• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2013

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widely used substance in commercial and industrial applications, yet it must be removed from the contaminated soil and groundwater environment due to its toxic and carcinogenic nature. We investigated bacterial community structure, dominant bacterial strain, and removal efficiency in a TCE contaminated groundwater treatment system using immobilized carrier. The microbial diversity was determined by the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA gene library. The major bacterial population of the contaminated groundwater treatment system was belonging to BTEX degradation bacteria. The bacterial community consisted mainly of one genus of Pseudomonas (Pseudomonas putida group). The domination of Pseudomonas putida group may be caused by high concentration of toluene and TCE. Furthermore, we isolated a toluene and TCE degrading bacterium, named Pseudomonas sp. DHC8, from the immobilized carrier in bioreactor which was designed to remove TCE from the contaminated ground water. Based on the results of morphological and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DHC8 was identified as a member of Pseudomonas putida group. When TCE (0.83 mg/L) and toluene (60.61 mg/L) were degraded by this strain, removal efficiencies were 72.3% and 100% for 12.5 h, respectively. Toluene removal rate was 2.89 ${\mu}mol/g$-DCW/h and TCE removal rate was 0.02 ${\mu}mol/g$-DCW/h. These findings will be helpful for maintaining maximum TCE removal efficiency of a reactor for bioremediation of TCE.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2020

Using a random arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction, messenger RNA expression levels were assessed after exposure to 10% (v/v) toluene for 8 hr in solvent-tolerant Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 106. Among the 100 up-expressed products, 50 complementary DNA fragments were confirmed to express repeatedly; these were cloned and then sequenced. Blast analysis revealed that toluene stimulated an adaptive increase in the gene expression level in association with transcriptions such as LysR family of transcriptional regulators and RNA polymerase factor sigma-32. The expression of catalase and Mn2+/Fe2+ transporter genes functionally associated with inorganic ion transport and metabolism increased, and the increased expression of type IV pilus assembly PilZ and multi-sensor signal transduction histidine kinase genes, functionally categorized into signal transduction and mechanisms, was also demonstrated under toluene stress. The gene expression level of beta-hexosaminidase in association with carbohydrate transport and metabolism increased, and those of DNA polymerase III subunit epsilon, DNA-3-methyladenine glycosylase II, DEAD/DEAH box helicase domain-containing protein, and ABC transporter also increased after exposure to toluene in DNA replication, recombination, and repair, and even in defense mechanism. In particular, the RNAs corresponding to the ABC transporter, Mn2+/Fe2+ transporter, and the β-hexosaminidase gene were confirmed to be markedly induced in the presence of 10% toluene. Thus, defense mechanism, cellular ion homeostasis, and biofilm formation were shown as essential for toluene tolerance in Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 106.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2003

A wilt disease of commercial cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) which grown in greenhouse was found in Gyeo-nggi province of Korea during the period from August, 2001 to July, 2002. The disease incidence was up to 42.7% in Kimpo, Gyeonggi province. The disease was more severe in ebb and flow irrigation system than con-ventional overhead flooding\'s. The wilted cyclamen plants showed the chlorosis of leaves and followed by the death. The vascular tissues of the infected basal stem and bulb were discolored with black streaks. The casual fungus was identified to be Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cyclaminis on the basis of mycological characteristics. Effect of infected soil showed 100% infection rate when the cyclamen plants were grown in potting with infested soil. Examine resistant cultivar showed ‘Matis red’, ‘Schubert’, ‘Victoria’ and ‘Chopin’ were the resistant cultivars but most of cultivars were susceptible to Fusarium wilt. The control effect of chemicals for cyclamen wilt was not much efficient to curative effects even though. Benomyl WP and Fludioxonil SC on the Fusarium wilt had only preventive effects by soil drenching in the pot before inoculation of F. oxysporum. This is the first report on the fusarium wilt of cyclamen caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. cyclaminis in Korea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2005

