Mycological and physical parameters for selecting suitable packaging material for pre- and post-irradiation storage of cereal grains in Ghana

Owing to the rough warehouse handling of storage sacks in tropical areas in Africa, a suitable storage sack should not support de novo growth of fungal spores because this would reduce the tensile strength of the packaging material and act as a springboard for infecting grain contents. This paper reports the effect of activity of saprophytic fungi on the tensile strength of jute and woven polypropylene sacks. New woven polypropylene sacks carried lower levels of fungal spores (1.3×10¹ cfu/72 cm²) than jute sacks (3.0×10³ cfu/72 cm²). The natural mould penetration and growth was examined on sections (4×5 cm) of both jute and woven polypropylene after previous incubation at relative humidities of 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 90 and 95% for 10 weeks by placing them on Sabouraud's Agar. There was a significant difference (P = 0.05 level of significance) between the higher penetration of mould growth on jute sacks and that obtained on woven polypropylene sacks. Saprophytic fungi (Aspergillus candidus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. japonicus, A. parasiticus, A. ustus, Fusarium oxysporium, F. moniliforme, Penicillium verucosum var. cyclopium, Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma viride) isolated from jute sacks reduced tensile strength, measured by an Instron Model 1026, by 50–75% after 10 weeks at 90% R.H. Same fungal species on woven polypropylene sacks did not alter the tensile strength. Woven polypropylene sacks did not absorb moisture whilst the moisture content of jute sacks increased by 5.3–6.0% in 10 weeks at 90% R.H. with concomitant increase in mould and yeast counts by 1–2 log cycles. Evidence is presented to show that there was a positive correlation between the final mycoflora on jute sacks and loss in tensile strength. No correlation, however, was found between the total aerobic bacteria on jute sacks and the concomitant reduction in tensile strength. Fungi therefore play a major role in the reduction of tensile strength of jute sacks. Sterilization by gamma irradiation (8.0 kGy) of jute and woven polypropylene sacks did not affect their intrinsic tensile strength. Woven polypropylene sacks therefore have many microbiological and physical advantages over the traditional jute sacks to merit their use for grain storage in tropical areas like Ghana.     

Next‐generation DNA sequencing reveals that low fungal diversity in house dust is associated with childhood asthma development

Dampness and visible mold in homes are associated with asthma development, but causal mechanisms remain unclear. The goal of this research was to explore associations among measured dampness, fungal exposure, and childhood asthma development without the bias of culture‐based microbial analysis. In the low‐income, Latino CHAMACOS birth cohort, house dust was collected at age 12 months, and asthma status was determined at age 7 years. The current analysis included 13 asthma cases and 28 controls. Next‐generation DNA sequencing methods quantified fungal taxa and diversity. Lower fungal diversity (number of fungal operational taxonomic units) was significantly associated with increased risk of asthma development: unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.80 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–22.1). Control for potential confounders strengthened this relationship. Decreased diversity within the genus Cryptococcus was significantly associated with increased asthma risk (OR 21.0, 95% CI 2.16–204). No fungal taxon (species, genus, class) was significantly positively associated with asthma development, and one was significantly negatively associated. Elevated moisture was associated with increased fungal diversity, and moisture/mold indicators were associated with four fungal taxa. Next‐generation DNA sequencing provided comprehensive estimates of fungal identity and diversity, demonstrating significant associations between low fungal diversity and childhood asthma development in this community.     

