• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.207-210
• /
• 2008

Trichophyton erinacei is a dermatophyte pathogen that infects both humans and hedgehogs. A two-month old female four-toed hedgehog presented to the Chonbuk Animal Medical Center with pruritus, excoriation and crust on her face for ten days. The owner of the hedgehog also exhibited the clinical signs of scaly erythema with fine vesicles on her neck. A presumptive diagnosis of dermatophytosis was made based on the results of an acetate tape preparation in which hyphae and chains of arthroconidia were observed. The crusts from the lesions were then cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar for identification. After 10 days of incubation, downy colored colonies that had a central umbo with a white granular surface and a yellow pigment ring in the reverse were observed. Microscopic analysis revealed the presence of numerous teardrop shaped microconidia singly attached to the sides of the hyphae. In addition, 2-6 roomed macroconidia that were somewhat irregular in shape and size were present, and abundant intermediate sized spores were observed between the micro and macro conidia. To confirm that the culture was T. erinacei, the internal transcribed spacer region of the 5.8S phase of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA) was amplified by PCR and then sequenced. A 679-base pair fragment of DNA was then compared with sequences in GenBank and found to be 99% homologous with sequences of T. erinacei (Z97997 and Z97996. The clinical signs were resolved after four weeks of treatment with oral and topical ketoconazole and chlorhexidine. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case of T. erinacei isolated from a four-toed hedgehog in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.44-47
• /
• 2011

A harmful fungus occurred seriously in bed-log of shiitake(Lentinula edodes) in Jangheung-Gun, Korea. The fungus was identified as Bjerkandera adusta by its morphology and ITS(Internal Transcribed Spacer) analysis. The fungus was reported as causal agent of stem-rot of Populus euramericana in Korea, but not reported in bed-log of shiitake until this notification. Thus, studies were made to investigate inside condition of bed-log of shiitake damaged by B. adusta, physiological characteristics of B. adusta and antagonism between these two fungi. First of all, B. adusta is white-rotting fungus like shiitake and wood-rotting condition is similar to that of shiitake. But, there are a lot of small spots in damaged wood tissue under bark which are not seen in case of shiitake. Optimal temperature for mycelial growth of B. adusta is ca. $30^{\circ}C$ while that of shiitake is ca. $25^{\circ}C$. When confrontation cultures were made between these two fungi under $15^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$, B. adusta has antagonistic ability against shiitake in all the temperatures. From the results of experiments, if the bed-logs of shiitake are exposed to high temperature, there should be mass propagation of B. adusta, and shiitake mycelia will be seriously injured by the fungus. Therefore, to prevent the damage by B. adusta, it is needed to grow the mycelia of shiitake fast in the bed-log, and to avoid exposure of the bed-log to high temperature in summer.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.58-67
• /
• 2007

Fully cholesteryloxycarbonated and (8-cholesteryloxycarbonyl) heptanoated disaccharide derivatives were synthesized by reacting cellobiose, maltose, and lactose with cholesteryl chloroformate or 8- cholesteryloxycarbonylheptanoyl chloride, and their thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were investigated. All the cholesteryloxycarbonated derivatives (CH1DSs) formed enantiotropic cholesteric phases, whereas all the (8-cholesteryloxycarbonyl) heptanoated derivatives (CH8DSs) exhibited monotropic cholesteric phases with left-handed helicoidal structures whose optical pitches (${\lambda}m's$) decrease with increasing temperature. All the CH1DSs, contrast with the CH8DSs, did not display reflection colors over the full cholesteric range, suggesting that the helicoidal twisting power of the cholesteryl group highly depends on the length of the spacer joining the cholesteryl group to the disaccharide chain. The thermal stability and degree of order in the mesophase and the temperature dependence of the ${\lambda}m$ observed for EH8DSs were entirely different from those reported for the cholesterol-bearing dimers and triplet and the (8-cholesteryloxycarbonyl) heptanoated polysaccharide derivatives. The results were discussed in terms of the difference in the number of the mesogenic units per mole of repeating unit and the flexibility of the main chain.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The original plant species of Schisandrae Fructus (O-mi-ja) is prescribed as Schisandra chinensis $B_{AILL.}$, in Korea, but S. chinensis $B_{AILL.}$ and S. sphenanthera $R_{EHD.}$ et $W_{ILS.}$ in China. Moreover, fruit of several other species in genus Schisandra also have been used as the same herbal medicines. To develop a reliable method for correct identification of Schisandrae Fructus and to evaluate the phylogenetic relationship of S. chinensis and its related species, we analyzed internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Methods : Twenty-four plant samples of three Schisandra species and one Kadsura species, S. chinensis $B_{AILL.}$, S. spenanthera $R_{EHD.}$ et $W_{ILS.}$, S. nigra $M_{ax.}$ and Kadsura japonica $D_{UNAL}$ were collected from each different native habitate and farm in Korea and China. The nrDNA-ITS region of each samples were amplified using ITS1 and ITS4 primer and nucleotide sequences were determined after sub-cloning into the pGEM-Teasy vector. Authentic marker nucleotides were estimated by the analysis of ClastalW based on the entire nrDNA-ITS sequence. Results : In comparative analysis of the nrDNA-ITS sequences, we found specific nucleotide sequences including indels (insertions and deletions) and substitutions to distinguish C. chinensis, S. spenanthera, S. nigra, and K. japonica. These sequence differences at corresponding positions are avaliable nucleotide markers to determine the botanical origin of O-mi-ja. Moreover, we evaluated the phylogenetic relationship of four plant species by the analysis of nrDNA-ITS sequences. Conclusions : These marker nucleotides would be useful to identify the official herbal medicines by the providing of definitive information that can identify each plant species and distinguish it from unauthentic adulterants for O-mi-ja.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 1999

