Micoflora atmosferica de la ciudad de Trujillo (Peru) III. — Generos aislados durante el año de 1971

There were 1762 fungi isolated from the atmosphere of Trujillo city (Peru) during the year 1971. These isolants belonged to 23 genera of fungi. The most frequently isolated were: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Fusarium, Stemphylium, Alternaria, Helminthosporium, Aspergillus and Tilachlidium. Nine genera are reported for first time from the air of the city (Tilachlidium, Cephalosporium, Mucor, Aureobasidium, Hormiscium, Trichoderma, Stachybotrys, Paecilomyces and Fisidium). Six genera may be alergenic for asthmatic patients of Trujillo city.     

Fungal biodiversity in the air of Turin

The qualitative fungal composition of Turin 's atmospheric environment was surveyed, carrying out a twelve-month study and collecting with a single stage volumetric sieve sampler on Dermasel agar supplemented with 0.4 g l^–1 cycloheximide and 0.05 g l^–1 chloramphenicol. We isolated 165 species and 2 varieties of mesophilic fungi from 58 genera and 26 thermotolerant species from 12 genera. Penicillium, Aspergillus, Acremonium, Chrysosporium, Scopulariopsis, Malbranchea, Paecilomyces, Phialophora and Cladosporium were in sequence the genera most rich in mesophilic species; Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chrysosporium and Scopulariopsis the most rich in thermotolerant species. Many of the species isolated are rarely or never recorded in the atmospheric environment. Cycloheximide can thus be said to select among airborne fungi, giving a characteristic picture.Abbreviation CH Cycloheximide - cfu colony forming unit     

Secretion of keratinolytic enzymes and keratinolysis by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes: regression analysis

A survey on keratinophilic fungi from poultry-farm soils at Namakkal and from feather dumping soils at Chennai, India, revealed the existence of 34 species of fungi. Most of the fungi exhibited variable efficiency in producing extracellular keratinase when grown in plates with chicken feathers as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum, Paecilomyces carneus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Trichoderma viride, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were efficient candidates to degrade the feathers. However, when cultivating the strains in submerged conditions in a medium containing chicken feathers as the sole nutrients source, Aspergillus glaucus, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium citrinum also proved to be potent. Among all species, S. brevicaulis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes produced higher amounts of keratinase in both methods. Conditions for keratinase production were optimized by statistical design and surface plots. The highest keratinase activity was estimated by S. brevicaulis (3.2 KU/mL) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.7 KU/mL) in the culture medium with chicken feathers and shows (79% and 72.2% of degrading ability, respectively).     

Micromycetes metabolites--inhibitors of growth and sterol biosynthesis in yeasts]

Antifungal activity of micelial fungus metabolites (of genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Stachybotris, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Gliocladium, Paecilomyces, Trichoderma etc.) was determined. It was shown that antifungal activity of some micromycetes is due to the formation of substances inhibiting sterols biosynthesis in eucaryote cells. Inhibitors of enzymes of sterols biosynthesis were isolated and their activity was investigated. It was shown, that isolated fungus inhibitors of sterols biosynthesis inhibited the growth of test-organism Rhodotorula rubra and decreased ergosterin level in yeast cells. The qualitative content of yeast cell sterols was not changed in the presence of fungus inhibitors.     

A comparative study on the airborne fungi in Athens,Greece, by viable and non-viable sampling methods

