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Journal de Mycologie Medicale Sep 2020Aspergillus is a fungal genus that strongly affects health of humans, animals, and plants worldwide. Endophytes are now widely considered as a rich source of bioproducts...
Aspergillus is a fungal genus that strongly affects health of humans, animals, and plants worldwide. Endophytes are now widely considered as a rich source of bioproducts with potential uses in medicine, agriculture, and bioindustry. Cupressaceae plant family hosts a variety of bioactive ascomycetous endophytes. In this study, antifungal activity of a number of such endophytes were investigated against human pathogenic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. To this end, 16 superior bioactive endophytic fungi from Cupressaceae were used, including Alternaria alternata, Alternaria pellucida, Ascorhizoctonia sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aurobasidium sp., Cladosporium porophorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium viridicatum, Phoma herbarum, Phoma sp., Pyrenochaeta sp., Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma koningii. In vitro bioassays indicated anti-Asperilli activity of the endophytic fungi in dual cultures. Most notably, Trichoderma koningii CSE and Trichoderma atroviride JCE showed complete growth inhibition of both A. niger and A. fumigatus, within 3 to 7 days. Also, volatile compouds (VOCs) of T. koningii CSE and T. atroviride JCE exhibited 33-100% growth inhibition of A. niger, whithin 3 days. Moreover, on the day 7, growth of A. niger was less affected than that of A. fumigatus. In general, it appears that there is a direct relationship between the exposure time and the inhibitory activity of endophytes VOCs on the growth of target Aspergillus species. Furthremore, the extracellular secondary metabolites (SMs) of four selected fungal endophytes exhibited anti-Aspergillus activity at all treatment levels as shown by Agar-diffusion assay. SMs from T. koningii CSE and Pyrenochaeta CSE showed strongest activities against A. niger, and SMs from T. koningii CSE and F. oxysporum CAE showed strongest activities against A. fumigatus. In conclusion, given the globally recognized issue of antibiotic resistance and the urge to discover new antimicrobial substances, our findings provide new insights into the potential use of Cupressaceae's endophytic fungi in antifungal-based drug discovery programs.
Topics: Antibiosis; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillus fumigatus; Aspergillus niger; Cupressaceae; Endophytes; Humans; Iran; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Trichoderma
PubMed: 32499133
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.100987 -
Microbiological Research Mar 2020Microbial diversity in Peruvian mountain areas is poorly know, specially endophytic microorganisms of medicinal native plants from the Cordillera Blanca. So, nine...
Microbial diversity in Peruvian mountain areas is poorly know, specially endophytic microorganisms of medicinal native plants from the Cordillera Blanca. So, nine bacterial and six fungal species were isolated from Gentianella weberbaueri and Valeriana pycnantha. According to 16S rDNA analysis, bacterial strains belong to genera Rahnella, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Rouxiella, and Bacillus; while ITS analysis showed that fungi belong to Pyrenochaeta, Scleroconidioma, Cryptococcus, and Plenodomus genera. Rahnella sp. GT24B and P. trivialis VT20B solubilized tricalcium phosphate and produced siderophores at 10 and 24 °C. Five bacteria strains produced indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) at 10 and 24 °C, where Rahnella sp. VT19B showed more production at 10 °C than 24 °C. Rahnella sp. GT24B, Serratia sp. VT28B, and Rahnella sp. GT25B inhibited Fusarium oxysporum growth up to 100, 78 and 74 %, respectively. R. inusitata VT25B and B. licheniformis GT10B showed high cellulolytic and proteolytic activities. On the other hand, only a few fungi moderately inhibited growth of F. oxysporum, and produced siderophores and cellulases. Most of bacteria inoculated on Medicago sativa "alfalfa" and Triticum aestivum "wheat" seeds got better root development, especially Rahnella sp. GT24B, Rouxiella sp.VT24B, Serratia sp. VT28B, and Rahnella sp. VT34B. Finally, this study is the first report of endophytic microorganisms associated to wild medicinal high-mountain Peruvian plants and it show a valuable microbial diversity and its possible role in promoting growth of crops and wild medicinal plants.
Topics: Bacteria; Crops, Agricultural; Endophytes; Fungi; Gentianella; Indoleacetic Acids; Peru; Phylogeny; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Valerian
PubMed: 31981904
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126413 -
Marine Drugs Jan 2020Microbial co-cultivation is employed for awakening silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) to enhance chemical diversity. However, the selection of appropriate partners...
