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At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Fine roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphae and soil nutrients in four neotropical rain forests: patterns across large geographic distances.

* It is commonly hypothesized that stand-level fine root biomass increases as soil fertility decreases both within and among tropical forests, but few data exist to test this prediction across broad geographic scales. This study investigated the relationships among fine roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and soil nutrients in four lowland, neotropical rainforests. * Within each forest, samples were collected from plots that differed in fertility and above-ground biomass, and fine roots, AM hyphae and total soil nutrients were measured. * Among sites, total fine root mass varied by a factor of three, from 237+/-19 g m-2 in Costa Rica to 800+/-116 g m-2 in Brazil (0-40 cm depth). Both root mass and length were negatively correlated to soil nitrogen and phosphorus, but AM hyphae were not related to nutrients, root properties or above-ground biomass. * These results suggest that understanding how soil fertility affects fine roots is an additional factor that may improve the representation of root functions in global biogeochemical models or biome-wide averages of root properties in tropical forests.

Ecosystem↗
PubMed1971

Formation of aerial hyphae in Candida albicans.

Each of 22 isolates of Candida albicans was induced to produce aerial hyphae by culturing on a solid medium containing a peptone, acid-hydrolyzed casein, soluble starch, and agar in an atmosphere of 10% CO(2) at 37 C and room temperatures. Production of aerial hyphae is not diagnostic for C. albicans. Some of the other species of Candida may also produce such structures.

Agar↗
PubMed1990

A monoclonal antibody that defines a surface antigen on Candida albicans hyphae cross-reacts with yeast cell protoplasts.

Female BALB/c mice were immunized with a whole-hyphal-cell extract obtained from Candida albicans wild-type strain 4918 grown in Lee medium. Monoclonal antibody (MAb)-producing hybridomas were prepared by fusing immune splenocytes with NS-1 myeloma cells. One of the hybrid cell clones (1.183) secreted an immunoglobulin G1 antibody that reacted with C. albicans hyphae in an indirect immunofluorescence assay but not with yeast cells and pseudohyphal segments directly originating from parent blastoconidia. In the same assay eight of nine recent clinical C. albicans isolates and Candida stellatoidea tested positive for hyphal cell-specific reactivity with MAb 1.183. The recognized antigen on hyphal cells was sensitive to heat treatment, beta-mercaptoethanol reduction, and proteolysis with pronase, trypsin, and subtilisin. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of hyphal whole-cell and dithiothreitol extracts with MAb 1.183 revealed two major proteins with approximate molecular masses of 55 and 60 kilodaltons (kDa) under reducing conditions. Endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (O-glycanase) treatment reduced the molecular mass of the 60-kDa protein slightly but did not affect recognition by MAb 1.183, whereas peptide:N-glycosidase F (N-glycanase) had no effect on either protein. When exponentially growing yeast cells were treated sequentially with EDTA, beta-mercaptoethanol, and Zymolase to form protoplasts, a specific immunofluorescence signal was obtained with MAb 1.183. In a Western blot, MAb 1.183 showed reactivity with a 20-kDa protein in the sodium dodecyl sulfate extract from protoplasts, whereas no reactivity was found with cell wall material obtained from yeast cells. In summary, these experiments indicated that specific cell surface components from C. albicans hyphae are related to antigens which are present in yeast cells but are not detectable on the surface of the latter.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Prevention of corticosteroid-induced suppression of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte-induced damage of Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and gamma interferon.

Neutrophils (PMNs) are a critical line of defense against Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Increased frequency of invasive aspergillosis has been observed in patients receiving corticosteroids, suggesting a deleterious effect of these compounds on PMN antifungal function. To investigate this hypothesis and to determine the potential preventive utility of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), the effects of hydrocortisone (HCS) and dexamethasone (DXS) on PMN-induced damage of Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae were studied with or without pretreatment of PMNs with G-CSF and IFN-gamma. PMNs treated with HCS (> or = 3,000 microM) or DXS (> or = 10 microM) during a 2-h colorimetric tetrazolium metabolic assay (using methylthiotetrazolium) showed suppressed percentage of hyphal damage (P < 0.02). In addition, both HCS (> or = 30 microM) and DXS (> or = 1 microM) significantly suppressed oxidative burst measured as superoxide anion release by PMNs in response to opsonized and nonopsonized hyphae as well as to N-formylmethionyl leucyl phenylalanine. Pretreatment of PMNs with G-CSF (4,000 U/ml) and/or IFN-gamma (100 and 1,000 U/ml) for 90 min prevented the suppression of hyphal damage that occurred in the presence of HCS (3,000 microM; P < 0.01) or DXS (10 microM; P < or = 0.001). G-CSF (4,000 U/ml) and IFN-gamma (100 U/ml) combined had an additive effect on increasing the antifungal activity of HCS-treated but not of DXS-treated PMNs compared with IFN-gamma alone (P = 0.015). Thus, these findings reveal that corticosteroids impair PMN function in response to A. fumigatus and that G-CSF and IFN-gamma prevent this impairment.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Human platelets damage Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae and may supplement killing by neutrophils.

