Fungal Activity Research Articles

Electrospinning for producing antifungal nanofibers consisting of prochloraz/hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin inclusion complex

Prochloraz is an extensively used imidazole fungicide in agriculture, but low water solubility limits its application. In the present study, inclusion complex nanofibers of prochloraz and Hydroxypropyl-γ-Cyclodextrin (prochloraz/HPγCD-IC-NF) were prepared by electrospinning method. The results of various characterization experiments indicated that prochloraz was effectively encapsulated in the cyclodextrin cavity to form inclusion complex nanofibers. Phase solubility study demonstrated that HPγCD had a significant solubilization effect on prochloraz. In 10 mM HPγCD solution, the solubility of prochloraz was increased about 2.68 times. Thermogravimetric analysis experiments indicated the beginning thermos-decomposed temperature of prochloraz in prochloraz/HPγCD-IC-NF was raised by 31℃ (from 281℃ to 312℃). The molecular simulation visually showed the best state and the most stable model of prochloraz entering the cyclodextrin cavity. In addition, the fungal inhibitory activity of prochloraz/HPγCD-IC-NF against Gibberella was 4.559 times to that of prochloraz. In conclusion, the preparation of inclusion nanofibers can improve the water solubility, thermal stability and antifungal activity of mimosine, which has the potential to reduce environmental damage in agricultural applications.

Potential application of a fungal co-culture crude extract for the conservation of post-harvest fruits.

Fungal plant pathogens are responsible for serious losses in many economically important crop species worldwide. Due to the use of fungicides and the fungi genome plasticity, multi-drug resistant strains are emerging as a new generation of pathogens, causing an expansive range of superficial and systemic plant infections, or new opportunistic fungal pathogens for humans. The group of antagonistic fungi Trichoderma spp. has been widely used to enhance plant growth and for the control of different pathogens affecting crops. Although Neurospora crassa is not a mycoparasitic fungus, its secretion of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity has been described. In this work, the effect of crude extract of the monoculture of Trichoderma asperellum T8a or the co-culture with N. crassa as an inhibitory treatment against the fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium solani was evaluated. The findings demonstrate that the secondary metabolites contained in the T. asperellum crude extract have a clear fungistatic activity against B. cinerea and F. solani. Interestingly, this fungistatic activity highly increases when T. asperellum is co-cultivated with the non-pathogenic fungus N. crassa. Moreover, the co-culture crude extract also showed antifungal activity on post-harvest fruits, and no toxic effects on Murine fibroblast L929 (CCL-1) and murine macrophages RAW 264.7 (TIB-71) were observed. All these results together are solid evidence of the potential of the co-culture crude extract of T. asperellum and N. crassa, as an antifungal agent against phytopathogenic fungi, or post-harvest fruits during the transportation or commercialization time.

Diversity of fungi and dynamics of ethanol concentration during fermentation of porang (Amorphophallus oncophyllus)

Abstract. Helmi H, Kusmiadi R, Mahardika RG, Karsiningsih E. 2024. Diversity of fungi and dynamics of ethanol concentration during fermentation of porang (Amorphophallus oncophyllus). Biodiversitas 25: 542-552. Fermentation can be an alternative to process porang (Amorphophallus oncophyllus). As one of the fermentation products, ethanol can degrade starch and consequently increase the purity of glucomannan in porang flour. However, ethanol can also inhibit the growth of microorganisms that play a role in fermentation. This study aimed to determine the ethanol concentration and investigate the fungal diversity during the fermentation of porang tubers. Ethanol analysis was analyzed by Headspace Gas Chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection, and Starch content was analyzed by colorimetric method. Fungal metagenome was amplified at the Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear DNA (rDNA) and followed by sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). The result showed that the ethanol concentration increased during 48 hours of fermentation, followed by decreased starch content. The highest fungal diversity index occurred at 48 hours of fermentation. Ethanol and fungal enzymatic activity can degrade the starch. During fermentation, the Candida parapsilosis population increased until 24 hours after fermentation. Cyberlindnera subsufficiens population increased at 48 hours fermentation until 72 hours fermentation. Fungal diversity and ethanol concentration had decreased at 72 hours of fermentation, so porang fermentation should be stopped at 48 hours. Candida parapsilosis could be the candidate of starter for fermentation porang due to the capability of this species to produce ethanol to degrade starch.

