• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.509-514
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Korean isolates of Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii). A total of 43 Cronobacter spp., including 5 clinical isolates, 34 food isolates, 2 environmental isolates, and 2 reference strains (C. sakazakii ATCC 29004 and C. muytjensii ATCC51329) were used in this study. Korean isolates of Cronobacter spp. were divided into 11 biogroups according to their biochemical profiles and 3 genomic groups based on the analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences. Biogroups 1 and 2 contained the majority of isolates (n=26), most of which were contained in 16S rRNA cluster 1 (n=34). Korean isolates of Cronobacter spp. showed diverse biochemical profiles. Biogroup 1 contained C. sakazakii GIHE (Gyeonggido Research Institute of Health and Environment) 1 and 2, which were isolated from babies that exhibited symptoms of Cronobacter spp. infection such as gastroenteritis, sepsis, and meningitis. Our finding revealed that Biogroup 1, C. sakazakii, is more prevalent and may be a more pathogenic biogroup than other biogroups, but the pathogenic biogroup was not represented clearly among the 11 biogroups tested in this study. Thus, all biogroups of Cronobacter spp. were recognized as pathogenic bacteria, and the absence of Cronobacter spp. in infant foods should be constantly regulated to prevent food poisoning and infection caused by Cronobacter spp.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.611-616
• /
• 2017

The antibacterial activities of nine oriental herbal medicine extracts were measured against seven kinds of bacteria known to cause food poisoning and disease. The extracts were prepared with distilled water using an autoclave ($121^{\circ}C$ for 30 min). The extraction yields of nine oriental herbal medicines were in the rage of 0.5%-33.4%. The antibacterial activities were evaluated using the paper-disc method. Extracts of Hwangryeon, Jiyu, and Ohbaeja showed antibacterial activities while the others did not. Extracts of Coptis japonica, Hwangryeon, and Sanguisorba officinalis, Jiyu showed antibacterial activities only against Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes. Extracts of Rhus javanica, Ohbaeja showed the strongest antibacterial activities against all the bacteria tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of R. javanica extracts were in the range of 2.4~20 mg/ml for the bacteria tested. In conclusion, the extract of R. javanica showed superior antibacterial activities against the seven bacterial strains tested. The MIC and MBC values for each bacterium were represented as strain names (MIC, MBC), which were Bacillus cereus (11.2, 20), Clostridium perfringens (2.4, 4.7), Escherichia coli (9.1, 9.1), Listeria monocytogenes (11.1, 20), Salmonella typhi (4.7, 9.1), Staphylococcus aureus (2.4, 4.7), and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (2.4, 5.3). Further purification and study of this antibacterial material would be helpful for developing antibiotics or promoting synergistic effects with known antibiotics, producing antibacterial material for lengthening the shelf-life of food, and so on.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2008

The variety of functional plants has an attention for new natural food preservation and natural antiseptic development. The extracts from functional plants with various methods (ethanol extraction, hot water extraction and supercritical fluid extraction) tested antimicrobial activity against 10 strains including the pathogenic and food poisoning bacteria, the yeast and fungi. The antimicrobial activities of supercritical fluid extracts were shown higher than ethanol extract and hot water extract when tested with disc-diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Antimicrobial activity of supercritical fluid extract was two times higher than ethanol extract in Cinnaonomum cassia. In addition, the supercritical fluid extractions of Chamaecyparis obtuas and the C. cassia showed the higher yield than Origanum vulgare and Scutellariae baicalensis. The supercritical fluid extract of C. cassia showed an antimicrobial activity against all strains tested. The supercritical fluid extract of S. baicalensis showed strong antimicrobial activity on Listeria monocytogenes. Supercritical fluid extraction of O. vulgare and C. obtuas showed strong antimicrobial activity on Salmonella typhimuriium. In MIC test, C. obtuas was shown the best natural material for the preparation of natural antimicrobial agent by supercritical fluid extraction. In conclusion, these results suggest that supercritical fluid extraction technique was effective to obtain functional ingredient with higher antimicrobial activity in the development of new antimicrobial reagent from natural materials.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.193-204
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system application on microbial hazard management levels of pork and manufacturing environments. In this study, we compared and analyzed microbial levels in raw meat, finished products, and manufacturing environments (knifes, gloves, and cutting boards) of HACCP and non-HACCP meat markets. In addition, we surveyed the hygiene statuses of HACCP and non-HACCP meat markets. The general bacterial counts in raw meat, finished products, and manufacturing environments were lower in HACCP meat markets than in non-HACCP meat markets. Particularly, non-HACCP meat markets exceeded the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety microbiological recommendation criteria for raw meats (8.7%) and finished products (8.7%). Escherichia coli and coliform counts in raw meat, finished products, and manufacturing environments were also lower in HACCP meat markets than in non-HACCP meat markets. The biological hazard levels of finished products from non-HACCP meat markets were affected by raw meat and manufacturing environment. Moreover, according to questionnaire survey results, personal hygiene, manufacturing environment, and facility standards were lower in non-HACCP meat markets than in HACCP meat markets. Implementation of HACCP at meat markets is expected to minimize food poisoning by reducing the biological hazard levels to provide safe livestock products to consumers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.743-757
• /
• 1993

