To investigate the diversity of industrially useful microorganisms from fermented agricultural products in the Sacheon region, 128 strains were isolated and analyzed phylogenetically. The analysis indicated that the isolates were categorized into three phyla, eight families, 13 genera, and 33 species. The Bacillaceae family, which was the main taxon, comprised 88.3% of the isolates and included four genera and 22 species: Bacillus, Exiguobacterium, Fictibacillus, and Metabacillus. The Caryophanaceae family, which was the second most abundant taxon, comprised 3.9% of the isolates, including two genera and two species: Rummeliibacillus and Sporosarcina. The isolates were examined for hydrolytic enzyme activity (protease, amylase, and lipase), and 118 strains (92.2%) exhibited at least one of these enzyme activities. Furthermore, auxin production was observed in all seven strains. This study demonstrates that the isolated strains have potential applications in the food and agricultural industries in South Korea, highlighting the importance of genetic resources.

Lactic acid bacterial (LAB) fermentation is frequently used to enhance the nutritional and functional properties of natural products. Oysters (Crassostrea gigas), a marine bivalve mollusc, have long been used in food applications. In the present study, we explored the effects of LAB fermentation on the physiological activity of C. gigas. To identify new starter strains, we isolated and screened LAB from local specialties in Sacheon, South Korea. Eighteen LAB strains were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, four of which exhibited protease activity. All the four isolates were identified as Latilactobacillus curvatus. Fermentation was carried out in a medium containing C. gigas powder for three days. After incubation, the antioxidant activity in the culture supernatant of fermented C. gigas with L. curvatus GH-118-24 increased by approximately 139.2% compared with that of the non-fermented control. Additionally, the extract of fermented C. gigas for three days showed significant improvements in anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects, with increases of over 71.2% and 253.8%, respectively, compared to the non-fermented extract. These results suggested that the selected LAB strains have potential as starters capable of enhancing the bioactive properties of food, thus highlighting the importance of genetic resources in South Korea.

To isolate aerobically and identify the diversity of halophilic bacteria in the soil around two ports, Daepopogu and Hwasun Port, on Jeju island, a total 46 halophilic bacteria strains were isolated and phylogenetically analysed. The isolated strains were divided into 3 phyla, 8 families, 16 genera and 23 species. The main taxa was the Bacilli class, which included 50.0% of the strains with 3 families, 10 genera and 15 species of Bacillaceae, Exiguobacterium_f and Planococcaceae. The second taxa was the Gammaproteobacteria class, which included 45.7% of the strains with 4 families, 5 genera and 7 species of Aeromonadaceae, Halomonadaceae, Marinobacteraceae and Vibrionaceae. The isolated strains were tested for hydrolytic enzymes, amylase, lipase and protease activity, and 31 strains showed activity of at least one enzyme. Furthermore, auxin activity was determined in 7 strains. This study showed that the isolated strains have possible applications in the food and agricultural industries and have importance as a genetic resource in Korea.

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.

The growth characterization and enzyme productivity of halotolerant microorganisms isolated from the Nakdong River estuary wetland in Korea were investigated in this study. The isolation of halotolerant microorganisms was carried out through their cultivation at 37oC for several days using a marine agar medium. After a single-colony isolation, 16 pure colonies were obtained, and phylogenetic analysis was done using 16S-based ID service in the EzBioCloud database. The isolated strains were divided into 3 phyla, 5 families, 7 genera, and 13 species. Possible industrial applications of the strains were confirmed upon testing for amylolytic, lipolytic, and proteolytic activity to confirm the possible production of hydrolytic enzymes, growth at a pH range of 5 to 9, and various salt concentrations being tested. Thirteen strains possessed at least one enzyme activity, and 5 strains possessed 2 enzyme activities. Eight strains could tolerate up to 10% NaCl concentration. This result indicated that isolated strains had shown the possible application in food and cosmetic industries. Therefore, this study would contribute to securing domestic biological resources and improving hydrolytic enzyme activity using these strains.

본 연구는 국내외 해양유래 발효산물 시료로부터 분리한 호염성 미생물들의 다양성 및 특성에 관하여 조사하였다. 호염성 미생물의 순수 분리를 위하여 marine agar 배지를 사용하였으며 25, 37, 50oC에서 호기적으로 배양하였다. 순수 분리 후, 86균주를 분리하였으며 16S rRNA 염기서열 분석 결과를 바탕으로 계통학적 분석을 실시한 결과, 3문, 7과, 9속, 24종으로 구성되어 있는 것을 확인하였다. 특히 Firmicutes문 Bacilli강은 84.9%의 분포를 나타내었으며 4과, 6속, 19종으로 Bacillaceae, Planococcaceae, Staphylococcaceae와 Enterococcaceae로 분포하는 것을 확인하였다. 그리고 분리한 균주들이 amylase, lipase, cellulase, protease 같은 산업적으로 유용한 효소를 생산하는지 확인하기 위하여 효소 활성 평가를 실시하였으며, 55 균주가 최소 한 종류 이상의 효소 활성을 가지고 있는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 옥신 생산능을 가지는 균주도 2 균주가 확인되었으며 이는 본 연구를 통하여 분리한 미생물들의 산업적 활용 가능성을 나타내었다. 그러므로 이번 연구는 국내 유전자원 확보 및 시료의 호염성 미생물의 다양성과 특성에 관한 과학적 지식 확장에 도움이 될 것으로 생각된다.

