Copper biosorption from an aqueous solution by the dead biomass of Penicillium ochrochloron.

The present study investigated the effect of contact time, the initial concentration of metal ions, and the biomass dose on the Cu(II) biosorption from an aqueous solution using dead biomass of filamentous fungus Penicillium ochrochloron, which was isolated at the Sossego mine, a copper-contaminated site located in Canaã dos Carajás city, Brazil. The Cu(II) biosorption started rapidly and increased gradually until the equilibrium was reached at 20 min. The Cu(II) uptake decreased as the initial Cu(II) concentration increased, reaching the saturation at 200 mg/L.

Mycoflora and fumonisin contamination in Brazilian sorghum from sowing to harvest.

Background: The aim of this study was to characterise the mycoflora and the presence of fumonisin in sorghum grains, correlating the results with the environment and abiotic factors.

Results: Fifty samples (five collections of ten samples each) of sorghum were analysed. All samples were found to be contaminated with fungi, with higher frequencies of Cladosporium spp.

Evaluation of fungal burden and aflatoxin presence in packed medicinal plants treated by gamma radiation.

This study was developed to evaluate the fungal burden, toxigenic molds, and mycotoxin contamination and to verify the effects of gamma radiation in four kinds of medicinal plants stored before and after 30 days of irradiation treatment. Eighty samples of medicinal plants (Peumus boldus, Camellia sinensis, Maytenus ilicifolia, and Cassia angustifolia) purchased from drugstores, wholesale, and open-air markets in São Paulo city, Brazil, were analyzed. The samples were treated using a (60)Co gamma ray source (Gammacell) with doses of 5 and 10 kGy.

Evaluation of sphingolipids in Wistar rats treated to prolonged and single oral doses of fumonisin b₁.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate sphingolipid levels (sphingosine-So and sphinganine-Sa) and to compare the Sa/So ratio in liver, serum and urine of Wistar rats after prolonged administration (21 days) of fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)). In parallel, the kinetics of sphingolipid elimination in urine was studied in animals receiving a single dose of FB(1). Prolonged exposure to FB(1) caused an increase in Sa levels in urine, serum and liver.

Morphogenesis and growth kinetics of Fusarium verticillioides.

The present study aimed to analyze the growth kinetics and morphogenesis of toxigenic Fusarium verticillioides strains. Growth curves based on mycelial dry weight measured after 24, 48, and 96 h and every 4 days for a period of 60 days were obtained for each strain. The morphogenesis of this fungus was studied during its developmental stages through the fluorescent method Fluorecein Diacetate-FDA and Ethidium Bromide-EB.