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PubMed1999

Microbial populations, ammonification and nitrification in soil treated with urea and inorganic salts.

Soil fertilization with urea at rates of 0.2 and 0.5 mg N/g soil was toxic for total counts of bacteria and fungi except with cellulolytic fungi where growth was promoted by addition of urea after 90-d incubation. Also, the population numbers of both bacteria and fungi were significantly decreased when soil was amended with CaCl2 and K2SO4 applied at two levels (50 and 100 mumol/g soil). Some alleviation of the toxic effect of either urea or the inorganic salts was observed when they were applied in combination. Fungal species composition was found to be affected in the treated soil. The most tolerant fungi were Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. terreus, Eurotium amstelodami, E. chevalieri, Nectria haematococca, Paecilomyces variotii and Stachybotrys chartarum. Other species of fungi were either sensitive to all treatments or sensitive to some and tolerant to others. Ammonium nitrogen was found to be more accumulated in soil treated with urea mixed with inorganic salts compared with soil treated only with urea whereas NO3(-)-N (and NO2(-)-N) was decreased. The overall effect of the addition of inorganic salts on total mineralized nitrogen, however was promotive. Soil pH was increased in urea-treated soil but was depressed by application of CaCl2 or K2SO4 to values lower than that of untreated soil. The results may be of agronomical interest in overcoming problems encountered with urea application as N fertilizer.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1999

Occurrence of itraconazole-tolerant micromycetes in the soil and food products.

Unexpected pathogens from the environment represent considerable risk for humans with impaired health. We examined the occurrence of itraconazole tolerant micromycetes in soil and in maize products. Five concentrations of itraconazole (2.5-12.5 micrograms/mL) selected according to known treatment schedules for human patients were incorporated into Sabouraud agar with chloramphenicol and Rose Bengal and diluted samples were inoculated onto the agar surface. After 7-d growth at 22 degrees C colonies of Alternaria sp., Aspergillus clavatus, A. glaucus group, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger group, A. ochraceus group, A. ochraceus, Chaetomium sp., Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cylindrocarpon sp., Doratomyces sp., Fusarium sp., F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. subglutinans, Marianaea elegans, Mortierella sp., Mucor sp., Myrothecium sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Sepedonium sp., Stachybotrys chartarum, Stemphylium sp., Torula humicola and Trichoderma viride were isolated.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1978

Cellulose-decomposing fungi of salt marshes in Egypt.

Seventy-five species and three varieties which belong to thirty-four genera were identified from 74 soil samples collected from salt marshes in Egypt. The most frequent fungi were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum and Alternatia alternata, followed by Aspergillus terreus, Curvularia spicifera and Penicillium notatum. Six genera were of moderate occurrence: Penicillium, Fusarium, Curvularia, Rhizopus, Stachybotrys, and Chaetomium. Five genera were of low occurrence: Paecilomyces, Cephalosporium, Epicoccum, Mucor and Myrothecium.

Cellulose↗
PubMed2004

Mycotoxins as harmful indoor air contaminants.

Fungal metabolites (mycotoxins) that pose a health hazard to humans and animals have long been known to be associated with mold-contaminated food and feed. In recent times, concerns have been raised about exposures to mycotoxin-producing fungi in indoor environments, e.g., damp homes and buildings. The principal mycotoxins that contaminate food and feed (alfatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone) are rarely if ever found in indoor environments, but their toxicological properties provide an insight into the difficulties of assessing the health effects of related mycotoxins produced by indoor molds. Although the Penicillium and Aspergillus genera of fungi are major contaminants of both food and feed products and damp buildings, the particular species and hence the array of mycotoxins are quite different in these environments. The mycotoxins of these indoor species and less common mycotoxins from Stachybotrys and Chaetomium fungi are discussed in terms of their health effects and the need for relevant biomarkers and long-term chronic exposure studies.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed2006

