Fungus Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Dermatophytes are responsible for a majority of superficial fungal infections. They are distinctive from other pathogenic fungi in their ability to use keratin as living. They can sustain in different ecosystems that added in their morphological and ecological range with high flexibility to changing environmental conditions. Lately, Microsporum canis has evolved as a resistant pathogen against several antifungals and has been in the focus of interest for causing outbreaks and epidemics in humans from domestic animals. The increasing evolution of resistance, therapeutic failures, and reduced number of available drugs stimulated to investigate therapeutic alternatives by using some commonly available plants empirically used for their antifungal properties. Likewise, the present study reports the in vitro antifungal efficacy of crude as well as fractionalized extracts with different solvents of Ficus racemosa leaves (L.), Cassia fistula L. and Nerium oleander L. Antifungal activity was evaluated according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol by determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC's) values on a clinical isolate of M. canis that showed resistance to some commonly used antifungals. All crude phyto-extracts except Nerium oleander L. effectively inhibited the growth of M. canis. The methanolic extract of Ficus racemosa L. and Cassia fistula L. completely inhibited the fungal growth at a concentration of 2 µg/mL and 8 µg/mL respectively. These two phyto-extracts proved to have significant antifungal activity against common antifungal resistant M. canis isolate. Further studies with the identified plant parts through in vivo studies and pinpoint isolation of the active compound may prove beneficial as an effective alternative therapy for the pathogen.

- by and +2
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- Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary, Fungus

An unidentified species of wood-feeding fungus was observed in an old gelam tree (Fig. 1a) which fell during a storm

- by Harish Gugnani
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- Biology, Infection Control, Fungus
- by Yasin Uzun
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- Fungus
- by Alexis Pineda
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- Veterinary Medicine, Water quality, Dermatology, Virus
- by Lukman Abdurrachman
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- Fungus, Plant Disease

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing field because of its wide range of applications in science, nanoscience and biotechnology. Nanobiotechnology deals with nanomaterials synthesised or modified using biotechnology. Fungi are used to synthesise metal nanoparticles and they have vast applications in wound healing, pathogen detection and control, food preservation, textiles, fabrics, etc. The present review describes the different types of fungi used for the biosyntheses of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), along with their characterisation and possible biological applications. AgNPs synthesised by other physical and chemical methods are expensive and have toxic substances adsorbed onto them. Therefore, green, simple and effective approaches have been chosen for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, which are very important because of their lower toxicity and environmentally friendly behaviour. AgNPs synthesised using fungi have high monodispersity, specific composition and a narrow size range. In this regard, among the different biological methods used for metal nanoparticle synthesis, fungi are considered to be a superior biogenic method owing to their diversity and better size control. To further understand the biosynthesis of AgNPs using various fungi and evaluate their potential applications, this review discusses the antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidermatophytic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, hypotensive, and immunomodulatory activities of these AgNPs. The synthesis of AgNPs using fungi is a clean, green, inexpensive, eco-friendly, reliable, and safe method that can be used for a range of applications in real life for the benefit of human beings.

- by Bere Garcia
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- Microbiology, Virus, Bacteria, Prion
- by Ranjini Murali
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- Identification, Western Ghats, Fungus
- by claudia dolinski
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- Agronomy, Ecology, Agriculture, Virus
- by Pedro Silveira
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- Social and Cultural Anthropology, Landscape, Mushrooms, Fungus
- by أ.د احمد محروس
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- Digestibility, Fungus

Mucormycosis is a disease caused by the fungus of the Mucorales species. These fungi are present in the environment and are common commensals in the human body, mainly in the nose and sinuses, or respiratory tract and lungs. Rarely, in immunocompromised individuals or those who have temporary depression of immunity, these fungus manifest most commonly as rhino-cerebral mucormycosis or pulmonary mucormycosis. At rare times, the skin may also get involved. Recently ICMR has come up with guidelines for mucormycosis, in this commentary, it's our primary focal article.

