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Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Apr 2024Rhinocerebralmucormycosis, is a progressive fungal invasion of a hard palate, paranasal sinuses, orbit, and brain. Post covid the huge number of mucor cases reported in...
Rhinocerebralmucormycosis, is a progressive fungal invasion of a hard palate, paranasal sinuses, orbit, and brain. Post covid the huge number of mucor cases reported in our institute. To combat them a uniform assessment scale was needed as multiple healthcare workers were involved. Thus, a novel linear grading system on nasal endoscopy was developed for the early management of patients to prevent morbidity and mortality. A Prospective study of 650 patients in Epidemic duration from April to June 2021 in a tertiary health center, Central India. Patients subjected to Nasal Endoscopy with 0degree 4 mm Telescope and classified into 5 categories according to the severity of the disease. In a novel grading system, minimum patients were of grade 0, maximum was in Grade I. Maxillary sinus was most commonly involved. This novel grading system on nasal endoscopy makes the management of patients much easier in an epidemic, reducing human errors, morbidity, and mortality of the fulminant disease.
PubMed: 38566709
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-04380-2 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy May 2024Ibrexafungerp (formerly SCY-078) is the first member of the triterpenoid class that prevents the synthesis of the fungal cell wall polymer β-(1,3)-D-glucan by...
Ibrexafungerp (formerly SCY-078) is the first member of the triterpenoid class that prevents the synthesis of the fungal cell wall polymer β-(1,3)-D-glucan by inhibiting the enzyme glucan synthase. We evaluated the efficacy of ibrexafungerp against pulmonary mucormycosis using an established murine model. Neutropenic mice were intratracheally infected with either or . Treatment with placebo (diluent control), ibrexafungerp (30 mg/kg, PO BID), liposomal amphotericin B (LAMB 10 mg/kg IV QD), posaconazole (PSC 30 mg/kg PO QD), or a combination of ibrexafungerp plus LAMB or ibrexafungerp plus PSC began 16 h post-infection and continued for 7 days for ibrexafungerp or PSC and through day 4 for LAMB. Ibrexafungerp was as effective as LAMB or PSC in prolonging median survival (range: 15 days to >21 days) and enhancing overall survival (30%-65%) vs placebo (9 days and 0%; < 0.001) in mice infected with . Furthermore, median survival and overall percent survival resulting from the combination of ibrexafungerp plus LAMB were significantly greater compared to all monotherapies ( ≤ 0.03). Similar survival results were observed in mice infected with . Monotherapies also reduce the lung and brain fungal burden by ~0.5-1.0log conidial equivalents (CE)/g of tissue vs placebo in mice infected with ( < 0.05), while a combination of ibrexafungerp plus LAMB lowered the fungal burden by ~0.5-1.5log CE/g compared to placebo or any of the monotherapy groups ( < 0.03). These results are promising and warrant continued investigation of ibrexafungerp as a novel treatment option against mucormycosis.
Topics: Animals; Amphotericin B; Mucormycosis; Mice; Antifungal Agents; Triterpenes; Neutropenia; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Rhizopus; Lung Diseases, Fungal; Mucor; Triazoles; Glycosides
PubMed: 38557112
DOI: 10.1128/aac.01545-23 -
International Journal of Food Science 2024Tempe is an Indonesian food product traditionally obtained from soybeans through solid-state fermentation with . A variety of substrates can be processed into tempe in...
Tempe is an Indonesian food product traditionally obtained from soybeans through solid-state fermentation with . A variety of substrates can be processed into tempe in the presence of other microorganisms. In this study, grass pea seeds with the addition of flaxseed oil cake (20% w/w) were either fermented using individual mould strains-, , and -or cofermented with the moulds and . In the obtained products, the content of dietary fibre, B group vitamins, and the level of peptides and antioxidant potential in aqueous extracts were measured. Moreover, peptides, angiotensin I convertase inhibitor, and antioxidant activity were determined after digestion. The effect of digestates on the differentiation of enterocytes was also investigated. Fermentation generally resulted in a decrease in the dietary fibre, especially the insoluble fraction (30-50%). The product obtained with was the best source of riboflavin and thiamine among all tested. The fermentation process promoted the accumulation of water-soluble peptides and antioxidant compounds. After digestion, the largest amount of antioxidant and antiradical compounds was released from tempe obtained with . However, the enrichment of the products with antioxidants resulting from solid-state fermentation did not simply translate into an improvement in antioxidant potential after digestion. Generally, fermentation carried out in the presence of brought positive effects only in the case of DSM 1964. Digestion products obtained from tempe had a positive effect on the viability of Caco-2 cells differentiated into enterocytes. Interestingly, a higher activity of differentiation markers (alkaline phosphatase and sucrase-isomaltase) was observed under the influence of digestate of and tempe.
