• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.296-303
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• 2005

A strain named as HJ35 was isolated from the skin of sixty-five men and fourteen women for acne therapy, in order to find an effective antimicrobial agent against Propionibacterium acnes. Isolate HJ35 was identified as Enterococcus faecium based on 16 rDNA sequence and produced enterocin HJ35 having antimicrobial activities against most lactic acid bacteria, En­terococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Clostridium perfringens, some bacilli, Mi­crococcus flavus, Listeria monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Propionibacterium acnes, in the modified well diffusion method. Especially, enterocin HJ35 showed a bactericidal activity against Propionibacterium acnes P1. The antimicrobial activity of enterocin HJ35 was disappeared completely with the use of protease XIV. But enterocin HJ35 activity is very stable at high temperature (up to $100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min), in wide range of pH (3.0${\~}$9.0), and by treatment with organic solvents. The apparent molecular mass of enterocin HJ35 was estimated to be approximately 4${\~}$4.5 kDa on detection of its bactericidal activity after SDS-PAGE. In batch fermentation of E. faecium HJ35, enterocin HJ35 was produced at the mid­log growth phase, and its maximum production was obtained up to 2,300 AU/mL at the late stationary phase. By employing fed-batch fermentation, the enhanced production of enterocin HJ35 was achieved up to 12,800 AU/mL by feeding with 10 g/L glucose or 6 g/L lactate.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권9호
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• pp.427-428
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• 2018

Based on the piling reports of disruptions in the thalamus of patients with schizophrenia, the alteration in the thalamo-cortical system has been regarded as the core pathophysiology. As the thalamus is composed of distinctive nuclei with different cytoarchitecture and cortical connections, nuclei specific investigations have been actively conducted in post-mortem studies. In addition, the importance of early changes has been highlighted, which in turn has led to investigations of the thalamo-cortical system using non-invasive neuroimaging methods. From this perspective, the early structural changes in the thalamo-cortical system, such as the thalamo-cortical connection and nuclei specific microstructural changes (which are coherent with findings from post-mortem methods) will be briefly discussed. The main findings, which are the reduced thalamo-prefrontal connection and reduced microstructural complexity in the higher-order nuclei detected in first-episode psychosis patients, suggest the occurrence of early alterations within and between the communication hub of the brain and cortex. These findings suggest not only directions for further studies for unveiling the thalamo-cortical system related pathophysiology, but also the possibility of using the reduced microstructural complexity in the higher order nucleus as a biomarker for schizophrenia.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.219-222
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• 2005

The a-subunit of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase (${\alpha}TS$), a component of the tryptophan synthase ${\alpha}_2{\beta}_2$ complex, is a monomeric 268-residues protein (Mr = 28,600). ${\alpha}TS$ by itself catalyzes the cleavage of indole-3-glycerol phosphate to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and indole, which is converted to tryptophan in tryptophan biosynthesis. Wild-type and P28L/Y173F double mutant ${\alpha}$-subunits were overexpressed in E. coli and crystallized at 298 K by the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method. X-ray diffraction data were collected to $2.5{\AA}$ resolution from the wild-type crystals and to $1.8{\AA}$ from the crystals of the double mutant, since the latter produced better quality diffraction data. The wild-type crystals belonged to the monoclinic space group C2 ($a=155.64{\AA}$, $b=44.54{\AA}$, $c=71.53{\AA}$ and ${\beta}=96.39^{\circ}$) and the P28L/Y173F crystals to the monoclinic space group $P2_1$ ($a=71.09{\AA}$, b=52.70, $c=71.52{\AA}$ and ${\beta}=91.49^{\circ}$). The asymmetric unit of both structures contained two molecules of ${\alpha}TS$. Crystal volume per protein mass ($V_m$) and solvent content were $2.15{\AA}^3\;Da^{-1}$ and 42.95% for the wild-type and $2.34{\AA}^3\;Da^{-1}$ and 47.52% for the double mutant.

