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Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024, a perennial herbaceous plant found in southwest China, has the potential to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Endophytic fungi that reside within...
, a perennial herbaceous plant found in southwest China, has the potential to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Endophytic fungi that reside within medicinal herbs play an important ecological role in their host plants and can serve as a valuable source for identifying active components. However, little is known about the diversity, and structure of endophytic fungi in . In this study, we investigated the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi in the leaves, stems, and roots of at both 1- and 2-year-growth stages using a modern culture-independent method using both culture-independent (high-throughput sequencing, HTS) and culture-based methods. Using HTS, our results revealed that the richness and diversity of endophytic fungi in varied depending on the organs and growth stages. Specifically, stems and leaves exhibited significantly higher diversity compared to roots. Additionally, the highest diversity of endophytic fungi was observed in the stems of the 2-year-old plants. At the genus level, , , and were the most abundant endophytic fungi in 1-year-old samples, while , , and were prevalent in 2-year-old samples. A total of 55 endophytic fungal strains belonging to two phyla and 24 genera were isolated from 150 plant tissue segments using culture-based methods. The anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of these isolates was evaluated in vitro and five of them, PCAM010, PCBM027, LP41, SR60, and SM81, showed strong activity (>50% inhibition rate). These findings will serve as a theoretical basis and practical guide for comprehending the structural composition, biological diversity and bioactivity of endophytic fungi in .
PubMed: 38535204
DOI: 10.3390/jof10030195 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024This study used the ITS approach based on Illumina MiSeq sequencing to assess the endosphere and rhizosphere fungal communities in healthy and diseased faba bean plants....
This study used the ITS approach based on Illumina MiSeq sequencing to assess the endosphere and rhizosphere fungal communities in healthy and diseased faba bean plants. The findings indicate that the most predominant phyla in all samples were Ascomycota (49.89-99.56%) and Basidiomycota (0.33-25.78%). In healthy endosphere samples, Glomeromycota (0.08-1.17%) was the only predominant phylum. In diseased endosphere samples, Olpidiomycota (0.04-1.75%) was the only predominant phylum. At the genus level, (0.47-35.21%) was more abundant in rhizosphere soil, while (3.48-91.16%) was predominant in the endosphere roots of faba bean plants. Significant differences were observed in the alpha diversity of rhizosphere samples from different germplasm resources ( < 0.05). The fungal community structures were clearly distinguished between rhizosphere and endosphere samples and between healthy and diseased endosphere samples ( < 0.05). was significantly enriched in diseased endosphere samples, whereas was enriched in healthy endosphere samples. and were enriched in diseased rhizosphere samples, while was enriched in healthy rhizosphere samples. Diseased samples displayed more strongly correlated genera than healthy samples. Saprotrophs accounted for a larger proportion of the fungal microbes in rhizosphere soil than in endosphere roots. This study provides a better understanding of the composition and diversity of fungal communities in the rhizosphere and endosphere of faba bean plants as well as a theoretical guidance for future research on the prevention or control of faba bean root rot disease.
PubMed: 38276030
DOI: 10.3390/jof10010084 -
JFMS Open Reports 2022A 10-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat from Quilmes (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) presented at the Infectious Diseases and Parasitology Unit with a...
CASE SUMMARY
A 10-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat from Quilmes (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) presented at the Infectious Diseases and Parasitology Unit with a hyperpigmented nodule of 5 cm diameter on the nasal plane with a small ulceration of more than 1 year's evolution. A scaly and hyperpigmented alopecic lesion of 3 cm in diameter was found on the lower edge of the tail. The patient was under immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids for lymphoplasmacytic duodenitis. Samples of the lesion present on the nasal plane were taken under a surgical procedure. In the wet mount preparations, pigmented irregular hyphae were observed. They developed dark colonies when cultured on Sabouraud medium. On micromorphology, structures compatible with species were identified. PCR and sequencing of (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) confirmed as the etiologic agent. A therapeutic scheme that included a combination of itraconazole oral solution (1.5 mg/kg PO q12h) with terbinafine (30 mg/kg PO q24h) was indicated for a period of 10 months. The patient died of complications resulting from its underlying disease.
RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION
As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study to report as an etiologic agent of phaeohyphomycosis in cats. In this case study, the species was identified using molecular tests.
