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Frontiers in Microbiology 2022Continuous cropping of watermelon () may lead to soil degradation. As a soil conditioner, microbial agent has great potential in improving soil function and enhancing...
Continuous cropping of watermelon () may lead to soil degradation. As a soil conditioner, microbial agent has great potential in improving soil function and enhancing plant growth. In this study, we aimed to explore how microbial agent relieves the soil sickness of watermelon by analyzing watermelon performance, soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structures. Results suggested that microbial agent treatments significantly changed the photosynthetic efficiency of upper and lower leaves, which helped improve the growth of watermelon. The single fruit weight, fruit sugar degree and total phosphorus of soil following treatment with a mixture of DZ910 and KC1723 (treatment D_K) were higher than those in single biofertilizer treatments and control. The soil microbial community under microbial agent treatments also changed significantly, indicating the feasibility of using microbial agents as soil remediations. The proportions of and , changed significantly after using microbial agents. increased significantly after KC1723 and D_K treatments, while increased significantly after using all three kinds of microbial agents compared to control. Increases in these bacteria were positively correlated with agronomic variables of watermelon. The fungi and in the soil, which create an soil sickness of watermelon, decreased after KC1723 and D_K treatments. Meanwhile, and were positively related to incidence and negatively correlated with watermelon growth (single fruit weight and photosynthetic efficiency of upper leaves). Our microbial agent, especially D_K, represents a useful technique for alleviating soil sickness in watermelon.
PubMed: 36713202
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1101975 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Aspergillosis is a disease caused by some species of the fungus Aspergillus, occurring in both mammals (including humans) and birds, the latter being the most...
spp. Isolated from Lungs of Poultry () at the Mycology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica between 2008 and 2021 and Associated Factors.
Aspergillosis is a disease caused by some species of the fungus Aspergillus, occurring in both mammals (including humans) and birds, the latter being the most susceptible group. Aspergillus must be considered a public health concern as it affects the poultry industry economically and is an occupational risk to its workers. A retrospective study of fungal isolates from the lungs of chickens (Gallus gallus), analyzed between 2008 and 2021 at the Mycology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica was performed to report the prevalence of Aspergillus spp. in poultry farms in Costa Rica and their associated factors. A total of 1113 cases were received, of which 31% (n = 392; 95% CI: 28.3−33.7) were positive for fungal isolation. Aspergillus was the most frequently detected genus, and the most frequent sections were Fumigati (n = 197/392, 50.3%), Flavi (n = 90/392, 22.9%), and Nigri (n = 50/392, 12.7%). Significant effects (p < 0.05) related to the year, geographical origin, purpose, and age were identified in relation to the Aspergillus infection. The identified factors are explained by climatic variations in the tropics and the particularities of the birds. Future research including molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility tests in animals, humans, and the environment, are needed to better understand the risks of the diseases caused by those fungi in this country.
PubMed: 36675879
DOI: 10.3390/jof9010058 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Few studies have investigated the diversity of spoilage fungi from the dairy production chain in Brazil, despite their importance as spoilage microorganisms. In the...
Few studies have investigated the diversity of spoilage fungi from the dairy production chain in Brazil, despite their importance as spoilage microorganisms. In the present study, 109 filamentous fungi were isolated from various spoiled dairy products and dairy production environments. The isolates were identified through sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. In spoiled products, Penicillium and Cladosporium were the most frequent genera of filamentous fungi and were also present in the dairy environment, indicating that they may represent a primary source of contamination. For dairy production environments, the most frequent genera were Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Nigrospora. Four species (Hypoxylon griseobrunneum, Rhinocladiella similis, Coniochaeta rosae, and Paecilomyces maximus) were identified for the first time in dairy products or in dairy production environment. Phytopathogenic genera were also detected, such as Montagnula, Clonostachys, and Riopa. One species isolated from the dairy production environment is classified as the pathogenic fungi, R. similis. Regarding the phylogeny, 14 different families were observed and most of the fungi belong to the Ascomycota phylum. The understanding of fungal biodiversity in dairy products and environment can support the development of conservation strategies to control food spoilage. This includes the suitable use of preservatives in dairy products, as well as the application of specific cleaning and sanitizing protocols designed for a specific group of target microorganisms.
PubMed: 36613369
DOI: 10.3390/foods12010153 -
Journal of Clinical and Experimental... Dec 2022() is a fungal species found in soil, wood and some foods, and has been associated with some severe systemic infections. has not been previously identified in carious...
() is a fungal species found in soil, wood and some foods, and has been associated with some severe systemic infections. has not been previously identified in carious tissue, and the aim of the present study is to report the presence of in a deep carious lesion discussing its possible local and systemic associations. A 28 year-old male was submitted to extraction of the upper left second premolar (tooth #25) presenting a deep carious lesion. After extraction the tooth was cleaved in its long axis, and the infected dentinal tissue was curetted and submitted to microbiological analysis using CHROMagar® Candida medium and Malt Extract Agar. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis confirmed the presence of P. variotti in the carious tissue. Post-operatory period was uneventful, healing of the dental socket was complete, and the patient remained well during the follow-up period. , a fungus not considered saprophyte in the oral cavity, was encountered in a deep caries lesion, and its potential association with local and systemic infections should be considered. Paecilomyces variotti, dental caries.
