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Journal of Microbiology (Seoul, Korea) Sep 2019Salterns are hypersaline extreme environments with unique physicochemical properties such as a salinity gradient. Although the investigation of microbiota in salterns... (Review)
Review
Salterns are hypersaline extreme environments with unique physicochemical properties such as a salinity gradient. Although the investigation of microbiota in salterns has focused on archaea and bacteria, diverse fungi also thrive in the brine and soil of salterns. Fungi isolated from salterns are represented by black yeasts (Hortaea werneckii, Phaeotheca triangularis, Aureobasidium pullulans, and Trimmatostroma salinum), Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species. Most studies on saltern-derived fungi gave attention to black yeasts and their physiological characteristics, including growth under various culture conditions. Since then, biochemical and molecular tools have been employed to explore adaptation of these fungi to salt stress. Genome databases of several fungi in salterns are now publicly available and being used to elucidate salt tolerance mechanisms and discover the target genes for agricultural and industrial applications. Notably, the number of enzymes and novel metabolites known to be produced by diverse saltern-derived fungi has increased significantly. Therefore, fungi in salterns are not only interesting and important subjects to study fungal biodiversity and adaptive mechanisms in extreme environments, but also valuable bioresources with potential for biotechnological applications.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Fungi; Salt Tolerance; Salts; Sodium Chloride; Soil
PubMed: 31452042
DOI: 10.1007/s12275-019-9195-3 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Oct 2019Yeasts occur in all environments and have been described as potent antagonists of various plant pathogens. Due to their antagonistic ability, undemanding cultivation... (Review)
Review
Yeasts occur in all environments and have been described as potent antagonists of various plant pathogens. Due to their antagonistic ability, undemanding cultivation requirements, and limited biosafety concerns, many of these unicellular fungi have been considered for biocontrol applications. Here, we review the fundamental research on the mechanisms (e.g., competition, enzyme secretion, toxin production, volatiles, mycoparasitism, induction of resistance) by which biocontrol yeasts exert their activity as plant protection agents. In a second part, we focus on five yeast species (Candida oleophila, Aureobasidium pullulans, Metschnikowia fructicola, Cryptococcus albidus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) that are or have been registered for the application as biocontrol products. These examples demonstrate the potential of yeasts for commercial biocontrol usage, but this review also highlights the scarcity of fundamental studies on yeast biocontrol mechanisms and of registered yeast-based biocontrol products. Yeast biocontrol mechanisms thus represent a largely unexplored field of research and plentiful opportunities for the development of commercial, yeast-based applications for plant protection exist.
Topics: Biological Control Agents; Plant Diseases; Yeasts
PubMed: 31576429
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-019-2728-4 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Feb 2024Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble.... (Review)
Review
Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble. A total of 32 species of this fungal genus have been identified at the level of DNA, of which Aureobasidium pullulans is best known. Aureobasidium is of interest for a sustainable economy because it can be used to produce a wide variety of compounds, including enzymes, polysaccharides, and biosurfactants. Moreover, it can be used to promote plant growth and protect wood and crops. To this end, Aureobasidium cells adhere to wood or plants by producing extracellular polysaccharides, thereby forming a biofilm. This biofilm provides a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings and toxic chemicals. This and the fact that Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential of self-repair make them a potential engineered living material avant la lettre. KEY POINTS: •Aureobasidium produces products of interest to the industry •Aureobasidium can stimulate plant growth and protect crops •Biofinish of A. pullulans is a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings •Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential to function as engineered living materials.
Topics: Aureobasidium; Biofilms; Calcium Carbonate; Crops, Agricultural; Gasoline
PubMed: 38349550
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13025-5 -
Carbohydrate Polymers Jul 2022Exopolysaccharide (EPS-1) was isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans CGMCC 23063 and purified with DEAE 650M and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The structural...
Exopolysaccharide (EPS-1) was isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans CGMCC 23063 and purified with DEAE 650M and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The structural characteristics and immunomodulatory activity of EPS-1 were investigated. The results showed EPS-1 (294.9 KDa) was β-glucan consisting of the backbone (1→3)-linked β-Glcp and β-(1,6)-branches by Ion chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy. The SEM and AFM showed that EPS-1 composed spheres joined by triple-helix conformation into chains and circles. In vitro cell experiments, EPS-1 displayed immunological activity on the RAW264.7 cells. After being treated with EPS-1 (400 μg/mL), the concentration of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 could reach 17.05 μM, 448.46 pg/mL, and 15.18 pg/mL, respectively. In addition, the cytokines mRNA levels also demonstrated the above results at the molecular level. The western-blot results demonstrated that the expression of phosphorylated p65 and p-erk associated with cytokine release, was increased with the dose of EPS-1.
