Domestic islands and coastal areas have yielded a significant discovery of 310 bacterial species, many of which have not been previously reported in South Korea. Some of these bacteria exhibit properties that could lead to the development of antimicrobial and anticancer substances, as well as support for plant growth, highlighting their potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, and eco-friendly agriculture.
The National Institute of Biological Resources, under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, announced on July 7 that it has identified a total of 310 species, including 13 new species and 297 unrecorded species, following a five-year survey of over 100 native bacterial resources in domestic islands and coastal regions from 2021 to last year.
Researchers collected samples from seawater, marine sediments, halophytes, and soil to isolate and identify the bacteria. Since 2023, the eco-friendly research vessel 'Seomnurimho' has been deployed to expand the survey to remote islands such as Gageodo, Chuja-do, and Eocheongdo, which are difficult to access.
The survey also identified unrecorded species with industrial potential. One such bacterium, 'Jusikella harenae,' discovered last year on Yuldo, produces a bright red pigment called prodigiosin.
Prodigiosin has been reported to possess various biological activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, and immune-modulating properties, making it a candidate for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. The institute believes this bacterium could be utilized in related industries.
Another unrecorded species, 'Rosebium salinum,' was isolated from the roots of halophytes on Goha Island. This bacterium has the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form that plants can use, indicating its potential for supporting plant growth in eco-friendly agriculture.
The institute plans to use the newly identified species and unrecorded species as foundational data for biodiversity research in islands and coastal areas and to include them in the national species list. The goal is to continuously secure microbial resources from islands and coastal regions, which are sensitive to climate change and rich in biodiversity, thereby expanding the foundation for the biological resource industry.
Park Jin-young, director of the National Institute of Biological Resources, stated, "We will continue long-term surveys and resource discoveries in island and coastal areas to secure useful biological resources and expand research, thereby strengthening the link between biodiversity research and industrialization."
The National Institute of Biological Resources, under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, announced on July 7 that it has identified a total of 310 species, including 13 new species and 297 unrecorded species, following a five-year survey of over 100 native bacterial resources in domestic islands and coastal regions from 2021 to last year.
Researchers collected samples from seawater, marine sediments, halophytes, and soil to isolate and identify the bacteria. Since 2023, the eco-friendly research vessel 'Seomnurimho' has been deployed to expand the survey to remote islands such as Gageodo, Chuja-do, and Eocheongdo, which are difficult to access.
The survey also identified unrecorded species with industrial potential. One such bacterium, 'Jusikella harenae,' discovered last year on Yuldo, produces a bright red pigment called prodigiosin.
Prodigiosin has been reported to possess various biological activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, and immune-modulating properties, making it a candidate for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. The institute believes this bacterium could be utilized in related industries.
Another unrecorded species, 'Rosebium salinum,' was isolated from the roots of halophytes on Goha Island. This bacterium has the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form that plants can use, indicating its potential for supporting plant growth in eco-friendly agriculture.
The institute plans to use the newly identified species and unrecorded species as foundational data for biodiversity research in islands and coastal areas and to include them in the national species list. The goal is to continuously secure microbial resources from islands and coastal regions, which are sensitive to climate change and rich in biodiversity, thereby expanding the foundation for the biological resource industry.
Park Jin-young, director of the National Institute of Biological Resources, stated, "We will continue long-term surveys and resource discoveries in island and coastal areas to secure useful biological resources and expand research, thereby strengthening the link between biodiversity research and industrialization."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.