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Thanks to several components with health-promoting properties, mushrooms are recognized as a practical functional food and a valuable source of nutrients for the food industry. Ergosterol, the major sterol in edible mushrooms and a precursor of vitamin D2 with proven pharmacological activity and nutritional value, has become a very important topic in chemical and medical research. The main objectives of this study were to determine the ergosterol content in different species of Serbian wild mushrooms and in commercial mushrooms from Korean and Serbian grocery stores using square-wave voltammetry, to compare the concentrations in different parts of white button mushrooms, and to determine a possible relationship between Zn, Cu and Fe and ergosterol contents. The ergosterol contents varied between 0.01 and 7.04 mg/g (dry mass) of the mushrooms and were generally higher in cultivated mushrooms than in wild mushrooms. In addition, the ergosterol concentration was higher in the stems than in the caps of the mushrooms examined. Iron, Zn and Cu contents varied between the mushroom species at 8.5–479.9, 13.1–149.7 and 1.62–93.03 mg/kg, respectively, and principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two factors explaining 79.14% of the total variance, suggesting a direct relationship between iron and ergosterol content. This is the first comprehensive study to analyze and evaluate ergosterol concentrations in edible mushrooms from Korea and Serbia.

The purpose of this study was to identify non-polluting medicinal plant alternatives. Two medicinal plants, Rorippa islandica and Carrichtera annua (family Brassicaceae), collected from the NorthWestern Coastal region (Marsa Matrouh, Egypt), were investigated to determine their bioactive constituents in ethanol crude extracts using GC-MS and HPLC techniques, and to evaluate their in vitro antifungal activity against five pathogenic fungi. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 50 and 54 compounds in R. islandica and C. annua , respectively. The primary compound in R. islandica was 13-Docosenamide (20.54%), while in C. annua it was 2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl stearate (9.74%). HPLC identified 19 and 18 phenolic compounds in R. islandica and C. annua , respectively, with gallic acid as the predominant compound in both plants (3417.72 µg/g and 3733.98 µg/g, respectively). Both plant extracts exhibited promising antifungal activity. For R. islandica , the most potent effect at 10 mg/ml was observed with the 70% ethanol successive extract against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (inhibition zone 29 ± 0.3 mm; MIC 7.8 µg/ml; MFC 15.62 µg/ml). For C. annua , the most potent effect at 10 mg/ml was from the total extract against Curvularia lunata (inhibition zone 35 ± 0.1 mm; MIC 1.97 µg/ml; MFC 3.9 µg/ml). A significant reduction in ergosterol content was observed in the total and successive ethanol (96% and 70%) fractions of both plants, with the highest reduction in C. lunata and C. gloeosporioides treated with C. annua extract (49.93% and 47.7%, respectively), and in P. glabrum and C. gloeosporioides treated with R. islandica extract (47.2% and 42.58%, respectively). Morphological changes induced by the total and ethanol (96% and 70%) extracts of both plants were examined using AFM.

Microbial volatile compounds (MVCs) significantly influence the growth of plants and phytopathogens. However, the practical application of MVCs at the field level is limited by the fact that the concentrations at which these compounds antagonize the pathogens are often toxic for the plants. In this study, we investigated the effect of dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), one of the MVCs produced by microorganisms, on the fitness of tomato plants and its fungicidal potential against a fungal phytopathogen, Sclerotinia minor . DMDS showed strong fungicidal and plant growth promoting activities with regard to the inhibition of mycelial growth, sclerotia formation, and germination, and reduction of disease symptoms in tomato plants infected with S. minor . DMDS exposure significantly upregulated the expression of genes related to growth and defense against the pathogen in tomato. Especially, the overexpression of PR1 and PR5 suggested the involvement of the salicylic acid pathway in the induction of systemic resistance. Several morphological and ultrastructural changes were observed in the cell membrane of S. minor and the expression of ergosterol biosynthesis gene was significantly downregulated, suggesting that DMDS damaged the membrane, thereby affecting the growth and pathogenicity of the fungus. In conclusion, the tripartite interaction studies among pathogenic fungus, DMDS, and tomato revealed that DMDS played roles in antagonizing pathogen as well as improving the growth and disease resistance of tomato. Our findings provide new insights into the potential of volatile DMDS as an effective tool against sclerotial rot disease.

