[Anti-tumor compounds of higher basidiomycetes fungi: a review of novel known mushroom derivatives with anti-tumor function]

In the Eastern and ancient communities, use of fungi in treatment of diseases has a long history. However, this topic in the Western and modern societies has not been good known. Cancer is a life-threatening disease with a lot of side effects on patients. Cancer therapeutic failure and high mortality justifies taking advantage of the experimental methods to discover anticancer drugs and find new ways for treatment. In the recent decade, many researchers have concluded that some of the higher basidiomycetes fungi are capable of producing metabolites with anti-cancer effects. Some researchers have shown that two groups of metabolites derived from some mushrooms include low molecular weight [such as Epoxyquinone, Cerebrosid, Hispidin, Illodin M and S] and high molecular weight [such as Lentinan, Schizophyllan, Polysaccharide krestin and Calvacin] affect cancer cells in various ways. These compounds can interfere to the cellular pathways such as inflammation and metastasis through the increase of antioxidant capacity, direct cytotoxic effect, disrupt the vessel-creating, increasing of apoptosis, inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells and increase of tumor cells death with stimulate and activate of the immune system. Although studies on standardization of certain compounds isolated from natural or semi-synthetic effectively mushroom continues, it is necessary to continue efforts on finding the most effective chemical compounds. Hence, in this study we reviewed scientific literatures [1952-2015] with using combination of key words into internet search engine Google and Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge. The purpose of this paper is presenting the most important mushroom's methabolites with antitumor effects and results of researches about the use of them for treatment of cancer

[Mycoflora assessment in drinking tap water [Sari, Iran]]

Fungi are widely distributed in nature and they are usually present in atmosphere but other sources such as water play an important role in their ecology. This study was done to evaluate mycoflora assessment in drinking tap water in Sari, North of Iran. The tap water collected form Sari water distribution system for fungi. In this descriptive study, a volume of 100 ml of tap drinking water samples [n=60] were collected in sterile bottles. All water samples passed through sterile 0.45 micrometer filters. The filters were placed directly on Malt extract agar and incubated at 27°C for 3-7 days. Routine mycological techniques were applied to identify the grown fungi. Out of 468 grown fungal colonies, eight different fungal genera were identified. The total mean cfu per 100 ml for the positive samples were 8.4. Aspergillus [37.4%] and Penicillium [27.3%] were the most common isolated fungi. Rhizopus [0.6%] had the lowest frequency. Among Aspergillus species, A. flavus had the highest frequency. Our result showed that various fungi were present in the tap drinking water. We propose fungi should be considered as part of the microbiological analysis parameters in drinking tap water

[ study on specific igE against candida albicans in atopic dermatitis patients referred to boali hospital, Sari- Iran]

Candida albicans [C. albicans] as a micro flora of the human could be responsible for a continuous release of allergen and may be responsible for chronic atopic dermatitis [AD] in sensitive patients. Thus, in this study, we analyzed AD patients for total IgE and specific IgE, against C. albicans. A total of 120 AD patients [male 52 and female 68] were introduced in this study. The age range varied from 4 months to 60 years [mean about 12.9 years]. Serum total IgE was assayed by ELISA kit [RADIM]. Solid phase was captured by sandwich ELISA assay, using a micro well format for the determination of serum specific IgE to C. Albicans was used according to the manufacturer's instructions, [ALerCHEK Allergen specific human IgE]. Of the 120 AD patients, 37 subjects [30.8%] had total IgE higher than 100 IU/mL, 44 subjects [63.7%] 20-100IU/mL and 39 subjects [32.5%] less than 20 IU/mL. 9 [7.5%] of the patients had specific IgE against C. albicans. Among the patients who were positive for specific IgE to C. albicans, 6 [66.7%] were women. The result of our study on serum total IgE in AD patients is concordant with other studies from different countries. In comparison to other studies, our AD patients showed less frequency of specific IgE against Candida albicans. The explanations for the variation in the results obtained in various studies could be due to the age of patients, severity of disease, difference in the antigen preparation, different methods for IgE analysis and total IgE level

Molecular identification of Candida albicans isolated from the oncology patients at four university hospitals in Mazandaran province [2005-6]

