Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 187 in total

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  1. Oxidative enzymes from newly local strain Aspergillus iizukae EAN605 using pumpkin peels as a production substrate: Optimized production, characterization, application and techno-economic analysis
    Noman E, Al-Gheethi AA, Talip BA, Mohamed R, Kassim AH
    J Hazard Mater, 2020 03 15;386:121954.
    PMID: 31884363 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121954
    The present study deals with optimizing, producing, characterizing, application and techno- economic analysis of oxidative enzymes [Laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP)] from Aspergillus iizukae EAN605 in submerged fermentation process using pumpkin peels as a production substrate. The best operating parameters for producing Lac, MnP and LiP (6.15, 2.58 and 127.99 U mg-1 respectively) were recorded with 20 g 100 mL-1 of substrate, 4.6 mL 100 mL-1 of inoculum size at pH 5.5 after 10 days. The crude enzyme exhibited high stability at pH (3-9) and temperatures (20-60 °C). Km (Michaelis-Menten) of Lac, MnP and LiP crude enzyme was 2.25, 1.79 and 0.72 mM respectively. The decolourization of Remazol Brilliant Blue R by the crude enzyme was 84.84 %. The techno-economic analysis was assessed for a production unit with an annual operating time for enzymatic production and application is 7920 h/year and 100 m3 of the capacity. The process would produce 27,000 cm3 of crude enzyme with a price of USD 0.107 per cm3 compared to USD 1 per cm3 of the current commercial enzyme. The findings indicated that pumpkin peels have potential as a production substrate for oxidative enzymes from A. iizukae EAN605 and is economically feasible.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus
  2. Fulltext Vital parameters for high gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production by an industrial soy sauce koji Aspergillus oryzae NSK in submerged-liquid fermentation
    Wan-Mohtar WAAQI, Ab Kadir S, Halim-Lim SA, Ilham Z, Hajar-Azhari S, Saari N
    Food Sci Biotechnol, 2019 Dec;28(6):1747-1757.
    PMID: 31807347 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-019-00602-y
    In submerged-liquid fermentation, seven key parameters were assessed using one-factor-at-a-time to obtain the highest GABA yield using an industrial soy sauce koji Aspergillus oryzae strain NSK (AOSNSK). AOSNSK generated maximum GABA at 30 °C (194 mg/L) and initial pH 5 (231 mg/L), thus was able to utilize sucrose (327 mg/L of GABA) for carbon source. Sucrose at 100 g/L, improved GABA production at 646 mg/L. Single nitrogen sources failed to improve GABA production, however a combination of yeast extract (YE) and glutamic acid (GA) improved GABA at 646.78 mg/L. Carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C8:N3) produced the highest cell (24.01 g/L) and GABA at a minimal time of 216 h. The key parameters of 30 °C, initial pH 5, 100 g/L of sucrose, combination YE and GA, and C8:N3 generated the highest GABA (3278.31 mg/L) in a koji fermentation. AOSNSK promisingly showed for the development of a new GABA-rich soy sauce.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus oryzae
  3. Inhibition of aspergillus niger by application of punica granatum peels and cucurbita maxima seeds as bio-fungicide
    Sarina Mohamad, Nur Atiqah Abd Hadi, Tun Mohd Firdaus Azis, Nur Syafiqah Rahim
    Science Letters, 2020;14(2):94-102.
    MyJurnal
    Infection on plant caused by Aspergillus niger leads to the destruction of quantity and quality of crop yields. Normally, this disease is solved by the chemical fungicides. Therefore, this study was carried out to seek a potential natural fungicide from fruit waste which is safer and economical to inhibit Aspergillus niger. Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin) seeds and Punica granatum (pomegaranate) peels were extracted using maceration method with 80% ethanol. Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BLSA) was used to test the presence of bioactive components in the extracts at concentration of 10 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL and they are expressed in terms of LC50 (Median Lethal Concentration) respectively. The study revealed that Cucurbita maxima extract was inactive, while Punica granatum extract and the mixture of both extracts at ratio 1:1 were active at 1000 µg/mL. Furthermore, the antifungal activity of Cucurbita maxima extract, Punica granatum extract, and mixture of both extracts were further tested using well-diffusion method against A. niger at 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/mL, 75 mg/ml and 100 mg/mL respectively. The findings revealed the mixture of both extracts were exerted effectively against A. niger at the lowest concentration with 20.67±2.52 mm and this gave significant zone of inhibition. The result of the study indicates that the mixture extraction of pomegranate peels and pumpkin seeds at 25 mg/mL has a great potential to be formulated as commercial bio-fungicide.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  4. Fulltext Aspergillus sydowii strain SCAU066 and aspergillus versicolor isolate BAB-6580: potential source of xylanolytic, cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes
    Nur Syahira Mohammad, Zaidah Zainal Ariffin
    Science Letters, 2020;14(2):15-23.
