• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2010

The damage from the underground termite cannot be discovered with peculiar appearance of building but hollow phenomenon will occur. But there is no case in Korea as a non-destructive measurement of termite activation. Therefore, this research constructs non-destructive diagnostic techniques for wooden cultural properties using microwave detector (Termatrac, Australia). Result of maximun distance were measured 16cm (Pine tree, sensitivity 5, 6), 17cm (Zelkova and Douglas fir, sensitivity 5, 6). These results are expected that can be applied in the field. Result of field test using microwave detector, 33.8% of the wooden cultural properties were damaged by termites, and until now 7.8% (18 buildings) are being damaged in nationwide (total 231 buildings). Based on the above results, microwave detector will be able to be utilized effectively for detecting termite, preventing intrusion in wooden structure, and making full use of monitoring system periodically. In addition, it could be of great worth in preventing insect and microorganism in wooden structure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.462-469
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• 2012

A metagenomic fosmid library was constructed from genomic DNA isolated from the microbial community residing in hindguts of a wood-feeding higher termite (Microcerotermes sp.) collected in Thailand. The library was screened for clones expressing lignocellulolytic activities. Fourteen independent active clones (2 cellulases and 12 xylanases) were obtained by functional screening at pH 10.0. Analysis of shotgun-cloning and pyrosequencing data revealed six ORFs, which shared less than 59% identity and 73% similarity of their amino acid sequences with known cellulases and xylanases. Conserved domain analysis of these ORFs revealed a cellulase belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family 5, whereas the other five xylanases showed significant identity to diverse families including families 8, 10, and 11. Interestingly, one fosmid clone was isolated carrying three contiguous xylanase genes that may comprise a xylanosome operon. The enzymes with the highest activities at alkaline pH from the initial activity screening were characterized biochemically. These enzymes showed a broad range of enzyme activities from pH 5.0 to 10.0, with pH optimal of 8.0 retaining more than 70% of their respective activities at pH 9.0. The optimal temperatures of these enzymes ranged from $50^{\circ}C$ to $55^{\circ}C$. This study provides evidence for the diversity and function of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes in the termite gut microbial community, which could be of potential use for industrial processes such as pulp biobleaching and denim biostoning.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 2015

The three-year inspection of 20 tree stumps in the fire prevention area around the wooden building confirmed that termite colonies had been rapidly spread. In particular, four buildings among thirty one wooden buildings of Songgwang-sa temple were infected by the termite, indicating that the habitate of termite has been spread across the fire prevention area over the temple area. However, a non-destructive microwave diagnosis showed that internal damages have been progressed until now, suggesting a high risk to the building. These results suggest that the fire prevention area should be properly maintained to have harmful element controlled. Therefore, effective methods are required to eliminate tree stumps or wood materials used to establish fire prevention area near wooden buildings.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the antibacterial, antioxidant, and termite repellent effects of citronella oil (CiO) and lemongrass oil (LO). When the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus with various levels of antibacterial resistance were tested, a 0.05% concentration of CiO and LO completely inhibited the growth of all tested S. aureus strains. Evaluation of the antioxidant effect demonstrated that the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of CiO was 2~3 times greater than that of LO. Among trial products made with various combinations of CiO and LO, a CiO : LO ratio of 6 : 4 had the most potent termite repellent effects. Assessment of acute toxicity of the trial product showed that the $LD_{50}$ was more than 2,000 mg/kg. Based on the above results, CiO and LO have antibacterial, antioxidant, and termite repellent activities. Therefore, both compounds could be potential termites repellent reagents.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.371-380
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• 2019

Termites are pests that cause serious economic and cultural damage by digesting wood cellulose. Termites are arthropods and have an epidermis surrounded by a chitin layer. To maintain a healthy epidermis, termites have chitinase (${\beta}$-1,4-poly-N-acetyl glucosamidinase, EC 3.2.1.14), an enzyme that hydrolyzes the ${\beta}$-1,4 bond of chitin. In this study, the amino acid sequence of the gene, which is presumed to be termite chitinolytic enzyme (NCBI accession no. KC477099), was obtained from a transcriptomic analysis of Reticulitermes speratus KMT001 in Bukhan Mountain, Korea. An NCBI protein BLAST search confirmed that the protein is a glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18). The highest homology value found was 47%, with a chitinase from Araneus ventricosus. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the KC477099 protein has the same origins as those of arthropods but has a very low similarity with other arthropod chitinases, resulting in separation at an early stage of evolution. The KC477099 protein contains two conserved motifs, which encode the general enzymatic characteristics of the GH18 group. The amino acid sequences $Asp^{156}-Trp^{157}-Glu^{158}$, which play an important role in the enzymatic activity of the GH18 group, were also present. This study suggests that the termite KC477099 protein is a new type of chitinase, which is evolutionarily distant from other insect chitinases.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2021

