• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.138-138
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• 2003

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.785-793
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• 2013

We studied the effects of 2 different dosages of high-molecular-weight poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (hm ${\gamma}$-PGA) derived from Bacillus subtilis chungkookjang on lipid metabolism in a high-fructose diet-induced hypertriglyceridemic animal model. For 4 weeks, rats were fed either AIN-93 diet (normal control, NC; n = 10) or modified AIN-93 diet in which cornstarch was substituted with 63% fructose (n = 30) to induce hypertriglyceridemia. After 4 weeks, the hypertriglyceridemic rats were treated with daily oral doses of 0 mg (hypertriglyceridemic control, HC), 2.5 mg (hypertriglyceridemic, low hm ${\gamma}$-PGA, HL), or 5 $mg{\cdot}kg{\cdot}bw^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ (hypertriglyceridemic, high hm ${\gamma}$-PGA, HH) hm ${\gamma}$-PGA for 4 weeks. The HL and HH groups exhibited significantly lower levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and free fatty acids than the HC group. The administration of hm ${\gamma}$-PGA reduced serum ALT and AST levels. The activities of lipogenic enzymes such as hepatic malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase as well as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA expression were significantly decreased by hm ${\gamma}$-PGA administration (p < 0.05). These results indicate that hm ${\gamma}$-PGA has an anti-hypertriglyceridemic effect in high-fructose diet-induced hypertriglyceridemic rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.735-745
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• 2024

Avian influenza is a serious threat to both public health and the poultry industry worldwide. This respiratory virus can be combated by eliciting robust immune responses at the site of infection through mucosal immunization. Recombinant probiotics, specifically lactic acid bacteria, are safe and effective carriers for mucosal vaccines. In this study, we engineered recombinant fusion protein by fusing the hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) subunit of the A/Aquatic bird/Korea/W81/2005 (H5N2) with the Bacillus subtilis poly γ-glutamic acid synthetase A (pgsA) at the surface of Lactobacillus casei (pgsA-HA1/L. casei). Using subcellular fractionation and flow cytometry we confirmed the surface localization of this fusion protein. Mucosal administration of pgsA-HA1/L. casei in mice resulted in significant levels of HA1-specific serum IgG, mucosal IgA and neutralizing antibodies against the H5N2 virus. Additionally, pgsA-HA1/L. casei-induced systemic and local cell-mediated immune responses specific to HA1, as evidenced by an increased number of IFN-γ and IL-4 secreting cells in the spleens and higher levels of IL-4 in the local lymphocyte supernatants. Finally, mice inoculated with pgsA-HA1/L. casei were protected against a 10LD50 dose of the homologous mouse-adapted H5N2 virus. These results suggest that mucosal immunization with L. casei displaying HA1 on its surface could be a potential strategy for developing a mucosal vaccine against other H5 subtype viruses.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.309-318
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• 2021

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Data regarding the effects of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) on sleep status are limited. This study aimed to test whether γ-PGA and vitamin B₆ (VitB6) supplements improve sleep duration and quality. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A factorial randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study included 47 adults (25 men and 22 women) who were free of chronic disease. Stratified randomized allocation considered age and gender for three interventions, group A (supplementation with γ-PGA 600 mg; n = 16), group B (supplementation with VitB6 100 mg; n = 14), and group C (dual supplementation of both γ-PGA 600 mg and VitB6 100 mg; n = 17). Participants underwent a 1-mon intervention period, followed by a 1-mon washout period, and then a second 1-mon intervention period. Differences (mean ± SD) in nighttime sleep status before and after supplementation were compared between the placebo and intervention groups using nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Significant changes in sleep duration (0.27 ± 0.98 h, P < 0.05) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score (-0.52 ± 1.58, P < 0.05) indicating improved sleep status were observed in the intervention compared with the placebo of group C while no significant changes were observed in groups A and B. No statistical significance was detected between the intervention and the placebo; however, there was a greater increase in the group C intervention (4.59 ± 38.5 ng/mL) in serum serotonin concentrations than the groups A and B interventions. No side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these findings, the dual supplementation of γ-PGA and VitB6 may be effective as functional food components to improve nighttime sleep status.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2008

Some pretreatment methods have been proposed to enhance the biodegradability and to shorten the hydrolysis reaction time. By means of efficient pretreatment the suspended solids (SS) can be made of better accessible for the anaerobic bacteria. There are several ways how this can be accomplished, which include biological, mechanical, thermal, and chemical methods. For the sludge solubilization using the cavitation phenomenon, we have tried to develop a pretreatment process consisted of a reactor and pumps. The objectives of this study were to develop a advanced wastewater treatment consisted of IABR and the cavitation with PGA. The most effective removal for organic matter and nutrients were occured when both cavitation pretreatment and ${\gamma}$-PGA were applied at the IABR process. Only small portion of ${\gamma}$-PGA at a rate of 1.38mg/L, was enough to improve sedimentation ability, SS removal efficiencies, and sludge volume reduction. After the sludge solubilization by the cavitation, SCOD increased to 193% and SS decreased to 36%. The removal ratio of BOD was 94.5%, T-N removal ratio was 85.5% and T-P removal ratio was 84.9%. The combination process of the IABR with the cavitation and PGA addition seems to be very effective alternative wastewater treatment process.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.2 s.75
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• pp.175-179
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• 2006

