• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.458-463
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• 2022

We evaluated the antibiotic susceptibilities, hemolytic activities, and technological properties of 36 Staphylococcus xylosus strains and 49 S. pseudoxylosus strains predominantly isolated from fermented soybean foods from Korea. Most of the strains were sensitive to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamycin, kanamycin, lincomycin, oxacillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim. However, 23 strains exhibited potential phenotypic acquired resistance to erythromycin, lincomycin, and tetracycline. Based on breakpoint values for staphylococci from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, >30% of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin G, but the population distributions in minimum inhibitory concentration tests were clearly different from those expected for acquired resistance. None of the strains exhibited clear α- or β-hemolytic activity. S. xylosus and S. pseudoxylosus exhibited salt tolerance on agar medium containing 20% and 22% (w/v) NaCl, respectively. S. xylosus and S. pseudoxylosus strains possessed protease and lipase activities, which were affected by the NaCl concentration. Protease activity of S. pseudoxylosus was strain-specific, but lipase activity might be a characteristic of both species. This study confirms the potential of both species for use in high-salt soybean fermentation, but the safety and technological properties of strains must be determined to select suitable starter candidates.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.304-309
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• 2007

Soybean is useful source of protein, especially in Asia. But soybean needs heat inactivation or fermentation process before consumption, since it contains the toxic lectin and various protease inhibitors. Therefore, production of soybean boiling-waste liquor (SBWL) as a byproduct is inevitable. In this study, the chemical composition of SBWL and the optimization of culture conditions for Bacillus pumilus JB-1, a selected strain for functional chungkuk-jang fermentation, using SBWL were investigated. The SBWL contains 88% water, 9.5% free sugar, 1.6% crude protein, 0.3% crude fat, 0.1% crude fiber and 2.1% ash, respectively. The contents of total polyphenol, total flavonoids and free amino acid in SBWL were 55%, 76%, and 30% of those of raw soybean, respectively. Culture conditions for B. pumilus JB-1 in SBWL were optimized. The 1/10-diluted, 0.1 % of $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ added SBWL without pH adjustment and carbon source addition was cultured at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 h with agitation (120 rpm). The 0.5% of inoculation was enough. The large scale fermentation in 5-L jar fermentor showed that the SBWL is a good resource for production of chungkuk-jang starter and functional ingredients.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the possible utility of 3 Aspergillus oryzae strains (designated as SCF-6, SCF-37, and JJSH-1), isolated from Korean traditional fermented materials, as starter cultures in the soybean paste industry. Doenjang (fermented soybean paste) was made with the A. oryzae strains described above, and its quality attributes were analyzed during a 60-day aging period. No significant differences in pH, moisture, or salt content were detected among the doenjang varieties made with the 3 Aspergillus strains. The concentration of amino-nitrogen, an indicator of doenjang aging, increased in each sample during the aging period. After the 60-day aging period, the contents of amino-nitrogen and free amino acid in doenjang made with SCF-6 showed the highest concentrations among the tested doenjang products: 971.6 and 8,064.9 mg%, respectively. Measurements of the color of doenjang showed that lightness and yellowness decreased during the aging period, but redness increased. After the 60-day aging period, the ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric-n-acid (GABA) concentrations in doenjang made with SCF-6 and SCF-37 were 61.3 and 53.7 mg%, respectively. In doenjang samples, aflatoxin was not detected and the concentrations of biogenic amines (histamine and tyramine) were 2.55-5.60 mg/kg and 3.70-5.87 mg/kg, respectively. These results indicated that A. oryzae SCF-6 isolated from traditional fermented foods could be useful as a starter culture in the soybean paste industry.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2003

