• Title/Summary/Keyword: Microbial Transformation

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Characterization of Kinetics of Urea Hydrolysis in A Newly Reclaimed Tidal Soils

  • Kim, Hye-Jin;Park, Mi-Suk;Woo, Hyun-Nyung;Kim, Gi-Rim;Chung, Doug-Young
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.44 no.1
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    • pp.84-90
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    • 2011
  • It is imperative to study the hydrolysis of urea in high saline-sodic condition of a newly reclaimed tidal land in order to overcome the problems associated with use of urea fertilizer. The methodology adopted in this study tried to get a convenient way of estimating rate for N transformation needed in N fate and transport studies by reviewing pH and salt contents which can affect the microbial activity which is closely related to the rate of urea hydrolysis. The hydrolysis of urea over time follows first-order kinetics and soil urease activity in reclaimed soils will be represented by Michaelis-Menten-type kinetics. However, high pH and less microorganisms may delay the hydrolysis of urea due to decrease in urease activity with increasing pH. Therefore, the rate of urea hydrolysis should adopt $V_{max}$ referring enzyme activity ($E_0$) accounting for urease concentration which is indicative for urea hydrolysis, especially in a high saline and sodic soils.

Tissue culture of medicinal plants: micropropagation, transformation and production of useful secondary metabolites

  • Yoshimatsu, Kayo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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    • 2005.11a
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    • pp.88-94
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    • 2005
  • Plant tissue culture studies have been done for the preservation of medicinal plant resources and efficient production of pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites. Micropropagation methods for Cephaelis ipecacuanha have been established and these methods enabled much more efficient propagation of the plants than the conventional methods using seedling or layering. The C. ipecacuanha plants derived from tissue culture grew uniformly in the field and they showed higher alkaloid contents compared to the plants grown from seedlings. Hairy root cultures of C. ipecacuanha and Panax ginseng have been established by infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, and the production of important pharmaceuticals by these cultures have been successfully demonstrated. In the case of C. ipecacuanha, the highest alkaloid yields from the hairy roots cultured for 8 weeks were 2.75-fold cephaeline (5.5 mg) and one third emetine (0.7 mg) compared with those from the roots of one-year old plant propagated through shoot-tip culture and cultivated in a greenhouse (2.0 mg cephaeline and 2.0 mg emetine). In the case of P. ginseng, ginsenoside contents in the hairy roots optimally cultured for 4 weeks were much higher than those in the roots of 4-year old field-grown plant. Thus our medicinal plant tissue cultures demonstrate desirable properties. However, they are always exposed to danger of microbial contamination or unexpected trouble of culture facilities. Cryopreservation of plant tissue cultures is a reliable method for long-term preservation. Cryopreservation studies on these cultures are also presented.

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Environmental Sustainability and Social Desirability Issues in Pig Feeding

  • Yang, T.S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.605-614
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    • 2007
  • Feeding pigs used to be a means of managing domestic resources that may otherwise have been wasted into valuable animal protein. Feeding pigs thus was a form of husbandry. Following recent rapid industrial development, pig rearing has changed from extensive to intensive, but this transformation has been associated with major concerns. The concentration of large amounts of pig manure in small arrears is environmentally hazardous. Moreover, high densities of animals in intensive production systems also impose a health threat for both animals and humans. Furthermore, the use of growth promoters and preventive medicines for higher production efficiencies, such as in-feed antibiotics, also induces microbial resistance thus affects human therapeutics. In addition, consumers are questioning the ethics of treating animals in intensive production systems. Animal welfare, environmental and bio-safe issues are re-shaping the nature of pig production systems. Feeding pigs thus involves not only the consideration of economic traits, but also welfare traits and environmental traits. Thus, a focus on technological feasibility, environmental sustainability and social desirability is essential for successful feeding operations. Feeding pigs now involves multiple projects with different sustainability goals, but goal conflicts exist since no pattern or scenario can fulfill all sustainability goals and the disagreements are complicated by reduced or even no use of in-feed antibiotics. Thus it is difficult to feed pigs in a manner that meets all goals of high quality, safe product, eco- and bio-sustainability, animal welfare and profit. A sustainable pig production system thus requires a prioritization of goals based on understanding among consumers, society and producers and needs to view from both a local and global perspective.

