• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권12호
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• pp.2090-2099
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• 2015

Recently, the cardiovascular disease has been widely problematic in humans probably due to fibrin formation via the unbalanced Western style diet. Although direct (human plasmin) and indirect methods (plasminogen activators) have been available, bacterial enzyme methods have been studied because of their cheap and mass production. To detect a novel bacterial fibrinolytic enzyme, 111 bacterial strains with fibrinolytic activity were selected from kimchi. Among them, 14 strains were selected because of their stronger activity than 0.02 U of plasmin. Their 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that they belong to Bacillus, Leuconostoc, Propionibacterium, Weissella, Staphylococcus, and Bifidobacterium. The strain B. subtilis ZA400, with the highest fibrinolytic activity, was selected and the gene encoding fibrinolytic enzyme (bsfA) was cloned and expressed in the E. coli overexpression system. The purified enzyme was analyzed with SDS-PAGE, western blot, and MALDI-TOF analyses, showing to be 28.4 kDa. Subsequently, the BsfA was characterized to be stable under various stress conditions such as temperature (4-40oC), metal ions (Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, K²⁺, and Mg²⁺), and inhibitors (EDTA and SDS), suggesting that BsfA could be a good candidate for development of a novel fibrinolytic enzyme for thrombosis treatment and may even be useful as a new bacterial starter for manufacturing functional fermented foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1707-1716
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• 2019

The development of new antimicrobial agents is essential for the effective treatment of diseases such as sepsis. We previously developed a new short peptide, Pap12-6, using the 12 N-terminal residues of papiliocin, which showed potent and effective antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we investigated the antimicrobial mechanism of Pap12-6 and a newly designed peptide, Pap12-7, in which the 12^th Trp residue of Pap12-6 was replaced with Val to develop a potent peptide with high bacterial selectivity and a different antibacterial mechanism. Both peptides showed high antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the two peptides showed similar anti-inflammatory activity against lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, but Pap12-7 showed very low toxicities against sheep red blood cells and mammalian cells compared to that showed by Pap12-6. A calcein dye leakage assay, membrane depolarization, and confocal microscopy observations revealed that the two peptides with one single amino acid change have different mechanisms of antibacterial action: Pap12-6 directly targets the bacterial cell membrane, whereas Pap12-7 appears to penetrate the bacterial cell membrane and exert its activities in the cell. The therapeutic efficacy of Pap12-7 was further examined in a mouse model of sepsis, which increased the survival rate of septic mice. For the first time, we showed that both peptides showed anti-septic activity by reducing the infiltration of neutrophils and the production of inflammatory factors. Overall, these results indicate Pap12-7 as a novel non-toxic peptide with potent antibacterial and anti-septic activities via penetrating the cell membrane.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.133-139
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• 2017

Rheum palmatum has traditionally been used as a preventive agent and medication against fever and infection. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize an antibacterial substance from R. palmatum that is effective against bacterial vaginosis. A methanol extract from R. palmatum showed antibacterial activity against Lactobacillus vaginalis KC TC 3515, Chryseobacterium gleum KCTC 2904, and Sphingomonas paucimobilis KCTC 2834, which cause bacterial vaginosis. After extraction and pH control of the methanol extract from R. palmatum, we found that acidic and alkaline extracts did not show antibacterial activity. A neutral extract (50 mg/mL) displayed an inhibitory zone of 18 mm on a nutrient agar plate with C. gleum KCTC 2904. Fractions No. 11 and 12 among 41 fractions obtained by silica gel column chromatography produced inhibitory zones of 10 mm on nutrient agar plates with C. gleum KCTC 2904. $R_f0.15$ and $R_f0.17$ spots produced by TLC of fraction No. 11 showed antibacterial activity against C. gleum KCTC 2904. Isolation and purification of the peak at a retention time (Rt) of 9.427 min was achieved by HPLC of $R_f0.29spots$. The peak at Rt 9.427 min showed antibacterial activity against C. gleum KCTC 2904.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권11호
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• pp.1577-1584
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• 2010

