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Medical Mycology Case Reports Sep 2017is a rare pulmonary pathogen. A 39 year old male with COPD and chronic granulomatous disease presented with severe breathlessness and recurrent infections. CT scan...
is a rare pulmonary pathogen. A 39 year old male with COPD and chronic granulomatous disease presented with severe breathlessness and recurrent infections. CT scan demonstrated multiple pulmonary nodules diagnosed as chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. The patient's sputum grew thrice over 6 months, alongside positive IgG and serum galactomannan. Despite treatment with itraconazole, the patient continued to be symptomatic. We present the first case associating with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.
PubMed: 28702318
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2017.06.004 -
Marine Drugs Feb 2019The fungus was isolated from the Mediterranean sponge . The initial fermentation of the fungus on solid rice medium yielded 16 known compounds (⁻). The addition of...
The fungus was isolated from the Mediterranean sponge . The initial fermentation of the fungus on solid rice medium yielded 16 known compounds (⁻). The addition of several inorganic salts to the rice medium mainly influenced the accumulation of these secondary metabolites. Fermentation of the fungus on white bean medium yielded the new waspergillamide B () featuring an unusual -nitrobenzoic acid as partial structure. Moreover, two new compounds, ochraspergillic acids A and B ( and ), which are both adducts of dihydropenicillic acid and - or -aminobenzoic acid, were isolated from the co-culture of the fungus with . Compound was also detected in axenic fungal cultures following the addition of either anthranilic acid or tryptophan to the rice medium. The structures of the new compounds were established by 1D and 2DNMR experiments as well as from the HRMS data. The absolute configuration of was elucidated following hydrolysis and derivatization of the amino acids using Marfey's reagent. Viomellein () and ochratoxin B () exhibited strong cytotoxicity against the A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells with IC values of 5.0 and 3.0 M, respectively.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Aspergillus ochraceus; Molecular Structure; Penicillic Acid; Peptides; Polyketides; Porifera
PubMed: 30717441
DOI: 10.3390/md17020099 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology May 2002Ochratoxin A is a toxic and carcinogenic fungal secondary metabolite; its presence in foods is increasingly regulated. Various fungi are known to produce ochratoxins,...
Ochratoxin A is a toxic and carcinogenic fungal secondary metabolite; its presence in foods is increasingly regulated. Various fungi are known to produce ochratoxins, but it is not known which species produce ochratoxins consistently and which species cause ochratoxin contamination of various crops. We isolated fungi in the Aspergillus ochraceus group (section Circumdati) and Aspergillus alliaceus from tree nut orchards, nuts, and figs in California. A total of 72 isolates were grown in potato dextrose broth and yeast extract-sucrose broth for 10 days at 30 degrees C and tested for production of ochratoxin A in vitro by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Among isolates from California figs, tree nuts, and orchards, A. ochraceus and Aspergillus melleus were the most common species. No field isolates of A. ochraceus or A. melleus produced ochratoxin A above the level of detection (0.01 microg/ml). All A. alliaceus isolates produced ochratoxin A, up to 30 microg/ml. We examined 50,000 figs for fungal infections and measured ochratoxin content in figs with visible fungal colonies. Pooled figs infected with A. alliaceus contained ochratoxin A, figs infected with the A. ochraceus group had little or none, and figs infected with Penicillium had none. These results suggest that the little-known species A. alliaceus is an important ochratoxin-producing fungus in California and that it may be responsible for the ochratoxin contamination occasionally observed in figs.
Topics: Aspergillus ochraceus; Culture Media; Ficus; Fruit; Nuts; Ochratoxins
PubMed: 11976104
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.5.2326-2329.2002 -
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences :... May 2024Aspergillus ochraceus is the traditional ochratoxin A (OTA)-producing fungus with density-dependent behaviors, which is known as quorum sensing (QS) that is mediated by...
