-
Medical Mycology Oct 2014The fungal genus Pithomyces comprises numerous dematiaceous saprobic species commonly found on dead leaves and stems of a great variety of plants. Occasionally, they...
The fungal genus Pithomyces comprises numerous dematiaceous saprobic species commonly found on dead leaves and stems of a great variety of plants. Occasionally, they have been recovered from clinical specimens. We morphologically and molecularly (rDNA sequences) investigated a set of 42 isolates tentatively identified as Pithomyces recovered from clinical specimens in the United States. The predominant species were P. chartarum and P. sacchari (33.3% each), followed by Pithomyces sp. I (28.6%) and P. maydicus (4.8%). Most of the isolates were obtained from samples of superficial tissue (50%), the respiratory tract (21.4%), and the nasal region (19%). In general, these fungi were highly susceptible in vitro to the eight antifungal agents tested.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Cluster Analysis; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Ribosomal; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microscopy; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycoses; Nasal Cavity; Phylogeny; Respiratory System; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology; Skin; United States
PubMed: 25129851
DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myu044 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2022Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important annual crop known for its edible oil. Sunflower is susceptible to many fungal diseases including rusts, rotting,...
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important annual crop known for its edible oil. Sunflower is susceptible to many fungal diseases including rusts, rotting, mildews, and leaf spots that result in low crop yield. Presently, infected leaves with leaf spot disease symptoms were collected from Jallo Park, Botanical Garden; University of the Punjab, Canal road, and Johar Town, Lahore for pathogen/s isolation and identification. The identification was executed morphologically as well as genetically by nucleotide sequencing of rDNA using Internal spacer region (ITS) and Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) primers. Morphological characters demonstrated a rapidly growing colony on MEA reaching 5.0-5.5 cm in diameter without zonation. The mycelial growth was rough and cottony white from the front and light pink from the reverse side. Conidia were brown, verruculose, and ellipsoidal with three to five transverse septations and one longitudinal septum ranging from 15 to 30 ± 2 µm in the broadest part. Conidiophores were long, branched, septate, 70-80 × 3-4 µm in size. Based on morphological characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Pithomyces sacchari. In genetic characterization BLAST analysis of the rDNA-ITS region of the pathogen exhibited maximum (100%) homology with other P. sacchari GenBank strains. Similarly, 99% homology was found with partial glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). To confirm the pathogenicity, Koch's pathogenicity test was performed by inoculating artificial fungal suspension in pots and plate assays. The emergence of similar disease symptoms and re-isolation of the same pathogens verified Koch's pathogenicity postulates. Conclusively this study confirms the identification of this novel pathogen of sunflowers and necessitates the quick development of management tools.
Topics: Helianthus; Pakistan; Ascomycota; Asteraceae; DNA, Ribosomal
PubMed: 36539434
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25890-z -
The Journal of Antibiotics Jul 2021Pithohirolide (1), a new depsipeptide, was isolated from an ascomycetous fungus Pithomyces chartarum TAMA 581. The planar structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of...
Pithohirolide (1), a new depsipeptide, was isolated from an ascomycetous fungus Pithomyces chartarum TAMA 581. The planar structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS analyses and the absolute configuration was determined by the advanced Marfey's analysis, chiral-phase HPLC analysis, and synthesis of degradation product. Compound 1 possesses a cyclic structure comprising (S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid, (S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid, (S)-2-hydroxyisovaleric acid, and N-methyl-L-alanine, connected via three ester and one amide linkages. Compound 1 exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at MIC 3.1 μg ml.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Ascomycota; Cell Line, Tumor; Depsipeptides; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Fungal Proteins; Leukemia; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 33963290
DOI: 10.1038/s41429-021-00423-4 -
Microbial Pathogenesis Dec 2023Facial eczema is often found in flocks of grazing sheep in China. To investigate fungi species those cause disease and pathological roles. Forage and soil samples were...
