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Functional & Integrative Genomics Sep 2019Breeding for resistance is the most effective tool for controlling the corky root disease of tomato caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici. A comparative RNA-Seq-based...
Breeding for resistance is the most effective tool for controlling the corky root disease of tomato caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici. A comparative RNA-Seq-based transcriptomic analysis was conducted at 96 hpi (hours post infection) on two tomato cultivars: resistant Mogeor and its genetic background, and susceptible Moneymaker to investigate the differences in their transcriptomic response and identify the molecular bases of this plant-pathogen interaction. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified was much higher in the susceptible than in the resistant genotype; however, the proportion of upregulated genes was higher in Mogeor (70.81%) than in Moneymaker (52.95%). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis enabled identification of 24 terms shared by the two cultivars that were consistent with responses to external stimulus, such as fungal infection. On the other hand, as many as 54 GO were enriched solely in Moneymaker, including terms related to defense response and cell wall metabolism. Our results could support the previous observations in other pathosystems, that susceptibility and resistance have overlapping signaling pathways and responses, suggesting that the P. lycopersici resistance gene pyl might be a recessive allele at a susceptibility locus, for which different candidate genes were identified based on the differences in induction or expression levels, observed between the resistant and susceptible genotype. MapMan analysis highlighted a complex hormone and transcription factors interplay where SA- and JA-induced pathways are modulated in a similar way in both genotypes and thus take part in a common response while the ethylene signaling pathways, induced mainly in susceptible Moneymaker, seem putatively contribute to its susceptibility.
Topics: Ascomycota; Disease Resistance; Disease Susceptibility; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Solanum lycopersicum; Plant Diseases; Plant Proteins; Signal Transduction; Transcriptome
PubMed: 31104179
DOI: 10.1007/s10142-019-00685-0 -
Marine Drugs Jun 2022Mangrove-associated fungi are rich sources of novel and bioactive compounds. A total of 102 fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal mangrove collected from the...
Mangrove-associated fungi are rich sources of novel and bioactive compounds. A total of 102 fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal mangrove collected from the South China Sea. Eighty-four independent culturable isolates were identified using a combination of morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses, of which thirty-seven strains were selected for phylogenetic analysis. The identified fungi belonged to 22 genera within seven taxonomic orders of one phyla, of which four genera , , , and were first isolated from mangroves. The cytotoxic activity of organic extracts from 55 identified fungi was evaluated against human lung cancer cell lines (A-549), human cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa), human hepatoma cells (HepG2), and human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (Jurkat). The crude extracts of 31 fungi (56.4%) displayed strong cytotoxicity at the concentration of 50 μg/mL. Furthermore, the fungus sp. (HS-N-27) still showed strong cytotoxic activity at the concentration of 25 µg/mL. Integrating cytotoxic activity-guided strategy and fingerprint analysis, a well-known natural Golgi-disruptor and Arf-GEFs inhibitor, brefeldin A, was isolated from the target active strain HS-N-27. It displayed potential activity against A549, HeLa and HepG2 cell lines with the IC values of 101.2, 171.9 and 239.1 nM, respectively. Therefore, combining activity-guided strategy with fingerprint analysis as a discovery tool will be implemented as a systematic strategy for quick discovery of active compounds.
Topics: Acanthaceae; Antineoplastic Agents; Ascomycota; Brefeldin A; Fungi; Gene Library; Humans; Phylogeny
PubMed: 35877725
DOI: 10.3390/md20070432 -
Cornea Oct 2021To report a novel case of fungal keratitis caused by Biatriospora mackinnonii (Pyrenochaeta mackinnonii), a dematiaceous fungus (black fungus) that rarely causes...
PURPOSE
To report a novel case of fungal keratitis caused by Biatriospora mackinnonii (Pyrenochaeta mackinnonii), a dematiaceous fungus (black fungus) that rarely causes dermatological infection, in a patient treated for ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.
