Fungus Cladosporium Cladosporioides Research Articles

Single factorial experimental design for decolorizing anaerobically treated distillery spent wash using cladosporium cladosporioides

This study presents the standardization of nutrient concentration, pH and temperature required to decolorize the anerobically treated distillery spent wash using the fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides. Experiments were carried out to measure the decolorization of distillery spent wash effluent and it was found to be effective in acidic environment. From the results it was observed that a maximum color reduction of 52.6 % and Chemichal Oxygen Demand. removal of 62.5 % were achieved. The optimum conditions required for the growth of the fungus was found to be 5 g/L of fructose, 3 g/L of peptone, 5 pH and 35 °C. It was also observed that during the process a maximum of 1.2 g of fungal growth was attained. Decolorizing ability of the fungus was confirmed using spectrophotometer and High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis. Single factorial experimental design was used to optimize the parameters. Apart from decolorization it was observed that fungus also has the ability to degrade the spent wash efficiently. This investigation could be an approach towards control of environmental pollution and health hazards of people in and around the distillery unit.

Reduced Seed Germination after Pappus Removal in the North American Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale; Asteraceae)

This study examined seed ultrastructure in relation to germination of North American dandelion seeds. Based on laboratory rearing observations, it was thought that the design of the pappus acts as a conduit facilitating water entry into the seed. It was hypothesized that seeds without a pappus would yield fewer seedlings and require more time to germinate than seeds with an intact pappus. Seed ultrastructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, while relative humidity and fungal association were explored as factors that may confer an advantage to intact seeds. Results indicate that germination for seeds lacking a pappus is 31% lower than control seeds (with an intact pappus) and that the seeds lacking a pappus require more time to germinate. Relative humidity did not differentially affect germination, and while a fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides was recovered internally, its presence neither enhanced germination nor decreased time to germination when tested by antimycotic removal. Electron micrographs revealed that (1) the pappus is hollow and (2) the pericarp of the fruit fuses with and partially encloses the pappus. Fusion of the pappus with the fruit suggests that this structure acts as a device to regulate seed hydration.

Biological control and bioactive microbial metabolites: a coffee quality perspective

The improvement of techniques of biological control and the use of metabolites produced by microorganisms to obtain products that can be applied in various fields, is getting stronger in face of the undeniable advantages in relation to the models currently in adopted. This review, besides general considerations about the principles and the application of measures of biological control and usage of metabolites produced by microorganisms as sustainable alternatives for the agrochemical segment, among others, reports theexperience lived by the author and the institutions to which she is associated, concerning identification, characterization and development of a biological fungicide resulting from the encapsulation of the fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries, after proving its bioprotecting action on the quality of the coffee. The possibility of using microorganisms as a source of metabolites obtained from biological extracts, with applications in various fields, is also presented and discussed.

Transcriptional responses of Folsomia candida upon exposure to Aspergillus nidulans secondary metabolites in single and mixed diets

Genetic and molecular evidence to support the hypothesis that fungal secondary metabolites play a significant role in protecting the fungi against fungivory is scarce. We investigated the impact of fungal secondary metabolites on transcript regulation in the fungivorous springtail Folsomia candida feeding on mixed vs. single diets. Aspergillus nidulans, which is able to produce secondary metabolites including sterigmatocystin, and a knockout mutant with reduced secondary metabolism (A. nidulans ΔLaeA) were combined with the high quality fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides as mixed diets or offered as single diets. We hypothesized that (i) A. nidulans WT triggers more genes associated with stress responses compared to the A. nidulans ΔLaeA strain with suppressed secondary metabolism, (ii) C. cladosporioides causes significantly different transcript regulation than the A. nidulans strains ΔLaeA and WT, and (iii) mixed diets will cause significantly different transcript expression levels than single diets. All three hypotheses are generally supported regardless of the fact that functions of many of the differentially transcribed genes are still enigmatic and that a relatively subtle response, devoid of characteristic stress response genes, was observed towards the toxic fungi in the diet. The wild type A. nidulans strain elicited 30% more differentially expressed genes than the ΔLaeA mutant strain. Differentially expressed genes were not observed in the mixture diet of the C. cladosporoides × A. nidulans WT diet, indicating selective grazing on C. cladosporoides. The results bring molecular evidence for the existence of a link between fungal secondary metabolites and responses in springtails supporting the hypothesis that fungal secondary metabolites act as a shield against fungivory.

