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Aerobiologia 2016The ambient atmosphere is dominated with pollen and spores, which trigger allergic reactions and diseases and impact negatively on human health. A survey of pollen and...
The ambient atmosphere is dominated with pollen and spores, which trigger allergic reactions and diseases and impact negatively on human health. A survey of pollen and fungal spores constituents of the atmosphere of Garki, Abuja (North-Central Nigeria) was carried out for 1 year (June 1, 2011-May 31, 2012). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and abundance of pollen and fungal spores in the atmosphere and their relationship with meteorological parameters. Airborne samples were trapped using modified Tauber-like pollen trap, and the recipient solutions were subjected to acetolysis. Results revealed the abundance of fungal spores, pollen, fern spores, algal cysts and diatoms in decreasing order of dominance. The atmosphere was qualitatively and quantitatively dominated by pollen during the period of late rainy/harmattan season than the rainy season. Numerous fungal spores were trapped throughout the sampling periods among which spp., spp., spp. and spp. dominated. These fungi have been implicated in allergic diseases and are dermatophytic, causing diverse skin diseases. Other pathogenic fungi found in the studied aeroflora spp., spp., spp., spp., spp., ssp., spp., spp. Total pollen and fungal spores counts do not show significant correlation with meteorological parameters.
PubMed: 27890967
DOI: 10.1007/s10453-016-9443-5 -
IMA Fungus Dec 2015During a collecting trip exploring new habitats and locations for keratinophilic fungi, soil samples were collected from Bohani village in the central Indian state of...
During a collecting trip exploring new habitats and locations for keratinophilic fungi, soil samples were collected from Bohani village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Following isolation using a hair baiting technique, one sample yielded an interesting hyphomycetous fungus. The fungus, which could easily be observed under a dissecting microscope, formed prominently large, dark brown to opaque, fusoid conidia on horse hair after 2 mo of incubation. Single-conidial colonies were cultivated on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium by direct transfer, using a fine needle under a dissecting microscope. Morphologically the fungus resembles genera such as Bahugada, Hadrosporium, Manoharachariella, Pithomyces, and Septosporiopsis, but differs with regard to its conidia and conidiogenous cells. Based on its unique morphology, the present collection is described as a new genus, Matsushimamyces, with M. bohaniensis as type species. Phylogenetic analysis of the LSU region placed Matsushimamyces in Latoruaceae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes). Furthermore, based on the morphological and phylogenetic similarity (ITS and LSU rDNA), a second species, Polyschema venustum, is also referred to Matsushimamyces.
PubMed: 26734544
DOI: 10.5598/imafungus.2015.06.02.05 -
The World Allergy Organization Journal Sep 2012Pollen and mold allergies are highly problematic in Islamabad. This study was conducted to investigate the type and concentration of airborne pollens/molds causing...
World allergy organization study on aerobiology for creating first pollen and mold calendar with clinical significance in islamabad, pakistan;: a project of world allergy organization and pakistan allergy, asthma & clinical immunology centre of islamabad.
Pollen and mold allergies are highly problematic in Islamabad. This study was conducted to investigate the type and concentration of airborne pollens/molds causing allergic diseases in susceptible individuals. A volumetric spore trap (Burkard) was placed at the height of 11 m and ran continuously for 3 years. Once a week, the collecting drum was prepared by affixing Melinex tape with a double-sided adhesive that was coated with a thin layer of silicone grease. Every Sunday at 9:00 AM the drum was replaced by another drum and the pollen/mold spores were removed and permanently mounted on slides. Using a microscope, the trapped particles were identified and recorded as counts per cubic meter of air per hour. From these data, the pollen and mold calendars were constructed and expressed as counts per cubic meter of air per day. Skin prick tests were performed on more than 1000 patients attending the Pakistan Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology Centre of Islamabad. The results indicated that there were 2 main pollen plants that contributed to seasonal allergies. These were Broussonetia papyrifera and Cannabis sativa during the March/April season and the July/September season, respectively. Although mold spores were continuously detected throughout the year, the most prominent mold was undetected mold and unconfirmed mold species similar to Stachybotrys species, which was high from July to September/October. Two additional molds contributing to allergic reactions were Pithomyces species and Cladosporium species, which were active during January and April, with the latter also being detected between October and November. These results may prove beneficial to both patients and physicians in planning a therapeutic protocol for avoidance and amelioration.
PubMed: 23283209
DOI: 10.1097/WOX.0b013e31826421c8 -
Journal de Mycologie Medicale Dec 2009OBJECTIVE: Conidia derived from a small number of common fungal genera are widely accepted as the etiological agents responsible for fungal allergic sensitization. The...