Facial eczema is often found in flocks of grazing sheep in China. To investigate fungi species those cause disease and pathological roles. Forage and soil samples were collected during the pathogenic season and cultured. Samples were collected from regions with and without facial eczema affected sheep. Fungal isolation and identification, statistical analysis of fungal species and distribution were performed. Pathological changes, biochemical parameters of serum liver function and protection of inflammatory factors that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-12 (IL-12) were observed. Fungal cultivation and identification showed that separation rate of Alternaria, Pithomyces chartarum, Fusarium and Aspergillus were higher, particularly, Pithomyces chartarum was significantly identical. Pathological anatomy and histology indicated that the disease likely attacked merino ewes with the age of 6 months old. The clinical manifestations were characterized by inflammational edema in face (ears and eyelids) and mandibular area. Postmortem examination of dead lambs showed enlargement of liver with yellow white patchs of necrotic lesion and tuberous sclerosis and fibrosis on section. Histologic examination of liver showed extravasated blood, severe lesion of liver cells and bile duct, and fatty degeneration. In sheep, fungal toxin induced the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12. These results revealed that Pithomyces chartarum maybe caused facial eczema and inflammation in sheep. The facial eczema was allergic eczema caused by hepatic dysfunction and hepatonecrosis.
Topics: Sheep; Animals; Female; Interleukin-6; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Eczema; Inflammation; Ascomycota; Sheep, Domestic; Interleukin-12; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 37981078
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106451 -
Journal of Natural Products Dec 2018A new cyclic lipodepsipeptide, fusaristatin C (1), was obtained from the fungus Pithomyces sp. RKDO 1698, which was isolated from the Caribbean octocoral Eunicea fusca....
A new cyclic lipodepsipeptide, fusaristatin C (1), was obtained from the fungus Pithomyces sp. RKDO 1698, which was isolated from the Caribbean octocoral Eunicea fusca. The 2D structure of fusaristatin C was elucidated using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, while the absolute configuration of the sole chiral amino acid residue (l-serine) was determined using Marfey's method. 3-Hydroxy-2,11-dimethyltetradecanoic acid (HDMT) was cleaved from 1, and the absolute configuration at the C-3 position was determined using Mosher's ester analysis. Subsequent J-based configuration analysis of 1 allowed for assignment of the C-2 configuration. Fusaristatin C exhibited no antimicrobial activity or cytotoxicity.
Topics: Animals; Ascomycota; Cell Line, Tumor; Chlorocebus aethiops; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; HeLa Cells; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Structure; Vero Cells
PubMed: 30525612
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00787 -
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Jul 2017AIMS To examine the agreement between spore counts of Pithomyces chartarum measured in a single aliquot of wash water with counts from multiple aliquots from the same... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
AIMS To examine the agreement between spore counts of Pithomyces chartarum measured in a single aliquot of wash water with counts from multiple aliquots from the same 60 g pasture sample, and between spore counts measured in an individual 60 g pasture sample with counts from three 60 g pasture samples selected from the same 200 g paddock sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four Waikato dairy farms were visited once weekly from early January to late May 2013. One paddock, with 40 sampling sites, was selected per farm. At each visit, ∼200 g of pasture was collected per site. Spore counting was undertaken using a standard method, except that three separate 60 g pasture samples per 200 g paddock sample was counted; and for each 60 g pasture sample, spores were counted in 10 aliquots of wash water. The relationship between the results of a single aliquot and 6-10 aliquots of wash water from the same 60 g grass sample were assessed by calculating 95% prediction intervals. Limits of agreement analysis was used to assess the agreement between counts from one, two or three aliquots per 60 g pasture sample compared with 10 aliquots, and between counts from one and three 60 g pasture samples from the same 200 g paddock sample. RESULTS Comparing spore counts from individual aliquots with multiple aliquots resulted in large prediction intervals and 95% limits of agreement, which increased with increasing spore count. For an individual aliquot count of 2 spores, the 95% prediction interval for the count from 10 aliquots was 3-49 spores, and for an individual count of 10 spores the 95% prediction interval was 28-222 spores. Increasing the number of aliquots counted improved agreement. For a total count of 10 spores measured in 10 aliquots, the 95% limits of agreement, based on a single aliquot, were 2-50 spores, and for three aliquots were 5-20 spores. The agreement in spore counts measured in one compared with three 60 g pasture samples was moderate and also decreased with increasing spore count; the 95% limits of agreement were 4-14.5 for a mean spore count of 10. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Measuring the spore counts of three aliquots of wash water per 60 g grass sample improved repeatability, and should be used as the standard technique, particularly when determining whether to start or finish facial eczema control programmes.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Colony Count, Microbial; Dairying; Eczema; Mitosporic Fungi; New Zealand; Poaceae; Spores, Fungal; Sporidesmins
PubMed: 28273429
DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2017.1303794 -
Food Additives and Contaminants 1990Facial eczema is a hepatogenous photosensitivity mycotoxicosis resulting from sporidesmin ingestion. The morphological characters of toxigenic strains of P. chartarum...
