Recent publications have argued that there are potentially serious consequences for researchers in recognising distinct genera in the terminal fusarioid clade of the family Nectriaceae . Thus, an alternate hypothesis, namely a very broad concept of the genus Fusarium was proposed. In doing so, however, a significant body of data that supports distinct genera in Nectriaceae based on morphology, biology, and phylogeny is disregarded. A DNA phylogeny based on 19 orthologous protein-coding genes was presented to support a very broad concept of Fusarium at the F1 node in Nectriaceae . Here, we demonstrate that re-analyses of this dataset show that all 19 genes support the F3 node that represents Fusarium sensu stricto as defined by F. sambucinum (sexual morph synonym Gibberella pulicaris ). The backbone of the phylogeny is resolved by the concatenated alignment, but only six of the 19 genes fully support the F1 node, representing the broad circumscription of Fusarium. Furthermore, a re-analysis of the concatenated dataset revealed alternate topologies in different phylogenetic algorithms, highlighting the deep divergence and unresolved placement of various Nectriaceae lineages proposed as members of Fusarium . Species of Fusarium s. str. are characterised by Gibberella sexual morphs, asexual morphs with thin- or thick-walled macroconidia that have variously shaped apical and basal cells, and trichothecene mycotoxin production, which separates them from other fusarioid genera. Here we show that the Wollenweber concept of Fusarium presently accounts for 20 segregate genera with clear-cut synapomorphic traits, and that fusarioid macroconidia represent a character that has been gained or lost multiple times throughout Nectriaceae . Thus, the very broad circumscription of Fusarium is blurry and without apparent synapomorphies, and does not include all genera with fusarium-like macroconidia, which are spread throughout Nectriaceae ( e.g. , Cosmosporella , Macroconia , Microcera ). In this study four new genera are introduced, along with 18 new species and 16 new combinations. These names convey information about relationships, morphology, and ecological preference that would otherwise be lost in a broader definition of Fusarium . To assist users to correctly identify fusarioid genera and species, we introduce a new online identification database, Fusarioid-ID, accessible at www.fusarium.org . The database comprises partial sequences from multiple genes commonly used to identify fusarioid taxa ( ...

Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic index and displays marked person-to-person variation in dose requirement. Functional polymorphisms at candidate genes can therefore offer utility as biomarkers to individualize warfarin treatment. The main objective of this study was to determine whether and to what extent variability in warfarin dose requirements was determined by polymorphisms in CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2 (rs2108622) and EPHX1 (rs2292566) in the Turkish population. Patients (n = 107) who had stable doses and international normalized ratio (INRs) at their last three consecutive visits were registered. Their demographic factors, concurrent medications, warfarin-related bleedings or thromboembolisms, smoking, alcohol intake and weekly green vegetable consumption were recorded. From a blood sample, DNA was isolated and genotyped by real-time PCR for polymorphisms of CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2 and EPHX1. A regression analysis was used to determine the independent effects of genetic and non-genetic factors on warfarin dose optimization. In our study, in addition to age, genetic variants of CYP2C9, VKORC1 and CYP4F2 were found to be significant predictor variables for the maintenance dose for warfarin, explaining 39.3% of dose variability. VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genotypes remain predictor variables of the warfarin dose, and we first found that CYP4F2 (rs2108622) contributes to dose variability in the Turkish population as well. These observations may be of benefit to future translation research with a view to global personalized medicine in regions hitherto understudied such as the Turkish population so as to rationalize initial warfarin dose and reduce the burden of frequent INR measurements.Warfarin is the most commonly used oral anticoagulant for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism in patients with prosthetic heart valves and myocardial infarction and for prevention of pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery or with a history of venous or arterial thromboembolism [1][2][3][4][5]. It is a racemic mixture composed of equal amounts of two enantiomorphs. The levorotatory S-warfarin is four times more potent than the dextrorotatory R-warfarin [6].S-warfarin is primarily metabolized by CYP2C9. The possession of CYP2C9*2 or CYP2C9*3 variant alleles results in decreased enzyme activity and is associated with a significant decrease in the mean warfarin dose because of impaired warfarin metabolism and a higher risk of haemorrhage [7][8][9]. Although CYP2C9 polymorphism affects the mean warfarin dose during warfarin dose adjustment, there are still marked remaining individual differences even in CYP2C9 wild-types in the required dose titration. The target molecule of warfarin, vitamin K epoxide reductase and its gene VKORC1 was sequenced in 2004 [10,11]. Rieder et al. [12] demonstrated that polymorphism in VKORC1 haplotype groups named as A and B explains approximately 25% of the variance...

