FT-IR Spectroscopy for Rapid Differentiation of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Characterization of Aflatoxigenic Isolates Collected from Agricultural Environments

In agricultural areas, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus parasiticus are commonly identified in various feedstuffs and bioaerosols originated from feed handling. Some isolates belonging to these fungal species could produce mycotoxins and constitute a risk factor for human and animal health. In this study, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used for a rapid detection and characterization of 99 isolates collected from agricultural areas. The results showed a first cluster corresponding to strains previously attributed to the A. fumigatus group according to current taxonomic concepts, and a second cluster divided in 2 groups around reference strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus species. The toxigenic capacity of isolates was evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. In the A. flavus group, only 6 strains of A. parasiticus and 4 strains of A. flavus were able to produce aflatoxins on culture media. FT-IR spectroscopy, respectively, allowed the differentiation of non-toxigenic and toxigenic A. flavus and A. parasiticus isolates at 75 and 100%. Discrimination between toxigenic and non-toxigenic A. fumigatus was not possible because all of the isolates produced at least one mycotoxin.     

黄曲霉功能基因组学研究

黄曲霉（Aspergillus flavus）是一种常见的腐生真菌和条件致病菌,其次生代谢产物黄曲霉毒素（Aflatoxin,AFT）具有高度的致癌性和致畸性,严重危及人类和动物健康。近年来,功能基因组学研究发展迅速,在真菌生长发育、挖掘真菌次级代谢产物以及研究包括黄曲霉毒素在内的真菌毒素等方面得到了广泛的应用。功能基因组学在研究黄曲霉与宿主之间的相互作用以及黄曲霉与其他曲霉之间的相互作用方面具有巨大的潜力。然而,黄曲霉功能基因组学受到细胞壁难以破除、耐药性高、筛选标记少、缺陷型菌株构建费力耗时等因素的影响而发展缓慢。概述了黄曲霉的选择标记、遗传转化方法和黄曲霉毒素以及环匹阿尼酸（cyclopiazonic acid, CPA）生物合成的研究进展,并讨论了在提高黄曲霉基因操作效率方面的潜在策略。例如,构建缺乏非同源末端连接（NHEJ）途径的菌株、Cre-loxP重组系统、CRISPR-Cas9等方法,为深入开展黄曲霉遗传学研究提供参考。     

Genes encoding multiple drug resistance-like proteins in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus

Polymerase chain reaction using degenerate primers was used to identify genes encoding proteins of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. In A. fumigatus, two genes (AfuMDR1 and AfuMDR2) encoding proteins of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily were identified. One gene (AflMDR1) was isolated from A. flavus and is the apparent homologue to AfuMDR1. AfuMDR1and AflMDR1 encode proteins of molecular weights 148 000 and 143 000, respectively, each containing 12 putative transmembrane regions and two ATP-binding sites. These proteins are arranged in two homologous halves, each half consisting of a hydrophobic region (encoding six putative transmembrane domains) and an ATP-binding site. The AfuMDR1 and AflMDR1-encoded proteins bear a high degree of similarity to the Schizosaccharomyces pombe leptomycin B resistance protein and to human MDR1. The second gene identified in A. fumigatus, AfuMDR2, encodes a protein of molecular weight 85 000, containing four putative transmembrane domains and an ATP binding domain. The encoded protein is similar to those encoded by MDL1 and MDL2, two MDR-like genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of AFUMDR1 in S. cerevisiae conferred increased resistance to the antifungal agent cilofungin (LY121019), an echinocandin B analog.     

