• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2014

In the present study, a yeast species isolated from CETP, Vellore, Tamilnadu was identified as Cryptococcus sp. VITGBN2 based on molecular techniques and was found to be a potent producer of acidic diacetate sophorolipid in mineral salt media containing vegetable oil as additional carbon source. The chemical structure of the purified biosurfactant was identified as acidic diacetate sophorolipid through GC-MS analysis. This sophorolipid was used as a stabilizer for synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZON). The formation of biofunctionalized ZON was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of naked ZON and sophorolipid functionalized ZON were tested based on the diameter of inhibition zone in agar well diffusion assay, microbial growth rate determination, protein leakage analysis, and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica and fungal pathogen Candida albicans showed more sensitivity to sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON compared with naked ZON. Among the two pathogens, S. enterica showed higher sensitivity towards sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON. SEM analysis showed that cell damage occurred through cell elongation in the case of S. enterica, whereas cell rupture was found to occur predominantly in the case of C. albicans. This is the first report on the dual role of yeast-mediated sophorolipid used as a biostabilizer for ZON synthesis as well as a novel functionalizing agent showing antimicrobial property.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.293-296
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of culture temperature on the growth rate and protease activity of Antarctic microorganisms. The Antarctic microorganisms PAMC 25641, 25614, 25719 and 25617 were obtained from the Polar and Alpine Microbial Collection (PAMC) at the Korea Polar Research Institute. These microorganisms were confirmed for the excretion of protease on a plate with skim milk. The identification of microorganisms was carried out using the 16S rDNA sequencing method. PAMC 25641 showed the highest protease activity among the subjects tested, and PAMC 25617 exhibited the highest growth rate. The growth rates of the microorganisms were not affected by temperature, except for PAMC 25617. However, protease activities were increased for all strains in a temperature dependent fashion. These results suggest the possible application of Antarctic microorganisms for the efficient production of low temperature proteases.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2018.04a
• /
• pp.8-8
• /
• 2018

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Many conditions are associated with muscle atrophy, such as aging, denervation, disuse, starvation, severe injury and inflammation, prolonged bed rest, glucocorticoid treatment, sepsis, cancer, and other cachectic diseases. On the other hand, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and is wide spread in the elderly population and is characterized by erosion of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. The cytokine network plays an important role in the development and progression of OA with the inflammatory cytokine. Schisandrae Fructus (SF) derived from the ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Magnoliaceae) has been extensively used in traditional herbal medicines in Asia. It was originally used as a tonic and has been traditionally used for the treatment of many uncomfortable symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, dysentery, insomnia, and amnesia for a long time. Previous reports have shown that SF and its related compounds possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-microbial, antiseptic, anti-aging, hepatoprotective and immunostimulating effects. However, the therapeutic effects of SF on muscle atrophy and OA has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether extracts of SF, the dried fruit of S. chinensis, mitigates the development of muscle atrophy and OA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.252-258
• /
• 1998

The strain producing biosurfactant was isolated from soil smples. The isolated strain was identified as the genus Nocardia through its morphological, cultural and physiolgical characteristics. A high concentration of the biosurfactant by Nocardia sp. L-417 was obtained after 4 days of cultivation in the culture medium containing 3% n-hexadecane, 0.1% $NaNO_3$, 0.02% $K_2HOP_4$, 0.01% $H_2PO_4$, 0.01% $MgSO_4$.$7H_2O$, 0.01% $CaCl_2$, 0.02% yeast extract, and 0.02% tryptone. The optimum pH and temperature for biosurfactant production were pH 6.0 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. Furthermore, most biosurfactans were produced during the exponential growth phase, and this fact indicated that the biosurfactans production was growth-associated. The biosurfactant showed the good emulsification activities on various emulsifying substrates such as bunker A, paraffin, corn oil which are used widely in industries.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.272-276
• /
• 2011

Paeonia japonica has been widely used as a folk remedy for a long time. This study was performed to investigate antimicrobial substance of P. japonica extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethylacetate, methanol or hot water. The antimicrobial activities of the P. japonica extracts were determined using a paper disc method and liquid culture. The methanol fraction at a concentration of 10 mg/mL showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurim KCCM 11862. The ethylacetate fraction (5 mg/mL) showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphyloccoccus aureus KCCM 11593. In a study using liquid culture, the ethylacetate fraction from P. japonica showed the highest anti-microbial activity against S. aureus KCCM 11593 in a concentration range of 5~10 mg/mL. All fractions prepared from P. japonica inhibited the growth of S. aureus KCCM 11593 under our culture conditions.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.141-146
• /
• 2014

