fungi

Aim and objective:1.    To study the manifestations of fungal corneal ulcer in different age groups and sex 2.    To study the distribution of fungal corneal ulcer in relation to occupation3.    To know the effect of Natamycin and Fluconazole as anti-fungal agents.Materials and methods: This is a retrospective analysis of microbiology records of patients presenting with suspected microbial keratitis seen between January 2021 and June 2021. Patients with positive fungal cultures were analyzed in detail for the type of fungus isolated.Results: 90 patients with suspected microbial keratitis were reviewed. A microbiological diagnosis of mycotic keratitis was established 9 (10%) patients over a period of 6 months, based on positive fungal cultures. Filamentous fungi were isolated more often than yeasts. Aspergillus species followed by Fusarium species were the commonest filamentous fungi isolated. Conclusion: Over a period of 6 months, the cumulative incidence of mycotic keratitis was 10%. The pathogenic organisms most frequently responsible for mycotic keratitis were Aspergillus species. When beginning an empirical therapy for mycotic keratitis, etiological factors were helpful. Eight of the 90 patients with corneal ulcers who were admitted to the patient department for treatment had positive fungal cultures in Sabouraud’s media. The age range of 50 to 60 years had a high prevalence of illness. There were 90 total cases of corneal ulcers. Out of those there were 8 (8.8%) incidences of fungal ulcers. More men than women were impacted. Workers in agriculture are more impacted than others. The main cause of a fungus-induced corneal ulcer was trauma.Natamycin was the better option for the treatment of fungal keratitis. Filamentous fungi (Aspergillus species, fusarium, and curvularia) responded effectively to Natamycin 5% eyedrop.

Rice bakanae disease is a typical seed-borne disease caused by Fusarium fujikuroi that occurs in seedling beds and in fields. Fungicide seed treatment is an effective solution to this disease. In this study, we used a triple-fungicide suspension identified as 11% FMA, which is composed of 1.1% fludioxonil, 3.3% metalaxyl-M and 6.6% azoxystrobin to coat rice seeds for the prevention of bakanae disease. 11% FMA is water-logging resistant for rice seed treatment. Results showed that the mycelial growth of F. fujikuroi was significantly inhibited by 11% FMA in the laboratory test. Seed dressing with FMA at the rate of 1, 2, and 4 g per kg of seeds promoted seed germination and growth of seedling roots. Treatment with 11% FMA under all dose rates prevented rice bakanae disease of seedlings by more than 90%, especially by more than 95% at 4, 6 and 8 g per kg of seeds. During the subsequent maturation period, rice bakanae control efficiency reaches above 95% as well at 6 or 8 g per kg of seeds, slightly larger than about 92% at 1 or 2 g per kg of seeds. Above all, the rice yield notably improved by 11% with 1 g/kg, by around 8% with 2, 4, or 8 g/kg and by 5% with 6 g/kg treatment. 

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a potent antimicrobial agent that has recently gained attention as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics. HOCl is produced by the human immune system in response to infection and is known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. It is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and has been shown to be more effective than many conventional antibiotics. One of the key advantages of HOCl is its ability to kill bacteria without promoting the development of antibiotic resistance. Unlike conventional antibiotics, which target specific bacterial structures or processes, HOCl acts by disrupting multiple cellular components, making it much more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance. Another advantage of HOCl is its safety profile. Unlike many conventional antibiotics, HOCl is not toxic to human cells and does not cause side effects such as gastrointestinal upset or allergic reactions. Overall, HOCl shows great promise as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. With further research, it may become an important tool in the fight against infectious diseases. Herein, we discuss the mechanisms of HOCl antimicrobial action, its potential clinical applications, and future directions for research. This review aims to provide an overview of the use of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an antibiotic agent.

