Search

Recently, the International Panel for Climate Change released the 6th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) climate change scenarios with shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). The SSP scenarios result in significant changes to climate variables in climate projections compared to their predecessor, the representative concentration pathways from the CMIP5. Therefore, it is necessary to examine whether the CMIP6 scenarios differentially impact plant-disease ecosystems compared to the CMIP5 scenarios. In this study, we used the EPIRICE-LB model to simulate and compare projected rice blast disease epidemics in the Korean Peninsula using five selected family global climate models (GCMs) of the CMIP5 and CMIP6 for two forcing scenarios. We found a similar decrease in rice blast epidemics in both CMIP scenarios; however, this decrease was greater in the CMIP6 scenarios. In addition, distinctive epidemic trends were found in North Korea, where the rice blast epidemics increase until the mid-2040s but decrease thereafter until 2100, with different spatial patterns of varying magnitudes. Controlling devastating rice blast diseases will remain important during the next decades in North Korea, where appropriate chemical controls are unavailable due to chronic economic and political issues. Overall, our analyses using the new CMIP6 scenarios reemphasized the importance of developing effective control measures against rice blast for specific high-risk areas and the need for a universal impact and vulnerability assessment platform for plant-disease ecosystems that can be used with new climate change scenarios in the future.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10584-022-03410-2.

In July 2020, pear trees (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. Niitaka) with cankers displaying dark-red bacterial ooze on the trunk and branches were found in two pear orchards located in Naju, Jeollanam-do, South Korea (34°57'50″ N, 126°43'52″ E and 34°56'14″ N, 126°33'42″ E). The incidence was 1.5% (3 out of 200 trees) and 0.83% (1 out of 120 trees), respectively. The symptoms were similar to those of the bleeding canker caused by Dickeya fangzhongdai (Choi et al. 2021), which is typically observed in October. The bacterial ooze was suspended in sterile water and streaked in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium to isolate single bacterial colonies. Two isolates (PRI-B16 and PRI-B17) from representative diseased trees were selected for investigation. Physiological and biochemical characteristics of the isolates analyzed using the BIOLOG GEN III MicroPlate™ system (Biolog, Hayward, CA, USA) were similar to the characteristics of Pectobacterium actinidiae (Portier et al. 2019). These isolates were positively utilized stachyose, L-galactonic acid-g-lactone, guanidine hydrochloride and weakly utilized (-)-D-arabitol (Portier et al. 2019). Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted from cell cultured in 5 ml LB at 28C for 2 days using G-spin DNA extraction kit (iNtRON Biotechnology, Korea) according to the manufacturer's protocol. PCR amplification was amplified as Portier et al. (2019). The generated their sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) using primers 27f and 1492r (Heuer et al. 1997) (Genebank accession numbers: ON951863 and ON951864) were 99.86% and 99.76% identical, respectively, to that of P. actinidiae isolate SCPJ-1 (KY307837.1) by a BLAST search against gene bank databases. The dnaX (Genebank accession nos: ON960281 and ON960282), leuS (Genebank accession nos: ON960283 and ON960284), and recA (Genebank accession nos: ON960285 and ON960286) genes of these isolates were also amplified and sequenced by previously described Stawiak et al. (2009) for dnaX and leuS, and Waleron et al. (2002) for recA. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated dnaX, leuS, and recA sequences placed the two isolates in a clade containing previously identified P. actinidiae isolates. A pathogenicity test was conducted using two-year-old pear (P. pyrifolia cv. Nittaka) trees grown in a greenhouse. Wounded and unwounded pear tree branches were inoculated with 10 µL of the bacterial suspension (108 CFU/ml) or sterile water as a control. The inoculated plants were maintained at 30°C without light for 2 days under 85-90% humidity. At 7 days post-inoculation, bacterial ooze was observed on the branches inoculated with a bacterial suspension, whereas branches subjected to unwounded inoculation and water inoculation exhibited no symptoms. This assay was performed three times. We reisolated two colonies from each sample showing typical bleeding symptoms and confirmed their identity by sequencing the dnaX locus. Pectobacterium actinidiae has been reported to cause canker in pear trees in Brazil (Araujo et al. 2021) as well as kiwifruit in South Korea (Koh et al. 2012). This is the first report of P. actinidiae causing canker on pear trees in South Korea and is, therefore, pathologically significant.

An endolichenic fungus, Xylaria grammica strain EL000614, showed strong nematicidal effects against plant pathogenic nematode, Meloidogyne incognita by producing grammicin. We report genome assembly of X. grammica EL000614 comprised of 25 scaffolds with a total length of 54.73 Mb, N50 of 4.60 Mb, and 99.8% of BUSCO completeness. GC contents of this genome were 44.02%. Gene families associated with biosynthesis of secondary metabolites or regulatory proteins were identified out of 13,730 gene models predicted.

Microscopic observation of root disease onset and progression is typically performed by harvesting different plants at multiple time points. This approach prevents the monitoring of individual encounter sites over time, often mechanically damages roots, and exposes roots to unnatural conditions during observation. Here, we describe a method developed to avoid these problems and its application to study Fusarium oxysporum-Arabidopsis thaliana interactions. This method enabled three-dimensional, time-lapse imaging of both A. thaliana and F. oxysporum as they interact via the use of confocal and multi-photon microscopy and facilitated inquiries about the genetic mechanism underpinning Fusarium wilt.

