• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.118-121
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• 2010

Single ascospore isolates of Cordyceps bassiana were observed for their colony pigmentation on Sabouraud Dextrose agar plus Yeast Extract (SDAY) plates and were inoculated in a brown rice medium for production of fruiting bodies. Colony pigmentation did not show any relationship with perithecial stromata formation. The isolates were also grown on opposite sides of SDAY agar plates and were observed for vegetative compatibility. Neither vegetative compatibility nor perithecial stromata could be found to be related to each other. It was concluded that fertile fruiting body production was independent of colony pigmentation and vegetative compatibility. Synnemata formation was found to be more common than perithecial stromata formation. This might be due to its highly conidiogenous anamorphic stage, i.e., Beauveria bassiana.

• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2006

Characteristic growth patterns of Cordyceps militaris isolates on various media, under varying light conditions and at varying incubation periods were examined. Light was found to be the most critical single factor in determining the density, texture, and pigmentation of the mycelial culture of the fungus. However, under the light condition, the degree of pigmentation and mycelial density were found to be affected by the incubation period and type of medium. Irrespective of the variations in medium type or incubation period, there was no pigmentation of the mycelium under dark condition. Radial growth of the mycelium was faster under dark incubation rather than under light incubation. Abundant mycelial density and darkest pigmentation of C. militaris isolates were produced in nutritionally rich media like SDAY, SMAY and CZYA, suggesting that these media may fulfill all the requirements for vegetative growth of the fungus. Growth characteristics of C. militaris isolates could be easily observed by the simple agar culture method, which would be useful to characterize the phenotypic characteristics of large number of pure cultures of the fungus under given conditions of growth factors such as medium, light and temperature.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2021

Background: Dental caries and periodontal disease are bacterial infectious disease, mainly caused by plaque, a bacterial colony deposited on the tooth surface and gum tissue. Dental plaque disclosants easily stain the dental plaque, making them effective for scaling and tooth brushing education. As the erythrosine typically contained in dental plaque disclosants is highly cytotoxic, a low toxicity additive is needed. In this study, we aimed to examine the natural pigments with negligible cytotoxicity but can effectively stain the dental plaques for use in dental plaque disclosants. Methods: The pigmentation of eight types of natural pigments was tested on bovine tongue and teeth, as well as on head and neck tissue sections of experimental ICR mice. The cytotoxicity of gingival epithelial cells was measured via MTT assay. Pigmentation was performed on the bovine tongue and tooth surface. Pigmentation in the oral environment was observed in four mandibular incisors. A 2 Tone was used as a control. Results: Of the eight types of natural pigments, purple and blue pigments were effective in coloring dental plaques on the enamel surface as well as in the head and neck tissue sections. Additionally, purple and blue pigments were visible on the surface of the bovine tongue. Red, pink, orange, green, purple, and yellow pigments showed strong cytotoxicity, whereas brown and blue pigments had relatively low cytotoxicity. Blue pigment was effective in staining the dental plaque of four mandibular incisors. Conclusion: We suggest that the blue pigment derived from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (Rubiaceae), which is effective for coloring dental plaques and has low cytotoxicity, is useful as a naturally derived dental disclosant.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 2017

The formation of brown colonies due to phenol oxidase activity on classic agar media containing natural material extracts of Helianthus annuus or on medium containing L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine has been used to identify Cryptococcus species complex. In this study, various natural materials were used to develop a modified medium and to identify five major serotypes of Cryptococcus species complex. Serotypes A, D, and A/D were pigmented on medium using Perilla frutescens var. japonica Hara (PerJ agar) after a three-day incubation. Serotypes B and C were pigmented on PerJ agar after four- and five-day incubations, respectively. Growth time and pigmentation of the five serotypes occurred more rapidly on PerJ agar than on the other media. In addition, colony morphology, size, and pigmentation were specific by serotype. In conclusion, PerJ agar should be used in clinic settings to identify Cryptococcus species complex and its serotypes rapidly.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2015

