Newly discovered ergot alkaloids in Sorghum ergot Claviceps africana occurring for the first time in Israel.

Sorghum ergot is a disease caused commonly by C. africana. In 2015, ergot was identified for the first time in sorghum fields in Israel, leading to measures of eradication and quarantine. The aims of the study were to identify the ergot species by molecular and ergot alkaloid profile analysis, to determine the ergot alkaloid profile in pure honeydew and in infected sorghum silages and to estimate the safety of sorghum silages as a feed source. C. africana was rapidly and reliably identified by microscopical and molecular analysis. Dihydroergosine was identified as the major ergot alkaloid. Dihydrolysergol and dihydroergotamine were identified for the first time as significant ergot alkaloid components within the C. africana sclerotia, thereby providing for the first time a proof for the natural occurrence of dihydroergotamine. The sorghum silages were found to be safe for feed consumption, since the ergot alkaloids and the regulated mycotoxins were below their regulated limits.

Pichia farinosa bloodstream infection in a lymphoma patient.

We describe a case of Pichia farinosa bloodstream infection in a lymphoma patient. Phenotypic methods failed to identify the isolate, which was identified by sequence-based methods. This case highlights the importance of implementing molecular methods for the identification of rare fungal pathogens.

Effect of a chitin derivative in combination with cleaning and preservation solutions for contact lenses on adherence of fungi.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of a chitin soluble extract (CSE) to clinically used commercial contact lenses' cleaning/preservation solutions on adherence of Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans to contact lenses. CSE (25 mg ml-1) was added to Solocare or Oxysept. Adherence of A. niger or C. albicans to contact lenses was assessed by exposing lenses to fungi in test solutions and enumeration of fungal colony forming unit. The study included three parts: (i) the disinfecting and adherence-inhibiting effect of Solocare and Oxysept: (ii) the adherence-inhibiting effect of CSE; (iii) the effect of Solocare + CSE or Oxysept + CSE on the fungal adherence to contact lenses. The experiments showed that: (i) Solocare had a significant disinfecting effect on A. niger and C. albicans while that of Oxysept was only minimal. (ii) Neither Solocare nor Oxysept had an inhibitory effect on the fungal adherence. (iii) CSE inhibited significantly the adherence of A. niger and C. albicans. (iv) Addition of CSE to Solocare or Oxysept resulted in almost complete inhibition of adherence Supplementing CSE to lenses' maintenance solutions increases their antifungal potential by adding anti-adherence activity to the disinfecting effect of these solutions, bearing the potential to serve as a prophylactic means.

Adherence of Aspergillus species to soft contact lenses and attempts to inhibit the adherence.

The aim of this research was to assess the adherence of various Aspergillus species (A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus) to contact lenses with different water content and to attempt to inhibit the adherence of Aspergillus spp. to the contact lenses by a chitin derivative (CSE). Adherence of Aspergillus spp. to lenses with higher water content was greater. Differences were found between the adherence levels of various Aspergillus species to contact lenses with different water content. CSE significantly inhibits the adherence in vitro of A. niger, A. fumigatus and A. flavus to soft contact lenses. These findings suggest a possibility for prevention of fungal ocular infections caused by Aspergillus spp. in wearers of contact lenses.