• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2011

Almost 10~30% of vegetables were discarded by the spoilage from farms to tables. After harvest, vegetables are often spoiled by a wide variety of microorganisms including many bacterial and fungal species. This investigation was conducted to extent the knowledge of relationship the spoilage of vegetables and the diversity of microbes. The total aerobic bacterial numbers in fresh lettuce, perilla leaf, and chicory were $2.6{\sim}2.7{\times}10^6$, $4.6{\times}10^5$, $1.2{\times}10^6\;CFU/g$ of fresh weight, respectively. The most common bacterial species were Pseudomonas spp., Alysiella spp., and Burkholderia spp., and other 18 more genera were involved in. After one week of incubation of those vegetables at $28^{\circ}C$, the microbial diversity had been changed. The total aerobic bacterial numbers increased to $1.1{\sim}4.6{\times}10^8$, $4.9{\times}10^7$, and $7.6{\times}10^8\;CFU/g$ of fresh weight for lettuce, perilla leaf, and chicory that is about $10^2$ times increased bacterial numbers than that before spoilage. However, the diversity of microbes isolated had been simplified and fewer bacterial species had been isolated. The most bacterial population (~48%) was taken up by Pseudomonas spp., and followed by Arthrobacter spp. and Bacillus spp. The spoilage activity of individual bacterial isolates had been tested using axenic lettuce plants. Among tested isolates, Pseudomonas fluorescence and Pantoea agglomerans caused severe spoilage on lettuce.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.182-191
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• 2021

Objective: This study was performed to detect indicator bacteria in drinking spring water samples in Gwangju City and to identify their genus using the VITEK-II system. Methods: The subjects were ten drinking spring water sites in Gwangju. Samples of spring water were taken every month from September 2019 to August 2020. We analyzed for the indicator bacteria Yersinia and microorganisms isolated from the spring water. Result: According to the research results on indicator bacteria, general bacteria in st1-st7 with sterilization facilities in the spring and summer were investigated in the range of 0-2 CFU/mL and 0-12 CFU/mL. In st9, where a sterilization facility was not installed, the most general bacteria were detected (160 CFU/mL). Total coliform and fecal coliform showed unsatisfied rates of 16.7 and 11.1% in spring and 14.7 and 11.8% in summer, respectively. The unsatisfied rates of total coliform for the designated and non-designated spring water facilities were 3.8 and 47.1%, respectively, and for the fecal coliform group they were 2.5 and 35.3%. The difference was confirmed according to the presence of a sterilization facility. Yersinia spp. was not detected in all drinking spring water. Forty-one strains in 25 species were isolated from ten sites. The results classified as major dominant species are Pseudomonas spp. 14.6%, Pantoea spp. 9.8%, Serratia spp. 9.8%, Acinetobacter spp. 9.8%, Citrobacter spp. 7.3%, Bordetella spp. 7.3%, Delftia spp. 4.9%, and Enterobacter spp. 4.9%. Conclusions: Based on the result that various species derived from fecal pollution and artificial pollutants were detected in the non-specified public spring water facilities that many people use, the facilities need institutional complements such as continuous management or complete shutdowns.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2024

Understanding changes in fermentation characteristics and microbial populations of forage silage during ensiling is of interest for improving the nutrient value of the feed for ruminants. This study was conducted to investigate the changes in fermentation characteristics and bacterial communities of whole crop rice (WCR) silage during the ensiling period. The chemical compositions, pH, organic acids and bacterial communities were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after ensiling. The bacterial communities were classified at both the genus and species levels. The dry matter content of WCR silage decreased with the length of storage (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in crude protein and NDF contents. Following fermentation, the pH level of WCR silage was lower than the initial level. The lactic acid content remained at high levels for 3 to 6 months after ensiling, followed by a sharp decline at 12 months (p<0.05). Before fermentation, the WCR was dominated by Weissella (30.8%) and Pantoea (20.2%). Growth of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (31.4%) was observed at 3 months after ensiling. At 6 months, there was a decrease in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (10.2%) and an increase in Levilactobacillus brevis (12.8%), resulting in increased bacteria diversity until that period. The WCR silage was dominated by Lentilactobacillus buchneri (71.2%) and Lacticaseibacillus casei (27.0%) with a sharp reduction in diversity at 12 months. Overall, the WCR silage maintained satisfactory fermentation quality over a 12-month ensiling period. Furthermore, the fermentation characteristics of silage were found to be correlated to bacterial microbiome.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2006

