No description available.

In this thesis, we explore the benefits of microencapsulating isoniazid and pyrazinamide within sporopollenin exine capsules derived from Lycopodium clavatum. Sporopollenin is a natural biopolymer, which is extracted from the outer shell of pollen grains. These hollow microcapsules can encapsulate and release drug actives in a controlled manner and possess many other advantages such as homogeneity in morphology and size, resilience to both strong acids and bases, they have antioxidant properties as well as UV protection to protect the material inside the microcapsule. Compared to artificial microcapsules, sporopollenin’s muco-adhesion to intestinal tissues contributes greatly to the extended contact of the sporopollenin with the intestines leading to an increased efficiency of delivery of drugs. The hollow microcapsules can be easily filled with a solution of the active or active in a liquid form by simply mixing both together. The drug actives are released in the human body depending on pH factors. Active release can otherwise have controlled by adding a coating on the shell, or co-encapsulation with the active inside the shell so that high drug concentrations are delivered to the site of infection. Encapsulation of the drug active will possibly improve therapeutic abilities of the drugs; simplify the treatment of TB-HIV coinfections by eliminating troublesome drug-drug interactions and drastically reduce or eliminates side effects. The SECs were loaded using a passive filling method. The drug active (0.1 g) was dissolved in a solvent and mixed with the SECs (0.1 g) for 10 minutes. After mixing for 10 minutes, the solvent was removed by a rotary evaporator and dried to a constant mass. The surface of the sporopollenin exines were analysed on a FTIR to observe if there are any drug deposits on the surface of the SECs. The loading efficiency and drug release percentage was determined by using calibrations curves and analysed on a UV-vis spectrophotometer. Further work has been proposed in which to characterize the SECs further and producing coated tablets from loaded SECs.

Basidiospores of the Basidiomycete Psilocybe mutans have been found to germinate only in the presence of water extracts of animal dung. The chemical nature of the factor present in the dung that induces germination is not known, nor has it ever been isolated· Experiments showed that extracts of bile salts cause the basidiospores to germinate, indicating that since bile salts are found in dung, they may be the factor which stimulates the spores to germinate. Investigations of the properties of the factor in dung show that the factor has solubility properties that are similar to those of the bile acids. It was found that the bile salts are able to stimulate the germination of the spores optimally at a concentration that corresponds to the critical micellar concentration of the bile salts. This suggests that the bile salts activate the germination due to their surface active properties.

