16,724 research outputs found

    Development of an innovative method for the evaluation of fungal contamination of surfaces

    Get PDF
    The objective of this technical report is to compare the ability to capture fungal spores through samples performed with three different methods: Rodac contact plates, cotton pad and a pad prepared with a dusting cloth (DC pads) selected from those available on the market. The tests were conducted using a suspension of Aspergillus niger conidia equal to 0.5 MacFarland diluted 1/30, 1/40, 1/50, 1/100. With each of these dilutions 3 sterile tiles of stainless steel were contaminated, each divided into 16 small squares, in the center of which 0.1 ml of the dilution chosen was placed and left to dry (for a total of 12 sheets). In addition, we have used other 6 tiles to repeat the experience with dilutions 1/40 and 1/50. A total of 288 squared surfaces were contaminated: 96 of these were sampled with Rodac contact plates, 96 with cotton pads and 96 with DC and then inseminated in Petri plates. Sabouraud dextrose agar was used as culture medium for the first 12 plates, while, for the other 6 plates Sabouraud dextrose agar added with lecithin and polysorbate 80 was used. All plates were incubated at 37 degrees for 18 hours. To estimate the differences among the sampling methods and the dilutions tested, multiple linear regression was used. The analysis showed that the number of colonies harvested at dilution 1/40 is 13% higher (P = 0.09) than the number harvested at dilution 1/50 and the number of colonies harvested at dilution 1/30 is 6% higher than dilution 1/50 (P = 0.52). With regard to the comparison between the number of colonies harvested with Rodac contact plates, with cotton pads and DC pads, regression analysis shows that cotton pads harvest a number of fungal cfu 5 times higher than those detected with Rodac plates, while DC pads harvest a number of fungal ufc 6 times higher than those detected with Rodac plates (P < 0.00005). These results, although preliminary, indicate that DC pads are a sensitive and simple approach for the environmental control of fungal contamination

    The Irr and RirA proteins participate in a complex regulatory circuit and act in concert to modulate bacterioferritin expression in Ensifer meliloti 1021

    Get PDF
    In this work we found that the bfr gene of the rhizobial species Ensifer meliloti, encoding a bacterioferritin iron storage protein, is involved in iron homeostasis and the oxidative stress response. This gene is located downstream of and overlapping the smc03787 open reading frame (ORF). No well-predicted RirA or Irr boxes were found in the region immediately upstream of the bfr gene although two presumptive RirA boxes and one presumptive Irr box were present in the putative promoter of smc03787. We demonstrate that bfr gene expression is enhanced under iron-sufficient conditions and that Irr and RirA modulate this expression. The pattern of bfr gene expression as well as the response to Irr and RirA is inversely correlated to that of smc03787. Moreover, our results suggest that the small RNA SmelC759 participates in RirA- and Irr-mediated regulation of bfr expression and that additional unknown factors are involved in iron-dependent regulation.Fil: Costa, Daniela. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; UruguayFil: Amarelle, Vanesa. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; UruguayFil: Valverde, Claudio Fabián. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: O`Brian, Mark R.. State University of New York; Estados UnidosFil: Fabiano, Elena. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Urugua
    corecore