log CFU/g for viable cells. The coliforms and E. coli of commercial S-SS were from ND to 3.4 log CFU/g and negative, respectively. Food poisoning bacteria, preservatives, and tar colorants were not detected in commercial S-SS. Only the coliform count and presence of E. coli in commercial S-SS exceeded the set standards of vietnam, while all items were within domestic and foreign standards.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2022

This study investigated the microbiological hazards in the manufacturing processes of Naengmyeon. Sanitary indicative bacteria, such as aerobic plate counts and coliforms as well as pathogenic bacteria, were examined from raw materials, manufacturing processes, working area, 17 utensils and equipment. The aerobic plate counts for raw materials and arrowroot starch estimated as 0.77±0.68~5.02±0.28 and 5.02±0.28 log CFU/g, respectively. Coliforms were detected from wheat flour, buckwheat flour, and potato starch. Staphylococcus aureus was detected to be 0.61±1.06 log CFU/g in wheat flour and 0.20±0.35 log CFU/g in buckwheat flour. During the manufacturing process, aerobic plate counts for kneading process were 4.54±0.34 log CFU/g. But after the press out and heat process, contamination of aerobic plate counts and coliforms decreased and remained at a low level until the release process. Aerobic plate counts before washing disinfection of screw were 3.28±0.62 log CFU/100 cm², the level of which was high in utensils and equipment that had contact with employees or water. These results represent not only an important indicator for the hygienic level but also a scientific basis for analyzing biological hazards, which lead to the introduction of HACCP for the production of safe and hygienic cold noodles processed by manufacturers.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.447-452
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• 2018

Water is an important component in the production of fresh produce. It is mainly used for irrigation and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Several outbreaks cases related to fresh produce have been reported and water has been identified as the most likely source. On the other hand, wildlife has been identified as a possible source of the waterborne pathogens. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of wildlife access on irrigation water used in the cultivation of Chinese cabbage in Goesan. The frequency of wild animals access to upstream water source and the contamination level of bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Enterococci of irrigation water used in Chinese cabbage farm was examined. A total of 37 wildlife including the wild bear and water deer were observed in upstream of water source during the cultivation of Chinese cabbage. The result indicated the presence of hygienic indicator bacteria from the upstream where there is no human access. The contamination range of coliforms, E. coli, and Enterococcus spp. Detected in the irrigation water were 2.13~4.32 log MPN / 100 mL, 0.26~2.03 log MPN / 100 mL, and 1.43~3.49 log MPN / 100 mL, respectively. Due to low water temperatures, the contamination levels of coliform bacteria and E. coli in the irrigation water during harvesting time was lower compared to those recorded during transplanting of Chinese cabbage. However, no significant difference was detected in the number of Enterococci during the cultivation of Chinese cabbage. The results indicated the need to manage the microbial risk in irrigation water to enhance safety in cultivation of Chinese cabbage.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.424-428
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• 2013

To identify risk factors for Legionella contamination, water quality variables routinely measured in examination of natural and city waters were meta-analyzed for significance of correlation to Legionella incidences. For evaluation of abundance of Escherichia coli as a risk factor, which is currently used as an indicator of Legionella contamination in an official guideline in Korea, odds ratio (OR) of above-cutoff total coliform counts for Legionella presence/absence was used as the effect size in the meta-analysis. The OR was estimated as 1.05 (0.36-3.12, 95% CI), and the probability of having identical odds reached 0.92. Also, ORs from individual studies showed significant heterogeneity (P=0.008), which contributed to 63% of total variance of the ORs. In the case of heterotrophic plate count (HPC), the OR for Legionella presence/absence was 2.72 (2.04-3.63) with highly significant deviation from identical odds (P<0.0001). ORs from different studies were seemingly homogeneous ($Q_{df=8}$=12.7, P=0.12). Turbidity and concentrations of chlorine, iron ion and cupper ion were other routine variables that could be considered as risk factors. However, statistical measures from different studies were not uniform enough to develop an appropriate effect size while the number of studies reporting the variables was also small (3-5). In conclusion, HPC appeared to be appropriate as indicator of Legionella contamination, rather than fecal bacteria contamination. HPC may imply abundance of habitats (amoebas and biofilms) of Legionella in water. This result warrants further studies for standardizing protocols and cutoff values to infer Legionella risks from HPC.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.311-318
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• 2002

A new bacteriocin producing lactic acid bacteria having antagonistic activity against Lactobacillus plantarum, was isolated from Kimchi. It was identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and designated as Leuconostoc mesenteroides B7. The bacteriocin from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B7 named as bacteriocin B7 was stable in the pH range $2.5{\sim}9.5$. Bacteriocin B7 was active over a wide temperature range from $4^{\circ}C$ to $120^{\circ}C$. It was inactivated by proteinase K, trypsin, ${\alpha}-chymotrypsin$, and protease treatments indicating its proteinous nature. Tricine-SDS-PAGE of the purified bacteriocin B7 showed the presence of a single band, having a molecular mass of about 3,500 dalton. Mixed culture of the producer and the indicator, Lb. plantarum KFRI 464 or Lb. delbruekii KFRI 347, increased production of bacteriocin B7. This result suggested the presence of bacteriocin inducing factor in the indicator strain. The inducing factor was localized in cell debris and intracellular faction of the indicator cell, Lb. plantarum KFRI 464. Treatment of the inducing factor with proteinase K destroyed inducing activity. This result strongly suggested that the inducing factor is a protein.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2014

