• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2009

We measured the influence of antifungal antagonists Bacillus subtilis AH18 and Bacillus licheniformis K11 on soil microbial community in microcosms. Both antifungal antagonists were confirmed to suppress hot pepper phytophthora blight. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were analyzed to investigate the soil microbial community. B. subtilis AH18 changed the total PLFA composition and bio-indicators of PLFA, compared with other treatments. B. subtilis AH18 decreased the proportion of bacteria and gram negative/gram positive bacteria, and increased the fungi/bacteria and anaerobic/aerobic microorganisms. In addition cy19:0/18:$1{\omega}7c$, which means adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions, was increased by the application of B. subtilis AH18. On the other hand the inoculation of B. licheniformis K11 or combined inoculation of both antifungal strains did not affect soil microbial community. The suppression of phytophthora blight and preservation of indigenous soil microbial community may be achieved by the combined application of B. subtilis AH18 and B. licheniformis K11.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.170-179
• /
• 2011

Fly ashes derived from coal fired power plants have unique chemical and mineralogical characteristics. The objective of this research was to study how indigenous bacteria affected heavy metal leaching in fly ash slurry during the fly ash-seawater interactions in the ash pond located in Yeongdong seashore, Korea. The in-situ pH of ash pond seawater was 6.3-8.5. For this study, three sites of the ash pond were chosen to collect a sample of fly ash slurry. Three samples that had a mix of fly ash (0.4 L) and seawater (1.6 L) were collected at each site. First sample was autoclaved ($120^{\circ}C$, 2.5 atm), second one was inoculated with glucose to stimulate the microbial activity, and the last sample was kept in the natural condition. Compared with other samples including autoclaved and natural samples, the glucose added sample showed sharp increase in its alkalinity after 15 days, cation concentration change such as Ca, Mg, and K seemed to increase in early stage, and then decrease 15 days later in slurry solution of glucose added sample, and a possibly considerable decrease in $SO_4^{2-}$ in the fly ash slurry samples when glucose was added to stimulate the microbial activity. Geochemical data of this study is likely to be related to the activity of bacteria at the ash pond. The result may be used to understand about the characteristic of bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2003

To evaluate the effects of slow release fertilizer and chemical dispersant on oil biodegradation, mesocosm studies were conducted on sand seashore. The rapid removal rates (85%) of aliphatic hydrocarbons and the simultaneous decreases of n-$C_{17}$/pristane (69%) and $n-C_{18}/phytane$ (61%) ratios by the addition of slow-release fertilizer (SRF) within 37 days of experiment indicated that SRF could enhance the oil degrading activity of indigenous microorganisms in sand mesocosm. Although the growth of heterotrophic bacteria and petroleumdegrading bacteria in the mesocosm treated with $Corexit 9527^{R}$ was stimulated, the biological oil removal based on the ratios of $Corexit 9527^{R}$ and $n-C_{18}/phytane$ was inhibited. Removal rates of aliphatic hydrocarbons (56%), and n-$C_{17}$/pristane (27%) and $n-C_{18}/phytane$ (17%) ratios by the addition of chemical dispersant $Corexit 9527^{R}$ were similar or lower than those values of control (50, 60, 46%), respectively. The biodegradation activity, however, when simultaneously treated with SRF and $Corexit 9527^{R}$, was not highly inhibited and even recovered after the elimination of chemical dispersant. From these results it could be concluded that the addition of SRF enhanced the oil removal rate in oligotrophic sand seashore and chemical dispersant possibly inhibit the oil biodegradation. Hence, in order to prevent the unrestrained usage of chemical dispersant in natural environments contaminated with oil, the National Contingency Plan of Oil Spill Response should be carefully revised in consideration of the application for bioremedaition techniques.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1643-1650
• /
• 2017

Objective: The control of psychrotrophic bacteria causing milk spoilage and illness due to toxic compounds is an important issue in the dairy industry. In South Korea, Gangwon-do province is one of the coldest terrains in which eighty percent of the area is mountainous regions, and mainly plays an important role in the agriculture and dairy industries. The purposes of this study were to analyze the indigenous microbiota of raw milk in Gangwon-do and accurately investigate a putative microbial group causing deterioration in milk quality. Methods: We collected raw milk from the bulk tank of 18 dairy farms in the Hoengseong and Pyeongchang regions of Gangwon-do. Milk components were analyzed and the number of viable bacteria was confirmed. The V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced on an Illumina Miseq platform. Sequences were then assigned to operational taxonomic units, followed by the selection of representative sequences using the QIIME software package. Results: The milk samples from Pyeongchang were higher in fat, protein, lactose, total solid, and solid non-fat, and bacterial cell counts were observed only for the Hoengseong samples. The phylum Proteobacteria was detected most frequently in both the Hoengseong and Pyeongchang samples, followed by the phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Notably, Corynebacterium, Pediococcus, Macrococcus, and Acinetobacter were significantly different from two regions. Conclusion: Although the predominant phylum in raw milk is same, the abundances of major genera in milk samples were different between Hoengseong and Pyeongchang. We assumed that these differences are caused by regional dissimilar farming environments such as soil, forage, and dairy farming equipment so that the quality of milk raw milk from Pyeongchang is higher than that of Hoengseong. These results could provide the crucial information for identifying the microbiota in raw milk of South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2015

