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Stress Biology Aug 2023Gray mold is a destructive disease caused by Botrytis cinerea, a pervasive plant pathogen, which poses a threat to both tomato growth and postharvest storage. The...
Gray mold is a destructive disease caused by Botrytis cinerea, a pervasive plant pathogen, which poses a threat to both tomato growth and postharvest storage. The utilization of induced resistance presents a potential strategy for combating plant pathogenic attacks. ZNC (zhinengcong), an extract derived from the endophytic fungus Paecilomyces variotii, has been discovered to play a vital role in preventing diverse forms of bacterial infections. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism behind its ability to enhance tomato resistance to fungi remains unclear. In this study, we found that the exogenous spraying of ZNC could significantly improve the resistance of tomato plants to B. cinerea. The results of both the metabolomic analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated that tomato plants responded to ZNC treatment by accumulating high levels of rutin. Additional transcriptome analysis uncovered that rutin enhances tomato resistance possible by initiating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPKs) related genes expression during the initial phase of invasion by B. cinerea. In addition, we also found that rutin might activate plant immunity by eliciting ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA)-mediated pathways. Therefore, plant immune inducer ZNC and rutin has bright application prospects and high utilization value to control gray mold.
PubMed: 37676331
DOI: 10.1007/s44154-023-00106-0 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Morels ( spp.) are highly prized and popular edible mushrooms. The outdoor cultivation of morels in China first developed at the beginning of the 21st century. Several...
Morels ( spp.) are highly prized and popular edible mushrooms. The outdoor cultivation of morels in China first developed at the beginning of the 21st century. Several species, such as , , and , have been commercially cultivated in greenhouses. However, the detriments and obstacles associated with continuous cropping have become increasingly serious, reducing yields and even leading to a complete lack of fructification. It has been reported that the obstacles encountered with continuous morel cropping may be related to changes in the soil microbial community. To study the effect of dazomet treatment on the cultivation of morel under continuous cropping, soil was fumigated with dazomet before morel sowing. Alpha diversity and beta diversity analysis results showed that dazomet treatment altered the microbial communities in continuous cropping soil, which decreased the relative abundance of soil-borne fungal pathogens, including , , , , and , increased the relative abundance of beneficial soil bacteria, including and . In addition, the dazomet treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of morel mycelia in the soil and significantly improved morel yield under continuous cropping. These results verified the relationship between the obstacles associated with continuous cropping in morels and the soil microbial community and elucidated the mechanism by which the obstacle is alleviated when using dazomet treatment.
PubMed: 37614603
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1200226 -
The Journal of Craniofacial SurgeryMucocele is a benign, expansile, and oppressive lesion, more common in the frontal and ethmoid sinus and less in the maxillary sinus. Sinus mucocele mainly causes cheek...
Mucocele is a benign, expansile, and oppressive lesion, more common in the frontal and ethmoid sinus and less in the maxillary sinus. Sinus mucocele mainly causes cheek swelling pain and nasal obstruction. In some cases, the paranasal mucocele grows large enough to compress periorbital structures and lead to impaired vision. Generally, mucocele is full of simple mucus, but pathogens can be found if co-infected, which means a poor prognosis. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is an effective treatment for this disease. Here, the authors report a case that a mucocele occurred in the maxillary sinus, and a fungal ball was also found during the operation, which is a result of Paecilomyces farinosus co-infection.
Topics: Humans; Mucocele; Maxillary Sinus; Treatment Outcome; Paranasal Sinus Diseases; Pain
PubMed: 37594021
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000009632 -
Food Microbiology Oct 2023In dairy industry, filamentous fungi are used as adjunct cultures in fermented products for their technological properties but they could also be responsible for food...
In dairy industry, filamentous fungi are used as adjunct cultures in fermented products for their technological properties but they could also be responsible for food spoilage and mycotoxin production. The consumer demands about free-preservative products has increased in recent years and lead to develop alternative methods for food preservation. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) can inhibit fungal growth and therefore increase the food product shelf-life. This study aimed to evaluate radial growth as a function of CO and more particularly carbonic acid for fourteen adjuncts and/or fungal spoiler isolated from dairy products or dairy environment by using predictive mycology tools. The impact of the different chemical species linked to CO (notably carbonic acid) were study because it was reported previously that undissociated carbonic acid impacted bacterial growth and bicarbonates ions were involved in modifications of physiological process of fungal cells. A significant diversity in the responses of selected strains was observed. Mucor circinelloides had the fastest growth rates (μ > 11 mm. day) while Bisifusarium domesticum, Cladosporium herbarum and Penicillium bialowiezense had the slowest growth rates (μ < 1 mm. day). Independently of the medium pH, the majority of strains were sensitive to total carbonic acid. In this case, it was not possible to conclude if CO active form was gaseous or aqueous so modeling were performed as a function of CO percentage. Only Geotrichum candidum and M. circinelloides strains were sensitive to undissociated carbonic acid. Among the fourteen strains, P. bialowiezense was the less sensitive strain to CO, no growth was observed at 50% of CO only for this strain. M. lanceolatus was the less sensitive strain to CO, the CO which reduce the growth rates by 50% was estimated at 138% of CO. Low CO percentage improved the growth of Penicillium expansum, Penicillium roqueforti and Paecilomyces niveus. Mathematical models (without and with optimum) were suggested to describe the impact of CO percentage or undissociated carbonic acid concentration on fungal growth rate.