Leaching and microbial treatment of a soil contaminated by sulphide ore ashes and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Contaminated soil from a historical industrial site and containing sulfide ore ashes and aromatic hydrocarbons underwent sequential leaching by 0.5 M citrate and microbial treatments. Heavy metals leaching was with the following efficiency scale: Cu (58.7%) > Pb (55.1%) > Zn (44.5%) > Cd (42.9%) > Cr (26.4%) > Ni (17.7%) > Co (14.0%) > As (12.4%) > Fe (5.3%) > Hg (1.1%) and was accompanied by concomitant removal of organic contaminants (about 13%). Leached metals were concentrated into an iron gel, produced during ferric citrate fermentation by the metal-resistant strain BAS-10 of Klebsiella oxytoca. Concomitantly, the acidic leached soil was bioaugmented with Allescheriella sp. DABAC 1, Stachybotrys sp. DABAC 3, Phlebia sp. DABAC 9, Pleurotus pulmonarius CBS 664.97, and Botryosphaeria rhodina DABAC P82. B. rhodina was most effective, leading to a significant depletion of the most abundant contaminants, including 7-H-benz[DE]anthracene-7-one, 9,10-anthracene dione and dichloroaniline isomers, and to a marked detoxification as assessed by the mortality test with the Collembola Folsomia candida Willem. The overall degradation activities of B. rhodina and P. pulmonarius appeared to be significantly enhanced by the preliminary metal removal.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1990

Isolation of the fifth component of the bovine complement system.

Bovine C5 has been isolated from fresh bovine serum by a five-step procedure: polyethylene glycol precipitation, sequential ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and CM-Sephadex, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The purified C5 was a protein of apparent molecular weight 202,000 +/- 9,000 composed of two chains: an alpha-chain of molecular weight 127,000 +/- 5,000 and a beta-chain of molecular weight 74,000 +/- 2,000. The alpha-chain was cleaved by Sepharose-CVF.Bb (a cobra venom factor (CVF)-induced C3/C5 alternative pathway convertase) in the absence of any C3 or C3b. The monocarboxylic acid form of K-76, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from the culture filtrates of Stachybotris complementi, inhibited the alternative pathway of bovine serum, and the inhibited hemolytic activity was restored, in a dose dependent manner, by bovine C5. This provided the basis for a C5 functional assay throughout the purification procedure. The purified C5 showed species specificity and was functionally distinct from bovine C3.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effects of K-76COOH (MX-1) on immune response: induction of suppressor T-cells by MX-1.

K-76COOH (MX-1), isolated from the cultured supernatant of a species of fungi imperfecti, Stachybotrys complement nov. sp. K-76, is an inhibitor of the complement component, C5. The effects of MX-1 on various immune responses were investigated. MX-1 enhanced the response of spleen cells to PHA and LPS: MX-1 at 0.01-250 micrograms/ml for PHA and at 10-250 micrograms/ml for LPS. In contrast, it inhibited the response to Con A: MX-1 at 0.01-500 micrograms/ml for spleen cells and at 100-500 micrograms/ml for thymocytes. MX-1 and IL-1 synergistically acted to enhance the Con A response of spleen and thymus cells from which accessory cells and Ia-positive cells had been removed by passing through Sephadex G-10 columns and treating with anti-Ia monoclonal antibody plus complement. T-cells pretreated with MX-1, IL-1 and Con A for 3 days suppressed not only the response of B-cells to LPS but also the production of anti-SRBC antibodies. In addition, MX-1 was found to increase CD8+ T-cells. These results suggest that MX-1 acts on T-cells to induce suppressor T-cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Antimicrobial activity of an abiotic host defense peptide mimic.

