Fungus In Taiwan Research Articles

The Merosporangiferous Fungi from Taiwan (VII): Two New Records of Piptocephalis

During an investigation of Zygomycetous fungi in Taiwan, two merosporangiferous fungi, Piptocephalis freseniana and P. xenophila (Piptocephalidaceae, Zoopagales) were isolated from dung and soil. These two species represent new records from Taiwan. The differences in morphological characters and hosts among these two species and closely related taxa are briefly discussed.

Survey of Corticioid Fungi in Taiwan, to 2010

Two hundred and fifty-nine specific and infraspecific taxa of corticioid fungi have been reported from Taiwan, accounting for more than half of the estimated species of Taiwan. Slightly more than one fourth (71 specific and infraspecific taxa) of them are so far known only from Taiwan, mostly from subtropical and tropical belts of this island. A check-list is given to the species that have been reported from Taiwan.

Identification of triterpenoids from the fruiting body and mycelium of Antrodia camphorata with HPLC-ESI/MS

Antrodia camphorata Wu, Ryvarden & Chang (Polyporaceae) is an endemic parastic fungus in Taiwan. It grows slowly on the heartwood of Cinnamomum kanehirai and produced orange-red color fruiting body on the surface of wood. The fruiting body of A. camphorata has been used as antidote for food or drug intoxication and treatment for hepatoma. The extract or compounds isolated from fruiting body or mycelium of A. campharata showed immuno-enhance, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, cytotoxicity on tumor cells, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative, activities. The bioactive components of A. camphorata were identified as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, steroids, bezenoids, and maleic acd/succinic acid derivatives. High-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-PAD-ESI/MS) was developed to characterize the triterpenoids in A. camphorata mycelium and fruiting body. Zhankuic acid D, dehydroeburicoic acid (or antcin B), dehydroesulfurenic acid, zhankuic acid, antcin C, and antcin A were identified with selected ion monitoring (SIM) of 481, 467, 483, 485, 469, and 453 amu ions from ethanol extract of A. camphorata fruiting body. Antcin C, antcin A, zhankuic acid C, dehydresulfurinic acid, and dehydroeburicoic acid (or antcin B) were identified with SIM of 469, 453, 485, 483, and 467 amu ions from ethanol extract of A. camphorata mycelium. This HPLC-PAD-ESI/MS is suitable to identify the triterpenoids in the commercial products of A. camphorata mycelium or fruiting body.

Sedecimiella taiwanensis gen. et sp. nov., a marine mangrove fungus in the Hypocreales (Hypocreomycetidae, Ascomycota)

In an ongoing survey of marine mangrove fungi in Taiwan, a fungus with light-coloured ascomata, resembling members of the Hypocreales, was found on twigs of Kandelia obovata. Based on morphological characteristics and partial nuclear small and large subunit ribosomal DNA data, the fungus is described as a new genus and species, Sedecimiella taiwanensis, and placed in the Hypocreales (Hypocreomycetidae, Ascomycota). Phylogenetic analyses based on LSU/SSU sequences did not resolve the familial placement of S. tawianensis within the Hypcreales, but it may be related to the Niessliaceae. The characteristic features of S. tawianensis are orange to dark-brown colour, soft-texture and perithecial ascomata with the inner wall layer of the neck extending into the upper part of the centrum; cylindrical, 16-spored, unitunicate asci without an apical pore; and hyaline, smooth-walled and globose ascospores.

A triterpenoid methyl antcinate K isolated from Antrodia cinnamomea promotes dendritic cell activation and Th2 differentiation

Dendritic cells (DC) play a central role in the initiation and regulation of immune responses. Increasing evidence has indicated that manipulation of DC can serve as a therapeutic mechanism for immunomodulation. In this study we tested some unique compounds isolated from Antrodia cinnamomea, a medicinal fungus in Taiwan, on mouse bone marrow-derived DC activation. A triterpenoid methyl antcinate K (me-AntK) promoted DC maturation by enhancing the expression of MHC class II, CD86, and reducing the endocytosis. TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and MIP-1beta were secreted by DC after me-AntK treatment, indicating augmentation of innate immunity by me-AntK. Interestingly, the me-AntK-activated DC induced Ag-specific T-cell proliferation and facilitated Th2 differentiation. Examining signaling responses, we found that me-AntK treatment uniquely activated JNK and ERK in DC. Our results demonstrate that me-AntK is the first natural triterpenoid to promote the ability of DC to prime Th2 responses. This suggests that me-AntK can potentially be applied to enhance immune responses and modulate DC function in immunotherapy.

Production of type II ribotoxins by Aspergillus species and related fungi in Taiwan

A molecular investigation was conducted on the production of type II ribotoxin of the species Aspergillus and related fungi in Taiwan. Species that carried ribotoxin were confirmed by (1) cross-reactivity to anti-α-sarcin serum; (2) Southern dot hybridization; (3) PCR amplification of genomic DNA with specific primers; and (4) analysis of ribotoxic activity. Five new strains, A. clavatus, A. oryzae var. effusus, A. ostianus, A. tamarii, and Neosartorya fischeri var. spinosa, were identified to contain an α-sarcin-like ribotoxin. These positive strains exhibit ribotoxic activity by cleaving ribosomes and generating an α-fragment.

Indoor airbornePenicillium species in Taiwan

Penicillium species, well-known indoor airborne fungi, are considered to be important causative agents of extrinsic bronchial asthma. For selecting the proper species for clinical investigations, it is important to know which are found indoors. In the present study, 176 plates of modified Mehrlich's Medium were exposed for 20 min in living rooms and bedrooms of 88 homes in Taipei, Taiwan. A total of 5897 colonies of fungi were isolated, varying from one to 329 per house. Of the total, 910 colonies (15.4%) were identified asPenicillium spp. The three most frequently encountered species wereP. citrinum, P. crustosum andP. implicatum. Penicillium citrinum accounted for 40.5% (369 from 28 houses);P. implicatum, for 5.2% (47 from three houses); andP. crustosum, for 2.1% (19 from seven houses).Penicillium citrinum was judged to be the most prevalent airborne fungus in Taiwan. The allergenic significance of this mold is under further investigation.