Microscopic observation of root disease onset and progression is typically performed by harvesting different plants at multiple time points. This approach prevents the monitoring of individual encounter sites over time, often mechanically damages roots, and exposes roots to unnatural conditions during observation. Here, we describe a method developed to avoid these problems and its application to study Fusarium oxysporum-Arabidopsis thaliana interactions. This method enabled three-dimensional, time-lapse imaging of both A. thaliana and F. oxysporum as they interact via the use of confocal and multi-photon microscopy and facilitated inquiries about the genetic mechanism underpinning Fusarium wilt.

Analysis of differentially expressed genes has assisted discovery of gene sets involved in particular biological processes. The purpose of this study was to identify genes involved in appressorium formation in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae via analysis of cDNA–amplified fragment length polymorphisms. Amplification of appressorial and vegetative mycelial cDNAs using 28 primer combinations generated over 200 differentially expressed transcript-derived fragments (TDFs). TDFs were excised from gels, re-amplified by PCR, cloned, and sequenced. Forty-four of 52 clones analyzed corresponded to 42 genes. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that expression of 23 genes was up-regulated during appressorium formation, one of which was the MCK1 gene that had been shown to be involved in appressorium formation. This study will be providing valuable resources for identifying the genes such as pathogenicity-related genes in M. oryzae.

Scab disease caused by Venturia nashicola is of agroeconomic importance in cultivation of Asian pear. However, little is known about the degree of genetic diversity in the populations of this pathogen. In this study, we collected 55 isolates from pear scab lesions in 13 major cultivation areas in Korea and examined the diversity using sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, β-tubulin (TUB2), and translation elongation factor-1α (TEF-1α) genes as molecular markers. Despite a low level of overall sequence variation, we found three distinctive subgroups from phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS, TUB2, and TEF-1α sequences. Among the three subgroups, subgroup 1 (60% of isolates collected) was predominant compared to subgroup 2 (23.6%) or subgroup 3 (16.4%) and was distributed throughout Korea. To understand the genetic diversity among the subgroups, RAPD analysis was performed. The isolates yielded highly diverse amplicon patterns and none of the defined subgroups within the dendrogram were supported by bootstrap values greater than 30%. Moreover, there is no significant correlation between the geographical distribution and the subgroups defined by molecular phylogeny. Our data suggest a low level of genetic diversification among the populations of V. nashicola in Korea.

In August 2020, anthracnose-like symptoms was observed on pear fruit (Pyrus pyrifolia  P. communis) cultivated at 0.2 ha by the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science Pear Research Institute at the Rural Development Administration (Naju, Jeonnam Province in Korea). Symptoms were observed only on fruit (112 days after full bloom (DAFB)), and disease incidences was at least 90%. Initial black specks developed into larger brown or black lesions on fruit after 3 days. Later, sunken lesions with orange conidial masses were observed. Finally, infected fruit dropped prematurely. To isolate and identify the pathogen, small pieces (5  5 mm) from the margin of lesions on fruit were surface sterilized by immersing in 70% ethanol for 1 minute, washed three times with sterile water, dried, and placed on water agar amended with 100 ppm streptomycin, then incubated in the dark at 25°C. Hyphae emerging from the three independent tissues were subcultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), resulting in three independent isolates (CP-1, CP-2, CP-3) after single spore isolation. Colonies were pale gray on PDA, but the colony edges were white. Conidia were transparent, cylindrical with rounded ends, and 13.8 to 20.1 μm  4.8 to 6.2 μm (avg. 18.3 μm  5.4 μm, n = 100) in size. Appressoria were dark brown, globose or subcylindrical, and 6.3 to 9.5 μm  5.2 to 6.9 μm in size (8.1  6.1 μm, n = 100). The morphological characteristics were similar to the descriptions of C. gloeosporioides species complex (Weir et al. 2012). Sequences of ITS (MT921589-91), GAPDH (MT921987-89), CAL (MT921990-92), ACT (MT921993-95), CHS-1 (MT921996-98), TUB2 (921999-01), and ApMAT (MT922002-04) sequences from CP-1, CP-2, and CP-3 matched with C. fruiticola strain BRIP 62871 (100%; MK298285), HXQT-2 (100%; MN52588), HXQT-2 (100%; MN52839), HXQT-2 (99.65; MN525801), ICKP18B4 (99.34%; LC494275), HB5 (100%; MH985245), and GQHZJ23 (100%; MN338294), respectively. Concatenated gene sequences were used for a phylogenetic analysis based on the maximum likelihood method. The reference gene accessions and other information are presented in Weir et al. (2012). The analysis placed the isolates within a clade comprising C. fructicola. Pathogenicity of CP-1 was tested using 120 healthy pear fruits. The fruit surfaces were sterilized with 70% ethyl alcohol for 2 min and washed twice with sterilized water. Three 120 DAFB fruits were inoculated with 10 l of a conidial suspension (1×106 conidia/ml) with and without wounding. Another three control fruits were inoculated with sterile distilled with and without wounding. The inoculated fruit were placed in a plastic box to maintain high humidity and incubated in the dark at 25°C. Symptoms were observed on both wounded fruits after 3 days post inoculation (dpi) and 5 dpi on the unwounded fruits. No symptoms were observed in the control on both the wounded fruits. Pathogenicity tests was performed in duplicate. The pathogen was re-isolated from symptomatic tissues (100%) on treatments on both the wounded and unwounded fruits, but not control. The identity of the both re-isolated pathogen from the wounded and unwounded fruits was confirmed via analysis of seven genes and morphological characteristics, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Although C. fructicola has been reported on apples and peaches in Korea (Kim et al. 2018; Lee et al. 2020), this is the first report of anthracnose caused by C. fructicola on pear fruit in Korea, highlighting the need for systematically investigating the diversity and incidence of pear anthracnose in Korea. This study will contribute to the development of control strategies for anthracnose disease on pear fruit in Korea.