The Phylogenetics of Mycotoxin and Sclerotium Production in Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus oryzae

Aspergillus flavus is a common filamentous fungus that produces aflatoxins and presents a major threat to agriculture and human health. Previous phylogenetic studies of A. flavus have shown that it consists of two subgroups, called groups I and II, and morphological studies indicated that it consists of two morphological groups based on sclerotium size, called “S” and “L.” The industrially important non-aflatoxin-producing fungus A. oryzae is nested within group I. Three different gene regions, including part of a gene involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis (omt12), were sequenced in 33 S and L strains of A. flavus collected from various regions around the world, along with three isolates of A. oryzae and two isolates of A. parasiticus that were used as outgroups. The production of B and G aflatoxins and cyclopiazonic acid was analyzed in the A. flavus isolates, and each isolate was identified as “S” or “L” based on sclerotium size. Phylogenetic analysis of all three genes confirmed the inference that group I and group II represent a deep divergence within A. flavus. Most group I strains produced B aflatoxins to some degree, and none produced G aflatoxins. Four of six group II strains produced both B and G aflatoxins. All group II isolates were of the “S” sclerotium phenotype, whereas group I strains consisted of both “S” and “L” isolates. Based on the omt12 gene region, phylogenetic structure in sclerotium phenotype and aflatoxin production was evident within group I. Some non-aflatoxin-producing isolates of group I had an omt12 allele that was identical to that found in isolates of A. oryzae.     

Inhibitory Effects of Ephedra major Host on Aspergillus parasiticus Growth and Aflatoxin Production

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Ephedra major Host, an important medicinal plant with various biological activities, on growth and aflatoxin (AF) production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999. The fungus was cultured in yeast extract-sucrose (YES) broth, a conductive medium that supports AF production, in the presence of various concentrations of essential oil (EO), hexanic and methanolic extracts of plant aerial parts, fruits, and roots using microbioassay technique. After incubating for 96 h at 28°C in static conditions, mycelial dry weight was determined as an index of fungal growth, and aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) was measured using HPLC technique. Based on the obtained results, EO of plant aerial parts significantly inhibited fungal growth at the highest concentration of 1000 μg/ml without any obvious effect on AFB₁ production at all concentrations used. Among plant extracts tested, only methanolic extract of aerial parts and roots were found to inhibit fungal growth and AFB₁ production dose-dependently with an IC₅₀ value of 559.74 and 3.98 μg/ml for AFB₁, respectively. Based on the GC/MS data, the major components of E. major EO were bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (42.48%), pentacosane (20.94%), docosane (14.64%), citronellol (5.15%), heptadecan (4.41%), cis-3-Hexen-1-ol benzoate (4.07%), and 7-Octen-2-ol (3.25%). With respect to the potent inhibition of fungal growth and AF production by E. major, this plant may be useful in protecting crops from both toxigenic fungal growth and AF contamination.     

Natural variation of ascospore and conidial germination by Fusarium verticillioides and other Fusarium species

Fusarium verticillioides and other Fusarium species were examined for their spore germination phenotypes. In general, germinating spores of F. verticillioides formed germ tubes that immediately penetrated into agar. Such invasive germination was the predominant growth phenotype among 22 examined field isolates of F. verticillioides from a broad range hosts and locations. However, two of the field isolates were unique in that they formed conidial germ tubes and hyphae that grew along the surface of agar before penetration eventually occurred. Conidia of 22 other Fusarium species were assessed for their germination phenotypes, and only some strains of F. annulatum, F. fujikuroi, F. globosum, F. nygamai, and F. pseudoanthophilum had the surface germination phenotype (21 % of the strains assessed). Sexual crosses and segregation analyses involving one of the F. verticillioides surface germination strains, NRRL 25059, indicated a single locus, designated SIG1 (surface vs. invasive germination), controlled the germ tube growth phenotypes exhibited by both conidia and ascospores. Perfect correlation was observed between an ascospore germination phenotype and the germination phenotype of the conidia produced from the resulting ascospore-derived colony. Recombination data suggested SIG1 was linked (7 % recombination frequency) to FPH1, a recently described locus necessary for enteroblastic conidiogenesis. Corn seedling blight assays indicated surface germinating strains of F. verticillioides were less virulent than invasively germinating strains. Assays also indicated pathogenicity segregated independently of the FPH1 locus. Invasive germination is proposed as the dominant form of spore germination among Fusarium species. Furthermore, conidia were not necessary for corn seedling disease development, but invasive germination may have enhanced the virulence of conidiating strains.     

