• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.1895-1904
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• 2015

Foodborne illness associated with food service establishments is an important food safety issue in Korea. In this study, foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and hygiene indicator organisms [total viable cell counts (TVC), coliforms] were analyzed for food and environmental samples from foodservice establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of detected foodborne pathogens were also characterized. A total of 179 samples, including food (n=66), utensil (n=68), and environmental samples (n=45), were collected from eight food service establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Average contamination levels of TVC for foods (including raw materials) and environmental samples were 4.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g, respectively. Average contamination levels of coliforms were 2.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g for foods and environmental swab samples, respectively. B. cereus contamination was detected in food samples with an average of 2.1 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected only in raw materials, and S. aureus was positive in raw materials as well as environmental swab samples. Other foodborne pathogens were not detected in all samples. The entire B. cereus isolates possessed at least one of the diarrheal toxin genes (hblACD, nheABC, entFM, and cytK enterotoxin gene). However, ces gene encoding emetic toxin was not detected in B. cereus isolates. S. aureus isolates (n=16) contained at least one or more of the tested enterotoxin genes, except for tst gene. For E. coli and S. aureus, 92.7% and 37.5% of the isolates were susceptible against 16 and 19 antimicrobials, respectively. The analyzed microbial hazards could provide useful information for quantitative microbial risk assessment and food safety management system to control foodborne illness outbreaks in food service establishments.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.361-367
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• 2010

Bacterial contamination of cooked rice was analyzed to evaluate the microbial safety. Thirty raw rice samples were collected in Korea and cooked in an electric rice cooker. Mesophilic aerobe, food-poisoning Bacillus cereus group, and their toxin genes were determined on cooked rice. The percentage of total mesophilic aerobe based on 1-3 log CFU/g was 27% among the samples. Bacillus spp. in MYP selective medium was similar to the number of mesophilic aerobe, whileas Bacillus spp. was detected in most samples after enrichment. Thirty-seven isolates from 30 cooked rices were identified as B. thuringiensis, B. cereus, B. valismortis, B. pumilus, B. coagulans, B. licheniformis, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, and Brevibacillus laterosporus. Twenty isolates (54%), more than half of the isolates, were B. thuringiensis while nine (27%) were identified as B. cereus. All B. thuringiensis isolates possessed non-hemolytic toxin genes and interestingly, seven B. cereus among nine isolates possessed emetic toxin genes. More B. thuringiensis was present on the cooked rice than B. cereus and most B. cereus possessed emetic toxin genes rather than diarrheal toxin genes. Therefore, food-borne outbreak due to B.cereus on the cooked rice kept at room temperature might be examples of emetic food-poisoning.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.207-210
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• 2014

Bacillus cereus is food poisoning bacteria frequently occured in starch food. Most of the delivery foods for infant is classified as ready-to-cook food. But unlike food for infant and young children, there are no standards and specifications of Bacillus cereus in ready-to-cook food. The purpose of this study is to examine the presence of Bacillus cereus, aerobic bacteria and coliforms in the food for infant and young children sold through internet. B. cereus was detected in 9 samples (8.3%), total aerobic bacteria was detected over $10^6CFU/g$ in 4 samples and coliforms were not detected in any samples. This will provide basic data for standards and specifications of Bacillus cereus in ready-to-cook food.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.545-554
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• 2013

Plasmid isolation of kimchi-derived Weissella cibaria KLC140 revealed six different plasmids. The smallest plasmid, pKW2124, was DNA sequenced and characterized, showing 2,126 bp with a GC content of 36.39% and five putative open reading frames (ORFs). In silico analysis of these ORFs showed ORF1 encodes a putative replication protein similar to rolling circular replication proteins from other lactic acid bacteria. However, a single-stranded intermediate was not detected when S1 nuclease was treated, suggesting it may follow theta replication. Interestingly, the replication initiation site of this plasmid is 100% identical to other plasmids from lactic acid bacteria, suggesting it may function for replication initiation. To construct a surface layer expression vector, pTSLGFP, slpA encoding the surface layer protein from Lactobacillus acidophilus was PCR amplified and fused with the gfp gene, forming a SLGFP fused gene. The plasmid pKW2124 was cloned into the XbaI site of pUC19, forming an Weissella-E. coli shuttle vector pKUW22. NheI-linearized pTSLGFP was ligated into pKUWCAT containing pKUW22 and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene from pEK104, resulting in an 8.6 kb pKWCSLGFP surface layer expression vector. After transformation of this vector into W. cibaria KLC140, a GFP fluorescence signal was detected on the surface of the transformant, substantiating production of SLGFP fused protein and its secretion. This is the first report for construction of a Weissella surface layer expression vector, which may be useful for surface layer production of beneficial proteins in Weissella.