Topics: Animals; Aureobasidium; Cytokines; Mice; Polysaccharides, Bacterial; RAW 264.7 Cells; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 35450628
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119366 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2021Although the anti-tumor and anti-infective properties of β-glucans have been well-discussed, their role in bone metabolism has not been reviewed so far. This review... (Review)
Review
Although the anti-tumor and anti-infective properties of β-glucans have been well-discussed, their role in bone metabolism has not been reviewed so far. This review discusses the biological effects of β-glucans on bone metabolisms, especially on bone-resorbing osteoclasts, which are differentiated from hematopoietic precursors. Multiple immunoreceptors that can recognize β-glucans were reported to be expressed in osteoclast precursors. Coordinated co-stimulatory signals mediated by these immunoreceptors are important for the regulation of osteoclastogenesis and bone remodeling. Curdlan from the bacterium negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation in vitro by affecting both the osteoclast precursors and osteoclast-supporting cells. We also showed that laminarin, lichenan, and glucan from baker's yeast, as well as β-1,3-glucan from inhibit the osteoclast formation in bone marrow cells. Consistent with these findings, systemic and local administration of β-glucan derived from and suppressed bone resorption in vivo. However, zymosan derived from stimulated the bone resorption activity and is widely used to induce arthritis in animal models. Additional research concerning the relationship between the molecular structure of β-glucan and its effect on osteoclastic bone resorption will be beneficial for the development of novel treatment strategies for bone-related diseases.
Topics: Animals; Bone Regeneration; Bone Resorption; Bone and Bones; Cartilage; Cell Differentiation; Glucans; Humans; Immunomodulation; Osteoclasts; Osteogenesis; Receptors, Immunologic
PubMed: 33915775
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071982 -
Folia Microbiologica Mar 2018Different strains of the saprophytic yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans (Ascomycota: Dothideales) exhibit different biochemical characteristics, while their... (Review)
Review
Different strains of the saprophytic yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans (Ascomycota: Dothideales) exhibit different biochemical characteristics, while their ubiquitous occurrence across diverse habitats and environmental conditions makes them an easily accessible source for biotechnological exploitation. They are useful in agricultural and industrial applications. Their antagonistic activities against postharvest pathogens make them suitable bioagents for the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables, while they possess antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi. Additionally, A. pullulans appears to be a potent source of single-cell protein. Many strains of A. pullulans harbor a wide range of industrially important enzymes, while the trademark exopolysaccharide pullulan that they produce has been extensively studied and is currently used in many applications. They also produce poly (β-L-malic acid), heavy oil liamocins, siderophore, and aubasidan-like β-glucan which are of interest for future applications. Ongoing studies suggest that A. pullulans holds many more interesting properties capable of further potential biotechnological applications.
Topics: Ascomycota; Fungal Proteins; Glucans; Industrial Microbiology
PubMed: 29079936
DOI: 10.1007/s12223-017-0561-4 -
Environmental Research Nov 2022Pullulan and melanin have become important secondary metabolites that are now widely studied. In this study, a strain of Aureobasidium pullulans HIT-LCY3 was used to...
Pullulan and melanin have become important secondary metabolites that are now widely studied. In this study, a strain of Aureobasidium pullulans HIT-LCY3 was used to ferment potato starch industrial waste to produce pullulan and melanin. After optimization, the culture conditions for the fermentation medium were obtained: inoculum age of 48 h, initial pH of 6.0, inoculation quantity of 1.5%, temperature of 26 °C, fermentation time of 5 d and speed of 160 rpm. Under these conditions, the yield of pullulan was 23.47 g/L with a molecular weight (MW) of 1.21 × 10 Da and the yield of melanin was 18.98 g/L. In addition, the adaptive evolution could significantly increase the yield of pullulan and melanin and the air-floating fermenters was more conductive to product accumulation. Through the 5 L small-scale test and 1000 L pilot test, the yield of pullulan reached 16.52 g/L with molecular weight of 0.92 × 10 Da and the yield of melanin was 12.08 g/L at the trial production of 30,000 L. This work could provide strong support for industrial production and new guidance for waste utilization and environmental protection.
