Mycoflora and ochratoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus section Nigri in wine grapes in Argentina

AIMS: The aims of this work were to evaluate the mycoflora and to identify the species of Aspergillus with the potential to produce ochratoxin A (OA) from different wine grape varieties from Mendoza, Argentina. Likewise, the capacity to produce OA by Aspergillus section Nigri was studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty samples of wine grapes were obtained from a winery of Mendoza province, Argentina. The surface-disinfection method was used for mycoflora determination using the medium dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18). Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium were identified at species level. OA production was tested in 63 strains belonging to section Nigri. Alternaria genus was the most frequent (80% of the samples) followed by Aspergillus (70%). Alternaria alternata was the only specie identified from the Alternaria genus, followed by A. niger var. niger, A. flavus among others. From Penicillium genus, P. crysogenum was the most frequent specie. From 63 strains of Aspergillus section Nigri, 41.3% were OA producers. The levels of produced toxin ranged from 2 to 24.5 ng ml-1 of culture medium. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ochratoxigenic strains of Nigri section in this substrate suggests that they may be an important source of OA in grapes from tropical and subtropical zones. Therefore, the industry should work further to diminish the growth of these fungi and mycotoxins formation in grapes, with the aim to reduce OA content in wine products. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The wine grape contamination with A. alternata and Aspergillus section Nigri was significant.     

Penicillium marneffei: types and drug susceptibility

The PCR fingerprints of 30 Penicillium marneffei isolates from Chiang Rai in northern Thailand and Bangkok in central Thailand were studied through use of single-nucleotide primers (GACA)₄ and the phage M13 core sequence. Discrimination of fingerprint patterns was based on differences in the number of major bands. The P. marneffei isolates were divided into four types, i.e., A, B, C, and D. Type A was found in two isolates from Chiang Rai (6.7%). Types B and C respectively were found in two (6.7%) and one (3.3%) isolates from Bangkok. The predominate type D (83.3%) was found in isolates obtained from Chiang Rai and Bangkok. The PCR fingerprinting method was found to be useful for the epidemiological study of P. marneffei, a dimorphic opportunistic fungus and an emerging pathogen in the HIV pandemic. In vitro drug susceptibility testing by broth macrodilution to four antifungal agents against the yeast form ofP. marneffei was performed. The MIC ranges for amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole were 0.125–0.5, 4.0–8.0, <0.032, and <0.125 μg/ml respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The specific transport system for lysine is fully inhibited by ammonium in Penicillium chrysogenum: An ammonium-insensitive system allows uptake in carbon-starved cells

The regulation exerted by ammonium and other nitrogen sources on amino acid utilization was studied in swollen spores of Penicillium chrysogenum. Ammonium prevented the L-lysine, L-arginine and L-ornithine utilization by P. chrysogenum swollen spores seeded in complete media, but not in carbon-deficient media. Transport of L-[¹⁴C]lysine into spores incubated in presence of carbon and nitrogen sources was fully inhibited by ammonium ions (35 mM). However, in carbon-derepressed conditions (growth in absence of sugars, with amino acids as the sole carbon source) L-[¹⁴C]lysine transport was only partially inhibited. Competition experiments showed that L-lysine (1 mM) inhibits the utilization of L-arginine, and vice versa, L-arginine inhibits the L-lysine uptake. High concentrations of L-ornithine (100 mM) prevented the L-lysine and L-arginine utilization in P. chrysogenum swollen spores. In summary, ammonium seems to prevent the utilization of basic amino acids in P. chrysogenum spores by inhibiting the transport of these amino acids through their specific transport system(s), but not through the general amino acid transport system that is operative under carbon-derepression conditions.     

Optimization of compactin fermentation

A compactin producer Penicillium sp strain was isolated from soil in our screening program. The compactin-biosynthesising capacity of the strain was improved from 5 μg ml⁻¹ to 250 μg ml⁻¹ by mutation-selection method. We investigated the effect of the medium composition on compactin productivity. A central, orthogonal three-factor experimental design by Box and Wilson was used in the investigation. The results were analysed by non-linear regression analysis. The composition of the production medium was optimized according to the calculated mathematical model using the steepest ascent method. The compactin productivity was increased to 400 μg ml⁻¹ by applying this method. Received 08 October 1997/ Accepted in revised form 04 December 1997     

Production of pectin lyase by Penicillium griseoroseum as a function of the inoculum and culture conditions

Optimum activity of an extracellular pectin lyase produced by Penicillium griseoroseum in submerged culture was after 120 h using 0.1% (w/v) citrus pectin as substrate. Sucrose at 0.1% (w/v) stimulated enzyme production and citrus pectin gave the highest activity of enzyme per unit growth.     

