Fungi of the “Bark Side”

Frontiers for Young Minds ◽

10.3389/frym.2021.643131 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Donát Magyar ◽

John T. Van Stan ◽

Kandikere R. Sridhar

Keyword(s):

Fungal Spores ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Flowing Water ◽

New Habitats

You may not pay much attention to fungi growing on the bark of trees in your neighborhood, but there are many fungal species that scientists know have joined the “bark side.” The fungi living on bark do many interesting and surprising things. For example, bark fungi may prowl the bark in search of resources or new habitats. Fungi create tiny versions of themselves, called spores, which can use “the force” (of nature, like blowing wind, or flowing water) to move from one place to another on the bark. In this article, we introduce the microscopic war waging on the bark of your neighborhood trees, and present some of the fungi warriors of the bark side. We describe how some fungal spores use the force to stalk the bark (and beyond) during storms and discuss why fungi-bark interactions are another important reason to preserve and protect our trees.

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First Speleomycological Study on the Occurrence of Psychrophilic and Psychrotolerant Aeromycota in the Brestovská Cave (Western Tatras Mts., Slovakia) and First Reports for Some Species at Underground Sites

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10060497 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 497

Author(s):

Rafał Ogórek ◽

Mateusz Speruda ◽

Justyna Borzęcka ◽

Agata Piecuch ◽

Magdalena Cal

Keyword(s):

Global Warming ◽

Immune System ◽

Biological Material ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Airborne Fungi ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Air Samples ◽

Cold Adapted ◽

First Report

Most underground ecosystems are heterotrophic, fungi in these objects are dispersed in the air in the form of spores, and they may be potentially hazardous to mammals. Research in underground sites has focused on mesophilic airborne fungi and only a few concerned cold-adapted species. Therefore, the goal of our research was the first report of psychrophilic and psychrotolerant aeromycota in the Brestovská Cave using culture-based techniques with genetic and phenotypic identification. Plates with PDA medium containing sampled biological material were incubated at 8 ± 0.5 °C. The density of mycobiota inside the cave ranged from 37.4 to 71 CFU 1 m−3 of air and 63.3 CFU 1 m−3 of air outside the cave. Thus, the level of fungal spores did not exceed the standards for the mycological quality of the air. A total of 18 species were isolated during the study, and some species may be potentially dangerous to people with weakened immune system. All fungal species were present inside the cave and only seven of them were outside. Cladosporium cladosporioides dominated in the external air samples and Mortierella parvispora was cultured most frequently from internal air samples. To our knowledge, this is the first discovery of the fungal species such as Coniothyrium pyrinum, Cystobasidium laryngis, Filobasidium wieringae, Leucosporidium drummii, M. parvispora, Mrakia blollopis, Nakazawaea holstii, and Vishniacozyma victoriae in the air inside the underground sites. Moreover, C. pyrinum, C. laryngis, L. drummii, M. blollopis, and N. holstii have never been detected in any component of the underground ecosystems. There are possible reasons explaining the detection of those species, but global warming is the most likely.

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A study of air borne fungal distribution and species diversity in Hill Fort Region of Channagiri, Karnataka, India

International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology ◽

10.3126/ijasbt.v1i2.8203 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 59-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. Thirumala ◽

Pradeep Nathu M. ◽

H. B. Aravinda

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Environmental Condition ◽

Maximum Contribution ◽

Exposure Method ◽

Fungal Distribution ◽

Alternaria Species ◽

Agar Media ◽

Investigation Period

Air borne fungi of Hill fort region of Channagiri is studied with help of Petriplate exposure method using Pottato dextrose agar media, petriplate exposure time is 15min. Sampling is taken in the month of January 2013 total 74 fungal colonies represented 07 fungal types were observed during the present investigation period. Environmental condition plays an importance role in the distribution of the fungal spores. Out of 07 fungal species most numbers of fungi are anamorphic groups. The fungal species were Aspergillus, Pencillium, Curvilaria, Cladosporium, Fusarium Rhizopus, Alternaria species were identified. Aspergillus species (47.2%) showing maximum contribution is observed where as Rhizopus shows minimum contribution.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v1i2.8203 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 1(2): 60-62

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Effects of various soil fungi and insecticides on the capacity of Mucor alternans to degrade DDT

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m72-088 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 553-560 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

J. P. E. Anderson ◽

E. P. Lichtenstein

Keyword(s):

Contaminated Soils ◽

Soil Fungi ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Metabolite Formation ◽

