• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.1005-1012
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• 2020

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been a serious environmental issue that threatens soil and aquatic ecosystems. In this study, an acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain S4, was isolated from the mud of an AMD storage pond in Vietnam via enrichment in anoxic mineral medium at pH 5. Comparative analyses of sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and dsrB gene involved in sulfate reduction revealed that the isolate belonged to the genus Desulfovibrio, and is most closely related to Desulfovibrio oxamicus (with 99% homology in 16S rDNA sequence and 98% homology in dsrB gene sequence). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of dsrB gene showed that strain S4 represented one of the two most abundant groups developed in the enrichment culture. Notably, strain S4 was capable of reducing sulfate in low pH environments (from 2 and above), and resistance to extremely high concentration of heavy metals (Fe 3,000 mg/l, Zn 100 mg/l, Cu 100 mg/l). In a batch incubation experiment in synthetic AMD with pH 3.5, strain S4 showed strong effects in facilitating growth of a neutrophilic, metal sensitive Desulfovibrio sp. strain SR4H, which was not capable of growing alone in such an environment. Thus, it is postulated that under extreme conditions such as an AMD environment, acid- and metal-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-like strain S4 would facilitate the growth of other widely distributed SRB by starting to reduce sulfate at low pH, thus increasing pH and lowering the metal concentration in the environment. Owing to such unique physiological characteristics, strain S4 shows great potential for application in sustainable remediation of AMD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제7권6호
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• pp.409-416
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• 1997

Leuconostoc sp. LAB145-3A isolated from kimchi produced a bacteriocin which was active against food pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, and E. faecium. Bacteriocin production occurred during the early exponential phase of growth and was stable upto the late stationary phase of growth. Optimum conditions for bacteriocin production were $37^{\circ}C$ with an initial pH of 7.0. The bacteriocin of LAB145-3A was sensitive to proteases, but stable for solvents, pH change and heat treatment. It was stable even at autoclaving temperature for 15 min. The bacteriocin exhibited a bactericidal mode of action against Lactobacillus curvatus LAB170-12. The bacteriocin produced by Leuconostoc sp. LAB145-3A was purified by CM-cellulose cation exchange column chromatography and Sephadex G-50 gel filtration. The purification resulted in an approximate 10,000-fold increase in the specific activity. Approximately 4% of the initial activity was recovered. Purified bacteriocin exhibited a single band on the SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular weight of 4,400 daltons. This bacteriocin was named leucocin K. Leuconostoc sp. LAB145-3A had two residential plasmids with molecular sizes of 23 kb and 48 kb. A comparison of plasmid profiles between LAB145-3A and its mutants revealed that the 23 kb plasmid (pCA23) was responsible for bacteriocin production and immunity to the bacteriocin in Leuconostoc sp. LAB145-3A.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2004

The suitability of the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay as a test for the monitoring of genotoxicity of aquatic environment was evaluated. The SCGE assay was employed to detect DNA damage induced in clam (Spisula sachalinensis) exposed to a direct mutagen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or an indirect mutagen, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The cells of gill and digestive glands were isolated from clam by homogenization, which was the optimized cell dissociation method, and the level of DNA damage was assessed and expressed as mean tail length. In the gill cells, significant dose- and time-dependent increase was observed in the mean tail length at the concentration from 0.01 to 0.5 ppm MNNG for 96 h. The linear correlation between relative dam-age index (RDI) values was suggested to provide criteria of genotoxicity monitoring for direct acting mutagen. The dose- and time-dependent responses of the digestive glands cells were less sensitive than those of the gill cells. In contrast, the genotoxic response resulting from the exposure of 0.01～1.0 ppm B[a]P to clam revealed a higher sensitivity in the digestive glands cells than the gill cells. The comparison between the time profiles of genotoxic responses in clam and carp, the latter had been obtained in our previous study, indicated that the metabolism of genotoxic compounds in the two aquatic organisms were quite different each other. We conclude that the SCGE assay has the potential as a screening test for routine genotoxicity monitoring of aquatic organisms because of its higher sensitivity and simplicity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.471-487
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• 1990

