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Mycology Jun 2019This paper sought to address the prevalence of Mucorales in different indoor environments in Portugal. Environmental samples (183 in total) were collected at dwellings...
This paper sought to address the prevalence of Mucorales in different indoor environments in Portugal. Environmental samples (183 in total) were collected at dwellings ( = 79) and workplaces (bakeries, swine farms, taxis, waste-sorting plants) ( = 93) by passive sampling using electrostatic dust collector (EDC), air-conditioning filters, litter, and/or raw materials. Samples were inoculated onto non-selective MEA and DG18 media and were screened for antifungal drug-resistance in azole-supplemented agar Sabouraud media. A probe-based Mucorales-specific real-time PCR assay (Muc18S) was used to detect Mucorales in complement to conventional culture-based methods. Mucorales order was found as more prevalent in air-conditioning filters from waste-sorting fork lifters (35.7%). Amongst Mucorales isolates able to grow in azole-supplemented media, 16 isolates of sp., sp. or sp. were not susceptible to 1 mg/L voriconazole, and four isolates of sp. or sp. were not susceptible to 4 mg/L itraconazole. In conclusion, combination of the culture-based and molecular methods proved to be reliable for Mucorales order identification in complex environmental samples.
PubMed: 31069121
DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2018.1551251 -
Journal of Microbiology and... Feb 2017NRRL 5282 and NRRL 1526 can produce lipases with high synthetic activities in wheat bran-based solid-state culture. In this study, the purification and biochemical...
NRRL 5282 and NRRL 1526 can produce lipases with high synthetic activities in wheat bran-based solid-state culture. In this study, the purification and biochemical characterization of the lipolytic activities of these lipases are presented. SDS-PAGE indicated a molecular mass of about 55 and 35 kDa for the purified and enzymes, respectively. -Nitrophenyl palmitate (NPP) hydrolysis was maximal at 40°C and pH 7.0 for the lipase, and at 30°C and pH 5.2 for the enzyme. The enzymes showed almost equal affinity to NPP, but the of the lipase was about 1.13 times higher than that determined for using the same substrate. For both enzymes, a dramatic loss of activity was observed in the presence of 5 mM Hg, Zn, or Mn, 10 mM -bromosuccinimide or sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 5-10% (v/v) of hexanol or butanol. At the same time, they proved to be extraordinarily stable in the presence of -hexane, cyclohexane, -heptane, and isooctane. Moreover, isopentanol up to 10% (v/v) and propionic acid in 1 mM concentrations increased the NPP hydrolyzing activity of lipase. Both enzymes had 1,3-regioselectivity, and efficiently hydrolyzed -nitrophenyl (NP) esters with C8-C16 acids, exhibiting maximum activity towards NP-caprylate () and pNP-dodecanoate (). The purified lipases are promising candidates for various biotechnological applications.
Topics: Bromosuccinimide; Butanols; Caprylates; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Esterification; Heptanes; Hexanes; Hexanols; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Kinetics; Laurates; Lipase; Manganese; Mercury; Nitrobenzenes; Palmitates; Propionates; Rhizomucor; Rhizopus; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; Zinc
PubMed: 27780957
DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1608.08005 -
Mycologia 2019Corn bins in the midwestern United States can reach temperatures up to 52 C. High temperatures combined with sufficient moisture and humidity in bins provide the perfect...
Corn bins in the midwestern United States can reach temperatures up to 52 C. High temperatures combined with sufficient moisture and humidity in bins provide the perfect environment to promote the growth of thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi. In this article, we characterize for the first time thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi in corn grain bins using culture-based methods and pyrosequencing techniques. Corn samples were collected from local farms in western Illinois. Samples were plated and incubated at 50 C using a variety of approaches. Of several hundred kernels examined, more than 90% showed colonization. Species identified using culture methods included , and . Pyrosequencing was also performed directly on corn grain using fungal-specific primers to determine whether thermophilic fungi could be detected using this technique. Sequences were dominated by pathogenic fungi, and thermophiles were represented by less than 2% of the sequences despite being isolated from 90% of the grain samples using culturing techniques. The high abundance of previously undocumented viable fungi in corn could have negative implications for grain quality and pose a potential risk for workers and consumers of corn-derived products in the food industry. Members of the Sordariales were absent among thermophile isolates and were not represented in nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. This is in striking contrast with results obtained with other substrates such as litter, dung, and soils, where mesophilic and thermophilic members of the Sordariaceae and Chaetomiaceae are common. This absence appears to reflect an important difference between the ecology of Sordariales and other orders within the Ascomycota in terms of their ability to compete in microhabitats rich in sugars and living tissues.
