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Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Citrinin (CIT), a secondary metabolite produced by the filamentous fungi species, exhibits nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and carcinogenic effects in mammals, remarkably...
Citrinin (CIT), a secondary metabolite produced by the filamentous fungi species, exhibits nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and carcinogenic effects in mammals, remarkably restricting the utilization of -derived products. CIT synthesis is mediated through the gene and modified by multiple genetic factors. Here, the regulatory effects of two transcripts, α, and β, generated via pre-mRNA alternative splicing (AS), were investigated using hairpin RNA (ihpRNA) interference, and their impact on CIT biosynthesis and the underlying mechanisms were assessed through chemical biology and transcriptome analyses. The CIT yield in ihpRNA-pksCTα and ihpRNA-pksCT (α + β) transformants decreased from 7.2 μg/mL in the wild-type strain to 3.8 μg/mL and 0.08 μg/mL, respectively. Notably, several genes in the CIT biosynthetic gene cluster, specifically , , and in the ihpRNA-pksCT (α + β) transformant, were downregulated. Transcriptome results revealed that silencing has a great impact on carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and AS events. The key enzymes in the citrate cycle (TCA cycle) and glycolysis were significantly inhibited in the transformants, leading to a decrease in the production of biosynthetic precursors, such as acetyl-coenzyme-A (acetyl-coA) and malonyl-coenzyme-A (malonyl-coA). Furthermore, the reduction of CIT has a regulatory effect on lipid metabolism via redirecting acetyl-coA from CIT biosynthesis towards lipid biosynthesis. These findings offer insights into the mechanisms underlying CIT biosynthesis and AS in , thus providing a foundation for future research.
PubMed: 38132775
DOI: 10.3390/jof9121174 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in metabolism; a lack of selenium reduces the body's resistance and immunity, as well as causes other...
Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in metabolism; a lack of selenium reduces the body's resistance and immunity, as well as causes other physiological problems. In this study, we aim to identify favorable conditions for improving organic selenium production. The functional microbe , which is widely used in food production, was employed to optimize selenium-enriched culture conditions, and its growth mode and selenium-enriched features were investigated. Spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) were used to determine the effects of various doses of sodium selenite on the selenium content, growth, and metabolism of , as well as the conversion rate of organic selenium. The best culture parameters for selenium-rich included 7.5 mg/100 mL of selenium content in the culture medium, a pH value of 6.8, a culture temperature of 30 °C, and a rotation speed of 180 rpm. Under ideal circumstances, the mycelia had a maximum selenium concentration of approximately 239.17 mg/kg, with organic selenium accounting for 93.45%, monacoline K production reaching 70.264 mg/L, and a secondary utilization rate of external selenium of 22.99%. This study revealed a novel biological route-selenium-rich fermentation-for converting inorganic selenium into organic selenium.
PubMed: 37761084
DOI: 10.3390/foods12183375 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Intercropping with Pleurotus ostreatus has been demonstrated to increase the tea yield and alleviate soil acidification in tea gardens. However, the underlying...
Intercropping with Pleurotus ostreatus has been demonstrated to increase the tea yield and alleviate soil acidification in tea gardens. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, high-throughput sequencing and Biolog Eco analysis were performed to identify changes in the community structure and abundance of soil microorganisms in the P. ostreatus intercropped tea garden at different seasons (April and September). The results showed that the soil microbial diversity of rhizosphere decreased in April, while rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial diversity increased in September in the P. ostreatus intercropped tea garden. The diversity of tea tree root microorganisms increased in both periods. In addition, the number of fungi associated with organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, such as Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Trechispora, was significantly higher in the intercropped group than in the control group. Intercropping with P. ostreatus increased the levels of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (AP) in the soil. It also improved the content of secondary metabolites, such as tea catechins, and polysaccharides in tea buds. Microbial network analysis showed that Unclassified_o__Helotiales, and Devosia were positively correlated with soil TN and pH, while Lactobacillus, Acidothermus, and Monascus were positively correlated with flavone, AE, and catechins in tea trees. In conclusion, intercropping with P. ostreatus can improve the physical and chemical properties of soil and the composition and structure of microbial communities in tea gardens, which has significant potential for application in monoculture tea gardens with acidic soils.
Topics: Soil Microbiology; Pleurotus; Plant Roots; Tea; Microbiota; Soil; Rhizosphere; Camellia sinensis; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Fungi; Bacteria; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
PubMed: 38760401
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61883-w -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023Hyperlipidemia is associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease. Conventional drugs such as statins are effective in...
