scholarly journals Sporothrix schenckii complex biology: environment and fungal pathogenicity

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (11) ◽  
pp. 2352-2365 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Téllez ◽  
A. Batista-Duharte ◽  
D. Portuondo ◽  
C. Quinello ◽  
R. Bonne-Hernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Subcutaneous Tissue ◽  
Sporothrix Schenckii ◽  
Aetiological Agent ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Fungal Pathogenicity ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Animal Hosts ◽  
Medical Importance

Sporothrix schenckii is a complex of various species of fungus found in soils, plants, decaying vegetables and other outdoor environments. It is the aetiological agent of sporotrichosis in humans and several animals. Humans and animals can acquire the disease through traumatic inoculation of the fungus into subcutaneous tissue. Despite the importance of sporotrichosis, it being currently regarded as an emergent disease in several countries, the factors driving its increasing medical importance are still largely unknown. There have only been a few studies addressing the influence of the environment on the virulence of these pathogens. However, recent studies have demonstrated that adverse conditions in its natural habitats can trigger the expression of different virulence factors that confer survival advantages both in animal hosts and in the environment. In this review, we provide updates on the important advances in the understanding of the biology of Spor. schenckii and the modification of its virulence linked to demonstrated or putative environmental factors.

Future Perspectives

2019 ◽  
pp. 144-160
Author(s):  
Nicola P. Randall ◽  
Barbara Smith
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Agricultural Growth ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Global Agriculture ◽  
Biological Impacts

This final chapter explores the future challenges for agroecosystem biology. Factors such as population growth and the requirement for increased agricultural production are considered, alongside environmental factors such as climate change. The chapter explores the potential encroachment of new farmland into natural habitats and the limiting factors for agricultural growth (such as land and water availability). The use of new developments to overcome these limiting factors to agricultural growth is discussed. The chapter concludes with consideration of the potential biological impacts of further expansion and change to global agriculture, and of the implications of agricultural management on biological and other environmental factors.

Gut microbiota in a host–brood parasite system: insights from common cuckoos raised by two warbler species

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Schmiedová ◽  
Jakub Kreisinger ◽  
Milica Požgayová ◽  
Marcel Honza ◽  
Jean-François Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Acrocephalus Arundinaceus ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Common ◽  
Animal Hosts ◽  
Bacterial Sources ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT An animal's gut microbiota (GM) is shaped by a range of environmental factors affecting the bacterial sources invading the host. At the same time, animal hosts are equipped with intrinsic mechanisms enabling regulation of GM. However, there is limited knowledge on the relative importance of these forces. To assess the significance of host-intrinsic vs environmental factors, we studied GM in nestlings of an obligate brood parasite, the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), raised by two foster species, great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Eurasian reed warblers (A. scirpaceus), and compared these with GM of the fosterers’ own nestlings. We show that fecal GM varied between cuckoo and warbler nestlings when accounting for the effect of foster/parent species, highlighting the importance of host-intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. In addition to feces, cuckoos also expel a deterrent secretion, which provides protection against olfactory predators. We observed an increased abundance of bacterial genera capable of producing repulsive volatile molecules in the deterrent secretion. Consequently, our results support the hypothesis that microbiota play a role in this antipredator mechanism. Interestingly, fosterer/parent identity affected only cuckoo deterrent secretion and warbler feces microbiota, but not that of cuckoo feces, suggesting a strong selection of bacterial strains in the GM by cuckoo nestlings.

scholarly journals Analysis of culturable airborne fungi in outdoor environments in Tianjin, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumna Nageen ◽  
Michael Dare Asemoloye ◽  
Sergei Põlme ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Shihan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Fungal Community ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Airborne Fungi ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Outdoor Environments