Pure Cultures ◽

Free Media ◽

Related Compounds

Pure cultures of the fungus Mucor alternans, isolated from DDT-contaminated soils, were able to degrade DDT to water-soluble metabolites. After the addition of fungal spores to DDT-contaminated soils, however, the insecticide-degrading capacity of the fungus was no longer evident. Since under field conditions many species of fungi are simultaneously exposed to mixed residues of pesticidal chemicals, the effects of various species of soil fungi and of various insecticides on DDT degradation by M. alternans were investigated. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of nine fungal species, their stale cell-free media, and various insecticides and related compounds on the capacity of M. alternans to degrade 14C-DDT to water-soluble metabolites. It was found that several pure fungal cultures or some cell-free media, in which mycelia had grown, could also degrade the insecticide. In most cases, however, addition of one of the various fungi to 14C-DDT-treated M. alternans cultures resulted in a total depression of the appearance of water-soluble metabolites in the media. This was due to an accumulation of the metabolites in the mycelium of the other fungus or in an inhibition of metabolite formation. Addition of stale media from various fungi to 14C-DDT-treated M. alternans cultures had various effects on fungal growth and on the capacity of the fungus to degrade the insecticide. Among the insecticides and related compounds tested only lindane, parathion, and Dyfonate caused a reduction in DDT degradation by M. alternans, without severely reducing its vegetative growth.

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Cohort Study of Airway Mycobiome in Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients: Differences in Community Structure between Fungi and Bacteria Reveal Predominance of Transient Fungal Elements

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.01094-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 53 (9) ◽

pp. 2900-2907 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Rolf Kramer ◽

Annette Sauer-Heilborn ◽

Tobias Welte ◽

Carlos A. Guzman ◽

Wolf-Rainer Abraham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Rare Event ◽

Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Fungal Communities ◽

Fungal Colonization ◽

Molecular Fingerprinting ◽

High Exposure ◽

Entire Cohort

The respiratory mycobiome is an important but understudied component of the human microbiota. Like bacteria, fungi can cause severe lung diseases, but their infection rates are much lower. This study compared the bacterial and fungal communities of sputum samples from a large cohort of 56 adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) during nonexacerbation periods and under continuous antibiotic treatment. Molecular fingerprinting based on single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis revealed fundamental differences between bacterial and fungal communities. Both groups of microorganisms were taxonomically classified by identification of gene sequences (16S rRNA and internal transcript spacer), and prevalences of single taxa were determined for the entire cohort. Major bacterial pathogens were frequently observed, whereas fungi of known pathogenicity in CF were detected only in low numbers. Fungal species richness increased without reaching a constant level (saturation), whereas bacterial richness showed saturation after 50 patients were analyzed. In contrast to bacteria, a large number of fungal species were observed together with high fluctuations over time and among patients. These findings demonstrated that the mycobiome was dominated by transient species, which strongly suggested that the main driving force was their presence in inhaled air rather than colonization. Considering the high exposure of human airways to fungal spores, we concluded that fungi have low colonization abilities in CF, and colonization by pathogenic fungal species may be considered a rare event. A comprehensive understanding of the conditions promoting fungal colonization may offer the opportunity to prevent colonization and substantially reduce or even eliminate fungus-related disease progression in CF.

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Fungal Spores in Insect Trapping Fluids: Simultaneous Sampling for Insects and Pathogens

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1108875/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jean A Berube ◽

Jeremy D. Allison ◽

Kate Van Rooyen ◽

Cory Hughes ◽

Patrick N. Gagné ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Early Detection ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Added Value ◽

Collection Method ◽

Forest Disease ◽

Invasive Pathogens ◽

Disease Research ◽

Native Invasive

Abstract Surveillance for early detection of non-native, invasive pathogens requires simple, sturdy, and easy to use collecting devices. In this study, we compared the fungal species detected in wet collection cups of Lindgren traps versus those detected on slides with oiled cheesecloth as aerial spore collectors. DNA was extracted and amplified from both using the primers ITS1F -ITS7G, and Illumina sequencing was used for metabarcoding of fungi present in samples. In 90 samples there were 1277 fungal OTUs. For fungal OTUs only detected by one collection method, insect traps had three times the number of fungal OTUs compared to slides, and this pattern persisted when analyses were restricted to pathogens and forest pathogens. Annually, thousands of insect traps are deployed in North America and the associated trap fluids have added value in forest disease research and monitoring.

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An Assessement of the Air Quality in Apple Warehouses : New Record of Aspergillus Europaeus, Aspergillus Pulverulentus, Penicillium Allii and Penicllium Sumatraense as Decay Agents

10.21203/rs.3.rs-185193/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marwa SMIRI ◽

Amina KHEIREDDINE ◽

Rania Hammami ◽

Mustapha ROUISSI ◽

Eduardo Antonio Espeso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fungal Spores ◽

Storage Period ◽

Airborne Fungi ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Penicillium Expansum ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

