• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2011

Purpose : It is known that carriage rates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are highest in newborns and that the asymptomatic carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with invasive MRSA infection with the colonizing strain. This study was carried out to investigate the carriage rates of MRSA in neonates with neonatal jaundice. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 545 neonates admitted with neonatal jaundice to neonatal intensive care units between January 2006 and December 2010. Nasal and inguinal swab specimens had been taken from them and cultured for the isolation of S. aureus. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests had been done for such isolates to determine methicillinresistance. Results : Out of 545 neonates, 318 (58.3%) were colonized with S. aureus and 214 (39.3%) were colonized with MRSA. Results of the antibiogram analysis showed that 65.7% of MRSA isolates were likely to be community-associated (CA) MRSA. Conclusion : Based on the MRSA carriage rate of 39.3%, a surveillance program for MRSA colonization is considered necessary in neonates transferred from other clinics or hospitals. Out of MRSA isolates, 65.7% were likely to be CA-MRSA. This suggests that CA-MRSA strains were already present in obstetric clinic environments where the neonates were born. It is thought that MRSA surveillance programs in these environments are also necessary.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.131-142
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• 2019

The primary objective of this study was to determine the content of biogenic amines in Korean traditional fermented soybean pastes (doenjang) and to isolate potential probiotic Bacillus sp. with the ability to inhibit biogenic amines accumulation. There were significant differences in the bacterial cell counts, pH value, titratable acidity, salinity, and biogenic amine content between the samples. Among Bacillus strains isolated from doenjang, Bacillus (B.) licheniformis DB102, B. subtilis DB203, B. stearothermophilus DB206, Bacillus sp. DB209, Bacillus sp. DB310, B. coagulans DB311, B. cereus DB313, B. amyloliquefaciens DB714, Bacillus sp. DB917, B. cereus DB 915, B. subtilis DB1020, and Bacillus sp. DB1022 were found to be able to produce biogenic amines. On the other hand, biogenic amine-degrading strains were identified as Bacillus sp. DB403, Bacillus sp. DB407, B. subtilis DB517, B. licheniformis DB612, and B. subtilis DB821. In particular, Bacillus sp. DB407 and B. subtilis DB821 showed probiotic properties including tolerance to artificial digestive juices, adherence to intestinal epithelial cells, resistance to antibiotics, and antibacterial activity against biogenic amine-producing strains. In conclusion, the two probiotic Bacillus strains may be considered as the suitable starter for manufacture of fermented soybean foods with low biogenic amines content.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.390-400
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• 2019

In this study, strains isolated from soil samples collected from Busan, Changwon, and Jeju Island were examined to verify their abilities of phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation, production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, and 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylyic acid (ACC) deaminase in order to select strains that promote plant growth and play a role in biocontrol of pests or pathogens. According to the results of this study, most of the isolated strains were found to have ability of phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, IAA production, siderophore production, and production of ACC deaminase. These isolated strains might help plant growth by directly improving absorption of nutrients essential for phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation. In addition, they can promote plant growth and control resistance to plant diseases through extracellular enzyme activity and antifungal activity. In addition, most of the selected strains were found to survive in various environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, and pH. Therefore, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida ANG14, Pseudarthrobacter equi ANG28, Beijerinckia fluminensis ANG34, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ANG35 were finally selected through a comparative advantage analysis to suggest their potential as novel biological agents. Further studies are necessary in order to prove their efficacy as novel biological agents through formulation and optimization of effective microorganisms, their preservation period, and crop cultivation tests.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.1 s.93
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• pp.9-19
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• 2001

contrasting monsoon between 1993 and 1994 produced an interannual difference in hydrology. Theoretical water residence time (TWRT) in monsoon 1993 averaged 27 d, which was>3 months shorter compared to the TWRT in monsoon 1994. A dominant physical process influencing thermal stratification, water movement, and mixing regime was an interflow current in 1993. During summer 1993, river water plunged to mid-lake (location 27 km) and passed through the 10${\sim}$20m stratum of the reservoir, resulting in an isolation of epilimnetic lake water from advected river water. The interflow disrupted thermal stratification and produced a meta-hypolimnetic warming of >4$^{\circ}C$ downlake, thereby increased a mixing depth (>13 m). In contrast, during monsoon 1994 density currents were not observed and strong thermal stratification occurred in the entire reservoir, resulting in > 2 fold greater thermal resistance (8.2${\times}10^{5}$ erg)compared to 1993 (4.0${\times}10^{5}$ erg). This reservoir was identified as a typical warm monomictic reservoir which showed one mixis during early winter. The timing of overturn, however, differed between the two years as a result of distinct contrast in TWRT and thermal regime; overturn in 1993 occured about one month earlier relative to that in 1994. Hypolimnetic warming was predictable in this system; the variation in discharge accounted (Y = 4.35-0.06X+0.10X$^{2}$, p<0.0001)for 98% of the interannual variation in hypolimnetic temperature. Overall data suggest that thermal stability, the timing of fall overturn, and water residence time in this system are primarily regulated by the intensity of monsoon.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.163-171
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• 1980

