• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.459-465
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, Chemical antiseptics have become great problems for health and environmental, so that developing of new substitutes for chemical antiseptics is more and more important. Natural product is a kind of environment-friendly additive that could be used as antiseptic in food industry. Thuja orientalis cv Aurea Nana is a gymnospermous plant of the family Cupressaceae, native to northwestern China and widely naturalised elsewhere in Korea and Japan. This study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial potential of various organic extracts from T. orientalis cones against some food-borne and food-spoilage bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hexane extract (HE), chloroform extract (CE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE) and methanol extract (ME) were obtained from female cones of T. orientalis. The antibacterial activities of various extracts were tested by standard agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against five gram-positive and six gram-negative bacteria. Cell viability and morphology change of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943 treated with hexane extract were also observed. The various extracts displayed remarkable antibacterial effects against all the gram-positive bacteria but did not show any effect against the gram-negative bacteria. Hexane extract has the highest inhibitory effect on cell viability of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943. SEM observation also demonstrated the damaging effect of the hexane extract on the morphology of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943 at the minimum inhibitory concentration. CONCLUSION(s): The tested gram-positive bacteria were significantly inhibited by organic extracts of T. orientalis cone. Hexane extract was the most potent against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 10943, as evidenced by the lowest MIC level and the complete inhibition of cell viability within shortest exposure time, along with SEM observation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.715-722
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• 2015

In Gram-negative bacteria in the periplasmic space, the dimeric thioredoxin-fold protein DsbC isomerizes and reduces incorrect disulfide bonds of unfolded proteins, while the monomeric thioredoxin-fold protein DsbA introduces disulfide bonds in folding proteins. In the Gram-negative bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, the reduced form of CueP scavenges the production of hydroxyl radicals in the copper-mediated Fenton reaction, and DsbC is responsible for keeping CueP in the reduced, active form. Some DsbA proteins fulfill the functions of DsbCs, which are not present in Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, we identified a DsbA homologous protein (CdDsbA) in the Corynebacterium diphtheriae genome and determined its crystal structure in the reduced condition at $1.5{\AA}$ resolution. CdDsbA consists of a monomeric thioredoxin-like fold with an inserted helical domain and unique N-terminal extended region. We confirmed that CdDsbA has disulfide bond somerase/reductase activity, and we present evidence that the N-terminal extended region is not required for this activity and folding of the core DsbA-like domain. Furthermore, we found that CdDsbA could reduce CueP from C. diphtheriae.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.149-154
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• 2013

In general, oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) have antimicrobial effect against Gram-positive bacteria but not Gram-negative bacteria whereas sophoraflavanone G has antimicrobial activity against both bacterial types. However, the antimicrobial effects of OA, UA, and sophoraflavanone G against periodontopathogens have not been studied to any great extent. The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial effect of OA, UA, and sophoraflavanone G against 15 strains (5 species) of oral Gram-negative bacteria, which are the major causative bacteria of periodontal disease. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determinations. OA and UA showed antimicrobial effects against all of the Porphyromonas gingivalis strains tested and also Prevotella intermedia ATCC $25611^T$. Interestingly, P. intermedia ATCC 49046 showed greater resistance to OA and UA than P. intermedia ATCC $25611^T$. In contrast, sophoraflavanone G had antimicrobial activity against all strains, with MIC and MBC values below $32{\mu}g/ml$, except Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. These results indicate that sophoraflavanone G may have potential for use in future oral hygiene products such as dentifrices and gargling solution to prevent periodontitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1001-1007
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• 1994

