scholarly journals Penicillium commune affects textural properties and water distribution of hard and extra-hard cheeses

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Miguel Jurado ◽  
Carlos Javier Vicente
Keyword(s):  
Water Distribution ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Textural Properties ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Needle Probe ◽  
Cheese Texture ◽  
Penicillium Commune ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Hard Cheese

AbstractWe analyzed the effects of growth of Penicillium commune, one of the most frequent fungal species associated with cheese, on the water diffusion and texture of hard and extra-hard cheeses. A total of 36 hard cheese blocks and 36 extra-hard cheese blocks were manufactured, salted at different levels (0.5, 1.25 and 2% w/w), and assigned to different treatments (control and inoculated). Cheese texture was analyzed using a penetration needle probe at 2 and 5 weeks after ripening. Firmness, defined as the maximum force detected in the penetration probe, was higher in both hard and extra-hard inoculated cheese blocks compared with the control. In addition, the presence of fungal growth on cheese rind increased the total work of penetration (a measure of resistance to probe penetration), but only in extra-hard cheeses, suggesting that the moisture of cheese might be affecting the growth capacities and performance of P. commune. The change in textural properties of cheeses was linked to desiccation of the upper 0.5-cm rind layer mediated by P. commune.

scholarly journals Post-translational regulation of autophagy is involved in intra-microbiome suppression of fungal pathogens

Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Chaoyun Xu ◽  
Qiming Sun ◽  
Jinrong Xu ◽  
Yunrong Chai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
26S Proteasome ◽  
Healthy Plant ◽  
Autophagy Induction ◽  
Histone Acetyltransferase Gcn5 ◽  
Plant Microbiota ◽  
Autophagic Process

Abstract Background Microbiome interactions are important determinants for ecosystem functioning, stability, and health. In previous studies, it was often observed that bacteria suppress potentially pathogenic fungal species that are part of the same plant microbiota; however, the underlying microbe-microbe interplay remains mostly elusive. Here, we explored antagonistic interactions of the fungus Fusarium graminearum and bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus at the molecular level. Both are ubiquitous members of the healthy wheat microbiota; under dysbiosis, the fungus causes devastating diseases. Results In co-cultures, we found that Streptomyces alters the fungal acetylome leading to substantial induction of fungal autophagy. The bacterium secrets rapamycin to inactivate the target of rapamycin (TOR), which subsequently promotes the degradation of the fungal histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 through the 26S proteasome. Gcn5 negatively regulates fungal autophagy by acetylating the autophagy-related protein Atg8 at the lysine site K13 and blocking cellular relocalization of Atg8. Thus, degradation of Gcn5 triggered by rapamycin was found to reduce Atg8 acetylation, resulting in autophagy induction in F. graminearum. Conclusions Autophagy homeostasis plays an essential role in fungal growth and competition, as well as for virulence. Our work reveals a novel post-translational regulation of autophagy initiated by a bacterial antibiotic. Rapamycin was shown to be a powerful modulator of bacteria–fungi interactions with potential importance in explaining microbial homeostasis in healthy plant microbiomes. The autophagic process provides novel possibilities and targets to biologically control pathogens.

scholarly journals Volatile organic compound patterns predict fungal trophic mode and lifestyle

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Guo ◽  
Werner Jud ◽  
Fabian Weikl ◽  
Andrea Ghirardo ◽  
Robert R. Junker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Compound ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Phenotypic Integration ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Ecological Importance ◽  
Fungal Interactions ◽  
Computational Analyses ◽  
Different Levels

AbstractFungi produce a wide variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which play central roles in the initiation and regulation of fungal interactions. Here we introduce a global overview of fungal VOC patterns and chemical diversity across phylogenetic clades and trophic modes. The analysis is based on measurements of comprehensive VOC profiles of forty-three fungal species. Our data show that the VOC patterns can describe the phyla and the trophic mode of fungi. We show different levels of phenotypic integration (PI) for different chemical classes of VOCs within distinct functional guilds. Further computational analyses reveal that distinct VOC patterns can predict trophic modes, (non)symbiotic lifestyle, substrate-use and host-type of fungi. Thus, depending on trophic mode, either individual VOCs or more complex VOC patterns (i.e., chemical communication displays) may be ecologically important. Present results stress the ecological importance of VOCs and serve as prerequisite for more comprehensive VOCs-involving ecological studies.

scholarly journals Sectorization for Water Distribution Systems with Multiple Sources: A Performance Indices Comparison

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Jezabel D. Bianchotti ◽  
Melina Denardi ◽  
Mario Castro-Gama ◽  
Gabriel D. Puccini
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Performance Indices ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Multiobjective Problems ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
And Performance