PubMed: 35281676
DOI: 10.1177/20551169221077611 -
Mycoscience 2022Some Asian fungi are morphologically very similar to European species but belong to different species. A fungus that resembles , which commonly occurs on the petioles of...
Some Asian fungi are morphologically very similar to European species but belong to different species. A fungus that resembles , which commonly occurs on the petioles of in Europe, was found on the petioles of spp. and other tree leaves in Japan. The apothecia of this fungus were smaller than those of , suggesting that it is a different species. To examine this possibility, specimens of this fungus were collected from various hosts in Japan. A detailed morphological examination elucidated that this fungus differed from in smaller apothecia, marginal cells of the ectal excipulum, and conidia. The ITS sequence difference between this fungus and was 3.3-4.3%, and they formed distinct clades in the phylogenetic analysis, supporting that they are different species. Consequently, a new species, is described. Since an undescribed phialophora-state was observed in the cultures of for the first time, the morphology under culture is also reported in detail.
PubMed: 37090199
DOI: 10.47371/mycosci.2022.07.003 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2021adopts a tolerant strategy as a metal excluder to survive toxic metal concentrations. Biodiversity and the endophytic fungal community colonizing the roots were...
adopts a tolerant strategy as a metal excluder to survive toxic metal concentrations. Biodiversity and the endophytic fungal community colonizing the roots were assessed from a mining area (MA) and a neighboring non-mining area (nMA) in southwestern China. All roots formed fully developed dark septate endophytes (DSEs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Total DSE colonization was higher for the MA versus nMA, in contrast to the total AMF colonization in the two sites. The DSE colonization was higher than AMF colonization regardless of the site. Pure-culture data showed that the fungi closely related to , and dominantly colonized the roots. A total of 450 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified showing the presence of a distinct fungal community in MA and nMA, which was shaped by soil physiochemical properties, including soil Zn concentrations and organic matter. We found that accumulates and adapts efficiently to local endophytic fungi to achieve the expansion of its community, including the spontaneously reclaimed DSE. This property may be targeted to achieve its colonization with a pioneer plant for phytoremediation in the restoration of a vegetation cover in a metal-contaminated area.
PubMed: 34961202
DOI: 10.3390/plants10122731 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Microorganisms drive litter decomposition while maintaining the chemical cycle of ecosystems. We used the dominant vegetation () in the mining area selected for this...
Microorganisms drive litter decomposition while maintaining the chemical cycle of ecosystems. We used the dominant vegetation () in the mining area selected for this study for this experiment to explore fungal community characteristics, key fungal groups, and their associative driving factors during litter decomposition. Maximum litter C/N values occurred 100days after the commencement of the decomposition experiment during all different recovery years in this copper tailings area. Heavy metals in litter [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), plumbum (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)] accumulated gradually with decomposition. The dominant fungal phyla observed in the community were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, while the classes Sordariomycetes and Eurotiomycetes significantly increased as litter decomposition progressed. Degrees of connectivity and interaction between fungal communities were highest during the early litter decomposition stage. Sordariomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Leotiomycetes all played critical roles in maintaining fungal community relationships. The effect of physicochemical properties and enzyme activities in litter was significant on the dominant fungi, while driving factors that affected fungal communities differed over different recovery stages. Total nitrogen (TN), heavy metals, pH, and enzyme activities in the little were significantly correlated with fungal community composition. Litter properties throughout the litter decomposition process mainly affected the dynamics of the fungal community structure. The main environmental factors that affected fungal community structure were copper content and pH. , , , , , and , which all played important roles in litter decomposition, positively correlated with heavy metals, sucrase, and catalase. Finally, results from this study will help us better clarify litter decomposition mechanisms in degraded ecosystems as well as provide a scientific basis for improving species cycling and nutrient transformation efficiency in mining ecosystems.
PubMed: 34880848
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.780015 -
PloS One 2020Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic subcutaneous mycosis caused by traumatic implantation of many species of black fungi. Due to the refractoriness of some cases and...