Production of Indigoid Pigments by Persolvent Fermentation with Pseudomonas putida BCNU 106 (Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 106의 persolvent fermentation에 의한 인디고이드계 색소 생산)

  • Choi, Hye Jung;Kwon, Gi-Seok;Joo, Woo Hong
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.81-85
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    • 2014
  • Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 106 isolated from industrial wastewater was able to produce indigo from indole by utilizing various organic solvents. BCNU 106 produced indigo effectively when grown in the presence of a large volume of p-xylene, propylbenzene, and mesitylene and a high level of indole. The present study demonstrated that the maximal yield was achieved with 20% (v/w) p-xylene and 4 g/l indole. Under these conditions, the indigo yield and the transformation efficiency of indole were 315.5 mg/l and 97%, respectively. The results suggest that Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 106 might be a potential candidate for industrially important indigo production.

Optimization of Explosive Compounds (TNT and RDX) Biodegradation by Indigenous Microorganisms Activated by External Carbon Source (외부탄소원으로 활성화된 토착미생물에 의한 화약물질(TNT and RDX) 분해 최적화)

  • Park, Jieun;Bae, Bumhan
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.56-65
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    • 2014
  • Contamination of explosive compounds in the soils of military shooting range may pose risks to human and ecosystems. As shooting ranges are located at remote places, active remediation processes with hardwares and equipments are less practical to implement than natural solutions such as bioremediaton. In this study, a series of experiments was conducted to select a suitable carbon source and to optimize dosing rate for the enhanced bioremediation of explosive compounds in surface soils and sediments of shooting ranges with indigenous microorganisms activated by external carbon source. Treatability study using slurry phase reactors showed that the presence of indigenous microbial community capable of explosive compounds degradation in the shooting range soils, and starch was a more effective carbon source than glucose and acetic acid in the removal of TNT. However, at higher starch/soil ratio, i.e., 2.0, the acute toxicity of the liquid phase increased possibly due to transformation products of TNT. RDX degradation by indigenous microorganisms was also stimulated by the addition of starch but the acute toxicity of the liquid phase decreased with the increase of starch/soil ratio. Taken together, the optimum range of starch/soil ratio for the degradation of explosive compounds without significant increase in acute toxicity was found to be 0.2 of starch/soil.

Field Studios of In-situ Aerobic Cometabolism of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

