• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2021

Saengcheonggukjang, known as Natto in Japan, is a soybean fermented food which is made from steamed soybean, Bacillus and water. Demand of Saengcheonggukjang has increased because it does not have much smell compared to Cheonggukjang. Seven varieties of Saengcheonggukjang were investigated and compared in terms of 100 seed weight, quality characteristics, hard seed rate, and water absorption rate in order to determine the suitability of Korean soybeans. In addition, each characteristic of Saengcheonggukjang was compared. 'Hoseo' and 'Haewon' showed low 100 seed weight with 8.41 g and 8.11 g, respectively. The water absorption rate was higher in 'Hoseo' and 'Pungwon' than in Japan varieties. The yield of Saengcheonggukjang was significantly different for each variety. No differences were observed in yield and hardness of Saengcheonggukjang with respect to the varieties and sowing date. 'Haewon' showed the highest amino nitrogen content with 575.0 mg%. Viscous material content did not appear to differ between varieties. These results suggested that 'Hoseo' and 'Haewon' can be considered as suitable candidates for yield and quality of Saengcheonggukjang compared to Japan varieties.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2020

Two Bacillus strains, K3 and K208, both demonstrating strong fibrinolytic activities were isolated from Kimchi, a traditional Korean preparation of fermented vegetables. Isolates were subjected to various molecular biology based identification methods including RAPD-PCR and identified as B. subtilis and B. velezensis, respectively. Tryptic soy broth (TSB) was found to best maintain both the growth and the fibrinolytic activity of these strains. Culture supernatants were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and fibrin zymography, and the results indicate that a 40 and 27 kDa band seem to be responsible for the fibrinolytic activities of these two isolates and the 27 kDa band was subsequently identified as the mature form of AprE, the major fibrinolytic enzyme. Thus the aprE genes were cloned and the translated amino acid sequences demonstrated 99.3% identity with each other, and 86.5% identity with BsfA, a fibrinolytic enzyme from B. subtilis ZA400 also isolated from Kimchi, and AprE2, a fibrinolytic enzyme from B. subtilis CH3-5 isolated from Cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean fermented soy. Given this B. subtilis K3 and B. velezensis K208 may be promising starter cultures in the production of fermented foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.833-839
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• 2021

Bacillus subtilis CH3-5 isolated from cheonggukjang secretes a 28 kDa protease with a strong fibrinolytic activity. Its gene, aprE3-5, was cloned and expressed in a heterologous host (Jeong et al., 2007). In this study, the promoter of aprE3-5 was replaced with other stronger promoters (P_cry3A, P₁₀, P_SG1, P_srfA) of Bacillus spp. using PCR. The constructed chimeric genes were cloned into pHY300PLK vector, and then introduced into B. subtilis WB600. The P10 promoter conferred the highest fibrinolytic activity, i.e., 1.7-fold higher than that conferred by the original promoter. Overproduction of the 28 kDa protease was confirmed using SDS-PAGE and fibrin zymography. RT-qPCR analysis showed that aprE3-5 expression was 2.0-fold higher with the P10 promoter than with the original promoter. Change of the initiation codon from GTG to ATG further increased the fibrinolytic activity. The highest aprE3-5 expression was observed when two copies of the P₁₀ promoter were placed in tandem upstream of the ATG initiation codon. The construct with P10 promoter and ATG and the construct with two copies of P10 promoter in tandem and ATG exhibited 117% and 148% higher fibrinolytic activity, respectively, than that exhibited by the construct containing P10 promoter and GTG. These results confirmed that significant overproduction of a fibrinolytic enzyme can be achieved by suitable promoter modification, and this approach may have applications in the industrial production of AprE3-5 and related fibrinolytic enzymes.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.438-441
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• 2024

The Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) strain AK_C_05 was isolated from cheonggukjang, the Korean traditional food, collected from a local market in South Korea. In this report, we presented the complete genome sequence of E. faecium strain AK_C_05. The genome of E. faecium strain AK_C_05 genome consisted of one circular chromosome (2,691,319 bp) with a guanine + cytosine (GC) content of 38.3% and one circular plasmid (177,732 bp) with a GC content of 35.48%. The Annotation results revealed 2,827 protein-coding sequences (CDSs), 18 rRNAs, and 68 tRNA genes. It possesses genes, which encodes enzymes such as alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22), beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) and alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) enabling efficient utilization of carbohydrates. Based on Clusters of Orthologous Groups analysis, E. faecium strain AK_C_05 showed specialization in carbohydrate transport and metabolism indicating the ability to generate energy using a variety of carbohydrates.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.226-235
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the cholesterol lowering effect and weight reduction of autoclaved soy flour, cheonggulgang and doenjang, which are fermented using Bacillus subtilis DJI, in rats fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g, were divided into five groups; a normal diet group (N), a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet group (HFC), a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet with 5% autoclaved soy flour group (HFC-S), a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet with 5% cheonggulgang group (HFC-CJ), and a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet with 5% deonjang group (HFC-DJ). The body weight gain and adipose tissues weights increased in rats fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet, but decreased significantly in rats fed autoclaved soy flour, cheonggulgang and doenjang, compared with the HFC group. Food intake was lower in the all HFC groups (HFC, HFC-S.HFC-CJ and HFC-DJ) than that of the N group, However, there was no differences in the food intake between HFC diet groups. Serum triglyceride level increased with a high-fat/high-cholesterol dietgroup whereas HFC-CJ and HFC-DJ groups were markedly decreased serum triglyceride levels compared with N group. Levels of serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and level of total cholesterol in the liver were significantly lower in the HFC-S group, the HFC-CJ group and the HFC-DJ group than that of the HFC group, but exerted no significant change between the HFC groups on levels of total lipid and triglyceride in the liver. Fecal total lipid content increased in the HFC-CJ group and the HFC-DJ group than those of the HFC group and HFC-S group. The activities of heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase (HR-LPL) and total-extractable LPL in adipose tissues decreased in the HFC-S group, the HFC-CJ group and the HFC-DJ group compared with the HFC group. These results suggest that dietary cheonggulgang and doenjang may exert cholesterol-lowering effect and prevent obesity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2006

The quality characteristics and functional properties of fermented soybean by lactic acid bacteria (FSB) were investigated and compared with those of soybean (control) and commercial cheonggukjang Powder (CGP). The crude protein, lipid, and fiber contents of FSB were similar to those in CGP. The vitamin $B_2$ content in FSB (1.4 mg%) was similar to the control (1.3 mg%) whereas it was remarkably low in the CGP (0.2 mg%). The bright yellow color of FSB determined by Hunter's colormeter was quite different from the dark reddish brown color of the CGP. The pH of FSB was the lowest and thee amino-nitrogen was 517.2 mg%, which was higher than that in CGP (468.1 mg%). Glutamic acid, aspartic acid and leucine were the most abundant amino acids. In particular, the increase in the glutamic acid level was noticeable in FSB. The fatty acid compositions of FSB and CGP were similar to the control. However, the sucrose and fructose levels were lower after fermentation but the glucose level was higher. The results of isoflavone analysis by HPLC showed that the levels of daidzein and genistein in FSB were as much as 48.33 and 52.82 mg%, respectively, which is higher than that found in CGP. The DPPH free radical scavenging effects of FSB and CGP were 1.8 times higher an those of the control. The fibrinolytic activity determined by the diameter of the lysed area on the fibrin plate was the most effective in FSB. In conclusion, it is believed that FSB has a similar or higher quality than CGP. Therefore, FSB is expected to be good functional food material.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.600-606
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• 2012

