• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.33-33
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• 2016

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi. They can be present in where agricultural-based commodities are contaminated with toxigenic fungi. These mycotoxins cause various toxicoses in human and livestock when consumed. Small grains including corn, barley, rice or wheat are frequently contaminated with mycotoxins due to infection mainly by toxigenic Fusarium species and/or under environment favorable to fungal growth. One of the most well-known Fusarium toxin groups in cereals is trichothecenes consisting of many toxic compounds. Deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin, and various derivatives belong to this group. Zearalenone and fumonisin (FB) are also frequently produced by many species of the same genus. In order to monitor Korean cereals for contamination with Fusarium and other mycotoxigenic fungal species as well, barley, corn, maize, rice grains, and soybean were collected from fields at harvest or during storage for several years. The fungal colonies outgrown from the grain samples were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Trichothecene chemotypes of Fusarium species or presence of FB biosynthetic gene were determined using respective diagnostic PCR to predict possible toxin production. Heavy grain contamination with fungi was detected in barley, rice and wheat. Predominant fungal genus of barley and wheat was Alternaria (up to 90%) while that of rice was Fusarium (~40%). Epicoccum also appeared frequently in barley, rice and wheat. While frequency of Fusarium species in barley and wheat was less than 20%, the genus mainly consisted of Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) which known to be head blight pathogen and mycotoxin producer. Fusarium composition of rice was more diverse as FGSC, Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), and Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) appeared all at considerable frequencies. Prevalent fungal species of corn was FFSC (~50%), followed by FGSC (<30%). Most of FFSC isolates of corn tested appeared to be FB producer. In corn, Fusarium graminearum and DON chemotype dominate within FGSC, which was different from other cereals. Soybeans were contaminated with fungi less than other crops and Cercospora, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium etc. were detected at low frequencies (up to 14%). Other toxigenic species such as Aspergillus and Penicillium were irregularly detected at very low frequencies. Multi-year survey of small grains revealed dominant fungal species of Korea (barley, rice and wheat) is Fusarium asiaticum having NIV chemotype.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.326-329
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• 2020

Valuable natural compounds produced by a variety of microorganisms can be used as lead molecules for development of new agrochemicals. Furthermore, high-throughput in vitro screening systems with specific modes of action can increase the probability of discovery of new fungicides. In the current study, a rapid assay tested with various microbes was developed to determine the degree of respiratory inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in two different liquid media, YG (containing a fermentable carbon source) and NFYG (containing a non-fermentable carbon source). Based on this system, we screened 100 fungal isolates that were classified into basidiomycetes, to find microbial secondary metabolites that act as respiratory inhibitors. Consequently, of the 100 fungal species tested, the culture broth of an IUM04881 isolate inhibited growth of S. cerevisiae in NFYG medium, but not in YG medium. The result is comparable to that from treatment with kresoxim-methyl used as a control, suggesting that the culture broth of IUM04881 isolate might contain active compounds showing the inhibition activity for respiratory chain. Based on the assay developed in this study and spectroscopic analysis, we isolated and identified an antifungal compound (-)-oudemansin A from culture broth of IUM04881 that is identified as Oudemansiella venosolamellata. This is the first report that (-)-oudemansin A is identified from O. venosolamellata in Korea. Taken together, the development of this assay will accelerate efforts to find and identify natural respiratory inhibitors from various microbes.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1214-1220
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• 2008

