Search

Greenhouse-grown cannabis (Cannabis sativa L., marijuana) plants with yellowing, crown rot and root-browning symptoms were sampled from six production facilities during 2019–2020. Among 34 fungal i...

Background: Fusarium keratitis accounts for around 50% of mycotic keratitis cases. Major virulence factors produced by keratopathogenic fungi are proteases. Objective: The aim of the current study was to identify proteases contributing to corneal pathogenicity of Fusarium species. Methods: Culture filtrates from fourteen Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) isolates and three F. delphinoides isolates were evaluated for protease activity and gelatine zymography. Mass spectroscopy was carried out using a partially purified enzyme and total extracellular extract. Protease gene expression in an in-vitro condition and an ex-vivo goat corneal infection model was measured using qRT-PCR. Specific activity was observed in a wide range and at a broad pH range; and isolates Cs1 (maximum) and Cc50 (minimum) were selected for the infection model. Results: Gene expression in in-vitro condition showed the highest fold change for proteases (C7YY94, C7Z7U2 and C7Z6W1) while in an ex-vivo infection highest fold change was seen for proteases (C7Z6W1, C7YQJ2 and C7Z7U2); in decreasing order, respectively. Expression of aminopeptidase (C7Z6W1) was 50-fold higher in the infected cornea in both isolates (Cs1 and Cc50); while expression of carboxypeptidase (C7YVF3) was 15-fold higher only in isolate Cs1. Corneal histology showed less penetration of Cc50 than Cs1 into the stroma. Mass spectrometry showed the presence of carboxypeptidase (C7YVF3) and tripeptidyl amino peptidase. Conclusion: It can be concluded that clinical isolates of FSSC produce varying amounts of proteases and differ in specific activity and gene expression in both conditions (in vitro and ex vivo). Carboxypeptidase and aminopeptidase contribute to the pathogenic potential of Fusarium solani species complex.

Background Fusarium is an environmental mold that causes deep or superficial mycosis in immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients respectively. Methods This epidemiological study evaluated the frequency of Fusarium infections in our university hospital center in France over a decade from 2007 to 2016 and its representativeness in the main clinical infections. Results A total of 715 Fusarium sp. were isolated from various sampling sites. Fusarium was detected in 0.47% of blood cultures, 31.1% of ophthalmic samples, and 8.48% of nail samples. The frequency of Fusarium infections was stable over this decade. Conclusions The main Fusarium species complexes recorded in this study were Fusarium oxysporum species complex and Fusarium solani species complex, indicating the importance of Fusarium as a fungal agent that should be considered in clinical practice. A focus on invasive fusarioses shows that they all occur in hematology patients.

Aim: To evaluate the inhibition of efflux pumps by using promethazine (PMZ) as a strategy to control Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). Materials & methods: The susceptibility of FSSC strains to PMZ and the interaction between PMZ and antifungals were evaluated. The efflux pump activity was confirmed by flow cytometry with rhodamine 6G. Finally, PMZ was tested against FSSC biofilms. Results: PMZ inhibited FSSC planktonic growth and showed synergism with antifungals. PMZ reduced R6G efflux and inhibited cell adhesion, impaired the development of biofilms and disrupted mature biofilms. PMZ-challenged biofilms showed increased sensitivity to amphotericin B. Conclusion: The study provides indirect evidence of the occurrence of efflux pumps in FSSC and opens a perspective for this target in the control of fusariosis.

Ficus carica plantations in Japan were first reported to be infested by an ambrosia beetle species, identified as Euwallacea interjectus, in 1996. The purpose of this study was to determine the symbiotic fungi of female adults of E. interjectus emerging from F. carica trees infected with fig wilt disease (FWD). Dispersal adults (51 females) of E. interjectus, which were collected from logs of an infested fig tree in Hiroshima Prefecture, Western Japan, were separated into three respective body parts (head, thorax, and abdomen) and used for fungal isolation. Isolated fungi were identified based on the morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data. Over 13 species of associated fungi were detected, of which a specific fungus, Fusarium kuroshium, was dominant in female head (including oral mycangia). The plant-pathogenic fungus of FWD, Ceratocystis ficicola, was not observed within any body parts of E. interjectus. We further discussed the relationship among E. interjectus and its associated fungi in fig tree.

