• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to characterize a new fungal species, Acremonium conglutinatum, isolated from air samples collected in Wando, South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions revealed its unique position within the genus Acremonium. The isolated strain displayed distinct morphological characteristics, including ellipsoid or bent-ellipsoid conidia formed in clusters on the phialides. These features differentiate the new species from closely related species within the genus. This study describes the morphological and molecular characteristics of A. conglutinatum and emphasizes its phylogenetic relationships with other Acremonium spp. The identification of this novel species contributes to our understanding of the diversity and ecological role of Acremonium.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.05a
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• pp.27-28
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• 2014

Beauveria bassiana (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) is an anamorphic fungus having a potential to be used as a biological control agent because it parasitizes a wide range of arthropod hosts including termites, aphids, beetles and many other insects. A number of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs) have been isolated from B. bassiana and functionally verified. Among them, beauvericin and bassianolide are cyclic depsipeptides with antibiotic and insecticidal effects belonging to the enniatin family. Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) play a crucial role in the synthesis of these secondary metabolites. NRPSs are modularly organized multienzyme complexes in which each module is responsible for the elongation of proteinogenic and non-protein amino acids, as well as carboxyl and hydroxyacids. A minimum of three domains are necessary for one NRPS elongation module: an adenylation (A) domain for substrate recognition and activation; a tholation (T) domain that tethers the growing peptide chain and the incoming aminoacyl unit; and a condensation (C) domain to catalyze peptide bond formation. Some of the optional domains include epimerization (E), heterocyclization (Cy) and oxidation (Ox) domains, which may modify the enzyme-bound precursors or intermediates. In the present study, we analyzed genomes of B. bassiana and its allied species in Hypocreales to verify the distribution of NRPS-encoding genes involving biosynthesis of beauvericin and bassianolide, and to unveil the evolutionary processes of the gene clusters. Initially, we retrieved completely or partially assembled genomic sequences of fungal species belonging to Hypocreales from public databases. SM biosynthesizing genes were predicted from the selected genomes using antiSMASH program. Adenylation (A) domains were extracted from the predicted NRPS, NRPS-like and NRPS-PKS hybrid genes, and used them to construct a phylogenetic tree. Based on the preliminary results of SM biosynthetic gene prediction in B. bassiana, we analyzed the conserved gene orders of beauvericin and bassianolide biosynthetic gene clusters among the hypocrealean fungi. Reciprocal best blast hit (RBH) approach was performed to identify the regions orthologous to the biosynthetic gene cluster in the selected fungal genomes. A clear recombination pattern was recognized in the inferred A-domain tree in which A-domains in the 1st and 2nd modules of beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases were grouped in CYCLO and EAS clades, respectively, suggesting that two modules of each synthetase have evolved independently. In addition, inferred topologies were congruent with the species phylogeny of Cordycipitaceae, indicating that the gene fusion event have occurred before the species divergence. Beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases turned out to possess identical domain organization as C-A-T-C-A-NM-T-T-C. We also predicted precursors of beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases based on the extracted signature residues in A-domain core motifs. The result showed that the A-domains in the 1st module of both synthetases select D-2-hydroxyisovalerate (D-Hiv), while A-domains in the 2nd modules specifically activate L-phenylalanine (Phe) in beauvericin synthetase and leucine (Leu) in bassianolide synthetase. antiSMASH ver. 2.0 predicted 15 genes in the beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster of the B. bassiana genome dispersed across a total length of approximately 50kb. The beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster contains beauvericin synthetase as well as kivr gene encoding NADPH-dependent ketoisovalerate reductase which is necessary to convert 2-ketoisovalarate to D-Hiv and a gene encoding a putative Gal4-like transcriptional regulator. Our syntenic comparison showed that species in Cordycipitaceae have almost conserved beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster although the gene order and direction were sometimes variable. It is intriguing that there is no region orthologous to beauvericin synthetase gene in Cordyceps militaris genome. It is likely that beauvericin synthetase was present in common ancestor of Cordycipitaceae but selective gene loss has occurred in several species including C. militaris. Putative bassianolide biosynthetic gene cluster consisted of 16 genes including bassianolide synthetase, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, and putative Gal4-like transcriptional regulator genes. Our synteny analysis found that only B. bassiana possessed a bassianolide synthetase gene among the studied fungi. This result is consistent with the groupings in A-domain tree in which bassianolide synthetase gene found in B. bassiana was not grouped with NRPS genes predicted in other species. We hypothesized that bassianolide biosynthesizing cluster genes in B. bassiana are possibly acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from distantly related fungi. The present study showed that B. bassiana is the only species capable of producing both beauvericin and bassianolide. This property led to B. bassiana infect multiple hosts and to be a potential biological control agent against agricultural pests.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.970-980
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• 2012