Sectorization is an effective technique for reducing the complexities of analyzing and managing of water systems. The resulting sectors, called district metering areas (DMAs), are expected to meet some requirements and performance criteria such as minimum number of intervention, pressure uniformity, similarity of demands, water quality and number of districts. An efficient methodology to achieve all these requirements together and the proper choice of a criteria governing the sectorization is one of the open questions about optimal DMAs design. This question is addressed in this research by highlighting the advantages of three different criteria when applied to real-word water distribution networks (WDNs). To this, here it is presented a two-stage approach for optimal design of DMAs. The first stage, the clustering of the system, is based on a Louvain-type greedy algorithm for the generalized modularity maximization. The second stage, the physical dividing of the system, is stated as a two-objective optimization problem that utilises the SMOSA version of simulated annealing for multiobjective problems. One objective is the number of isolation valves whereas for the second objective three different performance indices (PIs) are analyzed and compared: (a) standard deviation, (b) Gini coefficient and (c) loss of resilience. The methodology is applied to two real case studies where the first two PIs are optimized to address similar demands among DMAs. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for sectorization into independent DMAs with similar demands. Surprisingly, it found that for the real studied systems, loss of resilience achieves better performance for each district in terms of pressure uniformity and demand similarity than the other two specific performance criteria.

scholarly journals Double Gamers—Can Modified Natural Regulators of Higher Plants Act as Antagonists against Phytopathogens? The Case of Jasmonic Acid Derivatives

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 8681
Author(s):  
Nicolò Orsoni ◽  
Francesca Degola ◽  
Luca Nerva ◽  
Franco Bisceglie ◽  
Giorgio Spadola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Jasmonic Acid ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Phaeomoniella Chlamydospora ◽  
Horticultural Crops

As key players in biotic stress response of plants, jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives cover a specific and prominent role in pathogens-mediated signaling and hence are promising candidates for a sustainable management of phytopathogenic fungi. Recently, JA directed antimicrobial effects on plant pathogens has been suggested, supporting the theory of oxylipins as double gamers in plant-pathogen interaction. Based on these premises, six derivatives (dihydrojasmone and cis-jasmone, two thiosemicarbazonic derivatives and their corresponding complexes with copper) have been evaluated against 13 fungal species affecting various economically important herbaceous and woody crops, such as cereals, grapes and horticultural crops: Phaeoacremonium minimum, Neofusicoccum parvum, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Fomitiporia mediterranea, Fusarium poae, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae,F. sporotrichioides, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizoctonia solani,Sclerotinia spp. and Verticillium dahliae. The biological activity of these compounds was assessed in terms of growth inhibition and, for the two mycotoxigenic species A. flavus and F. sporotrichioides, also in terms of toxin containment. As expected, the inhibitory effect of molecules greatly varied amongst both genera and species; cis-jasmone thiosemicarbazone in particular has shown the wider range of effectiveness. However, our results show that thiosemicarbazones derivatives are more effective than the parent ketones in limiting fungal growth and mycotoxins production, supporting possible applications for the control of pathogenic fungi.

Role of Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oil as a Surface Fungus Inhibitor on Fermented Sausages: Evaluation of Its Effect on Microbial and Physicochemical Characteristics

2012 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLEMENCIA CHAVES-LÓPEZ1 ◽  
ANA MARÍA MARTIN-SAacute;NCHEZ ◽  
EVANGÉLICA FUENTES-ZARAGOZA ◽  
MANUEL VIUDA-MARTOS ◽  
JUANA FERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Textural Properties ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Potassium Sorbate ◽  
Fermented Sausage ◽  
Acremonium Strictum ◽  
Oregano Essential Oil ◽  
Color Changes ◽  
Cladosporium Sphaerospermum

Oregano essential oil (OEO) was evaluated to determine its effect on the growth of natural contaminating molds on the surface of Spanish fermented sausage, the development of the internal microbial population of the sausage, and the physicochemical properties of the sausage. Results indicated a dramatic reduction in the contaminant molds. At the end of ripening, the main endogenous fungal species in control samples were Mucor racemosus (55%), Aspergillus fumigatus (20.6%), Cladosporium sphaerospermum (11.1%), Acremonium strictum (7.9%), and Aspergillus niger (4.7%). In samples treated with OEO, M. racemosus and A. fumigatus were the only species isolated; the treatment was more effective against A. fumigatus than against M. racemosus. The use of OEO to inhibit surface fungi did not affect the sausage drying process, pH, water activity, or color changes during ripening. These parameters change in a typical pattern for fermented dry-cured sausages during ripening. At the end of ripening, OEO-treated sausages had lower hardness and greater chewiness than the control but showed similar textural properties to sausages treated with potassium sorbate.

The Mycobiota of Speck, a Traditional Tyrolean Smoked and Cured Ham

2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 1399-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
URSULA PEINTNER ◽  
JOHANNES GEIGER ◽  
REINHOLD PÖDER
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Penicillium Canescens ◽  
Penicillium Verrucosum ◽  
South Tyrol ◽  
Cured Meat ◽  
Penicillium Commune ◽  
Penicillium Solitum ◽  
Penicillium Spp

Speck is a ham specialty product traditionally produced in South Tyrol (Italy) and North Tyrol (Austria) by farmers, butcheries, and meat industries. To date, nothing has been learned about fungi associated with this smoked and cured meat. Therefore, it was the main objective of this study to assess the typical mycobiota of Speck in relation to the different production types and the geographic provenance. A total of 121 Speck samples from North Tyrol and South Tyrol was analyzed. From 63 isolated fungal species, only a few can be regarded as typical colonizers: Eurotium rubrum and Penicillium solitum were the dominating species in all types and parts of Speck (crust, meat, and fat). Eight other Penicillium spp. were relatively frequent. The species diversity increased from industrially produced Speck to products from butcheries and farmers, and it was higher in all types of South Tyrolean products. Among the typical mycobiota, Penicillium verrucosum, Penicillium canescens, and Penicillium commune are known as potentially mycotoxigenic.

