• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2013

Candida biofilms are self-organized microbial communities growing on the surfaces of host tissues and medical devices. These biofilms have been displaying increasing resistance against conventional antifungal agents. The roots of Scutellaria baicalensis have been widely used for medicinal purpose throughout East Asia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of S. baicalensis aqueous extract upon the preformed biofilms of 10 clinical C. albicans isolates, and assess the mechanism of the antibiofilm activity. Its effect on preformed biofilm was judged using an XTT reduction assay and the metabolic activity of all tested strains were reduced ($57.7{\pm}17.3$%) at MIC values. The S. baicalenis extract inhibited (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthase activity. The effect of S. baicalensis on the morphology of C. albicans was related to the changes in growth caused by inhibiting glucan synthesis; most cells were round and swollen, and cell walls were densely stained or ruptured. The anticandidal activity was fungicidal, and the extract also arrested C. albicans cells at $G_0/G_1$. The data suggest that S. baicalensis has multiple fatal effects on target fungi, which ultimately result in cell wall disruption and killing by inhibiting (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthesis. Therefore, S. baicalensis holds great promise for use in treating and eliminating biofilm-associated Candida infections.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.831-842
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to reveal the biological basis of dental plaque and preschool children's dental health status through repetitive and continuous toothbrushing instruction to preschool children, using quantitative criteria, and to emphasize the importance of the role of an oral health manager for the prevention of dental caries. Methods: After IRB approval, toothbrushing instruction and oral microbial specimen collection were conducted with children of preschool age at the Daycare Center attached to D. University, Busan. Specimens from 27 children were characterized by analysis with real-time multi-chain enzymatic polymerization reaction technique at an agency specializing in genetic analysis. Results: In a survey of the children's dental health behaviors, 48.1% responded that the toothbrushing time is 91 to 150 seconds; 66.7% responded that the frequency of toothbrushing is more than three times per day; 81.5% stated that they performed tongue brushing; and 81.5% brushed their teeth. Regarding levels of dental cariogenic bacteria, after children received continuous toothbrushing instruction, there were reductions in both Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Regarding toothbrushing time, the time increased in relation to the presence of instruction. Regarding Quigley Hein Index, the index decreased in the early and middle periods upon addition of instruction, then increased in the middle and later periods. Conclusions: Through persistent and repetitive toothbrushing instruction, healthy behavior can be positively established in children of preschool age; it is necessary to prepare institutional measures so opportunities for dental health education can be consistently provided and maintained. In the future, it will be necessary to conduct a follow-up study to verify the factors affecting toothbrushing time and volume of oral pathogens.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2014

This study was conducted to examine the effects of defaunation (removal of live protozoa) on fermentation characteristics, degradation of ryegrass hay and $CH_4$ (methane) production by rumen microbes when incubated with plant oils (SO, sunflower oil and LO, linseed oil) in vitro. Sodium lauryl sulfate (0.000375 g/ml) as a defaunation reagent was added into the culture solution and incubated anaerobically up to 24 h at $39^{\circ}C$. pH from defaunation was increased for all treatments from 6 h incubation times (p<0.01-0.001) compared with those from fauantion. Concentration of ammonia-N from defaunation is higher than that from faunation at 3 h (p<0.001), 12 h (p<0.05) and 24 h (p<0.001) incubation times. Defaunation decreased (p<0.01-0.001) total volatile fatty acid concentration at all incubation times. Molar proportions of $C_2$ (acetate, p<0.05-0.001) and butyrate (p<0.01-0.001) were also decreased by defaunation at all incubation times. Molar proportion of $C_3$ (propionate), however, was increased by defaunation at all incubation times (p<0.001). Thus the rate of $C_2$ to $C_3$ was decreased by defaunation at all incubation times (p<0.001). Defaunation decreased ED (effective degradability) of dry matter (p<0.001) and ED of neutral detergent fiber (p<0.001) of ryegrass hay. Defaunation decreased total gas, $CH_4$ production, $CH_4$ % in total gas and $CH_4/CO_2$ at all incubation times (p<0.001). Oil supplementation decreased total gas (p<0.05-0.001), $CH_4$ production (p<0.001) and $CH_4$ % in total gas (p<0.001) compared with control at all incubation times. The result of this study showed that defaunation combined with oil supplementation may cause an alteration of microbial communities and further medicate the fermentation pattern, resulting in both reduction of degradation of ryegrass hay and $CH_4$ production. No difference, however, was observed in all the examinations between SO and LO.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.819-828
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• 2011