Airborne fungi were studied in the city of Athens using two complementary methods in which 136 concurrent samplings were carried out during the 12-month period from January until December 1998. A portable Burkard air sampler for agar plates was used for trapping the culturable portion of the mycobiota. Nineteen genera of fungi were identified and assessed in terms of total numbers and fluctuations in concentration (Alternaria, Arthrinium, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Botrytis, Chrysonilia, Cladosporium, Drechslera, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Nigrospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Sclerotinia, Scopulariopsis, Trichoderma and Ulocladium), with the exception of those included in the Sphaeropsidales, the yeasts, and the non-sporulating fungi, which were counted as groups. A volumetric Burkard air sampler for glass slides was operating simultaneously for detecting the total mycobiota, including the non-culturable and the non-viable portion. Ascospores, basidiospores, spores of Myxomycetes, Ustilaginales, Uredinales and Erysiphales, teliospores of Puccinia, as well as conidia of the genera Curvularia, Helminthosporium, Periconia, Pestalotiopsis, Pithomyces, Polythrincium, Stachybotrys, Stemphylium and Torula were also recorded. Only seven of the genera were recovered by both samplers. The total numbers of fungal spores, which had a maximum concentration of 3,175 spores/m³, as well as the spore concentrations of the genera Cladosporium (2,565 spores/m³) and Alternaria (280 spores/m³) were underestimated by the viable method (2,435 CFU/m³ for the total, 2,169 CFU/m³ for Cladosporium and 180 CFU/m³ for Alternaria). The non-viable method fails to resolve the identification of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus, which are major components of the airborne mycobiota (1,068 CFU/m³ and 204 CFU/m³, respectively) based on recovery by the viable method.     

Mycoflora and Occurrence of Aflatoxin B 1 in Dried Yam Chips from Markets in Ogun and Oyo States,Nigeria

Seventy-six samples of dried yam chips locally called elubo isu were purchased in 2000 from markets in Ogun and Oyo States of southwestern Nigeria. The samples were assessed for pH, moisture content, associated fungi and aflatoxin B1 contamination. The pH of samples ranged from 5.6 to 6.1,while the moisture contents varied from 6.8 to 14.5% in Ogun samples, and 7.1 to 13.6% in samples from Oyo. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the two prevalent genera of fungi, and the number of colony forming units per gram of these two genera in the yam chips studied exceeded the tolerance limit in foodstuffs. The other fungal genera isolated included Botryodiplodia, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Mucor, Aureobasidium and Paecilomyces. The two most frequent fungal species were A. niger and A. flavus. Thin layer chromatographic analysis showed that 17 samples or 22% contained aflatoxin B1 beyond the detection limit (5 ppb), but only three samples or 4% had toxin level above 30 ppb, the tolerance level in food for human consumption. The mean concentration of aflatoxin B1 in positive samples was 27.1 ppb.     

Fungi associated with stored unprocessed cowpea and groundnut varieties available in Borno State, Nigeria.

Five stored unprocessed cowpea (Vigna spp) and four groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) varieties available in Borno State were examined for the mould flora. The degree of infestation of the grains ranged from 31% to 100% and 68% to 86% for surface sterilized cowpea and groundnut respectively. The mould flora commonly encountered were species of the genera Aspergillus. Penicillium species, Scopulariopsis species and Trichoderma species were also found. The flora of the cowpea was dominated by Aspergillus niger while Aspergillus flavus was the dominant mould on groundnut.     

A Selective Method for Cultivating Heat Resistant Moulds, particularly those of the Genus Byssochlamys, and their Presence in Dutch Soil

S ummary : Heat resistant moulds of the genera Byssochlamys, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Paecilomyces can be cultivated selectively in the presence of Bacillus spp. when at least 10 p/m of chloramphenicol or chlortetracycline is added to the growth medium. The inhibitory agents sulphafurazole, penicillin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline and furazolidone, do not give completely selective and optimal growth of these moulds. Selective cultivation of heat resistant moulds from 200 samples of Dutch soil showed that Byssochlamys nivea occurs more frequently than was expected, whereas Byss. fulva occurs by way of exception. Other heat resistant moulds observed in soil are, in order of frequency, species of the genera Aspergillus, Paecilomyces and Penicillium .     

