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Toxins Mar 2020Despite the efforts to control mycotoxin contamination worldwide, extensive contamination has been reported to occur in food and feed. The contamination is even more... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Despite the efforts to control mycotoxin contamination worldwide, extensive contamination has been reported to occur in food and feed. The contamination is even more intense due to climate changes and different stressors. This study examined the impact of fullerol C(OH) nanoparticles (FNP) (at 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 ng mL) on the secondary metabolite profile of the most relevant foodborne mycotoxigenic fungi from genera , , and during growth in vitro. Fungi were grown in liquid RPMI 1640 media for 72 h at 29 °C, and metabolites were investigated by the LC-MS/MS dilute and shoot multimycotoxin method. Exposure to FNP showed great potential in decreasing the concentrations of 35 secondary metabolites; the decreases were dependent on FNP concentration and fungal genus. These results are a relevant guide for future examination of fungi-FNP interactions in environmental conditions. The aim is to establish the exact mechanism of FNP action and determine the impact such interactions have on food and feed safety.
Topics: Alternaria; Aspergillus; Food Microbiology; Foodborne Diseases; Fullerenes; Fungicides, Industrial; Fusarium; Mitosporic Fungi; Nanoparticles; Penicillium; Secondary Metabolism; Species Specificity
PubMed: 32230978
DOI: 10.3390/toxins12040213 -
Microbiology (Reading, England) May 2002Studies of the interactions between hyperparasitic fungi and their hosts are severely hampered by the absence of methods that allow the unambiguous identification of...
Studies of the interactions between hyperparasitic fungi and their hosts are severely hampered by the absence of methods that allow the unambiguous identification of individual genera in complex environments that contain mixed populations of fungi, such as soil or compost. This study details the development of a monoclonal antibody (MF2) that allows the detection and recovery of Trichoderma spp. in naturally infested composts, and the visualization of hyperparasitic strains of Trichoderma during antagonistic interactions with their hosts. Murine monoclonal antibody MF2, of immunoglobulin class M (IgM), was raised against a protein epitope of a glycoprotein antigen(s) specific for species of the genus Trichoderma and for the closely related fungi Gliocladium viride, Hypomyces chrysospermus, Sphaerostilbella spp. and Hypocrea spp. MF2 did not react with antigens from Gliocladium catenulatum, Gliocladium roseum, Nectria ochroleuca and Clonostachys spp., nor with a range of unrelated soil- and compost-borne fungi. Extracellular production of the MF2 antigen was constitutive. Western-blotting analysis showed that MF2 bound to a ladder of proteins with apparent molecular masses in the range 35-200 kDa. Immunofluorescence studies showed that MF2 bound strongly to the cell walls of hyphae and phialides and the intercalary and terminal chlamydospores of Trichoderma spp., whereas immunogold electron microscopy revealed strong binding of MF2 to the cell walls and septa of hyphae and to the cell walls of phialoconidia. In immunofluorescence studies of dual cultures of Trichoderma and Rhizoctonia solani, only the cell walls of the hyperparasite, which coiled around the host, were stained by MF2. The specificity of MF2 enabled the development of a combined baiting-ELISA technique for the detection of Trichoderma spp. in naturally infested composts. The specificity of this technique was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA-encoding regions of the isolates.
Topics: Antibodies, Fungal; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibody Specificity; Antigens, Fungal; DNA, Intergenic; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase; Glucans; Glucose; Hybridomas; Microscopy, Immunoelectron; Mitosporic Fungi; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycelium; Mycological Typing Techniques; Phylogeny; Polysaccharides; RNA, Ribosomal; Soil Microbiology; Trichoderma; Tumor Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 11988501
DOI: 10.1099/00221287-148-5-1263 -
Journal of Zhejiang University.... Jun 2006This study is aimed at identifying and determining the percentage of occurrence frequency of cellulose decomposing soil fungi. The soil samples were inoculated into...
