Butyrate reduced lipopolysaccharide-mediated macrophage migration by suppression of Src enhancement and focal adhesion kinase activity.

Macrophage motility is vital in innate immunity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated macrophage migration requires the enhancement of Src expression and enzymatic activity, which can be regulated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). As a major short-chain fatty acid with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor activity, butyrate exerts anti-inflammatory effect by regulating the expression of cytokines. However, the influence of butyrate on macrophage movement was vague. In this study, we observed that butyrate inhibited migration of both RAW264.7 and rat peritoneal macrophages elicited by LPS. Unlike its myeloid relatives (i.e. Lyn, Fgr and Hck) whose expression was almost unaltered in the presence or absence of butyrate in LPS-treated macrophages, LPS-mediated Src induction was greatly suppressed by butyrate and that could be attributable to reduced level of the src transcript. Similar phenomenon was also detected in LPS-treated macrophages exposed to another HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA). Consistent with the indispensability of iNOS in promoting macrophage mobilization via Src up-regulation and the activation of both Src and FAK, we did observe concomitant decrement of iNOS, Src and the suppressed activity of Src and FAK in butyrate- or TSA-pretreated macrophages following LPS exposure. These results imply that by virtue of reduction of Src, butyrate could effectively hamper LPS-triggered macrophage locomotion.

Mycogloea nipponica--the first known teleomorph in the heterobasidiomycetous yeast genus Kurtzmanomyces.

A culture was obtained from a spore print of a basidiocarp of Mycogloea nipponica collected in Taiwan. A yeast stage and basidia identical to those of M. nipponica developed in laboratory media. The Taiwanese specimen of M. nipponica and its yeast anamorph were characterised in the present study. Comparative morphological, molecular, and ultrastructural studies indicated that the yeast stage can be assigned to the genus Kurtzmanomyces. The revealed connection between the sexual species Mycogloea nipponica and the asexual genus Kurtzmanomyces demonstrates the importance of anamorphic characteristics in the modem systematics of heterobasidiomycetous fungi.

Heterorepetobasidium, a new genus in the Auriculariales.

A new genus, Heterorepetobasidium, is proposed to accommodate two new species, H. subglobosum and H. ellipsoideum, recently collected in Taiwan. These species have apically, partially septate basidia, strongly swollen sterigmata, and repetobasidia. The systematics of the new taxa and related ones, inclusive of Ceratobasidium and the Ceratobasidiaceae, are reinterpreted.

Fungi genus and concentration in the air of onion fields and their opportunistic action related to mycotic keratitis.

The authors determined fungi concentrations and genera from onion fields located in monsoon and nonmonsoon areas of Taiwan, as well as concentrations from a county housing location, which served as the comparison site. The authors explored the relationship(s) among onion harvesting, monsoon characteristics, airborne fungal levels, and mycotic eye infection. Airborne fungal levels in the onion field in the nonmonsoon area were the highest, followed by decreasing levels in the monsoon area and control sites, regardless of the sampling periods. The geometric mean of airborne fungal concentrations was the highest during onion harvesting. Cladosporium was the most dominant fungus during pre- and postharvest seasons, whereas Aspergillus, Fusraium, Acremonium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Monilia, Mycelia, and Rhizopus were increased significantly during harvesting. Although fungal concentrations in monsoon onion fields were lower than concentrations measured in the nonmonsoon area, the invasion of dangerous fungal pathogens following eye trauma by airborne sharp exotics (e.g., onion flakes) dispersed in high wind may account for the increase in corneal ulcer cases that occur in the monsoon area.