黄曲霉Ste50衔接子蛋白对生长发育及致病性的影响

[目的]Ste50是真菌中重要的衔接子蛋白,在多个MAPK级联通路中起重要的信号衔接与传递作用.本研究鉴定出了黄曲霉AflSte50蛋白,并发现了其对黄曲霉的生长、产孢、致病能力和响应渗透压胁迫等方面的影响.[方法]首先通过生物信息学方法在黄曲霉NRRL3357中鉴定出ste50基因,并通过同源重组的方法构建了ste5...     

Characterization of Four Clustered and Coregulated Genes Associated with Fumonisin Biosynthesis in Fusarium verticillioides

Fumonisins are mycotoxins that cause several fatal animal diseases, including cancer in rats and mice. These toxins are produced by several Fusarium species, including the maize pathogen Fusarium verticillioides, and can accumulate in maize infected with the fungus. We have identified four F. verticillioides genes (FUM6, FUM7, FUM8, and FUM9) adjacent to FUM5, a previously identified polyketide synthase gene that is required for fumonisin biosynthesis. Gene disruption analysis revealed that FUM6 and FUM8 are required for fumonisin production and Northern blot analysis revealed that expression of all four recently identified genes is correlated with fumonisin production. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the predicted FUM6 translation product is most similar to cytochrome P450 monooxygenase-P450 reductase fusion proteins and the predicted products of FUM7, FUM8, and FUM9 are most similar to type III alcohol dehydrogenases, class-II alpha-aminotransferases, and dioxygenases, respectively. Together, these data are consistent with FUM5 through FUM9 being part of a fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster in F. verticillioides.     

Effect of Citrus reticulata and Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oils on Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production on Asparagus racemosus

Essential oils extracted from Citrus reticulata and Cymbopogon citratus were tested in vitro against the toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus, isolated from the tuberous roots of Asparagus racemosus, used in preparation of herbal drugs. The essential oils completely inhibited the growth of A. flavus at 750 ppm and also exhibited a broad fungitoxic spectrum against nine additional fungi isolated from the roots. Citrus reticulata and Cymbopogon citratus essential oils completely inhibited aflatoxin B₁ production at 750 and 500 ppm, respectively. During in vivo investigation, the incidence of fungi and aflatoxin B₁ production decreased considerably in essential oil-treated root samples. The findings thus indicate possible exploitation of the essential oils as effective inhibitor of aflatoxin B₁ production and as post-harvest fungitoxicant of traditionally used plant origin for the control of storage fungi. These essential oils may be recommended as plant-based antifungals as well as aflatoxin B₁ suppressors in post-harvest processing of herbal samples.     

利用免疫抑制小鼠模型检测真菌病毒对黄曲霉菌致病力影响

【目的】构建用于比较黄曲霉（Aspergillus flavus,A. flavus）菌株之间致病力差异的小鼠感染模型,并利用该模型评价真菌病毒AfPV1对宿主A. flavus致病力的影响。【方法】用不同浓度环磷酰胺腹腔注射Institute of Cancer Research （ICR）小鼠,根据白细胞的数量判断小鼠免疫抑制程度;通过滴鼻和尾静脉两种感染方法接种不同浓度的A. flavus孢子量,统计14 d以内小鼠的死亡率,确定A. flavus最佳的孢子接种量;通过小鼠组织的菌落负荷量以及肺部组织的病理观察,确定A. flavus感染是否成功;最后利用该小鼠模型评价真菌病毒AfPV1对寄主A. flavus致病力的影响。【结果】腹腔注射环磷酰胺的浓度为250 mg/kg时,能够达到免疫抑制水平;小鼠组织真菌负荷和病理组织切片观察显示A. flavus成功感染接种的ICR小鼠组织;在滴鼻接种模型中,A. flavus的孢子接种量为40μL（1×10⁶CFU/mL）时比较合适评价A. flavus菌株之间的差异;在尾静脉接种的模型中,A. flavus的孢子...     