Testing the potential antifungal activity of Origanum vulgare against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus Niger and Talaromyces marneffei isolated from pets

Origanum vulgare (oregano) is an aromatic herb commonly used in the Mediterranean, widely known for its medicinal properties. In this experiment, we tested its antifungal properties against two species of Aspergillus (A. niger and A. fumigatus) and the emerging Talaromyces marneffei. We tested the plant’s antifungal activity in a range of concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/mL) in which the plant was dissolved and mixed with growth medium (PDA) and then inoculated with the fungi. The percentage of inhibition was measured over 7 days with data being collected on the 3rd, 5th and 7th days. Fungal activity inhibition ranging from 30 to 100% was achieved against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus and from 50 to 100% against Talaromyces marneffei. This multi-disciplinary study brought the use of plants into the veterinary sciences by using samples isolated from pets, with the aim of researching potential alternatives to traditional antifungal treatments and the ultimate goal ofincreasing animal wellbeing.

Rare NRPS Gene Cluster for Desferriferrichrome Biosynthesis Controls the Conflict between Trap Formation and Nematicidal Activity in Arthrobotrys oligospora.

The formation of the trapping device induced by nematodes has been assumed as an indicator for a switch from saprophytic to predacious lifestyles for nematode-trapping fungi. However, fungal nematocidal activity is not completely synonymous with fungal trap formation. We found that the predominant nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora harbored a rare NRPS (Ao415) gene cluster that was mainly distributed in nematode-trapping fungi. The gene Ao415 putatively encodes a protein with a unique domain organization, distinct from other NRPSs in other fungi. Mutation of the two key biosynthetic genes Ao415 and Ao414 combined with nontarget metabolic analysis revealed that the Ao415 gene cluster was responsible for the biosynthesis of a hydroxamate siderophore, desferriferrichrome (1). Lack of desferriferrichrome (1) and its hydroxamate precursor (3) could lead to significantly increased Fe3+ content, which induced fungal trap formation without a nematode inducer. Furthermore, the addition of Fe3+ strongly improved fungal trap formation but deleteriously caused broken traps. The addition of 1 significantly attenuated trap formation but enhanced fungal nematicidal activity. Our findings indicate that iron is a key factor for trap formation and provide a new insight into the underlying mechanism of siderophores in nematode-trapping fungi.

Copper and Copper Nanoparticles Applications and Their Role against Infections: A Minireview

The focus of this review article is to present a retrospective analysis of copper applications focusing on ions and nanoparticles as broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Copper nanoparticles are presented as an alternative to rising antibiotic resistance. The basic mechanisms of bacterial, fungal, and viral inactivation, which explain their potential, are presented. The green biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles using biomaterials is also presented and considered a very promising trend for future biotechnology and medical applications.

A pipeline for rapidly evaluating activity and inferring mechanisms of action of prospective antifungal compounds.

Fungal phytopathogens are a significant threat to crops and food security, and there is a constant need to develop safe and effective compounds that antagonize them. In-planta assays are complex and tedious and are thus not suitable for initial high-throughput screening of new candidate antifungal compounds. We propose an in vitro screening pipeline that integrates five rapid quantitative and qualitative methods to estimate the efficacy and mode of action of prospective antifungal compounds. The pipeline was evaluated using five documented antifungal compounds (benomyl, catechol, cycloheximide, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, and phenylacetic acid) that have different modes of action and efficacy, against the model soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis cucumerinum. We initially evaluated the five compounds' ability to inhibit fungal growth and metabolic activity using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled F. oxysporum and PrestoBlue staining, respectively, in multiwell plate assays. We tested the compounds' inhibition of both conidial germination and hyphal elongation. We then employed FUN-1 and SYTO9/propidium iodide staining, coupled to confocal microscopy, to differentiate between fungal growth inhibition and death at the cellular level. Finally, using a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-detection assay, we were able to quantify ROS production in response to compound application. Collectively, the proposed pipeline provides a wide array of quantitative and qualitative data on the tested compounds that can help pinpoint promising novel compounds; these can then be evaluated more vigorously using in planta screening assays. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Sulfones of the benzimidazole and pyridine series and their antibacterial fungistatic and protistocidal activity

Sulfones of the benzimidazole and pyridine series and their antibacterial fungistatic and protistocidal activity

Evaluation of phytochemical responses and paclitaxel content of yew (Taxus baccata) seedlings subjected to the systemic fungicides