Chlorine is deployed worldwide to clean waters and prevent water-originated illnesses. However, chlorine has a limited disinfection capacity against biofilms. Microorganisms form biofilms to protect themselves from biological threats such as disinfectant chemicals. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen and its biofilm form attaches to surfaces, living buried into exopolysaccharides, can be present in all watery environments including tap water and drinking water. This research aimed to study the biofilm trigger mechanism of the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa PAO1 strain, which is known to form biofilm in water supply systems and human body, under chlorine stress levels. In addition to biofilm staining, certain genes that are relevant to the stress condition were selected for gene expression analysis. The bacteria cultures were grown under chlorine stress with concentrations of 0.5, 0.7 and 1 mg/l. Six gene regions were determined related to biofilm and stress response: rpoS, bifA, migA, katB, soxR, and algC. Biofilm formation was analyzed by basic fuchsin staining, and gene expressions were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. According to the results, highest biofilm production was observed in P. aeruginosa PAO1 wild strain under no stress conditions. Higher biofilm amounts were observed for bacteria under 0.5 and 0.7 mg/l chlorine stress compared to 1 mg/l chlorine stress.

The present study explores the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effects in culture assays of two fruticose soil lichens, Cladonia rangiformis Hoffm. and Cladonia convoluta (Lamkey) Cout., to contribute to possible pharmacological uses of lichens. In vitro antimicrobial activities of methanol and chloroform extracts against two Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli), two Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus), and the yeast Candida albicans were examined using the paper disc method and through determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The data showed the presence of antibiotic substances in the chloroform and the methanol extracts of the lichen species. The chloroform extracts exhibited more significant antimicrobial activity than the methanol extracts. However, a higher antifungal activity was noted in the methanol extract of C. rangiformis. The maximum antimicrobial activity was recorded for the chloroform extract of C. convoluta against E. coli. The cytotoxic effects of the lichen extracts on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were evaluated by the trypan blue assay yielding IC50 values of ca. 173 and 167 microg/ml for the extracts from C. rangiformis and C. convoluta, respectively.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferative, apoptotic, cytotoxic, and anti-oxidant effects of extracts from the lichen Cladonia pocillumon human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and to characterize the anti-microbial features.  MCF-7 cells were treated with methanolic C. pocillum extract for 24h. The cytotoxicity of the extract was tested with MTT. Moreover, its anti-proliferative effects were examined with immunocytochemical method. Apoptosis and biochemical parameters were detected in MCF-7. The methanol and chloroform extracts of the lichen were tested for anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans using the disc diffusion method and calculation of minimal inhibitory concentrations. Although BrdU incorporation was not observed in MCF-7 cells treated with methanol extract at a concentration above 0.2 mg/mL, a significant decrease was observed int he percentage of PCNA immunoreactive cells in groups treated with 0.2, 0.4, 06, and 0.8 mg/mL methanol extracts of C.pocillum (49±6.3, 44±5.2, 23±2.5, 0, respectively) compared to that of control (85±4.5). The percentage of apoptotic cells significantly increased in groups treated with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mg/mL extracts of the C.pocillum (54±3.5, 76±2.6, 77±1.8, 82±4.2, respectively) compared with that of control group (3.9±1.5).The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of the methanol extract against MCF-7 cells was 0.802 mg/mL .Although the chloroform extract showed more effective anti-microbial activity overall, the methanol extract showed higher anti-fungal activity. Collectively, the results of our study indicate that C.pocillum extracts have strong anti-microbial and apoptotic effects. This lichen therefore shows potential for development as a natural anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and apoptotic agent.