Fungal toxins affect the fitness and stable isotope fractionation of Collembola

We investigated the effect of the fungal toxin sterigmatocystin on the fitness and stable isotope fractionation of two Collembola species (Folsomia candida and Heteromurus nitidus) feeding on mixed vs. single diets. Four knock out mutants of Aspergillus nidulans with the sterigmatocystin production blocked at different steps along the biosynthetic pathway were combined in mixed diets with either the high quality fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides or the low quality fungus A. nidulans (wildtype). Using fungi labeled with stable isotopes (13C and 15N) we evaluated the incorporation of carbon and nitrogen from individual fungi. We hypothesised that (i) Collembola fitness decreases with the putative toxicity of the fungi (ii) Collembola benefit from ingestion of mixed diets due to toxin dilution and (iii) fractionation of 13C and 15N is more pronounced in more toxic diets. Mixed diets did not uniformly improve fitness. Toxin dilution, however, played an important role in Collembola fitness. The fractionation of 13C and 15N varied with sterigmatocystin mutant strains, and Collembola species often differed from the expected enrichment per trophic level. The results show that fungal toxin production may affect stable isotope fractionation, presumably by altering consumer excretion rates necessary for detoxification.

Essential Oil Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Antifungal Activity of Piper divaricatum

The major components of the essential oil of Piper divaricatum from Marajó Island, PA, Brazil, were methyleugenol (63.8%) and eugenol (23.6%), which were identified by GC and GC-MS. Essential oils of Piper species from the Brazilian Amazon are rich in either mono- and sesquiterpenes or phenylpropanoids, as seen in this study. The oil was able to scavenging the DPPH radical, displaying an inhibition varying from 19% to 74%, with an EC50 value of 16.2 +/- 1.9 microg mL(-1). In the bleaching of beta-carotene, the inhibition of the oil oxidation was 60.0 +/- 2.7%. The oil gave minimum inhibitory concentrations for the fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphareospermum of 0.5 microg and 5.0 microg, respectively. The oil also showed significant brine shrimp larvicidal activity (LC50, 38.8 +/- 0.8 microg mL(-1)).

Trypanocidal, leishmanicidal and antifungal potential from marine red alga Bostrychia tenella J. Agardh (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales)

Specimens of the red alga Bostrychia tenella J. Agardh (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) were collected from the São Paulo coast and submitted to room temperature solvent extraction. The resulting extract was fractionated by partitioning with organic solvent. The n-hexane (BT-H) and dichloromethane (BT-D) fractions showed antiprotozoal potential in biological tests with Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis and presented high activity in an antifungal assay with the phytopathogenic fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium sphaerospermum. Chromatography methods were used to generate subfractions from BT-H (H01 to H11) and from BT-D (D01 to D19). The subfractions were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and the substances were identified by retention index (Kovats) and by comparison to databases of commercial mass spectra. The volatile compounds found in marine algae were identified as fatty acids, low molecular mass hydrocarbons, esters and steroids; some of these have been previously described in the literature based on other biological activities. Moreover, uncommon substances, such as neophytadiene were also identified. In a trypanocidal assay, fractions BT-H and BT-D showed IC 50 values of 16.8 and 19.1 μg/mL, respectively, and were more active than the gentian violet standard (31 μg/mL); subfractions H02, H03, D01 and D02 were active against L. amasonensis, exhibiting IC 50 values of 1.5, 2.7, 4.4, and 4.3 μg/mL, respectively (standard amphotericin B: IC 50 = 13 μg/mL). All fractions showed antifungal potential. This work reports the biological activity and identification of compounds by GC/MS for the marine red alga B. tenella for the first time.

