• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.79-89
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• 2005

Forest soils were analyzed on their biological and physicochemical properties for the ecological restoration of burnt forest soil using organic wastes and proper microorganisms. Three kinds of soil samples were collected from undamaged soil(US), naturally restoring soil(NS) and artificially restoring soil(AS). All soil samples were sandy soil and acidic soil, ranged pH 5.34~5.78. Moisture content was higher in the soil of NS region. And the others were similar. Total organic matter and soluble sugar were higher at the surface, generally. Heterotrophic soil microbes were abundant at the surface soil of NS and subsoil of AS. Dehydrogenase, cellulase and phosphatase activities were higher at the NS soil. Especially, Dehydrogenase activity as primary index of soil microbial process showed high correlationship with moisture content(r=0.90, P < 0.05).

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Nitrate ($NO_3^-$), a common surface water and groundwater pollutant, poses a serious environmental problem in regions with intensive agricultural activities and dense population. It is thus important to identify the source of nitrate contamination to better manage water quality. Due to the distinct isotope compositions of nitrate among different origins, the dual isotope analysis (${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$) of nitrate has been widely applied to track contamination sources. This paper provided the underlying backgrounds in the isotope analysis of nitrate, which included typical ranges of ${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$ from various nitrate sources, isotope fractionation, the analytical methods used to concentrate nitrate from samples, and the potential limitations of the dual isotope analysis along with the resolutions. To enhance the applicability of the dual isotope analysis as well as increase the ability to interpret field data, this paper also introduced several case studies. Furthermore, other environmental tracers including ${\delta}^{11}B$ and $Cl^-/Br^-$ ratios were discussed to accompany the dual isotope analysis for better assignment of contamination sources even when microbial transformation of nitrate and/or mixing between contaminant plumes occur.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.564-571
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• 2015

Grape seeds and pericarp are rich in procyanidins, a class of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials that can provide phytonutrients for healthy eating and extend food shelf life. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of procyanidins as preservatives in pork meat patties for 14 d. Pork patties were treated with 0, 0.1, or 0.3% procyanidin, and meat color, pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values, and microbial populations were determined during storage at 4℃ for 14 d. The color of pork patties treated with procyanidin showed lower lightness and higher redness values than untreated controls, and procyanidin treatment reduced pH values significantly (p<0.05). VBN values decreased significantly (p<0.05) with the 0.3% procyanidin treatment and increased significantly (p<0.05) during storage. TBARS values were markedly lower in procyanidin-treated meat than in the untreated control. In addition, procyanidin suppressed total bacterial colony and Escherichia coli counts significantly (p<0.05) relative to the control samples. Our findings suggest that procyanidin could be used as a food preservative in pork patties due to its natural antioxidation and antimicrobial activities, and that it may contribute to an improved healthy diet.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.17-32
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• 2006

Purpose : The aim of this study is to investigate the antibiotic effects of 14 herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals on vaginal microorganisms. Methods : Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginal pathogenic microorganisms. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli HB101 were used for vaginal normal flora. The blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals, Mucunae Caulis, Salviae Radix, Persicae Semen, Myrrha, Zedoariae Rhizoma, Achuranthis Radix, Leonuri Herba, Melandrii Herba, Gleditsiae Spina, Lycopi Herba, Scirpi Rhizoma, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Corydlais Tuber and Polygoni Cuspidati Radix were used in this study. In vitro antibiotic activities were observed by optical density and colony test. Results : The optical density and colony test showed that Gleditsiae Spina, Scirpi Rhizoma, Corydlais Tuber, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix and Melandrii Herba of herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals had antimicrobial effect. Gleditsiae Spina had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis and MRSA. Scirpi Rhizoma had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. Corydlais Tuber had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in MRSA. Polygoni Cuspidati Radix had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis, Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. Melandrii Herba had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis. Conclusion : According to the above results, we could suggest that Gleditsiae Spina, Scirpi Rhizoma, Corydlais Tuber, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix and Melandrii Herba of herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals be available to antimicrobial agent of vaginal pathogenic microbial species in vitro.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.161-165
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• 2005

Ethanol extracts were prepared from 40 herbs, the extracts of herbs were tested their microbial inhibition activities against Helicobacter pylori. Antimicrobial activity against H. pylori was shown by clear zone and inhibition of cell growth in 24 herbs and 26 herbs extracts. Antimicrobial activity showed the high value in ethanol extracts of Salvia officinalis, Phlomis fruticosa, Creeping Rosemarinus officinalis, Lavandula, Cymtpogan citratus, Rosemarinus officinalis, Cherry Salvia officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Ruta graveloens, Thymus vulgaris, Oreganum vulgare and Salvia officinalis. Phenol content of herb extracts have high concentration as $134.3-533.33\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2003년도 생물공학의 동향(XII)
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• pp.180-184
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• 2003