This study is aimed at identifying and determining the percentage of occurrence frequency of cellulose decomposing soil fungi. The soil samples were inoculated into culture plates prepared in Sabouraud medium under sterilized conditions and incubated at 30 degrees C for 4 to 7 d. The identified fungal species were incubated in self-designed cellulose medium for testing their cellulolytic ability. Forty-two species, including 2 nova species, representing sixteen genera showed growth and sporulation in the cellulose medium. Most of the isolated species were from genus Aspergillus and Penicillium. Aspergillus niger and Mucor hiemalis showed highest occurrence frequency (45% and 36% respectively), as these species were collected from about 80% of soil samples. Being agar free and cheaper, the new fungal medium designed showed results equivalent to Sabouraud medium.
Topics: Aspergillus; Cellulose; Culture Media; Mitosporic Fungi; Penicillium; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 16691640
DOI: 10.1631/jzus.2006.B0459 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Apr 1982In an epidemiological study, nine isolates of dematiaceous fungi were recovered from the interior of a local feed and seed warehouse. Sample sites include brick walls...
In an epidemiological study, nine isolates of dematiaceous fungi were recovered from the interior of a local feed and seed warehouse. Sample sites include brick walls and floors. Air samples also were included. Samples were collected in saline and plated on Mycobiotic and Sabouraud agar. The nine dematiaceous fungi recovered from these samples were identified with microscopic morphology, thermotolerance, biochemical reactions, and animal virulence test. Four isolates were identified as nonpathogens on the basis of positive gelatin tests. The identified pathogens included Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Cladosporium bantianum (C trichoides), Wangiella dermatitidis (Dixon et al., Mycopathologia 70:153-161, 1980), and Exophiala jeanselmei. These five organisms were injected into NCI/ALB mice. Only the isolate of C. bantianum was neurotropic, as demonstrated histopathologically and by the recovery of the organism from brain tissue. None of the remaining four isolates were seen or cultured from any of the mouse tissues analyzed. The recovery of pathogenic dematiaceous fungi from environmental sites is not uncommon. However, this study is noteworthy in that it represents only the second reported isolation of C. bantianum and the first isolation of F. pedrosoi from the environment in North America and suggests that these fungi may be more ubiquitous in this region that previously believed.
Topics: Adult; Agriculture; Air Microbiology; Animal Feed; Animals; Cladosporium; Hot Temperature; Humans; Mitosporic Fungi; Plants; Seeds
PubMed: 7200100
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.15.4.714-719.1982 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Nov 2008The incidence of invasive fungal infections is increasing in parallel with an increase of patients with immunodeficiencies. Resistance to these drugs is becoming a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The incidence of invasive fungal infections is increasing in parallel with an increase of patients with immunodeficiencies. Resistance to these drugs is becoming a problem in spite of increased and improved treatment options.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Literature retrieved from Medline and personal findings and experience form the basis for this article.
RESULTS
Candida albicans is still the most common species causing invasive fungal infections, but Candida non-albicans species are increasing in number. Invasive Aspergillus infections and infection with other moulds than Aspergillus spp. do occur, but do not constitute a large proportion of these infections. As of today we have four classes of antifungal agents and seven drugs with different mechanisms of action are registered in Norway. Primary resistance to several of these drugs has been observed in a number of Candida and Aspergillus species and this is the dominating form of resistance we observe today. Secondary resistance due to treatment is still an uncommon finding. Clinical resistance, which, in spite of in vitro susceptibility does not lead to eradication of the fungus, is also commonly observed.
INTERPRETATION
The incidence of natural resistant fungi is increasing. Our main current challenge is therefore to rapidly and precisely identify the fungi so the proper drug is used to quickly initiate treatment on the correct indication.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Candidiasis; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Mitosporic Fungi; Mycoses
PubMed: 19023376
DOI: No ID Found -
Genetics and Molecular Research : GMR Mar 2017Ocimum gratissimum L. or clove basil, belongs to the Lamiaceae family, has various desirable uses and applications. Beyond its aromatic, seasoning, and medicinal...
