The janthitrems: fluorescent tremorgenic toxins produced by Penicillium janthinellum isolates from ryegrass pastures.

New tremorgenic mycotoxins named janthitrem A, B, and C (molecular weights 601, 585, and 569, respectively) were produced by more than half of 21 Penicillium janthinellum isolates obtained from ryegrass pastures involved in ryegrass staggers outbreaks in sheep.     

Tremorgenic toxins produced by soil fungi.

Penitrem A or an unknown tremorgenic toxin, "X," was produced by 10 of 60 fungal isolates obtained from a pasture involved in an outbreak in cattle and sheep resembling migram and ryegrass staggers. Tremorgenic properties of extracts containing penitrem A or toxin X were confirmed by bioassay.     

Aspects of the chemistry and toxicology of indole-diterpenoid mycotoxins involved in tremorganic disorder of livestock

A method for the large-scale extraction ofNeotyphodium lolii (formerlyAcremonium lolii) infectedLolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) seed was optimized so as to efficiently obtain lolitrem B, the tremorgenic indole-diterpenoid compound thought to be the principal causative agent of the neurotoxic disorder ryegrass staggers. In a period of two weeks, 30 kg of seed could be processed yielding 125mg of pure, crystalline lolitrem B. In addition to lolitrem B, fifteen lolitrem analogues were isolated from the seed extracts and their structures determined by mass spectrometry and one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. All but one of these analogues were previously unknown. Furthermore, three compounds related to paxilline, thought to be a precursor of lolitrem B were isolated fromPenicillium paxilli cultures. The isolation of the lolitrem and paxilline analogues provided much information on the likely pathways of lolitrem biosynthesis, and a detailed pathway is proposed. Paspaline was identified as the crucial intermediate in indole-diterpenoid biosynthesis, rather than paxilline, as previously thought. It is proposed that new endophyte incapable of biosynthesizing this substance will not produce any indole-diterpenoid tremorgens. Many of the lolitrem and paxilline derivatives isolated in the course of this study were tested for tremorgenic action in mice. These studies have identified a number of strucural features which are necessary for tremorgenic effect. Slow onset and long-duration tremors are characteristic of lolitrem compounds. For this effect, the acetal-linked isoprene unit and the stereochemistry at the A/B ring junction were identified as important. In contrast, paxilline compounds induce fast-onset and short-duration tremors. For this effect a C-13 α-orientated hydroxyl group is essential and the C-10 functionality is important. The extensive study of structure-activity relationships described in this thesis also suggests that lolitrem and paxilline compounds may exert their effects by binding to different target sites. Others have proposed that the more readily available paxilline be used as a model for the lolitrems in trials to select for animals resistant to ryegrass staggers, but the above observations suggest, however, that such an approach would not be successful.     

遗址木构件有害真菌的快速测定方法

介绍了1种快速测定遗址木构件有害真菌的方法:用孢子菌丝悬浮液直接接种于供试木块上,培养4d,即可确定其侵染性;培养8d,即可确定其侵染力。应用该方法成功地测定了灰绿曲霉(Aspergillus glau-cus)、黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)、枝孢霉(Cladosporiumsp.)、顶青霉(Penicillium corylophilum)、柑桔青霉(Penicilliumcitrinum)、团青霉(Penicillium commune)、黄曲霉(Aspergillus flavus)、微紫青霉(Penicilliumjanthinellum)、总状毛霉(Mucor racemosus)、绿木霉(Trichoderma viride)等10种真菌的侵染性和侵染力。     

Autoradiographic method to screen for soil microorganisms which accumulate zinc.