Neutropenia is considered a significant risk factor for invasive aspergillosis but is almost always associated with concurrent thrombocytopenia. Studies determined that platelets, like neutrophils, attached to cell walls of the invasive hyphal form of Aspergillus fumigatus. Organisms were damaged as shown by loss of cell wall integrity in scanning laser confocal microscopy and release of defined hyphal surface glycoproteins. Rapid expression appearance of surface antigen CD63 and release of markers of platelet degranulation confirmed activation during attachment to hyphae. Optimal platelet activation required opsonization of hyphae with fresh or heat-inactivated whole plasma. These effects of opsonization with whole plasma could not be duplicated by pooled human serum, immunoglobulin G, or fibrinogen, whether used separately or combined. Thus, platelets in the presence of whole plasma have the potential to play an important role in normal host defenses against invasive aspergillosis.

Aspergillus fumigatus↗
PubMed1978

Distribution of autolysins in hyphae of Aspergillus nidulans: evidence for a lipid-mediated attachment to hyphal walls.

Preparations of broken Aspergillus nidulans hyphae contained both free and wall-bound autolysins. The bound enzymes were not solubilized by 8 M LiCl or neutral or anionic detergents; they were readily detached from walls by a cationic detergent or by autodigestion. Once detached, the enzymes did not reassociate with wall to give salt-resistant complexes. Six enzymes hydrolyzing wall polymers were bound to the envelope, and the same activities were also detected among soluble proteins in the cytoplasmic fraction. It is suggested that cytoplasmic vesicles, containing autolysins, are inserted into or trapped by newly formed wall in the growing hypha; these constitute the wall-bound autolysin fraction. Starvation for a carbon source derepressed the synthesis of five out of the six autolysins, and the amounts of both soluble and wall-bound activities increased by one to two orders of magnitude.

Aspergillus nidulans↗
PubMed1990

Isolation and characterization of Candida albicans morphological mutants derepressed for the formation of filamentous hypha-type structures.

Several Candida albicans morphological mutants were obtained by a procedure based on a combined treatment with nitrous acid plus UV irradiation and a double-enrichment step to increase the proportion of mutants growing as long filamentous structures. Altered cell morphogenesis in these mutants correlated with an altered colonial phenotype. Two of these mutants, C. albicans NEL102 and NEL103, were selected and characterized. Mutant blastoconidia initiated budding but eventually gave rise to filamentous hypha-type formations. These filaments were long and septate, and they branched very regularly at positions near septa. Calcofluor white (which is known to bind chitin-rich areas) stained septa, branching zones, and filament tips very intensely, as observed under the fluorescence microscope. Wild-type hybrids were obtained by fusing protoplasts of strain NEL102 with B14, another morphological mutant previously described as being permanently pseudomycelial, indicating that genetic determinants responsible for the two altered phenotypes are different. The mutants characterized in this work seemed to sequentially express the morphogenic characteristics of C. albicans, from blastoconidia to hyphae, in the absence of any inducer. Further characterization of these strains could be relevant to gain understanding of the genetic control of dimorphism in this species.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed1998

Disruption of the Candida albicans TPS1 gene encoding trehalose-6-phosphate synthase impairs formation of hyphae and decreases infectivity.

The TPS1 gene from Candida albicans, which encodes trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, has been cloned by functional complementation of a tps1 mutant from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast with the wild-type strain, the double tps1/tps1 disruptant did not accumulate trehalose at stationary phase or after heat shock. Growth of the tps1/tps1 disruptant at 30 degreesC was indistinguishable from that of the wild type. However, at 42 degreesC it did not grow on glucose or fructose but grew normally on galactose or glycerol. At 37 degreesC, the yeast-hypha transition in the mutant in glucose-calf serum medium did not occur. During growth at 42 degreesC, the mutant did not form hyphae in galactose or in glycerol. Some of the growth defects observed may be traced to an unbalanced sugar metabolism that reduces the cellular content of ATP. Mice inoculated with 10(6) CFU of the tps1/tps1 mutant did not show visible symptoms of infection 16 days after inoculation, while those similarly inoculated with wild-type cells were dead 12 days after inoculation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Disparate effects of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on early neutrophil respiratory burst and fungicidal responses to Candida albicans hyphae in vitro.

