• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.348-356
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• 2011

Liriope platyphylla is a medical herb that has long been used in Korea and China to treat cough, sputum, neurodigenerative disorders, obesity and diabetes. The aims of this study were to study the antidiabetic effects of the aqueous extract of L. platyphylla (AEtLP) through pancreatic and extrapancreatic actions. AEtLP were orally administrated to ICR mice once a day for 7 days. Of three different concentrations of AEtLP, only 10% AEtLP were low toxic to liver, based on body weight and serum biochemical analyses. However, 10% AEtLP-treated mice displayed signifi cant reduction of the glucose concentration and increased insulin concentration; no changes were noted using 5% and 15% AEtLP. Also, the increase of glucose transporter (Glut)-1 expression in liver was dependent on the concentration of AEtLP, and was regulated by the phosphorylation of Akt. The lowest expression of Glut-3 was observed in 15% AEtLP treated mice, followed by 10% AEtLP- and 5% AEtLP-treated mice. This pattern of Glut-3 expression was roughly in accord with the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-teminal kinase (JNK) in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Furthermore, a signifi cant rise of the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was detected in AEtLP-treated mice. The fi ndings suggest that AEtLP should be considered as a diabetes therapeutic candidate to induce insulin secretion from pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells and glucose uptake in liver cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.176-182
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• 1999

Whole soybean cereal was fermented with four fungal strains (Mucor and Rhizopus) in pilot meju fermentation system. The pH range of the fermented soybean cereal was $7.16{\sim}8.38$, the contents of reducing sugar and amino-nitrogen were $0.54{\sim}2.64%,\;93{\sim}312mg%$, respectively, and that of free fatty acid ranged $0.06{\sim}2.00%$. The components of the amino acid, organic acid, free sugars and fatty acid showed distinctive patterns among four groups of fermented soybean cereals. Amylase activity and carbohydrate degradation rate of R. oryzae, protease and protein degadation rate of R. stolonifer was higher than other strains. But lipase and lipid degradation rates of four strains were similar. The odor concentrates of the soybean cereals fermented with Mucor strains were similar to Aspergillus strains, but Rhizopus were possessed of the flavor components of Bacillus and Aspergillus. Soysauce, made from M. hiemalis and R. stolonifer fermented soybean cereal showed excellent sensory evaluation and it was proposed that the two strains will be useful in Korean soysauce process.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2003

For the biological control of Phytophthora blight of red-pepper caused by Phytophthora capsici, an antibiotic-producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Bacillus sp. KL 39 was selected from a local soil of Kyongbuk, Korea. The strain KL 39 was identified as Bacillus megaterium by various cultural, biochemical test and API and Microlog system. B. megaterium KL 39 could produce the highest antifungal antibiotic after 40 h of incubation under the optimal medium which was 0.4% fructose, 0.3% yeast extract, and 5 mM KCl at 30 C with initial pH 8.0. The antifungal antibiotic KL 39 was purified by Diaion HP-20 column, silica gel column, Sephadex LH-20 column, and HPLC. Its RF value was confirmed 0.32 by thin-layer chromatography with Ethanol:Ammonia:Water = 8:1:1. The crude antibiotic KL39 was active against a broad range of plant pathogenic fungi, Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia oryzae, Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinenea, Alteranria kikuchiana, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. The purified antifungal antibiotic KL39 had a powerful biocontrol activity against red-pepper phytophthora blight disease with in vivo pot test as well as the strain B. megaterium KL 39.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 2003

A bacterium producing the extracellular mannanase was isolated from Korean soybean paste. The isolate WL-7 has been identified as Bacillus subtiis on the basis on its 16S rRNA sequence, fatty acid composition, morphology and biochemical properties. The mannanase of culture supernatant was the most active around $55^{\circ}C$ and pH $6.0^{\circ}C$, and retained 90% of its maximum activity at range of pH 5.0∼7.5 and $50∼60^{\circ}C$. The additional carbohydrates including lactose, $\alpha$-cellulose, avicel, locust bean gum (LBG), wheat bran and konjak increased dramatically the mannanase productivity of strain WL-7. Especially, the maximum mannanase productivity was reached to 224 U/ml in LB medium supplemented with both 0.5% LBG and 0.5% konjak, which was approximately 200-folds more than that in LB medium. It was suggested that the increase of mannanase production was owing to induction of mannanase biosynthesis by both LBG and konjak hydrolysates transported following initial hydrolysis by extracellular mannanase during the cell growth.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2015

