• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.585-591
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• 2014

To evaluate the potential utility of pretreatment of raw biomass with a complex microbial system, we investigated the degradation of rice straw by BMC-9, a lignocellulose decomposition strain obtained from a biogas slurry compost environment. The degradation characteristics and corresponding changes in the bacterial community were assessed. The results showed that rapid degradation occurred from day 0 to day 9, with a peak total biomass bacterium concentration of $3.3{\times}10^8$ copies/ml on day 1. The pH of the fermentation broth declined initially and then increased, and the mass of rice straw decreased steadily. The highest concentrations of volatile fatty acid contents (0.291 mg/l lactic acid, 0.31 mg/l formic acid, 1.93 mg/l acetic acid, and 0.73 mg/l propionic acid) as well as the highest xylanse activity (1.79 U/ml) and carboxymethyl cellulase activity (0.37 U/ml) occurred on day 9. The greatest diversity among the microbial community also occurred on day 9, with the presence of bacteria belonging to Clostridium sp., Bacillus sp., and Geobacillus sp. Together, our results indicate that BMC-9 has a strong ability to rapidly degrade the lignocelluloses of rice straw under relatively inexpensive conditions, and the optimum fermentation time is 9 days.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2006

Saemangeum reclamation project was started in 1991 with the purpose of eco-friendly reclamation, but without clear definition of eco-friendliness. This study was carried out to find out the environmental indicators to define and evaluate the eco-friendliness of Saemangeum project. The methodology to identify the indicators included the analysis of similar reclamation projects, professional discussions, and Delphi survey. The eco-friendly indicators are theoretically based on the five elements of eco-friendliness; 1) resource consumption, 2) energy consumption, 3) pollution emission, 4) bio-diversity, 5) social amenity. The 69 indicators were explained in detail for the convenient use of the indicators by the potential users. The 69 indicators were classified into three categories such as pre-evaluation, process evaluation, and post-evaluation. In terms of spatial consideration, the 69 indicators were classified into two categories such as direct influence area and indirect influence area. Also the 69 indicators were classified into 7 categories: 1) sea, 2) lake, 3) agricultural land use, 4) industrial land use, 5) residential land use, 6) tourism land use, and 7) environmental land use. Twenty core indicators were selected from the 69 indicators by surveying the importance of each indicator. The core indicators are recommended in case of time and budget strain. When there are few quantitative data accumulated for the reclamation project, 5 macro indicators are recommended to be used. Macro indicators are qualitative in nature, and may be used in order to evaluate the overall eco-friendliness of a reclamation project.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.162-170
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• 2018

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is one of the main pathogens causing food-borne illness in humans, with up to 20% of cases resulting from consumption of pork products. Over the gastroenteritis signs, multidrug resistant Salmonella has arisen. In this study, pan-susceptible phenotypic strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Weltevreden recovered from pig production chain in Chiang Mai, Thailand during 2012-2014 were chosen for analysis. The aim of this study was to use whole genome sequencing (WGS) data with an emphasis on antimicrobial resistance gene investigation to assess their pathogenic potential and genetic diversity determination based on whole genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (wgMLST) to expand epidemiological knowledge and to provide additional guidance for disease control. Analyis using ResFinder 3.0 for WGS database tracing found that one of pan-susceptible phenotypic strain carried five classes of resistance genes: aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, phenicol, sulfonamide, and tetracycline associated genes. Twenty four and 36 loci differences were detected by core genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (cgMLST) and pan genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (pgMLST), respectively, in two matching strains (44/13 vs A543057 and A543056 vs 204/13) initially assigned by conventional MLST and Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). One hundread percent discriminant ability can be achieved using the wgMLST technique. WGS is currently the ultimate molecular technique for various in-depth studies. As the findings stated above, a new of "gold standard typing method era" for routine works in genome study is being set.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2018

In 2016, as a part of the research program 'Survey of Korean Indigenous Species', diverse environmental samples were collected from various sources of freshwater, seawater, soil, wetland, reclaimed land, sand, pine forest, plant root, ginseng field, solar saltern, and caves. Thousands of bacterial strains were isolated from the diverse samples and identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. The present study, as a phylogenetic subset of the primary research program, reports 24 unrecorded bacterial species in Korea that belong to the orders Rhizobiales and Sphingomonadales in the class Alphaproteobacteria. Based on the high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (>98.8%) and formation of a robust phylogenetic clade with the closest type species, it was determined that each strain belonged to each independent and predefined bacterial species. There is no official report that these 24 bacterial species have been described in Korea; therefore, 10 species of nine genera in the order Rhizobiales and 14 species of seven genera in the order Sphingomonadales are described for unreported alphaproteobacterial species in Korea. Gram reaction, colony and cell morphology, biochemical properties, and isolation sources are also provided in the species description section.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2015

Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum species that is detrimental to numerous plant species. Anthracnose control with fungicides has both human health and environmental safety implications. Despite increasing public concerns, fungicide use will continue in the absence of viable alternatives. There have been relatively less efforts to search antagonistic bacteria from mudflats harboring microbial diversity. A total of 420 bacterial strains were isolated from mudflats near the western sea of South Korea. Five bacterial strains, LB01, LB14, HM03, HM17, and LB15, were characterized as having antifungal properties in the presence of C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides. The three Bacillus atrophaeus strains, LB14, HM03, and HM17, produced large quantities of chitinase and protease enzymes, whereas the B. amyloliquefaciens strain LB01 produced protease and cellulase enzymes. Two important antagonistic traits, siderophore production and solubilization of insoluble phosphate, were observed in the three B. atrophaeus strains. Analyses of disease suppression revealed that LB14 was most effective for suppressing the incidence of anthracnose symptoms on pepper fruits. LB14 produced antagonistic compounds and suppressed conidial germination of C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides. The results from the present study will provide a basis for developing a reliable alternative to fungicides for anthracnose control.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1614-1623
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• 2010

