...Aspergillus Microbiology De La Cruz May 27, 2014 Aspergillus Aspergillus is a fungus whose spores are commonly found in the environment, and can also be found in household dust, building materials and some foods. There are numerous types, but the more common ones include Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger. For healthy people, this does not cause harm, the immune system is able to get rid of the spores. But for people with weakened immune systems, breathing in these spores can lead to infection. Studies have shown that Invasive Aspergillosis can occur during building renovation or construction. Outbreaks of Aspergillus skin infections have been traced to contaminated biomedical devices. Aspergillosis cannot be spread from person to person or between people and animals, and because it is not a reportable infection, the exact incidence is difficult to determine. Aspergillus mostly targets the respiratory system. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), is a condition where the fungus causes respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing and coughing, but does not actually invade and destroy tissues. It can affect people who are otherwise healthy, but it is most common in people with asthma or cystic fibrosis. Invasive aspergillosis generally affects people who have weakened immune systems, such as those who have had a bone marrow transplant or solid organ transplant, are on high...
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...Impact of Aspergillus flavus on groundnut, Arachis hypogaea Ntambo Mbuya Sylvain Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Africa University P.O Box: 1320 Mutare, Zimbabwe Email: sntambo2009@gmail.com Abstract Good quality seed has reasonable varietal and physical purity, a high germination percentage and is free of external and internal pathogenic organism. An experiment to study the impact of Aspergillus flavus on groundnut seeds was conducted in the laboratory using the blotter method. Groundnut seeds sample from Mutsamba were provided and four petri dishes were prepared containing each ten seeds placed on two to three sheets of wet (but not dripping with water) blotter papers. The petri dishes were incubated in the laboratory for two weeks. The results had shown that Aspergillus flavus was the seed borne fungi detected affecting the germination of seeds with 23.3%. The identification of this fungus was through use of a stereo microscope for habit characters identification and a compound microscope for conidia identification of the fungus. Keywords: Impact of Aspergillus flavus, groundnut seeds, stereo microscope, compound microscope. 1 Introduction Groundnut is one of the most nourishing foods and it contains five important nutrients such as food energy, protein, phosphorus, thiamin and niacin. However, the crop is affected by a number of fungus diseases among which Aspergillus flavus is a part (Singh and Oswalt, 1992). Aspergillus flavus grows...
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...Hindawi Publishing Corporation Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2014, Article ID 369204, 32 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/369204 Review Article Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae): A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of This Medicinal Plant Juliana Félix-Silva,1 Raquel Brandt Giordani,2 Arnóbio Antonio da Silva-Jr,1 Silvana Maria Zucolotto,2 and Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa1 1 Laborat´rio de Tecnologia & Biotecnologia Farmacˆutica (TecBioFar), Programa de P´ s-graduacao em Ciˆncias o e o ¸˜ e Farmacˆuticas (PPgCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Rua General Cordeiro de Farias, s/n, e Petr´ polis, 59012-570 Natal, RN, Brazil o 2 Laborat´rio de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Farm´ cia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), o a Rua General Cordeiro de Farias, s/n, Petr´ polis, 59012-570 Natal, RN, Brazil o Correspondence should be addressed to Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa; mpedrosa31@uol.com.br Received 24 February 2014; Revised 1 May 2014; Accepted 1 May 2014; Published 5 June 2014 Academic Editor: Shi-Biao Wu Copyright © 2014 Juliana F´lix-Silva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution e License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae), widely known as “bellyache bush,”...
