• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.136-143
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• 2007

Despite the increased interests in biological control of soilborne diesease for environmental protection, biological control of bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum have not provided consistent or satisfying results. To enhance the control efficacy and reducing the inconsistency and variability, combinations of specific strains of microorganisms, each having a specific mechanism of control, were applied in this study. More than 30 microorganisms able to reduce the activity of pathogen by specific mechanism of action were identified and tested for their disease suppressive effects. After in vitro compatibility examinations, 21 individual strains and 15 combinations were tested in the greenhouse. Results indicated three-way combinations of different mode of control, TS3-7+A253-16+SKU78 and TS1-5+A100-1+SKU78, enhanced disease suppression by 70%, as compared to 30-50% reduction for their individual treatments. This work suggests that combining multiple traits antagonizing the pathogen improve efficacy of the biocontrol agents against Ralstonia solanacearum.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.526-538
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• 2016

Fumigants are used worldwide for control of biological agents that damage wooden cultural property. To establish a policy for fumigant use, biological evaluation of insects and microorganisms considering many factors is required. This study was performed to evaluate biological sensitivity and wood penetration of three fumigants applied for control of biological agents that damage wooden cultural properties in Korea. Among these, methyl bromide and ethylene oxide can control insects and fungi when exposed directly. However, they were unable to completely control biological agents within deeper parts of wood. Ethanedinitrile, which was developed as an alternative fumigant, exhibited outstanding wood penetration and biocidal efficacy. Further research involving various environmental conditions is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2018

In Singapore, biosafety and biosecurity measures are controlled by the Biological Agents and Toxins Act (BATA) and other requirements by regulatory agencies. The law prohibits and otherwise regulates the possession, use, import, transhipment, transfer, and transportation of biological agents, inactivated biological agents, and toxins that are of public health concern. The law also defines the facility requirements for high risk biological agents and toxins. The containment facility (BSL 3) is a minimum requirement to handle biological agents that falls under Schedule 1 (Risk Group 3). The Nanyang Technological University School of Biological Sciences Biosafety Level 3 Facility (NTU-SBS BSL 3) was designed specifically for research involving potential hazardous biological materials. The facility requires yearly re-certification by an approved facility certifier to meet the local requirements and international biosafety standards for a containment facility in many instances. On the other hand, most NTU researchers conduct biological projects involving biological agents with low or moderate risk groups (Risk Groups 1 and 2 or biological agents described in schedule 3 and 4 of BATA) and GMOs, which need only a BSL 2 laboratory. BSL 2 laboratories are yet to be legally certified or registered in Singapore. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) identifies the requirements; defines a minimum standard in the safe control of biological risks and registers all BSL 2 laboratories in the NTU. Therefore, under the guidance of the IBC, the University Biosafety and Biosecurity Programme includes the audit and certification program as a unique and an internal exercise to bring NTU biosafety to a higher level.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2014

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is one of the most important medicinal crops in many parts of the world. In this study, the effects of microelements, antioxidants, and bioagents on Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, and Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal pathogens of root rot and wilt diseases in roselle, were examined under field conditions. Preliminary studies were carried out in vitro in order to select the most effective members to be used in field control trials. Our results showed that microelements (copper and manganese), antioxidants (salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, and EDTA), a fungicide (Dithane M45) and biological control agents (Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis) were significantly reduced the linear growth of the causal pathogens. Additionally, application of the previous microelements, antioxidants, a fungicide and biological control agents significantly reduced disease incidence of root rot and wilt diseases under field conditions. Copper, salicylic acid, and T. harzianum showed the best results in this respect. In conclusion, microelements, antioxidants, and biocontrol agents could be used as alternative strategies to fungicides for controlling root rot and wilt diseases in roselle.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.203-214
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• 2021

This study aimed at establishing a packaging standardization method that allows the maintenance of biological control agents product quality during delivery. First, based on the results of distribution status analysis of biological control agent products from four manufacturers, we confirmed that the mean temperature was maintained at 25.6℃ (minimum and maximum temperatures.: 18.1 and 30.7℃, respectively) inside the packaging box of each company for 36-48 h. To establish the optimal packaging method for each season, seven external temperature conditions were set ranging between 0℃ and 30℃ at intervals of 5℃. In addition, we evaluated internal temperature maintenance performance for each coolant pack handling method and determined 14 packaging combinations. A packaging combination that maintained a temperature of 3℃ - 9.9℃ at each external temperature conditions was considered efficient. This temperature range is close to a lower developmental threshold at which the biological control agents can survive with minimum energy for 12 h (direct delivery time), or 36-48 h (general delivery time) after packaging.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.215-219
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• 2014

Background: Biological control of plant pathogens using benign or beneficial microorganisms as antagonistic agents is currently considered to be an important component of integrated pest management in agricultural crops. In this study, we evaluated the potential of Bacillus subtilis strain HK-CSM-1 as a biological control agent against Colletotrichum panacicola. Methods: The potential of B. subtilis HK-CSM-1 as a biological control agent for ginseng anthracnose was assessed. C. panacicola was inoculated to ginseng plants and the incidence and severity of disease was assessed to examine the efficacy of the bacterium as a biological control against C. panacicola. Results: Inoculation of Panax ginseng plants with B. subtilis significantly suppressed the number of disease lesions of C. panacicola and was as effective as the chemical fungicide iminoctadine tris(albesilate). The antifungal activity of B. subtilis against C. panacicola was observed on a co-culture medium. Interestingly, treatment with B. subtilis did not significantly affect the diameter of the lesions, suggesting that the mechanism of protection was through the reduction in the incidence of infection related to the initial events of the infection cycle, including penetration and infection via spore germination and appressorium formation rather than by the inhibition of invasive growth after infection. Conclusion: Our results suggest that B. subtilis HK-CSM-1 can be used as an effective and ecologically friendly biological control agent for anthracnose in P. ginseng.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 1995

