• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.664-671
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• 2006

Modeling the growth kinetics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), one of the most valuable microbial groups in the food industry, has been actively pursued in order to understand, control, and optimize the relevant fermentation processes. Most modeling approaches have focused on the development of single population models. Primary single population models provide fundamental kinetic information on the proliferation of a primary LAB species, the effects of biological factors on cell inhibition, and the metabolic reactions associated with cell growth. Secondary single population models can evaluate the dependence of primary model parameters, such as the maximum specific growth rate of LAB, on the initial external environmental conditions. This review elucidates some of the most important single population models that are conveniently applicable to the LAB fermentation analyses. Also, a well-defined mixed population model is presented as a valuable tool for assessing potential microbial interactions during fermentation with multiple LAB species.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.612-619
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• 2015

We have synthesized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using chicken feathers (poultry waste) and Bacillus subtilis RSE163. Disulfide reductase and keratinase produced by Bacillus subtilis during the degradation of chicken feather has been used to reduce Au³⁺ from HAuCl₄ precursor to produce gold nanoparticles. The synthesized biogenic GNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential measurements. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated the presence of protein capping on synthesized GNPs, imparting multifunctionality to the GNP surface. Furthermore, the nontoxic nature of biogenic GNPs was insured by interaction with Escherichia coli (ATCC11103), where TEM images and enhancement of growth rate of E. coli in log phase signified their nontoxic nature. The results indicate that the synthesis of biocompatible GNPs using poultry waste may find potential applications in drug delivery and sensing.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.65-69
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• 2005

Periodontitis is a multi-microbial disease and the comparison of a series of periodontopathogenic and non-periodontopathogenic bacteria in terms of microbe-host interaction may provide clues to understand the microbial etiology of the disease better. When we deal with twenty different bacterial species in a study, the first technical issue is how to measure the accurate concentration and use the same number of bacterial cells. We measured bacterial concentration by enumerating bacteria stained with SYTOX green for constant time using a flow cytometer and compared the results with those obtained by plate counting. Concentrations calculated by two different methods were very close. Therefore, flow cytometric counting allowed the rapid analysis of live/dead bacteria, offering the advantage of turbidity measurement and that of colony counting together.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.791-794
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• 2006

Cyclosophoraose (cyclic $\beta-(1,2)-glucan$, Cys) isolated from Rhizobium meliloti, a soil microorganism, was used as a solubility enhancer for flavonoids. The complexes of the cyclic oligosaccharide with flavonoids were confirmed through $^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis. Flavonoids solubilized by Cys were quantitatively analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Among the flavonoids tested, the solubility of naringenin was greatly enhanced by Cys, compared with other compounds. The solubility of naringenin was enhanced about 7.1-fold by adding 10 mM Cys, compared with a control. $^1H$ NMR spectroscopic analysis indicated that the H-6 and H-8 protons, which are located on the A ring of naringenin, were greatly shifted upfield upon the complexation with Cys. This result suggested that Cys showed a regioselective interaction with the naringenin molecule upon the complexation, resulting in the solubility enhancement of naringenin.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.261-267
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• 2003

The periodontal diseases are infections caused by bacteria in oral biofilm, a gelatinous mat commonly called dental plaque, which is a complex microbial community that forms and adhere to tooth surfaces. Host immune-pathogen interaction in periodontal disease appears to be a complex process, which is regulated not only by the acquired immunity to deal with ever-growing and -invading microorganisms in periodontal pockets, but also by genetic and/or environmental factors. However, our understanding of the pathogenesis in human periodontal diseases is limited by the lack of specific and sensitive tools or models to study the complex microbial challenges and their interactions with the host's immune system. Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology research have demonstrated the importance of the acquired immune system in fighting the virulent periodontal pathogens and in protecting the host from developing further devastating conditions in periodontal infections. The use of genetic knockout and immunodeficient mouse strains has shown that the acquired immune response, in particular, $CD4^+$ T-cells plays a pivotal role in controlling the ongoing infection, the immune/inflammatory responses, and the subsequent host's tissue destruction.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.161-164
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• 2003

