Beta glucan (β-glucan) has promising bioactive properties. Consequently, the use of β-glucan as a food additive is favored with the dual-purpose potential of increasing the fiber content of food products and enhancing their health properties. Our aim was to evaluate the biological activity of β-glucan (antimicrobial, antitoxic, immunostimulatory, and anticancer) extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified acid-base extraction method. The results demonstrated that a modified acid-base extraction method gives a higher biological efficacy of β-glucan than in the water extraction method. Using 0.5 mg dry weight of acid-base extracted β-glucan (AB extracted) not only succeeded in removing 100% of aflatoxins, but also had a promising antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, fungi, and yeast, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.39 and 0.19 mg/mL in the case of resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, AB extract exhibited a positive immunomodulatory effect, mediated through the high induction of TNFα, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-2. Moreover, AB extract showed a greater anticancer effect against A549, MDA-MB-232, and HepG-2 cells compared to WI-38 cells, at high concentrations. By studying the cell death mechanism using flow-cytometry, AB extract was shown to induce apoptotic cell death at higher concentrations, as in the case of MDA-MB-231 and HePG-2 cells. In conclusion, the use of a modified AB for β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae exerted a promising antimicrobial, immunomodulatory efficacy, and anti-cancer potential. Future research should focus on evaluating β-glucan in various biological systems and elucidating the underlying mechanism of action.

Total of 110 isolates belonging to 8 fungal species collected from intensive care units (ICUs) and operation rooms (ORs) at Assiut University hospitals were examined for their ability to produce some extracellular enzymes and mycotoxins which are considered as important factors involved in for fungal pathogenicity. The results revealed that 73, 92 and 78 out of the 110 tested isolates produced protease, lipase and urease respectively; meanwhile, 77 of the tested isolates exhibited some hemolytic activities. Chromatographic analysis (TLC) of the crude extract of the fungal isolates tested revealed that 79 isolates of them had the ability to produce at least one of these mycotoxic compounds (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, gliotoxin, fumigillin, T-2, zearalenone, roridin A & E, verrucarin A & J, trichoveroids, satratoxin H & E). These results demonstrate that the opportunistic fungal species isolated from (ICUs) and (ORs) and tested exhibited some enzymatic and mycotoxic ability which are the most effective virulence factors contributing to fungal pathogenicity indicating that the management of infection control unit at Assiut University hospitals must be aware of not only bacterial but also fungal contamination.

Background: Talaromyces C. R. Benj., is a large and taxonomically important genus within Ascomycota, established to accommodate the teleomorphs of certain Penicillium Link, species and is now recognized as a monophyletic lineage distinct from Penicillium . Multigene phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that species formerly placed in Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium belong within Talaromyces , leading to their reclassification under the single-name nomenclature system. Currently, the genus comprises 237 species arranged into nine sections supported by multi-locus phylogeny. Species of Talaromyces are cosmopolitan, occurring in diverse habitats and substrates. It is notable for their medical, industrial, and ecological significance. In Egypt, several species of Talaromyces have been reported from a variety of substrates, highlighting the regional diversity and ecological relevance of the genus. Through the ongoing work a new Talaromyces species was isolated and identified. Methodology: Morphological characterization combined with multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS (internal transcribed spacers of rDNA), LSU (nuclear large subunit rDNA), BenA (β-tubulin), and RPB2 (RNA polymerase II second largest subunit) loci were employed to accurately determine the systematic placement of the new species. In addition, the enzymatic potential of the proposed new taxon was evaluated using standard screening assays. Results: A new marine taxon, Talaromyces marinus is reported from decaying woody samples of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh., collected from Wadi El-Jimal area, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. Multi-locus analyses of the combined ITS, LSU, BenA , and RPB2 sequences dataset placed the new species within Talaromyces section Trachyspermi series Diversi but distinct from previously described species. The new taxon is characterized by restricted growth on different media, long stipes, biverticillate penicilli, the shortest acerose phialides in series Diversi , globose to subglobose or ellipsoidal, smooth-walled conidia, acid production, and soluble pigments. Conclusion: Talaromyces marinus sp. nov. is described, illustrated, phylogenetically analyzed, and its enzymatic potential is evaluated, it also compared with other species in the section Trachyspermi series Diversi .

Background: Otomycosis affects one or sometimes both ears. Immunocompetent people can have superficial infections such as fungal otitis externa. Aspergillus and Candida isolates in individuals with fungal otitis externa have been documented. Local debridement, systemic and local antifungal medications, and stopping topical antibiotics have all been suggested as treatments. Methods: Seventy suspected patients who visited the otolaryngology department at Assiut University Hospitals were screened for otomycosis. The results of the culture and the sensitivity test for both clotrimazole and 4% boric acid indicated that the treatment was administered locally for a minimum of two weeks. After the first week, second week, and month, all of the patients were checked on. The two antifungal reagents were tested for efficacy and side effects. Results: The mean age of the studied cases was 33.85 ± 15.1 years old. Males represented 55% of cases. The majority of patients aged between 19-30 years old representing 36.6%. The present study revealed that most cases have an infection in the left ear (54.8%). The duration of infection was 13.73 days. The study also, revealed that most cases have no comorbidities, 11.7% have diabetes mellitus (DM) and only 1.7% has both DM and hypertension (HTN). Filamentous organisms’ infection compared to the candida spp. was (70% vs. 30%, respectively). Sensitive to Clotrimazole was (65%) followed by boric acid 4% (21.7%) while (10%) were sensitive to both and (3.3%) were resistant to both. Conclusion: So, we can conclude that, fungal cultures for patients with otomycosis are a must.