Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is the main source of high-level radioactive wastes (HLWs), which contains approximately 96% of uranium (U). For the safe disposal of the HLWs, the SNF is packed in canisters of cast iron and copper, and then is emplaced within 500 m of host rock surrounded by compacted bentonite clay buffer for at least 100,000 years. However, in case of the failure of the multi-barrier disposal system, U might be migrated through the rock fractures and groundwater, eventually, it could reach to the biosphere. Since the dissolved U interacts with indigenous bacteria under natural and engineered environments over the long storage periods of geologic disposal, it is important to understand the characteristics of U-microbe interactions under the geochemical conditions. In particular, a few of bacteria, i.e., sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), are able to reduce soluble U(VI) into insoluble U(IV) under anaerobic conditions by using their metabolisms, resulting in the immobilization of U. In this study, the aqueous U(VI) removal performance and change in bacterial community in response to the indigenous bacteria were investigated to understand the interactions of U-microbe under anaerobic conditions. Three different indigenous bacteria obtained from different depths of granitic groundwater (S1: 44–60 m, S2: 92–116 m, and S3: 234–244 m) were used for the reduction of U(VI)aq. After the anaerobic reaction of 24 weeks, the changes in bacterial community structure in response to the seeding indigenous bacteria were observed by high-throughput 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis. The highest uranium removal efficiency of 57.8% was obtained in S3 sample, and followed by S2 (43.1%) and S1 (37.7%). Interestingly, SRB capable of reducing U(VI) greatly increased from 4.8% to 44.1% in S3 sample. Among the SRB identified, Thermodesulfovibrio yellowstonii played a key role on the removal of U(VI)aq. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the dspacing of precipitates observed in this study was identical with that of uraninite (UO2). This study presents the potential of U(VI)aq removal by indigenous bacteria under deep geological environment.

Lactic acid bacteria as probiotics are intensively used in human and animal species. These probiotic properties of LABs were variable according to bacterial strain and species. However, there was limited information on probiotic properties of monkey origin LABs. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial activity of monkey and human origin LABs against monkey origin enteric bacteria by the agar disc diffusion test and broth culture inhibition assay. All LABs represented enough tolerance to pepsin (0.3%) and bile acid (pH = 2). To 50% of Clostridium perfringens and 20% of Escherichia coli, monkey origin LABs showed statistically higher antibacterial activity compared to human origin LABs (p < 0.05). Also, distinct antibacterial activity was verified among some bacteria species and strains. Higher antibacterial activity against enteric bacteria except for C. perfringens was verified in Lactobacillus johnsonii strains compared to Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus salivarius. Statistically different antibacterial activity against C. perfringens was verified among strains within L. reuteri and L. johnsonii. In conclusion, we prove the higher probiotic properties of monkey origin LABs against homogenous enteric bacteria although humans and monkeys were phylogenetically similar species. For non-human primates, homogenous LABs should be used as probiotics, not human origin LABs. Furthermore, it was confirmed among monkey origin LABs, L. johnsonii showed a high antibacterial activity on various enteric pathogenic bacteria and was an appropriate lactic acid strain for inhibiting C. perfringens.

Distribution of airborne bacteria in the entire regions of South Korea was investigated and analyzed by region and type of multi-use facilities. At first, 10 public facilities were selected including general restaurant, retail store, public transport, retail market, apartment house, underground parking lot, financial institution, business facility, educational institution, and public toilet, which are located at the regions such as Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, Jeju, and Gangwon. The regional distribution of the floating bacteria was identified that Micrococcus sp. was highly prevalent in Seoul (21.5 percent). In Daejeon, Bacillus sp. was highly prevalent (12.4 percent). In Busan, Micrococcus sp. was highly prevalent (22.8 percent). In Gwangju, Bacillus sp. was 9.35%. In Gyeonggi, Micrococcus sp. was 13.7%, and in Gwangju and Jeju, Micrococcus sp. was 11.2 percent and 92%. All in all, Micrococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. were highly detected throughout the entire region and multi-use facilities. Next, whether or not these airborne bacteria could influence the health of people was examined using HaCat human skin cell line which is human epithermal Karatinocytes related to allergic dermatitis. Among these isolated microorganisms, the HaCat cell proliferation was decreased by Arthrobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Brachybacterium sp., Brevundimonas sp., Kocuria sp., Mammaliicoccus sp., Norcardia sp., Prestia sp., Phychrobacillus sp., and Rhodococcus sp., while it was affected by the other bacteria. Therefore, these results have suggested that the airborne floating bacteria could be considered as the marker for the environmental risk management against atopic dermatitis, and it is needed for controlling the bacteria number that suppressed the proliferation of HaCat cells.