Candida albicans invasion is one of the most serious fungal infections in clinical history. In recent years, because of the widespread use of immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy drugs, glucocorticoids, and broad-spectrum antibiotics, serious drug resistance has been reported; therefore, a new type of antifungal drug needs to be developed. In this study, we found that Nerol (NEL) had strong antimicrobial activity and 0.77 μL/mL NEL was the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) effective against C. albicans. We determined the change of the growth curve of NEL for C. albicans, to identify the trend of NEL activity against C. albicans. Through the determination of the ergosterol content and glucose-induced extracellular fluid acidification of NEL on C. albicans, we found that NEL inhibits the growth of C. albicans by destroying cell membranes. This finding was also supported by the expression of SAP (secreted aspartyl proteinase) involved in cell membrane synthesis. Finally, demonstrations of phenotype investigation, colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, and PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) staining were conducted to prove that NEL had the ability to treated mouse oral C. albicans infection and vaginal C. albicans infection. This research may help us to investigate new antimicrobial agents for treating C. albicans infections.Key Points• NEL can inhibit the growth of C. albicans.• NEL destroys the cell membrane formation and permeability of C. albicans.• NEL can treat vulvovaginal candidiasis and oropharyngeal candidiasis in mice.• NEL could be used as a possible antifungal agent.

Mycotoxin emergence and co-occurrence trends in Canadian grains are dynamic and evolving in response to changing weather patterns within each growing season. The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone are the dominant mycotoxins detected in grains grown in Eastern Canada. Two potential emerging mycotoxins of concern are sterigmatocystin, produced by Aspergillus versicolor, and diacetoxyscirpenol, a type A trichothecene produced by a number of Fusarium species. In response to a call from the 83rd Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants, we conducted a comprehensive survey of samples from cereal production areas in Ontario, Canada. Some 159 wheat and 160 corn samples were collected from farms over a three-year period. Samples were extracted and analyzed by LC-MS/MS for 33 mycotoxins and secondary metabolites. Ergosterol was analyzed as an estimate of the overall fungal biomass in the samples. In wheat, the ratio of DON to its glucoside, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (DON-3G), exhibited high variability, likely attributable to differences among cultivars. In corn, the ratio was more consistent across the samples. Sterigmatocystin was detected in some wheat that had higher concentrations of ergosterol. Diacetoxyscirpenol was not detected in either corn or wheat over the three years, demonstrating a low risk to Ontario grain. Overall, there was some change to the mycotoxin profiles over the three years for wheat and corn. Ongoing surveys are required to reassess trends and ensure the safety of the food value chain, especially for emerging mycotoxins.

Mushrooms are highly perishable, with a shelf life of up to three days. Considering their richness in nutrients and unique taste and aroma, extending their shelf-life presents a valuable field of exploration. Essential oil fumigation, already studied in plants, could effectively preserve mushroom quality by slowing the loss of nutrients. This study focused on the fumigation of two wild mushroom species, Boletus edulis and Imleria badia, as well as one cultivated species, namely, Agaricus bisporus, treated with Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Picea abies (spruce) essential oils. The fumigated mushrooms were stored for 4 days under non-optimal conditions and analysed for their content of free sugars and sugar alcohols, total FFA, composition of all fatty acids, vitamins, and ergosterol. The results were analysed using a linear model with three-way variable interactions, ANOVA type III, and multivariate PCA. The key findings indicated that spruce and fennel essential oil fumigation assured a high content of vitamin C (40 and 32.78 mg/100 g d.w.) and ergosterol (0.265 and 0.257 g/100 g d.w.) in B. edulis and a high content of vitamin D2 (1.94 and 1.55 µg/100 g d.w.) in A. bisporus. The results demonstrated that treating mushrooms with essential oils can effectively modulate the nutritional value loss.

