Occurrence and species diversity of human-pathogenic Mucorales in commercial food-stuffs purchased in Paris area.

Mucormycoses are life-threatening fungal diseases that affect a variety of patients including those with diabetes mellitus or hematological malignancies. The responsible agents, the Mucorales, are opportunistic pathogens originating from the environment such as soil or decaying organic matter. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and diversity of human-pathogenic species of Mucorales in commercially available foodstuffs in France. All food samples were purchased from January 2014 to May 2015 in France. A total of 159 dried food samples including spices and herbs (n = 68), herbal tea (n = 19), cereals (n = 19), vegetables (n = 14), and other foodstuffs (n = 39) were analyzed. Each strain of Mucorales was identified phenotypically, and molecular identification was performed by ITS sequencing. From the 28 (17.6%) samples that were culture-positive for Mucorales, 30 isolates were recovered. Among the isolates, 13 were identified as Rhizopus arrhizus var. arrhizus, 10 R. arrhizus var. delemar, two Rhizopus microsporus, one Lichtheimia corymbifera, three Lichtheimia ramosa, and one Syncephalastrum racemosum. Culture-positive samples originated from different countries (Europe, Asia) and brands. The samples most frequently contaminated by Mucorales were spices and herbs (19/68, 27.9%), followed by herbal tea (2/19, 10.5%), cereals (2/19, 10.5%), other food products (5/39, 12.8%). The present study showed that human-pathogenic Mucorales were frequently recovered from commercially available foodstuffs in France with a large diversity of species. The potential danger represented by Mucorales present in food for immunocompromised patients should be further analyzed.

Rare mould infections caused by Mucorales, Lomentospora prolificans and Fusarium, in San Diego, CA: the role of antifungal combination therapy.

Non-Aspergillus invasive mould infections (IMIs) are associated with devastating morbidity and mortality rates and are increasingly diagnosed in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of non-Aspergillus IMIs at a university hospital in San Diego, California, USA. A retrospective chart review of the medical records of all patients with cultures growing non-Aspergillus moulds at the microbiology laboratory in the Center for Academic Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Health between mid-2014 and mid-2017 (3-year period) was performed. A total of 23 cases of non-Aspergillus IMI were identified, including 10 cases of mucormycosis, 8 cases of lomentosporiosis and 5 cases of fusariosis. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed for 14 isolates, and 10/11 Fusarium and Lomentospora isolates had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of >16 µg/mL for voriconazole and/or posaconazole. Overall 180-day mortality was significantly lower among those who received combination antifungal therapy than among those who received single-agent therapy [3/13 (23%) vs. 9/10 (90%); P = 0.003]. In conclusion, Lomentospora prolificans (35% of non-Aspergillus IMIs) and Fusarium spp. (22%) accounted for high proportions of non-Aspergillus IMIs during the study period. Non-Aspergillus IMIs were detected in patients with various underlying diseases and were associated with high mortality rates, which was significantly lower in those who received antifungal combination therapy.

Antifungal and antiproliferative activities of endophytic fungi isolated from the leaves of Markhamia tomentosa.

CONTEXT: Plants harbor endophytes with potential bioactivity. Markhamia tomentosa (Benth) K. Schum ex. Engl. (Bignoniaceae) is reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. OBJECTIVE: The antifungal and antiproliferative properties of endophytic fungi extracts and fractions from M. tomentosa were evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of M. tomentosa and identified by ITS-rDNA sequence analysis. The antagonistic effect of the fungal strains was investigated against pathogenic fungi viz, Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorium, Rhizoctonia solani, and Botrytis cinerea using the dual culture assay for 5-7 days. Antiproliferative effect of the fungal extracts and fractions (3.91-250 µg/mL) on HeLa cancer cell line was tested and IC50 was calculated. Poisoning food assay and antifeedant activity against the pathogenic fungi and Spodoptera litura larvae, for 7 days and 2 h, respectively, was also tested at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL. RESULTS: Fungal endophytes Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Syncephalastrum racemosum were isolated from the leaves of M. tomentosa. Isolated endophytic fungal strains and solvent extracts showed MIC value of 1000 µg/mL against tested pathogenic fungi in the dual culture and poisoning food assays. Methanol fraction of S. racemosum isolate showed the most effective antiproliferative activity with IC50 of 43.56 µg/mL. Minimal feeding deterrent activity against S. litura larvae was also observed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings showed that the leaves of Markhamia tomentosa harbor strains of endophytic fungi with promising health benefits, and suggest their antifungal and antiproliferative effects against pathogenic fungi and HeLa cancer cell line.

