• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.774-781
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• 2011

Nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid are used for acid pickling in zirconium alloy tubing manufacturing process. Nitrate and fluoride in the wastewater were treated by chemical coagulation and SOD (Sulfur Oxidation Denitrification) process. This study is investigated the effect of fluoride concentration and the optimal condition for SOD process. The limited fluoride concentration for SOD process was below 20 mg F-/L. The adjusted pH and alkalinity by NaOH and $NaHCO_3$ was shown to be more effective for removal of nitrate compared with using NaOH. Furthermore, the microbial activator mixed trace elements and ingredient for alkalinity did not only supplement with alkalinity but also enhance the growth and proliferation for sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. As a result, the inorganic industrial wastewater was successfully treated by the microbial activator in SOD process without continuous addition of seed sludge. Finally, SOD process was shown to remove nitrate in industrial wastewater and to contribute the microbial activator for activation of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.989-992
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• 2003

Recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator deletion mutein (Reteplase) is a clinically promising thrombolytic drug. Reteplase cDNA was subcloned into a bacteria expression system, and the resultant recombinant was biologically characterized. The Reteplase was expressed in Escherichia coli as an inclusion body, and the downstream processes of the Reteplase inclusion body included denaturation, renaturation, and purification. A protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was used to assist the refolding of Reteplase, and it was found to increase the refolding rate from less than 2％ to more than 20％. The refolded Reteplase was purified through two chromatography steps, including lysine-coupled agarose affinity chromatography and then CM-sepharose cation-exchange chomatography. The purity of r-PA was analyzed by Western bolt analysis, and N-terminal amino acid and amino acid composition analyses confirmed the end-product. Reteplase showed higher thrombolytic potency in an animal thrombus model.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2011

In this study, the soil remediation by landfarming was carried out using microbial activators. Feasibility studies and reduction capacity of TPH(Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) were investigated in order to find out how fast and eco-friendly the contaminated soil can be recovered. The lab-test confirmed not only the performance and degradation efficiency of microbial activators but also the effect of TPH reduction in the contaminated soil. The optimum growth conditions for indigenous microorganisms were identified using microbial activators. Based on the results of TPH removal, although there had been a little of difference in between natural decomposition and microbial activators until 20 days, the sample groups of microbial activators were higher than the control ones after 20 days. Microbial activators were applied to the field experiments on landfarming. Based on the results of removal rate in each floor of soil, it was found that the removal rates were 85.8 % in the upper, 84.4 % in the middle, and 66.10 % in the bottom. Considering that the reduction rate of TPH for the control group averaged 71.1%, the microbial activators might not be fully transferred into the bottom, which resulted from the piles of soil. As the piles have already reached 1 m in the field experiments, the low piles of soil under 0.6 m may enhance the treatment efficiency of TPH.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.765-774
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• 2021

Although research on the osteal signaling pathway has progressed, understanding of gut microbial-dependent signaling pathways for metabolic and immune bone homeostasis remains elusive. In recent years, the study of gut microbiota has shed light on our understanding of bone homeostasis. Here, we review microbiota-mediated gut-bone crosstalk via bone morphogenetic protein/SMADs, Wnt and OPG/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand signaling pathways in direct (translocation) and indirect (metabolite) manners. The mechanisms underlying gut microbiota involvement in these signaling pathways are relevant in immune responses, secretion of hormones, fate of osteoblasts and osteoclasts and absorption of calcium. Collectively, we propose a signaling network for maintaining a dynamic homeostasis between the skeletal system and the gut ecosystem. Additionally, the role of gut microbial improvement by dietary intervention in osteal signaling pathways has also been elucidated. This review provides unique resources from the gut microbial perspective for the discovery of new strategies for further improving treatment of bone diseases by increasing the abundance of targeted gut microbiota.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2015

In this study, a blast furnace slag with the alkaliphilic microorganism (Bacillus halodurans) alkaline activator was used to cement natural soils in the field. A low-cost and massive microbial solution for cementation of field soils was produced and compared with existing microbial culture in terms of efficiency. A field soil was prepared for three different cementation areas: a cemented ground with microbial alkaline activator (Microbially-treated soil), a cemented ground with ordinary Portland cement (Cement-treated soil), and untreated ground (Non-treated soil). The testing ground was prepared at a size of 2.6 m in width, 4 m in length, and 0.2 m in depth. After 28 days, a series of unconfined compression tests on the cement-treated and microbially-treated soils were carried out. On the other hand, a torvane test was carried out for non-treated soil. The strength of field soils treated with microorganism was 1/5 times lower than those of cement-treated soil but is 6 times higher than non-treated soil. The pH measured from microbially-treated soil was about 10, which is lower than that of cement-treated soil (pH = 11). Therefore, it is more eco-friendly than Portland cemented soils. The C-S-H hydrates were found in both cement- and microbially-treated soils through SEM-EDS analyses and cement hydrates were also found around soil particles through SEM analysis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.472-477
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• 2020