一株多花黄精内生真菌的鉴别及其抗菌代谢产物

【目的】药用植物内生真菌是一类重要的微生物资源,能代谢产生多种生物活性物质。本研究从浙江庆元百山祖自然保护区多花黄精(Polygonatum cyrtonema)分离获得1株具有抗菌活性的菌株zjqy610。【方法】通过形态和ITS rDNA序列分析,鉴定为变灰青霉(Penicillium canescens)。采用正相硅胶柱层析和凝胶(Sephadex LH-20)柱层析,以紫外光或碘蒸汽显迹,配合活性追踪等,从zjqy610发酵液中分离获得3个具抗真菌活性的化合物。【结果】通过质谱和核磁共振波谱技术分别将其结构鉴定为:乙基氧苯氨基亚胺乙酸(o-acetylbenzeneamidinocarboxylic acid)、灰黄霉素(griseofulvin)和[1,2-b]呋喃2-甲基3-羧甲基4-羟基-5-甲氧基萘(naphtho[1,2-b]furan-3-carboxylic acid,4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-methyl-)。抑菌活性测试表明,3个化合物对多种植物病原真菌具有抑制活性,其中化合物zjqy610D-4对番茄灰葡萄孢、圆形炭疽菌、泻根亚隔孢壳和核盘菌4种病原真菌的活性最强,半抑制浓度EC50分别为0.68、0.38、0.91和0.61mg/L。【结论】该化合物具有开发成农用抗生素的价值。     

草酸青霉YTY及其突变体解磷能力、pH和分泌有机酸的关系

本研究利用离子束-UV复合诱变草酸青霉YTY选育高效解磷突变体,分析了出发菌株YTY及其突变体解磷过程中的解磷能力、pH和有机酸的变化及其相关性,探讨草酸青霉的解磷机理。结果表明: 离子束-UV复合诱变选育获得5株高效解磷突变株P9-8、P9-9、P15-4、P15-6和P15-7,解磷能力均较YTY提高60%以上。解磷过程中突变株解磷能力及解磷速率均高于YTY,而pH显著低于YTY,同时,突变体分泌有机酸种类及含量发生了不同程度的变化,突变体和YTY均可分泌乳酸、乙酸和草酸,P9-8还产生了柠檬酸。皮尔逊相关分析显示,YTY及5株突变株的解磷能力和pH值呈显著负相关;YTY及其突变体(P15-4除外)的解磷能力与有机酸浓度和pH呈显著相关。分泌有机酸和降低环境pH值可能是草酸青霉解磷的内在机制,离子束-UV复合诱变可引起草酸青霉YTY有机酸分泌种类和分泌量的变化,还可能诱发YTY启动其他H⁺释放途径降低pH参与解磷。本研究为高效解磷青霉的开发及青霉解磷机理阐明提供了生物材料及理论依据。     

农杆菌介导海洋草酸青霉转化体系及聚酮合酶Pks生物学功能*

为研究南海柳珊瑚共附生草酸青霉SCSGAF0023的聚酮合酶(PKS)生物学功能,采用农杆菌介导法构建草酸青霉SCSGAF0023的Pks敲除株ΔPks,比较野生菌株及ΔPks的生长发育及环境适应性差异。以草酸青霉SCSGAF0023分生孢子为受体,p0380-hygB为双元载体,成功实现草酸青霉SCSGAF0023的遗传转化。结果表明:农杆菌浓度为OD₆₀₀=0.5,在200μmol/L 乙酰丁香酮(AS)诱导下与10⁷个/ml草酸青霉SCSGAF0023孢子于25℃共孵育时转化效率最高。基于上述转化体系,成功获得Pks敲除株ΔPks,并首次证实Pks正向调控草酸青霉SCSGAF0023产孢,但不影响其对环境的适应性。这为进一步系统研究真菌PKSs及聚酮化合物对真菌生长发育与环境适应性的影响提供素材。     

Initial steps of phloroglucinol metabolism in Penicillium simplicissimum

The pathway for the aerobic catabolism of 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (phloroglucinol) by a new strain of Penicillium was investigated using both in vivo and in vitro cell-free systems. The fungal strain was isolated by enrichment on phloroglucinol and identified as P. simplicissimum (Oud) Thom. It grew optimally at pH 5.5 and 27°C with 119 mM (1.5%w/v) of phloroglucinol in a basal mineral salts medium. Vapours of the crystalline substrate placed in a Petri-plate lid supported the growth of the fungal colonies on the agar surface. Mycelia grown on phloroglucinol accumulated 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene and resorcinol in the medium. Washed, resting mycelia grown on phloroglucinol, when resuspended in a buffer utilized oxygen in the presence of catechol, resorcinol, pyrogallol and phloroglucinol. A NADPH-dependent reductase in the cell-free extract reduced phloroglucinol to dihydrophloroglucinol. This electron donor could not be replaced by NADH. Resorcinol hydroxylase, phloroglucinol reductase, catechol-1,2-oxygenase, and catechol-2,3-oxygenase were detected in cell-free extracts of mycelia grown on phloroglucinol. The possible steps in the degradation of phloroglucinol are discussed.     

椭孢青霉,分离自广西的一新种

新种椭孢青霉Penicillium ellipsoideosporum sp. nov.分离自中国广西地区的一颗榕树籽。它在标准培养条件下生长局限;其帚状枝非常不规则,分生孢子幼时呈圆柱形,成熟后呈长椭球形、圆柱形或椭球形。