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of dietary Fe and Cu levels on Pb accumulation of Pb poisoned rats. 80 male Sprague weaning Dawley rate weighing 80-90g were divided into 8 groups(Pb groups: LFLCPb-low Fe, low Cu and Pb group, LFACPB-low Fe, adequate Cu and Pb group, AFLCPb-adequate Fe, low Cu and Pb group, AFACPb-adequate Fe, adequate Cu and Pb group, without Pb gorups: LFLC-low Fe, low Cu and without Pb grooup, LFAC-low Fe, adequate Cu and without Pb group, AFLC-adequate Fe, low Cu and without Pb group, AFAC-adequate Fe, adequate Cu and without Pb group) according to Pb administration (0, 500ppm in drinking water) and Fe and Cu levels(Fe :6ppm, 40ppm, Cu : 0.5ppm, 0.8ppm) for 12 weeks. The food intake, body weight, gain, and FER of Pb groups were significantly lower than those of without Pb groups(p<0.01, p<0.001, p<0.001). The weights of liver in Pb groups were significantly lower than that of adequate Fe and Cu group in without Pb group(AFAC) (p<0.001). The Cu contents of liver in Pb groups were significantly lower than that of AFAC (p<0.01). The liver Pb accumulation of LFLCPb was significantly higher than those of LFACPb, AFLCPb, AFACPb(p<0.05). The serum Pb content of LFLCPb was significantly higher than those of LFACPb, AFLCPb, AFACPb(p<0.05). The levels of Hb, and Hct, of 12 weeks in Pb poisoned rats were lower than those of 8 weeks, in other words, long term Pb poisoned rats were affected more serious on hematoopoiesis. The fecal excretions of Fe and Cu in Pb groups were significantly higher than those of without Pb groups(p<0.001, p<0.001). The urinary Fe and Cu excretions were significantly higher than those of AFAC(p<0.001, p<0.001). There were significant differences between Pb groups and without Pb groups according to dietary Fe and Cu levels. So, dietary levels of adequate Fe and Cu were effective to reduce Pb accumulation in rats. It were showed that the decrease of food intake, FER, body weight gain, serum level of Fe and Cu in Pb groups than those of without Pb groups. And the increase of liver Pb accumulation, serum Pb levels, fecal and urinary Fe and Cu excretions were showed in Pb groups than those of without Pb groups by long term lead poisoning. Otherwise, adequate Fe and Cu administrations in Pb groups have preventive effects on the Pb poisoned rats.

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

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.896-903
• /
• 2021

For the safety assessment of microbiological and chemical hazards in raw short-neck clam Ruditapes philippinarum distributed in the Yeongnam and Honam areas during the spring season, the contamination levels of total viable bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and nine pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni) as microbiological hazards, and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, total mercury), benzopyrene, shellfish poison (paralytic, diarrhetic, amnesic), and radioactivity (¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs+¹³⁷Cs) were also analyzed in 15 samples based on the methods of the Korean Food Code. The average contamination levels of total viable bacteria were 3.11 (1.40-4.49) log CFU/g, and coliforms were detected in 5 out of 15 samples (1.18-1.85 log CFU/g). E. coli and S. aureus were not detected in all samples. Furthermore, the presence of 8 pathogens were not detected in all samples. The average contamination levels of lead, cadmium, and total mercury were 0.155 (0.079-0.264), 0.160 (0.040-0.287), and 0.017 (0.008-0.026) mg/kg, respectively. Benzo(a)pyrene, shellfish poison, and radioactivity were not detected in all samples. The results of this study suggest that the safety against all microbiological and chemical hazard factors in raw short-neck clams distributed in markets has been assured.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.178-185
• /
• 2007