본 연구에서는 2009–2019년 기간 동안 대전시 외곽의 도심개발에 따른 인근 하천(관평천)의 상류, 중류, 하류의 구간에서 4회 조사(2009, 2010, 2016, 2019)를 통해 이화학적 수질, 어류 종 조성, 생태 건강성 특성에 대해 장기간 변화추이를 분석하였다. 본 하천지역에서 도심개발은 2008년에 이루어졌고, 2012년에는 하천복원사업이 수행되어 하천복원 전과 후의 특성변화 추이를 모니터링 하였다. 하천 생태건강도 평가를 위해 군집수준의 어류평가지수(Fish Assessment Index, FAI)를 이용하였고, 어류의 기관(Organ) 수준에서 해부학적 건강도(Necropsy-based Health Assessment Index, HAI) 분석을 실시 하였다. 이화학적 수질 분석에서는 중류(St. 2)에서 가장 낮은 탁도와 엽록소(Chl-a)가 측정되었다. 이는 빠른 유속에 의한 물리적 요인 때문으로 나타났다. 어류 조사에서는 총 18종이 채집되었고, 피라미(Zacco platypus)가 가장 우점 하는 종 (40.6%)으로 나타났다. 하천복원 직후(2016)에는 민감종(Sensitive species)과 충식종(Insectivore species)이 우점, 종 다양도 및 종 풍부도 지수 상승, 생태건강도 지수(FAI)가 상승하여 생태 건강도는 “최상상태(A: 87.5)”로 나타났으나 가장 최근 조사인 2019년에는 전 기간에 비해 악화되는 것으로 나타났다. 기관(Organ) 분석에 의거한 해부학적 건강도 지수(HAI) 분석에 따르면, 피부손상(Skin)은 상류에서, 신장 손상(Kidney)은 하류 역에서 나타났고, 간(Liver)과 아가미(Gill)의 손상은 모든 지점에서 나타나 해부학적 측면의 건강도에서도 영향을 받는 것으로 나타났다.

The diversity and characterization of microorganisms isolated from the soil around several ranches in Korea were confirmed in this study. To isolate halophilic microorganisms, the marine agar medium was basically used and cultivated at 37℃ for several days. After single colony isolation, a total of 116 pure colonies were isolated and phylogenetic analysis was carried out based on the result of 16S rDNA sequencing, indicating that isolated strains were divided into 4 phyla, 23 families, 30 genera and 51 species. To confirm whether isolated strain can be a candidate for the fermentation of diverse food ingredients, amylase, lipase, and protease enzyme assays were performed individually, showing that 92 strains possessed at least one enzyme activity. Especially 4 strains, identified to Jonesia quinghaiensis (isolate name: JSF 19-2), Halomonas alkaliantarctica (isolate name: JSF 21), Bacillus velezensis (isolate name: NWFY-36), and Staphylococcus capitis subsp. urealyticus (isolate name: MSY-5), showed all enzyme activity tested. Moreover, 17 strains showed the ability for auxin production. This result indicated that isolated strains have shown the possibility of the application for the food and feed industries. Therefore, this study has contributed to securing domestic biological resources and the improvement of hydrolytic enzyme activity by using isolated strains.

This research confirmed the diversity and characterization of halophilic microorganisms isolated from the various solar salterns, collected on the inside and outside of the country. To isolate strains, the marine agar medium was basically used and cultivated at 37oC for several days aerobically. After single colony isolation, a totally of 230 pure colonies were isolated and phylogenetic analysis was carried out based on the result of 16S rDNA sequencing, indicating that isolated strains were divided into 4 phyla, 12 families, 27 genera and 64 species. Firmicutes phylum, the main phyletic group, comprised 89.6% with 3 families, 17 genera and 52 species of Bacillaceae, Staphylococcaceae and Carnobacteriaceae. To confirm whether isolated strain can produce industrially useful enzyme or not, amylase, lipase, and protease enzyme assays were performed individually, showing that 177 strains possessed at least one enzyme activity. Especially 17 strains showed all enzyme activity tested. This result indicated that isolated strains have shown the possibility of the industrial application. Therefore, this study has contributed to securing domestic genetic resources and the expansion of scientific knowledge of the halophilic microorganisms community in solar salterns.