• 한국연소학회지
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.36-44
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• 2002

Carbon molecules with closed-cage structures are called fullerenes $(C_{60},\;C_{70})$, whose applications include super-conductors, sensors, catalysts, optical and electronic device, polymer composites, and biological and medical materials. The synthesis of fullerenes has been recently studied with low-pressure benzene/argon/oxygen flames. The formation of fullerene is known as molecular weight growth processes of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon). This study presents results of PAHs and fullerene measurements performed in a low-pressure benzene/argon/oxygen normal co-flow laminar diffusion flame. Through the central tube of the burner, benzene vapors carried by argon are injected. The benzene vapors are made in a temperature-controlled bubbler. The burner is located in a chamber, equipped with a sampling system for direct collection of condensable species from the flame, and exhausted to a vacuum pump. Samples of the condensable are analyzed by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) to determine the yields of PAHs and fullerene. Also, we computed mole fraction of fullerene and PAHs in a nearly sooting low pressure premixed, one-dimensional benzene/argon/oxygen flame (equivalence ratio ${\Phi}=2.4$, pressure=5.33kPa). The object of computation was to investigate the formation mechanism of fullerenes and PAHs. The computations were performed with CHEMKIN/PREMIX. As a result of this study, fullerenes were synthesized in a low pressure (20torr) $C_6H_6/Ar/O_2$ flames and the highest concentration of fullerene was detected just above the visible surface of a flame.

• 약학회지
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.155-162
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• 1996

Hyperkeratinization is a dermatologic disorder, which is due to the increase of corneocyte cohesion force. Glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid(AHA), has been used to breakdown the hyperkeratinization processes. However, it has a problem of skin irritation when applied topically, due to the strong acidity especially in high concentration. A molecular optimization of glycolic acid has been tried to reduce the skin irritation by the way of prodrug formation. Ethyl glycolate was synthesized by the esterification of glycolic acid with ethanol in acidic conditions in the presence of sulfuric acid, and examined under the spectroscopic trials, such as UV, IR, $^1H$-NMR, and GC-MS. The physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of the prodrug were also evaluated. Through the toxicological tests of both skin irritation and eye mucous irritation, it has been proved that ethyl glycolate was less irritant than glycolic acid, since the pH value of synthetic prodrug was higher than that of glycolic acid. In the penetration test through nude mouse skin by diffusion cell, ethyl glycolate was continuously hydrolyzed to glycolic acid, which was assayed form the receptor compartment. It was obtained that the penetrated amount of ethyl glycolate was five times higher than that of glycolic acid. These results suggest that ethyl glycolate might be a successful prodrug of glycolic acid to reduce the skin irritation and to increase the skin penetration as well.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권10호
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• pp.1265-1270
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to determine the antibiotypes, SCCmec subtypes, PVL carriage, and genetic diversity of MRSA strains from a tertiary hospital. Sixty-six MRSA strains were selected randomly (2003, 2004, and 2007) and tested for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene, mecA gene, and SCCmec type via a PCR. The antibiograms were determined using a standard disc diffusion method, and the genetic diversity of the isolates was determined by PFGE. Thirty-four antibiograms were obtained, with 55% of the 66 strains exhibiting resistance to more than 4 antimicrobials. All the isolates remained susceptible to vancomycin, and low resistance rates were noted for fusidic acid (11%), rifampicin (11%), and clindamycin acid (19%). The MRSA isolates that were multisensitive (n=12) were SCCmec type IV, whereas the rest (multiresistant) were SCCmec type III. Only two isolates (SCCmec type IV) tested positive for PVL, whereas all the isolates were mecA-positive. The PFGE was very discriminative and subtyped the 66 isolates into 55 pulsotypes (F=0.31-1.0). The multisensitive isolates were distinctly different from the multidrug-resistant MRSA. In conclusion, no vancomycin-resistant isolate was observed. The Malaysian MDR MRSA isolates were mostly SCCmec type III and negative for PVL. These strains were genetically distinct from the SCCmec type IV strains, which were sensitive to SXT, tetracycline, and erythromycin. Only two strains were SCCmec IV and PVL-positive. The infections in the hospital concerned were probably caused by multiple subtypes of MRSA.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.25-37
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• 2011

