• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권9호
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• pp.1533-1541
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• 2016

Samples of doenjang (a fermented soybean paste) were prepared with different types of salts; purified salt (PS), 3-year-aged solar salt (SS3), 1-year-aged solar salt (SS1), and bamboo salt (BS, 3^rd processing product). For starter doenjang samples, selected starters comprising two bacilli, one yeast, and one fungus were inoculated, whereas for non-starter doenjang samples, microorganisms present in rice straw were inoculated after enrichment. The doenjang samples were fermented for 13 weeks at 25℃. During the fermentation period, SS and BS doenjang samples showed higher bacilli counts as well as much lower yeast counts than PS doenjang. At 13 weeks, yeast counts of starter doenjang samples were 7.75, 5.69, 6.08, and 4.74 log CFU/g for PS, SS3, SS1, and BS doenjang, respectively. For non-starter doenjang samples, counts were 7.17, 5.05, 5.92, and 4.54 log CFU/g for PS, SS3, SS1, and BS doenjang, respectively. SS and BS promoted growth of bacilli but inhibited growth of yeasts compared with PS. Debaryomyces hansenii was the dominant yeast in PS doenjang, whereas Candida guilliermondii and Pichia sorbitophila were dominant in SS and BS doenjang. In the sensory evaluation, SS and BS doenjang scored better than PS doenjang. In conclusion, SS and BS seem better than PS for production of high-quality doenjang.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.867-875
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• 2016

Archaea substantially contribute to global geochemical cycling and energy cycling and are impacted by land-use change. However, the response of archaeal communities to a change from upland field to paddy field has been poorly characterized. Here, soil samples were collected at two depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) from one upland field and six paddy fields that were established on former upland fields at different times (1, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 years before the study). Barcoded pyrosequencing was employed to assess the archaeal communities from the samples at taxonomic resolutions from phylum to genus levels. The total archaeal operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness showed a significant positive correlation with the land-use change duration. Two phyla, Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota, were recorded throughout the study. Both the relative abundance and OTU richness of Euryarchaeota increased at both depths but increased more steadily at the subsurface rather than at the surface. However, these data of Crenarchaeota were the opposite. Additionally, the archaeal composition exhibited a significant relationship with C/N ratios, total phosphorus, soil pH, Olsen phosphorus, and the land-use change duration at several taxonomic resolutions. Our results emphasize that after a change from upland fields to paddy fields, the archaeal diversity and composition changed, and the duration is an important factor in addition to the soil chemical properties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.1101-1106
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• 2012

Market fresh makgeolli was stored at different temperatures of $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$ to assess the change of the microbial diversity according to the storage temperature and period. Yeast counts increased until day 3 of storage and decreased thereafter. General and lactic acid bacterial counts continuously increased during storage. The data indicated that the control of growth of microorganisms, particularly general bacteria and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), is essential. Total acid levels started to decrease in the makgeolli stored at $4^{\circ}C$, and increased from day 6 of storage in the makgeolli stored at $25^{\circ}C$. The increase of total acid in the non-refrigerated condition greatly affected the quality of makgeolli. In both the fresh makgeolli samples stored at $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and molds (Aspergillus tubingensis, Candida glaebosa, and Aspergillus niger) were noted. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) band patterns were almost constant regardless of the storage period. As for bacteria, Lactobacillus crustorum, L. brevis, and Microlaena stipoides were found in the makgeolli stored at $4^{\circ}C$, and L. crustorum, Lactobacillus sp., L. plantarum, L. brevis, L. rhamnosus, and L. similis were found in the makgeolli stored at $25^{\circ}C$. In particular, in the makgeolli stored at $25^{\circ}C$, L. crustorum and L. plantarum presented dark bands and were identified as the primary microorganisms that affected spoilage of fresh makgeolli.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.1197-1202
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• 2008

Recent studies provide some evidence that the HtrA2 protein is intimately associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control and ER stress-associated cell death play critical roles in neuronal cell death. However, little is known about the intimate relationship between HtrA2 and ER stress-associated cellular responses. In the present study, we have demonstrated that the HtrA2 protein level was gradually and significantly increased by up to to-fold in the mitochondria under tunicamycin (Tm)-induced ER stress, which eventually promoted cell death through the release of HtrA2 into the cytoplasm. Using an ecdysone-inducible mammalian expression system, we demonstrate that the extent of cell death in 293-HtrA2 cells was approximately 20 times higher under Tm-induced ER stress, indicating that the increase in the HtrA2 protein level in the mitochondria itself is necessary but not sufficient for the promotion of cell death. Taken together, these results suggest that HtrA2 may serve as a mediator of ER stress-induced apoptosis and ER-mitochondrial cross-talk in some cellular processes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.804-810
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• 2020

The profitability of the dairy and beef industries is largely affected by the actually achieved reproductive efficiency. Although a large proportion of cows worldwide are bred by artificial insemination (AI) services, many potential factors affecting the outcome of pregnancy by AI remain to be addressed. In the present study, we investigated the vaginal microbiota by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and analyzed their association with differential pregnancy outcomes (i.e., pregnant vs. nonpregnant) of multiple AI services in dairy cows. Sequencing of the V3-V4 region totally produced 512,046 high-quality sequences that were computationally clustered into 2,584 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). All OTUs were taxonomically assigned to 10 bacterial phyla. There were statistically significant differences among the three AI service times (T1, T2 and T3) with respect to the Shannon index and number of observed OTUs (p < 0.05). Bray-Curtis distance-based PCoA analysis also revealed that T2 group could be significantly distinguished from T1 and T3. However, no significant difference between the pregnant and nonpregnant cows was found in confidence regarding both alpha diversity and beta diversity. These results could help us better understand the possible influence of vaginal microbial community on pregnancy outcomes of AI service in cows.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.848-855
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• 2020

