• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.872-879
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• 2015

Many strains of Bacillus cereus cause gastrointestinal diseases, and the closely related insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis has also been involved in outbreaks of diarrhea. The diarrheal diseases are attributed to enterotoxins. Sixteen reference strains of B. cereus and nine commercial and 12 reference strains of B. thuringiensis were screened by PCR for the presence of 10 enterotoxigenic genes (hblA, hblC, hblD, nheA, nheB, nheC, cytK, bceT, entFM, and entS), one emetogenic gene (ces), seven hemolytic genes (hlyA, hlyII, hlyIII, plcA, cerA, cerB, and cerO), and a pleiotropic transcriptional activator gene (plcR). These genes encode various enterotoxins and other virulence factors thought to play a role in infections of mammals. Amplicons were successfully generated from the strains of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis for each of these sequences, except the ces gene. Intriguingly, the majority of these B. cereus enterotoxin genes and other virulence factor genes appeared to be widespread among B. thuringiensis strains as well as B. cereus strains.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.147-178
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• 2012

청정개발체제(CDM)는 1997년 교토의정서(Kyoto protocol)를 통해 확립된 온실가스 배출과 관련된 선진국과 개도국 간 협력 기제의 하나이다. 청정개발체제는 기본적으로 선진국의 정부 또는 민간조직이 개도국에서 배출감축 프로젝트를 수행하고, CER(Certified Emission Reduction)의 형태로 배출권을 얻는 것을 허용하고, CER을 자국의 배출감축목표 달성을 위해 사용할 수 있도록 하고 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 아세안 국가들의 청정개발 메커니즘의 성취도를 알아보는데 있으며, 자료는 2010년 10월 15일 현재 유엔기후변화기본협약(UNFCCC)에 등록된 254개 청정개발체제 사업을 대상으로 분석하였다. 이 연구의 결과, 전체 254개 사업 중 20%만이 탄소배출권을 받은 것으로 나타났으며, 실제 탄소배출권의 총량은 650만 톤이지만, 이는 전체 사업계획서에 반영된 양의 15%에 불과한 것으로 분석되었다. 또한 아세안 국가의 CDM사업과 관련된 장애 요인으로서는 (1) 사업 등록과 탄소배출권 승인 간 시간 격차가 존재하고, (2) 사업계획과 실제 승인량에 차이가 나타나며, (3) 특히 소규모 사업의 경우 높은 거래 비용 때문에 등록 후 배출승인을 신청하지 않고 있는 것으로 나타나고 있다. 이러한 연구결과는 아세안국가들이 CDM사업을 수행하는 데 있어서 선진국들의 주요 파트너가 되고 있지만, 실제로 사업을 통한 탄소배출량은 제한적일 수 있음을 의미한다. 따라서 일부 아세안 국가에서 교토의정서에 따라 자체적으로 탄소배출감축을 시도하고 있음을 고려할 때, 자체적인 CDM의 성공적인 경영, 수행, 운영을 위해 더 많은 선진국들의 협력과 지원이 주어질 필요가 있다.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2017

The human skin is an ecosystem that provides habitat to various microorganisms. These comprise the skin microbiome and provide numerous benefits in addition to maintaining a symbiotic relation with the host. Various metabolites generated by the skin microbiome exert beneficial effects such as strengthening the skin barrier, and anti-aging and anti-inflammatory functions. In this study, we isolated a novel bacterium, designated Sporichthyacae strain K-07, from the human skin. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the newly found bacterium shares 93.4% homology with the genus Sporichthya, thus corroborating the discovery of a novel genus. We further analyzed the effect of the novel strain in vitro, by treating HaCaT cells with bacterial metabolite products. Treatment resulted in changes in the mRNA expression levels of filaggrin, claudin1, claudin4, SMase, CERS3, HAS3, aquaporin3, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, TSLP, and TARC. Specifically, the levels of filaggrin, claudin1, claudin4, SMase, CERS3, HAS3, and aquaporin3 were higher in strain K-07 metabolite product-treated cells than in control cells. These results showed that metabolite products of the novel strain K-07 enhanced the skin barrier and exert anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, these metabolite products could be potentially used for treatment of skin conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.77-87
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• 2012

