Promotion of Tricholoma matsutake mycelium growth by Penicillium citreonigrum.

Tricholoma matsutake has been the most valuable ectomycorrhizal fungi in Asia because of its unique flavor and taste. However, due to the difficulty of artificial cultivation, the cultivation of T. matsutake has relied on natural growth in forests. To cultivate the T. matsutake artificially, microorganisms in fairy rings were introduced. In this study, we isolated 30 fungal species of microfungi from the soil of fairy rings. Among them, one single fungal strain showed a promoting effect on the growth of T. matsutake. The growth effect was confirmed by measuring the growth area of T. matsutake and enzyme activities including α-amylase, cellulase, and ß-glucosidase. In comparison with control, microfungal metabolite increased the growth area of T. matsutake by 213% and the enzyme activity of T. matsutake by 110-200%. The isolated fungal strain was identified as Penicillium citreonigrum by BLAST on the NCBI database. The Discovery of this microfungal strain is expected to contribute to artificial cultivation of T. matsutake.

Species identity of Phellinus linteus (sanghuang) extensively used as a medicinal mushroom in Korea.

Sanghuang is a medicinal mushroom that has gained particular attention in Korea. It has been extensively studied for the past few decades as a natural immune booster and cancer suppressor. Although the scientific name, Phellinus linteus, has been commonly used to refer to the sanghuang mushroom, the species identity of sanghuang has been called into question due to the ambiguity of its circumscription and the inadequacy of morphological distinctions within allied species. Because the species concept of sanghuang has been elucidated by recent molecular phylogenetic studies, it has become necessary to clarify the taxonomic positions of sanghuang strains extensively utilized in Korea. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of 74 strains belonging to the P. linteus-baumii complex based on ITS nrDNA sequences. Parental stains of sanghuang varieties formally registered in the Korea Seed & Variety Service, including ASI 26046 (Corea sanghuang), 26114 (Boolro), and 26115 (HK 1-ho) were grouped with Sanghuangporus sanghuang instead of P. linteus in the inferred phylogeny.

Pro-Apoptotic Activity of 4-Isopropyl-2-(1-Phenylethyl) Aniline Isolated from Cordyceps bassiana.

Cordyceps species including Cordyceps bassiana are a notable anti-cancer dietary supplement. Previously, we identified several compounds with anti-cancer activity from the butanol fraction (Cb-BF) of Cordyceps bassiana. To expand the structural value of Cb-BF-derived anti-cancer drugs, we employed various chemical moieties to produce a novel Cb-BF-derived chemical derivative, KTH-13-amine-monophenyl [4-isopropyl-2-(1-phenylethyl) aniline (KTH-13-AMP)], which we tested for anti-cancer activity. KTH-13-AMP suppressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and C6 glioma cells. KTH-13-AMP also dose-dependently induced morphological changes in C6 glioma cells and time-dependently increased the level of early apoptotic cells stained with annexin V-FITC. Furthermore, the levels of the active full-length forms of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased. In contrast, the levels of total forms of caspases-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and Bcl-2 were decreased in KTH-13-AMP treated-cells. We also confirmed that the phosphorylation of STAT3, Src, and PI3K/p85, which is linked to cell survival, was diminished by treatment with KTH-13-AMP. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that this compound can be used to guide the development of an anti-cancer drug or serve as a lead compound in forming another strong anti-proliferative agent.

Antiproliferative and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities of 4-Isopropyl-2,6-bis(1-phenylethyl)phenol Isolated from Butanol Fraction of Cordyceps bassiana.

The Cordyceps species have been widely used for treating various cancer diseases. Although the Cordyceps species have been widely known as an alternative anticancer remedy, which compounds are responsible for their anticancer activity is not fully understood. In this study, therefore, we examined the anticancer activity of 5 isolated compounds derived from the butanol fraction (Cb-BF) of Cordyceps bassiana. For this purpose, several cancer cell lines such as C6 glioma, MDA-MB-231, and A549 cells were employed and details of anticancer mechanism were further investigated. Of 5 compounds isolated by activity-guided fractionation from BF of Cb-EE, KTH-13, and 4-isopropyl-2,6-bis(1-phenylethyl)phenol, Cb-BF was found to be the most potent antiproliferative inhibitor of C6 glioma and MDA-MB-231 cell growth. KTH-13 treatment increased DNA laddering, upregulated the level of Annexin V positive cells, and altered morphological changes of C6 glioma and MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, KTH-13 increased the levels of caspase 3, caspase 7, and caspase 9 cleaved forms as well as the protein level of Bax but not Bcl-2. It was also found that the phosphorylation of AKT and p85/PI3K was also clearly reduced by KTH-13 exposure. Therefore, our results suggest KTH-13 can act as a potent antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing component from Cordyceps bassiana, contributing to the anticancer activity of this mushroom.

