• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.2064-2070
• /
• 2018

Pseudomonas tolaasii 6264 is a representative strain that causes bacterial blotch disease on the cultivated oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. Bacteriophages are able to sterilize the pathogenic P. tolaasii strains, and therefore, they can be applied in creating disease-free mushroom cultivation farms, through a method known as "phage therapy". For successful phage therapy, the characterization of phage-resistant strains is necessary, since they are frequently induced from the original pathogenic bacteria in the presence of phages. When 10 different phages were incubated with P. tolaasii 6264, their corresponding phage-resistant strains were obtained. In this study, changes in pathogenic, genetic, and biochemical characteristics as well as the acquired phage resistance of these strains were investigated. In the phylogenetic analyses, all phage-resistant strains were identical to the original parent strain based on the sequence comparison of 16S rRNA genes. When various phage-resistant strains were examined by three different methods, pitting test, white line test, and hemolytic activity, they were divided into three groups: strains showing all positive results in three tests, two positive in the first two tests, and all negative. Nevertheless, all phage-resistant strains showed that their pathogenic activities were reduced or completely lost.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.232-240
• /
• 2001

One hundred twenty five bacterial isolates were obtained from the brown blotch-diseased oyster mushrooms collected from markets. Among them, 45 were determined as pathogenic bacteria and white line forming organisms(WLFO) were 6 strains and white line reaction organisms (WLRO) were 6 strains. All of the white line forming isolates were identified as Pseudomonas tolaasii which is a known pathogen of brown blotch disease of oyster mushroom by GC-MIS(Gas chromatography-microbial identification system). Six of the white line reacting organisms were identified as P. chlomraphis, P. fluorescens biotype A and type C. The rest of them were P gingeri, P. agarici, P. fluorescens biotype B, P. chloroyaphis, non-pathogenic P. tolaasii, P. putida biotype A and B etc. For spectrum of activity of tolaasin, culture filtrates from pathogenic isolates were examined by browning of mushroom tissue and pitting of mushroom caps. The weak pathogenic bacteria didn't induce browning or pitting of mushroom tissue. On the other hand, strong pathogenic isolates showed browning and pitting reaction on mushroom. An extracellular toxin produced by P. tolaasii, was investigated. The hemolysis activity test of 6 strains identified as P. tolaasii were 0.8∼0.9 at 600 nm and 3 strains of WLRO were 0.9∼1.0 and Pseudomonas app. were 1.0∼1.2. Observation of fresh mushroom tissue using confocal laser scanning microscopy was carried out for images of optical sectioning and vertical sectioning. Also images of brown blotch diseased oyster mushroom tissue after contamination P. tolaasii was obtained by CLSM.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.190-195
• /
• 2000

Tolaasin is a peptide toxin produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii and causes a brown blotch disease forming brown, slightly sunken spots and blotches on the cultivated mushrooms. It is a lipodepsipeptide consisting of 18 amino acids and its molecular mass is 1,985 Da. It forms a pore in plasma membranes, resulting in the disruption of membranes of fungal, bacterial, plant, and animal cells as well as mushroom tissue. In order to measure the toxicity of tolaasin, erythrocytes of blood were used to evaluate the tolaasin-induced hemolysis. Hemolytic activity of tolaasin was measured by observing the absorbance change either at 420 nm, representing the release of hemoglobins from red blood cells(RBCs), or at 600 nm, representing the density of residual cells. The hemolytic activity of culture-extract of P. tolaasii increased at early-stationary phase of growth and was maximal at late stationary phase. The hemolytic activity of tolaasin appeared high in the RBCs of dog and rat. The RBCs of rabbit and hen were less susceptible to tolaasin. The effects of various cations were also measured. $Cd^{2+}$ and $La^{3+}$. as well as $Zn^{2+}$ appeared inhibitory to the tolaasin-induced hemolysis. The effects of various anions on tolaasin-induced hemolysis were measured and carbonate showed the greatest inhibition to the hemolysis. However, phosphate stimulated the tolaasin-induced hemolysis and no effects were observed by chloride and nitrate.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.27 no.2 s.89
• /
• pp.164-169
• /
• 1999

This study was carried out in an attempt to select chemicals such as zeolite granules, chitosan, wood-vinegar, $Ca(OCl)_2$, NaOCl, against bacterial brown blotch caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii on Flammulina velutipes in laboratory and mushroom unit. Results obtained using these chemicals were summarized. Inhibitory effect on $Ca(OCl)_2$ and wood-vinegar with 0.5% concentration was shown to caual pathogen, P. tolaasii, by slight damage on the mycelial growth of F. velutipes. Those materials were recognized as promising one for control of bacterial brown bloth on F. velutipes. Disease incidence in control was the highest value as 43.8%; whereas chemical treatment was estimated as 14.6% with 0.5% of $Ca(OCl)_2$. Disease incidence was inhibited about 20% in chemical treatment with 0.5% of wood-vinegar, 1.0% of $Ca(OCl)_2$, and 26.1% with 1.0% of wood-vinegar. For the inhibition effects of chemical concentrations, it was effective at the low concentration which was 0.5% rather than that of 1.0%. Quality of mushrooms was significantly improved, and yields was also increased by 30% in the chemical treatment. In case of $Ca(OCl)_2$ treatment at 1.0% concentration, the yields was increased by 35.6% showed the highest value among tested chemicals. However, the overall effects including disease incidence, quality and yields suggests that $Ca(OCl)_2$ is relatively more effective than wood-vinegar, and the optimal concentration controlling the disease was $0.5{\sim}1.0%$ with $Ca(OCl)_2$ and 0.5% with wood-vinegar.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.37-40
• /
• 2012