A bacterium that produced a large amount of poly-$\gamma$-glutamate (PGA) was isolated from the compost and designated as Bacillus subtilis CH-10. The optimum temperature and pH for PGA production were at $37^{\circ}C$ and 7.5, respectively. The maximum amount of PGA production (18.84 mg/ml) was obtained when it was grown in a medium containing 3% L-glutamate and 5% sucrose at $37^{\circ}C$ with shaking. The result that the L-glutamate significantly induced PGA production indicates that it produces a PGA by the glutamate dependent manner. Some properties of the PGA obtained at different times of cultivation were investigated by SDS-PAGE and ninhydrin analysis. The PGA production was elongated along with cultivation time and maximum amount was achieved at 96 h. Average molecular weight of PGA was estimated to be 1100 kDa by FDNB method.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2007

To characterize $\gamma$-glutamyltranspeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP or ggt; EC 2. 3. 2. 2.) gene of Bacillus subtilis BS 62, the $\gamma$-GTP gene of BS 62 was prepared from PCR products amplified with the chromosomal DNA. The $\gamma$-GTP gene of about 2.5 kb was sequenced, and its homology was compared with the other ggt genes which were reported previously. The base sequence of the gene appeared to have an open reading frame of 1,758 bp encoding a protein of 62,175 Da. The coding region was flanked by putative ribosome binding site - AGGAGG of 7th to 12th upstream - and the stem-loof sequence was followed by transcription terminator codon. Homology of the amino acid residues sequence consisting of 587 amino acid residues was found as 98% with Bacillus subtilis gene (BSU49358), 97.4% with that of Bacillus subtilis KX 102, 37% with Pseudomonas sp. A14 (S63255) and 38% with Streptomyces avermitils (AP005028).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.855-858
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• 2005

The bioavailability of Ca is currently one of the most important topics in nutrition research and is correlated with gastrointestinal solubility. Thus, to increase the solubility of calcium, this study was undertaken to examine the effect of $\gamma$-PGA on intestinal Ca solubility. The calcium solubility increased when the amount of $\gamma$-PGA was increased, due to the inhibition of the formation of an insoluble Ca complex with phosphate. Therefore, when $\gamma$-PGA-500 (avg. MW 5,000 kDa) was added at 0.5 mg/ml, $75\%$ of the total Ca was soluble. The amount of soluble Ca uptake in the small intestine was investigated using Balb/c mice as an animal model system. The soluble Ca uptake in the mice orally administered with $\gamma$-PGA-500 (avg. MW 5,000 kDa) was significantly higher than that in the $\gamma$-PGA-l00 (avg. MW 1,000 kDa)-administered mice (P<0.05). Accordingly, these results strongly support the notion that the molecular size of $\gamma$-PGA is correlated with Ca solubility. The effects of other factors, such as casein phosphopeptide and vitamin D, on intestinal Ca absorption have also previously been investigated. Therefore, it is hoped that the present observations will help clarify the role of $\gamma$-PGA in Ca solubility and its industrial application as an additive.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.283-296
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• 2012

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory skin disease and regarded as a prototype of T-cell mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (PGA) is a biodegradable polymer that is produced by Bacillus subtilis. This study was performed to assess the effects of PGA in a canine model of ACD. ACD was induced on the back of dogs induced by sensitization and repeated application by 2,4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene (DNCB). Topical treatment of PGA was applied once a day for 12 days and skin biophysical parameters including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, skin pH, skin thickness and erythema index, were measured every two days during experimental periods. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the antiinflammatory effect. In skin biophysical parameters, TEWL, skin hydration, skin thickness and erythema index were significantly increased, with a maximum increase appeared on day 2 (p < 0.05). On the other hand, skin pH was significantly decreased, with a maximum decrease appeared on day 2 (p < 0.01). After the completion of PGA treatment, skin biophysical parameters were significantly reached those of baseline in a time-dependent manner (p < 0.05). In histopathology, marked increases of epidermal thicknesses were induced after DNCB challenge with numerous inflammatory cell infiltrations and edematous changes, decreases of connective tissue occupied regions in dermis. In addition, marked increases of cytokine - tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$)-immunoreactivities in the dermis and of apoptotic markers - caspase-3 and PARP-immunoreactivities in the epidermis were observed in DNCB-PBS control as compared with intact control, respectively (p < 0.01). It means, the ACD and related apoptotic changes were induced by DNCB in the present study. However, these ACD induced by DNCB and related apoptosis in epidermis were significantly inhibited by treatment of PGA treated skin, the decreases of infiltrated inflammatory cells and related decreases of pro-inflammatory cytokine immunoreactivities were also observed (p < 0.01). Based on these findings, PGA may have anti-inflammatory and alleviatory effects in the allergic contact dermatitis.