Secretome analysis of novel IgE-binding proteins from Penicillium citrinum

The Penicillium genus of fungi is a frequently reported cause of allergic reactions. However, only a limited number of allergens have been reported. In Penicillium spp., many allergens show higher IgE-binding activity in culture filtrate extracts than in cellular extracts. In order to investigate the IgE-reactive profile of mold-sensitized patients, secreted IgE-reactive proteins from Penicillium citrinum were identified by 2-DE, serum immunoblotting, and nanoLC-MS/MS. Among the IgE-reactive spots, one known allergen, Pen c 13, and four novel allergens were identified. The cDNAs coding for Pen c 32 and Pen c 30 were cloned using designed primers based on nanoLC-MS/MS analysis. The amino acid sequences of Pen c 32 and Pen c 30 were, respectively, found to have extensive similarity with those of pectate lyases and catalases from various fungi. Native Pen c 30 was shown to have catalase activity and to bind to serum IgE from 48% of mold-allergic patients and induced immediate type skin reactions in a sensitized patient. Here, we present a proteome approach which resulted in the identification of four novel secreted allergens. These novel allergens might be useful in allergy diagnosis and in the treatment of mold-allergic disorders.     

The effect of inoculum size on the growth of Penicillium expansum in apples

Penicillium expansum is the most important cause of blue mould rot, a major post-harvest disease of apples worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the inoculum size on the germination and growth parameters of P. expansum under different storage conditions in apples. Growth of P. expansum was observed in more than 90% of the inoculations, when the inoculum was equal or higher than 2x10(4) spores. The use of a low inoculum level resulted in longer lag phases and a larger variability of the estimated lag phase. This indicates that more replications are necessary to estimate the lag phase of the mould in the specified circumstances. At lower temperature, more inoculum was necessary to reduce the variability of the estimated lag phase, showing that this effect is temperature dependent. Moreover, the effect of the inoculum level on the lag phase is even more pronounced for a slower growing strain. These results imply that the inoculum size influences the estimated growth parameters and should be considered in quantitative risk assessments and for the design of challenge tests and experiments to gather data for predictive growth models.     

Biosolids accumulation and biodegradation of domestic wastewater treatment plant sludge by developed liquid state bioconversion process using a batch fermenter

The biosolids accumulation and biodegradation of domestic wastewater treatment plant (DWTP) sludge by filamentous fungi have been investigated in a batch fermenter. The filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger and Penicillium corylophilum isolated from wastewater and DWTP sludge was used to evaluate the treatment performance. The optimized mixed inoculum (A. niger and P. corylophilum) and developed process conditions (co-substrate and its concentration, temperature, initial pH, inoculum size, and aeration and agitation rate) were incorporated to accelerate the DWTP sludge treatment process. The results showed that microbial treatment of higher strength of DWTP sludge (4% w/w of TSS) was highly influenced by the liquid state bioconversion (LSB) process. In developed bioconversion processes, 93.8 g/kg of biosolids was enriched with fungal biomass protein of 30 g/kg. Enrichment of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K) in biosolids was recorded in 6.2% (w/w), 3.1% (w/w) and 0.15% (w/w) from its initial values of 4.8% (w/w), 2.0% (w/w) and 0.08% (w/w) respectively after 10 days of fungal treatment. The biodegradation results revealed that 98.8% of TSS, 98.2% of TDS, 97.3% of turbidity, 80.2% of soluble protein, 98.8% of reducing sugar and 92.7% of COD in treated DWTP sludge supernatant were removed after 8 days of microbial treatment. The specific resistance to filtration (SRF) in treated sludge (1.4x10(12) m/kg) was decreased tremendously by the microbial treatment of DWTP sludge after 6 days of fermentation compared to untreated sample (85x10(12) m/kg).     

Mould growth on traditional greek sausages and penicillin production by Penicillium isolates

Visible moulds were isolated and identified from traditional Greek sausages from Northern Greece. Penicillium species were isolated from 90.8% of visibly mouldy sausages. Penicillium solitum, P. nalgiovense and P. commune species made up 60.6% of the total number of isolates. The most frequently occurring species was P. solitum (26.1%). P. nalgiovense and P. olsonii were found to be positive to penicillin production in an agar assay and further examination for antibiotic production in liquid culture with complex media designed for penicillin production, confirmed their ability for penicillin biosynthesis. Penicillin production by P. olsonii is reported for the first time in this study.     

Chemical response of Picea glehnii seed-epiphytic Penicillium species to Pythium vexans under in vitro competitive conditions for mycelial growth

The potential protection of Picea glehnii seedlings from damping-off by seed-epiphytic Penicillium species was investigated. We studied the chemical response of seed-epiphytic Penicillium species (Pen. cyaneum, Pen. damascenum, and Pen. implicatum) to Pythium vexans, a damping-off fungus, in vitro. Penicillium species were cultured singly or cocultured with Pyt. vexans for 14 or 18 d, and mycelial growth, pH of culture filtrate, antifungal activity of the culture filtrate against Pyt. vexans, and the amount of antifungal compound produced by each Penicillium species, were examined. The filtrate of both the single culture of Penicillium and the coculture of Penicillium and Pyt. vexans showed antifungal activity against Pyt. vexans. In a coculture with Pyt. vexans, Pen. cyaneum produced an antifungal compound (patulin) as in the single culture. Pen. damascenum cocultured with Pyt. vexans produced an antifungal compound (citrinin), as it did in the single culture and in larger amounts on day 10. Pen. implicatum produced two antifungal compounds, frequentin and palitantin, and the ratio of frequentin (with higher antifungal activity than palitantin) to palitantin was higher in the coculture with Pyt. vexans than in the single culture. Our results indicate that these Penicillium species have the ability to produce antifungal compounds and to keep antifungal activity under competitive condition with Pyt. vexans. The chemical response of these Penicillium species to Pyt. vexans may contribute to protect P. glehnii seedlings from damage by Pyt. vexans.     

