• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.467-473
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• 2010

To improve the expression efficiency of recombinant endo-$\beta$-1,4-glucanase in P. pastoris, the endo-$\beta$-1,4-glucanase (egI) gene from Aspergillus niger was synthesized using optimized codons. Fourteen pairs of oligonucleotides with 15 bp overlap were designed and the full-length syn-egI gene was generated by two-step PCR-based DNA synthesis. In the synthesized endo-$\beta$-1,4-glucanase gene syn-egI, 193 nucleotides were changed, and the G+C content was decreased from 54% to 44.2%. The syn-egI gene was inserted into pPIC9K and transformed into P. pastoris GS115 by electroporation. The enzyme activity of recombinant P. pastoris stain 2-7# reached 20.3 U/ml with 1% barley $\beta$-glucan and 3.3 U/ml with 1% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as substrates in shake flasks versus 1,270.3 U/ml and 220.7 U/ml for the same substrates in 50-1 fermentors. The molecular mass of the recombinant protein was approximately 40 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis, the optimal temperature for recombinant enzyme activity was $70^{\circ}C$, and the optimal pH was 5.0 when CMC was used as the substrate.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.10 no.1 s.13
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• pp.21-30
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• 2001

The antibacterial and insecticidal properties of ethanol extracts and volatile components extracted from Eugenia caryophyllata, Boswellia carterii, Agastache rugosa, Aristolochia contorta, and Aquilaria agallocha were evaluated. The ethanol extract and volatile component of E. caryophyllata showed strong antimicrobial effect against all strains (Mucor hiemalis, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium funiculosum, Trichoderma viride) and the volatile component of B. carterii showed antimicrobial effect against all strains except T. viride. The ethanol extract of E. caryophyllata and A. contorta showed $100\%\;and\;32\%$ mortality against Reticulitemes spertus kyushuensis Morimoto for 48 hours and 72 hours, respectively. In the case of volatile component, E. aryophyllata showed $100\%\;and\;20\%$ mortality against R. spertus and Lyctus linearis GOZE, respectively. The main constitute, eugenol $(92\%)$ among nine components from volatile component of E. aryophyllata were identified as antibacterial active substance.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.300-308
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• 1972

For the purpose of utilizing agricultural waste products for animal feeds, chemical analysis of some important agricultural wastes in Korea and enzymatic hydrolysis of rice hull were undertaken and summarized as follows: 1) Rice hull and straws of rice, barley and wheat were analyzed for their proximate principles and carbohydrate composition. 2) A strain of Aspergillus niger was selected as having the highest productivity of rice hull decomposing activity among many species of molds. The optimum conditions for the culture on washed wheat bran were. 3 days of culture period, 55% moisture content and neutral pH and one hour was proper for the extraction of enzymes. 3) The extent of hydrolysis of xylan and rice hull by a crude enzyme preparation from this strain was 63% and 7%, respectively, and the optimum pH for its activity was 4.0 and 4.5, respectively. 4) Enzymatic hydrolysis of rice hull was generally suppressed by gamma-ray irradiation ($0.5{\sim}5\;Mrad$, in dry state), but the effect was less by irradiation in wet state.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.483-488
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• 2014

In order to improve the expression of heat-resistant xylanase XYNB from Aspergillus niger SCTCC 400264, XynB has been cloned into Pichia pastoris secretary vector pPIC9K. The XynB production of recombinant P. pastoris was four times that of E. coli, and the $V_{max}$ and specific activity of XynB reached $2,547.7{\mu}mol/mg$ and 4,757 U/mg, respectively. XynB still had 74% residual enzyme activity after 30 min of heat treatment at $80^{\circ}C$. From the van der Waals force analysis of XYNB (ACN89393 and AAS67299), there is one more oxygen radical in AAS67299 in their catalytic site, indicating that the local cavity is much more free, and it is more optimal for substrate binding, affinity reaction, and proton transfer, etc, and eventually increasing enzyme activity. The H-bonds analysis of XYNB indicated that there are two more H-bonds in the 33rd Ser of XYNB (AAS67299) than in the 33rd Ala(ACN89393 ), and two H-bonds between Ser70 and Asp67.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.15-20
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• 1985

Influence of vitamins on the felt and lipid production of Aspergilus niger var. macrosporus, Aspergillus fumigatus and penicillium notatum were investigated after 10 days of incubation at $30^{\circ}C$ under static culture condition. The felt of molds were lower in the media containing vitamins than control medium. The lipids produced by each strains were highest yields in media containing vitamins. Among of these Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus and Aspergillus fumigatus produced. 4.6g and 5.28g in medium containing inositol 2.5mg/l and 0.5mg/l, respectively; while Penicillium notatum produced 1.51g in a medium containing thiamine 10mg/l. The major fatty acid of lipids were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus was lower palmitic acid in media containing vitamins than control medium, While linoleic acid was higher in media containing thiamine and inositol. Aspergillus fumigatus was lower oleic acid in media containing vitamins than control medium, While linoleic acid was higher in media containing vitamins. Peniillium notatum was lower palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid in media containing vitamins but linoleic acid was higher. The composition of fatty acid of lipids changed depending on the media containing vitamins but hardly found a certain tendency except linoleic acid which was higher in a media containing thiamines and inositols. The degree of unsaturation of fatty acids in the lipids were comparatively higher in media containing vitamins than control medium.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.15 no.6 s.74
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• pp.41-47
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• 2006

