Degradative activities of cellulose and phenols by fungi isolated from Pinus taeda needles

Oito fungos isolados de acículas de Pinus taeda em decomposição, da região de Três Barras, SC, Brasil, foram analisados quanto ao potencial de degradarem celulose e lignina. Utilizou-se a técnica de coloração com vermelho congo em meio carboximetilcelulose-ágar (CMCA) para a presença de celulase, e o teste de Bavendamm em meio extrato de malte-ácido tânico-ágar (EMATA) para a presença de fenoloxidase. Aspergillus sp. e Cladosporium sp. produziram maior atividade em meio CMCA, enquanto que Trichoderma sp., Pestalotia sp., Exophiala sp. e Phomopsis sp. produziram maior atividade em meio EMATA. Os fungos Stachybotrys sp. e Rhizopus sp. se desenvolveram em CMCA e EMATA, mas não apresentaram atividade, indicando que não possuem capacidade para degradar celulose ou fenóis em acículas de pínus.Palavras-chave: Decomposição; fisiologia de fungos; serapilheira. AbstractDegradative activities of cellulose and phenols by fungi isolated from Pinus taeda needles. Eight fungi isolated from Pinus taeda needles under decomposition, from Três Barras region, SC, Brazil, were analyzed in relation to their ability to degrade cellulose and lignin. The staining technique employed congo red on carboxymethylcellulose-agar (CMCA) for cellulose and the Bavendamm test employed malt extract-tanic acid-agar (EMATA) for phenol oxidase. Aspergillus sp. and Cladosporium sp. produced higher activity in CMCA environment, while Trichoderma sp., Pestalotia sp., Exophiala sp. and Phomopsis sp. produced higher activity in EMATA environment. The fungi Stachybotrys sp. and Rhizopus sp. developed in CMCA and EMATA environment, but without noticeable activities, which indicates inability in order to degrade cellulose or phenols in pine needles.Keywords: Decomposition; fungal physiology; litter.AbstractEight fungi isolated from Pinus taeda needles under decomposition, from Três Barras region, SC, Brazil, were analyzed in relation to their ability to degrade cellulose and lignin. The staining technique employed congo red on carboxymethylcellulose-agar (CMCA) for cellulose and the Bavendamm test employed malt extract-tanic acid-agar (EMATA) for phenol oxidase. Aspergillus sp. and Cladosporium sp. produced higher activity in CMCA environment, while Trichoderma sp., Pestalotia sp., Exophiala sp. and Phomopsis sp. produced higher activity in EMATA environment. The fungi Stachybotrys sp. and Rhizopus sp. developed in CMCA and EMATA environment, but without noticeable activities, which indicates inability in order to degrade cellulose or phenols in pine needles.Keywords: Decomposition; fungal physiology; litter

Black yeasts-like fungi isolated from dialysis water in hemodialysis units

Hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure promotes the removal of toxic substances, water, and minerals from the body and often takes place in specialized clinics. Microbial contamination of dialysis fluid is a serious problem in therapy. One of the sources of contamination is the water used to prepare the dialysate. In Brazil, legislation regulating the microbiological quality of water for dialysis does not cover waterborne microbes such as Pseudomonas, mycobacteria, and fungi. The aim of the present study was to quantify, isolate, and identify fungi present in water systems in six hemodialysis units in Curitiba, Parana state, Brazil. Fungi were analyzed by surface plating and membrane filtration. Isolates were identified by morphology, while the dematiaceous fungi were identified by sequencing the rDNA ITS region. It was found that 66 % of the samples presented fungi, while black fungi were present in 46 % of all samples. Twenty-eight isolates from treated water for dialysis and dialysate were identified by sequencing and were found to be Exophiala pisciphila, E. cancerae, E. equina, and Rhinocladiella similis. The presence of dematiaceous fungi may pose a risk for debilitated hospitalized patients