Showing papers on "Termitomyces clypeatus published in 2012"

An ethnomycological survey of macrofungi utilized by Aeta communities in Central Luzon, Philippines

Abstract: Questionnaires and formatted interviews were used to determine mushrooms used as food and as materials for societal rituals and beliefs among six Aeta communities in three provinces of Central Luzon, Northern Philippines. Thirty-eight different fungi were utilized by the Aeta communities: 21 in Pampanga, 10 in Tarlac, and 19 in Zambales. Fourteen fungal species were collected and identified based on their morphological characters: Auricularia auricula, A. polytricha, Calvatia sp., Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinus tigrinus, L. sajor-caju, Mycena sp., Pleurotus sp., Schizophyllum commune, Termitomyces clypeatus, T. robustus, Termitomyces sp. 1, Termitomyces sp. 2, and Volvariella volvacea. Twelve of the identified macrofungi were consumed as food while Ganoderma lucidum and Mycena sp. were used as house decoration and medicine, respectively. The Aeta communities also performed rituals prior to the collection of these mushrooms, including tribal dancing, praying and kissing the ground. Their indigenous beliefs regarding mushrooms are also documented. This is the most extensive enthnomycological study on the Aeta communities in the Philippines.

Effect of pretreatment on hexavalent chromium biosorption and multimetal biosorption efficiency of termitomyces clypeatus biomass

Abstract: Chemical pretreatment of Termitomyces clypeatus biomass with acids (HCl, acetic, phosphoric and oxalic), calcium chloride, formaldehyde and ammonium persulfate enhanced the Cr(VI) biosorption efficiency to 100% (at pH 5.0-7.0). Removal efficiency of other metals (Cr, Ni, Fe, As, Cu, Zn, Co and Pb) ranged from 40-100%. The pretreated biomass removed Cr and other metals from the tannery effluent to the permissible limit without adjusting the pH. FTIR study showed involvement of functional groups (amides, carboxyl and phosphate) of the biomass in biosorption process. Novelty of the pretreatment was removal of chromium at pH 5 to pH 7, whereas known biosorbents are known to adsorb Cr(VI) only under strong acidic condition (pH 2-4).

Fungal partnerships stimulate growth of Termitomyces clypeatus stalk mycelium in vitro.

Abstract: The symbiotic relationship between termites and Termitomyces fungi, which allows the termite to digest cellulose-rich food sources, is poorly understood. In this study, in vitro mixed symbiotic relationships between Termitomyces clypeatus and fungi isolated from individual fungus-comb communities using a culture-dependent method were analyzed. Twenty-day-old stalk cultures of three T. clypeatus isolates were co-cultured with cellulase-producing fungi on potato dextrose agar. The high cellulase-producing fungal isolate no. 18, which showed 99 % ITS sequence identity to Sordariomycetes endophyte isolate 2171 (EU687039), increased growth of T. clypeatus 18/50 by 85.7 %. The high xylanase-producing isolate no. 13, which showed 88 % ITS sequence identity to Arthrinium sacchari isolate L06 (HQ115662), stimulated T. clypeatus 18/50 growth by 58.6 %. The high cellulase- and xylanase-producing isolate no. 50, which showed 90 % ITS sequence identity to the fungal endophyte isolate 2196 (EU687056), improved T. clypeatus 18/50 growth by 45.7 %. A Gigantropanus sp. promoted the growth of T. clypeatus 18/50 and 20/50 by 45.7 and 44.1 %, respectively, and that of T. clypeatus 19/50 by 10.6 %. These results indicated the most beneficial potential partnership of T. clypeatus might involve cellulase-producing fungi isolated from the same ecological niche. The Gigantropanus sp. is a potential partner of T. clypeatus but is likely to be less common than cellulase-producing fungi isolated from fungus combs owing to the lower host specificity of the Gigantropanus sp. This study provides an interesting method to culture Termitomyces using an in vitro mixed culture method for production of Termitomyces fruiting bodies in the future.

In situ reversible aggregation of extracellular cellobiase in the filamentous fungus Termitomyces clypeatus

Abstract: Cellobiase (EC 32121), is a widely exploited industrial glycosidase with a major role in biofuel industry Its stability and shelf life are major bottlenecks in achieving a superior formulation for industry In the filamentous fungus Termitomyces clypeatus, the enzyme is secreted in a co-aggregated form with sucrase; the separation of this co-aggregation results in substantial loss of the enzyme’s activity The aim of the present study was to examine the mode of aggregation of the secreted cellobiase-sucrase coaggregate and its role in the stabilization of cellobiase Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering of purified co-aggregates revealed reversible, concentration driven self-aggregation of the extracellular enzymes to form larger entities However, the intracellular enzyme aggregates were rigid, non-interacting, and possessed a higher percentage of disulphide bonds Circular dichroic spectra of the two coaggregates indicated no significant difference in secondary structures Self-association increased the stability of extracellular aggregates towards heat by 15 fold, SDS by 4 ∼ 7 fold, and chaotropic agents, by 15 ∼ 2 fold, than the intracellular counterpart The Km of extracellular aggregate varied between 029 and 045 mM as a result of spontaneous aggregation and disaggregation, whereas that of intracellular aggregate was 022 mM irrespective of its concentration status In situ detection of cellobiase in native PAGE revealed two activity bands of the extracellular enzyme, which indicated a minimum of two active dissociated aggregate species, as compared to a single band for the intracellular enzyme These studies are believed to improve the understanding of aggregation of the fungal glycosidases, which remains to be a blackbox, to increase the efficacy of these enzymes