PubMed: 38549663
DOI: 10.1155/2024/5596798 -
Microbiology Spectrum May 2024Parasiticide fungi are considered an accurate, sustainable, and safe solution for the biocontrol of animal gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. This research provides an...
Parasiticide fungi are considered an accurate, sustainable, and safe solution for the biocontrol of animal gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. This research provides an initial characterization of the virulence of the native parasiticide fungus (FMV-FR1) and an assessment of its impact on birds' gut microbes. The genome of this fungus was sequenced to identify the genes coding for virulence factors. Also, this fungus was checked for the phenotypic expression of proteinase, lecithinase, DNase, gelatinase, hemolysin, and biofilm production. Finally, an trial was developed based on feeding spores to laying hens and peacocks three times a week. Bird feces were collected for 3 months, with total genomic DNA being extracted and subjected to long-read 16S and 25S-28S sequencing. Genes coding for an iron permease (FTR1), iron receptors (FOB1 and FOB2), ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) (ARF2 and ARF6), and a GTPase (CDC42) were identified in this genome. Also, this fungus was positive only for lecithinase activity. The field trial revealed a fecal microbiome dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in laying hens, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in peacocks, whereas the fecal mycobiome of both bird species was mainly composed of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes fungi. Bacterial and fungal alpha-diversities did not differ between sampling time points after administrations ( = 0.62 and = 0.15, respectively). Although findings from this research suggest the lack of virulence of this parasiticide isolate, more complementary and research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds, aiming at controlling their GI parasites.IMPORTANCEA previous study revealed that the native isolate (FMV-FR1) can develop parasiticide activity toward coccidia oocysts, one of the most pathogenic GI parasites in birds. However, ensuring its safety for birds is of utmost importance, namely by studying its virulence profile and potential effect on commensal gut microbes. This initial study revealed that although this isolate had genes coding for four types of virulence factors-iron permease, iron receptors, ADP-ribosylation factors, and GTPase-and only expressed phenotypically the enzyme lecithinase, the administration of its spores to laying hens and peacocks did not interfere with the abundances and diversities of their gut commensal bacteria and fungi. Although overall results suggest the lack of virulence of this isolate, more complementary research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds in the scope of parasite biocontrol programs.
Topics: Mucor; Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Chickens; Virulence; Virulence Factors; Feces; Female
PubMed: 38534121
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04078-23 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that are considered as a potential source of natural compounds, and can be applied in various industries. The aims of this research...
Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that are considered as a potential source of natural compounds, and can be applied in various industries. The aims of this research were molecular identification of endophytic fungi isolated from the Gundelia tournefortii stems, and investigation their biological activities as well as phenolic and fatty acid profile. Surface sterilized stems of G. tournefortii were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) to isolate the fungal endophytes. Genomic DNA was extracted by CTAB method, and PCR amplification was performed by ITS 1 and ITS 4 as primers. The enzyme production of endophytic fungi was determined based on the formation of a clear zone that appeared around the colonies of fungus. The anti-oxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the amount of free radicals DPPH. Also, the total phenol and flavonoid contents were measured obtained by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Moreover, the separation and identification of phenolic acids and fatty acids were done by HPLC and GC, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis was done based on the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region, and five isolates were identified as following: Aspergillus niger, Penicillium glabrum, Alternaria alternata, A. tenuissima, and Mucor circinelloides. Evaluation of the enzymatic properties showed that P. gabrum (31 ± 1.9 mm), and A. niger (23 ± 1.7) had more ability for producing pectinase and cellulase. The anti-oxidant activity of isolates showed that A. alternata extract (IC = 471 ± 29 µg/mL) had the highest anti-oxidant properties, followed by A. tenuissima extract (IC = 512 ± 19 µg/mL). Also, the extract of A. alternata had the greatest amount of total phenols and flavonoids contents (8.2 ± 0.4 mg GAL/g and 2.3 ± 0.3 mg QE/g, respectively). The quantification analysis of phenolic acid showed that rosmarinic acid, para-coumaric acid, and meta-coumaric acid (42.02 ± 1.31, 7.53 ± 0.19, 5.41 ± 0.21 mg/g, respectively) were the main phenolic acids in the studied fungi. The analysis of fatty acids confirmed that, in all fungi, the main fatty acids were stearic acid (27.9-35.2%), oleic acid (11.3-17.3%), palmitic acid (16.9-23.2%), linoleic acid (5.8-11.6%), and caprylic acid (6.3-10.9%). Our finding showed that endophytic fungi are a source of bioactive compounds, which could be used in various industries. This is the first report of endophytic fungi associated with G. tournefortii, which provides knowledge on their future use on biotechnological processes.
