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Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023is ubiquitous in the environment and is particularly abundant in damp indoor spaces. Exposure to species, as well as other environmental fungi, has been linked to...
is ubiquitous in the environment and is particularly abundant in damp indoor spaces. Exposure to species, as well as other environmental fungi, has been linked to respiratory health outcomes, including asthma, allergy, and even local or disseminated infection. However, the pulmonary immunological mechanisms associated with repeated exposure to have remained relatively uncharacterized. Here, was cultured and desiccated on rice then placed in an acoustical generator system to achieve aerosolization. Mice were challenged with titrated doses of aerosolized conidia to examine deposition, lymphoproliferative properties, and immunotoxicological response to repeated inhalation exposures. The necessary dose to induce lymphoproliferation was identified, but not infection-like pathology. Further, it was determined that the dose was able to initiate localized immune responses. The data presented in this study demonstrate an optimized and reproducible method for delivering conidia to rodents via nose-only inhalation. Additionally, the feasibility of a long-term repeated exposure study was established. This experimental protocol can be used in future studies to investigate the physiological effects of repeated pulmonary exposure to fungal conidia utilizing a practical and relevant mode of delivery. In total, these data constitute an important foundation for subsequent research in the field.
PubMed: 37998895
DOI: 10.3390/jof9111090 -
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry May 2024, an endophytic fungus associated with the herbal medicine , produced four new polyketides, aspeversins A-D (1-2 and 5-6) and four known compounds, -methylaverufin (2),...
, an endophytic fungus associated with the herbal medicine , produced four new polyketides, aspeversins A-D (1-2 and 5-6) and four known compounds, -methylaverufin (2), aversin (3), varilactone A (7) and spirosorbicillinol A (8). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, and their absolute configurations were determined by calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and Mo(AcO)-induced CD data. Compound 5 was found to exhibit α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC value of 25.57 μM. An enzyme kinetic study indicated that 5 was a typical uncompetitive inhibitor toward α-glucosidase, which was supported by a molecular docking study. Moreover, compounds 1-3 and 5 also improved the cell viability of PC12 cells on a 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP)-induced Parkinson's disease model, indicating their neuroprotective potential as antiparkinsonian agents.
Topics: Aspergillus; Neuroprotective Agents; Polyketides; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; PC12 Cells; Animals; Rats; alpha-Glucosidases; Molecular Docking Simulation; Cell Survival; Molecular Structure
PubMed: 38716654
DOI: 10.1039/d4ob00316k -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Blood clot formation in blood vessels (thrombosis) is a major cause of life-threatening cardiovascular diseases. These clots are formed by αA-, βB-, and ϒ-peptide... (Review)
Review
Blood clot formation in blood vessels (thrombosis) is a major cause of life-threatening cardiovascular diseases. These clots are formed by αA-, βB-, and ϒ-peptide chains of fibrinogen joined together by isopeptide bonds with the help of blood coagulation factor XIIIa. These clot structures are altered by various factors such as thrombin, platelets, transglutaminase, DNA, histones, and red blood cells. Various factors are used to dissolve the blood clot, such as anticoagulant agents, antiplatelets drugs, fibrinolytic enzymes, and surgical operations. Fibrinolytic enzymes are produced by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.): streptokinase of nattokinase of YF 38, bafibrinase of sp. AS-S20-I, longolytin of , versiase of ZLH-1, etc. They act as a thrombolytic agent by either enhancing the production of plasminogen activators (tissue or urokinase types), which convert inactive plasminogen to active plasmin, or acting as plasmin-like proteins themselves, forming fibrin degradation products which cause normal blood flow again in blood vessels. Fibrinolytic enzymes may be classified in two groups, as serine proteases and metalloproteases, based on their catalytic properties, consisting of a catalytic triad responsible for their fibrinolytic activity having different physiochemical properties (such as molecular weight, pH, and temperature). The analysis of fibrinolysis helps to detect hyperfibrinolysis (menorrhagia, renal failure, etc.) and hypofibrinolysis (diabetes, obesity, etc.) with the help of various fibrinolytic assays such as a fibrin plate assay, fibrin microplate assay, the viscoelastic method, etc. These fibrinolytic activities serve as a key aspect in the recognition of numerous cardiovascular diseases and can be easily produced on a large scale with a short generation time by microbes and are less expensive.
