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Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ban =... Jul 2023Leukemia complicated with and coinfection is very rare, which is difficult to diagnose, and life-threatening. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment in... (Review)
Review
Leukemia complicated with and coinfection is very rare, which is difficult to diagnose, and life-threatening. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment in a child with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), who developed mucormycosis and aspergillus coinfection after chemotherapy, was reported. This case was a 12-year-old boy who presented with fever and cough during chemotherapy. and were detected in his blood, cerebrospinal fluid and alveolar lavage fluid by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Amphotericin B, posaconazole, and voriconazole were successively used for antifungal therapy. Skin debridement, bronchoalveolar lavage and local perfusion under bronchoscopy were performed. The infection of children was well controlled. The clinical manifestations of leukemia with mixed fungal infection are non-specific. The disease progresses rapidly and is prone to spread. Early diagnosis and treatment should be carried out. Combined antifungal therapy is recommended, and surgery is helpful to improve the patient's condition.
Topics: Male; Child; Humans; Mucormycosis; Coinfection; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Leukemia
PubMed: 37724414
DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.230039 -
Cureus Jul 2023Background Mucormycosis is a consequence of the angioinvasive disease caused by filamentous fungi that belong to the order Mucorales, particularly , , and . is the most...
Sinonasal and Orbital Imaging Findings in COVID-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis During the Second Wave of COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Tertiary Hospital in Central India.
Background Mucormycosis is a consequence of the angioinvasive disease caused by filamentous fungi that belong to the order Mucorales, particularly , , and . is the most prevalent form. The invading hyphae lead to damage of blood vessels leading to thrombosis and consequent tissue necrosis. The incidence of this disease entity witnessed a significant rise during the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Timely diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial to diminish both the mortality and morbidity associated with this disease. Imaging plays a pivotal role in diagnosing the ailment, evaluating its extent, identifying complications such as thrombosis, and facilitating surgical planning. It demonstrates exceptional sensitivity in detecting the disease at its early stages, often before symptoms manifest. Due to the angioinvasive nature of , early detection assumes utmost importance as it necessitates intensive antifungal therapy and the removal of devitalized tissue through debridement. Methodology We conducted a retrospective cohort study to analyze computed tomography (CT) imaging findings in patients with COVID-associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) confirmed by histopathological examination. We compared these findings with CT findings of the nose and paranasal sinuses in patients without mucor following COVID-19 sinusitis (non-ROCM). Results All 16 cases in the non-ROCM group were in stage 1 disease. In contrast, in the ROCM group, three patients had stage 1 disease, five patients had stage 2 disease, and 10 patients had stage 3 disease (p = 0.0001). The pterygopalatine fossa was significantly affected in 10 of 18 ROCM patients and in none of the non-ROCM patients. Conclusions Imaging plays a crucial role in the early detection of mucormycosis. It assists treating physicians in initiating prompt and aggressive treatment, thereby improving the prognosis of this frequently fatal disease.
PubMed: 37649953
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42674 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2023Green leaf volatiles (GLVs), including short chain volatile aldehydes, are widely used in the flavor and food industries because of their fresh aroma. To meet the...
Green leaf volatiles (GLVs), including short chain volatile aldehydes, are widely used in the flavor and food industries because of their fresh aroma. To meet the growing demand for natural GLVs with high added value, the use of biocatalytic processes appears as a relevant application. In such processes, vegetable oils are bioconverted into GLVs. First, the triacylglycerols of the oils are hydrolyzed by a lipase. Then, the free polyunsaturated fatty acids are converted by a lipoxygenase. Finally, volatile C6 or C9 aldehydes and 9- or 12-oxoacids are produced with a hydroperoxide lyase. Optimization of each biocatalytic step must be achieved to consider a scale-up. In this study, three oils (sunflower, hempseed, and linseed oils) and three lipases (, , and lipases) have been tested to optimize the first step of the process. The experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to determine the optimal hydrolysis conditions for each oil. Five factors were considered, i.e., pH, temperature, reaction duration, enzyme load, and oil/aqueous ratio of the reaction mixture. lipase was selected as the most efficient enzyme to achieve conversion of 96 ± 1.7%, 97.2 ± 3.8%, and 91.8 ± 3.2%, respectively, for sunflower, hempseed, and linseed oils under the defined optimized reaction conditions.
Topics: Lipase; Hydrolysis; Plant Oils; Biocatalysis; Linseed Oil; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Aldehydes
PubMed: 37569649
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512274 -
Food and Chemical Toxicology : An... Sep 2023To address the growing world population and reduce the impact of environmental changes on the global food supply, ingredients are being produced using microorganisms to...