Topics: Antioxidants; Phylogeny; Plant Extracts; Aspergillus niger; Fatty Acids; Fungi; Endophytes
PubMed: 38528041
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57222-8 -
Zhonghua Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi = Zhonghua... Jan 2024To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with invasive fungal sinusitis (invasive fungal rhinosinusitis, IFR) after allogeneic hematopoietic...
To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with invasive fungal sinusitis (invasive fungal rhinosinusitis, IFR) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and explored the risk factors for IFR after allo-HSCT. Nineteen patients with IFR after allo-HSCT at Peking University People's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2021 were selected as the study group, and 95 patients without IFR after allo-HSCT during this period were randomly selected as the control group (1:5 ratio) . Nineteen patients, including 10 males and 9 females, had IFR after allo-HSCT. The median age was 36 (10-59) years. The median IFR onset time was 68 (9-880) days after allo-HSCT. There were seven patients with acute myeloid leukemia, five with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, two with myelodysplastic syndrome, two with chronic myeloid leukemia, one with acute mixed-cell leukemia, one with multiple myeloma, and one with T-lymphoblastic lymph node tumor. There were 13 confirmed cases and 6 clinically diagnosed cases. The responsible fungus was Mucor in two cases, Rhizopus in four, Aspergillus in four, and Candida in three. Five patients received combined treatment comprising amphotericin B and posaconazole, one patient received combined treatment comprising voriconazole and posaconazole, nine patients received voriconazole, and four patients received amphotericin B. In addition to antifungal treatment, 10 patients underwent surgery. After antifungal treatment and surgery, 15 patients achieved a response, including 13 patients with a complete response and 2 patients with a partial response. Multivariate analysis revealed that neutropenia before transplantation (=0.021) , hemorrhagic cystitis after transplantation (=0.012) , delayed platelet engraftment (=0.008) , and lower transplant mononuclear cell count (=0.012) were independent risk factors for IFR after allo-HSCT. The 5-year overall survival rates in the IFR and control groups after transplantation were 29.00%±0.12% and 91.00%±0.03%, respectively (<0.01) . Although IFR is rare, it is associated with poor outcomes in patients undergoing allo-HSCT. The combination of antifungal treatment and surgery might be effective.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Invasive Fungal Infections; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sinusitis; Voriconazole; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38527834
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121090-20231009-00175 -
Access Microbiology 2024Honey bees have a great economic importance both in Turkey and in the world due to the products they produce and their contribution to pollination. For this reason, many...
Honey bees have a great economic importance both in Turkey and in the world due to the products they produce and their contribution to pollination. For this reason, many microflora and microbiota studies have been conducted on bees. While these research were primarily focused on pathogen isolation, the ecological roles of non-pathogenic flora members and how they may be used are now being studied more extensively. Considering the importance of pathogens, the number of studies is expected to continue to increase. This study was carried out to determine the microfungal flora of the body surfaces and digestive tracts of dead honey bee () and samples taken from different apiaries in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey (Gümüşhane, Trabzon, Artvin and Ordu) in 2022. As a result of the study, a total of 11 different fungal species belonging to the genera , , , , , and were identified and the relationships of these fungi with bees were discussed based on the literature.
PubMed: 38482356
DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000626.v4 -
IMA Fungus Mar 2024Mucorales are basal fungi that opportunistically cause a potentially fatal infection known as mucormycosis (black fungus disease), which poses a significant threat to...