The malolactic fermentation (MLF), which is widely used in winemaking, is the conversion of malic acid to lactic acid conducted by the malolactic enzyme (Mle) of lactic acid bacteria. In order to select the strains with MLF among 54 lactic acid bacteria isolated from the traditionally fermented foods, we designed a primer set that specifically targets the conserved regions of the mle gene and then selected four strains that harbor the mle gene of Lactobacillus plantarum. All strains were identified as L. plantarum by analyzing the 16S rRNA sequences, biochemical properties, and the PCR products of the recA gene. From comparison of the mle gene sequences consisting of 1,644 bp, the nucleotide and amino acid sequence of strain JBE60 correspond to 96.7% and 99.5% with those of other three strains, respectively. The strain JBE60 showed the highest resistant against 10% (v/v) ethanol among the strains. The strains lowered the concentration of malic acid to average 43%. Considering the ethanol resistance and conversion of malic acid, the strain JBE60 is considered as a potential starter for the malolactic fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 2008

The diversity of sulfate reducing bacteria was investigated in different depths of sediments in Lake Sihwa, Korea and Lake Aha, China by PCR amplification, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone libraries targeting dissimilatory sulfite redectase (dsr) gene. In the analysis of DGGE band patterns, the community compositions of dsr gene in the sediments of both lakes were significantly different whereas bands in all depths of each environment revealed similar patterns. Bands from Lake Sihwa were produced much more than those from Lake Aha, demonstrating a higher diversity of dsr gene in Lake Sihwa. Total 68 clones containing dsr gene were obtained to analyze their sequences. Sequences from the sediment of Lake Sihwa were affiliated to Deltaproteobacteria, the Gram-positive thermophilic sulfate reducers belonging to the genus Desulforomaculum and archaeal thermophilic SRB belonging to the genus Archaeoglobus, whereas sequences from the sediments of Lake Aha were related to genus Desulfotomaculum. Clones retrieved from sediment of Lake Sihwa revealed a higher numbers than those of Lake Aha, demonstrating a higher diversity of dsr gene in Lake Sihwa. Most of clones (59%) were distantly related to the known cultivated SRB with $60\sim65%$ of similarity, which were clustered only the sequences from the environments showed less than 90% similarity. These habitat specific sequences suggested that the clustered dsr sequences represent species or groups of species that were indigenous to these environments. This study showed that these lakes have a specific bacterial communities having dsr gene distinct from those in other environments such as soil and marine ecosystems around the world.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.403-408
• /
• 1996

Total bacterial community DNA, which was extracted from microcosm soil and field soil after 2,4-D amendments, was analyzed on Southern blots, using the tfdA gene probe derived from plasmid pJP4 and the Spa probe from Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Southern blot analyses with total bacterial DNA extracted from soils Inoculated with Pseudomonas cepacia/pJP4 revealed that DNA probe method could detect the 2,4-D degrading bacteria down to $10^5\;cells/g$ dry soil. In the microcosm experiment, there was a good correlation between 2,4-D degradation and banding patterns in hybridization analyses performed after each 2,4-D treatment using the two probes. When bacterial DNA extracted from microcosm soil was hybridized with the Spa probe, a change in the position of hybrid bands was observed over time in a Southern blot, suggesting that population change or possibly genetic rearrangement in 2,4-D degrading microbial populations occurred in this soil. With the Spa probe, one hybrid DNA band was persistently observed throughout the five 2,4-D additions. When bacterial DNA isolated from the field soil was probed with the tfdA and Spa, strong hybridization signal was observed in the 100 ppm-treated subplot, weak signal In the 10 ppm-treated subplot, and no significant signal in the 1 ppm-treated and control subplots. The data show that DNA probe analyses were capable of detecting and discriminating the indigenous 2,4-D degrading microbial populations in soil amended with 2,4-D under laboratory and field conditions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.413-426
• /
• 2009