Bacterial drug resistance is emerging as one of the most significant challenges to human health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are produced by many tissues and cell types of invertebrates, insects, and humans, as part of their innate immune system, have attracted considerable interest as alternative antibiotics. Interest in novel mimics of AMPs has increased greatly over the last few years. This report details a new AMP mimic, based on phenylene ethynylene, with improved antimicrobial activity and selectivity. Screening against a large set of bacterial and other organisms demonstrates broad spectrum antimicrobial activity including activity against antibiotic resistant bacterial like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) as well as activity against yeast (Candida albicans) and fungus (Stachybotrys chartarum). Bacterial resistance development studies using Staphylococcus aureus show a rapid increase in MIC for conventional antibiotics, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. In sharp contrast, no change in MIC was observed for the AMP mimic. Cytotoxicity experiments show that the AMP mimic acts preferentially on microbes as opposed to mammalian red blood cells, 3T3 fibroblasts, and HEPG2 cells. In vivo experiments determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) to be 10 mg/kg suggesting a therapeutic window is available. These studies indicate that nonpeptidic amphiphilic AMP mimics could be developed as potential new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2005

Stachybotrydial, a potent inhibitor of fucosyltransferase and sialyltransferase.

Elevated expression of fucosylated glycoconjugates and fucosyltransferases (Fuc-Ts) is found in various tumor cells and has been correlated with aspects of tumor progression such as cell adhesion and metastasis. Thus, fucosyltransferase inhibitors are potentially useful as anti-tumor agents. In the present study, three known spirocyclic drimanes (1, 2, and 3) were isolated from the culture broth of the fungus Stachybotrys cylindrospora. Compound 1 (stachybotrydial) exhibits potent inhibitory activity against alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase (Fuc-TV) during screening, while compounds 2 and 3 show no such inhibitory activity. Kinetic analysis indicates that compound 1 is an uncompetitive inhibitor with respect to GDP-fucose and a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to N-acetyllactosamine with Ki values of 10.7 and 9.7 microM, respectively. In addition, all three compounds also possess inhibitory activity against sialyltransferase (ST) but not against beta1,4-galactosyltransferase. These observations provide novel chemical structure information that will help in the design of novel Fuc-T and ST inhibitors.

Benzofurans↗
PubMed2006

In vitro effects of trichothecenes on human dendritic cells.

The aim of this work was to study the in vitro effects of trichothecenes on human dendritic cells. Trichothecenes are mycotoxins produced by fungi such as Fusarium, Myrothecium, and Stachybotrys. Two aspects have been explored in this work: the cytotoxicity of trichothecenes on immature dendritic cells to determine IC 50 (inhibition concentration), and the effects of trichothecenes on dendritic cell maturation process. Two mycotoxins (T-2 and DON) known to be immunotoxic have been tested on a model of monocyte-derived dendritic cells culture. Cytotoxic effects of T-2 toxin and DON on immature dendritic cells showed that DON is less potent than T-2 toxin. The exposure to trichothecenes during dendritic cell maturation upon addition of LPS or TNF-alpha markedly inhibited the up-regulation of maturation markers such as CD-86, HLA-DR and CCR7. Features of LPS or TNF-alpha -mediated maturation of dendritic cells, such as IL-10 and IL-12 secretions and endocytosis, were also impaired in response to trichothecenes treatment. These results suggest trichothecenes have adverse effects on dendritic cells and dendritic cell maturation process.

B7-2 Antigen↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of different methods for the extraction of DNA from fungal conidia by quantitative competitive PCR analysis.

Five different DNA extraction methods were evaluated for their effectiveness in recovering PCR templates from the conidia of a series of fungal species often encountered in indoor air. The test organisms were Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium chrysogenum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Cladosporium herbarum and Alternaria alternata. The extraction methods differed in their use of different cell lysis procedures. These included grinding in liquid nitrogen, grinding at ambient temperature, sonication, glass bead milling and freeze-thawing. DNA purification and recovery from the lysates were performed using a commercially available system based on the selective binding of nucleic acids to glass milk. A simple quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR) assay was developed for use in determining copy numbers of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the ribosomal RNA operon (rDNA) in the total DNA extracts. These quantitative analyses demonstrated that the method using glass bead milling was most effective in recovering PCR templates from each of the different types of conidia both in terms of absolute copy numbers recovered and also in terms of lowest extract to extract variability. Calculations of average template copy yield per conidium in this study indicate that the bead milling method is sufficient to support the detection of less than ten conidia of each of the different organisms in a PCR assay.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed2003

Trichothecenes in the environment: relevance to human health.

