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Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the... 2022To understand fungal contamination in the indoor environments of the disaster region, surveys were conducted to detect mycoflora in temporary shelters, prefabricated...
To understand fungal contamination in the indoor environments of the disaster region, surveys were conducted to detect mycoflora in temporary shelters, prefabricated temporary housing, private housing, and rented apartments in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The results from the surveys of temporary shelters indicated that the indoor-air fungal counts at all sampling points were less than 1000 colony forming units (cfu)/m, which is the recommended limit for fungal contamination in indoor air. However, the Aspergillus counts were high compared to the indoor environments of typical housing. Since Aspergillus is a known allergenic genus, careful attention should be paid to residents' health. The results of the surveys of private housing and rented apartments also indicated that fungal counts were highest during the rainy season throughout the summer. In contrast, temporary housing had a maximum fungal count in the winter. The extremely high level of fungal condensation in indoor air may have been due to the high relative humidity and loss of heat insulation in the buildings' attics. It is thought that these problems happen most commonly in colder regions, such as the entire area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The case of a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis caused by a large amount of Eurotium herbariorum mold in his temporary housing was reported to demonstrate the health risks posed by fungi in this disaster region.
Topics: Air Pollution, Indoor; Aspergillus; Cold Temperature; Colony Count, Microbial; Earthquakes; Floods; Fungi; Housing; Humidity; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Japan; Risk; Seasons
PubMed: 34980747
DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.21-00161-2 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Oct 2021Fipronil is a broad-spectrum phenyl-pyrazole insecticide that is widely used in agriculture. However, in the environment, its residues are toxic to aquatic animals,... (Review)
Review
Fipronil is a broad-spectrum phenyl-pyrazole insecticide that is widely used in agriculture. However, in the environment, its residues are toxic to aquatic animals, crustaceans, bees, termites, rabbits, lizards, and humans, and it has been classified as a C carcinogen. Due to its residual environmental hazards, various effective approaches, such as adsorption, ozone oxidation, catalyst coupling, inorganic plasma degradation, and microbial degradation, have been developed. Biodegradation is deemed to be the most effective and environmentally friendly method, and several pure cultures of bacteria and fungi capable of degrading fipronil have been isolated and identified, including Streptomyces rochei, Paracoccus sp., Bacillus firmus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus spp., Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila, and Aspergillus glaucus. The metabolic reactions of fipronil degradation appear to be the same in different bacteria and are mainly oxidation, reduction, photolysis, and hydrolysis. However, the enzymes and genes responsible for the degradation are somewhat different. The ligninolytic enzyme MnP, the cytochrome P450 enzyme, and esterase play key roles in different strains of bacteria and fungal. Many unanswered questions exist regarding the environmental fate and degradation mechanisms of this pesticide. The genes and enzymes responsible for biodegradation remain largely unexplained, and biomolecular techniques need to be applied in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of these issues. In this review, we summarize the literature on the degradation of fipronil, focusing on biodegradation pathways and identifying the main knowledge gaps that currently exist in order to inform future research. KEY POINTS: • Biodegradation is a powerful tool for the removal of fipronil. • Oxidation, reduction, photolysis, and hydrolysis play key roles in the degradation of fipronil. • Possible biochemical pathways of fipronil in the environment are described.
Topics: Animals; Aspergillus; Biodegradation, Environmental; Insecticides; Pyrazoles; Rabbits; Soil Pollutants; Stenotrophomonas; Streptomyces
PubMed: 34586458
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11605-3 -
Transgenic Research Dec 2021Salt stress is an important abiotic factor that causes severe losses in soybean yield and quality. Therefore, breeding salt-tolerant soybean germplasm resources via... (Review)
Review
Salt stress is an important abiotic factor that causes severe losses in soybean yield and quality. Therefore, breeding salt-tolerant soybean germplasm resources via genetic engineering has gained importance. Aspergillus glaucus, a halophilic fungus that exhibits significant tolerance to salt, carries the gene AgGlpF. In this study, we used the soybean cotyledonary node transformation method to transfer the AgGlpF gene into the genome of the soybean variety Williams 82 to generate salt-tolerant transgenic soybean varieties. The results of PCR, Southern blot, ddPCR, and RT-PCR indicated that AgGlpF was successfully integrated into the soybean genome and stably expressed. When subjected to salt stress conditions via treatment with 250 mM NaCl for 3 d, the transgenic soybean plants showed significant tolerance compared with wild-type plants, which exhibited withering symptoms and leaf abscission after 9 d. The results of this study indicated that the transfer of AgGlpF into the genome of soybean plants produced transgenic soybean with significantly improved salt stress tolerance.
