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Introduction: Fungus-derived secondary metabolites are fascinating with biomedical potential and chemical diversity. Mining endophytic fungi for drug candidates is an ongoing process in the field of drug discovery and medicinal chemistry. Endophytic fungal symbionts from terrestrial plants, marine flora, and fauna tend to produce interesting types of secondary metabolites with biomedical importance of anticancer, antiviral, and anti-tuberculosis properties. Methods: An organic ethyl acetate extract of Penicillium verruculosum sponge-derived endophytic fungi from Spongia officinalis yielded seven different secondary metabolites which are purified through HPLC. The isolated compounds are of averufin (1), aspergilol-A (2), sulochrin (3), monomethyl sulochrin (4), methyl emodin (5), citreorosein (6), and diorcinol (7). All the seven isolated compounds were characterized by high-resolution NMR spectral studies. All isolated compounds', such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-tuberculosis, and antiviral, were subjected to bioactivity screening. Results: Out of seven tested compounds, compound (1) exhibits strong anticancer activity toward myeloid leukemia. HL60 cell lines have an IC50 concentration of 1.00μm, which is nearly significant to that of the standard anticancer drug taxol. A virtual computational molecular docking approach of averufin with HL60 antigens revealed that averufin binds strongly with the protein target alpha, beta-tubulin (1JFF), with a −10.98 binding score. Consecutive OSIRIS and Lipinski ADME pharmacokinetic validation of averufin with HL60 antigens revealed that averufin has good pharmacokinetic properties such as drug score, solubility, and mutagenic nature. Furthermore, aspergilol-A (2) is the first report on the Penicillium verruculosum fungal strain. Discussion: We concluded that averufin (1) isolated from Penicillium verruculosum can be taken for further preliminary clinical trials like animal model in-vivo studies and pharmacodynamic studies. A future prospect of in-vivo anticancer screening of averufin can be validated through the present experimental findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi can colonize organic matter present in subterranean sites and have a significant role as dwellers in different microniches of cave habitats. In order to analyze the content of airborne fungal propagules in different parts of "Stopića Cave," a touristic site in Serbia, air sampling was carried out in three seasons during 2020, prior to and during the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. Culturable mycobiota was identified using both microscopic techniques and ITS region/BenA gene barcoding, while multivariate analyses were employed to establish the link between fungal taxa and different environmental factors. The maximal measured fungal propagule concentrations were recorded during spring sampling which were based on fungal propagule concentration categories; the cave environment matches the category V. A total of 29 fungal isolates were identified, while Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Lecanicillium, Mucor, and Penicillium were the most diverse genera. According to the trophic mode, most of the isolated fungal species were pathotrophs (75.86%), but when regarding ecological guilds, the most dominant were undefined saprobes and animal pathogens (41.38% for each). Show caves are especially vulnerable to human impacts, and the fungal propagules' concentration within the caves could be good indices for the level of ecological disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic residues, such as cocoa bean shell (FI), are generated in large quantities during agro-industrial activities. Proper management of residual biomass through solid state fermentation (SSF) can be effective in obtaining value-added products. The hypothesis of the present work is that the bioprocess promoted by P. roqueforti can lead to structural changes in the fibers of the fermented cocoa bean shell (FF) that confer characteristics of industrial interest. To unveil such changes, the techniques of FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA/TG were used. After SSF, an increase of 36.6% in the crystallinity index was observed, reflecting the reduction of amorphous components such as lignin in the FI residue. Furthermore, an increase in porosity was observed through the reduction of the 2θ angle, which gives the FF a potential candidate for applications of porous products. The FTIR results confirm the reduction in hemicellulose content after SSF. The thermal and thermogravimetric tests showed an increase in the hydrophilicity and thermal stability of FF (15% decomposition) in relation to the by-product FI (40% decomposition). These data provided important information regarding changes in the crystallinity of the residue, existing functional groups and changes in degradation temperatures. This work presents a new approach for solid state fermentation based on the study of structural changes caused by Penicillium roquefort, which is important to understand the changes in the lignocellulosic matrix after the fungus growth. The results provided important information regarding changes in the crystallinity of the residue, existing functional groups and changes in degradation temperatures. Consequently, they can help in proposals for the total use of the residual solid after fermentation, as well as contribute to reducing the lack of this information in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Fifteen new meroterpenoids, littoreanoids A—O (1—15), including three rearranged skeleton meroterpenoids (1—3), were isolated from the mangrove‐derived fungus Penicillium sp. HLLG‐122. Compound 1 was a novel berkeleyacetal‐derived meroterpenoid featuring an unusual spirocyclic 2‐oxaspiro[5.5]undeca‐4,7‐dien‐3‐one moiety. Compound 2 possessed an unusual 6/6/6/6/6 pentacyclic system with a novel 1‐hydroxy‐7,7‐dimethyl‐2‐oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐5‐yl acetate moiety. Compound 3 was an unusual 6/7/6/5/6/5/4 polycyclic systems containing a β‐lactone ring. The structures and absolute configurations of new compounds were elucidated by HRESIMS, NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. The plausible biosynthetic pathways of 1—3 were also proposed. Compounds 6 and 11 exhibited anti‐inflammatory effects with IC50 values of 30.41 and 19.02 μmol/L, respectively. The bioactive compound 11 was selected for the investigation of preliminary mechanism using molecular docking and Western blotting experiments. Compound 11 could suppress the levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6, and down‐regulate the protein expression of iNOS and COX‐2 in RAW 264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truffles in the genus Tuber host and feed a wide community of organisms including insects, bacteria, and fungi. Among microorganisms, truffle-inhabiting fungi (TIF) have been poorly investigated and only a limited number of yeast and filamentous species have been identified. In this work we isolated and barcoded culturable TIF from 16 ascomata of T. melanosporum, T. aestivum and T. borchii of different provenances. Eighteen strains were identified a species level, four at genus level and one at order level. Penicillium was the most represented genus with five species and the only TIF genus isolated from T. melanosporum ascomata. Six TIF had colonies with a yeast morphology, including two species of Candida. Five species (Leohumicola sp., Knufia tsunedae, Hypocreales sp., Sagenomella cf. verticillata, Kondoa sp.) had rare ITS sequences compared to those deposited in GenBank. Except Peniophora cinerea, all TIF identified in this work have never been reported in Tuber ascomata until now. In-depth investigations on TIF and their host specificity are needed to evaluate the effects of these fungi on the truffle life cycle and the quality of ascomata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate antifungal activity of hemolymph of American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) against three human invasive fungal species, including Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Penicillium oxalicum. To stimulate the immunity of cockroaches, the strains of fungal species were injected into the coelom of cockroaches. The amphotericin B, non-induced and induced hemolymphs of cockroaches, and phosphate buffer were added to the cultured plates of fungal species strains. Phosphate buffer was used as negative control. Formation of the inhibitory zone represents the antifungal activity of hemolymph of P. americana cockroaches in the cultured