Keratinophilic fungi on the hair of goats from the West Bank of Jordan

The mycoflora of the hair in 178 goats from the West Bank of Jordan was analysed and the frequency of occurrence and the relative importance value for the different keratinophilic fungi found were calculated. One hundred and seven species which belong to 38 genera were isolated. Thirty six of these species were either well recognised agents of mycoses (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, and M. nanum), or have been frequently isolated from human and animal lesions (Arthroderma spp., Acremonium kiliense, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium carionii, and several other species). These potentially pathogenic fungal species comprised 66.9% of all keratinophilic fungi found on the hair of goats. The role of this animal as a reservoir for dermatophytes and other potentially pathogenic fungi is discussed.     

The importance of sourcing enzymes from non-conventional fungi for metabolic engineering and biomass breakdown

A wealth of fungal enzymes has been identified from nature, which continue to drive strain engineering and bioprocessing for a range of industries. However, while a number of clades have been investigated, the vast majority of the fungal kingdom remains unexplored for industrial applications. Here, we discuss selected classes of fungal enzymes that are currently in biotechnological use, and explore more basal, non-conventional fungi and their underexploited biomass-degrading mechanisms as promising agents in the transition towards a bio-based society. Of special interest are anaerobic fungi like the Neocallimastigomycota, which were recently found to harbor the largest diversity of biomass-degrading enzymes among the fungal kingdom. Enzymes sourced from these basal fungi have been used to metabolically engineer substrate utilization in yeast, and may offer new paths to lignin breakdown and tunneled biocatalysis. We also contrast classic enzymology approaches with emerging ‘omics’-based tools to decipher function within novel fungal isolates and identify new promising enzymes. Recent developments in genome editing are expected to accelerate discovery and metabolic engineering within these systems, yet are still limited by a lack of high-resolution genomes, gene regulatory regions, and even appropriate culture conditions. Finally, we present new opportunities to harness the biomass-degrading potential of undercharacterized fungi via heterologous expression and engineered microbial consortia.     

Cryopreservation of Microorganisms

Abstract

A great deal of recent interest has been shown in the ability of some microbes to synthesize exopolysaccharides. Most attention has been directed toward the prokaryote producers, yet many filamentous fungi also produce exopolysaccharides that have chemical and physical properties of considerable commercial potential. Surprisingly little is known about how and why fungi overproduce these metabolites and how yields are affected by both the physical and chemical environments. This review attempts to critically appraise the current literature on fungal exopolysaccharides, considers their chemical diversity, and examines factors that seem to affect their production. Although much of the published work has been carried out with the α-glucan pullulan, there is considerable literature on the β-glucans and, hence, both of these are discussed.     

Taxonomic reconsideration of Tricholoma foliicola (Agaricales,Basidiomycota) based on basidiomata morphology,living culture characteristics,and phylogenetic analyses

Tricholoma foliicola was taxonomically reevaluated based on analyses of the holotype and newly collected materials. Basidiospores of T. foliicola were irregularly ellipsoid, showing a cyanophilic reaction with or without tubercles. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit 28S regions of the fungal nuclear ribosomal RNA gene demonstrated that T. foliicola is a species of Gerhardtia characterized by irregularly shaped basidiospores. Thus, we transferred this species to Gerhardtia foliicola comb. nov. Cultured mycelia of G. foliicola on malt extract agar medium produced cystidia covered with granules and abundant thallic conidia (arthroconidia), with both schizolytic and rhexolytic secession.     

A global view on fungal infections in humans and animals: opportunistic infections and microsporidioses

After cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases are the second most common cause of death worldwide. Although these infections are caused mainly by viruses or bacteria, a systematically growing prevalence of human and animal opportunistic fungal infections is noticeable worldwide. More attention is being paid to this problem, especially due to the growing frequency of recalcitrant and recurrent mycoses. The latter are classically divided into superficial, which are the most common type, subcutaneous, and systemic. This work discusses opportunistic fungal pathogens without proven horizontal transmission between different animal species including humans and microsporidia as spore-forming unicellular parasites related to fungi; however, with a yet undetermined taxonomic position. The review also mentions aetiological agents, risk factors, epidemiology, geographical distribution, and finally symptoms characteristic for individual disease entities. This paper provides insight into fungal infections from a global perspective and simultaneously draws attention to emerging pathogens, whose prevalence is continuously increasing. Finally, this work also takes into consideration the correct nomenclature of fungal disease entities and the importance of secondary metabolites in the pathogenesis of fungal infections.     

