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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 -
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 -
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 -
JFMS Open Reports 2023Feline sino-nasal aspergillosis is a rare condition with only sparse heterogeneous reports in the literature regarding its treatment. This report describes the...
CASE SUMMARY
Feline sino-nasal aspergillosis is a rare condition with only sparse heterogeneous reports in the literature regarding its treatment. This report describes the presentation, treatment and outcome of a cat with sino-nasal aspergillosis treated by meticulous debridement in combination with topical and systemic azole therapy. Diagnosis was based on MRI, in combination with rhinoscopic assessment and visualisation of fungal plaques, followed by histopathology, fungal culture and panfungal PCR. The cat was treated by debridement of fungal plaques via anterior rhinoscopy and frontal sinusotomy and local instillation of 1% clotrimazole solution, followed by a 4-week course of oral itraconazole. Histopathology confirmed fungal rhinitis and culture identified and . Clinical remission was achieved after treatment; however, evidence of persistent infection was confirmed in the post-mortem examination 8 months after the cat was euthanased for unrelated reasons.
RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION
Despite clinical remission, the persistence of fungal infection post mortem highlights the challenges of monitoring the response to treatment and illustrates that the resolution of clinical signs does not necessarily equate with a disease cure.
PubMed: 37799297
DOI: 10.1177/20551169231201605 -
The Journal of International Medical... Apr 2024Blood-disseminated spondylitis in immunocompetent individuals is rare. The clinical, imaging, and pathological manifestations of this condition are not specific.... (Review)
Review
Blood-disseminated spondylitis in immunocompetent individuals is rare. The clinical, imaging, and pathological manifestations of this condition are not specific. Therefore, this disease is prone to misdiagnosis and a missed diagnosis. Systemic antifungal therapy is the main treatment for spondylitis. We report a case of blood-disseminated spondylitis in a patient with normal immune function. The first antifungal treatment lasted for 4 months, but spondylitis recurred a few months later. A second antifungal treatment course was initiated for at least 1 year, and follow-up has been ongoing. Currently, there has been no recurrence.
Topics: Humans; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Aspergillus; Spondylarthritis; Spondylitis
PubMed: 38597095
DOI: 10.1177/03000605241234574 -
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 -
Polymers May 2024Polyurethane (PU) is a type of polymer, which exists in various forms in the environment. Very few studies are available concerning the structure or enzymatic mechanism...
Polyurethane (PU) is a type of polymer, which exists in various forms in the environment. Very few studies are available concerning the structure or enzymatic mechanism of the microbial community, which can degrade PU. Degradation of PU remains a difficult problem with respect to the environmental and biological disciplines. This study mainly focused on identifying the micro-organisms able to degrade polyurethane and confirming the degradation by performing a plate assay, Sturm test and scanning electron microscopy. Optimal culture conditions for maximum PU degradation were also analyzed through classical methods. A soil burial test was conducted by placing polyurethane films in the soil for one month, and the microbe growing on the surface of polyurethane films-with a maximum degradation of 55%-was isolated and identified as (ARF5). The culture medium was also optimized with different physical and chemical parameters for maximum PU degradation. The presence of CO as a by-product of PU biodegradation was confirmed through the Sturm test.
PubMed: 38794604
DOI: 10.3390/polym16101411 -
Microorganisms May 2024The VITEK MS PRIME (bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France), a newly developed matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)...
The VITEK MS PRIME (bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France), a newly developed matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system, alongside the VITEK PICKME pen (PICKME), offers easy sample preparation for bacteria and yeasts. The VITEK MS PRIME also offers two software platforms for filamentous fungi: the IVD database and the RUO database. Our study evaluated its identification agreement on 320 clinical isolates of bacteria and yeasts, comparing PICKME and traditional wooden toothpick sampling techniques against MicroIDSys Elite (ASTA) results. Additionally, we assessed the IVD (v3.2) and SARAMIS (v4.16) RUO databases on 289 filamentous fungi against molecular sequencing. The concordance rates for species-level identification of bacteria and yeasts were about 89.4% (286/320) between the PICKME and wooden toothpick, and about 83.4-85.3% between the VITEK MS PRIME and ASTA MicroIDSys Elite. Retesting with PICKME improved concordance to 91.9%. For filamentous fungi, species-level identification reached 71.3% with the IVD database and 85.8% with RUO, which significantly enhanced basidiomycetes' identification from 35.3% to 100%. Some strains in the IVD database, like , , and , failed to be identified. The VITEK MS PRIME with PICKME offers reliable and efficient microorganism identification. For filamentous fungi, combined use of the RUO database can be beneficial, especially for basidiomycetes.
PubMed: 38792793
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050964