Citrus sinensis is an important fruit crop valued for its juicy fruit pulp and aromatic rind. Grafted twigs with rot progressing from both ends were observed on C. sinensis trees in 12 orchards in ...

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is among the top five crops growing worldwide following cereals, rice, wheat, barley and corn due to its high carbohydrate content and adaptability. Potatoes are particularly valued in developing countries as a rich source of vitamins C and B6, starch and essential amino acids. Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) is a common pathogen of potato, causing dry rot in the Upper Egypt. In this study were isolated and identified FSSC from potato tubers based on the morphological followed by molecular characteristics. 187 isolates of Fusarium solani were achieved from infected and non-infected potato tubers gathered from different markets in the Upper Egypt. Dependent upon the morphological characteristics, sequence data from amplifying β-tubulin and specific translation elongation factor (TEF-1α) genes, all of the selected FSSC isolates were divided into three major groups (F. keratoplasticum, F. falciforme and F. solani). All the tested FSSC were capable of producing amylases. All of the isolates were examined for their pathogenic ability on healthy potato tubers, which showed pathogenic effects; with lesion sizes were quite variable. F. solani SVUFs73 showed a highly virulent effect.

This article is to alert medical mycologists and infectious disease specialists of recent name changes of medically important species of the filamentous mold Fusarium. Fusarium species can cause localized and life-threating infections in humans. Of the 70 Fusarium species that have been reported to cause infections, close to one-third are members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), and they collectively account for approximately two-thirds of all reported Fusarium infections., This article is to alert medical mycologists and infectious disease specialists of recent name changes of medically important species of the filamentous mold Fusarium. Fusarium species can cause localized and life-threating infections in humans. Of the 70 Fusarium species that have been reported to cause infections, close to one-third are members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), and they collectively account for approximately two-thirds of all reported Fusarium infections. Many of these species were recently given scientific names for the first time by a research group in the Netherlands, but they were misplaced in the genus Neocosmospora. In this paper, we present genetic arguments that strongly support inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium. There are potentially serious consequences associated with using the name Neocosmospora for Fusarium species because clinicians need to be aware that fusaria are broadly resistant to the spectrum of antifungals that are currently available.

The genus Fusarium is largely represented in fungal infections, not only mostly in plants but also in humans. Fungi belonging to the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are those that are most frequently isolated in invasive fusariosis and present elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations for the main antifungal drugs used in medicine. This study is the first to investigate the resistance mechanism in FSSC by monitoring CYP51A expression in the presence of azole antifungals. After exposure to voriconazole, an overinduction of CYP51A was observed irrespective of the concentration of antifungal used and the generation studied. The same observation is made for other azole antifungals, posaconazole and tebuconazole, but not for amphotericin B. This observation could contribute to explaining why some antifungal molecules used in agriculture or medical practices may have low susceptibility for some fungi.

The recognition of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) as a potential global threat to sea turtle eggs represents yet another instance of an emerging fungal infection impacting wildlife. Traditionally, culturing has been used to identify fungi associated with sea turtle eggs. Since culturing recovers only a subset of environmental microbes, a molecular approach was adopted instead to survey the fungal composition inside unhatched eggs. DNA was directly extracted from the embryonic fluid and biofilms in 73 fully incubated unhatched loggerhead sea turtle eggs collected from different regions of Jekyll Island, GA, USA, in 2010 and 2012. The fungal internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS nrDNA) was amplified from the DNA samples, and ITS products were cloned, sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Sequences corresponded to previously cultivated fungi and were dominated by the FSSC members Fusarium falciforme and F. keratoplasticum. These fungi were consistently detected in unhatched eggs throughout Jekyll Island during each nesting year examined. Fusarium falciforme and F. keratoplasticum ITS sequences were nearly identical to isolates implicated in causing disease in sea turtle embryos from Ascension Island, Australia, Central America and Cape Verde. This represents the first survey establishing these fungal groups in North American loggerhead eggs and provides confirmation of the widespread distribution of F. falciforme and F. keratoplasticum using a novel approach. As we begin to meet conservation goals of species recovery, density-dependent management issues such as emerging fungal infections become a growing concern. Assessing the long-term impacts of Fusarium may be a rising priority.

