• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.641-645
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the possibility of using three commercial bifidobacteria as a starter for soybean paste fermentation. In order to determine susceptibility to inhibition by high concentrations of salt in soybean paste, cell growth of three strains in sterilized soybean paste was analyzed. Bifidobacterium breve KCTC 5081 was the most resistant to salt, whereas Bifidobacterium bifidum KCTC 5082 showed low cell viability. Conversion efficiencies from glycoside isoflavone to aglycon isoflavone in soybean paste ranged from 11.3~28.6%, with Bifidobacterium longum KCTC 5734 the best strain. Therefore, B. longum KCTC 5734 may be used as a starter for Cheonggukjang fermentation, which is low-salt fermented soybean paste.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2019

We inoculated different combinations of three starter candidates, Bacillus licheniformis, Staphylococcus succinus, and Tetragenococcus halophilus, into sterilized soybeans to predict their contributions to volatile compound production through soybean fermentation. Simultaneously, we added NaCl to soybean cultures to evaluate its effect on the volatile compounds profile. Cells in soybean cultures (1.5% NaCl) nearly reached their maximum growth in a day of incubation, while cell growth was delayed by increasing NaCl concentrations in soybean cultures. The dominance of B. licheniformis and S. succinus in the mixed cultures of three starter candidates switched to T. halophilus as the NaCl concentration increased from 1.5% to 14% (w/w). Seventeen volatile compounds were detected from the control and starter candidate-inoculated soybean cultures with and without the addition of NaCl. Principal component analysis of these volatile compounds concluded that B. licheniformis and S. succinus made major contributions to producing a specific volatile compound profile from soybean cultures where both species exhibited good growth. 3-Hydroxybutan-2-one, butane-2,3-diol, and 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine are specific odor notes for B. licheniformis, and 3-methylbutyl acetate and 2-phenylethanol are specific for S. succinus. Octan-3-one and 3-methylbutan-1-ol were shown to be decisive volatile compounds for determining the involvement of S. succinus in the soybean culture containing 7% NaCl. 3-Methylbutyl acetate and 3-methylbutan-1-ol were also produced by T. halophilus during soybean fermentation at an appropriate level of NaCl. Although S. succinus and T. halophilus exhibited growth on the soybean cultures containing 14% NaCl, species-specific volatile compounds determining the directionality of the volatile compounds profile were not produced.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.453-455
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• 2018

Bacillus licheniformis strain 0DA23-1, a potential fermentation starter candidate, was isolated from doenjang, a Korean high-salt-fermented soybean food. Strain 0DA23-1 contains a single circular 4,405,373-bp chromosome with a G + C content of 45.96%. The complete genome of strain 0DA23-1 does not include any of the virulence factors found in the well-known pathogens Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, no genes associated with resistance to eight antibiotics (chloramphenicol, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and vancomycin), hemolysis, or biofilm formation were identified.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.251-261
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• 2017

Initially, we screened 18 Aspergillus sojae-like strains from Aspergillus spp. isolated from meju (Korean traditional fermented soybean brick) according to their morphological characteristics. Because members of Aspergillus section Flavi are often incorrectly identified because of their phylogenetic similarity, we re-identified these strains at the morphological and molecular genetic levels. Fourteen strains were finally identified as A. sojae. The isolates produced protease and ${\alpha}-amylase$ with ranges of 2.66-10.64 and 21.53-106.73 unit/g-initial dry substrate (U/g-IDS), respectively, which were equivalent to those of the koji (starter mold) strains employed to produce Japanese soy sauce. Among the isolates and Japanese koji strains, strains SMF 127 and SMF 131 had the highest leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities at 6.00 and 6.06 U/g-IDS, respectively. LAP plays an important role in flavor development because of the production of low-molecular-weight peptides that affect the taste and decrease bitterness. SMF 127 and SMF 131 appeared to be non-aflatoxigenic because of a termination point mutation in aflR and the lack of the polyketide synthase gene found in other A. sojae strains. In addition, SMF 127 and SMF 131 were not cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) producers because of the deletion of maoA, dmaT, and pks/nrps, which are involved in CPA biosynthesis. Therefore, A. sojae strains such as SMF 127 and SMF 131, which have high protease and LAP activities and are free of safety issues, can be considered good starters for soybean fermentations, such as in the production of the Korean fermented soybean products meju, doenjang, and ganjang.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.234-241
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• 2019

In Korea, traditional doenjang is manufactured using the conventional method at home and by small-scale enterprises. Because this age-old process depends on natural inoculation of various microorganisms, it is difficult to reproduce or maintain consistency in the final product quality across batches. Moreover, doenjang occasionally prepared by this method raises safety concerns related to aflatoxin, biogenic amine, and Bacillus cereus contamination. To develop starters that can be conveniently used at home or in small industry settings for the manufacturing of safe and flavor-improved doenjang, autochthonous microbe starters were developed in dried forms as ready-to-use starters. Each starter powder prepared by heat- or freeze-drying methods remained stable even after 24-week storage. These ready- to-use starter powders were successfully applied to lab-scale fermentation for the production of safe and flavor-improved doenjang. We believe that these ready-to-use starter powders will benefit small-scale enterprises in the manufacturing of doenjang of good reproducible quality.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.188-195
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• 2012

