Chlamydospore Induction from Conidia of Cylindrocarpon destructans Isolated from Ginseng in Korea

Cylindrocarpon destructans causes root rot disease in ginseng and can survive for a long time, producing chlamydospores. We optimized conditions to induce chlamydospore production from the conidia of C. destructans, isolated from Korean ginseng. This will provide the basis for testing the efficacy of control agents targeting these chlamydospores.

Differential expression and function of chitinase 3-like-1 in macrophage stimulated by Sporothrix schenckii / 中国人兽共患病学报

We evaluated the differential expression and function of chitinase 3‐like‐1 in macrophage stimulated by Sporothrix schenckii and Candida albicans fungicidal ability of macrophage after stimulation with Sporothrix schenckii and Candida albi‐cans separately was detected .The expression of CHI3L1 gene in macrophage stimulated by Sporothrix Schenckii and Candida albicans was evaluated with real‐time PCR .The function of CHI3L1 protein in macrophages against the reproduction of Sporo‐thrix schenckii and Candida albicans was detected in vitro .Results showed that macrophages could engulf and kill Sporothrix Schenckii and Candida albicans in vitro .The expression of CHI3L1 gene in macrophage stimulated by Candida albicans was increased obviously .At the same time ,CHI3L1 protein can damper the reproduction of Candida albicans .However ,the ex‐pression of CHI3L1 gene was not elevated when macrophage was stimulated by Sporothrix schenckii and CHI3L1 protein played little role in reproduction of Sporothrix schenckii .The expression of CHI3L1 gene in macrophage was elevated after stimulation with Candida albicans ,but was not elevated with Sporothrix Schenckii .In correspondence with differential ex‐pression ,CHI3L1 in macrophages could impair the reproduction of Candida albicans but had a weak function on Sporothrix schenckii which might contribute to the pathogenesis of spo‐rotricosis .

Microcyle Conidiation in Filamentous Fungi

The typical life cycle of filamentous fungi commonly involves asexual sporulation after vegetative growth in response to environmental factors. The production of asexual spores is critical in the life cycle of most filamentous fungi. Normally, conidia are produced from vegetative hyphae (termed mycelia). However, fungal species subjected to stress conditions exhibit an extremely simplified asexual life cycle, in which the conidia that germinate directly generate further conidia, without forming mycelia. This phenomenon has been termed as microcycle conidiation, and to date has been reported in more than 100 fungal species. In this review, first, we present the morphological properties of fungi during microcycle conidiation, and divide microcycle conidiation into four simple categories, even though fungal species exhibit a wide variety of morphological differences during microcycle conidiogenesis. Second, we describe the factors that influence microcycle conidiation in various fungal species, and present recent genetic studies that have identified the genes responsible for this process. Finally, we discuss the biological meaning and application of microcycle conidiation.