First case of fungal keratitis secondary to Yamadazyma mexicana

Dear Editor,Fungal keratitis is a serious and potentially sightthreatening infection that poses a global health concern,with higher incidence rates reported in low-income countries and regions with tropical climates[1-3].Risk factors for fungal keratitis include trauma with vegetative matter,contact lens wear,history of ocular surgery,chronic topical steroid use,low socioeconomic status and tropical climate[1-2].Fungi have the propensity to penetrate deep into the corneal stroma,making the infection difficult to treat with topical antifungal agents alone.Complications such as corneal perforation and endophthalmitis can arise in severe cases,making early identification of the causative fungal pathogen of utmost importance[4-5].Moreover,obtaining susceptibilities to the available antifungal agents can be sight and eye saving[5].

Diversity analysis of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes from the Yellow River source area:Ⅰ

Twenty-four soil samples of eight ecosystem-types around the Yellow River source area were investigated for the number and specific composition of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes by dilution plate technique. And then the co-relationship between genus species of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes and ecosystem-types was analyzed. The results show that the amount and species distribution of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes had an obvious variability in different ecosystem-types, and that the dominant genus species varied in the eight ecosystem-types studied, with Cladosporium being the dominant genus in seven of the eight ecosystem-types except wetland. The index of species diversity varied in different ecosystem-types. The niche breadth analysis showed that Cladosporium had the highest niche breadth and distributed in all ecosystem-types, while the genera with a narrow niche breadth distributed only in a few ecosystem-types. The results of niche overlap index analysis indicated that Stachybotrys and Torula, Doratomyces and Scolecobasidium, Cladosporium and Chrysosporium had a higher niche overlap, whereas Arthrinium and Gliomastix, Phialophora and Doratomyces, Oidiodendron and Ulocladium had no niche overlap.

Soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes from Dahingganling Mountain Range, Inner Mongolia, China Ⅰ

A total of 50 isolates of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes belonging to 39 species in 18 genera were found from the area of Dahingganling Mountain Range. Among them, Monodictys arxanensis is a new species. Chrysosporium fastidium, Exserohilum pedicellatum, Monodictys asperospora, Papulaspora brachiata, Scolecobasidium anelli, Scolecobasidium verruculosum and Ulocladium tuberculatum are new to China. The other 31 taxa which have been previously reported from China are also listed. Specimens (dried cultures) and living cultures of all fungi studied have been deposited in the Herbarium of Shandong Agricultural University: Plant Pathology (HSAUP).

呼伦贝尔一锡林郭勒大草原土壤中的暗色丝孢菌(英文)

A total of 59 isolates of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes belonging to 28 species in 16 genera were obtained from Hulunbuir and Xilin Gol Steppe. Scolecobasidium tuberculosum is a new species morphologically resembling S.constrictum but having conspicuously tuberculate and dark brown conidia. Latin diagnosis is given for the new species. Cordana pauciseptata, Doratomyces columnaris, Bipolaris indica, Periconia jabalpurensis and Trichocladium opacum are new to Chinese fungal flora, and brief descriptions and illustrations of them are also provided based on Chinese isolates. The other 22 species previously known from China are also listed. All studied specimens (dried cultures) and living cultures are deposited in the Herbarium of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University (HSAUP).

Quality Control of Selected Antimalarials Sold in the Illicit Market: An Investigation Conducted in Porto-Novo City (Republic of Benin)

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the bite of female Anopheles mosquito and particularly affects the tropical areas of the world. According to national statistics it is the leading cause of consultations and hospitalizations. Nowadays, despite the surveillance systems for efficient malaria control and access to generic drugs, Benin is witnessing an increased development of illicit drug markets with a large part of the population going towards such markets. However, this is not without adverse impact on the health of individuals, as well as, the economic status of the country. Therefore, the situation needs to be seriously considered by policy makers at various levels, health professionals but also the entire international community in order to thwart this scourge.Regarding the aforementioned situation, the current study was undertaken aiming to perform a quality control of selected antimalarial drugs of the illegal market in Porto-Novo city. Therefore, 40 antimalarial batches were randomly collected in the illicit drug market and submitted to analytical tests such as: macroscopic examination (a visual and critical examination);mass uniformity test;disintegration test;identification test and active ingredients’ content measurement. At the end of the study, the percentages of non-compliance is 97.5%, 5%, 15% and 27.5%, respectively for the content uniformity tests, disintegration, identification and assay. Over-all, 42.5% of noncompliance was recorded. The findings of this study prove that street vended drugs offer no guarantee of good quality and pose a threat to the health of populations. Also, the rate of non-compliance denotes a flaw in the security of the drug distribution system.

