• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.72-78
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the phototoxic effects of blue light exposure on periodontal pathogens in both planktonic and biofilm cultures. Methods: Strains of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, in planktonic or biofilm states, were exposed to visible light at wavelengths of 400.520 nm. A quartz-tungsten-halogen lamp at a power density of $500mW/cm^2$ was used for the light source. Each sample was exposed to 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 seconds of each bacterial strain in the planktonic or biofilm state. Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) was used to observe the distribution of live/dead bacterial cells in biofilms. After light exposure, the bacterial killing rates were calculated from colony forming unit (CFU) counts. Results: CLSM images that were obtained from biofilms showed a mixture of dead and live bacterial cells extending to a depth of $30-45{\mu}m$. Obvious differences in the live-to-dead bacterial cell ratio were found in P. gingivalis biofilm according to light exposure time. In the planktonic state, almost all bacteria were killed with 60 seconds of light exposure to F. nucleatum (99.1%) and with 15 seconds to P. gingivalis (100%). In the biofilm state, however, only the CFU of P. gingivalis demonstrated a decreasing tendency with increasing light exposure time, and there was a lower efficacy of phototoxicity to P. gingivalis as biofilm than in the planktonic state. Conclusions: Blue light exposure using a dental halogen curing unit is effective in reducing periodontal pathogens in the planktonic state. It is recommended that an adjunctive exogenous photosensitizer be used and that pathogens be exposed to visible light for clinical antimicrobial periodontal therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.42-47
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• 2015

Streptococcus mutans is frequently associated with dental caries. Bacterial fermentation of food debris generates an acidic environment on the tooth surface, ultimately resulting in tooth deterioration. Therefore, various mouthwashes have been used to reduce and prevent Streptococcus mutans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of 4 commercial mouthwashes and those of 10% and 20% ethanol solutions (formula A, B, C, D, E and F) against Streptococcus mutans using biofilm and planktonic methods. The range of reduction in the viable cell count of Streptococcus mutans as estimated by the biofilm and planktonic methods was 0.05-5.51 log ($P{\leq}0.01$) and 1.23-7.51 log ($P{\leq}0.001$) compared with the negative control, respectively, indicating that the planktonic method had a stronger antibacterial effect against S. mutans. Among the tested formulations, formula A (Garglin $regular^{(R)}$ mouthwash) was the most effective against Streptococcus mutans ($P{\leq}0.001$).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권11호
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• pp.1729-1738
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• 2020

Salmonellosis is a form of gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella infection. The main transmission route of salmonellosis has been identified as poorly cooked meat and poultry products contaminated with Salmonella. However, in recent years, the number of outbreaks attributed to contaminated raw produce has increased dramatically. To understand how Salmonella adapts to produce, transcriptomic analysis was conducted on Salmonella enterica serovar Virchow exposed to fresh-cut radish greens. Considering the different Salmonella lifestyles in contact with fresh produce, such as motile and sessile lifestyles, total RNA was extracted from planktonic and epiphytic cells separately. Transcriptomic analysis of S. Virchow cells revealed different transcription profiles between lifestyles. During bacterial adaptation to fresh-cut radish greens, planktonic cells were likely to shift toward anaerobic metabolism, exploiting nitrate as an electron acceptor of anaerobic respiration, and utilizing cobalamin as a cofactor for coupled metabolic pathways. Meanwhile, Salmonella cells adhering to plant surfaces showed coordinated upregulation in genes associated with translation and ribosomal biogenesis, indicating dramatic cellular reprogramming in response to environmental changes. In accordance with the extensive translational response, epiphytic cells showed an increase in the transcription of genes that are important for bacterial motility, nucleotide transporter/metabolism, cell envelope biogenesis, and defense mechanisms. Intriguingly, Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-1 and SPI-2 displayed up- and downregulation, respectively, regardless of lifestyles in contact with the radish greens, suggesting altered Salmonella virulence during adaptation to plant environments. This study provides molecular insights into Salmonella adaptation to plants as an alternative environmental reservoir.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.200-206
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• 1993

