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PloS One 2013Cyphellophora and Phialophora (Chaetothyriales, Pezizomycota) comprise species known from skin infections of humans and animals and from a variety of environmental... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Cyphellophora and Phialophora (Chaetothyriales, Pezizomycota) comprise species known from skin infections of humans and animals and from a variety of environmental sources. These fungi were studied based on the comparison of cultural and morphological features and phylogenetic analyses of five nuclear loci, i.e., internal transcribed spacer rDNA operon (ITS), large and small subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA (nuc28S rDNA, nuc18S rDNA), β-tubulin, DNA replication licensing factor (mcm7) and second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2). Phylogenetic results were supported by comparative analysis of ITS1 and ITS2 secondary structure of representatives of the Chaetothyriales and the identification of substitutions among the taxa analyzed. Base pairs with non-conserved, co-evolving nucleotides that maintain base pairing in the RNA transcript and unique evolutionary motifs in the ITS2 that characterize whole clades or individual taxa were mapped on predicted secondary structure models. Morphological characteristics, structural data and phylogenetic analyses of three datasets, i.e., ITS, ITS-β-tubulin and 28S-18S-rpb2-mcm7, define a robust clade containing eight species of Cyphellophora (including the type) and six species of Phialophora. These taxa are now accommodated in the Cyphellophoraceae, a novel evolutionary lineage within the Chaetothyriales. Cyphellophora is emended and expanded to encompass species with both septate and nonseptate conidia formed on discrete, intercalary, terminal or lateral phialides. Six new combinations in Cyphellophora are proposed and a dichotomous key to species accepted in the genus is provided. Cyphellophora eugeniae and C. hylomeconis, which grouped in the Chaetothyriaceae, represent another novel lineage and are introduced as the type species of separate genera.
Topics: Ascomycota; Base Sequence; Consensus Sequence; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Evolution, Molecular; Genes, Fungal; Genetic Loci; Molecular Sequence Data; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Nucleotide Motifs; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal; Spores, Fungal; Tubulin
PubMed: 23723988
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063547 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Feb 1995Four ascomycete species of the genus Gaeumannomyces infect roots of monocotyledons. Gaeumannomyces graminis contains four varieties, var. tritici, var. avenae, var.... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Four ascomycete species of the genus Gaeumannomyces infect roots of monocotyledons. Gaeumannomyces graminis contains four varieties, var. tritici, var. avenae, var. graminis, and var. maydis. G. graminis varieties tritici, avenae, and graminis have Phialophora-like anamorphs and, together with the other Gaeumannomyces and Phialophora species found on cereal roots, constitute the Gaeumannomyces-Phialophora complex. Relatedness of a number of Gaeumannomyces and Phialophora isolates was assessed by comparison of DNA sequences of the 18S rRNA gene, the 5.8S rRNA gene, and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS). G. graminis var. tritici, G. graminis var. avenae, and G. graminis var. graminis isolates can be distinguished from each other by nucleotide sequence differences in the ITS regions. The G. graminis var. tritici isolates can be further subdivided into R and N isolates (correlating with ability [R] or inability [N] to infect rye). Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS regions of several oat-infecting G. graminis var. tritici isolates suggests that these isolates are actually more closely related to G. graminis var. avenae. The isolates of Magnaporthe grisea included in the analysis showed a surprising degree of relatedness to members of the Gaeumannomyces-Phialophora complex. G. graminis variety-specific oligonucleotide primers were used in PCRs to amplify DNA from cereal seedlings infected with G. graminis var. tritici or G. graminis var. avenae, and these should be valuable for sensitive detection of pathogenic isolates and for diagnosis of take-all.
Topics: Ascomycota; Base Sequence; DNA Primers; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Ribosomal; Edible Grain; Gene Amplification; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Fungal; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Species Specificity; Triticum
PubMed: 7574606
DOI: 10.1128/aem.61.2.681-689.1995 -
JFMS Open Reports 2022A 10-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat from Quilmes (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) presented at the Infectious Diseases and Parasitology Unit with a...