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushrooms play a major role in plant growth promotion through symbiotic association with roots of forest trees. They also provide an economically important food resource to us and therefore they have been studied for their artificial cultivation for decades in Korea. We have secured bio-resources of ECM mushrooms from Korean forests and performed their physiological studies. To investigate the cultural characteristics, the fungi were cultured under different conditions (medium, temperature, pH of the medium, inorganic nitrogen source). More than 90% of total 160 strains grew on three solid media (potato dextrose agar, PDA; sabouraud dextrose agar, SDA; modified Melin-Norkrans medium, MMN). The rate of mycelial growth on malt extract agar (MEA) was lower than those of three media (PDA, SDA, MMN). None of the Tricholomataceae strains grew on MEA. Many strains of ECM mushrooms were able to grow at the temperature range of $15{\sim}25^{\circ}C$ on PDA, while they showed poor growth at $10^{\circ}C$ or $30^{\circ}C$. In particular, the growth rates of both Gomphaceae and Tricholomataceae were significantly lower at $10^{\circ}C$ than at $30^{\circ}C$. The optimal pH of many strains was pH 5.0 when they cultured in potato dextrose broth (PDB). Fifty-seven percent of tested strains grew well on medium containing ammonium source than nitrate source. Many strains of Tricholomataceae showed a notable growth on ammonium medium than nitrate medium. Twenty-three percent of strains preferred nitrate source than ammonium source for their mycelial growth. The production and activity of two enzymes (cellulase and laccase) by ECM fungi were also assayed on the enzyme screening media containing CMC or ABTS. Each strains exhibited different levels of enzymatic activities as well as enzyme production. The number of laccase-producing strains was less than that of cellulase-producing strains. We found that 77% of tested strains produced both cellulase and laccase, whereas 2% of strains did not produce any enzymes. The morphological characteristics of mycelial colony were also examined on four different solid media. Yellow was a dominant color in mycelial colony and followed by white and brown on all culture media. ECM mushrooms formed mycelial colonies with a single or multiple colors within a culture medium depending on the strains and culture media. The most common shape of mycelial colony was a circular form on all media tested. Other families except for Amanitaceae formed an irregular colony on MMN than PDA. All strains of Tricholomataceae did not form a filamentous colony on all media. The pigmentation of culture media by mycelial colonies was observed in more than 50% of strains tested on both PDA and SDA. The degree of pigmentation on PDA or SDA was higher than MMN and brown color was dominant than yellow color. The production of exudates from mycelial colony was higher on PDA than MMN. Brown exudates were mainly produced by many strains on PDA or SDA, whereas transparent exudates were mainly produced by strains on MMN. We observed the mycelial colonies with a single or multiple textures in just one culture plate. Wrinkled or uneven colony surfaces were remarkably observed in many strains on PDA or SDA, while an even colony surface was observed in many strains on MMN. Sixty percent of Tricholomaceae strains formed wrinkled surface on PDA. However, they did not form any wrinkle on MMN plate. Cottony texture was observed in mycelia colonies of many strains. Velvety texture was often observed in the mycelial colonies on SDA than PDA and accounted for 60% of Suillaceae strains on SDA.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2004

A total of 62 isolates of Bipolaris cactivora causing cactus stem rots were isolated from major cactus-growing areas in Korea. Colony morphology of the isolates on potato-dextrose agar was differentiated into aerial (CA) and non-aerial mycelial types (CB). CA had profound aerial mycelium with grayish brown (CA-l), light brownish (CA-2), and brownish (CA-3) pigmentations; respectively, while CB had dark brownish pigmentations. CA had conidia of less dark pigmentation and acute terminal end. CB had darker and more round-end conidia. Twenty-eight amplified fragments were produced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a set of 2 random primers. The sizes of amplified DNA fragments ranged approximately from 0.1 to 2.3 kb. The isolates were classified into 2 major genomic DNA random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) groups at the genomic similarity of 97.7％ and 95.1％, respectively. Cluster analysis of genetic similarity among the isolates generated a dendrogram that clearly separated all isolates into SA or SB. This result suggests that there may be two morphotypes of B. cactivora in Korea that may differ in their genetic constitutes.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2017

