• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cold plasma treatment on the improvement of seed germination and surface sterilization of ginseng seeds. Methods: Dehisced ginseng (Panax ginseng) seeds were exposed to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma operated in argon (Ar) or an argon/oxygen mixture (Ar/O₂), and the resulting germination and surface sterilization were compared with those of an untreated control group. Bacterial and fungal detection assays were performed for plasma-treated ginseng seeds after serial dilution of surface-washed suspensions. The microbial colonies (fungi and bacteria) were classified according to their phenotypical morphologies and identified by molecular analysis. Furthermore, the effect of cold plasma treatment on the in vitro antifungal activity and suppression of Cylindrocarpon destructans in 4-year-old ginseng root discs was investigated. Results: Seeds treated with plasma in Ar or Ar/O₂ exhibited a higher germination rate (%) compared with the untreated controls. Furthermore, the plasma treatment exhibited bactericidal and fungicidal effects on the seed surface, and the latter effect was stronger than the former. In addition, plasma treatment exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. destructans and reduced the disease severity (%) of root rot in 4-year-old ginseng root discs. The results demonstrate the stimulatory effect of plasma treatment on seed germination, surface sterilization, and root rot disease suppression in ginseng. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the cold plasma treatment can suppress the microbial community on the seed surface root rot in ginseng.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.49.1-49.15
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• 2020

C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) regulates the trafficking of various immune cells to sites of infection. In this study, we showed that expression of CCR5 and its ligands was rapidly increased in the kidney after systemic Candida albicans infection, and infected CCR5^-/- mice exhibited increased mortality and morbidity, indicating that CCR5 contributes to an effective defense mechanism against systemic C. albicans infection. The susceptibility of CCR5^-/- mice to C. albicans infection was due to impaired fungal clearance, which in turn resulted in exacerbated renal inflammation and damage. CCR5-mediated recruitment of NK cells to the kidney in response to C. albicans infection was necessary for the anti-microbial activity of neutrophils, the main fungicidal effector cells. Mechanistically, C. albicans induced expression of IL-23 by CD11c⁺ dendritic cells (DCs). IL-23 in turn augmented the fungicidal activity of neutrophils through GM-CSF production by NK cells. As GM-CSF potentiated production of IL-23 in response to C. albicans, a positive feedback loop formed between NK cells and DCs seemed to function as an amplification point for host defense. Taken together, our results suggest that CCR5-mediated recruitment of NK cells to the site of fungal infection is an important step that underlies innate resistance to systemic C. albicans infection.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2012

This research has been carried out to find out the highest effect on insecticidal, fungicidal and herbicidal activities in leaves, stem and tuber extracts of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) and extraction methods such as water, boiling water and methanol. Characteristics of potential herbicidal components among extraction methods were investigated by solvent fractions such as hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. Generally, methanol extract was the best on inhibition of germination rate, plant height, and root length in cucumber and barley. On the other hand, the inhibition effect on growth in cucumber and barley was the best in tuber among plant parts of yacon. Inhibition of germination rate, plant height, and root length in cucumber and barley in solvent fractions was the best in water fraction, but there were no differences in other fractions. Digitaria sanguinalis L. and Solanum nigrum L. by 5 and 10% extractions of yacon tuber were controlled by more than 70~80% and 95~100%, respectively. However, there was no inhibition effect on foliar treatment in cucumber and barley as affected by 5 and 10% extractions of yacon tuber. Mortality of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) was 50% at 3 days after treatment of 5% extracts of yacon leaves. Mortality of brown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stal) was only 24% in 5% extracts of stems and leaves with midrib, but was 57% in 5% extracts of leaves without midrib. There was no fungicidal effect on anthracnose (Colletotrichum truncatum), wilt disease (Fusarium oxysporum), verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae), bacterial blight (Xanthomonus oryzae) in 5% extracts of yacon leaves.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2002

Pyricularia oryzae (P. oryzae), the cause of rice blast, is one of the most important fungal pathogens of rice. Seventy strains of marine fungi were isolated from marine algae, and it was measured antifungal activity against P. oryzae. Metabolites of marine fungus A-248 which isolated from marine algae showed strong antifungal activity against P. oryzae. The antifungal substance from the metabolites of marine fungus A-248 was extracted with ethylacetate, and then purified by preparative TLC and reverse-phase HPLC. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was $0.18\mu g/mL$ for the antifungal activity of the substance purified from A-248 metabolites. The purified substance was similar to antifungal activity of rhizoxin, which is a commercial antifungal agent.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.264-267
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• 1990

Representative synthetic piericidin-like compounds, such as hydroxypyridine and hydroxyquinoline derivatives, which showed high inhibition activity against NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase on the respiratory chain revealed good fungicide activity. Especially, hydrolrypyridine ones showed high activity against rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) and barley powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis).