Fusarium species are among the most commonly isolated causes of fungal keratitis. Most species of the genus Fusarium belong to Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). Fusarium lichenicola, a member of the FSSC complex, is a well-established plant and human pathogen. However, reports of fungal keratitis due to Fusarium lichenicola have not been frequently reported. To the best of our knowledge, only twelve cases of Fusarium lichenicola keratitis have been reported in the past fifty years. Clinical cases of Fusarium lichenicola may have most likely been misidentified because of the lack of clinical and microbiological suspicion, as well as inadequate diagnostic facilities in many tropical countries where the burden of the disease may be the highest. We report a case of fungal keratitis caused by Fusarium lichenicola and present a global review of the literature of all cases of fungal keratitis caused by this potentially blinding fungus.

The defoliation and mortality of Erythrina spp. are increasing on the southern islands of Japan as well as in Taiwan. Although infestation by the gall wasp Quadrastichus erythrinae has been accepted as the cause of Erythrina decline, its role in the death of hosts has never been investigated. We thus studied the cause of the decline, focusing on physiological changes and any contributions by microorganisms. From declining and defoliated trees, Fusarium sp. within F. solani species complex (FSSC) clade 3 was primarily detected, especially from discolored xylem and necrotic phloem that had an odor. This fungus belongs to the Ambrosia Fusarium clade, a group of symbionts of ambrosia beetles that includes the causal agent of Fusarium dieback on avocado. No specific fungi were detected from twigs and leaves with Q. erythrinae galls. According to histological observations, the internal symptoms of declining E. variegata are similar to those of sudden death syndrome in soybeans, which is caused by F. virguliforme, a member of FSSC clade 2. One of the isolates of the Fusarium sp. isolated from E. variegata induced wilt and necrosis of cortex and phloem in the seedlings after artificial inoculation, and the inoculated strain was reisolated. The present results demonstrated that the isolate was pathogenic to E. variegata and may be a causal agent of Erythrina decline.

In Japan, Fusarium species are known etiological agents of human fungal infection; however, there has been no report of a large-scale epidemiological study on the etiological agents of fusariosis. A total of 73 Fusarium isolates from patients with invasive fusariosis (IF, n= 36) or superficial fusariosis (SF, n= 37), which were obtained at hospitals located in 28 prefectures in Japan between 1998 and 2015, were used for this study. Fusarium isolates were identified using Fusarium- and Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) -specific real-time PCR and partial DNA sequences of the elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) gene and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. FSSC was predominately isolated from both patients with IF and SF (IF, 77.8% and SF, 67.6%). Distribution of the phylogenetic species of FSSC isolates from patients with IF and SF exhibited different spectra; specifically, F. keratoplasticum (FSSC 2) (25.0%) was the most frequent isolate from patients with IF, whereas F. falciforme (FSSC 3+4) (32.4%) was the most frequent isolate from patients with SF. Fusarium sp. (FSSC 5) was the second most frequent isolate from both patients with IF and SF (IF, 22.2% and SF, 24.3%). Notably, F. petroliphilum (FSSC 1) was isolated only from patients with IF. Each species was isolated from a broad geographic area, and an epidemic was not observed. This is the first epidemiological study of Fusarium species causing IF and SF in Japan.

