• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.694-705
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify marine bacterium with anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity, and to purify the anti-MRSA compound, as well as to determine its activity and synergistic effects. Among the marine bacteria isolated in this study, the YJ-1 isolate had the strongest anti-MRSA activity. The YJ-1 isolate was identified on the basis of its biochemical characteristics and an analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The YJ-1 isolate showed over 99.2% homology with Pseudomonas stutzeri, and was designated as a Pseudomonas sp. YJ-1. The optimal culture conditions were $25^{\circ}C$ and initial pH 7.0. For the purification of the anti-MRSA compounds, the YJ-1 was cultured in Pa PES-II medium, and the culture filtrates were extracted by ethyl acetate, hexane, and 80% MeOH. The 80% MeOH fraction was separated by a $C_{18}$ ODS column, silica gel chromatography and a reverse phase HPLC, to yield three anti-MRSA agents, the MR1, MR2, and MR3 compounds. When the MR1 compound of $250{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentration was applied to the MRSA cells, over 95% of bacterial cells was killed within 48 hr. Compared with vancomycin and ampicillin, the MR1 compound showed significant anti-MRSA activity. In addition, the anti-MRSA activity was increased by dose and time dependent manners. Furthermore, the combination of an MR1 compound with vancomycin produced a more rapid decrease in the MRSA cells than did the MR1 compound alone. Taken together, our results suggest that the Pseudomonas sp. YJ-1 and its anti-MRSA compounds could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent in MRSA infections.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.314-326
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• 2020

This study was carried out to develop a resistant variety against the K3a race of bacterial blight, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, through expansion and pyramiding of resistance genes. To develop an elite bacterial blight-resistant cultivar, the breeding process and bacterial blight resistance reactions in advanced backcross lines (ABLs) were analyzed. ABLs21 which contain Xa3 and Xa21, were developed by double backcrossing japonica cultivar Hwanggeumnuri, which has bacterial blight resistant Xa3 gene, and indica variety IRBB21, which havs Xa21 gene, followed by disease resistance bioassay and marker-assisted selection. The resistance genes of ABLs21 were amplified by PCR with the molecular markers 9643.T4 (Xa3) and U1/I1 (Xa21). Hwanggeumnuri and IRBB3 showed resistance reactions against K1, K2, and K3 races, and a susceptible reaction against K3a, K4, and K5 races. IRBB21 showed resistance reactions against K2, K3, K3a, K4 and K5 races, and a susceptible reaction against K1 race. Hwanggeumnuri showed susceptible reactions at the seedling, tillering and adult stages (all stages), whereas ABL21-1 showed moderate resistance at the tillering stage. ABL21-1 showed stable resistance against 18 isolates of K3a race, and the lesion length was shorter than that of the donor parents. In cluster analysis, the HB4032 isolate showed the highest pathogenicity among the 18 isolates. The molecular marker polymorphisms and average substituted chromosome segment lengths of ABLs21 were 63.2 % and 86.1 cM, respectively. Insertion of the donor chromosomal segments occurred in the predicted region of the Xa21 gene of ABLs21.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.960-968
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• 2003

A bacterial isolate showing a strong endochitosanase activity was isolated from soil and then characterized. The isolate was identified and designated as Bacillus cereus P16, based on morphological and biochemical properties, assimilation tests, cellular fatty acids pattern, along with 16S rRNA gene sequence. The optimized medium for producing extracellular chitosanase in a batch culture contained 1% tryptone, 0.5% chitosan, and 1% NaCl (pH 7.0). Powder chitosan and tryptone served the best as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, for the chitosanase production. Chitosanase activity was the highest when culture was completed at $37^{\circ}C$ among various temperatures ($20-42^{\circ}C$) tested in a shaking incubator (200 rpm). The levels of chitosanase activity in the culture fluid were 2.0 U/ml and 3.8 U/ml, respectively, when incubated in a flask for 60 h and in a jar fermenter for 24 h. The culture supernatant showed a strong liquefying activity on the soluble chitosan. The viscosity of 1% chitosan solution, that was incubated with the culture supernatant, was rapidly decreased, suggesting the secretion of endochitosanolytic enzymes by P16. The culture fluid revealed six endo-type chitosanase isozymes, two major (38 and 45 kD), and four minor (54, 65, 82, and 96 kD) forms by staining profile. The crude enzymes were very stable, and full activity was maintained for 4 weeks at $4^{\circ}C\;or\;-20^{\circ}C$ in the culture supernatant, suggesting a highly desirable stability rate for making an industrial application of the crude enzymes. The supernatant also cleaved the insoluble chitosan powder, but the hydrolysis rate was much lower. The enzymic degradation products of chitosan contained $(GlcN)_n$ (n=2-8). The concentration of chitosan in the reaction mixture of the crude enzyme affected the chitooligosaccharides composition of the hydrolysis products. When the higher concentration of chitosan was used, the higher degree of polymerized chitooligosaccharides were produced. By comparison with other commercial chitosanase preparations, P16 was indeed found to be a valuable enzyme source for industrial production of chitooligosaccharides from chitosan.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

