Characterization And Quantification Of The Fungal Microbiome In Serial Samples From Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis,
2014
Dartmouth College
Characterization And Quantification Of The Fungal Microbiome In Serial Samples From Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis, Sven D. Willger, Sharon L. Grim, Emily L. Dolben, Anna Shipunova, Thomas H. Hampton, Hillary G. Morrison, Laura M. Filkins, George A. O'Toole, Lisa A. Moulton, Alix Ashare, Mitchell L. Sogin, Deborah A. Hogan
Dartmouth Scholarship
Background: Human-associated microbial communities include fungi, but we understand little about which fungal species are present, their relative and absolute abundances, and how antimicrobial therapy impacts fungal communities. The disease cystic fibrosis (CF) often involves chronic airway colonization by bacteria and fungi, and these infections cause irreversible lung damage. Fungi are detected more frequently in CF sputum samples upon initiation of antimicrobial therapy, and several studies have implicated the detection of fungi in sputum with worse outcomes. Thus, a more complete understanding of fungi in CF is required. Results: We characterized the fungi and bacteria in expectorated sputa from six …
A Unique Mri Presentation Of Fungal Infection In The Brain,
2014
Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
A Unique Mri Presentation Of Fungal Infection In The Brain, Muhammad Bilal Salman Khan, Saad Shafqat, Ather Enam
Section of Neurology
Fungal infections of CNS are common in certain geographic locations. MRI with or without contrast is a useful prediagnostic tool. However, the findings may sometimes be misleading. In this case report, the authors present unusual imaging findings in the MRI of fungal infection in an immunocompetent host, whereby hyper-intense signals were seen on T2-weighted images and patchy post-contrast enhancement was observed with surrounding edema. These findings were suggestive of a neoplastic lesion but it was identified as aspergillosis on subsequent histopathology. This unusual MRI finding of CNS highlights the need to consider fungal infection as a differential diagnosis of all …
Aquastella Gen. Nov.: A New Genus Of Saprolegniaceous Oomycete Rotifer Parasites Related To Aphanomyces, With Unique Sporangial Outgrowths,
2014
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Aquastella Gen. Nov.: A New Genus Of Saprolegniaceous Oomycete Rotifer Parasites Related To Aphanomyces, With Unique Sporangial Outgrowths, Daniel P. Molloy, Sally L. Glockling, Clifford A. Siegfried, Gordon W. Beakes, Timothy Y. James, Sergey E. Mastitsky, Elizabeth S. Wurdak, Laure Giamberini, Michael J. Gaylo, Michael J. Nemeth
Biology Faculty Publications
The oomycete genus Aquastella is described to accommodate two new species of parasites of rotifers observed in Brooktrout Lake, New York State, USA. Three rotifer species – Keratella taurocephala,Polyarthra vulgaris, and Ploesoma truncatum – were infected, and this is the first report of oomycete infection in these species. Aquastella attenuata was specific to K. taurocephala and Aquastella aciculariswas specific to P. vulgaris and P. truncatum. The occurrence of infections correlated with peak host population densities and rotifers were infected in the upper layers of the water column. Sequencing of 18S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis of …
The Development Of A Comprehensive Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Assay For Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Therapy,
2014
Rowan University
The Development Of A Comprehensive Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Assay For Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Therapy, David Hardaker
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the most common fungal infection of the female urogenital tract, commonly caused by Candida albicans and C. glabrata. However, treatment can be difficult when caused by non-albicans strains due to resistance to the oral antifungal drug fluconazole. The mechanism through which strains of Candida, particularly C. glabrata, develop resistance to different antifungal classes has not been completely characterized. The ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, an important component of the cell membrane, is the major target of antifungals such as fluconazole, an inhibitor of the ERG 11 gene. Current research shows that an upregulation of specific genes in C. glabrata …
Effects Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Infection And Common Mycelial Network Formation On Invasive Plant Competition,
2014
Portland State University
Effects Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Infection And Common Mycelial Network Formation On Invasive Plant Competition, Rachael Elizabeth Workman
Dissertations and Theses
