scholarly journals Fungal Taxa Responsible for Mucormycosis/“Black Fungus” among COVID-19 Patients in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 641
Author(s):  
Pradeep K. Divakar

Mucormycosis is caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. The term “Black Fungus” has been widely applied to human pathogenic Mucorales in India. They mainly infect the sinuses and brain, lungs, stomach and intestines, and skin. While this has been considered a rare disease, thousands of cases have been reported during the second wave of COVID-19 in India, between the months of April and June 2021. Hitherto, more than 45,374 cases and over 4300 deaths have been reported among COVID-19 patients across India from April 2021 to July 21, 2021. Though the mortality rate is estimated to be 50%, it could be above 90% if left untreated. In India, Rhizopus arrhizus has been related to be the most common species to cause human mucormycosis, followed by Apophysomyces variabilis, Rhizopus microsporus, and R. homothallicus. Accurate sample identification of human pathogenic Mucorales species is challenging especially due to the frequent lack of diagnostic morphological features. Traditionally, the culture-based approach has been extensively used to isolate and characterize human pathogenic Mucorales. However, this may not be an appropriate approach to objectively isolate and characterize all species, as the germination and growth of fungal spores are highly dependent on culture media and environmental conditions. Therefore, a robust approach to the accurate and rapid identification of human pathogenic Mucorales species is a prerequisite. The metagenomic approach comprehensively sequences and analyzes all genetic material in a complex biological sample and, consequently, this could be an appropriate approach to objectively characterize human pathogenic Mucorales taxa without the need for in vitro culture. The precise identification of the species will not only be useful for the correct diagnosis of this disease, but also for the development of antifungal drugs specific for each species. Accurate and rapid species identification is desperately needed to save lives in the mucormycosis outbreak among COVID-19 patients in India and neighboring countries.

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 06003
Author(s):  
Julia Kashchits ◽  
Galina Yakuba

On the territory of the Krasnodar region, anthracnose root rot, the causative agent Colletotrichum аcutatum Simmonds, is one of the most harmful diseases in the mother plants of garden strawberry. The death of affected plants ranges from 33 to 100 %. Purpose of the research was to study the morphological and cultural characteristics of the causative agent of anthracnose root rot in the mother plant of garden strawberries in the region and to assess the effectiveness of fungicides in controlling the pathogen. The studies were carried out at FGBNU SKFNTSSVV in 2018-2020 using generally accepted techniques. The object of the research is pure cultures of C. acutatum. The morphological and cultural characteristics of C. acutatum were studied on three culture media. A high diversity of the identified morphotypes was shown in terms of the size of conidia and conidiophores, the shape and color of apressoria, and the method of formation of acervules. The influence of seven fungicides of various chemical classes on the development of C. аcutatum spores has been assessed. Under in vitro conditions at the indicated concentrations, the preparations Luna Tranquility, SC (0,15 %), Sercadis Plus, SC (0,1 and 0,15 %), Strobi, WG (0,05 %), Horus, WG (0,04 %) and Skor, EC (0,04 and 0,05 %) completely prevented the formation of fungal spores.


Author(s):  
Carmen Alicia Garcia-Gutiérrez ◽  
María Soledad Cuétara-García ◽  
María Dolores Moragues ◽  
Jorge Ligero ◽  
Sara María Quevedo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although most bloodstream yeast infections are caused by Candida spp., infections by rare or less common species have increased in recent years. Diagnosis of infections caused by these species is difficult due to the lack of specific symptoms and adequate diagnostic tools. Cases presentation We describe two cases of fungemia by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa within a few months of each other, in a secondary Spanish hospital. In both cases, diagnosis was challenging. Blood subcultures in conventional fungal media were persistently negatives and the use of non-conventional fungal media was essential for isolating the yeasts and achieving a correct diagnosis. 1–3 beta-d-glucan detection and a panfungal PCR assay were helpful techniques to confirm the diagnosis Conclusion It is highly important to establish an early diagnosis for fungemia. The process is challenging because often non-specific symptoms are presents. When yeasts grow in blood cultures other genera than Candida spp. could be the cause of infection. Patient risk factors should be assessed to incorporate alternative culture media and the available rapid diagnostic test, in order to provide an early recognition of the pathogen.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kee Hwa Bae ◽  
Kyoung Hee Oh ◽  
Soo-Young Kim

Abstract We investigated the effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and culture medium on embryo swelling and germination of Calanthe discolor Lindl., and established a method for determining the swelling and protocorm formation of C. discolor seeds via in vitro examination of immature seeds. Treatment of immature seeds with NaOCl greatly enhanced the extent of embryo swelling and protocorm formation of immature zygote embryos compared to seeds without NaOCl treatment. The effects of the culture media were also evaluated with regard to embryo swelling and protocorm formation of in vitro cultured seeds with and without NaOCl treatment. Additionally, the effects of white fluorescent light and red and blue LED lights on seedling growth in in vitro culture were examined. The most suitable condition for seedling growth after 12 weeks of culture was the red LED light with POM medium. These results show effective asymbiotic germination and growth of C. discolor.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
Jyoti Arora ◽  
Sonam Ruhil ◽  
Neetu Phougat ◽  
Anil K. Chhillar ◽  
...  