METHODS
An 81-year-old patient with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid was referred to our hospital because of persistent corneal epithelial defects in his left eye. On examination, a slightly elevated dark lesion in the middle of the erosion and hypopyon was observed in that eye, with smear examination of the obtained specimen revealed a filamentous fungal-like material. Initially, treatment included miconazole and fluconazole ophthalmic solution eye drops, natamycin ophthalmic ointment, and systemic voriconazole, followed surgical scraping of the mass, an anterior chamber lavage, and a subconjunctival injection of miconazole. However, the focus had resistance to the treatment and finally led to corneal perforation; hence, therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was subsequently performed.
RESULTS
Mycological testing revealed that the lesions were Candida parapsiliosis and black fungus, with the black fungus classified as B. mackinnonii via DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer and the D1/D2 domains of the 28S rRNA gene. Fungal keratitis caused by B. mackinnonii was resistant to the antifungal drugs, yet was ameliorated by PKP, with no recurrence of fungal keratitis for more than 2 years postoperative.
CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of fungal keratitis caused by B. mackinnonii; however, in this case, PKP surgery resulted in a favorable outcome.
Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Ascomycota; DNA, Fungal; Eye Infections, Fungal; Humans; Keratitis; Keratoplasty, Penetrating; Male; Mycoses
PubMed: 33528226
DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002676 -
American Journal of Ophthalmology Case... Dec 2022(syn. ) is a rare fungal species belonging to the Coelomycetes group, mostly isolated from infected nails and skin.We present a case of contact lens-related fungal...
PURPOSE
(syn. ) is a rare fungal species belonging to the Coelomycetes group, mostly isolated from infected nails and skin.We present a case of contact lens-related fungal keratitis caused by .
OBSERVATIONS
We present a case of a 69-year-old woman with multiple risk factors for a fungal keratitis including ophthalmological history of herpetic keratitis, contact lens wear and chronic steroid use. At presentation, the corneal ulcer resembled a recurrent herpetic keratitis but evolved into a more dense stromal infiltrate despite antiviral therapy. Microscopic examination, culture and staining of corneal tissue obtained by scraping showed mycelia. PCR and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of . Topical antifungal treatment was able to dim the inflammation. Because of a persistent epithelial defect, an amniotic membrane transplantation was performed. Although corneal epithelium was restored, stromal scarring in the visual axis resulted in substantial vision loss.
CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge no other cases of fungal keratitis caused by have been described Early diagnosis can allow prompt initiation of antifungal treatment, which should be guided by susceptibility testing.
PubMed: 36312788
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101731 -
Plant Disease Sep 2023Corky root rot is an important disease in tomato production systems and is caused by and (formerly Types 1 and 2, respectively). The corky root rot pathogens are slow...
Corky root rot is an important disease in tomato production systems and is caused by and (formerly Types 1 and 2, respectively). The corky root rot pathogens are slow growing and difficult to isolate and quantify in soil and plant tissue. A multiplex hydrolysis probe-based qPCR assay was designed to allow for simultaneous detection and quantification of and with a competitive internal control to indicate if qPCR inhibitors are present. Single species and multiplex assays for spp. detected DNA levels above 0.013 pg of DNA per reaction. These highly specific assays had no nontarget amplification of other fungal and oomycete pathogens or rhizosphere-associated fungi of tomatoes that were tested. This assay can be used to quantify populations in roots and soils in tomato production systems to better determine the impacts of disease management strategies on spp. and provides a tool to study the biology of spp.
Topics: Solanum lycopersicum; Plant Diseases; Polymerase Chain Reaction; DNA
PubMed: 36774576
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-08-22-2009-RE -
Journal de Mycologie Medicale Sep 2020Aspergillus is a fungal genus that strongly affects health of humans, animals, and plants worldwide. Endophytes are now widely considered as a rich source of bioproducts...
