• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2022

Fusarium head blight is an important disease of small grains. It is mainly caused by members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC). Barley and wheat growers spray fungicides, especially demethylation-inhibitor fungicides, to suppress the disease. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in the sensitivity of the FGSC population to the triazole fungicide, propiconazole. A total of 124 and 350 isolates of FGSC were obtained from barley and wheat in Jeolla Province during 2010-2016 and 2020-2021, respectively. The species identity and trichothecene chemotypes of the FGSC isolates were determined based on polymerase chain reaction assays targeting translation elongation factor 1-alpha and TRI12 genes, respectively. Sensitivity to propiconazole was determined based on the effective concentration that reduced 50% of the mycelial growth (EC₅₀) using the agar dilution method. Of all isolates, F. asiaticum with the nivalenol chemotype was the most common (83.9% in 2010-2016 and 96.0% in 2020-2021), followed by F. asiaticum with the 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol chemotype (12.1% in 2010-2016 and 2.9% in 2020-2021). The EC₅₀ values of the isolates collected in 2010-2016 and 2020-2021 ranged from 0.0180 to 11.0166 ㎍/mL and 1.3104 to 17.9587 ㎍/mL, respectively. The mean EC₅₀ value of the isolates increased from 3.8648 ㎍/mL in 2010-2016 to 5.9635 ㎍/mL in 2020-2021. The baseline resistance to propiconazole was determined to be 7 ㎍/mL, based on the EC₅₀ value of isolates collected in 2010-2016, and the ratio of resistant isolates increased from 9.7% in 2010-2016 to 28.6% in 2020-2021.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.949-955
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• 2009

Mucosal epithelia sense external stress signals and transmit them to the intracellular cascade responses. Ribotoxic stress-producing chemicals such as deoxynivalenol (DON) or other trichothecene mycotoxins have been linked with gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases by Fusarium-contamination. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that DON evokes the epithelial sentinel signals of RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) and early growth response gene 1 (EGR-1), which together contribute to the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) in human intestinal epithelial cells. PKR suppression by the dominant negative PKR expression attenuated DON-stimulated interleukin-8 production. Moreover, 1L-8 transcriptional activation by DON was also reduced by PKR inhibition in the human intestinal epithelial cells. Treatment with the PKR inhibitor also suppressed EGR-1 promoter activity, mRNA and protein induction, although mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases such as extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2, p38, c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (INK) were little affected or even enhanced in presence of a PKR inhibitor. These patterns were also compared in the EGR-1-suppressed cells, which showed much more suppressed production of 1L-8. All things taken into consideration, DON-activated sentinel signals of EGR-1 via PKR mediated interleukin-8 production in human intestinal epithelial cells, which provide insight into the possible general mechanism associated with mucosal inflammation as an intestinal toxic insult by ribotoxic trichothecene mycotoxins.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2017

This paper deals with the natural occurrence of total aflatoxins ($B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$, and $G_2$) in commercial herbs for food and medicine. To monitor aflatoxins in commercial herbs for food and medicine not included in the specifications of Food Code, a total of 62 samples of 6 different herbs (Bombycis Corpus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Menthae Herba, Nelumbinis Semen, Polygalae Radix, Zizyphi Semen) were collected from Yangnyeong market in Seoul, Korea. The samples were treated by the immunoaffinity column clean-up method and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with on-line post column photochemical derivatization (PHRED) and fluorescence detection (FLD). The analytical method for aflatoxins was validated by accuracy, precision and detection limits. The method showed recovery values in the 86.9~114.0% range and the values of percent coefficient of variaton (CV%) in the 0.9~9.8% range. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) in herb were ranged from 0.020 to $0.363{\mu}g/kg$ and from 0.059 to $1.101{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. Of 62 samples analyzed, 6 semens (the original form of 2 Nelumbinis Semen and 2 Zizyphi Semen, the powder of 1 Nelumbinis Semen and 1 Zizyphi Semen) were aflatoxin positive. Aflatoxins $B_1$ or $B_2$ were detected in all positive samples, and the presence of aflatoxins $G_1$ and $G_2$ were not detected. The amount of total aflatoxins ($B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$, and $G_2$) in the powder and original form of Nelumbinis Semen and Zizyphi Semen were observed around $ND{\sim}21.8{\mu}g/kg$, which is not regulated presently in Korea. The 56 samples presented levels below the limits of detection and quantitation.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2012

Gibberellea fujikuroi species (Gf) complex comprises at least 15 species, most of which not only causes serious plant diseases, but also produces mycotoxins including fumonisins. Here, we focused on the abilities of the field isolates belonging to the Gf complex associated with rice and corn, respectively in Korea to produce fumonisin, all of which were confirmed to carry FUM1, the polyketide synthase gene essential for fumonisin biosynthesis. A total of 88 Gf complex isolates (55 F. fujikuroi, 10 F. verticillioides, 20 F. proliferatum, 2 F. subglutinans, and 1 F. concentricum), and 4 isolates of F. commune, which is a non-member of Gf complex, were grown on rice substrate and determined for their production levels of fumonisins by a HPLC method. Most isolates of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum, regardless of host origins, produced fumonisin $B_1$ and $B_2$ at diverse ranges of levels ($0.5-2,686.4{\mu}g/g$, and $0.7-1,497.6{\mu}g/g$, respectively). In contrast, all the isolates of F. fujikuroi and other Fusarium species examined produced no fumonisins or only trace amounts ($<10{\mu}g/g$) of fumonisins. Interestingly, the frequencies of relatively high fumonisin-producers among the F. proliferatum and F. fujikuroi isolates derived from corn were higher than those among the fungal isolates from rice. In addition, it is a first report demonstrating the ability of the FUM1-carrying F. commune isolates from rice to produce fumonisins.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.1843-1847
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• 2013

