The essential role of aggregation for the emulsifying ability of a fungal CYS-rich protein.

Biosurfactants are in demand by the global market as natural commodities suitable for incorporation into commercial products or utilization in environmental applications. Fungi are promising producers of these molecules and have garnered interest also for their metabolic capabilities in efficiently utilizing recalcitrant and complex substrates, like hydrocarbons, plastic, etc. Within this framework, biosurfactants produced by two Fusarium solani fungal strains, isolated from plastic waste-contaminated landfill soils, were analyzed. Mycelia of these fungi were grown in the presence of 5% olive oil to drive biosurfactant production. The characterization of the emulsifying and surfactant capacity of these extracts highlighted that two different components are involved. A protein was purified and identified as a CFEM (common in fungal extracellular membrane) containing domain, revealing a good propensity to stabilize emulsions only in its aggregate form. On the other hand, an unidentified cationic smaller molecule exhibits the ability to reduce surface tension. Based on the 3D structural model of the protein, a plausible mechanism for the formation of very stable aggregates, endowed with the emulsifying ability, is proposed. KEY POINTS: • Two Fusarium solani strains are analyzed for their surfactant production. • A cationic surfactant is produced, exhibiting the ability to remarkably reduce surface tension. • An identified protein reveals a good propensity to stabilize emulsions only in its aggregate form.

Estrogenic activity in wastewater treatment plants through in vitro effect-based assays: Insights into extraction phase.

Effluents of wastewater treatment plants can abundantly spread endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment. To improve water quality monitoring, the use of effect-based tools that measure estrogenic activity has been suggested, however their results could be influenced by different factors. This study compared the estrogenic activity of wastewater samples extracted with two stationary phases and tested with two in vitro effect-based assays to investigate whether and how stationary phases and assays could influence biomonitoring data. During four seasonal periods, the effluents of six WWTPs located in northern Italy were sampled. After the extraction using two different stationary phases (HLB, C18), the samples (n = 72) were tested using two effect-based assays: a gene reporter luciferase assay on mammalian cells (MELN) and yeast estrogen screen assay (YES). The results showed that estrogenic activity of HLB extracts was significantly different from the activity of C18 extracts, suggesting that extraction phase can influence biomonitoring data. Moreover, the estrogenic activity was overall higher using gene reporter MELN assay than using YES assay, suggesting that, due to difference in cell membrane permeability and metabolic activation, the applied cell model can affect the biomonitoring results. Finally, from the comparison between the activity of the final effluent and the environmentally safe estrogenic levels in surface waters, MELN data suggested that the activity of this effluent may pose an environmental risk, while YES data showed that it should not be considered a threat to the receiving surface waters. This study pointed out that a standardized approach is needed to assess the estrogenic activity of waters; it reported important data to select the most suitable stationary phase for samples extraction (samples extracted with C18 sorbent showed higher estradiol equivalent concentration values) and the most appropriate bioassay (gene reporter luciferase MELN assay was more sensitive than YES assay) to assess the environmental risk, thus protecting human health.

The genomes of Scedosporium between environmental challenges and opportunism.

Emerging fungal pathogens are a global challenge for humankind. Many efforts have been made to understand the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity in bacteria, and OMICs techniques are largely responsible for those advancements. By contrast, our limited understanding of opportunism and antifungal resistance is preventing us from identifying, limiting and interpreting the emergence of fungal pathogens. The genus Scedosporium (Microascaceae) includes fungi with high tolerance to environmental pollution, whilst some species can be considered major human pathogens, such as Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium boydii. However, unlike other fungal pathogens, little is known about the genome evolution of these organisms. We sequenced two novel genomes of Scedosporium aurantiacum and Scedosporium minutisporum isolated from extreme, strongly anthropized environments. We compared all the available Scedosporium and Microascaceae genomes, that we systematically annotated and characterized ex novo in most cases. The genomes in this family were integrated in a Phylum-level comparison to infer the presence of putative, shared genomic traits in filamentous ascomycetes with pathogenic potential. The analysis included the genomes of 100 environmental and clinical fungi, revealing poor evolutionary convergence of putative pathogenicity traits. By contrast, several features in Microascaceae and Scedosporium were detected that might have a dual role in responding to environmental challenges and allowing colonization of the human body, including chitin, melanin and other cell wall related genes, proteases, glutaredoxins and magnesium transporters. We found these gene families to be impacted by expansions, orthologous transposon insertions, and point mutations. With RNA-seq, we demonstrated that most of these anciently impacted genomic features responded to the stress imposed by an antifungal compound (voriconazole) in the two environmental strains S. aurantiacum MUT6114 and S. minutisporum MUT6113. Therefore, the present genomics and transcriptomics investigation stands on the edge between stress resistance and pathogenic potential, to elucidate whether fungi were pre-adapted to infect humans. We highlight the strengths and limitations of genomics applied to opportunistic human pathogens, the multifactoriality of pathogenicity and resistance to drugs, and suggest a scenario where pressures other than anthropic contributed to forge filamentous human pathogens.

