Insights into biological delignification of rice straw by Trametes hirsuta and Myrothecium roridum and comparison of saccharification yields with dilute acid pretreatment

Rice straw is the most abundant agricultural residue on a global scale and is widely available as feedstock for cellulosic fuel production. However, it is highly recalcitrant to biochemical deconstruction and also generates inhibitors that affect enzymatic saccharification. Rice straw from eastern Arkansas was subjected to dilute acid pretreatment (160 °C, 48 min and 1.0% sulfuric acid) and solid-state fermentation with two lignocellulolytic fungi, Trametes hirsuta and Myrothecium roridum, and their saccharification efficacies were compared. T. hirsuta and M. roridum were tested separately; pretreatment of rice straw with either strain for seven days resulted in 19 and 70% enrichment of its holocellulose content, respectively. However, liquid chromatography analysis of the alkali extracts showed significant differences in cell wall degradation by T. hirsuta and M. roridum. T. hirsuta removed 15% more phenolic compounds and 38% more glucan than M. roridum, while M. roridum removed 77% more xylan than T. hirsuta. Fungal and dilute acid pretreated biomass was then hydrolyzed using Accellerase^® 1500, a saccharification cocktail. Saccharification efficiency of M. roridum was 37% higher than that of dilute acid pretreatment of rice straw, requiring 8% lower enzyme loading and 50% shorter enzymatic hydrolysis duration. Alkali extraction of fungal pretreated biomass also yielded 10–15 g kg⁻¹ of acid precipitable polymeric lignin (APPL), which is a valuable co-product for biorefineries. In comparison to dilute acid pretreatment, fungal pretreatment could be a cost-effective alternative for the degradation of recalcitrant biomass, such as rice straw.     

Genetically modified starter and protective cultures

Modern approaches towards starter and protective culture improvement rely on advances in molecular biology. For most microorganisms used for food production, gene technological methods have been well developed. By recombinant DNA technology, ‘tailor-made’ starter and protective cultures may be constructed so as to combine technically desirable features. A single strain which normally would fail to accomplish a given ‘wtask’ may now be improved so as to meet a set of requirements necessary for a specific production or preservation process (e.g. wholesomeness, no off-flavour production, overproduction of bacteriocins or particular enzymes). In addition, undesirable properties (e.g. mycotoxin or antibiotic production by cheese moulds) may be eliminated by techniques such as ‘gene disruption’.     

Mycological and physical parameters for selecting suitable packaging material for pre- and post-irradiation storage of cereal grains in Ghana

Owing to the rough warehouse handling of storage sacks in tropical areas in Africa, a suitable storage sack should not support de novo growth of fungal spores because this would reduce the tensile strength of the packaging material and act as a springboard for infecting grain contents. This paper reports the effect of activity of saprophytic fungi on the tensile strength of jute and woven polypropylene sacks. New woven polypropylene sacks carried lower levels of fungal spores (1.3×10¹ cfu/72 cm²) than jute sacks (3.0×10³ cfu/72 cm²). The natural mould penetration and growth was examined on sections (4×5 cm) of both jute and woven polypropylene after previous incubation at relative humidities of 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 90 and 95% for 10 weeks by placing them on Sabouraud's Agar. There was a significant difference (P = 0.05 level of significance) between the higher penetration of mould growth on jute sacks and that obtained on woven polypropylene sacks. Saprophytic fungi (Aspergillus candidus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. japonicus, A. parasiticus, A. ustus, Fusarium oxysporium, F. moniliforme, Penicillium verucosum var. cyclopium, Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma viride) isolated from jute sacks reduced tensile strength, measured by an Instron Model 1026, by 50–75% after 10 weeks at 90% R.H. Same fungal species on woven polypropylene sacks did not alter the tensile strength. Woven polypropylene sacks did not absorb moisture whilst the moisture content of jute sacks increased by 5.3–6.0% in 10 weeks at 90% R.H. with concomitant increase in mould and yeast counts by 1–2 log cycles. Evidence is presented to show that there was a positive correlation between the final mycoflora on jute sacks and loss in tensile strength. No correlation, however, was found between the total aerobic bacteria on jute sacks and the concomitant reduction in tensile strength. Fungi therefore play a major role in the reduction of tensile strength of jute sacks. Sterilization by gamma irradiation (8.0 kGy) of jute and woven polypropylene sacks did not affect their intrinsic tensile strength. Woven polypropylene sacks therefore have many microbiological and physical advantages over the traditional jute sacks to merit their use for grain storage in tropical areas like Ghana.     

