Indoor moulds in asthmatic patients homes

Summary A study was conducted in 29 households with asthmatic patients in order to analyse the indoor mould concentration; an important contamination was found in both the air and the dust. Although it is known that the outdoor mould concentration in the air decreases during winter, we found that the indoor one did not vary throughout the year. Moreover, the indoor mould concentration increased during the winter in recently built houses, probably because of the poor ventilation. The immunological study showed a lack of correlation between the moulds collected and the patients sensitization.     

Fungi isolated from Antarctic mosses

Microfungi were isolated from different moss species in Victoria Land. Twenty-eight taxa belonging to 18 genera were identified. New records for continental Antarctica were: Arthrobotrys superba, Conidiobolus sp., Penicillium minioluteum, Verticillium psalliotae and V. lamellicola. The most frequently isolated fungal species were: Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cryptococcus albidus, Cryptococcus laurentii, Geomyces pannorum var. pannorum, G. pannorum var. vinaceus, Mortierella antarctica, Cadophora malorum, Phoma herbarum and V. lecanii. Bryum pseudotriquetrum was the moss richest in fungal species. Within the Antarctic environment, moss is one of the microhabitats richest in microfungi, particularly in psychrophilic indigenous species.     

Fungi isolated from Antarctic material

Summary Fungi isolated from samples of soil, penguin, skua and petrel dung and bird feathers in the Victoria Land, Antarctica, from Inexpressible Island to Cape King, were studied. All material was collected in December 1987–January 1988. Fungi occurred prevalently in bird dung and in soil, especially when mosses were present. The main species isolated were: the keratinophilic Chrysosporium verrucosum and Geomyces pannorum var. pannorum, Phoma herbarum and Thelebolus microsporus. A variety of filamentous fungi and yeasts were also encountered in soil, dung and bird feathers samples in different localities: Acremonium strictum, Cladosporium herbarum, Scolecobasidium salinum, Mortierella antarctica, Paecilomyces farinosus, Phialophora fastigiata, the thermophilic Scytalidium thermophile and Thermomyces lanuginosus, Verticillium sp., Mycelia sterilia and Cryptococcus albidus and Torulaspora delbrueckii. Most of the fungal isolates appeared to be cold-tolerant. Results from this study are discussed in conjuction with data from previous Antarctic studies in this area.     

Fungi isolated in onychomycoses

Conclusion Nail-infections caused by dermatophytes are not rare in areas where tinea capitis is endemic. The infection is most prevalent in the age group between 11–20 years predominantly in females in whom infections may last up to the age of 60 years. Candida nail-infections are becoming an important clinical problem increasing in frequency especially among women. It seems that Candida nail-infections are an urban disease. The significance of opportunistic fungi has to be elucidated, especially in cases where no other known pathogenic fungi or microorganisms could be proved.Read in the meeting of the First Congress of the International Society for Tropical Dermatology, Naples, June 8–13, 1964.     

Fungal content of air samples from some asthmatic childrens’ homes in Mexico City

Fungal particles can be considered a potential risk factor in children causing asthma, rhinitis, and allergy. However, a direct relationship between mold exposure and respiratory symptoms is difficult to establish, particularly if volumetric results are not well documented, as is often the case in Mexico. In order to assess mold exposure in some asthmatic childrens’ homes, eight asthmatic children were selected. For each child, lung function was measured by spirometry and the flow expiratory volume drop in the first second (FEV₁) as well as the CVF were estimated at 5, 10 and 15 min, after a running period on a treadmill. Exercise induced asthma (EIA) was defined as a FEV₁ drop <10% or FEV₁/CVF drop >10%. Atopy was estimated by skin testing of allergen extracts. Each room was volumetrically sampled using Burkard Personal samplers, every week for a month and with different degrees of activity. Fungal composition was mostly dominated by allergenic molds, spores smaller than 10 μm and non-seasonal molds. Concentrations ranged from 0 to 2087 CFU/m³ and 102 553–29 522 200 spores/m³, being significantly higher in indoor air, but the differences between rooms or weeks were not significant, either for CFUs (P>0.27) or for total particles (P>0.80). In general, mold counts were dominated byPenicillium spp. andCladosporium spp. especiallyP. aurantiogriseum andC. cladosporioides. We observed that the median concentration values were in general higher for children with exercise induced asthma (EIA). But the differences were significant only for EIA and degree, of asthma particularly for total (P=0.038), mycotoxin producers (P<0.009), seasonal molds (P<0.006) andPenicillium spp. (P=0.012). Total spore counts showed the highest median values in children without EIA, moderate asthma degree and no atopy. Significant differences were found for almost all spore, type groupings when comparing the presence of EIA (P<0.05) or asthma degree categories (P<0.030), but no differences were observed for atopy (P>0.21). We conclude that respiratory symptoms as described by EIA, asthma severity and atopy may give a good correlation with fungal concentrations and especially comparisons based on their physical and chemical properties.     

