In this study, a bacterial strain exhibiting high degradation activity toward organic wastes was isolated and taxonomically identified. Five strains with excellent hydrolytic activity toward starch, lipids, and proteins were isolated from slaughter waste processors. Among the five strains, YBK-W4, which showed the highest amylase, protease, and lipase activities, was selected. Through 16S rRNA sequencing, YBK-W4 was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus (B. atrophaeus) and designated B. atrophaeus YBK-W4. The optimal temperature and pH for enzyme activity of B. atrophaeus YBK-W4 were 37~42°C and pH 7, respectively. The bacterium was grown on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar containing 12% NaCl, where enzyme activity was 11.4~29.7% of that observed in LB agar without NaCl. These results suggest that B. atrophaeus YBK-W4 is a useful bacterial agent for the decomposition of organic waste, such as food and slaughterhouse waste.

A total of 225, 3 weeks old weaned pigs of the Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc breeds with initial average body weight (BW) of 6.25±0.6 kg were randomly assigned to 3 different treatments based on their BW, with each having 5 replicates. Each replicate contained 15 pigs, resulting in 75 pigs per treatment group. The treatment included a basal diet (CON), CON + allicin and cinnamaldehyde mixture 500 ppm (ALI), CON + Bacillus-based probiotics 500 ppm (PRO) tested for 42 days in a 3-phase feeding program (0–14 as phase 1, days 15–28 as phase 2, and days 29–42 as phase 3). Result shows final BW (6.3%) and average daily gain (9.0%) in the overall phase were higher (p<0.05) in PRO compared with CON. At d 14, the level of Escherichia coli was lower (p<0.05) in ALI (12.0%) and PRO (13.2%) over CON. At days 28 (14.6%) and 42 (12.8%), the level of Escherichia coli was lower (p<0.05) in PRO compared with CON. The level of tumor necrosis factor-α was lower (p<0.05) in PRO over CON (15.0%). Superoxide dismutase (9.2%) and immunoglobulin A (19.4%) were higher (p<0.05) in PRO over CON. We concluded that dietary PRO at 500 ppm showed better performance in piglets by enhancing their growth performance and health.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)는 PCR 보다 빠르고 간편한 새로운 분자 검출 방법이다. 본 연구 에서는 식품에서 오염된 Bacillus cereus 그룹 중 식중독 을 유발할 수 있는 bceT 유전자를 가진 B. cereus와 B. thuringiensis를 신속하게 검출하기 위한 LAMP 방법을 개 발하고 평가하였다. LAMP 방법은 외부 프라이머와 내부 프라이머를 포함한 4개의 프라이머를 사용하기 때문에 다 른 검사 방법보다 특이성이 높다. 시험결과, LAMP의 특 이도는 100%였으며, 검출한계는 10(CFU/반응)이었다. 이 분석은 다양한 식품에서 인위적으로 접종하여 장독소 유 전자 함유 B. cereus 그룹을 분석하는 데 사용하였다. 일 반가공식품 뿐아니라 즉석조리식품 중 전투식량, 냉동볶 음밥 등 포함한 20개의 모든 식품에서 적용하여 검출하였다. 결론적으로, 장독소 유전자 함유 B. cereus 와 B. thuringiensis 특이적 LAMP는 소상공인 제조업체뿐만 아 니라 식품 관련 기관 등에서도 진단방법으로 유용하게 사 용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

This study aimed to identify a Bacillus strain isolated from Chojeong mineral water in Korea. One strain was isolated using a marine agar medium, and its growth temperature was analyzed in complex media. Strain identification confirmed that it was similar to Bacillus subtilis. The ability of the strain to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes was assessed to determine whether the culture medium of the isolated strain could be used in the cosmetics and food-related industries. The LKSU-1 strain showed higher protease activity when cultured in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth compared to media containing nutrient broth (NB) and tryptic soy broth (TSB). As a first step toward optimizing culture media, the carbon source utilization of the LKSU-1 strain was evaluated, indicating that it could metabolize 18 types of carbon sources. Therefore, this research contributes valuable data for securing domestic genetic resources and optimizing media for isolated strains.