Aspergillus is a fungal genus that strongly affects health of humans, animals, and plants worldwide. Endophytes are now widely considered as a rich source of bioproducts with potential uses in medicine, agriculture, and bioindustry. Cupressaceae plant family hosts a variety of bioactive ascomycetous endophytes. In this study, antifungal activity of a number of such endophytes were investigated against human pathogenic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. To this end, 16 superior bioactive endophytic fungi from Cupressaceae were used, including Alternaria alternata, Alternaria pellucida, Ascorhizoctonia sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aurobasidium sp., Cladosporium porophorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium viridicatum, Phoma herbarum, Phoma sp., Pyrenochaeta sp., Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma koningii. In vitro bioassays indicated anti-Asperilli activity of the endophytic fungi in dual cultures. Most notably, Trichoderma koningii CSE and Trichoderma atroviride JCE showed complete growth inhibition of both A. niger and A. fumigatus, within 3 to 7 days. Also, volatile compouds (VOCs) of T. koningii CSE and T. atroviride JCE exhibited 33-100% growth inhibition of A. niger, whithin 3 days. Moreover, on the day 7, growth of A. niger was less affected than that of A. fumigatus. In general, it appears that there is a direct relationship between the exposure time and the inhibitory activity of endophytes VOCs on the growth of target Aspergillus species. Furthremore, the extracellular secondary metabolites (SMs) of four selected fungal endophytes exhibited anti-Aspergillus activity at all treatment levels as shown by Agar-diffusion assay. SMs from T. koningii CSE and Pyrenochaeta CSE showed strongest activities against A. niger, and SMs from T. koningii CSE and F. oxysporum CAE showed strongest activities against A. fumigatus. In conclusion, given the globally recognized issue of antibiotic resistance and the urge to discover new antimicrobial substances, our findings provide new insights into the potential use of Cupressaceae's endophytic fungi in antifungal-based drug discovery programs.
Topics: Antibiosis; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillus fumigatus; Aspergillus niger; Cupressaceae; Endophytes; Humans; Iran; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Trichoderma
PubMed: 32499133
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.100987 -
The Science of the Total Environment May 2021The role of endophytic fungi isolated from different populations of European Ni hyperaccumulators was investigated in regard to the microorganisms' ability to enhance...
The role of endophytic fungi isolated from different populations of European Ni hyperaccumulators was investigated in regard to the microorganisms' ability to enhance the hyperaccumulation of Ni in Noccaea caerulescens. Effects of particular species of endophytic fungi on adaptation of N. caerulescens to excess Ni were tested by co-cultivation with single strains of the fungi. Seven of these had a positive effect on plant biomass production, whereas two of the tested species inhibited plant growth; biomass production of inoculated plants was significantly different compared to non-inoculated control. Inoculation with six fungal strains: Embellisia thlaspis, Pyrenochaeta cava, Phomopsis columnaris, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Alternaria sp. stimulated the plant to uptake and accumulate more Ni in both roots and shoots, compared to non-inoculated control. P. columnaris was isolated from all plant species sampled. Strains isolated from Noccaea caerulescens and Noccaea goesingensis increased Ni root and shoot accumulation of their native hosts (compared to non-inoculated control). Inoculation of different populations of Noccaea with P. columnaris of foreign origin did not cause its host to accumulate more Ni, with the exception of the Ni-unadapted ecotype of N. goesingensis. Inoculation with P. columnaris from N. caerulescens significantly improved Ni uptake, but the effect of the fungus was not as prominent as in the case of N. caerulescens. By comparing the transcriptomes of N. caerulescens and N. goesingensis from Flatz inoculated with P. columnaris, we showed that enhanced uptake and accumulation of Ni in the plants is accompanied by an upregulation of several genes mainly involved in plant stress protection and metal uptake and compartmentation.
Topics: Ascomycota; Brassicaceae; Cladosporium; Fungi; Nickel
PubMed: 33736318
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144666 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Members of are broadly distributed across subtropical and tropical areas of southwest and southern China. This host provides multiple substrates that can be richly...