Nakdong technique is an unfamiliar scorching treatment using an iron heated in a kiln over 1000℃. It is a typical convention in Asian countries to treat Nakdong on the surface of paulownia species. The scorching treatment changes the surface characteristics as well as the color of the wood. This study focused on the effects of functional features such as water resistance, anti-mold, anti-termite, and sound improvement because this treatment is usually used on paulownia wood-bodied musical instruments surface. It took 28'57" for Nakdong-iron treated surface to absorb a droplet of water. The absorbance time of iron treated surface was longer than that of torch treated one. There was no noticeable effect on the anti-mold test. On the anti-termite test, there was nearly 3% more mean mass loss on the torch samples than controlled and iron treated ones. In examining the sound radiation coefficient before and after Nakdong treatment, the Nakdong-iron treated surface showed an increase in the average value of 1.2 m4/kg s, which means that it has sound quality improvement. Through this research, the Nakdong technique results are expected to be used as basic-data for further research and give a practical idea for using the traditional treatment method on the wood surface.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2015

Damages of wooden cultural heritages caused by various bio-species have been a trend that is increasing on climate change. The decay and bio-damage caused by microbial organisms or insect species are also known to factors of the shape changes and structural problems of wooden cultural heritages. There are so many phenomenons of damage and weathering in wooden cultural heritage for many years and particularly termite can threaten seriously wooden cultural heritage. We investigated with respect to internal and external environment and termite inhabitation around the wooden cultural heritage in Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Jeju-do. As this investigation results, we confirmed that there were the difference in between resident and non-resident about temperature, humidity, moisture contents of wooden building. Resident building is high temperature but humidity and moisture contents is low and these factors are sources of inhabitation condition change about insects as termites. Now we suggest to carry out in parallel to the target wooden cultural heritage and the surrounding habitat for wooden cultural heritage termite damage investigation. Also with the chemical control methods, we must consider necessary to present eco-friendly control management such as construction of heating facilities, residential status, periodic management.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.376-392
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• 2020

In Korea, damages to wooden cultural properties by termites have been reported all over the country, including Ulleungdo Island and Jeju Island. In order to reduce the damage caused by termites, most cultural properties damaged by them are treated with fumigation or drug treatment on the soil to kill or repel them. The number of treatments is decreasing due to cost and safety problems, and new methods needed to cope with this situation. After extracting an enzyme by selecting only worker termites from the termites collected in Shinan, Jeonnam, as a result of measuring the enzyme activity using xylan of cellulose and hemicellulose that are the components of wood, the activity of termite intestinal enzymes in xylan was higher than that of cellulose having a high molecular weight. Therefore, in this study, as a result of exploring over 600 species of medicinal plant extracts that inhibit the activity of termite intestinal enzymes using xylan as a substrate, the inhibitory effect was significant in Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol. Selected Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol's extracts not only inhibited the activity of termite intestinal enzymes, but also confirmed that they have insecticidal activation and inhibitory effects on feeding in the result of the direct treatment.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.24-35
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• 2020

This study aims to identify the relationship between termite-damaged cultural heritage sites and the 'Forest Tending Project' based on a comprehensive survey of the status of damage caused by termites and of the Forest Tending Project. It was observed that the Forest Tending Project started in 2004 as a five-year policy project covering over 59% of the nation's forests, which showed the maximum value in 2009 and then gradually decreased. Since then, increased damage to national cultural heritage sites by termites has been confirmed and counter measures have been expanded since 2012. Also, as a result of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage surveying the status of termite damage in national cultural heritage sites over these six years, it was identified that about 98% of investigated cultural heritage sites were damaged by termites, about 78% of them were adjacent to forests, and that all 46 national cultural heritage sites which had been included in the 2008 Forest Fire Prevention Cultural Heritage Afforestation Project were damaged by termites. Therefore, it is claimed that the number of termite-damaged cultural heritage sites has increased after an extensive Forest Tending Project was applied on a national scale, and it seems that all cultural heritage areas close to forests are particularly subject to termite-damage due to the number of tree stumps and lumber byproducts which can serve as habitats for the pests.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.713-725
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• 2018

Lower termites require symbiotic microbes in their gut. The microbial communities in the termites must adapt to the termite temperature. Reticulitermes speratus KMT001 from Bukhan Mountain in Seoul may require a special symbiotic microorganisms for growth in low temperature Korean habitat. A metagenomics analysis showed a dramatic change in the symbiotic bacterial flora in the gut of R. speratus KMT001 in response to low temperatures of $4^{\circ}C$ or $10^{\circ}C$. Elusimicrobia, which are endosymbionts of flagellate protists, is the dominant phylum in the termite gut at ${\geq}15^{\circ}C$ but its population decreased drastically at low temperature. Four representative bacterial strains isolated from R. speratus KMT001 in a previous study produced maximum ${\beta}$-glucosidase levels within the temperature range of $10^{\circ}C-30^{\circ}C$. Elizabethkingia sp. BM10 produced ${\beta}$-glucosidase specifically at $10^{\circ}C$. This strain supported the existence of symbiotic bacteria for the low temperature habitat of the termite. This identified bacterium will be a resource for studying low temperature adaptation of termites, studying the gene expression at low temperatures, and developing an industrial cellulase at low temperature.