plates of fungal species. Diameter of inhibitory zone of the growth of each fungal strain was measured by a calliper. Phosphate buffer does not have to inhibit the ability of growth of fungal species. The non-induced hemolymph of cockroaches exhibits a very low antifungal activity against the growth of fungal species. The induced hemolymph of cockroaches inhibits the growth of fungal species approximately as strong as amphotericin B. The impact of the induced hemolymph of cockroaches as inhibition of the growth of fungal species were: Penicillium oxalicum > Candida albicans > Aspergillus niger. This study indicates that with stimulation of the immunity of P. americana cockroaches using the strains of A. niger, C. albicans, and P. oxalicum, it is possible to acquire the antifungal activity by induced hemolymph of cockroaches approximately as the strong of amphotericin B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium spp. are the most common spoilage fungi in the ready‐to‐eat, intermediate‐moisture Thai curry of Kaeng‐Tai‐Pla‐Haeng, which causes serious economic loss and public health concerns. The use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with antifungal activity has been a growing interest in food bio‐preservation. In this study, the antifungal efficacy of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 124 (L. plantarum 124) against the spoilage fungi Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium sp. was evaluated. The cell‐free supernatants (CFSs) of L. plantarum 124 showed strong inhibition against A. flavus and Penicillium sp., with MIC ranging from 11.25 to 22.5 mg mL−1. The significant loss of antifungal activity was observed by pH neutralisation, whereas either heat or proteinase K treatment showed no influence. The major compounds present in CFSs were lactic acid (49.57%) and acetic acid (25.85%). Others, such as 2,3‐dimethyl‐5‐ethylpyrazine (6.07%), 2,5‐dimethyl‐3‐propylpyrazine (2.10%), Cyclo(D‐Leu‐L‐Pro) (2.30%), Ethyl 5‐oxopyrrolidine‐3‐carboxylate (1.84%), and palmitic acid (1.80%), were detected in low relative amounts. As observed by electron microscopy, the CFSs secreted by L. plantarum 124 caused severe damage to cell membranes and organelles of A. flavus and Penicillium sp. In addition, L. plantarum 124 supernatant demonstrated no cytotoxicity on Vero cells, and it could extend the food product's shelf life from 7 days to 21 days without any commercial preservatives. These results demonstrate that antifungal metabolites secreted by L. plantarum 124 are candidates for the development of bio‐preservative agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium rubens is a filamentous fungus of great biotechnological importance due to its role as an industrial producer of the antibiotic penicillin. However, despite its significance, our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing biological processes in this fungus is still limited. In fungi, zinc finger proteins containing a Zn(II)2Cys6 domain are particularly interesting regulators. Although the P. rubens genome harbors many genes encoding proteins with this domain, only two of them have been investigated thus far. In this study, we employed CRISPR-Cas9 technology to disrupt the pcz1 gene, which encodes a Zn(II)2Cys6 protein in P. rubens. The disruption of pcz1 resulted in a decrease in the production of penicillin in P. rubens. This decrease in penicillin production was accompanied by the downregulation of the expression of pcbAB, pcbC and penDE genes, which form the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for penicillin production. Moreover, the disruption of pcz1 also impacts on asexual development, leading to decreased growth and conidiation, as well as enhanced conidial germination. Collectively, our results indicate that pcz1 acts as a positive regulator of penicillin production, growth, and conidiation, while functioning as a negative regulator of conidial germination in P. rubens. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report involving a gene encoding a Zn(II)2Cys6 protein in the regulation of penicillin biosynthesis in P. rubens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium expansum is the most popular post-harvest pathogen and causes blue mold disease in pome fruit and leads to significant economic losses worldwide every year. However, the fundamental regulation mechanisms of growth in P. expansum are unclear. Recently, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have attracted more attention due to critical roles in normalizing gene expression and maintaining cellular genotypes in organisms. However, the research related to ncRNAs in P. expansum have not been reported. Therefore, to provide an overview of ncRNAs on composition, distribution, expression changes, and potential targets in the growth process, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed on spores and mycelia of P. expansum in the present study. A total of 2595 novel mRNAs, 3362 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), 10 novel microRNAs (miRNAs), 86 novel small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and 11,238 circular RNAs (circRNAs) were predicted and quantified. Of these, 1482 novel mRNAs, 5987 known mRNAs, 2047 lncRNAs, 40 miRNAs, 38 novel siRNAs, and 9235 circRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in response to the different development stages. Afterward, the involved functions and pathways of DE RNAs were revealed via Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database enrichment analysis. The interaction networks between mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs were also predicted based on their correlation coefficient of expression profiles. Among them, it was found that miR168 family members may play important roles in fungal growth due to their central location in the network. These findings will contribute to a better understanding on regulation machinery at the RNA level on fungal growth and provide a theoretical basis to develop novel control strategies against P. expansum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal flats have been reported to contain many microorganisms and play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity. In surveys of filamentous fungi from tidal flat sediments in China, seven new species of Eurotiales were discovered and described. Morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analyses of combined datasets of the BenA, CaM, and RPB2 regions support their placements and recognition as new species. Aspergillus liaoningensis sp. nov. and A. plumeriae sp. nov. belong to sections Candidi and Flavipedes of subgenus Circumdati, and A. subinflatus sp. nov. is a member of section Cremei of subgenus Cremei. Penicillium danzhouense sp. nov., P. tenue sp. nov., and P. zhanjiangense sp. nov. are attributed to sections Exilicaulis and Lanata-Divaricata of subgenus Aspergilloides. Talaromyces virens sp. nov. is in section Talaromyces. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these novel taxa are provided. Their differences from close relatives were compared and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of fungal specialized metabolism is a complex process involving various regulators. Among these regulators, LaeA, a methyltransferase protein originally discovered in Aspergillus spp., plays a crucial role. Although the role of LaeA in specialized metabolism has been studied in different fungi, its function in Penicillium roqueforti remains unknown. In this study, we employed CRISPR-Cas9 technology to disrupt the laeA gene in P. roqueforti (PrlaeA) aiming to investigate its impact on the production of the specialized metabolites roquefortine C, mycophenolic acid, and andrastin A, as well as on asexual development, because they are processes that occur in the same temporal stages within the physiology of the fungus. Our results demonstrate a substantial reduction in the production of the three metabolites upon disruption of PrlaeA, suggesting a positive regulatory role of LaeA in their biosynthesis. These findings were further supported by qRT-PCR analysis, which revealed significant downregulation in the expression of genes associated with the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for producing roquefortine C, mycophenolic acid, and andrastin A in the ΔPrlaeA strains compared with the wild-type P. roqueforti. Regarding asexual development, the disruption of PrlaeA led to a slight decrease in colony growth rate, while conidiation and conidial germination remained unaffected. Taken together, our results suggest that LaeA positively regulates the expression of the analyzed BGCs and the production of their corresponding