• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1982-1992
• /
• 2019

The alkaliphilic, calcium carbonate precipitating Bacillus sp. strain AK13 can be utilized in concrete for self-repairing. A statistical experimental design was used to develop an economical medium for its mass cultivation and sporulation. Two types of screening experiment were first conducted to identify substrates that promote the growth of the AK13 strain: the first followed a one-factor-at-a-time factorial design and the second a two-level full factorial design. Based on these screening experiments, barley malt powder and mixed grain powder were identified as the substrates that most effectively promoted the growth of the AK13 strain from a range of 21 agricultural products and by-products. A quadratic statistical model was then constructed using a central composite design and the concentration of the two substrates was optimized. The estimated growth and sporulation of Bacillus sp. strain AK13 in the proposed medium were 3.08 ± 0.38 × 10⁸ and 1.25 ± 0.12 × 10⁸ CFU/ml, respectively, which meant that the proposed low-cost medium was approximately 45 times more effective than the commercial medium in terms of the number of cultivatable bacteria per unit price. The spores were then powdered via a spray-drying process to produce a spore powder with a spore count of 2.0 ± 0.7 × 10⁹ CFU/g. The AK13 spore powder was mixed with cement paste, yeast extract, calcium lactate, and water. The yeast extract and calcium lactate generated the highest CFU/ml for AK13 at a 0.4:0.4 ratio compared to 0.4:0.25 (the original ratio of the B4 medium) and 0.4:0.8. Twenty-eight days after the spores were mixed into the mortar, the number of vegetative cells and spores of the AK13 strain had reached 10⁶ CFU/g within the mortar. Cracks in the mortar under 0.29 mm were healed in 14 days. Calcium carbonate precipitation was observed on the crack surface. The mortar containing the spore powder was thus concluded to be effective in terms of healing micro-cracks.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2002

A phosphate solubilizing bacterium. strain 60-2G, possessing a strong ability to solubilize insoluble phosphate was isolated from the rhizosphere of grass. On the basis of GC-FAME profile, carbon utilization pattern, and the DNA sequence of a conserved partial 16S rRNA gene, the 60-2G was identified as Enterobacter intermedium. The analysis by HPLC revealed that the strain 60-2G produced mainly gluconic and 2-ketogluconic acids with small amounts of lactic acid in broth culture medium containing hydroxyapatite. During the incubation period of the strain 60-2G in broth culture, pH of the medium decreased upto 3.8 while the soluble phosphate concentration increased. The reversed correlation between pH and soluble phosphate concentration indicated that the solubility of P was due to the produced organic acids. The sequence homology of the deduced amino acids suggested that E. intermedium 60-2G synthesized PQQ which is essential for the oxidation of glucose by glucose dehydrogenase.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.20.1-20.13
• /
• 2021

Background: Pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection leads to high mortality in swine. Despite extensive efforts, effective treatments against PRV infection are limited. Furthermore, the inflammatory response induced by PRV strain GXLB-2013 is unclear. Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the inflammatory response induced by PRV strain GXLB-2013, establish an inflammation model to elucidate the pathogenesis of PRV infection further, and develop effective drugs against PRV infection. Methods: Kunming mice were infected intramuscularly with medium, LPS, and different doses of PRV-GXLB-2013. Viral spread and histopathological damage to brain, spleen, and lung were determined at 7 days post-infection (dpi). Immune organ indices, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and inflammatory cytokines, as well as levels of activity of COX-2 and iNOS were determined at 4, 7, and 14 dpi. Results: At 10⁵-10⁶ TCID₅₀ PRV produced obviously neurological symptoms and 100% mortality in mice. Viral antigens were detectable in kidney, heart, lung, liver, spleen, and brain. In addition, inflammatory injuries were apparent in brain, spleen, and lung of PRV-infected mice. Moreover, PRV induced increases in immune organ indices, ROS and NO levels, activity of COX-2 and iNOS, and the content of key pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ and MCP-1. Among the tested doses, 10² TCID₅₀ of PRV produced a significant inflammatory mediator increase. Conclusions: An inflammatory model induced by PRV infection was established in mice, and 10² TCID50 PRV was considered as the best concentration for the establishment of the model.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2018

Objectives : Hyeonggaeyeongyotang Gagambang (HYT) is a herbal medicine prescribed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, but it is necessary to study the exact therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial and anti-inflmmatory activities of HYT. Methods : Antibacterial activity of HYT was confirmed by staining Escherichia coli, a gram negative strain, and Staphylococcus aureus, a gram positive strain, on solid Lysogeny Broth (LB) medium containing HYT. Antioxidant activity of HYT was confirmed by 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. The phosphorylation of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$) after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment with HYT-treated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells was confirmed by immunoblot analysis and the level of interleukin 1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$) mRNA expression level was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results : HYT showed a concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and also showed excellent antioxidant activity. HYT treatment attenuated the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$induced by LPS treatment in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells. The phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$is crucial for the regulation of the expression of various pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA expression level of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells stimulated by LPS treatment was also inhibited by HYT treatment. Conclusions : Through experimental demonstration of the antioxidative, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of HYT, we demonstrated that HYT is a herbal medicine effective for the treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by various bacterial infections.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.39
• /
• pp.7.1-7.9
• /
• 2017