Topics: Colony Count, Microbial; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Fungi; Hot Temperature; Illinois; Microbiological Techniques; Mycobiome; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Whole Grains; Zea mays
PubMed: 31348716
DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2019.1631137 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2020During the last few decades, mucormycosis has emerged as one of the most common fungal infections, following candidiasis and aspergillosis. The fungal order responsible... (Review)
Review
During the last few decades, mucormycosis has emerged as one of the most common fungal infections, following candidiasis and aspergillosis. The fungal order responsible for causing mucormycosis is the Mucorales. The main hallmarks of this infection include the invasion of blood vessels, infarction, thrombosis, and tissue necrosis, which are exhibited at the latest stages of the infection. Therefore, the diagnosis is often delayed, and the rapid progression of the infection severely endangers the life of people suffering from diabetes mellitus, hematological malignancies, or organ transplantation. Given the fact that mortality rates for mucormycosis range from 40 to 80%, early diagnosis and novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to battle the infection. However, compared to other fungal infections, little is known about the host immune response against Mucorales and the influence of inflammatory processes on the resolution of the infection. Hence, in this review, we summarized our current understanding of the interplay among pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and the host-immune cells in response to mucoralean fungi, as well as their potential use for immunotherapies.
PubMed: 32957440
DOI: 10.3390/jof6030173 -
IDCases 2020Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection caused by Mucorales order fungi. The rhino-cerebral form of mucormycosis is most commonly seen in patients with diabetes...
Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection caused by Mucorales order fungi. The rhino-cerebral form of mucormycosis is most commonly seen in patients with diabetes mellitus, whereas, pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare manifestation in patients with haematological malignancy and transplant recipients. We report a case of pulmonary mucormycosis presenting with a late acute onset diabetes on a patient immunosuppressed with a low dose of steroids. We aim to illustrate the need for a high clinical suspicion for the diagnosis of mucormycosis and to report the importance of early and aggressive inhiation of antifungal therapy.
PubMed: 33240790
DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e00993 -
Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ban =... Jul 2023Leukemia complicated with and coinfection is very rare, which is difficult to diagnose, and life-threatening. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment in... (Review)
Review
Leukemia complicated with and coinfection is very rare, which is difficult to diagnose, and life-threatening. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment in a child with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), who developed mucormycosis and aspergillus coinfection after chemotherapy, was reported. This case was a 12-year-old boy who presented with fever and cough during chemotherapy. and were detected in his blood, cerebrospinal fluid and alveolar lavage fluid by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Amphotericin B, posaconazole, and voriconazole were successively used for antifungal therapy. Skin debridement, bronchoalveolar lavage and local perfusion under bronchoscopy were performed. The infection of children was well controlled. The clinical manifestations of leukemia with mixed fungal infection are non-specific. The disease progresses rapidly and is prone to spread. Early diagnosis and treatment should be carried out. Combined antifungal therapy is recommended, and surgery is helpful to improve the patient's condition.
Topics: Male; Child; Humans; Mucormycosis; Coinfection; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Leukemia
PubMed: 37724414
DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.230039 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Mar 2004The class Zygomycetes is divided into two orders, Mucorales and Entomophthorales. These two orders produce dramatically different infections. Genera from the order... (Review)
Review
The class Zygomycetes is divided into two orders, Mucorales and Entomophthorales. These two orders produce dramatically different infections. Genera from the order Mucorales (Rhizopus, Mucor, Rhizomucor, Absidia, Apophysomyces, Cunninghamella and Saksenaea) cause an angioinvasive infection called mucormycosis. Mucormycosis presents with rhino-orbito-cerebral, pulmonary, disseminated, cutaneous, or gastrointestinal involvement. Immunocompromising states such as haematological malignancy, bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, neutropenia, solid organ transplantation, diabetes mellitus with or without ketoacidosis, corticosteroids, and deferoxamine therapy for iron overload predispose patients to infection. Mucormycosis in immunocompetent hosts is rare, and is often related to trauma. Mortality rates can approach 100% depending on the patient's underlying disease and form of mucormycosis. Early diagnosis, along with treatment of the underlying medical condition, surgery, and an amphotericin B product are needed for a successful outcome. Genera from the order Entomophthorales produce a chronic subcutaneous infection called entomophthoramycosis in immunocompetent patients. This infection occurs in tropical and subtropical climates. The genus Basidiobolus typically produces a chronic subcutaneous infection of the thigh, buttock, and/or trunk. Rarely, it has been reported to involve the gastrointestinal tract. The genus Conidiobolus causes a chronic infection of the nasal submucosa and subcutaneous tissue of the nose and face. This paper will review the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis and entomophthoramycosis.
