• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2014

A biotransformation approach using microbes as biocatalysts can be an efficient tool for the targeted modification of existing antibiotic chemical scaffolds to create previously uncharacterized therapeutic agents. By employing a recombinant Streptomyces venezuelae strain as a microbial catalyst, a reduced macrolide, 10,11-dihydrorosamicin, was created from rosamicin macrolide. Its chemical structure was spectroscopically elucidated, and the new rosamicin analog showed 2-4-fold higher antibacterial activity against two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus compared with its parent rosamicin. This kind of biocatalytic approach is able to expand existing antibiotic entities and can also provide more diverse therapeutic resources.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2005

The protease purified from Bacillus cereus JH108 has the function of leucine specific endopeptidase. When measured by hydrolysis of synthetic substrate (N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Leu-p-nitroanilide), the enzyme activity exhibited optimal activity at pH 9.0, $60^{\circ}C$. The endopeptidase activity was stimulated by $Ca^{++},\;Co^{++},\;Mn^{++},\;Mg^{++},\;and\;Ni^{++}$, and was inhibited by metal chelating agents such as EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, and EGTA. Addition of serine protease inhibitor, PMSF, resulted in the elimination of the activity. The endopeptidase activity was fully recovered from the inhibition of EDTA by the addition of 1 mM $Ca^{++}$, and was partially restored by $Co^{++}\;and\;Mn^{++}$, indicating that the enzyme was stabilized and activated by divalent cations and has a serine residue at the active site. Addition of $Ca^{++}$ increased the pH and heat stability of endopeptidase activity. These results show that endopeptidase requires calcium ions for activity and/or stability. A Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis indicated that the $K_m$ value of endopeptidase is 0.315 mM and $V_{max}$ is 0.222 ) is $0.222\;{\mu}mol$ of N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Leu-p-nitroanilide per min. Bestatin was shown to act as a competitive inhibitor to the endopeptidase activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.854-858
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• 2005

A Lactobacillus isolate was collected from the feces of a healthy Korean individual and named as Lactobacillus ruminus SPM0211. It was further characterized by subjecting it to an antibiotic resistance test and genetic analysis. In the antibiotic resistance test, all tested Lactobacillus spp. were classified as 'high resistance' for multiple antibiotics, such as isoniazid, ethambutol, cycloserine, and vancomycin. L. ruminus SPM0211 was classified as 'high resistance' for streptomycin also, while the other tested Lactobacillus spp. were classified as low resistance. This suggests that the antimicrobial spectra may be a good indicator in the discrimination of this strain among the tested Lactobacillus spp. In a polymerase chain reaction-random amplified polymorphic DNA (PCR-RAPD) analysis using the Microbial Uniprimer kit, L. ruminus SPM0211, and L. suebicus were clustered as a group with a 74.3% similarity level, suggesting that these two species are genetically related. Thus, our data suggest that the PCR-RADP method using the Microbial Uniprimer kit may be valuable in discriminating L. ruminus SPM0211 from other Lactobacillus spp.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2019

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in combination with Cu(II) was examined to inactivate E. coli and MS2 coliphage in natural water. The combined system (i.e., the Cu(II)/PMS system) caused a synergistic inactivation of E. coli and MS2, in contrast with either Cu(II) or PMS alone. Increasing the concentration of PMS enhanced the inactivation of E. coli and MS2, but after a certain point, it decreased the efficacy of the microbial inactivation. In the Cu(II)/PMS system, adding reactive oxidant scavengers marginally affected the E. coli inactivation, but the inhibitory effects of copper-chelating agents were significant. Fluorescent assays indicated that the Cu(II)/PMS system greatly increased the level of reactive oxidants inside the E. coli cells. The sequential addition of Cu(II) and PMS inactivated more E. coli than did adding the two simultaneously; in particular, the inactivation efficacy was much higher when Cu(II) was added first. The observations from the study collectively showed that the microbial inactivation by the Cu(II)/PMS system could be attributed to the toxicity of Cu(I) as well as the intracellular oxidative stress induced by Cu(III) or radical species.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.5-15
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• 1973

An investigation was carried out on a basis of the bacteriological examination with a view to detecting the degree of bacterial contamination for the 77 samples collected from the locally-sold liquid specialties. It's test period was 50 days from July 10 to August 30, 1971. Specially, the survey has put emphasis on the population of general bacteria and the identification of coli-form group, staphylococcus species, streptococcus species, bacillus species, fungi, and yeast species from liquid samples. The results obtained are summarized as follows; (1) For the 77 samples tested, the contamination of general bacteria was found out as minimun 0, i,e., maximum, $12{\times}10^4$ and the total average $45{\times}10^2$ per milliliter. (2) Although streptococcus species could not be detected with the samples, the contamination of the coli-form and staphylococcus species means the strong suggestion of the possibility of pathogenic bacterial contamination. (3) Specially, the products which stay in the neutral pH range and use suspending agents need to care for the microbial contamination in the manufacturing crocess. (4) It is thought necessary to perform the microbiological quality control in the liquid preparations only at least. (5) As the microbial contamination degree in the liquid decreases according to the elapse of time, the microbiological quality control will have to be carried out immediately after the completion of the manufacturing process in order to know the accurate degree. (6) The author thinks that the main reason of the microbial contamination in the liquid is the contamination during the manufacturing process. (7) For the purpose of prevention of the microbial contamination in liquid, therefore, it is more important to make efforts for the rationalization of manufacturing process, the improvement of equipment and environment, the specific training of workers for hygienic knowledges, etc. rather than the use of preservatives for the preparations.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 1986