We examined effects of priming with recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) on neutrophil responses to Candida albicans hyphae. Both cytokines increased early superoxide generation after hyphal stimulation. The more pronounced effects of TNF were accompanied by an augmented surface membrane depolarization rate and were insensitive to both pertussis toxin and calcium ion chelation, but were negated by concomitant incubation with puromycin or cycloheximide during priming. IFN augmented hyphal killing despite its only minor enhancement of early respiratory burst responses, but TNF reduced neutrophil fungicidal activity to nearly 40% below those by unprimed control cells even though it enhanced early superoxide responses more dramatically. Though TNF-primed neutrophils killed hyphae at normal initial rates, IFN-primed or even unprimed cells manifested more fungicidal sustained activity. These disparate consequences of cytokine priming on hyphal destruction were paralleled by differences in late generation of potentially candidacidal oxidants, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorous acid. IFN added during priming failed to correct TNF-associated functional defects in neutrophil anti-Candida responses. Thus, augmentation of early respiratory burst responses to oxidant-sensitive organisms need not necessarily reflect concomitant salutary effects on microbicidal activity.

Calcium↗
PubMed1993

Cell-to-cell transport via motile tubules in growing hyphae of a fungus.

The system of pleiomorphic, motile tubules and vacuoles in growing hyphal tips of Pisolithus tinctorius has been shown to play a role in intracellular transport. Here we show that the same system also exchanges material between adjacent cells. This exchange is most obvious between terminal and penultimate cells following nuclear division in the tip cell and just before dissolution of the cell wall between the clamp connection and penultimate cell. At this stage the two new dolipore septa are complete. The process was studied in living hyphae using confocal and conventional fluorescence microscopy. Tubules could move in either direction across the septum and often extended and retracted several times and penetrated for some distance (e.g. 40 microns) into the receiving cell. Movements appeared co-ordinated and during the exchange tubules transiently interconnected vacuoles in adjacent cells and by peristaltic movements appeared to transfer material between them. The fluorescent tubules occupied a specific plane in the vicinity of the septum and remained in this plane for the duration of their movement, suggesting that their orientation and direction of movement is controlled. In freeze-substituted hyphae, tubular cisternae of similar dimensions to fluorescent tubules passed through the parenthesome pores perpendicular to the septum and in some cases entered the mouth of the septal pore. This indicates that the septal pore is of an appropriate dimension to accommodate the tubules and that they can cross the septal pore to exchange material between vacuole systems of adjacent cells. This is the first direct demonstration of such intercellular transport via a sub-cellular compartment.

Basidiomycota↗
PubMed1976

A method for staining infection hyphae in pine leaves.

Fungus-inoculated Pinus radiata leaves were fixed and then stained with periodic acid-Schiff reagent. Pieces of leaf with fungal material on the surface were removed. These pieces were stained in lactophenol cotton blue for a few minutes and then mounted in dilute lactophenol cotton blue. Microscopic examination of fungal material inside and outside the mounted leaf pieces revealed the following: condidia and germ tubes on the leaf surface were red, appressoria remained unstained, and infection hyphae within the leaf were stained blue. This differential staining method was particularly useful for distinguishing germ tubes from infection hyphae arising from appressoria.

Fungi↗
PubMed2002

Dendritic cells transport conidia and hyphae of Aspergillus fumigatus from the airways to the draining lymph nodes and initiate disparate Th responses to the fungus.

Aspergilli are respiratory pathogens and pulmonary infections are usually acquired through the inhalation of conidia, able to reach small airways and the alveolar space where the impaired host defense mechanisms allow hyphal germination and subsequent tissue invasion. The invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is the most common manifestation of Aspergillus fumigatus infection in immunocompromised patients and is characterized by hyphal invasion and destruction of pulmonary tissue. A Th1/Th2 dysregulation and a switch to a Th2 immune response may contribute to the development and unfavorable outcome of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Dendritic cells (DC) have a primary role in surveillance for pathogens at the mucosal surfaces and are recognized as the initiators of immune responses to them. In the present study, we assessed the functional activity of pulmonary DC in response to A. fumigatus conidia and hyphae, both in vitro and in vivo. We analyzed mechanisms and receptors for phagocytosis by DC as well as DC migration, maturation, and Th priming in vivo upon exposure to either form of the fungus. We found a remarkable functional plasticity of DC in response to the different forms of the fungus, as pulmonary DC were able to: 1) internalize conidia and hyphae of A. fumigatus through distinct phagocytic mechanisms and recognition receptors; 2) discriminate between the different forms in terms of cytokine production; 3) undergo functional maturation upon migration to the draining lymph nodes and spleens; and 4) instruct local and peripheral Th cell reactivity to the fungus.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Cytological observation on hyphae invading Mycena osm undicola in the process of seed germination of Gastrodia elata Bl].

