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.
DNA, Ribosomal ; Ecosystem* ; Fresh Water ; Fungi ; Korea ; Mucorales ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis

Entomopathogenic fungi are promising pest-control agents but their industrial applicability is limited by their thermosusceptibility. With an aim to increase the thermotolerance of Isaria fumosorosea SFP-198, moisture absorbents were added to dried conidial powder, and the relationship between its water potential and thermotolerance was investigated. Mycotized rice grains were dried at 10degrees C, 20degrees C, 30degrees C, and 40degrees C and the drying effect of each temperature for 24, 48, 96, and 140 hr was determined. Drying for 48 hr at 10degrees C and 20degrees C reduced the moisture content to < 5% without any significant loss of conidial thermotolerance, but drying at 30degrees C and 40degrees C reduced both moisture content and conidial thermotolerance. To maintain thermotolerance during storage, moisture absorbents, such as calcium chloride, silica gel, magnesium sulfate, white carbon, and sodium sulfate were individually added to previously dried-conidial powder at 10% (w/w). These mixtures was then stored at room temperature for 30 days and subjected to 50degrees C for 2 hr. The white carbon mixture had the highest conidial thermotolerance, followed by silica gel, magnesium sulfate, and then the other absorbents. A significant correlation between the water potential and conidial thermotolerance was observed in all conidia-absorbent mixtures tested in this study (r = -0.945). Conidial thermotolerance in wet conditions was evaluated by adding moisturized white carbon (0~20% H2O) to conidia to mimic wet conditions. Notably, the conidia still maintained their thermotolerance under these conditions. Thus, it is evident that conidial thermotolerance can be maintained by drying mycotized rice grains at low temperatures and adding a moisture absorbent, such as white carbon.
Calcium Chloride ; Carbon ; Edible Grain ; Fungi ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Silica Gel ; Sodium ; Spores, Fungal ; Water

The genus Hyaloperonospora (Peronosporaceae; Oomycota) is an obligate biotrophic group that causes downy mildew disease on the Brassicaceae and allied families of Brassicales, including many economically relevant crops, such as broccoli, cabbage, radish, rape, and wasabi. To investigate the diversity of Hyaloperonospora species in northeast Asia, we performed a morphological analysis for the dried herbarium specimens collected in Korea, along with molecular phylogenetic inferences based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cox2 mtDNA sequences. It was confirmed that 14 species of Hyaloperonospora exist in Korea. Of these, three species, previously classified under the genus Peronospora, were combined to Hyaloperonospora: H. arabidis-glabrae comb. nov. (ex Arabis glabra), H. nasturtii-montani comb. nov. (ex Rorippa indica), and H. nasturtii-palustris comb. nov. (ex Rorippa palustris). In addition, finding two potentially new species specific to northeast Asian plants is noteworthy in support of the view that the species abundance of Hyaloperonospora has been underestimated hitherto.
Arabis ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Brassica ; Brassicaceae ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Humans ; Korea* ; Peronospora ; Phylogeny* ; Rape ; Raphanus ; Rorippa

During a survey of fungal diversity in the class Sordariomycetes, 3 fungal strains, CNUFC-KMHY6-1, CNUFC-MSW24-2-11, and CNUFC-GW2S-4 were isolated from soil and freshwater samples, respectively in Korea. The strains were analyzed both morphologically and phylogenetically on the basis of internal transcribed spacer and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit gene sequences. On the basis of their morphology and phylogeny, CNUFC-KMHY6-1, CNUFC-MSW24-2-11, and CNUFC-GW2S-4 isolates were identified as Arcopilus aureus, Memnoniella echinata, and Stachybotrys sansevieriae, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, Ar. aureus and M. echinata have not been previously recorded in Korea, and this is the first report of S. sansevieriae from freshwater niche.
Fresh Water ; Korea ; Phylogeny ; RNA Polymerase II ; Sansevieria ; Soil ; Stachybotrys

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.
Ascomycota ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fresh Water ; Fungi ; Korea ; Methods

Many members of the Saprolegniales (Oomycete) cause mycoses and disorders of fishes, of which Achlya and Saprolegnia are most ubiquitous genera worldwide. During a survey of the diversity of freshwater oomycetes in Korea, we collected seven isolates of Achlya, for which morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses enabled them to identify as Achlya americana and Achlya bisexualis. In Korea, only a species of Achlya, A. prolifera, has been previously found to cause seedling rot on rice (Oryza sativa), but none of the two species have been reported yet. Importantly, A. bisexualis was isolated from a live fish, namely rice fish (Oryzias sinensis), as well as freshwater, and this is the first report of Achlya-causing mycoses on freshwater fishes in Korea. The presence of A. americana and A. bisexualis on live fish in Korea should be closely monitored, as considering the well-known broad infectivity of these species it has the potential to cause an important emerging disease on aquaculture industry.
Achlya ; Aquaculture ; Fishes ; Fresh Water ; Korea ; Mycoses ; Oomycetes ; Saprolegnia ; Seedlings

