Laszlo Kredics

Publications (140) View all

• Article: Fusarium keratitis in South India: causative agents, their antifungal susceptibilities and a rapid identification method for the Fusarium solani species complex.

  Mónika Homa, Coimbatore S Shobana, Yendrembam R B Singh, Palanisamy Manikandan, Kanesan P Selvam, László Kredics, Venkatapathy Narendran, Csaba Vágvölgyi, László Galgóczy
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  ABSTRACT: Seventy Fusarium isolates derived from human keratomycosis were identified based on partial sequences of the β-tubulin (β-TUB) and translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) genes. Most of the isolates were confirmed as members of the F. solani species complex (75.71%), followed by the F. dimerum species complex (8.57%), the F. fujikuroi species complex (8.57%), the F. oxysporum species complex (4.29%) and the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (2.86%). A combined phylogenetic tree was estimated including all the 70 isolates. Isolates belonging to different species complexes formed separate clades. In this study, we also report the first isolation of F. napiforme from human keratomycosis. A new method based on a specific EcoRI restriction site in the EF-1α gene was developed for the rapid identification of F. solani. In vitro antifungal susceptibilities of the isolates to seven antifungals were determined by broth microdilution method. Terbinafine, natamycin and amphotericin B proved to be the most effective drugs, followed by voriconazole. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of clotrimazole, econazole and itraconazole were generally high (≥64 μg ml(-1) ). The interactions between the two most effective antifungals (natamycin and terbinafine) were determined by checkerboard microdilution method. Synergism (71.8%) or no interaction (28.2%) was revealed between the two compounds.
  Mycoses 02/2013; · 2.25 Impact Factor
• Article: 20-Residue and 11-residue peptaibols from the fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum are synergistic in forming Na(+) /K(+) -permeable channels and adverse action towards mammalian cells.

  Raimo Mikkola, Maria A Andersson, László Kredics, Pavel A Grigoriev, Nina Sundell, Mirja S Salkinoja-Salonen
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  ABSTRACT: Certain species of the filamentous fungal genus Trichoderma (e.g. Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma citrinoviride) are among the emerging clinical pathogens and also the most common species in the indoor space of mould-damaged buildings. The molecules involved in its pathology are not known. In the present study, we report that 0.5-2.6 wt% of the T. longibrachiatum mycelial biomass consisted of thermostable secondary metabolites mitochondriotoxic to mammalian cells. These were identified by LC/MS as one 11-residue and eight 20-residue peptaibols, AcAib-Asn-Leu/Ile-Leu/Ile-Aib-Pro-Leu/Ile-Leu/Ile-Aib-Pro-Leuol/Ileol (1175 Da) and AcAib-Ala-Aib-Ala-Aib-Ala/Aib-Gln-Aib-Val/Iva-Aib-Gly-Leu/Ile-Aib-Pro-Val/Iva-Aib-Val/Iva/Aib-Gln/Glu-Gln-Pheol(1936-1965 Da) (Aib, α-aminoisobutyric acid; Ac, acetyl; Ileol, isoleucinol; Iva, isovaline; Leuol, leucinol; Pheol, phenylalaninol). The toxic effects on boar sperm cells depended on these peptaibols, named trilongins. The trilongins formed voltage dependent, Na(+) /K(+) permeable channels in biomembranes. The permeability ratios for Na(+) ions, relative to K(+) , of the 11-residue trilongin channel (0.95 : 1) and the 20-residue trilongin channel (0.8 : 1) were higher than those of alamethicin. The combined 11-residue and 20-residue trilongins generated channels that remained in an open state for a longer time than those formed by either one of the peptaibols alone. Corresponding synergy was observed in toxicokinetics. With 11-residue and 20-residue trilongins combined 1 : 2 w/w, an effective median concentration (EC(50) ) of 0.6 μg·mL(-1) was reached within 30 min, and the EC(50) shifted down to 0.2 μg·mL(-1) upon extended exposure. By contrast, with 11-residue or 20-residue trilonging separately in 30 min of exposure, the EC(50) values were 15 and 3 μg·mL(-1) , respectively, and shifted down to 1.5 and 0.4 μg·mL(-1) upon extended exposure. This is the first report on ion-channel forming peptaibols with synergistic toxicity from T. longibrachiatum strains isolated from clinical samples. DATABASE: Nucleotide sequence data have been deposited in the GenBank database under accession numbers HQ593512 and HQ593513 .
  FEBS Journal 09/2012; · 3.79 Impact Factor
• Article: Isolation of new Pseudomonas tolaasii bacteriophages and genomic investigation of the lytic phage BF7.