Members of are broadly distributed across subtropical and tropical areas of southwest and southern China. This host provides multiple substrates that can be richly colonized by numerous undescribed fungal species. There is a severe lack of microfungal studies on in China, and consequently, the diversity, phylogeny and taxonomy of these microorganisms are all largely unknown. This paper presents two new genera and four new species in three orders of Dothideomycetes gathered from dead twigs of in Honghe, China. All new collections were made within a selected area in Honghe from a single sp. This suggests high fungal diversity in the region and the existence of numerous species awaiting discovery. Multiple gene sequences (non-translated loci and protein-coding regions) were analysed with maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Results from the phylogenetic analyses supported placing gen. et sp. in the Teratosphaeriaceae family. Analysis of sequences resulted in sp. nov., while analysed Lophiostomataceae sequences revealed gen. et sp. nov. Finally, phylogeny based on a combined dataset of pyrenochaeta-like sequences demonstrates strong statistical support for placing sp. nov. in Parapyrenochaetaceae. Morphological and updated phylogenetic circumscriptions of the new discoveries are also discussed.
PubMed: 33802406
DOI: 10.3390/jof7030180 -
Marine Drugs Jan 2024Co-cultivation, coupled with the OSMAC approach, is considered an efficient method for expanding microbial chemical diversity through the activation of cryptic...
Co-cultivation, coupled with the OSMAC approach, is considered an efficient method for expanding microbial chemical diversity through the activation of cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). As part of our project aiming to discover new fungal metabolites for crop protection, we previously reported five polyketides, the macrolides dendrodolides E () and N (), the azaphilones spiciferinone () and 8-hydroxy-spiciferinone (), and the -naphtho--pyrone cephalochromin () from the solid Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) co-culture of two marine sediment-derived fungi, and . However, some of the purified metabolites could not be tested due to their minute quantities. Here we cultivated these fungi (both axenic and co-cultures) in liquid regime using three different media, Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB), Sabouraud Dextrose Broth (SDB), and Czapek-Dox Broth (CDB), with or without shaking. The aim was to determine the most ideal co-cultivation conditions to enhance the titers of the previously isolated compounds and to produce extracts with stronger anti-phytopathogenic activity as a basis for future upscaled fermentation. Comparative metabolomics by UPLC-MS/MS-based molecular networking and manual dereplication was employed for chemical profiling and compound annotations. Liquid co-cultivation in PDB under shaking led to the strongest activity against the phytopathogen . Except for compound , all target compounds were detected in the co-culture in PDB. Compounds and were produced in lower titers, whereas the azaphilones ( and ) were overexpressed in PDB compared to PDA. Notably, liquid PDB co-cultures contained meroterpenoids and depside clusters that were absent in the solid PDA co-cultures. This study demonstrates the importance of culture regime in BGC regulation and chemical diversity of fungal strains in co-culture studies.
Topics: Coculture Techniques; Chromatography, Liquid; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Metabolome; Culture Media; Glucose
PubMed: 38393037
DOI: 10.3390/md22020066 -
Metabolites Nov 2020The interaction between plant defensive metabolites and different plant-associated fungal species is of high interest to many disciplines. Volatile organic compounds...
The interaction between plant defensive metabolites and different plant-associated fungal species is of high interest to many disciplines. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are natural products that are easily evaporated under ambient conditions. They play a very important role in inter-species communication of microbes and their hosts. In this study, the VOCs produced by 43 different fungal isolates of endophytic and soil fungi during growth on horseradish root () extract or malt extract agar were examined, by using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (headspace-GC-MS) and a high relative surface agar film as a medium. The proposed technique enabled sensitive detection of several typical VOCs (acetone, methyl acetate, methyl formate, ethyl acetate, methyl butanol isomers, styrene, beta-phellandrene), along with glucosinolate decomposition products, including allyl cyanide and allyl isothiocyanate and other sulfur-containing compounds-carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide. The VOC patterns of fungi belonging to , , , , , , and genera were described for the first time. The VOC pattern was significantly different among the isolates. The pattern was indicative of putative myrosinase activity for many tested isolates. On the other hand, endophytes and soil fungi as groups could not be separated by VOC pattern or intensity.
PubMed: 33171636
DOI: 10.3390/metabo10110451