Pisolithus albus (Sclerodermataceae), a new record for Tunisia

Pisolithus albus was recently collected for the first time in Tunisia. This ectomycorrhizal fungus is found associated with Eucalyptus occidentalis, a new symbiotic relationship, in the urban area of Tunis. The new record of this fungus on this tree permit to expand our knowledge on the ecology and distribution of P. albus in Tunisia. The finding is also important since this fungal symbiont has great potential in forestation efforts. Data on the morphology, molecular identification, distribution and, ecology for P. albus in Tunisia are presented for the first time

Macromycetes' diversity in Tunisia

In Tunisia, about 12% of the country area is covered by forests which have favorable climatic factors likely to harbor a high macrofungal biodiversity. However, this valuable bioresource remains understudied especially regarding their distribution, ecology, abundance and diversity. The initiation of the first national inventory of macrofungi in NorthWestern Tunisian forests was published by our group in 2016. The study covered six governorates, sixty seven sites and enabled the identification of one hundred and twenty-three specimens. Abiotic environmental factors such (as bioclimatic stage, rainfall and edaphic conditions) and biotic factors (plant association and nature and density of the forest) have been studied to determine the distribution and ecology of the collected macromycetes. The obtained results showed a promising diversity of macfungal resources in Tunisia. The present work aims to determine an updated checklist for specimens collected from January 2014 to March 2017. A total of 75 collection and prospecting missions carried out to 105 sites in 11 governorates of northern Tunisia allowed the collection of a total of 1815 specimens. Some of which are considered infrequent or rare. A herbarium at the Laboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis and in the Laboratory of Microorganisms of the National Genes Bank of Tunisia was created and an online database with all the photos and data collected was carried out. In addition, a molecular data base of the collected specimens was initiated which currently contains 250 ITS sequences and continues to be regularly enriched. This work will allow the mapping of macromycetes in Tunisia which will be useful to realise the national inventory of macrofungi in our country. Data will be available to interested mycologists, to the silviculturists and to the gatherers of edible mushroom. This may improve the exploitation of these valuable resources and contribute to their best management

Macromycetes' diversity in Tunisia

In Tunisia, about 12% of the country area is covered by forests which have favorable climatic factors likely to harbor a high macrofungal biodiversity. However, this valuable bioresource remains understudied especially regarding their distribution, ecology, abundance and diversity. The initiation of the first national inventory of macrofungi in NorthWestern Tunisian forests was published by our group in 2016. The study covered six governorates, sixty seven sites and enabled the identification of one hundred and twenty-three specimens. Abiotic environmental factors such (as bioclimatic stage, rainfall and edaphic conditions) and biotic factors (plant association and nature and density of the forest) have been studied to determine the distribution and ecology of the collected macromycetes. The obtained results showed a promising diversity of macfungal resources in Tunisia. The present work aims to determine an updated checklist for specimens collected from January 2014 to March 2017. A total of 75 collection and prospecting missions carried out to 105 sites in 11 governorates of northern Tunisia allowed the collection of a total of 1815 specimens. Some of which are considered infrequent or rare. A herbarium at the Laboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis and in the Laboratory of Microorganisms of the National Genes Bank of Tunisia was created and an online database with all the photos and data collected was carried out. In addition, a molecular data base of the collected specimens was initiated which currently contains 250 ITS sequences and continues to be regularly enriched. This work will allow the mapping of macromycetes in Tunisia which will be useful to realise the national inventory of macrofungi in our country. Data will be available to interested mycologists, to the silviculturists and to the gatherers of edible mushroom. This may improve the exploitation of these valuable resources and contribute to their best management

Updated checklist of macromycetes of Tunisia

A preliminary checklist of macromycetes has been previously published with reference to six governo-rates located in northern Tunisia. This paper provides an updated version of the inventory of macro-mycetes in Tunisia, which includes 268 species, of which seven are worldwide recognized as rare. Theinvestigation was carried out from September 2015 to December 2018 in 13 governorates of theTunisian territory. This updated checklist reports 145 new national species records (139 basidiomycetesand six ascomycetes) belonging to 57 genera and 13 families. Data related to distribution, ecologyand preferential hosts of each recorded taxon are also provided

Antimicrobial resistance and molecular analysis of non-typhoidal Salmonella isolates from human in Tunisia.