식중독 세균에 의한 biofilm 형성을 억제하는 효과를 시 험하기 위하여 cinnamon, clove 및 lemongrass 정유의 휘 발성 성분을 분석하였다. 또한 정유의 주요 항균활성 성 분이 polyethylene과 stainless steel 표면에서 식중독 세균 에 의한 biofilm 형성을 억제하는 효과에 대하여 조사하였 다. Cinnamon 정유의 주요 휘발성 성분은 cinnamaldehyde (38.30%), linalool (9.61%), β–caryophyllene (8.90%) 및 1,3,4-eugenol (8.19%)로 동정되었다. Clove 정유의 주요 휘발성 성분은 1,3,4-eugenol (61.84%)로 분석되었다. Lemongrass의 주요 휘발성 성분은 citral의 이성질체인 geranial (19.11%)과 neral (19.23%)로 검출되었으며, citral 은 isomeric acyclic monoterpene aldehydes로서 geranial (trans-citral, 19.11%)과 neral (cis-citral, 19.23%)의 혼합물 로 분석되었다. Cinnamon, clove 및 lemongrass의 주요 성 분 중 cinnamaldehyde, linalool, eugenol 및 citral이 disc diffusion assay에 의해 시험한 6종의 식중독 세균에 대하 여 강한 항균활성을 나타냈다. Eugenol (0.1%)과 citral은 polyethylene 및 stainless steel coupon 표면에서 식중독 세 균에 의해 형성된 biofilm에 대하여 강한 억제 작용을 나 타났다. Cinnamaldehyde (0.1%)는 Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19112와 Staphylococcus aureus KCCM 11812에 의 해 형성된 biofilm에 대해 장한 억제 작용을 나타냈다. 연 구 결과 cinnamaldehyde, eugenol 및 citral 처리에 의해 식 중독 세균에 의한 biofilm 형성을 억제가 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

본 연구에서는 병원균인 Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium 그리고 Escherichia coli O157:H7을 이산화염소수와 전해수에 0분, 2분, 4분, 6분, 8분 및 10분간 반응시켜 이산화염소수와 전해수의 살균 효과를 확인하고, 그람 양성균(B. cereus, S. aureus)과 그 람 음성균(S. Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7)의 민감성 비 교를 실시하였다. B. cereus, S. aureus, S. Typhimurium 그 리고 E. coli O157:H7의 이산화염소수에서의 D값은 1.85±0.64, 2.06±0.85, 2.26±0.89 그리고 2.59±0.40분으로 나 타났고 전해수의 경우 각각 2.13±0.32, 1.64±0.64, 1.71±0.32 그리고 1.86±0.36분으로 나타났다. 각 용액에 처리한 10분 간 모든 균주에서 꾸준한 감소 추세를 나타내었으며 각 용액에서 각 균주의 D값은 서로 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다 (P>0.05). 이산화염소수와 전해수의 살균력을 비교 한 결과 D값은 유의적인 차이가 나타나지 않았으나, pH 와 유효염소농도 모두 이산화염소가 전해수보다 낮은 값 을 보였다. 살균·소독을 실시할 대상의 pH에 대한 민감성 과 같은 특성을 고려하여 최적의 살균제를 선택하고, 최 적의 농도를 결정하여 식품 산업에 적용하기 위한 자료로 활용될 것으로 기대된다.

