• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.326-332
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• 2011

The authors examined the effects of operating parameters on the $H_2$ production by dark fermentation of the wastewater generated from food waste recycling facilities, in short "food waste wastewater (FWW)". Central composite design based response surface methodology was applied to analyze the effect of initial pH (5.5-8.5) and substrate concentration (2-20 g Carbo. COD/L) on $H_2$ production. The experiment was conducted under mesophilic ($35^{\circ}C$) condition and a heat-treated ($90^{\circ}C$ for 20min)anaerobic digester sludge was used as a seeding source. Although there was a little difference in carbohydrate removal, $H_2$ yield was largely affected by the experimental conditions, from 0.38 to 1.77 mol $H_2$/mol $hexose_{added}$. By applying regression analysis, $H_2$ yield was well fitted based on the coded value to a second order polynomial equation (p = 0.0243): Y = $1.78-0.17X_1+0.30X_2+0.37X_1X_2-0.29X_1{^2}-0.35X_2{^2}$, where $X_1$, $X_2$, and Y are pH, substrate concentration (g Carbo. COD/L), and hydrogen yield (mol $H_2$/mol $hexose_{added}$), respectively. The 2-D response surface clearly showed a high inter-dependency between initial pH and substrate concentration, and the role of these two factors was to control the pH during fermentation. According to the statistical optimization, the optimum condition of initial pH and substrate concentration were 7.0 and 13.4 g Carbo. COD/L, respectively, under which predicted $H_2$ yield was 1.84 mol $H_2$/mol $hexose_{added}$. Microbial analysis using 16S rRNA PCR-DGGE showed that $Clostridium$ sp. such as $Clostridium$ $perfringens$, $Clostridium$ $sticklandii$, and $Clostridium$ $bifermentans$ were main $H_2$-producers.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2013

ITS DNA sequences of two variants of Pinus spp. having single fasciculate leaf or two to three fasciculate leaves within an individual were analysed in order to determine their origin. Also, the same DNA locus of P. densiflora, P. rigida and P. koraiensis, distributed at the same region together with the OTUs having leaf variations, were analysed to compare with each other. Aligned sequences including ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 were 580~584 bp in length. The 5.8S region was well conserved among all the OTUs we tested except for P. koraiensis, which has two nucleotide substitutions. The partial ITS1 region upstream of the 5.8S region showed relatively high sequence diversity compare to the ITS2 and has 181~185 bp in length. In this region, the sequences of the two variants were identical to that of P. densiflora. The ITS2 has identical for all OTUs in length and the two variants also have same sequences compare to that of P. densiflora. These two variants and samples of P. densiflora were grouped together in the UPGMA tree with 100% similarity level. The result strongly suggest that these two variants were originated from P. densiflora.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2014

Anaplasmosis is a rickettsial zoonosis mediated by blood-sucking arthropods, such as ticks, flies, and mosquitos. Migratory birds are common hosts of ticks that are mediators of anaplasmosis, in particular, the tick infection rate in thrushes (family Turdidae) has been known to be high. The main purpose of this study is to survey the occurrence and prevalence of Anaplasma spp. from the migratory thrushes in Jeju island. We collected blood samples from 6 thrushes rescued at the Jeju Wildlife Rescue Center and from 34 wild-caught thrushes on Mara island which is a satellite island of Jeju. As a result, the nested PCR confirmed that seven out of 40 individuals (17.5%) were infected by Anaplasma spp. and all of them were identified as A. phagocytophilum based on sequences obtained from partial 16S rRNA. All the infected birds were on their northward migration in spring, our results suggest that the Turdidae family, which is a common and abundant migrant group passing through Jeju island, may act a role as active reservoir and disperser of A. phagocytophilum causing potential influx of the zoonotic pathogens from its wintering grounds in lower latitude to the mainland Korea as well as Jeju.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate different methods for Trichomonas vaginalis diagnosis during pregnancy in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications. A total of 386 vaginal exudates from pregnant women were analyzed. T. vaginalis was investigated by 3 types of microscopic examinations direct wet mount with physiologic saline solution, prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining, and wet mount with sodium-acetate-formalin (SAF)/methylene blue method. PCR for 18S rRNA gene as well as culture in liquid medium were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examinations were evaluated considering the culture media positivity or the PCR techniques as gold standard. The frequency of T. vaginalis infection was 6.2% by culture and/or PCR, 5.2% by PCR, 4.7% by culture, 3.1% by SAF/methylene blue method and 2.8% by direct wet smear and prolonged MGG staining. The sensitivities were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, and 45.8% for PCR, culture, SAF/methylene blue method, and direct wet smear-prolonged MGG staining, respectively. The specificity was 100% for all the assessed methods. Microscopic examinations showed low sensitivity, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients. It is necessary to improve the detection of T. vaginalis using combined methods providing higher sensitivity, such as culture and PCR, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients, in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.571-577
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• 2013

Our aim was to ferment soymilk using lactic acid bacteria that showed protease activity and to optimize the condition for fermentation. In total, 108 strains of protease-producing lactic acid bacteria were isolated from various fermented foods such as kimchi and jeotgal, and among them, 29 strains displaying the highest protease activity were selected for further study. From these 29 strains, strain MK1, whose protease activity was 126 $mU/mL{\cdot}min$, was selected as the optimal fermentation strain owing to its high ability to digest soymilk protein. It was henceforth labeled as Lactobacillus paracasei MK1. The optimum conditions for the fermentation of soymilk by using L. paracasei MK1 were determined to be as follows: 30 h of fermentation time at a temperature of $30^{\circ}C$, and at a pH of 6.0 in the initial growth medium.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.403-414
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• 2013

