Occurrence, Diversity and Anti-Fungal Resistance of Fungi in Sand of an Urban Beach in Slovenia—Environmental Monitoring with Possible Health Risk Implications

Abstract

Beach safety regulation is based on faecal indicators in water, leaving out sand and fungi, whose presence in both matrices has often been reported. To study the abundance, diversity and possible fluctuations of mycobiota, fungi from sand and seawater were isolated from the Portorož beach (Slovenia) during a 1-year period. Sand analyses yielded 64 species of 43 genera, whereas seawater samples yielded 29 species of 18 genera. Environmental and taxonomical data of fungal communities were analysed using machine learning approaches. Changes in the air and water temperature, sunshine hours, humidity and precipitation, air pressure and wind speed appeared to affect mycobiota. The core genera Aphanoascus, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Bisifusarium, Penicillium, Talaromyces, and Rhizopus were found to compose a stable community within sand, although their presence and abundance fluctuated along with weather changes. Aspergillus spp. were the most abundant and thus tested against nine antimycotics using Sensititre Yeast One kit. Aspergillus niger and A. welwitschiae isolates were found to be resistant to amphotericin B. Additionally, four possible human pollution indicators were isolated during the bathing season, including Meyerozyma, which can be used in beach microbial regulation. Our findings provide the foundations for additional research on sand and seawater mycobiota and show the potential effect of global warming and extreme weather events on fungi in sand and sea.

Biocontrol Potential of Sodin 5, Type 1 Ribosome-Inactivating Protein from Salsola soda L. Seeds

“…Fungal growth slowed when exposed to the maximal protein concentration, and unlike H. werneckii, this may indicate an antagonistic relationship with S. soda . Aspergillus flavus is considered a ubiquitous fungus and mainly isolated from dust, sand, soil, and plant material [ 35 , 48 , 49 ], but it was also isolated from seawater and salterns [ 50 , 51 ]. Its specialization in degrading plant material [ 52 ] likely provides the ability to sustain and even grow at low concentrations of sodin 5 (10 and 20 µg/mL).…”

“…Its specialization in degrading plant material [ 52 ] likely provides the ability to sustain and even grow at low concentrations of sodin 5 (10 and 20 µg/mL). Aureobasidium melanogenum is associated with freshwater [ 53 ], and is not commonly isolated from saline habitats [ 35 ]. However, as with H. werneckii , A. flavus and T. salinum , also A. melanogenum produce melanin, which is frequently considered an efficient barrier against the defence mechanisms of the host [ 53 , 54 ] and may explain its resistance to sodin 5.…”

“…The results of the present study thus contribute to the knowledge of the synergistic and antagonistic effects of sodin 5 on fungi co-inhabiting salty habitats with S. soda . We also tested the effect of sodin 5 on yeasts, which are often isolated from anthropogenic habitats and therefore found in seawater and shores [ 34 , 35 , 36 ]. In addition, the effect of sodin 5 on the Sf9 ( Spodoptera frugiferda ) insect cell line was tested to verify its insecticidal potential [ 17 ].…”

Effect of Different Feeds on the Fungi Microbiome of Suffolk Crossed with Tibetan Sheep

“…A lower abundance of Plectosphaerella was examined in fluoride-induced mice [41,42], Tomentella was positively related to the generation of short-chain fatty acids [43][44][45] and Filobasidium reduced ulcerative colitis [46]; the higher abundance of this genus in the EZ group revealed that concentrated feed #3 promoted sheep health by mediating fungi abundance. The genera of Aphanoascus, Gibberella, Thelonectria and Sebacina are commonly reported in the environment [47][48][49][50]. However, these genera are not pathogenic, but the abundant changes could affect the microbiota function, which eventually affect host status and weight gains.…”

The Cytotoxic Properties of Extreme Fungi’s Bioactive Components—An Updated Metabolic and Omics Overview

“…The metabolites produced by extremophiles and extremotolerant fungi are very valuable to produce drugs against cancer cells [ 64 ]. In addition, fungi produce other bioactive metabolites such as mycotoxins, antimycotics [ 65 , 66 , 67 ], immunosuppressants [ 68 ], antifungals [ 69 ], antibacterials [ 70 ], and antivirals [ 71 ]. Even though intensive research has been conducted on fungi-derived natural products and their medicinal properties for more than a century, there are still several fungal metabolites with unknown biological activities that can be considered as new sources of drugs [ 37 ].…”