Use of Bioscreen C for growth of Mucor hiemalis in different carbon and nitrogen sources

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mycoses associated with AIDS in the Third World

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the epidemiological status of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is far from under control in most of the developing world. Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and India show increased rates of new infections. In Latin America and the Caribbean there were 1.6 million estimated cases of HIV-infected patients at the end of 1997. Fungal diseases have been one of the most relevant diagnoses in relation to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Infections due to Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans var, neoformans are common worldwide. Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis and Penicillium marneffei are important causes of disease in endemic areas. Infection due to Sporothrix schenckii, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis are uncommon even where they are endemic. Phaeohyphomycetes, hyalohyphomycetes and zygomycetes are still rare as a cause of disease among AIDS patients, However, agents pertaining to these groups, such as Aspergillus spp., have an increasing incidence. Superficial mycoses due to dermatophytes have special features from epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic points of view.

Morphological and molecular characterization of an equine isolate of Pythium insidiosum and comparison with the first human isolate from the same geographic region

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Persistence of conidia of Entomophthora muscae in relation to age, temperature, and humidity

In this paper, the effect of age, humidity, and temperature on the conidial survival of Entomophthora muscae was evaluated. E. muscae was obtained from Musca domestica in a dairy in Itatiba (São Paulo, Brazil) and maintained in the laboratory by continuous passage through flies. Furthermore, the ability of conidia to infect flies at three temperatures (17, 21, and 27 degrees C), four ages of conidia (12, 72, 96, and 154 hours) and two humidities (100 and 60% RH) was evaluated. The temperature of 21 degrees C was the most favorable for the infection of house flies. Humidity was a cause of variation at 27 degrees C when the conidia were up to 12 hours old, but had no effect at lower temperatures. Conidia held at 100% RH and aged 72 hours caused no infection at 17 degrees C, but were infective at 21 degrees C. In the present study, conidia retained viability much longer than previously observed. Finally, the effect of humidity, temperature, and conidial age is discussed.

Soilborne filamentous fungi in Brazil

The Atlantic Rainforest is a Brazilian ecosystem that is being rapidly being destroyed, along with the abiotic and biotic factors present in it. Among the biotic factors, the fungi are found in the soil which, besides being of major importance in terms of ecological niches, also have broad and significant applications in biotechnology. In order to assess the biodiversity of these microorganisms in this type of ecosystem, the Banhado Grande region was chosen at the Jureia-Itatins Ecology Station, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Within this region, two areas were delimited for study, one covered with natural (primary) vegetation and the other containing vegetation that regenerated following the planting of rice crops, referred to here as secondary. Collection of compound soil samples were taken (depth 0-15 cm) over a period of two and a half years, with the litter first being removed, during dry/cold and humid/hot periods. After sifting the samples, they were appropriately processed using the serial dilution technique to isolate the fungi from the soil. Six different culture media were used, having pHs of 4.5, 7.0 and 9.0. Altogether, 1,211 strains were isolated, divided into the following groups: Hyphomycetes, the most abundant followed by Ascomycetes, Zygomycetes, Coelomycetes, and Oomycetes. From these, 112 species were identified, 8 down to the genus level, and those that did not produce conidia were grouped as Mycelia sterilia. Among the strains, 67 were cellulolytic, 32 originated solely in soil under natural vegetation, and 26 originated solely in soil under secondary vegetation.

Isolamento de fungos produtores de ácido γ-linolênico de solo da Estação Ecologica de Juréia-Itatins, SP

Fungi producing γ-linolenic acid (GLA) were isolated from soil of the Ecological Station of Juréia-Itatins, SP. This essential fatty acid has aroused great interest due to its increasing by applications in pharmaceutical industry. The GLA production by zygomycetous fungi is an alternative way of comparing seed extraction. Thirty-two zygomycetous strains of Mucorales were isolated, most of them belonging to Mucor genus. The GLA production was evaluated after 4 days of incubation at 25°C on a rotary shaker at 150 rpm in medium containing 2% glucose, and 1% yeast extract, following new medium addition (20%) and incubation for an additional period of 3 days at 12°C, without agitation. The GLA production varied according to the microorganism and the strain.

Estudo da mcrobiota fúngica gastrintestinal de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) da região noroeste do estado de São Paulo: Potencial zoonótico

Bats are hosts of a rich diversity of microorganisms. Many studies indicate a close link between bats and fungi with pathogenic potential, especially for living in environments such as caves, caverns and hollow trees, favorable to the maintenance and spread of fungi. The objective was to study the gastrointestinal mycoflora of bats. Of the 98 samples belonging to 11 species of bats coming from 15 studied cities, 20% of the species were Carollia perspicillata, 19% Artibeus lituratus, 17% Molossus rufus, 13% Glossophaga soricina, 9% Nyctinomops macrotis, 8% Molossus molossus, 7% Desmodus rotundus, 2% Lasiurus ega and 1% Eptesicus furinalis, Myotis nigricans and Tadarida brasiliensis. The genus Aspergillus sp. was isolated from 29% of the samples, followed by 6% Microsporum sp. and Penicillium sp. 4% Trichophyton sp. and zygomycetes and 2% Fusarium sp. Of yeast species, 14% were from Rhodotorula sp., 10% Candida sp. and 2% Cryptococcus sp., 22% of isolates remained unidentified. All 82 cultures of organs were negative for Histoplasma capsulatum. There was a statistically significant association between the results of microbiological culture and bat species (p < 0.05). We conclude that the bats can act as disperser agents of fungi with pathogenic potential, although other studies should be performed to establish strategies to identify the main factors correlated with the growth and spread of microorganisms in nature and implication of bats in the epidemiological cycle.

Filamentous fungi from the Atlantic marine sponge Dragmacidon reticulatum

Dragmacidon reticulatum is a marine sponge of wide occurrence in the Eastern and Western Atlantic. Little is known about D. reticulatum fungal diversity. Filamentous fungi recovered from D. reticulatum were assessed in the present study using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, including classical morphology, molecular biology and MALDI-TOF ICMS. Ninety-eight fungal strains were isolated from two D. reticulatum samples by using six different culture media, which were identified up to the genus level. Sixty-four distinct fungal ribotypes were obtained, distributed among twenty-four different genera belonging to the Ascomycota and Zygomycota. Representatives of Penicillium and Trichoderma were the most diverse and abundant fungi isolated. Amongst Penicillium spp. three isolates belonged to the same ribotype can be considered as a putative new species. Data derived from the present study highlight the importance of using a polyphasic approach to get an accurate identification in order to structure a reliable culture collection. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.