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Effects of Cryptosporidium parvum infection on intestinal fungal microbiota in yaks (Bos grunniens).Microbial Pathogenesis Oct 2023During the last decade, researchers had started to focus on the relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and variation of intestinal microflora....
During the last decade, researchers had started to focus on the relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and variation of intestinal microflora. Cryptosporidium is a widely known opportunistic and zoonotic pathogen. Several studies have shown that Cryptosporidium infection has impact to alter the gut microflora. However, there are only few studies referring to the fungal microflora changes in response to Cryptosporidium infection in highland ruminants. Therefore, the present study was performed for exploring the alternations of intestinal fungal microbiota in yaks after exposure to Cryptosporidium infection. In present study, Amplicon sequencing of ITS regions was used to study the variations of fungal microflora in yaks. After filtering the raw data, over 45 000 and 62 000 clean data were obtained in uninfected and infected yaks, respectively. By using alpha diversity analysis, it was found that there is no significant difference in the richness and evenness when positive samples were compared with negative ones, whereas intestinal fungal communities in different taxa in yaks were changed. The results of present study depicted that 2-phyla and 21-genera in the infected animals had significantly (P < 0.05) changed. These genera were Septoria, Coniothyrium, Cleistothelebolus, Bensingtonia, Cystobasidium, Filobasidium, Coprotus, Carex, Blumeria, Coprinellus, Leucosporidium, Phialophora, Isolepis, Ascobolus, Thecaphora, Mortierella, Urocystis, Symmetrospora and Lasiobolus. In addition, we found variations in 28 enzymes suggesting that the function of microbiota was also affected. It is concluded that there are drastic changes in the fungal microflora and microbiota functions after exposure to Cryptosporidium infection in yak. Our results help to focus on the prompt way for the development of new therapies to control Cryptosporidiosis.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cryptosporidiosis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mycobiome; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cryptosporidium
PubMed: 37633503
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106322 -
Enzyme and Microbial Technology Oct 2023ZEN lactone hydrolase (ZHD) can hydrolyze zearalenone (ZEN) to less or non-toxic product, providing an environment-friendly way for food or feeds-containing ZENs...
ZEN lactone hydrolase (ZHD) can hydrolyze zearalenone (ZEN) to less or non-toxic product, providing an environment-friendly way for food or feeds-containing ZENs detoxification. Here, a newly identified ZHD from Phialophora attinorum, annotated as Zhd11D, was characterized to exhibit highest activity against ZEN at pH 8.0 and 35 ℃ with a specific activity of 304.7 U/mg, which was far higher than most of the reported ZHDs. A nonspecific protein engineering method was introduced through fusing a segment of amphiphilic short peptide S1 at the N-terminus of Zhd11D, resulting in both improved activity (1.5-fold) and thermostability (2-fold at 40 ℃). Biochemical analysis demonstrated that self-aggregation caused by intermolecular interactions between S1 contributed to the improvement of the enzymatic properties of Zhd11D. Additionally, S1-Zhd11D showed a higher hydrolysis rate of ZEN than Zhd11D in peanut oil.
Topics: Zearalenone; Phialophora; Hydrolases; Lactones
PubMed: 37499311
DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110286 -
Journal of Pesticide Science May 2023To elucidate the cause of brown stem rot in the adzuki bean, we re-evaluated the phytotoxins produced in cultures of the causative agent, f. sp. . The ethyl...
To elucidate the cause of brown stem rot in the adzuki bean, we re-evaluated the phytotoxins produced in cultures of the causative agent, f. sp. . The ethyl acetate-soluble acidic fraction of the culture, as well as the neutral fraction, inhibited the growth of alfalfa seedlings. In the neutral fraction, known phytotoxins gregatin A, B, and C or D and penicilliol A were present. Although the phytotoxins in the acidic fraction were unstable, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the partially purified material suggested that one phytotoxin present was the non-methylated gregatin desmethyl-gregatin A (gregatinic acid A).