scholarly journals Modelling Fungal Growth, Mycotoxin Production and Release in Grana Cheese

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Camardo Leggieri ◽  
Amedeo Pietri ◽  
Paola Battilani
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Models ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Cyclopiazonic Acid ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Fungal Ecology ◽  
Influence Of Temperature ◽  
Mycotoxin Production ◽  
Roquefortine C ◽  
Grana Cheese

No information is available in the literature about the influence of temperature (T) on Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. growth and mycotoxin production on cheese rinds. The aim of this work was to: (i) study fungal ecology on cheese in terms of T requirements, focusing on the partitioning of mycotoxins between the rind and mycelium; and (ii) validate predictive models previously developed by in vitro trials. Grana cheese rind blocks were inoculated with A. versicolor, P. crustosum, P. nordicum, P. roqueforti, and P. verrucosum, incubated at different T regimes (10–30 °C, step 5 °C) and after 14 days the production of mycotoxins (ochratoxin A (OTA); sterigmatocystin (STC); roquefortine C (ROQ-C), mycophenolic acid (MPA), Pr toxin (PR-Tox), citrinin (CIT), cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)) was quantified. All the fungi grew optimally around 15–25 °C and produced the expected mycotoxins (except MPA, Pr-Tox, and CIT). The majority of the mycotoxins produced remained in the mycelium (~90%) in three out of five fungal species (P. crustosum, P. nordicum, and P. roqueforti); the opposite occurred for A. versicolor and P. verrucosum with 71% and 58% of STC and OTA detected in cheese rind, respectively. Available predictive models fitted fungal growth on the cheese rind well, but validation was not possible for mycotoxins because they were produced in a very narrow T range.

scholarly journals CHARACTERISTICS OF OMEGA-OPTIMIZED PORTFOLIOS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THRESHOLD RETURNS

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renaldas Vilkancas
Keyword(s):  
Portfolio Optimization ◽  
Risk Measures ◽  
High Threshold ◽  
Portfolio Performance ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Portfolio Returns ◽  
Upside Risk ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Risk Free Rate ◽  
Different Levels

There is little literature considering effects that the loss-gain threshold used for dividing good and bad outcomes by all downside (upside) risk measures has on portfolio optimization and performance. The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of portfolios optimized with respect to the Omega function developed by Keating and Shadwick at different levels of the threshold returns. The most common choices of the threshold values used in various Omega studies cover the risk-free rate and the average market return or simply a zero return, even though the inventors of this measure for risk warn that “using the values of the Omega function at particular points can be critically misleading” and that “only the entire Omega function contains information on distribution”. The obtained results demonstrate the importance of the selected values of the threshold return on portfolio performance – higher levels of the threshold lead to an increase in portfolio returns, albeit at the expense of a higher risk. In fact, within a certain threshold interval, Omega-optimized portfolios achieved the highest net return, compared with all other strategies for portfolio optimization using three different test datasets. However, beyond a certain limit, high threshold values will actually start hurting portfolio performance while meta-heuristic optimizers typically are able to produce a solution at any level of the threshold, and the obtained results would most likely be financially meaningless.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the anti-mycotic activity of Rosemary Oil Against Candida al-bicans

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1228-1232
Author(s):  
Shebi S ◽  
Geetha RV ◽  
Lakshmi Thangavelu Lakshmi Thangavelu
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Zone Of Inhibition ◽  
Disc Diffusion Method ◽  
Rosemary Oil ◽  
Athlete’S Foot ◽  
Systemic Infections ◽  
Sterile Filter

An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycoses such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, serious systemic infections such as Cryptococcal meningitis, and others. In traditional medicine, extracts and essential oil from flowers and leaves are used in the belief they may be useful to treat a variety of fungal disorders. The aim of this study was to analyse the antimycotic properties of rosemary oil and its principal components. The Rosemary oil was screened for antifungal activity by the disc diffusion method. Activated cultures of Candida albicans in Sabouraud’s broth was adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standards [108cfu/ml]. 100 µl of the inoculum was introduced to molten Sabourauds dextrose agar and poured in the sterile Petri plates and allowed to set. Sterile filter paper discs (6.0 mm diameter) impregnated with 25µl, 50µl and 100µl /disc were placed on fungal seeded plates and incubated at 28oC for 48 hrs. Clear zones within which fungal growth was absent were measured and recorded as the diameter (mm) of complete growth inhibition. All the concentrations of the test solution inhibited the fungal species with varying degree of sensitivity. The extract showed good antifungal activity at different concentrations with a maximum zone of inhibition of 38 mm at concentration 100µl. This study provides a sample large enough to determine the antifungal properties of Rosemary oil and suggests further studies for possible therapeutic use.

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