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a site-threatening infection of the cornea associated with ocular trauma and contact lens wear. Members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are predominant agents of FK worldwide, but genes that support their corneal virulence are poorly understood. As a means to bolster genetic analysis in FSSC pathogens, we sought to employ a CRISPR/Cas9 system in an FK isolate identified as Fusarium petroliphilum. Briefly, this approach involves the introduction of two components into fungal protoplasts: (1) A purified Cas9 protein complexed with guide RNAs that will direct the ribonuclease to cut on either side of the gene of interest, and (2) a &ldquo, repair template&rdquo, comprised of a hygromycin resistance cassette flanked by 40 bp of homology outside of the Cas9 cuts. In this way, Cas9-induced double strand breaks should potentiate double homologous replacement of the repair template at the desired locus. We targeted a putative ura3 ortholog since its deletion would result in an easily discernable uracil auxotrophy. Indeed, 10% of hygromycin-resistant transformants displayed the auxotrophic phenotype, all of which harbored the expected ura3 gene deletion. By contrast, none of the transformants from the repair template control (i.e., no Cas9) displayed the auxotrophic phenotype, indicating that Cas9 cutting was indeed required to promote homologous integration. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the in vitro Cas9 system is an easy and efficient approach for reverse genetics in FSSC organisms, including clinical isolates, which should enhance virulence research in these important but understudied ocular pathogens.

Bunium persicum (Kala zeera, also black cumin) is an economically important culinary crop that is cultivated for its seed pods and its tuberlike roots. In India, high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh, including the Padder valley and the Gurez area of Jammu and Kashmir, are areas of kalazeera production (3). In 2008 to 2009, tuber rot disease of kala zeera was observed during the late spring season in the Padder valley. Symptomatic plants were distributed in localized areas in the field and the symptoms included drying of foliage and rotting of tubers. White mycelia were found on the tubers at the late stages of disease development. Incidence of infection in the surveyed area was 80 to 90%. Yield losses were 50 to 60%. To isolate the causal pathogen, we cultured tissues from symptomatic tubers. Small bits of the infected tissue were surface disinfested in 0.1% mercuric chloride, followed by rinsing three times in sterile distilled water. The surface disinfested tissues were plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 27°C for 4 days. Pure cultures of the mycelium from the diseased tissues were transferred to a second set of PDA for species identification. The fungus produced three types of spores: small, one-celled, oval microconidia; large, slightly curved, septate macroconidia; and rounded, thick-walled chlamydospores. Microconidia were mostly non-septate and 8.91 to 15.73 × 2.3 to 3.5 μm, whereas macroconidia were three- to five-septate and were 35.55 to 54.74 × 3.91 to 6.5 μm. On the basis of morphological characteristics (1), the fungus was identified and deposited as a member of the Fusarium solani species complex in the Indian Type Culture Collection, New Delhi (ID No. 8422.11). To confirm pathogenicity, healthy tubers were submerged for 20 min in a conidial suspension of the isolated fungus (1 × 105 cfu/ml), which was prepared in potato dextrose broth, incubated for 10 days at 27°C, and centrifuged at 140 rpm. Noninoculated controls were submerged in distilled water. Inoculated and control tubers were then planted in separate pots filled with sterilized soil and kept in a shade house. Symptoms appeared on inoculated tubers 9 to 10 days after planting. Signs of the pathogen in the form of mycelia were present. The tubers rotted and died 12 to 15 days after inoculation. Control tubers did not display any symptoms. F. solani species complex was reisolated from inoculated tubers, fulfilling Koch's postulates. F. solani has been reported to cause corm rot on gladiolus and saffron (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the F. solani species complex as pathogenic to tubers of kalazeera in India. References: (1) C. Booth. The Genus Fusarium. 47, 1971. (2) L. Z. Chen et al. J. Shanghai Agric. College 12:240, 1994. (3) K. S. Panwar et al. Agriculture Situation in India. 48:151, 1993.

Clade 2 of the Fusarium solani species complex contains plant pathogens including Fusarium virguliforme and closely related species Fusarium brasiliense, Fusarium crassistipitatum, Fusarium tucumaniae, which are the primary causal agents of soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS), a significant threat to soybean production. In this study, we developed microsatellite markers from a F. virguliforme genome sequence and applied them to a F. virguliforme population collection of 38 isolates from Michigan and four reference strains from other locations. Of the 225 detected microsatellite loci, 108 loci were suitable for primer design, and 12 of the microsatellite markers were determined to be highly polymorphic, amplifying on average 5.7 alleles per locus. Using these markers, F. virguliforme isolates were partitioned into three distinct clusters, but isolates were not grouped based on relatedness of sampling sites. In addition, 11 out of 12 markers were demonstrated to be highly transferrable to other closely related species.

