Distribution and Species Composition of Causative Agents of Dermatophytoses in Lithuania

The aim of the investigation was to ascertain species composition of causative agents of dermatophytoses and characterize the epidemiological status of these infections in Lithuania in 2001–2010. There were isolated and identified 4580 cultures of causative agents of various dermatomycoses. During this period, the spreading of agents of dermatophytoses showed a tendency to decline. It was found out that the number of non-dermatophytes increased: at the beginning of the investigation, non-dermatophytes accounted for 3.4%, whereas at the end their number grew up to 35.9%. Among the agents of dermatomycosis, an incidence of yeasts was observed to have a tendency to grow. During the investigation, dermatophytes of the genera Trichophyton Malamsten, Microsporum Gruby and Epidermatophyton Sabouraud were isolated. In the case of dermatophytoses, the prevailing causative species was Tr. rubrum, which amounted to 55.7% in 2001, whereas in 2010 – only to 11%. The incidence of other agents of trichophytoses, namely Tr. interdigitale, Tr. tonsurans and Tr. violaceum was from 0 to 0.8%. Among fungus of the Microsporum genus, only the species M. canis was detected. Similar to other agents of dermatophytoses, the incidence of Epidermophyton genus showed a declining tendency. In the period of 2001–2010, causative agents of dermatophytoses of all the studied dermatophytes genera showed a declining tendency, whereas incidences of Candida yeasts and other causative agents of dermatomycoses greatly increased

THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF YEAST ON MYCOTOXINS CONCENTRATIONS IN WHEAT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyes cerevisiae, Geotrichum fermentans, Rhodotorula rubra and Kluyveromyces marxianus yeast cell suspensions and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall’s polysaccharides and fermentation time on mycotoxins concentrations in feed wheat. The 2018 harvest three feed wheat samples were taken from grain processing companies and the research was carried out at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Academy, Mycotoxicology Laboratory. The thin – layer chromatography technique (TLC) was used to determine mycotoxins concentrations in the samples. The wheat samples were inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Geotrichum fermentans Rhodotorula rubra and Kluyveromyces marxianus yeast 104 cells` ml-1 suspensions and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall`s polysaccharides, duration of the wheat fermentation with the yeast was – 30 min. and 60 min. It was found that all species the yeast suspensions – reducing effect of mycotoxins concentrations correlated with longer duration of fermentation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast suspension after 60 min. reduced AFB1 and DON by 100% (p<0.05) and ZEA up to 80.1 ± 0.50% (p<0.05). Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell wall`s polysaccharides decreased the concentrations of AFB1 (p>0.05), ZEA (p<0.05), DON (p<0.05) during the experiment better than Saccharomyces cerevisiae 104 cells` ml-1 suspension and after 60 min. exposure polysaccharides absorbed all wheat mycotoxins by 100% (p<0.05). The AFB1 were best absorbed by Kluyveromyces marxianus yeast after 60 min. of fermentation by 100% (p<0.05). The DON concentration was below the detection limit after 60 min. of fermentation with Geotrichum fermentans and Rhodotorula rubra yeast

Candida Distribution in Onychomycosis and in vitro Susceptibility to Antifungal Agents

The aim of this study was to determine distribution of the Candida (C.) species in onychomycosis and analyses in vitro susceptibility to fluconazole and itraconazole. In recent years, cases of onychomycosis in Lithuania caused by Candida have increased significantly. In the period between 2009 and 2016, a total of 8149 clinical cases (outpatients and inpatients) were investigated at the Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics (VUH SC). Candida yeasts were identified using VITEK 2 (BioMerieux, France) and IVD Maldi biotyper 2.3 (Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Germany), automated systems for identification of yeasts. The antifungal susceptibility to the Candida species were determined by disc diffusion. Candida spp. were the most frequently isolated pathogens in onychomycosis during the investigation period. The main species in onychomycosis were C. albicans (38.6%), followed by C. krusei (33.7%), C. tropicalis (11.1%), C. parapsilosis (7.9%), and other Candida (8.7%). The different antifungal susceptibility patterns among Candida species confirm the need to perform antifungal susceptibility in vitro testing of yeasts from patients with onychomycosi

Fabrication by AC Deposition and Antimicrobial Properties of Pyramidal-Shaped Cu2O-TiO2 Heterostructures

Nanoparticulate surfaces possessing antimicrobial and fungicidal properties under visible light illumination have found wide applications in a number of fields. In this study, titania nanotubes, as well as titania compact films were designed with pure Cu2O crystals in a mildly acidic copper acetate solution using a simple alternating current (AC) deposition approach. In this way, the thermally oxidized Ti substrate was coated by densely packed pyramidal and bipyramidal shaped Cu2O crystals with dominant (111) planes and investigated against several types of fungi and bacteria. For comparison, TiO2 nanotube (TiNT) films were also decorated with similar crystals and tested. The results showed that, compared to bare TiO2 films, both Cu2O-in-TiNT and Cu2O-on-TiO2 heterostructures exhibited remarkably enhanced activity against tested fungi and bacteria. We also demonstrated that the high photoactivity of these crystals remained even after 50 h stability tests under bright light illumination. The results obtained from in vitro tests indicated that Cu2O-in/on-TiO2 heterostructures show promise as visible light driven antimicrobial materials

