Case Report: Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis Due to Chaetomium strumarium in a Child with Visceral Heterotaxy Syndrome.

Chaetomium sp. is a mold, member of the phylum Ascomycota. Clinical disease in humans is rare, particularly in children, for which only five cases have been reported. We report a 7-months-old female patient with a diagnosis of visceral heterotaxy syndrome who was admitted to a private center in Mexico. After two episodes of focal myoclonic seizure, a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right porencephalic cyst and a right frontal abscess with ventriculitis. Seventy-two hours after temporal abscesses drainage procedure, the culture showed a rapidly growing pale white fungal colony. Sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D1/D2 led to the identification of Chaetomium strumarium. Although Chaetomium sp. is a rare fungal infection in humans, clinicians should consider it as a plausible etiologic agent that can form brain abscess.

Effect of Trigonella foenum Extract and ZiO2 Nanoparticles on Some Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria

Aim: The current venture, were made to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Trigonella foenum seed Extract and ZiO2 Nanoparticles on some selected species of Fungi and Bacteria. Materials and Methods: two bacterial species included Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and three fungal species which is Cryptococcus neoformans, Candidda albicans and Chaetomium were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Trigonella foenum Extract and ZiO2 Nanoparticles. Results: This study showed that the Zirconium Oxide (ZiO2) nanoparticles have antifungal and antibacterial activities on the isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida alicans and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. While the antimicrobial activity of Zirconium Oxide nanoparticles on the Chaetomium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was negative. All tested fungi and bacterial isolates were found to be sensitive to Trigonella foenum seed extract, the results of the compination of the ZiO2 Nanoparticle and the Trigonella foenum seed extract were poisitive for all tested fungi isolates and bacterial isolates. The XRD analysis was done for Zirconium Oxide nanoparticles and the result showed that the biocrystallization on the surface of the Zirconium Oxide manoparticles. The average partides size was about (29.8) nm. Conclusions: This investigation conclude that the use of Trigonella foenum seed Extract has the effect of killing all bacteria and fungi under study, result indicate the Trigonella foenun seed Extract best antibacterial efficacy than the ZiO2 together (AU)

Regulation of the Gα-cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in cellulose utilization of Chaetomium globosum.

BACKGROUND: The canonical heterotrimeric G protein-cAMP/PKA pathway regulates numerous cellular processes in filamentous fungi. Chaetomium globosum, a saprophytic fungus, is known for producing many secondary metabolites, including cytotoxic chaetoglobosin A (ChA), as well as abundant cellulase and xylanase. RESULTS: Here we report on the functional characterization of this signaling pathway in C. globosum. We blocked the pathway by knocking down the putative Gα-encoding gene gna1 (in the pG14 mutant). This led to impaired cellulase production and significantly decreased transcription of the major cellulase and xylanase genes. Almost all the glycohydrolase family genes involved in cellulose degradation were downregulated, including the major cellulase genes, cel7a, cel6a, egl1, and egl2. Importantly, the expression of transcription factors was also found to be regulated by gna1, especially Ace1, Clr1/2 and Hap2/3/5 complex. Additionally, carbon metabolic processes including the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway were substantially diminished, as evidenced by RNA-Seq profiling and quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR. Interestingly, these defects could be restored by simultaneous knockdown of the pkaR gene encoding the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent PKA (in the pGP6 mutant) or supplement of the cAMP analog, 8-Br-cAMP. Moreover, the Gα-cAMP/PKA pathway regulating cellulase production is modulated by environmental signals including carbon sources and light, in which VelB/VeA/LaeA complex and ENVOY probably work as downstream effectors. CONCLUSION: These results revealed, for the first time, the positive role of the heterotrimeric Gα-cAMP/PKA pathway in the regulation of cellulase and xylanase utilization in C. globosum.

Confusing presentation of chaetomium brain abscess.

We put forth the case of a young immunocompetent female who presented with fever and left basal ganglia bleed secondary to vasculitis. After 2 weeks of prednisolone therapy, she continued to deteriorate. MRI scan revealed enhancement of previous hematoma, pus was aspirated surgically and fungal culture grew Chaetomium.

Implantation phaeohyphomycosis caused by a non-sporulating Chaetomium species.

We report the case of a 66-year-old Iranian woman with a phaeohyphomycotic cyst (approximately 3×2.5cm in size) on the right lateral side of the neck. She had dysphagia and hoarseness, without any pain. She complained about discharge of black liquid on the skin and irritation. Histological examination of biopsy fragments from the lesions showed septate, branched brown hyphae. The fungus was cultured, but sporulation remained absent from 4- week-old cultures on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), malt extract agar (MEA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), and water agar with sterile filter paper. Identification with the genus Chaetomium was achieved by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the small subunit (SSU) domains of the rDNA gene and comparison with sequences held at GenBank and at the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS). Sequencing of the SSU rRNA gene reveals this strain as belonging to the genus Chaetomium. The sequence of ITS did not fully match with any sequence of available ex-type strains of Chaetomium, Thielavia, Madurella and Papulaspora and hence might belong to an undescribed species. However, without diagnostic morphological features the taxon cannot be introduced as a novel member of the genus Chaetomium. After local excision of the cyst and antifungal therapy with ketoconazole (200mg twice a day), the lesion regressed and healed completely.