In order to obtain the nutrition necessary to sprout, Gastrodia elata seeds depend on digesting a kind of fungi (Mycena osmundicola Lange). Hyphae are enclosed and digested by embryonic cytoplasm after M. osmundicola penetrates the embryo through suspensor cells, and then meristem cells begin to divide. The digested hyphae penetrate into large cells to be further digested. The body of the embryo then enlarges and germinates under meristem cells using the nutrition thus obtained.

Agaricales↗
PubMed1988

Aberrant development of Trichophyton mentagrophytes hyphae cultured in the presence of Congo red.

When Trichophyton mentagrophytes colonies were placed on a medium containing 150 micrograms/ml of Congo red, a dye which prevents chitin fibrillogenesis, their growth rate was reduced. The newly formed mycelium, examined under an ultraviolet microscope, consisted of thick, curled and branched hyphae endowed with swollen tips and subapical bulges. Short-time exposure revealed that the major sites of dye accumulation were the extension zones. Normally structured hyphae arose from aberrant mycelia when they were transferred onto a dye-free medium. The phenomena observed suggest that Congo red alters the wall properties of the extension zone, by inhibiting the gradual conversion of chitin chains, synthesized at the extreme tip, into microfibrils of increasing size and density.

Congo Red↗
PubMed1995

Chemical microanalysis of hyphae and conidia from Arthrinium aureum.

Analysis of the chemical composition of hyphae, conidia and chlamydospores of Arthrinium aureum enabled all sample constituents of > 23 kD molecular weight to be detected. Sulphur, chlorine, potassium and calcium were present in the hyphae and condia of A. aureum, and sulphur, potassium and calcium in the chlamydospores.

Calcium↗
PubMed1995

Growth inhibition of Candida albicans hyphae by CD8+ lymphocytes.

We have shown previously that IL-2-activated splenocytes can inhibit the growth of Candida albicans hyphae in vitro. Herein we demonstrate that plastic nonadherent lymphocytes that are CD8+ mediate the antifungal activity. Enrichment for CD8+ cells markedly enhanced the antifungal activity of the IL-2-activated lymphocyte population for C. albicans and the cytotoxic activity of the lymphocytes for an NK-resistant cell line. Depletion of CD8+ cells reduced the lymphocyte population's antifungal activity and cytotoxic activity for the NK-resistant cell line. Enrichment for NK1.1+ cells markedly reduced the antifungal activity of the lymphocyte population for C. albicans and increased the cytotoxic activity of the lymphocytes for an NK-sensitive cell line. Depletion of NK1.1+ cells increased the lymphocyte population's antifungal activity and cytotoxic activity for the NK-resistant cell line. Generation of the antifungal lymphocytes in culture required IL-2 and was not replaced with IFN-gamma. These data show that IL-2-activated CD8+ T lymphocytes exert the greatest amount of antifungal effect against the hyphal form of C. albicans, whereas IL-2- or IFN-gamma-activated NK cells have little or no effect against the hyphae.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy investigation of fungal hyphae grown under optimal and stressed conditions.

Synchrotron FTIR can provide high spatial resolution (<10 microm pixel size) in situ biochemical analyses of intact biotissues, an area of increasing importance in the post-genomic era, as gene functions and gene networks are coming under direct scrutiny. With this technique, we can simultaneously assess multiple aspects of cell biochemistry and cytoplasmic composition. In this paper, we report the first results of our synchrotron FTIR examination of hyphae of three important fungal model systems, each with sequenced genomes and a wealth of research: Aspergillus, Neurospora, and Rhizopus. We have analyzed the FTIR maps of Aspergillus nidulans cells containing the hypA1 allele, a well-characterized single-gene temperature-sensitive morphogenetic mutation. The hypA1 cells resemble wildtype at 28 degrees C but have growth defects at 42 degrees C. We have also investigated Neurospora and Rhizopus cultures grown in media with optimal or elevated pH. Significant differences between the spectra of the three fungi are likely related to differences in composition and structure. In addition, high spatial resolution synchrotron FTIR spectroscopy provides an outstanding method for monitoring subtle subcellular changes that accompany environmental stress.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed2006

Calmodulin concentrates at the apex of growing hyphae and localizes to the Spitzenkörper in Aspergillus nidulans.

The calmodulin (CaM) localization pattern in the growing hyphal tip of Aspergillus nidulans was studied with the functional GFP::CaM fusion protein. A faint tip-high gradient of CaM was found in the growing hyphal tip, with CaM highly localized in the region corresponding to the Spitzenkörper forming a bright granule. The position of highly concentrated CaM in the extreme apex seemed to determine the orientation of the hypha. The normal pattern of CaM localization was also shown to be dependent on the integrated actin cytoskeleton. When the growth of the hyphal tip ceased, CaM failed to localize in the bright granule and was evenly distributed in the hyphal tip. These findings suggest that CaM may play an important role in establishing and maintaining apical organization, morphogenesis, and growth in Aspergillus nidulans.

Actins↗