Topics: Carbon Dioxide; Carbonic Acid; Fungi; Dairy Products; Food Preservation
PubMed: 37567633
DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104324 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases Aug 2023is an opportunistic mold that causes pulmonary infections in immunosuppressed humans that are often treated with triazole therapy. Lupus nephritis is a major cause of...
is an opportunistic mold that causes pulmonary infections in immunosuppressed humans that are often treated with triazole therapy. Lupus nephritis is a major cause of progressive kidney disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, often requiring cyclophosphamide-based therapies. Triazole-cyclophosphamide co-administration is challenging as triazoles increase cyclophosphamide concentrations, which can worsen cyclophosphamide toxicity. We describe herein a patient with pneumonia and concomitant lupus nephritis who was successfully treated with posaconazole and echinocandin-bridged interruptions to allow for cyclophosphamide therapy. This regimen was well-tolerated without cyclophosphamide toxicity and achieved improvements in both fungal pneumonia and renal function.
PubMed: 37564740
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad410 -
International Journal of Microbiology 2023Heat-resistant molds (HRMs) are important spoilage fungi of heat-processed fruit products worldwide. Ascospores of HRMs are widely distributed in the soil in which...
Heat-resistant molds (HRMs) are important spoilage fungi of heat-processed fruit products worldwide. Ascospores of HRMs are widely distributed in the soil in which fruits are grown and are often found associated with raw fruit materials. To date, there is little available information on the distribution of HRMs in the soil and on their heat resistance. Thus, this study determined the presence and characterized the heat resistance of HRMs in soil samples from pineapple and sugarcane fields in Thailand. HRMs were detected in all soil samples, and the most dominant species was with 50-99.2% relative abundance. Other isolates, in descending order of frequency, were , , and . Then, 100 representative HRM isolates were identified based on a combination of morphological characteristics and ITS sequences. They were classified into 5 genera and 24 species. The heat resistance of ascospores aged 30 days produced by selected HRMs was qualitatively determined in a glucose-buffered solution. Based on their log reductions after heat shock at 75°C for 30 min, they were classified as less, moderately, or highly heat-resistant ascospores. HRMs belonging to , , , , , , , and produced high heat-resistant ascospores. In addition, soil physicochemical properties significantly influenced the prevalence of HRMs, depending on the fungal genus. The thermal resistance of ascospores was significantly and positively correlated to available phosphorus, whereas it was negatively correlated to soil pH. The results of this study confirmed the presence of HRMs in soils and potential HRM contamination, especially in fruits growing in acidic or high-nutrient soils, or both.
PubMed: 37546548
DOI: 10.1155/2023/8347560 -
Biology Jul 2023The main hypothesis of the present research is investigating the efficacy of titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO-NPs) to prevent the growth of fungal strains when applied...
An Eco-Friendly Approach Utilizing Green Synthesized Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles for Leather Conservation against a Fungal Strain, AL1, Involved in the Biodeterioration of a Historical Manuscript.
The main hypothesis of the present research is investigating the efficacy of titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO-NPs) to prevent the growth of fungal strains when applied on leather under an experimental study. Therefore, fifteen fungal strains were isolated from a deteriorated historical manuscript (papers and leathers) and identified by traditional methods and ITS sequence analysis, including (one isolate), (two strains), (four strains), (one strain), (one strain), (two strains), (two strains), and (two strains). The enzymes cellulase, amylase, pectinase, and gelatinase, which play a crucial role in biodegradation, were highly active in these fungal strains. TiO-NPs were formed using the cell-free filtrate of the probiotic bacterial strain, , and characterized. Data showed that the TiO-NPs were successfully formed with a spherical shape and anatase phase with sizes of 2-8 nm. Moreover, the EDX analysis revealed that the Ti and O ions occupied the main component with weight percentages of 41.66 and 31.76%, respectively. The in vitro cytotoxicity of TiO-NPs toward two normal cell lines, WI38 and HFB4, showed a low toxicity effect against normal cells (IC = 114.1 ± 8.1µg mL for Wi38, and 237.5 ± 3.5µg mL for HFB4). Therefore, concentrations of 100 μg mL were used to load on prepared leather samples before inoculation with fungal strain AL1. The experimental study revealed that the loaded TiO-NPs have the efficacy to inhibit fungal growth with percentages of 73.2 ± 2.5%, 84.2 ± 1.8%, and 88.8 ± 0.6% after 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. Also, the analyses including SEM, FTIR-ART, color change, and mechanical properties for leather inoculated with fungal strain AL1 in the absence of NPs showed high damage aspects compared to those inoculated with fungal strains in the presence of TiO-NPs.
