• Mycobiology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.121-131
• /
• 2022

The rare edible and medicinal fungus Antrodia cinnamomea has a substantial potential for development. In this study, Illumina HiSeq 2000 was used to sequence its transcriptome. The results were assembled de novo, and 66,589 unigenes with an N50 of 4413 bp were obtained. Compared with public databases, 6,061, 3,257, and 2,807 unigenes were annotated to the Non-Redundant, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases, respectively. The genes related to terpene biosynthesis in the mycelia of A. cinnamomea were analyzed, and acetyl CoA synthase (ACS2 and ACS4), hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR), farnesyl transferase (FTase), and squalene synthase (SQS) were found to be upregulated in XZJ (twig of C. camphora) and NZJ (twig of C. kanehirae). Moreover, ACS5 and 2,3-oxidized squalene cyclase (OCS) were highly expressed in NZJ, while heme IX farnesyl transferase (IX-FIT) and ACS3 were significantly expressed in XZJ. The differential expression of ACS1, ACS2, HMGR, IX-FIT, SQS, and OCS was confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. This study provides a new concept for the additional exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanism of terpenoid biosynthesis and data for the biotechnology of terpenoid production.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.29-33
• /
• 2014

Mucormycosis is a rare but fatal fungal infection with low survival rate in immune-compromised patients. It is caused by a fungus belonging to the Mucoraceae family of the Zygomycetes class. Mucormycosis is classified as rhino-orbital-cerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, disseminated, and miscellaneous types according to its clinical manifestations. Early diagnosis and treatment along with correction of the underlying medical condition is important for favorable results. This case presentation describes mucormycosis involving the anterior maxillary region in a leukemic patient with prolonged neutropenia. The patient benefited from a timely biopsy and immediate treatment with amphotericin B, and was successfully managed with an interdisciplinary team approach consisting of dental and several medical specialists.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.153-158
• /
• 1975

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative granulomatous disease due to Actinomyces israelii characterized by multiple abscess and sinus tract formation with dense fibrous scarring. This disease, especially thoracic infection, is very rare in Korea so we are not famiIliar with to make diagnosis and treatment. Otherwise the unspecificity of the clinical symptoms and the lack of adequate examination recedure (as anaerobic fungus culture) are the causes of misdiagnosis. Thoracic actinomycosis is very similar to chronic infectious disease of the lung and chest or thoracic neoplasm. Recently we experienced a case of thoracic actinomycosis (bronchopulmonary) which had been confused with chronic lung abscess and pathologically confirmed as broncho-pulmonary actinomycosis. The purpose of this report is to review our experience more thorouly to enhance consideration of Artinomycosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.125-127
• /
• 2013

Infection by aspergillus, which is a kind of mold, or a filamentous fungus, occurs rarely in larynx. Furthermore, primary laryngeal aspergillosis without any other airway tract extension and without any generalized immune deficit is extremely rare. We present a case of primary aspergillosis on vocal cord in a 72-year-old male who had no history of immune deficiency, voice abuse or steroid use.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.381-384
• /
• 1986

Pulmonary aspergillosis is a relatively rare disease in Korea. Immune suppressive patients, resulting from misuse or long term therapy of antibiotics, steroid and anticancer chemotherapeutics tend to be vulnerable to pulmonary aspergillosis. This study is made to illustrate the clinical features, preoperative diagnosis and surgical role in the management is this diseases. In retrospective study of operative cases from May 1980 through July 1986, 10 cases were analysis. Hemoptysis and blood tinged sputum were the most common chief complaints. Major underlying pathology was cavitary lesion or bronchiectasis caused by pulmonary tuberculosis [5 cases]. 2 cases were disseminated form due to immune suppression. Anatomic location of lesion was in the upper lobe in half case. Systemic antifungal agent is helpful for invasive aspergillosis and Resection is the treatment of choice for localized fungus balls and symptomatic localized forms.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.121-123
• /
• 2019