PubMed: 37361487
DOI: 10.1584/jpestics.D22-070 -
Retinal Cases & Brief Reports May 2023To report a rare case of a subretinal Phialophora richardsiae abscess in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).
PURPOSE
To report a rare case of a subretinal Phialophora richardsiae abscess in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).
METHODS
A 21-year-old male with CGD and a history of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis presented with progressive loss of vision and pain in his left eye. He was found to have a subretinal abscess with a macula involving serous retinal detachment. A diagnostic and therapeutic pars plana vitrectomy, subretinal biopsy with debridment, inferior retinectomy and silicone oil tamponade was performed. Intraoperative cultures grew Pleurostoma (Phialophora) richardsiae. He was treated with systemic liposomal amphotericin B and high-dose Posaconazole. However, eye eventually required enucleation.
RESULTS
Preoperative visual acuity (VA) was light perception on the left eye and improved to count fingers at 4 weeks post-operative. However, VA rapidly declined to light perception, he developed an opaque white cataract, iris neovascularization, posterior synechiae, and corectopia. The retina remained attached under silicone oil. Histopathology revealed granuloma formation and active fungal elements.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
The case supports the importance of vitreoretinal surgery to determine a definitive systemic diagnosis. Treatment of Phialophora infection is surgically challenging to manage and has a poor visual prognosis in patients with CGD.
PubMed: 37267629
DOI: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001442 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023Soybean () acreage is increasing dramatically, together with the use of soybean as a source of vegetable protein and oil. However, soybean production is affected by... (Review)
Review
Soybean () acreage is increasing dramatically, together with the use of soybean as a source of vegetable protein and oil. However, soybean production is affected by several diseases, especially diseases caused by fungal seed-borne pathogens. As infected seeds often appear symptomless, diagnosis by applying accurate detection techniques is essential to prevent propagation of pathogens. Seed incubation on culture media is the traditional method to detect such pathogens. This method is simple, but fungi have to develop axenically and expert mycologists are required for species identification. Even experts may not be able to provide reliable type level identification because of close similarities between species. Other pathogens are soil-borne. Here, traditional methods for detection and identification pose even greater problems. Recently, molecular methods, based on analyzing DNA, have been developed for sensitive and specific identification. Here, we provide an overview of available molecular assays to identify species of the genera , , , , , , , , , , , and causing soybean diseases. We also describe the basic steps in establishing PCR-based detection methods, and we discuss potentials and challenges in using such assays.
PubMed: 37233298
DOI: 10.3390/jof9050587 -
Mycoscience 2022Some Asian fungi are morphologically very similar to European species but belong to different species. A fungus that resembles , which commonly occurs on the petioles of...
Some Asian fungi are morphologically very similar to European species but belong to different species. A fungus that resembles , which commonly occurs on the petioles of in Europe, was found on the petioles of spp. and other tree leaves in Japan. The apothecia of this fungus were smaller than those of , suggesting that it is a different species. To examine this possibility, specimens of this fungus were collected from various hosts in Japan. A detailed morphological examination elucidated that this fungus differed from in smaller apothecia, marginal cells of the ectal excipulum, and conidia. The ITS sequence difference between this fungus and was 3.3-4.3%, and they formed distinct clades in the phylogenetic analysis, supporting that they are different species. Consequently, a new species, is described. Since an undescribed phialophora-state was observed in the cultures of for the first time, the morphology under culture is also reported in detail.
PubMed: 37090199
DOI: 10.47371/mycosci.2022.07.003 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a form of chronic mycosis that affects the skin and mucous membranes and is caused by species of dematiaceous fungi including Exophiala...
INTRODUCTION
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a form of chronic mycosis that affects the skin and mucous membranes and is caused by species of dematiaceous fungi including Exophiala spp., Phialophora spp., and Fonsecaea spp. The persistence of this disease and limitations associated with single-drug treatment have complicated efforts to adequately manage this condition.
METHODS
In this study, a microdilution assay was used to explore the synergistic antifungal activity of everolimus (EVL) in combination with itraconazole (ITC), voriconazole (VRC), posaconazole (POS), and amphotericin B (AMB) against a range of clinical dematiaceous fungal isolates.