PubMed: 38004336
DOI: 10.3390/life13112196 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024The number of buildings experiencing humidity problems and fungal growth appears to be increasing as energy-saving measures and changes in construction practices and... (Review)
Review
The number of buildings experiencing humidity problems and fungal growth appears to be increasing as energy-saving measures and changes in construction practices and climate become more common. Determining the cause of the problem and documenting the type and extent of fungal growth are complex processes involving both building physics and indoor mycology. New detection and identification methods have been introduced, and new fungal species have been added to the list of building-related fungi. However, the lack of standardised procedures and general knowledge hampers the effort to resolve the problems and advocate for an effective renovation plan. This review provides a framework for building inspections on current sampling methods and detection techniques for building-related fungi. The review also contains tables with fungal species that have been identified on commonly used building materials in Europe and North America (e.g., gypsum wallboard, oriented strand board (OSB), concrete and mineral wool). The most reported building-associated fungi across all materials are and . is common on all organic materials, whereas is common on all inorganic materials.
PubMed: 38392780
DOI: 10.3390/jof10020108 -
Fitoterapia Jul 2023Four new oxepine-containing pyrazinopyrimidine alkaloids, versicoxepines A - D (1-4), two quinolinone alkaloid analogs including...
Four new oxepine-containing pyrazinopyrimidine alkaloids, versicoxepines A - D (1-4), two quinolinone alkaloid analogs including 3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one (5) and 3-methoxy-6-hydroxy-4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one (6) which were new naturally occurring compounds, together with two known compounds (7 and 8) were isolated from Aspergillus versicolor AS-212, an endozoic fungus isolated from the deep-sea coral Hemicorallium cf. imperiale, which was collected from the Magellan Seamounts in the Western Pacific Ocean. Their structures were determined by extensive analysis of the spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic data as well as by chiral HPLC analysis, ECD calculation, and DP4+ probability prediction. Structurally, versicoxepines B and C (2 and 3) represent the first example of a new oxepine-containing pyrazinopyrimidine alkaloid whose cyclic dipeptide moiety is composed of the same type of amino acid (Val or Ile). Compound 5 displayed antibacterial activity against aquatic pathogens, Vibrio harveyi and V. alginolyticus, with MICs of 8 μg/mL.
Topics: Alkaloids; Aspergillus; Molecular Structure; Oxepins; Quinolones; Pacific Ocean; Crystallography, X-Ray; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Vibrio; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
PubMed: 37271296
DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105559 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023series are molds distributed among 17 species, commonly found in our environment, and responsible for infections. Since 2022, a new taxonomy has grouped them into 4...
series are molds distributed among 17 species, commonly found in our environment, and responsible for infections. Since 2022, a new taxonomy has grouped them into 4 major lineages: , , , and . Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) could be a faster and more cost-effective alternative to molecular techniques for identifying them by developing a local database. To evaluate this technique, 30 isolates from series were used. A total of 59 main spectra profiles (MSPs) were created in the local database. This protocol enabled accurate identification of 100% of the extracted isolates, of which 97% (29/30) were correctly identified with a log score ≥ 2.00. Some MSPs recorded as in the supplier's database could lead to false identifications as they did not match with the correct lineages. Although the local database is still limited in the number and diversity of species of series , it is sufficiently effective for correct lineage identification according to the latest taxonomic revision, and better than the MALDI-TOF MS supplier's database. This technology could improve the speed and accuracy of routine fungal identification for these species.
PubMed: 37754976
DOI: 10.3390/jof9090868 -
Marine Drugs Sep 2023A systematic chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus 170217 resulted in the isolation of six new (-) and 45 known (-) compounds. The structures of the new...
A systematic chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus 170217 resulted in the isolation of six new (-) and 45 known (-) compounds. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of exhaustive analysis of their spectroscopic data and theoretical-statistical approaches including GIAO-NMR, TDDFT-ECD/ORD calculations, DP4+ probability analysis, and biogenetic consideration. Citriquinolinones A () and B () feature a unique isoquinolinone-embedded citrinin scaffold, representing the first exemplars of a citrinin-isoquinolinone hybrid. Dicitrinones K-L (-) are two new dimeric citrinin analogues with a rare CH-CH bridge. Biologically, frangula-emodin () and diorcinol () displayed remarkable anti-food allergic activity with IC values of 7.9 ± 3.0 μM and 13.4 ± 1.2 μM, respectively, while diorcinol () and penicitrinol A () exhibited weak inhibitory activity against , with MIC values ranging from 128 to 256 μM.
Topics: Citrinin; Aspergillus; Fungi; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Structure
PubMed: 37888439
DOI: 10.3390/md21100504 -
Journal of Asian Natural Products... Mar 2024Two new quinazoline alkaloids versicomides G-H ( and ), together with seven known compounds, were isolated from HYQZ-215 obtained from the sediment of . Their...
Two new quinazoline alkaloids versicomides G-H ( and ), together with seven known compounds, were isolated from HYQZ-215 obtained from the sediment of . Their structures were elucidated by NMR, HRESIMS, and quantum chemical ECD calculations data. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds were evaluated against seven agricultural pathogenic fungi and eight clinically drug-resistant bacteria.