Fusarium petroliphilum is a recently described species within the Fusarium solani species complex. Some strains of Fusarium species are capable of forming yeast-like structures in tissue as well as in culture through a process known as "adventitious sporulation." Here, we describe the formation of these yeast-like reproductive structures in infected nail tissue obtained from a case of onychomycosis. These structures were also observed in culture grown on RPMI 1640 agar supplemented with 2% glucose. The isolate was resistant to azoles and echinocandins. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing adventitious sporulation in F. petroliphilum and its etiologic role in onychomycosis.

Members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are the most frequently isolated fusaria from soil. Moreover, this complex solely affects more than 100 plant genera, and is also one of the major opportunistic human pathogenic filamentous fungi, being responsible for approximately two-third of fusariosis cases. Mycotic keratitis due to Fusarium species is among the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in South India, but its management is still challenging due to the poor susceptibility of the isolates to conventional antifungal drugs. Aims of the present study were to isolate South Indian clinical and environmental FSSC strains and identify them to species level, to determine the actual trends in their susceptibilities to antifungal therapeutic drugs and to compare the virulence of clinical and environmental FSSC members. Based on the partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1α gene, the majority of the isolates—both from keratomycosis and environment—were confirmed as F. falciforme, followed by F. keratoplasticum and F. solani sensu stricto. In vitro antifungal susceptibilities to commonly used azole, allylamine and polyene antifungals were determined by the CLSI M38-A2 broth microdilution method. The first generation triazoles, fluconazole and itraconazole proved to be ineffective against all isolates tested. This phenomenon has already been described before, as fusaria are intrinsically resistant to them. However, our results indicated that despite the intensive agricultural use of azole compounds, fusaria have not developed resistance against the imidazole class of antifungals. In order to compare the virulence of different FSSC species from clinical and environmental sources, a Drosophila melanogaster model was used. MyD88 mutant flies having impaired immune responses were highly susceptible to all the examined fusaria. In wild-type flies, one F. falciforme and two F. keratoplasticum strains also reduced the survival significantly. Pathogenicity seemed to be independent from the origin of the isolates.

Two Fusarium strains, isolated from Asparagus in Italy and Musa in Vietnam respectively, proved to be members of an undescribed clade within the Fusarium solani species complex based on phylogenetic species recognition on ITS, partial RPB2 and EF-1α gene fragments. Macro- and micro-morphological investigations followed with physiological studies done on this new species: Fusarium ershadii sp. nov can be distinguished by its conidial morphology. Both isolates of Fusarium ershadii were shown to be pathogenic to the monocot Asparagus officinalis when inoculated on roots and induced hollow root symptoms within two weeks in Asparagus officinalis seedlings. In comparison mild disease symptoms were observed by the same strains on Musa acuminata seedlings.

Fusarium species are environmental saprophytic fungi. Among the many Fusarium species, members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are the most prevalent and virulent in causing human and animal infections. In this study, we describe the first case of fatal FSSC infection in a black spotted stingray and three concomitant infections in scalloped hammerhead sharks. In the stingray, cutaneous lesions were characterised by ulcers and haemorrhage of the ventral pectoral fin, or 'ray', especially around the head; while cutaneous lesions in the sharks were characterised by ulcers, haemorrhage, as well as white and purulent exudates at the cephalic canals of the cephalofoil and lateral line. Histological sections of the cutaneous lesions revealed slender (1-4 μm in diameter), branching, septate fungal hyphae. Internal transcribed spacer region and 28S nrDNA sequencing of the fungal isolates from the fish showed two isolates were F. keratoplasticum (FSSC 2) and the other two were FSSC 12. Environmental investigation revealed the FSSC strains isolated from water and biofilms in tanks that housed the elasmobranchs were also F. keratoplasticum and FSSC 12. Fusarium is associated with major infections in elasmobranchs and FSSC 12 is an emerging cause of infections in marine animals. DNA sequencing is so far the most reliable method for accurate identification of Fusarium species.

A collar canker and dieback disease of tea has recently emerged in Sri Lanka. Isolation from cankers consistently yielded fusaria. Morphological characters and ITS and tef1 combined sequence analysis identified the selected isolates as members of Fusarium solani Species Complex Clade 3. Artificial inoculation to young and mature tea plants confirmed pathogenicity.

