• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.895-902
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• 2014

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has played important role as new functional material for food industry and industrial products based on its unique properties. The interest in BC from static cultures has increased steadily in recent years because of its potential for use in medicine and cosmetics. In this study, we investigated culture condition for BC production by Acetobacter sp. F15 in static culture. The strain F15, which was isolated from decayed fruit, was selected on the basis of BC thickness. The optimal medium compositions for BC production were glucose 7%, soytone 12%, $K_2HPO_4$ 0.2%, $NaH_2PO_4{\cdot}_2H_2O$ 0.2%, lactic acid 0.05% and ethanol 0.3%, respectively. The strain F15 was able to produce BC at $26^{\circ}C-36^{\circ}C$ with a maximum at $32^{\circ}C$. BC production occurred at pH 4.5-8 with a maximum at pH 6.5. Under these conditions, a maximum BC thickness of 12.15 mm was achieved after 9 days of cultivation; this value was about 2.3-fold higher than the thickness in basic medium. Scanning electron micrographs showed that BC from the optimal medium was more compact than plant cellulose and was reticulated structure consisting of ultrafine cellulose fibrils. BC from the optimal medium was found to be of cellulose type I, the same as typical native cellulose.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.249-253
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• 2017

Twelve strains of bacteria with cellulase and xylanase activities were isolated from spent mushroom substrates collected from button mushroom cultivation farm, Buye, Chungcheongnam-do in Korea. Among them, one strain, designated NO12, with higher cellulase and xylanase activities was selected by agar diffusion method. The strain NO12 was identified to be a Bacillus sp. by biochemical characteristics using Bacillus ID kit and MicroLog system. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain NO12 formed a distinct phylogenetic tree within the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus subtilis with 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity of 99.2%. Based on its physiological properties, biochemical characteristics, and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain NO12 was classified within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus subtilis NO12 was proposed. The cellulase and xylanase activities of B. subtilis NO12 were slightly increased according to bacterial population from exponential phase to stationary phase in the growth curve for B. subtilis NO12. The xylanase activity continuously increased from the beginning of the exponential phase and exhibited maximum activity in the middle of the exponential phase.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.1 s.141
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• pp.39-44
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• 2007

A new endemic focus of Gymnophalloides seoi infection has been discovered on Aphae Island(Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do), Republic of Korea. This area, which is referred to as Bokyong-ri, is a small seashore village located in the northern portion of the island. Fecal samples were collected from a total of 57 residents and examined by the Kato-Katz and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. Helminth eggs were detected in 37 samples(64.9%); 33 samples were positive for G. seoi eggs(57.9%), 4 for Pygidiopsis summa(7.0%), 13 for other heterophyids(22.8%), 1 for Clonorchis sinensis(1.7%), and 1 for Trichuris trichiura(1.7%). Women(70.4%) revealed higher rates of G. seoi infection than did men(46.7%), and individuals older than 50 years of age also evidenced higher rates of G. seoi infection than in other age groups(P<0.05). In worm collection from 13 G. seoi egg positive cases, G. seoi (total 86,558 specimens), Heterophyes nocens(278), Stictodora sp.(10), Heterophyopsis continua(3), P. summa(3), and unidentified flukes(42) were collected. Oysters, the source of G. seoi infection, were collected from an area proximal to the village and 50 were examined for metacercariae; 47(94%) were found infected and the observed metacercarial density was $9.5{\pm}8.9$ per oyster. The results of this study indicate that Bokyong-ri is a new endemic area of G. seoi infection, with high rates of infection in humans and oysters.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2005

