• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.283-285
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• 2019

The draft genome sequencing for Pelagicola sp. DSW4-44 (= KCTC 62762 = KCCM 43261), isolated from deep seawater of East Sea in Korea, was performed using Illumina HiSeq platform. As a result, the draft genome was comprised of a total length of approximately 4.85 Mbp with G + C content of 54.3%, and included a total of 4,566 protein-coding genes, 3 rRNA genes, 48 tRNA genes, 3 non-coding RNA genes, and 67 pseudo genes. In the draft genome, the strain DSW4-44 contained genes involved in the nitrogen metabolism of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and denitrification, which were not found other strains in the genus Pelagicola.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2021

During a project aiming to comprehensively investigate indigenous prokaryotic species in Korea, a total of 20 bacterial strains phylogenetically belonging to the the class Bacilli of the phylum Firmicutes were isolated from various environmental sources such as soil, air, tidal flat, sea water, grain, wetland, breast milk and healthy human urine. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that 20 bacterial strains showed the high sequence similarities (≥98.7%) to the closest type strains and formed robust phylogenetic clades with closely related species of validly published names in the class Bacilli of the phylum Firmicutes. In the present study, we report 20 species of 13 genera of seven families of two orders of one class in the phylum Firmicutes, which have not been previously reported in Korea. Morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics, isolation sources, and NIBR deposit numbers of these unrecorded bacterial species are described in the species descriptions.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2021

During a comprehensive investigation of indigenous prokaryotic species in Korea, 25 and 10 bacterial strains assigned to the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria, respectively, were isolated from diverse environmental habitats, including soil, mud, tidal field, sea water, sand, rusted iron, and leaf. Based on their high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (>98.7%) and the formation of robust phylogenetic clades with type species, each strain was assigned to an independent and predefined bacterial species. Since there were no published or official reports regarding these 35 isolates in Korea, they - 25 species of 14 families in the 5 orders of Alphaproteobacteria and 10 species of 3 families in the two orders of Betaproteobacteria - have been reported as unrecorded species in Korea. In addition, Gram reaction, colony and cell morphology, basic biochemical characteristic, isolation source, and strain ID of each species are also described in the species description sections.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.212-223
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• 2023

A total of 30 bacterial strains were identified in the classes Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria in the study of prokaryotic species in Korea. These strains were isolated from a variety of environmental sources, including soil, tidal flat, mud, wetland, pine cone, seaweed, sea sediment, and brackish water. Phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates were identified based on high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (≥98.7%) with the predefined bacterial type species. In this study, we present data on previously unreported species from Korea, including 10 species from three families of one order in the class Betaproteobacteria and 20 species from 12 families of nine order in the class Gammaproteobacteria. Morphological, biochemical characteristics, isolation sources, and NIBR deposit numbers are provided in the description sections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1826-1831
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• 2006

A novel hyperthermophilic, anaerobic, heterotrophic archaeon, designated strain $NA1^T$, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent area (depth, 1,650 m) within the Papua New Guinea-Australia-Canada-Manus (PACMANUS) field. Cells of this strain were motile by means of polar flagella, coccoid-shaped with a diameter of approximately $0.5-1.0{\mu}m$, and occurred as single cells. Optimal temperature, pH, and NaCl concentration for growth were $80^{\circ}C$, 8.5, and 3.5%, respectively. The new isolate was an obligate heterotroph that utilized yeast extract, beef extract, tryptone, peptone, casein, and starch as carbon and energy sources. Elemental sulfur was required for growth and was reduced to hydrogen sulfide. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 52.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain $NA1^T$ belongs to the genus Thermococcus, and the organism is most closely related to T. gorgonarius, T. peptonophilus, and T. celer; however, no significant homology was observed among species by DNA-DNA hybridization. Strain $NA1^T$ therefore represents a novel species for which the name Thermococcus onnurineus sp. novo is proposed. The type strain is $NA1^T$ (=KCTC 10859, =JCM 13517).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1894-1901
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• 2015

A novel sulfatase gene, ary423 (1,536 bp ORF), encoding a protein of 511 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 56 kDa, was identified from Flammeovirga pacifica, which was isolated from deep-sea sediments of west Pacific Ocean. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that Ary423 possessed a conserved C-X-A-X-R motif, which was recognized as the sulfatase signature. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that Ary423 belonged to arylsulfatases. After heterologous expression in Escherichia coli cells, the recombinant Ary423 was purified with a Ni⁺ affinity column, and was shown to be highly active at a broad range of temperatures from 30° to 70℃, with maximum activity at 40℃. Furthermore, recombinant Ary423 retained more than 70% and 40% of its maximum activity after 12 h of incubation at 50℃ and 60℃, respectively, exhibiting good thermostability at high temperatures. The optimal pH for Ary423 was determined to be 8.0 and the activity of Ary423 could be slightly enhanced by Mg²⁺. The recombinant enzyme could hydrolyze sulfate ester bonds in p-nitrophenyl sulfate (NPS) and Asparagus crude polysaccharides with a specific activity of 64.8 U/mg and 25.4 U/mg, respectively. These favorable properties could make Ary423 attractive for application in the desulfating process of agar production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 2008