Over half of the world's population is fed by rice. It is consumed as a staple food by many countries worldwide. It is affected by a number of diseases among which fungal diseases contribute to its significant loss. Kashmir Valley located in the North Western Himalayan region of India is known for various coarse varieties of rice for their taste and elite class. However, the diseases cause a serious problem for the local farmers as well as the people who also consume rice as their staple food. One of the best remedies for disease management is the adoption of integrated disease management strategies, which include the use of resistant varieties, cultural practices, and judicious use of fungicides. In this review, we present the major fungal diseases affecting rice in Kashmir Valley and their management using Integrated Plant Disease Management (IDM).

Gray mold disease, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, causes heavy losses in strawberries. The use of chemical fungicides due to the dangers for humans and the environment has caused attention to reduce their consumption and use biological methods. In this research, the effects of zinc oxide, copper, and silver nanoparticles have been synthesized from an aqueous extract of cloves, and the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus casei by the green method was investigated on the gray mold disease of strawberries. The results showed that concentrations of 10% of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous extract of cloves can completely control this pathogen on the culture medium and the fruit. Zinc and silver nanoparticles produced by Lactobacillus casei prevented 93.7% and 81% of fungal growth in the culture medium, respectively. Other treatments did not show a good inhibitory effect on the fungus. All treatments were able to prevent 100% to 50% of fungal growth after 96 hours on strawberries. The investigation of the storage characteristics showed the positive effect of the examined nanoparticles on reducing the rate of change of the physicochemical characteristics of the strawberry fruit tissue. Apparent decay was significantly reduced and samples treated with nanoparticles scored higher in sensory evaluation compared to control. Also, investigating the toxicity of nanoparticles in this experiment on the HepG2 cell line showed that Compared to the control, copper and zinc nanoparticles did not have significant toxicity on cells, but silver nanoparticles led to 25% cell death. This research provides promising results in the field of using nanoparticles for pre-harvest and post-harvest control of plant diseases.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the most important vegetable oil sources in the world and in our country. The preference for sunflower oil in the consumption of vegetable oil increases the importance of sunflowers in our country. Rust, downy mildew, Verticillium wilt, Sclerotinia stalk and head rot, charcoal rot, blight, and leaf spot are some of the important diseases most commonly seen in sunflowers. In some years, depending on the climatic conditions, Downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii) is widely observed and it causes an epidemic in sunflower-planted areas in the Adana province. Genetically resistant hybrids have started to be grown in Turkey in recent years due to the resistance of downy mildew disease to fungicides. The aim of the study was to determine the status of sunflower diseases and Downy Mildew disease in Adana.

To reveal the influence of ecological zones on the structure of microbial communities in cigar rhizosphere soils, Yunnan's cigar tobacco production region was first divided into three ecological zones. Soil samples were collected at maturity and the community structure of fungi and bacteria in the rhizosphere soil was analyzed using 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing techniques. The results showed that the dominant fungi were Ascomycota, Mortrellomycota, and Basidiomycota, and the dominant bacteria were Ascomycota and Proteobacteria. The dominant genera and relative abundances of fungi and bacteria differ at the genus level. Ecoregions may affect the community structure and distribution of fungal and bacterial diversity in the rhizospheric soil of cigars at maturity, which may provide a theoretical basis for the selection of high-quality cigar-producing regions in the future.

This study aimed to determine whether the essential oils of thyme, ginger, and mint from medicinal aromatic plants can provide resistance to the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum in the maize plant. To this end, the antifungal effect of 0.1 ml, 0.25 ml, 0.5 ml, and 1 ml essential oil amounts was determined by the agar disc diffusion method.  It was determined that concentrations containing 0.1, and 0.25 ml essential oil showed no antifungal effects, however, concentrations containing 0.5 and 1 ml essential oil had antifungal effects. The most effective concentration was found to be 1 ml of essential oil in all three species. The maize was grown under hydroponic conditions. Thyme, ginger, and mint essential oils (1 g/100 ml) were applied to the root medium of the grown maize plant on the 8th day. An F. oxysporum suspension containing 107 spores was applied after 24 hours and harvested 3 days later. When the reactive oxygen species (H2O2) and MDA amounts of the harvested plants were examined, it was observed that there was an increase in the population of F. oxysporum. However, applications of thyme, ginger, and mint essential oil have been observed to significantly reduce these. It was also determined that essential oils protected the plant against F. oxysporum by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. Although these three essential oils applied have antifungal properties, it has been observed that the best effect belongs to thyme essential oil. The results show that essential oils of thyme ginger and mint can be used as potential fungicides against the pathogen F. oxysporum in maize cultivation