Understanding the biotic factors influencing invasive plant performance is essential for managing invaded land and preventing further exotic establishment and spread. I studied how competition between both conspecifics and native co-habitants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) impacted the success of the invasive bunchgrass Brachypodium sylvaticumin early growth stages. I examined whether invasive plants performed and competed differently when grown in soil containing AMF from adjacent invaded and noninvaded ranges in order to determine the contribution of AMF to both monoculture stability and spread of the invasive to noninvaded territory. I also directly manipulated common mycelial network (CMN) formation by AMF …
Regional Dust Storm Modeling For Health Services: The Case Of Valley Fever,
2014
Chapman University
Regional Dust Storm Modeling For Health Services: The Case Of Valley Fever, William A. Sprigg, Slobodan Nickovic, John N. Galgiani, Goran Pejanovic, Slavo Petkovic, Mirjam Vujadinovic, Ana Vukovic, Milan Dacic, Scott Dibiase, Anup K. Prasad, Hesham El-Askary
Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research
On 5 July 2011, a massive dust storm struck Phoenix, Arizona (USA), raising concerns for increased cases of valley fever (coccidioidomycosis, or, cocci). A quasi-operational experimental airborne dust forecast system predicted the event and provides model output for continuing analysis in collaboration with public health and air quality communities. An objective of this collaboration was to see if a signal in cases of valley fever in the region could be detected and traced to the storm - an American haboob. To better understand the atmospheric life cycle of cocci spores, the DREAM dust model (also herein, NMME-DREAM) was modified to …
Sampling Local Fungal Diversity In An Undergraduate Laboratory Using Dna Barcoding,
2014
Hendrix College
Sampling Local Fungal Diversity In An Undergraduate Laboratory Using Dna Barcoding, A. H. Harrington, A. F. Bigott, B. W. Anderson, M. J. Boone, S. M. Brick, J. F. Delsol, R. A. Hotchkiss, R. A. Huddleston, E. H. Kasper, J. J. Mcgrady, M. L. Mckinnie, M. V. Ottenlips, N. E. Skinner, K. C. Spatz, A. J. Steinberg, F. Van Den Broek, C. N. Wilson, A. M. Wofford, A. M. Willyard
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science
Traditional methods for fungal species identification require diagnostic morphological characters and are often limited by the availability of fresh fruiting bodies and local identification resources. DNA barcoding offers an additional method of species identification and is rapidly developing as a critical tool in fungal taxonomy. As an exercise in an undergraduate biology course, we identified 9 specimens collected from the Hendrix College campus in Conway, Arkansas, USA to the genus or species level using morphology. We report that DNA barcoding targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region supported several of our taxonomic determinations and we were able to contribute 5 …
Signal Transduction And Transcriptional Regulation Pathways Essential For Azole Resistance In Candida Albicans,
2013
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Signal Transduction And Transcriptional Regulation Pathways Essential For Azole Resistance In Candida Albicans, Erin M. Vasicek
Theses and Dissertations (ETD)
Candida albicans is the most prevalent human fungal pathogen, found as a commensal organism in the mucosa, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts of humans. This pathogenic fungus causes a wide spectrum of diseases, including the mucosal infection oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) which frequently effects patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The azole antifungals (such as fluconazole) are the most widely used and important ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (EBIs) for the treatment of Candida infections, including OPC. However, the azoles are fungistatic against C. albicans and therefore have limited efficacy against this organism, especially for immunocompromised patients. In C. albicans, the transcription factor Upc2 …
Erg11-Mediated Azole Resistance In Candida Albicans,
2013
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Erg11-Mediated Azole Resistance In Candida Albicans, Stephanie Ann Flowers
Theses and Dissertations (ETD)
Although many medically important Candida species are commensal to the gut or colonizers of the skin, these organisms have the propensity to cause disease in the event of a waning immune system. Clinical manifestations of infections with Candida species can range from superficial mucosal infections to deep organ involvement usually resulting from haematogenous spread of infection. Despite significant progress made in the management of patients with fungal infections, the emergence of antifungal resistant clinical isolates creates significant problem in regards to antifungal prophylaxis and empirical treatment strategies. Antifungal resistance is associated with high mortality rates and hefty medical costs. The …
