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Aims: The production of peptaibols, toxic secondary metabolites of Trichoderma, in the indoor environment is not well‐documented. Here, we investigated the toxicity of peptaibols in the guttation droplets and biomass of Trichoderma strains isolated from problematic buildings. Methods and Results: Seven indoor‐isolated strains of T. atroviride, T. trixiae, T. paraviridescens and T. citrinoviride were cultivated on malt extract agar, gypsum boards and paperboards. Their biomass extracts and guttation droplets were highly cytotoxic in resting and motile boar sperm cell assays and in inhibition of somatic cell proliferation assays. The toxins were identified with HPLC/ESI‐MS/MS as trichorzianines, trilongins, trichostrigocins and trichostrigocin‐like peptaibols. They exhibited toxicity profiles similar to the reference peptaibols alamethicin, trilongins, and trichorzianine TA IIIc purified from T. atroviride H1/226. Particular Trichoderma strains emitted the same peptaibols in both their biomasses and exudate droplets. The trilongin‐producing T. citrinoviride SJ40 strain grew at 37°C. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of indoor‐isolated Trichoderma strains producing toxic peptaibols in their guttation droplets. Significance and Impact of the Study: This report proves that indoor isolates of Trichoderma release peptaibols in their guttation droplets. The presence of toxins in these types of exudates may serve as a mechanism of aerosol formation for nonvolatile toxins in the indoor air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoceros antennatissimus gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from pollen grains deposited on the bark of Elaeagnus angustifolia and Platanus × acerifolia in Hungary. This fungus is shown to capture pollen grains by its three-dimensional shape. It clearly shows seasonality and appears to be rare. The following factors determine its ecological niche: (1) the availability of fresh Pinaceae pollen grains deposited from the air on the bark of a nearby standing angiosperm tree with (2) water-retaining spongious bark, and (3) rainy weather. Conidia are mainly dispersed by stemflow rainwater, while they hardly become airborne. Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from single conidia made it possible to perform molecular phylogenetic investigation in order to clarify its taxonomic relationship within the Ascomycota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to isolate potential biocontrol agents from mushroom substrate that could serve as an alternative to toxic chemicals commonly used for disease control in mushroom production. The antagonistic potential of ten native Bacillus subtilis strains against the causal agents of green mould disease of oyster mushroom, Trichoderma pleuroti and Trichoderma pleuroticola, was evaluated. The antagonistic potential of Bacillus spp. strains was quantified in vitro based on dual cultivation with the pathogen. Growth inhibition of T. pleuroti ranged from 54.44% to 62.22% and no significant differences in antagonistic activity were found between the tested B. subtilis strains. Inhibition of T. pleuroticola was slightly higher, ranging from 55.56% to 69.62% and B. subtilis strain B-358 induced the highest growth inhibition. This research confirmed mushroom substrate to be a good source of antagonistic microorganisms with potentials for use in biological control of green mould in oyster mushroom production.

The article discusses the application of the universal primer-polymerase chain reaction method (UP-PCR) as an effective tool for monitoring the spread of the rice sheath blight pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. It identified specific, endogenous molecular markers that allow the detection of the biocontrol agent (BCA) Trichoderma harzianum Rifai AS12-2. It says that the UP-PCR method yielded unique DNA sequences that could distinguish a single strain from all others and that could convert them into sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs).

We report a case of Neocosmospora vasinfecta keratitis in a 55-year-old man. While the patient did not recall any specific trauma or eye injury, he might have sustained a trivial wound during the course of his duties as a farmer. Direct examination of corneal scrapings revealed fungal filaments. As topical treatment with natamycin and econazole and subsequent systemic ketoconazole therapy failed, a full thickness therapeutic keratoplasty was performed. Post-operative treatment with amphotericin B and clotrimazole combined with cyclosporine resulted in a complete cure. The residual corneal infiltration in the recipient cornea became clear in a week. The fungal isolate was initially identified as a Fusarium species, but later reidentified through the use of morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region as N. vasinfecta. The latters is a Hypocrealean fungus not hitherto reported as a causative agent of keratomycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]