Macrocystis pyrifera Extract Residual as Nutrient Source for the Production of Sophorolipids Compounds by Marine Yeast Rhodotorula rubra.

Seaweed processing generates liquid fraction residual that could be used as a low-cost nutrient source for microbial production of metabolites. The Rhodotorula strain is able to produce antimicrobial compounds known as sophorolipids. Our aim was to evaluate sophorolipid production, with antibacterial activity, by marine Rhodotorula rubra using liquid fraction residual (LFR) from the brown seaweed Macrocystis pyrifera as the nutrient source. LFR having a composition of 32% w/w carbohydrate, 1% w/w lipids, 15% w/w protein and 52% w/w ash. The best culture condition for sophorolipid production was LFR 40% v/v, without yeast extract, artificial seawater 80% v/v at 15 °C by 3 growth days, with the antibacterial activity of 24.4 ± 3.1 % on Escherichia coli and 21.1 ± 3.8 % on Staphylococcus aureus. It was possible to identify mono-acetylated acidic and methyl ester acidic sophorolipid. These compounds possess potential as pathogen controllers for application in the food industry.

Generation of BSA-capsaicin Nanoparticles and Their Hormesis Effect on the Rhodotorula mucilaginosa Yeast.

Capsaicin is a chemical compound found in pungent chili peppers (Capsicum spp.). In biotechnology, capsaicin has been proposed as a pathogen control; however, its low solubility in water and high instability limits its uses. The aim of this work was to study the effect of high concentrations of capsaicin on the synthesis of nanoparticles and to evaluate their inhibitory effect on the growth of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa yeast. Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-capsaicin nanoparticles were formulated at 0, 16.2, 32.5, 48.7 and 65.0 µg of capsaicin per mg of BSA. Nanoparticle properties were evaluated and they were added to cultures of R. mucilaginosa to quantify their effect on cell viability. We found that increased capsaicin levels caused several changes to the physicochemical parameters, probably due to changes in the hydrophobicity sites of the albumin during the nanostructuration. The administration of nanoparticles to cultures of R. mucilaginosa produced a maximal viability with nanoparticles at 16.2 µg/mg; on the contrary, nanoparticles at 65.0 µg/mg caused maximal cell death. R. mucilaginosa cells displayed a hormesis effect in response to the nanoparticle dose concentration. The nanoparticles showed different responses during the uptake process, probably as a consequence of the nanostructural properties of capsaicin in the BSA molecules.

Visceral Mycoses in Autopsied Cases in Japan from 1989 to 2013.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Our group has continuously studied the epidemiology of visceral mycoses (VM) among autopsy cases in Japan from 1989 to 2013. RESULTS: First, from a total of 11,149 autopsied cases, 571 (5.1%) cases of VM were observed in 2013. It was significantly higher than those of 2005 (p < 0.05) and earlier. Notably, incidence of cases with mucormycetes (Muc) in 2013 was higher than that of 1997 and earlier (p < 0.001), especially in leukemia cases. Muc cases also showed higher rate of "severe infection" compared with other cases (p < .0001). Emerging diseases were also observed. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome cases showed high incidence of VM as a complication. In addition, we observed cases with the rare mycoses caused by Phialopohra verrucosa and Rhodotorula spp. in our analysis. Moreover, the predominant fungal agent of central nervous system infections changed from Cryptococcus spp. to Aspergillus spp. in 2013. This may be considered a breakthrough infection. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of VM in 2013 became higher than those of 2005 (p < 0.05) and earlier, with a notable increase of incidence in cases with Muc. The occurrence of breakthrough VM and emerging mycoses deserve attention.

Soil fungal biodiversity and pathogen identification of rotten disease in Aconitum carmichaelii (Fuzi) roots.