Autoptic Findings in Cases of Sudden Death Due to Kawasaki Disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is the second-most-common childhood vasculitis, and its etiology is still unknown today. Even though the acute illness is usually self-limiting, sometimes, it can generate complications, such as coronary artery aneurysms (CAA), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, or arrhythmias, and can rarely cause sudden or unexpected deaths. We present a review of the literature, which collects autoptic and histopathological data relating to many of the cases of these deaths. On the basis of the titles and abstracts, we selected 54 scientific publications for a total of 117 cases. Among them, as expected, the majority of the deaths were due to AMI (41.03%), arrhythmia (8.55%), acute coronary syndrome (8.55%), and CAA rupture (11.97%), involving mostly 20-year-olds or younger individuls (69.23%). This is not surprising since the CAs are the most involved arteries. Gross autoptic and histopathological findings are reported in the paper. Our work revealed that, when compared with the incidence of KD, only a few cases suffered from sudden death, underwent an autoptic examination, and were then described in the literature. We suggest that researchers should perform autopsies to gain a better understanding of the molecular pathways involved in KD so as to propose further innovative therapeutic protocols or implement more appropriate prevention schemes.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Infancy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants (AIPHI) is a rare and quite low-described entity. Nowadays, pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood, although the lethality remains high. We present an autopsy case report of a 2-day-old male who developed respiratory distress and blood leakage from the endotracheal tube (ET) and suddenly died because of acute pulmonary hemorrhage. A postmortem examination and histological analysis were performed and are reported in this paper. Alveolar spaces were filled with red blood cells and hyaline membranes in all the examined samples. The absence of other findings led us to select a post-mortem diagnosis of AIPHI. To support our diagnosis, we conducted a systematic review of the updated scientific literature and found that only 61 cases have been reported. Most of them presented acute respiratory distress and bleeding from the upper airways with blood leakage from ET (9.83%), hemoptysis (52.45%), epistaxis (8.2%), and hematemesis (3.27%). The autopsy data revealed hemorrhages of the lower airways and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. The data from the scientific publications and our findings are essential to achieving a correct diagnosis. On these bases, we suggest autoptic criteria to achieve a post-mortem diagnosis of AIPHI.

The Expression of FOXO3a as a Forensic Diagnostic Tool in Cases of Traumatic Brain Injury: An Immunohistochemical Study.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most well-known causes of neurological impairment and disability in the world. The Forkhead Box class O (FOXO) 3a is a transcription factor that is involved in different molecular processes, such as cell apoptosis regulation, neuroinflammation and the response to oxidative stress. This study is the first to evaluate the post-mortem immunohistochemical (IHC) positivity of FOXO3a expression in human cases of TBI deaths. The autopsy databases of the Legal Medicine and Forensic Institutes of the "Sapienza" University of Roma and the University of Pisa were retrospectively reviewed. After analyzing autopsy reports, 15 cases of TBI deaths were selected as the study group, while the other 15 cases were chosen among non-traumatic brain deaths as the control group. Decomposed bodies and those with initial signs of putrefaction were excluded. Routine histopathological studies were performed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Furthermore, an IHC investigation on cerebral samples was performed. To evaluate FOXO3a expression, anti-FOXO3a antibodies (GTX100277) were utilized. Concerning the IHC analysis, all 15 samples of TBI cases showed positivity for FOXO3a in the cerebral parenchyma. All control cerebral specimens showed FOXO3a negativity. In addition, the longer the survival time, the greater the positivity to the reaction with FOXO3a was. This study shows the important role of FOXO3a in neuronal autophagy and apoptosis regulation and suggests FOXO3a as a possible potential pharmacological target.

Tumors of the Nose and Paranasal Sinuses: Promoting Factors and Molecular Mechanisms-A Systematic Review.

