• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.803-814
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• 2021

A pilot-scale biocover was constructed at a sanitary landfill and the mitigation of methane and odor compounds was compared between the summer and non-summer seasons. The average inlet methane concentrations were 22.0%, 16.3%, and 31.3%, and the outlet concentrations were 0.1%, 0.1%, and 0.2% during winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The odor removal efficiency was 98.0% during summer, compared to 96.6% and 99.6% during winter and spring, respectively. No deterioration in methane and odor removal performance was observed even when the internal temperature of the biocover increased to more than 40℃ at midday during summer. During summer, the packing material simultaneously degraded methane and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) under both moderately thermophilic (40-50℃) and mesophilic conditions (30℃). Hyphomicrobium and Brevibacillus, which can degrade methane and DMS at 40℃ and 50℃, were isolated. The diversity of the bacterial community in the biocover during summer did not decrease significantly compared to other seasons. The thermophilic environment of the biocover during summer promoted the growth of thermotolerant and thermophilic bacterial populations. In particular, the major methane-oxidizing species were Methylocaldum spp. during summer and Methylobacter spp. during the non-summer seasons. The performance of the biocover remained stable under moderately thermophilic conditions due to the replacement of the main species and the maintenance of bacterial diversity. The information obtained in this study could be used to design biological processes for methane and odor removal during summer and/or in subtropical countries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1992

A moderately thermophilic, alkalophlic and powerful crystalline cellulose-digesting bacterium, Bacillus K-12, was isolated from filter paper wastes and found to be similar to Bacillus circulans or Bacillus pumilis, except for its ability to grow at a moderately high pH and temperature. The isolate grew at a pH ranging from 6 to 10 and at a temperature ranging from 35 to $65^{\circ}C$ and produced a large amount of cellulase components containing avicelase, xylanase, CMCase, and FPase when grown in avicel medium for 5 to 7 days at $50^{\circ}C$. The crude enzyme preparation from the culture broth hydrolyzed xylan, raw starch, pullulan and ${\beta}-1,3$ glucan such as laminarin. Furthermore, the enzyme hydrolyzed crystalline cellulose to cellobiose and glucose and had a broad pH activity curve (pH 6~9). The enzyme was stable up to $70^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.162-167
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• 2007

A genetic transfer system for introducing foreign genes to biomining microorganisms is urgently needed. Thus, a conjugative gene transfer system was investigated for a moderately thermophilic, extremely acidophilic biomining bacterium, Acidithiobacillus caldus MTH-04. The broad-hostrange IncP plasmids RP4 and R68.45 were transferred directly into A. caldus MTH-04 from Escherichia coli by conjugation at relatively high frequencies. Additionally the broad-hostrange IncQ plasmids pJRD215, pVLT33, and pVLT35 were also transferred into A. caldus MTH-04 with the help of plasmid RP4 or strains with plasmid RP4 integrated into their chromosome, such as E. coli SM10. The $Km^r\;and\;Sm^r$ selectable markers from these plasmids were successfully expressed in A. caldus MTH-04. Futhermore, the IncP and IncQ plasmids were transferred back into E. coli cells from A. caldus MTH-04, thereby confirming the initial transfer of these plasmids from E. coli to A. caldus MTH-04. All the IncP and IncQ plasmids studied were stable in A. caldus MTH-04. Consequently, this development of a conjugational system for A. caldus MTH-04 will greatly facilitate its genetic study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1476-1484
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• 2015

Three endoxylanase-encoding genes from the moderately themophilic chemoorganotrophic bacterium Melioribacter roseus were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Genes xyl2091 (Mros_2091) and xyl2495 (Mros_2495) encode GH10 family hydrolases, whereas xyl2090 (Mros_2090) represents the GH30 family. In addition to catalytic domains, Xyl2090 and Xyl2091 contain carbohydrate-binding modules that could facilitate their binding to xylans and Por sorting domains associated with the sorting of proteins from the periplasm to the outer membrane, where they are covalently attached. Recombinant endoxylanase Xyl2495 exhibited a high specific activity of 1,920 U/mg on birchwood xylan at 40℃. It is active at low temperatures, exhibiting more than 30% of the maximal activity even at 0℃. Endoxylanases Xyl2090 and Xyl2091 have lower specific activities but higher temperature optima at 80℃ and 65℃, respectively. Analysis of xylan hydrolysis products revealed that Xyl2090 generates xylo-oligosaccharides longer than xylopentaose. Xylose and xylobiose are the major products of xylan hydrolysis by the recombinant Xyl2091 and Xyl2495. No activity against cellulose was observed for all enzymes. The presence of three xylanases ensures efficient xylan hydrolysis by M. roseus. The highly processive "free" endoxylanase Xyl2495 could hydrolyze xylan under moderate temperatures. Xylan hydrolysis at elevated temperatures could be accomplished by concerted action of two cell-bound xylanases; Xyl2090 that probably degrades xylans to long xylo-oligosaccharides, and Xyl2091 hydrolyzing them to xylose and xylobiose. The new endoxylanases could be useful for saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass in biofuels production, bleaching of paper pulp, and obtaining low molecular weight xylooligosaccharides.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.573-587
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• 2010

