Identification and characterization of fungi associated with blister blight lesions of tea (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze) isolated from Meghalaya, India.

Diseases in plants are mostly caused by fungi. Fungal interactions with the host can be either biotrophic, necrotrophic or hemibiotrophic. Synergistic polymicrobial interactions have been recently recognized that can also attribute to the occurrence of complex plant diseases. Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, although tea plants are affected by many different diseases causing a significant reduction in global tea production. Blister blight is one such serious and damaging leaf disease of tea. An assessment of blister blight disease was carried out at the tea development center in Umsning, Meghalaya. A considerable number of tea varieties showed characteristic blister blight symptoms that ranged from preliminary yellow spots in the upper leaf surface, matured white sporulating blisters in the lower leaf surface, and delayed brown necrotic lesions throughout the surfaces of the leaves. A total of 42 isolates, 15 from initial, 15 from mature, and 12 from necrotic stages were isolated from the symptomatic leaf samples. Pestalotiopsis and Nigrospora were the two fungi incessantly isolated from the diseased leaves. Colony characteristics that included colony, hyphal, and spore morphologies were examined and mycelial accumulation, sporulation, and sporal germination were determined for all the isolates of Pestalotiopsis and Nigrospora. Molecular analysis based on ITS-RFLP was performed for identification and genetic variability. In vitro pathogenicity assay revealed that Pestalotiopsis spp. and Nigrospora sp. developed distinct characteristics symptoms on greenhouse acclimated TV17 tea clones. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the prevalence of tea blister blight disease in Meghalaya and it is an initial attempt to identify fungal pathogens during different stages of blister blight disease.

Anti-candidal effect of endophytic fungi isolated from Calotropis gigantean / Efecto anticandida de hongos endofíticos aislados de Calotropis gigantea

Abstract Candida albicans is a most common cause of fungal infections in animals and birds. Understanding the increasing resistance of C. albicans to various antifungal therapeutic agents is important to discover new anti-candidal alternatives. The present study investigated the anti-candidal potential of five endophytic fungi extracts, isolated from the tropical ethnoveterinary plant, Calotropis gigantea. We firstly evaluated the in vitro antifungal activities of endophytic fungi extracts by the well diffusion method. Secondly, the cells of C. albicans were treated with the potent extract to observe significant ultrastructural changes. To further investigate the in vivo antifungal activity of the extract, some laboratory experiments with mice were undertaken, and posteriourly, the different organs were studied under the electron microscope for any deformities. Phomopsis asparagi showed the best anti-candidal activitywith a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 46.9 µg/mL. The fungal test pathogen (C. albicans) exhibited various cell deformities when treated with the extract of P. asparagi. Histopathological studies of the vital organs of mice treated with the potent fungal extract did not show any significant pathological conditions when viewed under scanning electron microscope. Thus, P. asparagi can be a potential candidate for anti-candidal agents against C. albicans. Future studies will focus on the isolation of the bioactive components of the extract.

Resumen Candida albicans es la causa más común de infecciones fúngicas en animales y aves. La comprensión de la creciente resistencia de C. albicans a varios agentes terapéuticos antifúngicos es importante para descubrir nuevas alternativas anti-candida. El presente estudio investigó el potencial anti-candida de cinco extractos de hongos endofíticos, aislados de la planta etnoveterinaria tropical, Calotropis gigantea. En primer lugar se evaluaron las actividades antifúngicas in vitro de los extractos de hongos endofíticos por el método de difusión de pozos. En segundo lugar, las células de C. albicans se trataron con un potente extracto para observar cambios ultrastructurales significativos. Para investigar más a fondo la actividad antifúngica in vivo del extracto, se realizaron algunos experimentos de laboratorio con ratones, y posteriormente, los diferentes órganos se estudiaron bajo microscopio electrónico para cualquier deformidad. Phomopsis asparagi mostró la mejor actividad anti-candida con una concentración inhibitoria mínima (MIC) de 46.9 μg/mL. El patógeno de prueba fúngico (C. albicans) presentó diversas deformidades celulares al ser tratado con el extracto de P. asparagi. Los estudios histopatológicos de los órganos vitales de los ratones tratados con el potente extracto fúngico no mostraron ninguna condición patológica significativa cuando se observaron con un microscopio electrónico de barrido. Por lo tanto, P. asparagi puede ser un candidato potencial para agentes anti-candida contra C. albicans. Los estudios futuros se centrarán en el aislamiento de los componentes bioactivos del extracto.

