Marinobacterium boryeongense sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated DMHB-2, was isolated from a sample of seawater collected off the Yellow Sea coast of the Republic of Korea. Cells were short rods and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Catalase and oxidase activities were positive.

Gemmobacter straminiformis sp. nov., isolated from an artificial fountain.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and facultative anaerobic bacterium, designated CAM-8, was isolated from an artificial fountain at Chonbuk National University, South Korea. The novel strain grew at 20-37 °C (optimum 25 °C), pH 5.5-7.

Uliginosibacterium flavum sp. nov. isolated from an artificial lake.

A Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, motile by means of a polar flagellum, greenish-yellow-pigmented bacterial strain (designated strain JJ3220) was isolated from an artificial lake in South Korea and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JJ3220 indicated that the isolate belongs to the family Rhodocyclaceae, and that it exhibits 96.4% similarity to Uliginosibacterium paludis KBP-13.

Viridibacterium curvum gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from freshwater.

A Gram stain-negative, yellowish green-pigmented, facultatively anaerobic, motile, curved rod-shaped bacterium designated as strain JJ016 was isolated from an artificial lake in South Korea, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JJ016 indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Rhodocyclaceae and exhibited 95.0% identity to Uliginosibacterium gangwonense 5YN10-9.

gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel bacterial strain, designated MIC2059, which was isolated from Ungok Wetland of Gochang in Korea. Cells of the isolate were found to be Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belonged to the family , with as its closest relative, with a similarity of 94.

Antimicrobial Effects and Resistant Regulation of Magnolol and Honokiol on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The antimicrobial killing activity toward methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been a serious emerging global issue. In a continuing search for compounds with antibacterial activity against several microorganisms including S. aureus and MRSA, an n-hexane extract of Magnolia officinalis was found to contain magnolol.

Flaviaesturariibacter amylovorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a starch-hydrolysing bacterium, isolated from estuarine water.

A novel bacterial strain, designated GCR0105(T), was isolated from a water sample of the Mangyung estuary enclosed by the Saemangeum Embankment, located in JEOLlabuk-do, South Korea. Cells of strain GCR0105(T) were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. Colonies of strain GCR0105(T) were pale yellow-pigmented on R2A agar and nutrient agar media, and were able to grow at 15-30 °C (optimum 25 °C) and pH 6.

Biosorption of cationic basic dye and cadmium by the novel biosorbent Bacillus catenulatus JB-022 strain.

Biosorption of heavy metals and dyes is a promising technology that involves the removal of toxic metals from industrial wastes. The present study aims to screen the bacterial strains isolated from soils and polluted pond for their potential biosorption of both cationic dye and cadmium. Bacillus catenulatus JB-022 strain removed 58% and 66% of cationic basic blue 3 (BB3) and cadmium (Cd(II)) at the respective concentrations of 2000 mg/L and 150 mg/L.

Pedobacter pituitosus sp. nov., isolated from a waterfall.

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel bacterial strain, designated MIC2002(T), which was isolated from Wibong falls in Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rods, 0.3-0.

Psychroflexus salarius sp. nov., isolated from Gomso salt pan.

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel bacterial strain, designated MIC1008(T), which was isolated from the Gomso salt pan, located in Buan County, Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and moderately halophilic rods, 0.2-0.

The MpkB MAP kinase plays a role in autolysis and conidiation of Aspergillus nidulans.

The mpkB gene of Aspergillus nidulans encodes a MAP kinase homologous to Fus3p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is involved in conjugation process. MpkB is required for completing the sexual development at the anastomosis and post-karyogamy stages. The mpkB deletion strain could produce conidia under the repression condition of conidiation such as sealing and even in the submerged culture concomitant with persistent brlA expression, implying that MpkB might have a role in timely regulation of brlA expression.

Nibribacter koreensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from estuarine water.

A Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, red-pigmented bacterium, designated strain GSR3061(T), was isolated from a water sample of the Mangyung estuary enclosed by the Saemangeum Embankment in JEOLlabuk-do of South Korea, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain GSR3061(T) indicated that the isolate belonged to the phylum Bacteroidetes and exhibited similarity levels of 94.7 % to Rufibacter tibetensis NRRL B-51285(T), 92.

Hymenobacter koreensis sp. nov. and Hymenobacter saemangeumensis sp. nov., isolated from estuarine water.

Two Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and red-pink-pigmented bacterial strains, designated GYR3077(T) and GSR0100(T), were isolated from a water sample of the Mangyung estuary enclosed by the Saemangeum Embankment in JEOLlabuk-do, South Korea, and were characterized using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA genes of strains GYR3077(T) and GSR0100(T) exhibited sequence similarities of 95.9 % to Hymenobacter deserti ZLB-3(T) and 96.