Ocimum gratissimum L. or clove basil, belongs to the Lamiaceae family, has various desirable uses and applications. Beyond its aromatic, seasoning, and medicinal applications, this plant also has antimicrobial activity. This study was aimed at assessing the antifungal activity, yield, and composition of the essential oil (EO) of O. gratissimum. The species was cultivated in garden beds with dystrophic red latosol soil type containing high organic-matter content. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation of dried leaves in a modified Clevenger apparatus, followed by determination of its content. Chemical characterization was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Microbial activity was assessed using the broth microdilution method, by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), in order to compare the antimicrobial effect of EO in 10 isolates-Fusarium oxysporum f. sp tracheiphilum (CMM-0033), F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense (CMM-0813 and CMM-2819), F. oxysporum f. sp lycopersici (CMM-1104), F. solani (CMM-3828), Rhizoctonia solani (CMM-3274), and Macrophomina phaseolina (CMM-2715, CMM-3875, CMM-3615, and CMM-3650). The EO was a highly effective inhibitor of the studied phytopathogenic fungi, with MICs varying from 31.25 to 125 µg/mL. F. oxysporum f. sp lycopersici and R. solani were the most sensitive; both were inhibited at an MIC of 31.25 µg/mL. The EO content in the plant extract was 0.18%. Thirty chemical compounds were detected via GC-MS, with linalool (32.9%) being the major compound followed by 1,8-cineole (21.9%), both oxygenated monoterpenes. It can be concluded that clove basil EO is a highly effective antifungal agent, and therefore, a potential alternative for the control of plant pathogenic diseases.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Fusarium; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mitosporic Fungi; Ocimum; Oils, Volatile; Plant Leaves; Plant Oils; Rhizoctonia
PubMed: 28362991
DOI: 10.4238/gmr16019542 -
Nucleic Acids Research Dec 2021Fungal pathogens represent an expanding global health threat for which treatment options are limited. Self-splicing group II introns have emerged as promising drug...
Fungal pathogens represent an expanding global health threat for which treatment options are limited. Self-splicing group II introns have emerged as promising drug targets, but their development has been limited by a lack of information on their distribution and architecture in pathogenic fungi. To meet this challenge, we developed a bioinformatic workflow for scanning sequence data to identify unique RNA structural signatures within group II introns. Using this approach, we discovered a set of ubiquitous introns within thermally dimorphic fungi (genera of Blastomyces, Coccidioides and Histoplasma). These introns are the most biochemically reactive group II introns ever reported, and they self-splice rapidly under near-physiological conditions without protein cofactors. Moreover, we demonstrated the small molecule targetability of these introns by showing that they can be inhibited by the FDA-approved drug mitoxantrone in vitro. Taken together, our results highlight the utility of structure-based informatic searches for identifying riboregulatory elements in pathogens, revealing a striking diversity of reactive self-splicing introns with great promise as antifungal drug targets.
Topics: Algorithms; Base Sequence; Blastomyces; Coccidioides; Computational Biology; DNA, Mitochondrial; Genome, Mitochondrial; Histoplasma; Humans; Introns; Mitosporic Fungi; Mitoxantrone; Mycoses; Nucleic Acid Conformation; RNA Splicing; Virulence
PubMed: 34850132
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1077 -
Canadian Journal of Microbiology Jul 2016Culture-based methods were employed to recover 3929 isolates of fungi from soils collected in May and July 2014 from mound nests of Formica ulkei and adjacent non-nest...
Culture-based methods were employed to recover 3929 isolates of fungi from soils collected in May and July 2014 from mound nests of Formica ulkei and adjacent non-nest sites. The abundance, diversity, and richness of species from nest mounds exceeded those of non-mound soils, particularly in July. Communities of fungi from mounds were more similar to those from mounds than non-mounds; this was also the case for non-mound soils with the exception of one non-mound site in July. Species of Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, and Penicillium were dominant in nest soils and represented up to 81.8% of the taxa recovered. Members of the genus Aspergillus accounted for the majority of Trichocomaceae from nests and were represented almost exclusively by Aspergillus navahoensis and Aspergillus pseudodeflectus. Dominant fungi from non-mound sites included Cladosporium cladosporioides, Geomyces pannorum, and species of Acremonium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Phoma. Although mound nests were warmer than adjacent soils, the dominance of xerotolerant Aspergillus in soils from mounds and the isolation of the majority of Trichocomaceae at 25 and 35 °C suggests that both temperature and water availability may be determinants of fungal community structure in nests of F. ulkei.
