• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권11호
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• pp.1420-1427
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• 2023

The forkhead domain genes are important for development and morphogenesis in fungi. Six forkhead genes fkhA-fkhF have been found in the genome of the model filamentous Ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans. To identify the fkh gene(s) associated with fungal development, we examined mRNA levels of these six genes and found that the level of fkhB and fkhD mRNA was significantly elevated during asexual development and in conidia. To investigate the roles of FkhB and FkhD, we generated fkhB and fkhD deletion mutants and complemented strains and investigated their phenotypes. The deletion of fkhB, but not fkhD, affected fungal growth and both sexual and asexual development. The fkhB deletion mutant exhibited decreased colony size with distinctly pigmented (reddish) asexual spores and a significantly lower number of conidia compared with these features in the wild type (WT), although the level of sterigmatocystin was unaffected by the absence of fkhB. Furthermore, the fkhB deletion mutant produced sexual fruiting bodies (cleistothecia) smaller than those of WT, implying that the fkhB gene is involved in both asexual and sexual development. In addition, fkhB deletion reduced fungal tolerance to heat stress and decreased trehalose accumulation in conidia. Overall, these results suggest that fkhB plays a key role in proper fungal growth, development, and conidial stress tolerance in A. nidulans.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제59권4호
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• pp.281-284
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• 2016

To handle the development of antifungal drug resistance, the development of new structural modules and new modes of action for antifungals have been highlighted recently. Here, the antifungal activity of quinonemethidal triterpenoids such as celastrol, dihydrocelastrol, iguestein, pristimerin, and tingenone isolated from Tripterygium regelii were identified (MIC $0.269-19.0{\mu}M$). C. glabrata was the most susceptible to quinonemethide among the tested fungi. Furthermore, quinonemethide suppressed cyctochrome c peroxidase expression dramatically, decreasing fungal viability caused by the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide. Thus, cyctochrome c peroxidase downregulation of quinonemethide may be a key mode of action for antifungals.

• Mycobiology
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.370-381
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• 2018

Bioactive natural compounds, isolated from fungal endophytes, play a promising role in the search for novel drugs. They are an inspiring source for researchers due to their enormous structural diversity and complexity. During the present study fungal endophytes were isolated from a well-known medicinal shrub, Berberis aristata DC. and were explored for their antagonistic and antioxidant potential. B. aristata, an important medicinal shrub with remarkable pharmacological properties, is native to Northern Himalayan region. A total of 131 endophytic fungal isolates belonging to eighteen species and nine genera were obtained from three hundred and thirty surface sterilized segments of different tissues of B. aristata. The isolated fungi were classified on the basis of morphological and molecular analysis. Diversity and species richness was found to be higher in leaf tissues as compared to root and stem. Antibacterial activity demonstrated that the crude ethyl acetate extract of 80% isolates exhibited significant results against one or more bacterial pathogens. Ethyl acetate extract of Alternaria macrospora was found to have potential antibacterial activity. Significant antioxidant activity was also found in crude ethyl acetate extracts of Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus flavus. Similarly, antagonistic activity of the fungal endophytes revealed that all antagonists possessed inhibition potential against more than one fungal pathogen. This study is an important step towards tapping endophytic fungal diversity for bioactive metabolites which could be a step forward towards development of novel therapeutic agents.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.407-417
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• 2021

새싹삼의 곰팡이 발생을 조사하기 위해 18점의 유통중인 새싹삼을 수집하여 곰팡이 발생빈도를 분석하였다. 전체 시료의 총 곰팡이 발생빈도는 평균 113.3-174.1%였고 Penicillium spp.의 발생빈도가 가장 높았다. 곰팡이 발생빈도는 이끼가 잎, 줄기, 뿌리보다 유의하게 높았다. 잎과 줄기에서는 Penicillium spp.이, 뿌리에서는 Fusarium spp.의 발생이 높았으며 각각의 우점종은 P. olsonii와 F. oxysporum으로 동정되었다. 계통발생학적 분석을 통해 Fusarium spp.은 총 9개 종, Aspergillus spp.은 A. westerdijkiae와 A. favus, Penicillium spp.은 총 11개 종이 동정되었다. 곰팡이독소 생성 종으로 알려진 25균주의 독소형을 PCR로 검정한 결과 19점의 균주에서 각 독소형이 확인되었다. 이 중 A. flavus 2점과 A. westerdijkiae 11점이 aflatoxin과 ochratoxin A을 각각 생성하였고 일부 균주는 높은 독소생성능을 보였다. 이 결과는 새싹삼 생산에 있어 곰팡이 발생에 대한 지속적인 모니터링 및 관리방안이 필요함을 시사하였다.