  Enikő Sajben-Nagy, Gergely Maróti, László Kredics, Balázs Horváth, Arpád Párducz, Csaba Vágvölgyi, László Manczinger
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  ABSTRACT: Sixteen lytic bacteriophages that infect Pseudomonas tolaasii LMG 2342(T) were isolated from smashed sporocarps of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) showing necrotic symptoms. On the basis of the host range investigation of the phages, they have wide infection abilities against the genus Pseudomonas, mainly in the case of phages Bf3, Bf7, Bf10, and Bf15. Molecular investigations have revealed that they all have dsDNA genomes about 40 kbp in size. Identical restriction patterns resulting from restriction enzyme analysis suggest that the isolates probably belong to the same phage species. However, there was a difference between these phage isolates in their infecting abilities. Phage isolate Bf7 was investigated and characterized more deeply. Morphological characterization of Bf7 by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has shown that it has a short, noncontractile tail, an icosahedral phage head, and the size is about 60 nm in diameter, suggesting that it belongs to the Podoviridae family. Complete genome sequence analysis of the Bf7 phage isolate revealed a 40 058 bp genome, 58.4% G+C content, 46 open reading frames encoding different proteins showing homology to proteins of the bacteriophage Caulobacter crescentus φCd1 from the Podoviridae family. On the basis of these results and comparative genomic studies, we classified the Bf7 phage to the subfamily of Autographivirinae, φKMV-like phages.
  FEMS Microbiology Letters 05/2012; 332(2):162-9. · 2.04 Impact Factor
• Article: The air spora of an orchid greenhouse

  Donát Magyar, Eszter R. Eszéki, Gyula Oros, Árpád Szécsi, László Kredics, Lóránt Hatvani, Péter Körmöczi
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  ABSTRACT: The orchid collection of the ELTE Botanical Garden, Budapest, Hungary was monitored for airborne fungi using viable and non-viable air-sampling methods (Hirst-type and a 3-stage Andersen sampler) with three different culture media. A new culture method was also applied to identify fungal spores from Hirst-type samples. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity, human- and phytopathological potential of the air spora. To find out sources of airborne fungi, samples were collected from the air in an adjacent greenhouse and outdoors, and from necrotic plants. A total of 58 genera were found in the air samples. Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. were common members of the airborne biota. A high proportion (27.5%) of identified genera may be presented as a member of microbial consortium associated with the orchids. Airborne fungi potentially pathogenic to humans were also detected. One species, Zygosporium masonii, was new to Hungary. Statistical analysis indicated that conditions of sampling had significant effects. The principal component analysis elucidated the three principal components representing 75.34% of the total variance; the clusters of variables were related to the three types of culture media. Relative abundance of small-sized spores was high, presumably because of the fungal species composition and accelerated sedimentation of large spores in still air. Apparently, in the studied orchid greenhouse, a specific mycobiota developed due to the climate and hosts (Orchideaceae) grown there. KeywordsAir spora–Biodiversity–Orchid–Greenhouse–Fungi
  Aerobiologia 04/2012; 27(2):121-134. · 1.51 Impact Factor
• Article: Epidemiology of Aspergillus keratitis at a tertiary care eye hospital in South India and antifungal susceptibilities of the causative agents.

  Palanisamy Manikandan, János Varga, Sándor Kocsubé, Raghavan Anita, Rajaraman Revathi, Tibor Mihály Németh, Venkatapathy Narendran, Csaba Vágvölgyi, Kanesan Panneer Selvam, Coimbatore Subramanian Shobana, Yendremban Randhir Babu Singh, László Kredics
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  ABSTRACT: In recent years, Aspergillus species are reported frequently as aetiological agents of fungal keratitis in tropical countries such as India. Our aim was to evaluate the epidemiological features of Aspergillus keratitis cases over a 3-year period in a tertiary eye care hospital and to determine the antifungal susceptibilities of the causative agents. This study included culture proven Aspergillus keratitis cases diagnosed between September 2005 and August 2008. Data including prevalence, predisposing factors and demography were recorded, the isolates were identified by morphological and molecular methods and the minimum inhibitory concentration values of antifungal agents towards the isolates were determined by the microdilution method. Two hundred Aspergillus isolates were identified among 1737 culture proven cases. Most of the aspergilli (75%) proved to be A. flavus, followed by A. fumigatus (11.5%). Sixteen (8%) isolates belonged to species that are recently identified causative agents of mycotic keratitis. Most of the infected patients (88%) were adults ranging from 21 to 70 years of age. Co-existing ocular disease was confirmed in 16.5% of the patients. Econazole, clotrimazole and ketoconazole were notably active against A. flavus. Aspergillus keratitis is a significant problem in patients with ocular lesions in South-Indian States, warranting early diagnosis and initiation of specific antifungal therapy to improve outcome.
  Mycoses 04/2012; · 2.25 Impact Factor