霉变油炸小食品中鲜绿青霉菌的分离鉴定研究

食品安全问题是关系人体健康和国计民生的重大问题,已经引起人们的高度重视。利用稀释涂布法从霉变油炸小食品中分离获得1株菌,形态学观察初步鉴定为酵母菌。通过单因素试验及L9(34)正交试验对菌种的生长条件进行研究,确定最适培养温度38℃、培养时间75 h、摇床转速200 r/min、碳氮比5∶1。在真菌DNA提取过程中尝试了SDS法和CTAB法。除蛋白采取了酚/氯仿的方法 ,对所得样品进行DNA凝胶电泳、质量检测和PCR扩增产物。用18SrDNA ITS的直接测序法测序后构建系统发育树确定:该菌为鲜绿青霉菌(Penicillium viridicatum)。     

几种捕食真菌对烟草根结线虫致病力研究初报

本文应用捕食真菌Ａｒｔｈｒｏｂｏｔｒｙｓｏｌｉｇｏｓｐｏｒａ，Ａ．ｍｕｓｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ，Ａ．ｃｌａｄｏｄｅｓ，Ａ．Ｖｅｒｍｉｃｏｌａ，Ｍｏｎａｃｒｏｓｐｏｒｉｕｍｌｙｓｉｐａｇａ，Ｍ．ｍｅｇａｌｏｓｐｏｒｕｍ，Ｍ．ｍｕｔａｂｃｌｅ，对南方根结线虫（Ｍｅｌｏｉｄｏｇｙｎｅｉｎｃｏｇｎｉｔａ）进行了致病力测定和捕食过程观察，结果表明：各菌株对根结线虫二龄幼虫均具有致病性，Ａｒｔｈｒｏｂｏｔｒｙｓ属菌种以三维粘性菌网捕食，Ａ．ｏｌｉｇｏｓｐｏｒａ捕食率最高；Ｍｏｎａｃｒｏｓｐｏｒｉｕｍ属菌种形成粘着孢和非收缩环两种捕食器官。     

Bacteria in a water‐damaged building: associations of actinomycetes and non‐tuberculous mycobacteria with respiratory health in occupants

We examined microbial correlates of health outcomes in building occupants with a sarcoidosis cluster and excess asthma. We offered employees a questionnaire and pulmonary function testing and collected floor dust and liquid/sludge from drain tubing traps of heat pumps that were analyzed for various microbial agents. Forty‐nine percent of participants reported any symptom reflecting possible granulomatous disease (shortness of breath on exertion, flu‐like achiness, or fever and chills) weekly in the last 4 weeks. In multivariate regressions, thermophilic actinomycetes (median = 529 CFU/m²) in dust were associated with FEV₁/FVC [coefficient = ?2.8 per interquartile range change, P = 0.02], percent predicted FEF_25–75% (coefficient = ?12.9, P = 0.01), and any granulomatous disease‐like symptom [odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.45?6.73]. Mycobacteria (median = 658 CFU/m²) were positively associated with asthma symptoms (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.97?2.43). Composite score (median = 11.5) of total bacteria from heat pumps was negatively associated with asthma (0.8, 0.71?1.00) and positively associated with FEV₁/FVC (coefficient = 0.44, P = 0.095). Endotoxin (median score = 12.0) was negatively associated with two or more granulomatous disease‐like symptoms (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.67?0.98) and asthma (0.8, 0.67?0.96). Fungi or (1→3)‐β‐D‐glucan in dust or heat pump traps was not associated with any health outcomes. Thermophilic actinomycetes and non‐tuberculous mycobacteria may have played a role in the occupants' respiratory outcomes in this water‐damaged building.     

Basis of predictive mycology

For over 20 years, predictive microbiology focused on food-pathogenic bacteria. Few studies concerned modelling fungal development. On one hand, most of food mycologists are not familiar with modelling techniques; on the other hand, people involved in modelling are developing tools dedicated to bacteria. Therefore, there is a tendency to extend the use of models that were developed for bacteria to moulds. However, some mould specificities should be taken into account. The use of specific models for predicting germination and growth of fungi was advocated previously []. This paper provides a short review of fungal modelling studies.     