Development and experimental validation of an overlay mortar with biocide activity

Biodeterioration of concrete by microorganism colonisation may be a problem in several structures, especially in irrigation and hydroelectric canals. The main problem in such structures is the proliferation of algae and cyanobacteria that affect the performance of the structure, increase the maintenance costs and affects its durability. A research was conducted to develop a novel cement-based material with biocide activity that can be used as an overlay mortar in existing structures, such as canals and pipes. With this aim, ten commercial biocides were evaluated in a laboratory campaign to assess the effectiveness of the compounds against the microbial colonisation of concrete. Both mono- and multicomponent formulations were designed from the commercial products, to increase their antimicrobial effect obtaining a set of biocide formulations. The formulations were submitted to a flowchart process to determine their influence on the physical properties of the concrete, evaluate the release of the actives, and their antimicrobial efficiency both before and after accelerated aging processes. During the campaign, some formulations were observed to diminish the strength of the concrete. Such behaviour was normally due to the interaction of the active with the cement hydration process. Other formulations showed a high release of active from the concrete in water, compromising the durability of the treatment. In general, monocomponent formulations did not succeed to fulfill all the requirements, thus multicomponent formulations were analysed. One studied multicomponent formulation presented particularly good results in all properties analysed. This product did not significantly change the properties of concrete and the release of active in water from the concrete was low, while the antimicrobial effects were long lasting.     

Bacteria in a water‐damaged building: associations of actinomycetes and non‐tuberculous mycobacteria with respiratory health in occupants

We examined microbial correlates of health outcomes in building occupants with a sarcoidosis cluster and excess asthma. We offered employees a questionnaire and pulmonary function testing and collected floor dust and liquid/sludge from drain tubing traps of heat pumps that were analyzed for various microbial agents. Forty‐nine percent of participants reported any symptom reflecting possible granulomatous disease (shortness of breath on exertion, flu‐like achiness, or fever and chills) weekly in the last 4 weeks. In multivariate regressions, thermophilic actinomycetes (median = 529 CFU/m²) in dust were associated with FEV₁/FVC [coefficient = ?2.8 per interquartile range change, P = 0.02], percent predicted FEF_25–75% (coefficient = ?12.9, P = 0.01), and any granulomatous disease‐like symptom [odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.45?6.73]. Mycobacteria (median = 658 CFU/m²) were positively associated with asthma symptoms (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.97?2.43). Composite score (median = 11.5) of total bacteria from heat pumps was negatively associated with asthma (0.8, 0.71?1.00) and positively associated with FEV₁/FVC (coefficient = 0.44, P = 0.095). Endotoxin (median score = 12.0) was negatively associated with two or more granulomatous disease‐like symptoms (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.67?0.98) and asthma (0.8, 0.67?0.96). Fungi or (1→3)‐β‐D‐glucan in dust or heat pump traps was not associated with any health outcomes. Thermophilic actinomycetes and non‐tuberculous mycobacteria may have played a role in the occupants' respiratory outcomes in this water‐damaged building.     