Trichothecenes are agriculturally important mycotoxins of relevance to human health. Fungi capable of producing trichothecenes can be found throughout the world, and include certain species of Fusarium, Myrothecium, and Stachybotrys. The production of mycotoxins by these toxigenic species is determined by genetic factors and the environmental conditions of their growth. The environmental fate of trichothecenes may be affected by other microorganisms that can detoxify them. Deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin are examples of trichothecenes that are detectable as natural and unavoidable contaminants of certain agricultural commodities as well as commercial foods. Current estimates of dietary exposure to deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin are below thresholds for adverse effects that have been reported in experimental animal studies, although historical epidemics of human illness have rarely been described in association with consumption of food derived from heavily contaminated grains. The toxicodynamic properties of trichothecenes include inhibition of protein synthesis and immunomodulatory effects. Very little information is available relating to their toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics in humans. While there is general agreement that the diet represents an important source of human exposure to trichothecenes, risk assessment from non-dietary routes of exposure is complicated by the limited epidemiological data that are currently available.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1996

Toxigenic molds in water-damaged buildings: dechlorogriseofulvins from Memnoniella echinata.

An investigation of a cluster of cases of pulmonary hemosiderosis in infants in Cleveland, OH, led to the isolation of many isolates of Stachybotrys atra and two isolates of a related toxigenic fungus, Memnoniella echinata. M. echinata produces two cytotoxic trichothecene mycotoxins, trichodermol (1a) and trichodermin (1b), as well as several griseofulvins. Dechlorogriseofulvin (2a) and epidechlorogriseofulvin (2b) were the major compounds isolated. This is the first report of a fungus outside the Penicillium genus producing griseofulvins.

Griseofulvin↗
PubMed2000

Microbiology on indoor air '99--what is new and interesting? An overview of selected papers presented in Edinburgh, August, 1999.

A multidisciplinary approach to microbiological implications of indoor air is fruitful for research as well as management of health and building problems. The Finnish and the Danish mold programs are examples of such productive collaborative studies. Dust samples taken from classrooms in schools where occupants complain of building-related symptoms (BRS) demonstrated an inflammatory potential in vitro, measured as a release of cytokine interleukin (IL)-8. An increase of the metabolite NO and liberation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and other cytokines during exposure were obtained in vivo, was presented based on these programs and on epidemiological studies on residential fungal contamination and health conducted in Canada and The Netherlands. New methods for assessing fungal exposure are PCA analysis for the toxigenic mold Stachybotrys chartarum and EPS-Asp/Pen for detecting of Aspergillus and Penicillium in dust. Based on a limited data set it is shown that emission rates of fungal spores are inversely proportional to relative humidity (RH), directly related to flow rate and to surface loading. Poor maintenance, risk constructions and risk materials are described in several studies as the main causes of water damage in buildings.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2002