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of indigenous bacteria on geochemical behavior of toxic heavy metals in contaminated paddy soil near an abandoned mine. The effects of sulfate amendment to stimulate microbial sulfate reduction on heavy metal behaviors were also investigated. Batch-type experiments were performed with lactate or glucose as a carbon source to activate indigenous bacteria in the soil under anaerobic condition for 100 days. Sulfate (250 mg/L) was artificially injected at 60 days after the onset of the experiments. In the case of glucose supply, solution pH increased from 4.8 to 7.6 while pH was maintained at 7~8 in the lactate solution. The initial low pH in the case of glucose supply likely resulted in the enhanced extraction of Fe and most heavy metals at the initial experimental period. Lactate supply exerted no significant difference on the amounts of dissolved Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu between microbial and abiotic control slurries; however, lower Zn, Pb and Ni and higher Cu concentrations were observed in the microbial slurries than in the controls when glucose supplied. Sulfate amendment led to dramatic decrease in dissolved Cr and maintenance of dissolved As, both of which had gradually increased over time till the sulfate injection. Black precipitates formed in solution after sulfate amendment, and violarite($Fe^{+2}{Ni^{+3}}_2S_4$) was found with XRD analysis in the microbial precipitates. Conceivably the mineral might be formed after Fe(III) reduction and microbial sulfate reduction with coprecipitation of heavy metal. The results suggested that heavy metals which can be readily extracted from contaminated paddy soils may be stabilized in soil formation by microbial sulfate reduction.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2007

The release of genetically modified organisms ($GMO_{s}$) into the environment has the potential risks regarding the possibility of gene transfer from $GMO_{s}$ to natural organisms and this needs to be evaluated. This study was conducted to monitor the possible horizontal gene transfer from herbicide-resistant zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) to indigenous microorganisms. We have first examined the effect of field-released GM zoysiagrass on the microbial flora in the gut of locust (Locusts mlgratoria). The microbial flora was analyzed through determining the 165 rDHA sequences of microorganisms. The comparison of the microbial flora in the gut of locusts that were captured at the field of GM zoysiagrass and of wild-type revealed that there is no noticeable difference between these two groups. This result indicates that the GM zoysiagrass does not have negative impact on microbial flora in the gut of locust. We then investigated whether the horizontal gene transfer occurred from GM zoysiagrass to microbes in soil, rhizosphere and faecal pellets from locusts by utilizing molecular tools such as Southern hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). When the total DNAs isolated from microbes in GM zoysiagrass and in wild-type zoysiagrass fields were hybridized with probes for bar or hpt gene, no hybridization signal was detected from both field isolates, while the probes were hybridized with DNA from the positive control. Absence of these genes in the FNAs of soil microorganisms as well as microbes in the gut of locust was further confirmed by PCR. Taken together, our data showed that horizontal gene transfer did not occur in this system. These results further indicate that frequencies of transfer of engineered plant DNA to bacteria are likely to be negligible.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.249-265
• /
• 2014

As with land crops, cultivated algae are affected by various diseases ranging from large outbreaks of a disease to chronic epiphytes, which may downgrade the value of the final product. The recent development of intensive and dense mariculture practices has enabled some new diseases to spread much faster than before. A new disease is reported almost every year, and the impact of diseases is expected to increase with environmental change, such as global warming. We observed the incidence of diseases in two Pyropia sea farms in Korea from 2011 to 2014, and estimated the economic loss caused by each disease. Serious damage is caused by the oomycete pathogens, Pythium porphyrae and Olpidiopsis spp., which decreased the productivity of the Pyropia sea farms. In Seocheon sea farms, an outbreak of Olpidiopsis spp. disease resulted in approximately US $1.6 million in loss, representing approximately 24.5% of total sales during the 2012-2013 season. The damage caused by green-spot disease was almost as serious as oomycete diseases. An outbreak of green-spot disease in the Seocheon sea farms resulted in approximately US $1.1 million in loss, representing 10.7% of total sales in the 2013-2014 season in this area. However, the causative agent of green-spot disease is still not confirmed. "Diatom felt" is regarded as a minor nuisance that does not cause serious damage in Pyropia; however, our case study showed that the economic loss caused by "diatom felt" might be as serious as that of oomycete diseases. Bacteria and cyanobacteria are indigenous members of epiphytic microbial community on Pyropia blades, but can become opportunistic pathogens under suitable environmental conditions, especially when Pyropia suffers from other diseases. A regular acid wash of the Pyropia cultivation nets is the most common treatment for all of the above mentioned diseases, and represents approximately 30% of the total cost in Pyropia sea farming. However, the acid wash is ineffective for some diseases, especially for Olpidiopsis and bacterial diseases.