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil from Brazilian Propolis

The essential oil from Brazilian propolis was isolated by hydrodistillation in a yield of 0.04 %. Twenty-five compounds were identified by GC-MS and calculation of their Kovats indexes. The most abundant essential oil components were α-pinene (18.3 %), β-pinene (6.5 %), germacrene D (6.4 %) and δ-cadinene (7.0 %).Additionally, the antifungal potential of crude oil was evaluated using a bioautographic assay. The minimal amount required to inhibit the growth of fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum assay was determined as 5.0 μg, in comparison to positive control nystatin (1.0μg) and miconazole (1.0 μg).

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oil of Hypericum cordatum (Vell. Conc.) N. Robson (Hypericaceae)

The volatile constituents of the fresh materials of Hypericum cordatum were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The leaves produced 0.04% of a yellowish essential oil and the flowers did not. The main components of the oil were myrcene (40.18%), α-pinene (16.40%), and limonene (12%). The antibacterial activities of the oil against Saccharomyces aureus and Escherichia coli and the anti-fungal activities of the oil against the fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum were evaluated. The oil showed an antibacterial activity against the bacteria S. aureus and anti-fungal activity against the two fungi.

Intraspecific Variation and Interspecific Differences in the Bacterial and Fungal Assemblages of Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Parus major) Nests

Although interest in the relationship between birds and microorganisms is increasing, few studies have compared nest microbial assemblages in wild passerines to determine variation within and between species. Culturing microorganisms from blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and great tit (Parus major) nests from the same study site demonstrated diverse microbial communities with 32 bacterial and 13 fungal species being isolated. Dominant bacteria were Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, and Staphylococcus hyicus. Also common in the nests were the keratinolytic bacteria Pseudomonas stutzeri and Bacillus subtilis. Dominant fungi were Cladosporium herbarum and Epicoccum purpurascens. Aspergillus flavous, Microsporum gallinae, and Candida albicans (causative agents of avian aspergillosis, favus, and candidiasis, respectively) were present in 30%, 25%, and 10% of nests, respectively. Although there were no differences in nest mass or materials, bacterial (but not fungal) loads were significantly higher in blue tit nests. Microbial species also differed interspecifically. As regards potential pathogens, the prevalence of Enterobacter cloacae was higher in blue tit nests, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa-present in 30% of blue tit nests-was absent from great tit nests. The allergenic fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides was both more prevalent and abundant in great tit nests. Using discriminant function analysis (DFA), nests were classified to avian species with 100% accuracy using the complete microbial community. Partial DFA models were created using a reduced number of variables and compared using Akaike's information criterion on the basis of model fit and parsimony. The best models classified unknown nests with 72.5-95% accuracy using a small subset of microbes (n = 1-8), which always included Pseudomonas agarici. This suggests that despite substantial intraspecific variation in nest microflora, there are significant interspecific differences-both in terms of individual microbes and the overall microbial community-even when host species are closely related, ecologically similar, sympatric, and construct very similar nests.

Caldensinic acid, a prenylated benzoic acid from Piper caldense

The CH 2Cl 2 and MeOH extracts from leaves of Piper caldense were subjected to chromatographic separation procedures to afford the new prenylated benzoic acid, caldensinic acid (3-[(2′ E,6′ E,10′ E)-11′-carboxy-3′,7′,15′-trimethylhexadeca-2′,6′,10′,14′-tetraenyl]-4,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) whose structure was determined by spectral analysis, mainly NMR ( 1H, 13C, HSQC, HMBC) and ESI-MS. The natural compound and derivatives displayed antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum by direct bioautography.

