• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1916-1924
• /
• 2019

Outbreaks of staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) causing serious human diseases and economic losses have been reported globally. Furthermore, the spread of Staphylococcus aureus with increased resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents has become a major concern in the food industries and medicine. Here, we isolated an endolysin LysSAP8, as one of the peptidoglycan hydrolases, derived from the bacteriophage SAP8 infecting S. aureus. This endolysin was tagged with a 6×His at the C-terminal of the target protein and purified using affinity chromatography. LysSAP8 demonstrated lytic activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, which included a majority of the staphylococcal strains tested in this study as well as the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA); however, no such activity was observed against other gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, LysSAP8 could maintain bactericidal activity until 0.1 nM working concentration and after heat treatment at 37℃ for 30 min. The ability of LysSAP8 to lyse cells under varying conditions of temperature (4-43℃), pH (3-9), and NaCl concentrations (0-1,000 mM), and divalent metal ions (Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Zn²⁺) was examined. At the optimized condition, LysSAP8 could disrupt approximately 3.46 log CFU/ml of the planktonic cells in their exponential phase of growth within 30 min. In this study, we have suggested that LysSAP8 could be a potent alternative as a biocontrol agent that can be used to combat MRSA.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2017

The primary purpose of this research is to understand those elements that define heavy metals contamination and to propose a novel assessment method based on principal component analysis (PCA) in the Yangping River region of Lingbao City, China. This paper makes detailed calculations regarding such factors the single-factor assessment ($P_i$) and Nemerow's multi-factor index ($P_N$) of heavy metals found in the surface water of the Yangping River. The maximum values of $P_i$ (Cd) and $P_i$ (Pb) were determined to be 892.000 and 113.800 respectively. The maximum value of $P_N$ was calculated to be 639.836. The results of Pearson's correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and PCA indicated heavy metal groupings as follows: Cu, Pb, Zn and As, Hg, Cd. The PCA-based pollution index ($P_{an}$) of samplings was subsequently calculated. The relative coefficient square was valued at 0.996 between $P_{an}$ and $P_N$, which indicated that $P_{an}$ is able to serve as a new heavy metal pollution index; not only this index able to eliminate the influence of the maximum value of $P_i$, but further, this index contains the principal component elements needed to evaluate heavy metal pollution levels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.11
• /
• pp.1540-1548
• /
• 2012

Manganese peroxidase (MnP) was isolated from the culture filtrate of the wood log mushroom Stereum ostrea (S. ostrea), grown on Koroljova medium, and then purified by ammonium sulfate [70% (w/v)] fractionation, DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography, with an attainment of 88.6-fold purification and the recovery of 22.8% of initial activity. According to SDS-PAGE the molecular mass of the MnP was 40 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature were found to be 4.5 and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme was stable even after exposure to a pH range of 4.5 to 6.0, and at temperatures of up to $35^{\circ}C$ at a pH of 4.5 for 1h. The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values for the substrate phenol red were found to be $8{\mu}m$ and 111.14 U/mg of protein, respectively. The MnP also oxidized other substrates such as guaiacol, DMP, and veratryl alcohol. Sodium azide, EDTA, SDS, $Cu^{2+}$, and $Fe^{2+}$, at 1-5 mM, strongly inhibited enzyme activity, whereas $Ca^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ increased enzyme activity. The participation of the purified enzyme in the decolorization of dyes suggests that S. ostrea manganese peroxidase could be effectively employed in textile industries.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.348-355
• /
• 2000