Several bacteria and yeasts were isolated from soil and characterized for the development of functional probiotics which can be used as a livestock feed additive. From the soil, the microbial strains which have acid/bovine resistance, antibiotics resistance and high stability, were isolated. Most strains selected were very tolerable against acids and very stable in a broad range of pH. Some strains could survive 100% at pH 2.5. The growth of the strains was not affected in the presence of bile acid, pathogenic E. coli and several antibiotics such as tetracycline, nisin, kanamycin, streptomycin, ampicillin. Acidogenic capability test showed that all the strains can produce acids. The hydrolytic activities were analysed for amylase, protease, lipase and cellulase to decompose various organic compounds. All the strains were found to be gram negative, round type, non-kinetic and the color is yellow or white.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.306-313
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Forest soils contain microbes capable of consuming atmospheric methane ($CH_4$), an amount matching the annual increase in $CH_4$ concentration in the atmosphere. However, the effect of plant residue production by different forest structure on $CH_4$ oxidation is not studied in Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Korean alpine soils having different forestation structure on $CH_4$ uptake rates. METHODS AND RESULTS: the $CH_4$ flux was measured at three sites dominated with pine, chestnut and oak trees in southern Korea. The $CH_4$ uptake potentials were evaluated by a closed chamber method for a year. The $CH_4$ uptake rate was the highest in the pine tree soil ($1.05mg/m^2/day$) and then followed by oak ($0.930mg/m^2/day$) and chestnut trees ($0.497mg/m^2/day$). The $CH_4$ uptake rates were highly correlated to soil organic matter and moisture contents, and total microbial and methanotrophs activities. Different with the general concent, there was no any correlation between $CH_4$ oxidation rates, and soil temperature and labile carbon concentrations, irrespective with tree species. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, the methane oxidation rate was correlated in positive manner with organic matter, abundance of methanotrophs. Methane oxidation was different among tree species. This results could be used to estimate methane oxidation rate in forest of Korea after complementing information about statistical data and methane oxidation of other site.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.312-318
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• 2016

Objectives: Bacterial resistant infections have become a global health challenge and threaten the society's health. Thus, an urgent need exists to find ways to combat resistant pathogens. One promising approach to overcoming bacterial resistance is the use of herbal products. Green tea catechins, the major green tea polyphenols, show antimicrobial activity against resistant pathogens. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of catechins, green tea extract, and methylxanthines in combination with gentamicin against standard and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the standard strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of different agents against bacterial strains were determined. The interactions of green tea extract, epigallate catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, two types of methylxanthine, caffeine, and theophylline with gentamicin were studied in vitro by using a checkerboard method and calculating the fraction inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Results: The MICs of gentamicin against bacterial strains were in the range of $0.312-320{\mu}g/mL$. The MIC values of both types of catechins were $62.5-250{\mu}g/mL$. Green tea extract showed insufficient antibacterial activity when used alone. Methylxanthines had no intrinsic inhibitory activity against any of the bacterial strains tested. When green tea extract and catechins were combined with gentamicin, the MIC values of gentamicin against the standard strains and a clinical isolate were reduced, and synergistic activities were observed (FICI < 1). A combination of caffeine with gentamicin did not alter the MIC values of gentamicin. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that green tea extract and catechins potentiated the antimicrobial action of gentamicin against some clinical isolates of S. aureus and standard P. aeruginosa strains. Therefore, combinations of gentamicin with these natural compounds might be a promising approach to combat microbial resistance.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.160-168
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• 2000

A-factor I a microbial hormone that can positively control cell differentiation leading to spore formation and secondary metabolite formation in Streptomyces griseus. to identify a protease that is deeply involved in the morphological and physiological differentiation of Streptomyces, the proteases produced by Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350 and its A-factor deficient mutant strain, Streptomyces griseus HH1, as well as Streptomyces griseus HH1 transformed with the afsA gene were sturdied. In general Streptomyces griseus showed a higher degree of cell growth and protease activity in proportion to its ability to produce a higher amount of A-factor. In particular, the specific activity of the trypsin of Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350 was greatly enhanced more than twice compared with that of Streptomyces griseus HH1 in the later stage of growth. The specific activity of the metalloprotease of Streptomyces griseus HH1 was greatly enhanced more than twice compared with that of Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350, and this observation was reversed in the presence of thiostreptione, However, Streptomyces griseus HH1 transformed with the afsA gene showed a significantly decreased level of trypsin and metalloprotease activity compared with that of the HH1 strain. There was no significant difference between Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350 and HH1 strain in their chymotrypsin and thiol protease activity, yet the level of leu-amionpeptidase activity was 2 times higher in Streptomyces griseus HH1 than in strain IFO 13350 . Streptomyces griseus HH1 harboring afsA showed a similar level of enzyme activity , however, all the three protease activities sharply increased and the thiol protease activity was critically increased at the end of the fermentation. When a serine protease inhibitor, pefabloc SC, and metalloprotease inhibitor, EDTA, were applied to strain IFO 13350 to examine the in vivo effects of the protease inhibitors on the morpholofical differentiation, the formation of aerial meycelium and spores was delayed by two or three days.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.712-717
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• 2010

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) are involved in the synthesis of a wide variety of valuable products and in the degradation of numerous toxic compounds. The P450 BM3 (CYP102A1) from Bacillus megaterium was the first P450 discovered to be fused to its redox partner, a mammalian-like diflavin reductase. Here, we report the development of a whole-cell biocatalyst using ice-nucleation protein (Inp) from Pseudomonas syringae to display a hemeand diflavin-containing oxidoreductase, P450 BM3 (a single, 119-kDa polypeptide with domains of both an oxygenase and a reductase) on the surface of Escherichia coli. The surface localization and functionality of the fusion protein containing P450 BM3 were verified by flow cytometry and measurement of enzymatic activities. The results of this study comprise the first report of microbial cell-surface display of a heme- and diflavin-containing enzyme. This system should allow us to select and develop oxidoreductases containing heme and/or flavins into practically useful whole-cell biocatalysts for extensive biotechnological applications, including selective synthesis of new chemicals and pharmaceuticals, bioconversion, bioremediation, live vaccine development, and biochip development.