• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2014

There is a burgeoning number of products on the market that contain probiotics, but do they do you any good? What exactly are probiotics? They have been defined as living organisms that, when ingested in sufficient quantities, provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are often referred to as "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics have been claimed, amongst other things, to (i) reduce the incidence of colon cancer and other diseases of the colon, such as IBS, (ii) stimulate the immune system, (iii) have anti-hypertensive and anti-cholesterolemic properties, (iv) mitigate against the effect of antibiotics on the intestinal microbiota, and (v) protect against gastrointestinal infections. However, the scientific basis for many of these claims is not well-established. Indeed, the European Food Safety Authority has denied the use of several health claims associated with probiotics, particularly those related to mitigation of diarrhea following consumption of antibiotics. Thus, there is a need for research on the mechanisms of action of probiotics. We have been mainly interested in the use of probiotics to control enteric infections. There are several possible modes of action to explain how probiotics may protect the host from enteric pathogens, including competitive exclusion and immunomodulation. We have shown that probiotics produce bioactive molecules that interfere with bacterial cell-cell communication (also called quorum sensing), and this results in a down-regulation of virulence genes that are responsible for attachment of the pathogen to the gastrointestinal epithelium. These bioactive molecules act on a variety of bacteria, including enterohemorrhagic and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens, and there is evidence that they can inhibit the formation of biofilms by Listeria monocytogenes. These bioactive molecules, which are peptidic in nature, can exert their effects not only in vitro but also in vivo, and we have shown that they mitigate against E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in mice and Salmonella and E. coli K88 infections in pigs. They can be delivered in foods such as yoghurt and maintain their activity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

The seasonal variations of water quality and periphyton were investigated in an artificial stream (the Cheonggyecheon Stream) flowing through the Seoul City. TP showed a longitudinal gradient: 10 to $59{\mu}gP\;L^{-1}$ in the upper stream sites, and 15 to $90{\mu}gP\;L^{-1}$ in downstream sites. POP was a major form of TP in the water, occupying over 60%, while the proportion of DIP was less than 10% except for St. 4. N/P atomic ratio ranged from 78 to 554, which implies phosphorus would limit algal growth more than nitrogen. The biomass of periphyton did not show much difference among sites, and it was relatively higher in spring and fall season $(10\sim20{\mu}gChl\;{\alpha}cm^{-2})$ and lower in August $(<5{\mu}gChl\;{\alpha}cm^{-2})$, possibly because biofilms were washed off during spates of summer monsoon. Cyanobacteria was the dominant taxon in the periphyton community throughout the year. The periphyton standing crop can be classified as a nuisance level. It seems that phosphorus level is sufficiently high even though the input water is treated chemically, and modest water velocity $(20\sim90cm\;sec^{-1})$ and rocky bottom provide optimal conditions for periphyton growth.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.702-708
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• 2009

We investigated biofilm formation in various media, growth in low pH, and the hemolytic activity of 14 strains of Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) isolated from a variety of foods including powdered infant formula (n=75), infant cereal (n=100), honey (n=30), and other infant foods (n=100) in Korea. The Cronobacter spp. adhered and formed biofilms on polyethylene, and a greater extent of biofilm was observed in nutrient-rich media. No clear difference in biofilm-forming ability was noted among the media constituents and the pattern of biofilm formation was strain-dependent. Seven strains out of 14 strains (50%) grew at pH 4.1, indicating that the acid resistance of these Cronobacter spp. isolated in Korea was relatively low. Hemolytic activity was not observed in any of the strains. This study provides basic information for the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Cronobacter spp. isolated from a variety of infant foods in Korea.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 2019

