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박수제 교수팀, 해양환경 독성제거 새 미생물 발견
Prof. Park SJ finds microbe capable of ocean detoxication

Jeju National University (Song Seok-Eon, President) announced today (November 2, 2020) that Professor Park Soo Jae’s research team discovered two nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms that detoxicate the Jeju ocean floor deposits for the first time in Korea.

Professor Park and his international collaborators have been searching for aerobic prokaryotic nitrite oxidizers.

Nitrite is a growth inhibitor used to preserve Processed meat products, but it is a toxic substance (at concentrations >4.2 g) and classified as a second degree carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research of Cancer ( IARC ). The two bacterial species have been named Nitrospina MSP and Nitrospira DJ, which have been characterized by physiological and genomic properties.

Dr. Park noted that these two prokaryotic bacteria are relatively rare organisms, only 5 such species have been found worldwide.

Through genomic analysis, the JNU team discovered that the bacteria are capable of synthesizing vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and predicted that they form and excrete the vitamin to the oceanic environment.

JNU President Song applauded the work being very significant as the bacteria could contribute to the conservation of the oceanic environment in and around the Jeju sea.

The research results were published in the journal, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (AEM; http://aem.asm.org/), an American Society for Microbiology organ in its November 2020 issue.

The ASM journal is one of the most prestigious International journals in the field of microbiology.

It is significant that its publication in AEM represents first publication dealing with nitrite oxidation in Korea.