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One new compound, methyl 3-((1-((2-carbamoylphenyl)amino)-1-oxopropan-2-yl)amino)-3-oxopropanoate (1), along with 9 known secondary metabolites (2 - 10) were isolated and elucidated chemical structures from the methanol extract of the marine-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum VH17. Subsequent bioassays showed the antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of the isolated compounds. All compounds 1 - 10 displayed antimicrobial effects against at least one tested reference microorganism with MIC values ranging from 32 to 256 µg mL−1. Furthermore, compound 4 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against all tested cell lines, HepG2, A549, and MCF7 with IC50 values of 29.43 ± 1.37, 33.02 ± 1.53, and 36.72 ± 1.88 µM, respectively, whereas compound 3 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against MCF7 and HepG2 cell lines with IC50 values of 87.17 ± 6.31 and 97.32 ± 5.66 µM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work investigated new sustainable opportunities for wood protection against xylophagous organisms (cellulolytic fungi and termites) based on the use of natural bioactive compounds present in Milicia excelsa wood and Nerium oleander bark. To achieve this, solid–liquid extractions by ethanol were carried out, obtaining extraction yields of 5.47 ± 0.78% for the extract of M. excelsa and 21.88 ± 0.53% for N. oleander. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analyses were carried out to evaluate the chemical composition of both extracts, showing interesting compounds with biological activity such as pyrogallol, 4-acetylresorcinol, karanjin and scopoletin. Likewise, an evaluation of the cellulolytic capacity of different wood-isolated fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Mucor circinelloides and Mucor fragilis) was carried out through two screenings, based on their growth rate in carboxymethyl cellulose agar media, and their cellulose-degrading ability via filter paper rupture, being T. longibrachiatum the fungus with the highest growth rate in both substrates. Finally, a protective treatment for pine wood (Pinus sp.) was designed by using the ethanolic extracts separately and combined, respectively, against T. longibrachiatum and Reticulitermes grassei, comparing in both cases the biotic damage with a control. The results demonstrated that the impregnation significantly reduced T. longibrachiatum biomass consumption by over 70% for all treatments. Additionally, the M. excelsa impregnation notably decreased termite activity, with a 81% reduction in the long-term assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential of strain selection and adaptation for developing a fungi-yeast-microalgae consortium capable of integrated bioethanol production and livestock wastewater treatment. We employed a multi-stage approach involving isolation and strain selection/adaptation of these consortiums. The study started with screening some isolated fungi to grow on the cellulosic biomass of the livestock wastewater (saccharification) followed by a fermentation process using yeast for bioethanol production. The results revealed that Penicillium chrysogenum (Cla) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) produced a remarkable 99.32 ppm of bioethanol and a concentration of glucose measuring 0.56 mg ml− 1. Following the impact of fungi and yeast, we diluted the livestock wastewater using distilled water and subsequently inoculated Nile River microalgae into the wastewater. The findings demonstrated that Chlorella vulgaris emerged as the dominant species in the microalgal community. Particularly, the growth rate reached its peak at a 5% organic load (0.105385), indicating that this concentration provided the most favorable conditions for the flourishing of microalgae. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the microalgal treatment in removing the remaining nutrients and organic load, achieving a 92.5% reduction in ammonia, a 94.1% reduction in nitrate, and complete removal of phosphate (100%). The algal treatment also showed remarkable reductions in COD (96.5%) and BOD (96.1%). These findings underscore the potential of fungi, yeast, and Nile River microalgae in the growth and impact on livestock wastewater, with the additional benefit of bioethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal endophytes, symbiotic microorganisms residing within plants, are renowned for producing bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse beneficial properties. We investigated the antimicrobial potential of fungal endophytes isolated from Solanum mauritianum, an invasive weed, against clinically significant bacterial pathogens. Selected fungal endophytes (Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium sp., and Paracamarosporium leucadendri) were isolated from the plant's leaves and fruits. Their crude extracts were tested against various referenced strains, such as Mycobacterium species (M. smegmatis ATCC 607 and M. bovis ATCC 27290), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6571, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 11774, Klebsiella species (K. pneumoniae ATCC 10031 and K. oxytoca ATCC 8724), Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Resazurin Microtiter Assay was used for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration. The chemical nature of the secondary metabolites in the crude extracts produced by fungal endophytes was evaluated using high-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using water and acetonitrile gradient. Liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) was employed for untargeted metabolomics. LC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 63 bioactive compounds across the three endophytes. P. chrysogenum had the highest activity against S. aureus and M. smegmatis (1.15 mg/mL and 0.02 mg/mL, respectively), while P. leucadendri demonstrated moderate activity against M. smegmatis (2.91 