Next‐generation DNA sequencing reveals that low fungal diversity in house dust is associated with childhood asthma development

Dampness and visible mold in homes are associated with asthma development, but causal mechanisms remain unclear. The goal of this research was to explore associations among measured dampness, fungal exposure, and childhood asthma development without the bias of culture‐based microbial analysis. In the low‐income, Latino CHAMACOS birth cohort, house dust was collected at age 12 months, and asthma status was determined at age 7 years. The current analysis included 13 asthma cases and 28 controls. Next‐generation DNA sequencing methods quantified fungal taxa and diversity. Lower fungal diversity (number of fungal operational taxonomic units) was significantly associated with increased risk of asthma development: unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.80 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–22.1). Control for potential confounders strengthened this relationship. Decreased diversity within the genus Cryptococcus was significantly associated with increased asthma risk (OR 21.0, 95% CI 2.16–204). No fungal taxon (species, genus, class) was significantly positively associated with asthma development, and one was significantly negatively associated. Elevated moisture was associated with increased fungal diversity, and moisture/mold indicators were associated with four fungal taxa. Next‐generation DNA sequencing provided comprehensive estimates of fungal identity and diversity, demonstrating significant associations between low fungal diversity and childhood asthma development in this community.     

真菌群体感应分子法尼醇及其作用机制

群体感应(quorum sensing,QS)是取决于细胞密度的微生物通信机制,可调节细菌毒力因子分泌、生物膜形成、感受态和生物发光等行为。真菌群体感应系统10年前在法尼醇控制致病多态性真菌白色念珠菌中的细丝化研究中被发现。研究显示法尼醇作为群体感应分子(QSM)对宿主和其他微生物发挥多种作用;还发现芳香醇酪醇是控制白色念珠菌生长、形态发生和生物膜形成的另一群体感应分子。在酿酒酵母中,发现另两种芳香醇苯乙醇和色氨酸是在氮饥饿条件下调节形态发生的群体感应分子。此外,类似于群体感应的种群密度依赖性行为已在几种其他真菌中描述。本综述总结了目前发现群体感应效应的几种关键真菌物种,并重点阐述了研究较多的白色念珠菌和法尼醇作用的微观机制研究进展。     

霉变油炸小食品中鲜绿青霉菌的分离鉴定研究

食品安全问题是关系人体健康和国计民生的重大问题,已经引起人们的高度重视。利用稀释涂布法从霉变油炸小食品中分离获得1株菌,形态学观察初步鉴定为酵母菌。通过单因素试验及L9(34)正交试验对菌种的生长条件进行研究,确定最适培养温度38℃、培养时间75 h、摇床转速200 r/min、碳氮比5∶1。在真菌DNA提取过程中尝试了SDS法和CTAB法。除蛋白采取了酚/氯仿的方法 ,对所得样品进行DNA凝胶电泳、质量检测和PCR扩增产物。用18SrDNA ITS的直接测序法测序后构建系统发育树确定:该菌为鲜绿青霉菌(Penicillium viridicatum)。     

几种捕食真菌对烟草根结线虫致病力研究初报

本文应用捕食真菌Ａｒｔｈｒｏｂｏｔｒｙｓｏｌｉｇｏｓｐｏｒａ，Ａ．ｍｕｓｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ，Ａ．ｃｌａｄｏｄｅｓ，Ａ．Ｖｅｒｍｉｃｏｌａ，Ｍｏｎａｃｒｏｓｐｏｒｉｕｍｌｙｓｉｐａｇａ，Ｍ．ｍｅｇａｌｏｓｐｏｒｕｍ，Ｍ．ｍｕｔａｂｃｌｅ，对南方根结线虫（Ｍｅｌｏｉｄｏｇｙｎｅｉｎｃｏｇｎｉｔａ）进行了致病力测定和捕食过程观察，结果表明：各菌株对根结线虫二龄幼虫均具有致病性，Ａｒｔｈｒｏｂｏｔｒｙｓ属菌种以三维粘性菌网捕食，Ａ．ｏｌｉｇｏｓｐｏｒａ捕食率最高；Ｍｏｎａｃｒｏｓｐｏｒｉｕｍ属菌种形成粘着孢和非收缩环两种捕食器官。