In order to develop a natural food preservative, dried salviae miltiorrhizae radix (Salvia miltiorrhiza) was extracted with several solvents, and then antimicrobial activity was investigated. The optimum extracting condition for the antimicrobial sustance from the sample, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracted substance against microorganisms were also examined. Antimicrobial activity of the initial ethanol extract from the sample was the strongest compared to those of other solvent extracts such as n-hexane, acetone, butanol, methanol and water. the optimum extractingcondition for antimicrobial substance from the sample was shaking extraction for 2 hours at room temperature incase that 10 volumes of absolute ethanol was added to crushed Saliva Miltiorrhiza. The ethanol extract had strong growth inhibition activity against Gram-positive Bacteria (MIC, 3.13-50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) such as B. cereus, B, subtilis, L. minocytogenes, S. aureus, Sc. Mutans. Among Grampositive bacteria tested, Bacillus species was the most susceptibile to the extracted substance. The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract from the sample was weak to Gram -negative bacteria yeasts, for example MIC for Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts was 0.8mg/ml and 0.4-0.8mg/ml , respectively.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.49-51
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• 2013

In a previous study, we reported that 13(E)-labd-13-ene-$8{\alpha}$,15-diol (13E) possesses antiviral and anticancer activities. In this study, the anticancer and antimicrobial activities of 13(E) were evaluated against 4 cancer cell lines and 6 bacteria. 13(E) showed inhibitory effect on a variety of cancer cell lines. The $IC_{50}$ values was 8.3-21.3 ${\mu}g/mL$. 13(E) was the most effective growth inhibitor of murine leukaemia cell lines P388, producing approximately 8.3 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $IC_{50}$ in the cytopathic effect (CPE) method. 13(E) also inhibited the growth of the gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes) and gram-negative bacteria (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis) with a range of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values from 0.092 to 0.598 mg/mL and gram-negative bacteria were more sensitive to the compound (MIC, 0.092 mg/mL).

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2313-2320
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• 2018

Tetramethylene-1,4-bis(N,N-dodecylammonium bromide), cationic gemini surfactant, (12-4-12) was first synthesized with an one-step and shortened procedure and its interfacial and antimicrobial properties were compared with a conventional single-chain cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The interfacial and thermodynamic properties of both surfactants reveal that critical micelle concentration (CMC) of this novel synthetic cationic dimeric surfactant is lower than that of cationic monomeric surfactant at almost 15 times of its magnitude, which is due to the increase in hydrophobicity of the surfactant molecules by having dual hydrocarbon chains. In comparison with CTAB, the produced compound 12-4-12 yields much better interfacial and thermodynamic properties. The antimicrobial activities of the synthesized gemini surfactant were tested against eight strains of bacteria, as well as two strains of fungi. The results showed that both 12-4-12 compound and CTAB exhibited higher inhibitory effects on the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi than that of Gram-negative bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentrations in molar of 12-4-12 against all tested Gram-negative bacteria were lower than those of CTAB, which is hypothetically due to the lower HLB together with smaller CMC values of our gemini surfactant.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2013

Purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by gram-positive uropathogens is usually hospital-acquired and associated with predisposing conditions. However, the incidence of gram-positive bacteria in community-acquired UTIs has recently increased worldwide. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of UTI and associated genitourinary malformations in young children with febrile UTIs caused by gram-positive bacteria. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 566 patients (age, <1 year) who visited the Korea University Medical Center for febrile UTIs between January 2008 and May 2013. We classified the patients into the following two groups: gram-positive (P group) and gram-negative (N group), according to the results of urine culture. The fever duration; white blood cell (WBC) counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in peripheral blood; and the presence of hydronephrosis, cortical defects, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and renal scarring were compared between the two groups. Results: The number of patients with gram-positive bacteria was 23 (4.1%) and with gram-negative bacteria was 543 (95.9%). The most common pathogen was Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis showed the highest incidence among gram-positive uropathogens. Patients with gram-positive bacteria showed longer fever duration compared to that in patients with gram-negative bacteria (P vs. N, $3.4{\pm}1.2$ vs. $2.9{\pm}1.6$ days, P <0.05). The incidence of VUR was increased in the gram-positive group compared to that in the gram-negative group (P vs. N, 55.6 vs. 17.8%, P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in other laboratory and radiologic findings. Conclusion: The findings of our study show that community-acquired UTIs in patients younger than 1 year of age, caused by gram-positive uropathogens, can be associated with prolonged fever duration and the presence of VUR.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.231-241
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• 1998

