• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.748-756
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• 2018

Biofilms are of vital significance in bioconversion and biotechnological processes. In this work, sugarcane molasses was used to enhance biofilms for the improvement of the production of fumigaclavine C (FC), a conidiation-associated ergot alkaloid with strong anti-inflammatory activities. Biofilm formation was more greatly induced by the addition of molasses than the addition of other reported biofilm inducers. With the optimal molasses concentration (400 g/l), the biofilm biomass was 6-fold higher than that with sucrose, and FC and conidia production was increased by 5.8- and 3.1-fold, respectively. Moreover, the global secondary metabolism regulatory gene laeA, FC biosynthetic gene fgaOx3, and asexual central regulatory genes brlA and wetA were upregulated in molasses-based biofilms, suggesting the upregulation of both asexual development and FC biosynthesis. This study provides novel insight into the stimulatory effects of molasses on biofilm formation and supports the widespread application of molasses as an inexpensive raw material and effective inducer for biofilm production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1728-1733
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• 2015

This study was done to establish a mouse model for catheter-related biofilm infection suitable to bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) Xen5 grown on catheter disks in vitro and in an implanted mouse model was real-time monitored during a 7-day study period using BLI. The numbers of integrated brightness (IB) and viable bacterial count (VBC) in the biofilm disks in vitro were highest at 24 h after inoculation; the IB of biofilm in vivo was increased until 24 h after implantation. A statistical correlation was observed between IB and VBC in vitro by linear regression analysis. The actual VBC value in vivo can be estimated accurately by IB without sacrifice. In addition, we monitored the change in white blood cells (WBCs) during infection. The number of WBCs on day 7 was significantly higher in the infection group than in the control group. This study indicates that BLI is a simple, fast, and sensitive method to measure catheter biofilm infection in mice.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.482-485
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• 2017

PURPOSE. This laboratory study aimed to investigate the effect of doping an acrylic denture base resin material with nanoparticles of ZnO, CaO, and $TiO_2$ on biofilm formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Standardized specimens of a commercially available cold-curing acrylic denture base resin material were doped with 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 wt% commercially available ZnO, CaO, and $TiO_2$ nanopowder. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to identify the availability of the nanoparticles on the surface of the modified specimens. Surface roughness was determined by employing a profilometric approach; biofilm formation was simulated using a monospecies Candida albicans biofilm model and a multispecies biofilm model including C. albicans, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Streptococcus gordonii. Relative viable biomass was determined after 20 hours and 44 hours using a MTT-based approach. RESULTS. No statistically significant disparities were identified among the various materials regarding surface roughness and relative viable biomass. CONCLUSION. The results indicate that doping denture base resin materials with commercially available ZnO, CaO, or $TiO_2$ nanopowders do not inhibit biofilm formation on their surface. Further studies might address the impact of varying particle sizes as well as increasing the fraction of nanoparticles mixed into the acrylic resin matrix.

• 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.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2015

Biofilms of oral microbes can cause various diseases in the oral cavity, such as dental caries, periodontitis and mucosal disease. Electrolyzed water generated by an electric current passed via water using a metal electrode has an antimicrobial effect on pathogenic bacteria which cause food poisoning. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of electrolyzed waters using various metal electrodes on the floatage and biofilms of oral microbes. The electrolyzed water was generated by passing electric current using copper, silver and platinum electrodes. The electrolyzed water has a neutral pH. Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia were cultured, and were used to form a biofilm using specific media. The floatage and biofilm of the microbes were then treated with the electrolyzed water. The electrolyzed water using platinum electrode (EWP) exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the floatage and biofilm of the oral microbes. However, the electrolyzed water using copper and silver electrodes had no effect. The EWP disrupted the biofilm of oral microbes, except the S. mutans biofilm. Comparing the different electrolyzed waters that we created the platinum electrode generated water may be an ideal candidate for prevention of dental caries and periodontitis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2001