D—异抗坏血酸产生菌的筛选及诱变育种

本文从85株霉菌中,筛选得到了六株青霉属D-异抗坏血酸(EA)产生菌,其中点青霉2553产酸能力较高.通过UV、DES或~(60)Coγ-射线对其单孢子进行诱变处理,并进行随机筛选和理性化筛选,获得一最高正变株,其产酸水平达14.47mg/ml,较出发菌株提高50%.     

朝鲜辣白菜中抗扩展青霉乳酸菌的筛选与鉴定

该研究采用菌饼法从朝鲜辣白菜中筛选抗扩展青霉（Penicillium expansum）的乳酸菌,采用形态观察、生理生化试验及分子生物学技术进行菌种鉴定,并对乳酸菌抗扩展青霉的机理进行初步研究。结果表明,经过筛选和鉴定,获得1株对扩展青霉抑制效果最佳的清酒乳杆菌（Lactobacillus sakei）PC-3,抑菌率为68.62%。菌株PC-3无细胞上清液（CFS）的抗真菌活性随pH的升高呈现先升高后降低的趋势;随温度的升高逐渐下降。初步判定菌株PC-3 CFS中抗扩展青霉的有效成分是乳酸和乙酸,其对扩展青霉抑菌率分别为67.58%和66.73%。经扫描电镜观察发现,菌株PC-3 CFS抗扩展青霉的机制为破坏其细胞结构,导致胞内物质泄漏。     

Biotransformation of imperatorin by Penicillium janthinellum. Anti-osteoporosis activities of its metabolites

Imperatorin (IMP) is a major constituent of many herbal medicines and possesses anti-osteoporosis activity. The present research work aimed to study the biotransformation processes of IMP and evaluated the anti-osteoporosis activity of the transformed metabolites. Among 18 strains of filamentous fungi screened, Penicillium janthinellum AS 3.510 exhibited good capability to metabolise IMP to the new derivatives. Ten transformed products were isolated and purified, and their structures were identified accurately based on spectroscopic data. Eight metabolites (2–8 and 10) were novel and previously unreported. The major biotransformation reactions involved hydroxylation of the prenyloxy side-chain and the lactone ring-opening reaction of furocoumarin skeleton. In addition, anti-osteoporosis activities of all products (1–10) were evaluated using MC3T3-E1 cells. The results showed that products 5 and 8 had the best bioactivities in increasing MC3T3-E1 cell growth. These products could be used in future therapeutic regimens for treating osteoporosis.     

Inhibition of Penicillium expansum by an oxidative treatment

Several oxidizing compounds such as sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) are used to control postharvest decay in fresh fruit due to their antimicrobial effects. Here, we applied these compounds in vitro, in the presence of CuSO₄, against Penicillium expansum, causal agent of apple blue mold. MICs were 50 mg L⁻¹ and 400 mmol L⁻¹ for NaClO and H₂O₂, respectively, when these compounds were individually applied to conidia suspensions during 2 min. A combined oxidative treatment (OT) consisting on an incubation with 1 mg L⁻¹ NaClO and 200 mmol L⁻¹ H₂O₂, in the presence of 6 mmol L⁻¹ CuSO₄, inhibited growth, conidial germination and fungal infectivity on apple. The fractional inhibitory concentration index for the interaction between NaClO and H₂O₂ in the OT was 0.52 indicating a synergistic effect of the oxidizing compounds. These results suggest that the OT could be an interesting alternative for apple diseases postharvest control.     

橄榄假丝酵母控制苹果果实青霉病的效果及机制

通过橄榄假丝酵母与扩展青霉同孔和异孔接种实验、平板对峙实验以及酵母挥发性物质抑菌实验,结合苹 果组织伤口处酵母生长情况及伤口周围组织抗病相关酶活力的变化,阐明橄榄假丝酵母对苹果采后青霉的控制效果 及其可能存在的抑菌机理。结果表明：橄榄假丝酵母处理果实的发病率和病斑直径显著低于对照组（无菌水处理） 果实（P＜0.05）;橄榄假丝酵母不能产生抑菌的次生代谢产物,其挥发性物质对青霉菌的生长无显著抑制作用 （P＞0.05）;橄榄假丝酵母具有较强的繁殖生长和定殖能力,能在苹果果皮定殖、扩增,从而抑制果实接种发病 率和病斑直径的增加;同时,橄榄假丝酵母还能显著诱导果实过氧化物酶、多酚氧化酶和苯丙氨酸解氨酶活力增加 （P＜0.05）。综上所述,橄榄假丝酵母抑制苹果扩展青霉发病的机制包括诱导果实抗病性以及与病原菌的营养和 空间竞争。