To evaluate bacteriological water quality of groundwater in Yeungnam Province, samples were taken from 123 locations during summer and 117 locations during winter. The medians of heterotrophic plate counts.(HPCs) were 30 CFU/mL for the summer samples and 40 CFU/ml for the winter, and more than 25% showed HPCs higher than 100 CFU/ml. Coliform bacteria were detected from 46% of the summer samples and 30% of the winter. In these coliform-positive samples, the medians of coliform counts were 20 CFU/ml for the summer samples and 4 CFU/ml for the winter. Genera such as Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsielia, Pantoea, Rahnellia, and Serratia were identified from the coliform isolates; among them, 48% were members of the genus Enterobacter. While E. cloacae, E. amnigenus, and K. pneumoniae were the most frequently isolated species, E. coli was isolated only from 1 location. The coliform counts were positively correlated with the HPCs, which also positively correlated with water temperature. The results of present study provide further insight on the extent of groundwater contamination with coliform bacteria.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.391-402
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• 2021

Earthworms play an important role in soil fertilization, interacting continually with microorganisms. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of beneficial microorganisms living in the earthworm's immune system, the coelomic fluid. To achieve this goal, a molecular identification technique was performed, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcoding to identify abundant endogenic earthworms inhabiting the temperate zone of Rabat, Morocco. Then, 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing techniques were adopted for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Biochemical analysis, showed the ability of bacteria to produce characteristic enzymes and utilize substrates. Qualitative screening of plant growth-promoting traits, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization, and indole acetic acid (IAA) production, was also performed. The result of mitochondrial COI barcoding allowed the identification of the earthworm species Aporrectodea molleri. Phenotypic and genotypic studies of the sixteen isolated bacteria and the two isolated fungi showed that they belong to the Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Buttiauxella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Raoultella, and the Penicillium genera, respectively. Most of the isolated bacteria in the coelomic fluid showed the ability to produce β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, Glutamyl-β-naphthylamidase, and aminopeptidase enzymes, utilizing substrates like aliphatic thiol, sorbitol, and fatty acid ester. Furthermore, three bacteria were able to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphate and potassium, and produce IAA. This initial study demonstrated that despite the immune property of earthworms' coelomic fluid, it harbors beneficial microorganisms. Thus, the presence of resistant microorganisms in the earthworm's immune system highlights a possible selection process at the coelomic fluid level.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and ecological balance. Apis mellifera L. colonies, especially those located in specific geographic regions, such as the palm garden in Eastern Thailand, are susceptible to potential threats from microbial contaminants. Understanding and detecting microbial organisms in these beehives is essential for the preservation of bee health, honey production, and the broader ecosystem. However, the problem of microbial infection and antibiotic-resistant bacteria is more severe and continuously increasing, resulting in a health, economic, and social crisis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of microorganisms in A. mellifera beehives in palm gardens in Rayong province, Eastern Thailand. Results: Ten swabs in transport media were swabbed and obtained from different parts of each beehive (1 swab per beehive), for a total of 10 hives. Traditional microbial culture-based methods, biochemical tests, and antimicrobial susceptibility (disc-diffusion) tests were used to detect microbial organisms and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The swab tests from nine beehives resulted in the detection of Gram-positive bacteria (63.64%), Gram-negative bacteria (27.27%), and fungi/yeast (9.09%). These microorganisms are classified as a group of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and made up 40.91% of the bacteria discovered. Other bacteria found were Coryneform bacteria (13.64%), Pantoea spp. (13.64%), Bacillus spp. (9.09%), yeast (9.09%), glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (9.09%), and Pseudomonas spp. (4.55%). However, due to the traditional culture-based and 0biochemical tests usually used to identify the microbial organisms in clinical specimens and the limitation of identifying some environmental microbial species, the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test cannot reveal if the organism is resistant or susceptible to the drug. Nevertheless, drug-sensitive inhibition zones were formed with each antibiotic agent. Conclusions: Overall, the study supports prevention, healthcare, and public health systems. The contamination of microorganisms in the beehives may affect the quality of honey and other bee products or even the health of the beekeeper. To avoid this kind of contamination, it is therefore necessary to wear personal protective equipment while harvesting honey and other bee products.