Invasive fungal disease of the sinus and orbit: a comparison between mucormycosis and Aspergillus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Invasive fungal infections of the head and neck are rare life-threatening infections where prompt diagnosis and intervention is critical for survival. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of invasive fungal disease of the sinus and orbit, and to compare mucormycosis and Aspergillus infection. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted from a single tertiary care eye and ear hospital over 20 years (1994-2014). Twenty-four patients with a confirmed pathological diagnosis of invasive fungal disease of the sinus and/or orbit were identified and their medical records were reviewed. The main outcome measures were type of fungus, location of disease, mortality and visual outcome. RESULTS: Patients with orbital involvement had a higher mortality and higher likelihood of mucormycosis infection compared with those with sinus-only disease (78.6% vs 20%, p=0.01; 86% vs 30%, p=0.01, respectively). Patients with mucormycosis had a higher mortality (71%) than patients with Aspergillus (29%); however, this was not statistically significant (p=0.16). All patients with orbital involvement and/or mucormycosis infections were immunosuppressed or had inadequately controlled diabetes, and had a cranial neuropathy or ocular motility dysfunction. All five post-transplant patients with orbital infections died, while the two transplant patients with sinus infections survived. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with orbital fungal infections are more likely to be infected with mucormycosis compared with Aspergillus and have a higher mortality compared with infections sparing the orbit. History of transplant portends a dismal prognosis in orbital infections. Invasive fungal disease should be considered in any immunocompromised patient presenting with a new cranial neuropathy or ocular motility abnormality.

Pectinase production by a Brazilian thermophilic fungus Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae N31 in solid-state and submerged fermentation.

Thermophilic organisms produce thermostable enzymes, which have a number of applications, justifying the interest in the isolation of new thermophilic strains and study of their enzymes. Thirty-four thermophilic and thermotolerant fungal strains were isolated from soil, organic compost, and an industrial waste pile based on their ability to grow at 45 degrees C and in a liquid medium containing pectin as the only carbon source. Among these fungi, 50% were identified at the genus level as Thermomyces, Aspergillus, Monascus, Chaetomium, Neosartoria, Scopulariopsis, and Thermomucor. All isolated strains produced pectinase during solid-state fermentation (SSF). The highest polygalacturonase (PG) activity was obtained in the culture medium of thermophilic strain N31 identified as Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae. Under SSF conditions on media containing a mixture of wheat bran and orange bagasse (1:1) at 70% of initial moisture, this fungus produced the maximum of 120 U/ml of exo-PG, while in submerged fermentation (SmF) it produced 13.6 U/ml. The crude PG from SmF was more thermostable than that from SSF and exhibited higher stability in acidic pH.

In vitro and in vivo activities of posaconazole against zygomycetes with various degrees of susceptibility.