Present experiment was performed in order to establish the optimum conditions for quantitation of ${\gamma}$-GTP and AGS activities in rat urine and investigate the applicability of the these enzymes in experimental assessment of nephrotoxicity in rats. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The optimal pH of Tris-BCI buffer containing glycylglycine for determination of urinary ${\gamma}$-GTP activity was 7.6(37$^{\circ}C$). 2. The Michaelis constant of urinary ${\gamma}$-GTP ranged from 1.1 to 1.2 mmol/$\ell$. 3. The optimal pH of citrate buffer for determination of urinary AGS activity was 3.6(37$^{\circ}C$). 4. The Michaelis constant of urinary AGS ranged from 0.8 to 0.9mmo1/$\ell$. 5. Coefficient of variance for within-run imprecision of urinary ${\gamma}$-GTP ranged from 3.8 to 6.4％ and that of urinary AGS ranged from 2.5 to 4.1％. 6. There was no significant difference between gel-filtered samples and crude samples in the mean activity of urinary ${\gamma}$-GTP and the intra-individual differences by gel-filtration were either increased or decreased. Mean values of ${\gamma}$ -GTP activities in gel-filtered samples and crude samples were 1570 and 1590 U/$\ell$, repectively. 7. The mean activity of urinary AGS increased significantly after gel-filtration and all the individual urines revealed higher activities after gel-filtration. 8. ${\gamma}$-GTP and AGS activities were linear to 135 and 7U/$\ell$, respectively. 9. Urinary ${\gamma}$-GTP and AGS excretion before administration of potassium dichromate were 22.1 ${\pm}$ 11.2 and 0.5${\pm}$0.2 U/24hrsㆍkg body weight respectively and increased significantly to 102.3${\pm}$44.5 and 5.8${\pm}$3.30/24hrsㆍkg body weight respectively within 24 hours after administration. 10. BUN increased continuously from 24 hours following exposure to potassium dichromate in all 10 rats. From these findings it is concluded that the urinary ${\gamma}$-GTP and AGS excretions are early and sensitive indicators for nephrotoxicity assessment in rat.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.50-56
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• 1994

Fiber-optic biosensor for the detection of organophosphorus compounds in a contaminated water was developed, which was the component of pesticides and agricultural agent. The detection principle of designed sensor was the pH variance induced by a reaction of acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibited by organophosphorus compounds. The pH variance was detected by the optical system to measure the organophosphorus compounds. Litmus was selected as the pH-sensitive dye suitable to the enzyme reaction and a light source to be detected by the optical system. The enzyme entrapped in Ca-alginate gel was immobilized at the inner wall to maintain the high activity of enzyme and to be reused for a long period. The optical fiber was used to miniaturize and control remotely the sensor system. The He-Ne laser with 632 nm was selected as the light source to prevent light intensity fluctuation by the product. Cheap plastic optical fibers were used as the transmission part of the light and the phototransistor was used as the reception part of light based on the wavelength of He-Ne laser. The proposed fiber-optic biosensor has the linear analytical range of 0 ppm-1.5 ppm with response time of 5 minutes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제30권10호
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• pp.2387-2392
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• 2009

A composite film of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/sol-gel-derived zinc oxide(ZnO)/Nafion has been utilized as an efficient immobilization matrix for the construction of a highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(${bpy)_3}^{2+})$ electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor. The electrochemical and ECL behaviors of Ru(${bpy)_3}^{2+})$ ion-exchanged into the composite film were strongly dependent upon the sol-gel preparation condition, the amount of MWCNT incorporated into the ZnO/Nafion composite film, and the buffer solution pH. The synergistic effect of MWCNTs and ZnO in the composite films increased not only the sensitivity but also the long-term stability of the ECL sensor. The present ECL sensor based on the MWCNT/ZnO/Nafion gave a linear response ($R^2$ = 0.999) for tripropylamine concentration from 500 nM to 1.0 mM with a remarkable detection limit (S/N = 3) of 15 nM. The present ECL sensor showed outstanding long-term stability (94% initial signal retained for 5 weeks). Since the present ECL sensor exhibits large response towards NADH, it could be applied as a transduction platform for the ECL biosensor in which the NADH is produced from the dehydrogenase-based enzymatic reaction in the presence of NA$D^+$ cofactor.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

The present study examines the effects of 30 mg/kg butachlor on the cyanobacterial diversity of rice fields in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar in India. A total of 40 samples were grouped into three classes [(i) acidic, (ii) neutral, and (iii) alkaline soils], based on physicochemical and principle component analyses. Acidic soils mainly harbored Westillopsis, Trichormus, Anabaenopsis, and unicellular cyanobacteria; whereas Nostoc, Anabaena, Calothrix, Tolypothrix, and Aulosira were found in neutral and alkaline soils. Molecular characterization using 16S rRNA PCR and DGGE revealed the presence of 13 different phylotypes of cyanobacteria in these samples. Butachlor treatment of the soil samples led to the disappearance of 5 and the emergence of 2 additional phylotypes. A total of 40 DGGE bands showed significant reproducible changes upon treatment with butachlor. Phylogenetic analyses divided the phylotypes into five major clusters exhibiting interesting links with soil pH. Aulosira, Anabaena, Trichormus, and Anabaenopsis were sensitive to butachlor treatment, whereas uncultured cyanobacteria, a chroococcalean member, Westillopsis, Nostoc, Calothrix, Tolypothrix, Rivularia, Gloeotrichia, Fischerella, Leptolyngbya, and Cylindrospermum, appeared to be tolerant against butachlor at their native soil pH. Butachlor-induced inhibition of nitrogen fixation was found to be 65% (maximum) and 33% (minimum) in the soil samples of pH 9.23 and 5.20, respectively. In conclusion, low butachlor doses may prove beneficial in paddy fields having a neutral to alkaline soil pH.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.71-79
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• 1988