A Gram-positive and endospore-forming strain, $JH8^T$, was isolated from deep-sea sediment and identified as a member of the genus Paenibacillus on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and phenotypic analyses. According to a phylogenetic analysis, the most closely related species was Paenibacillus wynnii LMG $22176^T$ (96.9%). Strain $JH8^T$ was also facultatively anaerobic and grew optimally at $20-25^{\circ}C$. The major cellular fatty acid was anteiso-$C_{15:0}$, and the DNA G+C content was 53.1mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness between the isolate and Paenibacillus wynnii LMG $22176^T$ was 7.6%, indicating that strain $JH8^T$ and P. wynnii belong to different species. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain $JH8^T$ would appear to belong to a novel species, for which the name Paenibacillus donghaensis sp. novo is proposed (type strain=KCTC $13049^T=LMG\;237S0^T$).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.207-211
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• 2019

Anisakiasis is a zoonotic disease induced by anisakid nematodes, and endoscopic inspection is used for a diagnosis or remedy for it. Anisakis simplex, Anisakis physeteris, and Pseudoterranova decipiens had been reported to be the major species causing human infections, particularly, in Japan. However, in Korea, recent studies strongly suggested that Anisakis pegreffii is the major species of human infections. To support this suggestion, we collected anisakid larvae (n=20) from 20 human patients who were undergone gastrointestinal endoscopy at a health check-up center in Korea, and molecular identification was performed on the larvae using PCR-RFLP analysis and gene sequencing of rDNA ITS regions and mtDNA cox2. In addition, anisakid larvae (n=53) collected from the sea eel (Astroconger myriaster) were also examined for comparison with those extracted from humans. The results showed that all human samples (100%) were identified as A. pegreffii, whereas 90.7% of the samples from the sea eel were A. pegreffii with the remaining 9.3% being Hysterothylacium aduncum. Our study confirmed that A. pegreffii is the predominant species causing human anisakiasis in Korea, and this seems to be due to the predominance of this larval type in the fish (sea eels) popularly consumed by the Korean people. The possibility of human infection with H. aduncum in Korea is also suggested.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.40.1-40.14
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• 2016

Background: Due to the paucity of oceanic resources utilized in the preparation of diets for cultured fish, commercial feed producers have been trying to replace fishmeal (FM) using alternative protein sources such as vegetable protein meals (VMs). One of the main drawbacks of using VMs in fish feed is related to the presence of a variety of anti-nutritional factors, which could trigger an inflammation process in the distal intestine. This reduces the capacity of the enterocytes to absorb nutrients leading to reduced fish growth performances. Methods: We evaluated the mitigating effects of butyrate and taurine used as feed additives on the morphological abnormalities caused by a soybean meal (SBM)-based diet in the distal intestine of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). We used three experimental diets, containing the same low percentage of FM and high percentage of SBM; two diets were supplemented with either 0.2% sodium butyrate or taurine. Histological changes in the intestine of fish were determined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Infiltration of $CD45^+$ leucocytes in the lamina propria and in the submucosa was assessed by immunohistochemistry. We also quantified by One-Step Taqman$^{(R)}$ real-time RT-PCR the messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance of a panel of genes involved in the intestinal mucosa inflammatory response such as $TNF{\alpha}$ (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and interleukins: IL-8, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-10, and IL-6. Results: Fish that received for 2 months the diet with 30% soy protein (16.7% SBM and 12.8% full-fat soy) developed an inflammation in the distal intestine, as confirmed by histological and immunohistochemistry data. The expression of target genes in the intestine was deeply influenced by the type of fish diet. Fish fed with taurine-supplemented diet displayed the lowest number of mRNA copies of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-8, and IL-10 genes in comparison to fish fed with control or butyrate-supplemented diets. Dietary butyrate caused an upregulation of the $TNF{\alpha}$ gene transcription. Among the quantified interleukins, IL-6 was the only one to be not influenced by the diet. Conclusions: Histological and gene expression data suggest that butyrate and taurine could have a role in normalizing the intestinal abnormalities caused by the SBM, but the underling mechanisms of action seem different.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2012

Hydrothermal vents (HTV) provide special environments for evolution of lives independent on solar energy. HTV samples were gained from Tofua arc trench in Tonga, South Pacific. We investigated archaeal diversity enriched using combinations of various electron donors (yeast extract and $H_2$) and electron acceptors [Iron (III), elemental sulfur ($S^0$) and nitrate. PCR amplification was performed to detect archaeal 16S rRNA genes after the cultures were incubated $65^{\circ}C$ and $80^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks. The cultures showing archaeal growth were transferred using the dilution-to-extinction method. 16S rRNA gene PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis was used to identify the enriched archaea in the highest dilutions where archaeal growth was observed. Most of cultured archaea belonged to genus of Thermococcus (T. alcaliphilius, T. litoralis, T. celer, T. barossii, T. thoreducens, T. coalescens) with 98-99% 16S rRNA gene similarities. Interestingly, archaeal growth was observed in the cultures with Iron (III) and nitrate as an electron acceptor. It was supposed that archaea might use the elemental sulfur generated from oxidation of the reducing agent, sulfide. To cultivate diverse archaea excluding Thermococcus, it would be required to use other reducing agents instead of sulfide.