• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2018

The order Mucorales, the largest in number of species within the Mucoromycotina, comprises typically fast-growing saprotrophic fungi. During a study of the fungal diversity of undiscovered taxa in Korea, two novel mucoralean strains, CNUFC-GWD3-9 and CNUFC-EGF1-4, were isolated from specific habitats including freshwater and fecal samples, respectively. On the basis of their morphological characteristics and sequence analyses of internal transcribed spacer and large subunit ribosomal DNA, the CNUFC-GWD3-9 and CNUFC-EGF1-4 isolates were confirmed to be Gilbertella persicaria and Pilobolus crystallinus, respectively. It is ecologically, pathologically, and mycologically significant to find such rare zygomycetous fungi in such specific habitats.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

The distribution and occurrence of rare ascomycete fungi within freshwater samples in Korea was investigated. Three rare fungal strains, CNUFC-YR537-1, CNUFC-CNUP1-1, and CNUFC-NDR3-1, were isolated using serial dilution method. On the basis of their morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of their internal transcribed spacer regions and 28S rDNA sequences, the three isolates were identified as Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, Bartalinia robillardoides, and Collariella carteri, respectively. To our knowledge, these are the first records of rare genera Acrostalagmus, Bartalinia, and Collariella from Korea, and the first reports of A. luteoalbus, B. robillardoides, and C. carteri from freshwater samples.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.13-13
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• 2016

Insects constitute the largest and most diverse group of animals in the world. They also serve as the hosts or nutrient sources for an immense assemblage of pathogens, parasites, and predators. More than 700 fungal species from 100 genera have adopted an entomopathogenic lifestyle. Although entomopathogenic fungi were studied as only biocontrol agents against a variety of pests in various countries, it has been recently focused their additional roles in nature. They are antagonists to/against plant pathogens, endophytes, and possibly even plant growth promoting agents. The potential antimicrobial effect against fungal plant pathogens by an isolate of entomopathogenic fungi including Beauveria bassiana, Lecanicillium spp., and Isaria fumosorosea have been reported since late 1990s, but wasn't reported pathogenicity of the isolate against pests. Later, a Canadian Lecanicillium sp. isolate and L. longisporium isolated from Vertalec$^{(R)}$ showed simultaneous control effect against both aphid and cucumber powder mildew. Therefore, the antimicrobial activities of 342 fungi isolates collected from various regions and conditions in Korea were evaluated against plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea using dual culture technique on agar plate. As a result, 186 isolates (54.4%) shown the antifungal activity against B. cinerea. The culture filtrates of selected fungi completely suppressed the growth of the microorganisms, indicating that suppression was due to the presence of antimicrobial substances in the culture filtrate. Mode of action of these fungi against insect involves the attachment of conidia to the insect cuticle, followed by germination, cuticle penetration, and internal dissemination throughout the insect. During infection process, secreted enzymes, proteinous toxins, and/or secondary metabolites secreted by entomopathogenic fungi can be used to overcome the host immune system, modify host behavior, and defend host resources. Recently, secondary metabolites isolated from entomopathogenic fungi have been reported as potential bioactive substances. Generally, most of bioactive substances produced by entomopathogenic fungi have reported low molecular weight (lower than 1,000 g/mol) as peptide and, in contrast the high molecular weight fungal bioactive substances are rare. Most substances based on entomopathogenic fungi were shown antimicrobial activity with narrow control ranges. In our study we analyzed the antimicrobial substances having antagonistic effects to B. cinerea. Antimicrobial substances in our fungal culture filtrates showed high thermostability, high stability to proteolytic enzymes, and hydrophilicity and their molecular weights were differed from substance. In conclusion, entomopathogenic fungi showed pathogenicity against insect pests and culture filtrate of the fungi also shown to antimicrobial activity. In the future, we can use the entomopathogenic fungi and its secondary metabolites to control both insect pest control and plant pathogenic fungi simultaneously.