Agrochemicals for the plant-disease control are criticized severely for causing environmental pollution and residual problems, and consequently microbial disease control agents are expected to be safer and more economical for sustainable agriculture. Treatment of biological control agents to seed requires the use of effective delivery systems that allow full expression of the benefical qualities of the bioprotectant. For the activation and establishment of bioprotectant around the plant seed which are able protect the seeds and seedlings from pathogen attack, the optimal liquid coating formulation was obtained using 2% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (binder), 20% sesame dregs (solid particulate material), and dried spore of Bacillus subtilis YBL-7 (bioprotectants, 10 mg/g of seed). Suppressive of root rot was demonstrated in pot trials with coated kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds. Coated seeds with B. subtilis YBL-7 spore in F. solani-infested soil reduced disease incidence by 85% to 90% after 30 days.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 1990

To detect and quantitation residual antibiotics and antibacterial agents in meats, we performed a biological assay employing the three microorganisms Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, and Bacillus cereus var. mycoides ATCC 11778 for the screening purpose and developed a Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry(GC/MS) analysis for the confirmation and quantiation. In the biological assay (paper disk method), three test solution are used depending on the character of the residual antibiotics and antibacterial agents, follow by a simple clean up procedure which includes homogenization with Mcilvaine buffer, defatting with includes homogenization with Mcilvaine buffer, defatting with hexane, extraction with chloroform, clean-up by Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ and Bakerbond SPE carboxylic acid column. The chloroform layer is used for the analysis of sulfa agents. macrolides antibiotics and antibacterial agents, Adsorbed materials in the Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ were also employed for th analysis of penicillins and tetracyclines. Effluents from the Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ were cleaned-up one more by Bakerbond 10 SPE COOH column and employed for the analysis of aminoglycosides. In the instrumental analysis by using the GC/MSD, residual antibiotics and antibacterial agent were quantitated by selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode after derivatization. A simultaneous analysis of six residual antibiotic and antibacterial agent such as oxytetracycline, penicillin, ampicillin, choliraphenicol and thiamphenicol was developed with simple cleanup procedures revealing good recovery and reproducibility. Also, simultaneous detection of macrolides antibiotics such as erythromycin, spiramycin, and oleandomycin was developed after acid hydrolysis due to their large molecular structures. Because of the high reproducibility and selectivity of these two methods, it is very desirable that the combination of the two methods be used in the bioassay for the screening of residual antibiotics and antibacterial agent and that GC/MSD analysis be used for the confirmation and quantitation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2011

Antagonistic rhizobacteria, more specifically fluorescent pseudomonads and certain species of Bacillus, are known as biocontrol agents of fungal root diseases of agronomic crops. In this study, 144 bacteria were isolated from cucumber rhizosphere and screened as potential biological control agents against Phytophthora drechsleri, the causal agent of cucumber root rot, in vitro condition. Non-volatile compounds of 23 isolates showed noticeable inhibition zone (> 30%) against P. drechsleri, whereas volatile compounds of 7 isolates could prevent more than 30% of the mycelial growth of the fungus. All promising isolates, except of Pseudomonas flourescens V69, promoted significantly plant growth under in vitro condition. P. flourescens CV69 and V11 exhibited the highest colonization on the root. Results of the greenhouse studies showed that a reduction in disease incidence by use of some strains, and particularly use of strains CV6 and V11 as a soil treatment, exhibited a reduction in disease incidence so that suppressed disease by 85.71 and 69.39% respectively. Pseudomonas flourescens CV6 significantly suppressed disease in comparison to Ridomil fungicide. The use of mixture bacterial strains in the soil inoculated by the fungus resulting in falling down the most of the plants which didn't show significant difference with infected control soils without bacteria.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.269-293
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• 2022

Oomycete pathogens that belong to the genus Phytophthora cause devastating diseases in solanaceous crops such as pepper, potato, and tobacco, resulting in crop production losses worldwide. Although the application of fungicides efficiently controls these diseases, it has been shown to trigger negative side effects such as environmental pollution, phytotoxicity, and fungicide resistance in plant pathogens. Therefore, biological control of Phytophthora-induced diseases was proposed as an environmentally sound alternative to conventional chemical control. In this review, progress on biological control of the soilborne oomycete plant pathogens, Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora infestans, and Phytophthora nicotianae, infecting pepper, potato, and tobacco is described. Bacterial (e.g., Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Chryseobacterium, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces) and fungal (e.g., Trichoderma and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) agents, and yeasts (e.g., Aureobasidium, Curvibasidium, and Metschnikowia) have been reported as successful biocontrol agents of Phytophthora pathogens. These microorganisms antagonize Phytophthora spp. via antimicrobial compounds with inhibitory activities against mycelial growth, sporulation, and zoospore germination. They also trigger plant immunity-inducing systemic resistance via several pathways, resulting in enhanced defense responses in their hosts. Along with plant protection, some of the microorganisms promote plant growth, thereby enhancing their beneficial relations with host plants. Although the beneficial effects of the biocontrol microorganisms are acceptable, single applications of antagonistic microorganisms tend to lack consistent efficacy compared with chemical analogues. Therefore, strategies to improve the biocontrol performance of these prominent antagonists are also discussed in this review.