OBJECTIVES: We analysed the in vitro and in vivo effects of posaconazole and amphotericin B against three clinical isolates of zygomycetes: Lichtheimia corymbifera, F1; and Rhizopus oryzae, F5 and F6. METHODS: In vitro activities of both drugs were assessed by determining MICs, minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) and fungal damage measured by the XTT assay against either the spores or the hyphal forms. Additionally, the survival curves of neutropenic mice systemically infected with the zygomycete isolates were used as the marker of antifungal response to amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/day) or posaconazole (2.5, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day). RESULTS: In terms of MICs, posaconazole proved to be active against the three isolates (MICs ranging from 0.125 to 1.0 mg/L). The median posaconazole MFCs were 0.25, 0.5 and >16 mg/L for F1, F5 and F6, respectively. The XTT assay showed that posaconazole was active against spores of all three isolates, but only partially effective against the hyphae. The survival studies showed that amphotericin B at 1 mg/kg/day and posaconazole at 10 mg/kg/day prolonged the survival of the animals infected with L. corymbifera F1. In mice infected with R. oryzae F5, only posaconazole at 50 mg/kg/day significantly prolonged survival, whereas amphotericin B at 1 mg/kg/day was the only regimen active against R. oryzae F6. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that posaconazole could be useful in the treatment of zygomycosis. Also, we report that an isolate of R. oryzae with low MFC responded to posaconazole, while another isolate with high MFC did not.

Intraabdominal zygomycosis caused by Syncephalastrum racemosum infection successfully treated with partial surgical debridement and high-dose amphotericin B lipid complex.

Invasive zygomycosis rarely complicates trauma. We describe the first recorded case of invasive infection of the anterior abdominal wall and omentum with the zygomycete Syncephalastrum racemosum, which was successfully treated with partial surgical debridement and amphotericin B lipid complex.

Moulds and mycotoxins in herb tea and medicinal plants.

The level of toxigenic moulds and mycotoxins were analyzed in 62 samples of medicinal plant material and 11 herbal tea samples. The most predominant fungi detected were: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Absidia, Alternaria, Cladosporium and Trichoderma. Aspergillus flavus, a known producer of the aflatoxin mycotoxin, was present in 11 or 18% of the 62 medicinal plant samples and in 1 or 9% of the herbal tea samples. The medicinal plant samples, contaminated with A. flavus were also analyzed for the mycotoxins aflatoxin, ochratoxin and zearalenone; ochratoxin was found in one of the 7 samples analyzed. This study suggests that medicinal plant material and possibly herbal teas, if stored improperly allowing for mould growth, should be analyzed for mould and mycotoxin prior to use.

Successful treatment of extensive posttraumatic soft-tissue and renal infections due to Apophysomyces elegans.

We describe the clinical course and successful treatment of a previously healthy man who, after experiencing trauma, presented with severe cutaneous mucormycosis due to Apophysomyces elegans and subsequently developed secondary renal infection. A multidisciplinary approach employing aggressive surgical debridement and therapy with hyperbaric oxygen, liposomal amphotericin B, and interferon-gamma was successful in controlling his infection, obviating the need for nephrectomy.

Microhongos del suelo y asociados a pastos silvestres senescentes en una localidad precordillerana de la 9ª región, Chile / Microfungi of soil and associated to senescent wild grass in a preandine locality of the IX region, Chile

Mediante métodos de dilución y cámara húmeda, se analizó cualitativamente y cuantitativamente la micota presente en el suelo y en su cobertura de pastos senescentes (gramíneas principalmente) en una localidad precordillerana de pradera en la 9§ región. Nuestra finalidad fue la obtención de datos preliminares sobre la diversidad y composición de especies en suelos subtropicales. La diversidad de géneros fue mayor en los pastos (38), que en el suelo (27), mientras el número de especies en ambos habitat fue similar (50 y48). Solo 14 especies fueron comunes en ambos sustratos (28,9 porciento), representadas mayoritariamente por Hyphomycetes (71,4 porciento) y Coelomycetes (21,45 porciento). Los taxa dominantes en los suelos fueron: Cladosporium cladosporioides, penicillium spp. y las levaduras blancas. En los pastos senescentes: Acremonium spp. Alternaria alternata, A tenuissima, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. herbarum, Dactylaria candidula, Eppicoccum purpurascens, Fusarium poae, Gliocladium catenulatum, G. roseum, Heteroconium chaestospira, Leptosphaeria ogilviensis, Myrothecium verrucaria, Papulaspora inmersa, Penicillium spp. Periconia minutissima, Phoma levellei, y Torula herbarum. En los suelos, a diferencia de los pastos, se presentó una gran diversidad de taxa esporádicos (40)