Candida Distribution in Onychomycosis and in vitro Susceptibility to Antifungal Agents

The aim of this study was to determine distribution of the Candida (C.) species in onychomycosis and analyses in vitro susceptibility to fluconazole and itraconazole. In recent years, cases of onychomycosis in Lithuania caused by Candida have increased significantly. In the period between 2009 and 2016, a total of 8149 clinical cases (outpatients and inpatients) were investigated at the Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics (VUH SC). Candida yeasts were identified using VITEK 2 (BioMerieux, France) and IVD Maldi biotyper 2.3 (Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Germany), automated systems for identification of yeasts. The antifungal susceptibility to the Candida species were determined by disc diffusion. Candida spp. were the most frequently isolated pathogens in onychomycosis during the investigation period. The main species in onychomycosis were C. albicans (38.6%), followed by C. krusei (33.7%), C. tropicalis (11.1%), C. parapsilosis (7.9%), and other Candida (8.7%). The different antifungal susceptibility patterns among Candida species confirm the need to perform antifungal susceptibility in vitro testing of yeasts from patients with onychomycosi

Effectiveness research on a wavy lamellar plate-type biofilter with a capillary system for the humidification of the packing material applying introinduced microorganisms

To conduct research, a new generation plate-type air treatment biofilter for removing gaseous pollutants from air has been applied under laboratory conditions. A distinguishing feature of the packing material of the biofilter includes wavy lamellar polymer plates placed to each other and producing a capillary effect of humidification. While having such an arrangement, wavy lamellar plates also have rather wide spacing (6 mm), and therefore the employment of the structure of the plate-type packing material decreases the aerodynamic resistance of the device. A wavy porous plate is made of a polymer plate that ensures stiffness. Both sides of the wavy lamellar polymer plate have attached steam exploded birch fiber pellets under which, to increase plate capillarity, not-woven caulking material is put. This technological decision allows effectively enhancing the durability of the biopacking material. The work presents the results of research on the efficiency of the biodestruction process of acetone, xylene and ammonia. With reference to the conducted investigation, the high efficiency of air treatment and microbiological activity has been established. When pollutant gases (acetone, xylene and ammonia), under a velocity of 0.08 m s–1, passed through the biopacking material, microbiological activity in the material reached on average 1×108 cfu/cm2, and air treatment efficiency made 90.7%

The influence of different species of yeast on mycotoxins concentrations in wheat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyes cerevisiae, Geotrichum fermentans, Rhodotorula rubra and Kluyveromyces marxianus yeast cell suspensions and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall’s polysaccharides and fermentation time on mycotoxins concentrations in feed wheat. The 2018 harvest three feed wheat samples were taken from grain processing companies and the research was carried out at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Academy, Mycotoxicology Laboratory. The thin – layer chromatography technique (TLC) was used to determine mycotoxins concentrations in the samples. The wheat samples were inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Geotrichum fermentans Rhodotorula rubra and Kluyveromyces marxianus yeast 104 cells` ml-1 suspensions and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall`s polysaccharides, duration of the wheat fermentation with the yeast was – 30 min. and 60 min. It was found that all species the yeast suspensions – reducing effect of mycotoxins concentrations correlated with longer duration of fermentation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast suspension after 60 min. reduced AFB1 and DON by 100% (p0.05), ZEA (p<0.05), DON (p<0.05) during the experiment better than Saccharomyces cerevisiae 104 cells` ml-1 suspension and after 60 min. exposure polysaccharides absorbed all wheat mycotoxins by 100% (p<0.05). The AFB1 were best absorbed by Kluyveromyces marxianus yeast after 60 min. of fermentation by 100% (p<0.05). The DON concentration was below the detection limit after 60 min. of fermentation with Geotrichum fermentans and Rhodotorula rubra yeast

Investigation of the Antimicrobial Properties of Beetroot&ndash;Gelatin Films Containing Silver Particles Obtained via Green Synthesis

Silver nanoparticles are produced using various physical, chemical or physicochemical methods. Simple low-cost nontoxic environmentally friendly, or &ldquo;green&rdquo;, chemistry methods are important, especially for their invasive application in the medicine and food industries. Silver-nanoparticle-enriched biocompatible films were produced at room temperature from fresh beetroot juice, AgNO3 and gelatin&ndash;water solution using the photoreduction method. The optical, morphological and structural characteristics of the experimental samples were analyzed using UV-VIS, XRD and SEM techniques. The antimicrobial activity of newly produced films was investigated using the agar diffusion method. The synthesis of nanoparticles was approved their characteristic LSPR peaks in the UV-VIS absorbance spectra. According to the XRD patterns of the films, these nanoparticles were assigned to the cubic phase of metallic Ag. It was found that the antimicrobial activity of the silver nanoparticles in the beetroot&ndash;gelatin films might be effective; however, it depends on the silver ion concentrations used for the production of these films and on the medium&rsquo;s pH