• Journal of Mycology and Infection
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.105-110
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• 2018

Background: Otomycosis is a fungal infection that comprises 7~10% of outer ear infections. Although the occurrence is higher in humid climates, relatively few studies have investigated otomycosis occurrences in humid environments. While recurrent chronic otitis media discharge in the ear creates a milieu in which otomycosis is likely to occur, investigations of otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media have been rare. Objective: To examine the characteristics of patients with otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media and identify causative fungi. Methods: The study included 60 patients with chronic otitis media who presented typical otomycosis findings in the outer ear canal and the presence of fungi. Patients were treated in the department of otolaryngology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, between July 2011 and June 2018. Results: The mean patient age was 57.77 years, and our study included 20 men and 40 women (p=0.010). The lesion was on the right in 39 patients and on the left in 21 (p=0.020). Ear discharge was the most common chief complaint at diagnosis. Of the 54 patients over age 19, 10 had diabetes (18.5%). Aspergillus was causative in 29 patients and Candida in 31. Aspergillus niger was identified in 15 patients, Aspergillus sp. in 14, Candida parapsilosis in 12, Candida sp. in six, and Candida albicans in five. Conclusion: Otomycosis and chronic otitis media co-occurrences increase with age. The Aspergillus and Candida genera were similar in proportion. A. niger was the most common Aspergillus species, while C. parapsilosis was the most common Candida.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.191-202
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• 1998

About 300 actinomycetes were isolated from two forest and one sea-shore soil and tested for inhibitory effects on mycelial growth of six plant pathogenic fungi Magnaporthe grisea, Alternaria mali, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Phytophthora capsici, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, and Rhizoctonia solani. Among 300 actinomycetes tested, only 16 actinomycetes showed the antifungal activity against the test fungi. Isolate NH 50 was selected for production and purification of antifungal antibiotic substances. Actinomycete isolate NH 50 displayed the broad antifungal spectra against 11 plant pathogenic fungi. To identify actinomycete isolate NH 50, cultural characteristics on various agar media, diaminopimelic acid type, and morphological characteristics by scanning electron microscopy were examined. As a result, actinomycete isolate NH 50 was classified as a rare actinomycete that had LL-DAP type and did not produce spores. After incubation of isolate NH 50 in yeast extract-malt extract-dextrose broth, antifungal compound NH-B1 that inhibited mycelial growth of some plant pathogenic fungi was purified from the methanol eluates of XAD-16 resins by a series of purification procedures, i.e., silica gel flash chromatography, C18 flash chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, silica gel medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC), C18 MPLC, and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). UV spectrum and 1HNMR spectrum of antifungal compound NH-B1 dissolved in methanol were examined. The antibiotic NH-B1 showed the major peaks at 230 and 271.2nm. Based on the data of 1H-NMR spectrum, NH-B1 was confirmed to be an extremely complex polymer of sugars called polysaccharides. The antibiotic NH-B1 showed strong antifungal activity against Alternaria solani and Cercospora kikuchi, but weak activity against M. grisea.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.444-447
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• 2014

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis (CP) is a very rare but serious form of central nervous system fungal infection that is caused by dematiaceous fungi. It is commonly associated with poor prognosis irrespective of the immune status of the patient. In this study, the authors describe the first case of CP in Korea that occurred in a 75-year-old man without immunodeficiency and showed favorable outcome after surgical excision and antifungal therapy. In addition, the authors herein review the literature regarding characteristics of this rare clinical entity with previously reported cases.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.591-601
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• 2021

