• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 2009

Wheat is the most widely cultivated cereal and an important source of dietary protein worldwide. Wheat allergy, defined as an adverse immunologic reaction to wheat, encompasses a broad spectrum of disorders with different pathomechanisms and clinical manifestation. The Nuruk, a traditional Korean Koji for brewing, was made with wheat flour and fermenting microbes such as bacteria, yeast and mold. The strains grown on Nuruk secrete various enzymes as amylase and protease. By the activation of such enzymes, starch and proteins in Nuruk are hydrolyzed to sugar and amino acid. Therefore, it is supposed to reduce allergic proteins in wheat. To study quality properties and degradation degree of allergenicity in Nuruk by fermentation, we investigated the changes of general ingredients and allergenicity in Nuruk during fermentation. Moisture contents was decreased from 24.2% to 13.6% during fermentation. Crude lipid and protein contents were gradually increased during fermentation. After 15 days of fermentation, reducing sugar and total sugar contents were reached its maximum level, and they were 27.45% and 39.00%, respectively. Acid and neutral protease activity were significantly increased during fermentation, but alkaline protease activity was not detected. ${\alpha}$-amylase activity was gradually increased and showed maximum level about 2,833.00 U/g after 15 days of fermentation. Glucoamylase activity was the highest level about 497.9 U/g after 10 days of fermentation. The increase of these proteolytic and saccharogenic enzyme activities will provide efficient condition for production of rice wine. Also, protein fractions were isolated from Nuruk, and degradation of these proteins during fermentation were confirmed by SDS-PAGE. IgE immunoblotting using patient's sera with wheat allergy was performed to confirm allergenic protein in Nuruk. These results as fermentation of Nuruk will provide a useful tool for developing safer wheat products to prevent wheat allergy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1484-1490
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• 2014

In the present study, we examined the effects of a mixture of three strains, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7527, 7528, and 7529 (L. plantarum mixture), on body weight and lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet. Rats were fed a high-fat diet and subjected to oral gavage with vehicle or the L. plantarum mixture ($0.6{\times}10^9$, $1.2{\times}10^9$, $2.4{\times}10^9$ colony-forming units (CFU)/day/rat, respectively) for 8 weeks. In rats fed a high-fat diet, oral administration of $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$ of the L. plantarum mixture significantly reduced body weight gain as well as weights of liver and epididymal fat. Leptin levels in sera were significantly reduced by oral administration of $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$ of the L. plantarum mixture. The L. plantarum mixture ($1.2{\times}10^9$ or $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$) also reduced the concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in sera when it administered orally. Further, the L. plantarum mixture significantly reduced the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. In addition, oral administration of $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$ of the L. plantarum mixture markedly reduced levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in the liver. The results of this study indicate that the L. plantarum mixture may exhibit anti-obesity and cholesterol-lowering effects, which suggest that the L. plantarum mixture has the potential to be a probiotic in the management of obesity and hypercholesterolemia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2010

Purpose : Although oseltamivir is widely used for treatment of influenza, few clinical studies of its efficacy and resistance have been performed in Korea. We evaluated the safety, side effects, and efficacy of oseltamivir treatment in Korean pediatric patients. Methods : We analyzed 321 children diagnosed with influenza at Busan St. Mary's Medical Center, Korea, between January 2008 and June 2008 (first study period) and November 2008 and January 2009 (second study period). Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving oseltamivir treatment for 5 days and those receiving only symptomatic treatment. We investigated clinical symptoms, side effects, and resistance to oseltamivir. We also identified influenza strains and evaluated resistance to oseltamivir using an influenza virus culture. Results : One hundred eighty-six patients were assigned to the treatment group, and 135 were assigned to the control group. The treatment group showed shorter admission duration (4.4 days) compared with controls (5.0 days) (P =0.000) and had fewer lower respiratory tract complications compared with controls (P <0.05). No significant statistical difference in the virus antigenic type was observed between the groups. In the first study period, virus culture showed influenza B (41.7% vs. 49.6%), A/H3N2 (7.9% vs. 8.4%), and A/H1N1 (9.4% vs. 6.5%). In the second study period, only A/H1N1 (55.3% vs. 50.0%) was isolated, except for one case of A (H3N2) in the treatment group. No differences in short- and long-term side effects, including neuropsychologic side effects, were noted between groups. There was no resistance to oseltamivir before or after treatment in the first study period. Conclusion : Based on our results, we suggest that osetalmivir therapy in pediatric patients is effective.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 1994