CASE SUMMARY
A 10-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat from Quilmes (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) presented at the Infectious Diseases and Parasitology Unit with a hyperpigmented nodule of 5 cm diameter on the nasal plane with a small ulceration of more than 1 year's evolution. A scaly and hyperpigmented alopecic lesion of 3 cm in diameter was found on the lower edge of the tail. The patient was under immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids for lymphoplasmacytic duodenitis. Samples of the lesion present on the nasal plane were taken under a surgical procedure. In the wet mount preparations, pigmented irregular hyphae were observed. They developed dark colonies when cultured on Sabouraud medium. On micromorphology, structures compatible with species were identified. PCR and sequencing of (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) confirmed as the etiologic agent. A therapeutic scheme that included a combination of itraconazole oral solution (1.5 mg/kg PO q12h) with terbinafine (30 mg/kg PO q24h) was indicated for a period of 10 months. The patient died of complications resulting from its underlying disease.
RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION
As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study to report as an etiologic agent of phaeohyphomycosis in cats. In this case study, the species was identified using molecular tests.
PubMed: 35281676
DOI: 10.1177/20551169221077611 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Oct 1998The in vitro antifungal activities of SCH56592, MK-0991, and LY303366 against 83 isolates of Acremonium strictum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus...
Comparison of In vitro activities of the new triazole SCH56592 and the echinocandins MK-0991 (L-743,872) and LY303366 against opportunistic filamentous and dimorphic fungi and yeasts.
The in vitro antifungal activities of SCH56592, MK-0991, and LY303366 against 83 isolates of Acremonium strictum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Bipolaris spp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Cladophialophora bantiana, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Histoplasma capsulatum, Phialophora spp., Pseudallescheria boydii, Rhizopus arrhizus, Scedosporium prolificans, and Sporothrix schenckii were compared. The in vitro activities of these agents against 104 isolates of yeast pathogens of Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, and Trichosporon beigelii were also compared. MICs were determined by following a procedure under evaluation by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) for broth microdilution testing of the filamentous fungi (visual MICs) and the NCCLS M27-A broth microdilution method for yeasts (both visual and turbidimetric MICs). The in vitro fungicidal activity of SCH56592 was superior (minimum fungicidal concentrations [MFCs], 0.25 to 4 microgram/ml for 7 of 18 species tested) to those of MK-0991 and LY303366 (MFCs, 8 to >16 microgram/ml for all species tested) for the molds tested, but the echinocandins had a broader spectrum of fungicidal activity (MFCs at which 90% of strains are inhibited [MFC90s], 0.5 to 4 microgram/ml for 6 of 9 species tested) than SCH56592 (MFC90s, 0.25 to 8 microgram/ml for 4 of 9 species tested) against most of the yeasts tested. Neither echinocandin had in vitro activity (MICs, >16 microgram/ml) against C. neoformans and T. beigelii, while the SCH56592 MICs ranged from 0.12 to 1.0 microgram/ml for these two species. The MICs of the three agents for the other species ranged from <0.03 to 4 microgram/ml. These results suggest that these new agents have broad-spectrum activities in vitro; their effectiveness in the treatment of human mycoses is to be determined.
Topics: Anidulafungin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Caspofungin; Culture Media; Echinocandins; Fungi; Humans; Lipopeptides; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycoses; Opportunistic Infections; Peptides; Peptides, Cyclic; Structure-Activity Relationship; Triazoles; Yeasts
PubMed: 9738049
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.36.10.2950-2956.1998 -
Medical Mycology Journal 2018Our group has continuously studied the epidemiology of visceral mycoses (VM) among autopsy cases in Japan from 1989 to 2013.
BACKGROUND AND METHODS
Our group has continuously studied the epidemiology of visceral mycoses (VM) among autopsy cases in Japan from 1989 to 2013.
RESULTS
First, from a total of 11,149 autopsied cases, 571 (5.1%) cases of VM were observed in 2013. It was significantly higher than those of 2005 (p < 0.05) and earlier. Notably, incidence of cases with mucormycetes (Muc) in 2013 was higher than that of 1997 and earlier (p < 0.001), especially in leukemia cases. Muc cases also showed higher rate of "severe infection" compared with other cases (p < .0001). Emerging diseases were also observed. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome cases showed high incidence of VM as a complication. In addition, we observed cases with the rare mycoses caused by Phialopohra verrucosa and Rhodotorula spp. in our analysis. Moreover, the predominant fungal agent of central nervous system infections changed from Cryptococcus spp. to Aspergillus spp. in 2013. This may be considered a breakthrough infection.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of VM in 2013 became higher than those of 2005 (p < 0.05) and earlier, with a notable increase of incidence in cases with Muc. The occurrence of breakthrough VM and emerging mycoses deserve attention.