The draft genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. strain SJ1-7, a bacterial strain isolated from the rhizosphere of a Pinus densiflora plant, is reported. The whole-genome assembly comprised 7.9 Mbp, with a GC content of 71.80% and 4,262 predicted protein-coding genes., The draft genome sequence of Streptomyces strain SJ1-7, a bacterial strain isolated from the rhizosphere of a Pinus densiflora plant, is reported. The whole-genome assembly comprised 7.9 Mbp, with a GC content of 71.80% and 4,262 predicted protein-coding genes.

Pears (Pyrus pylifolia L.) are cultivated nationwide as one of the most economically important fruit trees in Korea. At the end of October 2019, bleeding canker was observed in a pear orchard located in Naju, Jeonnam Province (34°53'50.54″ N, 126°39'00.32″ E). The canker was observed on trunks and branches of two 25-year-old trees, and the diseased trunks and branches displayed partial die-back or complete death. When the bark was peeled off from the diseased trunks or branches, brown spots or red streaks were found in the trees. Bacterial ooze showed a rusty color and the lesion was sap-filled with a yeasty smell. Trunks displaying bleeding symptoms were collected from two trees. Infected bark tissues (3 × 3 mm) from the samples were immersed in 70% ethanol for 1 minute, rinsed three times in sterilized water, ground to fine powder using a mortar and pestle, and suspended in sterilized water. After streaking each suspension on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar, the plates were incubated at 25°C without light for 2 days. Small yellow-white bacterial colonies with irregular margins were predominantly obtained from all the samples. Three representative isolates (ECM-1, ECM-2 and ECM-3) were subjected to further characterization. These isolates were cultivated at 39 C, and utilized (-)-D-arabinose, (+) melibiose, (+)raffinose, mannitol and myo-inositol but not 5-keto-D-gluconate, -gentiobiose, or casein. These isolates were identified as Dickeya sp. based on the sequence of 16S rRNA (MT820458-820460) gene amplified using primers 27f and 1492r (Heuer et al. 2000). The 16S rRNA sequences matched with D. fangzhongdai strain ND14b (99.93%; CP009460.1) and D. fangzhongdai strain PA1(99.86%; CP020872.1). The recA, fusA, gapA, purA, rplB, and dnaX genes and the intergenic spacer (IGS) regions were also sequenced as described in Van der wolf et al. (2014). The recA (MT820437-820439), fusA (MT820440-820442), gapA (MT820443-820445), purA (MT820446-820448), rplB (MT820449-820451), dnaX (MT820452-820454) and IGS (MT820455-820457) sequences matched with D. fangzhongdai strains JS5, LN1 and QZH3 (KT992693-992695, KT992697-992699, KT992701-992703, KT992705-992707, KT992709-992711, KT992713-992715, and KT992717-992719, respectively). A neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated recA, fusA, gapA, purA, rplB, dnaX and IGS sequences placed the representative isolates within a clade comprising D. fangzhongdai. ECM-1 to 3 were grouped into a clade with one strain isolated from waterfall, D. fangzhongdai ND14b from Malaysia. Pathogenicity test was performed using isolate ECM-1. Three two-year-old branches and flower buds on 10-year-old pear tree (cv. Nittaka), grown at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science Pear Research Institute (Naju, Jeonnam Province in Korea), were inoculated with 10 μl and 2 μl of a bacterial suspension (108 cfu/ml), respectively, after wounding inoculation site with a sterile scalpel (for branch) or injecting with syringe (for flower bud). Control plants were inoculated with water. Inoculated branches and buds in a plastic bag were placed in a 30℃ incubator without light for 2 days (Chen et al. 2020). Both colorless and transparent bacterial ooze and typical bleeding canker were observed on both branches and buds at 3 and 2 weeks post inoculation, respectively. No symptoms were observed on control branches and buds. This pathogenicity assay was conducted three times. We reisolated three colonies from samples displaying the typical symptoms and checked the identity of one by sequencing the dnaX locus. Dickeya fangzhongdai has been reported to cause bleeding canker on pears in China (Tian et al. 2016; Chen et al. 2020). This study will contribute to facilitate identification and control strategies of this disease in Korea. This is the first report of D. fangzhongdai causing bleeding canker on pears in Korea.

Pathogens utilize multiple types of effectors to modulate plant immunity. Although many apoplastic and cytoplasmic effectors have been reported, nuclear effectors have not been well characterized in fungal pathogens. Here, we characterize two nuclear effectors of the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. Both nuclear effectors are secreted via the biotrophic interfacial complex, translocated into the nuclei of initially penetrated and surrounding cells, and reprogram the expression of immunity-associated genes by binding on effector binding elements in rice. Their expression in transgenic rice causes ambivalent immunity: increased susceptibility to M. oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, hemibiotrophic pathogens, but enhanced resistance to Cochliobolus miyabeanus, a necrotrophic pathogen. Our findings help remedy a significant knowledge deficiency in the mechanism of M. oryzae–rice interactions and underscore how effector-mediated manipulation of plant immunity by one pathogen may also affect the disease severity by other pathogens., Plant pathogens secrete various effectors to manipulate host immunity. Here, Kim et al. describe two Magnaporthe oryzae effectors that translocate into the nuclei of infected rice cells and reprogram expression of immunity-associated genes, increasing susceptibility to hemibiotrophic pathogens.