PubMed: 36601242
DOI: 10.4317/jced.60031 -
3 Biotech Jan 2023Thermophilic fungi are known to develop different metabolic and catabolic activities that enable them to function at elevated temperatures. Screening heat-resistant...
UNLABELLED
Thermophilic fungi are known to develop different metabolic and catabolic activities that enable them to function at elevated temperatures. Screening heat-resistant fungi, as promising resources for enzymatic activities, are still recommended. A total of eleven wood-decay thermophilic fungal strains were isolated from decaying organic materials (DOM) collected from arid areas of Khulais (Saudi Arabia). Six of these isolates are laccase-producing thermophilic strains growing at 50 °C. Among Laccase positive (Lac+) isolates, (G3), (KW1), and (KW3) were exploited to treat single selected endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that belonged to different classes (synthetic steroid hormone: 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), and alkylphenols:4-tert-butylphenol (4-t-BP)). was selected due to its potentialities against target EDCs, and then, their laccases were extracted and exploited for the biocatalytic degradation of treated municipal sewage wastewaters (TMWW) mixed with 4-t-BP and EE2. The results show that within 2 h of catalyzing at 50 °C, laccase could degrade 60 ± 4.8% of 4-t-BP; however, it oxidized EE2 less efficiently, reaching 35 ± 4.1%. The influence of some redox mediators on the laccase oxidation system was investigated. The 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) and syringaldehyde led to the highest transformation rates of EE2 (approximately 80 ± 2.4%). Near-total removal (90 ± 7.2%) of 4-t-BP was achieved with TEMPO in 2 h. With the metabolites identified through gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS), metabolic pathways of degradation were suggested. The results highlight the potential of sp. strains in the conversion of micropollutants.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03439-1.
PubMed: 36590243
DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03439-1 -
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology... Apr 2023Any reliable allergy diagnosis depends on the quality of the testing material. In the case of fungal allergy, fungal extracts, typically used as test solutions, exhibit...
BACKGROUND
Any reliable allergy diagnosis depends on the quality of the testing material. In the case of fungal allergy, fungal extracts, typically used as test solutions, exhibit considerable differences in their allergenicity. Better knowledge of fungal allergen expression would enable the production of diagnostic fungal extracts of higher quality and, thus, improve the specificity and sensitivity of fungal allergy diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
Our study aimed to find optimal cultivation conditions for the highest expression of fungal allergens.
METHODS
Fungal species (Alternaria alternata, Ulocladium chartarum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium herbarum, and Paecilomyces variotii) were cultivated under different conditions, and extracts were prepared from fungal material. To detect the expression of the homologous major allergens Alt a 1 and Ulo c 1 and of different fungal enolases, Western blots with allergen-specific antibodies were carried out.
RESULTS
Western blots performed with antibodies directed against Alt a 1 and enolases showed that the expression of fungal allergens is highly species-dependent. Even allergens of closely related fungal species and highly conserved, cross-reactive allergens display different expression patterns.
CONCLUSION
This study exhibits the impact of different environmental conditions on the expression of the fungal allergens Alt a 1, Ulo c 1, and different fungal enolases. Furthermore, it broadens the knowledge regarding the expression pattern of the major fungal allergens Alt a 1 and Ulo c 1. Information obtained in this study will help to optimize fungal cultivation to produce diagnostic fungal extracts of high quality and, therefore, improve diagnostic specificity and sensitivity.
Topics: Humans; Allergens; Antigens, Fungal; Alternaria; Hypersensitivity; Aspergillus fumigatus; Plant Extracts; Fungal Proteins
PubMed: 36435304
DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2022.11.017 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022Polysaccharides, which can be affected by different preparations, play a crucial role in the biological function of (PHPS) as a health food. To explore high-valued...
Polysaccharides, which can be affected by different preparations, play a crucial role in the biological function of (PHPS) as a health food. To explore high-valued polysaccharides and reduce the negative influence of human involvement, a green tailorable deep eutectic solvent (DES) was applied to optimize the extraction of polysaccharides (PHPS-D), followed by the evaluation of the structural properties and immunomodulation by comparison with the hot-water method (PHPS-W). The results indicated that the best system for PHPS-D was a type of carboxylic acid-based DES consisting of choline chloride and succinic acid in the molar ratio of 1:3, with a 30% water content. The optimal condition was as follows: liquid-solid ratio of 50 mL/g, extraction temperature of 85 °C, and extraction time of 1.7 h. The actual PHPS-D yield was 12.78 ± 0.17%, which was obviously higher than that of PHPS-W. The structural characteristics suggested that PHPS-D contained more uronic acid (22.34 ± 1.38%) and glucose (40.3 ± 0.5%), with a higher molecular weight (3.26 × 10 g/mol) and longer radius of gyration (78.2 ± 3.6 nm), as well as extended chain conformation, compared with PHPS-W, and these results were confirmed by AFM and SEM. Immunomodulatory assays suggested that PHPS-D showed better performance than PHPS-W regarding pinocytic activity and the secretion of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) by activating the corresponding mRNA expression in RAW264.7 cells. This study showed that carboxylic acid-based DES could be a promising tailorable green system for acidic polysaccharide preparation and the valorization of in functional foods.