- by Journal of Internal Medicine and Emergency research
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- Diabetes, STEROIDS, Mucormycosis, Fungus

Agriculture is one of the main activities that provides food for the world population. One of the greatest
challenges faced by agriculturalists is their ability to control pathogens, insect pests and weeds that
destroy crops in which time and financial resources have been invested.
Prior to modern agriculture, appropriate land use, crop rotation, and recycling of organic matter
were effective in preventing pest proliferation. Generally, these methods avoided alteration of the ecosystems
that were exploited for agriculture (Altieri, 1995). However, as time progressed, the introduction
and use of agrochemical compounds increased, permitting the total or partial elimination of insect
pests and weeds in crop areas. Despite the obvious efficacy and benefits of these types of compounds, a
series of restrictions and negative effects became evident, namely damage to human health, the elimination
of beneficial insects, and the general modification of ecosystems. The World Health Organization
has calculated that approximately 220,000 people die as a consequence of exposure to different insecticides
each year (Eddleston et al., 2002). Pesticides present a serious predicament in that the use of
agrochemical compounds protects production, investment, and public health through the eradication of
hunger, but at the same time they are extremely harmful to living organisms. Many of these compounds,
including glyphosate, chlorothalonil, and paraquat, have successfully eradicated various natural agricultural
pests (Matlock and de la Cruz, 2002; Boza, 1972); however, their bioaccumulation and persistence
in the environment represent serious problems.

- by Lucero Camacho
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- Biotechnology, Biorremediation, Fungus, Biorremediacion

A systematic study was conducted to develop the cost effective entomopathogenic fungal biopesticide. The different grains like Sorghum, Ragi, Paddy and Rice were selected based on their local availability and their lower in cost. However the carbon and nitrogen requirement was met by adding 1 per cent yeast extract. Among all the treatments, the half crushed rice kernels used treatment showed their best by producing highest spore load of 2.15 spores g-1. This was followed by half crushed Sorghum and Maize. Rice kernels also retained the highest B:C ratio (7.91:1). All together it is concluded that Rice and Sorghum could be considered as the best source for mass production of entomopathogens.

- by Anantha Rama A
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- Microbiology, Agriculture, Fungal cell biology, Fungi

The bracket fungus, Ganoderma boninense Pat., causes basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm plants. Previously the disease was reported only in older age palms and currently found on young stages palms as well. Therefore, Ganoderma can infect all stages of oil palm plants. Disease symptoms only appear at the late stage of the disease and usually called a silent killer of oil palm. Progression of the disease is slow; however, it can destroy thousands of hectares of oil palm plantations. Basal stem rot shortens the productive life of oil palms and causes serious economic losses to the oil palm industry. Hence, BSR is considered a serious threat to the oil palm industry in South East Asian countries. To date, there is high demand for sustainable detection and control of this disease. This review paper is elaborated on the detection and ecological impact of Ganoderma and BSR disease in oil palms plantation.
Keywords: Basal stem rot disease, diagnostic, Ecological impact, Ganoderma, oil palm.

- by Utthapon Issara
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- Fungus, Pandemic Coronavirus COVID19

Clotrimazole is marketed as a regularly occurring drug under numerous distinct names and via means of numerous agencies because of its antifungal activity. Clotrimazole, an artificial imidazole derivative, is often used domestically for the remedy of vaginal and pores and skin infections because of yeasts and dermatophytes. It shows maximum activity towards Candida spp., Trichophyton spp., Microsporum spp. and Malazzesia furfur (Pityrosporon orbicular) in vitro. In addition, it also has a few in vitro towards Gram positive bacteria, and at very high concentrations shows activity towards Trichomonas spp. In the remedy of vaginal candidiasis, Clotrimazole vaginal pills have produced treatment costs similar with the ones of traditional nystatin vaginal pills. Clotrimazole has been a success in sufferers of non- responsive patients to different antifungal formulations together with nystatin and amphotericin B. Results in trichomonal vaginitis are not impressive. Skin infections because of Candida or dermatophytes had been successfully deals with topical use of clotrimazole. In comparative trials, clotrimazole cream has been as powerful as Whitfield's ointment and tolnaftate with inside the remedy of dermatophytoses , and as powerful as nystatin in cutaneous candidiasis. Clotrimazole topical formulations are well tolerated; however skin infection has withdrawal of remedy in some cases. Candida septicemia and urinary and pulmonary candidiasis had been cured with oral clotrimazole remedy. Results in different kinds of fungal infections, such as pulmonary aspergillosis, had been disappointing. A restricting issue in oral clotrimazole remedy is the excessive occurrence of gastro- intestinal disturbances and neurological reactions.

