Content uploaded by John I Pitt
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by John I Pitt on Mar 05, 2015
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
Aspergillus and Related Teleomorphs
Abstract and Figures
Thriving in, or at least tolerant of, elevated temperatures and reduced water activities, species of Aspergillus and its teleomorph Eurotium are the epitome of spoilage fungi. There are few kinds of foods, commodities and raw materials from which Aspergilli cannot
be isolated consistently.
Figures - uploaded by John I Pitt
Author content
All figure content in this area was uploaded by John I Pitt
Content may be subject to copyright.
... Emericella Berk is a genus that is part of the sexual stages of Aspergillus. It is recognised as a significant generator of bioactive natural compounds [43][44][45] . Emericella (Eidam) Vuill. ...
... Several groups of secondary metabolites, including polyketides, alkaloids, peptides, terpenes, and polyketide-amino acid hybrid secondary metabolites, have been described from fungus that belong to the class Sordariomycetes. These metabolites' intriguing structural frameworks and bioactivities have piqued researchers' interest 45 . ...
... On malt extract agar at 25°C, Humicola fuscoatra colonies grew quickly, reaching 2cm after 7 days, whereas Humicola grisea colonies grew at a faster rate, reaching 6.7cm after 7 days. Humicola is a dematiaceous filamentous fungus that is commonly found in soil and other media (entophyte source) 45 . ...
Fungi are a distinguished category of microorganisms that belong to a distinct kingdom. Biotechnological methods have significant contributions in several domains and shown generosity in manufacturing diverse metabolites that belong to distinct chemical classes and possess varying bioactivity and/or industrial applications. The mentioned advantages have fostered the habit of screening for fungus from unexplored origins. In this study, we conducted a screening to identify fungus from a distant bat cave in Assiut governorate, Egypt. Specifically, we focused on endophytic fungi found in flower petals and endolichenic fungi found in lichen. As a consequence, 17 distinct fungal species were isolated, which can be classified into 12 different fungal genera. Furthermore, the morphological and microscopic identification of the 4 isolates was unattainable due to their sterile mycelia appearance. Therefore, four individual specimens were genetically identified by sequencing their ITS regions as Rhizomucor miehei NRCWA, Penicillium chrysogenum NRCWA, P. polonicum NRCWA, and P. crustosum NRCWA. The corresponding accession codes for these identifications are PP422033, PP422038, PP422039, and PP422040, respectively. This study is the initial documentation of the extraction of endophytic and endolichenic fungi from Chrysothrix candelaris specimens obtained from Egypt. Exploring and identifying fungi from unexplored sources can help uncover powerful metabolites that have potential applications in several biotechnological and industrial sectors.
... The surface sterilized plant pieces were put on PDA plates (4 pieces per plate) and incubated at 30 °C for 72 h. The recovered fungus was purified using the hyphal tip technique and morphologically identified based on its microscopic and cultural properties according to Pitt et al. 44 . The wild plant was identified by Dr. Ahmed Abd El-gawad, and deposited at the Herbarium of Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University under the deposition number (AW 1318/22/102). ...
Environmental pollution due to the improper use of the chemical fungicides represents a vital ecological problem, which affects human and animal health, as well as the microbial biodiversity and abundance in the soil. In this study, an endophytic fungus Aspergillus oryzae YRA3, isolated from the wild plant Atractylis carduus (Forssk.) C.Chr, was tested for its biocontrol activity against Rhizoctonia root rot of sorghum. The antagonistic potential of A. oryzae YRA3 was tested against Rhizoctonia solani in vitro. A full inhibition in the growth of R. solani was recorded indicating a strong antagonistic potential for this endophyte. To investigate the chemical composition of its metabolites, GC/MS analysis was used and thirty-two compounds in its culture filtrate were identified. Among these metabolites, some compounds with an antifungal background were detected including palmitic acid, 2-heptanone, and 2,3-butanediol. To these antifungal metabolites the antagonistic activity of A. oryzae YRA3 can be attributed. In the greenhouse experiment, treating of the infected sorghum plants with A. oryzae YRA3 significantly reduced severity of the Rhizoctonia root rot by 73.4%. An upregulation of the defensive genes (JERF3), (POD) and (CHI II) was recorded in sorghum roots when were inoculated with A. oryzae YRA3. In addition, an increment in the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, as well as the total phenolic content in the sorghum roots was also recorded. Furthermore, the results obtained from the greenhouse experiment revealed a growth-promoting effect for inoculating the sorghum plants with A. oryzae YRA3. It can be concluded that A. oryzae YRA3 can be a probable biological agent to control this disease in sorghum. However, its evaluation under field conditions is highly needed in the future studies.