AbstractEndophytic fungi pass all or at least a part of their life cycle inside or between host cells in living plant tissues. These fungi are not capable of causing disease in the host plants, however, they are deemed to be associated with the production of some secondary metabolites in plants. Therefore, this study was laid out to shed light on how fungicides are involved in the formation of key metabolites of yew (Taxus baccata L.), especially taxol. Through the symbiotic fungal endophyte activities and population changes an experiment was conducted as a completely randomized block design using two foliar application treatments of Rovral‐TS and Fosetyl aluminium fungicides. Plants sprayed with distilled water were used as a control. The findings revealed that the diversity of endophytic fungi declined with the application of systemic fungicides, leading to a decrease in the production of certain secondary metabolites. Specifically, the levels of paclitaxel decreased by 35%, while the photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll‐a, chlorophyll‐b and total chlorophyll decreased by 26%, 20.6% and 19.6%, respectively. Additionally, the levels of carotenoids, total phenol and total flavonoids decreased by 18%, 15% and 21.8%, respectively. The highest amount of these compounds was observed in the control treatment. An increase in antioxidant activity, soluble sugars and proline content was observed soon after fungicides application. The variation in the content of soluble sugars, proline and antioxidant activity was fungicide‐dependent. Compared to Fosetyl aluminium fungicide, the numerical value of the above parameters in plants treated with Rovral‐TS was 14.4%, 11.7% and 25.4% higher, respectively. The fungicide‐mediated induction of Taxol production—key secondary metabolites in yew—was to a great extent associated with the change in endophytic fungi. This further establishes the role of fungal endophytes in the stimulation of secondary metabolite formation in yew plants.

Traditional Herb (Moxa) Modified Zinc Oxide Nanosheets for Quick, Efficient and High Tissue Penetration Therapy of Fungal Infection.

Fungal infection possesses the characteristics of high invasion depth and easy formation of a biofilm under the skin, which greatly hinders the treatment process. Here, traditional Chinese medicine moxa is carbonized and modified with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanosheets to synthesize carbonized moxa@ZnO (CMZ) with the dual response properties of yellow light (YL) and ultrasound (US) for synergistic antifungal therapy. CMZ with narrow bandgap can respond to long-wavelength YL that is highly safe and helpful for skin repair. Simultaneously, CMZ with a piezoelectric effect can further enhance the photocatalytic efficiency under the stimulation of US with high tissue penetration. Gene mechanism investigation indicates that when exposed to US and YL irradiation, CMZ-based therapy can adjust the expression of genes associated with fungal virulence, metabolic activity, mycelial growth and biofilm development, thus efficaciously eradicating planktonic Candida albicans (C. albicans) and mature biofilm. Importantly, despite the 1.00 cm thick tissue barrier, CMZ can rapidly eliminate 99.9% of C. albicans within 4 min, showing a satisfactory deep fungicidal efficacy. The in vivo therapeutic effect of this strategy is demonstrated in both open wound and deep cutaneous infection tests, speaking of dramatically better efficacy than the traditional fungicide ketoconazole (KTZ).

Effect of pH variation on chemical components and antifungal activity of ketepeng cina (Cassia alata L.) leaves extract

Ketepeng cina (Cassia alata, L.) has been widely used as a traditional medicine, one of which is as an antifungal. Previous research showed problems with the storage of ketepeng cina leaves extract, which reported changes in pH and color over time. This study explored the effect on concentration of chemical components and antifungal activity under varying pH. Antifungal activity against Candida albicans was tested using microdilution and well diffusion methods. HPTLC technique was measured the chemical components of the extract represented by aloe-emodin and kaempferol concentration. The extract with pH 4.5 had the highest aloeemodin content and antifungal activity. The result of our research were the pH variation significant influence on anti fungal activity against C.albicans, where the best results are at pH 5.5 (p<0.05). The level of active components in the extract is influenced by the pH conditions (p<0.05). Specifically, the levels of kaempferol and aloe-emodin are maximum at a pH of 5.5. It can be concluded that pH can affect the levels of chemical components and antifungal activity in ethanol extracts of ketepeng cina (Cassia alata, L.) leaves.

