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Sanitary indicators standardly used in water quality monitoring refer to fecal microorganisms or cyanobacterial toxins, but at present they do not include fungi, despite the fact that many fungi can pose potential health hazards. The aim of study was a quantitative and qualitative assessment of yeast in waters of urban artificial recreational reservoirs in relation to microbiological and sanitary cleanliness indicators and to demonstrate that yeast could be an indicator of anthropogenic pollution. In total, 18 species of yeast were isolated, including 13 classified as clinically relevant. Tested reservoirs exceeded the standards of sanitary indicators acceptable for bathing water. Since isolated yeasts are associated with living organisms, their presence in the water of urban recreational reservoirs may be a public health concern. Therefore, a mycological analysis should be incorporated into standard water quality assessment procedures. The results obtained are very promising, but further research is still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rapid increase of resistance of antropopathogenic fungi to routinely used antimycotic drugs forces researchers to search for new alternative methods of antifungal therapies. Among compounds investigated there are glucosinolates (GLS), whose antimycotic activity was proved against plant pathogens. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to determine the value of minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of GLS degradation products on yeast and yeast-like fungi isolated from human ontocenoses. Material and methods: Fungi were obtained from the collection of Department of Mycology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and isolated from the human respiratory system and digestive tract. GLS degradation products were originated from seeds of broccoli, small radish, mustard and cabbage and were prepared at the Department of Food Chemistry and Biodynamics of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn using HPLC method. The MIC value was conducted with the disk-diffusion method. Results: Experiments showed that the strongest antifungal activity was demonstrated for GLS degradation products from broccoli (MIC reached 1.62±0.11 μmol/g), the lowest for GLS degradation products from small radish (MIC reached 5.87±4.08 μmol/g). Conclusions: The analysis of the inhibiting effect of GLS degradation products on the growth of fungi showed their possible usefulness for antimycotic therapy and prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An increasing number of reports have been issued in the recent years on considerably increased frequency of yeast-like fungi and yeast in organ ontocenoses of man. This applies in particular the respiratory and digestive systems. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was the taxonomical analysis of yeast and yeast-like fungi from the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract of human with particular emphasis on the number of taxa and attention to the dominant species and rare species in the different sections of studied ontocenosis. Material and methods: The experimental material were yeast-like fungi and yeasts isolated from the respiratory and the digestive system of human. The fungi were cultured and identified following standard principles of mycological diagnostics. Results: The fungi isolated from the respiratory system were classified to 37 species and from the gastrointestinal tract – to 23 species. The predominating species turned out to be the Candida albicans, constituting 19.49% in the respiratory system and 27.87% in the digestive system. Conclusions: Five species have been isolated for the first time in Poland. The abundance of the species detected and the presence of perfect stages in the material examined imply a successive increase in the expansiveness of fungi towards human tissues. Results obtained confirms that the respiratory systems affords the fungi better conditions for the survival and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The alimentary tract is colonized very frequently by opportunistic fungi of various systematic and ecophysiological groups, particularly yeasts-like fungi and yeasts. It is not only the reservoir of potential human pathogens but also the path of mycotic invasion and dissemination in many cases leading to fungemia. Aim of study: The study aimed at the detailed taxonomic analysis of fungi isolated from the endoscopic materials and determined in routine tests as yeasts-like fungi. Material and methods: The research material consisted of fungi isolated from the alimentary tract (swabs and specimens) of 45 patients referred to the Endoscopy Laboratory at the Municipal Hospital in Olsztyn. The procedures applied were consistent with the generally accepted diagnostic process applied in mycology laboratories. Specialist keys were used for taxonomic analyses. Results: In total, 70 isolates of fungi belonging to 22 species were obtained, among which as many as 9 species (21% of positive results) had not been previously recorded in Polish gastroenterological literature. Those were: Candida brumptii, Candida dubliniensis, Candida lactis-condensi, Candida pelliculosa, Metchnikovia pulcherrima, Rhodosporidium diobovatum, Saccharomycopsis capsularis, Trichosporon capitatum and Trichosporon fermentans. Conclusions: The taxonomic spectrum of fungi populated the alimentary tract clearly expands - 21% of the fungal community were species new to that ontocenosis. Considering biology and adaptation capacity of fungi, interactions with bacteria and increasing number of iatrogenic factors predisposing for fungal infections, standards of mycological analyses of endoscopic materials should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]