Cladosporium psychrotolerans strain T01 enhances plant biomass and also exhibits antifungal activity against pathogens.

An increasing number of microorganisms are being identified to enhance plant growth and inhibit phytopathogens. Some Cladosporium species form beneficial associations with plants, either as endophytes or by colonizing the rhizosphere. Herein, we evaluated the influence of the Cladosporium psychrotolerans (T01 strain) fungus on the in vitro growth of Arabidopsis thaliana plantlets through direct and split interactions. After 9 days post-inoculation with C. psychrotolerans, Arabidopsis plantlets exhibited a notable increase in fresh weight and lateral roots, particularly in split interactions. Chlorophyll content increased in both plant-fungus interaction conditions, whereas the primary root was inhibited during direct interaction. We observed an increase in the GUS signal from the Arabidopsis auxin-inducible DR5:uidA marker in lateral root tips in both contact and split fungal interactions, and primary root tips in a split interaction. Arabidopsis and tomato plants cultivated in soil pots and inoculated with C. psychrotolerans (T01 strain) showed a positive effect on biomass production. GC/MS analysis detected that the T01 strain emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs), predominantly alcohols and aldehydes. These VOCs displayed potent inhibitory effects, with a 60% inhibition against Botrytis cinerea and a 50% inhibition against C. gloeosporioides. Our study demonstrates that C. psychrotolerans T01 has the potential to enhance biomass production and inhibit pathogens, making it a promising candidate for green technology applications.

Dos interesantes contaminantes fúngicos filamentosos en muestras clínicas positivas a Trychophyton rubrum: una situación de curiosidad morfológica / Two interesting filamentous fungal contaminants in clinical samples positive to Trychophyton rubrum: a situation of morphological curiosity

Las dermatofitosis corresponden a un grupo de enfermedades micóticas comunes en piel y fanéreas, donde Trichophyton rubrum es el agente causante más frecuente a nivel mundial y presente en nuestros 2 casos de pacientes masculinos con estas micosis, una en uñas y la otra en piel. Sin embargo, el enfoque de esta publicación se basa principalmente en la presencia de 2 interesantes contaminantes (uno en cada caso clínico) presentes solo en los cultivos de las primeras siembras como saprófitos y por ende como propágulos de dispersión, asociados al ambiente y sin intervención clínica demostrada en ambas micosis. La descripción morfofisiológica de estos 2 contaminantes Metarhizium purpureo-genum(similis) y Monascus ruber fue más bien una curiosidad esencial que el micólogo clínico adquiere en su contínua formación y ante la posibilidad de infecciones mixtas, pudiendo conjugar sus hallazgos junto al análisis taxonómico y los factores geográficos y edáficos asociados a su distribución. (AU)

Dermatophytoses belongs to a group of common mycotic diseases in skin and pharynals, where Trichophyton rubrum is the most frequent causative agent worldwide and present in our 2 cases of male patients with these mycoses, one in nails and the other in skin. However, the focus of this publication is mainly about the presence of 2 interesting contaminants (one in each clinical case) present only in the crops of the first sowings as saprophytes and therefore as dispersal propagules, associated with the environment and without clinical intervention demonstrated in both mycoses. The morphophysiological description of these 2 contaminants, Metarhizium purpureogenum (similis) and Monascus ruber was rather an essential curiosity that the clinical mycologist acquires in his continuous training and in the face of the possibility of mixed infections, being able to combine his findings together with the taxonomic analysis and the geographic and edaphic factors associated with its distribution. (AU)

Phenylpropanoid-rich Essential Oils of Piper Species from the Amazon and their Antifungal and Anti-cholinesterase Activities.

The essential oils (EOs) from aerial parts of Piper aduncum, P. callosuin and P. marginatum, collected from the Amazon region of Brazil, were analyzed by GC-MS and then evaluated for their antifungal and anticholinesterase activities. The essential oils were dominated by phenylpropanoids, such as dillapiole (73.0%) in P. aduncum, safrole (66.0%) in P. callosum and 3,4-methylenedioxypropiophenone (21.8%) in P. inarginatum. The analyzed oils showed low to moderate antifungal activity; with detection limits (DL) from 10 to 100 pg against Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphareospermum. In the anticholinesterase (AChE) evaluation, the oils of P. callosum (DL = 0.01 ng) and P. marginatum (DL = 0.01 ng) were one hundred times more potent than the standard physostigmine (DL = 1.0 ng). Molecular docking analysis showed that phenylpropanoids docked reasonably well with acetyleholinesterase and may be responsible for the anti-AChE activities of the Piper EOs. This is the first presentation about acetylcholinesterase inhibition by methylenedioxyphenyl-propanoids.

