Caracterización del crecimiento miceliar de cepas nativas de Neolentinus ponderosus y N. lepideus en diferentes pH y degradación de madera de Pinus spp / Mycelial growth of native strains of Neolentinus ponderosus and N. lepideus at different pH and their Pinus spp. wood degradation

Neolentinus ponderosus y N. lepideus son dos especies de hongos saprobios que poseen uso alimenticio tradicional en comunidades de los departamentos de Huehuetenango y Totonicapán, Guatemala. La capacidad degradadora de ambas especies les confiere potencial para el estudio de la producción de cuerpos fructíferos a nivel de sustrato, por lo que en esta investigación se evaluó el crecimiento de una cepa nativa de N. ponderosus y una de N. lepideus en el medio de cultivo agar extracto de malta (EMA) a diferente pH y también se estudió la degradación de la madera de dos especies de pino (Pinus tecunumanii y P. ayacahuite) en cámaras de podredumbre durante 12 meses. El mayor diámetro de crecimiento miceliar de la cepa N. ponderosus se observó a pH 7.0, en tanto que para N. lepideus se obtuvo a pH 5.0 y 5.6. Las colonias de ambas cepas evidenciaron textura afelpada, borde regular a irregular, color blanco, con o sin pigmento difusible, olor frutal, hifas de 1.0-5.0 µm de diámetro, con clamidosporas y fíbulas. La madera de P. tecunumanii degradada por la cepa de N. ponderosus y la madera de P. ayacahuite por la cepa N. lepideus, presentaron porcentajes de pérdida de peso de 8.76 (±5.58) y 12.07 (±5.66), respectivamente y en ambos casos se alcanzó solamente el estadio temprano de degradación. Los resultados de este estudio sientan las bases para investigaciones posteriores en los que se evalúe el cultivo en troncos de ambas especies para la producción de cuerpos fructíferos con fines alimenticios y comerciales

Neolentinus ponderosus and N. lepideus are two saprophytic fungi species used traditionally in Huehuetenango and Totonicapán, Guatemala. The degradative capacity of both species confers them potential for fruiting bodies production. This study evaluated the mycelial growth of two native strains of N. ponderosus and N. lepideus in malt extract agar (EMA) at different pH and the degradation of wood from two pine species in rot chambers during 12 months. pH 7.0 was the most appropriate for the mycelial growth of N. ponderosus and for N. lepideus were 5.0 and 5.6. The colonies of both strains showed fruity odor, velvety texture, regular to irregular edge, white color, with or without diffusible pigment, hyphae with 1-5 µm width, chlamydospores and clamp connections. Wood from Pinus tecunumanii and P. ayacahuite exhibit weight-loss percentages between 8.76 ± 5.58 and 12.07 ± 5.66, with N. ponderosus 145.2003 and N. lepideus 90.2002, respectively. In both cases reached the early stage of brown-rot decay. These results could be useful for future research that evaluate the fruiting bodies production in logs for food and commercial purposes

Biofilm forming ability of intermediate and saprophytic Leptospira on abiotic and biotic surfaces

Aims@#Leptospira spp. has the ability to develop biofilm communities and this attribute is an essential factor to leptospiral pathogenesis. This study aims to assess and quantify the biofilm forming ability of intermediate and saprophytic Leptospira strains.@*Methodology and results@#The biofilm assay was quantified on microtitre polystyrene plates (abiotic) and wood chips (Jelutong Paya hardwood) over a duration of 11 days. Phase contrast light microscope was used to assess the structure of the on the surface. The biofilm production on wood chips surface were approximately one times higher than on polystyrene plate surface indicating Leptospira strains were capable of forming higher quantity of biofilm on biotic surface compared to abiotic surface by both intermediate and saprophytic Leptospira. A significant difference (p<0.05) exists in biofilms produced by Leptospira on wood surface which formed more biofilm than on polystyrene surface. The strongest biofilm producer is intermediate strain G14 with OD600 of 2.283±0.180 and OD600 of 2.333±0.037, on polystyrene and wood surface, respectively. Visualisation of biofilm by phase-contrast microscopy of two representative strains correlated with the OD values and the colour intensity of stained microtitre plates and wood surfaces. The biofilm formed comprises of a three-step process are adherence (1 th to 24 th h), maturation (6t h to 7 th day) and detachment (9 th to 11 th day) of biofilms.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#The contact time of intermediate pathogenic strains was faster compared to saprophytic strain, indicating the biofilm forming ability is related to the level of pathogenicity of Leptospira strains.