A new method of limb sparing by resection, extracorporeal irradiation and reimplantation has several theoretical advantages. This method preserves the mobility of a joint and avoids the problem of loosening or breakage of tumor prosthesis. This study involved using extracorporeal irradiated autogenous joint transplantation for reconstruction after en bloc resection, and observed the periods of functional union and histological changes in irradiated tissue of the knee joint. This study also aimed to clarify whether the degeneration of articular cartilage is induced in rabbits by a single 50Gy dose of irradiation at the knee joint. Twenty New Zealand rabbits about three kilograms were randomized into two groups of 10 rabbits each. In group 1, as control, we resected the knee joint followed by reimplantation without irradiation. Group 2 received extracorporeal irradiation on the resected knee joint followed by reimplantation. Following are the results of these observations. The osteotomy site showed external callus formation in the roentgenographic finding eight weeks after reimplantation. There was marked degenerative changes in the collagen fiber of the irradiated anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus during the fourth week, but new blood-vessel formation was observed in the vicinity. There was degenerative changes in the collagen fiber of articular cartilage treated extracorporeal irradiation at four and eight weeks in the scanning electron micrographic findings. These findings was in contrast to those of subchondral bone which showed decreased cellularity and empty lacuna at four and eight weeks. Autoradiography demonstrated active [$^3H$]uridine incorporation by irradiated chondrocyte at eight weeks after reimplantation. These results indicate that when destruction of the articular cartilage and soft tissue of the knee joint is not severe, extracorporeal irradiation and reimplantation can be used with several advantage in maintaining movement of the joint while avoiding problems of tumor prosthesis and rejection, and therefore extracorporeal irradiated autogenous joint transplantation can be used as a limb-sparing procedure for temporary biological spacer in the childhood bone tumor around the knee.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.27-31
• /
• 2015

In April 2014, Fusarium wilt was found on kohlrabi seedlings in Iksan, Korea. Symptoms included wilting of foliage, drying and withering of older leaves, and stunting of the plants. The infected plants eventually died during growth. Colonies on potato dextrose agar were pinkish white, and felted with cottony and aerial mycelium. Macroconidia were falcate to almost straight, thin walled and usually 3-septate. Microconidia were usually formed abundantly in false-heads on short monophialides on the hyphae and were hyaline, smooth, oval to ellipsoidal, aseptate or medianly 1-septate, very occasionally 2-septate, slightly constricted at the septa, $4-11{\times}2.5-5{\mu}m$. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of molecular markers (internal transcribed spacer rDNA and translation elongation factor $1{\alpha}$), the fungus was identified as Fusarium oxysporum. Pathogenicity of a representative isolate was proved by artificial inoculation, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum on kohlrabi in Korea.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.213-231
• /
• 2013

