Demographic profile and fungal characteristics in patients of otomycosis in North Indian population- A Prospective study

Fungal infections such as otomycosis have been reported decades back. Distribution of this particular disease has been reported worldwide from the areas having a hot and humid environment especially tropical and subtropical zone. This study included 244 patients of suspected otomycosis from January 2017 to June 2018, in which the presence of fungal agents was determined by mycological examination. The mycological investigation revealed A. niger and Candida as predominant species. Incidence in the male population was higher than females. Otorrhea and pruritis were the common symptoms presented by patients. Several risk factors associated with otomycosis including moisture, broad-spectrum antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents use, topical ear drops and frequent bathing or swimming was reported. Amphotericin B was found to be more sensitive followed by voriconazole during antifungal susceptibility testing. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of otomycosis with emphasis on involved etiologic agents and their antifungal sensitivity pattern.

Production of rabbit antibodies against purified Glucose oxidase

Glucose oxidase is an active oxygen species generating enzyme produced from Aspergillus niger grown in submerged fermentation. Disintegration of the mycelium resulted in high glucose oxidase activity that was subjected to ammonium sulfate precipitation at 60-85% saturation rates that resulted to 6.14 U mg -1 specific activity. Purification of enzyme by anion exchange column (DEAE-Cellulose) resulted into 22.53 U mg-1 specific activity and 10.27 fold purification. This was applied to sephadex G-200 column for gel filtration chromatography. It was observed that enzyme achieved 59.37 U mg-1of specific activity with 27.08 fold purity and 64.36% recovery. Purified glucose oxidase was injected into rabbits through intravenous route, to raise the glucose oxidase antibodies. After 30 days incubation period, the rabbits were slaughtered and serum was separated from blood. The antibodies were isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and confirmed by agar gel precipitation test. This could be a convenient and low cost alternate assay for the estimation of glucose oxidase in biological fluids. Moreover, such antibodies against the said enzyme could be used in various therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Physiological and Chemical Studies on the Bioconversion of Glycyrrhizin by Aspergillus niger NRRL595

Glycyrrhizin (GL), the well-known sweet saponin of licorice, has been used as a food-additive and as a medicine. Its aglycone, glycyrrhetic acid (GA) showed antiinflamatory, antiulcer and antiviral properties. GA is now produced form GL by acid hydrolysis. However, it is difficult to obtain GA in a good yield by using this method, because many by-products are also produced. Screening of different microorganisms (13 bacteria, 2 yeasts and 23 fungi) for production of GA from GL revealed that Aspergillus niger NRRL 595 produced the highest yield of GA. The bioconversion of GL by A. niger NRRL 595 for 96 h, followed by isolation and purification of the transformation products led to the separation of two conversion products, namely: GA and 3-oxo-GA. Confirmation of the identity of these products was established by determination of their Rf values, m.p., and IR, UV, MS and NMR spectra. The conditions for cultivation of this fungus with the maximum hydrolytic activity for the maximum yield of GA were investigated. Based on the results, A. niger NRRL 595 was cultivated with a medium composed of 1.75 % GL, 0.5 % glucose, 0.8 % corn steep liquor at pH 6.5 at 32 °C for 96 h. The cultivation of fungal cells under the latter conditions afforded GA and 3-oxo-GA in a yield of 65 % and 22 %, respectively.

Evaluación biológica de 99mTc-voriconazol como potencial agente de diagnóstico de infecciones fúngicas por centellografía gamma / Biological evaluation of voriconazole with 99mTc for the diagnosis of fungal infections

El avance del HIV ha favorecido el aumento de infecciones fúngicas como candidiasis y aspergilosis invasivas. Varias clases de antifúngicos son utilizados para el tratamiento de las mismas y éstos pueden ser radiomarcados con un agente emisor gamma que permita la detección mediante centellografia de focos de infección. El Voriconazol es un triazol adecuado para la marcación mediante la formación de un complejo unido al precursor [99mTc(H2O)3(CO)3]+. El objetivo fue marcar y determinar las características fisicoquímicas y biológicas del voriconazol con 99mTc para la detección temprana de infecciones. La pureza radioquímica se determinó por HPLC y permitió establecer que el complejo permanece estable durante al menos 120 min. Los estudios in vivo en modelos de inflamación estéril, infección con C. Albicans y A. Niger mostraron diferenciación de los procesos tanto en biodistribución como en imágenes centellográficas.

The spread of HIV has led to an increase of fungal infections such as candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis. Several types of antifungals are used to treat them and some of them can be radiolabeled with a gamma emitting agent to allow detection by scintigraphy of foci of infection. Voriconazole is a triazole agent, suitable for the synthesis of a complex linked with the precursor [99mTc(H2O)3(CO)3]+. The aim of his work was to label and determine the physicochemical and biological characteristics of voriconazole with 99mTc for the early detection of fungal infections. Radiochemical purity was determined by HPLC and the complex remained stable during at least 120 min. In vivo studies in rats bearing either sterile inflammation, infection with C. Albicans or A. Niger showed differentiation of the processes not only in biosdistribution but also in scintigraphic images.

Influences of phenolic compounds on citric acid productivity by Aspergillus niger in stirred fermentor

Influences of phenol, alpha-naphtol and beta-naphtol, which are toxic chemicals, on citric acid biosynthesis and biomass in the artificial culture setting of Aspergillus niger using batch fermenter are examined in the most favorable fermentation conditions, and a model is proposed. Addition of certain concentrations of phenol, alpha-naphtol and beta-naphtol to the culture increases the citric acid production. According to this model, maximum citric acid concentration is 48.3 g L-1 in a culture that does not contain any toxic chemicals, whereas the maximum concentrations obtained in cultures containing 25 mg L-1 phenol, 25 mg L-1 alpha-naphtol and 15 mg L-1 beta-naphtol are 62.5 g L-1, 78.1 g L-1 and 86.0 g L-1, respectively. Moreover, addition of toxic chemicals to the culture reduces fermentation time by 24 hrs.