Topics: Molecular Structure; Quinazolines; Alkaloids; Anti-Infective Agents; Aspergillus
PubMed: 37455565
DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2023.2230895 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Biological methods are currently the most commonly used methods for removing hazardous substances from land. This research work focuses on the remediation of...
Biological methods are currently the most commonly used methods for removing hazardous substances from land. This research work focuses on the remediation of oil-contaminated land. The biodegradation of aliphatic hydrocarbons and PAHs as a result of inoculation with biopreparations B1 and B2 was investigated. Biopreparation B1 was developed on the basis of autochthonous bacteria, consisting of strains sp. IN118, sp. IN101, IN53, IN119, IN113 and sp. IN109, whereas biopreparation B2 was enriched with fungi, such as , , sp., , . As a result of biodegradation tests conducted under ex situ conditions for soil inoculated with biopreparation B1, the concentrations of TPH and PAH were reduced by 31.85% and 27.41%, respectively. Soil inoculation with biopreparation B2 turned out to be more effective, as a result of which the concentration of TPH was reduced by 41.67% and PAH by 34.73%. Another issue was the phytoremediation of the pre-treated G6-3B2 soil with the use of . The tests were carried out in three systems (system 1-soil G6-3B2 + ; system 2-soil G6-3B2 + biopreparation B2 + ; system 3-soil G6-3B2 + biopreparation B2 with γ-PGA + ) for 6 months. The highest degree of TPH and PAH reduction was obtained in system 3, amounting to 65.35% and 60.80%, respectively. The lowest phytoremediation efficiency was recorded in the non-inoculated system 1, where the concentration of TPH was reduced by 22.80% and PAH by 18.48%. Toxicological tests carried out using Phytotoxkit, Ostracodtoxkit and Microtox Solid Phase tests confirmed the effectiveness of remediation procedures and showed a correlation between the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil and its toxicity. The results obtained during the research indicate the great potential of bioremediation practices with the use of microbial biopreparations and in the treatment of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.
Topics: Zea mays; Biodegradation, Environmental; Hazardous Substances; Actinomycetales; Enterobacteriaceae
PubMed: 37630356
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28166104 -
Journal of Food Science Nov 2023Contaminated fungi on dried salted fish of three species including Talang queenfish (TQF, Scomberroides commersonianus), Hamilton's thryssa fish (HTF, Thryssa...
Contaminated fungi on dried salted fish of three species including Talang queenfish (TQF, Scomberroides commersonianus), Hamilton's thryssa fish (HTF, Thryssa hamiltonii), and Cobia fish (CF, Rachycentron canadum) were isolated and identified. One hundred and sixty-nine isolates were obtained from TQF and HTF, respectively, while no fungi were detected in CF. The dominant genera were Aspergillus spp. (n = 79), Penicillium spp. (n = 60), and non-sporulating fungi (n = 30). The representative groups of Aspergillus spp. (n = 6) and Penicillium spp. (n = 3) based on different morphological characteristics were selected for species identification by molecular methods involving ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 region and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. The nine isolates were identified to be Aspergillus versicolor (n = 2), Aspergillus montevidensis (n = 3), Penicillium citrinum (n = 3), and Aspergillus sp. (n = 1). The antifungal activity of chitooligosaccharide-gallic acid (COS-GAL) conjugate against A. versicolor F1/10M9, A. montevidensis F1/30M20, and P. citrinum F1/23M14 was examined. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values were in the range of 0.625-2.5 mg/mL and 1.25-10 mg/mL, respectively. COS-GAL conjugate at the concentration of 5 mg/mL completely inhibited the spore germination of A. versicolor F1/10M9 and P. citrinum F1/23M14 after 72 h of treatment. COS-GAL conjugate at 4 × MIC mainly affected the mycelium of A. versicolor F1/10M9 and P. citrinum F1/23M14 after treatment with COS-GAL conjugate for 3 days by coating mycelium surface and reducing the size of mycelium. Therefore, COS-GAL conjugate could be used as a food additive to inhibit or prevent the growth of fungi contaminated in dried salted fish or other relevant products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: During processing, dried salted fish can be contaminated with fungi, which may cause food poisoning and food spoilage. The contaminated fungi are capable of producing mycotoxin that is harmful to consumers. Synthetic food preservatives have long been used to inhibit fungal growth, but the side effects to consumers are of concern. Chitooligosaccharide is a nontoxic chitosan derivative produced from shrimp shell and its conjugate namely chitooligosaccharide-gallic acid conjugate showed high efficacy in inhibiting the growth of fungi including Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. Therefore, it can serve as a natural alternative preservative for the prevention of fungal growth in dried salted fish.
Topics: Animals; Fungi; Antifungal Agents; Chitosan; Penicillium; Fishes
PubMed: 37799068
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16749