Myrionecta rubra Jankowski 1976(=Mesodinium rubrum Lohmann 1908), a mixotrophic ciliate, is very common and often causes recurrent red tides in diverse marine environments. Since the report on the first laboratory strain of this species in 2000, papers on its novel ecological role and evolutionary importance have been high lighted. This review paper is prepared to promote the de novo recognition M. rubra as a marine mixotrophic species. M. rubra is a ciliate which is able to photosynthesize using plastids originated from cryptophyte (including Teleaulax sp. and Geminigera sp.) prey cells (i.e. kleptoplastidic ciliate). Recently, novel bacterivory of M. rubra was firstly reported. Thus, the nutritional modes of M. rubra include photosynthesis, bacterivory, and algivory. In turn, M. rubra was reported as the prey species of metazoan predators such as calanoid copepods, mysids, larvae of ctenophore and anchovy, and spats of bivalves. In addition, it was reported that dinoflagellate Dinophysis causing diarrhetic shellfish poisoning is one among the predators of M. rubra. Thus, M. rubra, a marine mixotrophic ciliate, may play a pivotal role as a common linking ciliate for the flow of energy and organic material in pelagic food webs.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.272-279
• /
• 2018

The high pressure processing (HPP) is a technology which can preserve the quality of foods, such as the fresh taste, incense, texture, vitamin content, and so on, by minimizing the heating process. It does so by applying an instantaneous and uniform pressure that is the same as the water pressure that is 60 km deep in the sea. HPP is a technology that can inhibit food poisoning and spoilage caused by microorganisms and is currently an actively studied area. In this study, we investigated the effects of a high pressure treatment (0, 4, 6 min) on sliced ham, which is a typical meat product, at 600 MP a were tested for their effect on freshness. Moisture contents varied from 48 to 69%, salinity varied from 1.07 to 1.11%, and the pH decreased from 6.4~6.5 to 6.1~5.15. However, there was no difference between the control and treatment groups. General bacteria stored at $20^{\circ}C$ after hyper-pressure treatment were found to have no significant microorganisms in all groups until 4 weeks. but exceeded $10^5$ in control group and HPP 6 min treatment group from 5 weeks, At week 7, it was found to exceed $10^6$. The results indicate it was not possible to ingest food in the 4-and 6 minute treatment groups. Coliform was not observed in all groups despite observing for a total of 7 weeks at $20^{\circ}C$ weight test. VBN, a method used to determine the protein freshness of meat, showed a VBN value of less than 1 mg% until the fourth week and a value of 1 to 2 mg% after 5 weeks. The TBA was used as an index of the degree of fat acidosis in the meat tissues. The results showed it was below 0.18 mgMA / kg until the end of 7 weeks; this value was within the range for fresh meat, and there was no difference in treatment group. In this experiment, deformation of the packaging material did not occur and no swelling occurred due to the generation of gas. It is believed that the basic preservation effect was achieved only by blocking with the air due to the close contact of the packaging material.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.334-340
• /
• 2014

Toxin-producing Bacillus cereus is the causative agent of two different types of food poisoning: the emetic and the diarrheal types. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of enterotoxin and emetic toxin genes in 263 B. cereus isolated from 619 different ready-to-eat food items. Hemolytic enterotoxins hblA, hblC, and hblD were detected in 85.6, 41.1, and 76.8%, respectively, of the B. cereus isolates. About 67.0% (175/263) of the isolates presented all of three genes. Non-hemolytic enterotoxins nheA, nheB, and nheC were detected in 100, 97.0, and 68.4% of the isolates, respectively. Approximately 90.0% (236/263) of the isolates presented all of these three non-hemolytic enterotoxin genes. Emetic toxin gene, CER, was detected in 132 of 263 (50.2%) isolates. Computer-assisted cluster analysis of Rep-PCR profiles showed a high genetic diversity among the isolates. All B. cereus isolates from food samples tested in this study carried at least 6 of 10 toxin genes.