Mechanical strategies supporting growth and size diversity in Filamentous Fungi.

The stereotypical tip growth of filamentous fungi supports their lifestyles and functions. It relies on the polarized remodeling and expansion of a protective elastic cell wall (CW) driven by large cytoplasmic turgor pressure. Remarkably, hyphal filament diameters and cell elongation rates can vary extensively among different fungi.

Specific antibacterial activity of copper alloy touch surfaces in five long-term care facilities for older adults.

Background: Pathogens involved in healthcare-associated infections can quickly spread in the environment, particularly to frequently touched surfaces, which can be reservoirs for pathogens.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate naturally occurring bacterial contamination on touch surfaces in five French long-term care facilities and to compare bacterial populations recovered from copper and control surfaces.

Methods: More than 1300 surfaces were sampled.

Copper Alloy Touch Surfaces in Healthcare Facilities: An Effective Solution to Prevent Bacterial Spreading.

In the healthcare environment, microorganisms' cross-transmission between inanimate surfaces and patients or healthcare workers can lead to healthcare-associated infections. A recent interest has grown to create antimicrobial copper touch surfaces, in order to counteract microbial spread in the healthcare environment. For the first time, five French long-term care facilities were at 50% fitted with copper alloys door handles and handrails.

Class P dye-decolorizing peroxidase gene: Degenerated primers design and phylogenetic analysis.

Dye-decolorizing peroxidases (DyPs) were classified as a new family of heme peroxidase in 2007. Produced by various bacteria, they are the first bacterial enzymes known able to degrade lignin and dyes, for which their application in waste treatment and pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass could be envisaged. In this work, a PCR primer pair was created and tested that enabled the detection and quantification of a wide range of bacterial genes of P class DyP in complex matrices.