The lipids of the spores of the Basidiomycetes: Ustilago bullata, Lycoperdon perlatum and Calvatia gigantea were investigated. The spores of U. bullata were found to have hydrocarbons ranging from C_9 to C_24, methyl esters of fatty acids ranging from C_14 to C_24, and free fatty acids from C_14 to C_24. The spores of L. perlatum were found to have few hydrocarbons (C_22 being the predominent one); no methyl esters were detected and the fatty acids were from C_15 to C_18. Long chain aldehydes (C_30) were also detected in low concentration. At the ultrastructural level the Lycoperdon spores were found to have rodlets (100 A° apart) and protrusions which indicates that the spores have surface characteristics similar to the spores of Ustilago maydis and Penicillium. The C. gigantea spores were found to contain long branched chain hydrocarbons (C_30) with a methyl branch on the number 3 carbon. No methyl esters were found and only two free fatty acids (C_16, C_18 ) were detected. The fatty acid content values in spores of U. maydis decreased during germination. Acetate-1-- ^14C was incorporated into diglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols during the germination process.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is known that many hyphomycetous fungi are dispersed by wind, water and insects. However, very little is known about how these fungi may differ from each other regarding their ability to be disseminated by different environmental vectors. Consequently, to obtain an indication of the primary means of spore dispersal employed by representatives of the genera Acremonium, Aspergillus and Penicillium, isolated from soil and indoor environments, we monitored spore liberation of cultures representing these genera in an airflow cell. The experimental data obtained, of plate counts conducted of the air at the outlet of the airflow cell, were subjected to an appropriate analysis of variance (ANOVA), using SAS statistical software. Intraspecific differences occurred regarding aerial spore release. Under humid conditions, however, Penicillium species were more successful in releasing their spores than Aspergillus and the Acremonium strain. Under desiccated conditions the Aspergillus took longer to release their spores than representatives of Acremonium and Penicillium. The taxa that were investigated did not differ from each other regarding the release of spores in physiological salt solution (PSS). Although not proven, indications are that water may act as an important dispersion agent for these fungi, because washing of cultures with PSS resulted in all cases in an immediate massive release of colony forming units. Subsequently, using standard plate count techniques, conidial adhesion of the fungi mentioned above to synthetic membranes, leaf cuttings and insect exoskeletons differing in hydrophobicity and electrostatic charge were investigated. We found that the different genera showed different adhesion profiles for the series of test surfaces, indicating differences in physico-chemical characteristics of the fungal spore surfaces. In general, the Penicillium strains showed a greater ability to adhere to the test surfaces, than the aspergilli, while the representative of Acremonium showed the least adherence. No significant difference in the percentage spore adhesion was found between hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials. Furthermore, evidence was uncovered supporting the contention that, under dry conditions, electrostatic surface charges play a role in the adherence of fungal spores to surfaces, because adherence was positively correlated (Correlation coefficient = 0.70898, p = 0.001) to positive electrostatic charges on the lamellar surfaces. In the next part of the study, standard plate count methods were used to determine the relative adhesion of the above mentioned hyphomycetous fungi, as well as a polyphyletic group of yeasts, to the test surfaces submerged in 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). As was found with the experiments with the dry surfaces, both intraspecific and intergenus differences were uncovered. Overall, the fungi adhered better to hydrophilic surfaces than to hydrophobic surfaces. This indicated that the fungal surfaces were covered with relatively hydrophilic compounds such as carbohydrates. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that all the fungi adhered to plasma membrane glycoprotein coated polystyrene and the presence of fungal carbohydrates on the surfaces of the fungal propagules was confirmed using epi-fluorescence microscopy. Differences in the strategy of the fungal genera to release their airborne spores, as well as differences in their adhesion profiles for the series of test materials, may be indicative of a unique environmental niche for each genus. In future, this phenomenon should be investigated further. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hifomisete fungi is daarvoor bekend om te versprei deur middel van wind, water, en insek vektore. Maar nietemin, daar is bykans geen kennis m.b.t. hoe hierdie fungi van mekaar verskil t.o.v. hul vermoë om versprei te word deur omgewings vektore nie. Gevolglik was spoorvrystelling van kulture, verteenwoordigend van die genera Acremonium, Aspergillus en Penicillium gemoniteer om ‘n aanduiding te kry van primêre wyse van spoorverspreiding waardeur verteenwoordigers van die onderskeie genera ingespan word. Eksperimentele data ingewin, vanaf plaat tellings wat uitgevoer was op lug afkomstig vanuit die uitlaat-klep van die lugvloei kapsule, was onderwerp aan ‘n toepaslike analise van afwyking (ANOVA), deur gebruik te maak van ‘n SAS statistiese pakket. Intraspesie verskille is waargeneem t.o.v. lug spoorvrystelling. Desnieteenstaande was Penicillium meer suksesvol onder vogtige kondisies t.o.v. spoorvrystelling in vergelyking met Aspergillus en die Acremonium stam. Onder droë kondisies het verteenwoordigers van Aspergillus langer geneem om hul spore vry te stel as verteenwoordigers van onderskeidelik, Penicillium en Acremonium. Geen verskille was waargeneem m.b.t. spoorvrystelling in fisiologiese soutoplossing (FSO) tussen die verskillende filogenetiese stamme nie. Alhoewel dit nie bewys is nie, wil dit voorkom asof water as belangrike verspreidingsagent van die betrokke fungi dien, aangesien die spoel van kulture met FSO tot ‘n oombliklike enorme vrystelling van kolonie-vormende eenhede gelei het. Gevolglik, deur gebruik te maak van standaard plaattellings tegnieke, was spoor aanhegting van bogenoemde fungi aan sintetiese membrane, blaar snitte en insek eksoskelette wat verskil in terme van hidrofobisiteit en elektriese lading, ondersoek. Daar was gevind dat die aanhegtingsprofiele m.b.t. hierdie reeks toetsoppervlaktes van die verskillende genera verskil, wat op sigself ‘n aanduiding was van verskille in fisieschemiese eienskappe van die swamspoor oppervlaktes. Penicillium stamme het ‘n hoër aanhegtings vermoë aan die toetsoppervlaktes getoon as die aspergilli, terwyl die verteenwoordiger van Acremonium die laagste aanhegting getoon het. Geen betekenisvolle verskille i.t.v. persentasie spoor aanhegting was gevind tussen hidrofobiese en hidrofiliese oppervlakte nie. Daarbenewens was die argument dat spoorvrystelling onder droë kondisies beïnvloed word deur elektrostatiese oppervlak ladings, bevestig deur ons bevindinge, want aanhegting het positief gekoreleer (Korrelasie koëffisient = 0.70898, p = 0.001) met positiewe ladings op die oppervlaktes. ‘n Standaard plaattellingstegniek was aangewend in die volgende fasset van die studie om die relatiewe aanhegting van bogenoemde hifomisete fungi, sowel as ‘n polifilitiese groep giste aan die toetsoppervlaktes, gedompel in 10 mM natrium fosfaat buffer (pH 7.0) vas te stel. Intraspesie en intragenus verskille was weereens waargeneem, net soos in die geval van die eksperimente met die droë oppervlakte. In die algemeen het die swamme baie beter geheg aan hidrofiliese oppervlaktes in vergelyking met hidrofobiese oppervlakte. Dit was ‘n aanduiding dat die swamspoor oppervlaktes bedek was met relatiewe hidrofiliese verbindings bv. koolhidrate. Verder was daar bewys dat alle swamme ingesluit in hierdie studie die vermoë het om plasmamembraan glikoproteïn bedekte polistireen te bind, en gevolglik was die teenwoordigheid van van koolhidrate op die swamspore bevestig m.b.v epi-fluoresensie mikroskopie. Verskille in die strategie van swamme om spore in die lug vry te stel, sowel as verskille in die aanhegtingsprofiele vir ‘n reeks toetsmateriale, mag net ‘n aanduiding wees van ‘n unieke omgewings nis vir elke genus wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is. Hierdie verskynsel moet dus in die nabye toekoms nagevors word.