Aconitum carmichaelii, commonly known as Fuzi, is a typical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb that has been grown for more than one thousand years in China. Although root rot disease has been seriously threatening this crop in recent years, few studies have investigated root rot disease in Fuzi, and no pathogens have been identified. In this study, fungal libraries from rhizosphere soils were constructed by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing using the HiSeq 2500 high-throughput platform. A total of 948,843 tags were obtained from 17 soil samples, and these corresponded to 195,583,495 nt. At 97% identity, the libraries yielded 12,266 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 97.5% could be annotated. In sick soils, Athelia, Mucor and Mortierella were the dominant fungi, comprising 10.3%, 10.1% and 7.7% of the fungal community, respectively. These fungi showed 2.6-, 1.53- to 6.31- and 1.38- to 2.65-fold higher enrichment in sick soils compared with healthy soils, and their high densities reduced the fungal richness in the areas surrounding the rotted Fuzi roots. An abundance analysis suggested that A. rolfsii and Mucor racemosus, as the dominant pathogens, might play important roles in the invading Fuzi tissue, and Phoma adonidicola could be another pathogenic fungus of root rot. In contrast, Mortierella chlamydospora, Penicillium simplicissimum, Epicoccum nigrum, Cyberlindnera saturnus and Rhodotorula ingeniosa might antagonize root rot pathogens in sick soils. In addition, A. rolfsii was further verified as a main pathogen of Fuzi root rot disease through hypha purification, morphological observation, molecular identification and an infection test. These results provide theoretical guidance for the prevention and treatment of Fuzi root rot disease.

Yeasts from skin colonization are able to cross the acellular dermal matrix.

In recent decades, the prognosis for burn patients has improved considerably with the development of specialized care. The acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is a totally artificial acellular device that functions to control water loss, prevent penetration by bacteria and allow migration of endothelial cells and fibroblasts from patient tissues. However, little is known about its effectiveness against yeasts. The present study evaluated the capacity of colonization and migration of some human commensal yeasts. Three clinical isolates from skin scales, identified as Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, were used. Their ability to cross the ADM was evaluated. After three days, all isolates had crossed the ADM. C. parapsilosis showed the lowest growth, while R. mucilaginosa showed intermediate and C. glabrata the highest growth. In the plates incubated for seven days, the growth of C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata increased by 1 log over the third day. All isolates have the capacity to colonize and migrate through the matrix, increasing the potential risk to burn patients, who can develop severe and even fatal infections by invasive fungi.

Dermatite fúngica associada à Rhodotorula glutinis em cão - Canis familiaris ): relato de caso / Fungal dermatitis associated to Rhodotorula glutinis in dog (Canis familiaris): case report

O fungo Rhodotorula sp. era considerado como não patogênico, mas, com o aumento de casos de humanos imunossuprimidos nas últimas duas décadas, as espécies R. mucilaginosa, R. glutinis e R. minuta se tornaram agentes potencialmente patogênicos. Poucos relatos clínicos veterinários associados à Rhodotorula spp. foram descritos, e o objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever um caso de dermatite fúngica causada por R. glutinis em cão imunossuprimido devido à leishmaniose visceral e osteossarcoma, na cidade de Cuiabá-Mato Grosso. Um cão, macho, 11 anos, sem raça definida, foi trazido ao Hospital Veterinário apresentando lesões de pele com diagnóstico de dermatofitose e foi prescrito tratamento tópico à base de óleo de melaleuca, sem melhora após um mês de tratamento. O animal retornou ao Hospital Veterinário com hemorragia na região lesionada da cauda, e foi realizada biópsia para exames microbiológico e histopatológico. Nas análises microbiológica e histopatológica, foi isolada uma levedura e detectada a presença de estrutura semelhante a leveduras na coloração de prata, respectivamente. A levedura isolada foi identificada como R. glutinis por meio do sequenciamento do DNA. Um novo tratamento foi instituído, sem melhora do quadro clínico. O animal foi diagnosticado também com leishmaniose e osteossarcoma, provavelmente ocasionando a immunossupressão, e seu quadro evoluiu a óbito.(AU)

The fungi Rhodotorula sp was considered nonpathogenic, but with the increase of immunosuppressed humans in the last two decades, the species R. mucilaginosa, R. glutinis and R. minuta became potentially pathogenic agents. There have been few veterinary clinical reports associated with Rhodotorula spp. and this work aims to describe the first case of fungal dermatitis caused by R. glutinis in immunosuppressed dog due to visceral leishmaniasis and osteosarcoma in the city of Cuiabá-Mato Grosso. An 11-year-old male mongrel dog was examined to the Veterinary Hospital with skin lesions and the diagnosis was dermatophytosis and the treatment was implemented with topical tea tree oil for one month, but the treatment failed. The animal returned to the Veterinary Hospital with bleeding in the injured area of the tail and biopsy was performed for microbiological and histopathology evaluation. In the microbiological and histopathological analysis, yeast was isolated and yeast-like structures in silver staining were observed, respectively. The isolated yeast was identified as R. glutinis by DNA sequencing. A new treatment was implemented without clinical improvement. The animal was diagnosed with leishmaniasis and osteosarcoma, which probably caused immunosuppression, and its clinical conditions evolved to death.(AU)

Hongos productores de biopelículas como causa emergente de infecciones por vía hemática en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal / Biofilm-producing fungi as emergent cause of bloodstream infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

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Respuesta: Hongos productores de biopelículas como causa emergente de infecciones por vía hemática en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal / Reply: Biofilm-producing fungi as emergent cause of bloodstream infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

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Virulence and antifungal therapy of murine disseminated infection by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa.

