The fungal community associated with beach sand and plants located along marine coasts are an under-studied area of research despite its potential relevance to human health. In this study, we isolated and identified t...The fungal community associated with beach sand and plants located along marine coasts are an under-studied area of research despite its potential relevance to human health. In this study, we isolated and identified the cultivable mycobiota associated with sand and plants collected along the coast of Gran Canaria (Spain) using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Clinically relevant species belonging to Cryptococcus spp. and related genera such as Naganishia and Papilotrema were isolated and identified from shoreline plants. Moreover, Candida tropicalis was isolated from beach sand, and Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus terreus strains were associated with both types of samples (i.e., plants and beach sand). We conclude that beach sand and shoreline plants are potential reservoirs of fungi of high clinical interest. We recommend including beach sand and plants from the environment when assessing the quality of marine coastal systems. Our results open a framework for studying the natural marine environment and its role in the epidemiology of infectious diseases in order to more accurately manage public health.展开更多
Invasive fungal infections (IFI) have recently become increasingly more prevalent, resulting in an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Both Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. are major causes of IFI. In this stu...Invasive fungal infections (IFI) have recently become increasingly more prevalent, resulting in an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Both Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. are major causes of IFI. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cumulative fraction of response of various dosage regimens of posaconazole against nine Candida spp. and six Aspergillus spp. in both children and adults. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) was performed to optimize selection of posaconazole dosage regimens. For children, a dosage regimen of 120 mg/m2 posaconazole tid was sufficient to treat fungal infections caused by all six Aspergillus spp. and six of the nine Candida spp. (but was not effective against C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii and C. krusei). In contrast, a 400 mg dosage regimen of posaconazole bid achieved the target pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) parameters against all six Aspergillus spp. and eight of the nine Candida spp. (but was not effective against C. glabrata) in the adults. Dosage regimens of 50 mg bid, 100 mg bid, or 200 mg bid were not effective. Posaconazole dosage regimens are likely to achieve their desired PK/PD targets against Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. in both children and adults.展开更多
This study investigated the phytochemical screening of some plant extracts against aflatoxin producing fungi in sesame (Sesamum indicum). The plants are Prosopis africana, Psorospermum febrifugum and rhizome of Curcum...This study investigated the phytochemical screening of some plant extracts against aflatoxin producing fungi in sesame (Sesamum indicum). The plants are Prosopis africana, Psorospermum febrifugum and rhizome of Curcuma longa. Various parts of the plants were dried, grounded and extracted in methanolic solvent. The preliminary phytochemical screening of methanol extracts for stem bark, leaves and rhizome of Curcuma longa revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids, cardiac, glycosides, terpenoids, phenols and tannins. The result of anti-aflatoxigenic activity indicates that methanol extracts of these plants show significant activity against the fungi isolates. The effect of plants extracts on mycelia growth of the test organism reduced the mycelia growth significantly as compared to the control (Plate 6 (a-f)). In view of the efficacy of the activity of the plant extracts, it could be concluded that these medicinal plants possess antifungal properties that can be exploited for the control of aflatoxin in sesame. Further works are needed to investigate the biological active ingredients of these plants.展开更多
Seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is one of the few unique crops grown only in Iran and southkhorasan. Barberry is a well known medicinal plant in Iran and has been widely used as food additive. Th...Seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is one of the few unique crops grown only in Iran and southkhorasan. Barberry is a well known medicinal plant in Iran and has been widely used as food additive. The comprehensive survey of fungal contamination of barberry was undertaken in the market of Birjand, during March to June at 2012. Fungal infections of barberry were studied in thirty samples. Among these, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Mucor spp. were major contaminants also the results showed that 57% of barberry was infected and most fungal species related to Aspergillus spp. and penicillium spp. Therefore it needs to undertake the management practices.展开更多
Background The incidence of invasive aspergillosis （IA） has increased in frequency in immunocompromised patients with a variety of diseases. The poor prognosis might be due to limited treatment option. This study ai...Background The incidence of invasive aspergillosis （IA） has increased in frequency in immunocompromised patients with a variety of diseases. The poor prognosis might be due to limited treatment option. This study aimed to evaluate antifungal activity of ibuprofen against clinical isolates of aspergillus species, as well as its interaction with azoles or with amphotericin B or with micafungin. Methods Antifungal activity of ibuprofen against 10 strains of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus terreus were tested with both disk diffusion assay and standard broth microdilution method. To determine whether ibuprofen combined with itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, or micafungin had interactive effects on aspergillus spp., we used both disk diffusion assay and Chequerboard method. Results As for disk diffusion method, ibuprofen produced a zone of growth inhibition with diameters of （20.1±3.9） mm at 48 hours of incubation. As for broth microdilution method, the minimal inhibitory concentration （MIC） ranges of ibuprofen against aspergillus spp. were 1000-2000 μg/ml, and the minimal fungicidal concentration （MFC） ranges of that was 2000-8000 μg/ml. For 2 of 5 isolates, when ibuprofen combined with itraconazole or voriconazole, the zones of growth inhibition were larger than those of the individual drug. The results of Chequerboard method showed that fractional inhibitory concentration index （FICI） ranges were 1.125-2.500. Conclusions Ibuprofen is active against aspergillus spp.. And ibuprofen does not affect the in vitro activity of itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B or micafungin against aspergillus spp.展开更多
文摘The fungal community associated with beach sand and plants located along marine coasts are an under-studied area of research despite its potential relevance to human health. In this study, we isolated and identified the cultivable mycobiota associated with sand and plants collected along the coast of Gran Canaria (Spain) using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Clinically relevant species belonging to Cryptococcus spp. and related genera such as Naganishia and Papilotrema were isolated and identified from shoreline plants. Moreover, Candida tropicalis was isolated from beach sand, and Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus terreus strains were associated with both types of samples (i.e., plants and beach sand). We conclude that beach sand and shoreline plants are potential reservoirs of fungi of high clinical interest. We recommend including beach sand and plants from the environment when assessing the quality of marine coastal systems. Our results open a framework for studying the natural marine environment and its role in the epidemiology of infectious diseases in order to more accurately manage public health.