Tropical soil microflora of spice-based cropping systems as potential antagonists of root-knot nematodes

Suppression of plant parasitic nematodes with nematode predators, parasites or antagonists is an eco-friendly approach than the toxic chemicals. In a study, soil borne fungi from the rhizosphere of major spice crops were collected from diverse cropping systems prevailing in three southern states of India. A series of in vitro studies were conducted using 73 freshly collected fungal isolates and 76 isolates obtained from other sources. Out of this 67 isolates were not parasitic on females of root-knot nematodes whereas 115 isolates, though colonized the egg masses, did not show any signs of parasitism on nematode eggs. Fifty-nine isolates showed 50-90% inhibition in egg hatch. Pochonia chlamydospora, Verticillium lecanii, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and few isolates of Trichoderma spp. showed >25% parasitism on root-knot nematode eggs. The most promising isolates in this study were one isolate each of Aspergillus (F.45), Fusarium (F.47), and Penicillium (F.59); three each isolates of Trichoderma (F.3, F.52, and F.60) and Pochonia (F.30 and Vc.3) Verticillium (Vl); and two isolates of fungi that could not be identified (F.28 and F.62). Parasitism by Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus ustus, Drechslera sp., Humicola sp., and Scopulariopsis sp. on root-knot nematode eggs or females, reported in the present study, are new reports.     

Diversity of filamentous fungi associated with Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and its galleries in berries of Coffea canephora (Pierre)

Field sampling was carried out in Ouro Preto d'Oeste - Rond?nia (10 degrees 45'S and 62 degrees 15'W) to evaluate the mycobiota associated with Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari [cuticle, mouth, prothorax (mycangia), gut and feces] and its galleries on berries of Coffea canephora Pierre. Ten genera (201 isolates) were directly related with the insect while five genera (20 isolates) were related with galleries on berries. All the genera identified in the insects were also present in their galleries, what indicates that boring may be an active way of fungi inoculation by H. hampei. The fungi genera were more diverse in the mouth and prothorax of borers, and lower in feces. Fusarium, Penicillium and Geotrichum, with abundance of 55.7, 24.3 and 10.8%, respectively, were dominant genera. In the galleries Fusarium, Geotrichum, Trichoderma and Aspergillus with abundance of 33.3, 29.6, 18.5 and 14.8%, respectively, were dominant genera. The overall presence of Fusarium in coffee berry borer and its galleries) reinforces previous indications of a close interaction between H. hampei-Fusarium. The presence of Aspergillus and Penicillium emphasizes the possibility of "ochratoxin dispersion" by the borer. This work provides the first record of the mycobiota associated with H. hampei in C. canephora. Among the identified genera, Cephalosporium, Geotrichum and Oidiodendrum were recorded for the first time in association with H. hampei and its galleries in C. canephora.     

Cellulose-decomposing fungi of salt marshes in Egypt

Seventy-five species and three varieties which belong to thirty-four genera were identified from 74 soil samples collected from salt marshes in Egypt. The most frequent fungi wereAspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum andAlternatia alternata, followed byAspergillus terreus,Curvularia spicifera andPenicillium notatum. Six genera were of moderate occurrence:Penicillium, Futarium, Curvularia, Rhizopus, Stachybotrys, andChaetomium. Five genera were of low occurrence:Paecilomyces, Oephalosporium, Epicoccum, Mucor andMyrothecium.     

Composition of the fungal flora of four cereal grains in Saudi Arabia

Using the grain-plate method and on glucose-Czapek's agar at 28°C, fifty-eight species belonging to 26 genera were collected from barley (42 species and 19 genera), maize (29 species and 16 genera), sorghum (32 species and 17 genera) and wheat grains (42 species and 18 genera).The most frequent genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Fusarium, and Mucor followed by Alternaria, Drechslera, and Curvularia. From the preceding genera Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium notatum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium moniliforme, Mucor racemosus, Alternaria alternata, Drechslera spicifera, and Curvularia lunata were the most prevalent species in the four types of grains tested.     