The apidaecins are highly active against Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we show the expression and antibacterial activity of the bumblebee, Bombus ignitus, apidaecin. We PCR-amplified 51 bp of the active domain sequence of the B. ignitus apidaecin gene and expressed the recombinant B. ignitus apidaecin active domain in baculovirus-infected insect cells. The recombinant B. ignitus apidaecin active domain shows bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas tolaasii, a serious pathogen in cultivated mushrooms, but not Gram-positive bacteria. This result suggests that the active domain of the B. ignitus apidaecin is a potential antibacterial agent for the control of bacterial brown blotch diseases.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.673-680
• /
• 2021

Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is the causative agent of bacterial fruit blotch disease in watermelon. Since resistant cultivars have not yet been developed, the virulence factors/mechanisms of Ac need to be characterized. This study reports the functions of a putative pyridoxal phosphate-dependent aminotransferase (PpdaAc) that transfers amino groups to its substrates and uses pyridoxal phosphate as a coenzyme. It was observed that a ppdaAc knockout mutant had a significantly reduced virulence in watermelon when introduced via germinated-seed inoculation as well as leaf infiltration. Comparative proteomic analysis predicted the cellular mechanisms related to PpdaAc. Apart from causing virulence, the PpdaAc may have significant roles in energy production, cell membrane, motility, chemotaxis, post-translational modifications, and iron-related mechanisms. Therefore, it is postulated that PpdaAc may possess pleiotropic effects. These results provide new insights into the functions of a previously unidentified PpdaAc in Ac.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.27 no.2 s.89
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 1999

This study was carried out to develop the molecular marker for the detection of Pseudomonas tolaasii, a causative agent of bacterial brown blotch disease of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). When several primers designed from repetitive sequences and pectin lyase genes of bacteria were used to produce DNA polymorphism from different Pseudomonas spp. isolated from edible mushrooms, PEU1 primer derived from pectin lyase gene produced polymorphic bands differentiating P. tolaasii strains from other Pseudomonas species. Two bands, 1.0kb and 0.4kb, found commonly in 6 isolates of P. tolaasii were cloned into pGEM-T vector which were designated as pPTOP1 and pPTOP2, respectively, to use as probe. The 0.4 kb insert of pPTOP2 hybridized to only 6 isolates of P. tolaasii, but did not to the other Pseudomonas species. As few as $1.5{\times}10^3$ colony forming unit (cfu) of P. tolaasii could be detected by dot blot hybridization with the cloned 0.4kb DNA in pPTOP2.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.59 no.4
• /
• pp.351-356
• /
• 2016

Bacterial blotch caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii is one of the major diseases of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. Application of bacteriophages is a very useful tool to decrease the density of pathogens and it has been successful to making disease-free cultivation area, known as phage therapy. Effect of phages on pathogen sterilization is very limited to the specific host strains. Minor variations of the host strains may cause changes in phage sensitivity. The phage-resistant strains of P. tolaasii were isolated and their pathogenic characters were investigated to improve the effectiveness of phage therapy. In the phylogenetic analysis, both phage-resistant strains and the corresponding host strains were identical based on the sequence comparison of 16S rRNA genes. The pathogenic characters, such as hemolytic activity and brown blotch formation, were measured on the phage-resistant strains and no correlation between phage-resistance and pathogenic characters was observed. Nevertheless, pathogenic characters were sometimes changed in the phage-resistant strains depending on the host strains. In order to make the phage therapy successful, the bacteriophages having a wide host range should be isolated.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.238-243
• /
• 1998

For simple and rapid detection of Pseudomonas tolaasii (PT), a bacterial brown blotch pathogen of oyster mushroom, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were developed. To produce specific antibody, PT ($5{\times}10^7$ cfu) and Freund's adjuvant were subcutaneously immunized into rabbits several times. By using the antiserum showing the highest titer, we established noncompetitive and competitive ELISA's. Standard curves of the ELISA's showed that the detection limits were $2{\times}10^2$cfu/ml and $3{\times}10^2$cfu/ml, respectively When investigated by noncompetitive ELISA, cross reactivities of the anti-PT antibodies against P. agarici, P. reactans, and other fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. were very low (<1/10$^3$), but those against P. solanacearum, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Streptococcus mutans, Xanthomonas citri, and a fungus Fusarium oxysporum were almost none. However, when investigated by competitive ELISA, the reactivities against any other strains except PT were almost none. When the ELISA's were applied to 18 strains derived from mushrooms in order to identify PT, only 11 strains showing both pathogenicity and white line reactivity were obviously positive. These results showed that the ELISA's could be convenient tools to detect PT in accordance with existing methods.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 2007

Tolaasin, a pore-forming peptide toxin, is produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii and causes brown blotch disease of the cultivated mushrooms. P. tolaasii 6264 was isolated from the oyster mushroom damaged by the disease in Korean. In order to isolate tolaasin molecules, the supernatant of bacterial culture was harvested at the stationary phase of growth. Tolaasin was prepared by ammonium sulfate precipitation and three steps of chromatograpies, including a gel permeation and two ion exchange chromatographies. Specific hemolytic activity of tolaasin was increased from 1.7 to 162.0 HU $mg^{-1}$ protein, a 98-fold increase, and the purification yield was 16.3%. Tolaasin preparation obtained at each purification step was analyzed by HPLC and SDS-PAGE. Two major peptides were detected from all chromatographic preparations. Their molecular masses were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and they were identified as tolaasin I and tolaasin II. These results demonstrate that the method used in this study is simple, time-saving, and successful for the preparation of tolaasin.