... However, there were coconut oil processors who used green-yellow mold-grown copra for edible oil extraction after washing or wiping off the fungus grown on copra. According to Pitt and Hocking (2009), if the storage conditions are not optimum and Aspergillus flavus oryza invaded, a yellow color mold development could be observed initially, and subsequently it turns green after 3-4 days. Afterward, it grows further and produces aflatoxins at their maximum by penetrating the kernel. ...
A plethora of studies provide evidence on honey biological properties such as antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, antifungal activity exerted by honey is rather under investigated. Due to widespread antimicrobial resistance, the emergence of novel antifungal agents, as well as the identification of alternative therapies, is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity exerted by heather and chestnut honeys, harvested across Greece, as well as the antifungal activity of bacteria isolated from them, against Penicillium commune, Penicillium expansum, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans M10/20 and Candida albicans M 351/19. Fungistatic activity against all tested fungi and fungicidal activity against C. albicans strains was exerted by most Greek honeys. Exerted antifungal activity was comparable to Manuka honey. Furthermore, most of the identified bacterial isolates inhibited the growth of fungal strains, in antagonistic assays. This study for the first time demonstrated the significant antifungal activity exerted by heather and chestnut honeys produced in Greece, as well as the important role of their microbiome in observed antifungal activity. Nevertheless, our results warrant further research in order to develop novel antifungal agents and alternative therapies.
The section Aspergillus includes xerophilic fungi that are economically significant and broadly distributed in natural settings as well as human habitats and are recognized for their sustenance on substrates with low water activity. Accurate identification of fungal species is essential for any reliable advances in mycological research. In this study, 108 strains from the section Aspergillus, originating from Korea and conserved at the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection, were subjected to re-identification using a combined dataset that included partial sequences of β-tubulin (BenA), Calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes, along with their morphological characteristics. We confirmed the presence of 12 species among the 108 strains originally isolated from Korea. Of them, nine species have been formerly reported in Korea (Aspergillus chevalieri, Aspergillus cibarius, Aspergillus cumulatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus montevidensis, Aspergillus proliferans, Aspergillus pseudoglaucus, Aspergillus ruber, and Aspergillus tonophilus), and 3 species (Aspergillus aurantiacoflavus, Aspergillus intermedius, and Aspergillus niveoglaucus) were found to be previously unreported to be isolated from Korea. Here, the detailed characteristic features of these three unexplored species are presented, including specific morphological traits, genetic variations, and ecological niches in Korea.
Heavy metal accumulation is one of the major agronomic challenges that has seriously threatened food safety. As a result, metal-induced phytotoxicity concerns require quick and urgent action to retain and maintain the physiological activities of microorganisms, the nitrogen pool of soils, and the continuous yields of wheat in a constantly worsening environment. The current study was conducted to evaluate the plant growth-promoting endophytic Aspergillus flavus AUMC 16,068 and its EPS for improvement of plant growth, phytoremediation capacity, and physiological consequences on wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) under lead stress. After 60 days of planting, the heading stage of wheat plants, data on growth metrics, physiological properties, minerals content, and lead content in wheat root, shoot, and grains were recorded. Results evoked that lead pollution reduced wheat plants’ physiological traits as well as growth at all lead stress concentrations; however, inoculation with lead tolerant endophytic A. flavus AUMC 16,068 and its respective EPS alleviated the detrimental impact of lead on the plants and promoted the growth and physiological characteristics of wheat in lead-contaminated conditions and also lowering oxidative stress through decreasing (CAT, POD, and MDA), in contrast to plants growing in the un-inoculated lead polluted dealings. In conclusion, endophytic A. flavus AUMC 16,068 spores and its EPS are regarded as eco-friendly, safe, and powerful inducers of wheat plants versus contamination with heavy metals, with a view of protecting plant, soil, and human health.
Aim: The synthesis of a novel class of compounds bearing a coumarin entity was targeted. They are either iminocoumarins or characterized by the presence of a pyridone ring fused within the iminocoumarin scaffold. Methods & results: The targeted compounds were synthesized through a short method, thanks to microwave activation. The study evaluated the antifungal activity of 13 newly synthesized compounds against a new fungal strain of Aspergillus niger. The most active compound showed activity comparable to the widely used reference drug, amphotericin B. Conclusion: The conditions and the ease of synthesis warrant high potential of the method for diversity-oriented synthesis, very useful within the drug discovery area.
Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc., represents one of the most damaging diseases of maize affecting plant growth and yield. In this study, the antagonistic potential of a non-aflatoxigenic endophytic Aspergillus flavus YRB2, isolated from Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl., was tested against F. solani in vitro. In addition, its biocontrol activity against Fusarium root rot of maize was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Its impacts on plant molecular, pathological, physiological, and growth levels were also studied. Results obtained revealed a potent antagonistic behavior for A. flavus YRB2 against F. solani in vitro, recording 80% growth inhibition. Seventeen secondary metabolites were detected in the n-hexane extract of A. flavus YRB2 filtered culture broth using GC-MS analysis. Among them, various antifungal secondary metabolites were produced, namely palmitic acid, α-linolenic acid, stearic acid, 2, 4-di-tert-butylphenol, diisobutyl phthalate, and heneicosane. In contrast, HPLC analysis showed that no aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) were detected. Under greenhouse conditions, colonization of maize plants with A. flavus YRB2 exhibited a potential biocontrol activity against Fusarium root rot, recording 73.4% reduction in the disease severity. Triggering of transcriptional expression level of the defense-related genes JERF3 (7.2-fold), CHI II (8-fold), and POD (9.1-fold) was reported, indicating the inducing effect on the plant immunity. In addition, an increment in the antioxidant enzymes POD and PPO, and the total phenolic content in maize roots was also observed in response to this treatment. Moreover, a growth-promoting effect was also observed for colonization of maize plants with A. flavus YRB2. Based on the obtained data, we can conclude that A. flavus YRB2 may represent a promising biocontrol and growth-promoting agent for maize plants against Fusarium root rot. Nevertheless, field evaluation is highly requested before the use recommendation.
Aflatoxins remain the most important mycotoxin problem in the world, and peanuts are a major source of these toxins. Control of aflatoxin levels in peanuts on a commercial scale is possible by colour sorting and aflatoxin assays on shelled peanuts, and this is widely practised in developed countries. However, this procedure is expensive.
Procedures for the pure culture preparation of some fermented but nonalcoholic foods are outlined. These include tempeh, ragi, sufu, shoyu, ang-kak, tea fungus, and miso. The fungi used in the manufacture of fermented foods belong to the yeasts, Mucorales, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Monascus, with the almost complete exclusion of all other fungi. As a supplement, a list of food fermentations and references to their literature in which fungi are involved are given.
This book represents the Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on Food Mycology, which was held on the Danish island of Samsø from 15-19 October, 2003. This series of Workshops c- menced in Boston, USA, in July 1984, from which the proceedings were published as Methods for Mycological Examination of Food (edited by A. D. King et al. , published by Plenum Press, New York, 1986). The second Workshop was held in Baarn, the Netherlands, in August 1990, and the proceedings were published as Modern Methods in Food Mycology (edited by R. A. Samson et al. , and published by Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1992). The Third Workshop was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1994 and the Fourth near Uppsala, Sweden, in 1998. The proceedings of those two workshops were p- lished as scientific papers in the International Journal of Food Microbiology. International Workshops on Food Mycology are held under the auspices of the International Commission on Food Mycology, a Commission under the Mycology Division of the International Union of Microbiological Societies. Details of this Commission are given in the final chapter of this book. This Fifth Workshop was organised by Ulf Thrane, Jens Frisvad, Per V. Nielsen and Birgitte Andersen from the Center for Microbial Biotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, v vi Foreword Denmark.
Introduction. The Ecology of Fungal Food Spoilage. Naming and Classifying Fungi. Methods for Isolation, Enumeration and Identification. Primary Keys and Miscellaneous Fungi. Zygomycetes. Penicillium and Related Genera. Aspergillus and Relataed Teleomorphs. Xerophiles. Yeast. Spoilage of Fresh and Perishable Foods. Spoilage of Stored, Processed and Preserved Foods. Media Appendix. Glossary. Index
Over the last several years various molecular taxonomic techniques have been utilized for defining evolutionary relationships and for identifying species. A review of the different techniques, their limitations, and their impact to date on Aspergillus and Penicillium systematics are presented. Comparisons of results obtained from molecular techniques and conventional taxonomic methods, present trends in each technique’s application, and possible application of recently developed molecular techniques are discussed.
A major factor against realization of the potential of breadfruit as a staple food in most tropical countries is spoilage during fruit development. Work on spoilage of breadfruit in the Nigerian forest areas is reported here for the first time. Microbes isolated were mainly fungal plant pathogens of the genera Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus, and bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus. A mechanism of infection is proposed following microscopic examination of the fruit epidermis. Fumigation of the trees with a suitable fungicide at the onset of flowering and shortly after the emergence of the fruit is recommended as a control measure against this spoilage. The prevention of this spoilage has the potential of ameliorating the problems associated with food scarcity and starvation in many of the tropical countries where breadfruit is a veritable staple.