본 연구에서는 건열처리를 통해 알팔파 종자에 접종된 Bacillus cereus ATCC 12480, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC SSA81, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43894, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028을 발아율에 영향 없이 불활성화 시키는 조건(65oC 에서 21일, 70oC에서 16일, 75oC에서 10일, 80oC에서 7일)을 조사하였다. 알팔파 종자를 6-7 log CFU/g 수준으로 접종 하고 65, 70, 75, 80oC로 건열처리 한 후, 발아율을 확인 하였다. 알팔파 종자의 발아율은 시장에 유통되고 있는 알 팔파 새싹의 발아율 기준인 70%로 설정하였다. 알팔파 종 자에서 B. cereus는 65oC에서 21일, 70oC에서 18일, 75oC 에서 14일, 80oC에서 4일, Listeria monocytogenes는 65oC에서 21일, 70oC에서 18일, 75oC에서 12일, 80oC에서 7일, S. aureus는 65oC에서 18일, 70oC에서 18일, 75oC에서 11 일, 80oC에서 4일, E. coli O157:H7은 65oC에서 21일, 70oC 에서 18일, 75oC에서 12일, 80oC에서 6일, Sal. Typhimurium 은 65oC에서 24일, 70oC에서 22일, 75oC에서 14일, 80oC 에서 7일 이상 건열처리 하였을 때 완전히 불활성화 되었 다. 모든 균주는 65oC에서 80oC로 온도가 상승할 때 특정 온도에서 세균의 90%를 죽이는 데 필요한 시간인 D-값 (R2=0.5656−0.7957)이 유의미하게 감소하였다(P<0.05). 80oC 에서 7일간 건열처리 하였을 때 발아율이 70% 미만으로 감소하였기 때문에 75oC에서 14일간 건열처리 하는 것이 알팔파 종자의 안전성을 확보하는데 있어 가장 효과적인 방법이다. 이 연구는 알팔파 종자의 안전성을 확보하고 일 정한 품질의 새싹을 생산하는데 기초자료로 이용될 것으 로 기대된다.

Human intestinal flora is very diverse; with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) existing as part of the most vital gut microbes that improve host health. The application of LAB as a whole organism or its metabolite in the case of probiotic and bacteriocin respectively is extensive. Thus, the need to always bio-prospect for newer strains of LAB is essential. This study focused on isolating LAB from kunun-zaki and kindirmo, a fermented non-alcoholic beverage of non-dairy and dairy sources respectively, explored their physiological and biochemical properties, antibiotics sensitivity pattern and identified based on their 16S rRNA sequencing. A total of eighty isolates were selected sixty-six from kunun-zaki and fourteen from kindirmo in which 93.7% were bacilli and 6.3% were spherical in shape having 68.75% and 30% homofermentative and heterofermentative pathway respectively. All isolates have the ability to utilize glucose to produce lactic acid while their tolerance to pH 3 and salt concentration at 2%, 4% and 6.5% varied widely. Thirty-four isolates based on their physiological and biochemical properties were selected for molecular identification to ascertain their genera and species. Limosilactobacillus fermentum (68%); Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (6%) and Weissella confusa (3%) were confirmed species isolated. Thus, it was concluded that traditional fermented foods such as kunun-zaki and kindirmo are a good source to bio-prospect for LAB for product development, starter culture and probiotic study.

A field study was conducted to reduce airborne bacteria by supplying active ions to indoor spaces used by vulnerable human groups spending substantial amounts of time in places such as schools and hospitals. In an experiment conducted during school hours (8:00-15:00), the average number of airborne bacteria in classrooms was 345.53 CFU/m3 or more without active ions. However, ion supply reduced the airborne bacteria to an average of 113.23 CFU/m3, indicating an efficiency of 61.61%. As a result of tests in 33 rooms used for surgery in small and middle sized hospitals, ion supply for 2 to 4 hours reduced the average airborne bacteria concentration from 243.88 CFU/m3 to 104.34 CFU/m3, representing a 41.53% reduction. A laboratory test to confirm the ion activity has shown that the mortality rate of E. coli used as a test bacterium increased with exposure time to ions. The initial colony number of E. coli was 251 CFU, but decreased to 4 CFU after 60 minutes of exposure to active ions. Therefore, it was confirmed that the supply of active ions can contribute to the control of airborne bacteria in the indoor environment of schools, hospitals and other public facilities.

Natural environmental resources are considered a prospective source of microorganisms capable of producing biocatalysts with great potential in industrial areas. Arable soil fertilized with peat moss is a habitat for various microorganisms. The present research focused on the isolation and identification of hydrolase-producing bacteria that thrive at a broad temperature range. In this study, a total of 33 strains were isolated from arable soil fertilized with peat moss (Silla Garden in Busan, South Korea). The isolated bacteria were mesophiles and thermophiles with a wide temperature range. Taxonomic identification showed that the isolated strains belonged to 2 phyla, 5 families, 10 genera, and 24 species. Subsequently, the isolated strains were screened for hydrolase (amylase, lipase, and protease) activity. All isolates possessed activity of at least one enzyme and six bacterial isolates produced combined extracellular enzymes. Diversity of soil bacteria species in the present study suggest the potential of soil bacteria in the various industrial applications.

