Journal of Microbiology

Wonjun Lee

3 Articles

Erratum to: Fungal Catastrophe of a Specimen Room: Just One Week is Enough to Eradicate Traces of Thousands of Animals: Ji Seon Kim , Yoonhee Cho , Chang Wan Seo , Ki Hyeong Park , Shinnam Yoo , Jun Won Lee , Sung Hyun Kim , Wonjun Lee , Young Woon Lim; J. Microbiol. 2023;61(6):653-653.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00060-6

537 View
6 Download

Abstract PDF: Correction to: Journal of Microbiology (2023) 61:189–197 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00017-9 In this article two author names are given erroneaously: Written incorrectly: Ki Hyung Park · Shin Nam Yoo It should be read: Ki Hyeong Park · Shinnam Yoo

Fungal Catastrophe of a Specimen Room: Just One Week is Enough to Eradicate Traces of Thousands of Animals: Ji Seon Kim , Yoonhee Cho , Chang Wan Seo , Ki Hyung Park , Shin Nam Yoo , Jun Won Lee , Sung Hyun Kim , Wonjun Lee , Young Woon Lim; J. Microbiol. 2023;61(2):189-197. Published online February 6, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00017-9

887 View
4 Download
3 Web of Science
2 Crossref

Indoor fungi obtain carbon sources from natural sources and even recalcitrant biodegradable materials, such as plastics and synthetic dye. Their vigorous activity may have negative consequences, such as structural damage to building materials or the destruction of precious cultural materials. The animal specimen room of the Seoul National University stocked 36,000 animal resources that had been well-maintained for over 80 years. Due to abandonment without the management of temperature and humidity during the rainy summer season, many stuffed animal specimens had been heavily colonized by fungi. To investigate the fungal species responsible for the destruction of the historical specimens, we isolated fungi from the stuffed animal specimens and identified them at the species level based on morphology and molecular analysis of the β-tubulin (BenA) gene. A total of 365 strains were isolated and identified as 26 species in Aspergillus (10 spp.), Penicillium (14 spp.), and Talaromyces (2 spp.). Penicillium brocae and Aspergillus sydowii were isolated from most sections of the animal specimens and have damaged the feathers and beaks of valuable specimens. Our findings indicate that within a week of mismanagement, it takes only a few fungal species to wipe out the decades of history of animal diversity. The important lesson here is to prevent this catastrophe from occurring again through a continued interest, not to put all previous efforts to waste.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Investigating the Role of Microclimate and Microorganisms in the Deterioration of Stone Heritage: The Case of Rupestrian Church from Jac, Romania
Dorina Camelia Ilieș, Andrei-Ionuț Apopei, Cristina Mircea, Alexandru Ilieș, Tudor Caciora, Berdenov Zharas, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran, Nicolaie Hodor, Alexandru Turza, Ana Cornelia Pereș, Thowayeb H. Hassan, Bahodirhon Safarov, Ioan-Cristian Noje
Applied Sciences.2024; 14(18): 8136. CrossRef
Fungal biodeterioration and preservation of cultural heritage, artwork, and historical artifacts: extremophily and adaptation
Geoffrey Michael Gadd, Marina Fomina, Flavia Pinzari, Mark D. Rose
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

Diversity and Dynamics of Marine Arenicolous Fungi in Three Seasides of the Korean Peninsula: Jun Won Lee , Chang Wan Seo , Wonjun Lee , Ji Seon Kim , Ki Hyeong Park , Yoonhee Cho , Young Woon Lim; J. Microbiol. 2023;61(1):63-82. Published online January 30, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00011-1

1,059 View
5 Download
7 Web of Science
8 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Various arenicolous fungal species have been detected from the beach sand in the coastal area. However, little has been revealed regarding their distribution and dynamics. To investigate the overall diversity of marine arenicolous fungi (MAFs) in Korea and whether the composition of MAFs is affected by ocean currents, we isolated and analyzed the fungal community from the western, southern, and eastern seasides of the Korean Peninsula. In total, 603 strains were isolated and identified as 259 species based on appropriate molecular markers for each genus (ITS, BenA, CaM, tef1, and act). The composition of MAFs showed differences among the seasides. Our results indicate that many MAFs inhabit the beach sand on the Korean Peninsula, and the composition of MAFs is also affected by ocean currents flowing along each coast.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

