• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.86-95
• /
• 2015

To study the halobacterial diversity at the rhizospheric soil of coastal plant native to Dokdo islands, several host plant were selected and its rhizospheric soil was sampled. Soil sample was diluted serially and pure isolation was done by sub-culture using marine agar media. 26 halophilic strains cultivable at the marine medium containig concentration of 9.0% sodium chloride were selected among total 161 isolates. Their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences extracted from genomic DNA were analyzed and partially identified. Furthermore, to identify their genetic relationship, phylogenetic tree was deduced. Total 26 strains were belongs to Firmicutes (30.8%), Gamma proteobacteria (53.8%), Bacteroidetes (7.7%), Alpha proteobacteria (7.7%), and Actinobacteria (7.7%). These results showed the specific difference from previous researches which has been reported the microbial flora of soil or sea water around the Dokdo islands. Furthermore, 4 among 26 halophilic strains grew at above 12.0% NaCl concentrated marine broth, and 2 strains Idiomarina abyssalis LM4H23 and Halomonas huangheensis AS4H13 grew at 15.0% concentration. These halophilic strains thought to overcoming the severe stress like high salt concentration or variation derived from Dokdo-specific climate and might have unknown, specific relationship with their host coastal plant native to Dokdo islands.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.832-838
• /
• 2007

A novel inhibitory protein against blood coagulation factor Va (FVa) was purified from muscle protein of granulated ark (Tegillarca granosa, order Arcoida, marine bivalvia) by consecutive FPLC method using anion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. In the results of ESI-QTOF tandem mass analysis and database research, it was revealed that the purified T. granosa anticoagulant protein (TGAP) has 7.7 kDa of molecular mass and its partial sequence, HTHLQRAPHPNALGYHGK, has a high identity (64%) with serine/threonine kinase derived from Rhodopirellula baltica (order Planctomycetales, marine bacteria). TGAP could potently prolong thrombin time (TT), corresponding to inhibition of thrombin (FIIa) formation. Specific factor inhibitory assay showed that TGAP inhibits FVa among the major components of prothrombinase complex. In vitro assay for direct-binding affinity using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectrometer indicated that TGAP could be directly bound with FVa. In addition, the binding affinity of FVa to FII was decreased by addition of TGAP in dose-dependant manner ($IC_{50}$ value = 77.9 nM). These results illustrated that TGAP might interact with a heavy chain of FVa ($FVa_H$) bound to FII in prothrombin complex. The present study elucidated that non-cytotoxic T. granosa anticoagulant protein (TGAP) bound to FVa can prolong blood coagulation time by inhibiting conversion of FII to FIIa in blood coagulation cascade. In addition, TGAP did not significantly (P < 0.05) show fibrinolytic activity and cytotoxicity on venous endothelial cell line (ECV 304).

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.04a
• /
• pp.31-32
• /
• 2005

Neoagaro-oligosaccharides are produced only by enzymatic degradation of agarose by ${\beta}-agarase.^{1)}$ Neoagaro-oligosaccharides inhibit the growth of bacteria, slow the rate of degradation of starch, are used as low-calorie additives to improve food quality, and have macrophage-stimulating activity. Furthermore, neoagarobiose is a rare reagent that has both moisturizing effect on skin and whitening effect on melanoma $cells.^{2)}$ An agar-degrading marine bacterium was isolated from the sea water at the northeast coast in Cheju island, Korea. The strain was gram negative, aerobic, and motile rod. The 16S rRNA of the strain had the closest match of 98% homology, with that from Agarivorans albus. On the basis of several phenotypic characters and a phylogenetic analysis, this strain was designated Agarivorans sp. JA-1. In solid agar plate, Agarivorans sp. JA-1 produced a diffusible agarase that caused agar softening around the colonies. Agarivorans sp. JA-1 was cultured for 36 hr in marine broth 2216 (Difco, USA) and the supernatant that containing an extracellular ${\beta}-agarase$ was prepared by centrifugation of culture media. The enzyme exhibited relatively strong activity at $40^{\circ}C$ and was stable up to $60^{\circ}C$. Using PCR primers derived from the ${\beta}-agarase$ gene of Vibrio sp., the gene encoding ${\beta}-agarase$ from Agarivorans sp. JA-1 was cloned and sequenced. The structural gene consists of 2931 bp encoding 976 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 107,360 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 99% and 34% homology to $agaA^{2)}$ and $agaB^{2)}$ genes for ${\beta}-agarase$ from Vibrio sp., respectively. The expression plasmid for ${\beta}-agarase$ gene of Agarivorans sp. JA-1 is being constructed and the recombinant enzyme will be biochemically characterized.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.366-374
• /
• 2010