Rhodotorula infections have emerged in recent years causing mainly fungemia associated to high mortality. We have evaluated the in vitro activity of nine antifungal drugs against four clinical strains of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, being amphotericin B, voriconazole and posaconazole the most active compounds. The experimental virulence of this fungus and the efficacy of the three mentioned drugs were evaluated in disseminated infections in neutropenic mice. Infection resulted in a high fungal load in all the organs studied without evident particular tropism. All treated animals showed reduced burden respect to the control in a strain dependent manner being voriconazole slightly superior to posaconazole and amphotericin B.

Probable fungemia por Rhodotorula mucilaginosa asociada a catéter venoso central en un paciente pediátrico: presentación de un caso / Probable fungemia by rhodotorula mucilaginosa associated to a central venous catheter in a pediatric pacient: a case report

Las levaduras del género Rhodotorula son patógenos oportunistas emergentes, especialmente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Se presenta el caso de un niño de 9 años con sarcoma de Ewing en tratamiento con quimioterapia que cursó con una probable fungemia por Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Se identificaron varios factores de riesgo tales como la presencia de un catéter venoso central (CVC) y una neoplasia maligna sólida. El diagnóstico se realizó a través de un hemocultivo de una rama del CVC. Nuestra cepa fue identificada como R. Mucilaginosa por morfofisiología y pruebas bioquimicas. El éxito terapeutico se basó en el retiro del CVC y en el tratamiento con anfotericina B desoxicolato como primera alternativa.

Yeasts from Rhodotorula genus are opportunistic pathogen that emerge especially in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a 9-years-old boy, he developed an Ewing’s sarcoma that was treated with chemotherapy an underwent with problable fungemia by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Several risk factors were identified such as presence of a central venous catheter (CVC) and a solid malignant neoplasm. The diagnosis was made by blood culture of a branch of the CVC. Our isolated was identified as R. mucilaginosa by morphofisiology and biochemical test. The therapy did success based on withdrawal of CVC and treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate as the first alternative.

Central Venous Catheter-related Fungemia Caused by Rhodotorula glutinis.

Bloodstream infection due to Rhodotorula glutinis is extremely rare and mostly associated with underlying immunosuppression or cancer. Vascular access devices provide the necessary surfaces for biofilm formation and are currently responsible for a significant percentage of human infections. In this work, we describe a rare case of central venous catheter-related Rhodotorula glutinis fungemia in a female patient with acute myelogenous leukemia in remission. The timely removal of central venous catheter was an essential element for overcoming this CVC-related Rhodotorula fungemia.

[Yeasts--the pathogen of weed diseases].

Plant pathogenic yeast were isolated from infected weeds that occur in cereal crops. On the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical properties the yeast isolated from sow thistle and dandelion have been identified as Rhodosporidium diobovatum Newell & Hunter and Rhodotorula sp. In the experiment the yeast caused pathological process on the weeds, from which they are isolated, on other types of weeds, but also on wheat, oat and soybean.

Caracterización de la micobiota aérea en dos depósitos del Archivo Nacional de la República de Cuba / Characterization of air mycobiota in two repositories of the National Archives of the Republic of Cuba

