ABSTRACT A collection of 163 strains of black yeast-like fungi from the CBS Fungal Biodiversity Center (Utrecht, The Netherlands), has been screened for the ability to grow on hexadecane, toluene and polychlorinated biphenyl 126 (PCB126) as the sole carbon and energy source. These compounds were chosen as representatives of relevant environmental pollutants. A microtiter plate-based culture assay was set up in order to screen the fungal strains for growth on the selected xenobiotics versus glucose, as a positive control. Growth was observed in 25 strains on at least two of the tested substrates. Confirmation of substrate assimilation was performed by cultivation on closed vials and analysis of the headspace composition with regard to the added volatile substrates and the generated carbon dioxide. Exophiala mesophila (CBS 120910) and Cladophialophora immunda (CBS 110551), both of the order Chaetothyriales and isolated from a patient with chronic sinusitis and a polluted soil sample, respectively, showed the ability to grow on toluene as the sole carbon and energy source. Toluene assimilation has previously been described for C. immunda but this is the first account for E. mesophila. Also, this is the first time that the capacity to grow on alkylbenzenes has been demonstrated for a clinical isolate. Assimilation of toluene could not be demonstrated for the human opportunistic pathogen Pseudoallescheria boydii (CBS 115.59, Microascales), but the results from microtiter plate assays suggest that strains of this species are promising candidates for further studies. The outstanding abilities of black yeast-like fungi to thrive in extreme environments makes them ideal agents for the bioremediation of polluted soils, and for the treatment of contaminated gas streams in biofilters. However, interrelations between hydrocarbonoclastic and potentially pathogenic strains need to be elucidated in order to avoid the possibility of biohazards occurring.

中文翻译：

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致病但环保？用于污染物生物修复的黑色真菌候选物

摘要 来自 CBS 真菌生物多样性中心（荷兰乌得勒支）的 163 株黑色酵母样真菌已被筛选出能够在十六烷、甲苯和多氯联苯 126 (PCB126) 作为唯一的碳和能源上生长来源。这些化合物被选为相关环境污染物的代表。建立了基于微量滴定板的培养测定，以筛选真菌菌株在选定的异生素与葡萄糖上的生长，作为阳性对照。在至少两种测试底物上观察到 25 个菌株的生长。底物同化的确认通过在密闭小瓶上培养和关于添加的挥发性底物和产生的二氧化碳分析顶空组成来进行。Exophiala mesophila (CBS 120910) 和 Cladophialophora immunda (CBS 110551) 均属于毛壳虫目，分别从患有慢性鼻窦炎的患者和受污染的土壤样本中分离出来，它们显示出在甲苯作为唯一碳和能源的条件下生长的能力。甲苯同化先前已被描述为 C. immunda ，但这是 E. mesophila 的第一个帐户。此外，这是首次证明临床分离株具有在烷基苯上生长的能力。人类机会性病原体 Pseudoallescheria boydii (CBS 115.59, Microascales) 无法证明甲苯的同化作用，但微量滴定板测定的结果表明，该物种的菌株是进一步研究的有希望的候选者。黑色酵母样真菌在极端环境中茁壮成长的出色能力使它们成为污染土壤生物修复和生物过滤器中受污染气流处理的理想药剂。然而，需要阐明烃类碎屑和潜在致病菌株之间的相互关系，以避免发生生物危害的可能性。