BACKGROUNDThis study was to review the distribution and shifting trend of fungal of culture specimens isolated from eyes of patients at the Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Tongren Hospital, Beijing, China.

METHODSThe fungal culture-positive rate, the distribution and change of isolates of 2609 specimens collected in a 12-year period (1989 - 2000) were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIn 775 positive cultures, 707 specimens (91.2%) were from the cornea, 22 (2.8%) from the conjunctiva, 15 (1.9%) from the anterior chamber, 9 (1.2%) from the vitreous body, 3 (0.4%) from the lacrimal sac, and 19 (2.5%) from other parts of the eye. The average culture-positive rate was 29.7%. The ratio of the positive cultures in the first half year (from January to June) to those in the second half (from July to December) was 1:2.1. The main genus cultured was Fusarium sp (58.7%), followed by Aspergirum sp (16.8%). The percentage of Fusarium sp was increased from 53.6% (1989 - 1994) to 60.2% (1995 - 2000), whereas the percentage of Aspergirum sp was decreased from 22.3% (1989 - 1994) to 15.1% (1995 - 2000).

CONCLUSIONSFusaruim sp is one of the most predominant pathogens of ocular fungal infection in northern China and its incidence tends to increase, but that of Aspergirum sp to decrease. It is very important to recognize the distribution and shifting trend of pathogenic fungi in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of fungal keratitis.

Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; Eye Infections, Fungal ; etiology ; Fusarium ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Streptomyces S24 has broad spectrum resistance to the Aspergillus in food and feed, such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Asperegillus alutacells and so on. We studied the adsorption and desorption properties of antifungal substance from Streptomyces S24 on macroporous resins, screened the best elution solution and also investigated some physical and chemical characters of antifungal substance by determining the antifugal activity using oxford plate assay system. According to the analysis results, AB-8 resin offered the best adsorption and desorption capacity for antifungal substance and its saturated absorption capacity was 7.0822 x 10(4) microg/g, the optimal elution solution was 85% acetone and the dynamic desorption rate could reach 93.82%. The antifungal substance was stable to heat and alkali, not sensitive to organic solvents, and sensitive to ultraviolet rays and acid. Based on its ultraviolet spectrometry, the antifungal substance was identified as heptaene macrolide antibiotic.
Adsorption ; Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Aspergillus ; drug effects ; Aspergillus flavus ; drug effects ; Aspergillus niger ; drug effects ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; metabolism

This study is aimed at identifying and determining the percentage of occurrence frequency of cellulose decomposing soil fungi. The soil samples were inoculated into culture plates prepared in Sabouraud medium under sterilized conditions and incubated at 30 degrees C for 4 to 7 d. The identified fungal species were incubated in self-designed cellulose medium for testing their cellulolytic ability. Forty-two species, including 2 nova species, representing sixteen genera showed growth and sporulation in the cellulose medium. Most of the isolated species were from genus Aspergillus and Penicillium. Aspergillus niger and Mucor hiemalis showed highest occurrence frequency (45% and 36% respectively), as these species were collected from about 80% of soil samples. Being agar free and cheaper, the new fungal medium designed showed results equivalent to Sabouraud medium.
Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Mitosporic Fungi ; classification ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Soil Microbiology

Cockroaches are abundant in Nigeria and are seen to harbour an array of pathogens. Environmental and sanitary conditions associated with demographic/socio-economic settings of an area could contribute to the prevalence of disease pathogens in cockroaches. A total of 246 cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) in urban (Benin, n=91), semi-urban (Ekpoma, n=75) and rural (Emuhi, n=70) settings in Edo State, Nigeria were collected within and around households. The external body surfaces and alimentary canal of these cockroaches were screened for bacterial, fungal, and parasitological infections. Bacillus sp. and Escherichia coli were the most common bacteria in cockroaches. However, Enterococcus faecalis could not be isolated in cockroaches trapped from Ekpoma and Emuhi. Aspergillus niger was the most prevalent fungus in Benin and Ekpoma, while Mucor sp. was predominant in Emuhi. Parasitological investigations revealed the preponderance of Ascaris lumbricoides in Benin and Emuhi, while Trichuris trichura was the most predominant in Ekpoma. The prevalence and burden of infection in cockroaches is likely to be a reflection of the sanitary conditions of these areas. Also, cockroaches in these areas making incursions in homes may increase the risk of human infections with these disease agents.
Animals ; Ascaris lumbricoides/isolation & purification ; Aspergillus niger/isolation & purification ; Bacillus/isolation & purification ; Cockroaches/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Escherichia coli/isolation & purification ; Nigeria ; Sanitation ; Trichuris/isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of PCR/reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) assay in the detection and identification of clinical pathogens in fungal sinusitis (FS).

METHODSTwenty-six formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues and 8 fresh tissues of FS were collected from Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from May 2009 to February 2010. Pathological examination, fungal culture and ITS2 region sequencing were carried out. The DNA of all samples was extracted by standard procedure and fungal universal primers ITS3 and ITS4 were used for PCR amplification of all tissues. Then the amplified products were used for RLB with five fungal species-specific probes. The results of PCR/RLB were compared with ITS region sequencing, fungal culture and pathological examination.