Amphidinium massartii Biecheler is an epiphytic and toxic dinoflagellate. Prior to the present study, A. massartii has been reported in the waters off the Mediterranean, Australian, USA, and Canadian coasts. We isolated Amphidinium cells from the coastal waters of Jeju Island, Korea and their morphology and rDNA sequences indicated that they were A. massartii. Herein, we report for the first time the occurrence of A. massartii in the waters of the temperate region in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences of the Korean strains were 0.7% different from those of an Australian strain of A. massartii CS-259, the closest species, but were 4.1-5.8% different from those of the other Australian strains and the USA strains of A. massartii and from those of Amphidinium sp. HG115 that was isolated from subtropical Okinawan waters. In phylogenetic trees based on LSU, internal transcribed spacer, small subunit rDNA, and cytochrome b sequences, the Korean strains belonged to the A. massartii clade, which was clearly divergent from the A. carterae clade. The morphology of the Korean A. massartii strains was similar to that of the originally described French strain and recently described Australian strain. However, we report for the first time here that scales were observed on the surface of the flagella. In conclusion, the Korean A. massartii strains have unique rDNA sequences, even though they have a very similar morphology to that of previously reported strains. This report extends the known range of this dinoflagellate to the temperate waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.324-329
• /
• 2011

Eight endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the roots of Calystegia soldanella from the western coast of South Korea. The culture filtrate of the eight endophytic fungi were applied to waito-c rice seedlings in order to verify potential plant growth promotion activities. The results of bioassay indicated that the Cs-9-7 fungal strain possessed the highest plant growth promotion activity. Fungal culture filtrates were analyzed to verify secondary metabolites using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy with selected ion monitoring (GC/MS-SIM). The culture filtrate of the Cs-9-7 fungal strain was confirmed to contain gibberellins GA3 (1.229 ng/mL), GA4 (3.535 ng/mL), GA7 (1.408 ng/mL) and GA12 (0.378 ng/mL). Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed so as to determine the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions for the identification of isolated strains with universal primers ITS-1 and ITS-4. The Cs-9-7 fungal strain, isolated from the root of C. soldanella, has been named Aspergillus tubingensis Cs-9-7.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.125-133
• /
• 2015

Entomopathogenic fungi have been studied to develop for biological control agents as an alternative to chemical control agents in insect pest management. Two Lepidopteran insects, Spodoptera exigua and Plutella xylostella, are serious insect pests infested various crops, but not effectively controlled by commercial chemical pesticides due to its high insecticide resistance. A fungal isolate was isolated from S. exigua larvae collected from green onion field in Andong, Korea. To identify the fungal isolate, 18srRNA sequence for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and ${\beta}$-tubulin regions were sequenced. The ITS and ${\beta}$-tubulin sequence were highly matched to Beauveria bassiana and morphological characteristics also was fit to known B. bassiana. Finally, isolated fungus has identified as B. bassiana and named B. bassiana ANU1. The result of bioassay, median lethal concentrations were $2.7{\times}10^3$ and $0.9{\times}10^3conidia/ml$ and medial lethal times were 65.6 and 60.8 h to S. exigua and P. xylostella, respectively. B. bassiana ANU1 showed high pathogenicity to two insect pests from $20^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$ at 50% relative humidity (RH) and more than 40% RH at $25^{\circ}C$ with $10^7conidia/ml$ of concentration.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.58 no.12
• /
• pp.472-477
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Adherence to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is a critical determinant of asthma control. The objective of this study was to assess factors that determine adherence to ICS therapy in children with asthma. Methods: Fifty-eight children with asthma, aged 5 to 16 years, used ICS with or without a spacer for 3 months. Adherence rates as measured from questionnaires and canisters, asthma symptom scores, and inhalation technique scores were assessed every 30 days. The degree of supervision by caregivers was assessed at day 30. Results: Adherence rates measured using canisters were lower at day 60 than at day 30 (P=0.044) and did not change thereafter ($74.4%{\pm}17.4%$ at day 30, $66.5%{\pm}18.4%$ at day 60, and $67.4%{\pm}22.2%$ at day 90). Adherence rates at days 60 and 90 and during the total study period were significantly different when measured by using questionnaires versus canisters (P<0.001, P=0.022, and P =0.001, respectively). In the comparison of adherence rates repeatedly measured at days 30, 60, and 90 and adherence rates during the total study period among the 3 groups, adherence rates in the high-degree supervision group were significantly higher than those in the low-degree supervision group ($82.0{\pm}16.0$ vs. $66.1{\pm}14.5$, $75.4{\pm}14.4$ vs. $56.2{\pm}18.4$, $75.0{\pm}18.3$ vs. $55.0{\pm}19.7$ [P=0.027]; $77.9{\pm}12.2$ vs. $59.1{\pm}11.4$ [P=0.021]) after adjustment for sex and age. Conclusion: The level of caregiver supervision is an important factor affecting adherence to ICS therapy in children with asthma. Therefore, a high degree of supervision may be required to increase adherence to ICS therapy in children with asthma.