Zygomycetes from herbivore dung in the ecological reserve of Dois Irmãos, Northeast Brazil

Thirty-eight taxa of Zygomycetes distributed in 15 genera were recorded from tapir (Tapirus terrestris), camel (Camelus bactrianus), horse (Equus caballus), deer (Cervus elaphus), agouti (Dasyprocta aguti), donkey (Equus asinus), llama (Llama glama) and waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) dung collected at the Reserva Ecológica de Dois Irmãos located in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. The samples were collected on a monthly basis from June 2005 to May 2006, taken to the laboratory and incubated in moist chambers. Higher number of taxa was observed in the excrements of tapir, followed by deer and donkey. The highest number of species was detected for Mucor, followed by Pilobolus. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in richness of Zygomycetes taxa between the herbivore dung types. Differences of species composition, however, were weak. Seasonality influenced the Zygomycetes species composition but not its richness. Variations in taxa composition between ruminants and non-ruminants dung were non significant.

Yeasts isolated from sand and sea water in beaches of Olinda, Pernambuco state, Brazil

The aim of this work was to isolate and identify yeasts from sand and sea water collected in two beaches of Olinda, Pernambuco state, Brazil. Thirty two samples of both sand and water in both beaches were obtained in the dry (December 2000 and February 2001) and rainy (June and July 2001) seasons. Two hundred and ninety two strains of yeast were obtained, and they belonged to four genera and 31 species. Candida was the most prevalent genus. Candida catenulata, C. fenica, C. sake, Brettanomyces bruxelenses and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa were the most commonly found species in both beaches Bairro Novo and Casa Caiada.

Com o objetivo de isolar e identificar leveduras do solo e água do mar das praias de Bairro Novo e Casa Caiada, Olinda, Pernambuco, Brasil, foram coletadas 32 amostras de solo e água em ambas as praias durante o período seco (dezembro/2000 e fevereiro/2001) e período chuvoso (junho e julho/2001). Foram obtidas 292 amostras de leveduras, distribuídas em quatro gêneros e 31 espécies. Candida apresentou maior número de espécies. Candida catenulata, C. fenica, C. sake, Brettanomyces bruxellensis e Rhodotorula mucilaginosa foram as espécies mais comuns em ambas as praias Bairro Novo e Casa Caiada.

Identification and characterization of filamentous fungi isolated from the sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) rhizosphere according to their capacity to hydrolyse inulin

Filamentous fungi able to hydrolyse inulin have been isolated from the rhizosphere of plants whose roots contain this polysaccharide. This study reports results concerning the isolation and identification of filamentous fungi from the soil used for sunflower cultivation and from the sunflower rhizosphere cultivated in field and in greenhouse. Fungi were evaluated according to their capacity to hydrolyse inulin and the variation in the diversity of these fungi during the plant's life cycle was also accessed. Forty-nine species of filamentous fungi were isolated. Penicillium and Aspergillus were the genera that presented higher number of species, nine and seven, respectively. At the end of the sunflower life cycle, cultivated both in field and in the greenhouse, a lower numbers of species were isolated. One hundred and fifty nine strains of filamentous fungi were isolated from soil and from the sunflower rhizosphere; from these, 79 (49.7%) were able to hydrolyse inulin. There was not significant difference in the proportion of species able to hydrolyse this polysaccharide during the sunflower's life cycle, in plants cultivated in field or in greenhouse. Although the sunflower's rhizosphere is a source of filamentous fungi able to hydrolyse inulin, that might be used in biotechnological processes. This system does not present a higher density of such microorganisms. Species of Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cunninghamella, Emericela, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Myrothecium, Neosartorya, Neocosmospora, Penicillium and Thielavia are being related by first time as inulinase producers.

Fungos filamentosos capazes de hidrolisar inulina tem sido isolados de rizosfera de plantas que acumulam esse polissacarídeo nas raízes. Este estudo compreendeu o isolamento e identificação de fungos filamentosos do solo utilizado para o cultivo do girassol e da rizosfera de girassol cultivado em campo e em casa de vegetação, a fim de verificar se há variação na diversidade destes fungos ao longo do ciclo de vida da planta. O fungos foram também caracterizados quanto a capacidade de hidrolisar inulina. Das quarenta e nove espécies de fungos filamentosos isoladas, Penicillium e Aspergillus foram os gêneros que apresentaram maior número de espécies, nove e sete, respectivamente. No final do ciclo de vida do girassol, cultivado tanto em campo quanto em casa de vegetação, foi isolado um menor número de espécies. Cento e cinquenta e nove amostras de fungos filamentosos, isoladas do solo e da rizosfera de girassol e destas 79 (49,7%) foram capazes de hidrolisar inulina. Não houve diferença significativa quanto a proporção de espécies capazes ou não de hidrolisar esse polissacarídeo, ao longo do ciclo de vida do girassol, cultivado tanto em campo quanto em casa de vegetação. Embora a rizosfera de girassol seja uma fonte de fungos filamentosos capazes de hidrolisar inulina, que podem ser utilizados em processos biotecnológicos, ela não atua de modo a concentrar fungos com esta característica. Espécies de Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cunninghamella, Emericela, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Myrothecium, Neosartorya, Neocosmospora, Penicillium and Thielavia estão sendo relatados pela primeira vez como produtores de inulinase.

Pathogenicity characteristics of stocked and fresh yeasts strains

In order to evaluate the pathogenicity of yeasts of medical importance, 15 strains stocked in mineral oil at the URM Culture Collection of the Department of Mycology, Biological Sciences Centre, Federal University of Pernambuco and 15 fresh strains isolated from AIDS patients interned at the Clinical Hospital, Centre of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, were selected. As pathogenicity characteristics, the ability to grow at 37ºC and production of phospolipase and proteinase were tested. All samples grew at 37ºC and exhibited proteinase activity. However when tested on solid medium, the proteinase activity was negative. Among 15 stocked samples, 13 (86.66%) were phospholipase positive and two (13.34%) were phospholipase negative. From the 15 samples isolated from AIDS patients, four (26.66%) were phospholipase positive and 11 (73.34%) were phospholipase negative.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a patogenicidade de leveduras de interesse médico, foram selecionadas 15 amostras preservadas em óleo mineral na Micoteca URM, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco e 15 isolados recentes, provenientes de amostras clínicas de pacientes com AIDS, internados no Hospital das Clínicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Com relação as características de patogenicidade, foram avaliados a capacidade desses microorganismos crescerem a 37ºC, bem como apresentarem atividade de fosfolipase e protease. As 30 amostras cresceram a 37ºC e apresentaram atividade quantitativa de protease, entretanto não apresentaram essa atividade quando testadas em meio sólido. Das 15 amostras preservadas, 13 (86,66%) apresentaram atividade fosfolipase positiva e duas (13,34%) atividade fosfolipásica negativa e das 15 amostras isoladas de pacientes com AIDS, quatro (26,66%) apresentaram atividade de fosfolipase positiva e 11 (73,34%) apresentaram atividade fosfolipásica negativa.

Trichosporon pullulans (Lidner) Diddens & Lodder isolated from the oral cavity of AIDS patient

Trichosporon has been reported as a remarkable emerging pathogen and usually occurs in imunodrepressed patients. An oropharyngeal secretion sample was collected from a patient with AIDS, at the Sector of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Osvaldo Cruz University Hospital, Pernambuco State, Brazil. No yeast cells or arthroconidia were observed in the direct exam, but a culture was positive for Trichosporon pullulans, which is being reported in an AIDS patient for the first time.