Prenylated benzoic acid derivatives from Piper aduncum L. and P. hostmannianum C. DC. (Piperaceae)

The bioactivity-guided fractionation of the crude extracts from leaves of Brazilian species Piper aduncum and Piper hostmannianum by means of bioautography using the fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum afforded prenylated methyl benzoate, chromenes, and dihydrobenzopyran derivatives as antifungal compounds. The isolation and structural elucidation of a new compound methyl 4-hydroxy-3-(2′-hydroperoxy-3′-methyl-3′-butenyl)benzoate were performed by application of chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic analyses.

Mycotic Encephalitis and Nephritis in a Dog due to Infection with Cladosporium cladosporioides

The dematiaceous fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides is a widely distributed saprophyte that is reported to occasionally infect the lung, skin, eye and brain of humans. This report describes a German shepherd dog with granulomatous encephalitis and nephritis due to C. cladosporioides infection. Although the fungal organisms appeared non-pigmented in haematoxylin and eosin stained sections, they were readily identified with histochemical stains. Semi-nested polymerase chain reaction using universal fungal primers amplified fungal DNA from fixed tissue that had identity to that of C. cladosporioides on sequencing.

Preliminary evaluation of Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fresen.) de Vries in laboratory conditions, as a potential candidate for biocontrol of Tetranychus urticae Koch

A survey for natural entomopathogenic fungi of two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) adults was made in Erzurum, Turkey, during the period 2006. Tetranychus urticae (65.8%) infected with a strain of the fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides were found. Thirteen isolates of C. cladosporioides were assessed against T. urticae, in a single dose (8 × 106 conidia ml −1), laboratory bioassay on bean leaflets. The total mortality percentage caused by C. cladosporioides isolates varied from 50.95 to 74.76% and LT50 values ranged from 2.34 to 3.90 days. The results revealed that isolates of C. cladosporioides were effective against two spotted spider mite. This is the first record of natural infection of T. urticae by C. cladosporioides.

Extracellular biosynthesis of functionalized silver nanoparticles by strains of Cladosporium cladosporioides fungus

In the present investigation, we report the extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) employing the fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides. The extracellular solution of C. cladosporioides was used for the reduction of AgNO 3 solution to AgNP. The present study includes time dependent formation of AgNP employing UV–vis spectrophotometer, size and morphology by employing TEM (transmission electron microscopy), structure from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and understanding of protein–AgNP interaction from Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The AgNP were 10–100 nm in dimensions as measured by TEM images.

Interaction of Radio-Frequency, High-Strength Electric Fields with Harmful Insects

The objective of the research reported here is to investigate the influence of radio-frequency electric fields of high strength on insect mortality. The experiments were accomplished at the frequencies 47.5, 900 and 2,450 MHz for the pulse modulated radiation treatment and the continuous wave RF radiation. Two types of systems, which are the coaxial irradiation chamber and the irradiation chamber with plane capacitor, are presented in this work. The experiments in the coaxial type radiation chamber on granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) at voltages U = 5.5–10.5 kV, frequency 47.5 MHz, electric field intensity 180–350 kV/m and exposures 5–60 seconds give 40–90 % of insect mortality that mainly depends on voltage increase. The experiments in the irradiation chamber with plane capacitor are presentedfor the pulse modulated regime at a frequency of 47.5 MHz andfield intensities 350–2000 kV/m. 100% of insect mortality is reached at the exposures of 1–30 seconds, at field intensity of2000 kV/m. The RF radiation of granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) in the coaxial irradiation chamber in stationary mode reaches 100% insect mortality at major exposure times for the frequencies 900 and 2,450 MHz. Stationary generator mode also permits 21–97% fungi (Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus candidus) control at voltage U = 10.5 kV, frequencies 900 and2,450MHz and exposures of 120–180 seconds. Further investigation is neededfor microscopic fungi control to understand the fungi reproduction mechanism during the RF-radiation treatment for Aspergillus fumigatus.