Studies on mycoflora of salt marshes in Egypt. i. sugar fungi

Thirty-four genera and 92 species, in addition to two varieties of Aspergillus nidulans, were isolated from 74 soil samples collected from different localities of salt marshes in Egypt. Aspergillus (17 species in addition to 2 varieties of A. nidulans) and Penicillium (17 species) were of high occurrence, from which A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. terreus and P. notatum were dominant. Five genera were of moderate occurrence and these were Cladosporium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Mucor and Rhizopus. Nine genera were of low occurrence, namely, Drechslera, ?Trimmatostroma, Paecilomyces, Stachybotrys, Cephalosporium, Humicola, Botryotrichum, ? Geolegnia and Scopulariopsis. Statistical analyses reveal that soil samples poor in total fungi were significantly higher in total soluble salts, Na and K content than samples with numerous fungi. The difference in organic matter content between poor and rich samples was non-significant. In newly reclaimed fields along the borders of salt marshes, Fusarium was the most numerous fungal genera from soil followed by Aspergillus whereas Cladosporium was completely absent. Comparison between the present results and those of the other studies showed that there is no fungal flora characteristic of salt marshes.     

Microorganisms that produce alpha-galactosidase, alpha-mannosidase, alpha-fucosidase and beta-acetylglucosaminidase

The capacity to synthesize alpha-D-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22), alpha-D-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24), alpha-L-fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.51) and beta-D-acetylglucose aminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) was tested among 100 different cultures of soil microscopic fungi and actinomycetes. Two genera of micromycetes, viz. Scopulariopsis and Aposphaeria, which had not been known as producing alpha-D-galactosidase, were found, as well as several new species of the genus Penicillium: Pen. canescens, Pen. claviforme, Pen. cyclopium, Pen. daleae, Pen. frequentans, Pen. piscarum, Pen. simplicissimu, Pen. thomii.     

Onychomycosis by common non-dermatophyte moulds

Between 1990 and 2000, The Medical Mycology Laboratory at University of Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia), attended 4621 patients, with nail dystrophies. We used the direct test and culture of nail samples for diagnostic purposes. This report includes 310 patients, 7% (310/4621), with positive cultures for the same non-dermathophyte fungi, in five or more places of inoculation. From the 310 positive cultures, 284 (92%) were positive in direct test. No characteristic morphology for any of the genera could be detected. Until 1989 we had an average of 9 cases per year and between 1990 and 2000 we found 28 cases per year (an increase of 211%). The implicated genera were: Fusarium 50%, Nattrassia 31%, Aspergillus and Dendrophoma 7% each, Penicillium and Scopulariopsis contributed with 2% each, and Acremonium was found in less of 1% of cases. The general prevalence of onychomycosis due to non-dermatophytic fungi was about 12,4% between 1990-2000. This report describes the main epidemiological characteristics found, comparing them with results from other authors, and defines the basic profile of affected patients: adults (31-40 years old) who use occlusive shoes (trainers) and practice sport, which predispose to hyperhydrosis and consequently to onychomycosis. The course of the disease takes in average 30 months in both sexes. The percentage of onychomycosis found was 62% for women and 38% for men.     

Airborne fungal spores in the Campus of Anchieta (La Laguna,Tenerife/Canary Is.)

A quantitative and qualitative study was carried out of the atmospheric fungal propagules in two university buildings in the Campus of Anchieta (La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) and in the outdoor atmosphere, in order to ascertain the most abundant fungi and the concentration of spores in the air, as possible sources of respiratory allergies caused by this type of aeroallergens. Sampling was carried out using two kinds of traps (Burkard Personal Culture Sampler and Burkard Personal Slide Sampler), as well as adhesive tape. Sample 1, indoor, identified between 650-320 CFU m -3 depending on the culture medium, with outdoor values between 670-440 CFU m -3 ; sample 2, recorded between 630-80 CFU m -3 inside and 580-300 CFUm -3 in the outdoor atmosphere. The most represented genera were Cladosporium and Penicillium , although the following were also identified: Agaricales, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Drechslera, Coprinus, Curvularia, Chaetomium, Exserohilum, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Leptosphaeria , Myxomycetes, Paecilomyces, Pleospora, Stemphylium, Tetraploa, Torula and Ulocladium .     

