• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.767-772
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• 2008

Biodegradation of endocrine-disrupting phthalates [diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP)] was investigated with 10 white rot fungi isolated in Korea. When the fungal mycelia were added together with 100 mg/l of phthalate into yeast extract-malt extract-glucose (YMG) medium, Pleurotus ostreatus, Irpex lacteus, Polyporus brumalis, Merulius tremellosus, Trametes versicolor, and T. versicolor MrP1 and MrP13 (transformant of the Mn-repressed peroxidase gene of T. versicolor) could remove almost all of the 3 kinds of phthalates within 12 days of incubation. When the phthalates were added to 5-day pregrown fungal cultures, most fungi except I. lacteus showed the increased removal of the phthalates compared with those of the non-pregrown cultures. In both culture conditions, p. ostreatus showed the highest degradation rates for the 3 phthalates tested. BBP was degraded with the highest rates among the 3 phthalates by all fungal strains. Only 14.9% of 100 mg/I BBP was degraded by the supernatant of P. ostreatus culture in YMG medium in 4 days of incubation, but the washed or homogenized mycelium of P. ostreatus could remove 100% of BBP within 2 days even in distilled water, indicating that the initial BBP biodegradation by P. ostreatus may be attributed to mycelium-associated enzymes rather than extracellular enzymes. The biodegradation rate of BBP by the immobilized cells of P. ostreatus was almost same as that in the suspended culture. The estrogenic activity of 100 mg/I DMP decreased during biodegradation by P. ostreatus.

• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

A green mold species that has not previously been reported in Korea was isolated from oak log beds used for shiitake (Lentinula edodes) cultivation that were infested by mushroom flies. In this study, we identify the mold species as Gliocladium viride (an anamorph of Hypocrea lutea) and describe its mycological properties. The fungus was cottony on both potato dextrose agar (PDA) and Czapek yeast extract agar (CYA), but was colored white on PDA and became yellowish green and brown on CYA. Mycelial growth on PDA attained a diameter of 73 mm at $30^{\circ}C$ after 5 days. The fungus grew faster on malt extract agar (> 80 mm, 5 days at $25^{\circ}C$) compared to CYA and PDA (< 68 mm, 5 days at $25^{\circ}C$). Penicillate conidiophores of the fungus are hyaline, smooth walled, branching above typically in four stages, and $120\sim240\;{\mu}m$ in length. Club-shaped or slender phialides are formed on the metulae. Conidia of the fungus were ovate and elliptic, yellowish brown and green, and $2.5\sim3.0\;{\mu}m\times1.8\sim2.3\;{\mu}m$ in size. Typically, slimy conidia are formed in a mass and colored brown to dark green to almost black. The internal transcribed spacer rDNA and translation elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequences of the fungus isolated here show 99% identity with previously identified G. viride strains.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 1992

In order to produce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) which is a pyridine nucleotide coenzyme, Saccharomyces sake KBA No. 6 having high NAD content was selected from 12 strains of yeast and various factors affecting the production of NAD were investigated. For NAD production, 4% of glucose was effective as a carbon source and 2% of bactopeptone was the best nitrogen source. The optimum pH and temperature was 5.0 and $30^{\circ}$, respectively. Also, when 4 mg/ml of nicotinamide and 3 mg/ml adenine were used as precursors simultaneously, NAD production was the best. To increase NAD production, 2 valence metal ions were used during cultivation and $Zn^{2+}$ was very efficient. Among the surface active agents, anionic sodium dodesyl sulfate (SDS) was effective. Under the optimum conditions, the maximum amount of produced NhD was 35 mg/100 ml medium after cultivation of 144 hrs and 89% of total NAD amount, 31 mg of NAD, was leaked into culture broth.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.290-294
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• 2002

The present work describes the improvement of an erythritol-producing strain to lower the formation of glycerol, which is a characteristic by-product of the strain and could cause difficulties in the recovery and purification of the final product. The yeast-like fungi Moniliella suaveolens var. nigra, isolated previously in the same laboratory from beehives, was mutated by exposing it to a 4 g/L NTG solution. From a total of 2000 mutated strains, Em6j30-14 was selected as the one having the most desirable properties. Cultivating the strain for seven days in 300 mL flasks containing 30 mL of a 400 g/L glucose medium resulted in an erythritol yield of 43%. The glycerol yield was 5%, which is a value 50% lower as compared with the wild type. However, attempts to reproduce the above results in a 5L-fermenter failed, resulting in a similar erythritol concentration but a much higher formation of glycerol. Possible reasons for such a different behaviour could be oxygen limitation or the aggregation of cells, but the exact mechanism could not yet be identified. Foam formation, which is another major problem in large-scale fermentation, tended to be much lower for the mutant strain.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 1990

Intraspecific fusion frequency between Filobasidium capsuligenum CBS6122-2 ade and met trp or met strains was $2.9\times 10^{-3}$ and $8.5\times 10^{-3}$, respectively. And intergeneric fusion frequency between Folobadidium capsuligenum CBS 4318 (cys his) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 262-12-1 (hom3 thr1) or X2180-1A (ade thr) was $8.8\times 10^{-6}$ and $9.5\times 10^{-4}$, respectively. Nuclear fusion appears to occru in fusants between intraspecies and intergenera as strongly suggested by DNA content, nuclear staining, comparison of survival rate to UV light and mitotic segregation analysis. It was also found that $\alpha$-amylase and glucoamylase activity from intraspecific hybrids was 1.6-2.1 fold increased when compared with that from thier parents.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.206-211
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• 1999