The necessity to develop economical and eco-friendly technologies is steadily increasing. Plant growth promoting rhizomicrobial strains PGPR are a group of microorganisms that actively colonize plant roots and increase plant growth and yield. Pot experiments were used to investigate the potential of some rhizobacterial strains to enhance the Brassica rapa growth. Microbial strains were successfully isolated from the rhizosphere of Panax ginseng and characterized based on its morphological and plant growth promotion characters. Surface disinfected seeds of Wisconsin Fast B. rapa were inoculated with the selected PGPR microorganisms. The different pots treatments were inoculated by its corresponding PGPR ($10^7cfu\;mL^{-1}$) and incubated in the growth chamber at $25^{\circ}C$ and 65% RH, the light period was adjusted to 24 hours (day). NPK chemical fertilizer and trade product (EMRO, USA) of effective microorganisms as well as un-inoculated control were used for comparison. Plants harvested in 40 days were found to have significant increase in leaf chlorophyll units and plant height and also in dry weight of root and shoot in the inoculated seedlings. Root and shoot length and also leaf surface area significantly were increased by bacterial inoculation in sterile soil. The study suggests that Rhodobacter capsulatus and Azotobacter chroococcum are beneficial for B. rapa growth as they enhance growth and induced IAA production and phosphorus solubilization. This study presents some rhizomicrobial strains that significantly promoted growth of Wisconsin Fast Plant B. rapa in pot experiment under different soil conditions.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.224-229
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to isolate of antagonistic bacterium to Allium cepa L. pathogens. A total of 250 strains were isolated from A. cepa L. roots. The isolates were screened for antagonism to A. cepa L. pathogens and the isolated strain No. YJ-4 was selected among these bacteria. It was identified as Bacillus ehimensis based on morphological and physiological characteristics according to the Bergey's mannual of systematic bacteriology, Sherlock system of Microbial ID Int and 165 rDNA sequences methods. Bacillus ehimensis YJ-4 showed broad spectrum of antibacterial and antifungal activities against plant pathogens as Alternaria porri, Botrytis cinerea, Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora Fusarium of oxysporium, penicillium sp., Pseudomonas sp., Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium cepivotum, Septoria sp., Stemphylium botryosum. Speially B. ehimensis YJ-4 showed high antifungal activity on growth against F. oxysporium, the causal agent of onion Fusarium wilt.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.11
• /
• pp.1696-1700
• /
• 2016

In this study, acorn pomace extract (APE) was developed as a natural chemical sanitizer and substitute for chlorine-based sanitizers such as sodium hypochlorite containing harmful substances. Antimicrobial activities of APE and its combined treatments with fumaric acid (FA) and mild heat against Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on red chard were examined. Among the treatments, combined treatment of 0.5% APE at $50^{\circ}C$ and 0.5% FA was the most effective, causing reduction of L. monocytogenes populations by 3.36 log CFU/g compared to the control. After combined treatment, populations of aerobic mesophilic bacteria in the red chard decreased by 2.89 log CFU/g during storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 8 days compared to the control. Regarding color changes in red chard upon combined treatment, there was no significant change among the red chard samples. These results indicate that combined treatment of APE, FA, and mild heat can improve microbial safety of red chard without affecting quality such as color during storage.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.81-98
• /
• 2013

Mercury (Hg) dynamics in the boreal environment have been a subject of concern in recent decades, due to the exposure of local populations to the contaminant. Land use, because of its impact on mercury inputs, has been highlighted as a key player in the sources and eventual concentrations of the heavy metal. In order to evaluate the impact of watershed disturbances on Hg dynamics in frequently fished, large boreal lakes, we studied sediment cores retrieved at the focal point of eight large lakes of Qu$\acute{e}$bec (Canada), six with watersheds affected by land uses such as logging and/or mining, and two with pristine watersheds, considered as reference lakes. Using a Geographical Information System (GIS), we correlated the recent evolution of land uses (e.g., logging and mining activities) and morphological characteristics of the watershed (e.g., mean slope of the drainage area, vegetation cover) to total Hg concentrations (THg) in sedimentary records. In each core, THg gradually increased over recent years with maximum values between 70 and 370 ng/g, the lowest mercury concentrations corresponding to the pristine lake cores. The Hg Anthropogenic Sedimentary Enrichment Factor (ASEF) values range from 2 to 15. Surprisingly, we noticed that the presence of intense land uses in the watershed does not necessarily correspond to noticeable increases of THg in lake sediments, beyond the normal increment that can be attributed to Hg atmospheric deposition since the beginning of the industrial era. Rather, the terrestrial Hg inputs of boreal lakes appear to be influenced by watershed characteristics such as mean slopes and vegetation cover.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.7
• /
• pp.990-999
• /
• 2012

The microbial biosynthesis of fatty acid of lipid metabolism, which can be used as precursors for the production of fuels of chemicals from renewable carbon sources, has attracted significant attention in recent years. The regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis pathways has been mainly studied in a model prokaryote, Escherichia coli. During the recent period, global regulation of fatty acid metabolic pathways has been demonstrated in another model prokaryote, Bacillus subtilis, as well as in Streptococcus pneumonia. The goal of this study was to increase the production of long-chain fatty acids by developing recombinant E. coli strains that were improved by an elongation cycle of fatty acid synthesis (FAS). The fabB, fabG, fabZ, and fabI genes, all homologous of E. coli, were induced to improve the enzymatic activities for the purpose of overexpressing components of the elongation cycle in the FAS pathway through metabolic engineering. The ${\beta}$-oxoacyl-ACP synthase enzyme catalyzed the addition of acyl-ACP to malonyl-ACP to generate ${\beta}$-oxoacyl-ACP. The enzyme encoded by the fabG gene converted ${\beta}$-oxoacyl-ACP to ${\beta}$-hydroxyacyl-ACP, the fabZ catalyzed the dehydration of ${\beta}$-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP to trans-2-acyl-ACP, and the fabI gene converted trans-2-acyl-ACP to acyl-ACP for long-chain fatty acids. In vivo productivity of total lipids and fatty acids was analyzed to confirm the changes and effects of the inserted genes in E. coli. As a result, lipid was increased 2.16-fold higher and hexadecanoic acid was produced 2.77-fold higher in E. coli JES1030, one of the developed recombinants through this study, than those from the wild-type E. coli.