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Medicine Jul 2023Rhodotorula glutinis is a rare cause of fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The combination treatment between aggressive PD catheter replacement and...
RATIONALE
Rhodotorula glutinis is a rare cause of fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The combination treatment between aggressive PD catheter replacement and adequate antifungal treatment is crucial in managing peritonitis due to fungal infection and onychomycosis.
PATIENT CONCERNS
A 37-year-old man PD patient presented with cloudy effluent, abdominal pain, and black debris in the lumen of his PD catheter. Twelve days before admission, the patient traveled for 10 days to a high-temperature country, Saudi Arabia, for purpose of accomplishing haj. From the physical examinations, there was an onychomycosis in his right toenail.
DIAGNOSES
The result of the dialysate cell count confirmed the evidence of peritonitis (i.e., cell count of 187 cells per µL, however with polymorphonuclear 31%). The dialysate culture indicated R glutinis, with no growth of bacteria. Fungal culture of his toenail scrapings was obtained and the result was Penicillium sp.
INTERVENTIONS
Based on the high clinical suspicion of fungal peritonitis, fluconazole intraperitoneal (IP) was immediately given on the first day in addition to empirical antibiotics, that is, cefazolin and gentamycin IP. His peritoneal catheter was simultaneously removed and reinserted on the 4th day of treatment. Since there was a sign of fluconazole resistance, fluconazole IP was switched into oral voriconazole, without any antimicrobial treatment intraperitoneally. After 21 days of voriconazole, oral itraconazole was given until 3 months for his onychomycosis.
OUTCOMES
Clinical improvement was seen on the effluent where the leucocyte count falls below 100 cells after 21 days of giving voriconazole.
LESSONS
This case report suggests the need for comprehensive evaluations of the risk for fungal infection in continuous ambulatory PD patients, especially those who live in a tropical country.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; Onychomycosis; Fluconazole; Voriconazole; Mycoses; Peritonitis; Dialysis Solutions
PubMed: 37443482
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034199 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023The mastic tree, scientifically known as , which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, was used in this study. The aim of this research was to analyze the chemical...
The mastic tree, scientifically known as , which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, was used in this study. The aim of this research was to analyze the chemical composition of this plant and assess its antioxidant and antibacterial properties using both laboratory experiments and computer simulations through molecular docking, a method that predicts the binding strength of a small molecule to a protein. The soxhlet method (SE) was employed to extract substances from the leaves of found in the eastern region of Morocco. Hexane and methanol were the solvents used for the extraction process. The n-hexane extract was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify its fatty acid content. The methanolic extract underwent high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) to determine the presence of phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH spectrophotometric test. The findings revealed that the main components in the n-hexane extract were linoleic acid (40.97 ± 0.33%), oleic acid (23.69 ± 0.12%), and palmitic acid (22.83 ± 0.10%). Catechin (37.05 ± 0.15%) was identified as the predominant compound in the methanolic extract through HPLC analysis. The methanolic extract exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging, with an IC50 value of 0.26 ± 0.14 mg/mL. The antibacterial activity was tested against , , and , while the antifungal activity was evaluated against and . The extract demonstrated notable antimicrobial effects. Additionally, apart from molecular docking, other important factors, such as drug similarity, drug metabolism and distribution within the body, potential adverse effects, and impact on bodily systems, were considered for the substances derived from . Scientific algorithms, such as Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS), Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME), and Pro-Tox II, were utilized for this assessment. The results obtained from this research support the traditional medicinal usage of and suggest its potential for drug development.
PubMed: 37374175
DOI: 10.3390/life13061393 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2023During a study of the diversity of soilborne fungi from Spain, a strain belonging to the family Chaetomiaceae (Sordariales) was isolated. The multigene phylogenetic...
