Fungal Nodules Research Articles

Successful treatment of aspergillosis in a 63-years old female patient with a SIOOT protocol of oxygen-ozone autohemotherapy: A case report

BackgroundInfections caused by the Aspergillus genus are relatively uncommon and typically associated with hospitalization, while only a few cases are linked to environmental exposure to filamentous moulds. These infections can significantly impact pulmonary function, and antifungal therapy may further compromise lung physiology, especially if fungal nodules develop. Consequently, many cases of aspergillosis are not directly treated to avoid additional lung damage. In this case report, we explore a novel approach using ozone therapy to improve clinical outcomes in a patient with pulmonary aspergillosis. To our knowledge, no previous data on the use of this procedure in treating Aspergillus infections have been published in the scientific literature. Case presentationA 63-year-old Caucasian female physician presented with persistent cough, mild fever, mucous sputum, fatigue, and general discomfort. After extensive laboratory analyses, she was initially suspected of having a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection but was later accurately diagnosed with Aspergillus fumigatus. Allergy tests, thyroid function assessments, total-body PET, and maxillofacial imaging did not yield any findings to suggest alternative diagnoses. Aside from mild neutropenia and a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, which appeared to be laboratory artifacts, the patient showed no significant inflammatory biomarkers, thyroid dysfunction, or signs of allergy. Chest CT revealed Aspergillus nodules with only mild obstructive respiratory impairment, which did not worsen upon administration of salbutamol. Following a period of mild symptoms, her health declined in the summer of 2022, prompting her to pursue ozone therapy at a colleague’s recommendation. After twelve oxygen-ozone treatments, her symptoms—including mild fever, cough, discomfort, and fatigue—fully resolved, and a follow-up chest CT showed a reduction in the presence of Aspergillus. ConclusionOxygen-ozone therapy administered through autohemotherapy proved to be a promising treatment for nodular aspergillosis in the lung, highlighting the need for further exploration of the mechanisms behind this positive outcome. This report is particularly relevant for physicians trained in ozone therapy, as it requires specialized professional expertise. This is the first documented case showing a successful outcome of ozone therapy in treating nodular Aspergillus fumigatus lung infection with mild obstructive pulmonary impairment. The favourable results should encourage physicians to consider this therapeutic approach in the future.

Body size of fungus-growing termites infers on the volume and density of their fungal cultivar

The body size of an animal plays a crucial role in determining its trophic level and position within the food web, as well as its interactions with other species. In the symbiosis between Termitomyces and fungus-growing termites, termites rely on nutrition of fungal nodules produced by Termitomyces . To understand whether the size of termites and fungal nodules are related to their partner specificity, we quantified the size of termite farmer caste, and the size and density of nodules in termite nests of four genera of fungus-growing termites, and identified their cultivated Termitomyces fungus species based on internal transcribed spacer regions and partial large subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences. The results showed that the size and density of fungal nodules were different among Termitomyces clades and revealed a constant trade-off between size and density among clades. The nodule size of each clade has low variation and fits normal distribution, indicating that size is a stabilized trait. Moreover, we found larger termite genera cultivated Termitomyces with larger but less numerous nodules. Based on these results, we concluded that there is a size specificity between Termitomyces and fungus-growing termites, which may lead to diversification of Termitomyces as adaptations to different termite genera.

Antioxidant Activity of Fungus Comb Extracts Isolated from Indo-Malayan Termite <i>Macrotermes gilvus</i> Hagen (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Indonesian termites are one of the wealthiest biological resources considering their very high species diversity (300 species) and extensive geographical distribution in the Indonesian mainland. However, its potential as a source of bioactive compounds has not been fully explored. One of the endemic termite sub-families of Indonesian, Macrotermitinae (Isoptera: Termitidae), has a food source in the form of fungal nodules that grow and spread in a particular structure in the termite nest that is shaped like a mammalian brain called a fungus comb, which likely serves as a source of bioactive compounds. This study aims to analyze the potential of fungus comb from an Indonesian Macrotermitinae sub-family species as a source of antioxidants. Antioxidant activity was tested on four different extracts of fungus comb (EFC), namely hexane extract, ethyl acetate extract, methanol extract and water extract, using DPPH• (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS•+ (2,2′-azino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulphonate]) radicals. The results showed that the highest antioxidant activity was found in methanol extract, followed by ethyl acetate extract with IC50 values of 0.6 mg/mL and 0.75 mg/mL, respectively. TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) analysis confirmed the high antioxidant activity of methanol extract.

Development and efficacy of tryptophol-containing emulgel for reducing subcutaneous fungal nodules from Scedosporium apiospermum eumycetoma.