Microbial co-cultivation is employed for awakening silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) to enhance chemical diversity. However, the selection of appropriate partners for co-cultivation remains a challenge. Furthermore, competitive interactions involving the suppression of BGCs or upregulation of known, functional metabolite(s) during co-cultivation efforts is also common. Herein, we performed an alternative approach for targeted selection of the best co-cultivation pair. Eight marine sediment-derived fungi were classified as strong or weak, based on their anti-phytopathogenic potency. The fungi were co-cultured systematically and analyzed for their chemical profiles and anti-phytopathogenic activity. Based on enhanced bioactivity and a significantly different metabolite profile including the appearance of a co-culture specific cluster, the co-culture of (strong) and (weak) was prioritized for chemical investigation. Large-scale co-cultivation resulted in isolation of five polyketide type compounds: two 12-membered macrolides, dendrodolide E () and its new analog dendrodolide N (), as well as two rare azaphilones spiciferinone () and its new analog 8a-hydroxy-spiciferinone (). A well-known -naphtho-γ-pyrone type mycotoxin, cephalochromin (), whose production was specifically enhanced in the co-culture, was also isolated. Chemical structures of compounds - were elucidated by NMR, HRMS and [] analyses. Compound showed the strongest anti-phytopathogenic activity against and with IC values of 0.9 and 1.7 µg/mL, respectively.
Topics: Agrochemicals; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Products; Coculture Techniques; Fungi; Geologic Sediments; Industrial Microbiology; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Metabolomics; Phytophthora infestans; Polyketides; Research Design; Xanthomonas campestris
PubMed: 31979232
DOI: 10.3390/md18020073 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Dec 2019Dematiaceous fungi can cause subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, an uncommon fungal infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. is an emerging organism that can...
Dematiaceous fungi can cause subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, an uncommon fungal infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. is an emerging organism that can infect patients with subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, especially immunocompromised patients. The present case involved subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by in an 80-year-old Thai male with poorly controlled diabetes, for whom the lesion underwent spontaneous remission after his glycemic control was improved. Furthermore, cases of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis for the last 10 years were reviewed.
PubMed: 31890487
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2019.07.006 -
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology May 2020Phaeohyphomycosis, caused by opportunistic rare fungi, has increasingly been reported in diabetic and immunosuppressed patients. Pyrenochaeta unguis-hominis...
Phaeohyphomycosis, caused by opportunistic rare fungi, has increasingly been reported in diabetic and immunosuppressed patients. Pyrenochaeta unguis-hominis (P. unguis-hominis), a member of the dematiaceae group, has been identified to cause human nail infection. We report a rare case of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in a diabetic female caused by P. unguis-hominis.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Dermatomycoses; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Nail Diseases
PubMed: 31724160
DOI: 10.1111/ajd.13177 -
Functional & Integrative Genomics Sep 2019Breeding for resistance is the most effective tool for controlling the corky root disease of tomato caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici. A comparative RNA-Seq-based...
Breeding for resistance is the most effective tool for controlling the corky root disease of tomato caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici. A comparative RNA-Seq-based transcriptomic analysis was conducted at 96 hpi (hours post infection) on two tomato cultivars: resistant Mogeor and its genetic background, and susceptible Moneymaker to investigate the differences in their transcriptomic response and identify the molecular bases of this plant-pathogen interaction. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified was much higher in the susceptible than in the resistant genotype; however, the proportion of upregulated genes was higher in Mogeor (70.81%) than in Moneymaker (52.95%). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis enabled identification of 24 terms shared by the two cultivars that were consistent with responses to external stimulus, such as fungal infection. On the other hand, as many as 54 GO were enriched solely in Moneymaker, including terms related to defense response and cell wall metabolism. Our results could support the previous observations in other pathosystems, that susceptibility and resistance have overlapping signaling pathways and responses, suggesting that the P. lycopersici resistance gene pyl might be a recessive allele at a susceptibility locus, for which different candidate genes were identified based on the differences in induction or expression levels, observed between the resistant and susceptible genotype. MapMan analysis highlighted a complex hormone and transcription factors interplay where SA- and JA-induced pathways are modulated in a similar way in both genotypes and thus take part in a common response while the ethylene signaling pathways, induced mainly in susceptible Moneymaker, seem putatively contribute to its susceptibility.
Topics: Ascomycota; Disease Resistance; Disease Susceptibility; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Solanum lycopersicum; Plant Diseases; Plant Proteins; Signal Transduction; Transcriptome
PubMed: 31104179
DOI: 10.1007/s10142-019-00685-0 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Jun 2019Here we present a 79-year old man with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis probably caused by fungal contamination of a bagpipe. Several samples were taken from the...
Here we present a 79-year old man with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis probably caused by fungal contamination of a bagpipe. Several samples were taken from the patient's bagpipe. Four potential fungal antigens () as potential trigger of hypersensitivity pneumonitis were identified. A serum ELISA test with indicated reactivity. Cessation of playing the bagpipe and application of glucocorticoids lead to an improvement of the patient's symptoms.
PubMed: 30989036
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2019.03.005 -
BMC Microbiology Jan 2019Bacillus velezensis is an endospore-forming, free-living soil bacterium with potential as a biopesticide against a broad spectrum of microbial pathogens of plants. Its...
BACKGROUND
Bacillus velezensis is an endospore-forming, free-living soil bacterium with potential as a biopesticide against a broad spectrum of microbial pathogens of plants. Its potential for commercial development is enhanced by rapid replication and resistance to adverse environmental conditions, typical of Bacillus species. However, the use of beneficial microbes against phytopathogens has not gained dominance due to limitations that may be overcome with new biopesticidal strains and/or new biological knowledge.