In vitro post-harvest growth parameters of termite-associated fungi:a case study of Termitomyces schimperi(Basidiomycota,Lyophyllaceae)

Post-harvest growth parameters of the pileus of three immature sporocarps(Y_(7),Y_(8),Y_(10))of Termitomyces schimperi showing margins still attached to the stipe by the veil upon collection were studied in order to determine the optimum temperature,air moisture and maximum time at which they continue to grow after collection until opening their hymenophore,giving access to more mature lamellae able to produce spore-prints and more relevant for other studies.The figures obtained from the three equations(Y_(7)=0.7+0.1x;Y_(8)=1.98+0.225x;Y_(10)=-0.94+0.116x)of correlation between pileus post-harvest growth and time show various growth patterns depending on morphology,physiology and metabolism of each of the three sporocarps(3 replicates:Y_(7),Y_(8) and Y_(10))tested in vitro.The experiment also shows that,while the size of the stipe of T.schimperi remains constant in the three replicates,its pileus continues to grow for about 36 hrs maximum after collection and its diameter increases of about 3.23 cm to 10.08 cm in an environment of darkness with temperature ranging between 23℃ and 24℃ and relative humidity between 88%and 92%.Considering on the one hand that gill-fungi in general and Termitomyces in particular are highly perishable goods,and on the other hand that sporocarps of Termitomyces are not yet raised in artificial culture,this experiment shows that during mycological excursions,even when sporocarps of these species are found immature on the field,they should also be collected for study since a post-harvest growth of the pileus of numerous species could be artificially triggered or boosted in the laboratory in order to be able to obtain spore-prints important at various levels,and also get access to more mature lamellae absolutely necessary for further studies including particularly the macro-and microscopical descriptions prior to identification.Mature lamellae are also most often the best part used in gill-fungi for DNA extraction in molecular studies.

Endophytic fungi:a source of potential anticancer compounds

Bioactive metabolites produced by different endophytic fungi have wide range of applications in pharmaceutical and herbal medicine research.In contrast to plants,they are barely investigated to their boundless possibilities as storehouses of novel bioactive metabolites.They produce diverse metabolites by different biosynthetic pathways with the host plant.Enthusiasm for endophytes as a characteristic asset for new drugs was roused by the disclosure of paclitaxel-producing endophytic fungi.Anticancer activity is by and large connected with the cytotoxicity of the compounds present in the endophytic fungi.Phylogenetic classification of endophytic fungi is of great interest to mycologists as they can produce novel bioactive compounds with antitumor activity.This article audits anticancer compounds derived from endophytic fungi disengaged from the separate host plant.The endophytic fungi have been grouped by their host plants and anticancer compound synthesized.

Alpha Defensins Genes and Vulvovaginal Candidiasis:A Study of Cases

Objective: To evaluate the alpha-defensin (α-DF) genes polymorphism in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis and recurrence. Methods: This observational study included clinical vaginal secretion samples collected over four years from 88 women, ranging in age from 18 to 65 years, from medical centers of Sao Paulo and Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil. Thirty-six of these women were asymptomatic (control group) and 52 presented clinical condition compatible with vulvovaginitis (38 primary or episodic as non-recurrent forms, and 14 recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis). A portion of each sample was plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol and grown on CHROMagar Candida for presumptive characterization. The identification of the species was obtained by sequencing of the ITS1 region of rDNA. α-DF genes were amplified for subsequent evaluation of polymorphisms by endonuclease restriction assay. Results: From 88 samples were isolated 60 Candida albicans and 28 non-albicans Candida spp. Resistant C. albicans strains and non-albicans Candida spp. were more prevalent in recurrence. In all groups, the number of resistant non-albicans Candida spp. was most high than susceptible strains. α-DF1, α-DF3 and α-DF1/α-DF3 genotypes were found in 32 (36.4%), 17 (19.3%), 6 (6.8%) vaginal samples, respectively. About 33 samples were not amplified. Recurrence and severe disease were more observed in homozygous population. Conclusions: Non-albicans Candida spp. and homozygotic α-DF genotipes (α-DF1 and α-DF3) were more related with severe clinical signs and recurrence. Further studies about vulvovaginal candidiasis and α-DF genes are necessary to access the more comprehensive role of defensins in clinical manifestations.

Fungal diversity notes 1611-1716: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on fungal genera and species emphasis in south China