Recently, the importance of toxoplasmosis is raised as a complication in immunosuppressed or AIDS patients. Our study focused on the identification of a variety of Toxoplasma antigens by immunoblotting. Rabbits and BALB/c mice were immunized with Toxoplosmo Iysate (RH strain) , frozen tachyzoites (RH strain) or cysts (Beverly and Fukaya strain) . Blood were collected from ear vein, heart or orbital plexus for detecting the serum antibody levels. For excretory-secretory (E.S) antigens, T gondii (RH) tachyzoite were cultured in CHL (Chinese hamster lung) cells with MEM containing of 5% FCS. After 72hrs, culture supernatant was collected. BALB/c mice were inoculated with RH tachyzoite intraperitoneally and peritoneal fluids were extracted three days later. E.S antigens were detected in culture supernatant and infected mouse peritoneal fluid by EITB. Serum IgG levels in rabbit were 1 :512 of 10 days after primary immunization, 1 : 2,048 of 10 days after secondary immunization, 1: 1,024 of 20 days after secondary immunization by IFAT, respectively. Serum IgG levels of immunized mice were 1:128 after 7 weeks. Tachyzoite antigens of the RH strain were detected 25 protein bands ranging 10 kDa-220 kDa of molecular weights with Coomassie blue stain. Toxoplcsma major antigens corresponding to n of 24 kDa, 27 kDa,30 kDa, 35 kDa, 38 kDa were recognized by IgG and IgM antibodies. Excretory-secretory antigens present in culture supernatant with M. W. of 20, 30 kDa and in infected mouse peritoneal fluid with M.W. of 33 (P30), 45 kDa. When RH tachyzoite antigen was probed with different mice sera immunized with 2 strains of T gondii, the IgG antibody bud of Fukaya and Beverly strain (8 week-serum) is identical to those of RH strain. It is considered that the 30 kDa polypeptide detected in excretory- secretory materials and Iysate was important major antigen of T gondii (RH).

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2003

The 1080 epiphytic bacteria obtained from 370 samples of pome and stone fruits including apple, pear, peach, grape, apricot and Chinese quince were screened for antagonistic activity against postharvest pathogens, Penicillium expansum, Alternaria alternata and Botrytis cinerea. Among tested antagonistic bacteria, eight bacterial isolates inhibited mycelial growth of the postharvest pathogens and were identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (three strains), B. megaterium, B. subtilis var. gladioli, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus and Serratia marcescens based on biochemical characteristics and utility of carbon and nitrogen compounds (Biolog system). Eight carbohydrates were evaluated for their effect on mycelial growth and germination of the postharvest pathogen, P. expansum to select nutrients for enhancing bio-control efficacy. The growth of four selected antagonists, B. amyloliquefaciens P43-2, B. amyloliquefaciens A71-2, B. licheniformis P94-1, and S. marcescens P76-9 were also tested. As a result, 1% glucose (w/v) strongly stimulated growth of the antagonists, suppressed mycelial growth of the postharvest pathogen, and had a little comparatively stimulatory effect on germination of the the postharvest pathogen. It was confirmed that the addition of 1% glucose (w/v) greatly enhanced biocontrol effect of B. amyloliquefaciens P43-2, B. licheniformis P94-1, and S. marcescens P76-9. Application of B. amyloliquefaciens P43-2, B. licheniformis P94-1, and S. marcescens P76-9 with the addition of 1% glucose (w/v) increased the control efficacy up to 48%, 46%, 14% compared with those of the antagonists without glucose, respectively. When the antagonists were applied to control postharvest disease caused by P. expansum in apple wounds, the population of B. amyloliquefaciens P43-2 and B. licheniformis P94-1 increased until 4 days after inoculation (DAI) of the antagonists and then decreased from 10 DAI. Meanwhile the population of S. marcescens P76-9 decreased at early stage (4 DAI), but increased from 7 DAI, and finally maintained constantly until 10 DAI in apple wounds.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2016

