Molecular phylogenetic status of Korean strain of Podosphaera xanthii, a causal pathogen of powdery mildew on Japanese thistle (Cirsium japonicum) in Korea

Mitochondrial genome of the Podosphaera xanthii: a plant pathogen causes powdery mildew in cucurbits

In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the Podosphaera xanthii, which is the powdery mildew diseases causative pathogen for cucurbits. The total size of the mitochondrial genome is 26,052 bp, which includes 15 coding genes, 25 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) used for the phylogenetic construction, which grouped this species into Hypocreomycetidae taxonomy family, which could aid the researchers to place the fungal in an appropriate taxonomy clade.

Pectolinarin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and suppresses inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes by inactivating the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B pathway

Rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs), a pathological hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), exhibit the characteristics of tumor cells. The extracts of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense have been shown to possess antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of pectolinarin, a flavonoid compound isolated from C. japonicum var. ussuriense, on RA. Cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry analysis and Western blot analysis of Bax and Bcl-2 levels. Inflammation was assessed by detecting the expressions and secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was also measured. The effects of pectolinarin on the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway were examined by Western blot. We found that pectolinarin significantly inhibited cell viability at 24 and 48 hours in a dose-dependently manner in RA-FLSs. Pectolinarin reduced the apoptotic rate, increased Bax level, and decreased Bcl-2 level in RA-FLSs. Pectolinarin inhibited the messenger RNA expression and secretion of IL-6 and IL-8, as well as the production of PGE2 and NO in RA-FLSs. Furthermore, pectolinarin inactivated the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway in RA-FLSs. Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by 740Y-P impaired the effects of pectolinarin on cell viability, apoptosis, and inflammation in RA-FLSs. In conclusion, pectolinarin suppressed cell proliferation and inflammatory response and induced apoptosis in RA-FLSs via inactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

First Records of Rare Ascomycete Fungi, Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, Bartalinia robillardoides, and Collariella carteri from Freshwater Samples in Korea

The distribution and occurrence of rare ascomycete fungi within freshwater samples in Korea was investigated. Three rare fungal strains, CNUFC-YR537-1, CNUFC-CNUP1-1, and CNUFC-NDR3-1, were isolated using serial dilution method. On the basis of their morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of their internal transcribed spacer regions and 28S rDNA sequences, the three isolates were identified as Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, Bartalinia robillardoides, and Collariella carteri, respectively. To our knowledge, these are the first records of rare genera Acrostalagmus, Bartalinia, and Collariella from Korea, and the first reports of A. luteoalbus, B. robillardoides, and C. carteri from freshwater samples.

Isolation and Characterization of Two Rare Mucoralean Species with Specific Habitats

The order Mucorales, the largest in number of species within the Mucoromycotina, comprises typically fast-growing saprotrophic fungi. During a study of the fungal diversity of undiscovered taxa in Korea, two novel mucoralean strains, CNUFC-GWD3-9 and CNUFC-EGF1-4, were isolated from specific habitats including freshwater and fecal samples, respectively. On the basis of their morphological characteristics and sequence analyses of internal transcribed spacer and large subunit ribosomal DNA, the CNUFC-GWD3-9 and CNUFC-EGF1-4 isolates were confirmed to be Gilbertella persicaria and Pilobolus crystallinus, respectively. It is ecologically, pathologically, and mycologically significant to find such rare zygomycetous fungi in such specific habitats.

Isolation and Characterization of Three Zygomycetous Fungi in Korea: Backusella circina, Circinella muscae, and Mucor ramosissimus

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.

Isolation and Characterization of Three Unrecorded Zygomycete Fungi in Korea: Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Cunninghamella echinulata, and Cunninghamella elegans

In a survey of undiscovered taxa in Korea, three zygomycete fungal strains-EML-W31, EML-HGD1-1, and EML-RUS1-1-were isolated from freshwater, grasshopper fecal, and soil samples in Korea. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer and 28S rDNA, the isolates of EML-W31, EML-HGD1-1, and EML-RUS1-1 were confirmed to be Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Cunninghamella echinulata, and Cunninghamella elegans, respectively. These species have not been previously described in Korea.