Culture-dependent RFLP and culture-independent DGGE were employed to investigate the bacterial community associated with the marine sponge Spirastrella abata. A total of 164 bacterial strains associated with the sponge were cultivated using Zobell and Natural sea salt media. PCR amplicons of the 16S rDNA from the bacterial strains were digested with the restriction enzymes HaeIII and MspI, and then assigned into different groups according to their restriction patterns. The 16S rDNA sequences derived from RFLP patterns showed more than 95% similarities compared with known bacterial species, and the isolates belonged to four phyla, Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteriodetes, of which Alphaproteobacteria was dominant. DGGE fingerprinting of 16S rDNAs amplified from the sponge- derived total gDNA showed five major DGGE bands, and their sequences showed more than 96% similarities compared with available sequences. The sequences derived from DGGE bands revealed high similarity with the uncultured bacterial clones. DGGE revealed that bacterial community consisted of four phyla, including Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Spirochetes, and Chloroflexi. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were commonly found in bacteria associated with S. abata by both RFLP and DGGE methods; however, overall bacterial community in the sponge differed depending on the analysis methods.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.795-799
• /
• 2008

We have studied bioremediation of effective microorganisms on crude oil spill in Taean, west-coast of Korea. Oil contaminated soil samples were collected on December 14, 2007, seven days after the Hebei Spirit oil-spilled accident. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was measured to evaluate the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EM) which were composed with yeast, photosynthetic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria on oil degradation. TPH concentration before EM treatment was 323.8 mg/kg, whereas TPH concentrations on 2 days after EM treatment and that of control (without EM) was 102.1 mg/kg and 170.6 mg/kg, respectively. On six days after EM treatment TPH was 91.3 mg/kg and that of control was 127.7 mg/kg. Percentages of degraded crude oil were 47.3% without EM and 68.5% with EM, 60.6% without EM and 71.8% with EM on 2 and 6 days after EM treatment, respectively. These results clearly showed that the application of effective microorganisms toward oil-contaminated soil was quite useful to degrade crude oil spill. These results were derived from the effects of biostimulation of microbial media nutrients and bioaugmentation of effective microorganisms. If we carefully apply these effective microorganisms, it can be a useful bioremediation method to recover oil-contaminated marine ecosystems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.823-830
• /
• 2005

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacteria-derived $\beta$-glucan fiber on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in rats. In order to induce obesity, Sprague-Dawley weanling male rats were allowed free access to AIN-76A diet until 4 weeks of age, and fed high-fat diet (beef tallow, $40\%$ of calories as fat) for 6 weeks until 10 weeks of age. Rats were then fed with $0\%$ thigh- fat control group), $1\%$, or $5\%$ bacterial ~-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 6 weeks. For comparison, normal control group was fed with AIN-76 diet $11.7\%$ fat). Supplementation with bacterial $\beta$-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced white fat (i.e., visceral and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced, but, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by bacterial $\beta$-glucan supplementation. Serum leptin level was lower in the $\beta$-glucan groups than in the high-fat group. The expression of UCPs (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) were significantly increased by $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan-containing diet. This study suggests that the anti-obesity effect of $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan is attributed to upregulation of UCPs and inefficient energy utilization.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2015

The bacterial community structures of two marine sponges, Cinachyrella sp. and Plakortis sp., collected from Chuuk in the South Pacific in February 2012 were analyzed by PCR-DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) fingerprinting. After isolation of the total genomic DNAs from the sponges, the V3 regions of the 16S rRNA genes were amplified and subjected to DGGE profiling. The two species of sponges displayed different DGGE band patterns. The sequences derived from the DGGE bands revealed 85-100% similarities to known bacterial species in the public database. The bacterial community of Cinachyrella sp. was composed of 6 classes: Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Proteobacteria (Alpha-, Gamma-, Delta-). The bacterial community of Plakortis sp. included 7 classes: Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, and Proteobacteria (Alpha-, Gamma-, Delta-). Though Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Proteobacteria were commonly found in both sponges, the predominant bacterial communities differed between the two. Namely, the predominant bacterial groups in Cinachyrella sp. and Plakortis sp. were Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi, respectively. The sponge-associated bacteria are sponge host-specific, as each of the tested sponges from the same geographical location had different predominant bacterial diversity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.136-141
• /
• 2005