During a study of the diversity of soilborne fungi from Spain, a strain belonging to the family Chaetomiaceae (Sordariales) was isolated. The multigene phylogenetic inference using five DNA loci showed that this strain represents an undescribed species of the genus , herein introduced as sp. nov. Investigation of its secondary metabolome led to the isolation of two new derivatives ( and ) of the known antifungal antibiotic dactylfungin A (), together with the known compound cochliodinol (). The planar structures of - were determined by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-IM-MS/MS) and extensive 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy after isolation by HPLC. All isolated secondary metabolites were tested for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Dactylfungin A () showed selective and strong antifungal activity against some of the tested human pathogens ( and ). The additional hydroxyl group in resulted in the loss of activity against but still retained the inhibition of in a lower concentration than that of the respective control, without showing any cytotoxic effects. In contrast, 25″-dehydroxy-dactylfungin A () exhibited improved activity against yeasts ( and ) than and , but resulted in the appearance of slight cytotoxicity. The present study exemplifies how even in a well-studied taxonomic group such as the Chaetomiaceae, the investigation of novel taxa still brings chemistry novelty, as demonstrated in this first report of this antibiotic class for chaetomiaceous and sordarialean taxa.
PubMed: 37108917
DOI: 10.3390/jof9040463 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023Duby, referred to as Nûnkha in the local language, is a medicinal plant that is native to Morocco. This particular plant is a member of the Apiaceae family and has a...
Duby, referred to as Nûnkha in the local language, is a medicinal plant that is native to Morocco. This particular plant is a member of the Apiaceae family and has a longstanding history in traditional medicine and has been utilized for therapeutic purposes by practitioners for generations. The goal of this research is to uncover the phytochemical makeup of the essential oil extracted from , which is indigenous to the Touissite region in Eastern Morocco. The extraction of the essential oil of (PVEO) was accomplished through the use of hydro-distillation via a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical profile of the essential oil was then determined through analysis utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The study findings indicated that the essential oil of is composed primarily of Carvacrol (37.05%), D-Limonene (22.97%), γ-Terpinene (15.97%), -Cymene (12.14%) and Thymol (8.49%). The in vitro antioxidant potential of PVEO was evaluated using two methods: the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical trapping assay and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The data demonstrated considerable radical scavenging and relative antioxidative power. , , and were the most susceptible bacterial strains tested, while , , and were the most resilient fungi strains. PVEO had broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial properties. To elucidate the antioxidative and antibacterial characteristics of the identified molecules, we applied the methodology of molecular docking, a computational approach that forecasts the binding of a small molecule to a protein. Additionally, we utilized the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) algorithm; Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME); and Pro-Tox II (to predict the toxicity in silico) tests to demonstrate PVEO's identified compounds' drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic properties, the anticipated safety features after ingestion, and the potential pharmacological activity. Finally, our findings scientifically confirm the ethnomedicinal usage and usefulness of this plant, which may be a promising source for future pharmaceutical development.
PubMed: 37107017
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12040655 -
Iranian Journal of Microbiology Feb 2023Carotenoid pigments are among the most important pigments and have many applications in various food, cosmetics, hygiene industries and biotechnology. These pigments are...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Carotenoid pigments are among the most important pigments and have many applications in various food, cosmetics, hygiene industries and biotechnology. These pigments are produced by plants and microorganisms including spp. This research intended to study the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of the carotenoid pigment from on food spoilage bacteria ( and Typhimurium).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The was isolated from milk samples of cows with mastitis and ITS sequence-based typing was performed on them. After extracting the pigment from , its purity was examined using thin-layer chromatography. Following that, the broth microdilution method was used to evaluate antimicrobial effects of the pigment and MtP assay and subsequently scanning electron microscopy were used to assess the antibiofilm effects. In addition, the sub-MIC effects of the pigment on expression of quorum-sensing (QS) genes in . Typhimurium isolates ( and ) and isolates () were studied. Finally, the degree of toxicity of the pigment was analyzed using the MTT assay.