Subcutaneous infections caused by Scedosporium apiospermum present as chronic eumycetomatous manifestations in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Serious adverse effects/toxicities from the long-term use of antifungal drugs and antifungal resistance have been reported in patients with S. apiospermum infections. The present study aimed to determine the anti-S. apiospermum activities of fungal quorum sensing molecule known as tryptophol (TOH) and to develop a TOH-containing emulgel for treating S. apiospermum eumycetoma. Anti-S. apiospermum activities of TOH were determined and compared with voriconazole. Effects of TOH on S. apiospermum biofilm formation and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF)-1 cell cytotoxicity were determined. Moreover, TOH-containing emulgel was developed and physical properties, in vitro, and in vivo antifungal activities against S. apiospermum eumycetoma were evaluated. The minimal concentration of TOH at 100 µM exhibited anti-S. apiospermum activities by reducing growth rate, germination rate, and biofilm formation with less cytotoxicity to HFF-1 cells than voriconazole. Further study on the development of an emulgel revealed that TOH-containing emulgel exhibited excellent physical properties including homogeneity, consistency, and stability. Treatment by TOH-containing emulgel significantly reduced subcutaneous mass in a mouse model of S. apiospermum eumycetoma. The histopathological assessment showed marked improvement after 14 days of TOH-containing emulgel treatment. TOH could be used as an anti-fungal agent against S. apiospermum infections. A novel and stable TOH-containing emulgel was developed with excellent anti-S. apiospermum activities suggesting the utilization of TOH-containing emulgel as an innovative therapeutic approach in the treatment of S. apiospermum eumycetoma.

Clinical and Computed Tomography Characteristics of Solitary Pulmonary Nodules Caused by Fungi: A Comparative Study.

PurposeTo clarify the clinical and computed tomography (CT) indicators in distinguishing pulmonary nodules caused by fungal infection from lung cancers.MethodsFrom January 2013 to April 2022, 68 patients with solitary fungal nodules (64 were solid and 4 were mixed ground-glass nodules) and 140 cases with solid cancerous nodules with similar size were enrolled. Their clinical characteristics and CT manifestations of the solid nodules were summarized and compared, respectively.ResultsCompared with patients with lung cancers, cases were younger (51.2 ± 11.5 vs 61.3 ± 10.2 years) and non-smokers (72.1% vs 57.9%) and immunocompromised (44.1% vs 17.9%) individuals were more common in patients with fungal nodules (each P < 0.05). The air crescent sign (ACS) (34.4% vs 0%), halo sign (HS) (23.4% vs 4.3%), and satellite lesions (45.3% vs 2.9%) were more frequently detected in fungal nodules than in cancerous ones (each P < 0.05). Air bronchogram similarly occurred in fungal and cancerous nodules, whereas the natural ones were more common in the former (100% vs 16.7%, P = 0.000). However, the fungal nodules had a lower enhancement degree (29.0 ± 19.2 HU vs 40.3 ± 28.3 HU, P = 0.038) and frequency of hilar and/or mediastinal lymph node enlargement (2.9% vs 14.3%, P = 0.013) compared with the cancerous nodules.ConclusionIn the younger, non-smoking and immunocompromised patients, a solitary pulmonary solid nodule with ACS, HS, satellite lesions and/or natural air bronchogram but without significant enhancement, fungal infection is a probable diagnosis.

Fungal nutrition allocation enhances mutualism with fungus-growing termite

Fungal nodules and aged fungus gardens are products of termite fungiculture systems, and are the diets of termites. To understand the nutrition flow in fungiculture, we quantified the number and mass of fungal nodules produced along with fungus garden maturation and analysed the α-amino acid and fatty acid compositions of fungal nodules, fungus gardens, and termite tissues of a fungus-growing termite, Odontotermes formosanus. 1 g of fungus garden produced 5,148 fungal nodules (∼68.0 mg). Approximately 7.0% of α-amino acids were allocated to the fungal nodules and the rest (∼93.0%) remained in the fungus gardens. The compositions of α-amino acids or fatty acids in aged fungus gardens and fungal nodules were more similar to that of termite tissues than fresh fungus gardens, which supports the idea that termites nutritionally depend on the fungal products. Among the 18 α-amino acids, tryptophan was an essential amino acid and was the only one missing from fresh and aged fungus gardens, but found in fungal nodules at significantly higher concentrations. Hence, termites must consume fungal nodules to obtain tryptophan for survival. Furthermore, the fungus spores incorporated in nodules, were transferred when nodules were ingested by termites. We propose that allocating tryptophan in fungal nodules is crucial to enhance the mutualism between the fungus and termite.