Sinonasal neoplasms are uncommon diseases, characterized by heterogeneous biological behavior, which frequently results in challenges in differential diagnosis and treatment choice. The aim of this review was to examine the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of tumor initiation and growth, in order to better define diagnostic and therapeutic strategies as well as the prognostic impact of these rare neoplasms. A systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis criteria was conducted between September and November 2022. The authors considered the three main histological patterns of sinonasal tumors, namely Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Intestinal-Type Adenocarcinoma, and Olfactory Neuroblastoma. In total, 246 articles were eventually included in the analysis. The genetic and epigenetic changes underlying the oncogenic process were discussed, through a qualitative synthesis of the included studies. The identification of a comprehensive model of carcinogenesis for each sinonasal cancer subtype is needed, in order to pave the way toward tailored treatment approaches and improve survival for this rare and challenging group of cancers.

Early Saphenous Vein Graft Aneurysm Rupture: A Not So-Late Complication. Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Saphenous vein graft (SVG) is a cardiac surgical practice used to create a cardiac bypass in cases of coronary artery obstruction. It consists of a surgical procedure that involves the creation of an aorto-coronary communication by a venous conduit (saphenous vein) to bypass coronary stenosis and allow cardiac revascularization. This practice can be affected by early and late complications. The most feared complication is graft aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm degeneration and rupture which are considered late complications. This paper presents a rare case of SVG aneurysmal rupture that occurred 24 h after surgery and a review of the literature to provide a general look at the state of knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The systematic review was carried out using the guidelines according to the PRISMA method. RESULTS: Cases of aneurysmal rupture have never been described prior to one month after surgery. The male sex and subjects under 45 are the most affected by this complication. Death occurs in less than half of the cases, being more frequent in young people. Performing a CT or angio-CT examination led to the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: It is impossible to estimate the implanted vessel's quality, so postoperative follow-up is fundamental. Transesophageal ultrasound can be useful, and hematochemical tests are valuable early diagnostic tools, whrease CT and angio-CT can be useful even months after surgery. Forensic analysis should always perform an autopsy and graft histological examination.

The Impact of Tumor Boards on Breast Cancer Care: Evidence from a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, with a complex clinical path that involves several professionals and that requires a multidisciplinary approach. However, the effectiveness of breast cancer multidisciplinary care and the processes that contribute to its effectiveness have not yet been firmly determined. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary tumor boards on breast cancer care outcomes. A systematic literature review was carried out through Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed databases. The search was restricted to articles assessing the impact of MTB implementation on breast cancer care. Fourteen studies were included in the review. The most analyzed outcomes were diagnosis, therapy and survival. Four out of four studies showed that, with implementation of an MTB, there was a change in diagnosis, and all reported changes in the treatment plan after MTB implementation. A pooled analysis of three studies reporting results on the outcome "mortality" showed a statistically significant 14% reduction in mortality relative risk for patients enrolled versus not enrolled in an MTB. This study shows that MTB implementation is a valuable approach to deliver appropriate and effective care to patients affected by breast cancer and to improve their outcomes.

Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemic Drug Overdose in Post-Mortem Investigations: A Literature Review.

Background and Objectives: Insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents are drugs widely used in the world population due to their therapeutic effects on diabetes mellitus. Despite these benefits, they can also cause accidental or voluntary drug overdose. This review aims to evaluate post-mortem investigations in cases of suspected hypoglycemic drug overdose. Materials and Methods: We performed a comprehensive search using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) standards; we systematically searched the PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, Google Scholar, and Excerpta Medica Database (EM-BASE) databases from the point of database inception until August 2022. The following inclusion criteria were used: (1) original research articles, (2) reviews and mini-reviews, (3) case reports/series, (4) and only papers written in English. Results: Thirty-three scientific papers, including original research articles, case reports, and case series, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 109 cases of insulin or hypoglycemic drug overdose were found. There were 71 cases of suicide (65%), 25 cases of accidental poisoning (23%), and 13 cases of homicide (12%). The most commonly used drug was insulin (95.4%). Autopsy and post-mortem examinations were performed in 84 cases, while toxicological investigations were performed in 79 cases. The most common gross findings in the autopsy were pulmonary edema (55.7%) and congestion (41.8%), while the most common histological finding was neuronal depletion or necrosis (29.1%). Conclusions: In the suspicion of death from insulin or overdose from oral hypoglycemic agents, autopsy findings may be nonspecific, and the search for injection marks can be positive at the external examination. Significant post-mortal alterations can interest biological samples and an early autopsy investigation is recommended.

Low density polyethylene degradation by filamentous fungi.