Topics: Humans; Deep Eutectic Solvents; Solvents; Polysaccharides; Water; Immunomodulation; Carboxylic Acids
PubMed: 36432126
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27228020 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022This study aims to assess the deterioration aspects of a historical manuscript dating back to the 14th century that was deposited in the Library of the Arabic Language...
This study aims to assess the deterioration aspects of a historical manuscript dating back to the 14th century that was deposited in the Library of the Arabic Language Academy, Cairo, Egypt. The study aims at the exploration of the role of various fungal strains that had colonized this deteriorated manuscript in its biodeterioration through their efficacy in the secretion of various hydrolytic enzymes. To evaluate the deterioration, various techniques, including visual inspection, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), color change, and pH value, were utilized. The fungal strains linked to the historical document were isolated, identified, and evaluated for their deterioration activities. The findings demonstrate that the manuscript exhibits a variety of deterioration signs including color change, brittleness and weakness, erosion, and removal of the grain surface pattern in leather binding. According to the ATR-FTIR, the chemical composition of the historical paper and leather underwent some alterations. The historical paper has a lower level of cellulose crystallinity than the control sample. (two isolates), (four isolates), (three isolates), (two isolates), (one isolate), sp. (one isolate), and sp. (one isolate) were among the fourteen fungal strains identified as being associated with the historical manuscript. These fungal strains produced several hydrolytic enzymes with high activity, such as cellulase, amylase, gelatinase, and pectinase, which play a key role in biodegradation.
PubMed: 36362976
DOI: 10.3390/life12111821 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022The endophytic fungus Paecilomyces sp. (AUMC 15510) was isolated from healthy stem samples of the Egyptian medicinal plant Cornulaca monacantha. We used GC-MS and HPLC...
The endophytic fungus Paecilomyces sp. (AUMC 15510) was isolated from healthy stem samples of the Egyptian medicinal plant Cornulaca monacantha. We used GC-MS and HPLC analysis to identify the bioactive constituents of ethyl acetate crude extract of Paecilomyces sp. (PsEAE). Six human microbial pathogens have been selected to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of PsEAE. Our data showed that the extract has significant antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens. However, the best inhibitory effect was observed against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 90274 with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.9 μg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 15.6 μg/ml, for both pathogens. Also, PsEAE exerts a significant inhibition on the biofilm formation of the previously mentioned pathogenic strains. In addition, we evaluated the wound healing efficiency of PsEAE on earthworms (Lumbricus castaneus) as a feasible and plausible model that mimics human skin. Interestingly, PsEAE exhibited a promising wound healing activity and enhanced wound closure. In conclusion, Paecilomyces sp. (AUMC 15510) could be a sustainable source of antimicrobial agents and a potential therapeutic target for wound management.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Oligochaeta; Paecilomyces; Plant Extracts; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Wound Healing; Biofilms
PubMed: 36357560
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23831-4 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022Viable airborne pathogenic fungi represent a potential health hazard when exposing vulnerable persons in quantities exceeding their resilience. In this study, 284 indoor...
Viable airborne pathogenic fungi represent a potential health hazard when exposing vulnerable persons in quantities exceeding their resilience. In this study, 284 indoor fungal isolates from a strain collection of indoor fungi were screened for pathogenic potential through the ability to grow in neutral pH at 37 °C and 30 °C. The isolates were collected from 20 locations including 14 problematic and 6 non-problematic ordinary buildings. Out of the screened isolates, 170 isolates were unable to grow at 37 °C, whereas 67 isolates growing at pH 7.2 at 37 °C were considered as potential opportunistic pathogens. Forty-seven isolates growing at 30 °C but not at 37 °C were considered as less likely pathogens. Out of these categories, 33 and 33 strains, respectively, were identified to the species level. The problematic buildings included known opportunistic pathogens: , , and , as well as less likely pathogens: , , and Opportunistic pathogens such as , and and less likely pathogens such as and were isolated both from ordinary and from problematic buildings. was the dominant, most diverse genus found during screening for potentially pathogenic isolates in the indoor strain collection. Studies on and revealed that tolerance to cleaning chemicals may contribute to the adaptation of species to indoor environments.
PubMed: 36297230
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101171