Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus albidus in captive domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Cryptococcosis in animals is an important fungal disease caused by the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. This report describes the occurrence of Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus albidus in domestic pigeon (Columba livia), living together with other birds in a breeding center. The animal presented a pinkish, vascularized mass with gelatinous aspect localized subcutaneously under the right lower eyelid, with approximately 2cm in diameter. At microbiological exam it was isolated Cryptococcus gatti from the eyelid mass, lungs and liver, C. albidus from the trachea and both Cryptococcus species from muscle and kidney.

COMPARISON OF PRIMERS FOR RAPD-PCR FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ISOLATES OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS, CRYPTOCOCCUS ALBIDUS AND CRYPTOCOCCUS LAURENTII COMPLEX

Various organisms have been characterized by molecular methods, including fungi of the genus Cryptococcus. The purposes of this study were: to determine the discriminatory potential of the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers, the pattern of similarity of the Cryptococcus species, and discuss their useful application in epidemiological studies. We analyzed 10 isolates of each specie/group: C. albidus, C. laurentii complex, C. neoformans var. grubii, all from environmental source, and two ATCC strains, C. neoformans var. grubii ATCC 90112, and C. neoformans var. neoformans ATCC 28957 by RAPD-PCR using the primers CAV1, CAV2, ZAP19, ZAP20, OPB11 and SEQ6. The primers showed a good discriminatory power, revealing important differences between them and between species; the SEQ6 primer discriminated a larger number of isolates of three species. Isolates of C. laurentii showed greater genetic diversity than other species revealed by all six primers. Isolates of C. neoformans were more homogeneous. Only the primer CAV2 showed no amplification of DNA bands for C. albidus. It was concluded that the use of limited number of carefully selected primers allowed the discrimination of different isolates, and some primers (e. g., CAV2 for C. albidus) may not to be applied to some species.

Comparison of primers for RAPD-PCR from environmental isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus albidus and Cryptococcus laurentii complex

Various organisms have been characterized by molecular methods, including fungi of the genus Cryptococcus. The purposes of this study were: to determine the discriminatory potential of the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers, the pattern of similarity of the Cryptococcus species, and discuss their useful application in epidemiological studies. We analyzed 10 isolates of each specie/group: C. albidus, C. laurentii complex, C. neoformans var. grubii, all from environmental source, and two ATCC strains, C. neoformans var. grubii ATCC 90112, and C. neoformans var. neoformans ATCC 28957 by RAPD-PCR using the primers CAV1, CAV2, ZAP19, ZAP20, OPB11 and SEQ6. The primers showed a good discriminatory power, revealing important differences between them and between species; the SEQ6 primer discriminated a larger number of isolates of three species. Isolates of C. laurentii showed greater genetic diversity than other species revealed by all six primers. Isolates of C. neoformans were more homogeneous. Only the primer CAV2 showed no amplification of DNA bands for C. albidus. It was concluded that the use of limited number of carefully selected primers allowed the discrimination of different isolates, and some primers (e.g., CAV2 for C. albidus) may not to be applied to some species.

A multi-criteria analysis approach for ranking and selection of microorganisms for the production of oils for biodiesel production

Oleaginous microorganisms have potential to be used to produce oils as alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. Microalgae (Chlorella protothecoides and Chlorella zofingiensis), yeasts (Cryptococcus albidus and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa), and fungi (Aspergillus oryzae and Mucor plumbeus) were investigated for their ability to produce oil from glucose, xylose and glycerol. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and preference ranking organization method for the enrichment of evaluations (PROMETHEE) with graphical analysis for interactive aid (GAIA), was used to rank and select the preferred microorganisms for oil production for biodiesel application. This was based on a number of criteria viz., oil concentration, content, production rate and yield, substrate consumption rate, fatty acids composition, biomass harvesting and nutrient costs. PROMETHEE selected A. oryzae, M. plumbeus and R. mucilaginosa as the most prospective species for oil production. However, further analysis by GAIA Webs identified A. oryzae and M. plumbeus as the best performing microorganisms.