Topics: Adult; Age Distribution; Aspergillus; Autopsy; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections; Cryptococcus; Female; Humans; Incidence; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Phialophora; Prevalence; Rhodotorula; Time Factors; Viscera
PubMed: 30504616
DOI: 10.3314/mmj.18-00003 -
Phytopathology Jul 2003ABSTRACT Genetic variation and variation in aggressiveness in Phialophora gregata f. sp. sojae, the cause of brown stem rot of soybean, was characterized in a sample of...
ABSTRACT Genetic variation and variation in aggressiveness in Phialophora gregata f. sp. sojae, the cause of brown stem rot of soybean, was characterized in a sample of 209 isolates from the north-central region. The isolates were collected from soybean plants without regard to symptoms from randomly selected soybean fields. Seven genotypes (A1, A2, A4, A5, A6, M1, and M2) were distinguished based on DNA fingerprinting with microsatellite probes (CAT)(5) and (CAC)(5), with only minor genetic variation within the A or M genotypes. Only the A1, A2, and M1 genotypes were represented by more than one isolate. The A genotypes dominated in the eastern Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio samples, whereas the M genotypes were dominant in samples from western Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. In growth chamber experiments, isolates segregated into two pathogenicity groups based on their aggressiveness toward soybean cvs. Kenwood and BSR101, which are relatively susceptible and resistant, respectively, to brown stem rot. In both root dip inoculation and inoculation by injecting spores into the stem near the ground line (stab inoculations), isolates of the A genotypes caused greater foliar symptoms and more vascular discoloration than isolates of the M genotypes on both cultivars of soybean. All isolates caused foliar symptoms in both cultivars and in three additional cultivars of soybean with resistance to brown stem rot. Greater differences between the A and M genotypes were seen in foliar symptoms than in the linear extent of xylem discoloration, and greater differences were seen in Kenwood than in BSR101. Inoculation of these genotypes into five cultivars of soybean with different resistance genes to brown stem rot showed a genotype x cultivar interaction. A similar distinction was found in an earlier study of the adzuki bean pathogen, P. gregata f. sp. adzukicola, and consistent with the nomenclature of that pathogen, the soybean pathogens are named the aggressive race (race A) and the mild race (race M) of P. gregata f. sp. sojae.
PubMed: 18943172
DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO.2003.93.7.901 -
Scientific Reports May 2018Indoor wet cells serve as an environmental reservoir for a wide diversity of melanized fungi. A total of 313 melanized fungi were isolated at five locations in...
Indoor wet cells serve as an environmental reservoir for a wide diversity of melanized fungi. A total of 313 melanized fungi were isolated at five locations in Guangzhou, China. Internal transcribed spacer (rDNA ITS) sequencing showed a preponderance of 27 species belonging to 10 genera; 64.22% (n = 201) were known as human opportunists in the orders Chaetothyriales and Venturiales, potentially causing cutaneous and sometimes deep infections. Knufia epidermidis was the most frequently encountered species in bathrooms (n = 26), while in kitchens Ochroconis musae (n = 14), Phialophora oxyspora (n = 12) and P. europaea (n = 10) were prevalent. Since the majority of species isolated are common agents of cutaneous infections and are rarely encountered in the natural environment, it is hypothesized that indoor facilities explain the previously enigmatic sources of infection by these organisms.