Abstract Background Fungal spores dispersed in the atmosphere may become cause of different pathological conditions and allergies for human beings. A number of studies have been performed to analyze the diversity of airborne fungi in different environments worldwide, and in particular in many urban areas in China. We investigated, for the first time, the diversity, concentration and distribution of airborne fungi in Tianjin city. We sampled 8 outdoor environments, using open plate method, during a whole winter season. Isolated fungi were identified by morphological and molecular analysis. Environmental factors which could influence the airborne fungi concentration (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and air pressure) were monitored and analyzed. The effect of different urban site functions (busy areas with high traffic flow and commercial activities vs. green areas) on airborne fungal diversity was also analyzed. Results A total of 560 fungal strains, belonging to 110 species and 49 genera of Ascomycota (80 %), Basidiomycota (18 %), and Mucoromycota (2 %) were isolated in this study. The dominant fungal genus was Alternaria (22 %), followed by Cladosporium (18.4 %), Naganishia (14.1 %), Fusarium (5.9 %), Phoma (4.11 %), and Didymella (4.8 %). A fungal concentration ranging from 0 to 3224.13 CFU m− 3 was recorded during the whole study. Permutational multivariate analysis showed that the month was the most influential factor for airborne fungal community structure, probably because it can be regarded as a proxy of environmental variables, followed by wind speed. The two analyzed environments (busy vs. green) had no detectable effect on the air fungal community, which could be related to the relatively small size of parks in Tianjin and/or to the study season. Conclusions Our study shed light on the highly diverse community of airborne fungi characterizing the outdoor environments of Tianjin, and clarified the role that different environmental factors played in shaping the analyzed fungal community. The dominant presence of fungi with potential hazardous effect on human health, such as Alternaria, Cladosporium and Naganishia, deserves further attention. Our results may represent a valuable source of information for air quality monitoring, microbial pollution control, and airborne diseases prevention.

scholarly journals Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel Zinc-Itraconazole Complexes in Protozoan Parasites and Sporothrix spp.

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Aleixo de Azevedo-França ◽  
Renato Granado ◽  
Sara Teixeira de Macedo Silva ◽  
Gabrielle dos Santos-Silva ◽  
Sandra Scapin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Sporothrix Schenckii ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sporothrix Brasiliensis ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Elemental Analyses ◽  
Zinc Salts ◽  
Medical Importance

ABSTRACT The new complexes Zn(ITZ)2Cl2 (1) and Zn(ITZ)2(OH)2 (2) were synthetized by a reaction of itraconazole with their respective zinc salts under reflux. These Zn-ITZ complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C{1H} nuclear magnetic resonance, and UV-vis and infrared spectroscopies. The antiparasitic and antifungal activity of Zn-ITZ complexes was evaluated against three protozoans of medical importance, namely, Leishmania amazonensis, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Toxoplasma gondii, and two fungi, namely, Sporothrix brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii. The Zn-ITZ complexes exhibited a broad spectrum of action, with antiparasitic and antifungal activity in low concentrations. The strategy of combining zinc with ITZ was efficient to enhance ITZ activity since Zn-ITZ-complexes were more active than the azole alone. This study opens perspectives for future applications of these Zn-ITZ complexes in the treatment of parasitic diseases and sporotrichosis.

scholarly journals Sporotrichosis: An Overview and Therapeutic Options

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram K. Mahajan
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Tissue ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Sporothrix Schenckii ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Direct Inoculation ◽  
Immunosuppressed Patients ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Decaying Wood ◽  
Severe Systemic Disease

Sporotrichosis is a chronic granulomatous mycotic infection caused bySporothrix schenckii, a common saprophyte of soil, decaying wood, hay, and sphagnum moss, that is endemic in tropical/subtropical areas. The recent phylogenetic studies have delineated the geographic distribution of multiple distinctSporothrixspecies causing sporotrichosis. It characteristically involves the skin and subcutaneous tissue following traumatic inoculation of the pathogen. After a variable incubation period, progressively enlarging papulo-nodule at the inoculation site develops that may ulcerate (fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis) or multiple nodules appear proximally along lymphatics (lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis). Osteoarticular sporotrichosis or primary pulmonary sporotrichosis are rare and occur from direct inoculation or inhalation of conidia, respectively. Disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis or involvement of multiple visceral organs, particularly the central nervous system, occurs most commonly in persons with immunosuppression. Saturated solution of potassium iodide remains a first line treatment choice for uncomplicated cutaneous sporotrichosis in resource poor countries but itraconazole is currently used/recommended for the treatment of all forms of sporotrichosis. Terbinafine has been observed to be effective in the treatment of cutaneous sporotrichosis. Amphotericin B is used initially for the treatment of severe, systemic disease, during pregnancy and in immunosuppressed patients until recovery, then followed by itraconazole for the rest of the therapy.

scholarly journals Genetic and Environmental Factors Jointly Impact Leaf Phenolic Profiles of Iris variegata L.

