• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2021

A new fungus, Ophiocordyceps alboperitheciata, parasitic on the larva of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) was identified from a survey of entomopathogenic fungi in Kunming Wild Duck Forest Park, Yunnan Province, China. It can be primarily distinguished from relatives by its longer fertile parts, sterile tips, superficial perithecia, narrower asci, and smaller septa of ascospores. As revealed from phylogenetic analyses inferred from nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2 sequence data, O. alboperitheciata belongs to the Hirsutella citriformis clade in the genus Ophiocordyceps of Ophiocordycipitaceae, and forms a separated clade from other related species. The uniqueness of the taxon is significantly evidenced by both molecular phylogeny and morphology. Furthermore, the interspecific relationships in the H. citriformis clade are discussed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2016

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a natural fungus that has been valued as a health food and used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. The fungus is parasitic and colonizes insect larva. Naturally occurring O. sinensis thrives at high altitude in cold and grassy alpine meadows on the Himalayan mountain ranges. Wild Ophiocordyceps is becoming increasingly rare in its natural habitat, and its price limits its use in clinical practice. Therefore, the development of a standardized alternative is a great focus of research to allow the use of Ophiocordyceps as a medicine. To develop an alternative for wild Ophiocordyceps, a refined standardized extract, CBG-CS-2, was produced by artificial fermentation and extraction of the mycelial strain Paecilomyces hepiali CBG-CS-1, which originated from wild O. sinensis. In this study, we analyzed the in vitro immune-modulating effect of CBG-CS-2 on natural killer cells and B and T lymphocytes. CBG-CS-2 stimulated splenocyte proliferation and enhanced Th1-type cytokine expression in the mouse splenocytes. Importantly, in vitro CBG-CS-2 treatment enhanced the killing activity of the NK-92MI natural killer cell line. These results indicate that the mycelial culture extract prepared from Ophiocordyceps exhibits immune-modulating activity, as was observed in vivo and this suggests its possible use in the treatment of diseases caused by abnormal immune function.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2011

We investigated the effect of nutritional and environmental factors on Ophiocordyceps longissima mycelial growth. The longest colony diameter was observed on Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract, Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics minimal medium, and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA); however, malt-extract yeast-extract agar, SDA plus yeast extract, yeast-extract malt-extract peptone dextrose agar, SDA, oatmeal agar, and potato dextrose agar showed higher mycelia density. A temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ was optimum and 7.0 was the optimum pH for mycelial growth. Colony diameter was similar under light and dark conditions. Maltose and yeast extract showed the highest mycelial growth among carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. The effect of mineral salts was less obvious; however, $K_3PO_4$ showed slightly better growth than that of the other mineral salts tested. Among all nutrition sources tested, complex organic nitrogen sources such as yeast extract, peptone, and tryptone were best for mycelial growth of O. longissima. Ophiocordyceps longissima composite medium, formulated by adding maltose (2% w/v), yeast extract (1% w/v), and $K_3PO_4$ (0.05% w/v) resulted in slightly longer colony diameter. In vitro mycelial O. longissima growth was sustainable and the production of fruiting bodies could be used for commercial purposes in the future.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

Isolates of Ophiocordyceps heteropoda (Kobayasi) collected from Mt. Halla on Jeju-do, Korea were tested for mycelial growth on different agar media and in the presence of different carbon and nitrogen sources. Similarly, isolates were also incubated at different temperatures as well as under continuous light and dark conditions. Growth was better on Hamada agar, basal medium, and malt-yeast agar, but poor on Czapek-Dox agar. Different carbon sources such as dextrin, saccharose, starch, lactose, maltose, fructose, and dextrose resulted in better growth. Complex organic nitrogen sources such as yeast extract and peptone revealed the most effective growth. Mycelial growth was best at $25^{\circ}C$. The growth rate was faster in the dark than the light, but mycelial density was less compact in the dark.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.78-87
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim was to collect and classify the Cordyceps parasitized in cicadas from July to October every year from 1990 to 2016 in Korea. And they were frequently collected in Nepal, Vietnam, Japan, China, and Thailand. Methods: Cordyceps parasitizing cicadas collected in mountains and fields. Results: A total of 1,104 specimens were collected that belonged to 10 different species under nine genera. The highest number of samples belonged to Ophiocordyceps (563 specimens), followed by Isaria (361 specimens), Polycephalomyces (73 specimens), Cordyceps (70 specimens), Beauveria (25 specimens), Perennicordyceps (8 specimens), Metarhizium (2 specimens) and Purpureocillium (2 ones). Among Ophiocordyceps spp. O. longissima was most frequently collected with a total of 426 samples out of 563, followed by O. heteropoda with 120 ones and O. sobolifera with 17 specimens. The species mainly collected in Korea, but C. ishikariensis was collected in Nepal only. The new characteristic was that Isaria cicada-like synnemata were found growing together with C. ishikariensis stromata on the same host. In Korea, the collected 691 specimens in total out of 1,104 were found in Mt. Halla in Jeju Island. Other mountains in Korea where the samples were collected were Mountains Daeryong, Jiri, Yongmoon, Samag, Seolag, Gujeol, Duryun, Baegam, Chilgap, Chundeung, Naejang, Welchul, and Daeryong. The three samples were not identified. Conclusions: A total of 1,104 specimens belonged to 10 different species under nine genera, and the collected 691 samples were found in Mt. Halla in Jeju Island.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1548-1557
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• 2019