In total, 140 halotolerant bacterial strains were isolated from both the soil of barren fields and the rhizosphere of six naturally growing halophytic plants in the vicinity of the Yellow Sea, near the city of Incheon in the Republic of Korea. All of these strains were characterized for multiple plant growth promoting traits, such as the production of indole acetic acid (IAA), nitrogen fixation, phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) solubilization, thiosulfate ($S_2O_3$) oxidation, the production of ammonia ($NH_3$), and the production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes such as protease, chitinase, pectinase, cellulase, and lipase under in vitro conditions. From the original 140 strains tested, on the basis of the latter tests for plant growth promotional activity, 36 were selected for further examination. These 36 halotolerant bacterial strains were then tested for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity. Twenty-five of these were found to be positive, and to be exhibiting significantly varying levels of activity. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses of the 36 halotolerant strains showed that they belong to 10 different bacterial genera: Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Planococcus, Zhihengliuella, Halomonas, Exiguobacterium, Oceanimonas, Corynebacterium, Arthrobacter, and Micrococcus. Inoculation of the 14 halotolerant bacterial strains to ameliorate salt stress (150 mM NaCl) in canola plants produced an increase in root length of between 5.2% and 47.8%, and dry weight of between 16.2% and 43%, in comparison with the uninoculated positive controls. In particular, three of the bacteria, Brevibacterium epidermidis RS15, Micrococcus yunnanensis RS222, and Bacillus aryabhattai RS341, all showed more than 40% increase in root elongation and dry weight when compared with uninoculated salt-stressed canola seedlings. These results indicate that certain halotolerant bacteria, isolated from coastal soils, have a real potential to enhance plant growth under saline stress, through the reduction of ethylene production via ACC deaminase activity.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.126-138
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• 2018

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is a major disease. In the present study, we aimed to identify and evaluate the novel bacterial isolates from rice rhizosphere for biocontrol of M. oryzae pathogen. Sixty bacterial strains from the rice plant's rhizosphere were tested for their biocontrol activity against M. oryzae under in vitro and in vivo. Among them, B. amyloliquefaciens had significant high activity against the pathogen. The least disease severity and highest germination were recorded in seeds treated with B. amyloliquefaciens UASBR9 (0.96 and 98.00%) compared to untreated control (3.43 and 95.00%, respectively) under in vivo condition. These isolates had high activity of enzymes in relation to growth promoting activity upon challenge inoculation of the pathogen. The potential strains were identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and dominance of these particular genes were associated in Bacillus strains. These strains were also confirmed for the presence of antimicrobial peptide biosynthetic genes viz., srfAA (surfactin), fenD (fengycin), spaS (subtilin), and ituC (iturin) related to secondary metabolite production (e.g., AMPs). Overall, the results suggested that application of potential bacterial strains like B. amyloliquefaciens UASBR9 not only helps in control of the biological suppression of one of the most devastating rice pathogens, M. grisea but also increases plant growth along with a reduction in application of toxic chemical pesticides.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.210-215
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• 2018

Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to verify the antibacterial activity of two essential oils, lavender and peppermint, against dental caries and to review their synergistic effect when used in combination. Our results provide basic data for the evaluation of the use of these two substances towards the prevention and cure of dental caries. Methods: The sample solutions of lavender and peppermint oils were prepared in three different concentrations (30%, 50%, and 70% (v/v)) by diluting them with third-distilled water and Tween 20. Streptococcus mutans was selected as the bacterial species for testing. The disk diffusion method was used to measure the antibacterial activity of the sample solutions. For generating growth curves and measuring the number of clusters of the bacterial, the liquid medium-dilution method was used; the absorbance of the medium was measured at 600 nm after 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Results: When the antibacterial activity of the oils was tested via the disk diffusion method, the activity improved with increasing concentrations of all the sample solutions of peppermint, lavender, and the blend, but there was no significant difference between them with respect to the type of oil. In the growth curves of S. mutans, growth inhibition was observed after 12 hours. The inhibitory effect of 30% lavender oil on growth was 64.9% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively whereas that of peppermint oil was 71.3% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. The inhibitory effect of the blended oil was 71.9% and 81.0% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. Conclusions: Further research is still required in order to determine the efficacy of lavender and peppermint oils, as well as other essential oils, for wider use in preventing dental caries.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.101-109
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• 2019