The 44 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from surface-sterilized root of rice cultivated in seven different locations of Chungcheong province, Korea. Each isolate was introduced into rice seedlings grown gnotobiotically by inoculating scissor-cut first true leaf with cell suspensions, and the colonization capacity of each isolate in root tissue was analyzed at 7 days after inoculation. Sixteen out of 44 isolates were re-isolated from root successfully with the frequency of $10^{3-5}$ CFU/g tissue. Interestingly, seven out of 16 isolates were identified as Burkholderia species. The identity between inoculated strains and re-isolates was confirmed by genomic finger-printing and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. By a confocal laser scanning microscopic observation it was revealed that KJ001 strain, one of the sixteen isolates tagged with gfp colonized in root tissue especially around xylem. Six out of seven Burkholderia strains obtained in this study showed antagonizing activities against seven different fungal pathogens, contain nifH gene, and five of them enhanced growth of cucumber over 30%. The isolates showed no hypersensitive response on tobacco leaves and no pathogenecity in rice. From these results it was found that the endophytic Burkholderia strains will be useful in agriculture to develop a biocontrol agent or a bio-fertilizer.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2006

An antagonistic bacterial isolate, that inhibits the growth of plant pathogens, was selected and identified from 5,000 isolates screened from the rhizosphere of various crop plants. An isolate Bacillus sp. N32, tested against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing anthracnose disease in hot pepper, produced both a heat resistant antifungal protein and a heat sensitive antifungal protein. The heat resistant protein was partially purified by Ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration chromatography. The bioautography showed that the proteins possessed high antifungal activity. The biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for the heat resistant antifungal protein was cloned from cosmid library using DNA probe obtained from PCR product with the primers targeting the conserved nucleotide sequence of the synthetic genes reported earlier, Most of the clones obtained showed higher homology to fengycin antibiotic synthetic gene family reported earlier. On the other hand, the heat sensitive protein was isolated from SDS-PAGE and electroblotting to determine the N-terminal amino acid sequences. The heat sensitive antifungal protein gene was cloned from the ${\lambda}-ZAP$ libraries using a DNA probe based on the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the heat sensitive protein. We are contemplating to clone and sequence the whole gene cluster encoding the heat sensitive protein for further analysis.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.86-89
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• 2011

Phytophthora blight and anthracnose disease caused by Phytophthora capsici and Collectotrichum gloeosporioides are the most important devastating diseases of red pepper plants, worldwide. Five different bacterial isolates were isolated from the red pepper rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil and subsequently tested for antagonistic activity against P. capsisi and C. gloeosporioides. The area of the inhibition zone was taken as a measure for antagonistic activity. Among the 5 isolates tested, S54 exhibited a maximum antagonistic activity under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In greenhouse studies the isolate has successfully reduced the disease symptom. Protect value was 80.8% (Phytophthora blight) and 81.9% (Anthrancnose disease), whereas the infection rate of control plants was 21.3% and 23.2%. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence and API 50CHB Kit analysis the most effective isolate was identified as Bacillus subtilis. The results of the study indicate that the stratin S54 could be used as an potential biological control of Phytophthora blight and anthracnose disease of red pepper.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 1984

To study affinity of proteolytic enzymes to soy proteins, the physicochemical and functional properties of enzymatically modified protein products, kinetic parameters and degree of hydrolysis were measured using trypsin, alcalase (serine type protease) and pronase. Bacterial alcalase and pronase showed much greater affinity to soy protein than animal intestinal trypsin. This effect was very significant when unheated soy isolate was used as a substrate. Specific activities of these enzymes decreased with the increment of substrate concentration (over 2.0%, w/v) when heat denatured soy protein was used as a substrate. However, the decrease in specific activity was negligible at substrate concentrations lower than 2.0%. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic results showed that the pattern of 2S protein band changed distinctly in alcalase hydrolysis as compared with those of trypsin and pronase. Protein solubilities of alcalase and pronase hydrolyzates increased by 25-30%, at their pI (pH 5.0) over the control. Virtually no change was observed in solubility by trypsin hydrolysis. Heat coagulability and calcium-tolerance of the protein increased by enzymatic hydrolysis. No clear tendency, however, was observed for emulsion properties, foam expansion and the amount of free -SH groups. The enzyme treatment considerably decreased foam stability.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1350-1357
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• 2000