Facial eczema is a hepatogenous photosensitivity mycotoxicosis resulting from sporidesmin ingestion. The morphological characters of toxigenic strains of P. chartarum are reported and the effect of temperature on growth and mycotoxin production are studied. The temperature range for which there is an actual risk of toxin accumulation (20-25 degrees C) is much narrower than for an appreciable growth (5-30 degrees C).
Topics: Cells, Cultured; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Climate; Fungi; Poaceae; Sporidesmins; Temperature
PubMed: 2262033
DOI: 10.1080/02652039009373837 -
Acta Crystallographica. Section E,... Jun 2009The title compound, C(28)H(34)N(2)O(8)S(2), was synthesized as part of a project to develop synthetic routes to analogues of sporidesmins, a class of secondary...
The title compound, C(28)H(34)N(2)O(8)S(2), was synthesized as part of a project to develop synthetic routes to analogues of sporidesmins, a class of secondary metabolite produced by the filamentous fungi Chaetomium and Pithomyces sp. The complete molecule is generated by crystallographic inversion symmetry: the methoxy group is essentially coplanar with the benzene ring to which it is bonded, a mean plane fitted through the non-H atoms of the aromatic ring and the meth-oxy group having an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0140 Å. Similarly, the ester group is also essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation of a plane fitted through all non-H atoms is 0.0101 Å). There is only one independent C-H⋯O inter-action, which links together adjacent mol-ecules into a two-dimensional sheet in the bc plane.
PubMed: 21582859
DOI: 10.1107/S1600536809022211 -
Journal of Applied Toxicology : JAT Jun 1987Three groups, each of 18 lambs were grazed during autumn in paddocks which had been divided longitudinally by temporary fencing to give twofold differences in grazing...
Three groups, each of 18 lambs were grazed during autumn in paddocks which had been divided longitudinally by temporary fencing to give twofold differences in grazing intensity between the groups. During the period when spore numbers were elevated the high grazing pressure (HGP) group lost some body weight (-34 g/day). The low grazing pressure (LGP) group gained +90 g/day and the intermediate grazing pressure (IGP) group gained weight slightly (+14 g/day). There were two spore rises during the experimental grazing period, a minor and a major rise. Peak pasture spore counts were 88,000, 130,000 and 282,000 spores/g grass for the LGP, IGP and HGP groups respectively. These were reflected in the peak rumen content counts which were 6640, 17,050 and 24,470 spores/g and the faecal peak counts which were 141,400, 330,800 and 568,200 spores/g for the LGP, IGP and HGP groups respectively. Liver injury scores were 0.9, 2.6 and 1.7 and peak mean serum GGT levels were 139,312 and 220 U/l for the LGP, IGP and HGP groups respectively. The greater liver injury in the IGP groups was considered due to the greater total consumption of spores caused by the combination of pasture spore concentration and dry matter intake.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Feces; Female; Food Contamination; Liver; Male; Mitosporic Fungi; Mycoses; Rumen; Seasons; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 3624776
DOI: 10.1002/jat.2550070306 -
Journal of General Microbiology Jan 1967
Topics: Isoleucine; Microscopy, Electron; Mitosporic Fungi; Peptides; Spores
PubMed: 6067680
DOI: 10.1099/00221287-46-1-77