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Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Intertidal zones comprise diverse habitats and directly suffer from the influences of human activities. Nevertheless, the seasonal fluctuations in fungal diversity and...
Intertidal zones comprise diverse habitats and directly suffer from the influences of human activities. Nevertheless, the seasonal fluctuations in fungal diversity and community structure in these areas are not well comprehended. To address this gap, samples of seawater and sediment were collected seasonally from the estuary and swimming beaches of Qingdao's intertidal areas in China and were analyzed using a metabarcoding approach targeting ITS2 rDNA regions. Compared to the seawater community dominated by and Agaricomycetes, the sediment community was rather dominated by Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes. Furthermore, the seawater community shifted with the seasons but not with the locations, while the sediment community shifted seasonally and spatially, with a specific trend showing that , , and occurred predominantly in the estuarine habitats during winter and in the beach habitats during spring. These spatiotemporal shifts in fungal communities' composition were supported by the PERMANOVA test and could be explained partially by the environmental variables checked, including temperature, salinity, and total organic carbon. Unexpectedly, the lowest fungal richness was observed in the summer sediments from two swimming beaches which were attracting a high influx of tourists during summer, leading to a significant anthropogenic influence. Predicted trophic modes of fungal taxa exhibited a seasonal pattern with an abundance of saprotrophic fungi in the summer sediments, positively correlating to the temperature, while the taxa affiliated with symbiotroph and pathotroph-saprotroph occurred abundantly in the winter and spring sediments, respectively. Our results demonstrate the space-time shifts in terms of the fungal community, as well as the trophic modes in the intertidal region, providing in-depth insights into the potential influence of environmental factors and human activity on intertidal mycobiomes.
PubMed: 37888271
DOI: 10.3390/jof9101015 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023The growth of four commercial biocontrol agents (BCAs: (BAD), (APD), (MFN), and (TAS)) was evaluated using turbidimetric assays on artificial substrates mimicking...
The growth of four commercial biocontrol agents (BCAs: (BAD), (APD), (MFN), and (TAS)) was evaluated using turbidimetric assays on artificial substrates mimicking the chemical berry composition at four stages: pea-sized berries, veraison, softening, and ripe berries. The response of BCA growth differed among BCAs. Subsequently, the BCAs' population size was assessed after 1 to 13 days of incubation on the substrate mimicking ripe berries at 15 to 35 °C. The population size of BAD increased with temperatures, while that of MFN decreased; the population sizes of APD and TAS showed bell-shaped patterns with lower growth at 15 or 35 °C. Finally, the BCAs were applied to ripe berries and then incubated at 15 to 30 °C. After 1 to 13 days, the berries were inoculated with and incubated for 7 days, after which the BCA control efficacy was assessed. The highest control was observed at 25 °C for BAD and APD, at 15 to 20 °C for MFN, and at 25 to 30 °C for TAS. The results confirm that the plant substrates and temperature affect the population size of the BCA following application; temperature also affects the preventative efficacy of BCA against .
PubMed: 37836169
DOI: 10.3390/plants12193430 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Ulcerative colitis (UC), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease with unclear etiology and pathophysiology. Herein,...
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease with unclear etiology and pathophysiology. Herein, we determined the effects of extracellular polysaccharides purified from SM-2001 (Polycan) on tight junction protein expression, inflammation, and apoptosis in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis model. Fifty mice were divided into normal, DSS, DSS + Polycan 250 mg/kg (Polycan 250), DSS + Polycan 500 mg/kg (Polycan 500), and DSS + 5-aminosalicylic acid 100 mg/kg (5-ASA) groups. Their body weights, colon lengths, histological changes in colon tissue, and tight junction function were observed. Results showed that Polycan 250, Polycan 500, and 5-ASA significantly inhibited body weight loss compared with DSS. Similar to 5-ASA, Polycan 500 exhibited preventive effects on colon length shortening and histological changes in colon tissues. Polycan inhibited the DSS-induced decrease in fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran permeability and myeloperoxidase activity. Moreover, Polycan significantly recovered serum cytokine (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β) or mRNA expression in colon tissue compared with DSS. Polycan also inhibited apoptosis by reducing caspase-3 activity and the Bcl-2 associated X/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) ratio. Additionally, DSS treatment significantly reduced microbial abundance and diversity, but the administration of Polycan reversed this effect. Collectively, Polycan protected intestinal barrier function and inhibited inflammation and apoptosis in DSS-induced colitis.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Colitis, Ulcerative; Dextrans; Glucans; beta-Glucans; Colitis; Colon; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Mesalamine; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 37834221
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914773 -
BMC Plant Biology Oct 2023Microbial communities have occasionally been observed in part of the ephemeric reproductive structure of floral stigmas, but their prevalence, phylogenetic diversity and...