Polyethylene (PE) is the most abundant non-degradable plastic waste, posing a constant and serious threat to the whole ecosystem. In the present study, the fungal community of plastic wastes contaminating a landfill soil has been studied. After 6 months of enrichment, 95 fungi were isolated, mostly belonging to the Ascomycota phylum. They were screened under in vitro condition: most of fungi (97%) were capable of growing in the presence of PE powder (5-10 g L-1) as sole carbon source. Fusarium strains better tolerated high concentration of PE. Up to 13 strains were chosen for further degradation trails, where the process was monitored by respirometry tests and by observing changes in PE chemical and physical structure by FTIR analysis and SEM images. Major results were observed for Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium falciforme and Purpureocillum lilacinum, as they caused strong oxidation phenomena and changes in the PE film morphology. Results suggested that the initial oxidation mechanisms targeted first the methyl terminal groups. Changes in the infrared spectra were strongly strain-dependent, denoting the activation of different degradation pathways. Through the SEM analysis, the actual damages provoked by fungi were observed, including swellings, pits and furrows, bumps and partial exfoliations. Considering the rising concern about plastic disposal worldwide, the ability of these fungi to colonize PE and utilize it as carbon source is of great interest, as no pretreatments and pro-oxidant stimulants were needed.

Extraction of short chain chitooligosaccharides from fungal biomass and their use as promoters of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.

Short chain chitooligosaccharides (COs) are chitin derivative molecules involved in plant-fungus signaling during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) interactions. In host plants, COs activate a symbiotic signalling pathway that regulates AM-related gene expression. Furthermore, exogenous CO application was shown to promote AM establishment, with a major interest for agricultural applications of AM fungi as biofertilizers. Currently, the main source of commercial COs is from the shrimp processing industry, but purification costs and environmental concerns limit the convenience of this approach. In an attempt to find a low cost and low impact alternative, this work aimed to isolate, characterize and test the bioactivity of COs from selected strains of phylogenetically distant filamentous fungi: Pleurotus ostreatus, Cunninghamella bertholletiae and Trichoderma viride. Our optimized protocol successfully isolated short chain COs from lyophilized fungal biomass. Fungal COs were more acetylated and displayed a higher biological activity compared to shrimp-derived COs, a feature that-alongside low production costs-opens promising perspectives for the large scale use of COs in agriculture.

Genome Sequence of Trichoderma lixii MUT3171, A Promising Strain for Mycoremediation of PAH-Contaminated Sites.

Mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread and recalcitrant pollutants that threaten both environmental and human health. By exploiting the powerful enzymatic machinery of fungi, mycoremediation in contaminated sites aims at removing a wide range of pollutants in a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly manner. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques are powerful tools for understanding the molecular basis of biotransformation of PAHs by selected fungal strains, allowing genome mining to identify genetic features of biotechnological value. Trichoderma lixii MUT3171, isolated from a historically PAH-contaminated soil in Italy, can grow on phenanthrene, as a sole carbon source. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of T. lixii MUT3171 obtained with high-throughput sequencing method. The genome of T. lixii MUT3171 was compared with other 14 Trichoderma genomes, highlighting both shared and unique features that can shed a light on the biotransformation of PAHs. Moreover, the genes potentially involved in the production of important biosurfactants and bioactive molecules have been investigated. The gene repertoire of T. lixii MUT3171 indicates a high degrading potential and provides hints on putative survival strategies in a polluted environment.

Ecofriendly laccases treatment to challenge micropollutants issue in municipal wastewaters.

In this study, a multidisciplinary approach investigated the enzymatic degradation of micropollutants in real, not modified, municipal wastewaters of a plant located in Italy. Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction combined to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric detection (SBSE-GC-MS) was applied to profile targeted pollutants in wastewaters collected after the primary sedimentation (W1) and the final effluent (W2). Fifteen compounds were detected at ng/L - µg/L, including pesticides, personal care products (PCPs) and drugs. The most abundant micropollutants were bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diethyl phthalate and ketoprofen. Laccases of Trametes pubescens MUT 2400 were very active against all the target micropollutants: except few cases, their concentration was reduced more than 60%. Chemical analysis and environmental risk do not always come together. To verify whether the treated wastewaters can represent a stressor for the aquatic ecosystem, toxicity was also evaluated. Raphidocelis subcapitata and Lepidium sativum tests showed a clear ecotoxicity reduction, even though they did not evenly respond. Two in vitro tests (E-screen test and MELN assay) were used to evaluate the estrogenic activity. Treatments already operating in the plant (e.g. activated sludge) partially reduced the estradiol equivalent concentration, and it was almost negligible after the laccases treatment. The results of this study suggest that laccases of T. pubescens are promising biocatalysts for the micropollutants transformation in wastewaters and surface waters.