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2014

IL-33 is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family and plays a role in the host defense against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In this study, we investigated the function of IL-33 and its receptor in in vitro macrophage responses to Candida albicans. Our results demonstrate that pre-sensitization of isolated peritoneal macrophages with IL-33 enhanced their pro-inflammatory cytokine production and phagocytic activity in response to C. albicans. These macrophage activities were entirely dependent on the ST2-MyD88 signaling pathway. In addition, pre-sensitization with IL-33 also increased ROS production and the subsequent killing ability of macrophages following C. albicans challenge. These results indicate that IL-33 may increase anti-fungal activity against Candida through macrophage-mediated resistance mechanisms.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.378-383
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• 1995

Antifungal activity of caproic acid against Botrytis cinerea was investigated in this research. In vitro 200 ppm of caproic acid was inhibited on the germination and the mycelium growth of B. cinerea. 250 ppm of caproic acid showed the fungicidal activity against sensitive B. cinerea. To compared the inhibitory effect of treatments against B. cinerea, the field essay was carried out in the grape vineyard. The rot (%) of control, 3000 ppm of caproic acid, 3000 ppm of sodium caproate, and sumisclex were 30.7%, 10.2%, 22.8%, and 3.1%, respectively. The anti-Botrytis efficiency (%) was also evaluated as follows; 3000 ppm of caproic acid 66.8%, 3000 ppm of sodium caproate 25.7%, and sumisclex 89.9%. The efficiency between sumisclex and 3000 ppm of caproic acid was no significant difference at the 1% level by Tukey test. These results suggest that 3000 ppm of caproic acid may be greater than that of sodium caproate.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 1979

On studying of microbes and appearance frequency which are floating around dwelling space and life environments in Seoul area, the results are summarized as follows ; 1. 1931 strains of 29 bacteria are isolated in dwelling spaces, Among them, there are Staphylococcus aureus, S. anthracis which are pathogenic to human beings. 2. In fungi, 76 strains of 13 species are isolated. That of highest frequency is confirmed to be Aspergillus which is pathogens of Aspergillosis (one of a group of diseases of animals and human being caused by various species of Aspergillus). The places, where the number of kinds and the frequency of appearances have been observed highest, are coffee shops, lunch counters and office rooms, while factory districts are of far lower level than expected. 3. 0.1% $HgCl_2$, Leasking oil, and Telephone disinfectant were better than any other in fungicidal effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.36-38
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• 2004

Ethaboxam is a new fungicidal active ingredient that inhibits growth of plant pathogens specifically belonging to Oomycetes with protective, curative, systemic and translaminar activity in plants. Modes of action studies revealed that ethaboxam simultaneously inhibits cytoskeleton formation and mitochondrial respiration of Phytophthora infestans at low concentrations. There have been no indications of resistance development when tested for baseline resistance monitoring to 261 isolates of P. infestans in Korea and Europe and 150 populations of Plasmopara viticola populations in Europe for 3 years since 2000. In a selective study with vine trees artificially inoculated with P. viticola repeatedly for 10 generations in greenhouse, there have been no changes in sensitivity to ethaboxam among four natural populations of P. viticola. Furthermore, ethamoxam has not shown any cross resistance with azoxystrobin, mefenoxam, dimethomorph and cymoxanil. Based on the study results from modes of action and resistance development, ethaboxam appears to be unlikely to develop resistance in field applications.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.354-358
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• 1999

In order to know the antifungal characteristics of saturated fatty acids having 6 to 12 carbons, their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were estimated against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fatty acids from C6 to C11 exhibited increasing activity with chain length, but C12 fatty acid did not show activity at all. In relation to antifungal modes of actions, fatty acids investigated showed on inhibitory activity toward the plasma membrane H+-ATPase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Their inhibitions to the glucose-induced acidification and ATP hydrolysis caused by the proton pump were found to be in common wiht antifungal activities. At the test concentration of 1mM, hexanoic acid (C6) showed the lowest inhibition of about 30%, while undecanoic acid(C11) showed the strongest inhibition of over 90%. In addition, as seen with antifungal activity, the inhibitory activity of dodecanoic acid (C12) was suddenly reduced to less than 50%.