The study was conducted to determine physicochemical parameters in various physical fractions (linter, hull, kernel, oil and meal) of cottonseed of different varieties (MNH 147, CIM 240, NIAB 78, FH 87, CIM 109, MNH 93, FH 682, GOHAR 87, SLS 1 and B 557). Average components of linter, hull, and kernel in different varieties of cotton were 12.21, 28.24 and 70.42%, respectively. Average percentage of meal and oil was 48.97 and 22.09% in seed, and 69.28 and 30.72% in kernel, respectively. Maximum percentage of meal was recovered from variety CIM 240 and lowest in variety CIM 109. Statistical analysls revealed variety differences (p<0.05) in seed and it's components. Average contents of crude protein, crude fiber and ash was 22.31, 17.74 and 4.27% in seed, 2.85, 56.50 and 2.61% in hull; 32.62, 3.45 and 4.01 % in kernel; 47.15, 5.00 and 5.78% in meal, respectively. Average contents of Ca, p, Mg, K, Na and Cl were 0.09, 0.22, 0.26, 0.65, 0.009 and 0.035% in seed; 0.12, 0.07, 0.09, 0.51, 0.020 and 0.034% in hull and 0.16, 0.59, 0.32, 1.01, 0.03 and 0.07% in meal of different varieties of cotton, respectively. Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn were 141.35, 24.55, 186.50 and 27.12 mg/kg in seed; 158.48, 2.06, 74.60, and 22.17 mg/kg in hulls; and 167.62, 20.30, 185.83 and 20.67 mg/kg in meal, respectively. Significant varietal differences were observed in proximate composition and mineral contents of cottonseeds and derived products. Cottonseeds and their products of varieties FH 87, CIM 109 and MNH 93 showed higher nutrient density while lower was observed in varieties CIM 240, SLS I and FH 682.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2009

Although prion diseases, a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases of human and animals, are presumed to be caused by several mechanisms including abnormal change of prion protein, oxidative stress is still believed to play a central role in development of the diseases. Cigarette smoking has a few beneficial effects on neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease despite of many detrimental effects. In this study, we investigated how chronic cigarette smoking could exert such beneficial effect against oxidative damage. For this study, homogenates of 87V scrapie-infected brain was inoculated on intracerebral system of IM mice through stereotaxic microinjection and biochemical properties concerning with oxidative stress were examined. The scrapie infection decreased the activity of mitochondrial Mn-containing superoxide dismutase by 50% of the control, meanwhile the effects on other antioxidant enzymes including Cu or Zn-containing superoxide dismutase were not significant. Additionally, the infection elevated superoxide level as well as monoamine oxide-B (MAO-B) in the infected brain. Interestingly, many of the detrimental effects were improved in partial or significantly by long-term cigarette smoke exposure (CSE). CSE not only completely prevented the generation of mitochondrial superoxide but also significantly (p<0.05) decreased the elevated mitochondrial MAO-B activity in the infected brain. Concomitantly, CSE prevented subsequent protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation caused by scrapie infection; however, it did not affect the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that chronic exposure of cigarette smoke contribute to in part preventing the progress of neurodegeneration caused by scrapie infection.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.90-97
• /
• 1994

PIXE( Proton Induced X- ray Emission ) analysis has been applied to the analysis of aerosol for the Purpose of pollution monitoring. Coarse and fine Particle fractions were sampled selectively, using Nuclepore filter in stacked filter units, once a month from February to September in 1993 at urban and rural sites. Concentration of 9 elements, Si, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb was determined without Pretreatment of Samples. Comparison of data between urban and rural site revealed higher elemental concentration level in urban aerosol. From April to May aerosol sampling was carried out daily to observe the effect of Yellow Sand on the composition of aerosol in the Korean Peninsula. During the Yellow Sand period, Si, Ca, Fe content level in aerosol became more than 5 times higher than normal. The elemental concentration of the aerosol samples of Daejeon City was compared with that of two foreign cities. S and Pb( which are fuel- derived elements) levels in Daejeon City aerosol appeared to be lower than those of foreign cities. And it may be due to the leaded-fuel restriction policy of Korean government since 1987.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.27.1-27.1
• /
• 2011