Mass culturing of two beneficial organisms used as biofertilizers for crops would reduce the risks in production and minimize the capital involved and this demands appropriate media that supports both organism and also selection of organisms that are not antagonistic to each other. A study was initiated to culture a nitrogen fixer (Rhizobium) and phosphate solubilizer (Bacillus megaterium) in a single medium and to study their growth patterns and shelf life in carrier. The growth of Rhizobium and Bacillus megaterium was assessed in different media and a slight modification in the traditional yeast extract mannitol media promoted the growth of both the organisms. The growth of the individual organisms in the modified medium was assessed by estimating the population at regular intervals and compared to their original medium. Maximum population of Rhizobium and phosphobacteria was at 60 hr when the phosphiobacteria inoculation of later was after 48 hr of Rhizobium inoculation. The shelf life of the individual inoculants in the inoculant containing both the organism in a sterile carrier base revealed no significant differences compared to individual organisms inoculated in a sterilized carrier. The population of both organisms in carrier based mixed inoculant remained at $10^8$ cells till 90 days.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1136-1142
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• 2012

The roles of paddy fields are re-evaluated as an artificial wetland. Although 44% of total aquatic invertebrates in South Korea are observed in a rice paddy, information of their distribution and characteristics of habitat use is limited yet. This study was carried out to provide information and characterizing distribution of community of aquatic invertebrates using a rice paddy through the South Korea. Aquatic invertebrates were collected at 284 sites of a rice paddy in South Korea from June to August, 2005, 2006 and 2007. We grouped sampling sites according to its species and population of aquatic invertebrates using a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Total 21 orders 60 families 114 species were collected from a rice paddy. Coleoptera (25%), Heteroptera (17%), Diptera (17%) and Odonata (12%) were observed. Aquatic invertebrates were classified into three groups (Group 1: Gangwon, Gyeonggi and Chungbuk; Group 2: Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam and Jeju; Group 3: Gyeongbuk and Kyeongnam). In Group 1, Muljarus japonicas distributed mainly Gangwondo and Chungbuk. In Group 2, Sigara nigroventralis and S. substriata were mainly observed. In Group 3, higher density of Daphnia sp. and Chironomidae gen. spp. was found in the southern part of Korea.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.213-231
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• 2013

Amphidinium massartii Biecheler is an epiphytic and toxic dinoflagellate. Prior to the present study, A. massartii has been reported in the waters off the Mediterranean, Australian, USA, and Canadian coasts. We isolated Amphidinium cells from the coastal waters of Jeju Island, Korea and their morphology and rDNA sequences indicated that they were A. massartii. Herein, we report for the first time the occurrence of A. massartii in the waters of the temperate region in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences of the Korean strains were 0.7% different from those of an Australian strain of A. massartii CS-259, the closest species, but were 4.1-5.8% different from those of the other Australian strains and the USA strains of A. massartii and from those of Amphidinium sp. HG115 that was isolated from subtropical Okinawan waters. In phylogenetic trees based on LSU, internal transcribed spacer, small subunit rDNA, and cytochrome b sequences, the Korean strains belonged to the A. massartii clade, which was clearly divergent from the A. carterae clade. The morphology of the Korean A. massartii strains was similar to that of the originally described French strain and recently described Australian strain. However, we report for the first time here that scales were observed on the surface of the flagella. In conclusion, the Korean A. massartii strains have unique rDNA sequences, even though they have a very similar morphology to that of previously reported strains. This report extends the known range of this dinoflagellate to the temperate waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.497-502
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• 1997

For the purpose of enzymatic production of galactooligosaccharides from soybean arabinogalactan (SAG) hydrolysis, the $\beta$-1, 4-D-arabinogalactanase($\beta$-1, 4-galactanase) from Bacillus sp. HJ-12 was used. The soybean galactooligosaccharides(SOS) were optimally produced in SAG 1%(w/v), pH 8.0, 5$0^{\circ}C$, $\beta$-1, 4-galactanase 20unit/g SAG and 24-40 hour reaction conditions. The produced galactooligosaccharides had visocity of 11,000 cp at 75%(w/v), $25^{\circ}C$. The viscosity of galactooligosaccharides was 80 fold increasing value than that of sucrose solution. Temperature dependence of viscosity of SOS was 4.6 fold higher value than surose solution below than 5$0^{\circ}C$. Less than 50 Brix, the viscosity of SOS was similar with sucrose solution(20-40 cp), but increasing of concentration, the difference of viscosity between SOS and sucrose solution was increased. And, SOS was very stable at pH and temperature.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 1982