This article is the 15th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series,wherein 115 taxa from three phyla,nine classes,28 orders,48 families,and 64 genera are treated.Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include a new family,five new genera,61 new species,five new combinations,one synonym,one new variety and 31 records on new hosts or new geographical distributions.Ageratinicolaceae fam.nov.is introduced and accommodated in Pleosporales.The new genera introduced in this study are Ageratinicola,Kevinia,Pseudomultiseptospora(Parabambusicolaceae),Marasmiellomycena,and Vizzinia(Porotheleaceae).Newly described species are Abrothallus altoandinus,Ageratinicola kunmingensis,Allocryptovalsa aceris,Allophoma yuccae,Apiospora cannae,A.elliptica,A.pallidesporae,Boeremia wisteriae,Calycina papaeana,Clypeo-coccum lichenostigmoides,Coniochaeta riskali-shoyakubovii,Cryphonectria kunmingensis,Diaporthe angustiapiculata,D.campylandrae,D.longipapillata,Diatrypella guangdongense,Dothiorella franceschinii,Endocalyx phoenicis,Epicoc-cum terminosporum,Fulvifomes karaiensis,F.pannaensis,Ganoderma ghatensis,Hysterobrevium baoshanense,Inocybe avellaneorosea,I.lucida,Jahnula oblonga,Kevinia lignicola,Kirschsteiniothelia guangdongensis,Laboulbenia caprina,L.clavulata,L.cobiae,L.cosmodisci,L.nilotica,L.omalii,L.robusta,L.similis,L.stigmatophora,Laccaria rubriporus,Lasiodiplodia morindae,Lyophyllum agnijum,Marasmiellomycena pseudoomphaliiformis,Melomastia beihaiensis,Nemania guangdongensis,Nigrograna thailandica,Nigrospora ficuum,Oxydothis chinensis,O.yunnanensis,Petriella thailandica,Phaeoacremonium chinensis,Phialocephala chinensis,Phytophthora debattistii,Polyplosphaeria nigrospora,Pronectria loweniae,Seriascoma acutispora,Setoseptoria bambusae,Stictis anomianthi,Tarzetta tibetensis,Tarzetta urceolata,Tetraploa obpyriformis,Trichoglossum beninense,and Tricoderma pyrrosiae.We provide an emendation for Urnula ailaoshanensis Agaricus duplocingulatoides var.brevisporus introduced as a new variety based on morphology and phylogeny.

The lymphocyte scavenger receptor CD5 plays a nonredundant role in fungal infection

Invasive fungal diseases(IFD)impact morbidity,mortality,hospital stay and healthcare costs in critically ill patients,constituting an unmet medical need.1 Pathogenic fungi rarely cause IFD in immunocompetent individuals but become life-threatening in cases of immunodeficiency,young infants,disrupted mucosal barriers or polyantibiotic therapy,highlighting the role of immune surveillance in IFD control.^(2)

Proposed nomenclature for Pseudallescheria,Scedosporium and related genera

As a result of fundamental changes in the International Code of Nomenclature on the use of separate names for sexual and asexual stages of fungi,generic names of many groups should be reconsidered.Members of the ECMM/ISHAM working group on Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium infections herein advocate a novel nomenclature for genera and species in Pseudallescheria,Scedosporium and allied taxa.The generic names Parascedosporium,Lomentospora,Petriella,Petriellopsis,and Scedosporium are proposed for a lineage within Microascaceae with mostly Scedosporium anamorphs producing slimy,annellidic conidia.Considering that Scedosporium has priority over Pseudallescheria and that Scedosporium prolificans is phylogenetically distinct from the other Scedosporium species,some name changes are proposed.Pseudallescheria minutispora and Petriellidium desertorum are renamed as Scedosporium minutisporum and S.desertorum,respectively.Scedosporium prolificans is renamed as Lomentospora prolificans.

Families of Dothideomycetes

Dothideomycetes comprise a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by asci with two wall layers(bitunicate asci)and often with fissitunicate dehiscence.Many species are saprobes,with many asexual states comprising important plant pathogens.They are also endophytes,epiphytes,fungicolous,lichenized,or lichenicolous fungi.They occur in terrestrial,freshwater and marine habitats in almost every part of the world.We accept 105 families in Dothideomycetes with the new families Anteagloniaceae,Bambusicolaceae,Biatriosporaceae,Lichenoconiaceae,Muyocopronaceae,Paranectriellaceae,Roussoellaceae,Salsugineaceae,Seynesiopeltidaceae and Thyridariaceae introduced in this paper.Each family is provided with a description and notes,including asexual and asexual states,and if more than one genus is included,the type genus is also characterized.Each family is provided with at least one figure-plate,usually illustrating the type genus,a list of accepted genera,including asexual genera,and a key to these genera.A phylogenetic tree based on four gene combined analysis add support for 64 of the families and 22 orders,including the novel orders,Dyfrolomycetales,Lichenoconiales,Lichenotheliales,Monoblastiales,Natipusillales,Phaeotrichales and Strigulales.The paper is expected to provide a working document on Dothideomycetes which can be modified as new data comes to light.It is hoped that by illustrating types we provide stimulation and interest so that more work is carried out in this remarkable group of fungi.

Chaetomium-like fungi causing opportunistic infections in humans:a possible role for extremotolerance

Members of the family Chaetomiaceae are ubiquitous ascosporulating fungi commonly,which reside in soil enriched with manure or cellulosic materials.Their role as human pathogens is largely ignored.However,the ability of some species to grow at high temperature enables them to play an important role as opportunistic pathogens.The family contains several genera and species that have never been reported to cause human infection.Hereby,three new species are described;two belong to the genus Subramaniula and one represents a Chaetomium species.Subramaniula asteroides was isolated from various sources including eye and skin infections as well as from the natural environment,and S.obscura was isolated from a toe infection.Chaetomium anamorphosum was isolated from a kidney transplant patient suffering from fungal peritonitis.All species described were previously misidentified as Papulaspora spp.due to the formation of cellular clumps or bulbil-like structures,which are characteristic of Papulaspora.The isolates failed to form sexual fruit bodies and ascospores remained absent,which is an unusual feature for the generally ascosporulating genera Chaetomium and Subramaniula;minute conidia from phialides were sometimes observed.