Study of Drug Sensitivity and Some Virulence Factors in Epicoccum nigrum and Bipolars sorokiniana Fungi Isolated from Transport Vehicles

Author(s): Saadiyah Abed Jaddoa , Majid Kadhim Abboud
Date: 08/10/2026
doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8425890

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Abstract

A total of 230 samples were collected from various modes of transportation (private and public cars and 
trains), two isolates of the fungus Epicoccum nigrum and two isolates of the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana 
were obtained. These isolates were identified based on the morphological characteristics of the fungal 
culture as well as microscopic characteristics, and their diagnosis was confirmed molecularly based on the 
18SrRNA gene using PCR technology. Some virulence factors (protease enzyme, lipase enzyme, and 
biofilm) were investigated in two isolates of the fungus Epicoccum nigrum and two isolates of the fungus 
Bipolaris sorokiniana, The results of the phenotypic detection of the protease enzyme showed that all 
isolates gave a positive result, i.e., they showed their ability to secrete this enzyme. The gene responsible 
for the secretion of this enzyme was detected molecularly, and the phenotypic detection of lipase secretion 
was positive in all isolates studied. that all these isolates contained the lipase secretion gene through 
molecular detection. The results were negative in the morphological detection of biofilm formation in all 
isolates. I conducted a sensitivity test on the Epicoccum nigrum and Bipolaris sorokiniana fungal isolates, 
both morphologically and molecularly, for a number of antifungal agents, namely fluconazole, nystatin, 
and amphotericin-B. None of the Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates showed resistance to any of these 
antifungals, while one of the Epicoccum nigrum isolates showed resistance to the antifungals Nystatin and 
Amphotericin-B, and the second isolate of this fungus showed resistance to Fluconazole. The results of 
molecular detection of the fluconazole resistance gene showed that one of my Epicoccum nigrum isolates 
contained this gene, while molecular detection confirmed that neither of my Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates 
contained the gene under investigation. 

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