A Bacillus sp. that produces fibrinolytic enzyme was isolated from Cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean soybean-fermented food. According to 16S rRNA gene base sequencing, the bacillus was identified as a variety of Bacillus subtilis, and named Bacillus subtilis IDCC 9204. Fibrinolytic enzyme NK-IL9204 was stable up to $60^{\circ}C$ and within pH range of 5-10. Purified NK-IL9204 was detected through fibrin zymography. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of the enzyme were estimated to be 27.7 kDa and 6.7 by SDS-PAGE and 2D electrophoresis, respectively. Its amino acid sequence was similar to that of nattokinase (identities 99.5%) and different from that of nattokinase BPN (identities 86.4%). The plasma fibrinolytic activity of NK-IL9204 was measured by euglobulin clot lysis times (ECLT). The NK-IL9204 was orally administered to SD rats for 3 weeks (1,000 FU/rat/day). The ECLT was significantly shortened by supplementation of NK-IL9204.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.4 s.100
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• pp.511-529
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate traditional Kyunggi area Korean foods suitable for standardization and commercialization as well as to investigate the perceptions of experts about these foods, and to analyze the important value factor characteristics according to classified traditional food groups by residents of the Kyunggi(n=104)areas of Korea. We determined the degree of value of various traditional foods by asking respondents to 13 items based on a 5 point Likert scale, and used the total scores of the items to determine their value. Based on the results of the total scores and frequently chosen foods, we attempted to select the foods suitable for standardization and commercialization. The results are summarized as follows. For main dishes Ogok-bap was selected as the primary suitable for standardization and commercialization. Next were Incheon yeong yang bap, Hobak-beombek, Hobak-juk, Gesungpyeonsu, Tteokguk, Kimchibap, Kimchimandu, and bap, respectively. Of the side dishes Bossam-kimchi was selected as the primary suitable food for standardization and commercialization followed by Bindaetteok, Sondubu, Samgyetang, Baekkimchi, Doenjang-jjigae, Suwongalbi, Japchae, and Cheonggukjang-jjigae, respectively. Finally, for favorite foods, Duteop-tteok was selected as the primary food suitable for standardization and commercialization. Next were Jeungpyeon, Yakgwa, Yaksik, Maejakgwa, Ssuk-tteok, Yeongeunjeonggwa, Songpyeon, and Osaekdasik, respectively. This study shows that a resident's evaluation of a traditional Kyunggi Korean food is affected by the their sense of value of the food, as well as by the social structure, which includes the population, economic condition, food policies, industrial technology, and culture. This research was conducted to preserve traditional Kyunggi Korean foods and to improve this area's regional income from the prospect of sellable goods. We expect that this research to be used as basic data in the development of new commercial traditional foods by the food industry, by offering a better understanding of diverse consumer sense and to also be used with dietary education data relative to following traditional meal patterns for diverse age groups.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2016

Two Bacillus strains, CJW15 and SSD8, with strong antibacterial activities were isolated from cheonggukjang. Both were identified as B. amyloliquefaciens strains after gene sequencing of rRNA and recA. CJW15 strongly inhibited the growth of B. cereus (ATCC14579), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC19111), and Lactococcus lactis (ATCC11454). In comparison, SSD8 inhibited the growth of B. cereus (ATCC14579) and Enterococcus faecium (ATCC19953). The antibacterial activities of the two strains were not affected when exposed to a temperature of $100^{\circ}C$ for 15 min and were quite stable in acidic (pH 3) and alkaline (pH 12) pH conditions. Enzymatic treatments (trypsin, pepsin, proteinase K, and protease) had no effect on the activity of CJW15, but reduced the activity of SSD8 by half. Both isolates possess genes involved in the synthesis of lipopeptides (e.g. surfactin, fengycin, iturin, and iturin A), and genes encoding subtilin, a bacteriocin. Moreover, both isolates have fibrinolytic activities as well.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2013

Lactic acid bacteria are microorganisms that are closely associated with human and/or animal environments, and are categorized as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) organisms due to their ubiquitous appearance in foods and their contribution to the healthy microflora of mucosal surfaces. This study was performed to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria with antagonistic effects against food-borne pathogens. A total of 3,000 acid-producing bacteria were isolated from infant feces, cattle feces, goat feces, dog feces, pig feces, vaginal tracts, vegetables, fruits, Kimchi, Jeotgal, fermented sausages, raw milk, cheese, yogurt, Cheonggukjang, Meju, and Makgeolli cultured on MRS agar with 0.05% bromocresol purple. For the isolation of bacteriocin-producing bacteria, the diameter of the clear zone was measured on MRS agar plates. Twenty-six isolates exhibited strong antibacterial activity against indicator strains such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. Lactic acid bacteria were identified as Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus amylovorus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Pediococcus acidilactici by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. The results of this study suggest that the isolates could be used as potential probiotic starters for functional food applications.