Exposure and sensitivity to ubiquitous airborne fungi such as Alternaria alternata have long been implicated in the development, onset, and exacerbation of chronic allergic airway disorders. This present study is the first to investigate global changes in host gene expression during the interaction of cultured human bronchial epithelial cells and live Alternaria spores. In in vitro experiments ...

BACKGROUND Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are an important source of the type 2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 that are critical to the allergic airway phenotype. Previous studies reported that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition by trichostatin A (TSA) downregulated adaptive allergic immune responses; however, the effect of HDAC inhibition on the early innate allergic immune re...

AM-toxins are host-specific phytotoxins of the Alternaria alternata apple pathotype, which induce necrosis on apple leaves. In this study, we developed a new assay to measure the necrotic activity of AM-toxin analogs using cultured leaves from meristem cells. This method was not only more sensitive to AM-toxin I, but also more reliable than the previous one that used tree leaves due to the homo...

We report the draft genome sequence of Alternaria alternata ATCC 34957. This strain was previously reported to produce alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether on weathered grain sorghum. The genome was sequenced with PacBio technology and assembled into 27 scaffolds with a total genome size of 33.5 Mb.

Novel zinniol-related compound 3, named porritoxin sulfonic acid, with an isoindoline skeleton was isolated from the culture liquid of Alternaria porri. The structure was determined to be 2-(2"-sulfoethyl)-4-methoxy-5-methyl-6-(3'-methyl-2'-butenyloxy)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one. The phytotoxic activities of three isoindolines (1-3) were evaluated in a seedling-growth assay against stone lee...

Background: Alternaria alternata (AA) is a fungus that has wide range of plant host and can cause diseases in humans and produces a number of mycotoxins. Exposure to high numbers of AA spores can trigger severe asthma exacerbations. Resistance to antifungal drug has been shown in this species. Trachyspermum copticum (Ajowan) is an annual herbaceous essential oil )EO) bearing plant . The ripenin...

BACKGROUND Each region should know which its predominant allergens are. However, in addition to the differences that exist between different geographical areas, variations within the same area should be determined. OBJECTIVES To review the predominant allergens in the paediatric population suffering from asthma or rhinitis in our region and analyse the internal variations and associated facto...

BACKGROUND Current practice guidelines state that protease-rich fungal and insect extracts can be combined when preparing immunotherapy vaccines, but data supporting the stability of allergens in these mixtures have not been reported. OBJECTIVE To determine the stabilities and compatibilities of Alternaria alternata and German cockroach allergens in mixtures with other high-protease fungal an...

Two sesame cultivars (Sesamum indicum L.) were evaluated using various 3 different sowing dates (20 th June, 10 th and 30 th July) and four nitrogen levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha -1 ) at the New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2012. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement using f...

Since 1999, a disease of apple caused by an Alternaria sp. has been affecting orchards in northern Italy resulting in necrotic spots on leaves and on fruit. Forty-four single-spored isolates were obtained from diseased plant materials to investigate the diversity of this fungus in Italy and to compare these isolates to isolates of Alternaria associated with apple disease in previous studies, in...