• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2015

Increased use of rhinoceros beetles (Allomyrina dichotoma ) for food and medicine, and their elevated value as pets has led to an increase in the number of their breeding farms. Mass breeding of the insects in these farms leads to entomological diseases. In this study, we investigate cannibalism resulting from overcrowded breeding of A. dichotoma larvae, as well as secondary fungal infections in epidermal wounds in the surviving larvae. Some of the fungi detected in the present study showed entomopathogenicity, and the larvae showed different times of death. In particular, larvae infected with Clonostachys sp., an endophytic plant fungus, grew for a long time after infection, but died without pupating.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2010

Twelve fungal isolates out of 123 isolates obtained from cysts and soils of potato cyst nematode (PCN)-infested fields in Central Java, Indonesia had parasitic abilities of over 50% on PCN eggs or females (cysts) in vitro pathogenicity tests. Cultural and morphological characters and DNA sequences of ribosomal genes in ITS region revealed that they were four isolates of Gliocladium (Trichoderma) virens, three isolates of Fusarium oxysporum, one of F. lateritium, one of Penicillium tritinum and two of Taralomyces spp. A hundred percent infections occurred in eggs or cysts by three fungal isolates G. virens, F. oxysporum and P. oxalicum, suggesting that these fungi may have a good potential for the PCN biocontrol. Especially, G. virens isolates, which occurred most frequently in the PCN-infested potato fields and are known to be highly adaptable to varying habitats, may be developed as reliable agents for controlling PCN with both egg- and cyst-parasitic capabilities and with high ecological adaptabilities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.637-644
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• 2021

Malassezia is the most abundant genus in the fungal microflora found on human skin, and it is associated with various skin diseases. Among the 18 different species of Malassezia that have been identified to date, M. restricta and M. globosa are the most predominant fungal species found on human skin. Several studies have suggested a possible link between Malassezia and skin disorders. However, our knowledge on the physiology and pathogenesis of Malassezia in human body is still limited. Malassezia is unable to synthesize fatty acids; hence, it uptakes external fatty acids as a nutrient source for survival, a characteristic compensated by the secretion of lipases and degradation of sebum to produce and uptake external fatty acids. Although it has been reported that the activity of secreted lipases may contribute to pathogenesis of Malassezia, majority of the data were indirect evidences; therefore, enzymes' role in the pathogenesis of Malassezia infections is still largely unknown. This review focuses on the recent advances on Malassezia in the context of an emerging interest for lipases and summarizes the existing knowledge on Malassezia, diseases associated with the fungus, and the role of the reported lipases in its physiology and pathogenesis.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.225-233
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• 2018

The Ulmus davidiana have been used in traditional oriental medicine as remedies for inflammation, ulcers, cancers, bacterial infections and scabies. In this study, the anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activitiesof a supercritical extract of U. davidiana were investigated in vitro. To explore the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics of the supercritical extract, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and the inhibition of nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were examined, respectively. In addition, the anti-fungal activities of the extract were assessed. The results showed a concentration-dependent increase in ABTS radical scavenging activity. Cells stimulated with LPS produced more nitric oxide than normal control cells; however, cells treated with the supercritical fluid extract decreased this production in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, the supercritical fluid extracts showed significant anti-fungal activity. These results suggest that extracts of the U. davidiana might be used to develop potent anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory agents, and may be useful as ingredients for related new functional cosmetic materials.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.177-181
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• 2014

Cockroaches are abundant in Nigeria and are seen to harbour an array of pathogens. Environmental and sanitary conditions associated with demographic/socio-economic settings of an area could contribute to the prevalence of disease pathogens in cockroaches. A total of 246 cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) in urban (Benin, n=91), semi-urban (Ekpoma, n=75) and rural (Emuhi, n=70) settings in Edo State, Nigeria were collected within and around households. The external body surfaces and alimentary canal of these cockroaches were screened for bacterial, fungal, and parasitological infections. Bacillus sp. and Escherichia coli were the most common bacteria in cockroaches. However, Enterococcus faecalis could not be isolated in cockroaches trapped from Ekpoma and Emuhi. Aspergillus niger was the most prevalent fungus in Benin and Ekpoma, while Mucor sp. was predominant in Emuhi. Parasitological investigations revealed the preponderance of Ascaris lumbricoides in Benin and Emuhi, while Trichuris trichura was the most predominant in Ekpoma. The prevalence and burden of infection in cockroaches is likely to be a reflection of the sanitary conditions of these areas. Also, cockroaches in these areas making incursions in homes may increase the risk of human infections with these disease agents.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2007

The number of children patients with tinea pedis and onychomycosis diagnosed on clinical findings and culture at the Catholic Dermatological Clinic in Daegu City were 144,446 for 2 years from January 2005 to December 2006. 120 children were suspected of having clinical onychomycosis or tinea pedis. KOH smears and cultures on the Potato corn meal dextrose agars (PDCA) were done for the suspected toe webs, nails and uninvolved neighbor toe webs. Socks were dusted and cultured to check contamination of clothes. Family infections were checked by questionnaire. The incidence was 92 (0.06%) out of 144,446 outpatients in tinea pedis, 28 (0.02%) in onychomycosis. Trichophyton(T.) rubrums were isolated from all of the 7 cases of onychomycosis. T. mentagrophytes was isolated from 5 cases of the tinea pedis patients and T. rubrum was isolated from 50 (92.5%) cases of the tinea pedis. The right side was predominant for onychomycosis of both toe nails (23 of 25) and finger nails (3 of 3). No fungal elements were detected from normal looking neighbor toe webs by KOH examinations. However, culture on PDCA agars showed T. rubrum isolates from 3 toe webs. 7 showed positive cultures from the socks. From the questionnaire, 94 had family infections.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 1998

