68 research outputs found
Cutaneous Lesions in Cetaceans: An Indicator of Ecosystem Status?
NatuurwetenskappeMikrobiologiePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]
Yeast infection in a beached southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) neonate
The original publication is available at http://www.jwildlifedis.org/A female southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) neonate was found stranded on
the Western Cape coast of southern Africa. Skin samples were taken the same day from three
different locations on the animal’s body and stored at 220 C. Isolation through repetitive culture
of these skin sections yielded a single yeast species, Candida zeylanoides. Total genomic DNA also
was isolated directly from skin samples. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the internal
transcribed spacer region of the fungal ribosomal gene cluster revealed the presence of
Filobasidiella neoformans var. neoformans, the teleomorphic state of Cryptococcus neoformans.
Fungal infections in cetaceans seem to be limited when compared to infections caused by bacteria,
viruses and parasites. However, Candida species appear to be the most common type of fungal
infection associated with cetaceans. To our knowledge this is the first report of a C. zeylanoides
infection in a mysticete, as well as the first report of a dual infection involving two opportunistic
pathogenic yeast species in a cetacean.Publishers' versio
Draft genome sequence of the lignocellulose-degrading ascomycete coniochaeta pulveracea CAB
CITATION: Borstlap, C. J., et al. 2019. Draft genome sequence of the lignocellulose-degrading ascomycete coniochaeta pulveracea CAB. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 8(1):e01429-18, doi:10.1128/MRA.01429-18.The original publication is available at https://journals.asm.orgConiochaeta pulveracea is a soft-rot-causing ascomycete able to degrade lignocellulosic biomass. The first draft genome sequence of strain CAB 683 reported here has an estimated size of 30 Mb assembled into 852 scaffolds and 10,035 predicted protein-coding genes.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/MRA.01429-18Publisher’s versio
50 years of Emmonsia disease in humans: the dramatic emergence of a cluster of novel fungal pathogens
New species of Emmonsia-like fungi, with phylogenetic and clinical similarities to Blastomyces and Histoplasma, have emerged as causes of systemic human mycoses worldwide. They differ from classical Emmonsia species by producing a thermally-dependent, yeast-like phase rather than adiaspores, and by causing disseminated infections, predominantly in immunocompromised patients and often with high case-fatality rates. Such differences will be important for clinicians to consider in diagnosis and patient management, and for microbiologists who may encounter these fungi with increasing frequency
Emergomyces africanus in soil, South Africa
We detected Emergomyces africanus, a thermally dimorphic fungus that causes an HIV-associated systemic mycosis, by PCR in 18 (30%) of 60 soil samples from a wide range of habitats in South Africa. Direct and indirect culture techniques were unsuccessful. Experimental intraperitoneal inoculation of conidia induced murine disease
Antenatal Doppler screening for fetuses at risk of adverse outcomes : a multicountry cohort study of the prevalence of abnormal resistance index in low-risk pregnant women
INTRODUCTION: Few interventions exist to address the high burden of stillbirths in apparently healthy pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To establish whether a trial on the impact of routine Doppler screening in a low-risk obstetric population is warranted, we determined the prevalence of abnormal fetal umbilical artery resistance indices among low-risk pregnant women using a low-cost Doppler device in five LMICs. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, prospective cohort study in Ghana, India, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa. Trained nurses or midwives performed a single, continuous-wave Doppler screening using the Umbiflow device for low-risk pregnant women (according to local guidelines) between 28 and 34 weeks' gestation. We assessed the prevalence of abnormal (raised) resistance index (RI), including absent end diastolic flow (AEDF), and compared pregnancy and health service utilisation outcomes between women with abnormal RI versus those with normal RI. RESULTS: Of 7151 women screened, 495 (6.9%) had an abnormal RI, including 14 (0.2%) with AEDF. Caesarean section (40.8% vs 28.1%), labour induction (20.5% vs 9.0%) and low birth weight (<2500 g) (15.0% vs 6.8%) were significantly more frequent among women with abnormal RI compared with women with normal RI. Abnormal RI was associated with lower birth weights across all weight centiles. Stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates were similar between women with normal and abnormal RI. CONCLUSION: A single Doppler screening of low-risk pregnant women in LMICs using the Umbiflow device can detect a large number of fetuses at risk of growth restriction and consequent adverse perinatal outcomes. Many perinatal deaths could potentially be averted with appropriate intervention strategies.UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP)http://bmjopen.bmj.comObstetrics and GynaecologyStatistic
The intimate relationship between man and yeast : it's complicated
Inaugural address delivered on 6 June 2011 by prof Alf Botha.Yeasts public health service; resource allocation; have been associated with mankind’s welfare
for a long time. For millennia these unicellular
fungi were cultivated by man as a source of food and
drink. However, it was only some 140 years ago that
Pasteur demonstrated that live yeast is essential for
beer and wine fermentations (Pasteur, 1866; 1876).