This study is carried out to sanitize rape (Brassica napus) pollen by gamma irradiation. Rape pollens were treated with 0, 5, 10 and 15 kGy gamma irradiations, and then analyzed for the following: general composition, microbial population, reducing sugar, Hunter color values, TBARS (2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) values, and VBN (volatile basic nitrogen). Mold and coliform bacteria were not detected in the samples irradiated at 5 kGy or more. Yeasts and total aerobic bacteria were not detected in the samples irradiated at 10 kGy or more (<$10^2$ CFU/g). Moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, reducing sugar and the contents of volatile basic nitrogen in the irradiated pollen did not show any significant changes by irradiation. Hunter color values, $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$ values were decreased with increment of irradiation dose. TBARS values were increased with an increment of irradiation dose. In conclusion, gamma irradiation at 5 kGy was considered to be an effective treatment to control for mycotoxin producing fungi in rape pollen to minimize changes of general composition and physicochemical properties. Further studies should be investigated to reduce the detrimental effects induced by irradiation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2015

Bioaerosols are comprised of particles 0.02-100 μm in size that originate in natural and artificial environments, and as a result of human activities. They consist of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa; fungal spores; microbial toxins; pollen; plant or animal material; expectorated liquid from humans; and glucans (peptidoglycan and β-glucan). Bioaerosols can cause respiratory and other diseases in humans and animals. In this study, bioaerosol samples acquired from agricultural sources, livestock, a sewage treatment plant, a beach, and a pristine area were analyzed to identify and phylogenetically characterize culturable microorganisms. The isolated bacteria exhibited regional differences, with different species dominating. However, Bacillus cereus was isolated in all samples, with a total of 31 strains isolated from all areas, and Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated from an indoor poultry farm. In addition, bacteria determined to be of novel genus or species of the genera Domibacillus, Chryceobacterium, Nocardioides and family Comamonadaceae were isolated from the agricultural, livestock and beach environments.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.312-316
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to establish an analytical method to detect zearalenone (ZEA) in herbal medicines and their decoctions and investigate the ZEA transfer rate from raw materials of herbal medicines to their decoctions. Herbal medicines (Trichosanthis Semenm, Eucommiae Cortex, Rubi Fructus) spiked with a known concentration of ZEA were presoaked or unsoaked (as a pretreatment) and boiled for 3 h at $100^{\circ}C$ or autoclaved for 1 h at $121^{\circ}C$. The decoction and the remnants were separated, cleaned up with an immunoaffinity column, and analyzed using HPLC. Recoveries for decoctions and remnants were 68.39-83.68% and 72.91-80.25%, respectively. ZEA was not detected in the decoction, whereas it was found in the remnants. Although ZEA in the raw material of herbal medicines was not transferred into the decoction during heating and autoclaving, the continuous monitoring for ZEA in raw herbal medicines should be carried out for the safe ingestion and utilization of herbal medicines.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.354-359
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• 2008

A survey for zearalenone contamination was conducted on 27 soy bean samples, 27 red bean samples, 16 black bean samples, 19 seoritae samples, 14 seomoktae samples, for a total of 127 commercial Korean samples. Zearalenone was quantified by the immunoaffinity column clean-up method with high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD), and was confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS). The limits of detection and quantification were $2.0{\mu}g/kg$ and $6.0{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. The recovery in the beans ranged from 82.2 to 98.4%. According to HPLC-FLD, zearalenone was detected in 13 samples (10.2% incidence), including 1 soybean and 12 red bean samples. The zearalenone contamination levels were in the range of 8.01${\sim}38.98{\mu}g/kg$. Finally, LC-MS/MS analysis was conducted in the contaminated samples to verify the results of HPLC-FLD. The LC-MS/MS results confirmed the presence of zearalenone in all 13 samples. The contamination level was lower than that of EU, which is below $100{\mu}g/kg$ for raw grains.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 1982

Seventy two samples of feedstuff were collected from commercial channels all over Korea. As a study on the moisture contents, microflora and mycotoxin production of each sample investigated. Moisture content of the samples was $11.2{\sim}15%$. Total counts of the samples were $1.8{\times}10^{2}{\sim}2.4{\times}10^{6}$ per gram. The Coli-form group were counted from 9 to $6.3{\times}10^{5}$ per gram which composed mainly of Enterobacter and Klebsiella, whereas Escherichia coli was minor ones. The contamination of many feeds was not remarkable, and only some broiler feeds was contaminated largely with Escherchia coli. Fungi were below detectable limit in 45% of the samples and the most contaminated sample had $4.5imes}10^{5}/g fungi counts.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-173
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• 2009

A survey of total aflatoxin levels was conducted on 145 samples(carthamiflos, thujae semen, giycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma) collected in Yakyeang markets in Seoul. Aflatoxin levels were quantified by the immunoaffinity column clean-up method followed by performance liguid chromatography(HPLC)-fluorescence detector(FLD). Aflatoxins were found in 10(6.9%)samples including 5 Arecae semen, 4 Thujae semen, 1 Zizyphi semen with a range of $0.45{\sim}79.15\;{\mu}g/kg$. Generally These results show that the contamination level of aflatoxins in Herb Medicines consumed in Korea is high compared with the standard in Korea Herb Medicine Code($10\;{\mu}g/kg$ as aflatoxin B1). It is considered that aflatoxin concentration was increased in herb medicines during a storage and drying in herb medicines examined