  • Semprini, Lewts
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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    • 2004.04a
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    • pp.3-4
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    • 2004
  • Results will be presented from two field studies that evaluated the in-situ treatment of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) using aerobic cometabolism. In the first study, a cometabolic air sparging (CAS) demonstration was conducted at McClellan Air Force Base (AFB), California, to treat chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) in groundwater using propane as the cometabolic substrate. A propane-biostimulated zone was sparged with a propane/air mixture and a control zone was sparged with air alone. Propane-utilizers were effectively stimulated in the saturated zone with repeated intermediate sparging of propane and air. Propane delivery, however, was not uniform, with propane mainly observed in down-gradient observation wells. Trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1, 2-dichloroethene (c-DCE), and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration levels decreased in proportion with propane usage, with c-DCE decreasing more rapidly than TCE. The more rapid removal of c-DCE indicated biotransformation and not just physical removal by stripping. Propane utilization rates and rates of CAH removal slowed after three to four months of repeated propane additions, which coincided with tile depletion of nitrogen (as nitrate). Ammonia was then added to the propane/air mixture as a nitrogen source. After a six-month period between propane additions, rapid propane-utilization was observed. Nitrate was present due to groundwater flow into the treatment zone and/or by the oxidation of tile previously injected ammonia. In the propane-stimulated zone, c-DCE concentrations decreased below tile detection limit (1 $\mu$g/L), and TCE concentrations ranged from less than 5 $\mu$g/L to 30 $\mu$g/L, representing removals of 90 to 97%. In the air sparged control zone, TCE was removed at only two monitoring locations nearest the sparge-well, to concentrations of 15 $\mu$g/L and 60 $\mu$g/L. The responses indicate that stripping as well as biological treatment were responsible for the removal of contaminants in the biostimulated zone, with biostimulation enhancing removals to lower contaminant levels. As part of that study bacterial population shifts that occurred in the groundwater during CAS and air sparging control were evaluated by length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction (LH-PCR) fragment analysis. The results showed that an organism(5) that had a fragment size of 385 base pairs (385 bp) was positively correlated with propane removal rates. The 385 bp fragment consisted of up to 83% of the total fragments in the analysis when propane removal rates peaked. A 16S rRNA clone library made from the bacteria sampled in propane sparged groundwater included clones of a TM7 division bacterium that had a 385bp LH-PCR fragment; no other bacterial species with this fragment size were detected. Both propane removal rates and the 385bp LH-PCR fragment decreased as nitrate levels in the groundwater decreased. In the second study the potential for bioaugmentation of a butane culture was evaluated in a series of field tests conducted at the Moffett Field Air Station in California. A butane-utilizing mixed culture that was effective in transforming 1, 1-dichloroethene (1, 1-DCE), 1, 1, 1-trichloroethane (1, 1, 1-TCA), and 1, 1-dichloroethane (1, 1-DCA) was added to the saturated zone at the test site. This mixture of contaminants was evaluated since they are often present as together as the result of 1, 1, 1-TCA contamination and the abiotic and biotic transformation of 1, 1, 1-TCA to 1, 1-DCE and 1, 1-DCA. Model simulations were performed prior to the initiation of the field study. The simulations were performed with a transport code that included processes for in-situ cometabolism, including microbial growth and decay, substrate and oxygen utilization, and the cometabolism of dual contaminants (1, 1-DCE and 1, 1, 1-TCA). Based on the results of detailed kinetic studies with the culture, cometabolic transformation kinetics were incorporated that butane mixed-inhibition on 1, 1-DCE and 1, 1, 1-TCA transformation, and competitive inhibition of 1, 1-DCE and 1, 1, 1-TCA on butane utilization. A transformation capacity term was also included in the model formation that results in cell loss due to contaminant transformation. Parameters for the model simulations were determined independently in kinetic studies with the butane-utilizing culture and through batch microcosm tests with groundwater and aquifer solids from the field test zone with the butane-utilizing culture added. In microcosm tests, the model simulated well the repetitive utilization of butane and cometabolism of 1.1, 1-TCA and 1, 1-DCE, as well as the transformation of 1, 1-DCE as it was repeatedly transformed at increased aqueous concentrations. Model simulations were then performed under the transport conditions of the field test to explore the effects of the bioaugmentation dose and the response of the system to tile biostimulation with alternating pulses of dissolved butane and oxygen in the presence of 1, 1-DCE (50 $\mu$g/L) and 1, 1, 1-TCA (250 $\mu$g/L). A uniform aquifer bioaugmentation dose of 0.5 mg/L of cells resulted in complete utilization of the butane 2-meters downgradient of the injection well within 200-hrs of bioaugmentation and butane addition. 1, 1-DCE was much more rapidly transformed than 1, 1, 1-TCA, and efficient 1, 1, 1-TCA removal occurred only after 1, 1-DCE and butane were decreased in concentration. The simulations demonstrated the strong inhibition of both 1, 1-DCE and butane on 1, 1, 1-TCA transformation, and the more rapid 1, 1-DCE transformation kinetics. Results of tile field demonstration indicated that bioaugmentation was successfully implemented; however it was difficult to maintain effective treatment for long periods of time (50 days or more). The demonstration showed that the bioaugmented experimental leg effectively transformed 1, 1-DCE and 1, 1-DCA, and was somewhat effective in transforming 1, 1, 1-TCA. The indigenous experimental leg treated in the same way as the bioaugmented leg was much less effective in treating the contaminant mixture. The best operating performance was achieved in the bioaugmented leg with about over 90%, 80%, 60 % removal for 1, 1-DCE, 1, 1-DCA, and 1, 1, 1-TCA, respectively. Molecular methods were used to track and enumerate the bioaugmented culture in the test zone. Real Time PCR analysis was used to on enumerate the bioaugmented culture. The results show higher numbers of the bioaugmented microorganisms were present in the treatment zone groundwater when the contaminants were being effective transformed. A decrease in these numbers was associated with a reduction in treatment performance. The results of the field tests indicated that although bioaugmentation can be successfully implemented, competition for the growth substrate (butane) by the indigenous microorganisms likely lead to the decrease in long-term performance.