Mucorales are basal fungi that opportunistically cause a potentially fatal infection known as mucormycosis (black fungus disease), which poses a significant threat to human health due to its high mortality rate and its recent association with SARS-CoV-2 infections. On the other hand, histone methylation is a regulatory mechanism with pleiotropic effects, including the virulence of several pathogenic fungi. However, the role of epigenetic changes at the histone level never has been studied in Mucorales. Here, we dissected the functional role of Set1, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes the methylation of H3K4, which is associated with the activation of gene transcription and virulence. A comparative analysis of the Mucor lusitanicus genome (previously known as Mucor circinelloides f. lusitanicus) identified only one homolog of Set1 from Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that contains the typical SET domain. Knockout strains in the gene set1 lacked H3K4 monomethylation, dimethylation, and trimethylation enzymatic activities. These strains also showed a significant reduction in vegetative growth and sporulation. Additionally, set1 null strains were more sensitive to SDS, EMS, and UV light, indicating severe impairment in the repair process of the cell wall and DNA lesions and a correlation between Set1 and these processes. During pathogen-host interactions, strains lacking the set1 gene exhibited shortened polar growth within the phagosome and attenuated virulence both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that the histone methyltransferase Set1 coordinates several cell processes related to the pathogenesis of M. lusitanicus and may be an important target for future therapeutic strategies against mucormycosis.
PubMed: 38481304
DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00136-3 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Jun 2024Although lots of nanomaterials modified anodes have been reported to improve the bacterial attachment and extracellular electron transfer (EET) in microbial fuel cells...
Although lots of nanomaterials modified anodes have been reported to improve the bacterial attachment and extracellular electron transfer (EET) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), the lack of a three dimensional (3D) conductive and capacitive network severely limited MFCs performance. In this work, 3D conductive networks derived from mucor mycelia were grown on carbon cloth (CC), and capacitive FeMn phosphides/oxides were further anchored on these 3D networks by electrochemical deposition (denoted as FeMn/CMM@CC) to simultaneously address the above challenges. As a result, the multivalent metal active sites were evenly distributed on 3D conductive network, which favored the enrichment of exoelectrogens, mass transport and EET. Consequently, the as-prepared FeMn/CMM@CC anode displayed accumulated charge of 131.4C/m, higher than bare CC. Meanwhile, FeMn/CMM@CC anode substantially promoted flavin excretion and the amounts of nano conduits. The abundance of Geobacter was 63 % on bare CC, and greatly increased to 83 % on FeMn/CMM@CC. MFCs equipped by FeMn/CMM@CC anode presented the power density of 3.06 W/m and coulombic efficiency (29.9 %), evidently higher than bare CC (1.29 W/m, 7.3 %), and the daily chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal amount also increased to 92.6 mg/L/d. This work developed a facile method to optimize the abiotic-biotic interface by introducing 3D conductive and capacitive network, which was proved to be a promising strategy to modify macro-porous electrodes.
Topics: Bioelectric Energy Sources; Electrons; Electric Conductivity; Carbon; Electron Transport; Electrodes; Electricity
PubMed: 38479267
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.03.063 -
Bioresource Technology Apr 2024This study aimed to improve the lipid and biomass yields of Mucor circinelloides WJ11 by implementing four different fed-batch fermentation strategies, varied in time...
Fed-batch fermentation of Mucor circinelloides reveals significant improvement in biomass and lipid accumulation through performance evaluation, chemical analysis, and expression profiling.
This study aimed to improve the lipid and biomass yields of Mucor circinelloides WJ11 by implementing four different fed-batch fermentation strategies, varied in time and glucose concentration (S1-S4). The S1 fermentation strategy yielded the highest biomass, lipid, and fatty acid content (22 ± 0.7 g/L, 53 ± 1.2 %, and 28 ± 1.6 %) after 120 and 144 h, respectively. The γ-linolenic acid titer of 0.75 ± 0.0 g/L was greatest in S3 after 48 h. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to analyze the transcription of key genes involved in lipid accumulation. The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and ATP-citrate lyase genes showed increased expression levels. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the biochemical profile during fermentation strategies. Optimal abiotic factors for production efficiency included pH 6.5, 25-26 °C, 15 % (v/v) inoculum, 500 rpm, 20 %-30 % dissolved oxygen, and 120 h fermentation. Glucose co-feeding offers valuable insights to develop effective fermentation strategies for lipid production.
Topics: Fermentation; Biomass; Mucor; Fatty Acids; Glucose
PubMed: 38452954
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130540