    MyJurnal
    Fungi is known to produce a wide range of biologically active metabolites and enzymes. Enzymes produced by fungi are utilized in food and pharmaceutical industries because of their rich enzymatic profile. Filamentous fungi are particularly interesting due to their high production of extracellular enzymes which has a large industrial potential. The aim of this study is to isolate potential soil fungi species that are able to produce functional enzymes for industries. Five Aspergillus species were successfully isolated from antibiotic overexposed soil (GPS coordinate of N3.093219 E101.40269) by standard microbiological method. The isolated fungi were identified via morphological observations and molecular tools; polymerase chain reactions, ITS 1 (5’- TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G3’) forward primer and ITS 4 (5’-TCC TCC GCT TAT TGA TAT GC-3’) reverse primer. The isolated fungi were identified as Aspergillus sydowii strain SCAU066, Aspergillus tamarii isolate TN-7, Aspergillus candidus strain KUFA 0062, Aspergillus versicolor isolate BAB-6580, and Aspergillus protuberus strain KAS 6024. Supernatant obtained via submerged fermentation of the isolated fungi in potato dextrose broth (PDB) and extracted via centrifugation was loaded onto specific media to screen for the production of xylanolytic, cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes. The present findings indicate that Aspergillus sydowii strain SCAU066 and Aspergillus versicolor isolate BAB-6580 have great potential as an alternative source of xylanolytic, cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus
  5. Fulltext Heterologous, Expression, and Characterization of Thermostable Glucoamylase Derived from Aspergillus flavus NSH9 in Pichia pastoris
    Karim KM, Husaini A, Hossain MA, Sing NN, Mohd Sinang F, Hussain MH, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2016;2016:5962028.
    PMID: 27504454 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5962028
    A novel thermostable glucoamylase cDNA without starch binding domain (SBD) of Aspergillus flavus NSH9 was successfully identified, isolated, and overexpressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. The complete open reading frame of glucoamylase from Aspergillus flavus NSH9 was identified by employing PCR that encodes 493 amino acids lacking in the SBD. The first 17 amino acids were presumed to be a signal peptide. The cDNA was cloned into Pichia pastoris and the highest expression of recombinant glucoamylase (rGA) was observed after 8 days of incubation period with 1% methanol. The molecular weight of the purified rGA was about 78 kDa and exhibited optimum catalytic activity at pH 5.0 and temperature of 70°C. The enzyme was stable at higher temperature with 50% of residual activity observed after 20 min at 90°C and 100°C. Low concentration of metal (Mg(++), Fe(++), Zn(++), Cu(++), and Pb(++)) had positive effect on rGA activity. This rGA has the potential for use and application in the saccharification steps, due to its thermostability, in the starch processing industries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus flavus/classification; Aspergillus flavus/enzymology*; Aspergillus flavus/genetics
  6. Fulltext The potential of artificial neural network (ANN) in optimizing media constituents of citric acid production by solid state bioconversion
    Ricca, R.N., Jami, Mohammed Saedi, Alam, Md. Zahangir
    International Food Research Journal, 2012;19(2):491-497.