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• no.74
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• pp.23-31
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• 2006

(1) Kaeusetgul Cave in Kimnyong-Ri, Jeju-Do, Korea. Kaeuset-gul Cave (KC) is situated in NNE area of the Manjang-gul cave (125m a.s.l.). Kaeuset-gul Cave lies at $126^{\circ}45'22"$ E in longitude and $33^{\circ}33'09"$ N in latitude. The coast belong Kimnyeong-Ri, Kujwa-eup, Jeju-Do. Altitude of the cave-entrance is 10m and length of the cave is 90m. Lava hand-specimens of KC are studied by X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). Average major chemical components of specimens from KC is as follows (wt.%); $SiO_2=47.03$, $TiO_2=3.16$, $Al_2O_3=18.41$, FeO*=13.53, MnO=0.14, MgO=5.05, CaO=8.66, $Na_2O=2.81$, $K_2O=0.67$, $P_2O_5=0.55$ in KC. Polarizing microscopic studyindicates that these specimens are described of alkali-basalt. (2) Tachibori Fuketsu (Cave) in Shizuoka Prefecture, Fuji Volcano, Japan Tachibori Fuketsu lies attoward the south in skirt of the Fuji volcano, $138^{\circ}42'04"$ east longitude and $35^{\circ}18'00"$ north latitude. The location of cave entrance is 2745, Awakura, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture. The above sea level and length of Tachibori Fuketsu are 1,170m and 82m. Average major chemical components of specimens from cave areas follows (Total 100 wt.%) ; ($SiO_2$=50.52, $TiO_2$=1.69, $Al_2O_3$=15.47, FeO*=13.13, MnO=0.20, MgO=5.97, CaO=9.17, $Na_2O$=2.52, $K_2O$=0.94 and $P_2O_5=0.40).$ Polarizing microscopic study indicates that these specimens may belong to tholeiite-basalt series. According to polarizing microscopic study, Au (Augite), P1 (Plagioclase), and O1 (Olivine) are contained as phenocryst minerals. (3) Gorely Cave in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia Gorely caldera is located at the southeastern part of Kamchatka Peninsula, about 75km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy.. Gorely lava caves are situated in NHE area of Mt. Gorely volcano (1829m a.s.1.). One of lava cave (Go-9612=K-1) lies at $158^{\circ}00'22"$ east longitude and $52^{\circ}36'18"$ north latitude. The elevation of cave entrance is about 990m a.s.1. and the main cave extends in the NNW direction for about 50m by 15m wide and 5m in depth. The cave of K-3is near the K-1 cave. "@Lava hand-specimens K-1 and K-3 caves are studied by X-ray fluorescence analysis and polarizing microscopic observation. Average major chemical components of specimens from these caves are as follows (wt.%) ;($SiO_2$=55.12, $TiO_2$=1.25, $Al_2O_3$=16.07, T-FeO* =9.41, MnO=0.16, MgO=5.01, CaO=7.21, $Na_2O$=3.39, $K_2O$=1.92, $P_2O_5$=0.45) and these values indicate that the Gorely basaltic andesite belong to high alumina basalt. Polarizing microscopic study indicates that these specimens are described of Augite andesite.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the microbiological hazard on nursery school children's hands and to investigate the reduction effect of hand washing education. A total of 59 nursery school children's hands were tested. The average number of total aerobic bacteria was $3.72{\pm}0.38log\;CFU/hand$. Five children's hands(2 male and 3 female) were positive(14.3%) for the coliform bacteria. These results showed that hand washing education are required repetitively. Among the pathogenic bacteria tested in this study, $Staphylococcus$ aureus and $Bacillus$ $cereus$ were detected in 9(25.7%) and 16(45.7%) out of 35 their hands, respectively. Twelve out of sixteen $B.$ $cereus$ isolates(70.0%) produced enterotoxin. The results indicate that the hand hygiene of nursery school children needs to be improved. Comparing before and after hand washing in educated and non-educated group, the reduction effect of total aerobic bacteria on their hands was 0.42 and 0.60 log CFU/hand, respectively. The educated group showed 0.18 log CFU/hand higher reduction effect than non-educated group but microorganism did not eliminate perfectly. From the results, using a hand sanitizer after washing with soap and the continuous hand washing education are required to control the contaminated bacteria on nursery school children's hands.