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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2021Although the anti-tumor and anti-infective properties of β-glucans have been well-discussed, their role in bone metabolism has not been reviewed so far. This review... (Review)
Review
Although the anti-tumor and anti-infective properties of β-glucans have been well-discussed, their role in bone metabolism has not been reviewed so far. This review discusses the biological effects of β-glucans on bone metabolisms, especially on bone-resorbing osteoclasts, which are differentiated from hematopoietic precursors. Multiple immunoreceptors that can recognize β-glucans were reported to be expressed in osteoclast precursors. Coordinated co-stimulatory signals mediated by these immunoreceptors are important for the regulation of osteoclastogenesis and bone remodeling. Curdlan from the bacterium negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation in vitro by affecting both the osteoclast precursors and osteoclast-supporting cells. We also showed that laminarin, lichenan, and glucan from baker's yeast, as well as β-1,3-glucan from inhibit the osteoclast formation in bone marrow cells. Consistent with these findings, systemic and local administration of β-glucan derived from and suppressed bone resorption in vivo. However, zymosan derived from stimulated the bone resorption activity and is widely used to induce arthritis in animal models. Additional research concerning the relationship between the molecular structure of β-glucan and its effect on osteoclastic bone resorption will be beneficial for the development of novel treatment strategies for bone-related diseases.
Topics: Animals; Bone Regeneration; Bone Resorption; Bone and Bones; Cartilage; Cell Differentiation; Glucans; Humans; Immunomodulation; Osteoclasts; Osteogenesis; Receptors, Immunologic
PubMed: 33915775
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071982 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2021Intrinsic hydrophobicity is the reason for efficient bacterial settlement and biofilm growth on silicone materials. Those unwelcomed phenomena may play an important role...
Intrinsic hydrophobicity is the reason for efficient bacterial settlement and biofilm growth on silicone materials. Those unwelcomed phenomena may play an important role in pathogen transmission. We have proposed an approach towards the development of new anti-biofilm strategies that resulted in novel antimicrobial hydrophobic silicones. Those functionalized polysiloxanes grafted with side 2-(carboxymethylthioethyl)-, 2-(-propylamidomethylthioethyl)- and 2-(mercaptoethylamidomethylthioethyl)- groups showed a wide range of antimicrobial properties towards selected strains of bacteria (reference strains , and water-borne isolates , ), fungi () and algae (), which makes them valuable antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. Tested microorganisms showed various levels of biofilm formation, but particularly effective antibiofilm activity was demonstrated for bacterial isolate with high adhesion abilities. In the case of modified surfaces, the relative coefficient of adhesion for this strain was 18 times lower in comparison to the control glass sample.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Cell Adhesion; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Siloxanes
PubMed: 33557279
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040814 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Feb 2024Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble.... (Review)
Review
Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble. A total of 32 species of this fungal genus have been identified at the level of DNA, of which Aureobasidium pullulans is best known. Aureobasidium is of interest for a sustainable economy because it can be used to produce a wide variety of compounds, including enzymes, polysaccharides, and biosurfactants. Moreover, it can be used to promote plant growth and protect wood and crops. To this end, Aureobasidium cells adhere to wood or plants by producing extracellular polysaccharides, thereby forming a biofilm. This biofilm provides a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings and toxic chemicals. This and the fact that Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential of self-repair make them a potential engineered living material avant la lettre. KEY POINTS: •Aureobasidium produces products of interest to the industry •Aureobasidium can stimulate plant growth and protect crops •Biofinish of A. pullulans is a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings •Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential to function as engineered living materials.
Topics: Aureobasidium; Biofilms; Calcium Carbonate; Crops, Agricultural; Gasoline
PubMed: 38349550
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13025-5 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Oct 2019Yeasts occur in all environments and have been described as potent antagonists of various plant pathogens. Due to their antagonistic ability, undemanding cultivation... (Review)
Review
Yeasts occur in all environments and have been described as potent antagonists of various plant pathogens. Due to their antagonistic ability, undemanding cultivation requirements, and limited biosafety concerns, many of these unicellular fungi have been considered for biocontrol applications. Here, we review the fundamental research on the mechanisms (e.g., competition, enzyme secretion, toxin production, volatiles, mycoparasitism, induction of resistance) by which biocontrol yeasts exert their activity as plant protection agents. In a second part, we focus on five yeast species (Candida oleophila, Aureobasidium pullulans, Metschnikowia fructicola, Cryptococcus albidus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) that are or have been registered for the application as biocontrol products. These examples demonstrate the potential of yeasts for commercial biocontrol usage, but this review also highlights the scarcity of fundamental studies on yeast biocontrol mechanisms and of registered yeast-based biocontrol products. Yeast biocontrol mechanisms thus represent a largely unexplored field of research and plentiful opportunities for the development of commercial, yeast-based applications for plant protection exist.