Gravity Settling

Abstract Airborne fungi are one of the major components of aeromycobiota known to produce several fungal diseases in fruits. Their presence in indoor environment of warehouses may limit the storage period of apples. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of airborne fungal spores were conducted using gravity settling techniques to detect fungal airspora present in the atmosphere of two apple warehouses in Tunisia. In this study, 375 fungal isolates were obtained and purified. Phylogenetic analysis of Calmodulin, beta-tubulin and ITS regions coupled with phenotypic characterization helped to identify fifteen fungal species. Penicillium exhibited the highest diversity with ten species detected (Penicillium expansum, Penicillium allii, Penicillium polonicum, Penicillium solitum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium steckii, Penicillium viridicatum, Penicillium sumatraense, Penicillium italicum and Penicillium citrinum), followed by four species of Aspergillus genus (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus pulverulentus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus europaeus) and Alternaria alternata. In vivo experiments confirmed the pathogenicity of thirteen species at room temperature and under cold-storage conditions. Among them, A. europaeus, A. pulverulentus, P. allii and P. Sumatraense were described for the first time as pathogenic on apples. The present study identified the major airborne fungi associated with postharvest rot in apple storage facilities in Tunisia and may help in efficient control of post-harvest and storage fruit diseases.

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Vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with native tall grass prairie and cultivated winter wheat

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b83-231 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 61 (8) ◽

pp. 2140-2146 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

B. A. Daniels Hetrick ◽

J. Bloom

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Root Colonization ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Growing Season ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Tall Grass ◽

Wheat Field ◽

Vesicular Arbuscular

More vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal species and significantly more fungal spores were recovered from undisturbed prairie soils than four winter wheat field soils in Kansas through the 1980–1981 growing season. Two previously undescribed sporocarpic species of Endogonaceae were found in prairie samples but have not been successfully established in pot culture, leaving the genus to which they belong unclear. Though variable, 11–50% VAM root colonization was evident in all prairie grass roots sampled throughout the year. In contrast, no identifiable VAM root colonization was evident in wheat until May after flowering when 27% root colonization was observed. During the 1981–1982 growing season, roots of two other wheat fields were sampled with similar results. No colonization occurred until May when 8% root colonization was evident. The possible influence of such low levels of root colonization occurring quite late in the growing season of winter wheat is discussed.

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Endemic Nosocomial Filamentous Fungal Disease: A Proposed Structure for Conceptualizing and Studying the Environmental Hazard

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/s0195941700065644 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 7 (S2) ◽

pp. 124-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Frank S. Rhame

Keyword(s):

Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Invasive Disease ◽

Fungal Disease ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Important Goal ◽

Environmental Correlates ◽

Immunosuppressed Patients ◽

Fusarium Sp ◽

Nosocomial Disease

Reducing the concentration of filamentous fungal spores in the air inhaled by immunosuppressed patients is an important goal. Although it is not clear that air is the exclusive vector of nosocomial filamentous fungal disease, it is quite likely that it is the most important vector. Uncertainties about this assertion are compounded by the great variety of fungal species involved. Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, A. niger, Petriellidium boydii, Fusarium sp., Mucoraceae, Phoma sp., Alternaria, Penicillium, and others have caused invasive disease in immunosuppressed patients. But detailed studies of environmental correlates of nosocomial disease are largely restricted to A. flavus and A. fumigatus. Spores of all of these species may be recovered from unfiltered air. It is probably reasonable to extrapolate from Aspergillus to all of the species involved.

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Prevalence of Aero-Allergenic Micro Fungi in Extra & Intramural Environments of a Saw Mill in Pondicherry City, India

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.760.53 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 760 ◽

pp. 53-60

Author(s):

B.K. Nayak ◽

S. Suresh Kumar ◽

Anima Nanda

Keyword(s):

Alternaria Alternata ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Period Effect ◽

Human Beings ◽

Seasonal Periodicity ◽

Spore Mass ◽

And Storage ◽

Spore Load

Prevalence of airborne fungal spores with their seasonal periodicity in the extra and intramural environments of a saw mill of Pondicherry region was carried out by gravitation method from January 2011 to December 2011. Composition and concentration of fungal spores considerably varied from indoors to outdoors as well as from season to season. Indoor air harbored maximum fungal spores (61%) in comparison to outdoor air (39%). Occurrence of fungal species was predominated with more number of propagules during mid winter (December) and early rainy (July) periods in comparison to other months. Quantitatively, Cladosporium was found with the highest frequency and had four members i.e., C. cladosporioides, C. herbarum, C. resinae, C. sphaerospermum but qualitatively, Penicilli and aspegilii were isolated highest in its contribution to total CFUs. Out of the 32 isolated fungal taxa, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, Rhizopus stolonifer and Alternaria alternata were the predominant aeroallergens which cause different types of respiratory/lung diseases in atopic human beings were isolated. In seasonal periodicity, winter contributed the maximum spore load (41%) followed by rainy (33%), summer was found with the least (26%) in harboring the spore mass in the indoors and outdoors. Alternaria alternata, which is accounted as a human allergen for sporosis inducer and an agent for hay fever and other pathologies, was also intermittently recorded. A few plant pathogenic fungi like Helmithosporium sp. & Fusarium spp, saprophytic, field and storage fungi were also recorded during the study period. Effect of meteorological parameters on the fungal spores in the saw mill atmosphere was significantly assessed by Pearsons correlation coefficient analysis.

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