OBJECTIVE: Conidia derived from a small number of common fungal genera are widely accepted as the etiological agents responsible for fungal allergic sensitization. The contribution of fungal conidia, spores, airborne hyphae, and subcellular fragments from other uncharacterized fungal genera remains unclear. In this proof-of-concept study, we examined the composition of mycoaerosols that atopic women were exposed and sensitized to in their own indoor environment using the fluorescent halogen immunoassay (fHIA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Mycoaerosols were collected onto mixed cellulose ester protein binding membranes (PBMs) for 30 minutes with volumetric air sampling pumps. The PBMs were laminated with an adhesive cover slip and indirectly immunostained with individual patient serum IgE using the fHIA. Samples were examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunostained particles were expressed as a percentage of total particles. RESULTS: All air samples contained a broad spectrum of fungal spores, conidia, hyphae, and other fungal particulates. Airborne concentrations varied between individual study participant environments. Positively immunostained conidia belonging to moniliaceous amerospores, Cladosporium, Alternaria, and many unknown species were observed in the majority of air samples. Other fungal genera including Bipolaris, Curvularia, Pithomyces, and Stachybotrys, in addition to, ascospore genera and dematiaceous hyphal fragments released detectable allergen. Twelve percent of all fHIA haloes quantified in the analysis were directed towards fungal particles. No immunostaining was detected to conidia belonging to Epicoccum, Fusarium, and Spegazzinia species. CONCLUSION: In addition to characterized fungal aeroallergens, we observed a wider composition of fungi that bound human IgE. Field surveillance studies that utilize immunodiagnostic techniques such as the fHIA will provide further insight into the diversity of fungi that function as aeroallergen sources in individual study participant environments.
PubMed: 20495612
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2009.10.003 -
Acta Crystallographica. Section E,... Jun 2009The title compound, C(28)H(34)N(2)O(8)S(2), was synthesized as part of a project to develop synthetic routes to analogues of sporidesmins, a class of secondary...
The title compound, C(28)H(34)N(2)O(8)S(2), was synthesized as part of a project to develop synthetic routes to analogues of sporidesmins, a class of secondary metabolite produced by the filamentous fungi Chaetomium and Pithomyces sp. The complete molecule is generated by crystallographic inversion symmetry: the methoxy group is essentially coplanar with the benzene ring to which it is bonded, a mean plane fitted through the non-H atoms of the aromatic ring and the meth-oxy group having an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0140 Å. Similarly, the ester group is also essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation of a plane fitted through all non-H atoms is 0.0101 Å). There is only one independent C-H⋯O inter-action, which links together adjacent mol-ecules into a two-dimensional sheet in the bc plane.
PubMed: 21582859
DOI: 10.1107/S1600536809022211 -
Plant Disease Jan 2006Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) is the most common perennial grass species cultivated for forage in North America. During late fall of 2004, smooth bromegrass...
Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) is the most common perennial grass species cultivated for forage in North America. During late fall of 2004, smooth bromegrass plants in Lincoln, NE were observed to have brown lesions on leaf midveins that were several centimeters long. Symptomatic leaves were surface disinfested for 1 min in 2% NaOCl and incubated at 25°C on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and water agar. The fungus, Pithomyces chartarum (Berk. & Curt) Ellis, was isolated consistently and identified on the basis of morphological characteristics (1). Colonies were effused and black on PDA. Conidiophores measured 3.5 to 8 × 1.9 to 3.9 μm and were smooth and single. Conidia (7 to 25 × 9.5 to 14 μm) were broadly ellipsoidal, pale brown to dark brown, verrucose with mainly three transverse septa and one to two longitudinal septa. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 50-day-old plants by spraying with a conidial suspension (2.5 × 10 spores per ml). Control plants were sprayed with sterile water. All plants were kept in a moist chamber (100% relative humidity) for 3 days and then transferred to a greenhouse (25°C, >70% relative humidity, and a 12-h photoperiod). One week after spraying, elongated lesions developed on leaf midveins of inoculated plants from which P. chartarum was consistently reisolated. No symptoms were observed on control plants. While P. chartarum has been described as a saprotroph or a parasite on a wide range of plants primarily in the tropics and subtropics, including the southern United States (2), it was reported previously on B. inermis only in Canada (3). This report expands the distribution and host range of P. chartarum as a pathogen in the United States. References: (1) M. B. Ellis. Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England, 1971. (2) D. F. Farr et al. Fungal Databases, Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, On-line publication. ARS, USDA, 2005. (3) J. H. Ginns. Compendium of Plant Disease and Decay Fungi in Canada 1960-1980. Res. Br. Can. Agric. Publ. 1813, 1986.
PubMed: 30786486
DOI: 10.1094/PD-90-0108C -
Annals of Agricultural and... 2004Continuous aerobiological monitoring has been conducted in Rzeszów from 2000-2002, using the volumetric method. On each microscope slide 1 horizontal band was analyzed,...