To inspect norovirus contamination of groundwater in south eastern areas of Korea, a systematic survey of groundwater in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do was performed for two years from 2009 to 2010. For this purpose, we first optimized the nested reverse transcription-PCR condition by designing two sets of primers for the detection of norovirus genogroups, GI and GII. Of 145 samples, 21 (25.9%) and 15 (23.4%) were norovirus positive in the dry season (April to June) and wet season (July to August), respectively. The detection frequencies of norovirus in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do were 15%, 7%, and 32%, respectively, reflecting a geographical difference in their distribution. The GI and GII isolates were 5 and 31, respectively, indicating the prevalence of GII in the tested areas. According to phylogenetic analysis of their nucleotide sequences, all of the GI isolates were identified to genotype GI.5 whilst the GII isolates were divided into two genotypes, GII.3 and GII.4. Neither physical-chemical parameters such as pH, temperature, oxidation-reduction potential, and dissolved oxygen, nor microbial indicators of water quality such as total bacteria, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli were statistically correlated with contamination of norovirus in the groundwater. Interestingly, however, the presence of norovirus was closely correlated with low turbidity (<0.50 NTU). The present study suggests that periodical monitoring of norovirus in groundwater is necessary to prevent epidemic waterborne diseases and to secure better sanitary conditions for public health.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 1981

As the amount of pesticides consumption increases in agriculture, the side effects of pesticides on soil microorganisms have become an essential part in safety evaluation of pesticide for continued soil fertility. In order to establish the method of safety assessment of pesticides in Korea, a series of tests were carried out. Among the paddy pesticides Fujione (Isoprothiolane, fungicide), Ortran (Acephate, insecticide), and Machete (Butachlor, herbicide) were chosen and the effects of above three pesticides on Korean paddy soil microorganisms were studied. The measurements of pesticide effects on the cycling of carbon ($CO_2$ production), nitrogen fixation ($C_2H_2$ reduction), nitrification, and dehydrogenase activity were carried out. These measurements were complemented by evaluation of pesticide effects on viable microbial numbers. Although Fujione reduced the fungi numbers and inhibited nitrogen cycling activities somewhat, no significant adverse effects were show by any of the tested pesticides in our study.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2004

T-RFLP analysis and clone sequencing analysis based on bacterial 16S rDNA were conducted to assess bacterial community structure and diversity in two layers (0-1cm, 6-7cm depth) of the sediment from Janghwari intertidal flat in Ganghwa Island. The results of T-RFLP (terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis using restriction enzyme HhaI showed that the T-RFs of various size ($60{\pm}2$) bp-($667{\pm}2$) bp) appeared evenly at the surface sediments but two T-RFs with 60(${\pm}2$)bp and 93 (${\pm}2$)bp predominated at 6-7cm depth. Analysis of partial sequences for 172 clones revealed that 98% of the clones were not matched with the sequences of cultured bacteria strains in the GenBank (${\geq}similarity$ 98%), and approximately 86% of them were classified as different phylotypes. Most clones belonged to $\alpha$-, $\gamma$-, and $\delta$-Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria/Holophaga and green nonsulfur bacteria group. Proteobacteria group occupied the highest proportion in both layers (69% at 0-1cm depth and 46% at 6-7cm depth). $\gamma$-Proteobacteria and $\delta$-Proteobacteria that are associated with oxidation and reduction of sulfur compounds were appeared to be dominant, and comprised 21.5% and 15.7% of total clones, respectively. Overall results indicated that extremely diverse bacterial groups were inhabiting in the sediment of Ganghwa intertidal flat, and bacterial communities associated with the behaviour of sulfur seemed to playa significant role in the biogeochemical environment in this anoxic sediment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.348-353
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• 2010