PubMed: 37508454
DOI: 10.3390/biology12071025 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Cordyceps exopolysaccharide (CEP) has shown emerging potential in adjustment of gut microbiota and immune cell function. In this study, a water-soluble CEP with a...
Cordyceps exopolysaccharide (CEP) has shown emerging potential in adjustment of gut microbiota and immune cell function. In this study, a water-soluble CEP with a molecular weight of 58.14 kDa was extracted from the fermentation broth of , an endophytic fungus of Cordyceps sinensis. Our results indicated that polysaccharide (PHP) showed significantly preventive potential on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, which can prevent colon shortening, reduce intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) destruction, suppress inflammatory cell infiltration, and regulate the balance between regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells. Meanwhile, the disturbed gut microbiota was partially restored after PHP treatment. Further Pearson correlation coefficient analyses exhibited that the alteration of the gut microbiota was significantly related to adjustment of the IEC barrier and Treg/Th17 balance. In conclusion, all findings proposed that purified PHP has the potential to develop into a promising agent for colitis prevention and adjuvant therapy via maintaining intestinal homeostasis of gut microbiota and immune system.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Colitis; Colon; Polysaccharides; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Colitis, Ulcerative
PubMed: 37446646
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28134984 -
The Science of the Total Environment Oct 2023The Angkor monuments have been registered on the World Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO, while the buildings built mostly of sandstone are suffering from serious...
The Angkor monuments have been registered on the World Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO, while the buildings built mostly of sandstone are suffering from serious deterioration and damage. Microorganisms are one of the leading causes for the sandstone deterioration. Identification of the mechanisms underlying the biodeterioration is of significance because it reveals the biochemical reaction involved so that effective conservation and restoration of cultural properties can be achieved. In this study, the fungal colonization and biodeterioration of sandstone in simulation experiments were examined using confocal reflection microscopy (CRM) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Aspergillus sp. strain AW1 and Paecilomyces sp. strain BY8 isolated from the deteriorated sandstone of Angkor Wat and Bayon of Angkor Thom, respectively, were inoculated and incubated with the sandstone used for construction of Angkor Wat. With CRM, we could visualize that strain AW1 tightly attached to and broke in the sandstone with extension of the hyphae. Quantitative imaging analyses showed that the sandstone surface roughness increased and the cavities formed under the fungal hyphae deepened during the incubation of strains AW1 and BY8. These highlighted that the massive growth of fungi even under the culture conditions was associated with the cavity formation of the sandstone and its expansion. Furthermore, SEM-EDS indicated the flat and Si-rich materials, presumably quartz and feldspar, were found frequently at the intact sandstone surface. But the flatness was lost during the incubation, possibly due to the detachment of the Si-rich mineral particles by the fungal deterioration. Consequently, this study proposed a biodeterioration model of the sandstone in that the hyphae of fungi elongated on the surface of the sandstone to penetrate into the soft and porous sandstone matrix, damaging the matrix and gradually destabilize the hard and Si-rich minerals, such as quartz and feldspar, to the collapse and cavities.
Topics: Quartz; Aluminum Silicates; Potassium Compounds; Minerals; Fungi
PubMed: 37400029
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165265 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are fatally threatening to critical patients. The fungal defensin as an antifungal protein can widely inhibit fungi.
INTRODUCTION
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are fatally threatening to critical patients. The fungal defensin as an antifungal protein can widely inhibit fungi.
METHODS
In this study, eight antifungal genes from different filamentous fungi were optimized by synonymous codon bias and heterologously expressed in .
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Only the antifungal protein (AFP) from was produced, whereas the AFP from its mutation of the chitin-binding domain could not be expressed, thereby suggesting the importance of the motif for protein folding. In addition, the recombinant AFP (rAFP, 100 μg/mL) pre-heated at 50°C for 1 h effectively inhibited CICC40716 of IFIs by 55%, and no cell cytotoxicity was observed in RAW264.7 cells. After being pre-heated at 50°C for 8 h, the fluorescence emission intensity of the rAFP decreased and shifted from 343 nm to 335 nm. Moreover, the helix and β-turn of the rAFP gradually decreased with the pre-heated treatment temperature of 50°C via circular dichroism spectroscopy. Propidium iodide staining revealed that the rAFP could cause damage to the cell membrane. Moreover, the corresponding differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for downregulation such as amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway involved in the cell wall integrity were found via the RNA-seq of rAFP treatment. By contrast, the upregulated DEGs were enriched in response to the oxidative stress of Biological Process by the Gene Ontology (GO) database. The encoding proteins of laccase, multicopper oxidase, and nitroreductase that contributed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging could be recognized. These results suggested that the rAFP may affect the integrity of the cell wall and cell membrane, and promote the increase in ROS, thereby resulting in fungal death. Consequently, drug development could be based on the inhibitory effect of the rAFP on IFIs.
PubMed: 37389349
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1172257