Fugi are eukaryotic, nonphotosynthetic, filamentous or unicellular organisms, most of which grow on nonliving materials as saphrophytes. The majority are therefore opportunistic pathogens and predisposing factors often contribute to the establishment of fungal infection. These include an alteration in the normal flora of the host by prolonged administration of antibiotics, immunosup-pression, concurrent infections, damage to the skin or mucous membranes, constantly moist areas of skin or the exposure to a large infective dose, and as with fungal spores. Fungi may cause a variety of diseases which may be due directly to fungal invasion of tissue or more often to the ingestion of toxins produces by fungi in growing, standing or stored grains and other animals feeds. In this experiment, contaminated fugi were isolated and identified from animal feedstuffs such as Korean cattle, milking cows, pigs and chickens. Twelve genues were isolated from animal feeds, they are 9 from Korean cattle and milking cows feeds, 6 from pigs feeds, and 10 from chickens feeds. Among them, most frequently encountered species was Yeast(56 strains), followed by Fusarium sp(41 strains), Aspergillus sp(20 strains), each of Micorsporum sp and Trichophyton sp(17 strains), Penicilium sp(12 strains), in order. And also minority was isolated as Candide sp(4 strains), Trichoderma sp(3 strains), each of Epidermophytom sp and Absida sp(2 strains), and each of Sporothrix sp and Maduromyces sp(1 strain). Among the Aspergillus sp 20 isolates, A flavus(5 strains), A nidulans(4 strains), A fumigatus(3 strains), A glucans(3 strains), A niger(3 strains) and A terreus(2 strains) were identified.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.315-328
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• 2021

Fusarium and Rhizoctonia genera are important pathogens of many field crops worldwide. They are constantly evolving and expanding their host range. Selecting resistant cultivars is an effective strategy to break their infection cycles. To this end, we screened a collection of Medicago truncatula accessions against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Rhizoctonia solani strains isolated from different plant species. Despite the small collection, a biodiversity in the disease response of M. truncatula accessions ranging from resistant phenotypes to highly susceptible ones was observed. A17 showed relative resistance to all fungal strains with the lowest disease incidence and ratings while TN1.11 was among the susceptible accessions. As an initiation of the characterization of resistance mechanisms, the antioxidant enzymes' activities, at the early stages of infections, were compared between these contrasting accessions. Our results showed an increment of the antioxidant activities within A17 plants in leaves and roots. We also analyzed the responses of a population of recombinant inbred lines derived from the crossing of A17 and TN1.11 to the infection with the same fungal strains. The broad-sense heritability of measured traits ranged from 0.87 to 0.95, from 0.72 to 0.96, and from 0.14 to 0.85 under control, F. oxysporum, and R. solani conditions, respectively. This high estimated heritability underlines the importance of further molecular analysis of the observed resistance to identify selection markers that could be incorporated into a breeding program and thus improving soil-borne pathogens resistance in crops.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2021

Eosinophilic meningitis is defined as the presence of more than 10 eosinophils per µl in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or eosinophils accounting for more than 10% of CSF leukocytes in patients with acute meningitis. Parasites are the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide, but there is limited research on patients in Korea. Patients diagnosed with eosinophilic meningitis between January 2004 and June 2018 at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea were retrospectively reviewed. The etiology and clinical characteristics of each patient were identified. Of the 22 patients included in the study, 11 (50%) had parasitic causes, of whom 8 (36%) were diagnosed as neurocysticercosis and 3 (14%) as Toxocara meningitis. Four (18%) patients were diagnosed with fungal meningitis, and underlying immunodeficiency was found in 2 of these patients. The etiology of another 4 (18%) patients was suspected to be tuberculosis, which is endemic in Korea. Viral and bacterial meningitis were relatively rare causes of eosinophilic meningitis, accounting for 2 (9%) and 1 (5%) patients, respectively. One patient with neurocysticercosis and 1 patient with fungal meningitis died, and 5 (23%) had neurologic sequelae. Parasite infections, especially neurocysticercosis and toxocariasis, were the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in Korean patients. Fungal meningitis, while relatively rare, is often aggressive and must be considered when searching for the cause of eosinophilic meningitis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.259-264
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• 1986

Broncholithiasis is defined as a cor9ition in which a concretion is present within a bronchus or a cavity in the lung communicating with a bronchus. The usual causes of broncholithiasis are known as tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, silicosis, aspirated calculi, and a few fungal infections. It is generally accepted that the constant motion created by respiration and beating of the heart may cause the peribronchial calcified lymph node to erode into the tracheobronchial tree and to form broncholith. After the analysis of our 6 cases of broncholithiasis which were treated surgically in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital from 1960 to December, 1985, we could suggest that intrinsic formation of calculi should be regarded as the pathogenesis of broncholithiasis in addition to the extrinsic formation of calculi.