No abstract

Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) is found in a limited range of India, but is epidemiologically understudied. The seasonal patterns of KFD are well known; however, the significant concern is on the extent to which changes in epidemiology happen especially under the influence of ecological destructions and by the eventual effects of resulting climate change. Presently, a southward and northward spread of the Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) along the Western Ghats has been reported in the adjoining states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Maharashtra. In this review, we investigate the cascade of factors that might have facilitated the resurgence of KFDV among the endemic regions in higher frequency and its recent emergence in the area previously not reported. Utilizing published data, we additionally endeavour to exhibit a portion of the impediments of control systems and embody the powerful option strategies for developing KFDV control.

A great number of fungal infections are related to biofilm formation on inert or biological surfaces, which are recalcitrant to most treatments and cause human mortality. Cryptococcus laurentii has been diagnosed as the aetiological pathogen able to cause human infections mainly in immunosuppressed patients and the spectrum of clinical manifestations ranges from skin lesions to fungaemia. The effect of temperature, pH and surface preconditioning on C. laurentii biofilm formation was determined by 2, 3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) reduction assay. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of C. laurentii biofilms demonstrated surface topographies of profuse growth and dense colonization with extensive polymeric substances around the cells. In this study, we determined the activity of amphotericin B, itraconazole and fluconazole against C. laurentii free-living cells and biofilms. The activity of antifungals tested was greater against free-living cells, but sessile cells fell into the resistant range for these antifungal agents. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), comprising the matrix of C. laurentii biofilms, were isolated by ultrasonication. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was performed with ethanol-precipitated and dried samples. Also, the multielement analysis of the EPS was performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Aim: This study was performed to isolate and characterize novel antifungal lipopeptide from Bacillus cereus. Methods and Results: Elucidation of its chemical structure was carried out by electrospray ionization mass spectra (ESI-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The compound is a cyclic heptapeptide and composed of amino acids, Leu-Asp-Val-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu. The in vitro activity of Kannurin against various pathogenic yeasts was assessed by CLSI M27-A and moulds by M38-A. It demonstrated broad-spectrum, fungicidal activity against clinically relevant yeasts and moulds. Kannurin exhibited low haemolytic activity and remained active over a wide pH and temperature range. In addition, Kannurin did not bind with melanin particles and was as active in inhibiting biofilms. Conclusions: An antifungal surfactin-like lipopeptide produced by Bacillus cereus strain AK1 was purified and chemically characterized. We propose to name this lipopeptide compound 'Kannurin'. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Bacillus cereus producing surfactin-like lipopeptide antibiotic with stronger antifungal activity. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our results provide a valuable contribution towards a better understanding of the lipopeptide of Bacillus cereus. Moreover, it raises the possibility of using as an alternative antibiotic in clinical medicine.

An antifungal protein with a molecular mass of 14.3 kDa was isolated from the seeds of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) and designated as Ct protein. The antifungal protein was purified using different methods including ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 column. Ct protein formed a single colourless rod-shaped crystal by hanging drop method after 7 days of sample loading. The protein showed lytic activity against Micrococcus luteus and broad-spectrum, fungicidal activity, particularly against the most clinically relevant yeasts, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus albidus, Cryptococcus laurentii, Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. It also exerted an inhibitory activity on mycelial growth in several mould species including Curvularia sp., Alternaria sp., Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus sp., and Sclerotium sp. The present study adds to the literature on novel seed proteins with antifungal activity.