A study for recovering of copper and lead from electronic scraps has been carried out using a combination of bioleaching and solvent extraction. It was found that the citric acid generated by Aspergillus niger could be an imporant leaching agent acting in the solubilization of copper, iron, lead and tin from the electronic scrap. Copper could be selectively extracted by 10% LIX84 from the leaching solution and it recoved 99.9% of metallic copper by electrowinning process. Tin and iron were extracted from the remaining solution by 10% Alamine336 and stripped by NaCl solution. Finally, tin could be recovered as a metallic precipitates from the mixed solution of tin and iron by cementation with iron powder.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.228-232
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• 2005

Antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and ACE inhibitory activities of methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and hexane extracts of garlic were investigated. Methanol extract showed highest yield of 7.9-8.8 brix. Ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts showed strong antibacterial activities as determined by inhibition zone (8-16mm) against B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa, and good antifungal activities as determined by inhibition zone (8-30mm) against A. niger, M. miehei, and T. reesei. Wando, Banyans, Chinese, and Seosan garlic methanol extracts showed 65.6, 60.4, 70.1, and 55.3% ACE inhibitory activities, 42.3, 53.8, 50.4, and 54.5% anticancer activities against SNU-1, and 11.3, 20.2, 36.6, and 30.5% anticancer activities against HeLa, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.230-235
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• 2020

The global evolution of antibiotic resistance has threatened the efficacy of available treatment options with ravaging impacts observed in developing countries. As a result, investigations into the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the role of plasmids are crucial. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of bla_TEM and gyrA genes, plasmid profiles, and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella strains isolated from raw meat and stool sources across Niger State, Nigeria. Ninety-eight samples, comprising 72 raw meat and 26 stool samples, were screened for Salmonella spp. The antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates to 10 commonly used antimicrobial agents was determined using the KirbyBauer disc diffusion method. Isolates were further analyzed for plasmids, in addition to PCR amplification of beta-lactamase (bla_TEM) and gyrA genes. A total of 31 Salmonella spp. were isolated, with 22 from raw meat (70.97%) and 9 from stool (29.03%). Salmonella spp. with multiple resistance patterns to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, and gentamicin were detected. Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were found to be the most effective among the antibiotics tested, with 67.7% and 93.5% susceptible isolates, respectively. Nine (29.03%) isolates harbored plasmids with molecular sizes ranging between 6557 bp and 23137 bp. PCR amplification of gyrA was detected in 1 (3.23%) of the 31 isolates while 28 isolates (90.32%) were positive for bla_TEM. This study shows the incidence of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella isolates and the possible role of plasmids; it also highlights the prevalence of ampicillin resistance in this local population.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2016

Aspergillus luchuensis is known as an industrially important fungal species used for making fermented foods such as awamori and shochu in Japan, makgeolli and Meju in Korea, and Pu-erh tea in China. Nonetheless, this species has not yet been widely studied regarding mating-type genes. In this study, we examined the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 gene ratio in black koji molds (A. luchuensis, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus tubingensis) and in Aspergillus welwitschiae isolated from Meju, a fermented soybean starting material for traditional soy sauce and soybean paste in Korea. The number of strains with the MAT1-1 locus was 2 of 23 (A. luchuensis), 6 of 13 (A. tubingensis), 21 of 28 (A. niger), and 5 of 10 (A. welwitschiae). Fungal species A. tubingensis and A. welwitschiae showed a 1 : 1 ratio of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating-type loci. In contrast, A. luchuensis revealed predominance of MAT1-2 (91.3%) and A. niger of MAT1-1 (75%). We isolated and identified 2 A. luchuensis MAT1-1 strains from Meju, although all strains for making shochu in Japan are of the MAT1-2 type. These strains may be a good resource for breeding of A. luchuensis to be used in the Asian fermented-food industry.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.247-255
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Accurate, early identification of acutely malnourished children has the potential to reduce related child morbidity and mortality. The current World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines classify non-oedematous acute malnutrition among children under five using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) or Weight-for-Height Z-score (WHZ). However, there is ongoing debate regarding the use of current MUAC cut-offs. This study investigates the diagnostic performance of MUAC to identify children aged 6-24 months with global (GAM) or severe acute malnutrition (SAM). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Cross-sectional, secondary data from a community sample of children aged 6-24 months in Niger were used for this study. Children with complete weight, height and MUAC data and without clinical oedema were included. Using WHO guidelines for GAM (WHZ < -2, MUAC < 12.5 cm) and SAM (WHZ < -3, MUAC < 11.5 cm), the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), predictive values, Youden Index and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated for MUAC when compared with the WHZ reference criterion. RESULTS: Of 1161 children, 23.3% were diagnosed with GAM using WHZ, and 4.4% with SAM. Using current WHO cut-offs, the Se of MUAC to identify GAM was greater than for SAM (79 vs. 57%), yet the Sp was lower (84 vs. 97%). From inspection of the ROC curve and Youden Index, Se and Sp were maximised for MUAC < 12.5 cm to identify GAM (Se 79%, Sp 84%), and MUAC < 12.0 cm to identify SAM (Se 88%, Sp 81%). CONCLUSIONS: The current MUAC cut-off to identify GAM should continue to be used, but when screening for SAM, a higher cut-off could improve case identification. Community screening for SAM could use MUAC < 12.0 cm followed by appropriate treatment based on either MUAC < 11.5 cm or WHZ < -3, as in current practice. While the practicalities of implementation must be considered, the higher SAM MUAC cut-off would maximise early case-finding of high-risk acutely malnourished children.