• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.410-419
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• 2018

It is urgently required to construct safety data on agricultural by-products imported for use as medium materials for domestic mushroom production. However, research on microorganisms is insufficient. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of bacteria that have the possibility of harmful effects on human, plants and mushroom in wheat straw, peatmoss, cottonseed hull, cottonseed meal, and beet pulp imported from Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany. Bacteria were found in the range of $1.35{\times}10^2$ to $8.34{\times}10^6CFU/g$. As a result of 16S rDNA sequence analysis, total of 19 genera and 45 species of bacteria were identified. Bacillus genus was dominant, followed by Paenibacillus genus. At the species level, diverse species was in the order of Firmicute, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Regarding the agricultural by-products, straw and peat moss had more diverse bacteria than other agricultural by-products. Among the indentified bacteria, 6 species of 5 genera (Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter ludwigii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas monteilii, Bacillus anthracis, and Cellulosimicrobium funkei) were present as potent harmful bacteria to human. Surprisingly, both the human and plant pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumonia was present. Bacillus altitudinis was present as a plant pathogen. Lysinibacillus sphaericus, an insect pathogen, and Ochrobactrum pseudogrignonense, a mushroom pathogen, were also present. The results of this study confirmed that several kinds of pathogenic bacteria were present in the agricultural by-products for the mushroom cultivation medium imported into Korea. Our work suggests that hygiene inspection and management is urgently needed for imported agricultural by-products to be safely used for mushroom production.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 2006

An antagonistic strain, Burkholderia MP-1, showed antimicrobial activity against various filamentous plant pathogenic fungi, yeasts and food borne bacteria (Gram-positive and Gram-negative). The nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene (1491 pb) of strain MP-1 exhibited close similarity (99-100%) with other Burkholderia 16S rRNA genes. Isolation of the antibiotic substances from culture broth was fractionated by ethyl acetate (EtOAc) solvent and EtOAc-soluble acidic fraction. The antibiotic substances were purified through a silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Four active substances were identified as phenylacetic acid, hydrocinnamic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate methyl ester by gas chromatographic-mass spectrum analysis. The minimum inhibition of concentration (MIC) of each active compound inhibited the growth of the microorganisms tested at 250 to $2500{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$. The antimicrobial activity of crude acidic fraction at 1 mg of dry weight per 6 mm paper disc was more effective than authentic standard mixture (four active substances were mixed with the same ratio as acidic fraction) over a wide range of bacterial test.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2013

Burkholderia pyrrocinia CAB08106-4 has an anti-bacterial effect on Garlic White Rot caused by Sclereotium cepivorum and Sclereotium sp.. It is an environmentally friendly microbial product that prevents and controls a variety of phytopathogens involving Garlic White Rot caused by Sclereotium cepivorum and Sclereotium sp.. The aim of this study was to assess and to compare the pathogenicity of Burkholderia pyrrocinia CAB08106-4 by single exposure of rats through several routes such as oral, intranasal and intravenous. For the acute toxicity / pathogenicity study, the animals were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14 and 21, and macroscopically observed their organs to examine the numbers of internally-retained pesticidal microbes. Clinical examinations were performed daily during administration period, and body weight gain was evaluated. In the study, no clinical sign, weight gain and mortality were observed in relation to the administration of test article. The significant changes of internal/external microbes by test article were not detected. The pathological findings in relation to the administration of the test article in the necropsy were not observed. It could be concluded that the microorganism was not toxic or pathogenic in rats via oral, intranasal and intravenous route.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.248-254
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• 2013

A Gram-negative bacterium was isolated from mushroom media that markedly reduces the level of extracellular toxins (i.e., tolaasins) produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii, the most destructive pathogen of cultivated mushrooms. The HC1 strain was selected as detoxifying tolaasin by bioassay on potato and it was identified Pseudomonas sp. by the cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics, and analysis of the 16S rRNA. The isolated bacterium is saprophytic but not parasitic nor pathogenic to cultivation mushroom. The isolated bacterium for P. tolaasii cell, was sufficient for detoxification in vitro. Inoculation of the isolated bacterium prevents the development of bacterial disease in Pleurotus ostreatus, Flammunia velutipes and Agaricus bisporus. Control efficacy of brown blotch of strain HC1 treatment was 69, 68 and 55% on Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina velutipes and Pleurotus ostreatus, respectively. The suppressive bacterium may be useful in future for the development of biocontrol system and the construction of genetically modified edible fungi resistant to the disease caused by P. tolaasii.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.328-338
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• 2017

Purpose: Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease induced by pathogenic bacterial accumulation. A novel index, the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA), represents the sum of the periodontal pocket depth of bleeding on probing (BOP)-positive sites. It is advantageous for data processing and analysis because it can be treated as a continuous variable to quantify periodontal inflammation. In the present study, we evaluated correlations between PISA and periodontal classifications, and examined PISA as an index integrating the discrete conventional periodontal indexes. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional subgroup analysis of data from a prospective cohort study investigating the association between chronic periodontitis and the clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis. Data from 84 patients without systemic diseases (the control group in the previous study) were analyzed in the present study. Results: PISA values were positively correlated with conventional periodontal classifications (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.52; P<0.01) and with periodontal indexes, such as BOP and the plaque index (PI) (r=0.94; P<0.01 and r=0.60; P<0.01, respectively; Pearson correlation test). Porphyromonas gingivalis expression and the presence of serum P. gingivalis antibodies were significant factors affecting PISA values in a simple linear regression analysis, together with periodontal classification, PI, bleeding index, and smoking, but not in the multivariate analysis. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, PISA values were positively correlated with the quantity of current smoking, PI, and severity of periodontal disease. Conclusions: PISA integrates multiple periodontal indexes, such as probing pocket depth, BOP, and PI into a numerical variable. PISA is advantageous for quantifying periodontal inflammation and plaque accumulation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2007

