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Wood-based particleboards (PBs) are widely used in construction and interior applications, yet their durability, particularly against biological degradation, remains a challenge. Recycling wood and incorporating degraded particles from rotted wood can potentially enhance PB sustainability and align with circular bioeconomy principles. This study investigates the biological resistance of the three-layer, laboratory-prepared PBs with varied amounts of particles, from sound spruce wood to particles, and from spruce logs attacked by brown- or white rot, respectively, to particles from recycled wooden composites of laminated particleboards (LPBs) or blockboards (BBs), i.e., 100:0, 80:20, 50:50, and 0:100. The bio-resistance of PBs was evaluated against the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana, as well as against a mixture of moulds' "microscopic fungi", such as Aspergillus versicolor BAM 8, Aspergillus niger BAM 122, Penicillium purpurogenum BAM 24, Stachybotrys chartarum BAM 32, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa BAM 571. PBs containing particles from brown-rotten wood or from recycled wood composites, particularly LPBs, had a partly enhanced decay resistance, but their mass loss was nevertheless more than 30%. On the other hand, the mould resistance of all variants of PBs, evaluated in the 21st day, was very poor, with the highest mould growth activity (MGA = 4). These findings suggested that some types of rotten and recycled wood particles can improve the biological resistance of PBs; however, their effectiveness is influenced by the type of wood degradation and the source of recycled materials. Further, the results highlight the need for improved biocidal, chemical, or thermal modifications of wood particles to enhance the overall biological durability of PBs for specific uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Cladosporium is one of the most abundant genera of environmental fungi worldwide and a very common respiratory allergen. To-date, many C. cladosporoides infections have been identified. Risk factors for C. cladosporioides infection are primarily injuries, metabolic disorders, organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases, among others. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the type of pharmacodynamic interactions between fluconazole and some selected essential oils: orange, mandarin, lemon and grapefruit, in an in vitro study against C. cladosporioides. Materials and method. Experiments were carried out using the plate cultivation method. Fluconazole was tested against C. cladosporioides at concentrations ranging from 0.05-3.3 mg / ml, and the activity of essential oils added to PDA medium at concentrations ranging from 1-30%. The dose-effect curves for the collected results were determined with by the logprobit method. Isobolographic analysis of the results allowed determining the type of interactions between fluconazole and the tested essential oils. Results. Lemon essential oil was the most active, and in a concentration of 1% it inhibited the growth of C. cladosporioides by 21%. Isobolographic analysis showed that the combination of fluconazole with orange and grapefruit essential oil had an additive interaction, and with mandarin and lemon - an additive interaction with a tendency to synergy in the plate culture test for C. cladosporioides. Conclusions. The use of isobolographic analysis can contribute to the introduction of natural substances with the desired activities into the pharmacotherapy of many infections and diseases. The use of natural substances can also help to reduce the number of side-effects caused by conventional and standard therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serrano Artisanal Cheese is a native product from the South region of Brazil, produced by family labor from raw milk, which seeks to obtain its geographical indication. Many of the characteristics that particularize the types of cheese are given by its natural mycobiota. The objective of this study was to determine the fungal species present in 20 samples of Serrano Artisanal Cheese from four ripening periods (14, 21, 28, and 35 days), produced in October 2017, in Santa Catarina. Identification of molds was made by identification keys and yeasts by MALDI-TOF. The molds were isolated in 28 of the 80 samples and with various species, some being attributed to contamination. On the other hand, yeasts were detected in all samples, with some genera being more frequent, specially Kluyveromyces lactis, present in 27 samples, and some species of Candida spp. The identified species have already been isolated in other Brazilian artisanal cheeses produced in places with similar climate and relief to that of Serrano Artisanal Cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate antifungal activity in a diverse group of chlorine‐containing xanthone and phenoxyethyl amine derivatives – and to select the most promising compounds for further studies. The antifungal efficacy of 16 compounds was tested with qualitative and quantitative methods against both reference and clinical strains of dermatophytes, moulds and yeasts. The disc‐diffusion method has demonstrated that from 16 tested compounds, 7 possess good antifungal activity against dermatophytes and/or moulds while none of them has shown good efficacy against yeasts or bacterial strains. The most active compounds (2, 4, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16) were tested quantitatively by broth dilution method to obtain MIC values. The MIC values against dermatophytes ranged from 8 to 64 μg/ml. Compound 2 was the most active one against dermatophytes (MIC50 and MIC90 were 8 μg/ml). The MIC values for moulds ranged from 16 to 256 μg/ml. Compound 4 was the most active one against moulds, with MIC50 and MIC90 values amounting to 32 μg/ml. Among the tested compounds, compound 4 (derivative of xanthone) was the most active one and expressed good antifungal efficacy against clinical strains of dermatophytes and moulds. However, another xanthone derivative (compound 2) was the most active and selective against dermatophytes. The selected chlorine derivatives of xanthone and phenoxyethyl amines were evaluated in vitro against dermatophytes, moulds and yeasts. We observed that only simple amine derivatives of xanthones and phenoxyethyl derivatives of pyridinyl‐ or pyrimidinylpiperazine exhibited promising antifungal activity. The most active compound (4) showed a broad spectrum of activity, being active against all 22 clinical strains tested, with MIC values ranging from 8 to 32 μg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-energy electron beam was investigated as an intervention strategy for the reduction of spores of food-spoiling fungi. Inactivation kinetics of five strains from the genera Aspergillus , Byssochlamys , Eurotium and Penicillium were determined. A two-dimensional membrane was used as a model system to exclude matrix effects. Raisins were incorporated into the study as an example of a three-dimensional food surface structure that is regularly being affected by spoilage through moulds. Complete inactivation could be attained on the model system after a maximum dose of 6 kGy, whereas between 1.04 and 1.71 log reductions were achieved on raisins. This novel application of low-energy electron beam was shown to reduce mould spores even on challenging food surfaces, paving the way for implementation in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work was to analyze the profile of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) emitted by moulds growing on silk samples in search of particular volatiles mentioned in the literature as indicators of active mould growth. The selected moulds were inoculated on three types of media: (1) samples of pure silk placed on microbial media, (2) samples of historical silk placed on microbial media, and (3) agar containing amino acids that are elements of the structure of fibroin. All samples were prepared inside vials (closed system). In the first and second cases the media did not contain any sources of organic carbon, nitrogen, or sulfur—the silk was the only nutrient for the moulds. A fourth type of sample was historical silk prepared in a Petri dish without a microbial medium and inoculated with a fibroinolytically active mould (open system). The MVOCs emitted by moulds were sampled with the headspace–solid phase micro-extraction method. Volatiles extracted on Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) fibers were analyzed in a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry system. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of chromatograms were carried out in search of indicators of metabolic activity. The results showed that there are three groups of volatiles that can be used for the detection of active forms of moulds on silk. Thus, this can be a valuable tool for the fast detection of mould activity on historical silk objects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to measure MVOCs emitted by moulds growing on silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One artisanal plant manufacturing Culatello (a typical Italian dry-cured meat product) was sampled on summer and winter to assess the mycobiota occurring in the air of the ripening rooms and on product, with special attention given to undesired moulds and potential mycotoxin producers. Among the house-mycobiota, fungal strains potentially producing ochratoxin A were sporadically isolated and resulted the least prevailing species collected from culatelli, while fungal strains producing unpleasant spots on the casings were massively found in the first steps of the ageing process, even if their presence proved to diminish at the end of the ageing time. For this reason, a study concerning the use of fungal autochthonous strains as biocompetitors was carried out, in order to find out a possible solution to the settlement of certain undesired moulds on meat derivatives. Autochthonous Eurotium and Penicillium strains were selected and inoculated on some culatelli, to act as biocompetitors over Sporendonema spp. naturally contaminating products. Despite its fluctuating concentration, the undesired mould gave samples a spotted, flame-red appearance throughout the ageing process, so it can be stated that use of our autochthonous biocompetitors do not represent an effective counter-action against moulds producing unpleasant spots on meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this study was to assess the chemical and microbiological quality of some different types of soft cheeses. A total of 100 samples of different soft cheeses included: Kareish, Damietta, Tallaga and double cream cheese (25 of each types) were collected randomly from Damanhour city markets, Egypt and chemically and microbiologically examined. Mean values of acidity and salt percent were 1.97± 0.18, 2.84± 0.5; 1.36±0.25, 5.01±0.25;1.0± 0.19, 2.99± 0.17 and 0.90± 0.32, 1.8± 0.11 in the examined Kareish, Damietta, Tallaga and double cream cheese samples, respectively. Microbiological examination revealed that APC, Staph. aureus, coliforms, E. coli and mould counts were present in 100, 60, 48, 40, 72% of Kareish cheese, 100, 48, 32,20, 56 % of Damietta cheese, 100, 44, 40, 24, 64 % of Tallaga cheese and 100, 24, 36, 12, 40 % of double cream cheese, respectively, with mean values 1.2x105± 2x104,1.4x103±8x102, 1.5x104±4x103, 8x103±3x103, 2.5x103±6x103 of kareish cheese, 7.8x104±8x103, 2.8x103±6x102, 1.6x103±5x102, 2.0x102±9x10, 4x103±1x103 of Damietta cheese, 1.1x105±1x104, 1.7x103±5x102, 3x103±1x 103, 1.3x103±5x102, 2.2x103±6x102 of Tallaga cheese and 8x104±1x104, 4x102±2x102, 9x102±3x102, 1.0x102±6x10, 6x103±2x103 of double cream cheese, respectively. All examined samples of different kinds of soft cheese were free from listeria species. The obtained results indicated unhygienic conditions applied during production, handling and distribution of different soft cheese so, we recommended application of strict hygienic measures during all stages of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive paste can be a valuable source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment (600 MPa, 8 min) was tested for the preservation of olive paste obtained from Picual unfermented green olives, a variety known for its high content of phenolic compounds. Microbiological load (total aerobic mesophilic counts, yeasts, and moulds), and antioxidant activity were measured during one-month refrigeration storage. At the end of the storage period, control samples maintained 27% of their initial antioxidant activity, showed browning, and had microbial loads (ca. 105 CFU/g) composed mainly of yeasts and moulds, while samples treated with HHP preserved 79% of their initial antioxidant activity, kept green colour and had no microbial counts. These results showed the potential of HHP treatment at 600 MPa for 8 min for the preservation of olive paste with strong antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Skin cancer is the most common tumor in the population. There are different therapeutic modalities. Brachytherapy is one of the techniques used, in which it is necessary to build customized moulds for some patients. Currently, these moulds are made by hand using rudimentary techniques. We present a new procedure based on 3D printing and the analysis of the clinical workflow. Material and methods: Moulds can be made either by hand or by automated 3D printing. For making moulds by hand, a patient's alginate negative is created and, from that, the gypsum cast and customized moulds are made by hand from the patient's negative template. The new process is based on 3D printing. The first step is to take a 3D scan of the surface of the patient and then, 3D modelling software is used to obtain an accurate anatomical reconstruction of the treatment area. We present the clinical workflow using 3D scanning and printing technology, comparing its costs with the usual custom handmade mould protocol. Results: The time spent for the new process is 6.25 hours, in contrast to the time spent for the conventional process, which is 9.5 hours. We found a 34% reduction in time required to create a mould for brachytherapy treatment. The labor cost of the conventional process is 211.5 vs. 152.5 hours, so the reduction is 59 hours. There is also a 49.5% reduction in the financial costs, mostly due to lack of need of a computed tomography (CT) scan of the gypsum and the mould. 3D scanning and printing offers financial benefits and reduces the clinical workload. Conclusions: As the present project demonstrates, through the application of 3D printing technologies, the costs and time spent during the process in the clinical workload in brachytherapy treatment are reduced. Overall, 3D printing is a promising technique for brachytherapy that might be well received in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently limited research available on the secondary metabolites of moulds in workplaces. The aim of this study was to determine the mould contamination in museums ( N = 4), composting plants ( N = 4) and tanneries ( N = 4) and the secondary metabolite profiles of Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates from these workplaces. Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium species were identified using the ITS1/2 sequence of the rDNA region. Mould metabolites were quantitatively analysed on standard laboratory medium and mineral medium containing materials specific to each workplace using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We also examined the cytotoxicity of the moulds using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. Air microbiological contamination analyses showed a number of microorganisms, ranging from 2.4 × 10 CFU m (composting plants) to 6.8 × 10 CFU m (tanneries). We identified high percentages of Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium moulds (air 57-59%, surfaces 10-65%) in all workplaces. The following moulds were the most cytotoxic (>90%): Alternaria alternata, A. limoniasperae, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium biourgeianum, P. commune and P. spinulosum. The same mould species isolated from different working environments exhibited varying toxigenic and cytotoxic properties. Modifying the culture medium to simulate environmental conditions most often resulted in the inhibition of secondary metabolite production. Moulds isolated from the working environments produced the following mycotoxins (ng g): chanoclavines (0.28-204), cyclopiazonic acid (27.1-1045), fumigaclavines (0.33-10,640,000), meleagrin (0.57-13,393), roquefortins (0.01-16,660), rugulovasines (112-220), viridicatin (0.12-957), viridicatol (4.23-2753) and quinocitrinines (0.07-1104), which may have a negative impact on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent of microbial contamination with moulds and yeasts of raw cow milk and white brined cheese produced in Bulgarian dairy enterprises was evaluated. The isolation and identification of microorganisms was performed using the classical microbiological methods. The samples of raw milk showed 76.6% contamination with moulds, at average amount of 3.4 log10 cfu/mL, maximum of 4.8 log10 cfu/mL. Yeasts were detected in 93.3% of the samples (average 3.5 log10 cfu/mL). Isolated moulds belonged to the genera Aspergillus (37.9%), Geotrichum (29.3%), Mucor (15.5%), Cladosporium (5.2%) and Penicillium (12.1%). Overall, 70% of studied samples were found to be contaminated with yeasts and moulds at 2.2 log10 cfu/g and 2.8 log10 cfu/g, respectively. Most commonly, isolates from white brined cheese were from the genera Geotrichum (32.8%), Aspergillus (28.1%), Mucor (21.8%) and Penicillium (9.4%). The predominating yeasts in raw cow milk and white brined cheese were Candida spp., Rhodotorula spp. and Sacharomyces spp. Isolates were tested for lipolytic activity on Tributyrin agar. The occurrence of lipolytic and toxigenic moulds and yeasts poses a risk for the quality and safety of milk and dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research project was to reduce or eliminate moulds known to cause TCA using electron beam (e-beam) irradiation. Four types of cork were inoculated with Paecilomyces viridis, Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Mucor racemosus, Trichoderma viride, Aspergillus oryzae and Cladosporium oxysporum. Cork samples were treated with 5, 10 or 15 kilograys (kGy) of e-beam irradiation, respectively. Sensory evaluation revealed that irradiation had little or no effect on the overall quality of wine with irradiated corks stored for 56 months. Cork samples viewed under a scanning electron microscope ( SEM) showed some structural changes compared to control corks. The results suggest that e-beam irradiation can significantly reduce or eliminate the moulds known to cause TCA in cork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neoscytalidium species (formerly Scytalidium species) are black fungi that usually cause cutaneous infections mimicking dermatophytes lesions. Very few publications have reported invasive or disseminated infections.Case Presentation: In this paper, we report the clinical presentations, treatments and outcomes of five cases of invasive Neoscytalidium infections with cutaneous involvement, including two cases with disseminated infection, in five renal transplant recipients. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a series-albeit small-of renal transplant patients in whom this infection was identified. All cases occurred in a single hospital in Paris, France, between 2001 and 2011. Patients all originate from tropical area.Conclusion: Treatments of Neoscytalidium infection varied greatly, underlining the lack of a recommendation for a standardized treatment. All patients were cured after long-term antifungal therapy and/or surgical excision. Interestingly, one patient with disseminated infection involving the left elbow, the right leg, the lungs and the nasal septum was cured by medical therapy only without surgery. This may suggest that in contrast to others mycoses (such as mucormycosis), an adequate medical treatment could be sufficient for treating Neoscytalidium. We also point out the difficulties we had in diagnosing two patients with Kaposi's sarcoma because of the similarity of the lesions. Furthermore, our report underlines the need to check for this rare infection in immunocompromised kidney transplant recipients originating from tropical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several food samples were spiked with fungal conidia to test the efficiency of different cell disruption methods and DNA extraction kits for subsequent molecular detection. For disrupting the firm cell walls of the spores, two different pretreatment methods, namely sonication and bead beating, were tested against no pretreatment. The subsequent DNAextraction and purification was performed using three different DNA extraction methods, which are based on a diverse combination of extraction principles, such as precipitation, thermic-enzymatic lysis, pH-enhancement and bonding with a silica membrane. The aim of the study was to find out the suitable pretreatment and DNA extraction method for the recovery of detectable amounts of fungal DNA from different food matrices. Significance and Impact of the Study The choice of 'ready-to-use' commercial kits and methods has been of great importance regarding the recovery of extracted DNA. However, these commercially available kits are neither effective nor time-efficient when extracting DNA from fungal spores embedded in complex food matrices. Different extraction principles were compared and their effectiveness tested using real-time PCR. The combination of different principles for the extraction and purification of DNA was found as the most efficient method (quantity and purity) to obtain DNA from moulds and their spores from food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) of mushroom disease-related microorganisms. Mycogone perniciosa, Lecanicillum fungicola var. fungicola, and Trichoderma aggressivum f. europaeum species, which are typically harmful in mushroom cultivation, were examined, and Agaricus bisporus (bisporic button mushroom) was also examined as a control. For internal standard, a mixture of alkanes was used; these were introduced as the memory effect of primed septa in the vial seal. Several different marker compounds were found in each sample, which enabled us to distinguish the different moulds and the mushroom mycelium from each other. Monitoring of marker compounds enabled us to investigate the behaviour of moulds. The records of the temporal pattern changes were used to produce partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models that enabled determination of the exact time of contamination (the infection time of the media). Using these evaluation techniques, the presence of mushroom disease-related fungi can be easily detected and monitored via their emitted MVOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate and compare two nonthermal techniques in the inactivation of moulds. Methods and Results High power ultrasound (20 kHz) and nonthermal gas phase plasma treatments were studied in the inactivation of selected moulds. Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. were chosen as the most common mould present in or on food. Experimental design was introduced to establish and optimize working variables. For high power ultrasound, the greatest reduction of moulds (indicated by the total removal of viable cells) was obtained after ultrasound treatments at 60°C (thermosonication) for 6 and 9 min (power applied, 20-39 W). For plasma treatment, the greatest inactivation of moulds was observed for the longest treatment time (5 min) and lowest sample volume (2 ml), (AP12, AP13, PP12 and PP13). Conclusions The great amount of applied energy required for achieving a partial log reduction in viable cells is the limiting factor for using high-power ultrasound. However, both treatment methods could be combined in the future to produce beneficial outcomes. Significance and impact of the study This study deals with nonthermal food processing techniques and the results and findings present in this study are the root for further prospective studies. The food industry is looking for nonthermal methods that will enable food preservation, reduce deterioration of food compounds and structure and prolong food shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High sugar products (sugar content > 50%) are generally considered to be stable against all forms of microbial spoilage during a prolonged shelf life of several months. However, one specific subgroup of micro-organisms, the xerophilic moulds, can develop quite fast on the surface of food products with a reduced water activity (< 0.85). The chance whether these xerophilic moulds are able to grow on the food product depends on the combination of intrinsic factors (e.g., water activity and pH) and the storage conditions (e.g., temperature). This study examines the development of growth/no growth models for the xerophilic moulds Wallemia sebi and Eurotium herbariorum in a sugar rich broth. Growth/no growth models are predictive models that are designed to give a prediction about the probability of growth of a spoilage micro-organism under a specific set of environmental conditions. In this research, a water activity between 0.75 and 0.90, a pH between 5.0 and 6.2, an ethanol concentration between 0% and 5% (g EtOH/g H 2 O) and their interactions were tested. The inoculated media were stored at 22 °C (± 1 °C) during a prolonged test period (up to 120 days). The obtained models were also validated in a chocolate-based food product (ganache). The resulting growth/no growth models show that the growth of W. sebi and E. herbariorum can be inhibited for a prolonged time (> 3 months) if an ethanol concentration of 5% on the water phase is present in the food product, irrespective of water activity values between 0.89 and 0.755. The necessary amount of ethanol for shorter shelf lives can be calculated with the models that were built. Although the models have not been validated thoroughly in actual food products, the preliminary results that were obtained by testing the model on a ganache indicated that the models are capable of delivering safe predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study moulds and 12 mycotoxins in dry pet food samples (25 for dogs and 24 for cats) were determined. Primary moulds identified wereAspergillus,MucorandPenicillium, found in 55% of the samples. Deoxynivalenol and zearalenone (ZEN) were detected in all samples with mean respective concentrations being 97.3 and 38.3 µg kg−1in cat food and 114 and 20.1 µg kg−1in dog food. T-2 and HT-2 toxins were present in 88% and 84% of the samples, respectively. Two samples contained fumonisins, with a maximum concentration of 108 µg kg−1. Aflatoxin B1and ochratoxin A were detected in 8% and 45% of the samples, respectively. The measured mould and mycotoxin levels were consistent with results obtained by other studies. However, potential exposure to relatively high concentrations of an oestrogen mycotoxin as is ZEN, especially when in combination with other mycotoxins, needs attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calcium propionate, water activity (aw) and incubation time on the total fungal count and aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) production in the broiler finisher feed. The feed was added with calcium propionate (5 g kg–1), adjusted to 0.85, 0.90 and 0.95 aw and stored for 28 days at 25°C, analysing for mould growth and aflatoxins production every 7 days. Analysis of variance indicated that all the factors (preservative, aw and storage time) alone and in combination significantly (p < 0.001) affected the total fungal count and aflatoxins production in the feed. Minimum total fungal counts (1.99 × 102 CFU g–1) were observed in calcium propionate feed at 0.85 aw on day 1 and the highest (4.36 × 109 CFUs g–1) in control sample at 0.95 aw on day 28 of storage. During the storage period, AFB1 content in control samples increased from 11.35 to 73.44, from 11.58 to 81.81 and from 11.54 to 102.68 ng g–1, whereas in preserved feed the content of B1 increased from 11.47 to 37.83, from 11.54 to 49.07 and from 11.20 to 53.14 ng g–1 at 0.85, 0.90 and 0.95 aw, respectively. Similar patterns were noted for AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 contents. All the aflatoxins readily increased over storage time; however, the increase was much slower in preserved feed that contained a lower amount of available water. This study reveals that calcium propionate addition to poultry litter along with water activity amelioration is an effective tool for controlling mould incidence and aflatoxin production in poultry feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyses the anti-fungal efficacy and stability of 10 essential oils, as well as their colour stability, in wood. The efficacy of oils against the decay fungi Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor as well as the moulds Aspergillus niger and Penicillium brevicompactum was evaluated first on filter papers treated with 1, 3.5, 10%, or 100% concentrate, and then on beech wood treated with 10% solutions. Accelerated ageing of treated beech samples was done before mycological tests and consisted of heating, leaching followed by heating, and Xenotest followed by heating. The highest growth inhibition of moulds and C. puteana was caused by thyme, oregano, sweet flag, and clove oils, while the savory and birch oils were less effective. These oils are potentially useful for wood protection against brown-rot fungi and moulds, mostly in interior conditions. The essential oils had only a negligible effect against the white-rot fungus T. versicolor, which was more apparent after previous ageing of wood. Some essential oils with a yellow tone (birch, oregano, sweet flag, savory, and tea tree oils) significantly changed (p<0.05) the natural colour of beech wood, but the new colours were relatively stable and underwent only mild changes after accelerated ageing in Xenotest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Pulsed light ( PL) is emerging as a non-thermal technology with excellent prospects for the decontamination of foods and food contact surfaces. Its application for mould inactivation on cereal grains would allow a reduction of storage losses as well as the prevention of mycotoxin contamination at a post-harvest level. The potential of PL for the decontamination of naturally occurring moulds on wheat grain was investigated in this study. RESULTS Treatments of up to 40 flashes of a fluence of 0.4 J cm−2 per pulse were applied to both sides of the grain, with an overall energy release ranging from 6.4 to 51.2 J g−1. The most powerful treatment applied to wheat in this study (51.2 J g−1) resulted in a mould reduction of approximately 4 log cycles on samples displaying an initial mould contamination level of 2.2 × 105 CFU g−1. At the same time, the seed germination percentage was only slightly affected. For PL treatments causing an inactivation of 3-4 log cycles, only 14-15% of the germination power of the wheat seeds was lost. CONCLUSION The PL treatments attained greater microbial reductions for higher treatment times and lower initial mould loads. The absence of the UV portion of the radiation spectrum was found to significantly reduce the treatment effectiveness. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the presence of moulds and mycotoxins in samples of stored maize grains in the period from October 2011 to September 2012 was investigated. Mycological analyses of whole and broken grains showed the presence of species from the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rhizopus and others. Among the Aspergillus and Fusarium genera as potentially toxigenic fungi, Aspergillus flavus was identified with the highest percentage on broken grains (20.38%) whereas F. verticilioides was the predominant species in the whole maize grains (34.04%). In addition, it was obtained that tested samples of stored maize grains were 100% positive with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZON), deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) with an average concentration of 1.39 μg kg-1, 71.79 μg kg-1, 128.17 μg kg-1, and 1610.83 μg kg-1, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the moisture content and the presence of Fusarium spp. on the broken grains (r = 0.44) and between the moisture content and the concentration of DON (r = 0.61). However, a significant negative correlation was found between moisture content and FB1 (r = -0.34), and between the concentration of ZON and DON mycotoxins (r = -0.58). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, ten biocides: Biotin T, Algophase, C3, P6, Cinnamaldehyde, C2, P2, Preventol, New Des and Capsaicin were investigated for their antifungal activity against some moulds isolated from frescoes of two churches. The tests were conducted "in vitro" and the inhibitory activity (IA) of biocides was established using the diffusion method. Results indicated that the antifungal activity of biocides is different, depending on moulds type and concentration of each substance used. Biotin T, Algophase and C3 appeared to be the most efficient. Capsaicin seems to have no action on moulds in this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the mycological and mycotoxicological contamination of maize silage samples collected from the bottom (BL), middle (ML) and top (TL) layer in the silage trench silo was studied. Mycological testing of the silage contamination showed the presence of five potential toxigenic fungi of the genera, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus with their total number ranging from 1 to 10 x 10&sup3 CFU g-1. Also, four mycotoxins were detected as followed, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZON), deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin B1 (FB1). Mycotoxins AFB1 and FB1 were detected as 100% positive in all the samples tested. An average concentration of AFB1 was 2.31 μg kg-1, 2.51 μg kg-1 and 2.81 μg kg-1 in BL, ML and TL respectively, while the concentration of FB1 was 1292.00 μg kg-1, 1298.00 μg kg-1 and 1902.00 μg kg-1 in BL, TL and ML respectively. Average concentration of toxin ZON in positive samples was 15.69 μg kg-1 in BL and 30.68 μg kg-1 in ML, while its presence in the samples taken from the top layer was not detected. An average concentration of DON toxin in positive samples were in the range of 41.71 μg kg-1 for TL, 79.20 μg kg-1 for ML, while it was 97.00 μg kg-1 for BL. There was no statistically significant correlation between moisture content and total number of moulds and concentrations of certain mycotoxins. However, statistically highly significant correlations between the total number of moulds and AFB1 concentration (r = 1.0), ZON (r = 0.99) and FB1 (r = 0.91) were established, while weak correlation was obtained in the case of DON and total mould counts (r = 0.54). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One strain of Aspergillus flavus ATCC 26949 and one strain of Fusarium graminearum ZMPBF 1244 were used to investigate the effect of growth in mixed culture on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation in respect to time and temperature of cultivation in vitro. The experiments were carried out with aflatoxigenous mould A. flavus ATCC 26949 in pure culture and in mixed culture, respectively, the latter with the common mould F. graminearum ZMPBF 1244. F. graminearum does not produce aflatoxins and chromatographycally similar compounds. The amount of biomass was estimated by measuring the chitin content; the aflatoxin accumulation by means of UV light and ELISA method. It was established that the accumulation of AFB1 primarily depend on the temperature of cultivation, rather than on growth of the mycelium. The biomass of the mixed culture of A. flavus and F. graminearum after 35 days of cultivation reduces the amount of AFB1 by 55 to 76% in respect to highest values obtained in experiments with the pure culture of A. flavus. Decrease of this toxin amount is more pronounced in the substrate at the higher water content and at the higher temperature of cultivation. As a general rule, cultures grown in mixed culture under investigate temperature conditions produced less amount of AFB1 than A. flavus grown in pure culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their high alcohol content, distilled spirits are not susceptible to microbial contamination. Because moulds were found in samples of vodka and spirit drinks, the present study was conducted to identify the sources of microbial contamination during the manufacturing process. Total bacterial count (TBC), total yeast and mould count (TYMC) and total coliform count (TCC) were determined in water and from different processing area surfaces, TEC and TYMC in the air of processing areas and TYMC in distilled spirits samples. The source of microbial contamination of distilled spirits was microaeroflora from processing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The growth of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA) and patulin producing strains and the hazard of their mycotoxins production in dry-cured ham were evaluated. In addition, effectiveness of real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for the detection and quantification of toxigenic moulds in this product before mycotoxins production was analyzed. For this, slices of dry-cured ham were inoculated in separate assays with AFB1, OTA and patulin producers and incubated at 97% and 84% relative humidity (RH) for 21 days at 25 °C. Higher counts were reached by AFB1 and patulin producing species at 97% RH, and by OTA producing species at 84% RH. The production of AFB1, OTA and patulin on dry-cured ham slices was demonstrated. The estimation of toxigenic moulds by qPCR was highly correlated with the counts obtained by plating in culture media. All the qPCR protocols assayed detected and quantified toxigenic moulds in the hams before mycotoxins were produced. Thus, qPCR should be considered for a reliable and rapid quantification of toxigenic moulds in dry-cured ham. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Abstract: The effects of temperature, agitation rate and medium composition, including concentrations of glucose, soybean peptone, and inorganic ions, on pellet formation and pellet diameter of Rhizopus delemar (Rhizopus oryzae) NRRL1526 during pre-culture were studied. Inorganic ions and soybean peptone had negative and positive effects on pellet formation, respectively. The initial glucose and soybean peptone concentrations directly affected pellet diameter. Within a certain range, pellet diameter decreased with increased initial substrate concentrations; however, above this range there was an opposite trend. Thus, optimal concentrations of substrate during pre-culture were beneficial for producing small pellets of R. delemar. Furthermore, dry cell mass and yield of fumaric acid tended to increase with decreased pellet diameter. Based on the pellet morphology optimization, the final fumaric acid concentration was improved by 46.13% when fermented in a flask and 31.82% in stirred bioreactor tank fermentation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: During their growth on wood many fungi produce characteristic volatile organic compounds as secondary metabolites. These microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) can be used as indicators of fungal growth even when such growth is concealed. In order to investigate the formation of these volatile metabolites on building materials, specimens of pine sapwood on agar media colonized by the dry-rot fungus Serpula lacrymans and a mixture of six moulds were examined. MVOCs from this fungal growth were studied over a period of up to half a year by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) headspace analysis using a sensitive, portable IMS mini-device. The IMS headspace spectra from the growing fungal specimens obtained during this time span are differed from non-incubated wood specimens and indicate the presence of a mixture of MVOCs. The composition and amount of volatile metabolites of the fungi changed during cultivation. This was confirmed by a principal component analysis (PCA). Identification of different MVOCs in the headspace according to drift time and the mobility of ionized gaseous species in reference to GC-MS investigations were proposed. It was concluded that IMS can be used as a rapid and sensitive on-site method to indicate actively growing fungi concealed within wood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to find out the fungal flora at solid waste storage centres and its potential allergenic effects on the workers.Methods: Air samples from 10 solid waste storage centres were collected and plates were incubated for up to 14 days. The isolated fungi were identified by standard methods. In total, 599 solid waste sanitation workers who worked in those areas were questioned about nasoconjunctival and skin allergic symptoms and then underwent skin prick tests with different mould extracts.Results: Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp. and Trichoderma sp. were isolated in all areas, Aspergillus being the most abundant mould followed by others. According to skin prick tests, positivity to Aspergillus fumigatuswas found to be in the first order by 10.68%. There was a significant correlation between the nasal and conjunctival symptoms and skin test positivity to house dust mites (p = 0.002, p = 0.03). Skin complaints were correlated with skin test positivity to Penicillium notatum ( p = 0.04).Conclusion: Our findings showed that the workers of solid waste storage centres are under a moderate risk of becoming sensitised to some mould species, especially to Aspergillus sp. The environmental measurements and periodical medical check-ups must be taken into account in solid waste storage centres in order to assess the health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was performed to analyse the spectrum of dermatomycoses in southwest Poland during the period 2003-2007. A total of 10 486 patients were investigated for fungal skin infections by means of native specimen and cultivating procedures. Skin scrapings, plucked hairs and nail clippings were examined and identified by direct microscopy and culture. From 2468 patients, 2753 fungi were identified including dermatophytes, yeast and moulds. Among the dermatophytes, the most common pathogen isolated was Trichophyton rubrum (59.4%), followed in descending order by: Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (16.6%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (9.0%), Trichophyton tonsurans (6.8%), Microsporum canis (5.1%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (2.7%). Among the yeast-like fungi, a marked predominance of Candida species was observed (86.3%). Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was the most commonly isolated mould (25.2%). The most frequently affected body sites were the toenails (53.9%), followed by the fingernails (19.0%). In children under 15 years of age, glabrous skin was the most commonly affected body site with M. canis as the most frequent causative agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we have used carbon nanotube field effect transistors (FET) that have been functionalized with protein G and IgG to detect Aspergillus flavus in contaminated milled rice. The adsorbed protein G on the carbon nanotubes walls enables the IgG anti- Aspergillus antibodies to be well oriented and therefore to display full antigen binding capacity for fungal antigens. A solution of Tween 20 and gelatine was used as an effective blocking agent to prevent the non-specific binding of the antibodies and other moulds and also to protect the transducer against the interferences present in the rice samples. Our FET devices were able to detect at least 10 μg/g of A. flavus in only 30 min. To evaluate the selectivity of our biosensors, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium chrysogenum were tested as potential competing moulds for A. flavus. We have proved that our devices are highly selective tools for detecting mycotoxigenic moulds at low concentrations in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of the toxicity of moulds isolated from 34 dwellings with mould-affected walls was performed. During the analysis 74 moulds strains were isolated, 17.5% of them were toxic. Detailed analysis by high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry of six toxic strains proved their ability to grow on building materials and produce mycotoxins. It was confirmed that the toxins stachybotrylactam, sterigmatocystin and roquefortin were produced on gypsum board and concrete by Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium chrysogenum, respectively. This is also the first report on the production of aflatoxin B1 and G1 by A. flavus on building materials. Extracts from A. versicolor, A. flavus, P. chrysogenum growing on building materials were found to have cytotoxic potential. It was found that some mycotoxin production may be reduced or may even vanish, when moulds grow on building materials. However, taking into consideration the appreciable amounts of some mycotoxins that were still produced on the building materials investigated, the study indicated a toxic risk in the mould-affected buildings analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Species-specific genes play an important role in defining the phenotype of an organism. However, current gene prediction methods can only efficiently find genes that share features such as sequence similarity or general sequence characteristics with previously known genes. Novel sequencing methods and tiling arrays can be used to find genes without prior information