Glomalin has been suggested as an enhancer for soil stability by promoting the aggregation. In this study, we examined the concentrations of glomalin and microbial characteristics in 25 controlled horticultural soils sampled from Gyeongnam Province. Total glomalin had a significant positive correlation with soil organic matter (p < 0.01), soil microbial biomass carbon (p < 0.05), and dehydrogenase activity (p < 0.05) in controlled horticultural soils. In addition, the total glomalin had a significant positive correlation with concentrations of total fatty acid methyl esters, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in controlled horticultural soils (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the concentration of total glomalin could be an indicator of microbial biomass richness for sustainable agriculture in controlled horticultural soils.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.588-594
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• 1998

Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from Kimchi and screened for bacteriocin production. Strain SE1, identified as Lactobacillus curvatus sp., showed the strongest inhibitory activity against Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii. The bacteriocin was inactivated by amyloglucosidase, trypsin, or protease K treatment. However, it maintained its activity under heat treatment at $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. The production of the bacteriocin had a growth-related mode and decreased around the early-stationary phase. The optimum temperature for the growth of L. curvatus SE1 was $37^{\circ}C$; however, the optimum temperature for bacteriocin production was $30^{\circ}C$. The bacteriocin activity was decreased by treatment with methanol, butanol, acetone, or chloroform, however, it was not affected by treatment with ethanol, iso-propanol, or cyclohexane. The inhibitory activity of bacteriocin was stable over a wide range of pHs (2 to 11). The bacteriocin from L. curvatus SE1 killed the indicator strain by a bactericidal mode of action. The bacteriocin from L. curvatus SE1 was partially purified by ethanol precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to determine the molecular weight of the bacteriocin by the bacteriocin activity test. The apparent molecular mass of the bacteriocin produced by L. curvatus SE1 was about 14 kDa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.503-508
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• 2004

The antimicrobial substance produced by Lactobacillus bulgaricus was inactivated by protease. It showed inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, Streptococcus agalactiae ATCC14364, some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and characteristics of a bacteriocin. The optimal temperature and culture time for the production of bacteriocin were $30^{\circ}C$ and 10 h, respectively, in the culture of L. bulgaricus. The bacteriocin production started in the exponential phase and reached a maximum at the early stationary phase. Using Staph. aureus ATCC6538 and Strep. agalactiae ATCC14364, known as common bovine mastitis pathogens, as indicator strains for determination of the bacteriocin activity, the antimicrobial activity of the bacteriocin was found to be stable in acidic and neutral pH's (2- 7) even at lOOT, whereas it was lost at high pH (10- 11) and $100^{\circ}C$. The mode of action for the antimicrobial activity was bacteriocidal, and the molecular weight determined by SDS-PAGE and overlay method was 14 kDa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2000

Bacillus cereus BS229 was identified as a bacteriocin producer with a bactericidal activity against Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Thomsoni BR-40. Bacillus cereus BS229 and cerein BS229, named tentatively as the bacteriocin produced by Bacillus cereus BS229, showed a narrow spectrum of actibity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, along with yeast and molds. Production of cerein BS229 in a 5-1 fermenter followed typical kinetics of primary metabolite synthesis. The antibacterial activity of cerein BS229 on sensitive indicator cells disappeared completely by ${\alpha}-chmotrypsin$ or proteinase K, which indicates its proteinaceous nature. Cerein BS229 seemed to be very stable throughout the pH range of 2.0 of 9.0 and it was relatively heat labile, despite the fact that bacteriocin activity was still detected after being boied for 30min. Cerein BS229 actibity has been changed with some of the organic solvents such as toluene, ethanol, and chloroform. Direct detection of cerein BS229 actibity on SDS-PAGE suggested that it had an apparent molecular mass of about 8.2 kDa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1836-1840
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• 2008

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides that are produced by bacteria and toxic to bacterial strains closely related to the producer strain. It has previously been reported that Bacillus thuringiensis strain NEB17 and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki BUPM4 produce the bacteriocins thuricin 17 (3,162 Da) and bacthuricin F4 (3,160.05 Da), respectively. Here, we demonstrate that these bacteriocins have functional similarities and show a similar spectrum of antimicrobial activities against indicator strains. We also studied the effects of sterilization methods on the recovery and biological activities of these bacteriocins. They were completely degraded by autoclaving and the two were similarly affected by the tested filter membranes. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyestersulfone (PES), and cellulose acetate (CA) are suitable for filter sterilization of these bacteriocins. The two bacteriocins were stable across a range of storage conditions. These data will facilitate their utilization in food preservation or agricultural applications.