The genus Peronospora, an obligate biotrophic group belonging to Oomycota, causes serious damage to a variety of wild and ornamental plants, as well as cultivated crops, such as beet, rose, spinach, and tobacco. To investigate the diversity of Peronospora species parasitic to Stellaria and Pseudostellaria (Caryophyllaceae) plants in Korea, we performed a morphological analysis on dried herbarium specimens and molecular phylogenetic inferences based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cox2 mitochondrial DNA sequences. As a result, it was confirmed that there are four species of Peronospora parasitic to specific species of Stellaria and Pseudostellaria, all of which were hitherto unrecorded in Korea: P. alsinearum (ex Stellaria media), P. stellariae-aquaticae (ex Stellaria aquatica), P. stellariae-uliginosae (ex Stellaria alsine), and P. pseudostellariae (ex Pseudostellaria palibiniana). In addition, Peronospora specimens parasitic to Pseudostellaria davidii differed morphologically from P. pseudostellariae owing to the large and ellipsoidal conidia; this morphological discrepancy was also validated by the high genetic divergence between the two species. Peronospora casparyi sp. nov. is described and illustrated here.
Beta vulgaris ; Caryophyllaceae ; Classification* ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Host Specificity ; Korea* ; Oomycetes ; Peronospora* ; Phylogeny* ; Spinacia oleracea ; Spores, Fungal ; Stellaria* ; Tobacco

While evaluating fungal diversity in freshwater, grasshopper feces, and soil collected at Dokdo Island in Korea, four fungal strains designated CNUFC-DDS14-1, CNUFC-GHD05-1, CNUFC-DDS47-1, and CNUFC-NDR5-2 were isolated. Based on combination studies using phylogenies and morphological characteristics, the isolates were confirmed as Ascodesmis sphaerospora, Chaetomella raphigera, Gibellulopsis nigrescens, and Myrmecridium schulzeri, respectively. This is the first records of these four species from Korea.
Ascomycota* ; Feces ; Fresh Water ; Grasshoppers ; Korea* ; Phylogeny ; Soil

The cutaneous aspergillosis is one of the most common dermatologic manifestations of disseminated infections associated with the Aspergillus organisms, but the isolated primary cutaneous disease itself can rarely occur in an immunocompetent host. We report a case of the primary cutaneous aspergillosis on the scalp and the neck in a 39-year-old immunocompetent male patient. There was a single purulent ulcer surrounded by the erythematous indurated plaque on the scalp with multiple satellite papules and a multi- lobulated granulomatous plaque with a crust on the neck. Skin biopsy demonstrated a fungus, the Aspergillus, in the deep dermis as the etiologic agent. No evidence of involvement in other organs was found. The patient exhibited no other apparent systemic diseases nor immunologic defects. An elliptical excision and a primary closure was performed, and the adjuvant antifungal treatment, oral itraconazole, was applied to prevent the recurrence by the satellite lesions.
Adult ; Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Fungi ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Male ; Neck* ; Recurrence ; Scalp* ; Skin ; Ulcer

In many reports on the reconstruction of an orbital blowout fracture, CT(computed tomography) imaging has been used for postoperative evaluation. However, in most cases, only one plane of the CT scan was presented, which may not be sufficient for accurate evaluation. This study reviewed the CT scans presented in the related 49 articles (56 cases), and investigated our patients (150 cases) to investigate where were the most frequent unfavorable reconstructions, and to determine which planes should be presented for accurate evaluation. One plane of the CT scan was presented in 70% of the cases. On the other hand, 30% of the cases presented two planes of the CT scans. In our cases, the most prevalent sites for an unfavorable reconstruction were the posterior portion of the inferior wall, and the posterior and the inferior portion of the medial wall. In order to accurately evaluate an orbital wall reconstruction, at least two planes of a CT scan are needed. For an inferior wall evaluation, both the middle and the posterior planes of the coronal section or both the coronal and the sagittal sections are necessary. In addition, for the medial wall evaluation, both the axial and the coronal sections or both the middle and the posterior planes of the coronal section are required.
Hand ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*