• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.241-250
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• 2008

In this study, specimens such as tongue, supragingival and subgingival biofilm were taken from total 20 scaling subjects who visited the oral prophylaxis practice lab at department of dental hygienics, J Health College in order to observe bacterial distributions and morphology using scanning electron microscopy(sem). as a result, this study came to the following conclusions: 1. According to observation of tongue, supragingival and subgingival biofilm through sem, it is found that there are round colonies of gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli on blood agar medium. 2. The observation of bacterial morphology on dental biofilm through sem, cocci in chain cocci in cluster and bacillus(rod) respectively. 3. For tongue biofilm, it is found that a variety of bacterial species are detected, such as Granulicatolla adiacens(1), Gemella morbillorum(3), Streptococcus mitis(2), Streptococcus sanguinis(1), Aerococcus viridans (2), Streptococcus equinus(1), Leuconostoc spp.(1), Gemella haemolysans (1) and Lactococcus lactis spp.(1) respectively. 4. For supragingival biofilm, it is found that a variety of bacterial species detected, such as Aerococcus viridans(1), Gemella haemolysans(2), Leuconostoc spp.(2), Gemella morbillorum(1) and Pseudomonas fluoescens (1) respectively. 5. For subgingival biofilm, it is found that a variety of bacterial species detected, such as Leuconostoc spp.(1), Staphylococcus lugdunensis(1) and Streptococcus salivarius(1) respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1053-1064
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• 2017

A biofilm is a community of microbes that typically inhabit on surfaces and are encased in an extracellular matrix. Biofilms display very dissimilar characteristics to their planktonic counterparts. Biofilms are ubiquitous in the environment and influence our lives tremendously in both positive and negative ways. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium known to produce robust biofilms. P. aeruginosa biofilms cause severe problems in immunocompromised patients, including those with cystic fibrosis or wound infection. Moreover, the unique biofilm properties further complicate the eradication of the biofilm infection, leading to the development of chronic infections. In this review, we discuss the history of biofilm research and general characteristics of bacterial biofilms. Then, distinct features pertaining to each stage of P. aeruginosa biofilm development are highlighted. Furthermore, infections caused by biofilms on their own or in association with other bacterial species (i.e., multispecies biofilms) are discussed in detail.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1221-1228
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• 2005

Carbon electrode was applied to a wastewater treatment system as biofilm media. The spatial distribution of heterotrophic bacteria in aerobic wastewater biofilm grown on carbon electrode was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and biomass measurement. Five volts of electric oxidation and reduction potential were charged to the carbon anode and cathode of the bioelectrochemical system, respectively, but were not charged to electrodes of a conventional system. To correlate the biofilm architecture of bacterial populations with their activity, the bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons was measured in the bioelectrochemical system and compared with that in the conventional system. In the SEM image, the biofilm on the anodic medium of the bioelectrochemical system looked intact and active; however, that on the carbon medium of the conventional system appeared to be shrinking or damaging. In the AFM image, the thickness of biofilm formed on the carbon medium was about two times of those on the anodic medium. The bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons in the bioelectrochemical system was about 1.5 times higher than that in the conventional system. Some denitrifying bacteria can metabolically oxidize $H_{2}$, coupled to reduction of $NO_{3}^{-}\;to\;N_{2}$. $H_{2}$ was produced from the cathode in the bioelectrochemical system by electrolysis of water but was not so in the conventional system. The denitrification efficiency was less than $22\%$ in the conventional system and more than $77\%$ in the bioelectrochemical system. From these results, we found that the electrochemical coupling reactions between aerobic and anaerobic reactors may be a useful tool for improvement of wastewater treatment and denitrification efficiency, without special manipulations such as bacterial growth condition control, C/N ratio (the ratio of carbon to nitrogen) control, MLSS returning, or biofilm refreshing.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.369-378
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the effects of indole on biofilm formation inhibition in Pantoea agglomerans (P. agglomerans). In the biofilm growth assay, indole inhibited biofilm formation across all the growth time. Depending on biofilm growth stage, indole exhibited biofilm inhibition and anti-bacterial effects on planktonic cells. Through the analysis of the proportion rate between biofilm and Colony Forming Units (CFU) and inhibition rate of indole, we confirmed that depending on the biofilm stage of P. agglomerans, indole treatment timing was more important than the treatment duration. By comparing gene expression rates through rt-qPCR P.agglomerans affected by indole was found to significantly change quorum sensing (pagI/R) and indole transportation (bssS) gene expressions. Throughout all, indole exhibited both antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects on P. agglomerans. In addition, we confirmed the anti-biofilm effects of indole on mature biofilm. In conclusion, indole as a signal molecule, can exhibit anti-biofilm effects through bacterial quorum sensing inhibition and indole affects. Therefore, indole can regulate biofilm bacteria especially gram-negative opportunistic pathogens.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2015