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...and the mix of media hype and facts, people started to speculate that the curse was real. “Legend has it that anyone who dared to open the tomb would suffer the wrath of the mummy, because mummies have been associated with many magical powers throughout history” (http://www.kingtutone.com/tutankhamun/curse/). Another possibility is that “New findings are showing that bacteria on the wall of the tomb might have been the cause of the curse” (http://www.kingtutone.com/tutankhamun/curse/). From all that I have read, I believe that the “Mummy’s” most likely is the real thing. I say this mainly because I do believe in things such as “curses” and magic, but also because the likely hood of the mold or bacteria found at the tomb ( Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus Flavus) can cause congestion and bleeding of the lungs, but scientist have confirmed that they are not. In fact, “F. DeWolfe Miller, professor of epidemiology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, concurs with Howard Carter's original opinion: Given the local conditions, Lord Carnarvon was probably safer inside Tut's tomb than outside”. (http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/curse-of-the-mummy/), additionally Miller stated, "Upper Egypt in the 1920s was hardly what you'd call sanitary," Miller said. "The idea that an underground tomb, after 3,000 years, would have some kind of bizarre microorganism in it that's going to kill somebody six weeks later and make it look exactly like [blood poisoning] is...
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...Media belonged to newspapers and information traveled much slower and not very reliable. People were more superstitious then, and the media took full advantage of that to sell publications and often made up facts to sensationalize stories. One of the explanations was the tomb’s toxins; studies have shown some ancient mummies carried mold, including Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, which can cause congestion or bleeding in the lungs. Lung-assaulting bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus may also grow on tomb walls. It is believed that when tombs were first opened, fresh air could have disturbed these spores, blowing them into the air, and perhaps, creating health problems. Gotthard Kramer, a German microbiologist from the University of Leipzip believes that the cause of the curse is some type of mold spores. Kramer studied 40 different mummies; he identified several potentially dangerous mold spores. Dr. Hans Merk, a dermatologist at the University of Aachen, Germany, performed similar research and analyzed dust and rock samples from tombs and found primarily three types of mold: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus and Cephalosporium (Acremonium) species; all of these species are toxic. They also provided meats, fruits, vegetables, clothing, ornaments, furniture, statues of their Gods and anything else thought to aid the pharaoh’s travel to the afterlife. These items after 3000...
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...Aspergillus oryzae A. oryzae, junto con la mayoría de los otros miembros de la familia Aspergillus, tiene una hifas que es hialino y septado, y cuneiforme, que termina en una vesícula de forma redonda. Las células portadores de esporas, o ascos, se producen dentro de la asco carpo, o el cuerpo fructífero. La principal enzima secretada por el hongo filamentoso se llama amilasa, que le da un sabor dulce a los alimentos que se fermenta en. Esta enzima es más eficiente a una temperatura de 35-40 grados Celsius. La mayoría de otras enzimas que se encuentran en A. oryzae crecen a una temperatura de alrededor de 30-35 grados Celsius. Los miembros del género Aspergillus son distintos de otros microbios debido al hecho de que utilizan tanto un sistema metabólico primario y secundario. La funcionalidad del metabolismo de Aspergillus depende de sus ácidos carboxílicos, que se descomponen en las cadenas de ácidos grasos que se componen de un conjunto único de complejos de síntesis de ácidos grasos. Estas cadenas ayudar en el desarrollo de la membrana celular Aspergillus y las vesículas de almacenamiento de la enzima. El metabolismo primario de A. oryzae recibe su energía a través del contacto con las fuentes de energía (por ejemplo, granos o almidones). Una vez que se hace contacto con una fuente de energía, que segrega enzimas que degradan las proteínas y los enlaces peptídicos dentro de la fécula y las convierten en aminoácidos y azúcares para el consumo. El metabolismo secundario...
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...Abstract Amylases are enzymes capable of hydrolysing starch and related saccharides. The best known are alpha-amylase, beta-amylase and glucoamylase. Starch degrading enzymes like amylase has received attention of their biotechnological significance and economic benefits. Alpha amylases are one of the important and widely used enzymes whose spectrum of applications has widened in many sectors such as clinical, medicinal and analytical chemistry.The fungal isolates include Aspergillus species, Mucor species and Rhizopus species. The parameters such as optimal incubation period, pH and starch concentrations were considered in the study. Overall result showed maximum activity at acidic Ph 6 at concentration of 3% and 5% with 4 days of incubation...