Динаміка вмісту 137Cs у компонентах раціону диких ратичних тварин у лісах Житомирського Полісся

Наведено результати визначення питомої активності 137Cs у тих частинах деревних порід, чагарників, чагарничків і грибів, які є основним кормом для козулі європейської у лісах Житомирського Полісся. Визначено основні «критичні» періоди протягом року, які характеризуються найвищими рівнями вмісту радіонуклідів у кормах і в організмах дикого кабана і козулі європейської. Для всіх досліджуваних видів рослин, що входять до складу раціонів дикого кабана та козулі європейської, характерні значні сезонні коливання концентрації 137Сs у різних органах рослини, які можуть використовувати як корм тварини (коренях, річних пагонах, листі), а також у частинах органів (верхня, середня та нижня частини пагона). В осінній та весняний періоди виявлено підвищену концентрацію 137Сs у верхівках пагонів та коренях рослин. Влітку найбільшу активність 137Сs зафіксовано у надземній фітомасі. Представлено сезонні коефіцієнти переходу 137Cs з ґрунту в корма дикого кабана та козулі європейської у «критичні» періоди радіоактивного забруднення їх організмів. Запропоновано заходи щодо оптимізації термінів відстрілу диких ратичних тварин.

Differential role of symbiotic fungi in lignin degradation and food provision for fungus‐growing termites (Macrotermitinae: Isoptera)

Summary To investigate whether the role of symbiotic fungi in lignin degradation and food provision differs among fungus‐growing termites (four species of Macrotermes, three species of Odontotermes, Hypotermes makhamensis, Ancistrotermes pakistanicus and Pseudacanthotermes militaris), the chemical composition of fungus combs of different ages and the chitinolytic activity in the gut of termites were analysed. In addition, the carbon stable isotope ratios (δ13C) in old combs, worker termite tissues and fungal nodules (aggregated conidia) were compared. In Macrotermes spp., the carbohydrate : lignin ratio of the combs increased with increased comb age, but it decreased or remained the same in Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis, A. pakistanicus and P. militaris. In contrast, the chitin : carbohydrate ratio and ash content increased more over time in the combs of Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis, A. pakistanicus and P. militaris than in the combs of Macrotermes spp. Chitinolytic activity in the gut of workers was higher in O. takensis, H. makhamensis and A. pakistanicus than in M. annandalei. In all species examined, the δ13C value increased in the sequence: old combs &lt; termites &lt; fungal nodules. Based on a two‐source model of δ13C, the contribution of fungi to termite nutrition was considered higher in Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis, A. pakistanicus and P. militaris than in Macrotermes spp. These results suggest that symbiotic fungi play different roles among fungus‐growing termites. In Macrotermes spp., the main role of symbiotic fungi is to degrade lignin, so that the termites can utilize cellulose more efficiently, whereas in Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis, A. pakistanicus and P. militaris, it is to serve as a food source.

Digestion, diet and polyethism in two fungus-growing termites: Macrotermes subhyalinus Rambur and M. michaelseni Sjøstedt

Cellulase and its component activities, endo-β-1,4-glucanase and β-1,4-glucosidase, were measured in the guts of larvae, minor soldiers and the four categories of workers (young and old minor and young and old major) in Macrotermes michaelseni and M. subhyalinus. These activities were also measured in fungal material associated with colonies of both species. Substantial activity cellulase (18.2–28.1 μg glucose/termite/h) and its component activities were found in all four worker categories of M. michaelseni with 80% less activity in the minor soldiers and none in the larvae. There was a similar distribution of cellulase activity among the castes of M. subhyalinus. At least 90% of the cellulase activity in major workers of M. michaelseni was found in the midgut. The only fungal material associated with either species with significant enzyme activity were the fungal nodules (cellulase activity, 8.22 ± 0.86 and 4.34 ± 0.24 μg glucose/mg wet wt for M. michaelseni and M. subhyalinus, respectively). The cellulases from major workers and fungal nodules from M. michaelseni were partially resolved by gel chromatography. Endo-β-1,4-glucanases and β-1,4-glucosidases from both cellulases were multi-component with different elution profiles on Bio-Gel ® P60 chromatography. Glucose and cellobiose were present throughout the gut of M. michaelseni. No other reducing sugars were present. Reducing sugars were found in all fungal material associated with M. michaelseni. In the nodules the only reducing sugar was glucose (184 ± 83 nmol/mg dry wt). Old fungal comb contained glucose, cellobiose, xylose, arabinose and galacturonic acid (13 ± 3, 5 ± 3, 15 ± 8, 24 ± 3, 12 ± 3 nmol/mg dry wt, respectively). Fresh and ripe fungal comb contained smaller amounts of the same sugars. The RQ values for young and old major workers of M. michaelseni were 0.999 ± 0.007 (SD; n = 4) and 1.002 ± 0.005 (SD; n = 5), respectively. Oxygen was consumed by the two categories at rates of 180 and 230 nmol/termite/h.