Osteoclasts are hematopoietic-derived cells that resorb bone. They are required to maintain proper bone homeostasis and skeletal strength. Although osteoclast differentiation depends on receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) stimulation, additional molecules further contribute to osteoclast maturation. Here, we demonstrate that protocadherin-7 (Pcdh7) regulates formation of multinucleated osteoclasts and contributes to maintenance of bone homeostasis. We found that Pcdh7 expression is induced by RANKL stimulation, and that RNAi-mediated knockdown of Pcdh7 resulted in impaired formation of osteoclasts. We generated Pcdh7-deficient mice and found increased bone mass due to decreased bone resorption but without any defect in bone formation. Using an in vitro culture system, it was revealed that formation of multinucleated osteoclasts is impaired in Pcdh7-deficient cultures, while no apparent defects were observed in differentiation and function of Pcdh7-deficient osteoblasts. Taken together, these results reveal an osteoclast cell-intrinsic role for Pcdh7 in maintaining bone homeostasis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2014

NF-${\kappa}B$ is a transcriptional factor which is involved in many biological processes including immunity, inflammation, and cell survival. Many investigators studied on the mechanism involved in activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ signalling pathway via ubiquitination and degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ regarding skin disease. Some specific molecules including Akt, MEK, p38 MAP Kinase, Stat3, et al. represent convergence points and key regulatory proteins in signaling pathways controlling cellular events such as growth and differentiation, energy homeostasis, and the response to stress and inflammation. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has many adverse effects on skin, including inflammation, alteration in the extracellular matrix, cellular senescence, apoptosis and skin cancer. Prunus mume, a naturally derived plant extract, has beneficial biological activities as blood fluidity improvement, anti-fatigue action, antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities, inhibiting the motility of Helicobacter pyolri. Previous reports on various beneficial function prompted us to investigate UVB-induced or other immunostimulated biological marker regarding P. mume extract. P. mume extract suppresses UVB-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in mouse skin epidermal JB6 P+ cells. The activation of activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ induced by UVB was dose-dependently inhibited by P. mume extract treatment. This results suggest that P. mume extracts might be used as a potential agents for protection of inflammation or UVB induced skin damage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1270-1281
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• 2018

Periodontal disease is triggered by the host immune response to pathogens in the microbial biofilm. Worsening of periodontal disease destroys the tooth-supporting tissues and alveolar bone. As oral inflammation can induce systemic diseases in humans, it is important to prevent periodontal disease. In this study, we demonstrated that Curcuma xanthorrhiza supercritical extract (CXS) and its active compound, xanthorrhizol (XAN), exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated human gingival fibroblast-1 cells and anti-osteoclastic effects on receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)-treated RAW264.7 cells. LPS-upregulated inflammatory factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B p65 and $interleukin-1{\beta}$, were prominently reduced by CXS and XAN. In addition, RANKL-induced osteoclastic factors, such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells c1, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and cathepsin K, were decreased in the presence of CXS and XAN. CXS and XAN inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathway. Collectively, these results provide evidence that CXS and XAN suppress LPS-induced inflammation and RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by suppressing the MAPK/AP-1 pathway.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2024

Recently, enhanced in situ bioremediation using slow substrate release techniques has been actively researched for managing TCE-contaminated groundwater. This study conducted a lab-scale batch reactor experiment to evaluate the feasibility of natural attenuation for TCE dechlorination using microsized corn-oil droplet (MOD) as an activator considering the following three factors: 1) TCE dechlorination in the presence or absence of MOD; 2) TCE dechlorination in the presence or absence of inactivator of native microbial activity; and 3) MOD concentration effects on TCE dechlorination. Batch reactors were constructed using site groundwater and soil in which Dehalococcoides bacteria were present. Without MOD, TCE was decomposed into dichloroethylene (DCE). However, other by-products of TCE dechlorination were not detected. With MOD, DCE, vinyl chloride (VC), and ethylene (ETH) were sequentially observed. This result confirmed that MOD effectively supplied electrons to complete dechlorination of TCE to ETH. However, when an excess of MOD was provided, it formed unfavorable conditions for anaerobic digestion because dechlorination reaction did not proceed while propionic acid was accumulated after DCE was generated. Therefore, if an appropriate amount of MOD is supplied, MOD can be effectively used as a natural reduction activator to promote biodegradation in an aquifer contaminated by TCE.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1644-1653
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• 2014

Wuyiencin is produced by Streptomyces ahygroscopicus var. wuyiensis CK-15 and is widely used as an antifungal agent in agriculture. Analysis of wuyiencin biosynthetic gene clusters reveals wysR, a member of the LAL-family of transcriptional regulatory genes. WysR consists of an N-terminal PAS domain and a LuxR family C-terminal helix-turn-helix motif. However, the roles of wysR in wuyiencin biosynthesis are largely unknown. In this study, we showed that inactivation of wysR resulted in the complete loss of wuyiencin production, which could be restored by complementation with a single copy of wysR. Furthermore, we successfully increased wuyiencin production to a significantly higher level by overexpression of wysR in S. wuyiensis CK-15. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that WysR regulates wuyiencin biosynthesis by modulating other putative regulatory genes. Thus, WysR was identified as an activator of wuyiencin biosynthesis, and overexpression of wysR gene proved to be an effective strategy for improving wuyiencin production.