Aspergillus ochraceus is the traditional ochratoxin A (OTA)-producing fungus with density-dependent behaviors, which is known as quorum sensing (QS) that is mediated by signaling molecules. Individual cells trend to adapt environmental changes in a "whole" flora through communications, allowing fungus to occupy an important ecological niche. Signals perception, transmission, and feedback are all rely on a signal network that constituted by membrane receptors and intracellular effectors. However, the interference of density information in signal transduction, which regulates most life activities of Aspergillus, have yet to be elucidated. Here we show that the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) to cAMP pathway is responsible for transmitting density information, and regulates the key point in life cycle of A. ochraceus. Firstly, the quorum sensing phenomenon of A. ochraceus is confirmed, and identified the density threshold is 10 spores/mL, which represents the low density that produces the most OTA in a series quorum density. Moreover, the GprC that classified as sugar sensor, and intracellular adenylate cyclase (AcyA)-cAMP-PKA pathway that in response to ligands glucose and HODEs are verified. Furthermore, GprC and AcyA regulate the primary metabolism as well as secondary metabolism, and further affects the growth of A. ochraceus during the entire life cycle. These studies highlight a crucial G protein signaling pathway for cell communication that is mediated by carbohydrate and oxylipins, and clarified a comprehensive effect of fungal development, which include the direct gene regulation and indirect substrate or energy supply. Our work revealed more signal molecules that mediated density information and connected effects on important adaptive behaviors of Aspergillus ochraceus, hoping to achieve comprehensive prevention and control of mycotoxin pollution from interrupting cell communication.
Topics: Quorum Sensing; Aspergillus ochraceus; Signal Transduction; Glucose; Cyclic AMP; Adenylyl Cyclases; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Fungal Proteins; Ochratoxins
PubMed: 38806811
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05160-z -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023and are spoilage and mycotoxin-producing fungi that can contaminate agricultural commodities and derived products. In the present study, menthol, eugenol, and their...
and are spoilage and mycotoxin-producing fungi that can contaminate agricultural commodities and derived products. In the present study, menthol, eugenol, and their combination (mix 1:1) were tested to determine their contact and fumigation toxicity against the two fungi. Menthol, eugenol, and their mixture significantly reduced mycelial growth and spore germination at concentrations from 300 to 600 µg/mL, and the inhibitory effects showed clear dose dependence. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 400 µg/mL (eugenol), and 300 µg/mL (mix 1:1), while the MIC values for were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 600 µg/mL (eugenol), and 400 µg/mL (mix 1:1). Additionally, the analyzed compounds exhibited more than 50% protection against and by fumigation of stored cereal grains (maize, barley, and rice) in sealed containers. The binary mixture of menthol and eugenol showed synergistic effects against both fungi in both in vitro direct contact and stored grain fumigation trials. The results of the present study provide a scientific basis for the application of a combination of natural antifungals in food preservation.
PubMed: 37297353
DOI: 10.3390/foods12112108 -
Metabolites Jun 2021Symbiotic plant-fungi interaction is a promising approach to alleviate salt stress in plants. Moreover, endophytic fungi are well known to promote the growth of various...
Symbiotic plant-fungi interaction is a promising approach to alleviate salt stress in plants. Moreover, endophytic fungi are well known to promote the growth of various crop plants. Herein, seven fungal endophytes were screened for salt tolerance; the results revealed that showed a great potentiality in terms of salt tolerance, up to 200 g L. The indole acetic acid (IAA) production antioxidant capacity and antifungal activity of were evaluated, in vitro, under two levels of seawater stress, 15 and 30% (/; seawater/distilled water). The results illustrated that could produce about 146 and 176 µg mL IAA in 15 and 30% seawater, respectively. The yield of IAA by at 30% seawater was significantly higher at all tryptophan concentrations, as compared with that at 15% seawater. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate extract of (1000 µg mL) at 15 and 30% seawater was 95.83 ± 1.25 and 98.33 ± 0.57%, respectively. Crude extracts of obtained at 15 and 30% seawater exhibited significant antifungal activity against compared to distilled water. The irrigation of barley plants with seawater (15 and 30%) caused notable declines in most morphological indices, pigments, sugars, proteins, and yield characteristics, while increasing the contents of proline, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. On the other hand, the application of mitigated the harmful effects of seawater on the growth and physiology of barley plants. Therefore, this study suggests that the endophytic fungus MT089958 could be applied as a strategy for mitigating the stress imposed by seawater irrigation in barley plants and, therefore, improving crop growth and productivity.