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Hexachlorobenzene Dechlorination Ability of Microbes from Canal and Estuary Sediments

  • Anotai, Jin;Voranisarakul, J.;Wantichapichat, W.;Chen, I.M.
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.107-114
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    • 2007
  • This study aimed to investigate the hexachlorobenzene (HCB) dechlorinating ability of sediment microbes collected from a natural canal receiving secondary effluents from an industrial estate and nearby factories. Nine sites along the stream and one in the estuary in the Gulf of Thailand into which the canal spills were specified and sampling for sediment and water. Preliminary analysis of the sediments showed that the first four sites nearest to the discharging location were contaminated by HCB within the range of 0.18 to 1.25 ppm. Apart from that, 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene which has never been commercially produced or used in any manufacturing processes except for the transformation from higher chlorinated benzene was also identified in the range of 0.16 to 0.24 ppm. This suggested a possibility of sporadically HCB contamination in this stream. Of more important, people in the community along this canal earn their living by coastal fishery; hence, posing a risk of spreading HCB and its less chlorinated congeners via food chain from caught marine creatures to human. As a result, there is an urgent need to understand the behavior of HCB dechlorination in this stream sediment which can lead to a clean-up action in the future. Serum bottles with sediment slurries (sediment to water ratio of 1:1 (v/v) and filtered to remove particles larger than 0.7 mm) from each site were inoculated with 2 mg/l of HCB, kept anaerobically in the dark at room temperature without any nourishment, and analyzed for HCB and its less-chlorinated congeners every 6 days. Total chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and volatile suspended solids were in the range of 21,492-73,584, 158,100-518,100 and 6,000-32,700 mg/l, respectively. It was found that all sediment slurries began to dechlorinate HCB in 12 to 30 days and the HCB was completely removed within 42 to 60 days or so. On the other hand, there was no HCB dechlorination occurred in the controlled set which was sterilized by autoclaving prior to the addition of HCB. This implies that the HCB transformation was solely due to microorganisms' activities. HCB was dechlorinated principally via pentachlolobenzene to 1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene and terminated at 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene which is the major pathway as reported by many researchers. Dichlorobenzene has not been detected in any samples within the dechlorination period of 60 days. The results indicate that the microbial matrix in the sediment of this stream has an outstanding capability to dechlorinate HCB. Existing substrates and nutrients which mainly sorbed onto the solid phase and the typical temperature in Thailand were sufficient and suitable to promote the activities of these HCB-dechlorinating microbes.