Recently, Bacillus has been identified as one of food poisoning bacteria especially in products of cereal foods in foreign countries. Therefore, the quantitative distribution of Bacillus cereus in market foods, its physiological characteristics, growth rate by temperature and heat resistance of its spore were examined. Thirty two samples of cooked rice, 20 samples of kimbab(cooked rice rolled with laver), 23 samples of rice cake, 13 samples of rice ana 13 samples of barley were collected from restaurents and food stores in Busan, Korea during the period from May to November in 1980. Forty samples of 101 samples submitted to the test appeared positive for Bacillus cereus showing abut $40\%$ in detection ratio. Detection ratio of Bacillus cereus was higher than $50\%$ in barley and rice, and about $30\%$ in rice products. Average Bacillus cereus content of in the samples was $2.6\times10^6/g$ in cooked rice, $2.3\times10^6/g$in kimbab, $4.9\times10^4/g$ in rice cake while that in rice and barley was about $10^3/g$. The result of biochemical tests of the bacterium was $100\%$ positive in catalase, egg yolk reaction, gelatin hydrolysis and glucose fermentation, $100\%$ negative in xylose, arabinose and mannitol oxidation, about $90\%$ positive in acetoin production, $80.0\%$ positive in nitrate reduction and citrate utilization and $55.0\%$ positive in starch hydrolysis test. Isolation ratio of Bacillus ceresus which showed haemolysis positive and starch hydrolysis negative results, was about $38\%$ in 40 strains examined. It is known that those strains has a close relation to food poisoning accident. Growth rate and generation time of Bacillus cereus isolated from the cooked rice were $0.34hr^{-1},\;2.02hr\;at\;20^{\circ}C,\;0.73hr^{-1},\;0.95hr\;at\;30^{\circ}C\;and\;0.49hr^{-1},\;1.44\;hr\;at\;40^{\circ}C$ respectively. Heat resistance value of Bacillus cereus spores suspended in phosphate buffer solution was $D_{90}=29.0min,\;D_{95}=8.7min,\;D_{98}=3.7\;min\;and\;D_{101}=2.3\;min(z=10.5)$.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.5
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• pp.358-364
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• 2009

Background: The appropriate empirical antimicrobial choice in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) should be advocated by community-based information on the etiologic pathogens, their susceptibility to antimicrobials, clinical characteristics and outcomes. Jeju is a geographically isolated and identical region in Korea. However, there is no regional reference on adult CAP available. This study investigated the etiologic agents and clinical outcomes of adult patients diagnosed with CAP in Jeju, Korea, to help guide the empirical antimicrobial choice. Methods: A prospective observational study for one year in a referral hospital in Jeju, Korea. Patients diagnosed with CAP were enrolled with their clinical characteristics. Microbiological evaluations to identify the etiologic agents in the adult patients with CAP were performed with blood culture, expectorated sputum smear and culture, antibody tests for mycoplasma, chlamydophila, and antigen tests for legionella and pneumococcus. The clinical outcomes of the initial empirical treatment were analyzed. Results: Two hundred and three patients with mean age of 64 and 79 females were enrolled. Ten microbials from 90 cases (44.3%) were isolated and multiple isolates were confirmed in 30. Among the microbial isolates, S. pneumoniae (36.3%) was the most common, followed by M. pneumoniae (23.0%), C. pneumoniae (17.0%), S. aureus (9.6%) and P. aeruginosa (5.9%). The initial treatment failure (23.8%) was related to the isolation of polymicrobial pathogens, elevated inflammatory markers, and the presence of pleural effusion. Among the 30 isolates of S. pneumoniae, 16 (53.3%) were not susceptible to penicillin, and 19 isolates (63.3%) to erythromycin and clarithromycin. However, 29 isolates (96.7%) were susceptible to levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. Conclusion: S. pneumoniae, M. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa are frequent etiologic agents of adult CAP in Jeju, Korea. The clinical characteristics and antibiotic resistance should be considered when determining the initial empirical antimicrobial choice. Respiratory quinolone or ceftriaxone is recommended as an empirical antimicrobiotic in the treatment of adult CAP in Jeju, Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1023-1030
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• 2008

NtMEK2, which is the tobacco MAPK kinase that is upstream of SIPK and WIPK, was identified using the dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible gain-of-function transgenic system. Expression of $NtNEK2^{DD}$, a constitutively active mutant of NtNEK2, leads to HR-like cell death, which indicates that the NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK cascade controls defense responses in tobacco. However, little is known about the downstream target substrates or defense-related genes that are regulated by the NtMEK2-SIPK/ WIPK cascade. In this study, ACP-based differential display RT-PCR was used to isolate the downstream effectors mediated by the NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK cascade in $NtNEK2^{DD}$ transgenic plants. The results identified 6 novel differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These included pathogen induced protein 2-4 (pI2-4), monoterpene synthase 2 (MTS2), seven in absentia protein (SINA), cell death marker protein 1 (CDM1), hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) and unknown genes (DEG45). The induction of these genes was confirmed by RT-PCR of samples obtained from $NtNEK2^{DD}$ plants. Additionally, when compared with other isolated DEGs, the pI2-4, CDM1 and HRGP genes were significantly up-regulated in response to treatment with salicylic acid and tobacco mosaic virus. Taken together, these results suggest that three novel DEGs were regulated by the NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK cascade involved in disease resistance in tobacco.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2008