Topics: Ascomycota; Aureobasidium; Fermentation; Industrial Waste; Melanins; Solanum tuberosum; Starch
PubMed: 35931191
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113947 -
Bioresources and Bioprocessing Aug 2023Aureobasidium pullulans (A. pullulans) has a wide range of applications. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause skin photoaging. In order to explore the protective...
BACKGROUND
Aureobasidium pullulans (A. pullulans) has a wide range of applications. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause skin photoaging. In order to explore the protective effect and application potential of A. pullulans lysate on UV-damaged human skin fibroblasts (HSF) and HaCaT Cells, this study investigates the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects of A. pullulans lysate as well as the mechanism of anti-oxidative stress at the cellular and molecular levels through cytotoxicity experiments, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).
RESULTS
The experimental results have shown that the A. pullulans lysate can effectively reduce the loss of extracellular matrix components (EMC), such as collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA). It is also capable of scavenging excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the body, thereby increasing the activity of catalase, decreasing the overexpression of intracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enhancing the gene expression of metalloproteinase inhibitors (TIMPs), and decreasing the level of inflammatory factors, reducing UV-induced apoptosis of HaCaT cells. Meanwhile, oxidative stress homeostasis is also regulated through the Nrf2/Keap1 and MAPK signaling pathways.
CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the A. pullulans lysate has the potential to resist photoaging.
PubMed: 38647892
DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00678-9 -
Fungal Biology and Biotechnology Nov 2022Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as an important mechanism for cell-cell interactions. Their role in fungi is still poorly understood and they...
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as an important mechanism for cell-cell interactions. Their role in fungi is still poorly understood and they have been isolated from only a handful of species. Here, we isolated and characterized EVs from Aureobasidium pullulans, a biotechnologically important black yeast-like fungus that is increasingly used for biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. After optimization of the isolation protocol, characterization of EVs from A. pullulans by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed a typical cup-shaped morphology and different subpopulations of EVs. These results were confirmed by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), which revealed that A. pullulans produced 6.1 × 10 nanoparticles per milliliter of culture medium. Proteomic analysis of EVs detected 642 proteins. A small fraction of them had signal peptides for secretion and transmembrane domains. Proteins characteristic of different synthesis pathways were found, suggesting that EVs are synthesized by multiple pathways in A. pullulans. Enrichment analysis using Gene Ontology showed that most of the proteins found in the EVs were associated with primary metabolism. When sequencing the small RNA fraction of A. pullulans EVs, we found two hypothetical novel mil-RNAs. Finally, we tested the biocontrol potential of EVs from A. pullulans. The EVs did not inhibit the germination of spores of three important phytopathogenic fungi-Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, and Penicillium expansum. However, exposure of grown cultures of C. acutatum and P. expansum to A. pullulans EVs resulted in visible changes in morphology of colonies. These preliminary results suggest that EVs may be part of the antagonistic activity of A. pullulans, which is so far only partially understood. Thus, the first isolation and characterization of EVs from A. pullulans provides a starting point for further studies of EVs in the biotechnologically important traits of the biocontrol black fungus A. pullulans in particular and in the biological role of fungal EVs in general.
PubMed: 36320088
DOI: 10.1186/s40694-022-00146-7 -
Phytopathology Aug 2023Biological control is a promising approach to reduce plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens and ensure high productivity in horticultural production. In the present...
Biological control is a promising approach to reduce plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens and ensure high productivity in horticultural production. In the present study, we evaluated the biocontrol potential and underlying mechanisms of the beneficial fungus against and , casual agents of gray mold and anthracnose diseases in strawberry. Notably, this is the first time that has been tested against in strawberry. strains (AP-30044, AP-30273, AP-53383, and AP-SLU6) showed significant variation in terms of growth and conidia production. An inverse relationship was found between the growth and conidiation rate, suggesting a trade-off between resource allocation for growth and conidial production. Dual plate co-culturing assays showed that mycelial growth of and was reduced by up to 35 and 18%, respectively, when challenged with compared with control treatments. Likewise, culture filtrates of showed varying levels of antifungal activity against and , reducing the mycelial biomass by up to 90 and 72%, respectively. Furthermore, milk powder plate assays showed that produced substantial amounts of extracellular proteases, which are known to degrade fungal cuticle. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) analyses revealed that produced exophilins, liamocins, and free fatty acids known to have antifungal properties. shows high potential for successful biological control of strawberry diseases and discuss opportunities for further optimization of this beneficial fungus.
PubMed: 36945727
DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-02-23-0067-R