metabolites in P. roqueforti, but it has little impact on asexual development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article focuses on a strain of ascomycete GF3 isolated from a water sample taken in the Gulf of Finland. Based on phylogenetic analysis data, the isolate was identified as Penicillium sp. GF3. The fungus GF3 demonstrates algicidal activity towards cyanobacteria (98–100%). The algicidal effect on green algae did not exceed 50%. The isolate GF3 exhibits an indirect attack mode by releasing metabolites with algicidal and/or lytic activity into the environment. Moreover, the strain Penicillium sp. GF3 is able to degrade MC-LR. After 72 h of GF3 cultivation, the MC-LR content was reduced by 34.1% and 26.7% at initial 0.1 μg/mL and 0.45 μg/mL concentrations, respectively. The high stress resistance of the GF3 to toxic MC-LR is provided by a 1.5-fold activation of catalase activity and a change in the reduced glutathione content. Additionally, during the MC-LR biotransformation, a MC-LR-GSH conjugate and linearized MC-LR were identified. The linearized MC-LR in the presence of fungi capable of degrading MCs was revealed for the first time. Using Daphnia magna as a bioindicator, it was shown that the MC-LR biotransformation led to the formation of less toxic intermediates. The toxicity of the fungal filtrate is reduced by five times compared to the abiotic control. Our findings enhance the understanding of the role that ascomycete fungi have as potential bioagents for cyanoHABs to control and detoxify water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goals of this study were to explore and identify entomopathogenic fungi, as well as determine the most effective application techniques to control S. frugiperda from exploration of infected Spodoptera frugiperda larvae in Purbalingga Regency. The research was carried out at the Plant Protection Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Soedirman University, from January to May 2022. Samples were collected by purposive random method. The study used a Complete Randomized Design, consisting of two factors, namely the type of entomopathogenic fungus and the application technique, with 9 combinations and 3 replications. Observed variables include mortality, feeding activity, growth, and reproduction of larvae. The results showed that (1) the results of exploration of entomopathogenic fungi were from the genus Metarhizium sp. and Penicillium sp. (2) single treatment of Metarhizium sp. is more effective than Penicillium sp. in killing S. frugiperda larvae. Fungi Metarhizium sp. and Penicillium sp. decreased feeding activity, length of three-instar larval period, and number of eggs, respectively 24.99 and 15.99%, 4.71 and 2.46%, 9.18 and 8.04% against controls. (3) single treatment of feed soaking method decreased mortality by 55.18% than other methods. Spraying the larval body decreased mortality by 44.84% compared to other methods. The method of application did not affect the feeding, growth and fecundity activity of larvae. (4) The combined treatment of Metarhizium sp., spraying the larval body, and soaking feed had a mortality percentage of 60%. Interaction treatment of the fungus Metarhizium sp. and the method of application lowered the feed power by 16%. The decrease in the period of three instar larvae to pupae and the largest number of eggs in the combination treatment of Metarhizium sp. and spraying of larval bodies was 6.34% and 11.20% respectively compared to controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two fungal species were isolated from the studied rock samples and identified morphologically as Aspergillus hollandicus and Penicillium citrinum. Bioleaching process was applied to W1, W2 and W3. The average concentration activity of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K are 5134.03, 5708.64, 189.51, and 1456.8 BqKg−1, respectively. Radionuclide's distribution in leach liquor, residual, and fungal adsorption were followed and environmental hazard indices (Raeq, Iγ, Hex, Hin, and ECLR) were calculated. From the observed outcomes, the isolated fungal strains have the potential to reduce the harmful effect up to 50% compared to the original. As a result, application of these fungal strains offers a potential strategy for environmental remediation of radionuclides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal effects of Zataria multiflora (ZEO) and Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CEO) essential oils in the vapor phase against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum in vitro and cheese. The antifungal activities of the vapors of ZEO and CEO were assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index, and inhibition zone diameters. Thymol (51.10%) and cinnamaldehyde (77.82%) were the main constituents of ZEO and CEO, respectively. The MIC values of the vapors of ZEO and CEO against A. flavus were 25 and 12.5 μL/L and against P. citrinum were 800 and 400 μL/L, respectively. The in vitro results showed that the combination of the vapor phases of ZEO and CEO could synergistically inhibit the growth of A. flavus (FIC index = 0.75). In the cheese, the growth of P. citrinum was entirely inhibited by the combination of ZEO and CEO vapors, even at very low concentrations (1/16 MIC). In conclusion, the vapor phases of ZEO and CEO showed the potential to be applied as effective natural antifungals and alternatives to synthetic preservatives in cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To optimize the solid-state fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus by Pénicillium with Sophora japonica cv. jinhuai as raw material. [Methods] The fermentation conditions were optimized by single factor experiment and response surface methodology with quercetin content as the dependent variable. [Results] According to the established model, the optimal fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus was obtained as follows; temperature 29.97 T3, time 6. 88 d, rotation speed 180.86 rpm, inoculation amount 3.93 mL, and the expected content of quercetin was 34. 805 3 mg/g. Based on this, the fermentation parameters were adjusted, and the actual content was 33.67 mg/g, which was close to the predicted value. [Conclusions] The optimization of fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus by response surface methodology provides a reference for the development and utilization of this medicinal material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Mexican lime is an economic tree species, its fruits are prone to postharvest diseases caused by fungal species of the genus Penicillium, which can inflict severe economic loss. To alleviate these adverse effects, there has been a rise in interest for environmentally-friendly treatments in the fruit industry due to consumers' concern for food safety. Here, thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oil (TEO) (0.2%) and carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) coating (1.5%) were evaluated for in vitro and in vivo activities against green and blue molds on Mexican lime. Using a combination of TEO and CMC led to the highest antifungal activity in vitro. Moreover, a decrease in disease incidence and severity was observed in vivo when Mexican lime fruits were treated with either TEO (0.2%) or CMC (1.5%). The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that CMC + TEO caused changes in the morphology of both P. digitatum and P. italicum hyphae, resulting in non-linear and wrinkled surfaces. Therefore, a combination of TEO and CMC can be used as an effective treatment for green and blue mold on Mexican lime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 5, 5-diphenylimidazolidine is a heterocyclic hydrocarbon having unique basic structural characteristics in their molecular structure. In this research; we synthesis various 11 derivatives of -[3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxopropanoyl]-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine -2,4-dione with anti-fungal activity. The agar well diffusion method was used to conduct the pharmacological screening for antifungal activity. Materials and Methods: All 5, 5-diphenylimidazolidine derivatives were synthesized by conventional method. Benzoin; Benzil; Urea; Glacial Acetic Acid; 4-hydroxyl benzoic acid; Con. HNO3; Formic Acid; 2-Nitro Aniline are used for the synthesis. The structure confirmations were done by FTIR, NMR spectroscopy and MS. Results: In this research; we concluded that; many derivatives give potent anti-fungal activity against fungi. The compound 1-[3-(oxo (phenyl amino)acetic acid)-3-oxopropanoyl]-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (BJ); 1-[3-(N-phenylformamide)-3-oxopropanoyl]-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (BG); 1-[3-(NPhenyl-2-nitroaniline)-3-oxopropanoyl]-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (BE); shown better antifungal activity against Candida albicans. BJ was shown to be the most effective chemical when compared to Griseofulvin and other common medications because it demonstrated greater antifungal action against Aspergillus niger. Conclusion: The anti-fungal activity of the title compounds and their derivatives was studied. Studies on the link between structure and activity revealed that compounds containing 5, 5-dimethylimidazolidinone derivatives with an electron-withdrawing group have higher activity than those containing an electron-donating group. 