A bacterium capable of emulsifying hydrocarbon, n-hexadecane, and decreasing surface tension of the culture media using oil collapsing method was isolated. The bacterium was partially identified as Bacillus sp. and named BJS-51. n-Hexadecane was the most effective carbon source for production of biosurfactant. Surface tension was decreased from 76 dyne/cm to 31 dyne/cm and CMD (critical micelle dilution) had the highest value of 5.7 at 3% n-hexadecane. Ammonium phosphate was the most effective nitrogen source, when C/N ratio was 60, surface tension and CMD were 29 dyne/cm and 9.2, respectively. Optimum pH and temperature were 7.2 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. Produced biosurfactant was extracted and purified using organic solvent extraction method and preparative HPLC systems. After analysis by various color reaction, this biosurfactant was identified as lipopolysaccharide. Surface tension and CMC (critical micelle concentration) of purified biosurfactant were 27 dyne/cm and 0.08 g/l, repectively. CMD was 9.2, so the yield of biosurfactant was about 0.74 g/l at the optimal conditions. The biosurfactant was very stable at wide range of $pH\;2{\sim}12$ with surface tension $29{\sim}31\;dyne/cm$ and showed $29{\sim}30\;dyne/cm$ of surface tension after heat treatment at $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 min.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.130-141
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• 2017

We evaluated the field application feasibility that biologically derived substances (Naphthoquinone derivate: NQ 2-0) can be used for the eco-friendly mitigation of natural harmful cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater. We conducted a 30 ton scale mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of NQ 2-0 on biotic and abiotic factors in water collected from Gi-heung reservoir. In the mesocosm experiments, the abundance of Microcystis sp. was continuously increased in the control. However, the Microcystis sp. cell density was sharply decreased on the $10^{th}$ day. In the treatment, NQ 2-0 showed the strong and selective algicidal activity toward the target cyanobacteria (Microcystis sp.). Accordingly, the algicidal activity of NQ 2-0 compound increased gradually until $10^{th}$, $15^{th}$ days and algal biomass was decreased to 99.4 and 100 %, respectively. NQ 2-0 compound was not only selective algicidal activity but also the growth of other phytoplankton and increased the Shannon-Wiener diversity index of phytoplankton. In the mesocosm experiments, the dynamics of biotic (bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellate, ciliates, zooplankton) and abiotic (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nutrients) factors remained unaffected. These results suggest that NQ 2-0 could be a selective and ecologically safe algicide to mitigate harmful cyanobacterial blooms. In addition, it is believed that NQ 2-0 will play a major role in forming a healthy aquatic ecosystem by facilitating habitat and food supply of aquatic organisms.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4 s.109
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• pp.368-372
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• 2004

The development of a benthic filamentous green algal community formed by Spiro gyra sp. in early summer has been observed in the littoral zones in the north basin of Lake Biwa since the 1980s. The development of a Spirogyra sp. community may have an effect on the increase in the biomass of the benthic algal community in early summer and on the alterations in seasonal fluctuation patterns of the biomass. In this mini-review, the causes underlying the development of the Spirogyra sp. community are discussed on the basis of studies in the seasonal fluctuations of benthic algal communities in littoral stony zones carried out in 1963-1964, 1995-1996 and 2000-2001, especially those focusing on the nutrient concentration $(NO_3^--N)$. $NO_3^--N$ concentrations in June were higher than $100{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in 1995 and 2000 in contrast to a concentration in June 1964 of only $20{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. These results show that $NO_3^--N$concentrations throughout in 1963-1964 period were considerably lower than those in 1995-1996 and 2000-2001, suggesting that the $NO_3^--N$concentration may have served as a limiting factor on Spirogyra sp. growth in 1963. $NO_3^--N$ concentrations in the pelagic zone in the north basin of Lake Biwa have clearly increased from the 1950s under the impact of economic growth and the increasing population in the watershed. The development of the Spirogyra sp. community seems to be the result of a heady increase in the nutrient supply from human activities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Tributyltin chloride is among the most toxic compounds known for aquatic ecosystems. Microorganisms are responsible for removal of TBTCl. Nevertheless, only a limited number of marine bacteria were investigated for biodegradation of TBTCl in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of TBTCl resistant bacteria ranged from $2.5{\times}10^3$ to $3.8{\times}10^3$ cfu/mL in the seawater, and ranged from $3.2{\times}10^5$ to $9.1{\times}10^5$ cfu/g in the surface sediment, respectively. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of TBTCl resistant bacteria were investigated by API 20NE and other tests. The most abundant species of TBTCl resistant bacteria were Vibrio spp. (19.2%), Bacillus spp. (16.2%), Aeromonas spp. (15.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (13.1%), etc. Eleven TBTCl resistant isolates also had a resistance to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn). Among them, isolate T7 showing the strong TBTCl-resistance was selected. This isolate was identified as the genus Pantoea by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and designated as Pantoea sp. T7. In addition, this bacterium was cultivated up to the growth of 50.7% after 60 hrs at TBTCl concentration of $500{\mu}M$. TBTCl-degrading activity of Pantoea sp. T7 was measured by GC-FPD analysis. As a result of biological TBTCl-degradation at TBTCl concentration of $100{\mu}M$, TBTCl-removal efficiency of Pantoeasp. T7 was 62.7% after 40 hrs. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that Pantoea sp. T7 is potentially useful for the bioremediation of TBT contamination.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.335-343
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• 2006