To address the growing world population and reduce the impact of environmental changes on the global food supply, ingredients are being produced using microorganisms to yield sustainable and innovative products. Food ingredients manufactured using modern biotechnology must be produced by non-toxigenic and nonpathogenic production organisms that do not harbor antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Several fungal species represent attractive targets as sources of alternative food products. One such product is a fungal biomass obtained from the fermentation of Rhizomucor pusillus strain CBS 143028. The whole genome sequence of this strain was annotated and subjected to sequence homology searches and in silico phenotype prediction tools to identify genetic elements encoding for protein toxins active via oral consumption, virulence factors associated with pathogenicity, and determinants of AMR. The in silico investigation revealed no genetic elements sharing significant sequence homology with putative virulence factors, protein toxins, or AMR determinants, including the absence of mucoricin, an essential toxin in the pathogenesis of mucormycosis. These in silico findings were corroborated in vitro based on the absence of clinically relevant mycotoxin or antibacterial secondary metabolites. Consequently, it is unlikely that R. pusillis strain CBS 143028 would pose a safety concern for use in food for human consumption.
Topics: Humans; Food Ingredients; Biomass; Rhizomucor
PubMed: 37532172
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113972 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023The synthesis of structured lipids with nutraceutical applications, such as medium-long-medium (MLM) triacylglycerols, via modification of oils and fats represents a...
The synthesis of structured lipids with nutraceutical applications, such as medium-long-medium (MLM) triacylglycerols, via modification of oils and fats represents a challenge for the food industry. This study aimed to synthesize MLM-type dietary triacylglycerols by enzymatic acidolysis of cottonseed oil and capric acid (C10) catalyzed by Lipozyme RM IM (lipase from ) in a fluidized bed reactor (FBR). After chemical characterization of the feedstock and hydrodynamic characterization of the reactor, a 2 central composite rotatable design was used to optimize capric acid incorporation. The independent variables were cycle number (20-70) and cottonseed oil/capric acid molar ratio (1:2-1:4). The temperature was set at 45 °C. The best conditions, namely a 1:4 oil/acid molar ratio and 80 cycles (17.34 h), provided a degree of incorporation of about 40 mol%, as shown by compositional analysis of the modified oil. Lipozyme RM IM showed good operational stability ( = 2.72 × 10 h, = 2545.78 h), confirming the good reuse capacity of the enzyme in the acidolysis of cottonseed oil with capric acid. It is concluded that an FBR configuration is a promising alternative for the enzymatic synthesis of MLM triacylglycerols.
Topics: Triglycerides; Cottonseed Oil; Plant Oils; Solvents; Fats
PubMed: 37513254
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145384 -
Heliyon Jun 2023The thiosemicarbazones and their derivatives have been recognized as antimicrobial agents against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Regarding these prospective, this...
Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial activity of thiosemicarbazones derivatives and their computational approaches: Quantum calculation, molecular docking, molecular dynamic, ADMET, QSAR.
The thiosemicarbazones and their derivatives have been recognized as antimicrobial agents against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Regarding these prospective, this study was designed to address the new antimicrobial agents from thiosemicarbazones and their derivatives. These derivatives were synthesized by multi-step synthesis methods, such as alkylation, acidification, esterification, and formed the 4-(4'-alkoxybenzoyloxy) thiosemicarbazones and its derivatives THS1, THS2, THS3, THS4, and THS5). Afterward the synthesis, compounds were characterized by H NMR, FTIR spectra, and melting point. Later, the computational tools were applied to evaluate the drug likeness properties, bioavailability score, Lipinski rule, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET). Secondly, the quantum calculations, for instance HOMO, LUMO and chemical descriptors, were calculated by the density functional theory (DFT). Finally, the molecular docking was performed against seven human pathogenic bacteria, black fungus (Rhizomucor mieh, Mucor lusitanicus, Mycolicibacterium smegmatis) and white fungus strains (Candida Auris, Aspergillus luchuensis, Candida albicans). To check and validate of molecular docking procedure and stability of docked complex for ligand and protein, the molecular dynamic was performed of docked complex. From the docking score with calculating the binding affinity, these derivatives could show a higher affinity than standard drug against all pathogens. From the computational details, it could be decided to do test as antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aurious, Staphylococcus homonis, , and Shigella flexneria. The obtained result of antibacterial activity compared to standard drugs, and it was found that the synthesized compounds were almost same value of standard drug. Finally, it could be said from the and study that the thiosemicarbazones derivatives are good antimicrobial agents.
PubMed: 37292281
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16222 -
Food Research International (Ottawa,... Jul 2023The use of esterase/lipase enzymes of different origins in food industry is a widely employed strategy to enhance the formation of characteristic aromatic compounds...
The use of esterase/lipase enzymes of different origins in food industry is a widely employed strategy to enhance the formation of characteristic aromatic compounds derived from fat and diversify flavour. In the present work, we studied EstA enzyme of Enterococcus faecalis and a high purity Rhizomucor miehei lipase (Palatase). EstA was obtained recombinantly in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and optimum esterase activity was detected at pH 6.75 and 40 °C. We evaluated the effect of the enzymes on milk mixtures prepared with different fat contents (2.8 and 6%) and structure (native or homogenized) on volatile compounds profiles. The milk fat structure before and after the application of low homogenization was characterized by dynamic light dispersion and microscopy. Native milk fat mixtures presented particles of 4.6 μm and 184 nm and homogenized mixtures had particles of 1.4 μm and 258 nm; microscopy images were in concordance with these results. Fifteen volatile compounds were identified, including ketones, esters, alcohols, and acids. We showed the key role of milk fat levels and microstructure in the nature of the volatile compounds produced by the R. miehei enzyme. Both in native or homogenized states, the highest content of fat favored a higher production of acids whereas the lowest fat level favored a higher esters production along with a more balanced volatile profile. For EstA enzyme, results showed a limited action on fat, as biosynthesis of esters only increased with the highest fat level homogenized.
