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Journal of Natural Products Dec 2018A new cyclic lipodepsipeptide, fusaristatin C (1), was obtained from the fungus Pithomyces sp. RKDO 1698, which was isolated from the Caribbean octocoral Eunicea fusca....
A new cyclic lipodepsipeptide, fusaristatin C (1), was obtained from the fungus Pithomyces sp. RKDO 1698, which was isolated from the Caribbean octocoral Eunicea fusca. The 2D structure of fusaristatin C was elucidated using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, while the absolute configuration of the sole chiral amino acid residue (l-serine) was determined using Marfey's method. 3-Hydroxy-2,11-dimethyltetradecanoic acid (HDMT) was cleaved from 1, and the absolute configuration at the C-3 position was determined using Mosher's ester analysis. Subsequent J-based configuration analysis of 1 allowed for assignment of the C-2 configuration. Fusaristatin C exhibited no antimicrobial activity or cytotoxicity.
Topics: Animals; Ascomycota; Cell Line, Tumor; Chlorocebus aethiops; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; HeLa Cells; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Structure; Vero Cells
PubMed: 30525612
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00787 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Oct 2020Some species of the genus Brachiaria are cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical climate regions as the main feed for ruminants. Several studies report...
Some species of the genus Brachiaria are cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical climate regions as the main feed for ruminants. Several studies report photosensitization by Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha, and Brachiaria humidicola, but the poisoning by Brachiaria ruziziensis have been reported only twice. Cutaneous and hepatic lesions may be caused by the steroidal saponins present in the leaves or by the mycotoxin sporidesmin produced by the saprophyte fungus Pithomyces chartarum. The present report describes the clinical and pathological changes observed in an outbreak of hepatogenic photosensitization in sheep kept in B. ruziziensis pastures. In addition, the present study will provide a better understanding of the etiology of this photosensitization through the evaluation of the saponin protodioscin and the spore count of P. chartarum. Santa Inês and Lacaune mixed-breed sheep showed signs of photosensitization after feeding B. ruziziensis. Clinical signs included jaundice, apathy, dehydration, and photosensitization characterized by facial edema and cutaneous scars, especially in the ears. Pathological examination of the liver revealed diffuse infiltrates of foamy cells, rare multinucleated cells, and mild enlargement of hepatocytes (megalocytosis). The skin showed acute epidermal and dermal necrosis with occlusive thrombi. B. ruziziensis showed low levels of protodioscin (0.020 ± 0.024% in mature leaves and 0.065 ± 0.084% in sprouts) but high P. chartarum spore counts (mean of 479,844 ± 443,951 spores/g plant). Thus, sheep grazing B. ruziziensis pastures must be closely monitored because of the risk of photosensitization.
Topics: Animals; Brachiaria; Diosgenin; Liver; Photosensitivity Disorders; Plant Poisoning; Saponins; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Skin
PubMed: 32598988
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.06.022 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Jun 2018Fungal meningitis is most commonly causes by species and dimorphic fungi. We present a rare case of mould meningitis, ventriculitis and subependymal nodules in an...
Fungal meningitis is most commonly causes by species and dimorphic fungi. We present a rare case of mould meningitis, ventriculitis and subependymal nodules in an immunocompetent patient, having likely seeded the meninges and ventricular system through intravenous drug use. The causative mould remains undetermined. The case highlights the poor sensitivity of CSF culture and the need to consider surgical biopsy where there is diagnostic difficulty and fungal infection is being considered.
PubMed: 30148056
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2018.01.004 -
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Nov 2016To determine whether the application of lime or nitrogen to pasture affected the spore counts of Pithomyces chartarum.
AIMS
To determine whether the application of lime or nitrogen to pasture affected the spore counts of Pithomyces chartarum.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The lime application studies were undertaken on a spring-calving, pasture-based, commercial dairy farm near Te Awamutu, New Zealand. On 6 November 2012, five randomly selected paddocks were split into three equal sections. In two of the sections, lime was applied at either 1.5 or 2.5 t/ha, and the central section was left as an untreated control. Each section was sampled for spore counting weekly from 16 January to 15 May 2013. Starting in January 2013, five other randomly selected paddocks were monitored for spore counts. On 20 March 2013 the average spore counts in three paddocks were >100,000 spores/g of pasture. These paddocks were then divided into three equal sections and lime was applied as described above. Spore counting in each section continued weekly until 15 May 2013. The nitrogen application study was carried out on three commercial dairy farms near Te Awamutu, New Zealand. Two randomly selected paddocks on each farm were divided into three equal sections and, on 20 December 2012, nitrogen in the form of urea was applied at either 50 or 80 kg urea/ha to two of the sections; the central section remained as an untreated control. Each section was sampled for spore counting weekly from 16 January to 15 May 2013.