Recently it is trend to increase wood use as carbon neutral materials, there is recognized to need necessarily durability improvement of wooden building. It is very rare to report existing on the identification of isolates causing discoloration in domestic weathered wooden building used for long period. The objective of this study was identification of fungi that cause discoloration on the exteriors of weathered domestic wooden buildings in the southern part of South Korea. Our findings can be helpful to establish protection technology for weather deterioration of domestic wooden buildings. Wood chip samples presumed to be contaminated with sapstain fungi were collected from the surface of wooden members used in wooden buildings at Jangheung, Jeollanam-do (two locations, #13 and #14), and Jeju Island (two locations, #31 and #33). The growth of microorganisms was confirmed by performing culture tests for the collected samples, and fungi were isolated, purified, and identified. The results indicated that the fungal strains isolated from wooden buildings #13 and #14 at Jangheung, Jeollanam-do, were 99.83% and 100% homologous to Aureobasidium melanogenum, respectively. For wooden building #31 at Jeju Island (two locations), the fungal strain isolated was 100% homologous to A. melanogenum, which is the same species isolated from the wooden buildings at Jangheung. The fungal strain isolated from wooden building #33 (Jeju Island) had 99.83% homology with A. pullulans, which is commonly found in wood degraded by weather or ultraviolet rays. Our findings can be utilized as a basis for establishing protection technology in domestic wooden buildings.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2180-2189
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• 2017

Psychrophilic phytases suitable for aquaculture are rare. In this study, a phytase of the histidine acid phosphatase (HAP) family was identified in Morchella importuna, a psychrophilic mushroom. The phytase showed 38% identity with Aspergillus niger PhyB, which was the closest hit. The M. importuna phytase was overexpressed in Pichia pastoris, purified, and characterized. The phytase had an optimum temperature at $25^{\circ}C$, which is the lowest among all the known phytases to our best knowledge. The optimum pH (6.5) is higher than most of the known HAP phytases, which is fit for the weak acidic condition in fish gut. At the optimum pH and temperature, MiPhyA showed the maximum activity level ($2,384.6{\pm}90.4{\mu}mol{\cdot}min^{-1}{\cdot}mg^{-1}$, suggesting that the enzyme possesses a higher activity level over many known phytases at low temperatures. The phytate-degrading efficacy was tested on three common feed materials (soybean meal/rapeseed meal/corn meal) and was compared with the well-known phytases of Escherichia coli and A. niger. When using the same amount of activity units, MiPhyA could yield at least $3{\times}$ more inorganic phosphate than the two reference phytases. When using the same weight of protein, MiPhyA could yield at least $5{\times}$ more inorganic phosphate than the other two. Since it could degrade phytate in feed materials efficiently under low temperature and weak acidic conditions, which are common for aquacultural application, MiPhyA might be a promising candidate as a feed additive enzyme.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.655-659
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• 1996

Primary cardiac tumors are known to be rare. Of the benign primary tumors, rhabdomyoma predominates in neonates and infants. Tuberous sclerosis is found in hall of the patients with rhabdomyomas. Rhabdomyomas demonstrate benign pathological characteristics and may regress spontaneously that resection of the intracavitary obstructing portion of these tumors are recommended. We performed resection of intraatrial rhabdomyoma which had been obstructing mitral valve orifice and caused heart failure in a neonate. Postoperatively, fungal endocarditis developed and after 3 days, rapid growth and extension of the vegetation in the aorta obstructed the flow through the ascending aorta and resulted in hemodynamic deterioration.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2009

A taxonomic review of a new record, Bolitophagiella pannosa (Lewis) in Korea is presented. Description of adult is presented and also we conducted laboratory and field observations of the life history and fungal hosts of the darkling beetle, Bolitophagiella pannosa (Lewis). A fungivorous tenebrionid beetle, Bolitophagiella pannosa (Lewis), was a rare inhabitant of fungi on deciduous trees (Quercus, Robinia pseudoacacia etc.) in Korea. Development from egg to adulthood took 3${\sim}$10 months in nature and about 54 days in the laboratory at 25.5${\sim}$$26.1^{\circ}C$ and 63.5${\sim}$64.5% relative humidity. Both larvae and adults overwintered in their host fungi or beneath the bark of the host tree near the host fungi. Sporophores of Perenniporia medulla-panis (Fr.) Donk and Perenniporia frazinea (Fr.) Ryv. were obligate feeding and breeding sites in Korea. Description, habitus photographs of adult and instar, and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided.