RESUMO: Determinadas espécies de fungos são responsáveis por diversas doenças no ser humano. Estudos epidemiológicos avaliam essas infecções tanto superficiais quanto profundas, e alguns destes avaliam em relação ao trabalho e condição de vida e saúde de trabalhadores de diversas áreas. Entretanto a contaminação por fungos filamentosos na região da cavidade oral com relação à atividade laboral rural não apresenta referência. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a incidência de contaminação fúngica na região orofaringe normal de trabalhadores agrícolas das culturas de cana-de-açúcar, laranja e abacaxi do município de Frutal, Minas Gerais. MÉTODOS: Esse é um trabalho longitudinal, prospectivo, tipo coorte, não randomizado, em que os participantes eram migrantes vindos para trabalho temporário nas culturas referidas. Foram selecionados 60 participantes no momento das contratações após realizados os exames pré-admissionais. Avaliou-se as características sociodemográficas dos participantes. A coleta de material investigativo seguiu a ordem: região do sulco gengivo - labial, próximo à região do freio superior e freio inferior; material da mucosa jugal direita e esquerda, com um swab para cada região e dispostos na placa de Petri, respeitando a anatomia descrita. A coleta e análise do material dos trabalhadores e do meio ambiente seguiram os tempos de cada cultura, determinados de (t0), (t1), (t2). Também foram usados para caracterizar cada fase de coleta, cultura e análise das amostras. As amostras foram semeadas em meio Agar Sabouraud Dextrose. Após o crescimento dos isolados, as culturas filamentosas foram submetidas às técnicas de colônias gigantes e microcultivo. Os fungos foram identificados no microscópio com objetiva de 40 vezes. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença entre idade e sexo nos três grupos analisados. Houve predomínio de homens afrodescendentes nas culturas de cana e laranja quando comparados ao abacaxi, que apresentou um predomínio de caucasianos. Trabalhadores de origem oriental foram detectados apenas na cultura de abacaxi. Quanto à renda, os trabalhadores de abacaxi recebem salários mais elevados do que os outros dois grupos de trabalhadores. Não houve diferença em relação ao tabagismo e a ingestão de álcool entre os três grupos analisados. Em relação à contaminação do meio ambiente, tanto na planta quanto no ar, encontrou-se um maior índice de placas de Petri contaminadas nas plantações de abacaxi e cana-de-açúcar, respectivamente. Observou-se um predominio de F. moniliforme na cultura de cana-de-açúcar e de F.subglutians nas culturas de laranja e de abacaxi nos tempos definidos dessa pesquisa. A contaminação dos trabalhadores ocorreu no segundo tempo da pesquisa. A respeito dos voluntários das plantações de abacaxi, 13,3% dos trabalhadores foram infectados entre os sessenta analisados; todos os trabalhadores foram contaminados com F.subglutinans. Na cultura de cana-de-açúcar, 8,3% deles foram encontrados infectados, sendo 5% por A. niger e 3,3% por F.moniliforme. Dois voluntários infectados pelo A. niger apresentaram infecção concomitante com C. albicans. Na lavoura de laranja 1,6% foram infectados por F.subglutians. CONCLUSÕES: Esse estudo demonstrou que trabalhar na cultura do abacaxi se mostrou um fator de risco para infecção fúngica na mucosa oral quando comparado às atividades na cultura da laranja. Houve também contaminação fúngica na cultura de cana-de-açúcar quando comparado ao grupo de referência. Outros fatores como idade, ingestão de álcool, tabagismo, renda familiar ou etnia não se mostraram estatisticamente significativos para incidência da infecção / ABSTRACT: Certain species of fungi are responsible for several diseases in humans. Epidemiologic studies rate those infections, both superficial and profound, and some of them rate regarding the occupation and life and health conditions of workers from several areas. However, the filamentous fungal infection in the oral cavity regarding laboral activity presents no reference. OBJETIVE: To rate the incidence of fungal contamination in the normal oropharynx of agricultural workers of sugar cane, orange and pineapple crops in the municipal district of Frutal, Minas Gerais. METHODS: This is a longitudinal, prospective and cohort work, in which the participants were migrants to temporary work in the aforesaid crops. Sixty participants were selected in the hiring moment after pre-admission examinations. The participants\' sociodemographic features were rated. The gathering of investigative materials followed the order: region of the gingival sulcus, close to the upper and lower lip curb region; material from the right and left jugal mucous with a swab for each region and arranged in a Petri dish, respecting the anatomy described. The gathering and analysis from workers and environment material followed the time of each culture, determined of (t0), (t1), (t2). They were also used to feature each stage of gathering, culture and analysis of samples. The samples were sown amid Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. After the growth of the isolates, the filamentous cultures were subjected to the techniques of giant colonies and microcultivation. The fungi were identified in the microscope with a 40x magnification. RESULTS: There was no difference between age and sex in the three groups studied. There was a predominance of African descent men in cane and orange crops compared to pineapple, which showed a predominance of Caucasians. Oriental workers were detected only in pineapple crop. As for income, the pineapple workers receive higher wages than the other two groups of workers. There was no difference regarding smoking and alcohol intake among the three groups analyzed. Regarding the environment contamination, both in the plant and in the air, a higher rate was found in Petri dishes contamined in pineapple and sugar cane crops, respectively. There was a predominance of F. moniliforme in the sugar cane crop and of F.subglutians in orange and pineapple crops in the times defined in this research. Contamination of workers occured in the second half of the research. Regarding the volunteers of pineapple crops, 13,3% workers were infected among the sixty analyzed; all workers were contamined with F. subglutinans. In the sugar cane crop, 8,3% of them were found infected, 5% by A. niger and 3,3% by F. moniliforme. Two volunteers infected by the A. niger presented concomitant infection with C. albicans. A worker of the orange crop was infected (1,6% ) by F. subglutians. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that working in the pineapple crop showed a risk factor for the fungal infection in the oral mucosa when compared to the activities in the orange crop. Also, there was a fungal contamination in the sugar cane crop when compared to the reference group. Other factors such as age, alcohol intake, smoking, family income or ethnicity were not statistically significant for the incidence of infection

Submitted by Ricardo Cedraz Duque Moliterno (ricardo.moliterno@uefs.br) on 2015-07-27T23:03:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o - Iv?n Sergio Col?s Gonzalez.pdf: 1019601 bytes, checksum: a974e9e520faa565d9469e1ff902ceed (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-27T23:03:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o - Iv?n Sergio Col?s Gonzalez.pdf: 1019601 bytes, checksum: a974e9e520faa565d9469e1ff902ceed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-30 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia - FAPEB / In this work was investigated the biocatalytic action of fungus Periconia hispidula to perform reduction reactions of aromatic prochiral carbonyl compounds. Firstly, the influence of the reaction parameters (medium, time, amount of substrate, forms to use the biocatalyst) over the conversion rate and enantiomeric excess in the reduction of acetophenone was investigated. After the determination of the growth curve, the incubation time prior to addition of substrate, was evaluated (4 and 7 days). For 4 days of preincubation time, the best conversion rate to obtain the (S)-1-phenylethanol with e.e of 98% were achieved. Two types of biocatalysts were evaluated: growing cells and resting cells. The best results were obtained with growing cells. By comparing the results obtained from potato-dextrose (BD) culture medium and potato-dextrose (BD) supplemented with Fe 2+, BD medium supplemented with Fe 2+ (0.02 g / L) was selected. The influence of the amount of acetophenone (20 to 200 ?L) was also examined to evaluate the toxicity of the substrate. Quantities of the substrate higher than 100 ?L (0.1%) decreased also conversion rate but the enantiomeric excess. The applicability of this biocatalyst was also evaluated to reduce acetophenone derivates compounds such as 2, 3 and 4-nitroacetophenone, 2, 3 and 4-methylacetophenone? 2, 3 and 4-methoxyacetophenone, 2, 3 and 4-bromoacetophenone, 2, 3 and 4-fluoracetophenone, 2, 4-dimethylacetophenone, 2, 5-dimethylacetophenone? 4-ethylacetophenone, octanophenone, 1-indanone and 2-indanone. Chiral alcohols were obtained with conversion rates from 8% upto higher than 99% and the enantiomeric excess between 54% up to 100%, indicating that the fungus Periconia hispidula is a promising estereoselctive biocatalyst for use in processes for reducing carbonyl compounds. / Neste trabalho foi investigada a a??o biocatal?tica do fungo Periconia hispidula em rea??es de redu??o de compostos carbon?licos arom?ticos pr?-quirais. A influ?ncia de par?metros reacionais (meio, tempo, quantidade de substrato, forma de utiliza??o do biocatalisador) na convers?o e enantioseletividade da redu??o de acetofenona foi inicialmente avaliada. A partir da curva de crescimento, determinou-se o tempo de incuba??o pr?vio a adi??o de substrato (4 e 7 dias). Os melhores resultados de convers?o para a obten??o do (S)-1-feniletanol, com excesso enantiom?rico (e.e) de 98% foram atingidos ap?s quatro dias de incuba??o pr?via do micro-organismo. Duas formas de utiliza??o do biocatalisador foram avaliadas: c?lulas em crescimento e c?lulas em repouso. Os melhores resultados de convers?o foram obtidos com as c?lulas em crescimento. Pela compara??o entre meios de cultura batata-dextrose (BD) e batata-dextrose (BD) suplementado com Fe2+) selecionou-se o meio BD suplementado com Fe2+ (0,02 g/L). A influ?ncia da quantidade de acetofenona (entre 20 ?L e 200 ?L) tamb?m foi analisada com o objetivo de avaliar a toxicidade do substrato. Verificou-se que quantidades de substrato maiores a 100 uL (0,1%) levaram a queda da convers?o e da enantioseletividade. O biocatalisador tamb?m foi testado frente a 23 cetonas pr?-quirais: 2, 3 e 4-nitroacetofenona; 2, 3 e 4-metilacetofenona; 2, 3 e 4-metoxiacetofenona; 2, 3 e 4-bromoacetofenona; 2, 3 e 4-fluoracetofenona; 2,4-dimetilacetofenona; 2,5-dimetilacetofenona; 4-etilacetofenona, octanofenona, 1?indanona e 2-indanona. As convers?es dos alco?is quirais oscilaram entre 8% e 100% com excessos enantiom?ricos de 54 at? mais de 99%, demonstrando que o fungo Periconia hispidula ? um biocatalisador estereosseletivo promissor para aplica??o em processos de redu??o de compostos carbon?licos.

In this thesis, the effect of infection elicited by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernema carpocapsae on Pyrrhocoris apterus and Drosophila melanogaster models were evaluated, and a role of adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) during the infection was characterized. These were monitored by determination of mortality, and various biochemical and physiological characteristics such as AKH levels both in the central nervous system (CNS) and in hemolymph, AKH gene expression in CNS, level of anti-oxidative stress markers, general metabolism and level of nutrients in normal and genetically modified insects. At P. apterus the mortality tests revealed that application of AKH increases the efficacy of EPN treatment. This result was confirmed using the firebugs with AKH receptor deficiency. Further, the increase of AKH expression and AKH levels in CNS and hemolymph seemed to be coordinated after the nematode treatment. At the D. melanogaster model also, the effect of adenosine into the above-mentioned characteristics was included. For this, mutants in AKH (AHK1), adenosine receptor (AdoR1) genes, and in both these genes together (AHK1 AdoR1 double mutant) were employed. Altogether, the results confirmed the involvement of AKH, and partially also adenosine into the antistress defense reactions elicited by the nematobacterial infection. Finally, the last part of the study was focused on examination of the vitellogenin (Vg) role in the defense reaction in firebug body P. apterus affected by two entomopathogenic organisms, the nematode S. carpocapsae and the fungus Isaria fumosorosea. The results revealed that Vg proteins play an important role in the defense against both types of the infections and are also able to kill entomopathogenic bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila, that are symbionts of S. carpocapsae and that increase toxicity of this nematode.

Le champignon filamenteux, Podospora anserina, possède deux types sexuels, mat+ et mat-, caractérisés chacun par une séquence spécifique. La séquence mat+ contient un seul gène FPR1; la séquence mat- contient trois gènes : FMR1, SMR1 et SMR2. La fonction moléculaire de SMR1 est inconnue, les autres gènes codent des facteurs de transcription qui contrôlent la fécondation (reconnaissance intercellulaire), et le passage d’un syncytium à un hyphe spécialisé binucléé contenant un noyau mat+ et un noyau mat- (reconnaissance internucléaire). Il n’y a pas eu d’analyse exhaustive des gènes impliqués dans la reconnaissance intercellulaire et le mécanisme de la reconnaissance internucléaire est encore inconnu. Afin de déterminer les cibles de FPR1 et FMR1, et les différents mécanismes impliqués, nous avons utilisé une approche microarray. Le profil transcriptomique des souches mat+ et mat- compétentes pour la fécondation a permis d’identifier 157 gènes cibles, et l’analyse transcriptomique des souches mutantes fpr1- et fmr1- a révélé que ces cibles peuvent être soit réprimées, soit activées par FMR1 ou FPR1, ou être sous le contrôle de ces deux facteurs. Ces expériences ont aussi détecté l’existence de 10 gènes activés ou réprimés au même niveau dans mat+ et mat-. La délétion de 32 gènes choisis parmi ces 167 gènes cibles n’a permis de mettre en évidence que deux gènes impliqués dans la fécondation. Les comparaisons des gènes cibles des facteurs de transcription MAT de Gibberella moniliformis et Sordaria macrospora avec ceux de P. anserina révèlent un nombre significatif de gènes cibles communs entre ces espèces, mais ces gènes ont des profils transcriptomiques différents, soulevant la question du rôle de ces gènes cibles. La recherche des gènes cibles de FPR1, FMR1 et SMR2 impliqués dans la reconnaissance internuléaire a été effectuée en comparant le transcriptome des périthèces issus de deux croisements, l’un n’exprimant que les gènes spécifiques mat+, l’autre que les gènes spécifiques mat-. Les résultats ont été interprétés selon le modèle d’identité nucléaire et le modèle de ségrégation aléatoire. Le premier modèle a conduit à l’identification de 27 gènes cibles, tandis que 154 gènes cibles ont été identifiés en appliquant le deuxième modèle. Au total 46 souches mutantes ont été construites. Cependant aucune délétion n’a affecté le développement sexué. En parallèle de ces expériences transcriptomiques, nous avons invalidé tous les gènes à HMG-box de P. anserina. Les résultats montrent que ces derniers ont un rôle très important dans le développement sexué, particulièrement Pa_1_13940 qui code un régulateur des gènes des types sexuels, le premier identifié chez les Pezizomycotina. / The filamentous fungus, Podospora anserina, has two mating-type idiomorphs, mat+ and mat-. The mat+ sequence contains one gene FPR1, while mat- contains three genes: FMR1, SMR1 and SMR2. The molecular function of SMR1 is unknown, FPR1, FMR1 and SMR2 encode transcriptional regulators which control the fertilization (intercellular recognition) and the transition from a syncytium to a specialized dikaryotic hypha which contains one mat+ and one mat- nucleus (internuclear recognition). No exhaustive analysis is available for the genes involved in the intercellular recognition, while the mechanism of the internuclear recognition is unknown. In order to understand the mechanism of these events and to identify the target genes of mating-type transcription factors, we used a microarray approach. The transcriptomic profiles of the mat+ and mat- strains that are competent for fertilization revealed 157 differentially transcribed genes, and transcriptomic analysis of fmr1- and fpr1- mutant strains was used to determine the regulatory actions exerted by FMR1 and FPR1 on these differentially transcribed genes. All possible combinations of transcription repression and/or activation by FMR1 and/or FPR1 were observed. Furthermore, 10 additional mating-type target genes were identified that were up- or down-regulated to the same level in mat+ and mat- strains. Of the 167 genes identified, 32 genes were selected for deletion, which resulted in the identification of two genes essential for the sexual cycle. A comparison with similar data set from the two ascomycetes, Gibberella moniliformis and Sordaria macrospora, reveals significant numbers of orthologous pairs, although transcriptional profiles were not conserved between species, questioning the function of these target genes. Internuclear recognition was investigated by the transcriptomic analysis of perithecia from two crosses expressing mat+ and mat- genes, respectively. The tow internuclear recognition models: nuclear identity and random segregation, were used to interpret our results. According to the former model, 27 target genes have been identified, while 154 target genes were identified with the latter model. A total of 46 mutant strains were constructed. However, these strains showed no defects in sexual development. Besides this microarray experiences, we have invalidated all HMG-box genes of P. anserina. The results show that the HMG-box genes have a very important role in sexual development, especially Pa_1_13940 which encodes the first identified regulator of Pezizomycotinan mating-type genes.

The broad aim of the work described in this thesis was to use the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) defective rmc tomato to explore the development and function of different types of fungus-plant interfaces (phenotypes) and to characterize the cellular modifications preceding colonization of rmc by a range of different AM fungi. Three main patterns of colonization with rmc have been described: 1) Pen- phenotype in which the AM fungus is restricted to the root surface with several attempts to penetrate the epidermal cells without success; 2) Coiphenotype where AM fungi penetrate the epidermis but cannot develop cortical colonization; and 3) Myc+ phenotype (with G. intraradices WFVAM23), where the AM fungus penetrates the cortex and forms a “normal” colonization after a delayed penetration of the epidermal cells (Review of literature). Little is known about cellular interactions, nutrient transfer or the ability of the fungi to complete their life cycles in the different phenotypes. These aspects were the main foci of this work. In addition further fungal isolates were screened to asses their ability to colonize rmc. The first experiments involved compartmented pots to follow the fungal life cycle, production of external mycelium and spores in the different rmc phenotypes (Chapter 3). The results showed that in the Pen- and Coiphenotypes, AM fungi are unable to form spores to complete the life cycle. However, in the Coi-phenotype, the fungus remained alive up to week 18, suggesting that some C transfer occurred. The fungus forming the Myc+ phenotype, G. intraradices WFVAM23, was able to produce spores, although they were significantly smaller than those produced with the wild-type tomato. The results suggested that arbuscules are essential for completion of the fungal life cycle. Labeled 32P was used to determine whether arbuscules are also essential for P transfer (Chapter 4). A compartmented pot system was used in which only fungal hyphae but not roots could obtain 32P. 32P was found in the shoots of rmc inoculated with S. calospora (Coi- phenotype), indicating that interfaces other than arbuscules can be involved in transfer of P. A nurse pot system was used to obtain synchronized colonization to determine how long AM fungi stay alive during the interactions with rmc and to elucidate the cellular modifications preceding colonization of rmc by a range of different AM fungi (Chapter 5). The results showed that rmc did attract the AM fungi, that the plant nucleus moved to the middle of the plant cell only after fungal penetration of plant roots and that callose deposition in rmc was not involved in blocking the AM fungi. Fourteen AM fungi with different taxonomic affiliations and fourteen different G. intraradices isolates were screened to try to relate phylogeny of AM fungi with phenotypes in rmc (Chapter 6). There were a large number of interactions, depending on the inoculated AM fungi, and although there were some similarities in the rmc phenotypes within phylogenetic groups, there was no clear relationship between phylogeny and development of interactions with rmc. This study showed the following. 1) Arbuscules/arbusculate coils are necessary for the completion of the AM fungal cycle. However, intraradical hyphae also participate in transfer of both P and C as demonstrated with the Coi- phenotype. 2) rmc clearly attracted AM fungi and the fungi stay alive and induce plant cellular responses such as nuclear movement only after penetrating rmc roots. 3) Plant defense responses such as callose deposition are not involved in blocking AM fungi in rmc; and 4) there was no relationship between the phenotypes described in rmc and phylogeny of the Glomeromycota. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1292816 / Thesis(Ph.D.)-- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007.

Among Nature's creation, terpenoids are more versatile and exciting natural products. In a remarkable display of synthetic ingenuity and creativity, nature has endowed terpenes with a bewildering array of carbocyclic frameworks with unusual assemblage of rings and functionalities. This phenomenal structural diversity of terpenes makes them ideal targets for developing and testing new synthetic strategies for efficient articulation of carbocyclic frameworks. The thesis entitled “Synthetic Approaches to Herbertenoid and Cuperenoid Sesquiterpenes" describes the application of ring-closing metathesis and Claisen rearrangement based approach to some herbertenoid and cuparenoid natural products. The results are described in five different sections, viz., a) First Total Synthesis of (±)-γ-Herbertenol; b) First Total Synthesis of (±)-HM-2; c) First Total Synthesis of (±)-HM-4 and HM-3; d) First Total Synthesis of Herbertenones A and B; and e) Total Synthesis of Lagopodin A. Complete details of the experimental procedures and the spectroscopic data were provided in a different section. A brief introduction is provided wherever appropriate to keep the present work in proper perspective. The compounds are sequentially numbered (bold), references are marked sequentially as superscripts and listed in the last section of the thesis. All the spectra included in the thesis were obtained by xeroxing the original NMR spectra. To begin with, the first total synthesis of γ-herbertenol, an herbertene isolated from a non-herbertus source, has been accomplished starting from 3,5-dimethylphenol. Claisen rearrangement of 3-(3-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)but-2-en-1-ol, obtained in eight steps from 3,5-dimethylphenol, furnished a γ,δ-unsaturated ester, which was transformed into 4-aryl-4,5,5-trimethylcyclopent-2-enone employing RCM reaction as the key step, which was further transformed into (±)-γ-herbertenol, which exhibited spectral data identical to that of the natural product. An alternative RCM reaction based methodology was also developed for the synthesis of γ-herbertenol methyl ether starting from ethyl 3-aryl-3-methylpent-4-enoate, an intermediate in the first sequence. The methodology has been extended for the synthesis of the putative structure of HM-2 starting from 2,4-dimethoxy-5-methylacetophenone via the corresponding ethyl 3-aryl-3-methylpent-4-enoate. However, the spectral data of the synthetic compound was found to be different from that reported for the natural product. A new cuperenoid structure for HM-2 was proposed. Total synthesis of cuparene-1,4-diol starting from toluhydroquinone, followed by its conversion to mono methyl ether and mono acetyl derivative confirmed the structures of HM-1 and the revised structure of HM-2. In a similar manner, total synthesis of the putative structure of HM-3 starting from 4-methylresorcinol dimethyl ether proved it to be wrong. A cupereniod structure, HM-4 monoacetate was proposed for HM-3. Synthesis of HM-4, and its conversion to mono acetate confirmed the structures of HM-4 and the revised structure of HM-3. The methodology has been further extended to the first total synthesis of herbertenones A and B starting from 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde. By readily identifying the similarity between lagopodin A and HM-1 and HM-2, an intermediate in the synthesis of HM-1 and HM-2 has been further transformed in to (±)lagopodin A.

No description available.

