-
Journal de Mycologie Medicale Mar 2021Despite of known pathogenic potential of human mycobiome in initiation and progression of oral disorders, it is poorly characterized and understudied due to its small...
Despite of known pathogenic potential of human mycobiome in initiation and progression of oral disorders, it is poorly characterized and understudied due to its small number in oral cavity. In the present study, salivary mycobiome of three postpartum females along with one healthy non-pregnant female was investigated by targeting ITS region. A total of 55 genera and 92 species were detected with predominant genera: Candida (12.2%) followed by Saccharomyces (9.27%), Phialosimplex (9.19%), Termitomyces (6.96%), Penicillium (6.85%), Aspergillus (6.56%), Olpidium (5.15%), Cochliobolus (4.78%), Malassezia (4.61%), Neurospora (4.3%), and Cristinia (3.04%) in all samples. Diversity increase was observed in postpartum group as compared to non-pregnant female. Stachybotrys, Geotrichum, Talaromyces, Leucosporidium, Acremonium, Wallemia, Eupenicillium, Septoria, Zymoseptoria, Coniosporium, Phialophora, and Mycosphaerella were genera detected only in postpartum group. Postpartum female with gingivitis and dental caries showed greater abundance of genus Saccharomyces, Phialosimplex, Candida, Olpidium, Cochliobolus, Malaseezia, Hyphodontia, Debaryomyces, Mrakia, and Nakaseomyces as compared to those postpartum females with good oral health. Among postpartum group female with oral health issues as well as who had preterm low weight birth (PLWB), showed reduced richness, evenness with elevated levels of Saccharomyces, Candida, Hyphodontia and Malassezia compared to the female having full term birth (FTB). These findings showed that, pregnancy with or without oral health issues is associated with oral microbial diversity change and there might be an association of changing fungal diversity with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) like pre-term birth (PTB) and low weight birth (LWB).
Topics: Adult; Dental Caries; Female; Fungi; Genetic Variation; Gingivitis; Humans; Mouth; Mycobiome; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Saliva; Young Adult
PubMed: 33321299
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.101101 -
PeerJ 2019Morels ( spp.) are iconic edible mushrooms with a long history of human consumption. Some microbial taxa are hypothesized to be important in triggering the formation of...
Morels ( spp.) are iconic edible mushrooms with a long history of human consumption. Some microbial taxa are hypothesized to be important in triggering the formation of morel primordia and development of fruiting bodies, thus, there is interest in the microbial ecology of these fungi. To identify and compare fungal and prokaryotic communities in soils where is cultivated in outdoor greenhouses, ITS and 16S rDNA high throughput amplicon sequencing and microbiome analyses were performed. , , , and were found to comprise the core microbiome of ascocarps. These bacterial taxa were also abundant in the soil beneath growing fruiting bodies. A total of 29 bacterial taxa were found to be statistically associated to fruiting bodies. Bacterial community network analysis revealed high modularity with some 16S rDNA operational taxonomic unit clusters living in specialized fungal niches (e.g., pileus, stipe). Other fungi dominating the soil mycobiome beneath morels included , , and . This research informs understanding of microbial indicators and potential facilitators of ecology and fruiting body production.
PubMed: 31579614
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7744 -
Cureus Aug 2022Cutaneous chromoblastomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous fungal disease of the skin caused by , especially by , ,and species affecting the skin, lungs, intestines,...
Cutaneous chromoblastomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous fungal disease of the skin caused by , especially by , ,and species affecting the skin, lungs, intestines, stomach, and central nervous system. It is treated using itraconazole in mild cases and amphotericin B in severe cases. A six-year-old female child presented to the Dermatology Outpatient Department with pigmented brown to blackish tanned plaques and verrucous lesions on the face and extremities. These lesions were present for the past two and a half years and were slowly enlarging and involving other areas like the trunk. The lesions were proven on biopsy to be cutaneous blastomycosis. The patient was put on infusions of amphotericin B in a calculated pediatric dose. Her blood pressure and renal function tests were checked daily to avoid any electrolyte derangements, nephrotoxicity, and systemic infusion reactions caused by amphotericin B. Amphotericin B reduced the size of the cutaneous lesions, and treatment response was assessed on regular follow-ups. Chromoblastomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis to enable timely treatment and to prevent its lethal complications such as epidermoid carcinoma. Treatment should continue for two to three months until histopathology is negative to ensure complete eradication.