This study aimed to compare the disinfection efficiencies of the ultraviolet and plasma systems, the two systems designed and commercialized to disinfect water in aquaculture, by putting each in a 100 ℓ water tank and concentrating 1.0 ℓ of treated water to check the changes in the number of bacteria in the samples. Each system was operated for 6 hours to culture the typical seawater bacteria in the Marine agar, Thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose agar and Salmonella Shigella agar media, respectively, to check the number of bacteria in the media, and the changes in the number of Edwardsiella piscicida in the treated water were checked after the artificial inoculation of E. piscicida in the disinfected seawater. As a result, the two disinfection systems showed the almost similar levels of bacterial reduction efficiency between 99.5% and 99.9%. However, the result of this study showed that, with 100 ℓ of water treated for the same length of time using the two systems, the plasma system turned out to disinfect bacteria in a shorter period of time than the UV system. However, as the changes in the number of bacteria were checked for a short length of time (6 hours) in this study, it was judged that, considering the actual aquaculture environment in which the quality of water significantly changes with feed residues, excretions and coastal contamination, etc., and a lot of biofilms and organic matter exist, the plasma system would be more efficient than the UV system as the former is capable of continuously maintaining a certain level of efficiency than the latter that is limited in terms of efficiency depending on the level of turbidity and the existence of organic matter.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the in vitro anti-biofilm activities of plant extracts of chives (Allium tuberosum), garlic (Allium sativum), and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) against environment harmful bacteria (gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and, gram-negative Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7). In the paper disc assay, garlic extracts exhibited the highest anti-biofilm activity. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of all plant extracts was generally higher for gram-negative bacteria than it was for gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria were more resistant to plant extracts. The tetrazolium dye (XTT) assay revealed that, each plant extract exhibited a different anti-biofilm activity at the MIC value depending on the pathogen involved. Among the plant extracts tested, garlic extracts (fresh juice and powder) effectively reduced the metabolic activity of the cells of food-poisoning bacteria in biofilms. These anti-biofilm activities were consistent with the results obtained through light microscopic observation. Though the garlic extract reduced biofilm formation for all pathogens tested, to elucidate whether this reduction was due to antimicrobial effects or anti-biofilm effects, we counted the colony forming units of pathogens in the presence of the garlic extract and a control antimicrobial drug. The garlic extract inhibited the E. coli O157:H7 biofilm effectively compared to the control antimicrobial drug ciprofloxacin; however, it did not inhibit S. aureus biofilm significantly compared to ciprofloxacin. In conclusion, garlic extracts could be used as natural food preservatives to prevent the growth of foodborne pathogens and elongater the shelf life of processed foods.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2021

This study was conducted to create a technology to remove acne bacteria with human-friendly materials. First, the Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) were adsorbed to the mica disc to grow, and then the biofilm was checked through an atomic microscope to see if the biofilm had grown. Based on the topographic image, the shape changed round, the size was 17% longer on average, and the phase value of the resonance frequency separating materials was observed as a single value, the biofilm grown by covering the extracellular polymeric substrate (EPS). As a result of processing 50 mM of amino acids in the matured biofilm, the concentration of C. acnes decreased when valine, serine, arginine and leucine were treated. Scanning with nanoindentation and AFM contact modes confirmed that the hardness of biofilms treated with Valine (Val) increased. This indicates that an AFM tip measured cell which may have more solidity than that of EPS. The experiment of fluorescent tagged to EPS displays an existence of EPS at the condition of 10 mM Val, but an inhibition of growth of EPS at the 50 mM Val. Number of C. acnes was also reduced above 10 mM of Val. Weak adhesion of biofilm generated from an inhibition of EPS formation seems to induce decrease of C. acnes. Accordingly, we elucidated that Val has an efficiency which eliminates C. acnes by approach of an inhibition of EPS.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.392-401
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• 2022