The fungus Daldinia childiae strain JS-1345, isolated from stem tissue of Abies koreana (Korean fir), has shown strong anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we report the genome sequence of D. childiae JS-1345. The final assembly consisted of 133 scaffolds totaling 38,652,569 bp (G+C content, 44.07%).

The fungus Daldinia childiae strain JS-1345, isolated from stem tissue of Abies koreana (Korean fir), has shown strong anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we report the genome sequence of D. childiae JS-1345. The final assembly consisted of 133 scaffolds totaling 38,652,569 bp (G+C content, 44.07%).

The fungus Aspergillus oryzae strain BP2-1 was isolated from the traditional malted starter culture nuruk. We report here the draft whole-genome sequence of A. oryzae BP2-1, which is comprised of 14 scaffolds with a total length of 39,455,382 bp and a GC content of 47.13%.

Acetylation of histone H3 lysine 56 (H3K56) by the fungal-specific histone acetyltransferase Rtt109 plays important roles in maintaining genome integrity and surviving DNA damage. Here, we investigated the implications of Rtt109-mediated response to DNA damage on development and pathogenesis of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (anamorph: Pyricularia oryzae). The ortholog of Rtt109 in M. oryzae (MoRtt109) was found via sequence homology and its functionality was confirmed by phenotypic complementation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rtt109 deletion strain. Targeted deletion of MoRtt109 resulted in a significant reduction in acetylation of H3K56 and rendered the fungus defective in hyphal growth and asexual reproduction. Furthermore, the deletion mutant displayed hypersensitivity to genotoxic agents, confirming the conserved importance of Rtt109 in genome integrity maintenance and genotoxic stress tolerance. Elevated expression of DNA repair genes and the results of the comet assay were consistent with constitutive endogenous DNA damage. Although the conidia produced from the mutant were not impaired in germination and appressorium morphogenesis, the mutant was significantly less pathogenic on rice leaves. Transcriptomic analysis provided insight into the factors underlying phenotypic defects that are associated with deficiency of H3K56 acetylation. Overall, our results indicate that MoRtt109 is a conserved histone acetyltransferase that affects proliferation and asexual fecundity of M. oryzae through maintenance of genome integrity and response to DNA damage.

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is one of the most common and economically important pests of stored cereal products worldwide. Furthermore, these beetles can act as vectors for several fungal post-harvest diseases. In this study, we collected T. castaneum from 49 rice processing complexes (RPCs) nationwide during 2016-2017 and identified contaminating fungal species on the surface of the beetles. Five beetles from each region were placed on potato dextrose agar media or Fusarium selection media after wet processing with 100% relative humidity at 27°C for one week. A total of 142 fungal isolates were thus collected. By sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region, 23 fungal genera including one unidentified taxon were found to be associated with T. castaneum. The genus Aspergillus spp. (28.9%) was the most frequently present, followed by Cladosporium spp. (12.0%), Hyphopichia burtonii (9.2%), Penicillium spp. (8.5%), Mucor spp. (6.3%), Rhizopus spp. (5.6%), Cephaliophora spp. (3.5%), Alternaria alternata (2.8%) and Monascus sp. (2.8%). Less commonly identified were genera Fusarium, Nigrospora, Beauveria, Chaetomium, Coprinellus, Irpex, Lichtheimia, Trichoderma, Byssochlamys, Cochliobolus, Cunninghamella, Mortierella, Polyporales, Rhizomucor and Talaromyces. Among the isolates, two known mycotoxin-producing fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium spp. were also identified. This result is consistent with previous studies that surveyed fungal and mycotoxin contamination in rice from RPCs. Our study indicates that the storage pest, T. castaneum, would play an important role in spreading fungal contaminants and consequently increasing mycotoxin contamination in stored rice.

Lichen genus Stereocaulon (Schreb.) Hoffm is distributed throughout the world. Although 15 Stereocaulon species have been recorded in Korea, no detailed taxonomic or revisionary research has been conducted for nearly two decades. In this study, we collected 260 putative Stereocaulon spp. samples and identified the species based on morphological, chemical, and molecular characteristics. From the collected samples, 10 species of Stereocaulon were identified, nine of which had already been reported, although this was the first report for the tenth, S. octomerellum Hue, in Korea. General characteristics of Stereocaulon spp. include coralloid phyllocladia and tubercular cephalodia; however, the specimen first collected in Korea was a rare species with tomentum on the pseudopodetia. The specimen of S. octomerellum is characterized by the presence of a primary thallus, granule to short coralloid phyllocladia, and pseudopodetia up to 1 cm in size, with tubercular cephalodia. To determine the phylogeny of the specimens, we compared the ITS sequences of ribosomal DNA and the β-tubulin gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Korean Stereocaulon species were monophyletic and placed in the previous phylogenetic classification. Species of S. intermedium and S. exutum, however, were polyphyletic, and are morphologically variable and widespread species. Overall, we present here detailed morphological and chemical descriptions of each species identified and a revised key of all known Stereocaulon species in South Korea.

A 46-year-old woman presented with slightly itching, painless erythematous nodules on the face, neck, and genital area. Initial differential diagnoses included cutaneous lymphoma. We performed punch biopsy on her neck. In histopathology, interface dermatitis with some nodular infiltration of numerous neutrophils and plasma cells was observed, therefore, serologic tests for syphilis were performed. Owing to positive serologic test results and dramatically improved skin lesions after treatment with benzathine penicillin, nodular secondary syphilis was diagnosed. Nodular skin lesions in secondary syphilis are uncommon and often misleading. Our case suggests secondary syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nodular lesions.