Antifungal derivatives from Piper mollicomum and P. lhotzkyanum (Piperaceae)

Bioguided fractionation of the extracts from leaves of Piper mollicomum and Piper lhotzkyanum against the fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum afforded seven bioactive compounds, four being chromenes: methyl 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene-6-carboxylate, methyl 8-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene-6-carboxylate, 2-methyl-2-[4'-methyl-3'-pentenyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-6-carboxylic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene-6-carboxylic acid, one a dihydrochalcone: 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxydihydrochalcone, and two flavanones: 7-methoxy-5,4'-dihydroxy-flavanone and 7,4'-dimethoxy-5-hydroxy-flavanone. The structures of the bioactive isolated derivatives were elucidated by interpretation of their NMR data [¹H and 13C (BBD, DEPT 135º)], and mass spectral data as well as by comparison with data described in the literature.

Evaluation of Antifungal and DNA-Damaging Activities of Alkaloids from Branches of Porcelia macrocarpa

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the alkaloidal fractions of the CH2Cl2 extract from branches of Porcelia macrocarpa using mutant yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum led to the isolation of bioactive alkaloids: two tetrahydrobenzylisoquinolines (1 and 2), two aporphines (3 and 4), one proaporphine (5), one oxoaporphine (6), four azantraquinones (7-10) and four azafluorenones (11-14). The alkaloids cleistopholine (7) and 6-methoxycleistopholine (8) showed the highest fungitoxic activity while the mixture of 6- and 7-methoxyonychine (12+13) and 6,7-dimethoxyonychine (14) showed a weak DNA-damaging potential.

Rate of iodine volatilization and accumulation by filamentous fungi through laboratory cultures

Five strains of basidiomycetes ( Lentinula edodes, Coprinus phlyctidosporus, Hebeloma vinosophyllum, Pleurotus ostreatus and Agaricus bisporus), one strain of ascomycete ( Hormoconis resinae) and six strains of imperfect fungi ( Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium roquefortii, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae) were cultured in a liquid medium containing a radioactive iodine tracer ( 125I), and were tested for their abilities to volatilize or accumulate iodine. Of the fungal strains tested, 11 strains volatilized a considerable amount of iodine, with L. edodes showing the highest volatilization rate of 3.4%. The volatile organic iodine species emitted from imperfect fungi cultures was identified as methyl iodide (CH 3I). In contrast, six fungal strains in 12 strains accumulated a considerable amount of iodine from the medium with concentration factors of more than 1.0. Among these, Alt. alternata and Cl. cladosporioides accumulated more than 40% of the iodine in their hyphae, and showed high concentration factors of 22 and 18, respectively. These results suggest that filamentous fungi have a potential to influence the mobility and speciation of iodine by volatilization and accumulation. Considering their great biomass in soils, filamentous fungi may contribute to the global circulation of stable iodine and also the long-lived radioiodine, 129I (half-life: 1.6 × 10 7 years), released from nuclear facilities into the environment.

Decolorization of 1:2 metal complex dye Acid blue 193 by a newly isolated fungus, Cladosporium cladosporioides

A fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides isolated from coal sample as a decolorizing microorganism. It decolorized five different azo and triphenylmethane dyes like acid blue 193, acid black 210, crystal violet, reactive black B(S) and reactive black BL/LPR both on solid and in liquid broth medium. Culture broth of this fungus decolorized completely 100 mg of acid blue 193 l−1 in 8 days. The extracellular enzyme of Cladosporium cladosporioides decolorized acid blue 193 on repeated addition to a total (out of 700 mg l−1) concentration of 564 mg l−1 within 168 h without significant decline in the activity, showing the resistant property of Cladosporium cladosporioides to a high concentration of the dye. The optimal temperature 40 °C, pH 5.6 and sugar concentration of 4% required for decolorization of acid blue 193. Cladosporium cladosporioides showed manganese peroxidase activity with 41 U l−1, laccase activity with 1413 U l−1 and lignin peroxidase activity was negligible after day 8 of incubation.