    MyJurnal
    This work aims at optimizing the media constituents for citric acid production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) as renewable resource using artificial neural networks (ANN) approach. The bioconversion process was done through solid state bioconversion using Aspergillus niger. ANN model was built using MATLAB software. A dataset consists of 20 runs from our previous work was used to develop ANN. The predictive and generalization ability of ANN and the results of RSM were compared. The determination coefficients (R2-value) for ANN and RSM models were 0.997 and 0.985, respectively, indicating the superiority of ANN in capturing the non-linear behavior of the system. Validation process was done and the maximum citric acid production (147.74 g/kg-EFB) was achieved using the optimal solution from ANN which consists of 6.1% sucrose, 9.2% mineral solution and 15.0% inoculum.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  7. Fulltext Pineapple cannery waste as a potential substrate for microbial biotranformation to produce vanillic acid and vanillin
    Ong, Khai Lun, Tan, Bee Wai, Liew, Siew Ling
    International Food Research Journal, 2014;21(3):953-958.
    MyJurnal
    In this study, pineapple cannery waste materials were used as substrate for the microbial production of vanillic acid and vanillin by Aspergillus niger I-1472 and Pycnoporus cinnabarinus MUCL 39533. Biotransformation of ferulic acid from pineapple waste by A. niger I-1472 to vanillic acid was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A central composite rotatable design was used to allocate treatment combinations and factors tested for their influence on vanillic acid production were inoculum size, yeast extract concentration, diammonium tartrate concentration and initial medium pH. The amount of vanillic acid produced was used as the response for the fermentation study and was assumed to be under the influence of the four factors tested. The estimated conditions for optimal vanillic acid production were inoculum size, 3.08 ×105 CFU mL-1; yeast extract, 0.37 gL-1; diammonium tartrate, 3.88 gL-1 and initial pH, 4.3. Subsequent biotransformation of vanillic acid by P. cinnabarinus MUCL 39533 to vanillin was enhanced with the addition of resin. Under these optimal conditions, 141.00 mgL-1 of vanillin was produced from 5 g of pineapple cannery waste.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  8. Cephalexin removal by a novel Cu-Zn bionanocomposite biosynthesized in secondary metabolic products of Aspergillus arenarioides EAN603 with pumpkin peels medium: Optimization, kinetic and artificial neural network models
    Al-Gheethi A, Noman E, Saphira Radin Mohamed RM, Talip B, Vo DN, Algaifi HA
    J Hazard Mater, 2021 10 05;419:126500.
    PMID: 34214856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126500
    The present study aimed to investigate the removal efficiency of cephalexin (CFX) by a novel Cu-Zn bionanocomposite biosynthesized in the secondary metabolic products of Aspergillus arenarioides EAN603 with pumpkin peels medium (CZ-BNC-APP). The optimization study was performed based on CFX concentrations (1, 10.5 and 20 ppm); CZ-BNC-APP dosage (10, 55 and 100 mg/L); time (10, 55 and 100 min), temperature (20, 32.5 and 45 °C). The artificial neural network (ANN) model was used to understand the CFX behavior for the factors affecting removal process. The CZ-BNC-APP showed an irregular shape with porous structure and size between 20 and 80 nm. The FTIR detected CC, C-O and OH groups. ANN model revealed that CZ-BNC-APP dosage exhibited the vital role in the removal process, while the removal process having a thermodynamic nature. The CFX removal was optimized with 12.41 ppm CFX, 60.60 mg/L of CZ-BNC-APP, after 97.55 min and at 35 °C, the real maximum removal was 95.53% with 100.52 mg g-1 of the maximum adsorption capacity and 99.5% of the coefficient. The adsorption of CFX on CZ-BNC-APP was fitted with pseudo-second-order model and both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms models. These findings revealed that CZ-BNC-APP exhibited high potential to remove CFX.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus
  9. Fulltext LIPASE PRODUCTION FROM SOLID STATE FERMENTATION OF COPRA WASTE ASSOCIATED FUNGUS Aspergillus niger
    NURUL NAZIRA ZULKIFLI, NAZAITULSHILA RASIT
    UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2020;2(2):33-40.