Topics: Aquaporins; Aspergillus; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Breeding; Plant Proteins; Plants, Genetically Modified; Salt Tolerance; Glycine max
PubMed: 34460070
DOI: 10.1007/s11248-021-00280-9 -
Food Chemistry Aug 2021Current work presented a novel method based on colorimetric sensor (CS) combined with visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIRs) for the detection of volatile markers in...
Current work presented a novel method based on colorimetric sensor (CS) combined with visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIRs) for the detection of volatile markers in wheat infected by Aspergillus glaucus. Wheat samples with different mouldy degree was cultivated for backup under temperature of 25-28 °C in incubator. The total colony number was determined by flat colony counting method. Through employing chemo-responsive dyes including 8-(4-nitrophenyl)-4, 4-difluoro-BODIPY (NOBDP), 8-(4-bromophenyl)-4,4-difluoro-BODIPY(BrBDP) and 8-phenyl-4,4-difluoro- BODIPY(HBDP) as capture probes of colorimetric sensor for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The spectral data of CS-VNIRs were scanned and used to build synergic interval partial least squares (Si-PLS) models. The optimized Si-PLS model based on HBDP sensor gave a better detection performance, and the correlation coefficient of the prediction set Rp = 0.9387. The achieved high correlation rates imply that the technique may be deployed as a panacea to identify and quantify the colony number of different mouldy wheat.
Topics: Aspergillus; Colorimetry; Least-Squares Analysis; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Triticum; Volatile Organic Compounds
PubMed: 33756335
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129545 -
Journal of Basic Microbiology Aug 2020In Aspergillus nidulans, there are two putative glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenases encoded by the genes gfdA and gfdB, while the genome of the osmophilic Aspergillus...
In Aspergillus nidulans, there are two putative glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenases encoded by the genes gfdA and gfdB, while the genome of the osmophilic Aspergillus glaucus harbors only the ortholog of the A. nidulans gfdA gene. Our aim was to insert the gfdB gene into the genome of A. glaucus, and we reached this goal with the adaptation of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method. We tested the growth of the gfdB-complemented A. glaucus strains on a medium containing 2 mol l sorbitol in the presence of oxidative stress generating agents such as tert-butyl hydroperoxide, H O , menadione sodium bisulfite, as well as the cell wall integrity stress-inducing agent Congo Red and the heavy metal stress eliciting CdCl . The growth of the complemented strains was significantly higher than that of the wild-type strain on media supplemented with these stress generating agents. The A. nidulans ΔgfdB mutant was also examined under the same conditions and resulted in a considerably lower growth than that of the control strain in all stress exposure experiments. Our results shed light on the fact that the gfdB gene from A. nidulans was also involved in the stress responses of the complemented A. glaucus strains supporting our hypothesis on the antioxidant function of GfdB in the Aspergilli. Nevertheless, the osmotolerant nature of A. glaucus could not be explained by the lack of the gfdB gene in A. glaucus, as we hypothesized earlier.
Topics: Aspergillus; Aspergillus nidulans; Fungal Proteins; Genetic Complementation Test; Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase; Mutation; Oxidative Stress; Sorbitol
PubMed: 32510634
DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202000067 -
PeerJ 2020, as a genus of filamentous fungi, has members that display a variety of different behavioural strategies, which are affected by various environmental factors. The...