A total of 121 species of lichens belonging to the genus Arthothelium have been described to date, most of which have been found in tropical regions. Here, we describe the discovery of a novel Arthothelium species for the first time in South Korea. Until now, Arthothelium ruanum was the only Arthothelium species reported in South Korea. Among the 113 specimens collected in this study, we identified A. ruanum and a putative new species, Arthothelium punctatum (J. S. Park & J.–S. Hur, sp. nov.). The diagnostic characters of A. punctatum are as follows: apothecia punctate, shortly elongate to branched, small, 0.1–0.2 mm wide, hypothecium hyaline to pale brown and obovate to broadly ellipsoid, muriform ascospores, 29.5–44.6 × 12.2–18.2 μm. The new species was found in Mt. Seokbyeong at an altitude of 790 m on smooth bark. Upon phylogenic analysis, the putative new species, A. punctatum, was separated from other Arthothelium species although the specimens analyzed were clustered with Arthoniaceae in phylogenetic trees based on both the mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) sequence and combined mtSSU and nuclear ribosomal large subunit sequences. Our data clearly indicate that this species is a new species belonging to the family Arthoniaceae. To elucidate the taxonomic characteristics of the new species, we provide morphological descriptions and a distribution map.

The crustose lichen genus Pertusaria comprises over ca. 800 species worldwide. In total, 20 Pertusaria species were localized to the Mt. Sorak and Jeju-do in Korea. To date, information regarding the distribution of Pertusaria species in the South Korean peninsula is scarce. In this study, we collected Pertusaria species across South Korea and identified them based on morphological, chemical, and molecular characteristics. Of the 387 samples collected, we identified 24 taxa and 1 variety, of which 17 were previously recorded, and 6 taxa were newly found in South Korea (P. leioplaca, P. leucosora var. violascens, P. texana, P. thiospoda, P. thwaitesii, and P. xanthodes), 2 known species were transferred to Varicellaria (Varicellaria lactea and V. velata), one species was transferred to Variolaria as a new record (Variolaria multipunctoides) and one was a new species (P. jogyeensis J. S. Park & J.-S. Hur, sp. nov.). Characteristics of the newly discovered species, P. jogyeensis, are as follows: smooth to bumpy thallus, scattered to crowded poriform apothecia, blackish ostioles, definitely sunken, thin yellowish green rims around ostioles, 8-spored ascus, and the presence of perlatolic acid and thiophaninic acid (chlorinated xanthone). Phylogenetic studies on P. jogyeensis based on the mitochondrial small subunit sequence revealed proximity to P. flavicans and P. texana, and supported its classification as a new species within the genus Pertusaria. Additionally, we describe the chemical composition and morphology of all listed species in detail and provide an artificial key for identification.

Background: Histamine in food is known to cause food poisoning and allergic reactions. We usually ingest histamine in cooked food, but there are few studies about the influence of cooking method on the histamine level. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of cooking methods on the concentration of histamine in foods. Methods: The foods chosen were those kinds consumed frequently and cooked by grilling, boiling, and frying. The histamine level of the food was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Grilled seafood had higher histamine levels than raw or boiled seafood. For meat, grilling increased the histamine level, whereas boiling decreased it. For eggs, there was not much difference in histamine level according to cooking method. Fried vegetables had higher histamine levels than raw vegetables. And fermented foods didn’t show much difference in histamine level after being boiled. Conclusion: The histamine level in food has changed according to the cooking method used to prepare it. Frying and grilling increased histamine level in foods, whereas boiling had little influence or even decreased it. The boiling method might be helpful to control the effect of histamine in histamine-sensitive or susceptible patients, compared with frying and grilling. (Ann Dermatol 29(6) 706∼714, 2017)

Incidence rates of diseases in kiwiberry orchards were investigated monthly from late June to late September in Gwangyang and Boseong in 2015 and 2016. The impact of postharvest fruit rot was investigated during ripening after harvest. Bacterial canker was only observed on one single tree in 2015, but black rot, powdery mildew, leaf spot and blight, and postharvest fruit rot diseases were problematic throughout the study period in both 2015 and 2016. Incidence rates of the diseases varied with kiwiberry cultivar, region and sampling time. Incidence rates of powdery mildew, leaf spot and blight diseases increased significantly during the late growing stages near fruit harvest, while black rot peaked in late August. Incidence rate of postharvest fruit rot on fruit without fruit stalks was less than half of fruit with fruit stalks, regardless of kiwiberry cultivars. Among the four cultivars, Mansu was relatively resistant to black rot and postharvest fruit rot diseases. In our knowledge, this is the first report of various potential pathogens of kiwiberry in Korea.

The rice blast (fungal pathogen

The fungal genus Cochliobolus describes necrotrophic pathogens that give rise to significant losses on rice, wheat, and maize. Revealing plant mechanisms of non-host resistance (NHR) against Cochliobolus will help to uncover strategies that can be exploited in engineered cereals. Therefore, we developed a heterogeneous pathosystem and studied the ability of Cochliobolus to infect dicotyledons. We report here that C. miyabeanus and C. heterostrophus infect Arabidopsis accessions and produce functional conidia, thereby demonstrating the ability to accept Brassica spp. as host plants. Some ecotypes exhibited a high susceptibility, whereas others hindered the necrotrophic disease progression of the Cochliobolus strains. Natural variation in NHR among the tested Arabidopsis accessions can advance the identification of genetic loci that prime the plant's defence repertoire. We found that applied phytotoxin-containing conidial fluid extracts of C. miyabeanus caused necrotic lesions on rice leaves but provoked only minor irritations on Arabidopsis. This result implies that C. miyabeanus phytotoxins are insufficiently adapted to promote dicot colonization, which corresponds to a retarded infection progression. Previous studies on rice demonstrated that ethylene (ET) promotes C. miyabeanus infection, whereas salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) exert a minor function. However, in Arabidopsis, we revealed that the genetic disruption of the ET and JA signalling pathways compromises basal resistance against Cochliobolus, whereas SA biosynthesis mutants showed a reduced susceptibility. Our results refer to the synergistic action of ET/JA and indicate distinct defence systems between Arabidopsis and rice to confine Cochliobolus propagation. Moreover, this heterogeneous pathosystem may help to reveal mechanisms of NHR and associated defensive genes against Cochliobolus infection.