An agarolytic marine bacterium (H9) was isolated from the coastal seawater of the West Sea, South Korea. The isolate, H9, was gram-negative and rod-shaped with a smooth surface and polar flagellum. Cells grew at 20-30℃, between pH 5.0 and 9.0, and in ASW-YP (Artificial Sea Water-Yeast extract, Peptone) media containing 1-5% (w/v) NaCl. The G+C content was 41.56 mol%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone in strain H9 was ubiquinone-8. The major fatty acids (>10%) were C_16:1ω7c (34.3%), C_16:0 (23.72%), and C_18:1ω7c (13.64%). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and biochemical and chemotaxonomic characterization, the strain was designated as Pseudoalteromonas sp. H9 (=KCTC23887). In liquid culture supplemented with 0.2% agar, the cell density and agarase activity reached a maximum level of OD = 4.32 (48 h) and OD = 3.87 (24 h), respectively. The optimum pH and temperature for the extracellular crude agarases of H9 were 7.0 and 40℃, respectively. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of the agarase hydrolysis products revealed that the crude agarases hydrolyze agarose into neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose. Therefore, the new agar-degrading strain, H9, can be applicable for the production of valuable neoagarooligosaccharides and for the complete degradation of agar in bio-industries.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.10
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• 2016

Background: Heat stress adversely affects the physiological and metabolic status, and the productive performance of buffalo. Methods: The present study was conducted to explicate the effect of misting and wallowing cooling strategies during heat stress in lactating Murrah buffalo. The study was conducted for three months (May-July) of which first two months were hot dry and last month was hot humid. Eighteen lactating buffaloes, offered the same basal diet, were blocked by days in milk, milk yield and parity, and then randomly allocated to three treatments: negative control (no cooling), cooling by misting, and cooling by wallowing. Results: The results showed higher (P < 0.05) milk yield in buffaloes of misting and wallowing group compared to control during the experimental period however wallowing was found more (P < 0.05) effective during July (hot humid period). Both the treatments resulted into significant (P < 0.05) reduction in rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) compared to control animals during study period whereas wallowing was found to be effective on pulse rate (PR) only during July. Both treatments were resulted in mitigating the heat stress mediated decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), lymphocytopnoea and neutrophilia whereas decrease in total erythrocyte count (TEC) and monocytes was only mitigated by wallowing. Heat load induced alteration in serum creatinine and sodium concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated by misting and wallowing whereas aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase activity, and reactive oxygen species concentration could be normalized neither by misting nor by wallowing. The significant (P < 0.05) increment in serum cortisol and prolactin levels observed in June and July period in control animals was significantly (P < 0.05) prevented by misting and wallowing. Conclusions: It can be concluded that misting and wallowing were equally effective in May and June (hot dry period) whereas wallowing was more effective during hot humid period in preventing a decline in milk production and maintaining physiological, metabolic, endocrine and redox homeostasis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.480-491
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• 2017

Fluorescent pseudomonads have been isolated from halophytes, mesophytes, and xerophytes of Pakistan. Among these, eight isolates, GS-1, GS-3, GS-4, GS-6, GS-7, FS-2 (cactus), ARS-38 (cotton), and RP-4 (para grass), showed antifungal activity and were selected for detailed study. Based on biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequences, these were identified as strains of P. chlororaphis subsp. chlororaphis and aurantiaca. Secondary metabolites of these strains were analyzed by LC-MS. Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), 2-hydroxy-phenazine, Cyclic Lipopeptide (white line-inducing principle (WLIP)), and lahorenoic acid A were detected in variable amounts in these strains. P. aurantiaca PB-St2 was used as a reference as it is known for the production of these compounds. The phzO and PCA genes were amplified to assure that production of these compounds is not an artifact. Indole acetic acid production was confirmed and quantified by HPLC. HCN and siderophore production by all strains was observed by plate assays. These strains did not solubilize phosphate, but five strains were positive for zinc solubilization. Wheat seedlings were inoculated with these strains to observe their effect on plant growth. P. aurantiaca strains PB-St2 and GS-6 and P. chlororaphis RP-4 significantly increased both root and shoot dry weights, as compared with uninoculated plants. However, P. aurantiaca strains FS-2 and ARS-38 significantly increased root and shoot dry weights, respectively. All strains except PB-St2 and ARS-38 significantly increased the root length. This is the first report of the isolation of P. aurantiaca from cotton and cactus, P. chlororaphis from para grass, WLIP and lahorenoic acid A production by P. chlororaphis, and zinc solubilization by P. chlororaphis and P. aurantiaca.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.138-148
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• 2006