Topics: Animals; Milk; Enterococcus faecalis; Lipase; Food Handling; Esters
PubMed: 37254435
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112861 -
3 Biotech May 2023is a successful expression system that is frequently preferred in the secretion of proteins for both basic research and industrial purposes. In this study, recombinant...
is a successful expression system that is frequently preferred in the secretion of proteins for both basic research and industrial purposes. In this study, recombinant (RmASNase) L-asparaginase was produced in . The impact of gene copy number on increasing protein production was examined with six clones harboring various gene copy numbers (1-5 and 5 +). The results demonstrated that the clone with three copies of the expression cassette integrated had the highest production level. Also, biochemical characterization of the enzyme was performed. It was determined that the optimum pH and temperature values of the purified enzyme were pH 7.0 and 50 °C, respectively. Stability analyses of the enzyme showed that it maintains its activity of 80% in the pH range of 5-9 and 67% in the temperature range of 20-50 °C. Ca and Mn ions increased the enzyme activity to 121% and 138%, respectively. In future studies, it is also possible to improve the activity and stability values of the enzyme with advanced molecular techniques and to increase production efficiency by producing at fermenter scale and under optimum conditions.
PubMed: 37159589
DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03600-4 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023During the second phase of SARS-CoV-2, an unknown fungal infection, identified as black fungus, was transmitted to numerous people among the hospitalized COVID-19...
Modified coptisine derivatives as an inhibitor against pathogenic , (Black Fungus), Monkeypox, and Marburg virus by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation-based drug design approach.
During the second phase of SARS-CoV-2, an unknown fungal infection, identified as black fungus, was transmitted to numerous people among the hospitalized COVID-19 patients and increased the death rate. The black fungus is associated with the Mycolicibacterium smegmatis, Mucor lusitanicus, and Rhizomucor miehei microorganisms. At the same time, other pathogenic diseases, such as the Monkeypox virus and Marburg virus, impacted global health. Policymakers are concerned about these pathogens due to their severe pathogenic capabilities and rapid spread. However, no standard therapies are available to manage and treat those conditions. Since the coptisine has significant antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties; therefore, the current investigation has been designed by modifying coptisine to identify an effective drug molecule against Black fungus, Monkeypox, and Marburg virus. After designing the derivatives of coptisine, they have been optimized to get a stable molecular structure. These ligands were then subjected to molecular docking study against two vital proteins obtained from black fungal pathogens: Rhizomucor miehei (PDB ID: 4WTP) and Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (PDB ID 7D6X), and proteins found in Monkeypox virus (PDB ID: 4QWO) and Marburg virus (PDB ID 4OR8). Following molecular docking, other computational investigations, such as ADMET, QSAR, drug-likeness, quantum calculation and molecular dynamics, were also performed to determine their potentiality as antifungal and antiviral inhibitors. The docking score reported that they have strong affinities against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Then, the molecular dynamic simulation was conducted to determine their stability and durability in the physiological system with water at 100 ns, which documented that the mentioned drugs were stable over the simulated time. Thus, our investigation provides a preliminary report that coptisine derivatives are safe and potentially effective against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Hence, coptisine derivatives may be a prospective candidate for developing drugs against Black fungus, Monkeypox and Marburg viruses.
PubMed: 37153804
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1140494 -
Microbial Ecology Aug 2023The leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex crassispinus is considered an important pest in forest plantations in southern Brazil. This work aimed to study the fungal community...
The leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex crassispinus is considered an important pest in forest plantations in southern Brazil. This work aimed to study the fungal community associated with A. crassispinus colonies, subjected to treatments with subdoses of granulated baits (sulfluramid), which might reduce the ability of the ants to care for their symbiotic fungus and other fungi (maybe biocontrol fungi) would take over, to prospect for potential biological control agents. Samplings of fungus gardens and dead ants allowed the identification of 195 fungal isolates, distributed in 29 families, 36 genera, and 53 species. The most frequent genera were Trichoderma (49.2%), Penicillium (13.8%), Chaetomium (6.2%), and Fusarium (3.6%). This is the first study that conducted a survey of antagonistic and entomopathogenic fungi to A. crassispinus and its symbiotic fungus, reporting for the first time the occurrence of potential biological control agents. Escovopsis weberi, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizomucor variabilis, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningiopsis, and Trichoderma spirale are considered some of the potential biocontrol organisms.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Ants; Fungi; Mycobiome; Biological Control Agents; Penicillium; Brazil; Symbiosis
PubMed: 37115262
DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02217-7