Search results for "Aspergillus"

Antifungal activity of peracetic acid against toxigenic fungal contaminants of maize and barley at the postharvest stage

2021

Abstract Contamination of maize and barley grain during storage by the toxigenic fungi Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and Penicillium Verrucosum (P. verrucosum) is both an economic and a public health problem, especially in less industrialized countries. Peracetic acid (PA) is a compound used for the disinfection of food and food contact surfaces. Unlike other disinfectants, it leaves no toxic residues and its decomposition products (CH3COOH, O2 and H2O) are environmentally friendly. In order to apply PA to preserve maize and barley grain during storage, first, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) against both fungi were determined in a 96-we…

Biopreservation of tomatoes using fermented media by lactic acid bacteria

2020

Abstract Post-harvest spoilage fungi in tomatoes represent an economic loss for industry and consumers. There is currently an increasing demand for novel applications of bio-preservatives as replacers of chemical additives and pesticides in food. In this study, nine lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from tomato and sourdough were screened for antifungal activity in vitro against 33 fungal strains and used as bio-preservatives of tomato inoculated with Penicillium expansum and Aspergillus flavus. The identification of the compounds potentially responsible for the antifungal activity, such as organic acids, phenolic acids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), were identified and quantifi…

Assessment of azole fungicides as a tool to control growth of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 and B2 production in maize

2017

ABSTRACTAspergillus flavus is a highly aflatoxin (AF)-producing species infecting maize and other crops. It is dominant in tropical regions, but it is also considered an emerging problem associated with climate change in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of azole fungicides (prochloraz, tebuconazole and a 2:1 (w/w) mixture of prochloraz plus tebuconazole) to control the growth of A. flavus and AF production in yeast-extract–sucrose (YES) agar and in maize kernels under different water activities (aw) and temperatures. Aflatoxins B1 and B2 were determined by LC with fluorescence detection and post-column derivatisation of AFB1. In YES medium and maize grains inoculated…

Ziziphora tenuior L. essential oil from Dana Biosphere Reserve (Southern Jordan); chemical characterization and assessment of biological activities

2016

Abstract Ethnopharmacologic relevance Ziziphora tenuior L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant in Jordan, which is included in various antimicrobial, antiseptic, expectorant and wound healing preparations. It is used for the treatment of cough, stomach ache, dysentery, fever, uterus infection, gut inflammation and painful menstruation. Aim of the study The aim of this study was to assess, for the first time, the chemical composition of the essential oil of Z. tenuior originated from southern Jordan and its antifungal effects against several yeasts. Concomitantly, the mechanisms behind the anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans were also disclosed. Since the Z. tenuior traditional uses a…

Reduction of the aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in Italian piadina by isothiocyanates

2016

Abstract Aflatoxins (AFs) are mycotoxins produced mainly by the molds Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus parasiticus and A . nomius . These mycotoxins are contaminants of cereals. AFB 1 , the most abundant and toxic metabolite, is known to cause several toxic responses, such as hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity and mutagenicity. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are natural compounds produced by the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates (GLs), which have shown potent antimicrobial activity in food applications. In this study, ITCs derived from oriental and yellow mustard (0.1, 0.5 and 1 g of flour) were used to avoid the production of AFs in piadina (a typical Italian flatbread) contaminated with A . para…

2019

s2 integrin receptors consist of an alpha subunit (CD11a-CD11d) and CD18 as the common beta subunit, and are differentially expressed by leukocytes. s2 integrins are required for cell-cell interaction, transendothelial migration, uptake of opsonized pathogens, and cell signaling processes. Functional loss of CD18-termed leukocyte-adhesion deficiency type 1 (LAD1)-results in an immunocompromised state characterized by frequent occurrence of severe infections. In immunosuppressed individuals Aspergillus fumigatus is a frequent cause of invasive pulmonary fungal infection, and often occurs in patients suffering from LAD1. Here, we asked for the importance of CD11b/CD18 also termed MAC-1 which …

Electrochemical identification of toxigenic fungal species using solid-state voltammetry strategies.

2018

An electrochemical methodology for the characterization of mycotoxin-producing fungal species from the genera Aspergillus and Fusarium using solid-state voltammetry is described. Upon attachment of fungal colony microsamples to glassy carbon electrodes in contact with aqueous acetate buffer, characteristic voltammetric signals mainly associated to the oxidation of polyphenolic metabolites are recorded. The possibility of fungi-localized electrochemical processes was assessed by means of electron microscopy and field emission scanning electrochemical microscopy coupled to the application of oxidative potential inputs. Using pattern recognition methods, the determined voltammetric profiles we…

Performance of existing definitions and tests for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in critically ill, adult patients: A systematic review with…

2020

Contains fulltext : 229471.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) OBJECTIVES: To summarize the available evidence on the diagnostic performance for invasive aspergillosis (IA) in non-hematological, non-solid organ transplantation critically ill patients of the following: (i) existing definitions of IA (developed either for classical immunocompromised populations or for non-immunocompromised critically ill patients); (ii) laboratory tests; (iii) radiology tests. METHODS: A systematic review was performed by evaluating studies assessing the diagnostic performance for IA of a definition/s and/or laboratory/radiology test/s vs. a reference standard (histology) or a reference definition. RES…

Dosing of caspofungin based on a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic index for the treatment of invasive fungal infections in critically ill patients on …

2017

Abstract Introduction The study objective was to evaluate the efficacy of different dosages of caspofungin in the treatment of invasive candidiasis and aspergillosis, in relation to the probability of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target attainment, using modelling and Monte Carlo simulations in critically ill adult patients on continuous haemodiafiltration. Methods Critically ill adult patients on continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration treated with caspofungin were analysed. A population PK model was developed. Four caspofungin dosing regimens were simulated: the licensed regimen, 70 mg/day, 100 mg/day or 200 mg/day. A PK/PD target was defined as the ratio between the area unde…

Neutrophil extracellular traps impair fungal clearance in a mouse model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

2019

Abstract Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are formed by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and contribute to the innate host defense by binding and killing bacterial and fungal pathogens. Because NET formation depends on histone hypercitrullination by peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), we used PAD4 gene deficient (Pad4-/-) mice in a mouse model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) to address the contribution of NETs to the innate host defense in vivo. After the induction (24 h) of IPA by i.t. infection with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia, Pad4-/- mice revealed lower fungal burden in the lungs, accompanied by less acute lung injury, TNFα and citH3 compared to wildtype controls. T…