Prompted from the diversity of the wider use and being an integral part of genetic material, an effort was made to synthesize pyrimidine pyrazole derivatives of pharmaceutical interest by oxidative cyclization of chalcones with satisfactory yield and purity. A novel series of 1,3-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-dioxo-5-(1′-phenyl-3′-aryl-1H-pyrazol-5′-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidines (5a–d) and 1,3-diaryl-6-hydroxy-4-oxo-2-thioxo-5-(1′-phenyl-3′-aryl-1H-pyrazol-5′-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidines (5e–l) has been synthesized. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectral analysis. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. Among all the compounds, 5g was found to be the most active as its MIC was 31.25 µg/mL against S. aureus and B. cereus. The compounds 5h, 5c, and 5e also possess antibacterial activity with MIC values as 62.50, 125.00, and 500.00 µg/mL, respectively. The compounds 5c and 5j were found to have antifungal activity against Aspergillus spp. As antifungal drugs lag behind the antibacterial drugs, therefore we tried in vitro combination of these two compounds with standard antifungal drugs (polyene and azole) against Aspergillus spp. The combination of ketoconazole with 5c and 5j showed synergy at 1 : 8 (6.25 : 50.00 µg/mL) and 1 : 4 (25 : 100 µg/mL) against A. fumigatus (ITCC 4517) and A. fumigatus (VPCI 190/96), respectively.


HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 401F-402
Author(s):  
Jonathan W. Sinclair ◽  
David H. Byrne

Carbohydrate energy source of various tissue culture media has an effect on growth and survival of the explants. Sucrose is the standard carbohydrate used in most tissue culture systems. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of five carbohydrate sources (fructose, glucose, maltose, sorbitol, and sucrose) at two levels (2% and 3%) on germination, growth, and survival of immature peach embryos (9.7 to 14.7mm) in vitro. Five cultivars were used. Overall, fructose, maltose, and sucrose each stimulated germination and growth as the primary carbohydrate energy source of peach embryo culture to the same degree; glucose and sorbitol were inferior. However, fructose was superior to sucrose in one cultivar. In general, sugar level did not affect survival, although cultivars did vary somewhat. Survival was found to be highly dependent upon embryo maturity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1601100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Da ◽  
Hitoshi Takahashi ◽  
Kyaw Zaw Hein ◽  
Eishin Morita

Kampo medicines consist of a variety of crude animal, plant, and mineral extracts that have long been used to relieve different symptoms, and are relatively safe. However, their mechanisms of actions have not been well investigated. We screened 61 commercially available Kampo medicines to determine if they contain constituents with antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum. The antifungal effect of the Kampo medicines was determined by measuring the mean absorbance of treated fungal culture media. Lower absorbance values suggested a higher inhibition of the growth rate of T. rubrum by the Kampo medicines. We found that seven of the evaluated formulations exhibited a comparable antifungal activity to that of fluconazole at 14 mg/mL. The seven active Kampo medicines were Saiko-keishi-kankyou-to, Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, Saiko-keishi-to, Keishi-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, Dai-saiko-to, Bohu-tsu-sho-san, and Otsu-ji-to. The seven Kampo medicines with antifungal activity contain 30 different crude extracts, and Ou-gon (Scutellaria root) is a supplement contained in six of the seven formulations. Therefore, Ou-gon was considered to play a major role in their antifungal effect. The antifungal assay of the Ou-gon water extract showed that it significantly inhibited the growth of T. rubrum at a concentration of 20 mg/mL. Future studies will focus on the isolation and identification of the antifungal components of the crude extracts of Ou-gon, which may be potentially useful, new, and safe antifungal drugs.


Author(s):  
Henry H. Eichelberger ◽  
John G. Baust ◽  
Robert G. Van Buskirk

For research in cell differentiation and in vitro toxicology it is essential to provide a natural state of cell structure as a benchmark for interpreting results. Hypothermosol (Cryomedical Sciences, Rockville, MD) has proven useful in insuring the viability of synthetic human epidermis during cold-storage and in maintaining the epidermis’ ability to continue to differentiate following warming.Human epidermal equivalent, EpiDerm (MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA) consisting of fully differentiated stratified human epidermal cells were grown on a microporous membrane. EpiDerm samples were fixed before and after cold-storage (4°C) for 5 days in Hypothermosol or skin culture media (MatTek Corporation) and allowed to recover for 7 days at 37°C. EpiDerm samples were fixed 1 hour in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2). A secondary fixation with 0.2% ruthenium tetroxide (Polysciences, Inc., Warrington, PA) in sodium cacodylate was carried out for 3 hours at 4°C. Other samples were similarly fixed, but with 1% Osmium tetroxide in place of ruthenium tetroxide. Samples were dehydrated through a graded acetone series, infiltrated with Spurrs resin (Polysciences Inc.) and polymerized at 70°C.


Agrologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Tuhuteru ◽  
Meity L Hehanussa ◽  
Simon H.T Raharjo

Dendrobium anosmum is one of natural orchids in Indonesia. Optimization of medium composition for orchid propagation through in vitro culture is necessary to enhance propagule multiplication capabilities and quality. This study was aimed to study the influence of concentration of coconut water in culture medium on in vitro growth and development of D. anosmum orchid species and to determine the optimal coconut water concentration in culture media.  The experiment were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments and eight replications. The treatments consisted of the addition of coconut water with concentrations: 0 ml•l -1 (control), 50 ml•l-1, 100 ml•l-1 and 150 ml•l-1. The results showed that addition of coconut water in culture medium gave different effect on shoot growth and multiplication of D. anosmum orchids.  Coconut water concentration of 100 ml•l-1 was the best concentration for growth and multiplication of D. anosmum orchids, based on both shoots and roots growth, plantlet height and wet weight.


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