Case Report: Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis Due to Chaetomium strumarium in a Child with Visceral Heterotaxy Syndrome

Chaetomium sp. is a mold, member of the phylum Ascomycota. Clinical disease in humans is rare, particularly in children, for which only five cases have been reported. We report a 7-months-old female patient with a diagnosis of visceral heterotaxy syndrome who was admitted to a private center in Mexico. After two episodes of focal myoclonic seizure, a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right porencephalic cyst and a right frontal abscess with ventriculitis. Seventy-two hours after temporal abscesses drainage procedure, the culture showed a rapidly growing pale white fungal colony. Sequencing of ITS and D1/D2 led to the identification of Chaetomium strumarium. Although Chaetomium sp. is a rare fungal infection in humans, clinicians should consider it as a plausible etiologic agent that can form brain abscess.

Antifungal Activity of the Bark Extract of Michelia Alba Against Curvularia Verruculosa Fungal the Cause of Leaf Spot Disease on Rice

The purpose of this study was observe the antifungal activity of the bark extract of Michelia alba against Curvularia verruculosa fungal of the cause of leaf spot disease in rice. The antifungal activities was carried out using the diffusion well, colony, biomass formation methods. The bark extract of Michelia alba has showed the antifungal activity against Curvularia verruculosa fungal with a minimum inhibition concentratiotn value to be 0.5%. The bark extract of Michelia alba with 2.0% concentration can strongly inhibit the growth of C. Verruculosa with inhibiting capabality is 33.17 mm. This extract at 0.6% concentration was able to completely inhibit the growth of fungal colony and at 2.0% concentration has been able to inhibit completely the biomass formation of C. Verruculosa fungal for a 14-day period of incubation.

In Vitro Effects of Leaf Extracts from Brassica rapa on the Growth of Two Entomopathogenic Fungi

This study aimed to determine the inhibitive or stimulatory effects of leaf extracts from two Brassica rapa subspecies on the hyphal growth of two well-known entomopathogenic fungi, Cordyceps fumosorosea and Beauveria bassiana. Extract concentrations of 50, 25, and 10% w/v based on leaf fresh weight were prepared from turnip (B. rapa subspecies rapa) and bok choy (B. rapa subspecies chinensis) leaves. Each concentration was individually incorporated into potato dextrose agar plates for in vitro bioassays. The center of each plate was inoculated with 20 µL of a fungal suspension that was allowed 24 h to soak into the agar before sealing the plates and incubating them at 25 °C under a 14-h photophase. The fungal colony perimeter was marked 5 days after inoculation on two perpendicular lines drawn on the bottom of each plate. Radial colony growth was measured from 4 marks per plate 5, 10, and 15 days later. Radial growth rates for both fungi were 1.3–2.0 and 0.9–1.4 times faster with bok choy and turnip extracts, respectively, at the 25% and 50% concentrations compared to the no-extract control treatment. Therefore, bok choy and turnip leaf extracts can stimulate entomopathogenic fungus growth within 15 days. Biochemical compounds in the extracts include sesquiterpenes, α-copaene, β-selinene, γ-gurjunene, calamenene, cubenene, and α-calacorene.

Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Itraconazole for Disseminated Infection Caused by Talaromyces marneffei