Topics: Animals; Ants; Ascomycota; Aspergillus; Biodiversity; Fusarium; Mitosporic Fungi; Penicillium; Soil Microbiology; Temperature
PubMed: 27192606
DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2015-0628 -
PloS One 2016We investigated the diversity and distribution of fungi in nine different sites inside 30 residential dishwashers. In total, 503 fungal strains were isolated, which...
We investigated the diversity and distribution of fungi in nine different sites inside 30 residential dishwashers. In total, 503 fungal strains were isolated, which belong to 10 genera and 84 species. Irrespective of the sampled site, 83% of the dishwashers were positive for fungi. The most frequent opportunistic pathogenic species were Exophiala dermatitidis, Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Exophiala phaeomuriformis, Fusarium dimerum, and the Saprochaete/Magnusiomyces clade. The black yeast E. dermatitidis was detected in 47% of the dishwashers, primarily at the dishwasher rubber seals, at up to 106 CFU/cm2; the other fungi detected were in the range of 102 to 105 CFU/cm2. The other most heavily contaminated dishwasher sites were side nozzles, doors and drains. Only F. dimerum was isolated from washed dishes, while dishwasher waste water contained E. dermatitidis, Exophiala oligosperma and Sarocladium killiense. Plumbing systems supplying water to household appliances represent the most probable route for contamination of dishwashers, as the fungi that represented the core dishwasher mycobiota were also detected in the tap water. Hot aerosols from dishwashers contained the human opportunistic yeast C. parapsilosis, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and E. dermatitidis (as well as common air-borne genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium). Comparison of fungal contamination of kitchens without and with dishwashers revealed that virtually all were contaminated with fungi. In both cases, the most contaminated sites were the kitchen drain and the dish drying rack. The most important difference was higher prevalence of black yeasts (E. dermatitidis in particular) in kitchens with dishwashers. In kitchens without dishwashers, C. parapsilosis strongly prevailed with negligible occurrence of E. dermatitidis. F. dimerum was isolated only from kitchens with dishwashers, while Saprochaete/Magnusiomyces isolates were only found within dishwashers. We conclude that dishwashers represent a reservoir of enriched opportunistic pathogenic species that can spread from the dishwasher into the indoor biome.
Topics: Aerosols; Biofilms; Candida; Computational Biology; DNA, Fungal; Disinfection; Environmental Microbiology; Exophiala; Fusarium; Household Articles; Humans; Mitosporic Fungi; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Wastewater; Water Microbiology; Yeasts
PubMed: 26867131
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148166 -
Applied Microbiology Oct 1969A bioassay for fungal toxins based on the intraperitoneal injection of test materials into mice was used to screen 976 cultures isolated from tobacco and grown in a...
A bioassay for fungal toxins based on the intraperitoneal injection of test materials into mice was used to screen 976 cultures isolated from tobacco and grown in a high-protein baby cereal and also to determine whether samples of tobacco damaged by fungi are more toxic than samples of apparently sound tobacco. Of 236 fungal isolates from noncured tobacco, 79% were lethal when homogenized cultures of these isolates were tested. Forty-nine per cent of 740 fungi isolated from cured tobacco were lethal. Of the genera from which 30 or more isolates were tested, Epicoccum, Alternaria, and Penicillium had the highest percentage of toxic isolates from non-cured tobacco, whereas Epicoccum, Aspergillus, and Alternaria had the highest percentage from cured tobacco. Samples of tobacco naturally infected with brown spot, caused by Alternaria tenuis, did not have a significantly different LD(50) value after 48 hr than comparable disease-free samples. However, animals which died from doses near the LD(50) dose of tobacco infected with Alternaria generally died in 24 to 48 hr with signs associated with a depressant rather than a stimulant, such as nicotine, which caused death in 15 to 30 min. These signs were duplicated by injecting homogenized pure cultures of Alternaria. These studies, although inconclusive with regard to the effects of fungal contaminants on the quality or usability of tobacco, have developed evidence that suggests the advisability of a study on smoke or smoke condensates from moldy and nonmoldy tobacco.
Topics: Animals; Biological Assay; Female; Mice; Mitosporic Fungi; Mycotoxins; Plant Extracts; Plants, Toxic; Nicotiana
PubMed: 5392461
DOI: 10.1128/am.18.4.570-574.1969