To examine safety of Ganoderma lucidum, it was extracted with hot water (Fraction A). After the extract was dialyzed and freeze-dried, a polysaccharide fraction (Fraction B) was obtained and examined for acute and subacute toxicity. In the acute toxicity tests of Fr. A and Fr. B on mice, both agents did not show any serious and lethal effects. The results showed that 50% lethal doses were higher than 5,000 mg/kg. The experiments of oral administration of Fr. A (5,000 mg/kg) to mice for 30 days showed that there were no changes in body weight, hematological features and organ weight.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate gender and age differences in hygienic behavior among the general population, focusing on hand-washing habits and the microbial load of hands. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey and a separate microbial examination were performed. The Pearson's correlation between hand-washing habits and microbial load was analyzed. Results: In the questionnaire survey on hand-washing habits, gender differences were found in hand-washing frequency, use of hand-washing agents, and hand drying methods (p<0.05). Age differences were found in numbers of washing parts of the hands and also in hand drying methods (p<0.05). Females showed better habits washing hands than did males, as did older people compared to younger. In the microbial examination of indicator bacteria on their hands, younger people tended to show a higher load of total aerobic bacteria than did the older, and females showed a higher load of total coliforms than did males (p<0.05). There were significant relationships between the load of total aerobic bacteria and hand-washing frequency, duration, and method of turning-off water (p<0.05). Conclusions: Although females were expected to show a better practice of hand-washing than were males based on the survey results, they showed a higher level of total coliforms in the hand examination. The older age group showed better hand-washing habits than did the younger age group and had less total aerobic bacteria on their hands. These inter-gender and age differences highlight the need for development and implementation of gender-and age-specific educational programs or campaigns.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.64-73
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• 2018

Objectives: This study investigated the effect on microbial ecology, fermentation characteristics and anti-obesity of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) fermentation with salt. Methods: PG was fermented for four weeks with 2.5% salt and the characteristics of fermented PG were performed by measuring pH, total sugar content, viable bacteria number and microbial profiling. Also, we measured total polyphenol, flavonoid and the percent of inhibition of lipase activity and lipid accumulation. Results: Salt added to PG for fermentation had an effect on pH, total sugar, total and the number of lactic acid bacteria. Total sugar and pH were reduced and number of total and lactic acid bacteria were increased after fermentation. The majority of bacteria for fermentation were Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc psedomesenteroides and Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis regardless of salt addition. However, microbial compositions were altered by added salt and additional bacteria including Weissella koreensis, W. viridescens, Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus cuvatus were found in fermented PG with salt. Total flavonoid was increased in fermented PG and lipid accumulation on HepG2 cells treated with fermented PG was reduced regardless of salt addition. Moreover, fermented PG without salt suppressed lipase activity. Conclusions: Addition of salt for PG fermentation had influence on fermentation characteristics including pH and sugar content as well as number of bacteria and microbial composition. In addition, fermented PG showed anti-obesity effect by increasing flavonoid content and inhibition of lipase activity and lipid accumulation.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.655-668
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• 2012

Foliar diseases are major constraints to profitable organic tomato production. Especially, powdery mildew, leaf mold and gray mold of tomato occur severely on organic cultured tomatoes in Korea. This study was conducted to develop organic tomato cultivation technology using environmental-friendly disease control methods (resistance cultivar planting, air circulation fan installation, oil-egg yolk mixtures, and microbial agents). When tomatoes were cultivated in plastic film house installed with air circulation fan, daily range of temperature was decreased by $2{\sim}7^{\circ}C$, average relative humidity was decreased by 1~5% compared to those in plastic house without air circulation fan. Consequently, incidence of tomato leaf mold and tomato gray mold was reduced by 55.0% and 24.4%, respectively. Control effect of microbial agents and oil-egg yolk mixtures against major tomato diseases was examined in plastic house. As a result, the control value of microbial agents against tomato gray mold and tomato leaf mold showed at the range of 49.0~55.9 %(gray mold) and 39.2~58.2%(leaf mold), respectively. The control value of oilegg yolk mixtures against tomato powdery mildew showed 97.6%. Fifteen tomato cultivars were evaluated for disease resistance against leaf mold and powdery mildew in organically cultivated tomato field. Among 15 tomato cultivars, seven cultivars including 'Super-top' were found to be high resistant to tomato leaf mold. Also 'Powerking', one of fifteen tomato cultivars, showed to be high resistant to tomato powdery mildew.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 1995

Agrochemicals for the plant-disease control are criticized severely for causing environmental pollution and residual problems, and consequently microbial disease control agents are expected to be safer and more economical for sustainable agriculture. Treatment of biological control agents to seed requires the use of effective delivery systems that allow full expression of the benefical qualities of the bioprotectant. For the activation and establishment of bioprotectant around the plant seed which are able protect the seeds and seedlings from pathogen attack, the optimal liquid coating formulation was obtained using 2% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (binder), 20% sesame dregs (solid particulate material), and dried spore of Bacillus subtilis YBL-7 (bioprotectants, 10 mg/g of seed). Suppressive of root rot was demonstrated in pot trials with coated kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds. Coated seeds with B. subtilis YBL-7 spore in F. solani-infested soil reduced disease incidence by 85% to 90% after 30 days.