Abstract This study provided a reliable way to identify and estimate the ergosterol in farm environments, since it is renowned that it is a specific indicator for the occurrence of molds and yeasts. The quick valuation of exposure to airborne microorganisms is essential to assess the risk to which the health of employees is subjected in working places characterized by great humidity. From this view, it is worth estimating the total biomass of molds and yeast, including viable and non-viable forms, which may cause respiratory concerns to human. Air samples were collected with a passive method and the microbial growth was evaluated with a traditional counting method. At the same time, the ergosterol was quantified from yeasts and molds. In this way, the aerosol concentrations of molds and yeasts were compared by using the two methods, the cultivation on plates, as well as through ergosterol measurement by means of UV spectroscopy. Results showed, for the first time, a positive correlation between the amount of ergosterol and the yeast cells. Based on these outcomes, the ergosterol is a statistically significant biomarker to be used to control the air quality of indoor and outdoor farm spaces, by means of a simple and direct UV procedure. Ergosterol is used as fungal biomarker to monitor air safety.

Traditional methods for the production of food grade pigments from the fungus Monascus spp. mostly rely on submerged fermentation. However, the cell-bound nature and intracellular accumulation of pigments in Monascus spp. is a major hurdle in pigment production by submerged fermentation. The present study focused on the investigation of the effect of the antifungal agent fluconazole on red pigment production from Monascus purpureus (NMCC-PF01). At the optimized concentration of fluconazole (30 μg ml-1), pigment production was found to be enhanced by 88% after 96 h and it remained constant even after further incubation up to 168 h. Ergosterol, a sterol specific to fungi, was also extracted and estimated as a function of fungal growth. The concentration of ergosterol in fluconazole-treated fermentation broth was reduced by 49% as compared to control broth. Thus it could be responsible for facilitating the release of intracellular and cell-bound pigments. Nevertheless, the role of cell transporters in transporting out the red pigments cannot be ignored and deserves further attention. Qualitative analysis of red pigment by thin layer chromatography, UV spectroscopy and mass spectrometric analysis (ESIMS) has confirmed the presence of the well-known pigment rubropunctamine. In addition, this fermentation process produces citrinin-free pigments. This novel approach will be useful to facilitate increased pigment production by the release of intracellular or cell-bound Monascus pigments.

Here, species composition and biomass production of actively growing ectomycorrhizal (EM) mycelia were studied over the rotation period of managed Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands in south-western Sweden. The EM mycelia were collected using ingrowth mesh bags incubated in the forest soil during one growing season. Fungal biomass was estimated by ergosterol analysis and the EM species were identified by 454 sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplicons. Nutrient availability and the fungal biomass in soil samples were also estimated. Biomass production peaked in young stands (10-30 yr old) before the first thinning phase. Tylospora fibrillosa dominated the EM community, especially in these young stands, where it constituted 80% of the EM amplicons derived from the mesh bags. Species richness increased in older stands. The establishment of EM mycelial networks in young Norway spruce stands requires large amounts of carbon, while much less is needed to sustain the EM community in older stands. The variation in EM biomass production over the rotation period has implications for carbon sequestration rates in forest soils.

The antifungal activities of heteropolytungstates, α-1,2,3-K 6 H[SiW 9 V 3 O 40 ] (SiW-3), K 13 [Ce(SiW 11 O 39 ) 2 ]·17H 2 O (SiW-5), K 13 [Eu(SiW 11 O 39 ) 2 ]·25H 2 O (SiW-10), K 6 PV 3 W 9 O 40 (PW-6), α-K 4 PVW 11 O 40 (PW-8), were screened in 29 Candida albicans , 8 Candida glabrata , 3 Candida krusei , 2 Candida parapsilosis , 1 Candida tropicalis , and 1 Cryptococcus neoformans strains using the CLSI M27-A3 method. SiW-5 had the highest efficacy with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of <0.2–10.2  μ M in vitro . The antifungal mechanism, acute toxicity and in vivo antifungal activity of SiW-5 were then evaluated in C. albicans . The results showed that SiW-5 damaged the fungal cell membrane, reduce the ergosterol content and its main mode of action was through inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis. Real-time PCR showed that ERG1, ERG7, ERG11 and ERG28 were all significantly upregulated by SiW-5. An acute toxicity study showed the 50% lethal dose (LD 50 ) of SiW-5 for ICR mice was 1651.5 mg/kg. And in vivo antifungal studies demonstrated that SiW-5 reduced both the morbidity and fungal burden of mice infected with C. albicans . This study demonstrates that SiW-5 is a potential antifungal candidate against the Candida species.