To develop a functional chungkookjang; the anticancer effects of chungkookjangs prepared with different varieties of soybeans, starters, fermentation periods and seasoning additive ratios; were studied against AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells using the MTT assay, at different stages chungkookjang processing. The chungkookjang samples exerted different antiproliferative effects according to the variety of soybeans used. The chungkookjangs manufactured with soybean var. manrikong exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against AGS human cancer cells. The chungkookjangs fermented with rice straw and B. licheniformis strongly inhibited the growth of the AGS human cancer cells. All fermented chungkookjangs had a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of the cancer cells; however, the non-fermented soybean (chungkookjang) showed a low inhibition rate. The fermented chungkookjangs mixed with red pepper powder (RPP) and garlic exhibited strong antiproliferative effect against the cancer cells, and chungkookjang prepaved with 1.1 % RPP and 1.1 % garlic showed the highest cytotoxicity against the cancer cells. The functional chungkookjang fermented with soybean variety of manrikong and B. licheniformis for 3 days at 4$0^{\circ}C$ and then mixed with 7.9% salt, 1.l% RPP and 1.1% garlic, exhibited a higher antiproliferative effect than the chungkookjangs prepared by traditional or modified methods, according to the MTT assay. The functional chungkookjang exhibited a similar anticancer effect to the traditional doenjang. These results indicate that the fermentation period and the ratio of seasoning additives, as well as the variety of soybeans and starter cultures may affect the degree of the anticancer effect of chungkookjang.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2017

Aflatoxins are classified as Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In this study, a total of 134 fungal strains were isolated from 65 meju samples, and two fungal isolates were selected as potential aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$)-biodetoxification fungi. These fungi were identified as Aspergillus oryzae MAO103 and A. oryzae MAO104 by sequencing the beta-tubulin gene. The two A. oryzae strains were able to degrade more than 90% of $AFB_1$ (initial concentration: $40{\mu}g/l$) in a culture broth in 14 days. The mutagenic effects of $AFB_1$ treated with A. oryzae MAO103 and MAO104 significantly decreased to 5.7% and 6.4%, respectively, in the frame-shift mutation of Ames tests using Salmonella typhimurium TA98. The base-substituting mutagenicity of $AFB_1$ was also decreased by the two fungi. Moreover, $AFB_1$ production by Aspergillus flavus was significantly decreased by the two A. oryzae strains on soybean-based agar plates. Our data suggest that the two $AFB_1$-detoxifying A. oryzae strains have potential application to control $AFB_1$ in foods and feeds.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.419-426
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• 2015

The aims of this study were to isolate spore-forming Bacillus strains that exhibit high digestibility and anti-pathogenic bacteria toward feed for calves. Total 136 spore-forming strains were isolated from finished feeds and their ingredients. Among them, 93 strains were identified as Bacillus species when analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. For industrial use, three strains named as Bacillus licheniformis SHS14, B. subtilis LCB7, B. amyloliquefaciens LCB10 were selected after evaluating the industrial standards that are related with heat and acid resistance, enzyme activities, and anti-pathogenic activities against Samonella dublin ATCC15480 and E. coli K99. After each culture, 3 selected strains were mixed together at 1:1:1 (v/v/v) ratio and then prepared as the mixed starter culture for feeding. The changes in microbial community were analyzed via 16S rRNA metagenomics. The initial community ratio among three strains was maintained even after manufacturing into final products. Also, in vitro, enzymatic and anti-pathogenic activities were almost same as those when cultured in single culture, and results of anti-pathogenic activities conducted with calves showed 90% activities against lincomycin, which would be indicative of a promising feed starter.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2016