Although the incidence and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) is steadily increasing at an alarming rate, its pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood yet. Recently, we found that the expression of Grb7 protein was markedly decreased in AD patients using proteomic analysis. In the present study, human Grb7 gene was fused with PEP-1 peptide in a bacterial expression vector to produce a genetic in-frame PEP-1-Grb7 fusion protein. The expressed and purified PEP-1-Grb7 fusion proteins transduced efficiently into skin cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner when added exogenously in culture media. Once inside the cells, the transduced PEP-1-Grb7 protein was stable for 48 h. In addition, transduced PEP-1-Grb7 fusion protein markedly increased cell viability in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells treated with LPS by inhibition of the COX-2 expression level. These results suggest that the PEP-1-Grb7 fusion protein can be used in protein therapy for inflammatory skin disorders, including AD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.284-288
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• 2009

The innate immune system is important for the first line of host defence against infectious agents, which have penetrated the mechanical barriers. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL or mannan-binding protein, MBP) is a serum protein that is synthesized in the liver as a part of the acute phase response. MBL binds to carbohydrate structures presented by a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. MBL is synthesized as a monomer that has a carboxy-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain, a neck region and a collagen region. Low MBL level was reported to be the most frequent immuno-deficiency syndrome. Although extensive studies have yielded detailed information on the structure of MBL, functions of the MBL complex are not fully understood yet. We, here, present cloning process of MBL cDNA from the rat liver and production of truncated recombinant MBL protein using a bacterial expression system in order to produce anti-MBL polyclonal antibody. Anti-MBL polyclonal antibody was raised in a New Zealand rabbit and its affinity was tested against recombinant protein using western blot technique. MBL cDNA, recombinant protein and anti-MBL antibody could be used as great arsenals to dissect cellular biochemistry of MBL.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2014

Salmonella spp. and Brucella spp. are associated with considerable diseases of both humans and animals. In addition, these microorganisms cause the economic loss in animal farming and food industry. In this study, the disinfection efficacy of a commercial disinfectant, composed to povidone-iodine was evaluated against S. typhimurium and B. ovis. A bactericidal efficacy test by broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective dilution of the disinfectant following exposure to test bacteria for 30 min at $4^{\circ}C$. The disinfectant and test bacteria were diluted with hard water (HW) or organic matter suspension (OM) according to treatment condition. On HW condition, the bactericidal activity of the disinfectant against S. typhimurium and B. ovis was 400 and 150 fold dilutions, respectively. On OM condition, the bactericidal activity of the disinfectant was 5 and 20 fold dilutions against S. typhimurium and B. ovis, respectively. As the disinfectant composed to povidine-iodine possesses bactericidal efficacy against animal pathogenic bacteria such as S. typhimurium and B. ovis, the disinfectant solution can be used to control the spread of bacterial diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.610-616
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• 2013

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an emerging detection technology for the amplification of DNA under isothermal conditions. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and reliable LAMP technique for the detection of Cronobacter sakazakii in milk powder. In order to enhance the sensitivity and specificity, LAMP primers targeting outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene of C. sakazakii were designed using Explorer V4 software. Thirty seven C. sakazakii strains and 13 pathogenic microorganisms were used for comparative detection of C. sakazakii using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, and LAMP. LAMP developed in this study could specifically detect C. sakazakii strains without cross-reactivity with other foodborne pathogens. LAMP products amplified from ompA gene of C. sakazakii were digested with with HhaI and NruI enzyme. The specificity of LAMP was confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. LAMP could detect C. sakazakii within 1 h without bacterial culture and its detection limit was as low as 1 CFU/mL C. sakazakii in milk. In the comparison of the sensitivity, LAMP showed 10,000- and 100-times higher detection limit than PCR or real-time PCR, respectively. Therefore, this study can conclude that LAMP is a rapid and reliable detection technique for C. sakazakii contaminated in powdered milk.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the hygiene condition of PC room(internet cafe) in Seoul Korea. From July 2004 to December, 34 samples were collected, there's an average of $9.0{\times}10^4$ CFU/ml on keyboards, $2{\times}10$ CFU/ml on mouse and $5{\times}10^3$ CFU/ml on door konbs toilets, suggesting that keyboards and mouse are more contaminated than toilet door knobs. Seven antimicrobial resistant strains were isolated from PC Rooms. Two isolates were resistant to methicillin and erythromycin, while five isolates were resistant to gentamicin, ampicllin, cefotaxim, and chloramphenicol. By identification, these strains were identified as Staphylococcus aureus (2 strains). Actinobacillus ureae (4 strains) and Pasteurella multocida (1 strain), respectively. Pasteurella multocida and Actinobacillus ureae are potentially pathogenic bacteria. Actinobacillus ureae, formerly, known as Pasteurella ureae, is an uncommon of the upper respiratory tract in humans. Pasteurella multocida is a part of the normal flora in the nasopharynx of many domestic animals. We concluded that Staphylococcus aureus is highly resistant to erythromycin and methicillin over $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, while Pasteurella multocida and Actinobacillus ureae is highly resistant to gentamicin, ampicillinover over $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.