To produce rapidly the traditional Kanjang soy sauce-like product with rich flavors, lactic acid bacteria of Enterococcus spp. isolated from Chungkukjang was used as one of starter cultures. Among 119 Enterococcus spp., eight strains were selected by protease-secreting activities and identified as four E. faecium, three E. faecalis, and one E. gallinarium. The strains showed low resistances toward eight antibiotics and had no resistant genes to the vancomycin. Especially, E. faecium O24 was cultivated well on 5% NaCl medium that was selected for further study as the starter. E. faecium O24 grew well on the steamed soybean and the counts increased by ten times overnight, which produced mostly 80 mg% glutamic acid and aspartic acid as the seasoning amino acids on the product. Various organic acids including principal lactic acid were also produced. Flavors of maltol and guaiacol, typical soy-sauce flavor, were produced in the mixed cultures of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Candida versatilis. Therefore, E. faecium O24 could be a starter of soybean fermentation for soy sauce-like product with rich flavors rapidly.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.408-419
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• 2022

Filamentous fungi that could be classified into Aspergillus flavus/oryzae were isolated from traditionally fermented meju commercially available in Korea. The samples were analyzed for aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A contamination by HPLC; however, no toxin was detected. In addition, fungal and bacterial metagenomic sequencing were performed to analyze the microbial distribution in the samples. The results revealed that the distribution and abundance of fungi and bacteria differed considerably depending on the production regions and fermentation conditions of the meju samples. Through morphological analysis, ITS region sequencing, and assessment of the aflatoxin-producing ability, a total of 32 A. flavus/oryzae strains were identified. PCR analysis of six regions with a high mutation frequency in the aflatoxin gene cluster (AGC) revealed a total of six types of AGC breaking point patterns. The A. flavus/oryzae strains did not exhibit the high amylase activity detected in the commercial yellow koji strain (starter mold). However, their peptidase and lipase activities were generally higher than that of the koji isolates. We verified the safety of the traditionally fermented meju samples by analyzing the AGC breaking point pattern and the enzyme activities of A. flavus/oryzae strains isolated from the samples. The isolated strains could possibly be used as starter molds for soybean fermentation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2023

The glutamic acid producing strain for development savory taste enhancing foods was identified the possibility through application into soybean fermentation. To check the effects on glutamic acid production during soybean fermentation, Lactococcus lactis HY7803 was introduced as a starter. The soybean samples were analyzed on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. The numbers of bacteria decreased gradually, while the content of amino-type nitrogen increased during fermentation in the soybean with L. lactis HY7803. Glutamic acid content in soybeans with L. lactis HY7803 increased from 114.99 ± 9.37 pmol/ul on day 0 to 138.14 ± 1.76 pmol/ul on day 21, showing an overall higher amino acid content than soybeans without L. lactis HY7803 and similar content to soybeans with Aspergillus oryzae SNU-G. It was clearly distinguished through principal component analysis. Consequently, our results indicate that L. lactis HY7803 is available as a fungus replacement and may be a good starter strain for enhancing savory taste in vitro as well as soybean fermentation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1881-1891
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• 2022

Objective: The present study aimed to quantify the effects of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) on broiler chickens' performance by employing a meta-analysis approach. Methods: A total of 16 studies were included in the database after being systematically selected using a PRISMA protocol. Hedges' g effect size was used to quantify pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) using random-effects models at 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Publication bias among studies was computed with Egger's test and visualized using funnel plots. Results: Results indicated that dietary FSBM inclusion increased final body weight (BW) (SMD = 0.586, 95% CI: 0.221 to 0.951, p = 0.002) of broiler chickens, particularly in starter period (SMD = 0.691, 95% CL: 0.149 to 1.233, p = 0.013) while in the finisher period, the effect was weaker (SMD = 0.509, 95% CI: 0.015 to 1.004, p = 0.043). Average daily gain (ADG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected with FSBM inclusion when compared to control. Subgroup analysis revealed that FI increased in starter period (SMD = 0.582, 95% CI: 0.037 to 1.128, p = 0.036). When considering types of microorganism as moderating variables in the subgroup analysis, we found that Aspergillus oryzae, mixed probiotics+bromelain protease, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus bacteria significantly increased ADG and FI (p<0.01). Additionally, either Bacillus subtilis+protease or Bacillus subtilis alone decreased FCR (p<0.001). However, meta-regression analysis showed that levels of FSBM inclusion had no effects on final BW (p = 0.502), ADG (p = 0.588), FI (p = 0.861), and FCR (p = 0.462). Conclusion: Substituting SBM in broiler chickens' diet with FSBM improved BW of broiler chickens, especially in the starter period whereas the effects on ADG, FI, and FCR were mostly dependent on microbial strains used for fermentation.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.214-219
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• 2010

In this study, phytoestrogen for the industrial production of soybean probiotics by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was studied in a soybean extract. Soybean was fermented with LAB, Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 3108 and Bifidobacterum longum ATCC 15707. The change in the content of various isoflavones (aglycone and glucoside) and the $\beta$-glucosidase activity in soybean during fermentation were investigated and shown to be dependent on the starter organism. Soybean extract powder fermented with L. plantarum showed the highest $\beta$-glucosidase activity and the greatest increase in the aglycone content. After 48h of fermentation, the contents of daidzin, genistin and glycitin in L. plantarum decreased from a mean initial levels of $83.03{\pm}2.17$, $168.13{\pm}8.17$ and $20.02{\pm}1.07$, respectively, to mean levels of $5.34{\pm}3.24$, $3.79{\pm}0.57$ and $1.87{\pm}1.09\;mg$/100 g. Whereas, after 48h fermentation, the contents of daidzein, genistein and glycitein increased from a mean initial levels of $8.09{\pm}0.78$, $11.20{\pm}0.84$ and $4.71{\pm}0.46$, respectively, to mean levels of $85.76{\pm}0.84$, $175.87{\pm}2.21$ and $22.41{\pm}0.91\;mg$/100 g. Taken together, these results suggested an increase of aglycones and decrease of glucoside in isoflavones occurred during fermentation, which coincided with an increase of $\beta$-glucosidase activity in the fermented soybean extract powder.