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging cutaneous fungal disease that contributes to recent global declines and extinction of amphibian species, caused by infection of the skin with a fungus known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Many species of frogs secrete antimicrobial peptides onto their skin that are capable of killing Bd. This thesis is an investigation of the effect of corticosteroids on cutaneous innate immunity in frogs, in the context of infection with Bd. The general hypothesis was that injections of glucocorticoids would impair the cutaneous synthesis of these antimicrobial peptides, thereby increasing susceptibility to Bd infection. The objective of the first experiment was to measure and compare gene expression levels of cutaneous AMP’s in frogs treated with glucocorticoids with sham-treated controls. Wild-caught Lithobates pipiens were acclimatized and administered either the corticosteroid methylprednisolone or saline every 48 hours. Norepinephrine-elicited cutaneous secretions were collected prior to the first injection of corticosteroid or saline, and then every 8 days for 40 days. Gene expression of the AMP’s brevinin and ranatuerin in the cutaneous secretions was quantified relative to the reference genes EF1-α and RPL8 using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Corticosteroid treatment was associated with a significant (P<0.027) increase in brevinin gene expression, which was most notable at 24-40 days of corticosteroid administration. Ranatuerin expression followed a similar but nonsignificant trend. The second experiment was a pilot study intended to establish a Bd challenge protocol in L. pipiens. Frogs were immersed in water containing 0, 104, 105 or 106 zoospores of Bd strain JEL 423. Cutaneous swabs were collected prior to challenge and tested for Bd by qPCR; unexpectedly, some tested positive, indicating pre-challenge infection. The analysis was complicated by an identified cross-reactivity of the assay with other fungi. The findings of the first experiment refuted the hypothesis, and suggested that corticosteroids promote rather than impair AMP gene expression in the skin of L. pipiens, under these experimental conditions. Further, the second study demonstrated that none of the frogs showed clinical abnormalities or died, despite exposure to Bd zoospores and despite molecular and histologic evidence of cutaneous Bd infection in some frogs. / NSERC Discovery Grant

Roots of silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) trees from downtown Montreal and the municipal nursery in Terrebonne were sampled to determine their vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) colonization levels. Soil was analyzed to determine the concentration of various soil nutrients, pH, and bulk density. It was found that trees from downtown Montreal grow in soils with lower phosphorus and magnesium, and higher copper, zinc, sodium, pH and bulk density than nursery trees. Downtown tree health, in terms of % dieback, was positively correlated with soil phosphorus, potassium, calcium, the phosphorus:copper ratio and negatively correlated with soil copper, zinc, bulk density and tree age. It is suggested that tree health and survival are associated with tree location. Older and healthier trees grow on streets that provide larger soil volumes. Downtown trees had significantly higher VAM colonization levels (44.9%) than those from the nursery (36.1%). The colonization level in downtown trees was positively correlated with the phosphorus:copper ratio and tree age, and negatively correlated with soil potassium. It is hypothesized that downtown trees living under the most stress will be those with the highest VAM colonization. Under controlled conditions 81.5% of the variability of % VAM infection of silver maple seedlings could be explained by soil zinc, phosphorus, copper, sodium, and potassium. Zinc, phosphorus and copper negatively affected VAM colonization, while a slight positive effect of sodium and potassium was found. This suggests that VAM colonization in downtown trees may be affected by soil factors, but the effects may be masked by other conditions, such as water stress, light, or size of root systems.

Thesis (MScFor (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The study was undertaken to determine the potential physiological benefits to plants provided by the double colonisation of host plant roots by endomycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, when growing under normal and under salt stress conditions. Plants of the Eucalyptus grandis x E. camaldulensis clone were grown in a sterile soil with 0 and 75 mM NaCl and with or without infection with the fungi Glomus etunicatum (an AM fungus) and Pisolithus tinctorius (an ECM fungus). The Eucalyptus clone formed both ECM and AM in single and double inoculation. The mycorrhizal symbiosis did not provide any nutritional benefits to the hosts. The double colonisation had no effect on plant growth under normal growth conditions while single colonisations of AM and ECM reduced growth. Double colonisation reduced host plant specific leaf mass by 12% and increased total leaf area by 43% compared with the control under these growth conditions. This colonisation also reduced photosynthesis per leaf area by 29% compared with the control. The reduced photosynthesis of the double colonisation did not result in reduced plant growth because these plants may have had a high total plant photosynthesis because of their large total leaf area. The double symbiosis however did not reduce salt stress when host plants were exposed to 75 mM NaCl, while the AM fungus increased plant dry weight by 13% compared to the control. AM and ECM colonisation in the double colonised roots under salt stress was decreased by 18 and 43% compared to that in plants under normal growth. The reduced colonisation may have reduced the fungi’s abilities to be beneficial to the host plant. The double symbiosis is recommended based on the documented positive effects of this symbiosis to plant growth and the considered possible long-term benefits to host plants growing in saline soils.