The in vitro activities of amphotericin B in combination with rifampin were assessed against 95 ocular fungal isolates. The interactions between amphotericin B and rifampin at 4, 8, 16, and 32 μg/ml were synergistic for 11.8%, 51.0%, 90.2%, and 94.1%, respectively, of Fusarium solani species complex isolates and for 13.6%, 45.5%, 93.2%, and 95.5%, respectively, of Aspergillus flavus species complex isolates. Antagonism was never observed for the amphotericin B-rifampin combinations.

Members of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are frequently isolated from soils, food, feeds, trees, and to some extent from humans and other animals. The taxonomic status of these fungi is being revised but no attempt has been made to identify those isolated in Iran, a mountainous country with a high biodiversity. The objective of the present research was to study the phylogenetic diversity of FSSC strains recovered from soils in Iran by analyzing morphological characteristics and DNA sequences. A total of 65 strains belonging to the FSSC were recovered from agricultural soils in western Iran. Based on differences in their morphological characters, 25 strains were selected for phylogenetic analysis employing translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences. Comparisons of DNA sequence data revealed that all isolates belonged to Fusarium falciforme, Fusarium keratoplasticum, Fusarium petroliphilum, the unnamed species FSSC 5, and unknown species of Fusarium, which represents a new lineage within members of Clade 3. Based on morphological features and phylogenetic study, F. keratoplasticum and F. petroliphilum were reported for the first time in Iran.

The Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) is a clade of environmentally ubiquitous fungi that includes plant, animal, and insect associates. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the undescribed species FSSC 6 (isolate MYA-4552), housed in the gut of the wood-boring cerambycid beetle Anoplophora glabripennis .

Purpose. Evaluating the therapeutic effect of topical and intrastromal voriconazole and topical natamycin onFusariumkeratitis.Methods. 24 rabbits were selected. The stroma of their corneas was inoculated with suspension ofFusarium solanispecies complex. Seven days after injection they were divided into 4 groups randomly: the first group was treated with topical voriconazole (TV) 1% for one week, the second one with one-time intrastromal injection of voriconazole (ISV) 50 microgram/0.1 mL, and the third group with topical gel of natamycin (TN) for one week, and the last one did not receive any antifungal treatment. Finally the eyes were enucleated and sclerocorneal buttons were sent for histological and microbiological examinations.Results. After treatment the ISV group and TN group showed significantly lower clinical score and colony forming units than the control group (P=0.040andP=0.026, resp.), but there was statistically no significant difference between control and TV groups (P=0.249) or between ISV and TN groups (P=0.665). In pathological evaluation, fewer chronic inflammations were reported in 2 of the 3 buttons from TV group and 3 of the 3 buttons from ISV and TN groups in comparison with the control group.Conclusion. Intrastromal injection of voriconazole seems to be effective in treatment ofFusariumkeratitis as much as topical natamycin and these are more effective than topical voriconazole.

The ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff, was first recorded in Israel in 2009. The symbiotic fungus Fusarium sp., carried in mycacangia located in the anterior region of the female head, is responsible for the typical wilt symptoms inflicted on avocado (Persea americana Miller) trees. The beetle–fungus complex has become a serious threat to the future of the avocado industry in Israel.

Rotting of roots and stem bases and wilting of entire plants were found on a gentianaceous flowering plant, prairie gentian (Eustoma grandiflorum), grown in Kagawa Prefecture in the southwest region of Japan in April 2001. A mitosporic fungus, isolated repeatedly from the diseased plants, was identified as a species belonging to the clade 3 of Fusarium solani species complex based on the morphology and the sequence of the translation elongation factor gene. It was demonstrated to cause the disease by inoculating potted plants and reisolating the fungus from the diseased plants. We propose the name “Fusarium root rot of prairie gentian” for this disease.