Discussion on North Korea as UN-REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in developing countries) project target continues with a view to preventing deforestation and to securing CER(certified emission reduction) for South Korea. However, due to North Korea's political shutdown, it is hard to acquire information required for the REDD project registration. This research intends to acquire objective data using satellite images in the Mt. Geumgang. More than 20% of entire forested area were disappeared during the past two decades mainly due to conversion into agricultural farming land. Further, it is expected that persistent deforestation will go on. The reduction potential of the carbon emission is estimated as approximately 617,000 tCO2/year~663.000 tCO2/year. Thus, Mt. Geumgang is considered as realistic REDD target, which is attractive to South Korea, given that the obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emission is likely to be imposed upon the country. Further, political and social benefits due to reduced military conflict make Mt. Geumgang as UN-REDD project target invaluable.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2005

Background: Millions of people in the world are suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD), which is a chronic inflammatory skin disease triggered by Th2 immune responses. The NC/Nga mouse is the most extensively studied animal model of AD. Like human AD, NC/Nga mice demonstrate increased levels of IgE, a hallmark of Th2 immune responses. Adaptive immunity cannot be generated without help of innate immunity. Especially natural killer T (NKT) cells and marginal zone B (MZB) cells have been known to play important roles in linking innate immunity to adaptive immunity. Methods: Through flow cytometric analysis and ELISA assay, we investigated whether these lymphocytes might be altered in number in NC/Nga mice. Results: Our data demonstrated that the number of NKT cells was reduced in NC/Nga mice and IFN${\gamma}$ production by NKT cells upon ${\alpha}-GalCer$ stimulation decreased to the levels of CD1d KO mice lacking in NKT cells. However, reduction of NKT cells in NC/Nga mice was not due to CD1d expression, which was normal in the thymus. Interestingly, there was a significant increase of $CD1d^{high}B220^+$ cells in the spleen of NC/Nga mice. Further, we confirmed that $CD1d^{high}B220^+$ cells are B cells, not dendritic cells. These $CD1d^{high}B220^+$ B cells show $IgM^{high}CD21^{high}CD23^{low}$, a characteristic phenotype of MZB cells. Conclusion: We provide the evidence that there are decreased activities of NKT cells and increased number of MZB cells in the NC/Nga mice. Our findings may thus explain why NC/Nga mice are susceptible to AD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1146-1155
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• 2008

A total of 72 Bacillus cereus strains and 5 Bacillus thuringiensis strains were analyzed for their EcoRI ribogroup by ribotyping and for the presence or absence of seven virulence-associated genes. From these 77 strains, 42 distinctive ribogroup were identified using EcoRI, but the two species could not be discriminated by their EcoRI ribogroup. The 77 strains were also examined by PCR for the presence of seven virulence-associated genes, cerAB, pi-plc, entFM, bceT, hblA, hblC, and hblD. All five Bacillus thuringiensis strains were positive for these genes. Although differences in the patterns of virulence genes were observed among the different B. cereus strains, within any given ribogroup the patterns of the seven virulence genes was the same. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis in combination with available chromosomal maps for a selected group of B. cereus strains revealed significant differences in their chromosome size and the placement of virulence genes. Evidence for significant rearrangements within the B. cereus chromosome suggests the mechanism through which the pattern of virulence-associated genes varies. The results suggest linkage between ribogroups and virulence gene patterns as well as no apparent containment of the latter within any particular species boundary.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2833-2845
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• 2012

