Flame structure of diffusion flame interacting with a single vortex was investigated with direct numerical simulation (DNS). A well-known counterflow diffusion flame was used as an initial flat flame and single vortices were made by issuing a high-velocity jet abruptly in fuel- and air-side. The variations in the maximum concentration of major species (CO and $CO_2$) and NOx (NO and $NO_2$) with the stoichiometric scalar dissipation rate were investigated. Unsteady effects in the species concentration variation of the flame interacting with a vortex were identified by comparing with that of steady flame. $NO_2$ formation characteristics of the flame interacting with a vortex were well understood by investigating the $HO_2$ formation. To enhance the prediction performance in the fire simulation, current turbulent combustion modelings are needed to be modified by adopting the unsteady effects in the species concentrations of diffusion flame interacting with a vortex.