Phytochemical Constituents and Potential of Different Extracts from Eleutherine bulbosa on Skin Infectious Treatment : Anti-fungal, Anti-bacterial, Anti-inflammatory and Cytotoxic Activities

Eleutherine bulbosa is a plant commonly employed in traditional medicine across various tropical regions, including Thailand. The aim of this study was to identify the phytochemical constituents of E. bulbosa, evaluate the inhibitory effects on skin fungal and bacterial pathogens, and examine the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of extracts obtained from E. bulbosa bulbs through n-Hexane, EtOAc, and EtOH extraction methods. Agar diffusion, MIC, and MBC assays were employed to determine the fungistatic, bacteriostatic, and bactericidal activities. The EtOAc extract of E. bulbosa bulbs demonstrated the highest inhibition against fungal and bacterial strains when compared to other solvents. The results revealed that the EtOAc extract exhibited a potent anti-fungal effect on T. rubrum (the zones of inhibition = 35.00 ± 0.00 mm) comparable to Ketoconazole (the zones of inhibition = 34.33 ± 1.16 mm). The highest antibacterial activity against S. pyogenes was observed, with a zone diameter of 23.00 ± 1.00 mm, while the lowest MIC and MBC values were recorded at 19.53 and 78.12 μg/ml, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrated significant inhibitory properties of E. bulbosa bulbs extracted with n-Hexane on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells compared to other solvent extracts. This occurred without affecting cell viability across a concentration range of 6.25 to 25 μg/ml. Moreover, the less affected viability of fibroblasts suggests that the extract may be useful in preventing inflammatory diseases mediated by excessive production of NO with low toxicity to normal cells. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of various compounds with biological activities including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins in all different solvent extracts. These findings suggest that E. bulbosa bulb extracts possess beneficial effects and hold potential for further development as a new natural source of multifunctional therapeutic agents, which are safe and effective for a broad spectrum of skin infectious microorganisms and also potentially reduce inflammation that is associated with an infection caused by microorganisms.

The Effectiveness of Silver Nanoparticles Mixed with Calcium Hydroxide against Candida albicans: An Ex Vivo Analysis.

The purpose of this study was to assess the antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in combination with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) against Candida albicans (C. albicans). AgNPs was mixed with pure Ca(OH)2 powder in an aqueous base. A standard suspension (1 × 108 bacterial cells/mL) of C. albicans was prepared in a 96-well plate and incubated on shaker at 37 °C in 100% humidity to allow fungal biofilm formation in infected dentin slices (n = 98). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of AgNPs alone or with Ca(OH)2 were determined. The samples were separately placed in 24-well tissue culture plates and divided into three experimental groups (0.03, 0.04, and 0.06) and three control groups; negative (saline) and positive chlorhexidine gel and Ca(OH)2. Quantitative measurements of fungal activity by XTT colorimetric assay and qualitative measurements using confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed. The cell viability of C. albicans in the experimental groups was significantly reduced compared to the negative control group. The combination of (AgNPs (0.04%) and Ca(OH)2) was the most potent against C. albicans. The findings demonstrated that combining silver nanoparticles with Ca(OH)2 was more effective against C. albicans biofilm compared to Ca(OH)2 alone, suggesting a combing effect.

Phytochemical characterization of forest leaves extracts and application to control apple postharvest diseases

The study investigated the antifungal and phytochemical properties of three forest plants (Eucalyptus globulus, Pistacia lentiscus, and Juniperus phoenicea) against apple diseases caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Alternaria alternata. The determination of the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in the three aqueous extracts of studied plants showed that E. globulus exhibited the highest contents than those of P. lentiscus and J. phoenicea. Furthermore, the three studied extracts showed very appreciable antioxidant activity with decreasing order: E. globulus, P. lentiscus, and J. phoenicea. The phytochemical analysis showed different common phenolic acids in the three studied plants namely: quinic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and caffeoylquinic acid as well as other flavonoids mainly quercetin and catechin. The results of the current study demonstrated that the fungistatic activity of E. globulus EO (4 and 2 µl/ml) seemed to be the most effective under laboratory conditions with an inhibition zone diameter above 16 mm. However, the poisoned food technique indicated that the aqueous extract (80%) and the essential oil (4 µl/ml) of E. globulus exhibited the highest mycelial growth (> 67%) and spore germination (> 99%) inhibition. Preventive treatments with essential oils (4 µl/ml) and aqueous extracts (80%) applied to apple fruits inoculated with A. alternata and C. gloeosporioides resulted in the lowest lesion diameter (< 6.80 mm) and disease severity index (< 15%) and the most favorable inhibitory growth (> 85.45%) and protective potentials (> 84.92%). The results suggest that E. globulus has a brilliant future in the management of anthracnose and Alternaria rot of apple and provide a basis for further studies on its effects under field conditions.

