Na-Ri Lee

Isolation and Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory and Antioxidative Activities

In this study, we isolated and characterized plant-associated lactic acid bacteria which are able to produce angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and antioxidative activities. Five lactic acid bacteria were isolated from plants (grape and leek), a plant-associated fermentative product (Kimchi) and Korean traditional alcohol (Dongdongju). Strains K-1 and K-21 from Kimchi, strain L-5 from leek, strain G-3 from grape, and strain D-3 from Dongdongju were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Weissella cibaria, L. plantarum, and L. brevis, respectively, by 16S rRNA gene analysis. ACE inhibitory activities of isolated strains ranged from 44.3 to 71.9% in the MRS broth. G-3, L-5 and K-1 strains especially showed high ACE inhibitory activities (59.8-98.69%) in the MRS broth containing skim milk. DPPH radical scavenging activities of the strains were in the range of 42.5-82.7%. All strains showed varying levels of resistance in artificial gastric fluid (pH 2.5), retaining viability ranging from 42.2 to 88.1% after 3 hr of incubation. All strains showed high resistance to 0.3% oxgall after 24 hr of incubation; survival rates were in the range of 55.4-112.8%. Isolated strains were found to be antagonistic to some pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Isolation and Characterization of Duck Feather-Degrading Microorganism for Treatment of Recalcitrant Keratinous Waste

We isolated and characterized novel duck feather-degrading bacteria producing keratinase. Twelve strains were isolated from soil and faces at poultry farm, and decayed feathers. They were identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus, Pseudomonas geniculata, Pseudomonas hibiscicola, Exiquobacterium profundum, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Bacillus thuringiensis, Thermomonas koreensis, respectively, by phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Generally, the level of keratinase production was not proportional to feather degradation rate. The highest keratinolytic activity was observed in the culture inoculated with Chryseobacterium indologenes D27. Although all strains did not degrade human hair, strains tested effectively degraded chicken feather(53.8-91.4%), wool(40.4-93.0%) and human nail (51.0-82.9%). These results suggest that strains isolated could be not only used to improve the nutritional value of recalcitrant feather waste but also is a potential candidate for biotechnological processes of keratin hydrolysis.

Isolation and Characterization of Feather Keratin-Degrading Bacteria and Plant Growth-Promoting Activity of Feather Hydrolysate

Abstract This study was conducted to isolate and characterize a novel feather-degrading bacterium producing keratinase activity. A strain K9 was isolated from soil at poultry farm and identified as Xanthomonas sp. K9 by phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene analysis. The cultural conditions for the keratinase production were 0.3% fructose, 0.1% gelatin, 0.04% K 2 HPO 4 , 0.06% KH 2 PO 4 , 0.05% NaCl and 0.01% FeSO 4 with an initial pH 8.0 at 30 ℃ and 200 rpm. In an optimized medium containing 0.1% chicken feather, production yield of keratinase was approximately 8-fold higher than the yield in basal medium. The strain K9 effectively degraded chicken feather meal (67%) and duck feather (54%), whereas human nail and human hair showed relatively low degradation rates (13-22%). Total free amino acid concentration in the cell-free supernatant was about 25.799 mg/l. Feather hydrolysate produced by the strain K9 stimulated growth of red pepper, indicating Xanthomonas sp. K9 could be not only used to increase the nutritional value of chicken feather but also a potential candidate for the development of natural fertilizer applicable to crop plant soil. Key Words :Feather, Fertilizer, Keratin, Keratinase

Pretreatment of Cane Molasses for Production of Bacterial Cellulose and Its Physico-Chemical Properties

The aim of this study is to investigate cane molasses pretreatments for the production of cellulose by Acetobacter sp. V6, which has excellent bacterial cellulose (BC) producing capacity in the shaking culture. Among pretreatments of cane molasses, 1% (w/v) tricalcium phosphate (TP) treatment was more efficient in BC production. The physico-chemical properties of BCs that were produced in static and shaking cultures were also investigated. Although BC had an emulsifying ability, its emulsion stability was low. Water holding capacity (WHC) of BC was high; the WHC of BC produced in static culture was 14 times higher than that of α-cellulose. In addition, the viscosity of BC was higher than that of α-cellulose. Composition analysis by FT-IR showed no difference in composition between BC and plant cellulose. In the crystallinity analysis by XRD, all BC samples showed crystallinity. All BC samples showed reticulated structures consisting of ultrafine cellulose fibriles. Microfibriles of cellulose from static culture were especially more compact than those of cellulose from shaking culture.

