• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2020

Genome mining has recently emerged as a powerful strategy to discover novel microbial secondary metabolites. However, more than 50% of biosynthetic gene clusters are not transcribed under standardized laboratory culture condition. Several methods have been applied to activate silent biosynthetic gene clusters in the microbes so far. Among the regulatory systems for production of secondary metabolites, global regulators, which affect transcription of genes through regulatory cascades, typically govern the production of small molecules. In this review, global regulators to affect production of microbial secondary metabolites were discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.305-313
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• 2018

A microbial consortium, TMC7, was enriched for the degradation of natural lignocellulosic materials under high temperature. TMC7 degraded 79.7% of rice straw during 15 days of incubation at $65^{\circ}C$. Extracellular xylanase was effectively secreted and hemicellulose was mainly degraded in the early stage (first 3 days), whereas primary decomposition of cellulose was observed as of day 3. The optimal temperature and initial pH for extracellular xylanase activity and lignocellulose degradation were $65^{\circ}C$ and between 7.0 and 9.0, respectively. Extracellular xylanase activity was maintained above 80% and 85% over a wide range of temperature ($50-75^{\circ}C$) and pH values (6.0-11.0), respectively. Clostridium likely had the largest contribution to lignocellulose conversion in TMC7 initially, and Geobacillus, Aeribacillus, and Thermoanaerobacterium might have also been involved in the later phase. These results demonstrate the potential practical application of TMC7 for lignocellulosic biomass utilization in the biotechnological industry under hot and alkaline conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.332-339
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• 2010

The lipase from Mucor racemosus NRRL 3631 was partially purified by fractional precipitation using 60% ammonium sulfate, which resulted in a 8.33-fold purification. The partially purified lipase was then immobilized using different immobilization techniques: physical adsorption, ionic binding, and entrapment. Entrapment in a 4% agar proved to be the most suitable technique (82% yield), as the immobilized lipase was more stable at acidic and alkaline pHs than the free enzyme, plus 100% of the original activity was retained owing to the thermal stability of the immobilized enzyme after heat treatment for 60 min at $45^{\circ}C$. The calculated half-lives (472.5, 433.12, and 268.5 min at 50, 55, and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively) and the activation energy (9.85 kcal/mol) for the immobilized enzyme were higher than those for the free enzyme. Under the selected conditions, the immobilized enzyme had a higher $K_m$ (11.11 mM) and lower $V_{max}$ (105.26 U/mg protein) when compared with the free enzyme (8.33 mM and 125.0 U/mg protein, respectively). The operational stability of the biocatalyst was tested for both the hydrolysis of triglycerides and esterification of fatty acids with glycerol. After 4 cycles, the immobilized lipase retained approximately 50% and 80% of its original activity in the hydrolysis and esterification reactions, respectively.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 1994

This study was carried out to develop bioassay for detection of pesticide residues in agricultural products by using the soil microbial isolates sensitive to pesticides. One hundred bacterial isolates and eighty five fungal isolates were obtained from soil and their sensitivity to 10 ppm of several pesticides was examined in vitro. Five bacterial isolates and three fungal isolates were found sensitive to organochloride fungicide and two fungal isolates sensitive to organocopper fungicide. Among these isolates, B46, B93 and F67 were tested to find out the difference in sensitivity according to the methods of fungicide treatment. All of the isolates were found sensitive to 10 ppm of organochloride fungicides mixed directly in PDA. But they were found insensitive to the fungicide mixed in PDA after filtering through membrane filter. In case of organocopper fungicide, the isolates were found sensitive only when it was treated in PDA. And their sensitivity showed difference among various kinds of organochloride fungicides. B46 and B93 were employed to check the possibility as the agent for detection of the pesticidal residues in twenty eight agricultural products including rice. It was found that all samples had not residues because the samples did not inhibit the growth of isolates. When organochloride fungicides were applied to the above products, it was possible to detect the residues in fruits and vegetables at the concentration of 10 ppm, but not in starch-rich grains. B46 and B93 were identified as Bacillus sp. according to their bacterial characteristics in culture.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.106-117
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• 2013

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is one of the most economical and efficient methods for extending the life of production wells in a declining reservoir. Microbial consortia from Wafra oil wells and Suwaihat production water, Al-Wusta region, Oman were screened. Microbial consortia in brine samples were identified using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequences. The detected microbial consortia of Wafra oil wells were completely different from microbial consortia of Suwaihat formation water. A total of 33 genera and 58 species were identified in Wafra oil wells and Suwaihat production water. All of the identified microbial genera were first reported in Oman, with Caminicella sporogenes for the first time reported from oil fields. Most of the identified microorganisms were found to be anaerobic, thermophilic, and halophilic, and produced biogases, biosolvants, and biosurfactants as by-products, which may be good candidates for MEOR.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.358-380
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• 2023