Effect of sub-optimal moisture levels on the quality of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) during storage in triple-layer hermetic storage bags

Storage is an important aspect of groundnut, as the in-shell and shelled kernels are prone to infestation by insects, pests, and fungi. Among several storage pests, the groundnut bruchid, Caryedon serratus, causes serious losses. Farmers often resort to different management practices, including hermetic storage, to control it. The moisture content of the commodity plays an important role in insect infestation during storage. Drying to safe moisture levels before storage is known to prevent the activity of various living organisms, such as storage pests. However, drying to low levels of moisture may not be economical for farmers, as they may not have access to devices to accurately check product moisture. In this regard, we wanted to demonstrate the efficacy of triple-layer hermetic storage bags in preventing the damage caused by C. serratus when the groundnuts are stored at intermediate (10%) and high (14%) levels of moisture compared to traditionally used bags such as polypropylene bags and jute bags. Groundnut pods at 10% moisture content and 14% moisture content were separately inoculated with adult bruchids and a toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus fungal inoculum before storing them for 6 months. Results from groundnut samples taken at two-month intervals indicated that groundnut pods stored in triple-layer hermetic bags were completely free from infestation by C. serratus by recording a zero number of eggs laid, number of pupae, adult emergence, percentage of loss, and percentage of damage up to 6 months of storage, by creating low oxygen (hypoxia) and high carbon dioxide (hypercarbia) conditions. Results also indicate no loss of pod weight stored in triple-layer bags, but a slight reduction in germination percentage was recorded due to a slight increase in fungal activity, but the reduction was significantly less in triple-layer plastic bags compared to other bag types. Similarly, biochemical constituents such as oil and protein content were slightly reduced in triple-layer plastic bags when pods were stored at a 10% moisture level, but a higher reduction was observed at a 14% moisture level. However, the reduction was very high and significant in other bag types at both 10 and 14% moisture levels.

Metarhizium spp. isolates effective against Queensland fruit fly juvenile life stages in soil.

Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt (Diptera: Tephritidae) is Australia's primary fruit fly pest species. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been adopted to sustainably manage this polyphagous species with a reduced reliance on chemical pesticides. At present, control measures are aimed at the adult stages of the fly, with no IPM tools available to target larvae once they exit the fruit and pupate in the soil. The use of entomopathogenic fungi may provide a biologically-based control method for these soil-dwelling life stages. The effectiveness of fungal isolates of Metarhizium and Beauveria species were screened under laboratory conditions against Queensland fruit fly. In bioassays, 16 isolates were screened for pathogenicity following exposure of third-instar larvae to inoculum-treated vermiculite used as a pupation substrate. The best performing Metarhizium sp. isolate achieved an average percentage mortality of 93%, whereas the best performing Beauveria isolate was less efficient, with an average mortality of 36%. Susceptibility to infection during different development stages was investigated using selected fungal isolates, with the aim of assessing all soil-dwelling life stages from third-instar larvae to final pupal stages and emerging adults. Overall, the third larval instar was the most susceptible stage, with average mortalities between 51-98% depending on the isolate tested. Moreover, adult mortality was significantly higher when exposed to inoculum during pupal eclosion, with mortalities between 56-76% observed within the first nine days post-emergence. The effect of temperature and inoculum concentration on insect mortality were assessed independently with candidate isolates to determine the optimum temperature range for fungal biological control activity and the rate required for application in field conditions. Metarhizium spp. are highly efficacious at killing Queensland fruit fly and have potential for use as biopesticides to target soil-dwelling and other life stages of B. tryoni.

