Biological and Chemical Control Options for Geomyces Destructans and Characterization of Physiological Responses to Control Efforts

The recently identified causative agent of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), Geomyces destructans, has been responsible for the mortality of an estimated 5.7 million North American bats since its emergence in 2006. A primary focus of the National Response Plan, established by US Fish and Wildlife in 2011, was the identification of biological and chemical control options. In an effort to identify potential biological and chemical control options for WNS, six previously described bacterially produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and multiply induced Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP96253 were screened for anti-Geomyces destructans activity. Geomyces destructans conidia and mycelial plugs were exposed to the VOCs and induced Rhodococcus in a closed air space at 15°C and 4°C and evaluated for inhibition of conidia germination and mycelial extension. Additionally, in situ application methods for induced Rhodococcus, such as fixed cell catalyst and fermentation cell paste in non-growth conditions, were screened with positive results. Rhodococcus was assayed for ex vivo activity via exposure to bat tissue ex-plants inoculated with G. destructans conidia. All VOCs inhibited radial growth of mycelial plugs and growth from conidia at both temperatures, with the greatest effect at low temperature (4°C). Induced Rhodococcus completely inhibited growth from conidia at 15°C and had a strong fungistatic effect at 4°C. Induced Rhodococcus inhibited Geomyces destructans growth from conidia when cultured in a shared air space with bat tissue explants inoculated with Geomyces destructans conidia. During the evaluation diffusible brown pigment was observed in G. destructans cultures exposed to induced Rhodococcus or select VOCs. The pigment was induced by light and oxidative challenge and hypothesized to be melanin. Traditional microbiological methods, as well as copper sulfide-silver staining and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, were utilized to confirm this hypothesis. This was a noteworthy result as melanin is a known virulence factor in other pathogenic fungi and may play a significant role in WNS. The identification of bacterially produced VOCs and inducible biological agents with anti-Geomyces destructans activity expands the pool of potential biological and chemical control options for WNS and provides wildlife management personnel with tools to combat this devastating disease

A preliminary report on the contact-independent antagonism of Pseudogymnoascus destructans by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253.

BackgroundThe recently-identified causative agent of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has been responsible for the mortality of an estimated 5.5 million North American bats since its emergence in 2006. A primary focus of the National Response Plan, established by multiple state, federal and tribal agencies in 2011, was the identification of biological control options for WNS. In an effort to identify potential biological control options for WNS, multiply induced cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253 was screened for anti-P. destructans activity.ResultsConidia and mycelial plugs of P. destructans were exposed to induced R. rhodochrous in a closed air-space at 15°C, 7°C and 4°C and were evaluated for contact-independent inhibition of conidia germination and mycelial extension with positive results. Additionally, in situ application methods for induced R. rhodochrous, such as fixed-cell catalyst and fermentation cell-paste in non-growth conditions, were screened with positive results. R. rhodochrous was assayed for ex vivo activity via exposure to bat tissue explants inoculated with P. destructans conidia. Induced R. rhodochrous completely inhibited growth from conidia at 15°C and had a strong fungistatic effect at 4°C. Induced R. rhodochrous inhibited P. destructans growth from conidia when cultured in a shared air-space with bat tissue explants inoculated with P. destructans conidia.ConclusionThe identification of inducible biological agents with contact-independent anti- P. destructans activity is a major milestone in the development of viable biological control options for in situ application and provides the first example of contact-independent antagonism of this devastating wildlife pathogen

Polarization calibration of the BICEP3 CMB polarimeter at the South Pole

The BICEP3 CMB Polarimeter is a small-aperture refracting telescope located at the South Pole and is specifically designed to search for the possible signature of inflationary gravitational waves in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The experiment measures polarization on the sky by differencing the signal of co-located, orthogonally polarized antennas coupled to Transition Edge Sensor (TES) detectors. We present precise measurements of the absolute polarization response angles and polarization efficiencies for nearly all of BICEP3's ~800 functioning polarization-sensitive detector pairs from calibration data taken in January 2018. Using a Rotating Polarized Source (RPS), we mapped polarization response for each detector over a full 360 degrees of source rotation and at multiple telescope boresight rotations from which per-pair polarization properties were estimated. In future work, these results will be used to constrain signals predicted by exotic physical models such as Cosmic Birefringence

Evaluation of Wild-Isolated and Commercial Strains of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms for Spawn Production

Hericium erinaceus, commonly known as “Lion’s Mane” mushrooms, are a type of wood-decaying fungus, noted for their choice-edible status along with unique medicinal benefits. Lion’s Mane mushrooms have acquired growing interest from consumers in recent years due to their unique flavor and visual appeal, in addition to their potential neurological benefits. Despite the profit potential, local specialty mushroom farmers often fail to meet the demand for this mushroom due to difficulty in the production of consistent spawn. Strains of Hericium erinaceus are often slower growing and lower yielding than other commonly cultivated specialty mushrooms, and often will produce mushrooms on growth media prematurely, resulting in loss of product. Due to these challenges, cultivation trials were conducted using thirteen isolates of Hericium mushrooms, primarily Hericium erinaceus as well as another related edible species, Hericium americanum, to characterize their cultivation process for commercial spawn generation. Isolates were collected from mushrooms growing locally, as well as strains used in commercial operations, and are compared on growth rate and biological efficiency of mushroom production, as well as qualitative data on the strains pertinent to commercial cultivation, such as whether they form fruiting bodies prematurely. A variety of substrates were compared, including materials often used in commercial operations, as well as agricultural byproduct-based substrate blends, which allow mushrooms to be produced as value-added products from otherwise wasted materials. These experiments assess the efficacy of each strain’s usage in a standard commercial setup, and data has shown that isolates collected by our lab have significantly outperformed commercial strains that currently are in usage. As this study is ongoing, future plans include determining ideal growing conditions for the highest-performance strains, as well as potentially conducting cross-breeding between high-performing strains to obtain desirable qualities for commercial production

A preliminary report on the contact-independent antagonism of Pseudogymnoascus destructans by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253.