Five strains of Korean entomopathogenic nematodes(EPN), steinernematids and heterorhabditids(Steinernama carpocapsae GSN1, Steinernema sp. GSNUS-10, Steinernama sp. GSNUS-14, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Hamyang, Heterorhabditis sp. GSNUH-1) were evaluated and tried in petri dish, pot, and vegetable greenhouses for environmentally friendly control of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. $LC_{50}$ values of five EPN strains against beet armyworm was different depending on nematode strain and beet armyworm instar. $LC_{50}$ value of Steinernema carpocapse GSN1(GSN1) was 3.8-5.1 infective juveniles(Ijs) in 2nd to 4th instars of beet armyworm. Pathogenicity of five EPN strains against beet armyworm different in nematode strain, concentration, application times, and vegetable species in pot and greenhouse. Steinernema spp. was more effective than Heterorhabditis spp. against beet armyworm. Two or three times of applications of EPN were found to be effective regardless of nematode strain and concentration in pot and greenhouse. ENP showed different reactions on vegetable species. Efficacy of EPN was higher on Chinese cabbage than that on cabbage and kale. GSN1 was one of the most effective nematodes and 100,000 infective juveniles per $m^2$(720,000 Ijs/$7.2m^2=1{\times}10^9$Ijs/ha) resulted in higher mortality in greenhouse.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.236-248
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• 2019

We investigated occurrence and molecular phylogeny of the toxic epiphytic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis at seven sampling sites in the coastal waters off Jeju Island of Korea in April, 2017. During the sampling period, surface water temperature ranged from 15.7 to $18.3^{\circ}C$ and salinity was relatively constant, ranging from 33.4 to 34.9. Of a total of 13 macroalgal species collected from all sampling sites, Ostreopsis cells were observed from 8 macroalgal species and the highest cell abundance ($157.5cells\;g^{-1}$) was recorded on the red alga Grateloupia filicina at St. 6. LSU rDNA D8/D10 sequences of all Korean Ostreopsis strains isolated from the 4 sampling sites were 100% identical. Molecular phylogentic analyses (BI and ML) inferred from LSU rDNA alignment showed that the Korean Ostreopsis strains placed into the previously described the Ostreopsis sp. 1 clade, which contained strains isolated from the temperate coastal waters of Japan. The Korean Ostreopsis sp. 1 strain grew in a wide range of temperature ($10-30^{\circ}C$) and salinity (25-30), with its maximum growth rate of $0.49d^{-1}$ at $25^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 30, indicating that they can be tolerated in temperate areas.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.741-744
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• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term safety of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 in children with constipation, particularly the biochemical aspects of safety. Methods: Medical records were evaluated, and 100 children, who had been taking PEG 4000 for more than 6 months, and who had been under clinical and biochemical monitoring, were enrolled. Ages; $6.11{\pm}3.12$ years, Duration of therapy; $16.93{\pm}7.02$ months, dose of PEG 4000; $0.72{\pm}0.21g/kg/d$. Results: None of the children complained of clinical adverse effect. The first biochemical test was performed at 8.05 months after beginning of PEG 4000. Serum phosphate (SP) value was high in 10 children, and leucopenia was noted in one child. The second test was performed in 44 children at 7.57 months after the first test. The SP value was high in four children, including the three children whose initial SP value was high and one new child. Six out of 10 children with high initial SP value became normal and one was lost. Hypernatremia was noted in one child. The third test was done in 15 children at 7.5 months after the second test. The SP value of the new child from the second test was high, but became normal after finishing treatment. Two out of 3 children with high SP value at the second test became normal and one was lost. The fourth test was done in 2 children few months after the third test. All of the results were normal. There were no relation between duration of therapy and hyperphosphatemia, or between dose of PEG 4000 and hyperphosphatemia. Conclusions: PEG 4000 is safe for long-term therapy in children with constipation with respect to biochemical parameters.