Orngu Africa and Ifeoma Elizabeth Mbaeyi-Nwaoha Composite flours were processed from blends of yellow maize (Zea mays), sesame seed (Sesamum indicum) oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) powder in the ratio 80:20:0; 75:20:5; 70:20:10; 65:20:15 60:20:20, respectively to produce breakfast cereal

BACKGROUND This study presents a case report of a woman running a fruit and vegetables market stall, occupationally exposed to mushroom spores, who developed asthmatic symptoms. Basidiospores are allergens that can give rise to sensitization and subsequently trigger an allergic reaction, such as contact dermatitis, rhino-conjunctivitis, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. METHODS A 40-ye...

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the most common form of infections in every age category. Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs), a specific form of RTIs, represent a typical and common problem associated with early childhood, causing high indirect and direct costs on the healthcare system. They are usually the consequence of immature immunity in children and high exposure to va...

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a ubiquitous environmentally significant compound which due to its recalcitrant nature is often referred as persistent bioaccumulative toxin. The present study was carried on to determine the degradation potentials of three natural isolates of the white rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus towards BaP, of which isolate PO-3 showed promising results. The factors affecting biodeg...

The objective of this research was to evaluate the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus- (Jacq.: Fr.) Kumm. cultivation in substrates based on different combinations of wastes (leaf, pseudo-stem and pseudo-stem + leaf) and banana cultivars - Musa spp. (Thap Maeo, Prata AnãPelipita and Caipira) during 49 days. Organic matter loss in the substrate by action of the fungus was also evaluated during ...

Different conditions of culture medium, incubation time, concentration and surfactant were tested to determine xyloglucanase activity. Trichoderma viride, Paecilomyces farinosus, Wardomyces inflatus and Pleurotus ostreatus showed increased xyloglucanase activities when the fungi grown on microcrystalline cellulose as the sole carbon source. Endoxyloglucanase activity increased with the growth o...

Mushroom β-glucans are potent immunological stimulators in medicine, but their productivities are very low. In this study, we successfully improved its production by promoter engineering in Pleurotus ostreatus. The promoter for β-1,3-glucan synthase gene (GLS) was replaced by the promoter of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene of Aspergillus nidulans. The homologous recombination frag...

Comparative effects of oyster mushrooms on plasma and fecal lipid profiles and on liver and kidney function were evaluated in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. Feeding of hypercholesterolemic rats a 5% powder of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus, P. sajor-caju and P. florida) reduced the plasma total cholesterol level by 37%, 21% and 16%, respectively and reduced the triglyceride level b...

The use of wooden crates for composting a mixture of 70% grass, (Digitaria decumbens), and 30% coffee pulp, combined with 2% Ca(OH)(2), was studied as a method for preparing substrate for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus. Crate composting considerably modified the temperature pattern of the substrate in process, as compared to pile composting, where lower temperatures and less homogeneous...