Deep geological repository (DGR) has been considered as a globally accepted strategy to dispose high-level radioactive wastes. During long storage periods of 100,000 years, uranium (U) could be migrated through fractures in deep granite aquifers and interact with indigenous bacteria under anaerobic condition. Anaerobic bacteria can reduce U(VI) and further precipitate in the form of U(IV)-oxide minerals by transferring electrons through c-type cytochrome. In this point of view, a comprehensive understanding of uranium-microorganisms interaction is necessary to guarantee the safety of high-level radioactive waste disposal. Although diverse bacterial communities are present in DGR environment, a number of studies have been focused on some model bacteria, such as Desulfovibrio, Geobacter, and Shewanella spp.. In this study, indigenous bacterial community in deep granitic groundwater at 234–244 m was inoculated to sterile uranium-contaminated granitic groundwater amended with 20 mM of sodium acetate, and then incubated under anaerobic condition for 12 weeks. Bio-reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) by indigenous bacteria in uranium-contaminated groundwater was investigated during whole operation period. Initial U(VI) concentration of 885.4 μg·L−1 gradually decreased to 586.1 μg·L−1, resulting in approximately 33.8% of aqueous U(VI) removal efficiency. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) value was gradually decreased from 175.4 mV to –243.0 mV after the incubation of 12 weeks. The decrease in ORP value was attributed to the presence of aerobic bacteria and facultative anaerobic bacteria in indigenous bacterial community. The shift in bacterial community structure was observed by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing analysis. Proteobacteria (55.6%), Firmicutes (24.1%), Actinobacteria (5.5%), and Bacteroidetes (5.4%) were dominant in initial indigenous bacterial community, while Proteobacteria (94.8%) was found to be the only abundant phylum after the reaction. In addition, great increase in the relative abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was observed: the relative abundance of SRB increased from 11.4% to 44.3% after the reaction. This result indicates that the SRB played a key role in the removal of aqueous U(VI). This finding shows the potential of aqueous U(VI) removal by indigenous bacteria in DGR environment.

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) occurring in underground buried pipes of API 5L X65 steel was investigated. MIC is a corrosion phenomenon caused by microorganisms in soil; it affects steel materials in wet atmosphere. The microstructure and mechanical properties resulting from MIC were analyzed by OM, SEM/EDS, and mapping. Corrosion of pipe cross section was composed of ① surface film, ② iron oxide, and ③ surface/internal microbial corrosive by-product similar to surface corrosion pattern. The surface film is an area where concentrations of C/O components are on average 65 %/ 16 %; the main components of Fe Oxide were measured and found to be 48Fe-42O. The MIC area is divided into surface and inner areas, where high concentrations of N of 6 %/5 % are detected, respectively, in addition to the C/O component. The high concentration of C/O components observed on pipe surfaces and cross sections is considered to be MIC due to the various bacteria present. It is assumed that this is related to the heat-shrinkable sheet, which is a corrosion-resistant coating layer that becomes the MIC by-product component. The MIC generated on the pipe surface and cross section is inferred to have a high concentration of N components. High concentrations of N components occur frequently on surface and inner regions; these regions were investigated and Na/Mg/Ca basic substances were found to have accumulated as well. Therefore, it is presumed that the corrosion of buried pipes is due to the MIC of the NRB (nitrate reducing bacteria) reaction in the soil.

Airborne bacteria are expected to float in the mushroom cultivation house, as it is a special environment with high humidity and high temperatures. Their concentration and diversity in the indoor air of the cultivation house could effect the health of farmers and the quality of mushrooms. To examine whether microbiota of airborne bacteria change from year to year, we measured the indoor temperature, humidity, and airborne bacterial concentration from mushroom cultivation houses located in six regions in Korea from 2020 to 2021, and isolated and identified airborne bacteria. The surveyed data were compared and the bacterial diversity of the 1st year and the 2nd year were determined. Based on the average temperature and humidity data surveyed, it can be seen that the temperature and humidity environment in the cultivation houses is such that bacteria can easily reproduce. It was observed that the temperature inside the cultivation houses tends to be higher or lower depending on the season and correlates with the temperature outside the cultivation houses. In the first year survey, 32 species of 20 genera were identified, and in the second year survey, bacteria belonging to 29 species of 22 genera were identified. Among them, the most detected species were all species belonging to the genus Bacillus. There were only three species (Bacillus altitudinis, Brevibacterium frigoritolerans, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) that were continuously isolated in common. Our results showed that the species of floating bacteria greatly vary from year to year even for the same cultivation houses.