Keratinase Production by Recalcitrant Feather Degrading Pseudomonas Geniculata and Its Plant Growth Promoting Activity

Abstract We investigated the optimal conditions for keratinase production by feather-degrading Pseudomonas geniculata H10 using one variable at a time (OVT) method. The optimal medium composition and cultural condition for keratinase production were determined to be glucose 0.15% (w/v), beef extract 0.08% (w/v), KH 2 PO 4 0.12% (w/v), K 2 HPO 4 0.02% (w/v), NaCl 0.07% (w/v), MgSO 4 ․ 7H 2 O 0.03%, MgCl 2 ․ 6H 2 O 0.04% along with initial pH 10 at 200 rpm and 25 ℃ , respectively. The production yield of keratinase was 31.6 U/ml in an optimal condition, showing 4.6-fold higher than that in basal medium. The strain H10 also showed plant growth promoting activities. This strain had ammonification activity and produced indoleacetic acid (IAA), siderophore and a variety of hydrolytic enzymes such as protease, lipase and chitinase. Therefore, this study showed that P. geniculata H10 could be not only used to upgrade the nutritional value of feather wastes but also useful in situ biodegradation of feather wastes. Moreover, it is also a potential candidate for the development of biofertilizing agent applicable to crop plant soil.

Availability of Chicken Feather for Removal of Hexavalent Chromium and Oil

Abstract We investigated usefulness of chicken feather as bioadsorbent for removal of hexavalent chromium[Cr( Ⅵ )] and oil from aqueous solution. Chicken feather was chemically treated with DTPA, EDTA, NaOH and SDS, respectively. Among them, EDTA was the most effective in adsorbing Cr( Ⅵ ). Cr( Ⅵ ) uptake by chicken feather was increased with decreasing pH; the highest Cr( Ⅵ ) uptake was observed at pH 2.0. By increasing Cr( Ⅵ ) concentration, Cr( Ⅵ ) uptake was increased, and maximum Cr( Ⅵ ) uptake was 0.34 mmol/g. Cr( Ⅵ ) adsorption by chicken feather was well described by Freundlich isotherm than Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich constant(1/ n ) was 0.476. As the concentration of chicken feather was increased, Cr( Ⅵ ) removal efficiency was increased but Cr( Ⅵ ) uptake was decreased. Most of Cr( Ⅵ ) was adsorbed at early reaction stage(1 h) and adsorption equilibrium was established at 5 h. On the other hand, chicken feather adsorbed effectively oils including bunker-A and bunker-C. In conclusion, our results suggest that chicken feather waste could be used to remove heavy metal and oil; it is a potential candidate for biosorption material.

Biosynthesis and Control of Keratinase in Recalcitrant Feather-Degrading Bacillus megaterium F7-1

This study was performed to investigate the nutritional conditions controlling keratinase activity in Bacillus megaterium F7-1. B. megaterium F7-1 produced keratinase using chicken feather as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Addition of the feather medium with glucose enhanced keratinase production (68.9 U/ml), compared to control without glucose (63.2 U/ml). The synthesis of keratinase was repressed by addition of in B. megaterium F7-1. The highest keratinase production (70.9 U/ml) was obtained with the feather medium containing glucose and . Keratinase was produced in the absence of feather (4.9 U/ml), indicating its constitutive synthesis. Feather degradation resulted in free SH group formation. B. megaterium F7-1 effectively degraded chicken feather meal (86%), whereas duck feather, human nail, human hair and sheep wool displayed relatively low degradation rates (8-34%).