• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1016-1023
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• 2008

Lichens are predominant and important components of flora in the terrestrial ecosystem of Antarctica. However, relatively few researches on the phylogenetic position of Antarctic lichen-forming fungi have been accomplished. In this study, partial sequences of nuclear large subunit rDNAs from 50 Antarctic specimens were obtained and the phylogeny was reconstructed. Antarctic lichen species were distributed in 4 orders, including the monophyletic order Agyrales, paraphyletic orders Pertusariales and Teloschistales, and polyphyletic order Lecanorales. Species diversity was highest in the order Lecanorales, followed by Teloschistales and Pertusariales. Based on the phylogeny and sequence similarity analyses, it is proposed that the taxonomy of Stereocaulon alpinum, Physcia caesia, Usnea aurantiacoatra, and Cladonia species should be revised by careful examination of their phenotypic and molecular characteristics. Six species known to be endemic to Antarctica, Catillaria corymbosa, Himantormia lugubris, Leptogium puberulum, Pertusaria pertusa, Rhizoplaca aspidophora, and Umbilicaria antarctica, formed unique lineages, implying independent origins in the Antarctic area.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.17-32
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• 2020

Asterochloris is one of the most common genera of lichen phycobionts in Trebouxiophyceae. Asterochloris phycobionts associated with the lichenized fungi Cladonia and Stereocaulon in King George Island (Antarctica) and Morro Chico (Chile), were isolated and then used to establish clonal cultures. To understand the phylogenetic relationships and species diversity of Antarctic Asterochloris species, molecular and morphological data were analyzed by using three microscopy techniques (light, confocal laser and transmission electron) and a multi-locus phylogeny with data from the nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and the actin and plastid-encoded ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain (rbcL) coding genes. Morphological data of three Antarctic strains showed significant species-specific features in chloroplast while molecular data segregated the taxa into distinct three clades as well. Each species had unique molecular signatures that could be found in secondary structures of the ITS1 and ITS2. The species diversity of Antarctic Asterochloris was represented by six taxa, namely, A. glomerata, A. italiana, A. sejongensis, and three new species (A. antarctica, A. pseudoirregularis, A. stereocaulonicola).

• 보존과학연구
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• s.7
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• pp.11-23
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• 1986

Korea has a long history from several thousand years ago. Specially stonecultural properties were used for the long period in Korea. Ancient tombs of prehistoric age, Sukgul-am (stone cave), Chumsung-dae (astronomical observatory)and stone statue of Buddha in the period of three dynasties were made of stone. There after the foundation stone, mortarstone, millstone, and other stone facilities at home have been also used for a long time. For the conservation of the cultural properties, the ecological distribution of lichens was investigated with the stone buildings around tombs and multistory stonepagodas.1. Yoo-nung (The tomb of Emperor Sungjong) : The stone buildings of granitearound tomb about 80 years old are clean and solid in quality, but they were covered in places with three kinds of lichens as the circle forms of pale-green and dark-gray colored thallus in crustose type. They were examined ecological distribution, identification and measurement of lobe size of lichens.2. Yoong-nung (The tomb of son of Emperor Yung-jong) : Granite buildings around tomb about 200 years old are also clean, moreover, they were also covered with the same kinds of crustose lichens in overlap.3. Yung-nung (The tomb of Emperor Sejong) : More than seven species of crustose, foliose and one species of fruticose lichens were growing on thegranite stone buildings built in about 500 years ago.4. Shilluk-sa multistory brick pagoda : It was built at the Koryo dynasty more than about 700 years. More than 5 species of crustose folios and two species of fruticose lichens were growing well on the granite stone at shade area. It was assumed that foliose lichens as dominant species with the respect of ecological aspect.5. Shilluk-sa multistory marble pagoda : This marble pagoda was built at the middle period of the Koryo dynasty as the same age of multistory brick pagoda. It was covered with black colored thallus such as crustose lichens. It is seemed that only crustose lichens on the stone were due to the drymarble stone. From the results described above, distribution of lichens showed that only crustose lichens on the stone from the short history (about 100-200 years) were grown with small size of circle form, stone buildings over 500 years were covered with crustose, folios and fruticose lichens, and the lichens distribution on the stonemore than 500 years appeared more foliose and fruticose than crustose type. Therefore, it is suggested that the succession of lichens on the stone buildings iscrustose$\rightarrow$foliose$\rightarrow$fruticose.Parmelia mexicana, Cladonia floerkeana, Ramalina yasudae identified are described in this paper and other unidentified species of saxicolous lichens will bedescribed later.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2020