The antihyperlipidemic effect of a combined supplement of standardized dry extracts of amla (), walnut (), olive () and red yeast rice () powder: Reduction in circulatory low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and remnant cholesterol (RC) levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Hyperlipidemia is associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease. Conventional drugs such as statins are effective in controlling hyperlipidemia; however, they are associated with various side effects, especially myalgia. Nutraceutical lipid-lowering interventions are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among patients who are intolerant or refractory to statins. Substantial preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that extracts of amla, walnut, and olive, and red yeast rice (RYR) powder possess significant antihyperlipidemic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of a combined supplementation of standardized dry extracts of amla fruit (500 mg), walnut leaves (50 mg), olive fruit (25 mg), and RYR powder (33.6 mg) (Cholesfytol NG®) in hypercholesterolemic patients. This was a , retrospective, observational, single-arm, non-randomized study in hypercholesterolemic patients (total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 200 mg/dL or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 130 mg/dL), enrolled at 57 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in Belgium from March 2020 to January 2022. These patients received a GP-prescribed daily single dosage of two oral tablets of Cholesfytol NG® supplementation for 2 months to overcome their hypercholesterolemia in the absence of a conventional lipid-lowering drug (n = 208) or with a lipid-lowering drug (n = 13). At 2-month follow-up, the lipid profile was re-evaluated, alongside a patient's questionnaire on treatment general satisfaction and willingness to pursue supplementation. After supplementation, TC decreased by 15%, LDL-C by 19%, non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C) by 20% (all < 0.0001), triglycerides (TG) by 9% ( = 0.0028) (-18.4%, = 0.0042, in patients with baseline TG > 180 mg/dL, n = 58), and remnant cholesterol (RC) by 12% ( = 0.0001). These changes were unaffected by statin intolerance status in patients who received Cholesfytol NG® alongside statin. The supplement was well tolerated by all patients, and no serious adverse events or supplement-emergent effects were reported. Most patients were satisfied with the supplementation and wanted to pursue the nutraceutical. According to the results of this study, a combined supplementation of amla, walnut, and olive extracts, and RYR powder exerts a significant antihyperlipidemic effect, leading to a decrease in circulatory LDL-C and RC levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The supplementation bears excellent safety and tolerability, and is rated as satisfactory and pursuable, even among patients with statin intolerance. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov; identifier number: NCT06002893.
PubMed: 38089061
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1280234 -
Animal Nutrition (Zhongguo Xu Mu Shou... Jun 2024This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of M-32 fermented soybean meal (MFSM) on growth, immunity, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal...
M-32 fermented soybean meal improves the growth, immunity parameters, intestinal morphology, disease resistance, intestinal microbiota and metabolome in Pacific white shrimp ().
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of M-32 fermented soybean meal (MFSM) on growth, immunity, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal metabolome of Pacific white shrimp (). Four groups of diets were formulated, including control group (30% fish meal and 30% soybean meal [SBM] included in the basal diet) and three experimental groups which MFSM replaced 20% (MFSM20), 40% (MFSM40), and 60% (MFSM60) of SBM in control group, respectively. Results showed that the soluble proteins larger than 49 kDa in MFSM were almost completely degraded. Meanwhile, the crude protein, acid-soluble protein, and amino acid in MFSM were increased. The results of shrimp culture experiment showed that the replacement of SBM with MFSM decreased FCR ( < 0.001) and content of malondialdehyde ( = 0.007) in the experimental groups, and increased weight gain rate ( = 0.006), specific growth rate ( = 0.002), survival rate ( = 0.005), intestinal villus height ( < 0.001), myenteric thickness ( = 0.002), the activities of superoxide dismutase ( = 0.002), and lysozyme ( = 0.006) in experimental groups, as well as increased content of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus () in blood and muscle, and enhanced resistance to infection. The gut microbiota of MFSM groups was significantly different from that of the control group, and the abundance of Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia increased significantly in the MFSM60 group, whereas Proteobacteria and Firmicutes decreased. Compared with the control group, there were significant changes in the levels of several intestinal metabolites in the MFSM60 group, including leukotriene C5, prostaglandin A1, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, carnosine, and itaconic acid. The fermentation of SBM by the strain M-32 has the potential to enhance the nutritional quality of SBM, promote the growth of , boost immune response, improve intestinal morphology and microbiota composition, as well as influence intestinal metabolites.
PubMed: 38800738
DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2024.03.009 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024, one of the conidiation center regulatory genes in many filamentous fungi, plays an important role in promoting asexual spores (conidia) maturation. Our recent research...
, one of the conidiation center regulatory genes in many filamentous fungi, plays an important role in promoting asexual spores (conidia) maturation. Our recent research has found that knocking out or overexpressing (a homolog of ) in M7 does not affect the development of its asexual spores like other fungi, but both repress the development of its sexual spores (ascospores). However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the function of on sexual reproduction and secondary metabolism in M7 was confirmed by a complementary experiment. Moreover, the regulatory roles of in modulating the expression of genes involved in sexual reproduction, meiosis, and biosynthesis of pigment and citrinin were analyzed based on the transcriptional data. These results not only contribute to clarifying the regulation of the reproduction and secondary metabolism of spp., but also to enriching the regulation molecular mechanism of reproduction in filamentous fungi.
PubMed: 38786694
DOI: 10.3390/jof10050338 -
PeerJ 2024Fungi can have important beneficial and detrimental effects on animals, yet our understanding of the diversity and function of most bee-associated fungi is poor. Over 2...