An autoradiographic method was developed to screen for and isolate soil microorganisms which accumulate zinc (Zn). Diluted soil samples (Rubicon fine sand, Entic Haplorthods [pH 5.9]) were plated on soil extract-glucose agar containing radioactive 65Zn. After 7 days of incubation, individual colonies which accumulated sufficient 65Zn could be detected by autoradiography. These colonies were isolated and confirmed as Zn accumulators in pure culture by using the autoradiographic plate technique. Most Zn accumulators were filamentous fungi, identified as Penicillium janthinellum, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Paecilomyces sp. Isolates of Penicillium janthinellum were the most common Zn accumulators. The most abundant Zn-accumulating bacteria were Bacillus spp. The validity of the autoradiographic plate technique to differentiate soil microbes which accumulate Zn was examined independently by energy dispersive X-ray analysis in a scanning electron microscope. This method confirmed that fungal isolates which gave positive autoradiographic responses in the plate assay bioaccumulated more Zn in their biomass than fungal isolates from the same soil sample which gave negative autoradiographic responses. Thus, this technique can be applied to specifically screen for and isolate microbes from the environment which bioaccumulate Zn.     

Autoradiographic method to screen for soil microorganisms which accumulate zinc

An autoradiographic method was developed to screen for and isolate soil microorganisms which accumulate zinc (Zn). Diluted soil samples (Rubicon fine sand, Entic Haplorthods [pH 5.9]) were plated on soil extract-glucose agar containing radioactive 65Zn. After 7 days of incubation, individual colonies which accumulated sufficient 65Zn could be detected by autoradiography. These colonies were isolated and confirmed as Zn accumulators in pure culture by using the autoradiographic plate technique. Most Zn accumulators were filamentous fungi, identified as Penicillium janthinellum, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Paecilomyces sp. Isolates of Penicillium janthinellum were the most common Zn accumulators. The most abundant Zn-accumulating bacteria were Bacillus spp. The validity of the autoradiographic plate technique to differentiate soil microbes which accumulate Zn was examined independently by energy dispersive X-ray analysis in a scanning electron microscope. This method confirmed that fungal isolates which gave positive autoradiographic responses in the plate assay bioaccumulated more Zn in their biomass than fungal isolates from the same soil sample which gave negative autoradiographic responses. Thus, this technique can be applied to specifically screen for and isolate microbes from the environment which bioaccumulate Zn.     

Effect of germicidal UVC light on fungi isolated from grapes and raisins

AIMS: To examine how UVC affects the different genera of fungi commonly isolated from grapes, with the aim of understanding changes in mycobiota during grape ripening and possible applications for preventing grape decay during storage. METHODS AND RESULTS: Spores of Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium janthinellum and Alternaria alternata (between 100-250 spores/plate agar) were UVC irradiated for 0 (control), 10, 20, 30, 60, 300 and 600 s. Plates were incubated at 25 degrees C and colonies were counted daily up to 7 days. Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus carbonarius were the most resistant fungi. Conidial germination in these species was reduced by approx. 25% after 10 s of exposure, compared with greater than 70% reduction for the remaining species tested. Penicillium janthinellum spores were the most susceptible at this wavelength. UVC exposures of 300 s prevented growth of all isolates studied, except for Alternaria alternata. CONCLUSIONS: UVC irradiation plays a major role in selecting for particular fungi that dominate the mycobiota of drying grapes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The UVC irradiation of harvested grapes could prevent germination of contaminant fungi during storage or further dehydration.     

贵州两处茶园溶磷青霉菌的筛选、鉴定及溶磷能力分析

为维持土壤自然完整性、活化利用土壤中难溶性磷,从贵州名茶产地都匀、贵定茶园土壤中筛选高效溶磷真菌,为制备真菌肥料提供菌种资源。利用溶磷指数(SPI)、形态特征和ITS rDNA序列筛选、鉴定菌株,并采用液体摇床培养实验测定鉴定菌株在以磷酸钙、磷酸铁或磷酸铝为唯一磷源的无机磷液体培养基中的溶磷能力。共筛选到7个高效溶磷菌落,经形态观察分属2种菌株,鉴定为微紫青霉(Penicillium janthinellum)和赭绿青霉(Penicillium ochrochloron)。液体培养基接种、摇床培养15 d,微紫青霉菌在以Ca3(PO4)2、Fe3(PO4)2或AlPO4为唯一磷源的上清液中有效磷含量分别为73.47 mg·L^-1、30.93 mg·L^-1和14.00 mg·L^-1,4℃继续保存至30d后对Fe-P和Al-P的溶解量分别达到72.20 mg·L^-1、32.84 mg·L^-1;赭绿青霉菌培养15d的溶磷量分别为30.72 mg·L^-1、4.14 mg·L^-1和1.51 mg·L^-1,30d对Fe-P和Al-P的溶解量分别达到35.19 mg·L^-1和10.98 mg·L^-1。微紫青霉菌溶解无机磷能力明显优于赭绿青霉菌,有望应用于地区缺磷茶园土壤真菌肥料的制备。     

Verruculogen Produced by soil fungi in England and Wales.