A lichen is a complex microorganism comprising fungi and algae. Various lichens are commonly found in cultural heritage and are reportedly related to weathering. Lichens are commonly studied in Europe; however, few reports exist on lichens in Korean cultural heritage. The present study was conducted as part of the Korean National Arboretum's "A study on the Fungus and Lichen." We report the lichen diversity found at the Placenta Chambers of King Sejong's Sons, Seongju. A total of 65 lichens were collected from 19 placenta chambers and one memorial stone. We identified 40 species belonging to 10 genera, 17 families, and 23 orders. Morphological identification revealed that foliose lichens in the form of leaves(24, 36.9%) and crustose lichens in the form of crust(24, 36.9%) were distributed at a higher percentage than that of fruticose lichen in the form of branches(17, 26.2%). Xanthoparmelia coreana(foliose lichen) and Lepraria sp.(crustose lichen) were the most collected lichens and were distributed on 19 chambers. In addition, Clodonia, a fruticose lichen, had the highest species diversity with eight species. The highest species diversity of lichens was identified on the chamber of Prince Kyeyang(16 lichens), whereas the chamber of Prince Geumsung had the lowest species diversity(five lichens). This study will be used as primary data for the study of distribution of lichen diversity in Korean cultural heritage.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 2016

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a multidrug-resistant(MDR) strain. (+)-Usnic acid(UA) is uniquely found in lichens, and is especially abundant in genera such as Usnea and Cladonia. UA has antimicrobial activity against human and plant pathogens. Therefore, UA may be a good antibacterial drug candidate for clinical development. In search of a natural products capable of inhibiting this multidrug-resistant bacteria, we have investigated the antimicrobial activity of UA against 17 different strains of the bacterium. In this study, the effects of a combination of UA and permeable agents against MRSA were investigated. For the measurement of cell wall permeability, UA with concentration of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA) was used. In the other hand, Sodium azide($NaN_3$) was used as inhibitors of ATPase. Against the 17 strains, the minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of UA were in the range of $7.81-31.25{\mu}g/ml$. EDTA or $NaN_3$ cooperation against MRSA showed synergistic activity on cell wall. UA and in combination with EDTA and $NaN_3$ could lead to the development of new combination antibiotics against MRSA infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 1985

This study was conducted to examine the pharmacological effect of water soluble extract of Lichens (Parmelia, Physcia and Cladonia species) on liver-damaged rat by $CCl_4$ injection. Rat livers were damaged acutely and chronically by one-time injection of $CCl_4$ just prior to five days of experimental period and continuous injections in every three days for eight weeks of experimental period, respectively. During each period the experimental group was fed Lichens extract(5.5 mg of dry wt/ml) instead of water given to the control group. For both acute and chronic liver damage, the experimental group showed higher oxidative activity of hepatic mitochondria measured by state 3 respiration, P/O ratio, respiratory control and ATP synthesized, compard to the control group. Serum glucose was slightly higher in the experimental group but liver glycogen showed no significant difference between experimental and control groups. In experimental group, liver glucose-6-phosphatase activity was increased during first two days after acute liver damage, but not significantly different from control group during chronic damage. Liver lactate, malate plus fumarte and glutamate tended to be higher in the experimental group, especially for chronic liver damaged rat. It is concluded that Lichens extract stimulate cytoplasmic and mitochondrial oxidative activities and the possible mechanism of the latter is supposed to involve the preservation of membrane integrity by certain component(s) of water-soluble Lichens extract.