To assess biological indoor air quality in hospital, concentrations of viable airborne microbes were determined at intensive care unit(ICU), patient room (PR), outpatient waiting room(OPWR) in hospitals of large(1000 beds), middle(500 beds), small(100 beds) hospitals, respectively. Gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, fungi were sampled using suctional sampling method by RCS sampler (Reuter centrifugal air sampler) and RCS GK-A agar plate. In gram positive bacteria groups, CNS(Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus), Micrococcus, Lactobacillus, S. aureus, Enterococcus, St. viridans identified. In gram negative bacteria groups, A. baumannii, Kl. peumoniae and E. coli were identified, and Penicillium was identified in fugi groups. Results of the study were as follows. 1. The highest concentrations of airborne microbes was $971CFU/m^3$ at 5:00 PM in small hospital patient room, and average concentrations of airborne microbes in large, middle and small hospitals were $282CFU/m^3$, $289CFU/m^3$ and $625CFU/m^3$, respectively. Average concentrations of airborne microbes in office(control) was $90CFU/m^3$. Thus, the small hospital showed the worst condition. 2. Representatives of 8 different genera were identified in 150 samples. The most frequently isolated organisms were Staphylococcus (73.0%), Micrococcus (20.7%) and Lactobacillus (4.7%), respectively. Pathogenic microbes isolated were A. baumannii, E. coli, Enterococcus, Kl. peumoniae, S. aureus, St. viridans and Penicillium as fungi. In office, no pathogenic microbes were identified. Average concentrations of airborne pathogenic microbes in large, middle and small hospital were $5CFU/m^3$ (2%), $11CFU/m^3$ (4%) and $12CFU/m^3$ (2%), respectively. Thus, condition in a large hospital was better than those in a middle and a small hospital.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 1990

Attempts were made to define the characteristics of microbial community as an indicator of Kimchi fermentation. Determination of communities was carried out by simple Gram-stain, followed by direct microcopic counts. In room-temperature $(15^{\circ}C)$ fermentation, microbial succession was occurred in the order of communities of Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and Gram-negative bacteria. It was characteristic that Gram-positive bacterial community was developed during the production of lactic acid, yeasts community was developed to cause rancidity, and Gram-negative bacterial community was relevant to maceration (or softening) as well as rancidity. The fluctuation of apparent Gram-negative reaction group might be used as a criterion of death or aging of Gram-positive bacterial populations. In low-temperature fermentation $(5^{\circ}C)$, however, it was found that yeasts and Gram-negative bacterial communities did not developed but only Gram-positive bacterial community did. It follows from these results mentioned above that maturity of Kimchi depends on the development of Cram-positive bacterial community. Thus, the size and occurrence of microbial community are avaiable for an indicator of Kimchi fermentation, and also determination of community could be a useful method to predict the maturity.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 1999

In an artificial pH-gradient batch culture system, the effects of acidification on the species composition of a heterotrophic bacterial community were analyzed. As a result of this study, it was found that total bacteria numbers were not affected by acidification and that the population of hetero-trophic bacteria decreased as pH became lower. The heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the entire pH gradient were 12 genera and 22 species. Among them, 64% were gram negative and 36% were gram positive bacteria. As pH decreased, the distribution rate of gram negative bacteria increased while that of gram positive bacteria decreased. The diversity of genera decreased from 13 to 5 as pH decreased from 7 to 3. The G+C content of all of the 202 isolated strains varied from 22.8 to 77.0%, and increased in interspecies of same genus as pH decreased. As a result of clustering analysis, the diversity index of species ranged from 1.13 to 2.37, and it had lower indices as pH decreased. In order to evaluate the diversity of numbers of sample of different size, a rarefaction method was used to analyze the expected number of species appearance according to pH. The statistical significance of species diversity was verified by the fact that the number decreased at lower pH.