Larvicidal effects of endophytic and basidiomycete fungus extracts on Aedes and Anopheles larvae (Diptera, Culicidae)

Introduction In vitro bioassays were performed to access the larvicidal activity of crude extracts from the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis virgulata (Melanconiales, Amphisphaeriaceae) and the saprophytic fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus (Basidiomycetes, Polyporaceae) against the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Anopheles nuneztovari. Methods The extracts were tested at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500ppm. Ethyl acetate mycelia (EAM) extracts and liquid culture media (LCM) from Pe. virgulata and Py. sanguineus were tested against third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti and An. nuneztovari. Results The larvicidal activity of the EAM extracts from Pe. virgulata against Ae. aegypti had an LC50=101.8ppm, and the extract from the basidiomycete fungus Py. sanguineus had an LC50=156.8ppm against the Ae. aegypti larvae. The Pe. virgulata extract had an LC50=16.3ppm against the An. nuneztovari larvae, and the Py. sanguineus extract had an LC50=87.2ppm against these larvae. Conclusions These results highlight the larvicidal effect of EAM extracts from the endophyte Pe. virgulata against the two larval mosquitoes tested. Thus, Pe. virgulata and Py. sanguineus have the potential for the production of bioactive substances against larvae of these two tropical disease vectors, with An. nuneztovari being more susceptible to these extracts. .

Observation of application effect of saprophytic muscle paste combined with home care in continuing nursing of pressure ulcers / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To observe the application effect of saprophytic muscle paste combined with home care in continuing nursing of pressure ulcers.Methods 71 Patients with pressure ulcers within 3 years in our department were chosen,and were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group.33 examples were in the observation group,and a total of 58 places were found pressure ulcers,saprophytic muscle paste combined with home health care were adopted in this group.A total of 66 places with pressure sores were found in 38 cases of the control group,and vaseline gauze and the conventional nursing methods were used in this group.KPS score,ADL scores,SWLS score,and healing situation of pressure ulcers were compared between the two groups of patients on the first and third months after discharge.Results Significant difference were found in KPS score,ADL scores,very satisfied with the project in life satisfaction table (SWLS)score of patients on the third month after discharge from the hospital,and significant differences were shown in cure rate,rate of significant effect and total effective rate of bedsore.Conclusions In home care,by formulating the comprehensive nursing plan to improve the family nursing skills of family members,can effectively improve the patients life satidaction and life state,and through without-tension gimmick to change patients position,reduce the skin friction of patients,in addition to saprophytic muscle paste applied in sterile condition,it can improve the treatment efficiency of bedsore,shorten the healing time of pressure ulcers.

Hydrolytic enzymes in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis--ecological aspects

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a thermally dimorphic fungus that causes paracoccidioidomycosis. The yeast form of this pathogen is found in the animal host whereas the mycelial form is recovered from living and non-living organic material. The sole carbon source available in these habitats is represented by polysaccharides from the plant cell wall. Hydrolytic enzymes are necessary to convert these polymers into simple sugars for fungal metabolism. We report on the presence of ortholog genes of hydrolytic enzymes identified in the P. brasiliensis transcriptome and on hydrolytic activities in supernatants of induced P. brasiliensis cultures of mycelium and yeast cells. Enzymatic assays have shown cellulase and xylanase activities, both being higher in mycelium than in the yeast form. Amylase and chitinase activities were detected only in mycelium. Data so far reinforce the idea that mycelial P. brasiliensis is a saprobe.