    MyJurnal
    Lipases are enzyme with versatile industrial applications can be produced by the solid-state fermentation (SSF) method and is an economical alternative for enzyme production assisted by fungus. In Malaysia, 5 million of copra waste were generated annually. Large amount of copra waste produced will cause an increasing amount of the waste dumped to the landfill. Copra waste is one of the potential substrates to produce lipase enzyme through SSF. Thus, the aim of this study is to optimize the lipase production by SSF associated by Aspergillus niger using the 23 full factorial design approach. In this study the factors affecting parameters that involved in the production of lipase enzyme such as temperature (25˚ and 35˚), substrates concentration (40% and 60%) and inoculum size of Aspergillus niger (1 and 9 petri dish) were determined. The maximum production of lipase was obtained after 120-hour incubation in SSF. The optimum condition for inoculum size of Aspergillus niger was 9 plates, 30°C of incubation temperature and 60 % moisture contents. The range of the concentration of lipase enzyme produced varied from 105 U/ml to 170 U/ml. When applied to the wastewater treatment, the reducing percentage of fat, oil and grease (FOG) in food processing wastewater is reduced from 219.4925mg/l to 169.467mg/l accounted to the amount of 34 % FOG removal. Lipase produced using copra waste as a substrate using SSF has the potential value to be developed in the future for various industry including wastewater treatment industry.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  10. Influence of agitation speed on tannase production and morphology of Aspergillus niger FETL FT3 in submerged fermentation
    Darah I, Sumathi G, Jain K, Lim SH
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2011 Dec;165(7-8):1682-90.
    PMID: 21947762 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-011-9387-8
    Agitation speed was found to influence the tannase production and fungal growth of Aspergillus niger FETL FT3. The optimal agitation speed was at 200 rpm which produced 1.41 U/ml tannase and 3.75 g/l of fungal growth. Lower or higher agitation speeds than 200 rpm produced lower enzyme production and fungal growth. Based on the SEM and TEM micrograph observation, there was a significant correlation between agitation speed and the morphology of the fungal mycelia. The results revealed an increase of the enzyme production with the change of the fungal growth morphology from filamentous to pelleted growth forms. However, the exposure to higher shear stress with an increasing agitation speed of the shaker also resulted in lower biomass yields as well as enzyme production.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/cytology*; Aspergillus niger/enzymology*; Aspergillus niger/growth & development
  11. Optimization of decolorization of palm oil mill effluent (POME) by growing cultures of Aspergillus fumigatus using response surface methodology
    Neoh CH, Yahya A, Adnan R, Abdul Majid Z, Ibrahim Z
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2013 May;20(5):2912-23.
    PMID: 23054764 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-1193-5
    The conventional treatment process of palm oil mill effluent (POME) produces a highly colored effluent. Colored compounds in POME cause reduction in photosynthetic activities, produce carcinogenic by-products in drinking water, chelate with metal ions, and are toxic to aquatic biota. Thus, failure of conventional treatment methods to decolorize POME has become an important problem to be addressed as color has emerged as a critical water quality parameter for many countries such as Malaysia. Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from POME sludge was successfully grown in POME supplemented with glucose. Statistical optimization studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of the types and concentrations of carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, temperature, and size of the inoculum. Characterization of the fungus was performed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller surface area analysis. Optimum conditions using response surface methods at pH 5.7, 35 °C, and 0.57 % w/v glucose with 2.5 % v/v inoculum size resulted in a successful removal of 71 % of the color (initial ADMI of 3,260); chemical oxygen demand, 71 %; ammoniacal nitrogen, 35 %; total polyphenolic compounds, 50 %; and lignin, 54 % after 5 days of treatment. The decolorization process was contributed mainly by biosorption involving pseudo-first-order kinetics. FTIR analysis revealed that the presence of hydroxyl, C-H alkane, amide carbonyl, nitro, and amine groups could combine intensively with the colored compounds in POME. This is the first reported work on the application of A. fumigatus for the decolorization of POME. The present investigation suggested that growing cultures of A. fumigatus has potential applications for the decolorization of POME through the biosorption and biodegradation processes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus fumigatus/genetics; Aspergillus fumigatus/growth & development; Aspergillus fumigatus/metabolism*
  12. Effects of Clitoria ternatea leaf extract on growth and morphogenesis of Aspergillus niger
    Kamilla L, Mansor SM, Ramanathan S, Sasidharan S
    Microsc Microanal, 2009 Aug;15(4):366-72.