PubMed: 34209783
DOI: 10.3390/metabo11070428 -
Antifungal activity of chitosan against Aspergillus ochraceus and its possible mechanisms of action.International Journal of Biological... Apr 2020Chitosan is a polysaccharide with a wide-range antimicrobial spectrum and has been shown to be effective in control postharvest diseases of various fruit, but the...
Chitosan is a polysaccharide with a wide-range antimicrobial spectrum and has been shown to be effective in control postharvest diseases of various fruit, but the possible mode of action is far from well known. In this study the antifungal activity of chitosan was tested on A. ochraceus and its possible mechanisms involved were also investigated both at microstructure and transcriptome level. Here, we found that chitosan could significantly inhibited spore germination and mycelia growth of A. ochraceus. Scan electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed that chitosan induced remarkable changes in morphology and microstructure of hyphae, such as shriveling, abnormal branching and vacuolation. Changes in expression profiles of A. ochraceus upon chitosan treatment were analyzed by RNA sequencing and a total of 435 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Further KEGG analysis revealed that DEGs involved in ribosome biogenesis were down-regulated, while DEGs related to membrane homeostasis, such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism and steroid biosynthesis, were up-regulated. Chitosan may affect the growth and development of A. ochraceus by impairing the integrity of cell surface architecture and protein biosynthesis. These findings have practical implications with respect to the use of chitosan as an alternative way for controlling fungal pathogens.
PubMed: 32360472
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.213 -
Microbiology Resource Announcements Apr 2023Aspergillus spp. are known for their lignin-degrading ability and also for the degradation of complex aromatic compounds. In this paper, we present the genome sequence...
Aspergillus spp. are known for their lignin-degrading ability and also for the degradation of complex aromatic compounds. In this paper, we present the genome sequence of Aspergillus ochraceus strain DY1, which was isolated from rotten wood in a biodiversity park. The total genome size is 35,149,223 bp, including 13,910 hits of protein-encoding genes, with a GC content of 49.92%.
PubMed: 36877046
DOI: 10.1128/mra.01278-22 -
Metabolites Mar 2023Quorum sensing (QS) is a cellular strategy of communication between intra- and inter-specific microorganisms, characterized by the release of quorum sensing molecules...
Quorum sensing (QS) is a cellular strategy of communication between intra- and inter-specific microorganisms, characterized by the release of quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) that achieve coordination to adaptation to the environment. In , lipids carry population density-mediated stresses, and their oxidative metabolite oxylipins act as signaling to transmit information inside cells to regulate fungal development in a synchronized way. In this study, we investigated the regulation of density-dependent lipid metabolism in the toxigenic fungi by the oxidative lipid metabolomics in conjunction with transcriptomics. In addition to proven hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs), prostaglandins (PGs) also appear to have the properties of QSM. As a class of signaling molecule, oxylipins regulate the fungal morphology, secondary metabolism, and host infection through the G protein signaling pathway. The results of combined omics lay a foundation for further verification of oxylipin function, which is expected to elucidate the complex adaptability mechanism in and realize fungal utilization and damage control.
PubMed: 37110150
DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040491 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2017Steroids are a group of natural compounds derived from the cyclopentane-perhydro-phenantrene nucleus that have a great interest for the pharmaceutical industries as a...
Steroids are a group of natural compounds derived from the cyclopentane-perhydro-phenantrene nucleus that have a great interest for the pharmaceutical industries as a consequence of their physiological effects. Among their functions are anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, or contraceptive activities. Nowadays, microbial transformation of steroid precursors is winning relevance opposite to the chemical synthesis, since it allows for decreasing time, expenses, and environmental pollution. Pharmaceutical industry tends to use cholesterol and phytosterols as starting materials due to their low cost. Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus nidulans, a fungus whose biochemistry and genetics are well known, have been chosen because of their capacity of 11-α-hydroxylation over some steroids which confers on them their anti-inflammatory properties. We have cloned the genes encoding the 11-α-hydroxylase enzymatic activities with the aim to introduce them in other microorganisms, such as Mycobacterium smegmatis, used in the industry to split the side chain of phytosterols, and thus creating recombinant microorganisms able to generate useful steroids from cheap precursors in just one-step fermentation.
Topics: Aspergillus nidulans; Biotransformation; Hydroxylation; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Progesterone; Steroids
PubMed: 28710635
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7183-1_19