BACKGROUND
Microbial communities have occasionally been observed in part of the ephemeric reproductive structure of floral stigmas, but their prevalence, phylogenetic diversity and ecological roles are understudied. This report describes the first study of bacterial and fungal communities in immature and mature stigma tissue of the endangered holoparasitic plant Phelipanche arenaria. Culture-dependent methods coupled with next-generation sequencing indicated that a small surface of the flower stigma was an unexpectedly rich and diverse microhabitat for colonization of microbial. We also compared the enzymatic activity of the bacterial communities between immature and mature stigmas samples.
RESULTS
Using high-throughput sequencing methods, we identified and classified 39 to over 51 OTUs per sample for bacterial OTUs represented by Pantoea agglomerans and P. ananatis, comprising 50.6%, followed by Pseudomonas, Luteibacter spp., Sphingomonas spp. with 17% of total frequency. The bacterial profile of immature stigmas of P. arenaria contained unique microorganisms (21 of the most numerous OTUs) that were not confirmed in mature stigmas. However, the enzymatic activity of bacteria in mature stigmas of P. arenaria showed more activity than observed in immature stigmas. In the fungal profile, we recorded even 80 OTUs in mature stigmas, consisting of Capnodiales 45.03% of the total abundance with 28.27% of frequency was created by Alternaria eichhorniae (10.55%), Mycosphaerella tassiana (9.69%), and Aureobasidium pullulans (8.03%). Additionally, numerous putative plant growth-promoting bacteria, fungal pathogens and pathogen-antagonistic yeasts were also detected.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study uncovered that P. arenaria stigmas host diverse bacterial and fungal communities. These microorganisms are well known and have been described as beneficial for biotechnological and environmental applications (e.g., production of different enzymes and antimicrobial compounds). This research provided valuable insight into the parasitic plant-microbe interactions.
Topics: Phylogeny; Orobanchaceae; Microbiota; Bacteria; Flowers
PubMed: 37821804
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04488-1 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Recent advances in the management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), such as exon skipping and gene therapy, though have reached a clinical stage, the outcome at its...
Recent advances in the management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), such as exon skipping and gene therapy, though have reached a clinical stage, the outcome at its best is still considered suboptimal. In this study, we evaluated a novel N-163 strain of Aureobasidium pullulans produced β-glucan (Neu-REFIX) for its potential as an adjuvant to slow down the progression of the disease by anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. In this study, 45 mice in the three groups, 15 each in a group; Gr. 1 normal mice, Gr.2 mdx mice as vehicle, and Gr.3 mdx mice administered the N-163 β-glucan for 45 days. The N-163 β-glucan group showed a significant decrease in the plasma ALT, AST, and LDH levels (126 ± 69 U/l, 634 ± 371 U/l, 3335 ± 1258 U/l) compared with the vehicle group (177 ± 27 U/l, 912 ± 126 U/l, 4186 ± 398 U/l). Plasma TGF-β levels increased, and plasma IL-13 levels decreased in the N-163 group. The inflammation score of HE-stained muscle sections in the N-163 group (1.5 ± 0.8) was lower than that in the vehicle group (2.0 ± 0.8). The N-163 strain β-glucan group (24.22 ± 4.80) showed a significant decrease in the fibrosis area (Masson's Trichrome-positive area) compared with the vehicle group (36.78 ± 5.74). The percentage of centrally nucleated fibres evaluated by Masson's trichrome staining was 0 in the normal group, while it increased to 80% in the vehicle group but remained at 76.8% in the N-163 group. The N-163 β-glucan group showed a significant decrease in the fibrosis area. Considering their safety and easy oral consumption, Neu-REFIX β-glucan could be worth large multicentre clinical studies as adjuvant in slowing down the progress of DMD.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Mice, Inbred mdx; beta-Glucans; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne; Fibrosis; Muscle, Skeletal
PubMed: 37813938
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44330-0 -
Food Chemistry: X Oct 2023Microbial activity during spontaneous fermentation in alcoholic beverages have driven in developing the chemical and aromatic characteristic of products but not clear in...