The current study investigated the fate of organic matter in piggery slurry under two different store systems(closed store system and open store system) in association with different temperature. Thirty days after storing in both systems at $20^{\circ}C$, it was observed that the content of organic matter remained in piggery slurry with closed store system was twice more than that with open store system implying more efficient degradation of organic matter with open store system. Temperature also influenced on the organic matter degradation in piggery slurry as shown decline in TS and VS contents as the temperature increased. With store at $35^{\circ}C$, 29% of initial organic matter was reduced while there was only 23% reduction of organic matter at $20^{\circ}C$. There was no difference in the type of organic fatty acids(VFAs) produced under the range of temperature(20, $35^{\circ}C$) simulating summer condition. Increases in organic fatty acids contents with hydrolysis and acid producing microbial was observed from 15 days after initiating store of the piggery slurry and the total organic acid amount produced 30 days after store was $2,829\;mg{\cdot}COD/L$ and $9,123\;mg{\cdot}COD/L$ at $20^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. These corresponded to 5.4% and 17.4% of the initial organic matter contents in piggery slurry, respectively.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 1990

The microbial populations of exportable ginseng leaf tea were $3.6{\times}10^{5}/g$ in mesophilic aerobic bacteria, $2.1{\times}10^{3}/g$ in mesophilic aerobic spores, $1.6{\times}10^{4}/g$ in yeast, $1.9{\times}10^{4}/g$ in molds and $1.2{\times}10^{4}/g$ in coliforms, respectively, which are higher levels than the legaJIy permissible loads of microorganisms for ginseng powders in Korea. In a comparative study of the decontaminating effects on microorganisms, ethylene oxide fumigation and 5 kGy irradiation could decrease microorganisms below the detectable level. And there is no growth of microorgllnisms after three months of storage at $30{\pm}1^{circ}C$. The decimal reduction doses (Dw value) for microorganisms contaminated were 0.70 kGy in coliforms, 0.75 kGy in total bacteria, 0.85 kGy in molds. and 0.95 kGy in yeast, respectively. In the organoleptic test for ginseng leaf tea, the irradiated samples showed no significant difference from the control group in overall flavor, taste, color and acceptability. However the extracts of ethylene oxide fumigated sample were significantly different in color and taste from other groups even after three months storage.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 1991

When $[U-^{14}C]$ 3,3', 4,4'-tetrachloroazobenzene$([U-^{14}C]\;TCAB)$ was added to the $MM_2$ medium as a sole carbon source for the isolated microorganisms and incubated, some radioactive metabolites were detected by autoradiography. No $^{14}CO_2$ was evolved from $[U-^{14}C]\;TCAB$ which was added as a sole carbon source to an organic matter-free soil inoculated by the isolates, wetted with the $MM_2$ salt medium, and incubated at $30^{\circ}C$. One of the metabolites in pure culture of Achromobacter group VD, which was isolated and identified, was tentatively identified as a compound of m/z 250 by means of GC/MS. The possible pathways for its formation are thought to include dechlorination from the TCAB structure, hydroxylation, ortho fission of the two benzene rings, and reduction of the resulting carboxyl group.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.461-469
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• 2003

Effects of fruit of Lycium chinense (Chinese matrimony vine) on enzyme activities, and microbial and physicochemical properties of kochjuang were investigated during 12 weeks of fermentation. Enzyme activities were higher during middle of fermentation, and protease activities increased as the ratio of L. chinense increased. Facultative anaerobic bacteria counts decreased in L. chinense-added kochujang, whereas viable cell count of yeasts was higher in 1% L. chinense-added kochujang. Consistency of kochujang decreased by addition of L. chinense. Hunter L- and a-values of L. chinense added kochujang were high, causing slight change in total color difference (E) as the ratio of L chinense increased. Moisture contents of kochujang increased during fermentation, whereas water activities decreased. As the ratio of L. chinense increased, water activities increased. Titrable acidities and oxidation-reduction potential increased by addition of L. chinense. Total sugar contents of kochujang decreased rapidly during fermentation, whereas reducing sugar contents increased up to $2{\sim}4$ weeks of fermentation. As the ratio of L. chinense increased, reducing sugar contents decreased. Ethanol contents of kochujang increased during fermentation, with higher values in 3% L. chinense-added kochujang. Amino and ammonia nitrogen contents of kochujang increased L. chinense content increased. After 12 weeks of fermentation, sensory results showed 3% L. chinense-added kochujang showed highest taste and overall acceptability, and color acceptability increased as L. chinense content increased.