RESULTS
Following pre-summer lime application, treatment at 1.5 or 2.5 t/ha did not affect spore counts over time compared with the control section (p>0.26). Similarly following autumn lime application, treatment at 1.5 or 2.5 t/ha did not affect spore counts over time compared with the control section (p>0.11). Following nitrogen application median spore counts remained <20,000 spores/g pasture throughout the trial period and there was no effect of treatment on spore counts over time (p>0.49).
CONCLUSION
This study found that application of lime before the risk period for facial eczema, in November, application of lime after a spore count rise, in March, or urea application in December did not affect changes in number of spores produced by P. chartarum.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This study does not support previous suggestions that fertilising pasture with lime or urea could alter the spore counts of P. chartarum. Fertiliser use does not provide an alternative to, or support, conventional methods of facial eczema control such as zinc prophylaxis or treatment of pasture with fungicides.
Topics: Ascomycota; Calcium Compounds; Colony Count, Microbial; Dairying; Fertilizers; New Zealand; Nitrogen; Oxides; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 27075146
DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2016.1175326 -
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Jul 2021To determine the association between production of milk solids (MS) and liver damage from facial eczema (FE) in dairy cattle during autumn and to determine the most...
AIMS
To determine the association between production of milk solids (MS) and liver damage from facial eczema (FE) in dairy cattle during autumn and to determine the most practical cut-off for serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity in predicting production loss.
METHODS
Farm history and spore counts identified herds likely to be affected by raised GGT activity in serum during autumn 2018 or 2019. In these herds, a pilot blood sample from 30 cattle was collected, followed by a full herd blood test within 2 weeks if in those 30 cattle one or more had GGT activities >300 IU/L. Individual MS production was measured within -5 - +12 days of a full herd blood test. Information about feeding spp. was collected from the farmer. Pooled sera from 10 randomly selected cattle from 10/11 farms with GGT >40 IU/L were tested for anti- antibodies.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
The association of liver damage and production of MS was analysed using mixed linear regression. Potential risk factors included farm, cow age, MS at last herd test before the likely FE risk period, breed of cow and GGT activity. Subsequently, GGT activity thresholds, from 40-400 IU/L, were used to indicate varying severities of liver damage. For each threshold, a mixed linear model using herd test data produced estimated marginal mean differences in MS production for cows above or below threshold. The prevalence of animals above threshold was multiplied by the per cow loss to obtain the reduction in MS/day/100 cows for each cut-off.
RESULTS
The prevalence of animals with GGT activities > 40 IU/L ranged between farms from 11% (45/488) to 96% (139/145), and GGT activities for individual cows ranged from 3 - 6001 IU/L. From the model, an increase of 100 IU/L in GGT activity was associated with a decrease of 0.011 (95% CI = 0.010-0.012) kg MS/cow/day. A GGT activity threshold of 40 IU/L identified the largest association with MS production of 6.14 kg MS/day/100 cows. No evidence of significant liver fluke or brassica toxicosis was found.
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Liver damage was most likely caused by sporidesmin toxicity and was associated with substantial linear reduction in MS., When assessing the impact liver damage has on herd milk production, threshold and prevalence of animals exceeding threshold should be considered by the practitioner in assessing economically significant facial eczema.
Topics: Animals; Ascomycota; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dairying; Eating; Female; Lactation; Liver; Milk; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 33570002
DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2020.1861570 -
Acta Medica Portuguesa May 2023Pithomyces, a dematiaceous fungus, is a common colonizer of dead leaves and stems of many different plants and is associated with facial eczema in some animals. We...