Yemen with its diverse climatic regions represents a rich resource for bioactive compounds obtained from microorganisms. This study was designed to screen fungal isolates obtained from the Microbiology branch, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University for their ability to produce L-asparaginase enzyme. In preliminary screening for L-asparaginase, among 77 fungal isolates about 29 fungal isolates representing 37.66% were high producers of L-asparaginase. These fungal isolates belonged to the genera Aspergillus, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachyobotrys. These 29 fungal isolates were screened for their ability to produce L-asparaginase using the agar well diffusion method. 12 fungal isolates out of 29 showed the ability to produce extracellular L-asparaginase. These isolates belonged to 8 species which were: A. sulphurs, A. ustus, F. sacchari, P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. corylophilum, P. melinii, and P. subturcoseum. Only 5 isolates were obtained for the determination of enzymatic activity, among them P. chrysogenum showed the highest activity (279.8696U ml-1) followed by A. ustus (170.9435U ml-1). This finding is the first report on the L-asparaginase production from filamentous fungi in Yemen.

Background information: Cultural practices play an important role on the development of pathogens (Datnoff, et al. 2007). In this context, several authors have been interested in studying the effects of mineral nutrition on the resistance of vegetables and fruits to fungi during storage, especially nitrogen.The purpose of the study: In this work we tested the effects of three contrasted regimes of nitrogen supply, with nitrate concentrations in the nutrient solutions of 2 mM (low), 10 mM (normal) and 20 mM (high) on the susceptibility of Lactuca sativa L towards Botrytis cinerea (BC87) and Sclerotinia minor (SM) during storage.Once harvested, the outerleaves of the plants derived from the three nitrogen regimes were inoculated with either Botrytis cinerea (BC87) or Sclerotinia minor (SM). Data showed that the resistance to this two pathogens increase when plants were developed under low nitrogen concentration. This resistance observed is correlated with low values in oxidative stress indicators (MDA and H2O2) and high values in total phenols.

In 2018, a survey of rust fungi and their associated hosts was attempted in the thandiani regions of Pakistan. In this paper, we provided descriptions and illustrations of six rust species viz. Melampsora euphorbiae, Phragmidium barclayi, Puccinia ambegua, Pucciniia calcitraipae, Pucciniia mentha and Puccinia ustalis. The Melampsora euphorbiae, Puccinia ambegua, and Puccinia ustalis were collected as a new host record from Abbottabad. Most of the rust fungi were collected from herbaceous wild plants. This study suggests further exploration of the area of rust disease in order to assess the diversity of these fungi. This research work is an addition to available data related to the Urediniales of Pakistan having special reference to Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Endophytic microbes i.e. bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes live inside the plant tissues without causing any harmful effect on them. Recently, research has been conducted on endophytic microbes to enhance agriculture and environmental sustainability. Endophytes stabilize a close association with their host, which leads to major changes in plant physiology. Endophytic microbes and pathogens use the same strategies for entering the host cell. This condition may create competition between the endophytes and the pathogen. Therefore, host plants develop strategies to allow the entry of specific microorganisms. Additionally, endophytic microorganisms may temper their own genetic structure to survive and avoid the host defence machinery. The plant-endophyte symbionts promote direct and indirect defences to host plants. This plays an essential role in modulating plant defences against various stresses, particularly biotic stress. In this minireview, we highlight the interaction of endophytic microbes with their host.  As well as the role of endophytic microbes in the enhancement of plant defence systems.