Recombinant light chain of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type B stimulated transglutaminase activity in a dose dependent manner, Compared to native toxin, recombinant light chain showed av greater stimulatory effect on transglutaminase activity. Zn-chelating agents, inhibiting the proteolytic activity of the clostridial toxins, did not interfere with this stimulation. These results suggest that the light chain plays a major stimulatory role, which is not due to its metallopeptidase activity, but is possibly due to specific interaction with transglutaminase. More importantly, this report provides a new insight into the intracellular action of C. botulinum neurotoxins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권10호
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• pp.1319-1326
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• 2014

Rapamycin, produced by the soil bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus, has the ability to suppress the immune system and is used as an antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunosuppressive agent. In an attempt to increase the productivity of rapamycin, mutagenesis of wild-type Streptomyces hygroscopicus was performed using ultraviolet radiation, and the medium composition was optimized using glycerol (which is one of the cheapest starting substrates) by applying Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology. Plackett-Burman design was used to analyze 14 medium constituents: M100 (maltodextrin), glycerol, soybean meal, soytone, yeast extract, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, $\small{L}$-lysine, $KH_2PO_4$, $K_2HPO_4$, NaCl, $FeSO_4{cdot}7H_2O$, $CaCO_3$, 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid, and the initial pH level. Glycerol, soytone, yeast extract, and $CaCO_3$ were analyzed to evaluate their effect on rapamycin production. The individual and interaction effects of the four selected variables were determined by Box-Behnken design, suggesting $CaCO_3$, soytone, and yeast extract have negative effects, but glycerol was a positive factor to determine rapamycin productivity. Medium optimization using statistical design resulted in a 45% ($220.7{\pm}5.7mg/l$) increase in rapamycin production for the Streptomyces hygroscopicus mutant, compared with the unoptimized production medium ($151.9{\pm}22.6mg/l$), and nearly 588% compared with wild-type Streptomyces hygroscopicus ($37.5{\pm}2.8mg/l$). The change in pH showed that $CaCO_3$ is a critical and negative factor for rapamycin production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권8호
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• pp.1137-1142
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• 2003

In a balanced incomplete block design, two dry Holstein cows were used to investigate the effect of $\beta$ 1-4 galactooligosaccharides (GOS) supplementation on nitrogen (N) utilization, rumen fermentation and microbial N supply in the rumen. During the experiment, cows were fed four diets: orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) silage (OS), OS with GOS supplementation (OSG), OS mixed with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage (MS) and MS with GOS supplementation (MSG). GOS was supplemented at 2% of dry matter intake. Diets were fed at maintenance level of protein and energy. Results showed that N digestion was affected by silage and interaction of silage and GOS supplementation. Cows fed OSG had the highest N digested (p<0.05) followed by MS, OS and MSG. Supplementation of GOS to OS or MS diets tended to improve N utilization through reducing the N losses on dairy cows. There was no effect of GOS supplementation on rumen fermentation parameters (i.e. pH, $NH_3$-N and total VFA) at 1 h and 6 h after feeding. Compared to cows fed MS, cows fed OS silage had higher (p<0.05) allantoin excretion (80.8 vs. 67.1 mmol/d) and higher (p<0.05) total purine derivatives excretion (92.9 vs. 78.5 mmol/d). The microbial N supply in cows fed OSG was higher (p<0.05) than those fed OS, MS and MSG.

• 조명전기설비학회논문지
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.169-175
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• 2009

미생물 연료전지(MFC: Microbial Fuel Cell)는 미생물을 사용하여 유기물의 산화에서 전기를 일으키는 장치이다. 현재 MFC는 많은 곳에서 연구되고 있으며 신재생 에너지로도 많은 관심을 받고 있다. 기존의 연구에서는 전력생산에 영향을 미치는 각각의 요인에 관련된 연구가 많이 진행되었으나, 요인들의 상호관계에 관한 연구는 많지 않았다. 본 논문에서는 기존의 MFC를 개선하기 위해 전력의 생산을 좌우하는 요인을 조사하였으며, 요인들의 상호관계를 효율적으로 증명하기 위해 새로운 반응조를 제작하였다. 실험을 통해 얻어진 데이터를 기초로 MFC에서 전력생산에 영향을 미치는 요인들을 분석하였으며 이를 바탕으로 하폐수처리 시스템에 MFC를 적용하여 하폐수처리 및 전력을 생산한다는 새로운 개념의 에너지생산 하폐수처리 시스템을 제안하였다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.319-326
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• 1999

