The in vitro activity of thimerosal versus those of amphotericin B and natamycin was assessed against 244 ocular fungal isolates. The activity of thimerosal against Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp., and Alternaria alternata was 256 times, 512 times, and 128 times, respectively, greater than that of natamycin and 64 times, 32 times, and 32 times, respectively, greater than that of amphotericin B....

Aeroallergens produced by Alternaria alternata can elicit life-threatening exacerbations of asthma in patients sensitized to this fungus. In this study, the effect of Alternaria on ion transport mechanisms underlying mucociliary clearance and airway epithelial barrier function was investigated in human airway epithelial cells. Apical exposure to Alternaria induced an increase in anion secretion...

There are two postulated causes for the observed periodic fluctuations (cycles) in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus). The first involves interaction with the parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis. The second invokes delayed regulation through the effect of male aggressiveness on territoriality. Empirical evidence exists to support both hypotheses, and each hypothesis has been modeled d...

AIMS To study the effects of water activity (aW ; 0·99, 0·98, 0·97, 0·96 and 0·95), temperature (15, 25 and 30°C), incubation time (7-28 days), and their interactions on mycelial growth and alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) mycotoxin production on a synthetic nutrient (SN) media similar to grape composition by three strains of Alternaria alternata is...

The molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation of innate and adaptive proallergic Th2-type responses in the airways are not well understood. IL-33 is a new member of the IL-1 family of molecules that is implicated in Th2-type responses. Airway exposure of naive mice to a common environmental aeroallergen, the fungus Alternaria alternata, induces rapid release of IL-33 into the airway lumen,...

The tangerine pathotype of Alternaria alternata produces the A. citri toxin (ACT) and is the causal agent of citrus brown spot that results in significant yield losses worldwide. Both the production of ACT and the ability to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS) are required for A. alternata pathogenicity in citrus. In this study, we report the 34.41 Mb genome sequence of strain Z7 of the tang...

The obligate bitrophic fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) causes stripe (yellow) rust on wheat worldwide. Here, we report a novel fungal strain able to hyperparasitize Pst. The strain was isolated from gray-colored rust pustules, and was identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr.: Fr.) keissler based on a combination of morphological characteristics and multi-locus (ITS, GAPDH, and R...

Alternaria alternata (AA) is an important mould in respiratory allergic diseases. The objective is to determine the prevalence of AA sensitization in respiratory allergic patients and to examine the annual variation of Alternaria spores. 824 patients between 5 and 65 years old with allergic rhinitis and /or asthma were enrolled. Prick tests were performed with two different standardized AA extr...