and they have demonstrated that novel genes can still be found from extensively studied model organisms. Unfortunately, these methods are expensive and thus are not easily applicable, e.g., to finding genes that are expressed only in very specific conditions. We demonstrate a method for finding novel genes with sparse arrays, applying it on the 33.9Mb genome of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. Our computational method does not require normalisations between arrays and it takes into account the multiple-testing problem typical for analysis of microarray data. In contrast to tiling arrays, that use overlapping probes, only one 25mer microarray oligonucleotide probe was used for every 100b. Thus, only relatively little space on a microarray slide was required to cover the intergenic regions of a genome. The analysis was done as a by-product of a conventional microarray experiment with no additional costs. We found at least 23 good candidates for novel transcripts that could code for proteins and all of which were expressed at high levels. Candidate genes were found to neighbour ire1 and cre1 and many other regulatory genes. Our simple, low-cost method can easily be applied to finding novel species-specific genes without prior knowledge of their sequence properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of High Pressure Homogenization (HPH) on Fusarium oxysporum, Emericella nidulans and Penicillium italicum was studied. Moulds were inoculated in Tween 80, tomato juice and diluted tomato juice (ratio juice/water: 1:3) and homogenized with different pressure levels for 1, 2 or 3 times (between 30 and 150MPa): the number of conidia decreased with the progressive increase of the pressure applied. This effect was more evident when a multi-step process was applied; furthermore the decrease of the fluid viscosity in tomato juice reduced the effectiveness of homogenization. Finally, a discolouration of inoculated P. italicum was observed probably due to the stress caused by high pressure levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cured vanilla beans were irradiated (5, 10, 15, 20 and 30kGy) for a possible enhancement of vanillin content by radiolysis of vanillin glucoside. The vanillin content of control and irradiated (30kGy) samples were 26.6±0.85 and 26.9±0.70mg/g (dw), respectively, while vanillin glucoside were 7.74±0.2 and 7.35±0.35mg/g (dw). Radiation caused no significant changes (p ⩽0.05) in aroma constituents. In a pulse radiolysis experiment, vanillin glucoside on reacting with OH radical gave transients with absorption peaks at 360nm and 410nm. The species absorbing at 410nm has been interpreted to be a hydroxyl radical adduct. It decayed at the same rate in the presence of oxygen, while the absorption at 360nm did not. Results obtained revealed that the more stable one absorbing at 360nm is aldehydic radical. Hence the highly stable oxygen–carbon linkage between vanillin and glucose limits the possible enhancement of aroma quality of irradiated beans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Present work contains the attempt to compare methods of microorganisms identification, for example, the similarity between species - molecular and classical. The both methods were used because classical approaches based on the use of morphological criteria are, as in several other fungi, difficult to apply in Trichoderma, due to plasticity of characters to interpret. Consequently, almost all recent studies have used molecular data to characterize and identify species. The comparison of these two techniques is based on using guidelines of macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of few classical factors as well as RAPD and RFLP - molecular techniques. Results indicate that none of the technique being compared is adequate when used alone, although molecular ones are more accurate. There is no complete convergence between RAPD and RFLP what makes it even harder to interpret but this fact can be the result of inconvenient markers used in experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a brief review of approaches for the early detection and prevention strategies which have been employed in Serbia for the control of ochratoxogenic fungi and its metabolites in feed in the context of a hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) framework. During a mycological analysis of complete feedmixes intended for fattening swine ( n = 18), a total of six genera and 14 species of moulds were identified. Penicillium was present in considerably more samples than any other genus (94.4%), followed by the genera Fusarium (55.5%) and Paecilomyces (44.4%). Other fungi from the genera Aspergillus (22%), Mucor (11.1%) and Alternaria (5.5%) were represented in a smaller amount. Total fungal counts ranged from 105 to 40 × 105 c.f.u./g. The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A and zearalenone were detected, while aflatoxins were not present. Deoxynivalenol was detected in 10 samples in the concentration range 0.25–2.5 mg/kg. Ochratoxin A and zaralenone were detected in nine and eight samples, respectively, in the concentration range 0.057–0.27 and 0.2–5.0 mg/kg, respectively. Isolates identified as Aspergillus and Penicillium species were subjected to molecular characterization for the presence of genes responsible for the synthesis of OTA (polyketide synthase gene-PKS) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) applied to a set of 18 isolates. The sequences of PCR reaction products in three samples were compared with nucleotide sequences of genes for polyketide synthase (PKS) from Penicillium species and it was found that the samples possessed the PKS sequence. These findings indicate that there may be a risk of animal exposure to mycotoxins through the consumption of mouldy infected feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess of risk assessment, the aim of this paper was to provide good and detailed insight into the level of contamination of complete feedmixes intended for fattening swine from mycotoxinproducing fungi and mycotoxins (n=18). Isolation and quantitative enumeration of fungal propagules were done on solid media using the standard microbiological procedure. These plates were incubated the number of colonies was determined and thent on the basis of characteristic colonies and microscopic analysis was performed to identify genera and species of moulds. Isolates identified as Aspergillus and Penicillium species were subjected to molecular characterization of the presence of genes responsible for the synthesis of OTA (polyketide synthase gene-PKS). Total fungal counts (CFU/g) ranged from 0,5x105 do 4x106. From a total samples analysed, seven samples had fungal counts higher than the limit established by Serbian regulations (3x105). During a mycological analysis of complete feedmixes intended for fattening swine, a total of six genera and 14 species of moulds were identified of which the most frequent one was of the genus Penicillium (94,4%) while the moulds from Fusarium genere isolated in 55,5% and Paecilomyces in 44,4% of the samples from investigated localities. Other fungi from the genera Aspergillus (22%), Mycor (11,1%) and Alternaria (5,5%) were represented in a less amount. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a set of 18 isolates of the DNA belonging to families Penicillium and Aspergillus. The sequences of PCR reaction products in three samples were compared with nucleotide sequences of genes for poliketid synthase (PKS) from Penicillium species and found that the samples possess PKS sequence. The traditional methods for identification of ochratoxinproducing fungi are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Rapid and specific detection of ochratoxin-producing fungi is important for ensuring microbiological quality and safety of feed and food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mould incidence and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination as well as proximate composition and minerals content of maize kernels from Swat Valley, North West Frontier Province of Pakistan was studied during the year, 2007. Results indicated that the mean moisture content of the kernels was within the recommended safe storage levels of ⩽15%. Across the whole valley, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Rhizopus were the most predominant fungal genera identified and amongst the mycotoxigenic species, Aspergillus flavus had the highest incidence. AFB1 content ranged from none to 30.92μg/kg with the average values of 14.94 and 16.22μg/kg for Upper and Lower Swat regions, respectively. Similar trend was observed for OTA with the contamination level ranged from <0.001 to 7.32μg/kg. A significant numbers of samples contained AFB1 and OTA levels above the safe limits as recommended by the USFDA and EU but on the average the results were within the safe limit. These results indicate that maize consumers in Swat Valley may be exposed to the danger of aflatoxins and ochratoxins poisoning. Thus, there is a need for policy makers to establish and enforce maize quality standards and regulations related to moulds and mycotoxins across the area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An existing LC–MS/MS method for multi-mycotoxin determination was extended by further 19 analytes and was applied for a semi-quantitative screening of 87 mouldy food samples from private households, including bread, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, nuts and jam. In the 247 investigated sub-samples, 49 different analytes were identified, some of which were never reported before to occur in naturally contaminated food. Enniatins and ergot alkaloids occurred in all samples of (dark) bread/pastries at low μg/kg-levels. From the remaining analytes, chanoclavine, emodin, mycophenolic acid and roquefortine C were found most frequently. Regulated mycotoxins occurred less often, but the corresponding concentrations exceeded the regulatory limits up to a factor of 1000 in case of patulin. Moreover, considerable mycotoxin concentrations were observed in some sub-samples taken from non-mouldy spots of the investigated samples. Thus, it was concluded that it is not safe to remove the mouldy part and consume the remainder. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present study aimed to preliminary evaluate the occurrence of fungi in 40 specimens of trapped pollen collected from April - September 2015 in 40 apiaries from Tuscany (Central Italy). Cultural and microscopical examinations allowed the recognition of Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp., Humicola sp. Mucoraceae and Acremonium sp. Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus were also identified. Yeasts and Fusarium spp. were not isolated. All pollen specimens were positive for at least one fungal isolate. Total CFU per gram ranged from 4-568. Aspergillus and Penicillium were obtained from 8 (20%) and from 22 (55%) pollen samples, respectively, associated in 4 cases (10%). The recovery of storage fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium in trapped pollen presents a potential risk for human health and attention should be paid to all stages of the post-harvest process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mould Stachybotrys chartarum (Ehrenb.) Hughes is known to pose a health risk in indoor environments. Most of its strains can produce several intra- and extracellular trichothecene mycotoxins. Complex secondary metabolites of stachybotrys isolates from mouldy dwellings/public buildings in Slovakia were intratracheally instilled in Wistar male rats (4 µg in 0.2 mL of 0.2 % dimethylsulphoxide; diacetoxyscirpenol as the positive control). After three days, haematological parameters were measured in peripheral blood and inflammatory response biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the results were statistically analysed. Exometabolites proved to suppress red blood cell (RBC), decreasing the total RBC count, haemoglobin, and haematocrit. The exposed rats showed significantly higher total BALF cell count, indicating inflammation, lower alveolar macrophage counts, and increased granulocyte count related to the BALF cells. Due to haematotoxic and inflammation-inducing properties, metabolites of S. chartarum can cause damage to the airways and haematological disorders in occupants of mouldy buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Moulds are frequently found in the indoor environment of residential houses. An association between domestic mould contamination and respiratory symptoms has been reported, but mould exposure as a risk factor for allergy to moulds is not well documented. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of allergic hypersensitivity to moulds. Materials and Methods: A group of 243 participants was examined. Of these 118 lived in dwellings with evident signs of fungal contamination (study group) and 125 in non-contaminated sites (controls). An interview, skin prick tests to common and fungal allergens, evaluation of total serum IgE and specific IgE to moulds, resting spirometry as well as mycological analysis in building were performed for each participant. Results: 19.8% subjects were sensitized to at least one mould allergen. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the history of respiratory and skin symptoms, smoking cigarettes in the past and positive skin prick tests (SPT) to common allergens (dust mite and grass pollens) or the presence of a cat as a pet animal were the significant associated factors of hypersensitivity to moulds. Conclusions: The association between indoor fungal exposure and the development of fungal allergy was not confirmed in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Some strains of the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii are known to be antagonistic toward moulds. In this study, we describe the inhibitory effects of a dairy strain of D. hansenii as a biocontrol agent against a number of dairy moulds in plain yoghurt and cheese under non-refrigerated conditions. This antagonistic yeast showed inhibition of growth of the following dairy moulds: Aspergillus sp., Byssochlamys fulva, Byssochlamys nivea, Cladosporium sp., Eurotium chevalieri, Penicillium candidum and Penicillium roqueforti. However, the inhibitory effect of this antagonistic yeast against dairy moulds is dependent upon the concentration of the moulds: the lower the concentration, the more effective the yeast. The findings of this study have implications for both cheese maturation and dairy biopreservation. Good manufacturing practice and hygiene to keep the contaminant load down is essential for the prevention of dairy spoilage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Yeasts and moulds are little affected by low pH and may cause spoilage of yogurt during storage. In the present study, potassium sorbate was added as a preservative in concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%. The unpreserved yogurt showed unfavourable characteristics: yeast and mould counts and acidity increased. The addition of potassium sorbate, however, inhibited yeast and mould levels, with normal characteristic properties extending more than 14 days. Potassium sorbate is thus seen as valuable for preserving yogurt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]