Land subsidence induced by underground coal mining leads to severe ecological and environmental problems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to improve plant growth and soil properties. We aimed to assess the effects of AMF on the growth and soil properties of sea buckthorn under field conditions at different reclamation times. Inoculation with AMF significantly promoted the survival rate of sea buckthorn over a 50-month period, while also increasing plant height after 14, 26, and 50 months. Crown width after 14 months and ground diameter after 50 months of inoculation treatment were significantly higher than in the uninoculated treatment. AMF inoculation significantly improved plant mycorrhizal colonization rate and promoted an increase in mycelial density in the rhizosphere soil. The pH and electrical conductivity of rhizosphere soil also increased after inoculation. Moreover, after 26 and 50 months the soil organic matter in the inoculation treatment was significantly higher than in the control. The number of inoculated soil rhizosphere microorganisms, as well as acid phosphatase activity, also increased. AMF inoculation may play an active role in promoting plant growth and improving soil quality in the long term and is conducive to the rapid ecological restoration of damaged mining areas.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.903-911
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• 2020

Addition of probiotics to yogurt with desired health benefits is gaining increasing attention. To further understand the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum on the quality and function of fermented milk, probiotic fermented milk (PFM) made with probiotic L. plantarum K25 and yogurt starter (L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) was compared with the control fermented milk (FM) made with only the yogurt starter. The probiotic strain was shown to survive well with a viable count of 7.1 ± 0.1 log CFU/g in the PFM sample after 21 days of storage at 4℃. The strain was shown to promote formation of volatiles such as acetoin and 2,3-butanediol with milk fragrance, and it did not cause post-acidification during refrigerated storage. Metabolomics analysis by GC-MS datasets coupled with multivariate statistical analysis showed that addition of L. plantarum K25 increased formation of over 20 metabolites detected in fermented milk, among which γ-aminobutyric acid was the most prominent. Together with several other metabolites with relatively high levels in fermented milk such as glyceric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, glycine, alanine, ribose, and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, they might play important roles in the probiotic function of L. plantarum K25. Further assay of the bioactivity of the PFM sample showed significant (p < 0.05) increase of ACE inhibitory activity from 22.3% at day 1 to 49.3% at day 21 of the refrigerated storage. Therefore, probiotic L. plantarum K25 could be explored for potential application in functional dairy products.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.53-58
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• 1982

천연물 가운데서 항암물질을 얻을 목적으로 동양에서 오랫동안 암이나 암에 비슷한 질병의 치료에 씌여온 한약재를 물이나 유기용매로서 추출하여 검색하였다. Fischer배지에 자라는 L1210 세포에 추출물을 첨가한 다음 48시간 후에 세포수를 헤아려 생장을 50% 억제할 수 있는 추출물의 농도를 나타내는 ED$_{50}$값을 측정하였다. 물로서 추출한 38종의 한약재 가운데서 6종이 낮은 ED$_{50}$값을 나타냈다. 이들을 다시 유기용매로서 추출하므로써 ED$_{50}$값이 더욱 떨어져 NCI의 품질관리범위 치역내에 들어갔다. 항암제원으로 유망시되는 한약재로서 Cinnamomum cassia, Citrus trifoliata, Coptis japonica, Panax ginseng, Phellodendron amurense, Scutellaria baikalensis를 들 수가 있다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권12호
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• pp.1644-1649
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• 2009

This study investigates the buffering effects of calcium salts in kimchi on the total acidity, microbial population, and dextransucrase activity. Calcium chloride or calcium carbonate was added to dongchimi-kimchi, a watery radish kimchi, and the effects on various biochemical attributes were analyzed. The addition of 0.1% calcium chloride produced a milder decrease in the pH after 24 days of incubation, which allowed the lactic acid bacteria to survive longer than in the control. In particular, the heterofermentative Leuconostoc genus population was 10-fold higher than that in the control. When sucrose and maltose were also added along with the calcium salts, the dextransucrase activity in the kimchi was elevated and a higher concentration of isomaltooligosaccharides was synthesized when compared with the control. Calcium chloride was determined as a better activator compound of dextransucrase than calcium carbonate, probably because of its higher solubility. Therefore, the results of this study confirm the ability of the proposed approach to modulate the kimchi fermentation process and possibly enhance the quality of kimchi based on the addition of dietary calcium salts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.795-802
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of temperature and supplementation with skim milk powder (SMP) on the microbial and proteolytic properties during the storage of cottage cheese. Cottage cheese was manufactured using skim milk with 2% SMP and without SMP as the control, and then stored at $5^{\circ}C$ or $12^{\circ}C$ during 28 days. The chemical composition of the cottage cheese and the survival of the cheese microbiota containing starter lactic acid bacteria (SLAB) and non-starter culture lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) were evaluated. In addition, changes in the concentration of lactose and lactic acid were analyzed, and proteolysis was evaluated through the measurement of acid soluble nitrogen (ASN) and non-protein nitrogen (NPN), as well as electrophoresis profile analysis. The counts of SLAB and NSLAB increased through the addition of SMP and with a higher storage temperature ($12^{\circ}C$), which coincided with the results of the lactose decrease and lactic acid production. Collaborating with these microbial changes, of the end of storage for 28 days, the level of ASN in samples at $12^{\circ}C$ was higher than those at $5^{\circ}C$. The NPN content was also progressively increased in all samples stored at $12^{\circ}C$. Taken together, the rate of SLAB and NSLAB proliferation during storage at $12^{\circ}C$ was higher than at $5^{\circ}C$, and consequently it led to increased proteolysis in the cottage cheese during storage. However, it was relatively less affected by SMP fortification. These findings indicated that the storage temperature is the important factor for the quality of commercial cottage cheese.