Fungi can have important beneficial and detrimental effects on animals, yet our understanding of the diversity and function of most bee-associated fungi is poor. Over 2 million bumblebee colonies are traded globally every year, but the presence and transport of viable fungi within them is unknown. Here, we explored whether any culturable fungi could be isolated from commercial bumblebee nests. We collected samples of various substrates from within 14 bumblebee colonies, including the honey, honey cup wall, egg cup wall, and frass then placed them on agar and recorded any growth. Fungal morphotypes were then subcultured and their ITS region sequenced for identification. Overall, we cultured 11 fungal species from the various nest substrates. These included both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi, such as sp., sp., and sp. Our results provide the first insights into the diversity of viable fungal communities in commercial bumblebee nests. Further research is needed to determine if these fungi are unique to commercial colonies or prevalent in wild bumblebee nests, and crucially to determine the ecological and evolutionary implications of these fungi in host colonies.
Topics: Bees; Animals; Aspergillus; Penicillium; Agar
PubMed: 38313023
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16713 -
Current Research in Food Science 2023As one of the quintessential representatives of Chinese rice wine, rice wine is brewed with glutinous rice as the main raw material and (Gutian or Wuyi ) as the...
As one of the quintessential representatives of Chinese rice wine, rice wine is brewed with glutinous rice as the main raw material and (Gutian or Wuyi ) as the fermentation starter. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of on the volatile compositions and the microbial communities in the traditional production of Gutian rice wine (GT) and Wuyi rice wine (WY). Through the OPLS-DA analysis, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, isobutanol, ethyl lactate, ethyl acetate, octanoic acid, diethyl succinate, phenylethyl alcohol, hexanoic acid and n-decanoic acid were identified as the characteristic volatile flavor components between GT and WY. Microbiome analysis revealed significant enrichments of , , and in WY brewing, whereas , , , and were significantly enriched in GT brewing. Additionally, correlation analysis showed that , , and were significantly positively correlated wih most characteristic volatile components. Conversely, , , and showed significant negative correlations with most of the characteristic volatile components. Furthermore, bioinformatical analysis indicated that the gene abundances for enzymes including glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase, carboxylesterase, alcohol dehydrogenase, dihydroxy-acid dehydratase and branched-chain-amino-acid transaminase were significantly higher in WY compared to GT. This finding explains the higher content of higher alcohols and characteristic esters in WY relative to GT. Collectively, this study provides a theoretical basis for improving the flavor profile of rice wine and establishing a solid scientific foundation for the sustainable development of rice wine industry.
PubMed: 38021257
DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100628 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023To study the diversity of microbial flora in Hongqu sufu and analyze the characteristics of special flavor compounds, this study took self-made Hongqu sufu as the...
To study the diversity of microbial flora in Hongqu sufu and analyze the characteristics of special flavor compounds, this study took self-made Hongqu sufu as the research object. Dynamic changes in sufu during fermentation were studied. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) was used to analyze changes in the diversity of fungal and bacterial communities during fermentation. The results showed that at the phylum level, the dominant fungal phyla were identified, Mucormyces and Ascomycetes. The dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. At the genus level, the dominant fungal genera were identified as , and . The dominant bacterial genera were , , , and . Headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) combined with technology that can dynamically change flavor compounds was explored to investigate the correlation between microbiota and flavor compounds. In different stages of fermentation, 75 main volatile organic compounds were identified, including seven alcohols, four acids, 16 alkanes, 14 olefins, seven kinds of aldehydes, two kinds of ketones, 10 kinds of esters, one kind of phenol, one kind of sulfur-containing compound, one benzene, and 12 other compounds. The correlation analysis between flora and flavor compounds showed that the fungi genera and were significantly correlated with most flavor compounds. Bacteria genera including , , and had a strong positive correlation with ethyl oleate.
PubMed: 37509892
DOI: 10.3390/foods12142800 -
Food Chemistry: X Dec 2023Red pigments (MPs) are a large group of polyketides from the fungus which have been widely used as food colorants. In this study, a variety of red MPs congeners were...
Red pigments (MPs) are a large group of polyketides from the fungus which have been widely used as food colorants. In this study, a variety of red MPs congeners were prepared to explore promising water-soluble candidates for application in liquid food formulations. The results showed that by combining the two-stage, low-pH fermentation strategy with a downstream purification step of fractional crystallization, precursors of red MPs, namely monascorubrin and rubropunctatin, were obtained with a purity of 91.9%. Then, via the azaphilic addition reaction, 18 types of red MPs congeners carrying different amino acid moieties (MPs-aa) were semi-synthesized. Compared to rubropunctamine and monascorubramine, the water solubility, pH and thermal stability of MPs-aa were improved greatly. MPs-His, MPs-Phe, MPs-Tyr and MPs-Trp were identified to be the most resistant to pasteurization. These findings provide water-soluble red MPs candidates with high thermal stability and an attractive approach for their large scale production.
PubMed: 38144809
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100940