RESULTS
ITS sequence analysis of revealed that the recently separated isolates exhibited strong differences with the strains recorded in NCBI database in genetic structure. The pigment produced by had strong antimicrobial effects and its mean MIC against Typhimurium isolates (17.0 μl.ml) was higher than the mean MIC against the isolates (4.1 μl.ml). Electron microscope images and real-time observations indicated that the sub-MIC values of the pigment suppressed biofilm formation by suppressing expression of QS genes. In addition, the mentioned pigment at high MIC concentrations did not have toxic effects on Vero cells.
CONCLUSION
This research suggests that pigment is effective in destroying the planktonic form of food spoilage bacteria and degrading food spoilage biofilm-forming bacteria. Moreover, considering the low toxicity level of pigment for eukaryotic cells, we can suggest its use as a natural antibacterial preservative in various food materials.
PubMed: 37069901
DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v15i1.11922 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2023Tofu whey wastewater (TWW) is the wastewater of tofu processing, which is rich in a variety of nutrients. can make full use of TWW to ferment and reproduce yeast cells,...
BACKGROUND
Tofu whey wastewater (TWW) is the wastewater of tofu processing, which is rich in a variety of nutrients. can make full use of TWW to ferment and reproduce yeast cells, produce carotenoids and other nutrients, improve the utilization value of TWW, and reduce environmental pollution and resource waste.
METHODS
In this study, the nutrient composition changes of TWW treated by were analyzed to reformulate TWW medium, and the optimal composition and proportion of TWW medium that can improve the biomass and carotenoids production of were explored. Meanwhile, the liquid obtained under these conditions was used to prepare biological feed for laying hens, and the effect of growing on TWW as substrate on laying performance and egg quality of laying hens were verified.
RESULTS
The results showed that the zinc content of TWW after fermentation increased by 62.30%, the phosphorus content decreased by 42.31%, and the contents of vitamin B1, B2 and B6 increased to varying degrees. The optimal fermentation conditions of in the TWW medium were as follow: the initial pH was 6.40, the amount of soybean oil, glucose and zinc ions was 0.80 ml/L, 16.32 g/L, and 20.52 mg/L, respectively. Under this condition, the biomass of reached 2.23 g/L, the carotenoids production was 832.86 μg/g, and the number of effective viable yeast count was 7.08 × 10 cfu/ml. In addition, the laying performance and egg quality of laying hens fed biological feed were improved.
DISCUSSION
In this study, we analyzed the composition changes of TWW, optimized the fermentation conditions of in TWW medium, explored the influence of utilizing TWW on laying layers, and provided a new idea for the efficient utilization of TWW.
PubMed: 36908914
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1125720 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2023The work describes the carotenoid synthesis process by P4M422 using an agro-industrial waste as the substrate, seeking a biorefinery platform approach for waste...
The work describes the carotenoid synthesis process by P4M422 using an agro-industrial waste as the substrate, seeking a biorefinery platform approach for waste utilization to produce high-value molecules. A culture medium based on goat milk whey (GMW) was optimized via the Taguchi method (L9 array). Four factors (ethanol, carbon and nitrogen source, and pH) were evaluated at three levels. The carbon and nitrogen composition were the factors dominating the process performance. Optimized conditions were validated (Urea, 0.3% /; pH, 4.5; ethanol, 10% /; glucose, 6.0%), and the carotenoid production (4075 µg/L) was almost 200% higher than when using the un-optimized process (2058 µg/L). Provitamin A carotenoids torulene, β-carotene, and γ-carotene (different proportions) were produced under all conditions. The hydrolyzed goat milk whey showed promising expectations as a low-cost source for carotenoid production by P4M422. The results are important for the innovative sustainable production of carotenoid-rich matrices for different purposes (nutrition, health promotion, color) and industries (foods, nutricosmetics, nutraceuticals, feeds), notably to help to combat vitamin A deficiency.
PubMed: 36766185
DOI: 10.3390/foods12030658 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022The climatic conditions of the growing regions influence the fruit's microbiological quality and their tolerance to post-harvest pathogens. The present work aims to...