The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in determining human health, rendering it a major focus of scientific investigation. Rather than eliminating all microbes, promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms within the gut has been recognized as a more effective approach to improving health. Unfavorable conditions potentially alter gut microbial populations, including a reduction in microbial diversity. However, intentionally enhancing the abundance of beneficial gut microbes can restore a state of optimal health. Polysaccharides are widely acknowledged for their potential to improve the gut microbiota. This review emphasizes the findings of recent studies examining the effects of forest product-derived polysaccharides on enhancing the gut microbiota and alleviating inflammation, diabetes symptoms, and obesity. The findings of several studies reviewed in this paper strongly suggest that forest products serve as an excellent dietary source for improving the gut microbiota and potentially offer valuable dietary interventions for chronic health problems, such as inflammation, diabetes, and obesity.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1989

The mechanisms and metabolic products involved in the degradation of an organophosphate insecticide, diazinon, were studied in submerged paddy soil under the laboratory condition at $30^{\circ}C$. Diazinon abatement in non-sterilized soil was more rapid than indicating microbial participation in diazinon in soil. One-half of the original applications was lost in 2 days and less than 5% remained after 7 days. During the same period, dizinon applications increased tha microbial populations in accordance with the monooxygenase and esterase activities in soil. These results suggest that the microbiological factors develop in soil following diazinon application. The esterase and monooxygenase-catalyzing degradation products of diazinon were isolated and tentatively identified by mass spectrometryas 2-isopropyle-6-methyl-4-hydroxy pyrimidine, diazoxon, hydroxydiazinon, and sulfotep.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2022

To investigate the occurrence of fungi in dried ginseng products, we collected 24 white and 26 red ginseng samples from the retail market. Fungi were detected in 50% and 46% of white and red ginseng samples, respectively. The average level of fungal contamination was 0.5 and 0.2 log₁₀ CFU/g in white and red ginseng, respectively. In white ginseng, Penicillium polonicum, P. chrysogenum, and Rhizopus microsporus dominated with each having an occurrence of 18.2%. In red ginseng, Aspergillus spp. was dominant with an occurrence of 87.6%, with A. chevalieri having the highest occurrence (50%). PCR screening for mycotoxigenic potential showed that the 13 isolates of 4 species (P. polonicum, P. chrysogenum, P. melanoconidium, and A. chevalieri) tested were negative for the citrinin biosynthetic gene. These results show that the samples tested in this study had low risk of mycotoxin contamination. However, there is a possibility of dried ginseng products, such as white and red ginseng, being contaminated with fungi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 2023

This study compared and analyzed the microbial composition and physicochemical characteristics of kimchi (gimjang kimchi) and mukeunji (aged kimchi). Commercial kimchi and mukeunji products were purchased through an online market. After an analysis of physicochemical characteristics, the pH of the mukeunji samples was found to be lower and the acidity higher than in the kimchi samples. There was no significant difference in salinity between kimchi and mukeunji, but the sugar content was higher in the kimchi samples. The phylogenetic diversity index, which incorporates phylogenetic difference between species, was significantly higher in mukeunji than in the kimchi. The most dominant order in both groups was Lactobacillales, but several lactic acid bacteria, such as the Pediococcus and Lactobacillus species, which may be more acid tolerant or more competitive, are relatively predominant in mukeunji. Beta set-significance analysis based on two different distance metric results revealed that microbial distributions of population were different at the statistical confidence level (p<0.001). We investigated the effect of respective species on total microbial community using the LEfSe (linear discriminant analysis effect size) mechanism. According to the results of LEfSe testing, a relatively higher abundance of Weissella kandleri in kimchi and a higher abundance of Pediococcus inopinatus in mukeunji have the greatest influence on the differences in microbial structure between the two groups.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.188.1-188
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• 2003

To examine the effect of vacuum packaging on the quality of chicken during storage, microbial (total bacterial counts, mold and yeast, E. coli, and Pseudomonas) changes and drip loss were determined. fresh chicken breasts were prepared and packaged using polyethylene film under vacuum and normal atmosphere, respectively. Samples were then stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ for two weeks. At various time intervals during storage, sample was taken homogenized, and diluted with 0.1% sterile peptone water, and followed by microbial counts. Microbial changes of total bacterial counts, mold and yeast, E. coli, and Pseudomonas during storage of chicken were significantly decreased by vacuum packaging. Drip loss was also significantly decreased. These results indicate that vacuum packaging of chicken should be recommended as a suitable storage method in terms of microbial safety as well as quality of chicken.