Soil fungi, including Aspergillus fischeri, Penicillium piceum, Penicillium nigricans, and Penicillium raistrickii, produced a tremorgenic toxin previously described as toxin X. Chemical analysis showed that this toxin was predominantly verruculogen.     

The effect of Penicillium fungi on plant growth and phosphorus mobilization in neutral to alkaline soils from southern Australia

The phosphate solubilizing fungi Penicillium radicum, Penicillium bilaiae (strain RS7B-SD1), and an unidentified Penicillium sp. designated strain KC6-W2 were tested for their ability to increase the growth and phosphorus (P) nutrition of wheat, medic, and lentil in three soils of neutral to alkaline pH reaction. The strongest plant growth promoting (PGP) strain was Penicillium sp. KC6-W2, which stimulated significant increases in shoot growth and dry mass in seven of the nine experiments conducted. Levels of PGP by Penicillium sp. KC6-W2 ranged from 6.6% to 19% and were associated with increased uptake of P to the shoot. The PGP properties of Penicillium sp. KC6-W2 were evident on each of the three different plant species and soil types, a level of reliability not observed in other strains tested. Inoculation of seed with P. radicum increased lentil growth by 5.5% (P < 0.05) in soil from Tarlee but did not affect plant growth in the eight other experiments. Inoculation of plant seed with P. bilaiae RS7B-SD1 resulted in significant PGP in two of the nine experiments conducted. However, when significant, stimulation of PGP by P. bilaiae RS7B-SD1 was strong and resulted in increases in medic dry matter (19%) and lentil shoot dry matter (15%). A soil microcosm experiment investigated the effect of Penicillium fungi on cycling of soil P. Penicillium bilaiae RS7B-SD1 was the only fungus to significantly increase HCO3-extractable P (23% increase; P < 0.05). Production of phosphatase enzymes was not associated with increased HCO3-extractable P. Addition of carbon in the form of ryegrass seed significantly increased microbial respiration and movement of P to the microbial biomass (P < 0.05), but these parameters were irrespective of Penicillium treatment. This work has established the potential for use of Penicillium inoculants to increase plant growth on alkaline soils in Australia. The role of Penicillium fungi in plant P uptake and soil P cycling requires further exploration.     

The chitinolytic activity of Penicillium janthinellum P9: purification, partial characterization and potential applications

AIMS: To purify and characterize the chitinolytic activity of Penicillium janthinellum P9 and to evaluate possible uses of the purified enzymes in the control of fungal growth and spore germination. METHODS AND RESULTS: The chitinolytic activity of P. janthinellum P9 was associated to two beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidases (CHI1 and CHI2) that were purified by preparative isoelectric focusing and preparative electrophoresis and partially characterized. Treatment of test fungi with purified enzyme solutions caused reduced spore germination, reduction of hyphal length and mycelial damage. The combined action of the two enzymes and a systemic fungicide completely inactivated pests and food-spoiling moulds such as Fusarium solanii, P. canescens and Cladosporium cladosporioides. Treatment with the two enzymes increased germination of freeze-dried fungal spores. CONCLUSION: The chitinolytic activity of P. janthinellum P9 is associated with two extracellular beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidases that can cause damage to the cell walls of other fungi. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This appears to be the first report on the characterization of extracellular chitinolytic enzymes produced by a Penicillium strain. The results of this study might have some impact in the applied research field.     