Volatile antimicrobial compounds, isothiocyanates (ITCs), were compared their antimicrobial activity against 9 strains, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli, Erwinia carotovora, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Aspergillus oryzae and Penicillium roqueforti. And synergistic antimicrobial effect of ITCs was examined with acetic acid. Allyl isothiocyanate (AIT), benzyl isothiocyanate (BIT), and ethyl isothiocyanate (EIT) were more effective than other ITCs. MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of these compounds was $100{\sim}200\;{\mu}g/dish$ against microorganisms tested and their inhibitory actions were more effective in order of fungi>yeast>Gram-negative bacteria>Gram-positive bacteria. MIC of acetic acid was $50{\sim}500\;{\mu}g/dish$ as lower concentration than ITCs. Using a mixture of volatile antimicrobial compounds and acetic acid, the synergistic effect was increased in $2{\sim}10$ times than ITCs used solely.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 1994

In order to develop a method of economical production and to reduce energy-consumption in fuel alcohol production, we investigated the fermentation characters of two newly selected thermotolerant yeasts. The RA-74-2 showed stable and superior fermentability between 30 and $40^{\circ}C$ in 20% glucose media in comparison to the industrial strains. The optimum concentration of glucose for economical fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$ was 15-18%, and organic nitrogen was necessary for a satisfactory fermentation. The optimum pH was 4.0 and aeration was adversed for high temperature fermentation. Agitation was an important factor at $40^{\circ}C$ and the addition of magnesium ion 0.2% was required in this experiment. When the inoculum was increased, ethanol productivity as well as the speed of fermentation increased. On the other hand RA-912, which can grow at $48^{\circ}C$, showed similar fermentability between 30-$45^{\circ}C$ in 20% glucose media As the concentration of substrate decreased, fermentation ratio increased at $45^{\circ}C$ (45%, 65%, 95% fermentation ratio in 20%, 15%, 10% glucose media, respectively). Also, requirement of organic nitrogen and magnesium ion in RA-912 was similar in RA-74-2. The optimum pH for fermentation was 5.0, and the effects of agitation were enhanced at $37^{\circ}C$ than at $45^{\circ}C$. As the inoculum was increased, fermentation speed became more enhanced but the ethanol productivity was less affected. RA-912 showed fermentability with various substrates. Among the substrates used, inulin was the most promising substrate for the high-temperature fermentation. When 14.5% inulin was used as the substrate, 93% and 55% fermentation ratios were shown at $37^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 1985

Rhizobium japonicum isolates from all around Korea could be classified into two groups, i.e., acid producing fast-growers with 2.4 hour mean generation time and non-acid producing slow-growers in yeast extract-mannitol medium with 13.1 hour mean generation time. Tested fast-growers were higher in 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity than slow-growers were and used sucrose as carbon source whereas slow-growers did not. Fast-grower R4, R257, R278, showed tolerance even in 0.5M NaCl or above and the growth of all the strains tested were inhibited at below pH 4.5. Relative symbiotic activities of nitrogen fixation for these isolated with Glycine max cv. Jangyeobkong (commercial soybean cultivar mostly cultivated in Korea) ranged 0.1 to 2.0 comparing to that of R. japonicum L-259 (NRRL), without regard to their growth rate.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2016

In this study, doenjang samples were prepared with different types of salts (12%, w/w): purified salt (PS), 3-year aged solar salt (SS3), 1-year aged solar salt (SS1), and bamboo salt melted 3 times (BS). Whole-soybean mejus were fermented with starters consisting of 2 Bacillus strains, a yeast, and a fungus (starter doenjang), and control mejus were fermented with organisms present naturally in rice straw (non-starter doenjang). The whole-soybean mejus were dried, and then mixed with cooked soybeans and the respective salts. The doenjang samples were fermented for 13 weeks at 25℃. The protease (acid, neutral, and alkaline) activities, fibrinolytic activities, and antioxidant capacities of the samples were examined every week. BS doenjang showed the highest acid protease (6.46 ± 0.20 unit/g) and fibrinolytic activities (0.61 unit/ml). Among the starter doenjang samples, those made with SS and BS showed the highest total phenolic contents after 91 days of fermentation. For antioxidant activities, SS3 doenjang showed higher activities than the other doenjang samples, as evaluated by ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. These results suggest that solar salt, especially aged for 3 years, is better than purified salt in terms of producing better functionalities of doenjang.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.349-354
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• 2016

A variety of nuruks collected in different areas in Korea were explored to isolate sixty yeast strains that was able to grow at 44℃. MBY/L1569 strain, which showed the highest growth rate, was selected and identified as Pichia farinosa (Millerozyma farinosa). The isolated strain exhibited superior resistance to heat, acid, and alkali compared with those of P. farinosa KCTC27412 as a control strain. The specific growth rate of P. farinosa MBY/L1569 at 46℃ was 0.37 ± 0.05 h⁻¹, and the highest specific growth rate of 0.50 ± 0.02 h⁻¹ was obtained when it was grown at pH 7.0 and 37℃ with 50 g/l (w/v) glucose as the carbon source. Under optimum growth conditions, strain MBY/L1569 produced ethanol 19.66 ± 0.68 g/l from glucose 50 g/l, with an approximate yield of 40%. P. farinosa MBY/L1569 was deposited at the Korean Collection for Type Cultures as pichia farinosa KCTC27753.