• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
• /
• 2003.09b
• /
• pp.524-526
• /
• 2003

Lipsticks are cosmetics which do not contain water and are usually preserved with parabens. When submitted to the Challenge Test, theses products did not reach the CTFA criteria, which means that microbiological contamination could occur before the end of its shelf life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contamination level of 130 lipsticks after its use. Microorganisms were isolated from 14,6 % of the samples. However, only in two samples (1,5%) the contamination level exceeded the 100 CFU/g level, which means that, although the preservative system was not efficient to eliminate bacteria, the lack of free water was enough to prevent the microbial development. Total bacteria and fungi were determined by conventional methodology, according to CTFA Microbiological Guidelines. The microbes were then isolated and characterized as normal skin flora microorganisms. This suggest that products were contaminated by the constant application of lipsticks by consumers. This could lead to cross contamination when the same product is shared by several people. Extra care should be taken into account when this type of products are available to be tested by several consumers in demonstration displays.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.231-241
• /
• 1986

The annual decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose by microorganism and distribution of soil microbial flora were investigated in the humus horizon of a Pinus rigida stand in Mt. Kwanak. The cellulase activity was the lowest, 142$\mu$g glucose/g/hr from Dec. 1985 to Mar. 1986 and the highest, 760~1, 072$\mu$g glucose/g/hr in Jul. and Aug. 1985. The xylanase activity was 47% higher than the cellulase activity and was the lowest, 211~275$\mu$g xylose /g/hr from Feb. to Mar. 1986 and the highest as 799~1, 322$\mu$g xylose/g/hr from Jun. to Aug. 1986. The vertical distribution of the enzyme activity was decreased with the order of F, H, L, and A1 in both enzymes and the activities were exponentially decreased below L horizon, which suggests that most decomposition be done in F and H horizons with lots of organic matters. The SEM study slowed that the main decomposers of litters were fungi and initial attack into litters was also made by them. The enzyme activities of soil had strong correlations with the temperature and the precipitation. The correlation coefficients were 0.813 and 0.886 in the cellulase, and 0.673 and 0.626 in the xylanase for the temperature and the precipitation, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.584-589
• /
• 2006

Bifidobacteria has been suggested to exert health promoting effects on the host by maintaining microbial flora and modulating immune functions in the human intestine. We assessed modulatory effects of the different cell fractions of Bifidobacterium sp. BGN4 on macrophage cells and other immune cells from the spleen and Peyer's patches (PP) of mouse. Cell free extracts (CFE) of the BGN4 fractions induced well-developed morphological changes in the macrophages and increased the phagocytic activity more effectively than other fractions in the mouse peritoneal cells. Nitric oxide (NO) production was significantly reduced by both the cell walls (CW) and CFE in the cultured cells from the spleen and PP. The production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) was eminent in the spleen cells treated with experimental BGN4 cell fractions. However, in the PP cells, IL-6 was slightly decreased by the treatment with the whole cell (WC) and CW, whereas IL-10 was significantly increased by the treatment with the CW and CFE. These results suggest that different types of bifidobacterial cell fractions may have differential immunomodulatory activities depending on their location within the host immune system.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.155-160
• /
• 2020

Submental or submandibular intubation has been reported to cause fewer complications than tracheostomy. However, the risk of infection is always inherent because oral wounds are exposed to microbial flora and bacteria in the oral cavity. A novel technique of submandibular intubation was devised to reduce infection and injury to the soft tissues. We would like to report a novel safe technique that can be performed in patients requiring submental or submandibular intubation. This is the first report of submandibular intubation using a sterile disposable camera cable drape. This novel technique of submandibular intubation is safer, more sterile, easier, and less invasive than conventional submandibular intubation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.367-373
• /
• 2021

The antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus spp. and Gram negative strains present in air samples from waste sorting facilities was assessed. Phenotypic studies have revealed a high percentage of strains of Staphylococcus spp. resistant to methicillin. Genotypically and by RT-PCR, it was found that the mecA gene usually associated with methicillin resistance was present in 8% of the Staphylococcus strains isolated. About 30% of the Gram negative strains from the same samples also displayed resistance to meropenem and 79% of these were resistant to multiple antibiotics from different classes, namely cephalosporins and β-lactams. The results suggest that in professional activities with high levels of exposure to biological agents, the quantification and identification of the microbial flora in the work environment, with the determination of the presence of potential agents displaying multi-resistances is of relevance to the risk assessment. The personal protection of workers is particularly important relevance in these cases, since many of the strains that exhibit multi-resistance are potential opportunistic agents.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.24 no.1 s.61
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2006

Ecological characteristics of microbial populations inhabiting heavy metal polluted soil were investigated. The samples were collected from 293 sites around an factory and industry at Gyeoungsangbuk-do. We measured the contents of seven heavy metal elements (Cd, Cu, As, Hg, Pb, $Cr^{6+}$, CN), seven sites have been seriously contaminated by mercury and chrome. A quantitative evaluation of microbial populations in mercury and chrome contaminated soil was examined by using plate count method. Bacterial numbers in polluted soil samples ranged from $7.4X10^5\;to\;9.3X10^7\;cfu\;g^{-1}$, about $10\sim100$ fold less than the count for the unpolluted soil. Moulds were not detected in chrome polluted soil. The log values of actinomycetes of each contaminated soil samples were log ranged from 6.18 to 7.52. The ratio of actinomycetes was similar to unpolluted soil. The investigation showed actinomycetes to be the major microbial population inhabiting the mercury and chrome polluted soil. Thirty-one isolates among the total isolates were examined for antibacterial activity. These isolates were identified based on a phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences, they were categorized in three major phylogenetic groups, belong to the Streptomyces (6 strains), Saccharopolyspora (3 strains), Nocardiodes (1 strain). On the phylogenetic tree, the clade consisting of five isolates were distantly related to all of the established Streptomycetes genera, indicating the possibility as members of new species.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.160-171
• /
• 2017