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest antibiotic concentration that inhibits the visible growth of bacteria. Sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (Sub-MIC) is defined as the concentration of an antimicrobial agent that does not have an effect on bacterial growth but can alter bacterial biochemistry, thus reducing bacterial virulence. Many studies have confirmed that sub-MICs of antibiotics can inhibit bacterial virulence factors. However, most studies were focused on Gram-negative bacteria, while few studies on the effect of sub-MICs of antibiotics on Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, we examined the influence of sub-MICs of doxycycline, tetracycline, penicillin and amoxicillin on biofilm formation and coaggregation of Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Actinomyces odontolyticus. In this study, incubation with sub-MIC of antibiotics had no effect on the biofilm formation of S. gordonii and A. naeslundii. However, S. mutans showed increased biofilm formation after incubation with sub-MIC amoxicillin and penicillin. Also, the biofilm formation of A. odontolyticus was increased after incubating with sub-MIC penicillin. Coaggregation of A. naeslundii with S. gordonii and A. odontolyticus was diminished by sub-MIC amoxicillin. These observations indicated that sub-MICs of antibiotics could affect variable virulence properties such as biofilm formation and coaggregation in Gram-positive oral bacteria.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2023

This study aimed to characterize a lytic Salmonella Typhimurium-specific (ST) phage and its biofilm control capability against S. Typhimurium biofilm on polypropylene surface. ST phage was isolated, propagated, and purified from water used in a slaughterhouse. The morphology of ST phage was observed via transmission electron microscopy. Its bactericidal effect was evaluated by determining bacterial concentrations after the phage treatment at various multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 0.01, 1.0, and 100. Once the biofilm was formed on the polypropylene tube after incubation at 37℃ for 48 h, the phage was treated and its antibiofilm capability was determined using crystal violet staining and plate count method. The phage was isolated and purified at a final concentration of ~11 log PFU/mL. It was identified as a myophage with an icosahedral head (~104 nm) and contractile tail (~90-115 nm). ST phage could significantly decrease S. Typhimurium population by ~2.8 log CFU/mL at an MOI of 100. After incubation for 48 h, biofilm formation on polypropylene surface was confirmed with a bacterial population of ~6.9 log CFU/cm². After 1 h treatment with ST phage, the bacterial population in the biofilm was reduced by 2.8 log CFU/cm². Therefore, these results suggest that lytic ST phage as a promising biofilm control agent for eradicating S. Typhimurium biofilm formed on food contact surfaces.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.668-674
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• 2020

Manuka honey (MH) has been shown anti-bacterial activity against several pathogenic bacteria. However, the inhibitory effect of MH on biofilm formation by Escherichia coli O157:H7 has not yet been examined. In this study, MH significantly reduced E. coli O157:H7 biofilm. Moreover, pre- and post-treatment with MH also significantly reduced E. coli O157:H7 biofilm. Cellular metabolic activities exhibited that the viability of E. coli O157:H7 biofilm cells was reduced in the presence of MH. Further, colony forming unit of MH-treated E. coli O157:H7 biofilm was significantly reduced by over 70%. Collectively, this study suggests the potential of anti-biofilm properties of MH which could be applied to control E. coli O157:H7.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2016

Compared to planktonic bacterial populations, biofilms have distinct bacterial community structures and play important ecological roles in various aquatic environments. Despite their ecological importance in nature, bacterial community structure and its succession during biofilm development in the Antarctic marine environment have not been elucidated. In this study, the succession of bacterial community, particularly during the early stage of biofilm development, in the Antarctic marine environment was investigated by pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Overall bacterial distribution in biofilms differed considerably from surrounding seawater. Relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes which accounted for 78.9-88.3% of bacterial community changed drastically during biofilm succession. Gammaproteobacteria became more abundant with proceeding succession (75.7% on day 4) and decreased to 46.1% on day 7. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes showed opposite trend to Gammaproteobacteria, decreasing from the early days to the intermediate days and becoming more abundant in the later days. There were striking differences in the composition of major OTUs (${\geq}1%$) among samples during the early stages of biofilm formation. Gammaproteobacterial species increased until day 4, while members of Bacteroidetes, the most dominant group on day 1, decreased until day 4 and then increased again. Interestingly, Pseudoalteromonas prydzensis was predominant, accounting for up to 67.4% of the biofilm bacterial community and indicating its important roles in the biofilm development.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.303-309
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• 2019

Earlier studies by our group revealed that gallic acid in phytochemicals stimulated biofilm production in epiphytes, while caffeic acid in phytochemicals inhibited biofilm production in non-epiphytes. It is well documented that antimicrobial secretion by some epiphytic bacteria inhibits non-epiphytic bacterial growth on leaf surfaces. These selection criteria help plants choose their microbial inhabitants. Calcium and iron in phytochemicals also stimulate biofilm formation and thus, may be selection criteria adopted by plants with respect to their native epiphytic population. Furthermore, the processing of leaves during phytochemical extraction impacts the composition of the extract, and therefore its ability to affect bacterial biofilm formation. Computation of the Hurst exponent using biofilm thickness data obtained from the Ellipsometry of Brewster Angle Microscopic (BAM) images is an efficient tool for understanding the impact of phytochemicals on epiphytic and non-epiphytic populations when compared to fluorescent microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and staining techniques. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that uses the Hurst exponent to elucidate the mechanism involved in plant microbe interaction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.692-700
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• 2011

The use of electric field has been studied as an alternative for biofilm control dominated by disinfectants and antibiotics. This technology would be advantageous in the environmental respect that biofilm can be controlled based on electron transfer, not using chemical disinfectants and antibiotics. Control mechanisms which were reported by earlier studies are organized as; (1) bacterial adhesion control by electrostatic repulsion at a negative current, (2) bacterial adhesion control using bacterial motion and (3) bacterial inactivation by direct oxidation at a positive current, (4) bioelectric effect leading to biofilm inactivation. In this review article, we summarized the technologies for biofilm control using electric field and provided some application examples from previous studies.