An appropriate strain of Bacillus spp. derived from traditional Korean fermented foods was selected for fermentation of black rice bran, and the fermented bran’s nutritional components were analyzed. Among 18 isolated Bacillus spp. strains, the five (KU3, KU24, KU28, KU611, and KU612) that exhibited both amylolytic and proteolytic activities were selected for fermentation. Among these, Bacillus sp. KU3 showed notable dual enzymatic activity. During fermentation in black rice bran medium, Bacillus sp. KU3 increased from 5.83 to 7.83 Log CFU/mL after 24 h. The KU3 strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis using an API 50 CHB kit and 16S rRNA sequencing. Black rice bran (4% w/v) was fermented with B. subtilis KU3 at 37°C, 150 rpm for 24 h. Following fermentation, the main component of the fermented black rice bran was carbohydrate (77.13%). An increase in ash content was observed, while other nutritional components showed no significant changes. These results suggest that B. subtilis KU3 is a viable strain for black rice bran fermentation.

This study evaluated the immunogenicity of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in a guinea pig model to refine preclinical assessment methods. 24 guinea pigs were divided into four groups for immunohistochemical, histopathological, and molecular analyses, including qRT-PCR and ELISA. The ELISA results revealed significant elevations in interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN- ), and tuberculosis-specific antibodies in vaccinated guinea pigs, particularly γ notable after 6 weeks. Although lung cytokine levels remained unchanged, spleen gene expression showed significant differences in interleukin-17, interleukin-12, interleukin-1β, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 after 6 weeks. Immunohistochemistry revealed peak IL-2 expression at 8 weeks and significant IFN-γ and TNF-α expression at 6 weeks. This study confirmed the effectiveness of BCG vaccine in guinea pigs, providing crucial insights for future tuberculosis vaccine development and standardizing immune response indicators.

This study was conducted to selection and investigate appropriate conditions for mass production of antagonistic microbes to control cobweb disease caused by Cladobotryum mycophilum. A grampositive bacterium was isolated from spent substrate of Agaricus bisporus and showed significant antagonistic activity against Cladobotryum mycophilum. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus altitudinis. based on the cultural, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA sequence. The isolate is saprophytic, but not parasitic nor pathogenic to cultivated mushroom whereas it showed strong inhibitory effects against C. mycophilum cells in vitro. The control efficacy of B. altitudinis HC7 against cobweb disease of C. mycophilum was up to 78.2% on Agaricus bisporus. The suppressive bacterium may be useful for the development of biocontrol system. To define the appropriate conditions for the mass production of the Bacillus altitudinis HC7, we have investigated appropriate culture conditions and effects of various nutrient source on the bacterial growth. The appropriate initial pH and temperature were determined as pH 6.0 and 30oC, respectively. The appropriate concentration of medium elements for the growth of pathogen inhibitor bacterium(Bacillus altitudinis HC7) was determined as follows: 3.0% soluble startch, 10% soytone, 1.0% (NH4)2HPO4, 1.0 mmol KCl, and 0.5% L-asparagine.

본 연구는 2020년 10월 중 충청남도내 단체 급식소에서 발생한 대규모 집단 식중독 원인에 대하여 분석하였다. 전 체 급식원 135명 중 21명(15.6%)에서 음식을 섭취한 후 1 시간 이내에 주로 매스꺼움과 구토 증상을 보였다. 유증 상자 21명 중 11명과, 조리종사자 1명, 조리기구 2건과 보 존식 8건에서 B. cereus가 검출됨에 따라 B. cereus에 의 한 집단 식중독으로 판단하였다. 분리된 21개의 균주를 PFGE 분석한 결과, 19개의 균주가 동일한 것으로 판단되 었고, 이들 균주가 가지고 있는 독소 유전자는 CER, nheA, entFM이었다. 실험결과, CER을 포함하고, 증상 발현 시간 이 1시간 이내로 매우 짧아 B. cereus의 구토형 식중독으 로 판단하였다. 집단식중독 원인으로 안전하지 않은 급식 환경과 제대로 관리되지 않은 음식에 의한 것이라 조사되 었다. 이러한 결과는 단체급식에서의 급식환경과 제공되 는 음식이 철저하게 관리되어야 한다는 것을 보여준다. 이 와 더불어 보존식에서 원인 병원체를 찾아내는 것은 식중 독의 원인을 추정하는데 매우 중요하므로, 집단급식소에 서 규정에 맞는 보존식 용기를 이용하여 이를 적정온도에 잘 보관해야한다. 또한 정밀한 식중독 역학조사를 기반으 로 사례를 분석하고 결과를 전파함으로써 유사한 식중독 이 재발하지 않도록 해야 한다.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widely used as an environmentally friendly insecticide compared to chemical insecticides. However, challenges such as difficulty in direct practical application, limited efficacy duration, and stability have been identified. To solve these issues, formulation-based research is being extensively conducted. In this study, the high insecticidal activity strain Bt IMBL-B9, identified in previous research, was subjected to large-scale cultivation using a fermentor. Subsequently, various formulations were developed through formulation processes. and characteristics such as their wettability, suspensibility and particle size were assessed to select the optimized formulation.