Nibrella saemangeumensis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Nibrella viscosa sp. nov., novel members of the family Cytophagaceae, isolated from seawater.

Two strains, designated GCR0103(T) and GYR3121(T), were isolated from seawater of the Saemangeum Embankment in Jeollabuk-do, Korea. The cells of the two strains were Gram-reaction-negative and non-motile, and formed multicellular filaments. The colonies of the two strains were pink-pigmented and able to grow at 15-37 °C (optimum 25 °C) on R2A and NA medium.

Dyadobacter jejuensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel bacterial strain, designated AM1R11(T), which was isolated from seawater of Jeju Island in Korea. Cells of the isolate were found to be Gram-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Cytophagaceae, with Dyadobacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 043(T) as its closest relative, with a similarity of 96.

Flavobacterium aciduliphilum sp. nov., isolated from freshwater, and emended description of the genus Flavobacterium.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated strain JJ013(T), was isolated from an artificial lake in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JJ013(T) indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae and exhibited similarity levels of 96.6 % to the type strains of Flavobacterium cheonanense and Flavobacterium koreense and 96.

Flavobacterium fontis sp. nov., isolated from freshwater.

A taxonomic study was carried out on a novel bacterial strain, designated MIC3010(T), which was isolated from a freshwater pond in Jeonju, Republic of Korea. Cells of the isolate were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae, with Flavobacterium haoranii LQY-7(T) as its closest relative, with a similarity of 94.

Pontibacter saemangeumensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

A gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and pink bacterial strain, designated strain GCM0142(T), was isolated from the confined seawater in the Saemangeum Tide Embankment of South Korea, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain GCM0142(T) indicated that the isolate belonged to the phylum Bacteroidetes and exhibited similarity levels of 94.0-96.

The MpkB MAP kinase plays a role in post-karyogamy processes as well as in hyphal anastomosis during sexual development in Aspergillus nidulans.

Two genes encoding MAP kinase homologs, designated as mpkB and mpkC, were isolated from Aspergillus nidulans by PCR with degenerate primers. Deletion and over-expression mutants of mpkC showed no detectable phenotypes under any external stress tested. Deletion of mpkB caused pleiotropic phenotypes including a failure in forming cleistothecia under any induction conditions for sexual development, increased Hülle cell production, slow hyphal growth and aberrant conidiophore morphology.

Surface modification of and selective protein attachment to a flexible microarray pattern using atmospheric plasma with a reactive gas.

The hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of the surface of poly-ether sulfone (PES) films were controlled by an atmospheric pressure plasma (AP) treatment using reactive gases (Ar/H(2) and Ar/O(2)). The surface properties of the Ar/H(2) and Ar/O(2) in series AP-treated PES films showed higher surface roughness (approximately 120%), surface energy (approximately 30%) and hydrophilic properties (oxygen content approximately 10%) than the Ar/O(2) AP-treated PES film. The protein staining results confirmed that an activated region on the patterned PES film with high selectivity and sensitivity was well-defined and formed.

The veA gene is necessary for the negative regulation of the veA expression in Aspergillus nidulans.

The veA gene is one of the key genes in regulating sexual development of Aspergillus nidulans. During the study on the veA gene, it was observed that the veA expression level is slightly higher in a veA1 mutant than in a wild type at 37 degrees C, suggesting that the wild type veA gene is necessary for the negative regulation of the veA expression. In the veA1 mutant, the veA expression was higher than in a wild type grown at 42 degrees C but equal at 30 degrees C.

The isolation and characterization of Pseudozyma sp. JCC 207, a novel producer of squalene.

In examining the production of valuable compounds by marine microorganisms, we isolated a novel yeast strain that produces a large amount of squalene and several polyunsaturated fatty acids. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal DNA suggest that the isolate belongs to the genus Pseudozyma, which comprises ustilaginomycetous anamorphic yeasts. The nucleotide sequence of an internally transcribed spacer region from isolate Pseudozyma sp.

The Aspergillus nidulans esdC (early sexual development) gene is necessary for sexual development and is controlled by veA and a heterotrimeric G protein.

The esdC (early sexual development) gene was isolated by using an expressed sequence tag (EST) as a probe from a genomic library of the early sexual developmental stage mycelia of Aspergillus nidulans. The sequence analysis revealed that the esdC gene contains a 59bp intron and encodes a 266 amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 29.4kDa.