Chemical profile and biological potential of non-polar fractions from Centroceras clavulatum (C. Agardh) Montagne (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta).

The present study reports the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) evaluation of the hexanes and dichloromethane fractions from extracts of the red alga Centroceras clavulatum (C. Agardh) Montagne. Twenty three compounds were identified, totaling ca. 42% of both fractions (0.18 g mass extract). The main constituents of the fractions were hexadecanoic acid (17.6%) and pentadecanoic acid (15.9%). Several secondary metabolites with interesting biological activity, such as (-)-loliolide, neophytadiene, phytol were identified. In addition, several classes of secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds (e.g., phenylacetic acid), terpene derivatives, fatty acids, halogenated compound (e.g., 2-chlorocyclohexenol), lignoids, steroids, esters, amides (e.g., hexadecanamide), ketones, carboxylic acids, aldehydes and alcohols were observed. The occurrence of several of these structural classes is described for the first time in this species. The same fractions analyzed by GC-MS, and a separate set of polar fractions, were evaluated against two life cycle stages (epimastigote and trypomastigote forms) of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and against phytopatogenic fungi Cladosporium cladosporiodes and C. sphaerospermum. The dichloromethane fraction was active against both T. cruzi forms (epimastigote IC(50) = 19.1 µg.mL-1 and trypomastigote IC(50) = 76.2 µg.mL-1). The hexanes and ethyl acetate fractions also displayed activity against both fungi species (200 µg) by TLC-bioautography.

Biofouling and biodeterioration in materials stored at the Historical Archive of the Museum of La Plata, Argentine and at the National Archive of the Republic of Cuba.

The aims of this paper were to study the biofouling and biodeterioration of photos and maps stored at Historical Archive of the Museum of La Plata (HAMP), Argentine, and two repositories of the National Archive of Cuba Republic (NARC) and to carry out the physiological characterization of the isolated fungi and bacteria. The role of the environmental microbiota in the biofouling formation was also studied. Microbial assemblages in the air were sampled by sedimentation technique while those on documents were sampled by swabbering. Biofilm formation and biofouling were monitored by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Large microbial assemblages were found at NARC archives with the prevalence of genera Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium, whereas at HAMP these values were lower, Penicillium was the only fungal genus detected. Most of the fungi degraded cellulose and produced pigments and acids, and all of the isolated bacteria had proteolytic and/or cellulolytic activity. In all cases, a higher concentration of viable bacteria than of fungi was isolated from documents. These results correlated with bacterial values detected in air at NARC repositories. However, this correlation cannot be observed at HAMP where Aspergillus, Penicillium and Talaromyces helicus (teleomorph of Penicillium) were isolated. It is the first time that the last genus is reported in documents.

Climate as the most important factor determining anti-fungal biocide performance in paint films.

The effect of Pigment Volume Content (PVC) on fungal growth on acrylic paint formulations with and without biocide, exposed to weathering in three different climatic regions in Brazil for four years, was studied. Latex paints, with PVC of 30%, 35% and 50%, were applied to autoclaved aerated concrete blocks pre-covered with acrylic sealer and acrylic plaster. They were exposed to equatorial, tropical and temperate climates in north, south-east, and south Brazil. Cladosporium was the most abundant fungal genus detected in the biofilm on the surfaces of all paint formulations at all sites after four years. Heaviest fungal colonization occurred in the tropical south-east and lightest in the temperate south of the country, but more phototrophs, principally cyanobacteria, were detected in the equatorial region. PVC and presence of biocides were shown to be of less importance than environmental conditions (irradiance, humidity and temperature) for biofilm formation and consequent discolouration. These results have important implications for testing of paint formulations.

Aromatic compounds produced by Periconia atropurpurea, an endophytic fungus associated with Xylopia aromatica.