- by Arman Dalal
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- Antifungal Drugs, Candida albicans, Pharmacology and toxicology, Antifungal Activity
- by Bidur P Chaulagain
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- Japanese, Molecular Biology and genetics, Disease Outbreaks, Humans

Polysaccharide production at extracellular as well as intracellular level in wheat flour medium by five mushroom mycelial liquid cultures of R.
lepida, R. brevipes, R. nigricans, L. tuberregium and C. indica was evaluated in the present study. All strains are found to produce both extra- and
intra-cellular polysaccharides efficiently in wheat flour broth medium at pH 6.0. Among all the strains, R. lepida and L. tuberregium are found
to be potent producer of exopolysaccharide i.e 440 mg/gm and 431 mg/gm of crude extract. C. indica followed by R. lepida are the best for
intracellular polysaccharide production and R. brevipes contributed least.

- by Sophia Mathis
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- Polysaccharides, Medicinal mushrooms, Fungus, Extramatrical Mycelium

Natural colorants have been used in several ways throughout human history, such as in food, dyes, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and many other products. The study aimed to isolate the natural colorant-producing filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger from soil and extract pigments for its potential use specially for food production. Fourteen soil samples were collected from Madhupur National Park at Madhupur Upazila in the Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. The Aspergillus niger was isolated and identified from the soil samples by following conventional mycological methods (cultural and morphological characteristics), followed by confirmatory identification by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of conserved sequences of ITS1 ribosomal DNA using specific oligonucleotide primers. This was followed by genus- and species-specific primers targeting Aspergillus niger with an amplicon size of 521 and 310 bp, respectively. For pigment production, a mass culture of Aspergillus niger was conducted in Sabouraud dextrose broth in shaking conditions for seven days. The biomass was subjected to extraction of the pigments following an ethanol-based extraction method and concentrated using a rotary evaporator. Aspergillus niger could be isolated from three samples. The yield of extracted brown pigment from Aspergillus niger was 0.75% (w/v). Spectroscopic analysis of the pigments was carried out using a UV–VIS spectrophotometer. An in vivo experiment was conducted with mice to assess the toxicity of the pigments. From the colorimetric and sensory evaluations, pigment-supplemented products (cookies and lemon juice) were found to be more acceptable than the control products. This could be the first attempt to use Aspergillus niger extracted pigment from soil samples in food products in Bangladesh, but for successful food production, the food colorants must be approved by a responsible authority, e.g., the FDA or the BSTI. Moreover, fungal pigments could be used in the emerging fields of the food and textile industries in Bangladesh.

- by Pravin Mishra
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- Food Science and Technology, Aspergillus, Food Colorant, Aspergillus niger
- by Lizeth Ospina
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- Microbiology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology

- by Arman Dalal and +1
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- Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, Antifungal Drugs, Candida albicans

Fungi are known to be nature’s decomposers, allowing the recycling of nutrients for the utilization of other organisms. Members of Kingdom Fungi are known to have inhabited various habitats. On the other hand, lichens are the result of a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi. Lichens serve as bioindicators in the environment. Both groups have a variety of species.
Both fungi and lichens fulfil important roles in ecosystems: decomposition of organic material (saprophytic fungi), symbiosis with higher plant species via the fungus roots or mycorrhizas (symbiotic fungi), parasitism (certain fungi), sources of nourishment and shelter for numerous microscopic living organisms (fungi and lichens), colonisation of new environments (lichens), nesting material (lichens), etc. Moreover, fungi and lichens in general are very sensitive to changes in their environment, which makes them good bio-indicators. It is important in this context that lichens are very sensitive to air pollution. The rule is that the more polluted the air, the smaller the variety of species will be. In addition, not all lichen species react in the same way to the different pollutants.