The distribution of acid phosphatase activity was investigated with 141 microorganisms from the type culture collection of Chong Kun Dang laboratory and the 41 strains isolated from natural sources. The phytase activity was detected mainly with fungal strains. A fungus isolated from soil and identified as Aspergillus niger had shown the highest phytase activity. The environmental conditions for the enzyme formation by the isolate and some properties of the enzyme were also studied. The results obtained were as follows: (1) The highest phytase production was observed when the fungus was cultivated at 28$^{\circ}C$ for 5 days in the corn starch based medium using the cells incubated at 34$^{\circ}C$ for 3 days as a seed. (2) The optimal initial pH of the culture medium was found to around 2 for the formation of phytase. (3) Sucrose was proved to be one of the most effective carbon sources tested for the enzyme production. (4) As an inorganic nitrogen source, potassium nitrate was found to give a good result in the production of phytase. (5) Synthesis of phytase was significantly increased by the supplement with 0.2 % corn steep liquor to the basal medium as an organic nitrogen source. (6) At the concentration of 40-80 mg inorganic phosphate per liter of the culture medium, the enzyme formation revealed the highest level. But as the phosphate was increased above this optimum concentration the phytase activity was drastically decreased although the cell density showed to be still increasing

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1011-1017
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• 2010

A novel dioscin-glycosidase that specifically hydrolyzes multi-glycosides, such as 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}4$)-rhamnoside, 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}2$)-rhamnoside, 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}4$)-arabinoside, and ${\beta}$-D-glucoside, on diosgenin was isolated from the Absidia sp.d38 strain, purified, and characterized. The molecular mass of the new dioscin-glycosidase is about 55 kDa based on SDS-PAGE. The dioscin-glycosidase gradually hydrolyzes either 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}4$)-Rha or 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}2$)-Rha from dioscin into 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-Rha-${\beta}$-D-Glc-diosgenin, further rapidly hydrolyzes the other ${\alpha}$-L-Rha from 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-Rha-${\beta}$-D-Glc-diosgenin into the main intermediate products of 3-O-${\beta}$-D-Glc-diosgenin, and subsequently hydrolyzes these intermediate products into aglycone as the final product. The enzyme also gradually hydrolyzes 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}4$)-arabinoside, 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}2$)-rhamnoside, and ${\beta}$-D-glucoside from [3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}4$)-Ara, 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-($1{\to}4$)-Rha]-${\beta}$-D-Glc-diosgenin into diosgenin as the final product, exhibiting significant differences from previously reported glycosidases. The optimal temperature and pH for the new dioscin-glycosidase is $40^{\circ}C$ and 5.0, respectively. Whereas the activity of the new dioscin-glycosidase was not affected by $Na^+$, $K^+$, and $Mg^{2+}$ ions, it was significantly inhibited by $Cu^{2+}$ and $Hg^{2+}$ ions, and slightly affected by $Ca^{2+}$ ions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-100
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• 2017

Acetoin (AC) is a volatile platform compound with various potential industrial applications. AC contains two stereoisomeric forms: (3S)-AC and (3R)-AC. Optically pure AC is an important potential intermediate and widely used as a precursor to synthesize novel optically active materials. In this study, chiral (3R)-AC production from meso-2,3-butanediol (meso-2,3-BD) was obtained using recombinant Escherichia coli cells co-expressing meso-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (meso-2,3-BDH), NADH oxidase (NOX), and hemoglobin protein (VHB) from Serratia sp. T241, Lactobacillus brevis, and Vitreoscilla, respectively. The new biocatalyst of E. coli/pET-mbdh-nox-vgb was developed and the bioconversion conditions were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, 86.74 g/l of (3R)-AC with the productivity of 3.61 g/l/h and the stereoisomeric purity of 97.89% was achieved from 93.73 g/l meso-2,3-BD using the whole-cell biocatalyst. The yield and productivity were new records for (3R)-AC production. The results exhibit the industrial potential for (3R)-AC production via whole-cell biocatalysis.