Endophytic fungi from tropical ethnoveterinary plants and their antibacterial efficacy against Pasteurella multocida Capsular Type A strain / Hongos endófitos de plantas tropicales etnoveterinarias y su eficacia antibacteriana contra cepas capsulares de Pasteurella multocida tipo A

AbstractPasteurella multocida is an important veterinary pathogen causing infections in animals and birds. Nowadays, different reports have described the severity of infections, increasing resistance of micro-organisms to antibiotics, and the contribution of ethnoveterinary practices towards the treatment of various ailments of animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of the ethanolic extracts of endophytic fungi against P. multocida Capsular Type A strains. A total of six endophytic fungi were isolated from two tropical ethnoveterinary plants: Garcinia xanthochymus H. and Polygonum chinense L. The ethanolic extracts of the endophytic fungi were subjected to in vitro antimicrobial activity by the well diffusion method. Besides, we evaluated the treatment of mice with the potent fungal extract and observed the effects in different organs under electron microscopy. Our results showed that four fungi had antimicrobial activity against the selected pathogen. The best antibacterial activity was showed by the extract of the endophytic fungi, Glomerella magna isolated from G. xanthochymus, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 46.9 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration of 750 µg/mL. Treatment of mice with the potent fungal extract caused a considerable inhibitory effect on the pathogen growth in vital organs, results that was also confirmed by histopathological studies made by scanning electron microscopy. The present findings indicated that the endophytic fungi G. magna has the potential to provide an effective treatment against infections caused by Pasteurella multocida. However, the isolation of bioactive components needs further investigation. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (2): 733-745. Epub 2016 June 01.

ResumenPasteurella multocida es un importante patógeno veterinario que causa infecciones en animales y aves. Hoy en día, diferentes informes han descrito la gravedad de las infecciones, aumentando la resistencia de los microorganismos a los antibióticos, y la contribución de las prácticas etnoveterinarias hacia el tratamiento de diversas enfermedades de los animales. El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar la eficacia antibacteriana de los extractos etanólicos de hongos endófitos contra cepas de P. multocida tipo capsular A. Un total de seis hongos endófitos fueron aisladas de dos plantas etnoveterinarias tropicales: Garcinia xanthochymus H. y Polygonum chinense L. Los extractos etanólicos de los hongos endófitos fueron sometidos a la actividad antimicrobiana in vitro por el método de difusión. Además, se evaluó el tratamiento de ratones con el extracto de hongos potente y observamos los efectos en diferentes órganos bajo el microscopio electrónico. Nuestros resultados mostraron que cuatro hongos tenían actividad antimicrobiana contra el patógeno seleccionado. La mejor actividad antibacteriana la mostró el extracto de los hongos endófitos, Glomerella magna aislado de G. xanthochymus, con una concentración inhibitoria mínima de 46.9 mg/ml y la concentración bactericida mínima de 750 mg/ml. El tratamiento de ratones con el extracto de hongos potente causó un considerable efecto inhibidor sobre el crecimiento de patógenos en órganos vitales, resultados que también fueron confirmados por estudios histopatológicos realizados por microscopía electrónica de barrido. Los presentes hallazgos indican que el hongos endófitos G. magna tienen el potencial de proporcionar un tratamiento eficaz contra las infecciones causadas por Pasteurella multocida. Sin embargo, el aislamiento de componentes bioactivos necesita más investigación.

Endophytic fungi from tropical ethnoveterinary plants and their antibacterial efficacy against Pasteurella multocida Capsular Type A strain.