- by Marie Jenine Quimno
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- Systematics (Taxonomy), Symbiosis, Fungi, Algae
- by Brenda Walter
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- Horror Film, The Body, Zoosemiotics, Fungus

Phomopsis azadirachtae is the causal agent of destructive die-back disease of neem. The molecular mechanism of pathogenicity is not clear. Pectinases, cellulases, hemicellulases and ligninases have been extensively studied because of their plant cell wall degrading nature. Hence, this study describes the screening and assay of extracellular enzymes produced by the pathogen. The pathogenicity enzymes screened were: laccase, polygalacturonase, xylanase, amylase, cellulase, protease and lipase. A total of fifteen isolates of Phomopsis azadirachtae were from different agroclimatic regions of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh from diseased samples. The isolates were subjected to screening of the above mentioned enzymes on solid media supplemented with respective substrates. All the isolates were found to produce polygalacturonase, laccase, protease and xylanase. Polygalacturonase and xylanase were further assayed in order to quantify the enzyme produced in all the isolates. In addition to pathogenicity enzymes, isolates were also found to produce some industrially important enzymes such as L-asparaginase and urease.

Objective.The aim of our study was to try to determine the possible environmental risk factors for noninvasive fungal sinusitis in Egyptian patients.Methods.This is a prospective epidemiological case control study on the environmental risk factors of noninvasive fungal sinusitis. It included 60 patients and 100 age and sex matched controls.Results.There was a statistically significant relation between apartment floor, surface area, exposure to dust, exposure to cockroaches, poor air conditioning, and fungal sinusitis. Yet, no statistical significance was found between allergy related occupations, exposure to animals or plants, although their percentages were higher among cases, smoking, and urban or rural residence.Conclusion.We suggest that for patients with noninvasive fungal sinusitis a change in their living environment must be implied with better exposure to sunlight, larger well ventilated homes, proper cleaning of dust and cockroach extermination, and if possible the judiciou...

- by Badr E Mostafa
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- Mycology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Medicine
- by Gıyasettin Kaşik
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- Fungus
- by Lázaro R Sánchez-Velásquez
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- Multidisciplinary, Molecular Characterization, Fungus
- by abdullah güller
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- Contemporary Art, Virus, Fungus, Insect
- by Soon -Guan Tan
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- Ecotoxicology, Bioremediation, Water Pollution, Heavy Metal Pollution

Laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) are defined as infections acquired through laboratory or laboratory-related activities. Whether the infected host remains asymptomatic or becomes symptomatic with overt illness depends on many unpredictable factors. A variety of microorganisms, viz. bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi and parasites cause LAIs. These infections are a hazard in personnel engaged in clinical research laboratories. An intensive search of literature through several search engines revealed that dimorphic fungi, viz. Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and Histoplasma capsulatum are responsible for the maximum number of laboratory-acquired (LA) mycoses. Coccidioidomycosis caused by C. immiitis and dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes are the commonest laboratory acquired (LA) fungal infections. The aim of this study is to give an update of the present state of our knowledge on LA fungal infections and suggest preventive measures.