Fungi isolated from contaminated baled grass silage on farms in the Irish Midlands

The incidence of fungal growth on baled grass silage was recorded on 35 farms in the Irish Midlands in 2003. Fungal colonies were visible on 58 of 64 bales examined and the number of colonies per bale ranged from 1 to 12. On average, 5% of bale surface areas were affected. The fungus most prevalent on bales was Penicillium roqueforti, present on 86% of bales and representing 52% of all isolates. Other moulds isolated were Penicillium paneum, Geotrichum, Fusarium and mucoraceous species. Schizophyllum commune was observed protruding through the plastic film on bales on 17 of the 35 farms.     

Fungi isolated from skins and pens of healthy animals in Nigeria

The mycoflora of 220 skin scrapings, hair, nail samples and pens’ materials of apparently healthy animals including cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs and dogs were determined. Twenty eight species of fungi belonging to ten genera were recovered. Chrysosporium spp. were the most common and C. keratinophilum was recovered from all animals. Dermatophytes which are known causal agents of dermatophytosis were also isolated indifferent frequencies (Microsporum gypseum, M. canis, Trichophytonmentagrophytes, T. rubrum). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis and tracing of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and mutagenicity of airborne particulates from the Taipei area

In a 3-year study, we determined the mutagenicity and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of airborne particulates collected during December 1987-September 1988 (216 samples), October 1988-January 1989 (81 samples), and October 1989-April 1990 (52 samples) from 9 locations in the Taipei area. We found that dichloromethane extracts of all the samples were mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium in the Ames test. Moreover, the mutagenicity was much higher in the presence of rat liver microsomal fraction (S9 mixture) than that observed in its absence, which indicates that airborne particulates contained both direct and indirect mutagens. The average mutagenicity of the samples collected in the 3-year period was 137, 127, and 118 histidine revertants/10 m3 air, respectively. On the other hand, we found that dichloromethane extracts of each airborne particulate sample contained 14 PAHs with wide variations in concentration and relative distribution. The levels of Pha, Flu, Pyr, and Ben were much higher than the PAHs with higher ring numbers such as BaP, BeP, Pr, IP, and DbA. The average PAH content was 8.0, 5.0, and 7.8 ng/m3 air for airborne particulates collected during December 1986-September 1987, October 1988-January 1989, and October 1989-April 1990, respectively. Among the 9 stations, Fu Hsing Elementary School and Chung Hsing University (Taipei campus), which are, respectively, located in the downtown area and a heavy traffic zone, had significantly higher levels of mutagenicity and PAHs than did the other stations. Moreover, comparative analysis of PAH levels of airborne particulates over the 3-year period revealed an interesting season-dependent change of PAH content in airborne particulates from the Taipei area. The concentrations of individual and total PAHs were consistently lower in the summer than those in the winter. A similar pattern of seasonal change was also observed in the mutagenicity of airborne particulate samples examined. It is worth mentioning that neither PAH level nor mutagenicity of airborne particulates showed significant yearly change over the 3-year period of study. As part of an effort to identify pollution sources, we examined the mutagenicity and PAH compounds of air particulates collected from the burning of garbage (14 samples) and motor-vehicle exhaust in the Hsin Hai Tunnel (17 samples), Taipei. The results showed that garbage burning gave rise to air particulates containing several hundred times higher levels of PAHs and about 20 times stronger mutagenicity, while the motor-vehicle exhaust contained about ten times higher PAH content and mutagenicity as compared with those of airborne particulates of the Taipei city.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Fungi isolated from Sclerotia ofSclerotium cepivorum and from soil and their effects upon the pathogen

Summary Data are presented on the antagonistic effects of the fungi isolated from sclerotia ofSclerotium cepivorum and from nonrhizosphere soil taken from around the roots of infected onions upon mycelial growth and sclerotial germination ofS. cepivorum. Most of the isolated fungi especiallyPenicillium species were antagonistic to mycelial growth. Sclerotial germination was slightly inhibited by diffusates of these fungal isolates. Testing the antifungal effect of someAllium extracts against the fungal isolates by the inhibition zone method showed that garlic extract has the greatest antifungal effects and onion extract is the least potent. However, spore germination tests indicated that onion extract completely inhibits the spore germination of all test fungi. The role of host-plant extracts in stimulating sclerotial germination is discussed.     