PES UF membranes containing silver were prepared to impart antibacterial properties for waste water treatment. Asymmetric membranes for antibacterial application were prepared from polyethersulfone (PES) and silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) (PES/$AgNO_3$=15/2 by weight) solution in N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) via simple wet phase inversion technique. These membranes were characterized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights (1000 ppm in water) at room temperature and on operating pressure of 5 bars. It was observed that the water flux of PES-$AgNO_3$ membrane is slightly lower than virgin PES but still increased linearly with the increment of pressure applied. The morphology of the resulting membranes was examined using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Elemental analysis using EDS proved that silver is successfully loaded on the membrane surfaces. Due to the success of loading silver on membrane surfaces, antibacterial activities were evaluated via agar diffusion method against Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) culture. By incorporating 2 wt% of silver nitrate, PES-$AgNO_3$ showed significant inhibition ring on both E.coli and S.aureus. Filtration of E.coli solution (OD 0.31) showed satisfactory rejection data with ~100% inhibition growth after 24 hours incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Resultant membranes also exhibit better tensile strength (compared to virgin PES) up to 71% may be due to the suggested interactions. The residual silver during fabrication was measured using ICP-MS and result showed that the residual silver content of PES-$AgNO_3$ membrane was only ~1% of the original silver added in the polymer solution. These studies have shown that PES-$AgNO_3$ UF membranes are potential in improving the filtration in water treatment.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.158-166
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• 2000

A conductimetric study of foam formed from mixture of the protein, ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$, and the nonioinc surfactant, SML, revealed that their stability was reduced at concentrations of SML in the range $3{\sim}10mM$. The interaction of SML with ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ was investigated by fluorimetry and a dissociation constant of $0.2{\mu}M$ was calculated for the complex. Surface tension studies confirmed the presence of interaction between the two components and provided evidence for the progressive displacement of ${\beta}-lactogloblin$ from the air/water interface with increasing SML concentration. Experiments using air-suspended microscopic thin liquid films revealed transitions in the chainage characteristics and thickness of the film at SML concentrations below that which resulted in destabilization of the foam. However, measurements of surface mobility of fluorescent-labeled ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ by a photobleaching method identified that a transition to a mobile system occurred at a SML concentration which correlated with the onset of instability in the disperse phase. The results would indicate that maintenance of the viscoelastic properties of the surface is paramount importance in determining the stability of interfaces comprising mixtures of protein and surfactant.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권10호
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• pp.1381-1385
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• 2013

The centipede Scolopendra subpinipes mutilans is a medicinally important arthropod species. However, its transcriptome is not currently available and transcriptome analysis would be useful in providing insight into a molecular level approach. Hence, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of S. subpinipes mutilans using next-generation sequencing. We generated a novel peptide (scolopendrasin II) based on a SVM algorithm, and biochemically evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of scolopendrasin II against various microbes. Scolopendrasin II showed antibacterial activities against gram-positive and -negative bacterial strains, including the yeast Candida albicans and antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria, as determined by a radial diffusion assay and colony count assay without hemolytic activity. In addition, we confirmed that scolopendrasin II bound to the surface of bacteria through a specific interaction with lipoteichoic acid and a lipopolysaccharide, which was one of the bacterial cell-wall components. In conclusion, our results suggest that scolopendrasin II may be useful for developing peptide antibiotics.

• 멤브레인
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.105-113
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• 2005

표면 개질한 다공성 금속 지지체에 초음파 분무 열분해법을 이용하여 silica막을 합성하고, 고온 기체 선택 투과 분리 특성을 조사하였다. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)를 전구체로 하여 지지체 세공을 통한 감압 진공을 하면서 873K에서 표면에 defect 없이 균일한 양질의 silica막이 형성되었다. 투과 온도 523 K에서 silica막의 수th/질소 및 수증기/메탄을 분리 계수가 각각 17 및 16 정도의 우수한 선택 투과 성능을 나타냈다. 다공성 금속 지지체의 불균일한 기공에 silica 분체 및 $\gamma-alumina$층을 중간층으로 도입하고, 그 위에 열분해법에 의한 silica를 합성한 결과, Knudsen 확산에 의한 투과 영역의 세공이 완전히 제거되어 높은 수소 및 수증기 선택성을 가지는 복합 막이 형성되었다.