    PMID: 19575837 DOI: 10.1017/S1431927609090783
    Clitoria ternatea is known for its antimicrobial activity but the antifungal effects of leaf extract on growth and morphogenesis of Aspergillus niger have not been observed. The extract showed a favorable antifungal activity against A. niger with a minimum inhibition concentration 0.8 mg/mL and minimum fungicidal concentration 1.6 mg/mL, respectively. The leaf extract exhibited considerable antifungal activity against filamentous fungi in a dose-dependent manner with 0.4 mg/mL IC50 value on hyphal growth of A. niger. The main changes observed under scanning electron microscopy after C. ternatea extract treatment were loss of cytoplasm in fungal hyphae and the hyphal wall and its diameter became markedly thinner, distorted, and resulted in cell wall disruption. In addition, conidiophore alterations were also observed when A. niger was treated with C. ternatea leaf extract.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/cytology; Aspergillus niger/drug effects*; Aspergillus niger/growth & development
  13. Fungal solid state culture of palm kernel cake
    Iluyemi FB, Hanafi MM, Radziah O, Kamarudin MS
    Bioresour Technol, 2006 Feb;97(3):477-82.
    PMID: 16216731
    Palm kernel cake (PKC), an agro-industrial by-product used extensively in the animal feed industry, has limited use in fish feeds due to its high fiber and low protein contents. In this study, PKC was processed under solid state culture conditions with five fungal strains and the effect of this fungal culturing on the amino acid, fatty acid, cellulose and hemicellulose fractions was evaluated. Fungal strains used were Sclerotium rolfsii, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma longiobrachiatum, Trichoderma koninggi and Aspergillus niger. Fungal growth was carried out at 50% moisture level and 1% inoculum level for 7 days. A significant increase in protein content from 18.76% to 32.79% was obtained by growing T. longibrachiatum on PKC. Cellulose level decreased significantly from 28.31% to 12.11% for PKC cultured with T. longibrachiatum, and hemicellulose from 37.03% to 19.01% for PKC cultured with A. niger. Fungal culturing of PKC brought about an increase in the level of unsaturated- and a decrease in the level of the saturated-fatty acids.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/genetics; Aspergillus niger/growth & development; Aspergillus niger/metabolism
  14. Invasive aspergillosis in developing countries
    Chakrabarti A, Chatterjee SS, Das A, Shivaprakash MR
    Med Mycol, 2011 Apr;49 Suppl 1:S35-47.
    PMID: 20718613 DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2010.505206
    To review invasive aspergillosis (IA) in developing countries, we included those countries, which are mentioned in the document of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), called the Emerging and Developing Economies List, 2009. A PubMed/Medline literature search was performed for studies concerning IA reported during 1970 through March 2010 from these countries. IA is an important cause of morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients of developing countries, though the exact frequency of the disease is not known due to inadequate reporting and facilities to diagnose. Only a handful of centers from India, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Turkey, Hungary, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina had reported case series of IA. As sub-optimum hospital care practice, hospital renovation work in the vicinity of immunocompromised patients, overuse or misuse of steroids and broad-spectrum antibiotics, use of contaminated infusion sets/fluid, and increase in intravenous drug abusers have been reported from those countries, it is expected to find a high rate of IA among patients with high risk, though hard data is missing in most situations. Besides classical risk factors for IA, liver failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and tuberculosis are the newly recognized underlying diseases associated with IA. In Asia, Africa and Middle East sino-orbital or cerebral aspergillosis, and Aspergillus endophthalmitis are emerging diseases and Aspergillus flavus is the predominant species isolated from these infections. The high frequency of A. flavus isolation from these patients may be due to higher prevalence of the fungus in the environment. Cerebral aspergillosis cases are largely due to an extension of the lesion from invasive Aspergillus sinusitis. The majority of the centers rely on conventional techniques including direct microscopy, histopathology, and culture to diagnose IA. Galactomannan, β-D glucan test, and DNA detection in IA are available only in a few centers. Mortality of the patients with IA is very high due to delays in diagnosis and therapy. Antifungal use is largely restricted to amphotericin B deoxycholate and itraconazole, though other anti-Aspergillus antifungal agents are available in those countries. Clinicians are aware of good outcome after use of voriconazole/liposomal amphotericin B/caspofungin, but they are forced to use amphotericin B deoxycholate or itraconazole in public-sector hospitals due to economic reasons.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/classification; Aspergillus/isolation & purification; Aspergillus/pathogenicity
  15. Fulltext Infected Baerveldt Glaucoma Drainage Device by Aspergillus niger
    Salim NL, Azhany Y, Abdul Rahman Z, Yusof R, Liza-Sharmini AT
    Case Rep Ophthalmol Med, 2015;2015:249419.