Enhanced antifungal activity of posaconazole against Candida auris by HIV protease inhibitors, atazanavir and saquinavir

The increasing incidence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant Candida auris represents a serious global threat. The emergence of pan-resistant C. auris exhibiting resistance to all three classes of antifungals magnifies the need for novel therapeutic interventions. We identified that two HIV protease inhibitors, atazanavir and saquinavir, in combination with posaconazole exhibited potent activity against C. auris in vitro and in vivo. Both atazanavir and saquinavir exhibited a remarkable synergistic activity with posaconazole against all tested C. auris isolates and other medically important Candida species. In a time-kill assay, both drugs restored the fungistatic activity of posaconazole, resulting in reduction of 5 and 5.6 log10, respectively. Furthermore, in contrast to the individual drugs, the two combinations effectively inhibited the biofilm formation of C. auris by 66.2 and 81.2%, respectively. Finally, the efficacy of the two combinations were tested in a mouse model of C. auris infection. The atazanavir/posaconazole and saquinavir/posaconazole combinations significantly reduced the C. auris burden in mice kidneys by 2.04- (99.1%) and 1.44-log10 (96.4%) colony forming unit, respectively. Altogether, these results suggest that the combination of posaconazole with the HIV protease inhibitors warrants further investigation as a new therapeutic regimen for the treatment of C. auris infections.

Logistic modeling of summer expression of esca symptoms in tolerant and susceptible cultivars in Bordeaux vineyards

The seasonal dynamics of esca leaf symptom development were monitored and modelled over 10 years (from 2004 to 2006, 2012 to 2014, and 2018 to 2021) in eleven vineyards near Bordeaux (France) and on five cultivars, including three susceptible and two tolerant Field observations performed once or twice a week from the end of May to mid-September confirmed i) the evolution over time of esca leaf symptoms, ii) the presence under the bark of a discolored xylem longitudinal stripe with nonfunctional vessels, and iii) a gradual increase in the number of symptomatic plants within each vineyard. Of the three models tested, nonlinear logistic regression was the best fitting curve, showing a clear and systematic progressive sigmoidal pattern of cumulative esca leaf symptom observations regardless of ‘vineyard*year’ situation. Relationships with climatic data confirmed that all periods of symptom expression corresponded to the warmest and driest period of each vegetative season. Examinations of key dates corresponding to four threshold levels of cumulative incidence of leaf symptomatic vines [S1 (first observed symptoms), S10 %, S50 % and S90 %] showed that tolerant cultivars (Merlot noir and Malbec) generally developed leaf symptoms later than susceptible cultivars (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, and Sauvignon blanc). A variance analysis and a principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that compared to susceptible cultivars, tolerant cultivars were associated with increased temperature sums above 10 °C from 1st January, reaching the same symptom thresholds S1 and S10 % and with more cumulative rainfall at the S1 stage. Overall, this study reveals the key role of temperature as a triggering factor for esca symptom expression in relation to fungal activity. The results indicate that the S10 % stage can be used as a discriminant variable to separate cultivars according to their susceptibility. Finally, logistic modelling can be used as a descriptive and analytical tool to study the seasonal dynamics of esca.

Zinc Complexes of Fluorosubstituted N-[2-(Phenyliminomethyl)phenyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfamides: Synthesis, Structure, Luminescent Properties, and Biological Activity.

Mono-, di-, and trifluorophenyl substituted in different positions of amine fragments bis [2-[[(E)-((fluorophenyl)iminomethyl]-N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)anilino]zinc(II) complexes were synthesized. Their crystal structure, photo- and electroluminescent properties, and protistocidal, fungistatic, and antibacterial activities were studied. It has been shown that the introduction of fluorine atoms and an increase in their number in the ligand structure of the resulting metal complexes promote the luminescence quantum yields and values of performance and brightness in EL cells compared to their previously studied chlorine-substituted analogs.

Brain glucose induces tolerance of Cryptococcus neoformans to amphotericin B during meningitis.

Antibiotic tolerance is the ability of a susceptible population to survive high doses of cidal drugs and has been shown to compromise therapeutic outcomes in bacterial infections. In comparison, whether fungicide tolerance can be induced by host-derived factors during fungal diseases remains largely unknown. Here, through a systematic evaluation of metabolite-drug-fungal interactions in the leading fungal meningitis pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, we found that brain glucose induces fungal tolerance to amphotericin B (AmB) in mouse brain tissue and patient cerebrospinal fluid via the fungal glucose repression activator Mig1. Mig1-mediated tolerance limits treatment efficacy for cryptococcal meningitis in mice via inhibiting the synthesis of ergosterol, the target of AmB, and promoting the production of inositolphosphorylceramide, which competes with AmB for ergosterol. Furthermore, AmB combined with an inhibitor of fungal-specific inositolphosphorylceramide synthase, aureobasidin A, shows better efficacy against cryptococcal meningitis in mice than do clinically recommended therapies.