Larvae of Bradysia agrestis, an insect vector that transports plant pathogens, were sampled from geographically isolated regions in Korea to identify their cutaneous fungal and bacterial flora. Sampled areas were chosen within the distribution range of B. agrestis; each site was more than 91 km apart to ensure geographical segregation. We isolated 76 microbial (fungi and bacteria) strains (site 1, 29; site 2, 29; site 3, 18 strains) that were identified on the basis of morphological differences. Species identification was molecularly confirmed by determination of universal fungal internal transcribed spacer and bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences in comparison to sequences in the EzTaxon database and the NCBI GenBank database, and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. The fungal isolates belonged to 2 phyla, 5 classes, and 7 genera; bacterial species belonged to 23 genera and 32 species. Microbial diversity differed significantly among the geographical groups with respect to Margalef's richness (3.9, 3.6, and 4.5), Menhinick's index (2.65, 2.46, and 3.30), Simpson's index (0.06, 0.12, and 0.01), and Shannon's index (2.50, 2.17, and 2.58). Although the microbial genera distribution or diversity values clearly varied among geographical groups, common genera were identified in all groups, including the fungal genus Cladosporium, and the bacterial genera Bacillus and Rhodococcus. According to classic principles of co-evolutionary relationship, these genera might have a closer association with their host insect vector B. agrestis than other genera identified. Some cutaneous bacterial genera (e.g., Pseudomonas) displaying weak interdependency with insect vectors may be hazardous to agricultural environments via mechanical transmission via B. agrestis. This study provides comprehensive information regarding the cutaneous microflora of B. agrestis, which can help in the control of such pests for crop management.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.179-185
• /
• 2005

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a kind of toxic environmental pollutants and has been accumulated usually in marine sediments. Due to their potential hazardous to human, removal of PAHs from environments has been great concern. In the present study, the effect of microbial inoculation and the supplementation of mixed form cyclodextrin (M-CD) was assessed in the pre-sterilized or nonsterilized microcosms for optimizing operational conditions for ex situ bioremediation of sediments contaminated by PAHs. Activity of electron transport system (ETSA) was increased by the addition of M-CD regardless of inoculation of microorganisms in microcosms without sterilization. The degradation rate of PAHs in sterilized microcosms was app. 9-20% by the inoculation of single strain and 24-37% by the inoculation of microbial consortium supplemented with 1% M-CD, respectively. The degradation was not observed in microcosms without sterilization under the same conditions. The proportion of inoculated microorganisms also decreased in nonsterilized microcosms. Signals of inoculated bacteria were decreased to detection limit after 2 days in the microcosms without M-CD. In conclusion, microbial inoculation with appropriate carbon sources and removal of natural flora and grazers are required for the efficient ex situ bioremediation of sediments contaminated by PAHs in bioslurry reactor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.217-223
• /
• 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the characteristic differential between whole cabbage kimchi (pogi kimchi) and sliced cabbage kimchi (mat kimchi) during kimchi fermentation at $6^{\circ}C$. The difference of microbial and physicochemical properties was investigated until 6 weeks. For the changes in the microbial flora, both kimchi samples exhibited a continuous increase in total aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population size up to 2 weeks followed by a stationary phase until 5 weeks. Interestingly, the number of LAB of mat kimchi was overall higher than that of pogi kimchi during kimchi fermentation. We speculate that mat kimchi has in a more advantageous growth condition than pogi kimchi for microbial growth because small kimchi cabbage size appropriately derives nutritional supply in order to increase the LAB growth. During lactic fermentation at $6^{\circ}C$, physicochemical changes in the pH, salinity, and titratable acidity was observed to be no significant differences between two types of kimchi. Furthermore the contents of organic acids such as oxalic acid, citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, and acetic acid was not significantly different (p>0.05) between both kimchi samples as well as the contents of total free amino acid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.135-140
• /
• 2014

Pre-storage ultra-violet (UV) light treatment on fresh produce is known to inactivate the contaminated microorganisms, activate the defense system, and delay ripening extending the shelf life. As UV light emitting diode (LED) becomes available at a relatively low price, continuous or intermittent UV treatment during chilled storage is possible in a container or package. This study attempted an in situ UV LED treatment on fresh produce stored under a refrigerated container in order to see its potential in the fresh produce storage and further optimize its application conditions. The effect of in-container UV LED irradiation on the quality preservation of shredded carrots was investigated in the air and modified atmosphere (MA) conditions. Two sets of experiment with Escherichia coli inoculation and with natural microbial flora in the air (two 30 minute on-off cycles of 1 $diode/dm^2$ per day at a location above 2 cm) showed a clear and significant effect of the UV LED irradiation on the suppression of microbial growth: 280 nm was the most effective by maintaining a lower microbial count by at least 0.5 log (CFU/g) throughout the 6 day storage period. The carotenoids content of shredded carrots subjected to UV LED treatment at 365 and 405 nm in the air was higher than that of the control shredded carrots. In MA condition of $O_2$ of 1.2~4.3% and $CO_2$ of 8.4~10.6% being indifferent with LED wavelengths, 280 nm UV LED irradiation was also effective in inhibiting the microbial growth. While there was no observed difference in the carotenoids content between untreated and UV LED-treated shredded carrots in MA, UV LED irradiation at 365 and 405 nm was slightly better in DPPH radical scavenging activity. The use of UV LED in storage container or package seems to give the benefits of preserving the microbial and nutritional qualities of minimally processed fruits and vegetables.