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...After incubation at 37˚C for 15 minutes 1ml of DNS was added and boiled to stop the reaction. Absorbance was measured at 540nm against blank. 3.5 Xylanase Assay: To determine xylanase 0.5ml of culture broth as crude enzyme mixed with 0.5ml of xylan (1g of oat xylan in 100ml of sodium phosphate buffer). Reaction mixture was incubated at 37˚C for 15 minutes. 1ml of DNS was added for color formation and further it was boiled for 5 minutes in boiling water bath. Enzyme and substrate blank was prepared same as above. 4. Results and Discussion: A simple sterile submerged fermentation process could be used to grow Aspergillus niger sp to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. The yeast extract was the principal source of nitrogen for this fermentation. Amylase, protease, cellulase and xylanase were determined through using spectrophotometer. Absorbance was set at 540nm for determining enzymatic activities. Below are the readings obtained from culture broth for different activities. The results can graphically interpret as; Figure 1: Absorbance from assay of four hydrolytic...
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...source of references. The legal aspects of this concept are considered. The traditional methods of preservation, many taken from the food industry are summarised. The use of alcohol, glycerine, sugar, salt, dessication, anhydrous systems and temperature are amongst examples considered. The definitions of the many words used to describe the act of preservation are considered, and the confusion that results from the presence of the many synonyms is considered. e.g. antimicrobial, antibiotic, antiseptic, bactericidal, etc. Specific organisms are identified as being of particular interest, especially those standard organisms that form part of the B.P. challenge test. These include Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger and Staphylococcus aureus. A cross-section of plants mentioned in the literature as being specifically targeted at these organisms are considered. The paper concludes with Appendices of plant materials that have mention in the literature according to specific definitions, which may give researchers a potential introduction to future research. KEY WORDS Natural preservation, traditional preservation, challenge test organisms, legal status. INTRODUCTION The subject of natural preservatives is one that probably has more academic interest than practical or economic virtue. However, it does have a wonderful marketing angle which may justify the higher raw material costs. The paper first reviews the most commonly used methods of...
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...Respiratory System & Disease Jeff Farmer Anatomy& Physiology II Casey Veatch March 14, 2012 As we live our busy lives, there are many things that we take for granted. Things like having running water, weather that’s live-able, weekends, TV with 100 channels, and NFL football. But one very important thing that we all take for granted is the involuntary process of our respiratory system and breathing. The automatic breathing regulation system allows you to breathe so you don’t even have to consciously think about it even when you’re asleep. Respiration is the process of taking in and using oxygen. There are three different phases of respiration: external respiration, internal respiration, and cellular respiration. External respiration is the intake of oxygen from the environment and the release of carbon dioxide. In internal respiration, oxygen is carried to the cells and carbon dioxide is carried away from the cells. In cellular respiration, oxygen is used in chemical reactions within the cells ( Tortora, 2008). Air enters the body through the nose. From here it is warmed, filtered, and passed through the nasal cavity. Air passes the pharynx, then through the upper part of the trachea containing the larynx and moves into the bronchi that carry air in and out of the lungs (West, 1993). Ventilation is the mechanics of breathing in and out. When you inhale,...
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...(Osman et al. . Our current model of dealing with our plastic is not sustainable (Osman et al. 301). This is why scientists are looking for alternative methods to deal with plastic waste. Researchers in Islamabad, Pakistan discovered that Aspergillus fumigatus Strain S45 that they believe is able to decompose polyester. They hypothesis that Strain S45 has ester enzyme that is capable of decomposing polyester PU. The scientist began their experiment by isolating Aspergillus fumigatus Strain S45 from a soil sample from the plastic waste dump in Islamabad, Pakistan....