Antecedentes. La humedad relativa y las temperaturas altas existentes en los países tropicales propician condiciones favorables para el desarrollo de hongos que pueden ser perjudiciales no solo para la salud humana, sino también para los soportes documentales. Objetivos. Determinar la concentración fúngica en el aire de dos depósitos del Archivo Nacional de la República de Cuba y la micobiota depositada sobre diferentes soportes fotográficos y mapas conservados en estos depósitos, así como realizar la caracterización taxonómica de los hongos aislados. Métodos. El muestreo del aire se realizó con un método de sedimentación, y los soportes (6 fotos y 7 mapas) se analizaron empleando hisopos estériles humedecidos. Resultados. El género que predominó fue Cladosporium, seguido por los géneros Aspergillus y Penicillium. De todas las fotos y los mapas se aislaron hongos filamentosos y solo de una técnica fotográfica y un mapa se aislaron levaduras. Se identificaron varias especies de los géneros Aspergillus y Penicillium, pero Aspergillus niger y Aspergillus flavus fueron las especies predominantes. Se aislaron cepas de levaduras de los géneros Candida y Rhodotorula. Conclusiones. La concentración fúngica del aire puso en evidencia que los ambientes no están contaminados. De 26 hongos filamentosos aislados, solamente 5 se detectaron tanto en el aire de los depósitos como sobre uno o más de los soportes documentales analizados, lo que representa un 19,3%. Esto demuestra que existe una relación ecológica baja entre los hongos encontrados en el aire y los que se aislaron de los soportes analizados (AU)

Background. The high relative humidity and temperatures in tropical countries create favorable conditions for development of fungi that are not only a risk to human health but they can also colonize documentary support. Aims. To study the concentration of the airborne fungi in two repositories of the National Archives of the Republic of Cuba, the mycobiota deposited on different photographic supports and maps preserved in these repositories, and to determine the taxonomic characterization of the fungi isolated. Methods. The air sampling was performed using a sedimentation method, and the supports (6 pictures and 7 maps) were analyzed using moistened sterile swabs. Results. The Cladosporium genus was predominant, followed by Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Filamentous fungi were isolated in all the photos and maps, and yeasts were only isolated from a photographic supports and a map. We identified several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium genera, but Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus predominated. Candida and Rhodotorula were the yeast genera isolated. Conclusions. The fungal concentration of the air demonstrated that the environments were not contaminated. From the 26 species of filamentous fungi isolated only 5 were detected in the indoor air of the repositories and on one or more of the document supports analyzed (representing a 19.3%). This shows that there is a low ecological relationship between the fungi detected in the indoor air and those that were isolated from the supports studied (AU)

Cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov., novel yeasts isolated from the nasal smear microbiota of Queensland koalas kept in Japanese zoological parks.

A total of 515 yeast strains were isolated from the nasal smears of Queensland koalas and their breeding environments in Japanese zoological parks between 2005 and 2012. The most frequent species in the basidiomycetous yeast biota isolated from koala nasal passages was Cryptococcus neoformans, followed by Rhodotorula minuta. R. minuta was the most frequent species in the breeding environments, while C. neoformans was rare. Seven strains representing two novel yeast species were identified. Analyses of the 26S rDNA (LSU) D1/D2 domain and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region sequences indicated that these strains represent new species with close phylogenetic relationships to Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. A sexual state was not found for either of these two novel yeasts. Key phenotypic characters confirmed that these strains could be placed in Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. The names Cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10013(T) = JCM 15449(T) = CBS 10915(T) = DSM 21093(T), DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB375774 (ITS) and AB375775 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802688, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3174), and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10017(T) = JCM 18398(T) = CBS 12623(T) = DSM 25814(T), DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB702967 (ITS) and AB702967 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802689, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3175) are proposed for these new species.

Characterization of butter spoiling yeasts and their inhibition by some spices.

This study was designed to identify the yeasts in packaged and unpackaged butters and screen antiyeast activity of spices, including marjoram (Origanum majorana L.), summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.), and black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) against the most dominant yeast species in the packaged and unpackaged butters. Mean total yeast populations were 5.40 log CFU/g in unpackaged butter samples and 2.22 log CFU/g in packaged butter samples, indicating better hygienic quality of packaged samples. Forty-nine yeast species were isolated and identified from butter samples with the most prevalent isolates belonging to genera Candida-C. kefyr, C. zeylanoides, and C. lambica-and with moderate number of isolates belonging to genera Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, and Zygosaccharomyces. Black cumin exhibited the highest antiyeast activity against C. zeylanoides and C. lambica species, even inhibited these species, while summer savory inhibited C. kefyr. The results of this study revealed clear antimicrobial potential of black cumin against the yeast species isolated from butters. Marjoram, summer savory, and black cumin could be used as natural antimicrobial agents against spoilage yeasts in food preservation, especially in butter.

[Influence of bifidobacteria on antilysozyme activity of microorganisms and their ability to form biofilms].