PubMed: 36158439
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28286 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021is a dematiaceous fungus that causes mainly chromoblastomycosis, but also disseminated infections such as phaeohyphomycosis and mycetoma. These diseases are extremely...
is a dematiaceous fungus that causes mainly chromoblastomycosis, but also disseminated infections such as phaeohyphomycosis and mycetoma. These diseases are extremely hard to treat and often refractory to current antifungal therapies. In this work, we have evaluated the effect of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) and its metal-based complexes, [Ag (phendione)]ClO and [Cu(phendione)](ClO).4HO, against , focusing on (i) conidial viability when combined with amphotericin B (AmB); (ii) biofilm formation and disarticulation events; (iii) interaction with human macrophages; and (iv) infection of larvae. The combination of AmB with each of the test compounds promoted the additive inhibition of growth, as judged by the checkerboard assay. During the biofilm formation process over polystyrene surface, sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of phendione and its silver(I) and copper(II) complexes were able to reduce biomass and extracellular matrix production. Moreover, a mature biofilm treated with high concentrations of the test compounds diminished biofilm viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of conidial cells with the test compounds did not alter the percentage of infected THP-1 macrophages; however, [Ag(phendione)]ClO caused a significant reduction in the number of intracellular fungal cells compared to the untreated system. In addition, the killing process was significantly enhanced by post-treatment of infected macrophages with the test compounds. induced a typically cell density-dependent effect on larvae death after 7 days of infection. Interestingly, exposure to the silver(I) complex protected the larvae from infection. Collectively, the results corroborate the promising therapeutic potential of phendione-based drugs against fungal infections, including those caused by .
PubMed: 34025603
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.641258 -
Ocular Immunology and Inflammation Jan 2024We report two cases of fungal keratitis due to rare melanized fungal pathogens in ocular infection, one is the first case report of keratitis due to and the second is...
PURPOSE
We report two cases of fungal keratitis due to rare melanized fungal pathogens in ocular infection, one is the first case report of keratitis due to and the second is keratitis due to rare fungal pathogen in ocular infections .
METHOD
Conventional mycology during routine diagnostics helped in identifying these rare fungal isolates, following which we proceeded for the confirmation of identification by DNA sequencing and did antifungal susceptibility test to understand their susceptibility pattern. The clinical information for these two patients were collected from hospital electronic medical records.
RESULTS
We discuss the clinical presentation, treatment given, and clinical outcome in these patients and correlate these with the conventional microbiology and sequencing techniques, which helped in identifying the pathogen and the antifungal susceptibility of these rare isolates. We also do a brief literature review for these two rare fungal pathogens.
CONCLUSIONS
and are rare causes of fungal keratitis due to melanized fungi. Both of this fungal keratitis respond well to medical therapy alone if diagnosed and treated early.
PubMed: 38252885
DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2024.2303352 -
Mycoses Oct 2019Phaeohyphomycosis is a chronic cutaneous, subcutaneous or systemic mycotic infection caused by various dematiaceous fungi. The diverse clinical manifestations and poor...
BACKGROUND
Phaeohyphomycosis is a chronic cutaneous, subcutaneous or systemic mycotic infection caused by various dematiaceous fungi. The diverse clinical manifestations and poor prognosis of phaeohyphomycosis necessitate studies on it to better recognise the disease and improve its management.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the epidemiology, aetiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of phaeohyphomycosis in China over the past 20 years, and to study the first case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phialophora americana and the genetic and immunological mechanisms.
PATIENTS/METHODS
Clinical and laboratory findings of the case were studied, and the patient's DNA was sequenced for CARD9, followed by immunological studies using patient's PBMCs. Cases of phaeohyphomycosis in China from 1998 to 2018 in both the Chinese and English literature were collected and analysed, including 45 articles and 46 patients.