This study investigated the effects of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and potassium iodide (KI) treatments on the acid resistance of dentin exposed to secondary caries. Sixteen bovine dentin specimens with artificially induced caries were assigned to the following four groups: untreated negative control, untreated positive control, SDF-treated (SDF), and SDF and KI-treated (SDFKI). Multispecies cariogenic biofilms containing Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei, and Candida albicans were cultured on the specimens for 28 days, except for the negative control group. Specimens from the negative control group were stored in phosphate-buffered saline for that period. After a cariogenic biofilm challenge, the degree of demineralization was evaluated using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). As a result of data analysis using micro-CT, the demineralization depths of the negative control, positive control, SDF, and SDFKI groups were 149.0 ± 7 ㎛, 392.0 ± 11 ㎛, 206.0 ± 20 ㎛, and 230.0 ± 31 ㎛, respectively. The degree of demineralization was significantly reduced in the SDF and SDFKI groups compared with that in the untreated positive control group. There were no significant differences between the SDF and SDFKI groups. This study confirmed that SDF and SDFKI treatments increase the acid resistance of dentin to secondary caries. KI did not significantly affect the caries-arresting effect of the SDF.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of erythrosine-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on Streptococcus mutans biofilm recovery by counting its colony-forming units (CFUs) and via confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis at different time points following PDT. In PDT, photosensitizer was an erythrosine. S. mutans ATCC25175 biofilms were irradiated using an LED curing light. Chlorhexidine (CHX) was used as positive control. After each antimicrobial treatment, samples were cultured to allow biofilm recovery. Viability was measured by calculating the CFU counts after treatment and after every 3 hours for up to 24 hours. Immediately after treatment, the PDT and CHX groups showed equally significant decreases in S. mutans CFU counts compared to the negative control. After 12 hours of reculture, the PDT group showed no significant difference in the decrease in CFU count compared to the negative control, whereas the CHX group showed significantly lower CFU counts throughout the 24-hour period. Erythrosine-mediated PDT can effectively inhibit S. mutans biofilm formation. However, biofilm recovery occurred earlier in the CHX group after PDT. This study provides insights into the clinical effectiveness of PDT in preventing dental caries.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.233-244
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• 2023

Purpose: An implant-supported prosthesis consists of an implant fixture, an abutment, an internal screw that connects the abutment to the implant fixture, and the upper prosthesis. Numerous studies have investigated the microorganisms present on the implant surface, surrounding tissues, and the subgingival microflora associated with peri-implantitis. However, there is limited information regarding the microbiome within the internal screw space. In this study, microbial samples were collected from the supragingival surfaces of natural teeth, the peri-implant sulcus, and the implant-abutment screw hole, in order to characterize the microbiome of the internal screw space in healthy subjects. Methods: Samples were obtained from the supragingival region of natural teeth, the peri-implant sulcus, and the implant screw hole in 20 healthy subjects. DNA was extracted, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA was sequenced for microbiome analysis. Alpha diversity, beta diversity, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), and network analysis were employed to compare the characteristics of the microbiomes. Results: We observed significant differences in beta diversity among the samples. Upon analyzing the significant taxa using LEfSe, the microbial composition of the implant-abutment screw hole's microbiome was found to be similar to that of the other sampling sites' microbiomes. Moreover, the microbiome network analysis revealed a unique network complexity in samples obtained from the implant screw hole compared to those from the other sampling sites. Conclusions: The bacterial composition of the biofilm collected from the implant-abutment screw hole exhibited significant differences compared to the supra-structure of the implant. Therefore, long-term monitoring and management of not only the peri-implant tissue but also the implant screw are necessary.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.936-943
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of Stewartia koreana as anti-microbial materials. The branches, stems and leaves of S. koreana were extracted into 70% ethanol and their antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa was confirmed. The leaf, branch and stems extracts (1 mg/disc) showed the antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa and leaf extracts showed higher antibacterial activities than those from branch extracts. The MIC against P. aeruginosa was 0.8 mg/ml and showed bacteriostatic action. The inhibitory effects of extract on biofilm formation and gene expression related to biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa was determined by biofilm biomass staining, SEM and qRT-PCR analysis. The biofilm biomass and cell growth of P. aeruginosa in the cultures treated with 0.2~2.0 mg/ml of S. koreana leaf extracts were significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. We observed that the extract had an inhibitory effect on the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms at concentrations of 0.8 mg/ml by SEM. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the lasI and rh1I gene expression associated to quorum sensing (QS) in the cultures treated with 0.2~2.0 mg/ml of S. koreana leaf extracts were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that S. koreana leaf extracts can be used as anti-microbial material derived from natural materials, as demonstrated by the antibacterial action and inhibition of biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa by QS inhibition.