Since then, these organisms were also found to have
biotechnological potential in the production of vitamins
(Roman, 1957), fine chemicals (Botes et al., 2005; Miao
et al., 2011), enzymes (Steyn & Pretorius, 1990), biofuel
(Lynd et al., 2002) and even single-cell proteins (Du
Preez, 1990; Roman, 1957). However, yeasts are not
only important for industrial biotechnology, but these
fungi also have potential uses in agriculture. Some yeasts
were found to be beneficial for mycorrhizal interactions
during which crop performance is enhanced (Fracchia
et al., 2003), others inhibit growth of post harvest
pathogens on damaged fruit (Chand-Goyal & Spotts,
1997; Roberts, 1990), while a few species are currently
being included in biological fertilisers that are claimed
to enhance soil quality. However, yeasts may also be
detrimental to mankind since a number of species may
act as opportunistic pathogens of humans (Ikeda et al.,
2002; Lamagni et al., 2001). This phenomenon is of great
importance to an ever-increasing immunocompromised
human population suffering from HIV/Aids.
The extraordinary progress made in yeast biology may
largely be ascribed to decades of studying the intrinsic
characteristics of these organisms while growing in pure
culture (Kurtzman & Fell, 1998; Lodder, 1971). Thus,
during the last two hundred years yeast morphology,
metabolism, as well as classical and molecular biology,
was always at the frontiers of the biological sciences
of the time. This review takes a closer look at the
reasons for man’s fascination with this versatile group
of organisms and focuses on one of the new frontiers in
yeast biology, that of its ecology in natural environments.
However, before we can explore this realm of science,
we first need to obtain a better understanding of the
general characteristics of these microscopic eukaryotes
that have captured the imagination of so many biologists
over the decades
Yeast infection in a beached southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) neonate
The original publication is available at http://www.jwildlifedis.org/A female southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) neonate was found stranded on
the Western Cape coast of southern Africa. Skin samples were taken the same day from three
different locations on the animal’s body and stored at 220 C. Isolation through repetitive culture
of these skin sections yielded a single yeast species, Candida zeylanoides. Total genomic DNA also
was isolated directly from skin samples. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the internal
transcribed spacer region of the fungal ribosomal gene cluster revealed the presence of
Filobasidiella neoformans var. neoformans, the teleomorphic state of Cryptococcus neoformans.
Fungal infections in cetaceans seem to be limited when compared to infections caused by bacteria,
viruses and parasites. However, Candida species appear to be the most common type of fungal
infection associated with cetaceans. To our knowledge this is the first report of a C. zeylanoides
infection in a mysticete, as well as the first report of a dual infection involving two opportunistic
pathogenic yeast species in a cetacean.Publishers' versio
Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa
CITATION: Reeb, D. et al. 2010, Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa, Mycology, 1(3), 155-162, doi:10.1080/21501203.2010.492531.The original publication is available at http://www.tandfonline.com/Cutaneous fungi are known to affect parts of the outermost skin layers of mammals, including the epidermis, stratum spinosum
and stratum corneum, as well as mucocutaneous membranes, genitalia or external ears. Relatively little is known about fungal
infections of Mysticete cetaceans and studies are needed to determine the fungal diversity associated with these marine
mammals. This case report was aimed at identifying the fungi associated with the skin of a diseased neonatal southern right
whale (Eubalaena australis) found stranded in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Initial physical examination on
site revealed hyperplasia of the follicular and epidermal epithelium. Preliminary examination of skin biopsies using scanning
electron microscopy indicated that the skin was colonized by fungal hyphae. Isolation methods yielded a number of fungal
isolates, which were identified using standard morphology and rDNA sequence data. These analyses confirmed colonization of
the cutaneous layers by species belonging to the genera Fusarium, Chaetomium and Penicillium. Moreover, all isolates
were capable of degrading keratin, indicating that skin may act as a natural substrate for these fungi. This study is the first
report of the association of these fungi with southern right whale skin.Post-prin
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