First-line treatment of talaromycosis with amphotericin B deoxycholate (DAmB) is labour intensive and toxic. Itraconazole is an appealing alternative antifungal agent. Pharmacokinetic data were obtained from 76 patients who were randomized to itraconazole in the Itraconazole versus Amphotericin B for Talaromycosis (IVAP) trial. Plasma levels of itraconazole and its active metabolite, hydroxyitraconazole, were analysed alongside longitudinal fungal colony forming unit counts in a population model. Itraconazole and hydroxyitraconazole pharmacokinetic variability was considerable, with area under the concentration-time curve over 24 hours (AUC 24 ) mean ± standard deviation 3.34 ± 4.31 mg*h/litre and 3.57 ± 4.46 mg*h/litre, respectively. Levels of both analytes were low; itraconazole minimum concentration (Cmin) 0.11 ± 0.16 mg/liter; hydroxyitraconazole Cmin 0.13 ± 0.17 mg/litre. The mean maximal rates of drug-induced killing were 0.206 and 0.208 log 10 CFU/mL/h, respectively. There were no associations between itraconazole Cmin:MIC and time to sterilisation of the bloodstream (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.03, p=0.43), time to death (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.02, p=0.77) or early fungicidal activity EFA (coefficient -0.004, 95% CI -0.010 to 0.002, p=0.18). Similarly, there was no relationship between AUC:MIC and time to sterilisation of the bloodstream (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.00, p=0.50), time to death (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.00, p=0.91) or EFA (coefficient -0.0001, 95% CI -0.0003 to 0.0001, p = 0.19). This study raises the possibility that the failure of itraconazole to satisfy non-inferiority criteria against DAmB for talaromycosis in the IVAP trial was a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic failure.

Isolation and Characterization of Endomycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Growth Promotion of Blueberry Plants

Despite their notable root mutualism with blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), studies related to Ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) are relatively limited. In this study, we report the isolation of 14 endomycorrhizal fungi and their identification by fungal colony morphology characterization combined with PCR-amplified fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses. Six of the isolated strains were confirmed as beneficial mycorrhizal fungi for blueberry plants following inoculation. We observed the formation of typical ERM hyphae coil structures—which promote and nutritionally support growth—in blueberry seedlings and significant nitrogen and phosphorous content increases in diverse tissues. QRT-PCRs confirmed changes in VcPHT1s expression patterns. After the formation of ERM, PHT1-1 transcription in roots was upregulated by 1.4- to threefold, whilst expression of PHT1-3 and PHT1-4 in roots were downregulated 72% and 60%, respectively. Amino acid sequence analysis of all four VcPHT1s genes from the blueberry variety “Sharpblue” revealed an overall structural similarity of 67% and predicted transmembrane domains. Cloning and overexpression of PHT1-1 and PHT1-3 genes in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants significantly enriched total phosphorus and chlorophyll content, confirming that PHT1-1 and PHT1-3 gene functions are associated with the transport and absorption of phosphorus.

Effects of steam sterilization on reduction of fungal colony forming units, cannabinoids and terpene levels in medical cannabis inflorescences

Medical cannabis (MC) production is a rapidly expanding industry. Over the past ten years, many additional phytocannabinoids have been discovered and used for different purposes. MC was reported beneficial for the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions such as analgesia, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, Tourette's syndrome, epilepsy, glaucoma, Parkinson disease and more. Yet, there is still a major lack of research and knowledge related to MC plant diseases, both at the pre- and postharvest stages. Many of the fungi that infect MC, such as Aspergillus and Penicillium spp., are capable of producing mycotoxins that are carcinogenic, or otherwise harmful when consumed, and especially by those patients who suffer from a weakened immune system, causing invasive contamination in humans. Therefore, there are strict limits regarding the permitted levels of fungal colony forming units (CFU) in commercial MC inflorescences. Furthermore, the strict regulation on pesticide appliance application in MC cultivation exacerbates the problem. In order to meet the permitted CFU limit levels, there is a need for pesticide-free postharvest treatments relying on natural non-chemical methods. Thus, a decontamination approach is required that will not damage or significantly alter the chemical composition of the plant product. In this research, a new method for sterilization of MC inflorescences for reduction of fungal contaminantstes was assessed, without affecting the composition of plant secondary metabolites. Inflorescences were exposed to short pulses of steam (10, 15 and 20 s exposure) and CFU levels and plant chemical compositions, pre- and post-treatment, were evaluated. Steam treatments were very effective in reducing fungal colonization to below detection limits. The effect of these treatments on terpene profiles was minor, resulting mainly in the detection of certain terpenes that were not present in the untreated control. Steaming decreased cannabinoid concentrations as the treatment prolonged, although insignificantly. These results indicate that the steam sterilization method at the tested exposure periods was very effective in reducing CFU levels while preserving the initial molecular biochemical composition of the treated inflorescences.

