Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain B-22, a nematophagous fungus parasitizing Meloidogyne incognita.

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita has a wide host range and it is one of the most economically important crop parasites worldwide. Biological control has been a good approach for reducing M. incognita infection, for which many nematophagous fungi are reportedly applicable. However, the controlling effects of Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain B-22 are still unclear. In the present study we characterized the parasitism of this strain on M. incognita eggs, second-stage juveniles (J2), and adult females. The highest corrected mortality was 71.9% at 3 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) mL-1 and the estimated median lethal concentration of the fungus was 0.96 × 108 CFU mL-1. Two days after treatment with Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain B-22 eggshells were dissolved. A strong lethal effect was noted against J2, as the fungal spores developed in their body walls, germinated, and the resulting hyphae crossed the juvenile cuticle to dissolve it, thereby causing shrinkage and deformation of the juvenile body wall. The spores and hyphae also attacked adult females, causing the shrinkage and dissolution of their bodies and leakage of contents after five days. Greenhouse experiments revealed that different concentrations of the fungal spores effectively controlled M. incognita. In the roots, the highest inhibition rate for adult females, juveniles, egg mass, and gall index was 84.61%, 78.91%, 84.25%, and 79.48%, respectively. The highest juvenile inhibition rate was 89.18% in the soil. Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain B-22 also improved tomato plant growth, therefore being safe for tomato plants while effectively parasitizing M. incognita. This strain is thus a promising biocontrol agent against M. incognita.

A case of sinobronchial allergic mycosis; possibility of basidiomycetous fungi as a causative antigen.

We herein report a case of sinobronchial allergic mycosis (SAM) caused by basidiomycetous (BM) fungi (probably Phanerochaete velutina). The patient with bronchial asthma that accompanied allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) fulfilled all 6 criteria for diagnosing SAM. In this case, the BM fungus may act as an allergen, reacting continually in both the upper and lower respiratory tract. The antifungal drug (itraconazole 50 mg/day) seemed to achieve a partial response. Basidiomycetous fungi may attract attention because of the possibility as a causative antigen in this new clinical concept of SAM.

Desarrollo de un bioadsorbente laminar con Phanerochaete chrysosporium hipertolerante al cadmio, al níquel y al plomo para el tratamiento de aguas / Development of a laminar bioadsorbent with hypertolerant Phanerochaete chrysosporium to Cd, Ni and Pb for wastewater treatment

Antecedentes. El uso de basidiomicetes para la remoción de metales es una alternativa con respecto a los métodos tradicionales, básicamente porque la biomasa actúa como un intercambiador natural al remover metales en solución. Objetivo. Desarrollar un bioadsorbente laminar empleando el hongo basidiomicete con mayor resistencia al cadmio (Cd), al níquel (Ni) y al plomo (Pb). Métodos. Se valoró la tolerancia de Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus y Phanerochaete chrysosporium frente a concentraciones ascendentes de sulfato de sulfato de cadmio, acetato de plomo y cloruro de níquel. Se desarrolló un bioadsorbente a base de láminas de polietileno con biomasa fúngica, que se evaluó en columnas de burbujeo empleando agua residual sintética con los 3 metales con una concentración final de 300mg/l. Finalmente, con un experimento complementario en matraces Erlenmeyer, se valoró el efecto de mayor cantidad de biomasa sobre la eficiencia de remoción. Resultados. El hongo P. chrysosporium fue la cepa más tolerante a C4H6O4Pb (10.000mg/l), a Cl2Ni (300mg/l) y CdSO4·8H2O (1.500mg/l). En el reactor y bajo condiciones no ligninolíticas, el hongo removió el 69% de la demanda química de oxígeno, produjo enzimas como lignino peroxidasa (0,01U/l) y manganeso peroxidasa (0,6U/l) y se observó la acumulación de los metales en la pared. Al incrementar la biomasa a 1,6 (p/v) se favoreció la bioadsorción de los metales en la mezcla (el 57% para el Pb, el 74% para el Cd y el 98% para el Ni) y por separado (el 95% para el Pb, el 60% para el Cd y el 56% para el Ni). Se observó una competencia entre el Ni y el Pb por los ligandos de la pared. Conclusión. Se desarrolló un novedoso sistema laminar a base de biomasa viable de P. chrysosporium que posee gran área superficial y tolera elevadas concentraciones de Cd, Ni y Pb, como alternativa para la remoción de metales en aguas(AU)

Background. The use of basidiomycetes for metal removal is an alternative to traditional methods. In this, the biomass acts as a natural ionic exchanger removing metals from solution. Objective. To develop a laminar biosorbent using a basidiomycete fungus resistant to high Cd, Ni and Pb concentrations. Methods. The tolerance of Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium was evaluated using increasing concentrations of the heavy metal salts, cadmium sulphate, lead acetate and nickel chloride. A biosorbent system was developed based on polyethylene sheets with a fungal biomass. It was evaluated in bubble columns using synthetic wastewater with the 3 metal salts at a rate of 300mg/l. Finally, in a complementary experiment using shake flasks, the effect of a higher amount of biomass related to the metal removal efficiency was evaluated. Results. P. chrysosporium strain was more tolerant to C4H6O4Pb (10,000mg/l), Cl2Ni (300mg/l) and CdSO4·8H2O (1,500mg/l). In a reactor, under non-ligninolytic conditions, the fungus removed 69% of the chemical oxygen demand and produced enzymes such as LiP (0.01U/l) and MnP (0.6U/l.). An accumulation of metals in the wall was observed. By increasing the biomass to 1.6 (w/v), the metal biosorption was favored in the mixture (57% Pb, 74% Cd, and 98% Ni) and separately (95% Pb, 60% Cd, and 56% Ni). Competition between Ni and Pb by ligands of the wall was observed. Conclusion. A novel laminar system based on P. chrysosporium viable biomass was developed. It has a large surface area and tolerance to high concentrations of Cd, Ni and Pb. It seems to be an alternative for the removal of metals from water(AU)