This study investigated the quality characteristics of doenjang prepared with different Bacillus strains (Bacillus subtilis KACC 15935 and Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9). Changes in enzyme activities (protease, cellulase, and ${\alpha}-amylase$), amino-type nitrogen and ammonia-type nitrogen contents, and reducing sugar were investigated during the fermentation period. Enzymes such as protease, cellulase, and ${\alpha}-amylase$ play important roles in the composition of nutrients, as well as in the flavor and taste of doenjang. After 60 days of fermentation, protease activities in control doenjang, and doenjang fermented with B. subtilis KACC 15935, and B. subtilis HJ18-9 increased significantly up to $382.58{\pm}4.02$, $342.58{\pm}7.94$, and $392.58{\pm}1.91unit/g$, respectively (p<0.05). At the beginning of fermentation, protease activities were in the range of 156.88~182.71 unit/g. Cellulase and ${\alpha}-amylase$ activities of doenjang in HJ18-9 were higher than those in other samples. After fermentation, amino-type nitrogen in doenjang fermented with control, B. subtilis KACC 15935, and B. subtilis HJ18-9 increased significantly up to $143.25{\pm}1.62$, $141.86{\pm}2.14$, and $150.23{\pm}1.62mg%$, respectively (p<0.05). These results suggest that B. subtilis HJ18-9 is a suitable starter for the preparation of doenjang.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2014

For the collection of starters suitable for the brewing of traditional liquor, an alcohol-resistant strain of lactic acid bacteria with low level of acid production was isolated from traditional fermented soybean lumps. The strain named as JBE 30 was identified as Lactobacillus brevis by 16S rRNA sequence analysis and additional biochemical tests. The strain could grow well at a MRS medium containing 8% (v/v) ethanol for 96 h of cultivation at $30^{\circ}C$. The final pH after cultivation was 4.5. It also inhibited the growth of food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These results showed that Lactobacillus brevis JBE 30 could be used as a promising starter in brewing process of traditional liquor.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.811-818
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the amino acid content and physicochemical properties of Cheonggukjang prepared by using various soybean cultivars (Daewon, Deapung, Seadanbeak, and Taekwang) and a functional microorganism (Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9). These soybeans were conventional Cheonggukjang (control) and Cheonggukjang fermented with Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9 (treated). The moisture contents of steamed, control, and treated soybean were 62.45~67.12%, 63.28~67.14%, and 64.50~66.87%; amino-type nitrogen contents were 6.53~24.25 mg%, 27.63~122.09 mg%, and 37.29~133.48 mg%; and ammonia-type nitrogen contents were 26.92~47.95 mg%, 45.45~156.36 mg%, and 28.02~121.13 mg%, respectively. The umami taste associated with several amino acids (aspartic acid and glutamic acid) in Cheonggukjang was lower than that for steamed soybeans, while the bitter taste from amino acids (methionine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and phenylalanine) was higher than that for steamed soybeans. The result of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the molecular weight of steamed soybeans was less than 100 kDa, while control and treated groups showed low molecular weights below 34 kDa, confirming their protein hydrolysis to small molecular weight. These results are information for developing functional fermented soybean paste and diversification using soybean cultivars.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.545-552
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• 2015

This study investigated the quality characteristics of popped rice Doenjang prepared with different Bacillus strains (Bacillus subtilis KACC 15935, and Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9). The changes in the enzyme activity (protease, cellulase, and ${\alpha}$-amylase), amino-type nitrogen and ammonia-type nitrogen contents, and the reducing sugar were investigated during the fermentation period. Enzymes such as protease, cellulase, and a-amylase plays an important role in the changes in composition of nutrients, and in flavor and taste of popped rice Doenjang. Protease activities of the popped rice deonjang fermented with different Bacillus strains (control, B. subtilis KACC 15935, and B. subtilis HJ18-9) was in the range of 171.77-185.97 unit/g at the beginning of fermentation, and there were no significant differences among the samples. On the other hand, the protease activity in popped rice Doenjang fermented with B. subtilis HJ18-9 increased significantly up to $248.77{\pm}4.53unit/g$ at the end of fermentation (p<0.05). Cellulase activity and a-amylase activity of popped rice Doenjang in HJ18-9 was higher than these of other samples. After 56 days of fermentation, amino-type nitrogen in popped rice deonjang fermented with control, B. subtilis KACC 15935, and B. subtilis HJ18-9 increased significantly up to $174.99{\pm}3.70$, $166.59{\pm}1.40$, $225.39{\pm}3.70mg%$, respectively (p<0.05). These results suggested that B. subtilis HJ18-9 was a suitable starter for the preparation of soybean paste.