Native halophytes, such as Suaeda maritima, Limonium tetragonum, S. japonica, Zoysia sinica, and Phragmites australis were collected from the Muan salt marsh. Ninety endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of the collected halophytes. Molecular insights inferred by internal transcribed spacer containing ITS1, 5.8s, and the ITS2 region showed that all the fungal strains belong to ten orders, i.e., Capnodiales (4.44%), Cystofilobasidiales (1.11%), Dothideales (3.33%), Eurotiales (53.33%), Glomerellales (3.33%), Hypocreales (8.89%), Mucorales (1.11%), Pleosporales (15.56%), Sordariales (1.11%), and Trichosphaeriales (1.11%). The rest (6.67%) of all fungal isolates were not identified. Ninety fungal strains were confirmed at the genus level, containing Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cephalosporium, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Cryptococcus, Didymella, Dothideomycete, Emericellopsis, Epicoccum, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Gibberella, Gongronella, Macrophoma, Microsphaeropsis, Nigrospora, Paecilomyces, Paraconiothyrium, Penicillium, Phaeomyces, Phoma, Pleosporales, Purpureocillium, and Talaromyces. Of all the endophytic fungi identified from the various halophytes, Aspergillus and Penicillium of Eurotiales had the highest abundance.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2012

Eighty-four endophytic fungal strains were isolated and identified from the roots of halophytes collected in Buan salt marsh. All halophyte samples, such as Suaeda japonica, and Suaeda maritima were isolated from Buan salt marsh. All endophytic fungi isolated were analyzed by sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) containing ITS1, 5.8s and ITS2 region. All endophytic fungi expressed that fungal strains belong to eight orders; Pleosporales (45%), Eurotiales (27%), Incertae sedis (11%), Dothideales (6%), Capnodiales (5%), Hypocreales (5%), and Agaricales (1%). All endophytic fungi were confirmed at the genus level of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, containing Alternaria, Ascomycota, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Gibberella, Hypocrea, Lewia, Macrophoma, Penicillium, Peyronellaea, Phoma, Pleospora, Pleosporales, Pseudeurotium, Schizophyllum, and Talaromyces. Alternaria (21%) and Penicillium (13%) were the dominant endophytic fungal strains. In this study, endophytic fungal strains analyzed from S. japonica and S. maritime, Alternaria (21%), and Penicillium (13%) of Pleosporales and Eurotiales in halophytes were very abundant.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2013

In this study, plant samples of five species were collected from the Dokdo islands in South Korea. Plant samples such as Asparagus schoberioides, Corydalis platycarpa, Festuca rubra, Sedum oryzifolium, and Setaria viridis were collected from the Dongdo and Seodo. Endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the roots of five plants from the Dokdo islands. Thirty-three fungal strains were isolated from these native plants. All the endophytic fungi were analyzed by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing (ITS containing ITS1, 5.8s, and the ITS2 region). Waito-c rice seedlings were treated with fungal culture filtrates to test their plant growth-promoting activity. A bioassay of the D-So-1-1 fungal strain isolated from S. oryzifolium confirmed that it has the highest plant growth-promoting activity. All the endophytic fungi belong to four orders: Eurotiales (86%), Capnodiales (3%), Hypocreales (4%), and Incertae sedis (7%). The endophytic fungi were classified as Ascomycota, which contained Aspergillus (12%), Cladosporium (3%), Eurotium (3%), Fusarium (18%), Microsphaeropsis (6%), and Penicillium (58%) at the genus level.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1384-1391
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• 2012

Five coastal plant species, Artemisia fukudo, Aster sphathulifolius, Plantago camtschatica, Sedum oryzifolium, and Setaria viridis, were collected from the coastal region of Ulleung Island (Ulleung-Do, South Korea). Thirty-six endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of these plants, and all were identified by using PCR with the following specifications: internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNA, and ITS2 regions. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all fungal strains belong to the phylum Ascomycota and comprise four orders (Capnodiales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, and Pleosporales). Among all the identified species, the Eurotiales species were more abundant than species in the other orders. Nine different genera (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Exserohilum, Fusarium, Neosartorya, Penicillium, Phoma, and Pyrenochaeta) in the four orders were confirmed. Penicillium and Aspergillus species were the most dominant species among the endophytic fungi isolated from the coastal plants. Shannon's diversity index (H') ranged from 0.684 to 1.609, and the endophytic fungi in S. oryzifolium was more diverse compared to the endophytic fungi in the other plants.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.20-20
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• 2015