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...Injurious Adulterants/Contaminants in Foods and their Health Effects S.No Adulterant Foods Commonly Involved Diseases or Health Effects Adulterants in food 1 Argemone seeds Argemone oil Mustard seeds Edible oils and fats Epidemic dropsy, Glaucoma, Cardiac arrest 2 Artificially coloured foreign seeds As a substitute for cumin seed, Poppy seed, black pepper Injurious to health 3 Foreign leaves or exhausted tea leaves, saw dust artificially coloured Tea Injurious to health, cancer 4 TCP Oils Paralysis 5 Rancid oil Oils Destroys vitamin A and E 6 Sand, marble chips, stones, filth Food grains, pulses etc. Damage digestive tract 7 Lathyrus sativus Khesari dal alone or Mixed in other pulses Lathyrism (crippling spastic paraplegia) Chemical Contamination 8 Mineral oil (white oil, petroleum fractions) Edible oils and fats, Black pepper Cancer 9 Lead chromate Turmeric whole and powdered, mixed spices Anemia, abortion, paralysis, brain damage 10 Methanol Alcoholic liquors Blurred vision, blindness, death 11 Arsenic Fruits such as apples sprayed over with lead arsenate Dizziness, chills, cramps, paralysis, death 12 Barium Foods contaminated by rat poisons (Barium carbonate) Violent peristalisis...
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...A. Describe conidiospores and sporangiospores. 1. Identify a mold that produces each of these spores. Molds reproduce primarily by means of asexual reproductive. Conidiospores (conidia) a unicellular or multicellular spore that is not enclosed in a sac. Penicillium and Aspergillus are examples of molds that produce conidiospores. Penicillium is a common household molds and a food contaminant. Sporangiospores are formed within a sporangium (sac). Sporangia are formed at the end of aerial hyphae called sporangiophores e.g. Rhizopus can cause wounds and respiratory infections in the host with a compromised immune system (Gladwin, & Trattler, 2011). B. Describe a zygospore. 1. Identify a mold that produces zygospores. A thick-walled spore of fungi that is formed by union of two similar sexual cells, usually serves as a resting spore, and produces the sporophytic phase an example is rhizopus. It’s a black mold and grows on old bread and fruits. C. Describe what type of growth you observed in each of your substrates (e.g., number of colonies, shape, color, and defining characteristics). I saw about three different types of fungi on the bread. There was a dark green and white while the cheese only had some green fungi and all the colonies were all attached to each other looking like a sponge. On the strawberry I noticed a whitish-greenish-grey growth also with the hyphae growing outwards. It was all around the strawberry and the colonies...
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...Tennessee and North Carolina had been diagnosed with fungal meningitis, all of which had also received epidural steroid injections within the same three lots of medication, that were produced at the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts. These three lots affected about 17,500 vials of MPA that had been shipped to 75 different facilities in 23 different states. NECC chose to voluntarily recall all products produced at the facility on October 6th, 2012. Shortly after the recall the FDA announced that samples of three other preservative free injectable drugs, Betmethasone, Triamcinolone, and Caridplegia had tested positive for bacterial and fungal contamination. They tested positives for Bacilius species, Aspergillus tubingensis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium species, and Penicillium species. There were no reports of patients developing meningitis from these medications, but there were some incidences of inflammation of the meningeses. Because of the wide spread distribution of the contaminated MPA the CDC estimated that almost 14,000 patients had been exposed to the contaminated injections, will some patients receiving multiple doses, increasing their chances of...
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...Assignment 1: Essay “The Mummy’s Curse” HUM 111 – World Cultures I Mini Session August 24, 2014 When it comes to curses and mummies, it almost seems like they go hand in hand, like PB&J. Whenever we see a mummy in movies or any type of storytelling there has to be a curse, it just wouldn’t seem right without it. Legends about the "Curse of the Pharaoh's" first was first stated by the Arabs sometime in the 7th Century when they stumbled on to their first tomb. Because they could not read the hieroglyphics and, everything was so strange things became more mysterious and magical to them. There was also the fact that the Pharaoh’s were so well preserved and looked like they could and would rise at any moment, and so began the legends of mummies. The Arab’s believed that if they entered the tomb and uttered an incantation, they would be able to make treasures appear that had been hidden by the ancient Egyptians. But if they entered the wrong spell or incantation than the pharaohs or kings would come to life once more. The Arabs also believed in curses and saw them as a way that the Egyptians protected their tombs. One of the greatest curses that are known is the “Mummy’s Curse”; this curse occurred in 1923 when King Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered by Howard Carter. A Lord Carnarvon from England was Carter's patron and sponsor of the excavation, and was one of the first to enter the tomb. The tomb was virtually intact and had never...
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