Urinary tract infection is common in the pediatric population. The most common causative agents are bacteria, among which Escherichia coli is the most frequent uropathogen. Although fungal urinary tract infection is rare in the healthy pediatric population, it is relatively common among hospitalized patients. Fungus may be isolated from the urine of immunocompromised patients or that of patients with indwelling catheters. The most common cause of funguria is Candida albicans. Although more than 50% of Candida isolates belong to non-albicans Candida, the prevalence of non-albicans candiduria is increasing. Herein, we report a case of community-acquired candiduria in a 4-month-old immunocompetent male infant who had bilateral vesicoureteral reflux and was administered antibiotic prophylaxis. He was diagnosed with urinary tract infection caused by Candida lusitaniae and was managed with fluconazole.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.317-327
• /
• 2018

While surveying undiscovered fungal taxa in Korea, three rare zygomycetous fungal strains, CNUFC-PTF2-1, CNUFC-TF3-1, and CNUFC-ESAF3-1, were isolated from soil, leaf, and freshwater samples, respectively. The strains were analyzed morphologically as well as phylogenetically based on the internal transcribed spacer region and 28S rDNA sequences. Sequence analysis of the two loci revealed that the isolates, CNUFC-PTF2-1, CNUFC-TF3-1, and CNUFC-ESAF3-1, were identified as Backusella circina, Circinella muscae, and Mucor ramosissimus, respectively. These species have not yet been previously described in Korea.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.135-138
• /
• 2024

A patient suffered from chronic ulcer due to recalcitrant fungal infection for 3.5 years. Five antifungal agents and 40 times of debridement—all failed. Finally, radical microscopic debridement was performed for eradication of fungal conidiospores. Since then, there was no recurrence at 2 years of follow-up. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is one of the rarest pathogens of cutaneous fungal infections, for which multidrug resistance increased the complexity and difficulty of treatment. Radical excision, especially microscopic debridement, was the key for eradication of fungal conidiospores in this case.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.140-145
• /
• 2016

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a natural fungus that has been valued as a health food and used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. The fungus is parasitic and colonizes insect larva. Naturally occurring O. sinensis thrives at high altitude in cold and grassy alpine meadows on the Himalayan mountain ranges. Wild Ophiocordyceps is becoming increasingly rare in its natural habitat, and its price limits its use in clinical practice. Therefore, the development of a standardized alternative is a great focus of research to allow the use of Ophiocordyceps as a medicine. To develop an alternative for wild Ophiocordyceps, a refined standardized extract, CBG-CS-2, was produced by artificial fermentation and extraction of the mycelial strain Paecilomyces hepiali CBG-CS-1, which originated from wild O. sinensis. In this study, we analyzed the in vitro immune-modulating effect of CBG-CS-2 on natural killer cells and B and T lymphocytes. CBG-CS-2 stimulated splenocyte proliferation and enhanced Th1-type cytokine expression in the mouse splenocytes. Importantly, in vitro CBG-CS-2 treatment enhanced the killing activity of the NK-92MI natural killer cell line. These results indicate that the mycelial culture extract prepared from Ophiocordyceps exhibits immune-modulating activity, as was observed in vivo and this suggests its possible use in the treatment of diseases caused by abnormal immune function.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.432-436
• /
• 2013

A 60-year-old male complained of headache, nasal discharge, and diplopia for over one month with a history of left upper molar extraction, and he had recently experienced severe discharge of purulent exudate from his left antrum. Under the diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis, the Caldwell-Luc operation was performed, and several fragments of amorphous white mucoroid materials were removed. In the histological observation, sinus mucosa was relatively well preserved, but showed diffuse infiltration with eosinophilic polymorphonuclears. Huge molds of mucormycosis were associated with the surface of mucosa. He was treated with amphotericin-B deoxycholate, resulting in the uneventful healing of the antral lesion. The current case of antral mucormycosis was very rare but effectively treated by surgical removal of antral mucosa and the following antibiotic therapy for the strong inhabitants of fungal molds. We also presumed that the patient was superinfected with commensal fungus of mucormycosis during broad spectrum antibiotic therapy for the previous dental infection.