Pithomyces, a dematiaceous fungus, is a common colonizer of dead leaves and stems of many different plants and is associated with facial eczema in some animals. We report a case of invasive fungal pulmonary disease by Pithomyces chartarum in a healthy, nonimmunocompromised patient. We aim to demonstrate our diagnostic and therapeutic approach and focus on the major challenges arising from the lack of scientific evidence regarding infection by this fungus in humans.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mycoses; Aspergillus; Mitosporic Fungi; Lung; Neoplasms
PubMed: 35973433
DOI: 10.20344/amp.16859 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Jun 2024Of the mycotoxicoses caused by molds contaminating grains or their byproducts, leukoencephalomalacia of horses and less frequently aflatoxicosis in cattle have been... (Review)
Review
Of the mycotoxicoses caused by molds contaminating grains or their byproducts, leukoencephalomalacia of horses and less frequently aflatoxicosis in cattle have been reported in South America. However, the most important group of mycotoxins in the region are those caused by fungi that infect forages and other types of plants and have regional distribution. In this group, ergotism is important, both caused by Claviceps purpurea infecting grains or by Epichloë coenophiala infecting Schedonorus arundinaceus. Other important mycotoxicoses are those caused by indole-diterpenes produced by Clavicipitaceous fungi including Claviceps paspali in Paspalum spp., Claviceps cynodontes in Cynodon dactylon, and by Periglandula a seed transmitted symbiont associated with the tremorgenic plant Ipomoea asarifolia. The latter is an important poisoning in the northeastern and northern Brazil. Other important mycotoxicoses are those caused by swainsonine containing plants. It was demonstrated that swainsonine contained in Ipomoea carnea var. fistulosa is produced by an epibiotic fungus of the order Chaetothyriales whose mycelia develop on the adaxial surface of the leaves. Swainsonine is also produced by the symbiotic, endobiotic fungi Alternaria section Undifilum spp., which is associated with Astragalus spp. in the Argentinian Patagonia causing poisoning. Another form of mycotoxicosis occurs in poisoning by Baccharis spp., mainly B. coridifolia, a very important toxic plant in South America that contains macrocyclic trichothecenes probably produced by an endophytic fungus that has not yet been identified. Pithomycotoxicosis caused by Pithomyces chartarum used to be an important mycotoxicosis in the region, mainly in cattle grazing improved pastures of legumes and grasses. Slaframine poisoning, diplodiosis and poisoning by barley contaminated by Aspergillus clavatus has been rarely diagnosed in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
PubMed: 38909760
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107827 -
The Journal of Organic Chemistry Aug 2022Leptochartamides A and B (± and ±), two pairs of enantiomeric hybrids with the same cyclo-bridged skeleton containing an unusual dioxa-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core...
Leptochartamides A and B (± and ±), two pairs of enantiomeric hybrids with the same cyclo-bridged skeleton containing an unusual dioxa-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core system, were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus . Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and the total synthesis. Compounds and showed selective cytotoxicity against Ewings sarcoma cells A673, with IC values of 8.98 ± 0.23 and 4.18 ± 0.27 μM, respectively. The colony formation assay of compounds and against A673 cells was completed.
Topics: Ascomycota; Circular Dichroism; Crystallography, X-Ray; Molecular Structure; Stereoisomerism
PubMed: 35921599
DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c01347 -
Aerobiologia 2016The ambient atmosphere is dominated with pollen and spores, which trigger allergic reactions and diseases and impact negatively on human health. A survey of pollen and...
The ambient atmosphere is dominated with pollen and spores, which trigger allergic reactions and diseases and impact negatively on human health. A survey of pollen and fungal spores constituents of the atmosphere of Garki, Abuja (North-Central Nigeria) was carried out for 1 year (June 1, 2011-May 31, 2012). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and abundance of pollen and fungal spores in the atmosphere and their relationship with meteorological parameters. Airborne samples were trapped using modified Tauber-like pollen trap, and the recipient solutions were subjected to acetolysis. Results revealed the abundance of fungal spores, pollen, fern spores, algal cysts and diatoms in decreasing order of dominance. The atmosphere was qualitatively and quantitatively dominated by pollen during the period of late rainy/harmattan season than the rainy season. Numerous fungal spores were trapped throughout the sampling periods among which spp., spp., spp. and spp. dominated. These fungi have been implicated in allergic diseases and are dermatophytic, causing diverse skin diseases. Other pathogenic fungi found in the studied aeroflora spp., spp., spp., spp., spp., ssp., spp., spp. Total pollen and fungal spores counts do not show significant correlation with meteorological parameters.
PubMed: 27890967
DOI: 10.1007/s10453-016-9443-5 -
Marine Drugs Mar 2024, a common food-borne pathogen, forms biofilms and generates virulence factors through a quorum sensing (QS) mechanism. In this study, six compounds (dankasterone A,...
, a common food-borne pathogen, forms biofilms and generates virulence factors through a quorum sensing (QS) mechanism. In this study, six compounds (dankasterone A, demethylincisterol A, zinnimidine, cyclo-(L-Val-L-Pro), cyclo-(L-Ile-L-Pro), and cyclo-(L-Leu-L-Pro)) were isolated from the endophytic fungus of the sp. in the South China Sea. Among them, demethylincisterol A, a sterol derivative, exhibited strong QS inhibitory activity against . The QS inhibitory activity of demethylincisterol A was evaluated through experiments. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of demethylincisterol A against was 6.25 μg/mL. At sub-MIC concentrations, it significantly decreased biofilm formation, hindered mobility, and diminished the production of protease and hemolysin activity. Moreover, RT-qPCR results demonstrated that demethylincisterol A markedly inhibited the expression of QS-related genes ( and ) in . The exposure to demethylincisterol A3 resulted in the downregulation of genes (, , , , , , , and ) associated with biofilm formation, mobility, and virulence factors. Hence, demethylincisterol A is a potentially effective compound in the pipeline of innovative antimicrobial therapies.
Topics: Quorum Sensing; Bacillus cereus; Biofilms; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Laurencia; Virulence Factors; China; Endophytes
PubMed: 38667778
DOI: 10.3390/md22040161