Salicylic acid(SA) is a phytohormone that is related to plant defense mechanism. The SA accumulation is triggered by abiotic and biotic stresses. SA acts as a signal molecular compound mediating systemic acquired resistance and hypersensitive response in plant. Although the role of SA has been studied extensively, an understanding of the SA regulatory mechanism is still lacking in plants. In order to comprehend SA regulatory mechanism, we have been transformed with a SID2 promoter:GUS::LUC fusion construct into siz1-2 mutant and wild plant(Col-0). SIZ1 encodes SUMO E3 ligase and negatively regulates SA accumulation in plants. SID2(SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIENT2) is a crucial enzyme of SA biosynthesis. The Arabidopsis SID2 gene encodes isochorismate synthase(ICS) that controls SA level by conversion of chorismate to isochorismate. We compared the regulation of SID2 in wild-type and siz1-2 transgenic plants that express SID2 promoter:GUS::LUC constructs respectively. The expressions of $\beta$-GLUCURONIDASE and LUCIFERASE were higher in siz 1-2 transgenic plant without any stress treatment. SID2 promoter:GUS::LUC/siz1-2 transgenic plant will be used as a starting material for isolation of siz1-2 suppressor mutants and genes involved in SA-mediated stress signaling pathway.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2000

Wood of Robinia pseudoacacia and bark of Populus alba$\times$P. glandulosa, Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Ulmus davidiana var. japonica were collected and extracted with acetone-water(7:3, v/v) in glass jar to examine whether its bioactive compounds exist. The concentrated extracts were fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and water, and then freeze-dried for column chromatography and bioactive tests. The isolated compounds were sakuranetin-5-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside from Populus alba $\times$Pl glandulosa, 4--ethyoxy-(+)-leucorobinetinidin frm R. pseudoacacia and fraxetion from F. rhynchophylla and were characterized by $^1H$ and$^{13}C $ NMR and positive FAB-MS. Decay-resistant activity was expressed by weight loss ratio and hyphae growth inhibition in the wood dust agar medium inoculated wood rot fungi. R. pseudoacacia showed best anti-decaying property in both test and its methanol untreated samples, indicating higher activity than methanol treated samples in hyphae grwoth test. In antioxidative test, $\alpha$-tocopherol, one of natural antioxidants, and BHT, one of synthetic antioxidants, were used as references to cmpare with the antioxidant activities of the extacted fractions. Ethylacetate fraction of F. rhynchophylla bark indicated the hightest activity in this test and all fractions of R. pseudiacacia extractives also indicated higher activities compared with the other fractions. In the isolated compounds, aesculetin isolated from F. rhynchophylla bark showed best activity and followed by robonetinidin from R. pseudoacaica.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.409-415
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• 1985

This study has been carried out in order to investigate the bacterial quality of fish meat paste products and the characteristics of isolated thermodurics from the products. Twenty samples of crab-flavored fish stick (Kematsal), 23 samples of plate fish meat paste (Panomuk, Kamaboko), 5 samples of fried fish meat paste (Tigimomuk), 2 samples of roasted fish meat paste (Puduromuk, Chikuwa), 20 samples of fish sausage were collected from processing plants and supermarkets in Pusan, Korea during the period from May to October in 1984. The results obtained are as follows. Amont the samples collected from supermarkets, roasted fish meat paste and fried fish meat paste marked hish counts in coliforms and fungi while very low in the samples of crab-flavored fish stick and plate fish meat paste. Salmonella was not detected in all the samples examined and Staphylococcus aureus was detected only in fried fish meat paste, Thermoduric bacteria were detected less than 10$^2$/g in the samples of crab-flavored fish stick and plate fish meat paste, which might come from subsidiary materials such as starch and seasonings. Among the isolated bacteria, distribution of the proteolytics were more than 87％ and the lipolytics were less than 20％. Gram positive bacteria was more than 70％ in crab-flavored fish stick and plate fish meat paste, 47.3％ in fried fish meat paste. And rod in shape was almost more than 90％ in all the samples. The most heat resistant bacterium isolated from the samples was identified as a Bacillus licheniformis(named B. licheniformis CR-11). The strain showed strong proteolytic activity and also grew well at above 2$0^{\circ}C$. The growth rate and generation time of CR-11 strain were 0.31 hr$^{-1}$ , 2.24 hr at 2$0^{\circ}C$, 0.64 hr$^{-1}$ , 1.09 hr at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and 0.78 hr$^{-1}$ , 0.89 hr at 35$^{\circ}C$. Heat resistance value of the spores of CR-11 strain suspended in phosphate buffer solution was D$_{85}$ $^{\circ}C$=41.9 min, D$_{90}$ $^{\circ}C$=27.9 min, D$_{95}$ $^{\circ}C$=10.2 min, D$_{100}$ $^{\circ}C$=4.3 min (Z=13.8$^{\circ}C$)