Topics: Biological Control Agents; Plant Diseases; Yeasts
PubMed: 31576429
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-019-2728-4 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) May 2021Plants harbor a diverse community of microbes, whose interactions with their host and each other can influence plant health and fitness. While microbiota in plant...
Plants harbor a diverse community of microbes, whose interactions with their host and each other can influence plant health and fitness. While microbiota in plant vegetative tissues has been extensively studied, less is known about members of the seed microbiota. We used culture-based surveys to identify bacteria and fungi found in the seeds of the model tree, , collected from different sites. We found that individual seeds typically contained zero or one microbe, with common taxa including species of , , , , and a bacterium. isolates were associated with seed mortality and were negatively associated with the occurrence of fungal isolates within , , and from the same seed. Next, we conducted an inoculation experiment with one of the isolated seed microbes, , and found that it reduced seed germination and increased seedling mortality for . Our findings highlight common fungi and bacteria in the seeds of , prompting further study of their functional consequences. Moreover, our study confirms that is a seed pathogen of and is the first report that is a lethal seedling pathogen of , allowing for future work on the pathogenicity of this bacterium in seedlings and potential antagonism with other seed microbes.
PubMed: 34074042
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060653 -
TheScientificWorldJournal 2020Some studies have reported the occurrence of microorganisms isolated from water. Considering these microorganisms, fungi are known to occur ubiquitously in the...
INTRODUCTION
Some studies have reported the occurrence of microorganisms isolated from water. Considering these microorganisms, fungi are known to occur ubiquitously in the environment, including water, and some are pathogenic and may cause health problems, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to identify fungi in hospital water samples and to correlate their presence with the concentration of free residual chlorine.
METHODS
Water samples (100 mL) were collected from taps ( = 74) and water purifiers ( = 14) in different locations in a university hospital. Samples were filtered through a nitrocellulose membrane and placed on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated for 24 hours at 30°C. Fungi were identified according to established methods based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics (filamentous) and physiological tests (yeasts). Free chlorine residual content was measured at the time of sample collection.
RESULTS
Seventy species of fungi were identified in the water samples and about 56% of the water samples contained culturable fungi. , , and were the most common filamentous fungi. and were the most common yeasts. Chemical analyses revealed that free residual chlorine was present in 81.8% of the samples within recommended concentrations. Among samples from water purifiers, 92.9% showed low levels of free residual chlorine (<0.2 mg/L). There was no significant association between chlorine concentrations (either within or outside the recommended range) and the presence of filamentous fungi and yeasts.
CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that hospital water can be a reservoir for fungi, some of which are potentially harmful to immunocompromised patients. Free residual chlorine was ineffective in some samples.
Topics: Aspergillus fumigatus; Aureobasidium; Biodiversity; Biofilms; Brazil; Candida parapsilosis; Chlorine; Cladosporium; Fungi; Hospitals, University; Humans; Mycoses; Penicillium; Water; Water Microbiology; Water Supply
PubMed: 32694957
DOI: 10.1155/2020/9358542 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023Unique natural objects, such as the caves of the Gobustan National Historical and Artistic Preserve, are also of great cultural and historical value due to rock art and...
Unique natural objects, such as the caves of the Gobustan National Historical and Artistic Preserve, are also of great cultural and historical value due to rock art and sites of ancient people. A favorable microclimate makes these habitats convenient for colonization by microbiota, including phototrophs. In arid regions with intense seasonal fluctuations of microclimatic parameters, the conditions for survival are the least favorable; therefore, it becomes especially important to determine the composition of communities that are the most adapted to specific conditions. This work aimed to identify the biodiversity of communities of caves and grottoes of the Gobustan Reserve. The studies were carried out in July 2019. Samples were analyzed for cyanobacteria and algae by microscopy and cultivation methods, microfungi were isolated by soil dilution, and the fouling glass method was also used. In total, 29 taxa of cyanobacteria and algae, 18 taxa of fungi, and 3 species of mosses were identified. The studied habitats were dominated by the algae Chlorella vulgaris, Aphanocapsa sp., and Stichococcus bacillaris; the subdominants were Jaaginema subtilissimum, Leptolyngbya tenuis, Chlorococcum minutum, and Humidophila contenta. Microfungi had the highest occurrence of Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium pullulans, Alternaria alternata, and Talaromyces ruber. It was noted that cyanobacteria dominated in morphologically differentiated biofilms and green algae on the rocks. The greatest number of microfungi was found in the aphotic zone and bryophyte tufts. The dominance of green algae is atypical for most caves of other regions and may be associated with intense lighting of habitats. The absence of protonema is a consequence of the aridity and low moisture content of the substrates.