Microbial activity during spontaneous fermentation in alcoholic beverages have driven in developing the chemical and aromatic characteristic of products but not clear in apricot wines. We have characterised the composition of fungal communities and volatile metabolites in apricot wine spontaneous fermentation among two Shaanxi regions. Results showed that , , and , were the dominant fungi in apricot wine fermentation. A total of 80 volatiles including esters, alcohols, acids and terpenes were detected from two apricot wines. Their correlations suggested that apricot wine aroma was mainly affected by , rather than we commonly considered. Furthermore, reinforced inoculation of LQD20 has exhibited the commendable potential in enhancing sensory qualities. The results of this study provide fundamental information of the indigenous microbiota in microbial dynamic during apricot wine fermentation, which would be helpful in exploiting the strains with potential for industrial use as starter cultures.
PubMed: 37780311
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100862 -
Polymers Sep 2023Melanin as a natural polymer is found in all living organisms, and plays an important role in protecting the body from harmful UV rays from the sun. The efficiency of...
A Comparative Study of Cr(VI) Sorption by AKW Biomass and Its Extracellular Melanin: Complementary Modeling with Equilibrium Isotherms, Kinetic Studies, and Decision Tree Modeling.
Melanin as a natural polymer is found in all living organisms, and plays an important role in protecting the body from harmful UV rays from the sun. The efficiency of fungal biomass () and its extracellular melanin as Cr(VI) biosorbents was comparatively considered. The efficiency of Cr(VI) biosorption by the two sorbents used was augmented up to 240 min. The maximum sorption capacities were 485.747 (fungus biomass) and 595.974 (melanin) mg/g. The practical data were merely fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The kinetics of the biosorption process obeyed the pseudo-first-order. Melanin was superior in Cr(VI) sorption than fungal biomass. Furthermore, four independent variables (contact time, initial concentration of Cr(VI), biosorbent dosage, and pH,) were modeled by the two decision trees (DTs). Conversely, to equilibrium isotherms and kinetic studies, DT of fungal biomass had lower errors compared to DT of melanin. Lately, the DTs improved the efficacy of the Cr(VI) removal process, thus introducing complementary and alternative solutions to equilibrium isotherms and kinetic studies. The Cr(VI) biosorption onto the biosorbents was confirmed and elucidated through FTIR, SEM, and EDX investigations. Conclusively, this is the first report study attaining the biosorption of Cr(VI) by biomass of . and its extracellular melanin among equilibrium isotherms, kinetic study, and algorithmic decision tree modeling.
PubMed: 37765609
DOI: 10.3390/polym15183754 -
Microorganisms Aug 2023is a tea leaf moth that is considered one of the most destructive pests of (tea plant). Several recent studies have shown that many insects acquire part of the...