1-[3-(N-Phenyl-2-nitroaniline)-3-oxopropanoyl]-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (BE); 1-[3-(oxo(phenyl-amino) acetic acid)-3-oxopropanoyl]-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (BK) shown better antifungal activity against Candida albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical solid waste contains pathogenic microorganisms and therefore requires effective sterilization prior to safe handling and disposal. This work deals with the inactivation of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus var. terreus and Penicillium simplicissimum spores in clinical solid waste using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) as a waterless sterilization technology. The artificial neural network (ANN) approach was used to study the behavior of the fungal spores for the pressure, temperature, time and initial fungal spore concentrations. The optimal operating parameters were 35 MPa, 35 °C, 100-min treatment time with 6 log10 spores g−1: the predicted and experimental results were 5.48 and 5.96 logs of A. niger, 5.56 and 5.96 logs of A. terreus var. terreus, 5.84 and 5.99 log reduction of P. simplicissimum. ANN analysis revealed that temperature, time and initial concentrations showed a greater influence on the inactivation of the fungal spore's inactivation. Inactivation results from destructing the cell wall, as evidenced by the lack of growth of fungi in the culture medium, indicating complete inactivation of the fungal spores. The findings of the present study would be useful in implementing the sustainable utilization of clinical solid waste materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal endophytes have established new paradigms in the area of biomedicine due to their ability to produce metabolites of pharmacological importance. The present study reports the in vitro cytotoxic and in ovo antiangiogenic activity of the ethyl acetate (EA) extract of Penicillium oxalicum and their chemical profiling through Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analysis. Treatment of the EA extract of P. oxalicum to the selected human breast cancer cell lines (MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7) leads to the reduced glucose uptake and increased nitric oxide production suggesting the cytotoxic activity of EA extract of P. oxalicum. Our results further show that treatment of EA extract of P. oxalicum attenuates the colony number, cell migration ability and alters nuclear morphology in both the human breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the treatment of EA extract of P. oxalicum mediates apoptosis by increasing the expression of BAX, P21, FADD, and CASPASE‐8 genes, with increased Caspase‐3 activity. Additionally, in ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay showed that the treatment of EA extract of P. oxalicum leads to antiangiogenic activity with perturbed formation of blood vessels. Overall, our findings suggest that the EA extract of P. oxalicum show in vitro cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer cell lines, and in ovo antiangiogenic activity in CAM model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repurposing of expired drugs through bioconversion remains one of the most crucial research milestones, as this practice reduces drug contamination while producing compounds of significance. The present study investigated the bioconversion of ganoderic acid A (GAA) using Penicillium brevicompactum over a period of 3, 6 and 9 days. The GAA intensity reduced from 22,099 cps on day 0 to 11,040, 4700 and 18,126 cps on day 3, 6 and 9, respectively, thus demonstrating the degradation of GAA over time. The produced metabolites that were recovered using ethyl acetate as a solvent were determined using LC-QTOF-MS. P. brevicompactum produced a variety of compounds in the absence of GAA, while in its presence, it was observed that P. brevicompactum was able to convert GAA and produced ganomastenol A/B/D, vitamin E succinate, and aminopregnane on day 3, while on day 6, armillaripin and ganolucidic acid A were produced. After 9 days of operation, vitamin E succinate, ganolucidic acid A and lucilactaene were produced. The present study is the first report on the ability of P. brevicompactum to bioconvert GAA. The identified metabolites have been established to possess bioactivity against various ailments, thus contributing to the discovery of new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Wilt and root rot diseases caused by fungal pathogens pose significant threats to pea crops worldwide. Conventional methods of disease control often involve the use of chemical fungicides, which may have adverse effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative, eco-friendly approaches such as the utilization of biocontrol agents. This research paper investigates the antagonistic efficacy of Penicillium oxalicum isolates against wilt and root rot pathogens affecting pea plants. The study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of 3 potential antagonistic of Penicillium oxalicum was studied against wilt and root rot pathogens of peat i.e. Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum.Antagonistic potential of all Penicillium oxalicum isolates was found to be significantly effective against wilt and root rot pathogens. All the rhizospheric fungal isolates evaluated for their antagonistic potential against wilt and root-rot pathogens, exhibited significant effect on radial growth inhibition of pathogens in comparison to control. Among the fungal isolates Po3 of P. oxalicum proved to be most effective in reducing the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi, R. solani and P. ultimum. Radial growth of pathogenic fungus on PDA was greatly suppressed by the species of Penecillium oxalicum, Penecillium oxalicum (Po3) prove to be stimulatory for the pathogenic organism i.e. Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum of pea. The study aims to evaluate the potential of Penicillium oxalicum as a biocontrol agent and contribute to the development of sustainable strategies for disease management in pea agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural metabolites from beneficial fungi were recognized for their potential to inhibit multidrug-resistant human and plant fungal pathogens. The present study describes the isolation, metabolite profiling, antibacterial, and antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of soil fungi. Among the 17 isolates, the AK-7 isolate was selected based on the primary screening. Further, the identification of isolate AK-7 was performed by 18S rRNA sequencing and identified as Penicillium limosum (with 99.90% similarity). Additionally, the ethyl acetate extract of the Penicillium limosum strain AK-7 (AK-7 extract) was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis, and the results showed different functional groups and bioactive metabolites. Consequently, a secondary screening of antibacterial activity by the agar well diffusion method showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. The AK-7 extract exhibited notable antifungal activity by a food poisoning method and showed maximum inhibition of 77.84 ± 1.62%, 56.42 ± 1.27%, and 37.96 ± 1.84% against Cercospora canescens, Fusarium sambucinum and Sclerotium rolfsii phytopathogens. Consequently, the AK-7 extract showed significant antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS•+ free radicals with IC50 values of 59.084 μg/mL and 73.36 μg/mL. Further, the anticancer activity of the AK-7 extract against the human ovarian teratocarcinoma (PA-1) cell line was tested by MTT and Annexin V flow cytometry. The results showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability and exhibited apoptosis with an IC50 value of 82.04 μg/mL. The study highlights the potential of the Penicillium limosum strain AK-7 as a source of active metabolites and natural antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer agent, and it could be an excellent alternative for pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the consumption of nuts has shown an increasing trend worldwide. Nuts are an essential part of several countries' economies as an excellent source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. They are contaminated by environmental factors, improper harvesting practices, inadequate packaging procedures, improper storage, and transportation. The longer storage time also leads to the greater chances of contamination from pathogenic fungi. Nuts are infected with Aspergillus species, Penicillium species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. Therefore, nuts are associated with a high risk of pathogens and mycotoxins, which demand the urgency of using techniques for enhancing microbial safety and shelf-life stability. Many techniques such as ozone, cold plasma, irradiation, radiofrequency have been explored for the decontamination of nuts. These techniques have different efficiencies for reducing the contamination depending on processing parameters, type of pathogen, and conditions of food material. This review provides insight into decontamination technologies for reducing microbial contamination from nuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweating is one of the most important primary processing methods of Chinese medicinal materials. Dipsacus asper is a typical representative of sweating treatment that is recommended by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The color change of the fracture surface of the root is the prominent feature of sweating treatment. However, few studies have focused on the mechanism of color change during sweating treatment. In this study, widely targeted metabolomics and ITS high-throughput sequencing technologies were applied to detect metabolites and microbial structure and diversity in the root of D. asper during sweating treatment. A total of 667 metabolites, including 36 downregulated and 78 upregulated metabolites, were identified in D. asper following sweating treatment. The significantly differential metabolites were divided into 12 classes, including terpenoids and phenolic acids. Moreover, all the differential terpenoids were upregulated and 20 phenolic acids showed a significant change after sweating treatment. In addition, microbial community diversity and richness increased following sweating treatment. The composition of microbial communities revealed that the relative abundances of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota significantly changed after sweating treatment. Correlation analysis revealed that Ascomycota (Fusarium sp., Macrophomina sp., Ilyonectria sp., Memnoniella sp., Penicillium sp., Cyphellophora sp., Neocosmospora sp., unclassified_f_Nectriaceae, and unclassified_o_Saccharomycetales) and Basidiomycota (Armillaria sp.) were associated with the content of terpenoids (6-deoxycatalpol and laciniatoside III) and phenolic acids (3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid, ethyl caffeate, 4-O-glucosyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-acetyl-3-hydroxyphenyl-1-O-glucoside, 4-O-glucosyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol, 3-O-feruloylquinic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester, O-anisic acid, and coniferyl alcohol). We speculate that the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota affect the content of terpenoids and phenolic acids, resulting in color change during sweating treatment in D. asper. This study provides a foundation for analyzing the mechanism involved in the processing of Chinese medicinal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a previous study on microfungi associated with clematis roots, Penicillium-like fungi were isolated and identified based on morphology. In this study, we subjected those strains to a detailed examination which led to the proposal of two taxonomic novelties, named Rasamsonia chlamydospora and Talaromyces clematidis. The first taxon is characterized by rough-walled mycelium, acerose to flask shaped phialides, cylindrical conidia and by production of chlamydospore-like structures. The four-loci-based phylogeny analysis delineated the taxon as a taxonomic novelty in Rasamsonia. Talaromyces clematidis is characterized by restricted growth on Czapek yeast extract agar, dichloran 18% glycerol agar and yeast extract sucrose agar, and production of yellow ascomata on oatmeal agar. Phylogenetic analyses placed this taxon as a taxonomic novelty in Talaromyces sect. Bacillispori. Both taxa are introduced here with detailed descriptions, photoplates and information on their phylogenetic relationship with related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major environmental concerns today is hydrocarbon contamination resulting from the activities related to the petrochemical industry. Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons like alkanes, naphthene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are known to be highly toxic to humans and animals due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. PAHs are environmentally recalcitrant due to their hydrophobicity which makes them difficult to degrade, thus making them persistent environmental contaminants. The mechanical and chemical methods in practice currently to remove hydrocarbon contaminants have limited effectiveness and are expensive. Bioremediation is a cost-effective technology for treating hydrocarbon-contaminated sites as it results in the complete mineralisation of the pollutant. This study demonstrates the degradation of crude oil and associated PAHs using ten fungal cultures isolated from the aquatic environment. The current study reported a 98.6% and 92.9% reduction in total PAHs in crude oil by Fusarium species, i.e. isolate NIOSN-T4 and NIOSN-T5, respectively. The fungal isolate, NIOSN-T4, identified as Fusarium equiseti, showed maximum PAH degradation efficiency of LMW PAHs 97.8%. NIOSN-M126, identified as Penicillium citrinum, exhibited a 100% removal of HMW PAHs. Microorganisms possess an untapped potential for various applications in biotechnology, and the current study demonstrated the potential of marine fungi for use in the bioremediation of xenobiotic hydrocarbons in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipase is a kind of industrial enzyme preparation with various catalytic abilities and is widely used in food, energy, medicine and other fields. To increase lipase and enzyme cocktail activity through solid-state fermentation, the novel strain Penicillium sp. Y-21 was obtained through ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutation from the novel strain Y, which was isolated from soils. Solid-state fermentation by strain Y-21 using agricultural byproducts was carried out in tray bioreactors. The optimum culture composition for enzyme cocktail fermentation was soybean meal 20 g, 3% (w/w) glucose, 1% (w/w) peptone, 5% (w/w) lard, 0.04% (w/w) CaCl2, 0.04% (w/w) FeCl3, 28 °C for 72 h. The enzyme cocktail produced by strain Y-21 is a kind of multienzyme complex, containing xylanase, glucanase, acidic protease, pectinase, cellulase and lipase, and their enzymatic activities (unit: U g−1) were 8000, 6000, 8000, 2000, 3000 and 120, respectively. During the fermentation process, the lipase coding genes pel, pha, and p12 were also studied and amplified from the RNA of Penicillium sp. Y-21 by RT-PCR. The results showed that the pel gene played an important role in enzyme production. Afterwards, an enzyme cocktail can be added to chicken feed as an additive, which improves animal growth and feed efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prebiotics of interest to the food industry. These compounds can be produced through the transfructosylation reaction by the enzyme fructofuranosidase. This enzyme is widely produced by fungi in a medium rich in sugar. Therefore, in this work, the main objectives were production, purification, biochemical characterization of a novel fructofuranosidase enzyme by Penicillium citreonigrum URM 4459 and synthesize and evaluate the antibacterial potential of fructooligosaccharides. With respect to sucrose hydrolysis, the optimal pH was 5.5, the apparent Km for purified FFase was 3.8 mM, the molecular mass was 43.0 kDa, estimated by gel filtration on Superdex increase G75 controlled by AKTA Avant 25 and confirmed by 10% SDS-PAGE under denaturing condition. Also, the isoelectric point was 4.9. The fractions obtained with enzymatic activities, both stable at acidic pH and high temperatures, as well as being able to produce FOS. Regarding antibacterial activity, the FOS produced in