Pasteurella multocida is an important veterinary pathogen causing infections in animals and birds. Nowadays, different reports have described the severity of infections, increasing resistance of micro-organisms to antibiotics, and the contribution of ethnoveterinary practices towards the treatment of various ailments of animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of the ethanolic extracts of endophytic fungi against P. multocida Capsular Type A strains. A total of six endophytic fungi were isolated from two tropical ethnoveterinary plants: Garcinia xanthochymus H. and Polygonum chinense L. The ethanolic extracts of the endophytic fungi were subjected to in vitro antimicrobial activity by the well diffusion method. Besides, we evaluated the treatment of mice with the potent fungal extract and observed the effects in different organs under electron microscopy. Our results showed that four fungi had antimicrobial activity against the selected pathogen. The best antibacterial activity was showed by the extract of the endophytic fungi, Glomerella magna isolated from G. xanthochymus, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 46.9 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration of 750 µg/mL. Treatment of mice with the potent fungal extract caused a considerable inhibitory effect on the pathogen growth in vital organs, results that was also confirmed by histopathological studies made by scanning electron microscopy. The present findings indicated that the endophytic fungi G. magna has the potential to provide an effective treatment against infections caused by Pasteurella multocida. However, the isolation of bioactive components needs further investigation.

Ultrastructural effect on mastitis pathogens by extract of endophytic fungi associated with ethnoveterinary plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

Three endophytic fungi isolated from different parts of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. were identified using morphological and molecular approaches. Ethanolic extract of endophytic fungi as well as plant extracts were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity by using well diffusion method and their minimum inhibitory concentration estimated. The culture extract of one endophytic fungus Glomerella acutata EF15 was found to be potent antibacterial agent against pathogenic coliform bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli responsible for causing clinical mastitis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the ultrastructural alteration in the cells of K. pneumoniae and E. coli when treated with crude ethanolic extract of G. acutata. The ethanolic extract of the endophytic fungus revealed potential to be bioprospected as antibacterial agent against pathogens causing coliform mastitis, the existing havoc of dairy industries.

Diversity and Biological Activities of Endophytic Fungi of Emblica officinalis, an Ethnomedicinal Plant of India.

In the present study, an attempt to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of fungal endophytes inhabiting Emblica officinalis has been made keeping in view the medicinal importance of the selected host plant in Indian traditional practices. A total of four endophytic fungi belonging to Phylum Ascomycetes were isolated from different parts of the plant which were characterized morphologically and by using rDNA-internal transcribed spacer. The most frequently isolated endophyte was Phomopsis sp. The antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assay, and total phenol were evaluated using ethanolic extract of endophytic fungi. DPPH activities in all the ethanolic extract increased with the increase in concentrations. Endophytes, Phomopsis sp. and Xylaria sp. showed highest antioxidant activity and also had the higher levels of phenolics. Antimicrobial activity of fungal extract were tested against four bacteria namely, Escherichia coli MTCC730, Enteroccocus faecalis MTCC2729, Salmonella enterica ser. paratyphi MTCC735 and Streptococcus pyogenes MTCC1925, and the fungus Candida albicans MTCC183. In general, the fungal extracts inhibited the growth of test organisms except E. coli.

Entrapment of live microbial cells in electropolymerized polyaniline and their use as urea biosensor.

The lyophilized biomass of bacterium Brevibacterium ammoniagenes was immobilized in polystyrene sulphonate-polyaniline (PSS-PANI) conducting polymer on a Pt twin wire electrode by potentiostatic electropolymerization. The bacterial cells retained their viability as well as urease activity under entrapped state, as confirmed with bacterial live-dead fluorescent assay and enzymatic assays. The entrapped cells were visualized using scanning electron microscope. The immobilized cells were used as a source of unpurified urease to develop a conductometric urea biosensor. The catalytic action of urease in the sensor released ammonia, thereby causing an increase in the pH of the microenvironment. The pH dependant change in the resistivity of the polymer was used as the basis of sensing mechanism. The sensor response was linear over a range of 0-75 mM urea with a sensitivity of 0.125 mM(-1). The sensor could be reused for 12-15 independent measurements and was quite stable in dry as well as buffered storage condition at 4 degrees C for at least 7 days.