Essential oils (EO) are extracted from different plant species and can be present in different plant organs. Rosemary-pepper EO is composed of around 50% to 70% thymol, a phenolic compound proven to be active against fungi and bacteria. The active components present in these compounds can affect the vital functionality of bacterial cells, leading to protein denaturation and cell lysis. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate in vitro the antibacterial potential of Lippia origanoides EO against gram-negative bacteria. This is an exploratory study, with a technical-experimental procedure, with a quantitative approach, carried out at the Federal University of Campina Grande. The strains used were Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, using concentrations of 1024, 512, 256, and 128 μg/ml using the disc diffusion method in triplicate. After the incubation period, the formation of halos of bacterial growth inhibition was not observed. There are possible causes for the lack of antibacterial activity of the EO concerning the strains of gram-negative bacteria used in the study, including the possibility of not containing components with antibacterial properties in concentrations sufficient for the expected activity at the concentrations tested. Based on the results obtained, the Rosemary-Pepper EO (Lippia organoids) did not demonstrate antimicrobial activity against the gram-negative bacteria used in the study. Therefore, the development of new research with Lippia origanoides essential oil with gram-positive bacteria is suggested.

Los Reyes, Michoacán, Mexico, is one of the main blackberry-producing places in the world, however, the disease located at the root level has caused important economic losses. Currently has been reported that the fungus Fusarium spp., is the main causal agent but actions to control it have failed. The objective of this work was to identify the possible presence of unreported pathogenic fungi in the root system of the blackberry and identify them molecularly. It was sampled in a commercial open-air orchard from Los Reyes, pieces of roots were taken from symptomatic plants with wilting and decay. The fungi were isolated in the laboratory, identified with taxonomic keys, extraction was performed, and the sequences obtained were compared with those reported in the NCBI gene bank. Among the results obtained were Kalmusia italica, Epicoccum nigrum, Microsphaeropsis arundinis, Achizophyllum commune, and, as expected, some species of Fusarium spp.

Biofungicides are prepared based on living micro/organisms or on matters prepared from them. They are based on the antagonism of fungal pathogens and their antagonists. Their effect depends on weather conditions (temperature and moisture) in comparison with chemical fungicides which are effective in all conditions but they let the residues in plants, animals, and men. The future of agriculture will be pure food without chemicals.

Introduction: Inflammatory or suppurative ringworm is a rare form of dermatophyte damage to the hair scalp. The aim is to describe the epidemioclinical profile of inflammatory ringworm in children at the Koulikoro Reference Health Centre (Csref).Methodology: This was a 12-month descriptive cross-sectional study of all cases of Kerions diagnosed in children at the Koulikoro Csref.Results: Over 12 months, 25 cases were recorded among 1,200 consulting patients, representing a hospital frequency of 2%.Males were 22 and females three, with a sex ratio of 7.33. The mean age was 7 years, ranging from 2 to 13 years.Conclusion: Celse kerions appear to be common in school-age boys, and contact with domestic animals is described in the majority of cases. Further work is needed to describe the fungi responsible and the risk factors.

Bean cultivation is vital to the global food and economy, especially in Brazil. Facing challenges from diseases that affect production, it is crucial to seek new strategies to maintain productivity and sustainability. Melaleuca alternifolia, known as the tea tree due to its medicinal properties, has little explored potential in controlling diseases in bean plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of tea tree essential oil in controlling diseases in bean cultivation. In vitro tests were carried out to evaluate bacterial growth, at concentrations of (0.0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%). And antibiogram with the bacteria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, in different concentrations (0.0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3%). For the fungus Pseudocercospora griseola, sporulation tests were carried out, using direct and indirect methods, at concentrations of (0.0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%). Furthermore, for the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, mycelial growth tests were carried out with the same concentrations. The experiments took place in vivo, with a completely randomized statistical design, involving five replications per treatment and concentrations varying from (0.0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%). Disease incidence was assessed using a diagrammatic scale, disease severity, Area under the Disease Progress Curve (AACPD) and Area under the Incidence Progress Curve (AACPI). Melaleuca Essential Oil (EO) inhibited the development of fungi and bacteria in in vitro tests starting at 0.5%. In vivo, Melaleuca Essential Oil (EO) showed a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of the disease from 0.5% in both fungi and bacteria. Melaleuca EO can be an effective alternative for disease control in bean cultivation. 