is a tea leaf moth that is considered one of the most destructive pests of (tea plant). Several recent studies have shown that many insects acquire part of the microbiome from their host and soil, but the pattern and diversity of their microbiome have not been clearly demonstrated. The present study aimed to investigate the bacterial and fungal communities present in the rhizospheric soil and leaf of tea plant compared to the gut of tea moth at different developmental stages (larvae, pupae, adult female and male) using Illumina MiSeq technology. Alpha diversity (Shannon index) showed higher ( < 0.05) bacterial and fungal diversity in soil samples than in leaf and tea moth larvae, pupae, and adult gut samples. However, during different developmental stages of tea moth, bacterial and fungal diversity did not differ ( > 0.05) between larvae, pupae, female, and male guts. Beta diversity also revealed more distinct bacterial and fungal communities in soil and leaf samples compared with tea moth gut samples, which had a more similar microbiome. Furthermore, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Tenericutes were detected as the dominant bacterial phyla, while Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota were the most abundant fungal phyla among all groups, but their relative abundance was comparatively higher ( < 0.05) in soil and leaf samples compared to tea moth gut samples. Similarly, , , and were the top three bacterial genera, while , , and were the top three fungal genera, and their relative abundance varied significantly ( < 0.05) among all groups. The KEGG analysis also revealed significantly higher ( < 0.5) enrichment of the functional pathways of bacterial communities in soil and leaf samples than in tea moth gut samples. Our study concluded that the bacterial and fungal communities of soil and tea leaves were more diverse and were significantly different from the tea moth gut microbiome at different developmental stages. Our findings contribute to our understanding of the gut microbiota of the tea moth and its potential application in the development of pest management techniques.
PubMed: 37764032
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092188 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023Regel () is a healthy edible plant but highly perishable with a short shelf life of 1-2 d. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) could inhibit the postharvest senescence...
Polypropylene/Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Breathing Film for Inhibiting and Maintaining Microbial Communities and Postharvest Quality of Regel during Storage.
Regel () is a healthy edible plant but highly perishable with a short shelf life of 1-2 d. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) could inhibit the postharvest senescence and decay of the vegetables. Thus, the aim of this study was to apply MAP with different gas permeabilities to the storage of and evaluate its effects on maintaining microbial communities and the postharvest quality of . The results showed that polypropylene/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PP/PBAT, abbreviated as PAT) MAP was suitable for the storage of by establishing an optimal atmosphere of 0.5-0.6% O and 6.2-7.1% CO in the bag. It could delay the postharvest senescence of and maintain its quality by slowing down its respiration rate and weight loss, reducing cell membrane permeability and lipid peroxidation, maintaining the cell wall, and reducing infection and the growth of microorganisms. However, in HPT was more perishable than that in PAT during storage. was found to be the main spoilage bacteria, and they could also be effectively inhibited by PAT-MAP. The next-generation sequencing results also showed the growth of , , , , , and , responsible for decay or human disease, was well inhibited by PAT-MAP. The results suggested that PAT-MAP could be used to maintain microbial diversity and the postharvest quality of under cold storage conditions. It provided a feasible solution for the preservation, food quality, and safety control of .
PubMed: 37761079
DOI: 10.3390/foods12183370 -
Access Microbiology 2023Fungal keratitis is a time-sensitive ocular infection that often requires a high index of suspicion followed by intensive medical/surgical interventions to achieve a...
Fungal keratitis is a time-sensitive ocular infection that often requires a high index of suspicion followed by intensive medical/surgical interventions to achieve a successful clinical outcome. COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, necessitated the modification of conventional protocols and guidelines associated with the treatment of keratomycosis. We report four cases of atypical fungal keratitis with poorly differentiated clinical characteristics. The challenges faced during their management were (1) the dilemma of clinically differentiating fungal () and bacterial keratitis; (2) treatment of and keratitis with natamycin monotherapy; (3) mixed infection of and and continuing medications before rescraping the corneal ulcer against the recommended treatment guidelines; (4) phenotypic identification and differentiation among morphologically resembling fungi; and (5) decision making arising out of disparities between KOH and fungal culture results. Three patients responded well to conservative treatments. The fourth patient underwent therapeutic keratoplasty but was lost to follow-up due to travelrelated pandemic restrictions. This case series seeks to broaden the clinician's knowledge of rare and emerging moulds as presumptive aetiologies of keratomycosis. It also intends to emphasize the significance of early microbiological investigations, (direct microscopy and culture), in resource-limited settings, for initiating empirical treatment for a better visual prognosis.
PubMed: 37691845
DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000570.v3