Plant disease caused by root-knot nematode is a major problem in crop production. Using of chemical pesticides, one of the most efficient methods to control nematodes, have raised issues in toxicity to humans and animals and environmental pollution. In this study, to select actinomycete strains that have potential to serve as a microbial agent for control of nematodes, we investigated nematicidal activity of culture broth from 670 Streptomyces isolates. A culture filtrate of KRA15-528 isolate that was identified as S. flavogriseus on the basis of 16S rRNA sequence analysis, showed strong nematicidal activity against second stage of juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita and inhibited egg hatching; exposure to 10% of culture filtrate resulted in 71% juvenile mortality at 48 hours afters treatment and suppressed egg hatching by 54% at 9 days after treatment. When the KRA15-528 culture filtrate was partitioned with ethyl acetate and butanol, ethyl acetate layer exclusively showed strong activity; 91%, 53%, 30% of mortality at 1,000, 500, $250{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Additionally, the culture filtrate suppressed gall formation on cucumber plant by M. incognita with no phytotoxicity. These results suggest that S. flavogriseus KRA15-528 has potential to serve as a microbial nematicide for the control of root-knot nematode disease.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2007

This work was carried out to assess the effect of microbial phytase (MP) on the performance, retention and excretion of phosphorus, and nutrients availability in broiler chicks. Two hundred and sixteen one day old Ross strains broiler chicks were used to investigate on performance for 5 weeks (earlier $(0{\sim}2wk)$, finisher $(3{\sim}5wk)$) and were divided 3 treatments, three cages per treatment and 12 birds per cage. Treatments are P0 (basal diet), P1 (microbial phytase 300 FTU/kg), and P2 (microbial phytase 600 FTU/kg). After 5 weeks, three diets containing 0, 300, 600 FTU/kg of microbial phytase were fed to 5-wk-old broilers to assess the digestibility. Twenty seven broilers were divided into 3 treatments (9 birds per treatment) to investigate on the absorption and retention of phosphorus and nutrient digestibility. Body weight gain and feed efficiency were highly significant at P1 and P2 treatments compared to those of P0 (P<0.05), however, feed intake was no significant difference among all treatments (P>0.05). The excretion of phosphorus decreased in P1 and P2 compared to P0 (P<0.05). The digestibility of nutrients and amino acid was high in P1 and P2 treatments compared to P0 (P<0.05). Ileal digestibility was lower about $1{\sim}2%$ than feces digestibility (P>0.05). Finally, microbial phytase influenced on the performance, the retention and excretion of phosphorus and ileal and feces digestibility in broilers.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.141-150
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• 2015