Although insects lack the adaptive immunity characteristic of vertebrates, certain species exhibit enhanced subsequent immune responses upon re-encountering a pathogen, a phenomenon known as immune priming. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon is still elusive. This study evaluated the immune priming of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, induced by a nonpathogenic and commensal bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. Prior exposure of P. xylostella to B. subtilis significantly increased survival against a pathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, compared to larvae without pre-exposure. To extend the effect of the microbial commensals, two antibiotics, ampicillin and kanamycin, were treated to suppress their populations. In the axenic-like condition in the gut, cellular and humoral immune responses were significantly suppressed. An addition of B. subtilis to the diet of P. xylostella significantly enhanced the immune responses. Apolipoprotein D, known as a lipid carrier, acts like a vertebrate lipocalin in the immune priming of the other insect, Spodoptera exigua. The ortholog of this gene has been identified in P. xylostella, and its expression was induced upon B. subtilis treatment. This study sheds light on the potential role of commensal gut microbes, including B. subtilis, in the immune priming of these insects.

This study investigated the physicochemical properties of protein-fortified rice flour by mixing rice flour (RF) with untreated and fermented plant proteins. Fermented faba bean protein concentrate (FMFP) and chickpea flour (FMCF) were prepared by solid-state fermentation of faba bean protein concentrate (UTFP) and chickpea flour (UTCF) using Bacillus subtilis. FMFP and FMCF exhibited higher crude protein, reducing sugar and starch contents more than their counterparts. The increased rate of essential and branched-chain amino acids in FMFP and FMCF exceeded that of crude protein. Adding plant proteins to RF decreased swelling power (SP) and increased solubility in RF-UTFP and RF-FMFP mixtures, while SP and solubility increased in RF-UTCF and RF-FMCF mixtures. All RF-plant protein mixtures showed higher gelatinization temperature and lower gelatinization enthalpy than RF. Thermal gelation was found in all RF-plant protein mixtures, but the RF-FMCF mixture may form weak and unstable gel structures. The increase in pasting viscosity was minimal for the RF-UTFP and RF-FMFP mixtures but more pronounced for the RF-UTCF and RF-FMCF mixtures. Overall, FMFP may be a potential protein source to supplement the protein deficiency in RF with minimal changes in RF-based foods’ rheological and textural properties.

본 연구에서는 강한 내열성을 가지는 비병원성 Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus subtilis, Geobacillus stearothermophilus 포자의 열 저항성을 분석하여 레토르트 식품 제조 시 직 접적인 멸균 여부 판정에 사용 가능성을 평가하고자 하였 다. B. subtilis 포자의 D121-value는 2.9±0.1분이었으며, Zvalue는 43.0±1.4oC로 나타났다. G. stearothermophilus 포 자의 D121-value는 4.3±0.1분이었으며, Z-value는 25.0±1.6oC 로 나타났다. B. atrophaeus 포자의 D121-value는 3.7±0.1분 이었으며, Z-value는 35.8±1.4oC로 나타났다. B. subtilis, G stearothermophilus와 B. atrophaeus 포자의 D121-value는 모 두 레토르트 식품 멸균 확인에 사용되는 C. botulinum 포 자의 D121-value 보다 높은 값을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과 를 종합하여 볼 때 레토르트 식품 멸균 시 병원성 포자형 성균인 C. botulinum 대신 B. subtilis, G. stearothermophilus, B. atrophaeus 포자를 사용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 또 한 기존 세균발육 실험에 소요되는 13일보다 단시간인 2- 3일에 멸균 여부를 확인할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

In this study, Bacillus velesensis TJS119, isolated from freshwater, demonstrated growth inhibition against insect pathogenic fungi. The culture medium of the B. velezensis TJS119 strain underwent sequential fractionation with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. Notably, the n-butanol fraction exhibited significant antifungal activity against Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana. LC/MS analysis of antifungal peaks identified the production of various lipopeptides by B. velezensis TJS119, including two types of iturin A (C14, C15), four types of fengycin A (C14, C15, C16, C17), and two types of fengycin B (C16, C17). The antifungal efficacy of Iturin A and Fengycin against insect pathogenic fungi was further validated using the paper disc diffusion method. These findings underscore the potential of B. velezensis TJS119 as a promising candidate for future research and applications in the realm of agricultural biological controls against fungal diseases.