Activated carbon particles of 1.274 mm diameter and sand particles of 0.455 mm diameter were employed as the support of the biofilm formed in fluidized bed biofilm reactors(FBBRs) for the wastewater denitrification. Ethanol was used as the electron donor in the anoxic respiration. The steady-state biofilm thickness increased as the nitrate loading rate increased, and the activated carbon particles induced thicker biofilm than the sand particles. The FBBRs with sand support showed higher efficiency and rate of the nitrate removal than those with activated carbon support, and exhibited the biomass concentration of 37 kg/㎥ and the nitrate removal rate of 21 kg N/㎥d.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2012

Candida albicans is a common opportunistic pathogen and is frequently associated with biofilm formation occurring on the surfaces of host tissues and medical devices. On account of the distinct resistance of C. albicans biofilms to the conventional antifungal agents, new strategies are required to cope with these infections. The root of Polygonum cuspidatum has been used for medicinal purposes in East Asia. The aim of this study was to assess the anticandidal potential of the P. cuspidatum ethanol extract by evaluating biofilm formation, integrity of the cell membranes of C. albicans and adhesion of C. albicans cells to polystyrene surfaces. The growth and development of the biofilm was assessed using an XTT reduction assay, and the extract (0.39 mg/ml) significantly reduced ($41.1{\pm}17.8%$) biofilm formation of 11 C. albicans strains. The extract damaged the cell membranes of C. albicans and remarkably inhibited cell adhesion to polystyrene surfaces. The plant extract displayed fungistatic activity without significant hemolytic activity. Based on the results of this study, the P. cuspidatum extract has promising potential for use in treating biofilm-associated Candida infection.

• 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 the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.347-350
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• 2011

Biofilms are surface-attached microbial communities with phenotypic and biochemical properties distinct from free-living planktonic cells. Biofilm bacteria show much greater resistance than planktonic counterparts and much higher concentration of biocide is needed to treat biofilms compared to the dosage used for planktonic bacteria. As a result, alternative strategies or more effective agents exhibiting activity against biofilm-producing micro-organisms are of great interest. Therefore, we turned our attention to control of biofilm of S. aureus. The aims of this research are to investigate substances which inhibit the formation of biofilm by S. aureus and to suggest effective materials for controlling skin problems. We coated slide glasses with human placental collagen and the coverslip was incubated with test materials and bacteria. The coverslip was stained with crystal violet and we measured optical density of each sample. The biofilm inhibitory activity was calculated by crystal violet staining degrees. In this study, S. aureus ATCC 6538 was used as test organism. Our results show that both water soluble and insoluble Hinoki cypress polysaccharide strongly inhibited biofilm formation. Whereas, green tea and sunset hibiscus root extract promoted biofilm. Xylitol showed a concentration dependent effect; high concentration (3 % and 5 %) of xylitol reduced biofilm while promoted biofilm formation at a concentration of 1 %. These results support that Hinoki cypress polysaccharide and xylitol have ability to suppress biofilm formation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2007

Biofilm media was equipped in two-compartmented wastewater treatment bioreactor which was separated by porcelain septum. DC 2.0 volt of electric potential was charged to anodic (oxidative) biofilm media (ABM) to induce oxidation potential but not to that of carbon (neutral) biofilm media (CBM) that was used for control test. Biofilm structure, biomass variation, Off variation and wastewater treatment efficiency in the bioreactor equipped with ABM (ABM-bioreactor) and CBM (CBM-bioreactor). Time-coursed variation of biofilm structure forming on surface of ABM and CBM was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The biofilm growing on ABM was dispersed on surface and was not completely covered the media but the biofilm growing on CBM was continuously increased and finally covered the media. The ORP of CBM was decreased to 100 mV, which was reciprocally proportional to the biomass growth. However, the ORP of ABM was about 800 mV, which was maintained during operation for about 60 days. The treatment efficiency of COD in the ABM bioreactor was 2 times higher than those in the CBM bioreactor. From these results, we proposed that electrochemical oxidation potential charged to biofilm media may inhibit formation of biofilm extremely condensed and activate bacterial cell metabolism.