- by Harish Gugnani
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- Biology, Infection Control, Fungus

Gerbera is a potential flower crop in protected cultivation. Greenhouse conditions favour luxuriant growth of crops and also the growth and development of plant pathogens. Ten isolates of Fusarium oxysporum Sch. were collected from the root and stem of gerbera plants growing in various districts of Tamil Nadu. The fungus associated with wilt disease in gerbera was identified as Fusarium oxysporum based on the the colony character, nature of conidiogenous cell, morphology of microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores. Further, the identification was carried out using genus specific primers of Fusarium species which yielded an amplicon size of 389 bp. The virulent isolate FOG2 was sequenced and the NCBI assigned accession number was KM523669

- by RAMYABHARATHI SAMPATH and +1
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- Molecular Mycology, Fungus

Context: Medicinal plants have been reported to produce various bioactive molecules. In this study an endophytic fungus was isolated from the leaves of Coleus amboinicus Lour., a medicinal plant used in Jamu and the fungus was identified as Athelia rolfsii. Aims: To isolate, identify and characterize bioactive compound present in ethyl acetate extract of fermentation broth and determine its antimicrobial activities. Methods: The compound was isolated and purified by Preparative Thin Layer Chromatography. Antimicrobial activities were conducted by determining its IC50 and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) values against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus mutans. The structure of the bioactive compound was deduced by spectroscopic data. Results: The bioactive compound displayed antimicrobial activities with IC50 of 0.86, 1.35, 1.33, 2.69, 1.9, 0.24 µg/mL and MBC values of 40, 40, 40, 40, 20, 20 µg/mL against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, S. typhi, S. mutans, respectively. Based on IR, LC-MS, 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR data, the bioactive compound was suggested to consist of two compounds, methyl hemiterpenoate as a major compound and methyl, 2,3 diene-butanoate as the minor one. Conclusions: The endophytic fungus isolated from the leaves of C. amboinicus produced antimicrobial agents which could be potential for further development.

Late wilt is a destructive disease of corn: outbreaks occur at the advanced growth stage and lead to severe dehydration of susceptible hybrids. The disease's causal agent is the fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis, whose spread relies on infested soils, seeds, and several alternative hosts. The current study aimed at advancing our understanding of the nature of this plant disease and revealing new ways to monitor and control it. Two field experiments were conducted in a heavily infested area in northern Israel seeded with highly sensitive corn hybrid. The first experiment aimed at inspecting the Azoxystrobin (AS) fungicide applied by spraying during and after the land tillage. Unexpectedly, the disease symptoms in this field were minor and yields were high. Nevertheless, up to 100% presence of the pathogen within the plant's tissues was measured using the quantitative real-time PCR method. The highest AS concentration tested was the most effective treatment, and resulted in a 6% increase in cob yield and a 4% increase in A-class yield. In the second experiment conducted in the following summer of the same year in a nearby field, the disease outbreak was dramatically higher, with about 350 times higher levels of the pathogen DNA in the untreated plots' plants. In this field, fungicide mixtures were applied using a dripline assigned for two coupling rows. The most successful treatment was AS and the Difenoconazole mixture, in which the number of infected plants decreased by 79%, and a 116% increase in crop yield was observed, along with a 41% increase in crop quality. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatments on the plants' health using a remote, thermal infra-red sensitive camera supported the results and proved to be an essential research tool.

- by Ofir Degani
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- Remote Sensing, Phytopathology, Mycology and Plant pathology, real time PCR

Alternaria spp. is an important plant pathogen that causes leaf and bunch decay in grapes. Severe infections cause to loss of product by spillage of leaves and drying in grapes. In this study, 125 Alternaria spp. isolated from Bozcaada Karalahna and Çavus grapes were investigated. The potential mycotoxigenic status of the isolates were evaluated on Coconut Cream Agar (CCA) medium by the ability to irradiate Alternaria toxins (AME, AOH, ATX-1 and ALT) at a wavelength of 366 nm. It was determined that eight isolates gave intense, 13 isolates gave moderately intense, and 30 isolates gave less intense fluorescence. Also, the percentage of isolate distribution by grape type is determined. In Çavuş grapes, 6% of the Alternaria species showed strong fluorescence, while 10% and 26% of them gave moderate and weak fluorescence respectively. In Alternaria species isolated from Karalahna grapes, these ratios were determined as 8%, 13% and 20% respectively. Almost 60% of the isolates in both grapes indicate no fluorescence. For the identification of possible mycotoxigenic isolates, the phenotypic description was made according to the colour, shape and diameter of the colony in Potato Carrot Agar (PCA), Czapek Yeast Extract Agar (CYA), Dichloran Rose Bengal Yeast Extract Sucrose Agar (DRYES) and Dichloran Glycerol Agar (DG18) media. As a result, among the 21 isolates giving strong and medium fluorescence; eight species were identified as Alternaria alternata, four species as Alternaria tenuissima and nine species as Alternaria infectoria.