An algific talus slope is composed of broken rocks with vents connected to an ice cave, releasing cool air in summer and relatively warmer air in winter to maintain a more stable microclimate all year round. Such geological features create a very unusual and delicate ecosystem. Although there are around 25 algific talus slopes in Korea, lichen ecology of these areas had not been investigated to date. In this study, we report the first exploration of lichen ecology at an algific talus slope, Jangyeol-ri, in Korea. A total of 37 specimens were collected over 2017-2018. Morphological and sequencing analysis revealed 27 species belonging to 18 genera present in the area. Of particular interest among these species was Solorina saccata, as it has previously not been reported in Korea and most members of genus Solorina are known to inhabit alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere. We provide here a taxonomic key for S. saccata alongside molecular phylogenetic analyses and prediction of potential habitats in South Korea. Sequences were generated from all S. saccata specimens collected in this study, together with three S. saccata specimens from China for comparison. Phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear small subunit (nuSSU) showed that all the S. saccata specimens are tightly grouped into one clade with high support values (P=0.99) and showed close relatedness to S. spongiosa than S. crocea. Additional analyses were carried out using concatenated sequences: 65 sequences of mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) combined with nuLSU and 66 sequences of RPB1 with nuLSU. In these analyses, genus Peltigera was found to be the closest genus to S. saccata. Furthermore, regions in South Korea potentially suitable for Solorina spp. were predicted based on climatic features of known habitats around the globe. Our results showed that the suitable areas are mostly at high altitudes in mountainous areas where the annual temperature range doesn’t exceed 26.6°C. Further survey of other environmental conditions determining the suitability of Solorina spp. should lead to a more precise prediction of suitable habitats and trace the origin of Solorina spp. in Korea.

The fungus Amphirosellinia nigrospora strain JS-1675 has been reported to exert antimicrobial effects against various plant-pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of A. nigrospora for the first time., The fungus Amphirosellinia nigrospora strain JS-1675 has been reported to exert antimicrobial effects against various plant-pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of A. nigrospora for the first time. The assembly comprises 48,177,783 bp with 18 scaffolds.

Survival factor 1 (Svf1) is a protein involved in cell survival pathways. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Svf1 is required for the diauxic growth shift and survival under stress conditions. In this study, we characterized the role of FgSvf1, the Svf1 homolog in the homothallic ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum. In the FgSvf1 deletion mutant, conidial germination was delayed, vegetative growth was reduced, and pathogenicity was completely abolished. Although the FgSvf1 deletion mutant produced perithecia, the normal maturation of ascospore was dismissed in deletion mutant. The FgSvf1 deletion mutant also showed reduced resistance to osmotic, fungicide, and cold stress and reduced sensitivity to oxidative stress when compared to the wild-type strain. In addition, we showed that FgSvf1 affects glycolysis, which results in the abnormal vegetative growth in the FgSvf1 deletion mutant. Further, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in the FgSvf1 deletion mutant, and this accumulated ROS might be related to the reduced sensitivity to oxidative stress and the reduced resistance to cold stress and fungicide stress. Overall, understanding the role of FgSvf1 in F. graminearum provides a new target to control F. graminearum infections in fields.

Post burn pruritus is a common distressing sequela of burn wounds. Empirical antipruritic treatment often fails to have a satisfactory outcome, as the mechanism of it has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the manifestation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3), transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and other related receptors in post burn pruritus. Sixty-five burn patients with (n = 40) or without (n = 25) pruritus were investigated, including skin biopsies. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts from skin biopsy samples were separated. Real time-PCR showed that mRNA of TRPV3 was significantly increased in keratinocytes from pruritic burn scars than in keratinocytes from non-pruritic burn scars. With TRPV3 activation, intracellular Ca2+ concentrations were more significantly increased in keratinocytes from pruritic burn scars than in those from non-pruritic ones. Additionally, mRNA and protein levels of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) were also significantly increased in pruritic burn scars. In conclusion, we confirmed that TRPV3, PAR2, and NK1R were highly expressed in pruritic burn scars. These results may help determine a novel mechanism for post burn pruritus. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The highly polar surfaces having a strong effect on the cellular growth are desirable for the preparation of effective scaffolds. Here, we demonstrate that poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite films having a very high β-phase that shows the ferroelectric properties are quite effective for cell growth of RT4-D6P2T cells (Schwannoma cell line of rats), U87-MG (glioblastoma cell line of human) and SH-SY5Y (neuroblastoma cell line of human) cells. The contents of polar β-phase in the nanocomposite films could be finely tuned by the variation of MWCNT amount. The cell growth behavior of the three types of cells was congruent with the amount of the polar β-phase. Addition of 0.5 wt% MWCNT could generate 10% more β-phase in the composite, but show 250% more cell proliferation rates for all three cells than neat PVDF film after 7days of incubation. In vitro tests revealed synergy effects of scaffold’s stiffness and ferroelectricity on the cellular activity with the amount of MWCNT in the composite film.