Microbial oil production from palm oil empty fruit bunch hydrolysates

This study explores the potential use of empty fruit bunch (EFB) residues from palm oil processing residues, as an alternative feedstock for microbial oil production. EFB is a readily available, lignocellulosic biomass that provides cheaper substrates for oil production in comparison to the use of pure sugars. In this study, potential oleaginous microorganisms were selected based on a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) framework which utilised Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) aided by Geometrical Analysis for Interactive Aid (GAIA). The MCA framework was used to evaluate several strains of microalgae (Chlorella protothecoides and Chlorella zofingiensis), yeasts (Cryptococcus albidus and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa) and fungi (Aspergillus oryzae and Mucor plumbeus) on glucose, xylose and glycerol. Based on the results of PROMETHEE rankings and GAIA plane, fungal strains A. oryzae and M. plumbeus and yeast strain R. mucilaginosa showed great promise for oil production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. The study further cultivated A. oryzae, M. plumbeus and R. mucilaginosa on EFB hydrolysates for oil production. EFB was pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid, followed by enzymatic saccharification of solid residue. Hydrolysates tested in this study are detoxified liquid hydrolysates (LH) and enzymatic hydrolysate (EH).

果实采后病害生物防治及其机理研究

　　分离和筛选了5种能有效防治采后果实病害的拮抗菌。其中，季也蒙假丝酵母(Candida guiliermondii(Cast) Langeroret Guerra)从引种拮抗菌中筛选获得，枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）B-912从土壤中分离筛选获得，膜醭毕赤酵母（Pichia membranefaciens hansen）从桃果实伤口上分离获得，隐球酵母(Cryptococcus albidus (Saito) Skinner)和丝孢酵母（Trichosporon sp.）从桃果实表面分离获得。本文主要研究了这些拮抗菌对桃、油桃、苹果、梨和柑桔等我国主要水果采后病害的防治效果，并对其可能的抑菌机理进行了初步研究。结果如下： 1. Sx108 CFU/mL的C．guiliermondii和P．membranefaciens悬浮液可完全抑制病菌孢子浓度为5x104个/mL时桃和油桃果实软腐病(Rhizopus stolonifer(Ehrenb.ex Fr.) Vuill.)在25℃，15℃和3℃下的发生。lx108 CFU/mL的C．albidus和Trichosporon sp.悬浮液可完全抑制孢子浓度分别为lx105个/mL和5x104个/mL时苹果灰霉病(Botrytis cinerea)和青霉病（Penicillum expansum）在23℃-25℃和1℃下的发生。C．albidus和Trichosporon sp.对梨灰、青霉病也有一定抑制效果。B-912对柑桔果实青霉病(Penicillium italicum)、绿霉病(Penicillium digitatum)和核果类果实褐腐病(Monilinia fructicola)也有极好的抑制效果。生物防治效果与拮抗菌的浓度成正比，与病菌孢子浓度成反比。 2．拮抗酵母菌在室温和冷藏条件下都能迅速在果实伤口定殖，接种酵母菌48 h后，数量可增加20倍以上。拮抗菌和病菌孢子的接种时间与生物防治效果有关，先接种拈抗菌的抑菌效果显著地好于同时或后于病菌接种的效果。 3．温度对拮抗酵母菌的抑菌活力没有明显影响，无论是在室温还是在冷藏条件下，拮抗酵母菌都有同样的抑菌效果。但拮抗细菌B-912的抑菌效果与温度有一定关系。较高的温度有利于细菌拮抗作用的发挥。 4．拮抗菌能与常规的果实采后处理措施如钙处理、化学杀菌剂、冷藏和气调贮藏相结合。酵母菌与2% CaC12配合能明显地增强其抑菌能力;拮抗菌与低浓度的杀菌剂如扑海因混合使用，可达到高浓度杀菌剂的抑病效果;C．albidus和Trichosporon sp.对果实采后气调贮藏环境有良好的适应性，它们在气调下对采后苹果、梨的灰霉病和青霉病的抑制效果比冷藏条件下的好。 5．细菌B-912的抑菌机理与其产生抗菌素有关，B-912的滤液在in vitro上能有效地抑制病菌孢子的萌发，在invivo上也能明显地抑制果实采后病害的发生。拮抗酵母菌的抑菌机理则较复杂，但主要与病菌竞争营养有关，同时，C．guilliermondii和P．membranefaciens对软腐菌的抑制还通过产生水解酶如β-1，3一葡聚糖酶和几丁酶与病原菌直接作用，并参与诱导寄主产生抗性等