Occurrence of selected pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants of Tuscany: An effect-based approach to evaluate the potential environmental impact.

Municipal wastewaters may pose a risk to the aquatic environment and ultimately to human kind. Their treatment is a fundament step but the actual WWTPs performances cannot be taken for granted, claiming instead for continuous evaluation campaigns. Our waters are indeed threatened by the continuous input of various persistent micropollutants that are part of human daily routine life; the potential effects of their presence in the receiving waters have to be quantified. The present paper reports data of a monitoring campaign focused on nine pharmaceuticals belonging to different therapeutic groups in three WWTPs in Tuscany (Italy). All the three WWTPs use conventional activated sludge process with pre-denitrification and no tertiary treatment. The analytical determination has been achieved through off-line solid phase extraction and analysis in liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The overall ecotoxicological effect of effluents was evaluated through a battery of tests using organisms belonging to different trophic levels. All nine pharmaceuticals were detected in the influent of all WWTPs at least in one sampling campaign. The most concentrated compounds were acetaminophen, diclofenac and amoxicillin followed by atenolol, ketoprofen, clarithromycin, carbamazepine, doxycycline and E2; their average concentrations (considering all measurements from all plants) were, respectively: 3914 ±â€¯2620; 2065 ±â€¯739; 2002 ±â€¯2170; 1223 ±â€¯1042; 961 ±â€¯1003; 356 ±â€¯370; 233 ±â€¯100; 196 ±â€¯189; 4 ±â€¯4 ng/L. The highest concentrations were found in the plant that treats urban and hospital wastewaters. Amoxicillin, atenolol and diclofenac were more concentrated in winter than in summer, while ketoprofen, doxycycline and 17-ß-estradiol are higher in summer. These results are probably due to the different consumption of each drug during the year, depending on their therapeutic usage. Measured drugs can be divided into three categories: those ones that are generally well removed inside the WWTP (such as acetaminophen, ketoprofen and atenolol), the partly removed ones (doxycycline, clarithromycin and 17-ß-estradiol) and the refractory ones to biodegradation during activated sludge process (carbamazepine, diclofenac and amoxicillin). Regarding ecotoxicological assays, the most sensitive organisms were V. fisheri and R. subcapitata, whereas D. magna almost never reacted to the wastewaters. Seasonal variability was not clearly observed among plants and collecting time. The toxicity score evaluated all the results coming from the bioassays battery, indicating that WWTPs treatments always determined a toxicity reduction, even though a residual toxicity was still measured. This observation, together with chemical data, clearly indicate WWTPs as an important source of pharmaceuticals in the Arno river with an important environmental toxicity; therefore, the reduction of pharmaceutical load originated from point source such us WWTPs would ask in the future the adoption of refinery steps in WWTPs able to increase RE of drugs.

Molecular and Microbiological Insights on the Enrichment Procedures for the Isolation of Petroleum Degrading Bacteria and Fungi.

Autochthonous bioaugmentation, by exploiting the indigenous microorganisms of the contaminated environment to be treated, can represent a successful bioremediation strategy. In this perspective, we have assessed by molecular methods the evolution of bacterial and fungal communities during the selective enrichment on different pollutants of a soil strongly polluted by mixtures of aliphatic and polycyclic hydrocarbons. Three consecutive enrichments were carried out on soil samples from different soil depths (0-1, 1-2, 2-3 m), and analyzed at each step by means of high-throughput sequencing of bacterial and fungal amplicons biomarkers. At the end of the enrichments, bacterial and fungal contaminants degrading strains were isolated and identified in order to (i) compare the composition of enriched communities by culture-dependent and culture-independent molecular methods and to (ii) obtain a collection of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms potentially exploitable for soil bioremediation. Molecular results highlighted that for both bacteria and fungi the pollutant had a partial shaping effect on the enriched communities, with paraffin creating distinct enriched bacterial community from oil, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons generally overlapping; interestingly neither the soil depth or the enrichment step had significant effects on the composition of the final enriched communities. Molecular analyses well-agreed with culture-dependent analyses in terms of most abundant microbial genera. A total of 95 bacterial and 94 fungal strains were isolated after selective enrichment procedure on different pollutants. On the whole, isolated bacteria where manly ascribed to Pseudomonas genus followed by Sphingobacterium, Bacillus, Stenothrophomonas, Achromobacter, and Serratia. As for fungi, Fusarium was the most abundant genus followed by Trichoderma and Aspergillus. The species comprising more isolates, such as Pseudomonas putida, Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Ochromobactrum anthropi for bacteria, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani for fungi, were also the dominant OTUs assessed in Illumina.