최근 국내에서는 Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes등의 미생물에 대한 건강위해성이 강조되면서 미생물 위해성평가에 대한 필요성이 제기되고 있고, U.S.FPA, U.S.DA, FAO/WHO를 비롯한 국제기구 및 외국 유관기관들에서도 미생물 위해성평가 방법을 식품관리에 활용하고자 방법론 연구에 주력하고 있다. 미생물 위험성은 화학물질과 달리 인체건강에 대한 영향이 즉각적이고, 심각하게 나타나 정량적인 위해성평가가 용이하지 않고 유해화학물질과는 다른 평가방법이 요구된다. 식품중 미생물의 위해성평가는 크게 4단계로 구분되는데, 미생물관련질환 추세파악 및 미생물 관련질병에 관한 역학조사 등을 활용하는 위험성확인 단계와 실제 식품원료, 식품가공, 수송, 포장단계 중 식품의 물리적, 화학적 조건에 따른 미생물 변화를 고려하여 식품중 미생물에 대한 노출을 정량화하는 노출평가 단계, 미생물의 용량에 따른 질병발생에 근거하여 용량-반응관계를 규명하는 용량-반응평가 단계, 규명된 모델을 활용하여 모든 평가결과를 통합함으로 위해 도치 예측과 불확실성 분석 등을 수행하는 위해도결정단계로 구성되어 있다. 미생물 용량-반응평가는 크게 비역치(Nonthreshold)와 역치(Threshold) 평가 방법론으로 구분되는데, 비역치 평가방법론은 단일 병원균이 감염을 일으킬 수 있다는 것과 감염을 일으킬 수 있는 확률이 독립적이라는 가정을 전제로 하고, 역치평가방법론은 미생물이 감염을 일으키기 위해서 각기 개별 역치가 존재하는데 어느 정도의 미생물수가 모여 서로 작용해야 독성유발물질을 만들어 낸다는 가정을 전제로 한다. 현재 받아들여지고 있는 비역치 모델로는 Exponential, Beta-poisson, Gompertz, Gamma-weibull 모델 등이 있으며, 역치모델로는 Log-normal, Log-logistic모델 등이 있다. 본 연구에서는 인체 volunteer자료를 활용하여 용량-반응자료를 입력하고 용량-반응자료를 토대로 적합한 수학적 모델을 찾아내어, 선별한 모델의 적합도 검정을 실시하는 방법론 연구를 실시하였으며, 노출평가 자료와 용량-반응평가 결과를 연계하여 위해도를 결정하는 과정에 대해 연구하였다 이 밖에도 모델(Food MicroModel)을 이용하여 식품의 염도, 수분활성도, 온도, pH등의 조건에 따른 미생물의 성장률, 사멸률 등 변화를 예측할 수 있는 방법론 연구를 통해 식품의 최적 보관 조건등을 찾아내는 방법을 습득하였다. 미생물 위해성평가는 외국에서도 아직 초기 연구단계에 있으며 현재로서 사후조사자료인 역학자료보다 건강한 성인남자를 대상으로 한 volunteer 자료를 우선적으로 활용하고 있으나 노약자나 민감그룹에 대한 실험은 현실적으로 불가능하여 동물실험을 이용한 평가방법을 연구중에 있다. 추후 연구방향으로는 국내 volunteer들을 대상으로 한 미생물별 용량-반응결과를 토대로 population sensitivity를 비교할 수 있는 기초자료를 확보함으로써 미생물에 대한 인구집단의 반응 민감성 차이를 비교하고 시료채취 후 즉각적인 실험실적 분석이 가능토록하여 정확한 인체노출평가를 수행함으로써 미생물 위해성평가방법론을 식품미생물관리에 적용하는 것이다.