Fungal planet description sheets : 371–399

Novel species of fungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Neoseptorioides eucalypti gen. & sp. nov. from Eucalyptus radiata leaves, Phytophthora gondwanensis from soil, Diaporthe tulliensis from rotted stem ends of Theobroma cacao fruit, Diaporthe vawdreyi from fruit rot of Psidium guajava, Magnaporthiopsis agrostidis from rotted roots of Agrostis stolonifera and Semifissispora natalis from Eucalyptus leaf litter. Furthermore, Neopestalotiopsis egyptiaca is described from Mangifera indica leaves (Egypt), Roussoella mexicana from Coffea arabica leaves (Mexico), Calonectria monticola from soil (Thailand), Hygrocybe jackmanii from littoral sand dunes (Canada), Lindgomyces madisonensis from submerged decorticated wood (USA), Neofabraea brasiliensis from Malus domestica (Brazil), Geastrum diosiae from litter (Argentina), Ganoderma wiiroense on angiosperms (Ghana), Arthrinium gutiae from the gut of a grasshopper (India), Pyrenochaeta telephoni from the screen of a mobile phone (India) and Xenoleptographium phialoconidium gen. & sp. nov. on exposed xylem tissues of Gmelina arborea (Indonesia). Several novelties are introduced from Spain, namely Psathyrella complutensis on loamy soil, Chlorophyllum lusitanicum on nitrified grasslands (incl. Chlorophyllum arizonicum comb. nov.), Aspergillus citocrescens from cave sediment and Lotinia verna gen. & sp. nov. from muddy soil. Novel foliicolous taxa from South Africa include Phyllosticta carissicola from Carissa macrocarpa, Pseudopyricularia hagahagae from Cyperaceae and Zeloasperisporium searsiae from Searsia chirindensis. Furthermore, Neophaeococcomyces is introduced as a novel genus, with two new combinations, N. aloes and N. catenatus. Several foliicolous novelties are recorded from La Réunion, France, namely Ochroconis pandanicola from Pandanus utilis, Neosulcatispora agaves gen. & sp. nov. from Agave vera-cruz, Pilidium eucalyptorum from Eucalyptus robusta, Strelitziana syzygii from Syzygium jambos (incl. Strelitzianaceae fam. nov.) and Pseudobeltrania ocoteae from Ocotea obtusata (Beltraniaceae emend.). Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS DNA barcodes are provided for all taxa.http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/pimjam2016Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)Microbiology and Plant Patholog

A capsaicinoid-based soft drug, AG1529, for attenuating TRPV1-mediated histaminergic and inflammatory sensory neuron excitability

TRPV1, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family, is a nonselective calcium permeable ion channel gated by physical and chemical stimuli. In the skin, TRPV1 plays an important role in neurogenic inflammation, pain and pruritus associated to many dermatological diseases. Consequently, TRPV1 modulators could represent pharmacological tools to respond to important patient needs that still represent an unmet medical demand. Previously, we reported the design of capsaicinoid-based molecules that undergo dermal deactivation (soft drugs), thus preventing their long-term dermal accumulation. Here, we investigated the pharmacological properties of the lead antagonist, 2-((4-hydroxy-2-iodo-5-methoxybenzyl) amino)-2-oxoethyl dodecanoate (AG1529), on heterologously expressed human TRPV1 (hTRPV1), on nociceptor excitability and on an in vivo model of acute pruritus. We report that AG1529 competitively blocked capsaicin-evoked activation of hTRPV1 with micromolar potency, moderately affected pH-induced gating, and did not alter voltage- and heat-mediated responses. AG1529 displays modest receptor selectivity as it mildly blocked recombinant hTRPA1 and hTRPM8 channels. In primary cultures of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, AG1529 potently reduced capsaicin-evoked neuronal firing. AG1529 exhibited lower potency on pH-evoked TRPV1 firing, and TRPA1-elicited nociceptor excitability. Furthermore, AG1529 abolished histaminergic and inflammation mediated TRPV1 sensitization in primary cultures of DRG neurons. Noteworthy, dermal wiping of AG1529, either in an acetone-based formulation or in an anhydrous ointment, dose-dependently attenuated acute histaminergic itch in a rodent model. This cutaneous anti-pruritic effect was devoid of the normal nocifensive action evoked by the burning sensation of capsaicin. Taken together, these preclinical results unveil the mode of action of AG1529 on TRPV1 channels and substantiate the tenet that this capsaicinoid-based soft drug is a promising candidate for drug development as a topical anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory medication