基于DGGE研究喀斯特金橘接种AMF对根际细菌多样性和植株生长的影响

该研究分别以喀斯特地区的酸性土和石灰土为盆栽基质,对金橘分别接种摩西管柄囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae,F.m)或幼套近明囊霉(Claroideoglomus etunicatum,C.e),采用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)等技术研究AMF对金橘根际细菌群落多样性及植株生长的影响。结果表明:与不接种处理相比,同类型土中分别接种C.e或F.m,金橘根际菌根侵染率相关指标(F、m、v)值均为C.e处理的最高,C.e或F.m处理后金橘根际土壤中蔗糖酶、酸性磷酸酶、蛋白酶及脲酶活性均显著提高。其中,蛋白酶和脲酶活性变化为石灰土中各处理酶活性值高于酸性土,蔗糖酶和磷酸酶活性变化则为酸性土中各处理酶活性值高于石灰土,差异均达显著水平(P0.05);两种土壤中上述四种土壤酶活性均为C.e处理的值最高;接种C.e或F.m后,金橘根际土壤细菌的DGGE图谱中,DNA条带数增多,其细菌丰富度(R)、多样性(H)和均匀度(E)指数均比不接种处理高,三种指数值均以C.e处理的最高。细菌DNA优势条带序列分析结果表明:与优势细菌同源性最高的大部分为不可培养细菌,包括酸酐菌属、变形杆菌属、根瘤菌属和放线菌属等,相似性均大于97%。此外,接种后,金橘整株生物量比不接种处理显著提高,而酸性土中接种C.e处理的金橘生物量最高。综上所述,C.e和F.m均能与金橘建立良好的共生关系,且C.e对金橘根系的侵染效果更好。     

HPLC法检测蛇足石杉内生真菌胶胞炭疽发酵液中石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙的含量

建立了高效液相色谱(HPLC)测定蛇足石杉(Huperzia serrate)内生真菌胶胞炭疽发酵液中石杉碱甲(Huperzina A)和石杉碱乙(Huperzine B)含量的方法,并以此方法检测胶胞炭疽发酵液中石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙含量的积累。内生真菌发酵液经氯仿萃取、甲醇溶解、过滤后进行高效液相检测分析,选用Agilent Eclipse plus-C18色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm),以0.015 mol/L乙酸铵(p H 6.8)和甲醇溶液(70∶30)为流动相进行等度洗脱,流速1 mL/min,检测波长为308 nm,连续检测内生真菌胶胞炭疽发酵液中第6–15天石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙的含量积累。结果表明,发酵提取液中的石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙可在25 min内进行很好的分离和分析,石杉碱甲在1.50-48.00μg/mL范围内线性关系良好(相关系数r为0.999 5),石杉碱乙在0.25-7.50μg/mL范围内线性关系良好(相关系数r为0.999 7),石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙的平均加标回收率分别为106.83%、108.06%,相对标准偏差(RSD)分别为3.34%、3.60%。该方法简便、快速、精密度高、结果准确,适用于内生真菌发酵液中石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙含量检测。在发酵过程中,内生真菌发酵液中石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙的含量呈现先增后减,随后有所增加继而又减少的趋势。石杉碱甲和石杉碱乙的含量分别在内生真菌发酵第14天、第8天达到最高,分别为12.417 0μg/mL、4.660 3μg/mL。该方法学的建立为内生真菌胶胞炭疽合成石杉碱甲与石杉碱乙的机制研究提供了检测手段,从而有利于药物新资源的开发。     

兰科菌根真菌对铁皮石斛光合性能及pepc基因表达的影响

为了阐明兰科菌根真菌对铁皮石斛光合作用的影响及机制,采用盆栽方式研究了兰科菌根真菌对铁皮石斛幼苗生长的影响,并分析了叶片中叶绿素含量、光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数以及pepc基因表达的变化。结果表明：（1）兰科菌根真菌促进了铁皮石斛幼苗生长,接种兰科菌根真菌的铁皮石斛的株高、根重、茎叶重和总生物量分别是未接种对照组的1.21、1.54、1.71和1.68倍;而且可显著提高叶片中叶绿素含量、叶片净光合速率（P_n）、蒸腾速率（G_s）和气孔导度（T_r）。（2）接种兰科菌根真菌的铁皮石斛叶片潜在光化学效率（F_v/F₀）、最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）、光化学猝灭系数（q_P）、非光化学猝灭系数（q_N）、实际光化学反应量子效率（Yield）和表观光合电子传递速率（ETR）均高于未接种对照组。（3）菌根真菌能促进pepc基因的表达,增强PEPC活性,提高铁皮石斛叶片的光合碳同化能力。研究表明,菌根的形成可以提高铁皮石斛叶片光合性能和pepc基因的表达水平,促进铁皮石斛幼苗的生长。