Continuous aerobiological monitoring has been conducted in Rzeszów from 2000-2002, using the volumetric method. On each microscope slide 1 horizontal band was analyzed, divided into 24 fields corresponding to hours. For the analysis, 10 easy to identify fungal spores were chosen from ones regarded as allergenic: Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Drechslera (type), Epiccocum, Ganoderma, Pithomyces, Polythrincium, Stemphylium, and Torula. The results were statistically tested using the chi2 test as well as the Kruskal-Wallis test and ANOVA. The results were used to develop a calendar of the occurrence of fungal spores in Rzeszów. The spores occurred in the air throughout the whole year, but maximum concentrations were usually reached in July and August. Two groups of taxa were distinguished. Alternaria, Cladosporium, Botrytis, Epicoccum, Ganoderma spp. and Drechslera belong to the first group, and their spores and conidia were characterised by high frequency and abundance in the air. Low SFI values (Seasonal Fungal Index) and frequency of below 50% occurred in the second group of taxa, i.e. Pithomyces, Polythrincium, Stemphylium and Torula spp. Conidia of Cladosporium spp. were the most frequent, SFI values were very high and average annual concentrations did not differ significantly throughout the 3 years of study. The research confirmed the overlap of the period of maximum concentration of allergenic spores and the period of the domination of Poaceae and Artemisia pollen in the air.
Topics: Classification; Environmental Monitoring; Fungi; Poland; Reference Values; Seasons; Spores
PubMed: 15627338
DOI: No ID Found -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Aug 1981Of some 350 microorganisms screened, four strains of Pithomyces species were found to carry out regio-selective hydroxylation of patchoulol, a sesquiterpene, to...
Of some 350 microorganisms screened, four strains of Pithomyces species were found to carry out regio-selective hydroxylation of patchoulol, a sesquiterpene, to 10-hydroxypatchoulol: Pithomyces sp. NRJ201, P. chartarum NRJ210, and, to a lesser extent, P. cynodontis ATCC 26150 and P. atro-olivaceus IFO 6651 were found to catalyze this reaction. A method has been developed by which 10-hydroxypatchoulol was obtained in 25 to 45% yields in 1- to 5-liter fermentation jars at 2 to 4 g of patchoulol per liter and isolated as pure material in 30% yields.
PubMed: 16345820
DOI: 10.1128/aem.42.2.187-191.1981 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jan 1981Twelve isolates of Pithomyces spp. from Texas were tested for sporidesmin toxin production, using both high-performance and thin-layer chromatography techniques. None of...
Twelve isolates of Pithomyces spp. from Texas were tested for sporidesmin toxin production, using both high-performance and thin-layer chromatography techniques. None of the Texas isolates produced the toxin under the conditions used. A control toxigenic New Zealand isolate, Pithomyces chartarum strain C, was grown simultaneously under the conditions tested and was found to produce sporidesmin in all cases.
Topics: Indoles; Mitosporic Fungi; Spores, Fungal; Sporidesmins; Texas
PubMed: 7224622
DOI: 10.1128/aem.41.1.212-215.1981 -
Plant Physiology Feb 1978Jackbean, Canavalia ensiformis (L.), callus tissues synthesized the phytoalexin, medicarpin (3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan), when treated with spore suspensions of...
Jackbean, Canavalia ensiformis (L.), callus tissues synthesized the phytoalexin, medicarpin (3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan), when treated with spore suspensions of Pithomyces chartarum (Berk. and Curt.) M. B. Ellis, a nonpathogen of jackbean. Medicarpin was isolated from treated callus tissue and identified by its ultraviolet and mass spectra. The minimum spore concentration found to elicit medicarpin synthesis after 26 hours was 1 x 10(5) spores/ml; levels of medicarpin in callus tissue increased linearly up to 1 x 10(7) spores/ml, indicating that the recognition sites for presumed elicitors were not saturated. Medicarpin was first detected in callus treated with 1 x 10(7) spores/ml, 6 to 12 hours after application, and the concentration reached a maximum at 48 hours, slowly declining thereafter to 72 hours. In callus treated with 3.15 mm HgCl(2), medicarpin concentrations were also maximum by 48 hours. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.3.1.5) activity increased 2-fold in spore-treated callus after 36 hours. Isoliquiritigenin, daidzein, and genistein o-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.6) activities were increased 3- to 4-fold in treated callus. Caffeic acid and naringenin were more efficient substrates for o-methyltransferase activity than the other flavonoids or apigenin, but there was no increase in these o-methyltransferase activities in spore-treated callus. The phytoalexin response in this callus tissue culture system compares well with natural plant systems and should be an excellent system for investigating regulation of phytoalexin synthesis.
PubMed: 16660265
DOI: 10.1104/pp.61.2.226