RESULTS
These analyses revealed that the EVL+POS and EVL+ITC exhibited superior in vitro synergistic efficacy, respectively inhibiting the growth of 64% (14/22) and 59% (13/22) of tested strains. In contrast, the growth of just 9% (2/22) of tested strains was inhibited by a combination of EVL+AMB, and no synergistic efficacy was observed for the combination of EVL+VRC.
DISCUSSION
Overall, these findings indicate that EVL holds promise as a novel drug that can be synergistically combined with extant antifungal drugs to improve their efficacy, thereby aiding in the treatment of CBM.
Topics: Humans; Antifungal Agents; Everolimus; Amphotericin B; Mycoses; Voriconazole; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Fungi
PubMed: 36909734
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1131416 -
American Journal of Ophthalmology Case... Mar 2023To report the initial case of microbial keratitis caused by , a rare cause of fungal keratitis.
PURPOSE
To report the initial case of microbial keratitis caused by , a rare cause of fungal keratitis.
OBSERVATIONS
A 66-year-old gentleman with a complex right eye (OD) ocular history including herpes simplex virus infectious epithelial keratitis with subsequent neurotrophic keratopathy, and prior combined and fungal keratitis presented with pain OD in the absence of an antecedent trauma. The patient was found to have a filamentous fungal keratitis, which was subsequently cultured and identified as by the laboratory. Despite topical and oral antifungal treatment based on sensitivities determined by the lab, the patient ultimately required intrastromal and subconjunctival antifungal injections, corneal crosslinking, and superficial keratectomy with amniotic membrane to clinically improve. The fungal keratitis recurred twice, with each occurrence rapidly progressing to corneal perforation. Months after the second penetrating keratoplasty, the patient's mental status declined due to multiorgan failure. An occult pulmonary malignancy was discovered during this hospital stay, and the patient was lost to follow-up after entering hospice.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE
We report a unique case of fungal keratitis caused by and the subsequent management, including both medical and surgical interventions Despite a multimodal treatment regimen, this case demonstrates the recalcitrant and potentially recurrent nature of fungal keratitis caused by .
PubMed: 36714019
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2023.101800 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Feb 2023Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin most frequently found in cereals that can cause reproductive disorders in livestock and pose a severe threat to animal...
Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin most frequently found in cereals that can cause reproductive disorders in livestock and pose a severe threat to animal husbandry. In this study, we isolated a ZEN-degrading strain from soil and found that ZenH, a hydrolase, is responsible for the hydrolysis of ZEN through comparative proteomics and biochemical studies. ZenH exhibited the highest similarity with lactone hydrolase ZHD607 from at 21.52%. ZenH displayed maximal enzymatic activity at pH 7.0 and 55 °C with a Michaelis constant of 12.64 μM. The catalytic triad of ZenH was identified as S117-D142-H292 by molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. ZenH catalyzed the hydrolysis of ZEN to a novel metabolite, (,)-4-hydroxy-2-(10-hydroxy-6-oxoundec-1-en-1-yl)-7-oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-8-one, which exhibited significantly lower estrogenic toxicity than ZEN. This study illustrates a novel ZEN-degrading enzyme and reveals a new degradation product. Furthermore, the enzyme showed good potential for detoxifying ZEN during food processing.
Topics: Animals; Zearalenone; Hydrolases; Molecular Docking Simulation; Mycotoxins; Biodegradation, Environmental
PubMed: 36701132
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c06410 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Mar 2023We report a case of subcutaneous mycosis in the form of a subcutaneous cyst of the index finger, successfully treated by surgery and posaconazole in an 84-year-old...
We report a case of subcutaneous mycosis in the form of a subcutaneous cyst of the index finger, successfully treated by surgery and posaconazole in an 84-year-old female kidney transplant patient. Intra-operative mycological analysis enabled the diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis. is an environmental mold recently described in human pathology in cases of chromoblastomycosis. This is the first case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to in an immunocompromised patient.
PubMed: 36620427
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2022.12.003