this study showed better results than commercial FOS and other carbon sources. Thus, this work presents relevant data for the use of P. citreonigum to produce fructofuranosidase and consequently FOS and can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new trienoic acid derivatives, namely penioxa acids A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the marine-derived fungus strain Penicillium oxalicum BTBU20213011. Their structures were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some fungi have been domesticated for food production, with genetic differentiation between populations from food and wild environments, and food populations often acquiring beneficial traits through horizontal gene transfers (HGTs). Studying their adaptation to human‐made substrates is of fundamental and applied importance for understanding adaptation processes and for further strain improvement. We studied here the population structures and phenotypes of two distantly related Penicillium species used for dry‐cured meat production, P. nalgiovense, the most common species in the dry‐cured meat food industry, and P. salamii, used locally by farms. Both species displayed low genetic diversity, lacking differentiation between strains isolated from dry‐cured meat and those from other environments. Nevertheless, the strains collected from dry‐cured meat within each species displayed slower proteolysis and lipolysis than their wild conspecifics, and those of P. nalgiovense were whiter. Phenotypically, the non‐dry‐cured meat strains were more similar to their sister species than to their conspecific dry‐cured meat strains, indicating an evolution of specific phenotypes in dry‐cured meat strains. A comparison of available Penicillium genomes from various environments revealed HGTs, particularly between P. nalgiovense and P. salamii (representing almost 1.5 Mb of cumulative length). HGTs additionally involved P. biforme, also found in dry‐cured meat products. We further detected positive selection based on amino acid changes. Our findings suggest that selection by humans has shaped the P. salamii and P. nalgiovense populations used for dry‐cured meat production, which constitutes domestication. Several genetic and phenotypic changes were similar in P. salamii, P. nalgiovense and P. biforme, indicating convergent adaptation to the same human‐made environment. Our findings have implications for fundamental knowledge on adaptation and for the food industry: the discovery of different phenotypes and of two mating types paves the way for strain improvement by conventional breeding, to elucidate the genomic bases of beneficial phenotypes and to generate diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the largest concerns with world health today is still antibiotic resistance, which is making it imperative to find efficient alternatives as soon as possible. It has been demonstrated that microbes are reliable sources for the creation of therapeutic antibiotics. This research intends to investigate the endophytic microorganisms from several medicinal plants in Fenghuang Mountain (Jiangsu Province, China) and to discover new antibiotics from their secondary metabolites. A total of 269 endophytic strains were isolated from nine distinct medicinal plants. Taxonomic analysis revealed that there were 20 distinct species among these endophytes, with Streptomyces being the most common genus. Three of the target strains were chosen for scale-up fermentation after preliminary screening of antibacterial activities and the metabolomics investigation using LC-MS. These strains were Penicillium sp. NX-S-6, Streptomyces sp. YHLB-L-2 and Streptomyces sp. ZLBB-S-6. Twenty-three secondary metabolites (1–23), including a new sorbicillin analogue (1), were produced as a result of antibacterial activity-guided isolation. Through spectroscopic analysis using MS and NMR, the structures of yield compounds were clarified. According to antibacterial data, S. aureus or B. subtilis were inhibited to varying degrees by sorrentanone (3), emodic acid (8), GKK1032 B (10), linoleic acid (14), toyocamycin (17) and quinomycin A (21). The most effective antimicrobial agent against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and A. baumannii was quinomycin A (21). In addition, quinomycin A showed strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans, and two clinical isolated strains Aspergillus fumigatus #176 and #339, with MIC as 16, 4, 16 and 16 µg/mL, respectively. This is the first time that bioprospecting of actinobacteria and their secondary metabolites from medicinal plants in Fenghuang Mountain was reported. The finding demonstrates the potential of endophytic microbes in medical plants to produce a variety of natural products. Endophytic microbes will be an important source for new antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxins are the secondary metabolites of Penicillium and Aspergillus, among which ochratoxin A (OTA) is the most toxic molecule. OTA is widely found in food and agricultural products. Due to its severe nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and teratogenic mutagenesis, it is essential to develop effective, economical, and environmentally friendly methods for OTA decontamination and detoxification. This review mainly summarizes the application of technology in OTA prevention, removal, and detoxification from physical, chemical, and biological aspects, depending on the properties of OTA, and describes the advantages and disadvantages of each method from an objective perspective. Overall, biological methods have the greatest potential to degrade OTA. This review provides some ideas for searching for new strains and degrading enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine fungi are important sources of new metabolites including certain enzymes of medical interest due to their enormous capacity to adapt themselves to extreme environments. Living in a highly competitive ecological niche, they produce certain unusual chemical moieties. Marine biological resources are green, abundant, renewable and aid in economic development. The present study investigates the production of L-Glutaminase which is of therapeutic and industrial importance, from marine fungi of coastal Karnataka. Primary screening on agar plates and submerged fermentation in broth was employed for enzyme production. Both marine yeasts (Pichia sp) and filamentous fungal strains (Aspergillus, Penicillium) were found to be efficient producers of L-Glutaminase. Of the 42 isolates, five potential strains were selected through primary screening and Thin Layer Chromatography was performed to confirm the production. Filamentous fungi were identified through morphological and molecular methods as Penicillium and Aspergillus strains with 99-100% similarity. A. foveolatus (MT667385)and A. nidulans (MT667422) were potential producers (1.58U/ml and 1.41IU/ml). The yeast identified was Pichia kudriavzevii (MT667428), which was a moderate producer of Glutaminase and first marine yeast reported for this enzyme production. Neosartorya quadricincta (MT667427) and P. citrinum (MT667426) are also moderate producers. After screening the marine fungi, the isolated strains’ potential to produce L-Glutaminase was confirmed using SDS PAGE, FTIR and Mass analysis. This study emphasizes the necessity of marine fungal culturing and the scope of use of these fungi for further commercial production of L-Glutaminase which would uplift marine economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: microorganisms have a critical function in determining the acceptability of foodstuffs manufactured by the food industry. In the bakery and patisserie sector, the fight against the proliferation of molds on the surface of products, generally due to poor hygiene practices and noncompliance with good manufacturing practices, remains one of the priorities for guaranteeing public health. Nevertheless, the utilization of lactic acid bacteria in the bioprocessing of bread products is emerging as a significant substitute for conventional processing aids, thanks to their usefulness as biopreervatives, sourdoughs, improvers, enhancers and probiotics. Methods: with this in mind, our work will be devoted to exploring the antifungal capabilities of lactic acid bacteria strains obtained from various locally preserved products (olives, peppers, onions, carrots, gherkins, quinces) against contaminating fungal flora recovered from breads from different bakeries in the city of Kenitra, spaced 1 km apart. The phenotypic classification of lactic acid bacteria was carried out on the API gallery after a series of purification tests on selective media. Results: our findings