• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.967-973
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• 2020

The fungal cell wall is a major target of antifungals. In this study, we report the antifungal activity of an ethanol extract from Aucklandia lappa against Candida albicans. We found that the extract caused cell wall injury by decreasing chitin synthesis or assembly and (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthesis. A sorbitol protection assay demonstrated that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the A. lappa extract against C. albicans cells increased eight-fold from 0.78 to 6.24 mg/ml in 72 h. Cell aggregates, which indicate damage to the cell wall or membrane, were commonly observed in the A. lappatreated C. albicans cells through microscopic analysis. In addition, the relative fluorescence intensities of the C. albicans cells incubated with the A. lappa extract for 3, 5, and 6 h were 92.1, 84.6, and 79.8%, respectively, compared to the controls, estimated by Calcofluor White binding assay. This result indicates that chitin content was reduced by the A. lappa treatment. Furthermore, synthesis of (1,3)-β-D-glucan polymers was inhibited to 84.3, 79.7, and 70.2% of that of the control treatment following incubation of C. albicans microsomes with the A. lappa extract at a final concentration equal to its MIC, 2× MIC, and 4× MIC, respectively. These findings suggest that the A. lappa ethanol extract may aid the development of a new antifungal to successfully control Candidaassociated disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권5호
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• pp.505-511
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• 2019

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare sight-threatening corneal infection, often reporting from contact lens wearers. An asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Thai male without history of contact lens use complained foreign body sensation at his left eye during motorbike riding. He had neither specific keratitis symptoms nor common drugs responding, which contributed to delayed diagnosis. By corneal re-scraping, Acanthamoeba-like cysts were detected by calcofluor white staining and agar culture. The etiological agent obtained from the culture was molecularly confirmed by Acanthamoeba spp.-specific PCR, followed by DNA sequencing. The results from BLAST and phylogenetic analysis based on the DNA sequences, revealed that the pathogen was Acanthamoeba T4, the major genotype most frequently reported from clinical isolates. The infection was successfully treated with polyhexamethylene biguanide resulting in corneal scar. This appears the first reported AK case from a non-contact lens wearer with HIV infection in Thailand. Although AK is sporadic in developing countries, a role of free-living Acanthamoeba as an opportunistic pathogen should not be neglected. The report would increase awareness of AK, especially in the case presenting unspecific keratitis symptoms without clinical response to empirical antimicrobial therapy.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.29-33
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• 2010

KGD1 유전자는 비허용온도에서 세포벽에 결함을 보이는 Saccharomyces cerevisiae LP0353 균주의 베타-1,3-글루칸 합성 효소의 활성을 회복시키는 유전자로 분리되었다. $\alpha$-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase를 암호화하는 KGD1 유전자의 효모의 세포벽 합성과 연관된 기능을 분석하기 위하여 유전자 파괴를 시도하였다. KGD1돌연변이는 생장속도가 감소하고, 키틴 합성 효소들의 활성이 증가하였으며, 세포벽 구성 당류의 함량에 변화를 보였다. 또한 Calcofluor white과 Nikkomycin Z 등과 같은 세포벽 합성 저해물질에 대해 감수성 변화를 나타냈다. 이러한 결과들은 KGD1이 효모의 세포벽 특히 베타-1,6-글루칸과 키틴의 생합성에 영향을 주고 있음을 시사한다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.185-189
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• 2003

Chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14) was isolated from the culture filtrate of Streptomyces sp. M-20 and purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. No exochitinase activity was found in the culture filtrate. The molecular mass of the purified chitinase was 20 kDa, estimated by a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and was confirmed by activity staining with Calcofluor White M2R. Chitinase was optimally active at pH of 5.0 and at $30^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was stable from pH 4 to 8, and up to $40^{\circ}C$. Among the metals and inhibitors that were tested, the $Hg^+$, $Hg^{2+}$, and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid completely inhibited the enzyme activity. The chitinase activity was high on colloidal chitin, chitotriose, and chitooligosaccharide. The purified chitinase showed antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, and lysozyme activity against the cell wall of Botrytis cinerea.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.311-315
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• 1995

Assay conditions for screening of $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase inhibitor were evaluated. Cells in the beginning of mid-log phase showed the highest activity of the $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase. Cells permeabilized with 1% digitonin treatment could be used as a good crude enzyme source for convenient screening of the $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase inhibitors. Calcofluor white (0.125% in final) and papulacandin B (25 $\mu$g/ml) inhibit 90% and more than 50% of the $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase activity, respectively. Cells grown at 37$\circ$C showed higher enzyme activity than those of 25$\circ$C. Catalytic factor of the $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase was solubilized from particulated membrane preparations, holoenzyme, by extracting with 0.00938% CHAPS.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.131-135
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• 2014

Acanthamoeba cysts are resistant to unfavorable physiological conditions and various disinfectants. Acanthamoeba cysts have 2 walls containing various sugar moieties, and in particular, one third of the inner wall is composed of cellulose. In this study, it has been shown that down-regulation of cellulose synthase by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly inhibits the formation of mature Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts. Calcofluor white staining and transmission electron microscopy revealed that siRNA transfected amoeba failed to form an inner wall during encystation and thus are likely to be more vulnerable. In addition, the expression of xylose isomerase, which is involved in cyst wall formation, was not altered in cellulose synthase down-regulated amoeba, indicating that cellulose synthase is a crucial factor for inner wall formation by Acanthamoeba during encystation.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2009