Background: Microorganisms belonging to Streptomyces sp. are Gram-positive bacteria known for their unsurpassed capacity for the production of secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of ethyl acetate Streptomyces sp. PERM2 extract, its potential modes of action and bioactive secondary metabolites.Results: The ethyl acetate PERM2 extract showed antimicrobial activity more pronounced on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration value (MIC) of 0.5 mg/mL and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of 2 - 4 mg/mL against bacterial pathogens. MIC value against pathogenic fungi was 2 mg/mL and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of 0.01 - 0.05 mg/mL against pathogenic fungi. PERM2 crude extract showed the ability to inhibit bacteria cell wall synthesis at 0.5 and 1 MIC. The extract was found to possess dose-dependent 2,2-Diphenyl-picrylhadrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing activity. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of three major compounds identified as 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z) (29.75%), tridecyl trifluoroacetate (24.82%) and 1-(+)-ascorbic acid 2, 6-dihexadecanoate (22.34%). The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis revealed the presence of 22 non-volatile metabolites in PERM2 extract and only the compound 3, 30-O-dimethylellagic acid was identified. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that ethyl acetate Streptomyces sp. PERM2 extract possesses antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities; inhibits bacteria cell wall and protein synthesis; and contains significant bioactive secondary metabolites which could be used as an alternative to multi-resistance antibiotics.

Alginate, a naturally occurring biopolymer extracted from brown algae, presents a promising avenue for developing sustainable and efficient membranes for wastewater treatment. This review comprehensively examines recent advancements in the fabrication, modification, and application of alginate-based membranes for effective water purification. The paper delves into various fabrication techniques, including casting, electrospinning, and 3D printing, which influence the structural and functional properties of the resulting alginate membranes. To enhance performance, strategies such as crosslinking, incorporation of porogens, and surface functionalization are employed. These modifications optimize crucial properties like mechanical strength, porosity, selectivity, and antifouling resistance. Furthermore, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has emerged as a valuable tool for systematically optimizing fabrication parameters, enabling researchers to identify optimal conditions for achieving desired membrane characteristics. The integration of alginate membranes with biological treatment processes, such as phycoremediation (utilizing microalgae) and mycoremediation (employing fungi), offers a synergistic approach to enhance wastewater treatment efficiency. By immobilizing these microorganisms within the alginate matrix, their bioremediation capabilities are amplified, leading to improved pollutant degradation and nutrient removal. In conclusion, alginate-based membranes demonstrate significant potential as a sustainable and effective technology for wastewater treatment. Continued research and development, focusing on optimizing fabrication processes and exploring innovative integration strategies with biological systems, will further advance the application of alginate membranes in addressing the pressing global challenge of water pollution.

Plant extracts and their constituents have a long history as antifungal agents, but their use in biotechnology as preservatives, due to the increasing resistance of fungi to fungicides, has been rarely reported in Libya. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antifungal activity of ethanol extract and water extract of the wild native plant Artemisia herba-alba against two genera of mold fungi Aspergillus sp. and Rhizopus sp. This mold fungal causes significant damage to crops in the field or during storage. In this study, a hot ethanol extract was prepared using a device Soxhlet, and water extract hot as well as a cold ethanol extract and cold-water extract aqueous extract three concentrations (25% - 50% - 75%) of plant extracts were used on the tested fungi. All extracts showed an effect on the tested fungi. The concentrations of (75% - 50%) of the extracts had an effect on the tested fungi, while most concentrations of 25% of the extracts did not record any effect on the tested fungi. The hot ethanol extract of the Artemisia herba-alba plant was more effective than the other extracts. Aspergillus sp. was recorded with the highest inhibitory zone (0.73 mm).