, as a genus of filamentous fungi, has members that display a variety of different behavioural strategies, which are affected by various environmental factors. The decoded genomic sequences of many species vary greatly in their evolutionary similarities, encouraging studies on the functions and evolution of the genome in complex natural environments. Here, we present the 26 Mb de novo assembled high-quality reference genome of 'China Changchun halophilic ' (CCHA), which was isolated from the surface of plants growing near a salt mine in Jilin, China, based on data from whole-genome shotgun sequencing using Illumina Solexa technology. The sequence, coupled with data from comprehensive transcriptomic survey analyses, indicated that the redox state and transmembrane transport might be critical molecular mechanisms for the adaptation of 'CCHA' to the high-salt environment of the saltern. The isolation of salt tolerance-related genes, such as , and their overexpression in demonstrated that 'CCHA' is an excellent organism for the isolation and identification of salt tolerant-related genes. These data expand our understanding of the evolution and functions of fungal and microbial genomes, and offer multiple target genes for crop salt-tolerance improvement through genetic engineering.
PubMed: 32140304
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8609 -
Beneficial Microbes Mar 2020Intestinal and human milk microbiota studies during infancy have shown variations according to geographical location, delivery mode, gestational age, and mother-related...
Intestinal and human milk microbiota studies during infancy have shown variations according to geographical location, delivery mode, gestational age, and mother-related factors during pregnancy. In this study, we performed metagenomic mycobiota analyses of 44 transient and mature human milk among five different groups: mothers of normal spontaneous delivery-term (NS-T), caesarean delivery-term (CS-T), premature (PT), small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA) infants. Fungi were detected in 80 out of the 88 samples. Regarding the number of observed fungal species, the NS-T group was more homogeneous (less variable) comparing the other groups (<0.05). In the transient human milk samples, the most abundant species were (33.3%) and (27.4%). While (33.7%) was second most abundant species in mature milk, disappeared (<0.01) and became the most abundant species (35.5%) (<0.05). Among the NS-T group, the most abundant species was in both transient and mature milk. In contrast, was the most abundant species in transient human milk (45.0%) in the CS-T group, but it disappeared in mature milk (<0.01). In transient milk, was only represented 6.0-9.0% of taxa in the PT, SGA, and LGA groups (<0.05). In transient and mature milk in the PT, SGA and LGA groups, the most abundant species were and In mature milk samples, is more abundant in CS-T group, PT group and LGA group, than the NS-T groups (<0.05 for all). Although fungi constitute only a very small part of the human milk microbiome, we observed some changes that the human milk mycobiota composition varies in caesarean delivery, premature, SGA and LGA groups, comparing the normal spontaneous delivery, as well as differences between transient and mature human milk.
Topics: Adult; Birth Weight; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Fungi; Gestational Age; Humans; Male; Milk, Human; Mothers; Mycobiome; Weight Gain; Young Adult
PubMed: 31990220
DOI: 10.3920/BM2019.0158 -
Biotechnology Letters Apr 2020The unique GH5 cellulase, AgCMCase, from Aspergillus glaucus CCHA was identified and characterized as having high cellulose and straw hydrolysis activities that were...
OBJECTIVE
The unique GH5 cellulase, AgCMCase, from Aspergillus glaucus CCHA was identified and characterized as having high cellulose and straw hydrolysis activities that were thermostable, pH stable and salt-tolerant. Therefore, it is a potential straw-degradation enzyme that can release reducing sugars in industrial applications. To increase the efficiency of the AgCMCase' hydrolysis of straw to release simple sugars, response surface methodology (RSM) was introduced to optimize hydrolysis parameters such as pH, temperature, reaction time and enzyme dose.
RESULTS
The enzyme showed only one major protein band from the fermentation broth by the Pichia pastoris GS115 expression. The crude enzyme (without purification) showed a satisfactory capability to hydrolyze CMC-Na after 4 days of production. Here, the crude AgCMCase also showed cellulose and straw hydrolysis capabilities as assessed by scanning electron microscopic and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analyses. A high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis demonstrated that the degradation of corn and rice straw by crude AgCMCase mainly produced glucose and cellobiose. Temperature, reaction time and enzyme dose were the significant variables affecting corn and rice straw degradation. After the optimization of RSM, a model was proposed to predict 1.48% reducing sugar yield with the optimum temperature (51.45 °C) and reaction time (3.84 h) from the straw degradation. The reaction of crude AgCMCase and rice straw in the optimized condition resulted in reducing sugar production of 1.61% that agrees the prediction.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that the crude AgCMCase is suitable to be used in straw conversion.