酵母拮抗菌的抑病机理及生防效力改良的研究

相对于酵母拮抗菌的使用来说，人们对其作用机理了解得还不是很清楚。而了解拮抗菌的抑菌机理却是增强拮抗菌的生防效果以及进行拮抗菌筛选标准的重要前提。本文主要研究了酵母拮抗菌Pichia membranefaciens、Cryptococcus albidus以及Crytococcus laurentii对水果采后软腐病、褐腐病以及青霉病的防治效果，拮抗菌与病原菌之间的相互作用，并对酵母拮抗菌与外源物质配合使用，以及通过遗传改良途径来提高酵母拮抗菌生防能力等进行了初步研究。实验结果如下： 1、酵母拮抗菌P. membranefaciens、C. albidus以及C. laurentii能在果实伤口大量繁殖。采用扫描电镜技术，观察发现在桃果实伤口处P. membranefaciens能紧密地吸附在软腐病菌Rhizopous stolonfier的菌丝体上;C. laurentii与青霉病菌Penicillium expansum在苹果果实伤口处也存在着直接的拮抗作用;但P. membranefaciens和C. albidus对P. expansum的直接作用不明显。 2、酵母拮抗菌P. membranefaciens能够有效地抑制甜樱桃果实在常温和低温贮藏条件下褐腐病的发生。在常温贮藏条件下，P. membranefaciens和褐腐病菌Monilinia fracticola 处理都能够提高果实β-1,3-葡聚糖酶、POD、以及PAL酶的活性，但在低温贮藏条件下，拮抗菌和病原菌处理对甜樱桃果实β-1,3-葡聚糖酶、POD酶活性的升高有促进作用，对PAL和PPO酶活性的诱导作用不明显。 3、梨果实采后经过水杨酸，CaCl2，UV辐射和草酸等各种激发子处理以后，再接种病原菌Alternaria alternata，可以显著降低梨果实的发病率。其中，水杨酸处理的果实发病率最低。不同的激发子均可以诱导梨果实β-1,3-葡聚糖酶、POD、PAL和PPO酶活性的升高，但对果实乙烯含量的影响不明显。 4、氨基糖甙类抗菌素G418能够抑制P. membranefaciens的生长，其最低抑制浓度为100g ml-1。将G418抗性基因Neor插入到酵母-大肠杆菌穿梭表达载体pFL61中，构建PGK启动子驱动的表达载体pFL61-neo，利用醋酸锂转化法转化P. membranefaciens。酵母转化子在非选择性培养条件下连续生长50代后，仍有67.87%的细胞保留该质粒。这表明穿梭表达载体pFL61-neo能稳定地存在于P. membranefaciens中，并且该酵母细胞能有效地识别PGK启动子和终止子指导Neor的表达。 5、酵母拮抗菌C. laurentii和Rhodotorula glutinis与2%的碳酸氢钠混合使用，对冬枣果实青霉病的防治效果明显比单独使用拮抗菌或化学物质的防病效果好。其中，107CFU ml-1的拮抗菌与238 mmol l-1的碳酸氢钠配合使用可以达到单独使用108CFU ml-1拮抗菌的防病效果。另外，钼酸铵作为一种添加剂也能提高R. glutinis对梨果实青霉病和黑霉病的防治效果，但将钼酸铵与Trichosporon sp.配合使用的防病效果不明显。碳酸氢钠和钼酸铵在果实伤口对酵母拮抗菌的生长都有一定的抑制作用。 6、酵母拮抗菌P. membranefaciens在不同碳源、氮源中生长情况表明：在几种氮源中，大豆蛋白胨、酵母提取物、牛肉浸膏对P. membranefaciens的生长有显著的促进作用，其中，大豆蛋白胨的效果最好。在检测以葡萄糖、果糖和麦芽糖作为碳源的生长实验中，发现这几种碳源都能够被拮抗菌很好的利用，其中葡萄糖的利用率最好。小球藻生长因子（CGF）能够明显地促进了P. membranefaciens的生长。但是，CGF的浓度从0.5%增加到1%并没有促进酵母菌细胞数量的增加。