The effect of pH (7, 5 and 4) and nisin (100 and 200IU/ml) on heat resistance of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A were determined using citrate-phosphate buffer system. Heat resistance of vegetative and starved cell was decreased as pH value was lower at 65 and 72C. Starved L. monocytogenes was more resistant than vegetative cell at both temperature. Heat resistance of vegetative and starved cell was decreased significantly with treatment of nisin. The effect of nisin was increased significantly at low pH(5, 4). Adherent microcolony was more resistant to heat and nisin than planktonic cell. Contamination of L. monocytogenes may be prevent by using nisin in food and food processing environments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권8호
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• pp.1059-1064
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• 2014

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, implicated in both community and hospital acquired infections. The therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is becoming more difficult because of multidrug resistance and strong biofilm-forming properties. Schiff bases have attracted attention as promising antibacterial agents. In this study, we investigated the in vitro activity of taurine-5-bromosalicylaldehyde Schiff base (TBSSB) against MRSA. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using a microtiter broth dilution method. TBSSB effectively inhibited planktonic MRSA, with an MIC of $32{\mu}g/ml$. The time-kill curve confirmed that TBSSB exhibited bactericidal activity against MRSA. TBSSB was also found to significantly inhibit MRSA biofilm formation at 24 h, especially at $1{\times}MIC$ and sub-MIC levels. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed remarkable morphological and ultrastructural changes on the MRSA cell surface, due to exposure to TBSSB. This study indicated that TBSSB may be an effective bactericidal agent against MRSA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.542-551
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• 2017

Small phytochemicals have been successfully adopted as antibacterial chemotherapies and are being increasingly viewed as potential antibiofilm agents. Some of these molecules are known to repress biofilm and toxin production by certain bacterial and yeast pathogens, but information is lacking with regard to the genes allied with biofilm formation. The present study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effect of burdock root extract (BRE) and of chlorogenic acid (CGA; a component of BRE) on clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. BRE and CGA exhibited significant antibiofilm activity against K. pneumoniae without inflicting any harm to its planktonic counterparts. In vitro assays supported the ${\beta}$-lactamase inhibitory effect of CGA and BRE while in silico docking showed that CGA bound strongly with the active sites of sulfhydryl-variable-1 ${\beta}$-lactamase. Furthermore, the mRNA transcript levels of two biofilm-associated genes (type 3 fimbriae mrkD and trehalose-6-phosphate hydrolase treC) were significantly downregulated in CGA- and BRE-treated samples. In addition, CGA inhibited biofilm formation by Escherichia coli and Candida albicans without affecting their planktonic cell growth. These findings show that BRE and its component CGA have potential use in antibiofilm strategies against persistent K. pneumoniae infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권12호
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• pp.1854-1861
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• 2020

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common microorganisms and causes foodborne diseases. In particular, biofilm-forming S. aureus is more resistant to antimicrobial agents and sanitizing treatments than planktonic cells. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-biofilm effects of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from cucumber jangajji compared to grapefruit seed extract (GSE). CFS and GSE inhibited and degraded S. aureus biofilms. The adhesion ability, auto-aggregation, and exopolysaccharide production of CFS-treated S. aureus, compared to those of the control, were significantly decreased. Moreover, biofilm-related gene expression was altered upon CFS treatment. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed that CFS exerted anti-biofilm effects against S. aureus. Therefore, these results suggest that S. cerevisiae CFS has anti-biofilm potential against S. aureus strains.