Multiferroic materials attract considerable interest because of the wide range of potential applications such as spintronic devices, data storage devices and sensors. As a strong candidate for the applications among the limited list of single-phase multiferroic materials, BiFeO3 (BFO) is a quite attractive material due to its multiferroic properties at room temperature (RT). However, BFO is widely known to have large leakage current and small spontaneous polarization due to the existence of crystalline defects such as oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, the magnetic moment of pure BFO is very weak owing to its antiferromagnetic nature. In this paper, the effects of Ni2+ substitution on the magnetic properties of bulk BFO were investigated. BFO, and BiFe0.99Ni0.01O3, BiFe0.98Ni0.02O3 and BiFe0.97Ni0.03O3 (BFNO: Ni-doped BFO) ceramics were prepared by solid-state reaction and rapid sintering, and analyzed by structural and magnetic-property measurements. The leakage current density was measured at RT by using a standard ferroelectric tester. All the Ni-doped BFO samples exhibited the similar rhombohedral perovskite structure (R3c) to that of BFO. The magnetic properties of Ni-doped BFO were much enhanced with respect to BFO prepared at the same conditions, because the enhanced ferromagnetic interaction is caused by the Fe/Ni coupling.

The Magnaporthe oryzae snodprot1 homolog (MSP1), secreted by M. oryzae, is a cerato-platanin family protein. msp1-knockout mutants have reduced virulence on barley leaves, indicating that MSP1 is required for the pathogenicity of rice blast fungus. To investigate the functional roles of MSP1 and its downstream signaling in rice, recombinant MSP1 was produced in Escherichia coli and was assayed for its functionality. Application of MSP1 triggered cell death and elicited defense responses in rice. MSP1 also induced H2O2 production and autophagic cell death in both suspension-cultured cells and rice leaves. One or more protein kinases triggered cell death, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid enhanced cell death, while salicylic acid suppressed it. We demonstrated that the secretion of MSP1 into the apoplast is a prerequisite for triggering cell death and activating defense-related gene expression. Furthermore, pretreatment of rice with a sublethal MSP1 concentration potentiated resistance to the pathogen. Taken together, our results showed that MSP1 induces a high degree of cell death in plants, which might be essential for its virulence. Moreover, rice can recognize MSP1, resulting in the induction of pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of patients with post burn pruritus. The authors took skin samples from 62 burn patients with or without pruritus. The measured skin condition includes thickness and paresthesia. Various clinical features were rated on patient assessment scale (PSAS) and observer scar assessment scale. The samples were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, Masson's trichrome, Verhoeff's elastic, and toluidine blue stain. The stained samples were analyzed in terms of epidermal thickness, mononuclear cell infiltration, collagen bundles, elastic fibers, and mast cell distribution. A total of 62 patients were divided into group A (43 patients with pruritus) and group B (19 patients without). The mean (±SD) intensity of itch in group A patients was 4.58 (±3.24). Group A patients had thickened epidermises and higher scores on the PSAS and observer scar assessment scale, especially on the PSAS score. Sensations, including stinging and electric shock sensations, were more frequent in group A than in group B. Histological analysis revealed that group A patients had thinner collagen bundles and more increased mast cell counts, while others did not. Patients suffering from post burn pruritus had distinctive clinical and histopathological features, such as prominent mast cell deposition and thin collagen bundles, compared with group B patients. These results may help better understand post burn pruritus.

We develop a charge-modified PVDF UF/MF membrane that restricts membrane fouling derived from charged water contaminants. The charge-modified membranes are fabricated through surface assembly of various charged hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPGs), which act as anti-fouling agents. The native HPGs are neutrally charged polymers with a lot of hydroxyl end groups that can be modified with specific charges. We prepare three types of charged HPGs, i.e., neutrally charged HPGs without end group modifications, positively charged HPG with quaternary ammonium groups, and negatively charged HPG with sulfonate groups. The combined results for 1H NMR, FT-IR, and XPS results show that the charged HPGs are successfully synthesized and bound to the surfaces of the PVDF membrane. The surface hydrophilicity improves upon assembly of the hydrophilic charged HPGs. As expected, zeta potential results disclose that the differently charged HPGs provide the desired electrical properties to the membrane surface. In addition, the surface-assembled charged HPGs effectively suppress the attachment and accumulation of foulants having the same charge due to electrostatic repulsion and improved surface hydrophilicity.

Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agents used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including allergic disease. They are frequently considered the therapy-of-choice for many skin diseases. However, allergic reactions caused by corticosteroids have been reported. Among these, delayed reactions to topical steroids are more common, whereas immediate reactions to systemic steroids are rare. Herein, we report the case of a 32-year-old woman with triamcinolone-induced immediate hypersensitivity reaction, in which the patient had a positive prick test result with triamcinolone. She has had atopic dermatitis (AD) for three years. She had used systemic steroid, cyclosporine, and antihistamine with topical steroids for AD. In clinic, approximately 10 minutes after intralesional injection of triamcinolone, she complained of erythematous patches with slight elevation and itching on the face, trunk, and both hands. After intravenous injection of dexamethasone, her symptoms got worse. After treatment with epinephrine, all symptoms resolved within two hours. We performed an open test and skin prick test. She had a positive result only from the prick test with triamcinolone; all other steroids showed negative results from the open tests. Dermatologists should be aware of the possibility of anaphylaxis or other allergic hypersensitivity in response to corticosteroids., Graphical Abstract