A brief chronicle of the genus cordyceps fr., the oldest valid genus in cordycipitaceae (hypocreales, ascomycota).

The earliest pre-Linnaean fungal genera are briefly discussed here with special emphasis on the nomenclatural connection with the genus Cordyceps Fr. Since its valid publication under the basidiomycetous genus Clavaria Vaill. ex L. (Clavaria militaris L. Sp. Pl. 2:1182, 1753), the genus Cordyceps has undergone nomenclatural changes in the post-Linnaean era, but has stood firmly for approximately 200 years. Synonyms of Cordyceps were collected from different literature sources and analyzed based on the species they represent. True synonyms of Cordyceps Fr. were defined as genera that represented species of Cordyceps Fr. emend. G. H. Sung, J. M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora. The most common synonyms of Cordyceps observed were Clavaria and Sphaeria Hall, reported in the 18th and in the first half of the 19th century, respectively. Cordyceps, the oldest genus in the Cordyceps s. s. clade of Cordycipitaceae, is the most preferred name under the "One Fungus = One Name" principle on priority bases.

First Report of the Ash Dieback Pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in Korea.

In the past two decades, European ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) have been severely damaged due to ash dieback disease, which is caused by the fungal species Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (Chalara fraxinea in the anamorphic stage). Recent molecular phylogenetic and population genetic studies have suggested that this fungus has been introduced from Asia to Europe. During a fungal survey in Korea, H. fraxineus-like apothecia were collected from fallen leaves, rachises, and petioles of Korean ash and Manchurian ash trees. The morphological and ecological traits of these materials are described with the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence comparison of H. fraxineus strains collected from Korea, China and Japan.

Influence of Panax ginseng on Alpha-Adrenergic Receptor of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate problem in older men. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) on a rat model of testosterone-induced BPH. METHODS: The rats were divided into 3 groups (each group, n=10): control, testosterone-induced BPH (20 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection), and P. ginseng (200 mg/kg, orally) groups. After 4 weeks, all animals were sacrificed to examine the blood biochemical profiles, prostate volume, weight, histopathological changes, alpha-1D adrenergic receptor (Adra1d) mRNA expression, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein expression. RESULTS: The group treated with P. ginseng showed significantly lesser prostate size and weight than the testosterone-induced BPH group. In addition, P. ginseng decreased the mRNA expression of Adra1d as well as the expression of EGFR and BCL2 in prostate tissue. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that P. ginseng may inhibit the alpha-1-adrenergic receptor to suppress the development of BPH.

In Vitro Antagonistic Characteristics of Bacilli Isolates against Trichoderma spp. and Three Species of Mushrooms.

Twenty isolates of Bacillus species obtained from livestock manure composts and cotton-waste composts were tested for their antagonistic effects in vitro against three green mold pathogens of mushrooms (Trichoderma harzianum, T. koningii, and T. viridescens). However, there exists a possibility Bacillus species may have antagonistic effects against mushrooms themselves, and thus the same 20 isolates were tested in vitro against three species of mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes, Lentinus edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus). Of the 20 Bacillus species isolates tested, two inhibited mycelial growth of T. harzianum, seven that of T. koningii, and eight that of T. viridescens. Importantly, the bacterial isolates M27 and RM29 strongly inhibited mycelial growth of all the Trichoderma spp. isolates tested. The isolate M27 was subsequently identified as the most effective in inhibiting mycelial growth of all the Trichoderma species. Interesting results of the effect Bacillus isolates had upon the mushroom species followed. It was found that most Bacillus isolates except 5T33 at least somewhat inhibited mycelial growth of the three mushroom species or some of the mushrooms. Furhermore, the antagonistic effects of the bacterial isolates against the three species of mushrooms varied depending on the mushroom species, suggesting a role for mushroom type in the mechanism of inhibition. The bacterial isolates M27 and RM29 were identified as having the most antagonistic activity, inhibiting mycelial growth of all the Trichoderma spp. as well as mycelial growth of the three species of mushrooms. These results suggest that the bacterial isolates and their antagonistic effects on green mold pathogens should be further studied for their practical use for biological control of green mold in the growing room of the mushrooms.