Topics: Aspergillus; Cellulase; Cellulose; Enzyme Stability; Fermentation; Fungal Proteins; Hydrolysis; Oryza; Sugars; Thermodynamics; Zea mays
PubMed: 31980972
DOI: 10.1007/s10529-020-02804-5 -
Journal of the Science of Food and... Mar 2019The xerophilic Aspergillus molds, Aspergillus glaucus and Aspergillus repens, have been used in the ripening and fermentation of dried tuna bonito (katsuobushi). These...
BACKGROUND
The xerophilic Aspergillus molds, Aspergillus glaucus and Aspergillus repens, have been used in the ripening and fermentation of dried tuna bonito (katsuobushi). These molds, and especially their extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, may also be of wider industrial value.
RESULTS
Aspergillus glaucus strain MA0196 produces different types of hydrolytic enzymes, including amylase, serine protease, aspartic protease, lipase and cellulase, depending on the composition of the medium. We characterized several of these enzymes, focusing on a glycosylated aspartic protease. The results showed that the lower the d-glucose concentration in the medium, the higher the degree of protease glycosylation, with excess glycosylation tending to decrease protease activity. The molecular mass of the glycosylated protease as determined by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 243 and 253 kDa, respectively. The chemically deglycosylated protease had a molecular mass of only 46 kDa. The amount of myoglobin-decolorizing activity was similar to that of a previously reported aspartic protease from A. repens strain MK82. However, the strain MA0196 protease more broadly hydrolyzed myoglobin and hemoglobins than did the strain MK82 protease.
CONCLUSION
The results of the present study demonstrate the potential utility of Aspergillus molds as a functionally new microbial resource for industrial applications such as the bleaching of heme proteins. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Topics: Aspartic Acid Proteases; Aspergillus; Biocatalysis; Fungal Proteins; Heme; Hemoglobins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Molecular Weight; Myoglobin
PubMed: 30187473
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9339 -
Extremophiles : Life Under Extreme... Jul 2018In a halotolerant fungus Aspergillus glaucus CCHA, several functional proteins with stress-tolerant activity have been studied, but no secretory enzymes have been...
The unique GH5 cellulase member in the extreme halotolerant fungus Aspergillus glaucus CCHA is an endoglucanase with multiple tolerance to salt, alkali and heat: prospects for straw degradation applications.
In a halotolerant fungus Aspergillus glaucus CCHA, several functional proteins with stress-tolerant activity have been studied, but no secretory enzymes have been identified yet. The unique GH5 cellulase candidate from A. glaucus, an endoglucanase termed as AgCMCase, was cloned, expressed in the Pichia pastoris system and the purified enzyme was characterized. A large amount of recombinant enzyme secreted by the P. pastoris GS115 strain was purified to homogeneity. The molecular weight of the purified endoglucanase is about 55.0 kDa. The AgCMCase exhibited optimum catalytic activity at pH 5.0 and 55 °C. However, it remained relatively stable at temperatures ranging from 45 to 80 °C and pH ranging from 4.0 to 9.0. In addition, it showed higher activity at extreme NaCl concentrations from 1.0 to 4.0 M, suggesting it is an enzyme highly stable under heat, acid, alkaline and saline conditions. To evaluate the catalytic activity of AgCMCase, the hydrolysis products of rice and corn straws were successfully studied. In conclusion, the AgCMCase is a thermostable and salt-tolerant cellulase with potential for industrial application.
Topics: Aspergillus; Biotransformation; Cellulase; Cellulose; Enzyme Stability; Fungal Proteins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial Microbiology; Salt Tolerance; Thermotolerance
PubMed: 29681022
DOI: 10.1007/s00792-018-1028-5