Purification and properties of a beta-1,3-glucanase from Chaetomium sp. that is involved in mycoparasitism.

A beta-1,3-glucanase was detected, using laminarin as substrate, in the culture broth of Chaetomium sp. Major activity was associated with a 70 kDa protein band visualized on a polyacrylamide gel. beta-1,3-Glucanase was purified by a one-step, native gel purification procedure. Optimal activity was observed at pH 6.0 and 30 degrees C (over 30 min). It could degrade cell walls of plant pathogens including Rhizoctonia solani, Gibberella zeae, Fusarium sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Phoma sp. The N-terminal amino acid residues of the purified beta-1,3-glucanase are PYQLQTP, which do not exhibit homology to other fungal beta-1,3-glucanases suggesting it may be a novel enzyme.

Infection of barley roots by Chaetomium globosum: evidence for a protective role of the exodermis.

Plant pathogenesis by fungi is known to be dependent on the host genotype, the virulence of the pathogen and certain environmental conditions influencing fungal establishment. Previously, it has been shown that Chaetomium globosum, a fungus well-characterized for its biocontrol potential, causes necrosis on barley roots grown in Murashige and Skoog (MS)-agar. Using MS-agar and aeroponic culture as axenic plant growth systems, C. globosum pathogenesis was analyzed with serological and histological methods. Irrespective of the growth system, C. globosum infected the root epidermis. Roots grown in MS-agar were extensively colonized intercellularly and intracellularly up to the inner cortex and the tissue underwent necrosis. In contrast, roots grown in aeroponic culture were not colonized beyond the epidermis and the roots appeared healthy. Histochemical analyses revealed that hypodermal suberization stopped fungal invasion. In root tips known to lack suberization, epidermal papilla formation reduced overall infection frequency. The results indicate that specific environmental conditions are important for infection and disease expression in barley roots. Infection is restricted by two spatial and temporal distinct defence mechanisms: (1) papillae in root tips retarding fungal invasion; and (2) suberization of hypodermal cells blocking fungal radial growth.

In vitro toxicity of indoor Chaetomium Kunze ex Fr.

Microscopic fungi in the indoor environment present a serious health risk for people living in affected buildings. The potentially toxic ascomycete genus Chaetomium is supposed to be the third most frequent indoor fungal contaminant. Its brief mycological, toxicological and ecological characterization is given. The work was aimed at in vitro study of toxicity of endo- and exometabolites of 14 strains of Chaetomium spp., including 4 strains of Ch. globosum, isolated from mouldy buildings in Slovakia and Denmark, and 3 Ch. globosum strains from the Czechoslovak Collection of Microorganisms (CCM). The endometabolites of 10 isolates of Chaetomium spp. were active: 7 isolates (41% of total strain number) stopped tracheal ciliary movement of 1-d-old chickens after 24 h, 9 isolates (53%) after 48 h and 10 strains (59%) after 72 h. In the case of exometabolites, the extracts of 6 Chaetomium strains showed some ciliostatic activity: 2 isolates (12% of strains tested) after 24 h, 5 isolates (29%) after 48 h and 6 isolates (35%) after 72 h. In general, 5 isolates of Danish origin (83%) produced ciliostatically active exometabolites and 2 isolates (33%) produced such endometabolites, while only 4 strains isolated in Slovakia (50%) and 3 strains (37%) respectively did the same under experimental conditions. Most toxic metabolites were produced by Chaetomium spp. isolated from dwellings, whereas hospital isolates were not able to produce active compounds. Chaetomia as indoor contaminants can contribute to ill health of occupants of mouldy damp buildings.

Cerebral fungal infections in the immunocompromised host: a literature review and a new pathogen--Chaetomium atrobrunneum: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: A case of a cerebral abscess, occurring in a patient who had undergone bone marrow transplant, caused by a new pathogen, Chaetomium atrobrunneum, and a review of the literature are presented. Although Aspergillus species are by far the most common fungi found in cerebral abscesses in immunocompromised patients, an increasing number of fungi commonly found in nature but not usually associated with infections in humans have been isolated from cerebral abscesses in these patients. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old male patient, who had undergone a recent bone marrow transplantation for multiple myeloma, presented 3 months after transplantation with right-sided hemiplegia caused by a left parietal hemorrhagic lesion. INTERVENTION: A biopsy guided by computed tomography showed that the abscess contained the fungus C. atrobrunneum. The final identification of the organism was based on cultures, scanning electron microscopic studies, and consultation with the Fungus Testing Laboratory at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX. The patient was treated with several antifungal medications but developed uncontrolled cerebral edema, which led to further neurological deterioration and eventual death. CONCLUSION: Cerebral abscesses in the immunocompromised patient may no longer be assumed to be caused solely by Aspergillus species. The literature reveals several rare cases of uncommon fungi found in these abscesses. Only four cases of cerebral infections caused by the genus Chaetomium have been reported. The case presented represents the first time a patient who had undergone a bone marrow transplant with a cerebral abscess was found to be caused by the pathogen C. atrobrunneum.