곤충병원선충인 Steinernema longicaudum에 공생하는 Xenorhabdus ehlersii KSY 세균은 나방류에 대한 높은 병원력을 발휘한다. 본 연구에서 이 세균의 병원력이 아이코사노이드 생합성을 억제하여 기주 곤충의 면역 저하를 유발한다는 것을 확인하였다. 그러나 이 세균의 병원력은 혈강 주입에 의해 야기된다. 섭식을 통해 이 세균을 혈강으로 전달하기 위해 곤충의 중장벽을 파괴하여 병원력을 발휘하는 Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)와 혼합하여 처리하였다. 배추좀나방(Plutella xylostella) 유충에 대해서 X. ehlersii 세균 배양액의 혼합 처리는 Bt 살충력을 현격하게 증가시켰다. 이러한 살충효과는 또 다른 나비목 해충인 콩명나방에 대해서도 확인되었다. 제형화를 위해 X. ehlersii 세균 배양액을 동결건조하여 Bt 수화제와 혼합하였다. 이를 기반으로 간이 포장실험을 수행하였다. Bt 단독으로 처리한 결과 약 80%의 방제 효과를 보인 반면 X. ehlersii 혼합제는 95% 이상의 방제효과를 나타냈다. 본 연구는 곤충병원세균 X. ehlersii가 새로운 해충 방제제로 개발될 가능성을 제시하고 있다.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.488-492
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the influcence of various dietary fiber sources in Korea for activities of bacterial enzymes (${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-glucuronidase) and amounts of putrefactive product (indole) in aged rats. ${\beta}$-Glucosidase activity in the intestinal content was significantly lower in the seamustard 15% group than in other groups whereas the activity of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase was higher in the mugwort 15% group than other experimental groups. The amount of indole and pH in the intestinal content of aged rats were significantly lower in mugwort groups than in other groups.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.1542-1546
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• 2018

Bacterial canker in kiwifruit is caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa). In this study, the bacteriophage PPPL-1 effective against Psa was characterized. Belonging to the Podoviridae family, PPPL-1 was effective against most Psa strains as well as most Pseudomonas syringae pathovars. PPPL-1 carries a 41,149-bp genome with 49 protein coding sequences and is homologous to the previously reported phiPSA2 bacteriophage. The lytic activity of PPPL-1 was stable up to $40^{\circ}C$, within a range of pH 3-11 and under 365 nm UV light. These results indicate that the bacteriophage PPPL-1 might be useful to control Psa in the kiwifruit field.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.258-262
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• 2002

Effects of Escherichia coli genomic DNA on the production of phagocyte activating supernatants by the head kidney leucocytes isolated from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) were investigated. Phagocyte activating activity of the supernatants was estimated by. measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in target head kidney phagocytes. All supernatants from olive flounder head kidney leucocytes-stimulated with E. coli DNA induced significantly (P<0.01) higher ROS production from target pagocytes than the unstimulated control supernatant. Maximum enhancement of chemiluminescent response was observed $5.0-10.0{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of bacterial DNA while the increment ability was decreased significantly (P<0.01) at the concentration of $20.0{\mu}mL^{-1}$. The results demonstrate that olive flounder head-kidney leucocytes stimulated with bacterial DNA release a soluble phagocyte activating cytokines capable of enhancing the respiratory burst activity from target phagocytes.