revealed the presence of five fungal species in the bakery products: Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium contaminatum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizopus stolonifera. The distribution of these fungi varied based on the sampling location. Three isolates exhibited substantial inhibitory effects on fungal species. Conclusion: the antifungal activity of different lactic acid bacterial isolates on fungal species, makes them promising candidates for various technological applications. This study contributes to the understanding of the potential use of locally sourced lactic acid bacteria in mitigating bread spoilage and enhancing food safety in Kenitra, Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol depends on efficient enzyme systems with β-glucosidase as one of the key components. In this study, we performed in-depth profiling of the various β-glucosidases present in the genome of the hypercellulolytic fungus Penicillium funiculosum using genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and molecular dynamics simulation approaches. Of the eight β-glucosidase genes identified in the P. funiculosum genome, three were predicted to be extracellular based on signal peptide prediction and abundance in the secretome. Among the three secreted β-glucosidases, two belonged to the GH3 family and one belonged to the GH1 family. Homology models of these proteins predicted a deep and narrow active site for the GH3 β-glucosidases (PfBgl3A and PfBgl3B) and a shallow open active site for the GH1 β-glucosidase (PfBgl1A). The enzymatic assays indicated that P. funiculosum-secreted proteins showed high β-glucosidase activities with prominent bands on the 4-methylumbelliferyl β-D-glucopyranoside zymogram. To understand the contributory effects of each of the three secreted β-glucosidases (PfBgls), the corresponding gene was deleted separately, and the effect of the deletion on the β-glucosidase activity of the secretome was examined. Although not the most abundant, PfBgl3A was found to be one of the most important β-glucosidases, as evidenced by a 42% reduction in β-glucosidase activity in the ΔPfBgl3A strain. Our results advance the understanding of the genetic and biochemical nature of all β-glucosidases produced by P. funiculosum and pave the way to design a superior biocatalyst for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Commercially available cellulases are primarily produced from Trichoderma reesei. However, external supplementation of the cellulase cocktail from this host with exogenous β-glucosidase is often required to achieve the desired optimal saccharification of cellulosic feedstocks. This challenge has led to the exploration of other cellulase-producing strains. The nonmodel hypercellulolytic fungus Penicillium funiculosum has been studied in recent times and identified as a promising source of industrial cellulases mainly due to its ability to produce a balanced concoction of cellulolytic enzymes, including β-glucosidases. Various genetic interventions targeted at strain improvement for cellulase production have been performed; however, the β-glucosidases of this strain have remained largely understudied. This study, therefore, reports profiling of all eight β-glucosidases of P. funiculosum via molecular and computational approaches. The results of this study provide useful insights that will establish the background for future engineering strategies to transform this fungus into an industrial workhorse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios is the property of Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Penicillium and Talaromyces spp. are environmental saprophytic molds rarely encountered as infectious agents in humans and animals. This article summarizes the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of proven infections caused by Penicillium or Talaromyces in four dogs in France. Two dogs had disseminated infections, while the other two had a localized form. All dogs had positive histopathological results showing the presence of hyaline septate hyphae and a positive fungal culture with typical Penicillium conidiophores. Talaromyces georgiensis (n  = 1), Penicillium labradorum (n  = 2), and Penicillium from section Ramosa series Raistrickiorum (n  = 1), were identified based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Sanger sequencing. The dogs were initially treated with ketoconazole or itraconazole. Second-line treatment was initiated in three dogs, but after several relapses, the prognosis remained poor. Since the 1990s, 18 cases of Penicillium or Talaromyces infections in dogs have been described worldwide. This series of four reports brings new cases to those already reported in the literature, which are probably underestimated in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium roqueforti is a fungal starter culture used for the production of blue-veined cheeses, such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Cabrales, and Danablue. During ripening, this species grows in the veins of the cheese, forming the emblematic blue-green color and establishing the characteristic flavor owin to its biochemical activities. P. roqueforti synthesizes a diverse array of secondary metabolites, including the well-known compounds roquefortine C, clavine alkaloids, such as isofumigaclavine A and B, mycophenolic acid, andrastin A, and PR-toxin. This review provides an in-depth exploration of P. roqueforti's secondary metabolites, focusing on their biosynthetic pathways, the gene clusters responsible for their production, and their bioactivities. The presence of these compounds in blue cheeses is also reviewed. Furthermore, the silent clusters and the potential of P. roqueforti for producing secondary metabolites were discussed. The review highlights recently identified metabolites, including sesterterpenoids; tetrapeptides, D-Phe-L-Val-D-Val-L-Tyr, and D-Phe-L-Val-D-Val-L-Phe; cis-bis(methylthio)silvatin; and the 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin precursor, scytalone. Additionally, a gene cluster for DHN–melanin biosynthesis is presented. Finally, a revised cluster for roquefortine C biosynthesis comprising three rather than four genes is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first exploration of aquatic microfungal diversity was conducted in Ain Skhouna wetland, a part of Echott Ech Chergui (Algeria), the second largest chott in North Africa. Fungal strains isolation was carried out from water and sediment samples during 2019.Physico-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, and salinity)were measuredin situ as well. Firstfungal strains identification wascarried out by cultural and structural features. A total of 14 monoclonal fungi strains belonging to 7 genera were distinguished where the majority of which belong to the phylum Ascomycota. Among these, the genus Halobyssothecium that was recorded for the first time in Algeria. Occurrence percentage frequency of different taxa showedhigher density of microfungal colonies in sediment compared to water. Through molecular barcoding successfully completed for 11 strains by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region sequencing, 5 strains were assigned to the species level and 6 to the Section or Complex within the correspondent genus. Authenticated strains based on ITS barcode were then screened for extracellular laccases production for mycoremediation assay, where 8 of them were laccases positive with strong activity exhibited by Aspergillus sp. AS02 and Penicillium sp.AS13 strains. All positive laccases strains were further investigated for their synthetic dyes decolorization ability using « Plate Volume Method » (PVM) to evaluate Congo Red, Brilliant Blue, and Malachite Green dyes decolorization activity at three concentrations, highlighting dyes biodegradation mechanisms used by each strain. Dyes decolorization seems more related to fungal laccases activity than biosorption or accumulation mechanisms. Aspergillus sp. AS02 and Penicillium sp. AS13 strains seem to be good dyes decolorizing candidates by biodegradation. Furthermore, Fusarium acuminatum AS07 showed significant biosorption activity, while Penicillium spp. generally expressed a good dyes accumulation potential. Therefore, identified and studied fungal strains could be used as promising tools for bioremediation of wastewater dyes and industrial effluents enclosing synthetic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Proceedings of the YSU B: Chemical & Biological Sciences / Gitakan Teghekagir. K'imia, Kensabanut'yun is the property of Publishing House of Yerevan State University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Proteases are one of the most important classes of industrial enzymes accounting for 60% of the global industrial enzyme market. Microbes are the most preferred sources of proteases because of their rapid growth, easy genetic manipulation and limited cultivation space. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize potent fungal candidates for protease production. Proteaseproducing fungi were isolated from abattoir soil using standard mycological methods while screening for protease production was determined by the presence of halozones on skimmed milk agar medium. Enzyme activity using best isolate was evaluated on time course and at various pH regimes (5.0-8.0) and temperatures (25-45℃). Best isolate had halozone diameter of 69 mm and identified as Penicillium citrinum by sequencing its 18S rRNA. Optimum protease activity was recordedon the 4th day for both immobilized and free spores. When pH was optimized, pH 6 (19.25± 0.32 U/mL) and pH 6.5 (14.21 ± 0.65 U/mL) were best for immobilized and free spores respectively whereas 35℃ was the best temperature condition for optimum protease activity for both immobilized (22.44 ±0.71 U/mL) and free spores (17.16 ± 0.51 U/mL). We therefore conclude that the abattoir soil environment is a potential reservoir of protease-production fungal determinants while spore immobilization resulted in better protease production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista CIENCIA UNEMI is the property of Universidad Estatal de Milagro (UNEMI) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi in fish farm water and mycotoxins in feeds for farmed tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). A total of 40 samples of freshwater from fish farms and 16 samples of feed were collected and analyzed for microbiology. A total of five species of free-living fungi were identified in fish farms: Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium citrinum, P. implicatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata. These fungi species were counted in water samples at 35.14 CFU mL−1 and 24.69 CFU mL−1 in the dry seasons. In all fish farms, there was a higher abundance of fungi species in the rainy season. During visits to the fish farmers, it was possible to verify poor feed storage conditions. Concerning mutations in blood cells, in tambaqui (C. macropomum), a total of 159 anomalies were found, and in Leptodactylus petersii, 299 anomalies were found, with higher incidences in conditions above 1.0 CFU mL−1 in log10(x+1) fungi and in the rainy season. The occurrence of mycotoxicological contamination was confirmed in 81.25% of the analyzed samples. The quantified mycotoxin was Fumonisins B1 + B2 (375 to 1418 μg kg−1). Pearson's correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between Fumonisins and feed samples (r = 0.83). There was also a significant positive correlation between the abundance of fungi in water and the quantification of Fumonisins (r = 0.79). Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that free-living fungi can be used as bioindicators of water quality in fish farms. Consequently, the lack of good management practices caused microbiological contamination of the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical investigation of the EtOAc extract from the solid rice medium cultured with a sponge-associated fungus Penicillium sp. SCSIO41033 led to the isolation of two quinolones including a new one, penicinolone (1), three xanthone derivatives (3–5), and four anthraquinones (6–9). Their structures were determined by comprehensive analysis of 1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC spectroscopic, and HRESIMS mass spectrometric data. The bioactive assays revealed that compounds 1 and 2 showed no antimicrobial activities against five bacteria and eight fungi, and compounds 5, 8 and 9 exhibited inhibition against AChE with IC50 values of 45.9, 42.5 and 40.5 μg/mL. Molecular docking analysis was performed to explore the interactions between active molecules and AChE protein, which indicated that xanthone and anthraquinone derivatives had the potential for developing AChE inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of our study is to investigate the anticancer potential of our cultivated entophytic fungal strains from Nigella sativa seeds. The strains were identified by sequencing of the partial 18S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as Aspergillus sp. (SA4), Penicillium sp. (SA5), and Fusarium sp. (SA6). We carried out metabolic profiling for three fungal strains to investigate their metabolites diversity. Profiling of the different extracts revealed their richness in diverse metabolites and consequently fourteen compounds (1–14) were annotated. In addition, the obtained extracts were examined against three cell lines HepG2, MCF-7 and Caco-2 showed activity with IC50 values in the range of 1.95–39.7 μg/mL. Finally, molecular docking study was performed showing questinol as the lowest glide binding score value (-5.925 kcal/mol) among all identified compounds. Our results showed Nigella sativa-associated endophytes as a promising source for further studies to look for anticancer secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the effect of culture conditions and phytopathogenic strain co‐culture on the production of antimicrobial metabolites and antifungal activity of Penicillium chrysogenum R1, which PCR identified. Antimicrobial activity was determined using the Hunter‐Hunter experimental design with three factors (pH, incubation temperature, and inoculum, at two levels each). The antifungal metabolites, β 1‐3 glucanase and chitinase, produced in the presence of live and inactivated Fusarium oxysporum Fsox C11 biomass, were evaluated using HPLC‐MS and GC‐MS. Results showed that P. chrysogenum inhibited the growth of five phytopathogenic fungal strains, and the most significant inhibition was observed for F. oxysporum Fsox C11. The best conditions to achieve the highest antifungal activity of the cell‐free extract were pH 7, 28°C, 1 × 106 spores/mL, and 144 h of fermentation, observing 86% inhibition of F. oxysporum Fsox C11 growth. Production of antifungal metabolites such as 1,4‐benzoquinone imine, viridicatic acid, phenol‐5‐methyl‐2‐(1‐methyl ethyl), and hydrolytic enzymes β 1‐3 glucanase and chitinase was detected. The results define the perspective in designing new processes and products for biocontrol phytopathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, genome sequencing of filamentous fungi has revealed a high proportion of specialised metabolites with growing pharmaceutical interest. However, detecting such metabolites through in silico genome analysis does not necessarily guarantee their expression under laboratory conditions. However, one plausible strategy for enabling their production lies in modifying the growth conditions. Devising a comprehensive experimental design testing in different culture environments is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, using in silico modelling as a preliminary step, such as Genome-Scale Metabolic Network (GSMN), represents a promising approach to predicting and understanding the observed specialised metabolite production in a given organism. To address these questions, we reconstructed a new high-quality GSMN for the Penicillium rubens Wisconsin 54–1255 strain, a commonly used model organism. Our reconstruction, iPrub22, adheres to current convention standards and quality criteria, incorporating updated functional annotations, orthology searches with different GSMN templates, data from previous reconstructions, and manual curation steps targeting primary and specialised metabolites. With a MEMOTE score of 74% and a metabolic coverage of 45%, iPrub22 includes 5,192 unique metabolites interconnected by 5,919 reactions, of which 5,033 are supported by at least one genomic sequence. Of the metabolites present in iPrub22, 13% are categorised as belonging to specialised metabolism. While our high-quality GSMN provides a valuable resource for investigating known phenotypes expressed in P. rubens, our analysis identifies bottlenecks related, in particular, to the definition of what is a specialised metabolite, which requires consensus within the scientific community. It also points out the necessity of accessible, standardised and exhaustive databases of specialised metabolites. These questions must be addressed to fully unlock the potential of natural product production in P. rubens and other filamentous fungi. Our work represents a foundational step towards the objective of rationalising the production of natural products through GSMN modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]