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic subcutaneous mycosis caused by traumatic implantation of many species of black fungi. Due to the refractoriness of some cases and common recurrence of CBM, a more effective and less time-consuming treatment is mandatory. The aim of this study was to identify compounds with in vitro antifungal activity in the Pathogen Box® compound collection against different CBM agents. Synergism of these compounds with drugs currently used to treat CBM was also assessed. An initial screening of the drugs present in this collection at 1 μM was performed with a Fonsecaea pedrosoi clinical strain according to the EUCAST protocol. The compounds with activity against this fungus were also tested against other seven etiologic agents of CBM (Cladophialophora carrionii, Phialophora verrucosa, Exophiala jeanselmei, Exophiala dermatitidis, Fonsecaea monophora, Fonsecaea nubica, and Rhinocladiella similis) at concentrations ranging from 0.039 to 10 μM. The analysis of potential synergism of these compounds with itraconazole and terbinafine was performed by the checkerboard method. Eight compounds inhibited more than 60% of the F. pedrosoi growth: difenoconazole, bitertanol, iodoquinol, azoxystrobin, MMV688179, MMV021013, trifloxystrobin, and auranofin. Iodoquinol produced the lowest MIC values (1.25-2.5 μM) and MMV688179 showed MICs that were higher than all compounds tested (5 - >10 μM). When auranofin and itraconazole were tested in combination, a synergistic interaction (FICI = 0.37) was observed against the C. carrionii isolate. Toxicity analysis revealed that MMV021013 showed high selectivity indices (SI ≥ 10) against the fungi tested. In summary, auranofin, iodoquinol, and MMV021013 were identified as promising compounds to be tested in CBM models of infection.
Topics: Acetates; Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Auranofin; Biphenyl Compounds; Chromoblastomycosis; Dioxolanes; Drug Synergism; Exophiala; Fungi; Humans; Imines; Iodoquinol; Pyrimidines; Strobilurins; Triazoles
PubMed: 32401759
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229630 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023Brown Stem Rot (BSR), caused by the soil borne fungal pathogen , can reduce soybean yields by as much as 38%. Previous allelism studies identified three Resistant to...
Brown Stem Rot (BSR), caused by the soil borne fungal pathogen , can reduce soybean yields by as much as 38%. Previous allelism studies identified three Resistant to brown stem Rot genes (, and ), all mapping to large, overlapping regions on soybean chromosome 16. However, recent fine-mapping and genome wide association studies (GWAS) suggest , and are alleles of a single locus. To address this conflict, we characterized the locus using the Williams82 reference genome (Wm82.a4.v1). We identified 120 Receptor-Like Proteins (RLPs), with hallmarks of disease resistance receptor-like proteins (RLPs), which formed five distinct clusters. We developed virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) constructs to target each of the clusters, hypothesizing that silencing the correct RLP cluster would result in a loss of resistance phenotype. The VIGS constructs were tested against resistant genotypes L78-4094 (), PI 437833 (), or PI 437970 (, infected with or mock infected. No loss of resistance phenotype was observed. We then developed VIGS constructs targeting two RLP clusters with a single construct. Construct B1a/B2 silenced resistance in L78-4094, confirming at least two genes confer -mediated resistance to . Failure of B1a/B2 to silence resistance in PI 437833 and PI 437970 suggests additional genes confer BSR resistance in these lines. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) responding to silencing, we conducted RNA-seq of leaf, stem and root samples from B1a/B2 and empty vector control plants infected with or mock infected. B1a/B2 silencing induced DEGs associated with cell wall biogenesis, lipid oxidation, the unfolded protein response and iron homeostasis and repressed numerous DEGs involved in defense and defense signaling. These findings will improve integration of resistance into elite germplasm and provide novel insights into fungal disease resistance.
PubMed: 38259908
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1292605 -
Allergologie Select 2024None.
None.
PubMed: 38756207
DOI: 10.5414/ALX02444E -
Journal of Pesticide Science May 2023To elucidate the cause of brown stem rot in the adzuki bean, we re-evaluated the phytotoxins produced in cultures of the causative agent, f. sp. . The ethyl...
To elucidate the cause of brown stem rot in the adzuki bean, we re-evaluated the phytotoxins produced in cultures of the causative agent, f. sp. . The ethyl acetate-soluble acidic fraction of the culture, as well as the neutral fraction, inhibited the growth of alfalfa seedlings. In the neutral fraction, known phytotoxins gregatin A, B, and C or D and penicilliol A were present. Although the phytotoxins in the acidic fraction were unstable, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the partially purified material suggested that one phytotoxin present was the non-methylated gregatin desmethyl-gregatin A (gregatinic acid A).
PubMed: 37361487
DOI: 10.1584/jpestics.D22-070