Although botulinum toxin type A has been shown to inhibit the formation of hypertrophic scars, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of action. Studies have reported that botulinum toxin type A is able to inhibit fibroblast proliferation and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression; therefore, in this study, the authors evaluated its effect on the differentiation of fibroblasts derived from normal and hypertrophic scar tissue.Under local anesthesia, tissue specimens from 10 scars (five normal mature scars and five hypertrophic scars) were obtained from nine patients who visited the authors' department for scar revision. Fibroblasts isolated from the tissue specimens were cultured until confluent and pretreated with TGF-β1 to induce differentiation before treatment with botulinum toxin type A. Expression of the myofibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin in cell cultures was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation was further evaluated by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy.The authors' results showed that α-smooth muscle actin mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in the botulinum toxin type A-treated group than in the control group (treated with TGF-β1 only) of fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scars, but not fibroblasts derived from normal scars. Immunocytochemistry results also showed that fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation was significantly decreased after botulinum toxin type A treatment in fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scars.The authors' results show that botulinum toxin type A directly inhibits fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation in vitro, and indicate its potential for use in treating wounds expected to develop into hypertrophic scars after trauma, burn, or surgery.Therapeutic, V.

We investigated the effects of varying the multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) contents, as well as the additional use of drawing and poling on the polymorphic behavior and electroactive (piezoelectric) properties of the cast poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/MWCNT membranes. Dramatic changes occurred in the polar β-phase crystal contents with the MWCNT loading. An optimum concentration of MWCNT exists for PVDF film polarization. On the other hand, films prepared by electrospinning process exhibited almost constant amount of β-phase with the MWCNT concentration. In this process, polymer fibers with diameters down to the nanometer range, or nanofibers, are formed by subjecting a fluid jet to a high electric field. The remanent polarization and piezoelectric response increased with the β-phase crystals. Cell adhesion and proliferation measured with MTT (Methylthiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay coincidentally responded to the polarized PVDF films (β-phase amount).

An endophytic fungus, Fusarium solani strain JS-169, isolated from a mulberry twig, showed considerable antifungal activity. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this strain. The assembly comprises 17 scaffolds, with an N 50 value of 4.93 Mb. The assembled genome was 45,813,297 bp in length, with a G+C content of 49.91%.

The fungus Aspergillus persii strain NIBRFGC000004109 is capable of producing penicillic acid and showed antibacterial activity against various plant-pathogenic bacteria, including Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. Here, we report the first draft whole-genome sequence of A. persii. The assembly comprises 38,414,373 bp, with 12 scaffolds.

The fungus Aspergillus persii strain NIBRFGC000004109 is capable of producing penicillic acid and showed antibacterial activity against various plant-pathogenic bacteria, including Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. Here, we report the first draft whole-genome sequence of A. persii . The assembly comprises 38,414,373 bp, with 12 scaffolds.

In this paper, we find all inequivalent classes of self-orthogonal codes over $\mathbb Z_{p^2}$ of lengths $l \leq 3$ for all primes $p$, using similar method as in [3]. We find that the classification of self-orthogonal codes over $\mathbb Z_{p^2}$ includes the classification of all codes over $\mathbb Z_{p}$. Consequently, we classify all the codes over $\mathbb Z_{p}$ and self-orthogonal codes over $\mathbb Z_{p^2}$ of lengths $l \leq3$ according to the automorphism group of each code.

Regulatory roles of the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) in fungi have been identified in diverse cellular processes such as development, nutrient utilization and various stress responses. In this study, the 22 Magnaporthe oryzae genes encoding bZIP TFs were systematically characterized. Phylogenetic analysis of fungal bZIP TFs revealed that seven MobZIPs are Magnaporthe-specific, while others belongs to 15 clades of orthologous Ascomycota genes. Expression patterns of MobZIPs under various conditions showed that they are highly stress responsive. We generated deletion mutants for 13 MobZIPs: nine with orthologues in other fungal species and four Magnaporthe-specific ones. Seven of them exhibited defects in mycelial growth, development and/or pathogenicity. Consistent with the conserved functions of the orthologues, MobZIP22 and MobZIP13 played a role in sulfur metabolism and iron homeostasis respectively. Along with MobZIP22 and MobZIP13, one Magnaporthe-specific gene, MobZIP11 is essential for pathogenicity in a reactive oxygen species-dependent manner. Taken together, our results will contribute to understanding the regulatory mechanisms of the bZIP TF gene family in fungal development, adaptation to environmental stresses and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus.

Lichen studies, including biodiversity, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation concerns require definitive species identification, however many lichens can be challenging to identify at the species level. Molecular techniques have shown efficacy in discriminating among lichen taxa, however, obtaining genomic DNA from herbarium and fresh lichen thalli by conventional methods has been difficult, because lichens contain high proteins, polysaccharides, and other complex compounds in their cell walls. Here we report a rapid, easy, and inexpensive protocol for extracting PCR-quality DNA from various lichen species. This method involves the following two steps: first, cell breakage using a beadbeater; and second, extraction, isolation, and precipitation of genomic DNA. The procedure requires approximately 10 mg of lichen thalli and can be completed within 20 min. The obtained DNAs were of sufficient quality and quantity to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region from the fungal and algal lichen components, as well as to sequence the amplified products. In addition, 26 different lichen taxa were tested, resulting in successful PCR products. The results of this study validated the experimental protocols, and clearly demonstrated the efficacy and value of our KCl extraction method applied in the fungal and algal samples.