RESULTSFor the biopsy tissues, fungal cultures were positive in 14 cases (41.2%); pathologic examination demonstrated fungal hyphae in all cases; ITS2 region sequencing was successful in 16 cases (47.1%); PCR/RLB showed A. flavus in 14 cases, A. fumigatus in 10 cases, A. niger in four cases, A. nidulans in one case, A. flavus and A. fumigatus in three cases, and A. fumigatus and A. niger in two cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe PCR/RLB assay is suitable for rapid and accurate detection and identification of the pathogenic fungus of FS. Compared with the conventional fungal culture and microscopy, pathologic examination and DNA sequencing, the PCR/RLB has the advantages of more economy, time saving, and higher sensitivity, specificity and throughput.

Aspergillus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Aspergillus flavus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Aspergillus niger ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; Humans ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sinusitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen is one of the Chinese herbal medicine being susceptible to aflatoxins contamination. To investigate the sources of aflatoxins contamination and toxigenic fungi species on Ziziphi Spinosae Semen,32 samples were collected from multiple steps during the post-harvest processing in this study. Aflatoxins in these samples were determined by immunoaffinity column and HPLC coupled with post-column photochemical derivatization. The dilution-plate method was applied to the fungi isolation. The isolated fungi strains were identified by morphological characterization and molecular approaches. The results showed that aflatoxins were detected in 28 samples from every step during the processing of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen. Three samples were detected with aflatoxin B_1 and 2 samples with both aflatoxin B_1 and total aflatoxin exceeding the limit of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Especially the samples from the washing step,with the highest detected amounts of AFB_1 and AFs were reached 94. 79,121. 43 μg·kg~(-1),respectively. All 32 samples were contaminated by fungi. The fungal counts on the newly harvested samples were 2. 20 × 10~2 CFU·g~(-1). Moreover,it increased as tphreocessing progresses,and achieved 1. 16×10~6 CFU·g~(-1) after washing. A total of 321 isolates were identified to 17 genera. Aspergillus flavus was the main source of aflatoxins during the processing and storage of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen. One isolate of A. flavus was confirmed producing AFB_1 and AFB_2. The fungal count was significantly increased by composting,and Aspergillus was the predominant genus after shell breaking. The contamination level of aflatoxins was increased by composting and washing.
Aflatoxins ; analysis ; Aspergillus ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fungi ; isolation & purification ; Seeds ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Ziziphus ; chemistry

This research was carried out to study the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungus Aspergillosis fumigatus from Euphorbia royleana. The endophytic fungus A. fumigatus was fermented by solid fermentation,and purified by various chromatographic methods after extraction. The structures of the compounds were identified by1 H-NMR,13 C-NMR and HSQC,HMBC spectra and physicchemical properties. Three compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as 3-( 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-5-( 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2 H-pyran-2-one( 1),hydroxysydonic acid( 2) and 11-hydroxysydonic acid( 3). Compound 1 is a new compound.
Aspergillus fumigatus/chemistry* ; Endophytes/chemistry* ; Euphorbia/microbiology* ; Fermentation ; Phenols/isolation & purification*

OBJECTIVETo characterize the specific monoclonal antibodies to Aspergillus conidia.

METHODSFlow cytometry was used to examine the reactivity of the specific monoclonal antibodies to Aspergillus conidia.

RESULTSBoth the monoclonal antibodies MA3 and Con2 showed specific reactivity to Aspergillus conidia suspensions. MA3 was capable of binding to the conidia of A.fumigatus, A.flavus, A.niger and A.terreus, while Con2 was reactive only to the conidia of A.fumigatus.

CONCLUSIONTwo specific monoclonal antibodies (MA3 and Con2) to Aspergillus conidia have been obtained.

Antibodies, Fungal ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Antibody Specificity ; Aspergillus ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Spores, Fungal ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo establish the validation method and criteria for counting bacteria and fungi in microbial limit test which is described in the Pharmacopeia of China (ChP) 2005.

METHODAccording to the method set up for validation, the tested microorganisms with known counts were added to samples followed by the determination of the recovery.

RESULTWith different preparing method for testing samples, the recoveries for the tested microorganisms in testing samples were found to be over 70%.

CONCLUSIONValidation method for counting contaminated bacteria and fungi in drugs is recommended to follow the method established in this paper. The recovery for tested microorganisms should be not less than 70%.

Aspergillus niger ; isolation & purification ; Bacillus subtilis ; isolation & purification ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Candida albicans ; isolation & purification ; Colony Count, Microbial ; methods ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; Fungi ; isolation & purification ; Staphylococcus aureus ; isolation & purification

These studies were carried out to detect the presence of mycotoxin producing fungi in various foodstuffs in Korea. The experiments were divided into three parts: bacteriologic, toxicologic and electron microscopic studies. From the 133 various samples, 425 colonies of fungi were isolated. In 405 of the 426 colonies it was possible to identify 17genera. Among the identified strains the predominant genera were Penicillum, Aspergillus and Alternaria. In the cytotoxicity test, 18 strains showed imld to severe toxic effects in mice, 19 strains showed toxic effects on HeLa cells. In electron microscopic studies of liver cells from aninals which had been treated with toxin-like substances, the liver cells showed the cytoplasmic changes dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, swelling of mitochondria and increased number of lipid and glycogen particles. Alterations of nuclear envelape were also noted.
Animal ; Aspergillus/isolation & purification ; Cereals* ; Food Microbiology* ; Fungi* ; Hela Cells ; Human ; Liver/ultrastructure ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Mycotoxins/isolation & purification* ; Penicillium/isolation & purification