We obtained the spectra of 93 Planet host stars and 73 normal field stars in F, G, K type using BOES at BOAO. We measured the equivalent width of Fe and 25 elements lines using the automatic EW measurement program, TAME(Tools for Automatic Measurement of Equivalent-widths) and estimated the elemental abundances by synth and abfind driver of MOOG code. Since the absence of planets in the normal field stars cannot be "completely" proved, this work focused on the chemical abundances and planet properties of planet host stars, which have the massive planets close to the parent star relatively. We carried out an investigation for the difference of abundances between stars with "Hot Jupiter" and normal field stars with no known planets. We examined the chemical composition of 25 elements, such as C, N, O, S, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, Ce, Nd, and Eu by EW measurements, and the S abundances were estimated using synthetic spectrum. We have found that [Mg/Fe] and [Al/Fe] for planet host stars have lower limit comparing with those of comparison stars, and [Ca/Fe] of host star with Neptunian planets is relatively lower than the other host stars with massive planets. We have performed the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and examined the ratio of planet host stars to all stars for each bin of [X/H]. As a result, we noted that the O, Si, and Ca abfor undances are strongly related with the presence of planets.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.79-83
• /
• 2006

We evaluated therapeutic and preventive properties of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a weak androgenic steroid, against isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy. The cardiomyopathy was induced by daily i.p. administration of isoproterenol to rats for five days. One group of rats were given with daily s.c. for 5 days during isoproterenol and the other group with daily s.c. DHEA for total 10 days, including 5 days before and during isoproterenol. The animals were killed after each treatment, and cardiac muscle failure was evaluated using histopathologic examination and biochemical indices. DHEA was found to reduce the damaged area and inhibit the elevation in the serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), skeletal muscle creatine kinase (CK) and heart creatine kinase (CK-MB) induced by isoproterenol. We also assayed widely used oxidative stress parameters, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathion peroxidase (GPx). DHEA decreased the escalated level of TBARS and enhanced the anti oxidant defense reaction with an increase in Mn-SOD and Cu/Zn-SOD. On the other hand, the treatment with DHEA did not affect catalase and GPx activity. The present study indicates that DHEA has a therapeutic and preventive effect against isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy and its effects may depend largely on the increase in SOD activity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 1989

Three types of Korean strawberries, Gardian cultivated in vinyl house, Gardian cultivated on the field and Bogyo, at early variety, on the field were harvested after $10{\sim}34$ days from falling of flowers to investigate the chemical changes of fruits during maturing. The initial pH range after 10 days from falling of flowers was $4.13{\sim}4.28$, which was decreased to $3.40{\sim}3.49$ with maturing. The total acid was steadily increased for 26 days and then decreased thereafter. Vitamin C, not detected until 14 days, was gradually increased to $15.83{\sim}24.90mg%$ in 34 days. Reducing sugar content was increased for 24 days and then decreased, while total sugar, glucose and fructose were generally increased during maturing. Xylose was detected a little. For minerals, potassium was measured the highest value, followed by magnessium, and sodium. A trace amount of manganese, zinc and copper were detected. The strawberries had the content range of $6.00{\sim}24.60mg%$ of methyl alcohol and $6.00{\sim}24.40mg%$ of ethyl alcohol.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.289-294
• /
• 2003

Gelatinase is a proteolytic enzyme that hydrolyzes gelatin. Gelatinolytic activity was detected from culture broths of Streptomyces griseus IFO13350 and HH1 by paper disc assays on 0.5% agar plates containing 1% gelatin. The concentrated extracellular protein from the S. griseus was analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel, and two proteins, with molecular weights of 30 and 28 kDa, respectively, were identified to have gelatinase activity by gelatin zymography. The protein with a molecular weight of 28 kDa was confirmed to be S. griseus trypsin (SGT). The effects of metal ions and metal chelators on the protease activity of the SGT were studied. Of the metal ions tested, only manganese was found to enhance the protease activity, 2.6 times, however, $Co^{2+},\;Cu^{2+},\;and\;Zn^{2+}$, and metal chelators, such as EDTA and EGTA, inhibited the SGT activity. When the protease activity of the SGT was measured at various pHs, in the presence of 5 mM $MnCl_2$, its highest activity was at pH 11.0, whereas only 60% of the maximum activity was observed between pHs 4.0 and pH 6.0, and almost 80% activity between pHs 7.0 to pH 10.0. The protease activity was measured at various temperatures in the presence of 5 mM $MnCl_2$. The SGT was found to be stable up to $60^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, while only 16% of the enzyme activity remained at $60^{\circ}C$, and at $80^{\circ}C$ almost all the activity was lost. The optimal temperature for the protease activity was $50^{\circ}C$.