Nocardia species (spp.) are opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. The genus Nocardia contains more than 70 species. Nocardia takedensis has been recently reported as a new species of the genus Nocardia. In this study, we describes the first clinical isolate of N. takedensis from the skin lesion in Busan, Korea. For the identification of clinical isolate to the species level as N. takedensis, classical methods (colony morphology, biochemical characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility), molecular method (16S rRNA gene sequencing), and MS (mass spectrometry) analysis were conducted. Clinical isolates grew slowly on the culture media (5% sheep blood agar and chocolate agar) under 5% $CO_2$ condition. Especially, carotene pigmentation was detected well on the media. Using mass spectrometry, Nocardia isolate was not identified to the species level. However, molecular method based on 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the isolate as N. takedensis correctly. N. takedensis isolate was partial positive for acid-fast bacilli on the Ziehl-Neelsen method. And it was observed to be resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin. Our results provide useful information to develop optimal identification protocol of N. takedensis in clinical diagnostic laboratories.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.389-400
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been reported to exert anticancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there has been no report on the effect of KRG on skin pigmentation. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of KRG on melanocyte proliferation. KRG extract (KRGE) at different concentrations had no effect on melanin synthesis in melan-A melanocytes. Saponin of KRG (SKRG) inhibited melanin content to 80% of the control at 100 ppm. Keratinocyte-derived factors induced by UV-irradiation were reported to stimulate melanogenesis, differentiation, proliferation, and dendrite formation. In this study, treatment of melan-A melanocytes with conditioned media from UV-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes increased melanocyte proliferation. When UV-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes were treated with KRGE or SKRG, the increase of melanocyte proliferation by the conditioned media was blocked. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was produced and released from UV-irradiated keratinocytes. This factor has been reported to be involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal melanocytes. In this study, GM-CSF was significantly increased in SP-1 keratinocytes by UVB irradiation ($30mJ/cm^2$), and the proliferation of melan-A melanocytes increased significantly by GM-CSF treatment. In addition, the proliferative effect of keratinocyte-conditioned media on melan-A melanocytes was blocked by anti-GM-CSF treatment. KRGE or SKRG treatment decreased the expression of GM-CSF in SP-1 keratinocytes induced by UVB irradiation. These results demonstrate that UV irradiation induced GM-CSF expression in keratinocytes and KRGE or SKRG inhibited its expression. Therefore, KRG could be a good candidate for regulating UV-induced melanocyte proliferation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2002

To produce yellow pigment selectively, mutants were induced from Monascus anka Nakazawa et Sato IFO 4478 (KCCM 11832 strain), and their characteristics were evaluated. Five kinds of auxotrophic mutants which required amino acids for growth and pigmentation, were isolated through a series of mutagenic treatments. Especially, asparagine auxotroph Y7 produced high ratio of yellow pigment. This mutant showed all the morphological characteristics of Monascuceae but the shape of colony and the diameter of conidia. Mutant Y7 was propagated by sexual reproduction more often than asexual reproduction, which could be effective in production of pigments. Yellow pigment produced extracellularly by the mutant Y7 was more soluble in polar solvents such as ethanol and water than in nonpolar solvents. Its productivity of yellow pigment was 2.2 times higher in the mutant Y7 than in parents. In addition, its yellow pigment showed characteristics of maximum absorption at 373 nm. Moreover, the hue of pigment produced by the mutant Y7 was bright yellow, and it was stable through the subculture over 10 generations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.117.3-118
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• 2003

We tested for the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycovirus in 827 Fusarium graminearum isolated from diseased barley and maize. dsRNA mycoviruses with various sizes were isolated. Of them, it was previously reported that dsRNA from DK2l isolate had pronounced morphological changes, including reduction in mycelial growth, increased to red pigmentation, reduced virulence and sporulation. (Chu et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2002). For better understanding of this hypovirulence associated with DK2l dsRNA virus, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of dsRNA genome and named Fusarium hypovirus DK2l strain (Fhv-DK2l ). Genomic RNA of Fhv-DK2l was determined to be 6625 nucleotides in length excluding the poly (A) tail and contained three putative open reading frame. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and helicase domain were expected in ORF A, 54 to 4709 nucleotide position. ORE B, 4752 to 5216 nucleotide position, and ORF C, 5475 to 6578 nucleotide position, were predicted to encode 16.7kDa and 41.3kDa protein respectively each. We could not detect any conserved domains from these two proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed Fhv-DK2l was related to Cryphonectria hypovirus 3. Ten additional isolates were found that were infected with dsRNA mycoviruses. These mycoviruses contain 2 to 4 different segments of dsRNAs with the size range of approximately 1.7 to 10-kbp in length. The presence of dsRNAs isolates did not affect colony morphology and were transmissible through conidia and ascospore with incidence of 30-100％. These results indicate that there is genomic diversity of dsRNA mycoviruses that infect F. graminearum isolates and that impact of virus infection on host's morphology and virulence is determined by the interaction between dsRNAs and the fungal host, not by the mere presence of the dsRNAs