PubMed: 36676113
DOI: 10.3390/life13010164 -
Persoonia Jun 2023Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: , on whitefly, on bark of , from soil under , on leaf spot of , and...
Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: , on whitefly, on bark of , from soil under , on leaf spot of , and on leaf spot of . , on fully submersed siliceous schist in high-mountain streams, and on the lower part and apothecial discs of on a twig. , on decaying wood, from moist soil with leaf litter, on a trunk of a living unknown hardwood tree species, and on dead twigs of unidentified plant. , on sandy soil in a plantation of . , on dead bark of , and on dead bark of . , on fruit lesion of . , on corticioid , on sp. , on calcareous soils in dry forests and park habitats. , on sandy soil under , and on leaves of . , on decaying bark of logs, on unidentified woody substrate, from soil, on the trunk of , and on elephant dung. , on infected leaves of . , (incl. gen. nov.) from . , on acidic soil. , on dead leaf of , and on dead leaves of . , on dead culms of , (incl. gen. nov.) on culms of , (incl. gen. nov.) on branch of , on dead standing culms of , on culms of , and on dead bamboo sticks. , half-buried and moss-covered pieces of rotting wood in grass-grown path. , on soil. , (incl. gen. nov.) from resin of ssp. , from sooty mould community on , and from a gallery of on . , on mossy areas of laurel forest areas planted with , and from a biofilm covering a biodeteriorated limestone wall. , from hypersaline sea water, and from water sample collected from hypersaline lagoon. , on culm of , on , (incl. gen. nov.) on culms of , on nest of cases of bag worm moths () on , on leaves of , on stems of , from the roots of × , and (incl. gen. nov.) on leaf of . , on decaying leaves of sp. from pond. , on the bark of fallen trees of , from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of , on soil in mixed forest, on calcareous soil in mixed forest, on acidic soils, from roots of × , on leaves of sp., and from soil. , on calcareous soil. , on pupa, buried in soil, on larva, buried in soil, and on pupa, buried in soil. , on dead leaf of . , on clay loamy soils. , (incl. gen. nov.) on leaves of . , on recently dead stem of , (incl. gen. nov.) from water, and from swab of coil surface. Morphological and culture characteristics for these new taxa are supported by DNA barcodes. : Crous PW, Osieck ER, Shivas RG, et al. 2023. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1478-1549. Persoonia 50: 158- 310. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2023.50.05.
PubMed: 38567263
DOI: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.50.05 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Sep 2022is a yeast-like dematiaceous fungus ubiquitous in nature. It is a rare cause of skin and soft tissue infection, peritonitis, and catheter-related fungemia in certain...
is a yeast-like dematiaceous fungus ubiquitous in nature. It is a rare cause of skin and soft tissue infection, peritonitis, and catheter-related fungemia in certain human hosts. We report a case of recurrent catheter-related fungemia that was successfully treated with caspofungin, posaconazole, and catheter removal.
PubMed: 35855930
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2022.06.004 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2021Curdlan is an exopolysaccharide, which is composed of glucose linked with β-(1,3)-glycosidic bond and is produced by bacteria, such as spp., spp., spp., spp.,... (Review)
Review
Curdlan is an exopolysaccharide, which is composed of glucose linked with β-(1,3)-glycosidic bond and is produced by bacteria, such as spp., spp., spp., spp., spp., and fungal sources like , etc. Curdlan has been utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries for its prebiotic, viscosifying, and water-holding properties for decades. Recently, the usefulness of curdlan has been further explored by the pharmaceutical industry for its potential therapeutic applications. Curdlan has exhibited immunoregulatory and antitumor activity in preclinical settings. It was observed that curdlan can prevent the proliferation of malarial merozoites ; therefore, it may be considered as a promising therapy for the treatment of end-stage malaria. In addition, curdlan has demonstrated potent antiviral effects against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and virus. It has been suggested that the virucidal properties of curdlans should be extended further for other deadly viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19). The prebiotic property of curdlan would confer beneficial effects on the host by promoting the growth of healthy microbiota in the gut and consequently help to reduce gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, curdlan can be employed in the manufacture of prebiotics for the management of various gastrointestinal dysbiosis problems. Studies on the mechanism of action of curdlan-induced suppression in microbial and tumor cells at the cellular and molecular levels would not only enhance our understanding regarding the therapeutic effectiveness of curdlan but also help in the discovery of new drugs and dietary supplements. The primary focus of this review is to highlight the therapeutic interventions of curdlan as an anticancer, anti-malaria, antiviral, and antibacterial agent in humans. In addition, our review provides the latest information about the chemistry and biosynthesis of curdlan and its applications for making novel dairy products, functional foods, and nutraceuticals and also details about the recent patents of curdlan and its derivatives.
PubMed: 34262922
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.646988