A major fungal invasion was discovered in the prehistoric painted cave of Lascaux in France in Sep 2001. At least three species of the Fusarium solani complex were isolated and identified with a portion of the translation elongation factor 1alpha gene (EF-1alpha), a portion of the nuclear large subunit rDNA (LSU) and nuclear ribosomal intergenic spacer region (ITS). This study represents the first time that Fusarium species have been reported from a cave containing prehistoric paintings. Significant interspecific molecular variability was observed, suggesting that there might have been repeated introduction of the species, possibly carried by water from soils above the cave.

The Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) includes important root pathogens of soybean in the United States, but the evolutionary lineages associated with soybean root rot are unknown. A multilocus phylogeny based on 93 isolates from soybean and pea roots from North Dakota and Minnesota revealed that root rot was associated with three known phylogenetic species, FSSC 3 + 4 (=Fusarium falciforme) (3 % of isolates), FSSC 5 (60 %), FSSC 11 (34 %), and one unknown species, FSSC X (2 %). Of these species FSSC 5 and FSSC 3 + 4 are clinically important while FSSC 11 is a plant pathogen. Isolates from FSSC 11 were pathogenic on soybean, dry bean, pea and lentil, and did not grow at 37 °C. However, isolates from FSSC 5 were weakly to non-pathogenic, but grew at 37 °C. Isolates from both FSSC 5 and FSSC 11 were highly resistant to fludioxonil in vitro. This is the first study revealing the pathogenic robustness of FSSC 11 in causing root rot among Fabaceae crops and also the association of clinically important members of the FSSC with roots of a widely grown field crop in the United States.

Members of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are common pathogens of potato, causing dry rot in the west of Iran which involved Hamedan, Kermanshah, Eilam and Kurdistan provinces. Therefore, the objectives in this study were to isolate and identify disease-causing FSSC from infected potato tubers based on the morphological and molecular characteristics. Forty-five isolates of Fusarium were obtained from potato tubers collected from the wet market in different regions of the west of Iran and identified as FSSC through morphological characters. All of the isolates were evaluated for their pathogenicity on healthy potato tubers in the planthouse. The tubers rot symptoms were observed on the 21st day after inoculation of Fusarium isolates on the tubers tested. In the tubers inoculation tests, lesion sizes were quite variable; therefore, the measurement was done to compare the depth and width of lesion expansion among the isolates. Based on the sequence data from translation elongation factor (EF-lα) gene and internal transcript spacer (ITS) regions analysis, all of the selected FSSC isolates were divided into two major groups. This is the first report on molecular identification of FSSC strains isolated from potato tubers in Iran and Fusarium falciforme was reported for the first time in Iran.

Aims: The objective of this work was to design an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)-derived specific primer for the detection of Fusarium solani aetiological agent of peanut brown root rot (PBRR) in plant material and soil. Methods and Results: Specific primers for the detection of the pathogen were designed based on an amplified region using AFLPs. The banding patterns by AFLPs showed that isolates from diseased roots were clearly distinguishable from others members of the F. solani species complex. Many bands were specific to F. solani PBRR, one of these fragments was selected and sequenced. Sequence obtained was used to develop specific PCR primers for the identification of pathogen in pure culture and in plant material and soil. Primer pair FS1/FS2 amplified a single DNA product of 175 bp. Other fungal isolates occurring in soil, included F. solani non-PBRR, were not detected by these specific primers. The assay was effective for the detection of pathogen from diseased root and infected soils. Conclusions: The designed primers for F. solani causing PBRR can be used in a PCR diagnostic protocol to rapidly and reliably detect and identify this pathogen. Significance and Impact of the Study: These diagnostic PCR primers will aid the detection of F. solani causing PBRR in diseased root and natural infected soils. The method developed could be a helpful tool for epidemiological studies and to avoid the spread of this serious disease in new areas. Fil: Casasnovas, F.. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina Fil: Fantini, Emanuel Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Palazzini, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Giaj Merlera, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Chulze, Sofia Noemi. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Reynoso, Maria Marta. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Torres, Adriana Mabel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

3 pages, 1 table, 18 references. The collaboration of the Lascaux restoration team is highly appreciated. We thank Marisa Chelius for valuable comments on the manuscript., The LascauxCave was discovered in 1940, and by 1960 it had received up to 1800 daily visitors. In 1963, the cave was closed and in 2001 it was invaded by a Fusarium solani species complex which was treated for four years with benzalkonium chloride. However, LascauxCavebacteria have only been poorly investigated. Here we show that the cave is now a reservoir of potential pathogenic bacteria and protozoa which can be found in outbreaks linked to air-conditioning systems and cooling towers in community hospitals and public buildings., The first author and the research project “Microbiology-Microclimate” were supported by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, France. Authors acknowledge support from the Ministry of Culture and Communication and from project CGL2006-07424/BOS, Spain.