Early studies claimed that heterotrophic dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida and related genera may produce a putative water-soluble toxin that causes death of fish and other marine animals. Several methods were tested to visualize plate morphology of Cryptoperidiniopsis brodyi and Pfiesteria piscicida. Cellulose plates of cells were exposed and visualized- by a membrane stripping method using Triton X-100. While calcofluor M2R white stain could readily bind to the thecal plates, details of the plate tabulation were difficult to observe. Fixation with osmium tetroxide $(OsO_4)$ produced well preserved cells with little morphological distortion, but thecal plates could not be visualized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation using the membrane stripping method showed distinctive plate tabulations between C. brodyi and P. piscicida suggesting that this method is a useful tool for morphological identification of lightly armored dinoflagellates.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1806-1816
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• 2019

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus possessing multiple virulence factors controlling pathogenicity. Cell wall proteins are the most important among these factors, being the first elements contacting the host. Ddr48 is a cell wall protein consisting of 212 amino acids. A DDR48 haploinsufficient mutant strain was previously found necessary for proper oxidative stress response and drug resistance. In this study, we aimed to further elucidate the role of Ddr48 by performing additional phenotypic characterization assays. A combinatory proteomic and bioinformatics approach was also undertaken to determine differentially expressed cell wall proteins. Results showed that the mutant strain exhibited a 10% decrease in adhesion mirrored by a 20% decrease in biofilm formation, and slight sensitivity to menadione, diamide, and SDS. Both strains showed similar hyphae formation, virulence, temperature tolerance, and calcofluor white and Congo red sensitivities. Furthermore, a total of 8 and 10 proteins were identified exclusively in the wild-type strain grown under filamentous and non-filamentous conditions respectively. Results included proteins responsible for superoxide stress resistance (Sod4 and Sod6), adhesion (Als3, Hyr4, Pmt1, and Utr2), biofilm formation (Hsp90, Ece1, Rim9, Ipp1, and Pra1) and cell wall integrity (Utr2 and Pga4). The lack of detection of these proteins in the mutant strain correlates with the observed phenotypes.

• Mycobiology
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.102-107
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• 2010

We identified a gene for $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthesis (GBG1), a nonessential gene whose disruption alters cell wall synthesis enzyme activities and cell wall composition. This gene was cloned by functional complementation of defects in $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase activity of the the previously isolated Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant LP0353, which displays a number of cell wall defects at restrictive temperature. Disruption of the GBG1 gene did not affect cell viability or growth rate, but did cause alterations in cell wall synthesis enzyme activities: reduction of $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase and chitin synthase III activities as well as increased chitin synthase I and II activities. GBG1 disruption also showed altered cell wall composition as well as susceptibility toward cell wall inhibitors such as Zymolyase, Calcofluor white, and Nikkomycin Z. These results indicate that GBG1 plays a role in cell wall biogenesis in S. cerevisiae.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.805-812
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• 1998

연구배경: 주폐포자충 페렴은 면역 부전 환자들에게서 발생하는 흔한 기회감염증이다. 주폐포자충폐렴 환자의 기관지폐포 세척액에서 동반 검출되는 거대세포바이러스의 주폐포자충 폐렴의 예후에 미치는 영향에 대한 보고들은 후천성 면역 결핍 증후군 환자들을 대상으로 하고 있으며 그 결과에 대해서는 논란이 있다. 이에 저자들은 기관지폐포 세척액에서 거대세포바이러스가 동반 검출된 환자군이 포함된 주폐포자충 폐렴으로 증명된 환자들을 대상으로 임상 소견을 고찰 하였다. 방 법: AIDS가 아닌 주폐포자충 폐렴이 진단된 10명의 의무기록을 분석 하였으며 흉부 단순 촬영 소견은 폐 침윤, 결절 형성, 늑막액 여부등을 조사 하였다. 각 수치는 중앙값(범위)로 표기하였고 주폐포자충 폐렴의 사망 관련 인자 분석에는 Fisher's exact test와 Mann-Whitney U test를 이용하였다. 결 과: 기저 질환은 신 이식(n=4), 특발성 폐 섬유화증(n=1), 혈관염 (n=1), 전신성 홍반성 낭창(n=1), 뇌 종양(n=1), 만성 골수성 백혈병(n=1)과 기저질환을 모르는 환자가 1예였다. 단독으로 주폐포자충 폐렴이 있는 군과 거대세포바이러스 동반 검출 군 사이에 임상 경과의 차이는 없었으며, 기계 환기 여부(p=0.028), APACHE III 점수 (p=0.018), 혈중 알부민 농도(p=0.048)등이 주폐포자충 폐렴의 예후와 관련이 있었다. 결 론: 기관지폐포 세척액에서 거대세포바이러스가 동반 검출된 주폐포자충 폐렴 환자의 임상 경과는 비검출 환자들과 유사 하였으며 호흡 부전 동반, 고 APACHE III 점수, 부실한 영양 상태등이 주폐포자충 폐렴의 불량한 예후와 연관 되어 있었다.