Traditional Kochujang was prepared adding horseradish or mustard powder to repress the gas formation which used to cause swelling problem during distribution. The koji for Kochujang was prepared by the strains which had high amylase and protease activities with superior flavor. The gas production from Kochujang during fermentation at $25^{\circ}C$ was ceased after stopping yeast growth completely by bactericidal components from $0.6{\sim}1.2%(w/w)$ of horseradish or mustard addition. Total viable bacterial count was not affected by adding horseradish or mustard. The amino type nitrogen content in Kochujang, which was one of the most important parameters in quality of Kochujang, increased continually during fermentation. The Kochujang fermented by P-2 isolate and added with mustard was significantly higher in amino type nitrogen content than other treatments after 120 days' fermentation. ${\alpha}-Amylase$ activity was very low while ${\beta}-amylase$ activity was high in Kochujang fermented by adding horseradish and mustard powder. The protease(acid and neutral) activities gradually increased by fermentation with no difference between treatments. The color and flavor were not different, but overall palatability of the Kochujang evaluated by sensory test showed significantly high rank in Kochujang fermented by P-2 isolate and with horseradish.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.295-305
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to isolate microorganisms from half milk samples of dairy goats by California mastitis test (CMT) during the lactation period and to further investigate the susceptibility of isolated organisms to antimicrobial drugs. From a total of 235 half milk samples with CMT scores of 2 or above from 366 dairy goats distributed throughout Jeonnam province, microorganisms were isolated from 198 (83.5%) samples either singly (99.0%) or in combination (1.0%). The most prevalent microorganism was the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., (44.4%, n=88) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (24.2%, n=48), Escherichia coli (11.1%, n=22) and Streptococcus spp. (7.6%, n=15). Isolated bacteria also included Bacillus spp. (2.5%, n=5), Pseudomonas spp. (2.5%, n=5), Micrococcus spp. (1.5%, n=3), Corynebacterium spp. (1.5%, n=3), Enterococcus facium (1.0%, n=2), Morganella morganii (0.5%, n=1) and Streptococcus agalactiae (0.5%, n=1). During the summer season, a high prevalence of all microorganisms were observed in which Staphylococcus spp. (30.8%), Escherichia coli (8.6%), and Streptococcus spp. (5.6%) were among the most prevalent bacteria isolated. Staphylococcus spp. was also shown to be high in the winter (21.7%). In most samples, the presence of bacterial pathogens in goat milk led to the increase in the total somatic cell count (SCC). Most of the half milk samples of dairy goats with bacterial contamination showed SCC of ${\geq}1{\times}10^6cells/ml$ (90.4%). Minor pathogens (11.4%) were more detected from milk samples with SCC of < $1{\times}10^6cells/ml$ than major pathogens (4.1%), while the major pathogens tended to be higher from samples with SCC of ${\geq}3{\times}10^6cells/ml$. Susceptibility of these bacteria to 12 antimicrobial agents was tested by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results indicated that more than 90% of bacteria isolated from CMT 2+ dairy goat half milk samples were susceptible to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin/clavulanic, enrofloxacin and cephalothin while they were resistant to tetracycline (44.7%).

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.436-446
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify the bacteria in chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) lesions from 3 patients and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of them against 10 antibiotics. One of them was odontogenic origin and the others were non-odontogenic origin. Pus samples were collected by needle aspiration from the lesions and examined by culture method. Bacterial culture was performed in three culture systems (anaerobic, CO2, and aerobic incubator). Identification of the bacteria was performed by 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) nucleotide sequencing method. To test the sensitivity of the bacteria isolated from the maxillary sinusitis lesions against seven antibiotics, penicillin G, amoxicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, erythromycin, clindamycin, and vancomycin, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was performed using broth dilution assay. Our data showed that enterobacteria such as Enterobacter aerogenes (30%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (25%), and Serratia marcescens (15%) were predominately isolated from the lesion of non-odontogenic CMS of senile patient (70 year old). Streptococcus spp. (40.3%), Actinomyces spp. (27.4%), P. nigrescens, M. micros, and P. anaerobius strains were isolated in the lesion of odontogenic CMS. In the lesion of non-odontogenic CMS, Streptococcus spp. (68.4%), Rothia spp. (13.2%), and Actinomyces sp. (10.5%) were isolated. The susceptibility pattern of 10 antibiotics was determined according to the host of the bacteria strains ratter than the kinds of bacterial species. Even though the number of CMS was limited as three, these results indicate that antibiotic susceptibility test must be accompanied with treatment of CMS. The combined treatment of two or more antibiotics is better than single antibiotic treatment in the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the CMS lesions.