Topics: Humans; Mucormycosis; Risk Factors; Zygomycosis
PubMed: 14748801
DOI: 10.1111/j.1470-9465.2004.00843.x -
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2021Thermophilic fungi constitute an ecologically well-defined group, commonly found in environments wherever decomposition of organic matter takes place, making them...
Thermophilic fungi constitute an ecologically well-defined group, commonly found in environments wherever decomposition of organic matter takes place, making them self-heating. The importance of thermophilic fungus in ecosystems contrasts with the incompleteness of our understanding of the group's biogeography patterns, phylogenies and coevolution relationships. Actually, the lack of data about thermophilic fungi from the Brazil is a limiting factor that also contributes for this scenario. In order to reduce this gap of knowledge, we aimed to characterize thermophilic filamentous fungi in Araucaria Forest, Atlantic Forest biome. Species identification was achieved by using internal transcribed spacers (ITS) as molecular ribosomal markers. In total, 240 heat-tolerant fungal strains were isolated and identified as Thermothielavioides terrestris, Thielavia sp., Thermoascus crustaceus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizomucor miehei, Rhizomucor pusillus, and Rhizopus microsporus. All thermophilic strains exhibited optimal growth at 45 °C. T. crustaceus, T. miehei e R. pusillus were the dominant species, with the frequencies of occurrence of 35.00%, 28.33% and 23.33%, respectively. Our data reveals the apparent diversity of the Neotropical realm and may serve as reference to future studies that will try to elucidate important aspects of group.
Topics: Araucaria; Brazil; Ecosystem; Eurotiales; Forests; Fungi; Rhizomucor; Rhizopus; Sordariales
PubMed: 34706012
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120210714 -
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons... Apr 2021Fungal infections are generally observed in immunosuppressed patients only, with a diagnostic challenge due to non-specific symptoms. For this reason, appropriate...
Fungal infections are generally observed in immunosuppressed patients only, with a diagnostic challenge due to non-specific symptoms. For this reason, appropriate management may be delayed. This case report concerns a 36-year-old man with history of pancreas and kidney transplantation. He had chemotherapy for post-transplant B-cell lymphoma and presented with left upper abdominal pain and fever. Multiple investigations led to a final diagnosis of disseminated abdominal mucormycosis with multiple abscesses in the liver, spleen and kidney transplant. Treatment was antifungal therapy and laparotomy with splenectomy, wedge resection of two fungal abscesses in segments II and IVb, and segmental left colic resection.
Topics: Abdominal Abscess; Adult; Hepatectomy; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Liver Diseases; Male; Mucormycosis; Pancreas Transplantation; Postoperative Complications; Rhizomucor; Splenectomy; Splenic Diseases
PubMed: 33682478
DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2020.7125 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2023An invasive fungal infection caused by saprophytic and aerobic fungi Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, and Cunninghamella genera of the family Mucoraceae is known as Mucormycosis....
An invasive fungal infection caused by saprophytic and aerobic fungi Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, and Cunninghamella genera of the family Mucoraceae is known as Mucormycosis. Typically, Mucormycosis manifests in patients with conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, renal failure, patients receiving chemotherapy, long term steroid therapy or patients who are immunocompromised such as Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. The authors report a case of mixed opportunistic fungal infection of Mucormycosis and Aspergillosis following maxillofacial trauma that was treated by both medical and surgical line of management.
PubMed: 36777925
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-03492-z