The climatic conditions of the growing regions influence the fruit's microbiological quality and their tolerance to post-harvest pathogens. The present work aims to identify the prevalence of bacterial and fungal strains of strawberries (Fragaria ananassa) in the Gharb and Loukkos regions of Morocco. Thus, to establish a correlation between the microbial load and the climatic conditions of the two targeted regions. The bacteriological analyses were studied according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methodologies. Regarding the mycological study, fungal species determination was performed using identification keys. Yeast species determination was done using genus analysis, assimilation, and fermentation tests. Emberger bioclimatic quotients (Q) were calculated for the Gharb and Loukkos regions and bioclimatic stages were determined. spp. was not detected in the studied samples. However, and were isolated from the Gharb samples. Sulfite-reducing clostridia spores were found in two Gharb samples versus one Loukkos sample. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were negative in all samples analyzed. Loukkos and Gharb regions were contaminated by with percentages of occurrence of 5.2 and 7.8%, respectively. The fungi found in strawberries from both regions were , , spp., spp., spp., and with a significant predominance in the Loukkos samples. Indeed, a marked presence is noted for and in strawberries from Loukkos. Gharb is located on the semi-arid stage, while Loukkos is located on the sub-humid stage. Climatic conditions have a strong influence on plant microbial load, which explains the prevalence of bacteria in strawberries from Gharb and the prevalence of fungi in strawberries from Loukkos.
PubMed: 36704550
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1115340 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022Collagen integrity should be considered on using a sterilizing agent for fish skin grafts. This study defined the optimal concentration of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs)... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Collagen integrity should be considered on using a sterilizing agent for fish skin grafts. This study defined the optimal concentration of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) for sterilization of fish skin grafts without disrupting collagen content based on microbiological and histological evaluation. Strips of tilapia skin (n = 5) were randomly allocated to be immersed in Ag NPs solution at different concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 250 µg/mL, respectively, for 5 min. The treated skin strips underwent bacteriological and histological evaluation. Yeast and fungi were more sensitive to Ag NPs than bacteria. On increasing the nanoparticles concentration, the total counts of aerobic bacteria decrease giving 933.3 ± 28.67, 601 ± 27.66, 288 ± 16.8, 15 ± 4.08 (CFU/cm ± S.D) at 25, 50, 100, and 250 µg/mL, respectively, comparing with untreated sample (1453.3 ± 57.92). Yeasts and filamentous fungi also exhibited a similar response, achieving a complete inhibition at 100 and 250 µg/mL. Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were the dominant aerobic bacteria, Candida albicans and Rhodotorula glutinis were the dominant aerobic yeasts, whereas Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Rhizopus stolonifer were the dominant aerobic fungi. The collagen fibers were loose with a wavey pattern at 25 µg/mL, wavey and slightly disorganized at 50 µg/mL, highly disorganized at 100 µg/mL, and compactly arranged and slightly loose at 250 µg/mL. Ag NPs at a concentration of 250 µg/mL could be considered a reliable and feasible method for the sterilization of fish skin grafts before application on human skin with an effective antimicrobial effect and less disrupting impact on collagen content.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Candida albicans; Collagen; Escherichia coli; Metal Nanoparticles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Silver; Skin Transplantation; Sterilization
PubMed: 36376399
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23853-y -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2022The aim of the study was to determine mycoplankton species diversity in relation to the physico-chemical parameters of lake waters. The research was carried out in the...
The aim of the study was to determine mycoplankton species diversity in relation to the physico-chemical parameters of lake waters. The research was carried out in the summer months in 15 mesotrophic lakes and showed a high ecological significance index for , , , and . Mycoplankton abundance and species diversity decreased with the depth of water, which coincided with a decrease in oxygen content and organic matter concentration. A high concentration of nitrogen compounds (total nitrogen-TN and dissolved nitrogen-DN) limited the development of mycobiota in the hypolimnion. In the metalimnion, the intensive development of organisms, especially bacteria, limited mycoplankton abundance despite perfect physical and chemical conditions for its development. Finally, mycoplankton functioned the best in slightly alkaline waters.
Topics: Lakes; Water Quality; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Compounds; Oxygen; China
PubMed: 36293879
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013298