Immunoglobulin G antibodies against indoor dampness-related microbes and adult-onset asthma: a population-based incident case-control study.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against microbes related to indoor dampness problems have been used as potential biomarkers of fungal exposure in clinical investigations. There is limited information on their relation to asthma. We conducted a population-based incident case-control study to assess the risk of asthma in relation to specific IgG antibodies to eight dampness-related microbes: Aspergillus fumigatus, A. versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Sporobolomyces salmonicolor, Stachybotrys chartarum, Streptomyces albus and Trichoderma citrinoviride. We recruited systematically all new cases of asthma during a 2.5-year study period and randomly selected controls from a source population of adults 21-63 years of age living in the Pirkanmaa Hospital District, South Finland. The clinically diagnosed case series consisted of 521 adults with newly diagnosed asthma and the control series of 932 controls selected randomly from the source population. IgG antibodies were analysed with ELISA. An increased risk of developing asthma in adulthood was significantly related to IgG antibodies to T. citrinoviride, but not to the other moulds. There was no evidence of a dose-response relation between the IgG antibody level and the risk of asthma. T. citrinoviride may play a role in the aetiology of adult-onset asthma or serve as an indicator of other causal factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Endoglucanase production by paper-degrading mycoflora.

Fourteen fungal species, namely Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. ustus, Penicillium islandicum, P. wortmannii, Memnoniella echinata, Cladosporium herbarum, Stachybotrys atra, Chaetomium globosum, Fusarium oxysporum, Torula herbarum, Alternaria alternata and Curvularia uncinata were isolated from different grades of paper. They differ in their distribution on various kinds of paper and also in relative occurrence. While seasonal influence on mycoflora was observed, most of the moulds were capable of growing in all three seasons examined (summer, winter, rainy season). The moulds were cellulolytic in nature and endoglucanase activity was greatest in Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, P. wortmannii and P. islandicum.

Cellulase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nasal lavage biomarkers: effects of water damage and microbial growth in an office building.

Selected nasal symptoms were studied in personnel who worked in a damp office building that had microbial growth (including Stachybotrys sp.) in mineral fiber insulation and gypsum board. There were also signs of dampness in the floor. Clinical examinations included nasal lavage and peak expiratory flow measurements in 12 subjects in the damp building; an additional 8 subjects in a control building (i.e., no signs of dampness or microbial growth) were also examined. Hygienic air measurements of microorganisms and volatile organic compounds were performed in both buildings. The concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein, myeloperoxidase, and albumin, and the number of subjects with eosinophils in lavage fluid, were higher among office workers in the damp building than among controls. The damp biiilding had greater amounts of total molds and bacteria in its construction than the building materials in nondamp buildings. In addition, an increase of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in the indoor air was detected in the damp building-a sign of dampness-related alkaline degradation of diethyl-hexyl phthalate in polyvinyl chloride floor coatings. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that exposures in a damp office building may cause an inflammatory nasal mucosal response. The results also support conclusions of earlier studies, indicating that building dampness is related to respiratory inflammation.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Effects of toxic exposure to molds and mycotoxins in building-related illnesses.

The authors studied 100 patients who had been exposed to toxic molds in their homes. The predominant molds identified were Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, Curvularia, Basidiomycetes, Myxomycetes, smuts, Epicoccus, Fusarium, Bipolaris, and Rhizopus. A variety of tests were performed on all, or on subgroups of, these patients. Sensitivities and exposures were confirmed in all patients by intradermal skin testing for individual molds (44-98% positive), and by measurement of serum antibodies. Abnormalities in T and B cells, and subsets, were found in more than 80% of the patients. The findings of trichothecene toxin and breakdown products in the urine, serum antibodies to molds, and positive intradermal skin tests confirmed mycotoxin exposure. Respiratory signs (e.g., rhinorrhea, sinus tenderness, wheezing) were found in 64% of all patients, and physical signs and symptoms of neurological dysfunction (e.g., inability to stand on the toes or to walk a straight line with eyes closed, as well as short-term memory loss) were identified in 70% of all patients. Objective abnormal autonomic nervous system tests were positive in all 100 patients tested. Brain scans, conducted using triple-head single photon emission computed tomography, were abnormal in 26 (86%) of 30 (subgroup of the 100) patients tested. Objective neuropsychological evaluations of 46 of the patients who exhibited symptoms of neurological impairment showed typical abnormalities in short-term memory, executive function/judgment, concentration, and hand/eye coordination.

Adult↗