Palynologic samples for this study were collected in April of 1975 at the Hawthorne and Minnehaha Mines near Linton and Dugger, Indiana, respectively. All samples were taken from the Coal No. 7 and the overlying shale.A total of eighty-three species assigned to thirty-one genera were recovered. Sixty-six species assigned to twenty-nine genera were recovered from the Hawthorne Mine and forty-seven species assigned to twenty-three genera were recovered from the Minnehaha Mine. Comparison of the palynomorph floras of the two localities reveals twenty-one genera and thirty-three species in common to both mines.Palynologic data from the sample area reveals two slightly different depositional basins. The ecology of the area was probably a coastal-swamp type of environment with an abundance of arborescent lepidodendrids.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

[Truncated abstract] Palynology has been used in a number of criminal cases where pollen and spores (palynomorphs) on clothing has featured as evidence. Pollen and spores are microscopic, generally morphologically unique to a plant genus and often species, resistant to decay, produced in large amounts and are components of soil. These unique features of pollen and spores make palynology a highly valuable forensic tool. Clothing is an excellent collector of pollen and spores as they become trapped in the fabric weave when clothing is brushed against flowering plants, comes into contact with dust, soil or air-borne pollen. Most forensic palynologists have found that palynomorphs from a crime scene may remain on clothing after washing or several days wear. No empirical research has been conducted on the retention of palynomorphs on clothing under differing conditions. Research of this kind is required to provide support for the future presentation and validation of palynological evidence in court. This project examined the relative retention of palynomorphs on clothing that had been worn during a simulated assault in a sheltered garden on the grounds of St George's College, Western Australia. Three replicate control soil samples each were collected from the actual assault scene and the whole garden to provide a baseline palynological profile for comparison to the experimental (Evidentiary) clothing samples. Forty pollen samples from the predominant species of plants in the garden and surrounds were collected, processed and databased as a reference for palynomorph identification. Standard T-shirts and jeans were chosen as the research clothing. During the simulated assault the knees of the jeans and the backs of the T-shirts came into abrasive contact with the soil of the garden for approximately one minute. The clothing then underwent three 'conditions' to simulate 'real life' situations. Three clothing sets were immediately collected after the assault (E1), three sets were worn for a period of three days after the assault (E2) and three sets were washed after the assault (E3). ... The Background clothing samples did not have a profile similar to the research garden but the profiles collected from each set reflected the areas to which they were worn. The number of palynomorphs per gram of garden soil ranged from thousands to tens-of-thousands of palynomorphs. The total number of palynomorphs collected by the E1 samples ranged from 100,000 to millions per clothing item. The E2 samples retained 1000's to tens-of-thousands of palynomorphs and the E3 samples retained 100's to 1000's of palynomorphs. The background clothing samples collected 1000's to tens-of-thousands of palynomorphs. These results confirm that jeans and T-shirts worn during an assault then worn for a period of days, or washed, will still contain pollen and spores characteristic of the assault area. This highlights the importance of investigating police enquiring where and for how long clothing of interest has been worn before and after an event, or if the clothing has been washed since the event. The results of this study will provide forensic palynologists with supportive data for future casework involving clothing.

Title from second page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrastructure of Tilletia caries teliospores. Specimens were prepared for viewing in the electron microscope by freeze-etching and thin-sectioning techniques. Thin-sectioning techniques gave excellent results with the teliospore walls and the lipid bodies within the teliospore but failed to adequately fix the membranes and internal organelle systems. Micrographs of Tilletia caries teliospores prepared using thin-sectioning show three major wall layers and two partition wall layers and abundant lipid bodies. The freeze-etch method of spore preparation proved superior to the thin-sectioning used in this study to reveal the internal organelle systems of the T. caries teliospore. The following anatomical details of teliospores were revealed using this technique: a multilayered spore wall, structural details of the plasma membrane, surface and cross-fractured views of the nucleus, details of the nuclear envelope, and surface and cross-fractured views of spherical bodies of unknown function.