Deoxynivalenol and its masked forms: Characteristics,incidence, control and fate during wheat and wheat based products processing - A review

BackgroundDeoxynivalenol (DON) is a toxic secondary metabolite primarily produced by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum that is common in grains, such as wheat and wheat-based products.Scope and approachThis review points out on the main DON-producing fungi, the factors affecting DON production, its toxicological aspects and preventive measures to avoid contamination of foods by DON. Further, the article discusses the fate of DON throughout the processing of wheat, bread, and pasta and finally critically assesses data on the impact of specific steps of processing on DON contents in wheat-based products.Key findings and conclusionsThe proposed controls at pre- and post-harvest stages seem to comprise the most efficient strategies to manage the incidence of DON in wheat and wheat-based products. Prevention of plant infection by Fusarium species, managing crops and ensuring the rapid drying of wheat after harvest is the effective approaches for the elimination of DON contamination. There has been contradictory data in the literature on the fate of DON during wheat and wheat-based products processing Due to differences in processing, such as temperature, additives, processing time and loaf size in addition to the occurrence of modified (masked) forms of DON. Therefore, further research must be carried out aiming to reveal the formation and occurrence of modified forms of DON. These compounds can be formed throughout wheat processing, from pre-harvest to processing of wheat-based products, and for proper quantification, analytical methods able to quantify modified forms of DON are required.     

A field comparison of four fungal aerosol sampling instruments: inter-sampler calibrations and caveats

Four bioaerosol samplers (Reuter Centrifugal, Andersen N6 Single Stage, Surface Air System Super 90, and Air-o-Cell) were used to take c. 300 side-by-side measurements at 75 public building sites. Regression models were developed to examine the relationships between each method pair. The models demonstrate that measurements from these instruments are not directly comparable, requiring inter-instrument calibration. Sampling location (indoor vs. outdoor) was a confounder in all the pairwise comparisons between samplers. In addition, the slopes of the relationships between all method pairs except one differed in indoor vs. outdoor locations. These results emphasize that direct comparisons between methods should not be undergone without prior calibration. Where measurement circumstances are similar to those of this study, the regression models might serve as a basis to convert measurements made with one instrument to those made with another. However, the robustness and generalizability of the models in different measurement settings needs to be assessed. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Many different bioaerosol sampling devices are in common use for indoor air quality studies. If data from research studies are to be compared, an approximation of the relationships between the equipment would be useful. A comparison of three culturable sampling devices (Andersen N6, SAS 90, RCS) and one particulate sampling device (Air-o-Cell) collecting simultaneous samples under field conditions showed high linear correlations between methods. However, while direct comparisons between sampling data were not possible, the regression models reported here explained 60-85% of the variance in fungal concentrations, and underscored the importance of the effect of environment on measurement.     

Comparison of field performance of the Andersen N6 single stage and the SAS sampler for airborne fungal propagules

Comparisons of two common bioaerosol samplers were made after sampling and enumeration of airborne fungal propagules in several office structures on a university campus in Southern California. Data collected on five occasions throughout the year showed that a Surface Air Systems (SAS) high flow portable sampler recovered consistently lower levels of colony forming units (cfu) than an Andersen N6 single stage impactor. There was no difference statistically between the samplers when concentrations of Cladosporium were compared. Compared to the Andersen N6, the SAS sampler recovered about half the number of cfu for three other fungal categories, i.e. non-sporulating species, Aspergillus and Penicillium and others. Differences in sampler efficiencies are discussed in terms of effective particle diameters. Counts of culturable airborne fungal spores obtained with the SAS sampler should be interpreted with caution when genera other than Cladosporium predominate.     

利用生物废料的固体发酵生产增值产品

生物废料中含有多种高价值的可再利用物质,例如可溶性糖和纤维等。在固体发酵中,这些废料可以作为支持底物参与反应,生产工业相关代谢产物,从而创造较大的经济价值,同时降低废料对环境的污染。本文综述了通过固体发酵技术,再生利用生物废料生产香料、有机物、聚合物、酶和抗生素等增值产品的研究进展,从而为该项技术的生产应用提供理论依据。