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms inhabiting living plant tissues without causing apparent harm to the host. They are drawing increasing attention due to their ability to produce various bioactive compounds as well as their effects on host growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. As a first step to assess biodiversity of plant associated fungi in Korea and the following evaluation on diverse biological activities, we are collecting endophytic fungi from plant in wild followed by systematic long-term storage in liquid nitrogen. Molecular identification using ITS sequences was also incorporated for pure culture by hyphal tip isolation. As of April 2015, about 1,400 fungal strains had been isolated from about 170 plant taxa. Fungal isolates belonging to Pleosporales, Diaporthales, Glomerellales, Hypocreales, and Xylariales were the most abundant. These collections are being used for several complementary researches, including screening of isolates with novel bioactive compounds or conferring drought stress resistance, phylogenetic and genomic study. Genome sequencing was performed for 3 isolates, one Xylaria sp. strain JS573 producing griseofulvin, an antifungal compound, and two Fusarium spp. strains JS626 and JS1030, which are assumed to be new species found in Korea. More detailed analysis on these genomes will be presented. These collections and genome informations will serve as invaluable resources for identifying novel bioactive materials in addition to expand our knowledge on fungal biodiversity.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2020

Soil degradation can have an impact on the soil microbiota, but its specific effects on soil fungal communities are poorly understood. In this work, we studied the impact of soil degradation on the richness and diversity of communities of soil fungi, including three different degrees of degradation in Germany and Panama. Soil fungi were isolated monthly using the soil-sprinkling method for 8 months in Germany and 3 months in Panama, and characterized by morphological and molecular data. Soil physico-chemical properties were measured and correlated with the observed values of fungal diversity. We isolated a total of 71 fungal species, 47 from Germany, and 32 from Panama. Soil properties were not associated with fungal richness, diversity, or composition in soils, with the exception of soil compaction in Germany. The geographic location was a strong determinant of the soil fungal species composition although in both countries there was dominance by members of the orders Eurotiales and Hypocreales. In conclusion, the results of this work do not show any evident influence of soil degradation on communities of soil fungi in Germany or Panama.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2014

The earliest pre-Linnaean fungal genera are briefly discussed here with special emphasis on the nomenclatural connection with the genus Cordyceps Fr. Since its valid publication under the basidiomycetous genus Clavaria Vaill. ex L. (Clavaria militaris L. Sp. Pl. 2:1182, 1753), the genus Cordyceps has undergone nomenclatural changes in the post-Linnaean era, but has stood firmly for approximately 200 years. Synonyms of Cordyceps were collected from different literature sources and analyzed based on the species they represent. True synonyms of Cordyceps Fr. were defined as genera that represented species of Cordyceps Fr. emend. G. H. Sung, J. M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora. The most common synonyms of Cordyceps observed were Clavaria and Sphaeria Hall, reported in the 18th and in the first half of the 19th century, respectively. Cordyceps, the oldest genus in the Cordyceps s. s. clade of Cordycipitaceae, is the most preferred name under the "One Fungus = One Name" principle on priority bases.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.251-271
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• 2020

Diversity and community composition of bulb-associated fungi of Fritillaria Cirrhosae Bulbus source plants, which are used in traditional chinese medicine, in the eastern Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains, southwestern China, were estimated based on the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence analysis, using host plant species, geographic area, and plant phenology as variables. A total of 1,486 fungal sequences assigned to 251 operational taxonomical units (OTUs) were obtained from the bulbs. Fungal OTUs comprised 96.41% Ascomycotina, 3.52% Basidiomycotina, and 0.07% Zygomycotina. Sordariomycetes, Hypocreales, and Nectriaceae were the most frequent fungal lineages at each taxonomic rank. Fusarium, Ilyonectria, Tetracladium, Leptodontidium, and Tomentella were the top OTU-rich genera. Fusarium sp. 03, Ilyonectria rufa, Fusarium sp. 08, Ilyonectria sp. 03, and Leptodontidium orchidicola 03 represented the most frequent OTUs. Fusarium spp. were the most frequent general taxa. The distribution of fungal community exhibited preferences for host plant species, geographic area, and plant phenology. These findings are the foundation of our research on culturing and active metabolites of bulb-associated fungi of Fritillaria Cirrhosae Bulbus source plants.