Background: This study was to investigate the effect of biomechanical stimulation on osteoblast differentiation of human periosteal-derived stem cell using the newly developed bioreactor. Methods: Human periosteal-derived stem cells were harvested from the mandible during the extraction of an impacted third molar. Using the new bioreactor, 4% cyclic equibiaxial tension force (0.5 Hz) was applied for 2 and 8 h on the stem cells and cultured for 3, 7, and 14 days on the osteogenic medium. Biochemical changes of the osteoblasts after the biomechanical stimulation were investigated. No treatment group was referred to as control group. Results: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and ALP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level were higher in the strain group than those in the control group. The osteocalcin and osteonectin mRNA expressions were higher in the strain group compared to those in the control group on days 7 and 14. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression was higher in the strain group in comparison to that in the control group. Concentration of alizarin red S corresponding to calcium content was higher in the strain group than in the control group. Conclusions: The study suggests that cyclic tension force could influence the osteoblast differentiation of periosteal-derived stem cells under optimal stimulation condition and the force could be applicable for tissue engineering.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2005.03a
• /
• pp.982-989
• /
• 2005

In this study, a series of laboratory tests based on 'Unit-cell concept' are performed to investigate improvement characteristics of clay ground in sand compaction pile method. Settlement reduction characteristics of composite ground and improvement characteristics of clay part could be qualified. In these procedure, the new strain-compression index($C_{\epsilon}$) of composite ground are adopted to show compressibility of composite ground according to the area replacement ratio, which is similar to the compression index($C_c$) in pure clay ground. Also, using normalization of reduction of water content in composite ground to the initial water content, improvement characteristics of clay part are investigated.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2009

The use of the crumb rubber as an asphalt binder modifier may contribute to road maintenance and repair. The adhesion properties of the crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) sealant have attracted interest due to brittle and adhesion failure of asphalt binders at low temperatures. In this study, the influence of a flexibilizer as a modifier for CRMA at low temperatures was investigated. Their properties were measured using the penetration, the softening point, the tensile and tensile adhesion tests at low temperature. The tensile adhesion strength and the strain of CRMAs were increased with increasing ductile deformation of the CR and the asphalt binder in the flexiblizer modified CRMAs. It was found that the flexibilizer concentration was an important factor for tensile and adhesion properties of CRMAs at low temperatures.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.275-279
• /
• 1997

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylorl) infection is now established as the major pathogenic factor in chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. in addition, there is accumulating evidence that H. pylori plays an important role in the process of gastric carcinogenesis. On the other hand, oriental traditional medicines have been used for stomach disease for thousands of years. In the present study, methanol extract from the stem bark of Magnolia sieboldii (M. sieboldii) and its components were investigated on their inhibitory effects against urease activity and growth of H. pylori in vitro. The methanol extract of M. sieboldii significantly inhibited the growth of H. pylori ATCC 43504 at 5 mg/ml. From the further fractionation, the chloroform fraction inhibited the bacterial growth dose-dependently. Among four fractions separated from the chloroform fraction by silica gel column chromatography, MS-C-2 was the most potent. Costunolide was isolated from the MS-C-2 subtraction by preparative TLC and recrystallization using n-hexane. Anti-H. pylori effect of costunolide was investigated using one commercial strain (H. pylori ATCC 43504) and three clinical strains (H. pylon 4, 43, 82548). Costunolide exhibited potent anti-H. pylori activity, and the MIC was around $100-200{\mu}g/ml$. However, costunolide had no inhibitory effect of H. pylori urease activity at the concentration used for the growth inhibition assay. From these results, we conclude that costunolide inhibits the, growth of H. pylori by the independent manner of H. pylori urease inhibition.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.7
• /
• pp.1108-1113
• /
• 2015

Cadaverine (1,5-diaminopentane) is an important industrial chemical with a wide range of applications. Although there have been many efforts to produce cadaverine through fermentation, there are not many reports of the direct cadaverine production from lysine using biotransformation. Whole-cell reactions were examined using a recombinant Escherichia coli strain overexpressing the E. coli MG1655 cadA gene, and various parameters were investigated for the whole-cell bioconversion of lysine to cadaverine. A high concentration of lysine resulted in the synthesis of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) and it was found to be a critical control factor for the biotransformation of lysine to cadaverine. When 0.025 mM PLP and 1.75 M lysine in 500 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH6) were used, consumption of 91% lysine and conversion of about 80% lysine to cadaverine were successfully achieved.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.1A
• /
• pp.39-48
• /
• 2012

This study deals with numerical determination of stress intensity factors of adhesively patch-repaired plates with cracks at V-shaped or semicircular notches. The p-convergent anisoparametric model are considered and then three-dimensional virtual crack closure technique is presented using formulations of anisoparametric elements. In assumed displacement fields of an element, strain-displacement relations and three-dimensional constitutive equations are derived with three-dimensional hierarchical shape functions expanded from one-dimensional Lobatto functions. Transfinite mapping technique is used to represent a circular boundary. The present model provides accuracy and simplicity in terms of stress concentration factor, stress distribution, the number of degrees of freedom, and non-dimensional stress intensity factor as compared with previous works in literatures. Stress intensity factors obtained by the three-dimensional virtual crack closure technique are estimated with respect to the variation of width of finite plate, radius of notch root, angular inclination of V-shaped notch, and crack length.