文摘Invasive fungal infections (IFI) have recently become increasingly more prevalent, resulting in an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Both Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. are major causes of IFI. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cumulative fraction of response of various dosage regimens of posaconazole against nine Candida spp. and six Aspergillus spp. in both children and adults. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) was performed to optimize selection of posaconazole dosage regimens. For children, a dosage regimen of 120 mg/m2 posaconazole tid was sufficient to treat fungal infections caused by all six Aspergillus spp. and six of the nine Candida spp. (but was not effective against C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii and C. krusei). In contrast, a 400 mg dosage regimen of posaconazole bid achieved the target pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) parameters against all six Aspergillus spp. and eight of the nine Candida spp. (but was not effective against C. glabrata) in the adults. Dosage regimens of 50 mg bid, 100 mg bid, or 200 mg bid were not effective. Posaconazole dosage regimens are likely to achieve their desired PK/PD targets against Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. in both children and adults.
文摘This study investigated the phytochemical screening of some plant extracts against aflatoxin producing fungi in sesame (Sesamum indicum). The plants are Prosopis africana, Psorospermum febrifugum and rhizome of Curcuma longa. Various parts of the plants were dried, grounded and extracted in methanolic solvent. The preliminary phytochemical screening of methanol extracts for stem bark, leaves and rhizome of Curcuma longa revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids, cardiac, glycosides, terpenoids, phenols and tannins. The result of anti-aflatoxigenic activity indicates that methanol extracts of these plants show significant activity against the fungi isolates. The effect of plants extracts on mycelia growth of the test organism reduced the mycelia growth significantly as compared to the control (Plate 6 (a-f)). In view of the efficacy of the activity of the plant extracts, it could be concluded that these medicinal plants possess antifungal properties that can be exploited for the control of aflatoxin in sesame. Further works are needed to investigate the biological active ingredients of these plants.
文摘Seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is one of the few unique crops grown only in Iran and southkhorasan. Barberry is a well known medicinal plant in Iran and has been widely used as food additive. The comprehensive survey of fungal contamination of barberry was undertaken in the market of Birjand, during March to June at 2012. Fungal infections of barberry were studied in thirty samples. Among these, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Mucor spp. were major contaminants also the results showed that 57% of barberry was infected and most fungal species related to Aspergillus spp. and penicillium spp. Therefore it needs to undertake the management practices.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30970131） and the Key Project of Chinese Ministry of Education （No. 107002）.
文摘Background The incidence of invasive aspergillosis （IA） has increased in frequency in immunocompromised patients with a variety of diseases. The poor prognosis might be due to limited treatment option. This study aimed to evaluate antifungal activity of ibuprofen against clinical isolates of aspergillus species, as well as its interaction with azoles or with amphotericin B or with micafungin. Methods Antifungal activity of ibuprofen against 10 strains of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus terreus were tested with both disk diffusion assay and standard broth microdilution method. To determine whether ibuprofen combined with itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, or micafungin had interactive effects on aspergillus spp., we used both disk diffusion assay and Chequerboard method. Results As for disk diffusion method, ibuprofen produced a zone of growth inhibition with diameters of （20.1±3.9） mm at 48 hours of incubation. As for broth microdilution method, the minimal inhibitory concentration （MIC） ranges of ibuprofen against aspergillus spp. were 1000-2000 μg/ml, and the minimal fungicidal concentration （MFC） ranges of that was 2000-8000 μg/ml. For 2 of 5 isolates, when ibuprofen combined with itraconazole or voriconazole, the zones of growth inhibition were larger than those of the individual drug. The results of Chequerboard method showed that fractional inhibitory concentration index （FICI） ranges were 1.125-2.500. Conclusions Ibuprofen is active against aspergillus spp.. And ibuprofen does not affect the in vitro activity of itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B or micafungin against aspergillus spp.