桂西北喀斯特常见豆科植物根瘤菌的遗传多样性

调查了桂西北喀斯特24种常见豆科植物的结瘤情况及特征,并从15种宿主植物上获得39份根瘤样品,提取根瘤基因组DNA,扩增16S rDNA和nifH基因,构建系统发育树,对根瘤菌遗传多样性进行了研究.结果表明: 有15种豆科植物是结瘤的,其中14种为蝶形花亚科,1种为含羞草亚科,而云实亚科未发现结瘤.一些本应结瘤的植物未发现根瘤,可能与喀斯特土壤的保水性差有关.BLAST和系统发育分析结果均显示,来源于多种豆科植物的根瘤菌均归属于慢生根瘤菌属,仅有2个亮叶崖豆藤样品的根瘤菌归属于中慢生根瘤菌属.在系统发育树上,来源于同一地点或同一宿主植物的根瘤序列均表现出一定的聚集性,说明共生根瘤菌的种类可能受宿主植物及所处生态环境的共同影响.     

Fungi isolated from tobacco leaves and brown-spot lesions before and after flue-curing

Discs of tissue excised from ripe nonflue-cured and flue-cured tobacco leaves, harvested on six dates and cultured on three selective media, yielded 21 and 24 genera of fungi, respectively. Of 5,094 fungi isolated from 3,240 pieces of nonfluecured leaf tissue, 89.5% comprised five genera, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Trichoderma, and Nigrospora. Of 2,494 fungi isolated from 3,240 pieces of flue-cured leaf tissue, 70.9% were Alternaria, Cladosporium Epicoccum, Aspergillus, and Nigrospora. Flue-cured and nonflue-cured brown-spot lesions harvested at two locations yielded 12 and 14 genera of fungi, respectively. Alternaria, Penicillium, Phoma, and Stemphyllium comprised 91.5% of the 2,245 fungi isolated from noncured and 87.1% of the 1,118 fungi isolated from the cured lesions. The number and kinds of fungi obtained from diseased and healthy tissue were reduced but not eliminated by flue-curing.     

Fungi isolated from olive ecosystems and screening of their potential biotechnological use

This study investigated the fungi diversity of fresh olive (Olea europaea L.) fruits, olive paste (crushed olives) and olive pomace (solid waste) and screened and quantified enzymatic activities with biotechnological applications. Fungi were randomly isolated from olive cultivars from Castilla La Mancha region (Spain). Identification included comparison of their polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 ribosomal DNA region, followed by nucleotide sequence analysis. Fourteen different species with DNA sequences of different similarities were identified, belonging to seven different genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizomucor, Mucor, Rhizopus, Lichtheimia and Galactomyces). Aspergillus fumigatus, followed by Galactomyces geotrichum, Penicillium commune and Rhizomucor variabilis var. regularior were the most frequent species. Specific enzyme screening was assayed on agar plates, using cellobiose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polygalacturonic acid and CaCl(2)/Tween 80 as substrates for β-glucosidase, carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), polygalacturonase and lipase, respectively. Species exhibiting the best activities were: Aspergillus fumigatus (for β-glucosidase, CMCase and lipase); Rhizopus oryzae (for β-glucosidase and lipase); Rhizomucor variabilis (for β-glucosidase, CMCase and polygalacturonase); Mucor fragilis (β-glucosidase, CMCase and lipase); Galactomyces geotrichum (for β-glucosidase, polygalacturonase and lipase) and Penicillium commune and Penicillium crustosum (for lipase). The species that had shown the best enzymatic activities were grown on hemicellulose, cellulose and pectin and some activities were quantified (xylanase, cellulase, β-glucosidase and pectinase). An isolate of A. fumigatus and one of A. niger showed the best cellulase and xylanase activities, while no species presented good pectinase and β-glucosidase activities. The selected species with potential enzymatic activities could be used for future applications of industrial interest.     

Parasitological studies at a new breeding area of Oncomelania hupensis chiui in Taipei county, Taiwan.

Oncomelania hupensis chiui was found at the Jui-Ping area, Linkow District, Taipei County, Taiwan, which is located on the north coast of the island approximately 10 km of the mouth of the Tamasui River. The habitat of the snails at this area is similar to the type locality at Alilao, on the slope of the hills along of coast. The snails from this new breeding area, are similar to the Alilao snails, and are highly susceptible to the infection with geographic strains of Schistosoma japonicum including the Changhua, Ilan, Japanese, Philippine and Chinese strains. Examinations of 7,758 snails and intradermal tests on 736 inhabitants along with stool examinations of 622 people indicated that there was no evidence of the presence of Schistosoma japonicum at this area. Results obtained from stool examination demonstrated high prevalence of hookworm infection (53.4%) and relatively low infection rates of Asearis lumbricoides (37.0%) and Trichuris trichiura (14.1%). The protozoan infections were low in general. A single Scotch-tape technique for Enterobius vermicularis among 499 school children yielded a 55.7% infection rate.