A case for monitoring fungi of clinical relevance at beaches: enterococci measures do not correlate with all disease risks
Larissa Montás-Bravo, Helena M. Solo-Gabriele, Débora F. Gil, Ayaaz Amirali, Sebastian P. Arenas, Sofia Hoffman, Adriana Jimenez, Alexandre Mendonça, Rivka Reiner, Raquel Sabino, Konstantina Sarioglou, Mark E. Sharkey, Bhavarth S. Shukla, Isabella J. Tava
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Inside out: New root endophytic Penicillium and Talaromyces species isolated from Cattleya orchids (Orchidaceae) in Brazil
T.O. Condé, D.O. Ramos, P.T.S. Nogueira, O.L. Pereira
Fungal Systematics and Evolution.2025; 15(1): 179. CrossRef
Taxonomic Study of Sixteen Unrecorded and Five New Species of Hypocreales from the Korean Marine Environment
Wonjun Lee, Ji Seon Kim, Sumin Jo, Chang Wan Seo, Young Woon Lim
Mycobiology.2025; 53(2): 144. CrossRef
Fungal frontiers in toxic terrain: Revealing culturable fungal communities in Serpentine paddy fields of Taiwan
Kai-Wen Cheng, Jiue-in Yang, Piroonporn Srimongkol, Marc Stadler, Aphichart Karnchanatat, Hiran A. Ariyawansa
IMA Fungus.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Taxonomy, phylogeny, and bioactive potential of Xylariales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) from Thailand: novel species discovery, new host and geographical records, and antibacterial properties
Achala R. Rathnayaka, K. W. Thilini Chethana, Areerat Manowong, Amuhenage T. Bhagya, Hsan Win, Zaw L. Tun, Ausana Mapook, Kevin D. Hyde
MycoKeys.2025; 120: 35. CrossRef
The genus Peniophora (Russulales, Basidiomycota) from Patagonia revisited
Mario Rajchenberg, Andrés de Errasti, Sergio Pérez Gorjón
Mycological Progress.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Contributions to the Inocybe umbratica–paludinella (Agaricales) Group in China: Taxonomy, Species Diversity, and Molecular Phylogeny
Xin Chen, Wen-Jie Yu, Tolgor Bau, P. Brandon Matheny, Egon Horak, Yu Liu, Li-Wu Qin, Li-Ping Tang, Yu-Peng Ge, Tie-Zhi Liu, Yu-Guang Fan
Journal of Fungi.2024; 10(12): 893. CrossRef
Long-Term Investigation of Marine-Derived Aspergillus Diversity in the Republic of Korea
Jun Won Lee, Wonjun Lee, Rekhani Hansika Perera, Young Woon Lim
Mycobiology.2023; 51(6): 436. CrossRef

Wonjun Lee

1 Article

Temporal changes in culturable fungal community composition with their plastic degradation capacities in the marine plastisphere through mesocosm experiments: Sumin Jo, Ji Seon Kim, Wonjun Lee, Chang Wan Seo, Young Woon Lim; J. Microbiol. 2026;64(8):e2605011. Published online August 31, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2605011

380 View
16 Download

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Plastic waste in marine environments provides novel habitats for diverse organisms, forming distinct microbial ecosystems known as the ‘plastisphere’. Although bacteria of the plastisphere have been widely studied, the role of fungi in plastisphere formation and plastic degradation remains largely unexplored. Thus, we investigated temporal changes in culturable fungal community composition on three common plastic types—high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene—across the early (seven days) and mature (30 days) plastisphere developmental stages through a marine mesocosm experiment. In total, 436 fungal strains were isolated and identified as belonging to 179 taxa, with Penicillium, Cladosporium, Trichoderma, Aspergillus, and Fusarium as the dominant genera. Temporal shifts in the species richness of the dominant genera were observed: Cladosporium showed higher species richness at the early stage, whereas that of Trichoderma increased at the mature stage. Plastic degradation assays revealed that 54.6% of the strains exhibited measurable degradation capacity, with patterns varying by plastic type rather than fungal developmental stage. Scanning electron microscope observations revealed surface damage patterns including cracks, pitting, and erosion on the plastic surfaces. These findings provide novel insights into the composition and functional heterogeneity of culturable fungal communities in the marine plastisphere and suggest that plastisphere fungi play diverse ecological roles beyond direct plastic degradation.

Author index