Filamentous fungi isolated from sand and water of "Bairro Novo" and "Casa Caiada" beaches, Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil

Fungi comprehend a heterogeneous group of heterotrophic microorganisms that act as saprobes or parasites or, less frequently, as symbionts living in association with other organisms. They are cosmopolitan and important components of ecosystems. Considering the small number of Brazilian papers on the filamentous mycota in marine environments, and the need to improve knowledge of the diversity of these microfungi in "Casa Caiada" and "Bairro Novo" beaches, Olinda, PE, the aim of this work was to isolate and identify the fungi from sand and water samples of these ecosystems. Thirty two samplings of sand (surface and 20 cm deep) and water (surface and 1 m deep) were carried out during the dry and rainy seasons, in low and high tide. From each sand sample, a suspension was made with 50 g of sand diluted in 90 mL of sterilized distilled water. From each sand suspension and water sample, 0.5 mL was spread, in triplicate, onto Petri dishes containing Sabouraud Agar added of chloramphenicol. The plates were incubated at 28 °C (±2 °C). Fifty seven species were isolated, identified, and classified in 20 genera. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most frequent genera in both sand and water, with a total of 11 and 19 species, respectively.Os fungos compreendem um grupo heterogêneo de microorganismos heterotróficos, atuando como sapróbios ou parasitas, ou menos freqüentemente como simbiontes, vivendo em associação com outros organismos. São cosmopolitas e componentes importantes dos ecossistemas. Considerando-se a escassez de trabalhos no Brasil que tratam da micota filamentosa em ambientes marinhos, e ainda a necessidade do conhecimento da diversidade desses microfungos nas praias de Casa Caiada e Bairro Novo, Olinda, PE, este trabalho teve como objetivo o isolamento e identificação de fungos, em amostras de solo e de água, desses ecossistemas. Foram realizadas 32 coletas do solo (em superfície e a 20 cm de profundidade) e da água (em superfície e a 1 m de profundidade), nos períodos de estiagem e chuvoso, na baixa-mar e preamar. De cada amostra de solo, foi feita uma suspensão de 50 g de solo em 90 mL de água destilada esterilizada, e de cada amostra de solo e água foi retirado 0,5 mL para o semeio em triplicata em placas de Petri contendo ágar Sabouraud acrescido de cloranfenicol e incubadas sob temperatura ambiente (28 ± 2 °C). Foram isoladas e identificadas 57 espécies correspondentes a 20 gêneros. Aspergillus e Penicillium dominaram tanto no solo quanto na água, com um total de 11 e 19 espécies, respectivamente

Selection of cellulolytic fungi isolated from diverse substrates

The aim of the present work was to select filamentous fungi isolated from diverse substrates to obtain the strains with potential to produce the hydrolytic enzymes. From a total of 215 strains, seven strains from the soils, six from the plants and one from sugarcane bagasse were selected and identified as belonging to the Trichoderma, Penicillium and Aspergillus genera. The best hydrolytic activities obtained by semi-solid fermentation using these strains were approximately: 35; 1; 160; 170 and 120 U/gdm (CMCase, FPase, β-glucosidase, xylanase and polygalacturonase, respectively), demonstrating their potential to synthesize the enzymes compared with the results reported in the literature

Filamentous fungi from the Atlantic marine sponge Dragmacidon reticulatum

Dragmacidon reticulatum is a marine sponge of wide occurrence in the Eastern and Western Atlantic. Little is known about D. reticulatum fungal diversity. Filamentous fungi recovered from D. reticulatum were assessed in the present study using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, including classical morphology, molecular biology and MALDI-TOF ICMS. Ninety-eight fungal strains were isolated from two D. reticulatum samples by using six different culture media, which were identified up to the genus level. Sixty-four distinct fungal ribotypes were obtained, distributed among twenty-four different genera belonging to the Ascomycota and Zygomycota. Representatives of Penicillium and Trichoderma were the most diverse and abundant fungi isolated. Amongst Penicillium spp. three isolates belonged to the same ribotype can be considered as a putative new species. Data derived from the present study highlight the importance of using a polyphasic approach to get an accurate identification in order to structure a reliable culture collection.M. Passarini was supported by Ph.D. grant from FAPESP, São Paulo, Brazil. Part of the research leading to MALDI-TOF ICMS results received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7, 2007-2013), Research Infrastructures Action, under grant agreement No. FP7-228310 (EMbaRC project). L.D. Sette and R.G.S. Berlinck thank FAPESP for financial support (BIOTA-FAPESP grant 2010/50190-2)