A bench-scale feasibility study was conducted with solid farming feed to evaluate a treatment process for microbiological removal of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Strains, Bacillus sp. CK-10 and Bacillus sp. CK-13, were originally isolated from water samples of shrimp farming pond. Simultaneous removal of N/P in marine media was monitored in the co-cultures, CK-10 and CK-13. As the results, $400\;{\mu}M\;NH^{+}_4$ and $400\;{\mu}M\;NO^{-}_2$ were eliminated within 12 hours and $NO^{-}_3$ within 36 hours, and $500\;{\mu}M\;PO^{-3}_4$ was completely disappeared within 36 hours from the media. Cultures of CK-10 and CK-13 were applied for removal of N/P leached from shrimp farming fred. HPAEC-PAD system was used to analyze sugars in farming feed, resulting in resolution of various sugars including glucose, galactose, galatosamine, mannose, and fucose. $0.2\%$ (w/v) Pulp densities of the farming feed contained approximately $33.3\;{\mu}M\;NH^{+}_4,\;12.9\;{\mu}M\;NO^{-}_2.\;81.5\;{\mu}M\;NO^{-}_3\;and\;248\;{\mu}M\;PO^{-3}_4$ which could dissolved within 72 hours of leaching in aqueous solution followed by bacterial removal. Complete bacterial removal of N/P was achieved within 84 hours at $0.2\%$ of the feed in co-cultures, whereas single cultures removed to incompletion of N/P during the incubation period. This work demonstrated that test cultures, CK-10 and CK-13 showed effective removal of N/P derived from shrimp farming feed.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.1501-1510
• /
• 2011

In recent years novel potential pharmocological candidates have been looked for in animal, seaweed, sponge, fungi and marine bacteria resources. In this study, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that play an important role in metastasis, arthritis, chronic inflammation and wrinkle formation were used as target enzymes to screen therapeutic agents. The inhibitory effects of several marine algae including green algae (5 species), red algae (18 species) and brown algae (4 species) methanolic extracts on MMPs were investigated in human dermal fibroblasts and human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT1080 cells) using gelatin zymography. In human dermal fibroblasts, the inhibition of MMP-2 was observed in Laurencia okamurae, Polysiphonia japonica, Grateloupia lanceolate and Sinkoraena lancifolia of red algae. In contrast, MMP-2 activation was enhanced in Enteromorpha compressa and E. linza of green algae, and Peltaronia bighamiae and Sargassum thunbergii of brown algae. In human fibrosarcoma cells, MMP-9 activation was decreased in the presence of S. thunbergii of brown algae, Polysiphonia japonica in red algae and E. compressa and E. linza of green algae. The interesting finding is that E. compressa and E. linza of green algae, and S. thunbergii of brown algae exhibited a positive effect on MMP-2 in normal cells, but a negative effect on MMP-9 in cancer cell lines. These results suggest that E. compressa and E. linza of green algae, and S. thunbergii of brown algae contain potential therapeutic ingredients for cancer treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.11
• /
• pp.1259-1268
• /
• 2016

In this study, we investigated antimicrobial peptide from the acidified muscle extract of Mytilus coruscus, which mostly inhabits China, Japan, and Korea, to develop a natural product-derived antibiotics substitution in terms of its abuse and restriction. Antimicrobial peptide was purified by $C_{18}$ reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and was detected as having a molecular mass of 6,701 Da by MALDI-TOF/MS. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified peak was obtained from edman degradation, and 20 identified residues shown 100% identity with the N-terminus region of sperm-specific protein and protamine-like PL-II/PL-IV precursor of Mytilus californianus. We also identified 60 open-reading frame (ORF) encoding amino acids with 183 bp of purified peptide based on the obtained amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of ORF showed 100% and the nucleotide sequence revealed 97.2% identity with the protamine-like PL-II/PL-IV precursor of Mytilus californianus. Synthesized antimicrobial peptide showed antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus cereus (minimal effective concentration [MEC], $20.8{\mu}g/ml$), Bacillus subtilis (MEC, $0.2{\mu}g/ml$), Streptococcus mutans (MEC, $0.2{\mu}g/ml$), gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MEC, $5.7{\mu}g/ml$), Escherichia coli (MEC, $2.6{\mu}g/ml$) and fungi, Candida albicans (MEC, $56.3{\mu}g/ml$). In addition, synthesized peptide showed stable activities under heat and salt conditions against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, but was inhibited by salt against only C. albicans. With these results, isolated peptide from M. coruscus could be an alternative agent to antibiotics for defending against pathogenic microorganisms, and helpful information to understand the innate immune system of marine invertebrates.