Essential Oil of Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae) Decreases Alternaria Rot in Pitahaya

Alternaria rot, caused by Alternaria alternata, is one of the most destructive diseases of pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.). We investigated the effect of the essential oil of Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae) (EOB) in the control of A. alternata. Two studies were performed in Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar medium amended with concentrations of the EOB ranging from 5 to 1,000 µg mL-1 (first study) and from 30 to 2,000 µg mL-1. The diameter of the fungal colony was recorded daily. These data were used to calculate the the area under the mycelial growth progress curve (AUMGPC) and mycelial growth index (MGI). In the third study, the control of Alternaria rot in pitahaya fruits by EOB was investigated by adding the EOB into an edible coat based on cassava starch and sorbitol which was prepared in Tween 20. Three treatments, containing EOB at 500, 1,000 or 2,000 µg mL-1, were assessed. Two additional treatments, one containing water and another containing only the edible coating served as controls. Pitahaya fruits were immersed in those solutions for 10 min, allowed to dry and inoculated with A. alternata 48 h later. The EOB was found to inhibit the mycelial growth and a negative and quadratic model best described the relationship of the EOB concentrations with MGI and AUMGPC. Results from the experiment performed with pitahaya fruits showed that Alternaria rot was decreased with increasing EOB concentrations. Therefore, EOB is a promising and ecofriendly method that may be included in the management of Alternaria rot in pitahya.

Antagonism of Plant Pathogens by Calotropis procera

Phomopsis sojae and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum are responsible for stem and pod dryness and white mold in soybean. These pathologies directly affect the quality of seeds/grains and compromise the entire plant. The use of extracts from different plants has been the subject of research for the control of several phytopathogens. Calotropis procera is among botanical species that synthesize efficient compounds for biocontrol. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of C. procera aqueous extract on P. sojae and S. sclerotiorum. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized blocks in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme (two fungi and five extract concentrations 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) with 4 replicates. C. procera aqueous extract concentrations were added to Petri dishes containing PDA. After 48 hours, the mycelial growth rate was evaluated. After seven days of incubation, the fungal colony area, sporulation, and germination of P. sojae and S. sclerotiorum were evaluated. There was significant interaction between fungi × extract concentrations (p < 0.05) for all variables analyzed. The mycelial growth rate of P. sojae was lower than that of S. sclerotiorum. The diameter of the P. sojae fungal colony was smaller than that of S. sclerotiorum when concentrations of 5%, 10% and 15% were used. As the extract concentration increased, fungi sporulation and germination reduced.

TOXICITY TEST OF Gracilaria sp. AGAINST Aspergillus niger van Tieghem AND THE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

The purpose of this study was to know the effectiveness of Gracilaria sp. ethanol extract to inhibit the growth of Aspergillus niger. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Gracilaria sp. was not effective to inhibit the growth of A. niger. The minimum inhibitory concentration test (MIC) was carried out using extracts with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7 %, 0.8 %, 0.9%, 1%, 2% and 0% percentage. The MIC results showed that the minimum extract inhibiting A. niger was 0.8%. The results of the antifungal activity test showed that the ethanol extract of Gracilaria sp. was fungistatic against A. niger. On the third day incubation, the 4% extract inhibited the growth of fungi with an average diameter of 5 mm. The fungal colony test was carried out using extract with 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 0% concentration, and the results showed that extract with 4% concentration can inhibit fungi colony growth by 69%. Phytochemical analysis was conducted using the UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, and the results showed that the ethanol extract of Gracilaria sp. contained 366.33 mg/100g/GAE phenol, 2041.47 mg/100g flavonoids, and 3041.60 mg/100g/TAE tannins. Tannins are suspected to be the most dominant fungistatic compound with the largest amount.