Dinoflagellates are ubiquitous and important primary producers in the oceans. They have diverse trophic modes, i.e., phototrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic modes and thereby, play important ecological role in marine microbial food-web. While many studies have been focused on planktonic dinoflagellates in pelagic ecosystems, benthic, sand-dwelling dinoflagellates that inhabit in intertidal zone have been very poorly documented worldwide. We investigated biodiversity, occurrence, and molecular phylogeny of benthic, sand-dwelling dinoflagellates from the intertidal flat of Dongho, west coast of Korea during low-tide, monthly from November 2012 to February 2014. About 27 species of 13 genera in orders Gonyaulacales, Gymnodiniales, Peridiniales, Prorocentrales have been identified, of which members in the genus Amphidinium constituted a major part of the sand-dwelling dinoflagellates in this area. A total of 34 isolates from 16 species of the sand-dwelling dinoflagellates were isolated from Dongho, Mohang, Gamami, and Songho in the west coast and Hyupjae in Jeju of Korea, their 28S rDNA sequences were successfully amplified, and applied for molecular phylogenetic analyses. In the 28S rDNA phylogeny, Amphidinium species diverged across three major clusters within the order Gymnodiniales and formed polyphyletic group. Based on the unambiguously aligned partial 28S rDNA sequences including variable D2 region, the genotypes of Amphidinium mootonorum Korean strains greatly differed from that of Canadian strain with 19.2% of pairwise nucleotide difference, suggesting that further ultrastructural studies may provide additional characters to clearly separate these genotypes. Two potential toxic species, Amphidinium carterae and A. operculatum appeared occasionally during this study. Quantitative assessment and toxicity of those species should be addressed in the future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2014

Harmful Algal Bloom Alert System (HABAS) for drinking water supply is require to fast and accurate count as system monitoring of cyanobacterium occurrence and inducing a response action. We measured correlation between colony size and cell number including genus Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Microcystis, Oscillatoria which are targeted at HABAS, deducted from standard formula, and suggested calculation method from colony size to the number of cell. We collected cyanobacteria samples at Han River (Paldang reservoir), Nakdong River (Dalseong weir, Changnyeonghaman weir) and Geum River (Gobok reservoir) from August to October, 2013. Also, we studied correlation between colony size and cell number, and calculated regression equation. As a result of correlation of harmful cyanobacteria by genus, Anabaena spp. and Aphanizomenon spp. having trichome showed high correlation coefficients more than 0.93 and Microcystis spp. having colony showed correlation coefficient of 0.76. As a result of correlation of harmful cyanobacteria by species, Anabaena crassa, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, A. issatschenkoi, Oscillatoria curviceps, O. mougeotii having trichome showed high correlation coefficients from 0.89 to 0.96, and Microcystis aeruginosa, M. wessenbergii, M. viridis having colony showed correlation coefficients from 0.76 to 0.88. Compared with other genus Microcystis relatively showed low correlation because even species and colony size are the same, cell density and cell size are different from Microcystis strains. In this study, using calculated regression might be fast and simple method of cell counting. From now on, we need to secure additional samples, and make a decision to study about other species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.642-649
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• 2012

The southern coast of Korea is important for the ark shell ($Scapharca$ $broughtonii$) aquaculture, but the productivity was rapidly reduced during the previous decade by mass mortality. To overcome this economic loss, investigations only focused on environmental factors, and microbiological researches were performed insufficiently. In this study, two sites (Gangjin and Jinhae bay) were selected for their high and low rate of mortality, respectively, and the existence of microflora from underwater sediments in the bodies of $S.$ $broughtonii$ was analyzed. We screened the whole body of each sample and chose unique colonies, which exhibit alpha- and beta-hemolytic activity, for identification. The microflora in $S.$ $broughtonii$ was less variable than sediments, and restricted species were isolated. We identified 17 genera of 88 species and 16 genera of 64 species from the two bays, respectively. A major proportion was comprised of $Bacillus$ species, with the $Bacillus$ $cereus$ group being the most common species among the $Bacillus$ strains, while $Paenibacillus$, $Lynsilbacillus$, and $Vibrio$ species were the second most abundant species. At the genus level, there were no significant microbial differences between the two coastal regions. 64 species were isolated from rare site (Jinhae bay), but more species (88) with greater variety were isolated from the frequent site (Gangjin bay). Therefore, it was assumed that the cause of mass mortality lay in the difference in specie-level diversity, and conducting investigations on the diagnosis of pathogenic species by challenging tests using isolated unique species.