Distribution of fungi on two mite species and their habitats in Egypt

Fungi associated with two mite species,Acotyledon krameri andTyrophagus putrescentiœ, and their habitats were studied using 1% glucose-Czapek's and potato-dextrose agar media at 28±2°C. A total of 54 species and one variety belonging to 25 genera were recovered from different habitats of mite species; 36 species and one variety belonging to 18 genera were associated with mite bodies. Nearly most fungal species isolated from mite bodies were also encountered in their habitats. The most common species wereAspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, Mucor racemosus, Nectria hœmatococca. A. terreus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis andTrichurus spiralis were isolated only from mite bodies whereasFusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. corylophilum, P. funiculosum andRhizopus stolonifer were recovered from the mite habitats.A. krameri individuals survived well onCunninghamella elegans, F. oxysporum andM. racemosus cultured on both type of media, whereasCylindrocarpon destructans was best forT. putrescentiœ survival.     

Rhizosphere and phyllosphere fungi of four fern plants growing in Saudi Arabia

Seventy-eight species in addition to 1 variety of A. flavus belonging to 31 genera were collected from the rhizosphere (55 species + 1 variety and 24 genera) and phyllosphere (59 species and 22 genera) of Adiantum capillus-veneris, Ceterach officinarum, Asplenium filare and Cheilanthes catanensis.In the rhizosphere, the most common genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Mucor and yeasts. In the phyllosphere, the most prevalent fungi were Cladosporium herbarum, C. sphaerospermum, Alternaria alternata, Drechslera spicifera, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Cephalosporium roseo-griseum, Myrothecium verrucaria, Mucor racemosus and yeasts.     

马尾松内生真菌产油脂菌株的分离、筛选和鉴定

采用组织块法从马尾松(Pinus massoniana Lamb.)根、茎和叶片中分离获得内生真菌,初步筛选出产油脂菌株且对其油脂含量进行了分析;并采用形态学及分子生物学方法对产油脂菌株进行了分类鉴定。结果显示:从马尾松植株中共获得21株内生真菌菌株,其中分离自根、茎和叶片的菌株分别为4株、6株和11株。有14株菌株的菌丝中有油滴;其中,分离自叶片的菌株ZP-1、分离自根的菌株ZP-2和分离自茎的菌株ZP-3的菌丝内油滴较多且油脂含量较高,平均油脂含量分别达到29.12%、25.03%和30.56%,差异极显著(P<0.01)。不同菌株的菌落颜色、菌丝和分生孢子形态特征明显不同,菌株ZP-1、ZP-2和ZP-3的形态分别与拟青霉属(Paecilomyces Bainier)、生赤壳菌属(Bionectria Speg.)和镰刀菌属(Fusarium Link)菌种的形态相似。与GenBank中相关真菌ITS序列的比对以及NJ系统树分析结果显示:菌株ZP-1与拟青霉属、菌株ZP-2与生赤壳菌属、菌株ZP-3与镰刀菌属间的ITS片段序列相似性均达到99%,在各自的NJ系统树上它们也分别聚在一起。初步确定菌株ZP-1、ZP-2和ZP-3分别属于拟青霉属、生赤壳菌属和镰刀菌属。     

Brefeldin A,a cytotoxin produced by Paecilomyces sp. and Aspergillus clavatus isolated from Taxus mairei and Torreya grandis

Paecilomyces sp. and Aspergillus clavatus, which were isolated from Taxus mairei and Torreya grandis from southeast China, produced toxic metabolites when grown in liquid culture. Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, infrared spectrometry, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy and X-ray analysis identified brefeldin A, a bioactive metabolite produced by a number of fungal species belonging to the genera Alternaria, Ascochyta, Penicillium, Curvularia, Cercospora and Phyllosticta. This is the first report of the isolation of the cytotoxin from Paecilomyces sp. and A. clavatus. The relevance of brefeldin A to the association between these fungi and their host plants is discussed.