RESULTS
We confirmed the patient holding a homozygous frameshift mutation of CARD9, which led to impairment of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and lower Th17- and Th22-associated responses upon fungus-specific stimulation. From the literature review, we revealed that the clinical presentations of phaeohyphomycosis were diverse. Diagnoses were established mainly on the basis of histopathology and fungal culture. Oral itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole are the first choices for treatment, and a combination with surgical excision is also recommended.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study establishes that obtaining detailed histories is vital for understanding the immune state and that patients with recurrent or chronic phaeohyphomycosis in the absence of known immunodeficiencies should be tested for CARD9 mutations. We hope our findings will aid clinicians in the diagnoses and treatment of such infections.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antifungal Agents; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Child; Child, Preschool; China; Cytokines; Female; Frameshift Mutation; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mutant Proteins; Phaeohyphomycosis; Phialophora; Sequence Analysis, DNA; T-Lymphocytes; Young Adult
PubMed: 31271673
DOI: 10.1111/myc.12962 -
PeerJ 2024Conventional biofilters, which rely on bacterial activity, face challenges in eliminating hydrophobic compounds, such as aromatic compounds. This is due to the low... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Conventional biofilters, which rely on bacterial activity, face challenges in eliminating hydrophobic compounds, such as aromatic compounds. This is due to the low solubility of these compounds in water, which makes them difficult to absorb by bacterial biofilms. Furthermore, biofilter operational stability is often hampered by acidification and drying out of the filter bed.
METHODS
Two bioreactors, a bacterial biofilter (B-BF) and a fungal-bacterial coupled biofilter (F&B-BF) were inoculated with activated sludge from the secondary sedimentation tank of the Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company wastewater treatment plant located in Nanjing, China. For approximately 6 months of operation, a F&B-BF was more effective than a B-BF in eliminating a gas-phase mixture containing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and -xylene (BTE-X).
RESULTS
After operating for four months, the F&B-BF showed higher removal efficiencies for toluene (T), ethylbenzene (E), benzene (B), and -X (-Xylene), at 96.9%, 92.6%, 83.9%, and 83.8%, respectively, compared to those of the B-BF (90.1%, 78.7%, 64.8%, and 59.3%). The degradation activity order for B-BF and F&B-BF was T > E > B > -X. Similarly, the rates of mineralization for BTE-X in the F&B-BF were 74.9%, 66.5%, 55.3%, and 45.1%, respectively, which were higher than those in the B-BF (56.5%, 50.8%, 43.8%, and 30.5%). Additionally, the F&B-BF (2 days) exhibited faster recovery rates than the B-BF (5 days).
CONCLUSIONS
It was found that a starvation protocol was beneficial for the stable operation of both the B-BF and F&B-BF. Community structure analysis showed that the bacterial genus and the fungal genus were both important in the degradation of BTE-X. The fungal-bacterial consortia can enhance the biofiltration removal of BTE-X vapors.
Topics: Xylenes; Filtration; Fungi; Benzene Derivatives; Bioreactors; Bacteria; Biodegradation, Environmental; Toluene; Benzene; China; Biofilms
PubMed: 38903883
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17452 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Apr 2021Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) can improve plant stress tolerance by promoting growth and affecting element accumulation. Due to its ability to accumulate high Cd, Zn,...
Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) can improve plant stress tolerance by promoting growth and affecting element accumulation. Due to its ability to accumulate high Cd, Zn, and Ni concentrations in its shoots, Noccaea caerulescens is considered a promising candidate for phytoextraction in the field. However, the ability of DSEs to improve trace element (TE) phytoextraction with N. caerulescens has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the ability of five DSE strains, previously isolated from poplar roots collected at different TE-contaminated sites, to improve plant development, mineral nutrient status, and metal accumulation by N. caerulescens during a pot experiment using two soils differing in their level of TE contamination. Microscopic observations revealed that the tested DSE strains effectively colonised the roots of N. caerulescens. In the highly contaminated (HC) soil, a threefold increase in root biomass was found in plants inoculated with the Leptodontidium sp. Pr30 strain compared to that in the non-inoculated condition; however, the plant nutrient status was not affected. In contrast, the two strains Phialophora mustea Pr27 and Leptodontidium sp. Me07 had positive effects on the mineral nutrient status of plants without significantly modifying their biomass. Compared to non-inoculated plants cultivated on HC soil, Pr27- and Pr30-inoculated plants extracted more Zn (+ 30%) and Cd (+ 90%), respectively. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the responses of N. caerulescens to DSE inoculation ranged from neutral to beneficial and we identified two strains (i.e. Leptodontidium sp. (Pr30) and Phialophora mustea (Pr27)) isolated from poplar that appeared promising as they increased the amounts of Zn and Cd extracted by improving plant growth and/or TE accumulation by N. caerulescens. These results generate interest in further characterising the DSEs that naturally colonise N. caerulescens and testing their ability to improve phytoextraction.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Cadmium; Endophytes; Phialophora; Plant Roots; Soil Pollutants; Zinc
PubMed: 33387325
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11793-x -
The Plant Genome Nov 2020Brown stem rot (BSR) reduces soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield by up to 38%. The BSR causal agent is Phialophora gregata f. sp. sojae, a slow-growing, necrotrophic...