Objective: To investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels and molecular weights of fungal ${\beta}$-glucan on productive performances, health, carcass traits and meat quality in broilers. Methods: Two hundred and ten of one-day-old chicks with equal sex were assigned to seven experimental groups in $2{\times}4$ factorial arrangement. These groups were supplemented with (0, 10, 30, and 60 ppm) of molecular weight 1-3, 1-6 ${\beta}$-glucan (low or high). High molecular weight ${\beta}$-glucan (H: 943 kDa) was obtained from Ophiocordyceps dipterigena BCC 2073, whereas H with ${\gamma}$-Irradiation treatment was performed to achieve low molecular weight ${\beta}$-glucan (L: 8 kDa). Results: There was no statistical significance in productive performances, apparent digestibility and interaction between fixed factors along 42 days of experiment (p>0.05). A higher caecal amylase activity was present in the group that received L, while there was a dramatic decrease in H and the control groups, respectively (p<0.05). The increase of supplemental dose increased caecal amylase activity (p<0.05). Immunomodulatory effects from L was revealed by the marked increase of phagocytic activity, relative weight of thymus and bursa of fabricius (p<0.05). Similarly, the additive dose at 30 ppm provided the same results, whereas the only significant difference with supplementation at 60 ppm was an increase in phagocytic activity (p<0.05). Interestingly, villi height of broilers fed L was higher than other groups (p<0.05). The treatments did not influence haematology, blood chemistry, antibody production level against vaccination, carcass traits and meat quality (p>0.05). Conclusion: The supplementation of L at 30 ppm was suggested to achieve benefits of immune modulation without adverse effects on other parameters.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2021

A cordycipitoid fungus infecting Hepialidae sp. in Nepal was supposed to be identical to Cordyceps liangshanensis, originally described from southwestern China, and thus, transferred to the genus Metacordyceps or Papiliomyces in previous studies. However, our multi-gene (nrSSU-nrLSU-tef-1α-rpb1-rpb2) phylogenetic and morphological studies based on the type specimen and additional collections of C. liangshanensis revealed that the fungus belongs to the genus Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae). Therefore, a new combination O. liangshanensis was made, and a detailed description of this species was provided.

• 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.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.67-88
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• 2024

Macrofungi are essential decomposers in the forest environment. Although more than 70% of the land is mountainous, there has been a lack of research on mushroom diversity in Korea compared to the global species estimation. For this reason, the need for further research became apparent. The surveys were conducted from 2014 to 2022 nationwide. As a result, 15 unrecorded macrofungal species were discovered: Agaricus thiersii, Baorangia alexandri, Boletellus putuoensis, Entoloma bulakhae, Entoloma pygmaeopapillatum, Entoloma subtenuicystidiatum, Gerronema kuruvense, Hyphoderma nudicephalum, Hyphoderma tenue, Macrolepiota subcitrophylla, Mycena jingyinga, Mycena yuezhuoi, Ophiocordyceps vespulae, Scytinostroma acystidiatum, and Steccherinum straminellum. These species are identified based on morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the nuclear large subunit rRNA (LSU) region. Here, we provided macro- and micro-morphological figures with phylogenetic trees to support 15 species as unrecorded to Korea.