Bioleaching experiments were effectively carried out at $42^{\circ}C$, $52^{\circ}C$ and $62^{\circ}C$ to leach the more valuable metal ions from sphalerite using bacteria. The pH values of the bioleaching solution were constantly maintained for 10 days in the range of 2.40 to 2.55. In these bioleaching experiments, rod-shaped bacteria attached to the sphalerite surface were continuously observed in the sample. Along with the increase in the leaching temperatures, the concentration of Zn and Pb increased in the control sample of leachates, whereas the concentration of Fe increased in the sample containing bacteria. At $42^{\circ}C$, $52^{\circ}C$ and $62^{\circ}C$ the biological leaching content of Zn was found to be 9.5, 2.8 and 2.9 times higher than that in the chemical leaching content, respectively. At these temperatures, the content of Pb in the bacterial sample of the leachate was detected to be 14.8, 7.4 and 3.8 times higher than that of the control sample of the leachate, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.270-276
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• 1998

Extracellular ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was purified to homogeneity from moderately thermophilic Bacillus sp. DG0303. The thermostable ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography, preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and electroelution. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 60 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimum temperature for the action of the enzyme was at $60^{\circ}C$. It had a half-life of 35 min at $60^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was stable at the pH range of 4.5~7.0 and had an optimum pH at 5.0. The enzyme preparation did not require any metal ion for activity. The thermostable ${\alpha}$-glucosidase hydrolyzed the ${\alpha}$-1,6-linkages in isomaltose, isomaltotriose, and panose, and had little or no activity with maltooligosaccharides and other polysaccharides. The $K_m$ (mM) for p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG), panose, isomaltose, and isomaltotriose were 4.6, 4.7, 40.8, and 3.7 and the $V_{max}$(${\mu}mol{\cdot}min^-1$$mg^-1$) for those substrates were 5629, 1669, 3410, and 1827, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was MERVWWKKAV. Based on its substrate specificity and catalytic properties, the enzyme has been assigned to be an oligo-1,6-glucosidase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1783-1789
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• 2017

Thermostability is an important property of xylanase because high temperature is required for its applications, such as wood pulp bleaching, baking, and animal feedstuff processing. In this study, XynB from Thermobacillus composti, a moderately thermophilic gram-negative bacterium, was modified via site-directed mutagenesis (based on its 3D structure) to obtain thermostable xylanase, and the properties of this enzyme were analyzed. Results revealed that the half-life of xylanase at $65^{\circ}C$ increased from 10 to 50 min after a disulfide bridge was introduced between the ${\alpha}$-helix and its adjacent ${\beta}$-sheet at S98 and N145. Further mutation at the side of A153E named XynB-CE in the C-terminal of this ${\alpha}$-helix enhanced the half-life of xylanase for 60 min at $65^{\circ}C$. Therefore, the mutant may be utilized for industrial applications.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.618-625
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• 2003

Investigations were carried out to optimize the culture conditions for the production of xylanase by Paenibacillus sp. DG-22, a moderately thermophilic bacterium isolated from timber yard soil. Xylanase production showed a cell growth associated profile. Xylanase activity was found only in the culture supernatant, while $\beta-xylosidase$ activity was mainly associated with the cells. The formation of xylanase activity was induced by xylan and repressed by glucose and xylose. The production profile of xylanase was examined with various commercial xylan and maximum yield was achieved with 0.1∼ 0.5% birchwood xylan. Among various nitrogen sources tested, yeast extract was optimal for the production of xylanase. The xylanase activity was inhibited by $Co^{2+},\; Cu^{2+},\; Fe^{3+},\; Hg^{2+}\;$ and$\;Mn^{2+}$ ions while $Ca^{2+},\; Mg^{2+},\; Ni^{2+},\; Zn^{2+}$ions and DTT stimulated xylanase activity Mercury (II) ion at 5 mM concentration abolished all the xylanase activity. The predominant products of xylan-hydrolysate were xylobiose, xylotriose, and higher xylooligo-saccharides, indicating that the enzyme was an endoxylanase.