Isolation and characterization of acid- and Al-tolerant microorganisms

Acid- and aluminum (Al)-tolerant microorganisms were isolated from tea fields, from which six strains were selected and identified as Cryptococcus humicola, Rhodotorula glutinis, Aspergillus flavus Link, Penicillium sp., Penicillium janthinellum Biourge and Trichoderma asperellum. They were tolerant to Al up to 100-200 mM and could grow at low pH, 2.5-2.2. In a glucose medium (pH 3.5) the pH of the spent medium decreased to below 3.0. The toxic inorganic monomeric Al in the spent medium decreased with three strains (A. flavus F-6b, Penicillium sp. F-8b and P. janthinellum F-13), but the total Al remained constant for all strains. In a soil extract medium (pH 3.5), the pH of the spent medium of all strains increased to around 6.0-7. 2 and total Al in the spent medium was removed by precipitation due to pH increase. Thus, different tolerance mechanisms were suggested in glucose and soil extract media.     

Unusual crystalloids and aggregates of tubules in theLolium endophyte of ryegrass leaf sheaths

Summary Exceptionally well differentiated crystalloids and cylindrical aggregates of tubules were found in the mycelium of theLolium endophyte of ryegrass, particularly in leaf sheath tissue. Such plants are known to cause the symptoms of staggers in sheep. The crystalloids consisted of a parallel array of rod-like subunits spaced 12 nm apart. The individual tubules of the aggregates resembled ordinary microtubules but with thinner less densely stained walls.     

The effects of temperature on growth of four high Arctic soil fungi in a three-phase system

The effect of temperature on the growth of Chrysosporium pannorum, Cylindrocarpon sp., Penicillium janthinellum, and Phoma herbarum, isolated from tundra soils, was studied. The growth in two systems, glucose-mineral agar plates and sand, moistened with glucose-mineral broth, was compared. All isolates showed an exponential increase in mass (measured as protein increase) in sand and a linear rate of extension on agar. Radial increase on agar was shown not to be a good index of growth in sand. Trends in growth rates in the sand cultures indicated that all four fungi can grow at low temperatures. The growth rate for Penicillium janthinellum at 15 degrees C was higher than at 20 degrees C, and Cylindrocarpon sp. and Phoma herbarum had higher growth rates at 2.5 degrees C than at 5 degrees C. These data suggest that there may be some adaptation by these fungi to growth in Arctic regions.     

Plant community influences on soil microfungal assemblages in boreal mixed-wood forests

We studied the relationships between assemblages of soil microfungi and plant communities in the southern boreal mixed-wood forests of Quebec. Sampling took place in 18,100 m2 plots from an existing research site. Plots were separated into three categories based on dominant overstory tree species: (i) trembling aspen, (ii) white birch and (iii) a mixture of white spruce and balsam fir. Within each plot a 1 m2 subplot was established in which the understory herbaceous layer was surveyed and soil cores were collected. Microfungi were isolated from soil cores with the soil-washing technique and isolates were identified morphologically. To support our morphological identifications DNA sequences were obtained for the most abundant microfungi. The most frequently occurring microfungal species were Penicillium thomii, P. spinulosum, P. janthinellum, Penicillium sp., P. melinii, Trichoderma polysporum, T. viride, T. hamatum, Mortierella ramanniana, Geomyces pannorum, Cylindrocarpon didymum, Mortierella sp. and Mucor hiemalis. Multivariate analyses (redundancy analysis followed by variance partitioning) revealed that most of the variation in microfungal communities was explained by understory plant species composition as opposed to soil chemistry or overstory tree species. In this floristically diverse system saprophytic microfungal assemblages were not correlated with the overstory tree species but were significantly correlated with the main understory herbs, thereby reflecting differences at a smaller spatial scale.     

Collagenolytic activity in several species of deuteromycetes under various storage conditions

The ability of deuteromycetes of the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Botrytis to retain collagenolytic activity was studied after both 2 and 10 years of storage on a Czapek medium under a layer of mineral oil at 4 degrees C, as well as in silica gel granules at 20 and -60 degrees C. The enzymatic activity of several species, including Botrytis terrestris, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium citrinum, was retained under both conditions of storage. Aspergillus repens retained enzymatic activity only if stored under a layer of mineral oil. The viability of conidia and the collagenolytic activity of Botrytis terrestris, P. janthinellum, P. chrysogenum, and Penicillium citrinum, maintained on silica gel for 10 years, depended on the storage temperature. The viability of the test strains improved after storage on a silica gel at -60 degrees C. A strain of Aspergillus repens lost its ability to dissolve collagen at various storage temperatures on the silica gel. The index of lysis for three strains of Penicillium deuteromycetes (Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium citrinum) increased after a 10-year storage on silica gel at -60 degrees C.     