The recently identified causative agent of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has been responsible for the mortality of an estimated 5.5 million North American bats since its emergence in 2006. A primary focus of the National Response Plan, established by multiple state, federal and tribal agencies in 2011, was the identification of biological control options for WNS. In an effort to identify potential biological control options for WNS, multiple induced Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253 was screened for anti-P. destructans activity

Sustainably Generating Value-Added Products Using Food-Grade Fungi & Agricultural Waste

Agriculture represents a significant portion of Georgia’s economy. However, this industry produces a significant amount of material byproduct, such as cotton gin trash, and despite research into re-purposing, the uses available are limited and provide little to negative value for producers. Many edible specialty mushrooms degrade plant material as their preferred food source, and for some varieties their cultivation on agricultural waste has been well-documented. This presents an opportunity to farmers in Georgia, as the specialty mushroom industry is a rapidly growing segment of the American agricultural market, but diversity in domestically cultivated species is still limited. This research has directly addressed these gaps in knowledge by demonstrating the feasibility of cultivating gourmet mushrooms including lion’s mane, chestnut, and oyster mushrooms using agricultural residues available in Georgia including cotton gin trash, wheat middlings, peanut hulls, and spent coffee grounds. Many of these mushroom-bearing fungi are also known or suspected to produce complex, high-value biomolecules such as pigments. The high value of these molecules is derived from their current lack of stable supply methods and great demand in a variety of industries such as cosmetics, medicine, and electronics. Thus, the ability to produce these molecules without animal inputs using fungi grown on globally abundant, low-cost feedstock could have ramifications across the economy. However, a quantification of the ability for most edible fungi to produce these molecules when grown upon agricultural byproducts is yet unavailable. This project has addressed this lack of knowledge first by screening 56 unique fungal isolates for their ability to produce pigment and selecting 7 pigment-producing isolates from distinct genera for further quantification of pigment production. The project is currently evaluating the feasibility of using agricultural residues as reagents for this high-value biomolecule production

Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils Against the Fungal Pathogens Ascosphaera apis and Pseudogymnoascus destructans

Fungal pathogens are a growing worldwide concern. Declines in a number of economically and agriculturally important plant and animal species pose a significant threat to both biodiversity and food security. Although many effective antifungal agents have been identified, their toxicity often precludes their use with food products or sensitive animal species. This has prompted the exploration of natural products as effective treatment compounds. In the present study, several essential oils were tested for their capacity to limit the growth of the fungal pathogens Ascosphaera apis and Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agents of chalkbrood disease among honey bee larvae and white-nose syndrome among bats, respectively. Essential oils of cinnamon bark, citronella, lemongrass, and orange were exposed to A. apis in contact-dependent oil-agar suspensions as well as in contact-independent shared airspaces. Essential oils of cinnamon bark, citronella, and lemongrass were exposed to P. destructans in contact-dependent oil-agar suspensions. All compounds were found to significantly inhibit mycelial growth at low concentrations, suggesting the potential for these natural products to be used for controlling these and other select fungal pathogens

Roadway-associated culverts may serve as a transmission corridor for pseudogymnoascus destructans and white-nose syndrome in the coastal plains and coastal region of Georgia, USA

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease among hibernating North American bats caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Since its discovery in New York state, US, in 2006, and as of 2020, WNS has rapidly spread to 34 American states and seven Canadian provinces, causing precipitous declines of native bat populations across North America. The rapid spread of this fungal pathogen has been facilitated by the social behavior of bats, as well as the ability of subterranean hibernacula to support a favorable environment for P. destructans, and is probably exacerbated by anthropogenic transmission events. Although many bat species roost in natural cave environments, bats also selectively use diverse structures for hibernacula. Certain areas of the US lack caves, forcing bats to select different winter roosting environments. Bats have been observed using roadway-associated structures, such as bridges and culverts, for roosting, especially in regions that lack natural cave environments. However, the potential for P. destructans transmission in such roadway-associated structures requires further investigation. Understanding potential pathogen transmission in these widely used anthropogenic structures is crucial to disease management and preventing further declines of imperiled bat populations. Our study investigated these structures as potential pathogen transmission corridors by surveying the use of these structures by Perimyotis subflavus and other susceptible bat populations and by measuring their temperature. The results suggest the environments of roadway-associated culverts are thermally conducive to the proliferation of P. destructans—even in regions with mild winters—and the development of WNS in susceptible bat populations. It is apparent these roadway-associated structures have the potential to spread P. destructans and exacerbate the effect of WNS on susceptible bat populations

SARS-CoV-2 and Coronavirus Disease Mitigation: Treatment Options, Vaccinations and Variants

COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was declared as a pandemic after it emerged in China 2019. A vast international effort has been conducted to prevent and treat COVID-19 due to its high transmissibility and severe morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in individuals with chronic co-morbidities. In addition, polymorphic variants increased the need for proper vaccination to overcome the infectivity of new variants that are emerging across the globe. Many treatment options have been proposed and more than 25 vaccines are in various stages of development; however, the infection peaks are oscillating periodically, which raises a significant question about the effectiveness of the prevention measures and the persistence of this pandemic disease. In this review, we are exploring the most recent knowledge and advances in the treatment and vaccination options as well as the new emerging variants of 2019-nCoV and the possible mitigation of one of the most aggressive pandemics in the last centuries