RESULTS
Here, we isolated B. velezensis strain 9D-6 and showed that it inhibits the in vitro growth of prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens, including the bacteria Bacillus cereus , Clavibacter michiganensis, Pantoea agglomerans, Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas campestris, and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria; and the fungi Alternaria solani, Cochliobolus carbonum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Gibberella pulicaris, Gibberella zeae, Monilinia fructicola, Pyrenochaeta terrestris and Rhizoctonia solani. Antimicrobial compounds with activity against Clavibacter michiganensis were isolated from B. velezensis 9D-6 and characterized by high resolution LC-MS/MS, yielding formulae of CHNO and CHNO, which correspond to [Leu] surfactins C and C (also called surfactin B and surfactin C), respectively. We further sequenced the B. velezensis 9D-6 genome which consists of a single circular chromosome and revealed 13 gene clusters expected to participate in antimicrobial metabolite production, including surfactin and two metabolites that have not typically been found in this species - ladderane and lantipeptide. Despite being unable to inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 in an in vitro plate assay, B. velezensis 9D-6 significantly reduced root colonization by DC3000, suggesting that 9D-6 uses methods other than antimicrobials to control phytopathogens in the environment. Finally, using in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH), we confirm previous findings that many strains currently classified as B. amyloliquefaciens are actually B. velezensis.
CONCLUSIONS
The data presented here suggest B. velezensis 9D-6 as a candidate plant growth promoting bacterium (PGPB) and biopesticide, which uses a unique complement of antimicrobials, as well as other mechanisms, to protect plants against phytopathogens. Our results may contribute to future utilization of this strain, and will contribute to a knowledge base that will help to advance the field of microbial biocontrol.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Bacillus; Bacteria; Fungi; Genome, Bacterial; Lipopeptides; Microbial Interactions; Peptides, Cyclic
PubMed: 30621587
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-018-1380-8 -
Medical Mycology Aug 2019Although there have been few reports of opportunistic infections (superficial and systemic) caused by coelomycetous fungi, they are becoming more frequent....
Although there have been few reports of opportunistic infections (superficial and systemic) caused by coelomycetous fungi, they are becoming more frequent. Neocucurbitaria keratinophila (formerly Pyrenochaeta keratinophila), characterized by producing pycnidial conidiomata and small hyaline conidia, seems to be an emergent opportunistic pathogen in Spain. Since this fungus was first reported from human keratitis, eight strains have been isolates from clinical cases in Spain. This is a retrospective study of these fungal strains, including phenotypic and molecular characterizations, and in vitro antifungal susceptibility assays. These clinical strains were identified by sequencing four phylogenetic markers such as the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and fragments of the 28S nrRNA (LSU), beta-tubulin (tub2), and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2) genes, and by morphological characterization. All the strains tested were susceptible to the majority of antifungals, being isavuconazole the only drug that showed a poor antifungal activity.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Dermatomycoses; Humans; Opportunistic Infections; Phenotype; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; Retrospective Studies; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Spain
PubMed: 30496507
DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy132 -
PloS One 2018The first draft genome sequencing of the non-model fungal pathogen Pyrenochaeta lycopersici showed an expansion of gene families associated with heterokaryon...
The first draft genome sequencing of the non-model fungal pathogen Pyrenochaeta lycopersici showed an expansion of gene families associated with heterokaryon incompatibility and lacking of mating-type genes, providing insights into the genetic basis of this "imperfect" fungus which lost the ability to produce the sexual stage. However, due to the Illumina short-read technology, the draft genome was too fragmented to allow a comprehensive characterization of the genome, especially of the repetitive sequence fraction. In this work, the sequencing of another P. lycopersici isolate using long-read Single Molecule Real-Time sequencing technology was performed with the aim of obtaining a gapless genome. Indeed, a gapless genome assembly of 62.7 Mb was obtained, with a fraction of repetitive sequences representing 30% of the total bases. The gene content of the two P. lycopersici isolates was very similar, and the large difference in genome size (about 8 Mb) might be attributable to the high fraction of repetitive sequences detected for the new sequenced isolate. The role of repetitive elements, including transposable elements, in modulating virulence effectors is well established in fungal plant pathogens. Moreover, transposable elements are of fundamental importance in creating and re-modelling genes, especially in imperfect fungi. Their abundance in P. lycopersici, together with the large expansion of heterokaryon incompatibility genes in both sequenced isolates, suggest the presence of possible mechanisms alternative to gene re-assorting mediated by sexual recombination. A quite large fraction (~9%) of repetitive elements in P. lycopersici, has no homology with known classes, strengthening this hypothesis. The availability of a gapless genome of P. lycopersici allowed the in-depth analysis of its genome content, by annotating functional genes and TEs. This goal will be an important resource for shedding light on the evolution of the reproductive and pathogenic behaviour of this soilborne pathogen and the onset of a possible speciation within this species.
Topics: Ascomycota; Chromosome Mapping; Computer Systems; DNA Transposable Elements; DNA, Fungal; Genome, Fungal; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 29979772
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200217