    PMID: 26064735 DOI: 10.1155/2015/249419
    Fungal endophthalmitis is rare but may complicate glaucoma drainage device surgery. Management is challenging as the symptoms and signs may be subtle at initial presentation and the visual prognosis is usually poor due to its resistant nature to treatment. At present there is lesser experience with intravitreal injection of voriconazole as compared to Amphotericin B. We present a case of successfully treated Aspergillus endophthalmitis following Baerveldt glaucoma drainage device implantation with intravitreal and topical voriconazole.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus
  16. Fulltext Improvement of halophilic cellulase production from locally isolated fungal strain
    Gunny AA, Arbain D, Jamal P, Gumba RE
    Saudi J Biol Sci, 2015 Jul;22(4):476-83.
    PMID: 26150755 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2014.11.021
    Halophilic cellulases from the newly isolated fungus, Aspergillus terreus UniMAP AA-6 were found to be useful for in situ saccharification of ionic liquids treated lignocelluloses. Efforts have been taken to improve the enzyme production through statistical optimization approach namely Plackett-Burman design and the Face Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD). Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to screen the medium components and process conditions. It was found that carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), FeSO4·7H2O, NaCl, MgSO4·7H2O, peptone, agitation speed and inoculum size significantly influence the production of halophilic cellulase. On the other hand, KH2PO4, KOH, yeast extract and temperature had a negative effect on enzyme production. Further optimization through FCCCD revealed that the optimization approach improved halophilic cellulase production from 0.029 U/ml to 0.0625 U/ml, which was approximately 2.2-times greater than before optimization.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus
  17. Fulltext On-site sensing for aflatoxicosis poisoning via ultraviolet excitable aptasensor based on fluorinated ethylene propylene strip: a promising forensic tool
    Mazlan NF, Sage EE, Mohamad NS, Mackeen MM, Tan LL
    Sci Rep, 2024 Jul 29;14(1):17357.
    PMID: 39075202 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68264-3
    The environmental contamination by extremophile Aspergillus species, i.e., Aflatoxin B1, is hardly controllable in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which lack handling resources and controlled storage facilities. Acute aflatoxicosis poisoning from aflatoxin-prone dietary staples could cause acute hepatic necrosis, acute liver failure, and death. Here, as the cheaper, more straightforward, and facile on-site diagnostic kit is needed, we report an ultraviolet-excitable optical aptasensor based on a fluorinated ethylene propylene film strip. Molecular dynamics on the aptamer.AFB1 complex revealed that the AFB1 to the aptamer increases the overall structural stability, suggesting that the aptamer design is suitable for the intended application. Under various influencing factors, the proposed label-free strategy offers a fast 20-min on-site fabrication simplicity and 19-day shelf-life. The one-pot incubation provides an alternative to catalytic detection and exhibited 4 times reusability. The recovery of crude brown sugar, processed peanuts, and long-grain rice were 102.74 ± 0.41 (n = 3), 86.90 ± 3.38 (n = 3), and 98.50 ± 0.42 (n = 3), comparable to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array Detector results. This study is novel owing to the peculiar UV-active spectrum fingerprint and the convenient use of hydrophobic film strips that could promote breakthrough innovations and new frontiers for on-site/forensic detection of environmental pollutants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus
  18. Aspergillus terreus treated rice straw suppresses methane production and enhances feed digestibility in goats
    Mohd Azlan P, Jahromi MF, Ariff MO, Ebrahimi M, Candyrine SCL, Liang JB
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2018 Mar;50(3):565-571.