Pedobacter suwonensis sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris).

A mesophilic bacterium, strain 15-52(T), was isolated from the rhizosphere of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris). On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, the bacterium was identified as representing a novel species belonging to the genus Pedobacter. The strain is non-flagellated, non-spore-forming and grows at temperatures in the range 1-37 degrees C. Physiological tests of the strain showed the presence of oxidase, catalase, protease (gelatin and casein hydrolysis), beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activities. The highest levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were found with respect to Pedobacter roseus CL-GP80(T) (97.3 %) and Pedobacter sandarakinus DS-27(T) (97.2 %). A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data indicated that strain 15-52(T) is a member of the genus Pedobacter. DNA-DNA hybridization analysis revealed low levels of relatedness (<42.3 %) between the isolate and two phylogenetically related type strains, P. roseus KCCM 42272(T) and P. sandarakinus KCTC 12559(T). The DNA G+C content is 44.2 mol% and the predominant fatty acids are iso-C(15 : 0) (35.4 %), iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH and/or C(16 : 1)omega7c (27.8 %) and iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH (15.8 %). On the basis of these data, strain 15-52(T) represents a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter suwonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15-52(T) (=KACC 11317(T)=DSM 18130(T)).

Dyella yeojuensis sp. nov., isolated from greenhouse soil in Korea.

A novel strain, R2A16-10(T), was isolated from greenhouse soil in Yeoju, Korea. The taxonomy of strain R2A16-10(T) was studied by using polyphasic methods. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, strain R2A16-10(T) was found to be phylogenetically related to type strains of Dyella species (96.7-96.9 %), Frateuria aurantia DSM 6220(T) (96.5 %), Fulvimonas soli LMG 19981(T) (96.3 %) and Rhodanobacter species (94.9-95.7 %). Strain R2A16-10(T), which produced yellow-coloured colonies, was Gram-negative, rod-shaped (0.3-0.4x1.5-3.5 mum) and motile. The predominant fatty acids were 17 : 1 iso omega9c (25.5 %), 15 : 0 iso (18.7 %) and 17 : 0 iso (14.6 %), and the major hydroxy fatty acids were 11 : 0 iso 3-OH (5.0 %), 13 : 0 iso 3-OH (3.4 %) and 17 : 0 iso 3-OH (1.0 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The G+C content of the DNA of the type strain was 63.0 mol%. On the basis of the data from this study, strain R2A16-10(T) represents a novel species of the genus Dyella, for which the name Dyella yeojuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R2A16-10(T) (=KACC 11405(T)=DSM 17673(T)).

Comparative analysis of sequences expressed during the liquid-cultured mycelia and fruit body stages of Pleurotus ostreatus.

To characterize genes involved in fruit body development, two complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries were constructed from RNA isolated from liquid-cultured mycelia and fruit bodies of Pleurotus ostreatus. Using single-pass sequencing of cDNA clones, 952 and 1069 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated from liquid-cultured mycelia and fruit body cDNA library, respectively. A BLASTX search revealed that 390 of the liquid-cultured mycelia ESTs (41%) and 531 of the fruit body ESTs (50%) showed significant similarity to protein sequences described in the nonredudant database (E values < or =1 x 10(-5)). When liquid-cultured mycelia and fruit body ESTs were compared by the SeqMan II program, among the total of 2021 ESTs, 1256 ESTs were unigenes, and 66 unigenes (5.3%) were commonly expressed during both stages. The functional catalogs of the ESTs were made by comparison with functionally identified Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes. Liquid-cultured mycelium ESTs were compared with fruit body ESTs and changes of the expressed genes during fruit body development were analyzed.