For the purpose of producing low salt fermented anchovy by accelerated method with a strong proteolytic bacteria, in this study, a strong proteolytic bacterium was isolated from low salt fermented anchovy and its bacteriological characteristics and properties of protease were experimented. The results obtained were as fellows : three proteolytic bacteria, Aeromonas anaerogenes Barillus subtilis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus were isolated from low salt fermented anchovy($4\%\;of\;salt,\;4\%\;of\;KCl,\;0.5\%\;of\;lactic\;acid,\;6\%$of sorbitol and $4\%$ of alcohol extract of red pepper) after 40 days fermentation. Among these strains, which grow best at $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0, B. subtilis was found the best proteolytic strain and benefit for industrial use as shown $0.95\;hr^{-1}$ of specific growth rate, $89{\mu}g-Tyr/hr.ml$ of maximum activity after 12 hrs culture in TPY broth. The protease produced by by B. subtilis showed maximum activity at $35^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0, and molecular weight was estimated to be 23,000 by Sephadex G-100 filtration, and it was supposed to be a kind of metal chelator sensitive neutral protease from the results of strong sensitivity against EDTA, o-phenanthroline and metal ions such as $Cu^{2+},\;Ni^{2+},\;Fe^{2+}.Km$ value of that by method of Lineweaver-Burk was determinded to be $0.73\%$ for casein as a substrate.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.328-338
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• 1998

Porphyromonas endodontalis, an anaerobic Gram negative cocobacillus which was known to be associated with the infected root canals and periapical lesions, is very difficult to culture and to detect by the traditional method in that it requires much time to induce the specific black pigmentation, and it is very sensitive to oxygen and the antibiotics added in the culture medium. In this study, the nucleotide sequences of the 'probe h' (0.73kb), one of the specific DNA probes top. endodontalis (ATCC 35406) which had been developed by our department, was determined and then a pair of primers for PCR amplification was fabricated to identify P. endodontalis. The plasmids containing 'probe h' were purified by $Wizard^{TM}$ Midipreps DNA Purification System (Promega Corp.), and the nucleotide sequences of the 'probe h' were determined by the dideoxy chain termination method using TaqTrack Sequencing System (Promega Corp.) and detected by fluorescent labelling method. The sense/antisense PCR primers were designed with computer software (Lasergene, DNASTAR Ind. PCR was done with a programmable GeneAmp PCR System 2400 (Perkin Elmer-Cetus Co.). Each sample containing the whole genomic DNA of P. endodontalis and other black-pigmented Bacteroides was itailly denatured at $94^{\circ}C$ for 5 min and then subjected to 30 cycles, each of them consisting of 60s at $94^{\circ}C$, 60s at $60^{\circ}C$, and 90s. at $72^{\circ}C$. The amplified DNA was resolved electrophoretically in a 1.0 % agarose gel in 1X TAE buffer, stained with EtBr, and photographed on a UV transilluminator. The results were as follows : 1. The nucleotide sequences of 'probe h' (743 base pairs) were obtained by dideoxy chain termination method, and from that results the specific primers to P. endodontalis (ATCC 35406), 'Primer H1/ Primer H2', were designed. 2. It has been found that 'Primer H1/H2' could detect P. endodontalis (ATCC 35406) using PCR. 3. The PCR system with this primers may be a powerful technique to amplify the specific sequences of 'probe h' of P. endodontalis (ATCC 35406) that produce distinct identification of it from other black-pigmented Bacteroides, and this could help us to determine the nature of periapical disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.84-90
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• 2008

Bacterial colonies which were able to oxidize the manganese were isolated from six soil samples in Byungchon area. Among them, one bacterial strain was selected for this study based on its high manganese oxidation activity. This selected bacterial strain was identified as Pseudomonas sp. MN5 through physiological-biochemical test and analysis of its 16s rRNA sequence. This selected bacterial strain was able to utilize fructose and maltose, but they doesn't utilizing various carbohydrates as a sole carbon source. Pseudomonas sp. MN5 showed a very sensitive to antibiotics such as kanamycin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin and tetracycline, but a high resistance up to mg/ml unit to heavy metals such as lithium, manganese and barium. Optimal manganese oxidation condition of Pseudomonas sp. MN5 was pH 7.5 and manganese oxidation activity was inhibited by proteinase K and boiling treatment. The manganese oxidizing protein produced by Pseudomonas sp. MN5 was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, HiTrap Q FF anion exchange chromatography and G3000sw $_{XL}$ gel filtration chromatography. By sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, three manganese oxidizing protein with estimated molecular weights of 15 kDa, 46.7 kDa and 63.5 kDa were detected. Also, it was estimated that manganese oxidizing protein produced by Pseudomonas sp. MN5 were a kind of porin proteins through internal sequence and N-terminal sequence analysis.