6,8-Dimethoxy-3-(2'-oxo-propyl)-coumarin (1) and 2,4-dihydroxy-6-[(1'E,3'E)-penta-1',3'-dienyl]-benzaldehyde (2), in addition to the known compound periconicin B (3), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Periconia atropurpurea, an endophytic fungus obtained from the leaves of Xylopia aromatica, a native plant of the Brazilian Cerrado. Their chemical structures were assigned based on analyses of MS, 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopic experiments. Biological analyses were performed using two mammalian cell lines, human cervix carcinoma (HeLa) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO). The results showed that compound 1 had no effect when compared to the control group, which was treated with the vehicle (DMSO). Compound 2 was able to induce a slight increase in cell proliferation of HeLa (37% of increase) and CHO (38% of increase) cell lines. Analysis of compound 3 showed that it has potent cytotoxic activity against both cell lines, with an IC50 of 8.0 microM. Biological analyses using the phytopathogenic fungi Cladosporium sphaerospermum and C. cladosporioides revealed that also 2 showed potent antifungal activity compared to nystatin.

Conditions that regulate the growth of moulds inoculated into bottled mineral water.

The influence of different storage conditions (temperature, illumination, brand of mineral water and storage time) on growth of mould spores was studied. Alternaria alternata, Penicillium citrinum and Cladosporium cladosporioides spores were inoculated in bottles of mineral and mineralised water, packaged in polyethylene terephtalate (PET). The bottles were incubated under different storage conditions. The strains had been isolated from bottled mineral water in a previous study. Storage time was the parameter that had the most important influence in mould growth. The spores grew into visible colonies after 5 month of incubation in bottles just filled, and in a month in bottles that had been stored for 5 month. This could be due to the migration of compounds from PET packaging material into mineral water. This compounds could be used as nutrients (organic matter) for mould growth. The plasticizer additive di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) concentration in recently bottled mineral water and in 5-month stored bottles was measured. An increase of 20% of DBP concentration was observed. A. alternata and P. citrinum strains were toxicological characterised. Both strains produced mycotoxins in vitro, and P. citrinum produced citrinin in mineral water, posing a potential health risk for consumers.

Microbiologic oxidation of isosafrole into piperonal.

The biotransformation of isosafrole by Cladosporium sphaerospermum yielded piperonal, which is a compound of great commercial importance in the flavor and fragrance industries. The experiments were performed in 500-mL conical flasks containing 100 mL of Czapek-modified medium in an orbital shaker with controlled agitation and temperature. Spores of C. sphaerospermum were used as inocula, and after 96 h of incubation the substrate was added to the culture. Samples of 2 mL were withdrawn at 24-h intervals and analyzed by gas chromatography, (GC) and/or GC/MS spectroscopy.

Properties of a thermostable nonspecific fructofuranosidase produced by Cladosporium cladosporioides cells for hydrolysis of Jerusalem artichoke extract.

Thermostable invertase (E.C. 3.2.1.26) and inulinase 2,1-beta-D-fructan fructanohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.7) activities were produced by Cladosporium cladosporioides grown on sucrose, inulin, yam extract, or Jerusalem artichoke. The ratio I (inulinase)/S(invertase) activity was between 0.31 and 0.36. Both activities had high temperature optima (60 degrees C) and were stable during pretreatment for 4.5 h at this temperature. Whole cells of C. cladosporioides were used for batch fructose production from Jerusalem artichoke extract at several concentrations. With the highest extract concentration used (260 g total sugars/L), total hydrolysis was achieved in 150 min at 60 degrees C. Thin-layer chromatography of the enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin and Jerusalem artichoke extract showed that from the beginning of the reaction, fructose was the only product released. This suggests an exoaction mechanism, beta-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase [E.C. 3.2.1.2.6].

Crescimento rápido da cromomicose (Fonsecae pedrosoi) utilizando eucalipto (Eucalyptus SP) como meio de cultivo / Fast growth of chromomycosis (Fonsecae pedrosoi) using eucalyptus (Eucalyptus SP) as culture medium

Descreve-se o crescimento do fungo Fonsecae pedrosoi em um fragmento de Eucalyptus e comparam com o crescimento no meio Saboraud dextrose ágar. O material para o cultivo foi obtido de uma lesäo de aspecto verrucoso de 01 (um) paciente internado no Hospital "Lauro de Souza Lima" de Bauru-SP