AIM: To assess influence of bifidobacteria's exometabolites on expression of antilysozyme activity of microflora and its ability to biofilm formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six strains of bifidobacteria belonging to B. longum, B. bifidum, and B. adolescentis as well as 42 strains of opportunistic microorganisms belonging to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Rhodotorula rubra isolated by conventional methods during assessment of intestinal microbiocenosis in humans. In order to study the influence of bifidoflora's exometabolites on associative flora, obtained filtrates were mixed with nutrient broth in 1:10 ratio with subsequent introduction of pure culture of opportunistic microorganism. Nutritional broth was used instead of filtrates of bifidobacteria for obtaining the control samples. Formation of biofilms was determined on the ability of strains of microorganisms to adhere on the surface of 96-well polystyrene plate, whereas the antilysozyme activity was studied by photometric method. RESULTS: Performed studies revealed multidirectional but mostly inhibiting effect of bifidobacteria's metabolites on antilysozyme activity of opportunistic microorganisms and their ability to form biofilms. Changes of these characteristics was observed both in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as in yeast fungi and depended from species of bifidobacteria and associative opportunistic microflora. CONCLUSION: Obtained data open perspective for search of control on infectious process on the basis of modification of persistence characteristics of associative pathogens and their ability to form biofilms in host's biotope.

Rhodotorula infection. A systematic review of 128 cases from literature

Rhodotorula es un patógeno emergente oportunista, especialmente presenteen pacientes inmunodeficientes. Este microorganismo está involucrado ennumerosos casos de fungemia asociada a catéteres, endocarditis, peritonitis,meningitis y endoftalmitis. El propósito del presente estudio fue revisar todoslos casos de infecciones por Rhodotorula publicados en la literatura,describiendo los factores de riesgo. De 128 casos, el 79% (103 casos)correspondían a fungemias, el 7% (nueve casos) a infecciones oculares y el5% (seis casos) a peritonitis asociada con diálisis peritoneal ambulatoriacontinua. El 87% de las infecciones se asociaban con inmunosupresión ocáncer. El factor de riesgo más importante asociado a infección porRhodotorula fue el uso de catéter venoso central, encontrado en el 83,4%de los casos de fungemia (86 casos). Rhodotorula mucilaginosa fue la especieencontrada en la mayor parte de los casos de fungemia (74%), seguida deRhodotorula glutinis (7,7%). La identificación de la especie no fue posible enun 17% de los casos de fungemia. El tratamiento de elección en lasfungemias fue la anfotericina B, y la mayor parte de las infecciones ocularesfueron tratadas tópicamente con anfotericina B, si bien todos los pacientessufrieron pérdida de la visión. Todos los casos de peritonitis asociados adiálisis peritoneal continua ambulatoria requirieron el cambio del catéterTenckoff. La mortalidad debida a la infección por Rhodotorula fue del 12,6%(AU)

Rhodotorula is an emerging opportunistic pathogen, particularly inimmunocompromised patients. Many cases of fungemia associated withcatheters, endocarditis, peritonitis, meningitis, and endophthalmitis areinfections incited by this yeast. The main purpose of this study was to reviewall cases of Rhodotorula infection reported in the literature and to describe riskfactors, underlying conditions and outcome. From 128 cases, 79% werefungemia (103 cases), 7% eye infections (nine cases) and 5% (six cases)peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.Eighty seven percent of Rhodotorula infections are associated with underlyingimmunosuppression or cancer. The most common isolated risk factorassociated with Rhodotorula infection was the use of a central venouscatheter, which was found in 83.4% of Rhodotorula fungemia (86 cases).Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was the most common species of fungemia(74% of cases), followed by Rhodotorula glutinis with 7.7%. The species wasnot identified in 17% of the cases of fungemias. Amphotericin was the drug ofchoice in the treatment of fungemia and most of the eye infections weretreated with topical amphotericin, although all patients lost their vision. Allperitonitis cases associated with continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysisneeded to have the Tenckoff catheter changed. The overall mortality ofRhodotorula infection was 12.6%(AU)

Multifocal skeletal tuberculosis with Rhodotorula minuta co-infection.

Multifocal skeletal tuberculosis comprises lesions occurring at 2 or more locations of the skeleton. We present an atypical case of multifocal skeletal tuberculosis coexisting with Rhodotorula minuta infection in a non-immunocompromized host. The advantages of computed tomography-guided biopsy in establishing the diagnosis and thus influencing treatment are also discussed.