Bacteria were isolated from roots of sugarcane varieties grown in the fields of Punjab. They were identified by using API20E/NE bacterial identification kits and from sequences of 16S rRNA and amplicons of the cpn60 gene. The majority of bacteria were found to belong to the genera of Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella, but members of genera Azospirillum, Rhizobium, Rahnella, Delftia, Caulobacter, Pannonibacter, Xanthomonas, and Stenotrophomonas were also found. The community, however, was dominated by members of the Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, as representatives of these genera were found in samples from every variety and location examined. All isolates were tested for the presence of five enzymes and seven factors known to be associated with plant growth promotion. Ten isolates showed lipase activity and eight were positive for protease activity. Cellulase, chitinase, and pectinase were not detected in any strain. Nine strains showed nitrogen fixing ability (acetylene reduction assay) and 26 were capable of solubilizing phosphate. In the presence of 100 mg/l tryptophan, all strains except one produced indole acetic acid in the growth medium. All isolates were positive for ACC deaminase activity. Six strains produced homoserine lactones and three produced HCN and hexamate type siderophores. One isolate was capable of inhibiting the growth of 24 pathogenic fungal strains of Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia spp. In tests of their abilities to grow under a range of temperature, pH, and NaCl concentrations, all isolates grew well on plates with 3% NaCl and most of them grew well at 4 to $41^{\circ}C$ and at pH 11.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2007

Insertion sequence IS1112 is a repetitive element with a relatively high number of copies in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of bacterial blight of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Three new loci of IS1112 were identified in seven Chinese strains of Xoo using a single oligonucleotide primer J3; 5'-GCTCA GGTCAGGTGGCCTGG-3' by insertion-sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (IS-PCR). Among the three new loci of IS1112, two were located in the open-reading frame region of genes fhuA and cirA, which encode TonB-dependent receptors, and the third in ISXo2, another type of insertion sequence in Xoo genome. Three variants of IS1112 were identified in those three loci based on their sequence similarities: two were identical to IS1112a and IS1112b, reported in strain PXO86 from the Philippines, while the third was a new member of IS1112, defined as IS1112d. Inserting IS1112 in gene fhuA caused three bases, GGT, to be duplicated at the target site, but inserting it in gene cirA did not cause any duplication in the target site. The diversity of IS1112 sequence and insertion loci in Xoo genome and their potential effects are discussed.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.66-77
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• 2006

This review inquired the recently applied molecular biological and biochemical methods analyzing the microbial community structure of groundwater and, as a result, summarized the functional or taxonomic groups of active microorganisms with major contaminants in groundwater. The development of gene amplification through PCR has been possible to figure out microbial population and identification. Active microbial community structures have been analyzed using a variety of fingerprinting techniques such as DGGE, SSCP, RISA, and microarray and fatty acid analyses such as PLFA and FAME, and the activity of a specific strain has been examined using FISH. Also, this review included the dominant microflora in groundwater contaminated with fuel components such as n-alkanes, BTEX, MTBE, and ethanol and chlorinated compounds such as TCE, PCE, PCB, CE, carbon tetrachloride, and chlorobenzene.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 2018

While screening indigenous prokaryotic species in Republic of Korea in 2017, a total of 17 bacterial strains assigned to the phylum Bacteroidetes were isolated from a variety of environmental habitats including water of fountain, tidal flat, plant root, soil, the gut of Russian grayling butterfly, ginseng field, seawater, lagoon and seashore sand. From the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of more than 98.7% and the formation of a robust phylogenetic clade with the closest species, it was found that the 17 strains belong to independent and recognized bacterial species. There has been no official report that the identified 17 species have been previously isolated in the Republic of Korea. Thus, 15 species in 10 genera of one family in the order Flavobacteriales, one species in one genus of one family in the order Cytophagales, and one species in one genus of one family in the order Sphingobacteriales are proposed as unrecorded species of the phylum Bacteroidetes found in the Republic of Korea. Gram reaction, colony and cell morphology, basic phenotypic characteristics, isolation source, taxonomic status, strain ID and other information are described in the species descriptions.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-104
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• 2020

In 2019, after a comprehensive investigation of indigenous prokaryotic species in Korea, a total of 12 bacterial strains assigned to the phylum Proteobacteria were isolated from soil. With the high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (>98.8%) and formation of a robust phylogenetic clade with the closest species, it was determined that each strain belonged to independent, predefined bacterial species. This study identified two species in the family Burkholderiaceae, one species in the family Comamonadaceae, two species in the family Oxalobacteraceae, one species in the family Micrococcaceae, one species in the family Bradyrhizobiaceae, one species in the family Methylobacteriaceae, one species in the family Rhizobiaceae, one species in the family Rhodocyclaceae, and one species in the family Sphingomonadaceae. There is no official report about these 12 species in Korea, so are described as unreported bacterial species in Korea in this study. Gram reaction, basic biochemical characteristics, colony, and cell morphology are also described in the species description section.