In two recent studies, clinical isolates in the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) were sequenced; one of the most common lineages was FSSC Group 1 (FSSC 1), a phylogenetic species that is synonymous with F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 2, a pathogen of cucurbit fruits. FSSC 1 was also identified in sink and shower drains in two hospitals. The environmental sources of FSSC 1 are important for understanding the epidemiology of both human and plant diseases caused by this organism. FSSC 1 was detected in sewage influent at all six tested urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in California with a concentration ranging from 75 to 413 colony-forming units (cfu) l(-1), a mean of 246 +/- 52 cfu l(-1) and a median of 254 cfu l(-1). During the treatment process, the concentration of FSSC 1 in the solid and liquid fractions diminished. FSSC 1 was detected in five and six of 14 community shower drains by culturing and polymerase chain reaction, respectively, whereas FSSC DNA was detected in all drains. FSSC accounted for 17 +/- 6% (n = 14) of the total fungal DNA in the drains. FSSC 1 was rarely isolated from post-harvest cucurbit fruits and was not found in cucurbit fields in California.

Members of theFusarium solanispecies complex (FSSC) are increasingly implicated as the causative agents of human mycoses, particularly in the expanding immunocompromised and immunosuppressed patient populations. Best known as ubiquitous plant pathogens and saprotrophs, the FSSC comprises over 45 phylogenetically distinct species distributed among three major clades. To identify which species are associated with human infections, we generated multilocus haplotypes based on four partial gene sequences from 471 isolates. Of these, 278 were from human patients, 21 were from hospital environments, and 172 were from other sources. Phylogenetic trees inferred from an ergosterol biosynthesis gene (erg-3) were highly discordant with those inferred from the three other partial gene sequences; therefore, this partition was analyzed separately. Multilocus analysis showed that isolates from humans were restricted to but spread throughout clade 3 of the FSSC phylogeny, comprising at least 18 phylogenetically distinct species. The majority (74.5%) of the clinical isolates, however, were associated with four major lineages, designated groups 1 to 4. Groups 1 and 2 were strongly supported as phylogenetic species, whereas groups 3 and 4 were not. Although isolates from ocular infections were found in all four groups, they had a significant tendency to belong to group 3 (P< 0.001). Human clinical isolates shared identical multilocus haplotypes with isolates from plants, other animals, and from hospital environments, suggesting potential nosocomiality. The major finding of this study is that FSSC-associated mycoses of humans and other animals have origins in a broad phylogenetic spectrum, indicating widespread ability to cause infection in this diverse species complex.

Members of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) have been known as plant, animal, and human pathogens. Nevertheless, the taxonomic status of such an important group of fungi is still very confusing and many new species as well as lineages have been elucidated recently. Unfortunately, most of the new taxa came from temperate and subtropical regions. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to identify strains of FSSC recovered from different sources in Malaysia. In the present study, 55 strains belonging to the FSSC were examined and phylogenetically analyzed on the basis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and partial translation elongation factor-1 (TEF-1α) sequences. Based on morphological features, a total of 55 strains were selected for molecular studies. Based on morphological features, the strains were classified into four described Fusarium species, namely Fusarium keratoplasticum, Fusarium falciforme, FSSC 5, and Fusarium cf. ensiforme, and one unknown phylogenetic species was introduced. Although the data obtained from morphological and molecular studies sufficiently supported each other, the phylogenetic trees based on ITS and TEF-1α dataset clearly distinguished closely related species and distinctly separated all morphological taxa. All members of FSSC in this research were reported for the first time for Malaysian mycoflora.