Secondary metabolites from the fruit body of Phellinus linteus were evaluated for their proliferative effect on human osteoblast-like cells. 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazole-2-y1]-2,5-diphenyl-tetraxolium bromide (MTT) assay and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay were used to assess the effect those isolates on the human osteoblast-like cell line (Saos-2). Activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of ALP-activating phenolic compounds through the extraction of P. linteus, solvent partitioning, and repeated silica gel and octadecyl silica gel (ODS) column chromatographic separations. From the result of spectroscopic data including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and infrared spectroscopy (IR), the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one(1), 2-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole-5-aldehyde (2), 4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one (3), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4), and protocatechuic acid methyl ester (5), respectively. This study reports the first isolation of compounds 1-3 and 5 from P. linteus. In addition, all phenolic compounds stimulated proliferation of the osteoblast-like cells and increased their ALP activity in a dose-dependent manner ($10^{-8}$ to $10^{-1}\;mg/mL$). The present data demonstrate that phenolic compounds in P. linteus stimulated mineralization in bone formation caused by osteoporosis. The bone-formation effect of P. linteus seems to be mediated, at least partly, by the stimulating effect of the phenolic compounds on the growth of osteoblasts.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2018

In the present study, mec complex typing and SCCmec typing were performed to analyze the molecular genetic characteristics of 20 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from clinical specimens and 4 strains isolated from the ICU environments of secondary medical institutions in a Chungnam province, Korea, from June to July of 2017. Among a total of 20 MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens, 8 cases (40%) were SCCmec type II, one case (5%) was SCCmec type IVa, and 11 cases (55%) were not-typeable in SCCmec type analysis. Among 4 MRSA isolates from the ICU environment, one strain did not have the mecA gene and 3 strains were typed as SCCmec types II, III, and IVa, respectively. Data from the present study showed that the origin of MRSA isolated from the clinical specimens was different from those from the ICU environment in most cases but the origin was concordant in one case. In this case, MRSA might be transmitted by healthcare workers to the ICU environment. Further study with a large number of cases and other hospital infection-related microorganisms will be needed. This continuous follow-up study might provide useful information on infection control in medical institutions.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Measles virus is a highly contagious, exanthematic virus, preventable by the use of an effective live-attenuated vaccine. However, measles virus remains endemic in many area of the world causing nearly 200,000 deaths per year and still a major cause of child mortality, mostly in developing countries. In March 2014, Republic of Korea was certified as a 'national measles elimination' by the WHO as a result of a high-quality case-based surveillance system and population immunity, which was achieved by a high vaccination rate (>95.0% since 1996). But, since the beginning of 2014, the Gyeonggi province has experienced a resurgence of measles cases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of measles viruses isolated from confirmed measles in Gyeonggi province during January 1, 2014 ~ July 31, 2014, 60 isolates were obtained from 72 confirmed measles specimens. Genotypic distributions and genetic diversities of isolated measles virus were analyzed by sequencing of nucleoprotein (N) gene. 58 (96.7%) imported cases were identified. The predominant genotype was B3, which reflects the circulating measles virus in adjacent countries. The sequences of nucleoprotein (N) gene of isolated MeV were showed that the strains characterized showed the highest degree of identity (99%) with the Philippine related strains in 2013-2014. Therefore, infected traveler returning from the Philippines transmitted secondary infection in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.759-764
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• 2017

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are valuable therapeutic targets for the regulation of diabetic complications. Activity-guided isolation of the ethylacetate (EtOAc)-soluble portion of 70% ethanolic extract from aerial parts of Ainsliaea acerifolia was performed, followed by AGE formation inhibition assay for the characterization of four dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives of a previously known structure, methyl 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl-epi-quinate (1), 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl-epi-quinic acid (2), 4,5-di-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (3), and methyl 4,5-di-O-caffeoyl-quinate (4). The structures of these compounds were confirmed by interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR, $^1H-$, $^{13}C-NMR$, two-dimensional NMR) and mass spectroscopic data. Among the isolates, the major secondary metabolites, 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl-epi-quinic acid (2) and 4,5-di-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (3) showed the most potent inhibitory effects against AGE formation with $IC_{50}$ values of $0.6{\pm}0.1{\mu}M$ and $0.4{\pm}0.1{\mu}M$, respectively. Furthermore, all isolated dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives were evaluated for their radical scavenging activities using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical, and compound 3 exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect in a concentration-dependent manner. This result suggests that the caffeoylquinic acid dimers isolated from A. acerifolia might be beneficial for the prevention of diabetic complications and related diseases.