• 한국건축시공학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.43-53
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• 2024

본 연구에서는 실리콘 실란트 총 6종을 제작하여 곰팡이 저항성 시험 방법인 ASTM G 21, LH 전문 시방(LHCS 41 40 12) 시험과 신규 제정된 KS F ISO 21265 시험법에 따라 곰팡이 저항성을 평가하였다. 그 결과, KS F ISO 21265 시험법이 ASTM G 21과 LH 전문 시방(LHCS 41 40 12) 시험법에 비해 곰팡이 저항성 평가에 대한 변별성이 더 큰 것으로 판단되었으며, 알콕시 경화형 실란트에 비해 옥심 경화형 실란트의 곰팡이 저항성이 더 큼을 확인하였다. 또한, KS F ISO 21265 시험법에서는 50℃에서 4주간 침수 후 곰팡이 저항성을 평가하는 조건 도입을 통해 실란트의 장기적인 곰팡이 저항성 평가가 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.184-188
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• 2009

Identification of differently expressed genes under specific tissues and/or environments provides insights into the nature and underlying mechanisms of cellular processes. Although cDNA-AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) is a powerful method for analyzing differentially expressed genes, its use has been limited to the requirement of radioactive isotope use and the difficulty of isolating the bands of interest from a gel. Here, we describe a modified method for cDNA-AFLP that uses a fluorescence dye for detection and isolation of bands directly from a small size polyacrylamide gel. This method involves three steps: (i) preparation of cDNA templates, (ii) PCR amplification and differential display, and (iii) identification of differentially expressed genes. To demonstrate its utility and efficiency, differentially expressed genes during vegetative growth and appressorial development of Magnaporthe oryzae were analyzed. This method could be applied to compare gene expression profiles in a diverse array of organisms.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.565-574
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• 2011

The development of satisfactory alternatives for supplying the nutrients needed by crops could decrease the problems associated with conventional NPK chemical fertilizers. In this study, the effects of bacterial and fungal effective microorganisms (EM) on the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) were evaluated. This investigation was carried out parrallel with conventional NPK chemical fertilizer and a commercial sold microbial fertilizer to compare between each of their effect. Sterile water and molasses were served as controls. Azotobacter chroococcum effect also was studied either alone or in combination with the effective microorganisms on the growth parameters. In contrast to the bacterial EM, the fungal EM alone without A. chroococcum had a more stimulating effect than fungal EM combined with A. chroococcum. Results showed that seedling inoculation significantly enhanced B. rapa growth. Shoot dry and fresh weight, and leaf length and width significantly were increased by both bacterial and fungal inoculation. The results indicated that the NPK chemical fertilizer deteriorates the microflora inhabiting the soil, while the effective microorganisms either fungal or bacterial ones increased the microbial density significantly. This study implies that both of fungal and bacterial EM are effective for the improvement of the Chinese cabbage growth and enhance the microorganisms in soil. The results showed antagonism occurred between A. chroococcum and each of Penicillium sp and Trichoderma sp in both agar and plant assays. The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Dunnett test.

• Mycobiology
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.221-224
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• 2013

Aphids are one of the most destructive pests in crop production such as pepper, cucumber, and eggplants. The importance of entomopathogenic fungi as alternative pest control agents is increasing. Conidia of entomopathogenic fungi are influenced by environmental conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity, and cause slow and fluctuating mortality. These factors have prevented wider application and use of biocontrol agents. For investigation of means of mitigation of such problems, we conducted bioassays with 47 fungal culture filtrates in order to evaluate the potential of secondary metabolites produced by entomopathogenic fungi for use in aphid control. Among 47 culture filtrates cultured potato dextrose broth, filtrate of Beauveria bassiana Bb08 showed the highest mortality (78%) against green peach aphid three days after treatments. Filtrate of Bb08 cultured in Adamek's medium showed higher toxicity as 100% to third instar nymphs of the aphid compared with seven other filtrates cultured in different broths amended with colloidal chitin or oil. The culture filtrates and fungal cultures from media amended with colloidal chitin or oil had lower control efficacies than filtrates without these additives in three different media. These results indicate that the fungal culture fluid or culture filtrate of B. bassiana Bb08 cultured in Adamek's medium has potential for development as a mycopesticide for aphid control.

• Mycobiology
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.258-266
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• 2021

The velvet regulators VosA and VelB are primarily involved in spore maturation and dormancy. Previous studies found that the VosA-VelB hetero-complex coordinates certain target genes that are related to fungal differentiation and conidial maturation in Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we characterized the VosA/VelB-inhibited developmental gene vidD in A. nidulans. Phenotypic analyses demonstrated that the vidD deleted mutant exhibited defect fungal growth, a reduced number of conidia, and delayed formation of sexual fruiting bodies. The deletion of vidD decreased the amount of conidial trehalose, increased the sensitivity against heat stress, and reduced the conidial viability. Moreover, the absence of vidD resulted in increased production of sterigmatocystin. Together, these results show that VidD is required for proper fungal growth, development, and sterigmatocystin production in A. nidulans.

• Mycobiology
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.215-218
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• 2010

Azoles are currently the most widely used class of antifungal drugs clinically, and are effective for treating fungal infections. Target site of azoles is ergosterol biosynthesis in fungal cell membrane, which is absent in the mammalian host. However, the development of resistance to azole treatments in the fungal pathogen has become a significant challenge. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a UPC2 homolog in the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. UPC2 plays roles in ergosterol biosynthesis, which is also affected by the availability of iron in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. C. neoformans mutants lacking UPC2 were constructed, and a number of phenotypic characteristics, including antifungal susceptibility and iron utilization, were analyzed. No differences were found between the mutant phenotypes and wild type, suggesting that the role of C. neoformans UPC2 homolog may be different from those in S. cerevisiae and C. albicans, and that the gene may have a yet unknown function.