Qualidade microbiológica e ocorrência de leveduras em bebidas lácteas fermentadas, com adição de polpas de frutas, comercializada na região de São José do Rio Preto - SP

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Qualidade microbiológica e ocorrência de leveduras em polpas congeladas de frutas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Qualidade microbiológica e ocorrência de leveduras em diferentes amostras de queijo tipo minas frescal

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Atividade antimicrobiana de microrganismos probióticos em bebidas lácteas fermentadas

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia - IBILCE

Bebidas lácteas fermentadas: evolução da microbiota durante a fabricação, identificação de fungos leveduriformes e ação de culturas probióticas sobre os leveduriformes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo microbiológico: amostragem de Cryptococcus sp em São José do Rio Preto/SP

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia - IBILCE

Analysis of the Genome and Transcriptome of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii Reveals Complex RNA Expression and Microevolution Leading to Virulence Attenuation

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast responsible for more than 600,000 deaths each year. It occurs as two serotypes (A and D) representing two varieties (i.e. grubii and neoformans, respectively). Here, we sequenced the genome and performed an RNA-Seq-based analysis of the C. neoformans var. grubii transcriptome structure. We determined the chromosomal locations, analyzed the sequence/structural features of the centromeres, and identified origins of replication. The genome was annotated based on automated and manual curation. More than 40,000 introns populating more than 99% of the expressed genes were identified. Although most of these introns are located in the coding DNA sequences (CDS), over 2,000 introns in the untranslated regions (UTRs) were also identified. Poly(A)-containing reads were employed to locate the polyadenylation sites of more than 80% of the genes. Examination of the sequences around these sites revealed a new poly(A)-site-associated motif (AUGHAH). In addition, 1,197 miscRNAs were identified. These miscRNAs can be spliced and/or polyadenylated, but do not appear to have obvious coding capacities. Finally, this genome sequence enabled a comparative analysis of strain H99 variants obtained after laboratory passage. The spectrum of mutations identified provides insights into the genetics underlying the micro-evolution of a laboratory strain, and identifies mutations involved in stress responses, mating efficiency, and virulence.

Survival of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) released from commercial pelagic longline gear in the western North Atlantic

To estimate postrelease survival of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) caught incidentally in regular commercial pelagic longline fishing operations targeting swordfish and tunas, short-duration popup satellite archival tags (PSATs) were deployed on captured animals for periods of 5−43 days. Twenty (71.4%) of 28 tags transmitted data at the preprogrammed time, including one tag that separated from the fish shortly after release and was omitted from subsequent analyses. Transmitted data from 17 of 19 tags were consistent with survival of those animals for the duration of the tag deployment. Postrelease survival estimates ranged from 63.0% (assuming all nontransmitting tags were evidence of mortality) to 89.5% (excluding nontransmitting tags from the analysis). These results indicate that white marlin can survive the trauma resulting from interaction with pelagic longline gear, and indicate that current domestic and international management measures requiring the release of live white marlin from this fishery will reduce fishing mortality on the Atlantic-wide stock.