Biotransformation of industrial tannins by filamentous fungi.

Tannins are secondary metabolites that are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. They act as growth inhibitors for many microorganisms: they are released upon microbial attack, helping to fight infection in plant tissues. Extraction of tannins from plants is an active industrial sector with several applications, including oenology, animal feeding, mining, the chemical industry, and, in particular, the tanning industry. However, tannins are also considered very recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater of diverse origin. The ability to grow on plant substrates rich in tannins and on industrial tannin preparations is usually considered typical of some species of fungi. These organisms are able to tolerate the toxicity of tannins thanks to the production of enzymes that transform or degrade these substrates, mainly through hydrolysis and oxidation. Filamentous fungi capable of degrading tannins could have a strong environmental impact as bioremediation agents, in particular in the treatment of tanning wastewaters.

Bioremediation of Landfill Leachate with Fungi: Autochthonous vs. Allochthonous Strains.

Autochthonous fungi from contaminated wastewater are potential successful agents bioremediation thanks to their adaptation to pollutant toxicity and to competition with other microorganisms present in wastewater treatment plant. Biological treatment by means of selected fungal strains could be a potential tool to integrate the leachate depuration process, thanks to their fungal extracellular enzymes with non-selective catalytical activity. In the present work, the treatability of two real samples (a crude landfill leachate and the effluent coming from a traditional wastewater treatment plant) was investigated in decolorization experiments with fungal biomasses. Five autochthonous fungi, Penicillium brevicompactum MUT 793, Pseudallescheria boydii MUT 721, P. boydii MUT 1269, Phanerochaete sanguinea MUT 1284, and Flammulina velutipes MUT 1275, were selected in a previous miniaturized decolorization screening. Their effectiveness in terms of decolorization, enzymatic activity (laccases and peroxidases), biomass growth and ecotoxicity removal was compared with that of five allochthonous fungal strains, Pleurotus ostreatus MUT 2976, Porostereum spadiceum MUT 1585, Trametespubescens MUT 2400, Bjerkanderaadusta MUT 3060 and B. adusta MUT 2295, selected for their well known capability to degrade recalcitrant pollutants. Moreover, the effect of biomass immobilization on polyurethane foam (PUF) cube was assessed. The best decolorization (60%) was achieved by P. spadiceum MUT 1585, P. boydii MUT 721 and MUT 1269. In the first case, the DP was achieved gradually, suggesting a biodegradation process with the involvement of peroxidases. On the contrary, the two autochthonous fungi seem to bioremediate the effluent mainly by biosorption, with the abatement of the toxicity (up to 100%). The biomass immobilization enhanced enzymatic activity, but not the DP. Moreover, it limited the biomass growth for the fast growing fungi, MUT 721 and MUT 1269. In conclusion, robust and versatile strains coming from well-characterized collections of microorganisms can obtain excellent results comparing and even exceeding the bioremediation yields of strains already adapted to pollutants.

Fungi from industrial tannins: potential application in biotransformation and bioremediation of tannery wastewaters.

Tannins are a complex family of polyphenolic compounds, widely distributed in the plant kingdom where they act as growth inhibitors towards many microorganisms including bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. Tannins are one of the major components of tannery wastewaters and may cause serious environmental pollution. In the present study, four different tannins (the hydrolysable chestnut ellagitannin and tara gallotannin and the condensed quebracho and wattle tannins) were characterized from a mycological point of view with the aim of selecting fungal strains capable of growing in the presence of high tannin concentration and thus potentially useful in industrial biotransformations of these compounds or in the bioremediation of tannery wastewaters. A total of 125 isolates of filamentous fungi belonging to 10 species and four genera (Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, and Talaromyces) were isolated from the tannin industrial preparations. Miniaturized biotransformation tests were set up with 10 fungal strains and the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis pointed out a strong activity of all the tested fungi on both chestnut and tara tannins. Two strains (Aspergillus tubingensis MUT 990 and Paecilomyces variotii MUT 1125), tested against a real tannery wastewater, were particularly efficient in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and tannin removal (> 60%), with a detoxification above 74%. These results indicate that these fungi are potentially exploitable in the treatment of tannery wastewaters.