Topics: Animals; China; DNA, Fungal; Dermatomycoses; Ecosystem; Environmental Microbiology; Fungi; Household Articles; Humans; Incidence; Mycoses; Vertebrates; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 29769615
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26071-7 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2021adopts a tolerant strategy as a metal excluder to survive toxic metal concentrations. Biodiversity and the endophytic fungal community colonizing the roots were...
adopts a tolerant strategy as a metal excluder to survive toxic metal concentrations. Biodiversity and the endophytic fungal community colonizing the roots were assessed from a mining area (MA) and a neighboring non-mining area (nMA) in southwestern China. All roots formed fully developed dark septate endophytes (DSEs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Total DSE colonization was higher for the MA versus nMA, in contrast to the total AMF colonization in the two sites. The DSE colonization was higher than AMF colonization regardless of the site. Pure-culture data showed that the fungi closely related to , and dominantly colonized the roots. A total of 450 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified showing the presence of a distinct fungal community in MA and nMA, which was shaped by soil physiochemical properties, including soil Zn concentrations and organic matter. We found that accumulates and adapts efficiently to local endophytic fungi to achieve the expansion of its community, including the spontaneously reclaimed DSE. This property may be targeted to achieve its colonization with a pioneer plant for phytoremediation in the restoration of a vegetation cover in a metal-contaminated area.
PubMed: 34961202
DOI: 10.3390/plants10122731 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Microorganisms drive litter decomposition while maintaining the chemical cycle of ecosystems. We used the dominant vegetation () in the mining area selected for this...
Microorganisms drive litter decomposition while maintaining the chemical cycle of ecosystems. We used the dominant vegetation () in the mining area selected for this study for this experiment to explore fungal community characteristics, key fungal groups, and their associative driving factors during litter decomposition. Maximum litter C/N values occurred 100days after the commencement of the decomposition experiment during all different recovery years in this copper tailings area. Heavy metals in litter [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), plumbum (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)] accumulated gradually with decomposition. The dominant fungal phyla observed in the community were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, while the classes Sordariomycetes and Eurotiomycetes significantly increased as litter decomposition progressed. Degrees of connectivity and interaction between fungal communities were highest during the early litter decomposition stage. Sordariomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Leotiomycetes all played critical roles in maintaining fungal community relationships. The effect of physicochemical properties and enzyme activities in litter was significant on the dominant fungi, while driving factors that affected fungal communities differed over different recovery stages. Total nitrogen (TN), heavy metals, pH, and enzyme activities in the little were significantly correlated with fungal community composition. Litter properties throughout the litter decomposition process mainly affected the dynamics of the fungal community structure. The main environmental factors that affected fungal community structure were copper content and pH. , , , , , and , which all played important roles in litter decomposition, positively correlated with heavy metals, sucrase, and catalase. Finally, results from this study will help us better clarify litter decomposition mechanisms in degraded ecosystems as well as provide a scientific basis for improving species cycling and nutrient transformation efficiency in mining ecosystems.
PubMed: 34880848
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.780015 -
Plant Disease Jun 2002Identifying take-all pathogens, Gaeumannomyces graminis varieties avenae (Gga), graminis (Ggg), and tritici (Ggt), is difficult. Rapid identification is important for...
Identifying take-all pathogens, Gaeumannomyces graminis varieties avenae (Gga), graminis (Ggg), and tritici (Ggt), is difficult. Rapid identification is important for development of disease thresholds. We developed a single-tube, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method differentiating among Gga, Ggg, and Ggt. Nucleotide base sequence analyses of avenacinase-like genes from Gga, Ggg, and Ggt isolates provided the basis for designing variety-specific primers. Sequences from Ggg and Ggt were highly related (99% identity), but Gga sequences were <95% identical to Ggg and Ggt sequences. Three 5' primers specific for Gga, Ggt, and Ggg and a single 3' common primer allowed amplification of variety-specific fragments of 617, 870, and 1,086 bp, respectively. Each 5' primer was specific in mixed populations of primers and templates. No PCR products were amplified from related fungi including Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus and Phialophora spp. We surveyed 16 putative Ggt isolates using our assay; nine produced Ggt-specific fragments and seven produced Ggg-specific fragments. Five Gga isolates produced Gga-specific fragments. However, Gga- and Ggt-specific fragments were observed from a sixth Gga isolate, RB-W, which indicates a mixed culture or a heterokaryon. Our single-tube, PCR method rapidly differentiates among the important take-all pathogens commonly encountered together in cereal fields.
PubMed: 30823240
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS.2002.86.6.652