Fusarium roseum and Aspergillus oryzae-mediated enantioselective reduction of benzils to benzoins

Aspergillus oryzae OUT5048 and Fusarium roseum OUT4019 were found to be effective biocatalysts in the reduction of benzils to optically active benzoins. Easily available symmetrical benzil derivatives were reduced to the corresponding benzoins [(S)-2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanones] by A. oryzae OUT5048 with up to 94% ee and by F. roseum OUT4019 with up to 98% ee, respectively. In this work, first general method for whole-cell-mediated selective reduction of benzils to benzoins is reported. It is also shown that this method is applicable for benzils with both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups.     

Field and laboratory studies on the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus, a pathogen of the pink sugar cane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari

Infestation of sugar cane nodes by the mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) was studied in two commercial fields over a 7-month period in 1987. Natural enemies associated with S. sacchari were fungi Aspergillus parasiticus Speare, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, and Penicillium spp.; the dipteran Cacoxenus perspicax Knab; and the hymenopteran parasitoid Anagyrus saccharicola Timberlake. A. parasiticus was the predominent natural enemy of S. sacchari whereas all other natural enemies showed a low level of activity. The highest prevalence of A. parasiticus was in March when it occurred on 84% of S. sacchari-infested nodes. The prevalence of A. parasiticus declined rapidly during April and May and was absent in the winter months during which nodal infestation of S. sacchari increased. In laboratory bioassays all fungal isolates originating from S. sacchari were more virulent at 28°C than at 24°C. Laboratory studies supported the hypothesis based on field observations that temperature highly influenced the efficacy of A. parasiticus against S. sacchari.     

Biocatalytic application of nitrilases from Fusarium solani O1 and Aspergillus niger K10

The nitrilases from Fusarium solani O1 and Aspergillus niger K10 showed a broad substrate specificity for carbocyclic and nonaromatic heterocyclic amino nitriles, the preferred substrates being five-membered γ-amino nitrile (±)-1a, six-membered γ-amino nitriles (±)-3a, (±)-5a and (±)-6a, pyrrolidine-3-carbonitriles (±)-9a and (±)-10a as well as piperidine-4-carbonitriles 14a and 15a. Both enzymes showed a strong diastereopreference for cis- vs. trans-γ-amino nitriles. The electronic and steric effects of N-protecting groups affected the reactivity of the nitriles. Amides as by-products of the nitrilase-catalyzed reaction were produced from heterocyclic amino nitriles (±)-9a, (±)-10a, 14a and 15a by the A. niger enzyme but only from nitrile (±)-9a by the F. solani enzyme.     

黄曲霉分生孢子色素合成基因pks1的鉴定及其对生长发育和侵染性的影响

【目的】分生孢子色素是真菌细胞壁的重要成分,对真菌的生长发育极为重要,并有助于真菌抵御各种环境胁迫。本研究鉴定了黄曲霉分生孢子色素合成基因,并研究了分生孢子色素对黄曲霉生长发育及其对抗紫外照射和侵染能力的影响。【方法】通过已知真菌孢子色素合成基因蛋白序列同源比对确定了黄曲霉分生孢子色素合成基因及其所在的基因簇,利用同源重组策略对目标基因进行敲除,获得了该色素合成基因缺失的突变菌株,并研究该基因敲除后对表型、产孢、菌核形成、黄曲霉毒素产生、抗紫外照射和侵染性等影响。【结果】与野生型菌株相比,黄曲霉pks1基因缺失菌株的分生孢子颜色变为白色,生长速度、孢子产量、菌核形成和黄曲霉毒素B_1的产生均没有显著性变化,但该基因的缺失导致孢子对紫外线照射的抵御能力明显减弱,降低了黄曲霉对玉米和花生种子的侵染能力。【结论】pks1(AFLA_006170)基因是黄曲霉分生孢子色素合成的关键基因,影响黄曲霉分生孢子对紫外线照射等不利环境因子的抵抗能力和对粮食种子的侵染能力。