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Pathogene Resistance of cotton GST cDNA in Transgenic Scrophularia buergeriana Misrule (목화 Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) 유전자로 형질 전환된 현삼의 내병성 특성)

  • 강원희;임정대;이성호;유창연
    • Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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    • v.28 no.6
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    • pp.297-304
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    • 2001
  • Scrophularia buergeriana Misrule has been contaminated with various pathogens in condition of field and storage period. This study was carried out for production of multiple stress resistance plant containing disease resistance that CGST gene expressed in transgenic Scrophularia buergeriana Misrule genome. Glutathione S-Transferases (GSTs) detoxify endobiotic and xenobiotic compounds by covalent linking of tripeptide glutathione to hydrophobic substrate. GST enzymes have been identified and characterized in insects, bacteria, and many plant species. A cDNA clone of GST was introduced into Scrophularia buergeriana Miquel by transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciences. In coporation of the CGST gene into S. buergeriana Misrule was confirmed by PCR analysis of genomic DNA. Influence of exposure to darkness on the regeneration potential and transformation frequence were assessed. The activity of GST in transgenic plants was two times higher than that of non-transgenic plants. As a result of anti-microbe assays, the crude extract protein of transgenic plants showed the antimicrobial effects higher than control plants.

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Review of Microbially Mediated Smectite-illite Reaction (생지화학적 스멕타이트-일라이트 반응에 관한 고찰)

  • Kim, Jin-Wook
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.42 no.5
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    • pp.395-401
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    • 2009
  • The smectite-illite (SI) reaction is a ubiquitous process in siliciclastic sedimentary environments. For the last 4 decades the importance of smectite to illite (S-I) reaction was described in research papers and reports, as the degree of the (S-I) reaction, termed "smectite illitization", is linked to the exploration of hydrocarbons, and geochemical/petrophysical indicators. The S-I transformation has been thought that the reaction, explained either by layer-by-layer mechanism in the solid state or dissolution/reprecipitation process, was entirely abiotic and to require burial, heat, and time to proceed, however few studies have taken into account the bacterial activity. Recent laboratory studies showed evidence suggesting that the structural ferric iron (Fe(III)) in clay minerals can be reduced by microbial activity and the role of microorganisms is to link organic matter oxidation to metal reduction, resulting in the S-I transformation. In abiotic systems, elevated temperatures are typically used in laboratory experiments to accelerate the smectite to illite reaction in order to compensate for a long geological time in nature. However, in biotic systems, bacteria may catalyze the reaction and elevated temperature or prolonged time may not be necessary. Despite the important role of microbe in S-I reaction, factors that control the reaction mechanism are not clearly addressed yet. This paper, therefore, overviews the current status of microbially mediated smectite-to-illite reaction studies and characterization techniques.

Standardization and Development of Pharmacopoeial Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Classical Unani Formulation

  • Mannan, Mohd Nazir;Kazmi, Munawwar Husain;Zakir, Mohammad;Naikodi, Mohammed Abdul Rasheed;Zahid, Uzma;Siddiqui, Javed Inam
    • CELLMED
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.16.1-16.8
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    • 2020
  • Standardization of drug deals with confirmation of drug identity and determination of drug quality and purity. Unani herbal formulations are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Cancer is a disease which causes abnormal, uncontrolled growth of body tissue or cells, which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way. Spread of cancer from site of origin to other organs of the body is called metastasis. It is a hyper proliferative disorder involving, transformation, dysregulation of apoptosis, invasion and angiogenesis. The present study aimed to standardize a classical Unani formulation (CUF) described as anticancer properties. The CUF has been used for anti-cancerous activity (Dāfi'-i-saraṭān) in human population by Unani physicians for centuries. The standardization parameters carried out for classical Unani formulation are pharmacognostical studies, physicochemical parameters, high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), microbial load, aflatoxins, and heavy metals revealing specific identities and to evaluate Pharmacopoeial standards. Experiment and the data obtained established the Pharmacopoeial standards for this formulation for identification and quality control purpose. The CUF has been successfully standardized and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for its preparation has been laid down which may serve as a standard reference in future. The standardization data of this formulation may be used as a standard guideline for preparation of the formulation in future.