This study evaluated the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics and antioxidant properties of yogurt samples fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) obtained from pickled cabbage. API 50 CHL systems and 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence analyses revealed that the isolates were Lactobacillus casei PC05 and L. acidophilus PC16. Cell counts, titratable acidity, and viscosity of the yogurt samples fermented with L. acidophilus PC16 were significantly higher than those of the samples fermented with L. casei PC05 (P<0.05). The detected cell counts and physicochemical properties were significantly lower in plain yogurt than in soy yogurt (P<0.05). Yogurt samples fermented with L. acidophilus PC16 exhibited higher antioxidant activity, measured as ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and chelate ferrous ions, than those fermented with L. casei PC05. However, the ability to scavenge superoxide anions and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly (P<0.05) higher in yogurt samples fermented with L. casei PC05 compared to those in samples fermented with L. acidophilus PC16. The antioxidant activity of soy yogurt was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of plain yogurt. The antioxidant activity of the tested strains resulted in lipid peroxidation inhibition (in vitro), which may be related to the elimination of free radicals, chelating ability, and reducing power. There were no significant differences in the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of the yogurt samples during cold storage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.964-969
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• 2012

Genistein, a predominant isoflavone, has been shown to inhibit the growth of various cancer cells in vitro and in vivo without toxicity to normal cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of genistein on the activity and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast adenocarcinoma cells. Our findings showed that MMP-9 and -2 activation was significantly increased in response to 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). However, the increased activities of MMP-9 and -2 in TPA-treated cells were concentration-dependently inhibited by treatment with genistein, and this was also correlated with a decrease in the expression of their mRNA and proteins. In addition, a matrigel invasion assay showed that genistein reduced TPA-induced invasion of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Although further in vivo studies are needed, these results suggest that genistein treatment may inhibit tumor cell invasion and, therefore, act as a dietary source to decrease the risk of cancer metastasis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.600-606
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• 2012

A Bacillus sp. that produces fibrinolytic enzyme was isolated from Cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean soybean-fermented food. According to 16S rRNA gene base sequencing, the bacillus was identified as a variety of Bacillus subtilis, and named Bacillus subtilis IDCC 9204. Fibrinolytic enzyme NK-IL9204 was stable up to $60^{\circ}C$ and within pH range of 5-10. Purified NK-IL9204 was detected through fibrin zymography. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of the enzyme were estimated to be 27.7 kDa and 6.7 by SDS-PAGE and 2D electrophoresis, respectively. Its amino acid sequence was similar to that of nattokinase (identities 99.5%) and different from that of nattokinase BPN (identities 86.4%). The plasma fibrinolytic activity of NK-IL9204 was measured by euglobulin clot lysis times (ECLT). The NK-IL9204 was orally administered to SD rats for 3 weeks (1,000 FU/rat/day). The ECLT was significantly shortened by supplementation of NK-IL9204.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.248-254
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• 2013

A Gram-negative bacterium was isolated from mushroom media that markedly reduces the level of extracellular toxins (i.e., tolaasins) produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii, the most destructive pathogen of cultivated mushrooms. The HC1 strain was selected as detoxifying tolaasin by bioassay on potato and it was identified Pseudomonas sp. by the cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics, and analysis of the 16S rRNA. The isolated bacterium is saprophytic but not parasitic nor pathogenic to cultivation mushroom. The isolated bacterium for P. tolaasii cell, was sufficient for detoxification in vitro. Inoculation of the isolated bacterium prevents the development of bacterial disease in Pleurotus ostreatus, Flammunia velutipes and Agaricus bisporus. Control efficacy of brown blotch of strain HC1 treatment was 69, 68 and 55% on Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina velutipes and Pleurotus ostreatus, respectively. The suppressive bacterium may be useful in future for the development of biocontrol system and the construction of genetically modified edible fungi resistant to the disease caused by P. tolaasii.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1285-1293
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• 2012

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of commercial monostrain and multistrain probiotics in diets on growth performance, intestinal morphology and mucin gene (MUC2) expression in broiler chicks. Three hundred seventy-eight 1-d-old male Arian broiler chicks were allocated in 3 experimental groups for 6 wk. The birds were fed on a corn-soybean based diet and depending on the addition were labeled as follows: control-unsupplemented (C), birds supplemented with Bacillus subtilis (BS) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) based probiotics. Each treatment had 6 replicates of 21 broilers each. Treatment effects on body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and biomarkers such as intestinal goblet cell density, villus length, villus width, and mucin gene expression were determined. Total feed intake did not differ significantly between control birds and those fed a diet with probiotics (p>0.05). However, significant differences in growth performance were found. Final body weight at 42 d of age was higher in birds fed a diet with probiotics compared to those fed a diet without probiotic (p<0.05). Inclusion of Bacillus subtilis based probiotic in the diets also significantly affected feed conversion rate (FCR) compared with control birds (p<0.05). No differences in growth performance were observed in birds fed different types of probiotic supplemented diets. Inclusion of lactic acid bacteria based probiotic in the diets significantly increased goblet cell number and villus length (p<0.05). Furthermore, diets with Bacillus subtilis based probiotics significantly increased gene expression (p<0.05), with higher intestinal MUC2 mRNA in birds fed diet with probiotics compared to those fed the control diet. In BS and LAB probiotic fed chicks, higher growth performance may be related to higher expression of the MUC2 gene in goblet cells and/or morphological change of small intestinal tract. The higher synthesis of the mucin gene after probiotic administration may positively affect bacterial interactions in the intestinal digestive tract, intestinal mucosal cell proliferation and consequently efficient nutrient absorption.