Laminarinase from Penicillium funiculosum and its role in release of beta-glucosidase

An extracellular laminarinase (1----3)-beta-glucan glucohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.6) was purified from culture filtrates of Penicillium funiculosum. It was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. It had a Mr of 14,000 and isoelectric point of pH 4.2. The apparent Km value for lamimarinase was 8.3 mg/ml and Vmax was 8 mumol/min/mg. The distribution of beta-glucosidase activity in two different species of Penicillium showed that P. funiculosum had a higher ratio of extracellular to cell wall bound activity than Penicillium janthinellum. Treatment of mycelia of both species with NaCl, EDTA, Triton X-100, or proteolytic enzymes did not release the cell wall bound beta-glucosidase. Incubation of the mycelia with the laminarinase released 2-4 times more beta-glucosidase than the estimated cell bound activity in P. janthinellum and P. funiculosum.     

Effect of culture conditions on tremorgen production by some Penicillium species.

Four strains each of seven tremorgenic Penicillium species were grown under various conditions and tested for tremorgen production by intraperitoneal injection of mice and by chemical analysis. Half of the strains had previously been found to be tremorgenic on bioassay after growth on Czapek Dox yeast extract broth or potato-milk-sucrose broth for 3 weeks at 26 degrees C. In the tests reported here nearly all previously nontremorgenic strains were either tremorgenic to mice or produced tremorgens detectable by chemical analysis but did so after longer incubation periods than used in the original screening. Bioassay was not suitable for the estimation of absolute levels but was preferable to chemical analysis when the identity of the tremorgens was not known. Species and strains within species gave different responses to changes in culture medium, incubation temperature, light irradiation, and shaking. Overall, tremorgen production was maximal at 20 or 26 degrees C, increased with time, and was reduced in shaken culture.     

Effect of culture conditions on tremorgen production by some Penicillium species

Four strains each of seven tremorgenic Penicillium species were grown under various conditions and tested for tremorgen production by intraperitoneal injection of mice and by chemical analysis. Half of the strains had previously been found to be tremorgenic on bioassay after growth on Czapek Dox yeast extract broth or potato-milk-sucrose broth for 3 weeks at 26 degrees C. In the tests reported here nearly all previously nontremorgenic strains were either tremorgenic to mice or produced tremorgens detectable by chemical analysis but did so after longer incubation periods than used in the original screening. Bioassay was not suitable for the estimation of absolute levels but was preferable to chemical analysis when the identity of the tremorgens was not known. Species and strains within species gave different responses to changes in culture medium, incubation temperature, light irradiation, and shaking. Overall, tremorgen production was maximal at 20 or 26 degrees C, increased with time, and was reduced in shaken culture.     

Activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases (intracellular and extracellular) in rhyzosphere fungi from Arachis hypogaea (Papiloneaceae)

The potential role of the fungi, isolated from the peanut rhizosphere, in the production of extracellular and intracellular acid and alkaline phosphatase, was evaluated in vitro. Acid and alkaline extracellular phosphatases showed the highest activities, and the Penicillium species were the most efficient in their production. The correlation analysis showed that extracellular acid and intracellular acid phosphatase produced by Aspergillus niger A. terreus, Penicillium sp. y P. brevicompactum were negatively correlated; while the extracellular and intracellular phosphatase activities, were positively correlated. The extracellular acid phosphatase activities produced in vitro by majority of fungi assayed, were not correlated with the acid phosphatase activity present in the peanut soil rhizosphere. Nevertheless, the extracellular alkaline phosphatase activities produced in vitro, were negatively correlated with the extracellular alkaline phosphatase activities present in the rhizosphere. The ability of phosphatase production by fungi isolated from peanut rhizosphere suggests they have great potential to contribute to the P mineralization in this zone.