Identification and biodiversity patterns ofAspergillusspecies isolated from some soil invertebrates at high altitude using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses

Abstract

Background The carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic chemicals such as aflatoxin are a worldwide health problem. Aspergillus spp., responsible for most cases of aflatoxin contamination, are common in the environment and spread easily to many different types of food. The objectives of this study were to conduct a survey of fungi associated with three soil invertebrates in Taif, Saudi Arabia, identify these isolates and explore mycotoxins formation. Methods In total, 114 fungal isolates were collected from various soil invertebrates (millipedes, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio laevis) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, among them, 22 isolates were identified as Aspergillus spp. based on morphological and molecular characteristics followed by both Fusarium and Penicillium. Results The sequences of ITS 1 and ITS 4 were utilized. Using bootstrap analysis, phylogenetic tree was split into two distinct clusters. Five sub clusters were included inside the first major cluster, and their bootstrap value was 99%. While, there were two small clusters in the second major cluster. All the tested Aspergillus strains were able to have a single PCR fragment amplified using the primer AspTef. TEF-1 DNA sequence bootstrap analysis with 1,000 replicates revealed two distinct groups. Additionally, the Aspergillus isolates were grouped into two different clusters with about 65% genetic similarity using ISSR-PCR analysis. The standard polymerase chain reaction was used to effectively amplify the Aopks, afl-A and omt-A genes in aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains. Four Aspergillus strains used in this investigation were shown to generate aflatoxin B1. While, three Aspergillus stains showed ochratoxin genes. Conclusions In conclusion, the results indicate significant differences in the fungal community between ecoregions and soil invertebrates. Moreover, mycotoxin detection and identification among Aspergillus isolates were elucidated. This study could shed light on the risk of mycotoxin contamination along the supply chain.

GC-MS Based Characterization, Antibacterial, Antifungal and Anti-Oncogenic Activity of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Aspergillus niger Strain AK-6 Isolated from Rhizospheric Soil

“…The phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the Aspergillus niger strain AK-6 fell within the cluster of the genus Aspergillus, and formed a branch with the Aspergillus niger strain JC, as represented in Figure 7. The 18S rRNA gene sequencing was the most promising mode of molecular characterization, enacted to identify the fungal isolates by amplifying 18S rRNA, which facilitates the phylogenetic variation among the fungal isolates [53]. Similarly, Waing et al (2015) identified five fungal species, Aspergillus eucalypticola, Aspergillus fumigatus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium echinulatum, by ITS sequences and BLAST analysis [54].…”

Distribution and Triazole Susceptibility of Aspergilli from Clinical, Soils and Veterinary Samples in Ogun State, Nigeria

“…The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted December 20, 2023. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.19.572319 doi: bioRxiv preprint that of Diba et al, 2007 (25%) and that of Mwaura et al, 2013 (2.9%) [37][38][39]. Four different Aspergilli were isolated; Aspergillus niger (59%), Aspergillus terreus (2%), Aspergillus flavus (37%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (1%).…”