Los alergenos del ambiente tabacalero / Allergens of tobacco environment

Se halló 16 a 60 esporos fúngicos/litro aire y de 100 a 100.000 esporos de actinomicetos termófilos/g polvo del piso en los secaderos de tabaco. Los hongos eran Alternaria sp (21 por ciento), Aspergillus sp (15 por ciento), Asp. fumigatus (7 por ciento), Asp. glaucus (5,5 por ciento), Asp. nidulans (13,3 por ciento), Chaetomiun sp (2,3 por ciento), Chrysosporium spp (5,5 por ciento), Cladosporium sp (3,1 por ciento), Curvularia sp (0,8 por ciento), Dactylaria sp (3,1 por ciento), Nogrospora sp (5,5 por ciento), Penicillium spp (11,7 por ciento), Talaromyces sp (2,3 por ciento) y no identificado (3,9 por ciento). Los Thermoactinomyces eran Tha. thalpophilus (66,6 por ciento), Tha. sacchari (6,7 por ciento), Tha. vulgaris (6,7 por ciento) y otros Tha. spp (20 por ciento). También el humo de cigarrillos contenía esporos viables de Thermoactinomyces. El 7 ñ 3,3 por ciento de los trabajadores tenían anticuerpos anti-Tha. thalpophilus demostrados por doble inmunodifusión

Los alergenos del ambiente tabacalero / Allergens of tobacco environment

Se halló 16 a 60 esporos fúngicos/litro aire y de 100 a 100.000 esporos de actinomicetos termófilos/g polvo del piso en los secaderos de tabaco. Los hongos eran Alternaria sp (21 por ciento), Aspergillus sp (15 por ciento), Asp. fumigatus (7 por ciento), Asp. glaucus (5,5 por ciento), Asp. nidulans (13,3 por ciento), Chaetomiun sp (2,3 por ciento), Chrysosporium spp (5,5 por ciento), Cladosporium sp (3,1 por ciento), Curvularia sp (0,8 por ciento), Dactylaria sp (3,1 por ciento), Nogrospora sp (5,5 por ciento), Penicillium spp (11,7 por ciento), Talaromyces sp (2,3 por ciento) y no identificado (3,9 por ciento). Los Thermoactinomyces eran Tha. thalpophilus (66,6 por ciento), Tha. sacchari (6,7 por ciento), Tha. vulgaris (6,7 por ciento) y otros Tha. spp (20 por ciento). También el humo de cigarrillos contenía esporos viables de Thermoactinomyces. El 7 ñ 3,3 por ciento de los trabajadores tenían anticuerpos anti-Tha. thalpophilus demostrados por doble inmunodifusión (AU)

Pathogenicity and antifungal susceptibility of Chaetomium species.

Several reports have been published implicating Chaetomium spp. as opportunistic pathogens. A critical review of these cases was made, and the majority of the responsible strains were studied. Chaetomium globosum was the most common species, being isolated in at least nine clinical cases of infection. Some of these clinical isolates and others from environmental sources were tested against six antifungal agents (5-fluorocytosine, fluconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole, ketoconazole and miconazole). The 23 strains tested were totally resistant to the first two drugs, and none of the other antifungal agents demonstrated fungicidal activity. There were no significant differences between the susceptibility of the clinical strains and the other strains.

Biodeterioro de materiales plásticos por microhongos / Biodegradation of plastic compounds by microfungi

Mediante la selección de 8 compuestos plásticos utilizados en el mercado, adquiridos a la firma Aldrich Química SRL (Alemania), se valoró su capacidad de ser asimiladas como única fuente de carbono in vitro, por 2 grupos de microhongos pertenecientes a los asco-deuteromycetes. Estos compuestos fueron: poliestireno, polivinilacetato, poliacrilonitrito, policaprolactona, polimetacrilato de metilo, polivinilcloruro, acetato de celulosa y polietileno. Solo la policaprolactona y el polivinilacetato fueron utilizados por los 2 grupos de hongos en estudio, en especial por cepas de aspergillus, chaetomiun, cladosporium, fusarium, penicillium y scopulariopsis. La policaprolactona fue el polímero más utilizado entre ph 6.5 a 8. Las diferentes especies pertenecientes a los géneros aspergillus y fusarium, presentaron la mayor actividad en la utilización de estos compusetos