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1599
Author(s):  
Uroš Živković ◽  
Stevan Avramov ◽  
Danijela Miljković ◽  
Nataša Barišić Klisarić ◽  
Ljiljana Tubić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
High Light Intensity ◽  
High Irradiance ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Low Light Intensity ◽  
Phenolic Profiles

A plant’s main mechanism to diminish the effects caused by high free radical levels generated during high irradiance is the synthesis of various secondary metabolites. In addition to interspecies differences, their concentrations may be influenced by genetic, ontogenic, morphogenetic or environmental factors. We investigated the influence of genetic (genotypes from different natural habitats) and environmental (contrasting light regimes as well as successive parts of the vegetation period) variability on the accumulation of 10 selected phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and xanthones) in Iris variegata genotypes. Genotypes originated from either sun-exposed or shaded natural habitats were transplanted to two experimental light treatments (high light intensity with a higher R/FR ratio and low light intensity with a lower R/FR ratio). Significant impacts of both genetic and environmental seasonal variability (spring, summer and fall during the vegetation period) on phenolic compound profiles were detected. Their highest amounts were detected in spring. The magnitude of difference between light treatments (high vs. low light intensity) and the direction of this change varied depending on the secondary compound class. Phenotypic correlations among the 10 analyzed secondary metabolites differed across the experimental light treatments and their number decreased from spring to fall.

Morbidity of Children's Population of Lermontov City, Located in the Uranium Legacy Area

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 78-84
Author(s):  
A. Lyaginskaya ◽  
N. Shandala ◽  
A. Titov ◽  
E. Metlyaev ◽  
V. Kuptsov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Subcutaneous Tissue ◽  
Population Estimates ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Biomedical Data ◽  
Radiation Background ◽  
Child Population ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Chronic Morbidity

Purpose: To carry out assessment the health status of the child population of the Lermontov city. This child population living in the area, of uranium legacy, and they are critical group of the population in terms of sensitivity to adverse environmental factors. Materials and methods: The object of the study was the morbidity of children 0–14 years old (primary, chronic, oncological). The research material was the data of reporting forms of medical statistics, presented in the following forms: 7 – information on malignant neoplasms and 12 - information on the number of diseases in children. The development included data from Clinical hospital # 101 of the FMBA of Russia for 2014–2018. Statistical data processing was carried out using standard methods used for the analysis of biomedical data. Results: The morbidity of children 0–14 years old in Lermontov in 2014–2018 averaged 2310.9 ± 115.7 per 1000. In the structure of morbidity, the leading places were occupied by diseases of the respiratory system – 59.2 %, the digestive system – 8.8 %, skin and subcutaneous tissue 5.5 %, trauma and poisoning – 4, 8 % and infectious and parasitic diseases. The frequency of chronic morbidity does not exceed the population estimates – 73.0 ± 4.1 per 1000. The peculiarity of chronic morbidity is the relatively high incidence of skin diseases – 25.3 % and the musculoskeletal system – 20.4 %. The morbidity of children in the first year of life is 2348.0 ± 135.1 per 1000. A feature of the morbidity structure is the high incidence of respiratory diseases, which makes up 66.3 % of the total morbidity, with population estimates – 20–30 %. Conclusion: The increased radiation background can be considered as one of the possible negative environmental factors affecting the health of the population.

scholarly journals Study on the Impact of Residential Outdoor Environments on Mood in the Elderly in Guangzhou, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chongxian Chen ◽  
Weijing Luo ◽  
Ning Kang ◽  
Haiwei Li ◽  
Xiaohao Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Multiple Regression Models ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Medium Quality ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Understanding the relationship between mood and the environment among the elderly is important for the healthy aging agenda. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between residential outdoor environments of different qualities and mood in the elderly. Nine residential neighborhoods across three different quality levels of the outdoor environment in Guangzhou, China, were surveyed. Measures included demographic characteristics, assessment of the residential outdoor environment, and mood status of the elderly. We constructed a group of multiple regression models to investigate influencing environmental factors of participants’ mood. Results revealed that the environmental factors influencing mood in the elderly are different across the three types of residential outdoor environments: function and cleanliness of the site showed a significant correlation with mood in high-quality residences, while pavement was significantly correlated with mood in medium-quality residences. In contrast, transparency, enclosure, greenness, temperature, and humidity were significantly correlated with mood in poor-quality residences. To promote mental health in the elderly, we recommend that different qualities of residential outdoor environments should be considered individually rather than aggregated as simply “outdoor space.” The findings of this study are expected to contribute to create age-friendly communities for an aging society.

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