Two bacteria were isolated from the continuously pesticide-used soil under plastic film house and upland condition. The degradation test of several pesticides by the selected bacteria, B59 and B71, were conducted. The degradation rates for 6 pesticides, procymidone, chlorothalonil, ethoprophos parathior, alachlor and pendimethalin, in medium by the isolates were 21.1% to 53.2% higher than non-inoculated medium. Under shaking culture condition, 90% to 95% of procymidone was degraded after 21 days treatment. Parathion was degraded in the range of 60% to 100% by B71 and B59, respectively. Otherwise 70% of alachlor was degraded by the two isolated bacteria during same period. The pH was not significantly affected for degradation of pesticides. The bacterial strains, B59 and B71 was identified as Acinetobacter sp. and as Pseudomonas sp. based on morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and identity and similarity of automatic identification system, Biolog and MIDI.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2005

In order to develop a multi-microbial biofungicide against several important plant pathogenic fungi, strains were isolated from the phtophthora blight suppressive red-pepper field soil of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Strains AY1, AY6, AB1, BB2 and F4, which had strong antagonistic ability against Phytophthota capsici and Fusarium oxysporum, were selected for their involvement with strains of biocontrol fungicide. There were no antagonism among the selected strains and were compatible for making the biofungicide. Their antagonistic mechanisms, except for strain BB2, were an antibiosis by the production of antibiotic, while BB2 produced not only an antibiotic but also cellulase as an antagonistic mechanism against blight causing P. capsici. They were identified as Halobacterium sp. AB1, Xenorhadus sp. AY1, Bacillus sp. AY6, Bacillus sp. BB2, Zymomonas sp. F4 by various cultural, biochemical test and $Biolog^{TM}$ System 4.0. The highest levels of antifungal antibiotic could be produced after 48 hrs of incubation under the optimal medium which were 0.1% galactose, 0.1% $NaNO_2$, 5 mM $Na_2{\cdot}HPO_4$ (pH 5.5). The cultured multi-microbial biofungicide showed strong biocontrol activity against bacterial wilt disease and fusarium wilt disease in cucumber and tomato fields.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2006

YNB54 strain which shows inhibitory activities specific to the plant pathogenic Phytophthora sp. on potato dextrose agar medium was screened among lots of strains isolated from Korean soils. To identify taxonomy of the Phytophthora specific antagonistic bacteria YNB54, 165 rDNA sequence, MIDI fatty acid composition, DNA-DNA hybridization, GC content, and commercial multitest systems such as API 20E and Biolog GN were performed. Results of commercial kits including lots of biochemical and physiological reactions showed that this strain was closely related to taxa including Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter cancerogenus species than other genera(Citerobacter Klebsiella, Leclercia). Also, analysis of its MIDI, G+C contents, and DNA-DNA hybridization suggests that this strain was more similiar to the Genus Enterobacter than other genera (Citerobacter Klebsiella, Leclercia). This strain was potentially identified as Enterobacter sp. by these results. But our 16S ribosomal DNA sequences (rDNA) analysis confirmed that it was more closely related to the cluster of Citerobacter freundii ATCC 29935 than any other Enterobacter species. In the absence of defined phylogenetic critia for delineating genera, the results observed with Citrobacter and Enterobacter species suggest that further studies are needed to clarify their relationships. This investigation demonstrates that YNB54 strain is genetically diverse and potentially more taxonomically complex than hitherto realized. Further study is necessary to confirm their taxonomic positions.