• 한국해양학회지:바다
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.248-262
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• 2021

섬모충플랑크톤은 크게 두 분류군, 세포가 피갑(lorica)에 에워 쌓여 있는 유종섬모류(tintinnids)와 피갑(lorica)이 없는 소모류(oligotrichs)로 대별하고 있다. 국내에서 해양 섬모충플랑크톤의 분류학적 연구는 비교적 종 동정이 용이한 유종섬모류를 대상으로 먼저 시작되었고, 분류기준인 피갑의 가변성 때문에 분류학적 문제점은 있으나, 현재까지도 주로 피갑의 형태적 특징에 따라 종을 구별하여 생태·생리학적 연구정보로 활용하고 있다. 반면, 소모류의 경우, 세포염색을 통한 섬모열의 정밀한 특징으로 종을 구별하는 어려움으로 인해, 소모류의 분류학적 연구는 2000년 이후에 비로소 국내에 소개되었다. 최근 분석기술의 발달과 더불어 섬모충의 분류체계와 종 정보에도 많은 변화가 생겼고 이를 반영하여 국내 해양에서 출현하는 주요 섬모충플랑크톤 종류가 새롭게 정리되어 도감으로 출간되었다. 섬모충플랑크톤은 동물플랑크톤의 질 높은 먹이원이 되는 동시에 초미소(pico)와 미소(nano)플랑크톤의 포식자로서 해양 미세먹이망에서 중요한 중간 역할을 하고 있다. 이러한 부유생태계에서 섬모충플랑크톤의 역할은 새로운 주제가 아닌, 현재는 해양생태학의 보편적 지식으로 공유되고 있다. 따라서 해양 섬모충플랑크톤의 현장 모니터링 방법과 실험실 분석의 과학적 타당성을 기반으로, 획득된 자료로써 그 신뢰성을 확보함은 국내 섬모충플랑크톤 연구 발전에 크게 일조하리라 기대된다. 섬모충플랑크톤 연구 경험을 바탕으로 유종섬모류 동일종의 피갑변이, 세포염색에 의한 소모류의 정량·정성분석, 유전자 분석결과의 자료비교, 생태학적 정보비교, 섬모충플랑크톤 현장채집 방법을 제안하며, 현실적 수용가능 범위를 설정하여 섬모충플랑크톤 모니터링의 정도관리를 위한 연구자들의 관심을 유도하고자 한다.

• Mycobiology
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 2017

Metal-based drugs, such as 1,10-phenanthroline, have demonstrated anticancer, antifungal and antiplasmodium activities. One of the 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives compounds (1)-N-2-methoxybenzyl-1,10-phenanthrolinium bromide (FEN), which has been demonstrated an inhibitory effect on the growth of Candida spp. This study aimed to explore the in vitro antifungal activity of FEN and its effect on the membrane integrity of Candida albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of FEN against planktonic C. albicans cells were determined using the broth microdilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Cell membrane integrity was determined with the propidium iodide assay using a flow cytometer and were visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Planktonic cells growth of C. albicans were inhibited by FEN, with an MIC of $0.39-1.56{\mu}g/mL$ and a MFC that ranged from 3.125 to $100{\mu}g/mL$. When C. albicans was exposed to FEN, the uptake of propidium iodide was increased, which indicated that membrane disruption is the probable mode of action of this compound. There was cells surface changes of C. albicans when observed under SEM.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권7호
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• pp.1114-1118
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• 2015

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have gathered attention as a novel bioenergy technology to simultaneously treat wastewater with less sludge production than the conventional activated sludge system. In two different operations of the MFC and aerobic process, microbial growth was determined by the protein assay method and their biomass yields using real wastewater were compared. The biomass yield on the anode electrode of the MFC was 0.02 g-COD-cell/gCOD-substrate and the anolyte planktonic biomass was 0.14 g-COD-cell/g-COD-substrate. An MFC without anode electrode resulted in the biomass yield of 0.07 ± 0.03 g-COD-cell/g-CODsubstrate, suggesting that oxygen diffusion from the cathode possibly supported the microbial growth. In a comparative test, the biomass yield under aerobic environment was 0.46 ± 0.07 g-COD-cell/g-COD-substrate, which was about 3 times higher than the total biomass value in the MFC operation.