    PMID: 29150805 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-017-1470-x
    The objectives of this study were to test the efficacy of producing lovastatin in rice straw treated with Aspergillus terreus in larger laboratory scale following the procedure previously reported and to investigate the effectiveness of the treated rice straw containing lovastatin on methane mitigation in goats. The concentration of lovastatin in the treated rice straw was 0.69 ± 0.05 g/kg dry matter (DM) rice straw. Our results showed that supplementation of lovastatin at 4.14 mg/kg BW reduced methane production by 32% while improving the DM digestibility by 13% (P 
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/metabolism*
  19. Distinct "Immunoallertypes" of Disease and High Frequencies of Sensitization in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis
    Mac Aogáin M, Tiew PY, Lim AYH, Low TB, Tan GL, Hassan T, et al.
    Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2019 04 01;199(7):842-853.
    PMID: 30265843 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201807-1355OC
    RATIONALE: Allergic sensitization is associated with poor clinical outcomes in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis; however, its presence, frequency, and clinical significance in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis remain unclear.

    OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency and geographic variability that exists in a sensitization pattern to common and specific allergens, including house dust mite and fungi, and to correlate such patterns to airway immune-inflammatory status and clinical outcomes in bronchiectasis.

    METHODS: Patients with bronchiectasis were recruited in Asia (Singapore and Malaysia) and the United Kingdom (Scotland) (n = 238), forming the Cohort of Asian and Matched European Bronchiectasis, which matched recruited patients on age, sex, and bronchiectasis severity. Specific IgE response against a range of common allergens was determined, combined with airway immune-inflammatory status and correlated to clinical outcomes. Clinically relevant patient clusters, based on sensitization pattern and airway immune profiles ("immunoallertypes"), were determined.

    MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A high frequency of sensitization to multiple allergens was detected in bronchiectasis, exceeding that in a comparator cohort with allergic rhinitis (n = 149). Sensitization was associated with poor clinical outcomes, including decreased pulmonary function and more severe disease. "Sensitized bronchiectasis" was classified into two immunoallertypes: one fungal driven and proinflammatory, the other house dust mite driven and chemokine dominant, with the former demonstrating poorer clinical outcome.

    CONCLUSIONS: Allergic sensitization occurs at high frequency in patients with bronchiectasis recruited from different global centers. Improving endophenotyping of sensitized bronchiectasis, a clinically significant state, and a "treatable trait" permits therapeutic intervention in appropriate patients, and may allow improved stratification in future bronchiectasis research and clinical trials.

    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus*
  20. Improved lovastatin production by inhibiting (+)-geodin biosynthesis in Aspergillus terreus
    Hasan H, Abd Rahim MH, Campbell L, Carter D, Abbas A, Montoya A
    N Biotechnol, 2019 Sep 25;52:19-24.
    PMID: 30995533 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2019.04.003
    Lovastatin is widely prescribed to reduce elevated levels of cholesterol and prevent heart-related diseases. Cultivation of Aspergillus terreus (ATCC 20542) with carbohydrates or low-value feedstocks such as glycerol produces lovastatin as a secondary metabolite and (+)-geodin as a by-product. An A. terreus mutant strain was developed (gedCΔ) with a disrupted (+)-geodin biosynthesis pathway. The gedCΔ mutant was created by inserting the antibiotic marker hygromycin B (hyg) within the gedC gene that encodes emodin anthrone polyketide synthase (PKS), a primary gene responsible for initiating (+)-geodin biosynthesis. The effects of emodin anthrone PKS gene disruption on (+)-geodin and lovastatin biosynthesis and the production of the precursors acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA were investigated with cultures based on glycerol alone and in combination with lactose. The gedCΔ strain showed improved lovastatin production, particularly when cultivated on the glycerol-lactose mixture, increasing lovastatin production by 80% (113 mg/L) while simultaneously inhibiting (+)-geodin biosynthesis compared to the wild-type strain. This study thus shows that suppression of the (+)-geodin pathway increases lovastatin yield and demonstrates a practical approach of manipulating carbon flux by modulating enzyme activity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/metabolism*
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