Development Of Novel Antifungal Peptides Based On A Natural Model Of Histatin-5 Peptide,
2013
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Development Of Novel Antifungal Peptides Based On A Natural Model Of Histatin-5 Peptide, Duy Tu Nguyen
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Our research group is working toward the development of novel antifungal peptides based on a natural model of peptide histatin-5. Histatin-5 is found in human saliva and known to protect our body against oral infections by Candida species. Candidiasis, or an infection caused by Candida species, is considered one of the most medically important fungal infections worldwide. Blood stream infections caused by Candida species are the fourth leading cause of hospital-acquired fungal infections that is associated with high mortality rates and high costs of treatment. This study investigated the modes of action of histatin-5 with the use of one 16-mer …
Novel Inducers Of Gliotoxin Production In Aspergillus Fumigatus,
2013
The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston
Novel Inducers Of Gliotoxin Production In Aspergillus Fumigatus, Taylor J. Schoberle
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
Secondary metabolites are produced by numerous organisms and can either be benign to humans or harmful. Genes involved in the synthesis and transport of these secondary metabolites are frequently found in gene clusters, which are often located in subtelomeric regions of the chromosome. These clusters are often coordinately regulated, being almost exclusively dependent on transcription factors that are located within the clusters themselves. Secondary metabolites are also regulated by a variety of factors, including nutritional factors, environmental factors and developmental processes. Gliotoxin, which is produced by a variety of Aspergillus species, Trichoderma species, and Penicillium species, exhibits immunosuppressive properties and …
Influence Of Soil Microorganisms On Plant Growth And Fitness,
2012
University of Denver
Influence Of Soil Microorganisms On Plant Growth And Fitness, Benjamin Jayne
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Most terrestrial plants benefit from symbiosis with soil microorganisms. Symbiotic bacteria and fungi have wide-ranging effects on host plants, including improved nutrition, disease resistance, and drought tolerance. Association with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can enhance growth and protect plants from environmental stressors while they share products of photosynthesis with the resident fungi. Scores of studies indicate that mycorrhizal plants are more resistant to drought stress than their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. Use of microbes as a plant and soil supplement in home gardens represents a sustainable alternative to resource-intensive inputs and may allow for reduced water use. I investigated the effects of …
Regulation Of Morphogenesis In Filamentous Fungi,
2010
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Regulation Of Morphogenesis In Filamentous Fungi, Haoyu Si
School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
One of the distinguishing features of fungal cells is their highly polarized model of growth. Both yeast cells and hyphal cells grow by cell surface expansion at specified cortical sites. Although the same general mechanisms are likely to be involved in controlling the establishment of hyphal polarity in budding yeast and filamentous fungi, it is noticeable that hyphal cells are organized in a fundamentally different manner to yeast dells. For example, hyphal cells organize formins, septins and actins at the division site while simultaneously retain the same machinery at the tip; whereas yeast cells undergo a transient period of isotropic …
Transcriptional Regulation Of Azole Antifungal Resistance And Tolerance In Candida Glabrata,
2010
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Transcriptional Regulation Of Azole Antifungal Resistance And Tolerance In Candida Glabrata, Kelly E. Caudle
Theses and Dissertations (ETD)
Azole antifungal resistance has emerged as a significant problem in the management of infections caused by fungi including Candida species. In recent years, Candida glabrata has become the second most common cause of mucosal and invasive fungal infections in humans second to Candida albicans. Not only are systemic C. glabrata infections characterized by high mortality rates, treatment failures to the azole class of antifungals, the most widely used antifungal for treatment of Candida infections, have been reported. Contributing to this problem, C. glabrata exhibits intrinsic reduced susceptibility to the azole antifungals, and the development of high-level azole resistance …
