• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.226-229
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• 2016

The growth of two different fungal species, human pathogenic Cryptococcus neoformans and plant pathogenic Alternaria alternata were inhibited by a chitinase (Chi2) expressed in the autolysing tissue of Coprinellus congregatus. The cell wall thickness was reduced (up to 32%) in C. neoformans compared with that of normal cell, and polysaccharide fibers located outside of the cell wall were also severely removed. The hyphal growth of A. alternata on agar plate was stopped by the enzyme. The allergic inflammation induced by A. alternata was reduced by the enzyme reaction when compared with untreated control in a mouse model.

• Mycobiology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.162-165
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• 2003

Three hundred and sixty five samples of avian droppings, collected from parks and zoo, were investigated for the occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans in Korea. Thirteen samples were positive for C. neoformans. All isolates were obtained from withered pigeon droppings. Identification and serotyping of isolates were determined by means of serological test and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) fingerprinting. All isolates belonged to C. neoformans var. grubbi(serotype A).

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.166-169
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• 2002

Twenty strains of Cryptococcus neoformams isolated from environmental and clinical sources in Korea were examined for their serotypes. Two environmental isolates from pigeon excreta belonged to C. neoformans var. neoformans serotypes A. Of the 18 isolates from clinical specimens, 17 belonged to C. neoformans vats, neoiomans (serotype A : 16, serotype D : 1) and one belonged to C. neoformans vats, gattii serotype B, which was culturally unusual, producing mucous colonies. This is the first report of the identification of C. neoformans roar, gattii serotype B from a patient in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.469-472
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• 2005

Seventy-two pigeon dropping samples were collected from 26 different localities in Seoul and investigated for the occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans. Seventeen samples from 8 different localities were found to be positive for C. neoformans. All isolates were obtained from withered pigeon droppings. Identification and serotyping of the isolates were determined by means of serological testing and DNA fingerprinting. All isolates belonged to C. neoformans var. grubbi (serotype A).

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.255-257
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• 2012

Among 80 types of yeast isolated from wild flowers in Daejeon, Korea, two species that have not yet been identified by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS2) genes and 26S rDNA sequences were identified as Candida sp. 44-C-1 and Cryptococcus sp. 9-D-1. Neither of the newly identified species formed ascospores, while Candida sp. 44-C-1 formed pseudomycelium and Cryptococcus sp. 9-D-1 did not.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 1993

This study was done to elucidate the electron microscopic characteristics of certain pathogenic fungi. Four Candida species, (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrate) and Cryptococcus neoformans were cultured for 3 days at $30^{\circ}C$ in the Sabouraud dextrose medium. After incubation, they were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 24hours. Fine structures were analyzed by morphometry, and Tukey's HSD test was used for statistics. On scanning electron microscopy C. albicans and C. neoformans were similar in size but different in shape, showing sphero-shape or ovalo-shape in C. neoformans. Surface of C. neoformans was coarse and spiny, but Candida species examined were uniformly smooth. In size, C. glabrata was the smallest among them. Budding scar as seen on the surface of Candida species by the number ranging from 1 to 7. Cryptococcus neoformans showed one or two budding scar. On transmission electron microscopy the cytoplasm of most yeast cells showed plentiful glycogen particles, mitochondria, peroxisomes and vacuoles. However, cell walls were different among four Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans. The cell wall of Candida species consisted of fibrous layer, that was electron dense layer and transparent layer, in contrast to Cryptococcus neoformans consisted of electron dense layer with lamellar structure. This layer was two times thicker than that of Candida species. The outer layer of cell wall was of radiating pattern.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.402-406
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• 2014

Six kinds of newly recorded yeasts such as Rhodosporidium diobovatum SY4-2, Cryptococcus bestiolae SY7-1, Kazachstania unispora SY14-1, Kazachstania servazzii SY14-3, Pichia holstii SY20-2 and Cryptococcus tephrensis SY26-1 were screened from sixty one yeasts derived from wild flowers found in Seonyudo, Gogunsanyeoldo, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. All of them grew in 50% glucose-containing yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) broth and Pichia holstii SY20-2 was also halophile, growing in 20% NaCl-containing YPD broth. All of them, except Cryptococcus tephrensis SY26-1, were assimilated to glucose. Cell-free extract from Kazachstania servazzii SY14-3 showed the highest 98.6% of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity and maximal production of the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor was obtained with 24h incubation at $30^{\circ}C$. The antihypertensive angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity of the unrecorded yeasts were showed 58.6-80.4% in their supernatants.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 1996