- by Burcu Kaya
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- Microbiology, Food Science, Food Safety, Fungi

: Laboulbenia formicarum Thaxt. (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) fungus is native to
N-America and has just been recorded from Europe from the invasive ant Lasius neglectus
van Loon, Boomsma et Andrásfalvy, 1990 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The ant is wellknown
from Hungary but the fungus is not known from there. We checked the infection
of L. formicarum at the Hungarian L. neglectus localities and had negative results.

- by Báthori, Ferenc and +1
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- Invasive Species, Hungary, Ant, Ectoparasites
- by Félix Rodrigues
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- Biofilms, Indoor Air Quality, Basaltic Volcanic Fields, Biofilm
- by Toussaint Verrill
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- Medicine, Fungus, ABPA
- by Elena Monfort
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- Materials Engineering, Condensed Matter Physics, Microscopy, Biology
- by Linh Trúc
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- Microbiology, Coevolution, Plant Biology, Symbiosis

The toxigenic fungal compounds called mycotoxin are poisonous substances produced by different species of fungus. Basically three major genera of fungus are identified to produce mycotoxins: they include Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillum. Although other genera also produces these toxigenic compounds. The presence of mytotoxins in food poses health risk ranging from mild to severe damage to the liver and kidney. Chronic damage may be induced in animals or human after ingestion of small quantity of the toxin present in contaminated foods. For example Aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus, if ingested from contaminated food could pose serious and severe health risk to man and animals. Foods like rice, corn, barley, wheat, sorghum, peanut, cotton seeds, soya bean, silages and by products feeds which have been mishandled are the major sources of mycotoxins. Different species of fungus produce different types of mycotoxins. The disease caused by ingestion of mycotoxins is called myc...

- by Dr. YAKUBU AZEH
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- Chronic, Mycotoxins, Fungus, Mycotoxicosis
- by Aysun Pekşen
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- Biology, Fungus

COVID-19 is associated with a significant incidence of secondary infections, both bacterial and fungal immune dysregulation. Additionally, the widespread use of steroids, monoclonal antibodies, broad spectrum antibiotics as part of the armamentarium against COVID-19 may lead to the development or exacerbation of pre-existing fungal diseases. As the infection spreads, it can manifest as headaches, proptosis, ophthalmoplegia, acute vision loss, and multiple cranial nerve palsies. Mucormycosis is a rare life threatening opportunistic fungal infection caused by fungi of Mucorales order belonging to the phycomycetes class. Rhino-orbital mucormycosis usually develops in the patients with diabetes, prolonged corticosteroid use, hematological malignancies, chronic renal failure, and other immunocompromised states. Rhino-orbital infection begins when fungal spores are inhaled and invade the nasal mucosa and sinusitis develops as the fungus spreads to the paranasal sinuses. Orbital involvement occurs when the infection invades the orbital wall from the paranasal sinuses. Symptoms may include pain, chemosis, vision loss, ophthalmoplegia and proptosis. Ophthalmoplegia arises from infection of the muscles and orbital space or when the third, fourth and sixth cranial nerves are affected. Peripheral seventh cranial nerve paresis or paralysis and hypoesthesia of the face are often observed. Here we are presenting histopathological study of 20 cases of post COVID-19 rhino-orbital fungal infection.

- by Dr Sunil Y Swami
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- Histopathology, Fungus