International audienceDuring the period from 2006 to 2007, a total of 32 clinical isolates of Salmonella enterica were isolated from diarrheagenic stool samples and further examined for their susceptibility to various antibiotics. Sixteen of the human isolates were from the capital Tunis, 11 were from Sousse, four were from Nabeul and one was from Mahdia, Tunisia. The isolates were serotyped and identified at the National Centre of Enteropathogenic Bacteria, Pasteur Institute, Tunis (Centre National de Salmonella, Shigella et Vibrio - Institut pasteur de Tunis); nine distinct serovars were identified: Enteritidis (n=20), Typhimurium (n=4), Zanzibar (n=2), Manhattan (n=1), Bovismorbificans (n=1), Amsterdam (n=1), Saint Paul (n=1), Kentucky (n=1) and Muenster (n=1). Our results showed that 25 Salmonella isolates (78.1 %) were resistant to antibiotics with 20 isolates (62.5 %) displayed resistance to ampicillin. Isolates sharing invA gene, as shown by PCR amplification, were further characterized by the techniques of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the restriction enzyme XbaI and plasmid analysis to determine possible genetic relationships among Salmonella enterica clinical isolates and to assess genetic diversity. Plasmid profiling identified seven plasmid profiles (with 1-5 plasmids) among the isolates; four isolates (Salmonella Kentucky, Salmonella Muenster, Salmonella Bovismorbificans and Salmonella Zanzibar) did not carry any plasmid. The isolates were differentiated into 10 distinct XbaI-pulsotypes. Our findings show genetic diversity among the different serovars and cluster analysis of compiled serotyping, PFGE, plasmid profiling and antibiotic resistance data provided additional discrimination

Isolation and Characterization of Thermophilic Bacteria from Jordanian Hot Springs: Bacillus licheniformis and Thermomonas hydrothermalis Isolates as Potential Producers of Thermostable Enzymes

The aim of this study was the isolation and characterization of thermophilic bacteria from hot springs in Jordan. Ten isolates were characterized by morphological, microscopic, biochemical, molecular, and physiological characteristics. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA of the isolates followed by BLAST search revealed that nine strains could be identified as Bacillus licheniformis and one isolate as Thermomonas hydrothermalis. This is the first report on the isolation of Thermomonas species from Jordanian hot springs. The isolates showed an ability to produce some thermostable enzymes such as amylase, protease, cellulose, gelatins, and lecithin. Moreover, the UPGMA dendrogram of the enzymatic characteristics of the ten isolates was constructed; results indicated a high phenotypic diversity, which encourages future studies to explore further industrial and environmental applications

Role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and some peptidases during seed germination and copper stress in bean cotyledons

The role of the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome pathway and some endo- and aminopeptidases (EPs and APs, respectively) was studied in cotyledons of germinating bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The Ub system appeared to be important both in the early (3 days) and late (9 days) phases of germination. In the presence of copper, an increase in protein carbonylation and a decrease in reduced eSH pool occurred, indicating protein damage. This was associated with an enhancement in accumulation of malondial- dehyde, a major product of lipid peroxidation, and an increase in content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), showing oxidative stress generation. Moreover, copper induced inactivation of the Ub-proteasome (EC 3.4.25) pathway and inhibition of leucine and proline aminopeptidase activities (EC 3.4.11.1 and EC 3.4.11.5, respectively), thus limiting their role in modulating essential metabolic processes, such as the removal of regulatory and oxidatively-damaged proteins. By contrast, total trypsin and chymotrypsin- like activities (EC 3.4.21.4 and EC 3.4.21.1, respectively) increased after copper exposure, in parallel with a decrease in their inhibitor capacities (i.e. trypsin inhibitor and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity), suggesting that these endoproteases are part of the protective mechanisms against copper stress

Optimization of thermostable proteases production under agro-wastes solid-state fermentation by a new thermophilic Mycothermus thermophilus isolated from a hydrothermal spring Hammam Debagh, Algeria

The present work investigates for the first time the presence and isolation of the thermophilic fungi from hydrothermal spring situated at the locality of Guelma, in the Northeast of Algeria. The production of the thermostable proteases and the optimization of culture conditions under agro-wastes solid-state fermentation to achieve optimal production capacity were explored. A statistical experimental approach consisting of two designs was used to determine the optimum culture conditions and to attain the greatest enzyme production. Besides, different agricultural wastes were initially evaluated as a substrate, whereby wheat bran was selected for enzyme production by the isolate under solid-state conditions. The isolate thermophilic fungi were identified as Mycothermus thermophilus by sequencing the ITS region of the rDNA (NCBI Accession No: MK770356.1). Among the various screened variables: the temperature, the inoculum size, and the moisture were proved to have the most significant effects on protease activity. Employing two-level fractional Plackett?Burman and a Box?Behnken designs statistical approach helped in identifying optimum values of screened factors and their interactions. The analysis showed up 6.17-fold improvement in the production of proteases (~1187.03 U/mL) was achieved under the optimal conditions of moisture content 47%, inoculum 5 ? 105 spores/g, and temperature at 42 C. These significant findings highlight the importance of the statistical design in isolation of Mycothermus thermophilus species from a specific location as well as identifying the optimal culture conditions for maximum yield.Scopu

A preliminary check list of macromycetes in northern Tunisia

Within the last decade, checklists of fungi of several countries have been published or updated. Nevertheless, no checklists of macromycetes have hitherto been published for Tunisia (North Africa) apart from a mycocoenological study reporting 34 listed species. This work presents a list of macromycetes collected from January 2014 to March 2015 in six governorates of northern Tunisia. One hundred and twenty-three species (117 basidiomycetes and six ascomycetes) belonging to 78 genera and 46 families were recorded