Brown stem rot (BSR) reduces soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield by up to 38%. The BSR causal agent is Phialophora gregata f. sp. sojae, a slow-growing, necrotrophic fungus whose life cycle includes latent and pathogenic phases, each lasting several weeks. Brown stem rot foliar symptoms are often misdiagnosed as other soybean diseases or nutrient stress, making BSR resistance especially difficult to phenotype. To shed light on the genes and networks contributing to P. gregata resistance, we conducted RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of a resistant genotype (PI 437970, Rbs3). Leaf, stem, and root tissues were collected 12, 24, and 36 h after stab inoculation with P. gregata, or mock infection, in the plant stem. By using multiple tissues and time points, we could see that leaves, stems, and roots use the same defense pathways. Our analyses suggest that P. gregata induces a biphasic defense response, with pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) triggered immunity observed in leaves at 12 and 24 h after infection (HAI) and effector triggered immunity detected at 36 h after infection in the stems. Gene networks associated with defense, photosynthesis, nutrient homeostasis, DNA replication, and growth are the hallmarks of resistance to P. gregata. While P. gregata is a slow-growing pathogen, our results demonstrate that pathogen recognition occurs hours after infection. By exploiting the genes and networks described here, we will be able to develop novel diagnostic tools to facilitate breeding and screening for BSR resistance.
Topics: Ascomycota; Disease Resistance; Humans; Plant Diseases; Plant Stems; Glycine max
PubMed: 33217212
DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20037 -
Effects of Cryptosporidium parvum infection on intestinal fungal microbiota in yaks (Bos grunniens).Microbial Pathogenesis Oct 2023During the last decade, researchers had started to focus on the relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and variation of intestinal microflora....
During the last decade, researchers had started to focus on the relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and variation of intestinal microflora. Cryptosporidium is a widely known opportunistic and zoonotic pathogen. Several studies have shown that Cryptosporidium infection has impact to alter the gut microflora. However, there are only few studies referring to the fungal microflora changes in response to Cryptosporidium infection in highland ruminants. Therefore, the present study was performed for exploring the alternations of intestinal fungal microbiota in yaks after exposure to Cryptosporidium infection. In present study, Amplicon sequencing of ITS regions was used to study the variations of fungal microflora in yaks. After filtering the raw data, over 45 000 and 62 000 clean data were obtained in uninfected and infected yaks, respectively. By using alpha diversity analysis, it was found that there is no significant difference in the richness and evenness when positive samples were compared with negative ones, whereas intestinal fungal communities in different taxa in yaks were changed. The results of present study depicted that 2-phyla and 21-genera in the infected animals had significantly (P < 0.05) changed. These genera were Septoria, Coniothyrium, Cleistothelebolus, Bensingtonia, Cystobasidium, Filobasidium, Coprotus, Carex, Blumeria, Coprinellus, Leucosporidium, Phialophora, Isolepis, Ascobolus, Thecaphora, Mortierella, Urocystis, Symmetrospora and Lasiobolus. In addition, we found variations in 28 enzymes suggesting that the function of microbiota was also affected. It is concluded that there are drastic changes in the fungal microflora and microbiota functions after exposure to Cryptosporidium infection in yak. Our results help to focus on the prompt way for the development of new therapies to control Cryptosporidiosis.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cryptosporidiosis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mycobiome; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cryptosporidium
PubMed: 37633503
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106322