일반적인 치료에 반응을 나타내지 않는 호흡곤란증에 걸린 4년령의 Shepherd개에서 피부, 눈, 림프절의 병변을 동반한 치명적인 파종성 크립토콕스병이 진단되었다. 세포학적검사에 의해 난원형 내지 구형이고, 두꺼운 협막을 갖고 있는, 형태학적으로 Cryptococcus neoformans와 일치하는 효모균이 증명되었다. 이 병원체는 혈액, 오줌, 콧물, 견갑전림프절 흡인물, 피부생검 시료, 피부 면봉 시료 등을 25$\circ $C의 Pal씨 배지에 접종하여 용이하게 분리되었다 배양물을 PHOL염색액으로 염색하여 현미경으로 검사한 결과 얇은 막에 싸인 발아를 나타내거나. 나타내지 않는 구형 내지 난원형의 효모균이 증명되었다. 이 개는 ketaconazole 로 치료를 시작 한 후 6일만에 폐사하였다. 공기, 흙, 비둘기 배설물, 톱밥 등을 Pal씨 배지에 접종하여 C.neoformans가 배양됨으로써 역학적으로 환경이 병원소 역할을 한 것으로 판단되었다. 환축과 환경으로부터 분리된 균주는 세밀한 동정결과 neoformans (serotype AD)에 속하며, Filobasidiella neoformans "alpha" mating type을 나타내었다. 이 연구결과, Pal씨 배지가 크립토콕스병의 조기진단과 역학적 조사에 훌륭한 감별배지라는 것이 입증되었다. 개량된 Pal씨 배지는 C. neoformans의 genetic crossing을 판단하는데 성공적으로 사용할 수 있었다.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1972

The present study is of ultra-fine structure of Cryptococcus neoformans by means of electron microscopy and reveals the following : 1) In constrast to the bacteria, the normal Cryptococcus neofrmans contains nuclear enveloped with nuclear menbrane, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, distinct cell wall and cell membrane, vacuoles and storage granules as observed in the eucaryotic cells. 2) In apparent cell walls and cell membrane with the appearance of electron transparent area (ETA) and changes of cell morphology were observed in the ultra-violet ray irradiated cell. 2) In apparent cell walls and cell membrance with the appreance of electron transparent area (ETA) and changes of cell morphology were observed in the ultra-violet ray irradiated cell. 3) Morphology changes and cytoplasmic element abnormality was increased with irradiated time. 4) Increase of electron transparent area was thought to be associated with degradation of cell.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.452-462
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• 2023

Opportunistic infections due to Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes continue to rise unabated among HIV/AIDS patients, despite improved antifungal therapies. Here, we collected a total of 20 environmental and 25 presumptive clinical cryptococcal isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 175 patients enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial Ambition 1 Project (Botswana-Harvard Partnership). Identity confirmation of the isolates was done using MALDI-TOF MS and PCR. We describe the diversity of the isolates by PCR fingerprinting and sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technology) of the intergenic spacer region. Mating types of the isolates were determined by amplification of the MAT locus. We report an unusual prevalence of 42.1% of C. neoformans × C. deneoformans hybrids Serotype AD (n = 16), followed by 39.5% of C. neoformans Serotype A (n = 15), 5.3% of C. deneoformans, Serotype D (n = 2), 7.9% of C. gattii (n = 3), and 5.3% of C. tetragattii (n = 2) in 38 representative isolates that have been characterized. Mating type-specific PCR performed on 38 representative environmental and clinical isolates revealed that 16 (42.1%) were MATa/MAT𝛼 hybrids, 17 (44.7%) were MAT𝛼, and five (13.2%) possessed MATa mating type. We used conventional and NGS platforms to demonstrate a potential link between environmental and clinical isolates and lay a foundation to further describe mating patterns/history in Botswana.