In this study, the amount of waste resource that could be recovered was analyzed. The installation and operation costs of waste resource recovery for both single- and multi-regional facility were calculated, and compared with the costs of landfill to investigate the feasibility of them. RDF(Refuse Derived Fuel) process and resource recovery by incineration process were considered as waste resource recovery facility. And, the multi-regions for cost analysis were established on the basis of the proper generation rate of municipal waste with the consideration of combustible ratio. The study results showed that single region facility for both RDF and incineration process has no economic benefit, compared with the landfill method. For the multi-regional facility, RDF process could save a large cost than the landfill method, but the incineration facility couldn't. Separate from the economic benefits, the waste resource recovery should be importantly considered when considering the depletion of fossil fuel, global warming, environmental toxicity, and the enormous expenses due to social conflict and confuse. When the CDM(Clean Development Mechanism) is vitalized in the near future, the additional economic benefits by CERs(Certified Emission Reductions) could be expected. CERs for RDF facility is corresponding to about 256.5 billion won, and CERs for incineration facility is corresponding to about 54 and 77.4 billion won for single- and multi-regional facility, respectively.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.203-208
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens isolated from farmstead cheeses. Twenty-seven isolates, including 18 Bacillus cereus, two Escherichia coli, and seven Staphylococcus aureus, were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect virulence genes and toxin genes, and the antibiotic resistances of the isolates were determined. All E. coli isolates were determined by PCR to be non-pathogenic. Among the 18 B. cereus isolates, 17 isolates (94.4%) were diarrheal type, as indicated by the presence of nheA, entFM, hbIC, cytK and bceT genes, and one isolate (5.6%) was emetic type, based on the presence of the CER gene. Among the seven S. aureus isolates, three (42.9%) had the mecA gene, which is related to methicillin-resistance. Most B. cereus isolates (94.7%) showed antibiotic resistance to oxacillin and penicillin G, and some strains also showed resistance to ampicillin (26.3%), erythromycin (5.3%), tetracycline (10.5%), and vancomycin (5.3%). These results indicate that microbial food safety measures for farmstead cheese must be implemented in Korea because antibiotic resistant foodborne pathogens, with resistance even to vancomycin, harboring virulence genes were found to be present in the final products of farmstead cheese.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.893-900
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• 2004

2- or 6-Substituted BZT-N derivatives were synthesized, and their cytotoxic activity against can-cer L1210 and SNU-1 cells was examined. The antitumor action was also assessed in mice bearing S-180 cells in peritoneal cavity. In a comparison, it was found that 6-substituted BZT-N derivatives exhibited higher potencies in both bioactivities than 2-substituted BZT-N derivatives against L1210 cells in in vitro and S-180 in vitro tests exception of compound 36. Interestingly, it was observed that 2-substituted compound 36, which has methyl group at RI position, exhib-ited a better antitumor activity than 6-substituted compounds against L1210 and SNU-1 in vitro. The EDso value of 2-substituted compound 36 against L1210 was found to be comparable to the EDso value of adriamycin and was even better against the solid cancer cell line SNU-1. It was also observed that 2-substituted compound 36 showed better antitumor activity in mice bearing S-180 cells in the peritoneal cavity. The T/C (％) value of 2-substituted compound 36 was simi-lar to that of adriamycin. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) tests reveal that the experimental E $D_{50}$ values against SNU-1 closely correlate with both the calculated HOMO ener-gies ( $E_{HOMO}$) and the measured H-NMR chemical shift of 3-H ($\delta$$_{H}$). The results suggests that a compound having higher $E_{HOMO}$ and $\delta$$_{H}$ values usually should have a lower E $D_{50}$ (SNU-1) value.lue.lue.lue.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2023

The consumption of ready-to-eat side dishes is rapidly growing in South Korea. These foods are particularly vulnerable to microbiological contamination as they are often cooked without any treatment, such as heating or stored at room temperature after cooking. Hence, in 2022, we analyzed the ready-to-eat side dishes sold in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea for microbiological contamination. We collected 100 samples from supermarkets in 7 cities, and then examined them for presence of food-borne pathogens and sanitary indicator bacteria. In the analysis of the food-borne pathogens, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were isolated from 51 samples (51.0%) and 3 samples (3.0%), respectively. However, both quantitatively met the Korean Food Standards Codex. Genes of five different enterotoxins and one emetic toxin were analyzed from the 51 isolated B. cereus strains. We detected enterotoxin entFM (100.0%), nheA (94.1%), hblC (58.8%), cytK (56.9%), and bceT (41.2%) in 51 isolates, and emetic toxin gene, CER, in only one (2.0%) isolate. We did not detect C. perfringens toxin gene (cpe) that causes food poisoning in any one of the three C. perfringens isolates. In the case of sanitary indicator bacteria, Kimchi had the highest levels of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms, followed by Saengchae, Jeotgal, Jeolim, Namul, and Jorim, respectively. We counted total aerobic bacteria at two different storage temperatures (4℃ and 20℃) to determine the effect of storage temperature. When stored at 20℃, total aerobic bacteria count increased in most of the ready-to-eat side dishes, except for Jeotgal. This result conclusively shows the need for refrigerating the ready-to-eat side dishes after purchase. Further research is needed to assess the risk and safety of the ready-to-eat side dishes available in the market and determine appropriate safety management practices.