본 연구에서는 선행연구를 통해 병원성 박테리아의 억제효과가 입증된 kefir 유래 유산균 L. pentosus BMSE-K006과 L. pentosus BMSE-K009의 다제내성 균주를 포함하는 Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia spp. 등 총 7주에 대한 억제효과를 확인하고자 하였 다. L. pentosus BMSE-K006과 L. pentosus BMSE-K009는 대 체로 다제내성 균주 중 그람 음성균에 대한 억제효과가 더 큰 것으 로 확인되었으며, E. coli 1507 CCARM 0236을 제외한 모든 지 시 균주에서 L. pentosus BMSE-K009보다 L. pentosus BMSEK006의 항균효과가 더 우수한 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구는 kefir 유래 유산균의 다제내성 균주에 대한 우수한 항균효과를 입 증할 수 있는 기초자료가 될 수 있으며, 추후 probiotics 특성 및 안전성에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

김치로부터 내산성, 내담즙성 및 항산화활성이 우수한 유산균을 분 리하였으며, 프로바이오틱스 활성이 우수한 2종의 균주를 스타터 로 선정하여 고농도의 홍삼 추출물이 보강된 요구르트를 제조하고, 그 품질특성을 평가하였다. 가정에서 제조된 배추김치로부터 분리 한 L. plantarum SY46과 L. brevis SY65 균주는 인공위액과 담 즙염에 대한 저항성, 병원균에 대한 항균활성 및 항산화활성이 상 업용 프로바이오틱스 균주인 L. rhamnosus GG(LGG)와 비교하 여 우수하였으며, auto-aggregation과 co-aggregation 능력은 유사한 특성을 나타내었다. 홍삼 추출분말 5%와 10%가 각각 첨가 된 우유에 SY46과 SY65의 복합 균주를 접종하고 24시간 발효한 결과, 홍삼 요구르트의 pH는 각각 4.46과 4.28, 산도는 1.25%와1.53%, 유산균 생균수는 9.26와 9.90 Log CFU/mL를 나타내었다. 홍삼의 첨가량이 증가할수록 DPPH 라디칼 소거능과 β-carotene bleaching 억제능이 증가되어, 유산균체의 항산화능과 더불어 홍 삼이 요구르트의 항산화능을 높이는데 기여하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 본 연구결과, L. plantarum SY46과 L. brevis SY65 균주 를 스타터로 활용하여 프로바이오틱스 및 홍삼의 기능성이 강화된 요구르트의 제조가 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

목적 : 본 연구는 3-[{2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl}dimethylammonio]propane-1-sulfonate(DMAPS)로 기능화된 하이드로겔 콘택트렌즈를 개발하고, 이들의 물리적 물성과 단백질 및 세균의 흡착성을 조사하기 위한 것이다. 방법 : 하이드로겔 콘택트렌즈는 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate(HEMA)와 ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA)의 공중합에 의해 제조되었다. 연속적으로 벤조페논의 흡착과 DMAPS 단량체의 UV 유도 자유 라디칼 중합을 통해 양쪽 이온성이 기능화된 하이드로겔 콘택트렌즈를 제조하였다. 제조된 콘택트렌즈의 수분함량, 접촉각, 광학적 특성, 단백질 및 세균 흡착을 분석하였다. 결과 : DMAPS으로 기능화된 하이드로겔 콘택트렌즈는 더 높은 수분 함량, 향상된 표면 습윤성 및 우수한 가시광선 투과율을 가지고 있다. 더욱이, 하이드로겔 콘택트렌즈 표면에 양쪽 이온성의 DMAPS가 존재하기 때문에 라이소자임 및 알부민과 같은 단백질의 흡착이 낮아지고 세균 흡착이 대군에 비해 감소하였다. 결론 : 양쪽 이온성의 DMAPS을 이용한 하이드로겔 콘택트렌즈의 기능화 방법은 습윤성이 우수하고 단백질 및 세균 흡착을 감소시킬 수 있는 기능성 콘택트렌즈의 개발을 위한 전략을 제공할 수 있다.