Early detection of Candida species in body site could improve the survival of the immunosuppressed patients by allowing the initiation of specific treatment while the fungal biomass is still low. The aim of this study was the identification of Candida albicans isolated from the oncology patients by molecular methods. Sixty two of Candida albicans isolated identified by phenotypic methods [color of colony on CHROMagar medium, germ-tube formation in horse serum, chlamydospore formation on Cornmeal agar with 1% Tween 80]. DNA was extracted by using a glass bead/phenol-chloroform method. The oligonucleotide primer pairs [NL1/NL4] were used to amplify a 620bp fragment of D1/D2 region of large submit [26s] ribosomal DNA gene. PCR-products were electrophoresed in a 1.5% agarose gel. Eighteen PCR-amplified products sequenced and results were evaluated by online BLAST software. Multiple sequence alignment was performed by using online CLUSTAL-W [version 1.83] software. The BLAST search revealed that all of products were Candida albicans. All sequences showed >99% similarity when compared with known reference sequences at the Gene-Bank. Four different strains were obtained of albicans species, including: AA 1622b [13 samples], 24698 [3 samples], TA 62 [1 samples] and 551 FC [1 sample]. A total of 131 nucleotide exchange sites were revealed. The dominant species by phenotypic approaches was Candida albicans. In addition, identification of Candida albicans by [26S] rDNA sequencing was 100% concordant to the results obtained by the phenotypic methods

[Investigation into allergenic components of cladosporium herbarum by immunoblotting technique]

Numerous studies on Clasporidium herbarum antigens have shown that these antigens play a major role in produceing specific IgE in atopic individuals and exacerbate the patients' clinical conditions like atopic dermatitis. Thus, in this study allergenic components of clasporium herbarum were investigated using immunoblotting technique. Cladosporium herbarum was cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar. The grown mycelia were harvested and ruptured by liquid nitrogen and glass beads. Samples were centrifuged and the supernatant was collected as crude extract. The crude extract was separated through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE]. The separated proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose filter and then soaked through atopic dermatitis patients' sera. The responsive bands to IgE were revealed by antihuman IgE antibodies conjugated with enzyme in chromogenic substrate. In SDS-PAGE, the crude extract of Cladosporium herbarum showed 16 different protein bands with molecular weight between 15.1 and 110 kDa. The bands with 15.1, 18.4, 25.1, 36.3, 45 and 54 kDa were identified as strong bands. In immunoblotting, the bands with molecular weights of 15.1, 18.4, 42 and 110 kDa showed a strong reaction with IgE sera from patients with atopic dermatitis. The results of this study showed that the strong bands in SDS-PAGE had the highest reaction with anti- Cladosporium herbarum IgE antibody in immunoblotting technique. Thus, we speculate the intensity of bands can affect IgE response. Like other studies we contend that Cladosporium herbarum antigen can initiate allergic reaction in atopic dermatitis patients

[Fungal keratitis at Boo Ali Sina Hospital, Sari, Iran]

To report the prevalence of fungal keratitis as a cause of corneal ulcer in patients referred to Boo-Ali Sina Hospital in Sari and identify the predisposing factors. This prospective study was conducted on patients who presented with corneal ulcers to the ophthalmology ward at Boo-Ali Sina Hospital in Sari, 2004-2005. Using standard techniques, a corneal scraping was performed by an ophthalmologist. Material obtained from the scraping was hydroxide [KOH] with or without calcofluor white [KOH + CFW] stain for fungal keratitis. Specimens were inoculated directly onto blood agar, Sabouraud's dextrose agar, and potato dextrose agar in C-shaped streaks. A total of 22 patients were examined including 10 female [45.5%] and 12 male [54.5%] subjects. Average age was 61.5 +/- 17.7 years [range: 15-83 years]. Branching septate hyphae were identified in 7 patients [31.8%] including five male and 2 female subjects; two of these specimens fungal keratitis was 60.4 +/- 12.1 years [range: 39 to 73 years]. Three patients with fungal keratitis were farmers. The mean interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 26.4 days with a keratitis. Five cases of fungal keratits had received topical antibiotics. Analyses using KOH + CFW as the golden standard revealed individual sensitivities for detection of fungi to be 71.4% and 42.9% for KOH and Gram stain, respectively. Infections of the cornea due to filamentous fungi are frequent cause of corneal damage and should always be kept in mind. Direct microscopy is an essential tool in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis. Mounts with KOH+CFW or KOH alone can be relied upon as the single most important method for rapid diagnosis of fungal corneal ulcer