mg/mL) and E. coli (1.16 mg/mL). Fusarium sp. exhibited the broadest spectrum of antibacterial activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.03 mg/mL (B. subtilis) to 10 mg/mL (M. smegmatis). P. leucadendri produced 29 metabolites, Fusarium sp. had 23 identified metabolites, and a total of 11 metabolites were identified from P. chrysogenum. The fruits of the plant, accounting for 60%, appeared to be the most abundant in the endophyte diversity when compared to the stems and leaves. This study highlights the potential of fungal endophytes from S. mauritianum as a source of novel bioactive compounds, particularly against multidrug-resistant pathogens, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biotransformation of steroid compounds into therapeutic products using microorganisms offers an eco-friendly and economically sustainable approach to the pharmaceutical industry rather than a chemical synthesis way. The biotransformation efficiency of progesterone into the anticancer compound testololactone using Penicillium chrysogenum Ras3009 has been investigated. Besides, maximization of testololactone formation was achieved by studying the kinetic modelling and impact of some fermentation conditions on the biotransformation process. Results: The fungal strain Ras3009 was selected among twelve fungal strains as the most runner for the transformation of 81.18% of progesterone into testololactone. Ras3009 was identified phenotypically and genotypically as Penicillium chrysogenum, its 18 S rRNA nucleotide sequence was deposited in the GenBank database by the accession number OR480104. Studying the impact of fermentation conditions on biotransformation efficiency indicated a positive correlation between substrate concentration and testololactone formation until reaching the maximum velocity vmax. Kinetic studies revealed that vmax was gL− 1hr− 1 with high accuracy, giving R2 of 0.977. The progesterone transformation efficiency generally increased with time, reaching a maximum of 100% at 42 h with testololactone yield (Ypt/s) 0.8700 mg/mg. Moreover, the study indicated that the enzymatic conversion by P. chrysogenum Ras3009 showed high affinity to the substrate, intracellularly expressed, and released during cell disruption, leading to higher efficiency when using whole microbial cell extract. Conclusions: Fungi can be promising biocatalysts for steroid transformation into valuable chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds. The study revealed that the new fungal isolate P. chrysogenum Ras3009 possesses a great catalytic ability to convert progesterone into testololactone. Kinetic modelling analysis and optimization of the fermentation conditions lead to higher transformation efficiency and provide a better understanding of the transformation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant microbial strains has kept the scientific world searching for novel bioactive compounds with specific chemical characteristics. Accordingly, researchers have started exploring the understudied metabolites from endophytes as a new source of bioactive compounds. In this context, the current study was designed to evaluate the bioactive properties of endophytic fungi from the Mokrzański forest in Wrocław, Poland that have not yet been fully researched. Forty-three endophytic fungi were isolated from twelve distinct plants. Following their cultivation, fungal extracts were separately prepared from biomass and cell-free filtrates, and their antibacterial, antifungal (against human and plant pathogens), and antioxidant properties were examined. Five promising fungi after screening were identified to possess all of these activities. These strains and their respective plant hosts were Trichoderma harzianum BUK-T (Fagus sylvatica), Aspergillus ochraceus ROB-L1 (Robinia pseudoacacia), Chaetomium cochliodes KLON-L1, Fusarium tricinctum KLON-L2 (Acer platanoides), and Penicillium chrysogenum SOS-B2 (Pinus sylvestris). Moreover, gamma irradiation at several doses (Gy) was separately applied to the fungal cultures to study their effects on the recorded activities. Finally, compounds after preparative thin-layer chromatography fractionation of the five fungal strains were identified by GC-MS. These findings suggest that the isolated endophytic fungi could serve as novel sources of bioactive metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, potentially paving the way for future research and the development of new bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While traveling through different zones in large‐scale bioreactors, microbes are most likely subjected to fluctuating dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions at the timescales of global circulation time. In this study, to mimic industrial‐scale spatial DO gradients, we present a scale‐down setup based on dynamic feast/famine regime (150 s) that leads to repetitive cycles with rapid changes in DO availability in glucose‐limited chemostat cultures of Penicillium chrysogenum. Such DO feast/famine regime induced a stable and repetitive pattern with a reproducible metabolic response in time, and the dynamic response of intracellular metabolites featured specific differences in terms of both coverage and magnitude in comparison to other dynamic conditions, for example, substrate feast/famine cycles. Remarkably, intracellular sugar polyols were considerably increased as the hallmark metabolites along with a dynamic and higher redox state (NADH/NAD+) of the cytosol. Despite the increased availability of NADPH for penicillin production under the oscillatory DO conditions, this positive effect may be counteracted by the decreased ATP supply. Moreover, it is interesting to note that not only the penicillin productivity was reduced under such oscillating DO conditions, but also that of the unrecyclable byproduct ortho‐hydroxyphenyl acetic acid and degeneration of penicillin productivity. Furthermore, dynamic flux profiles showed the most pronounced variations in central carbon metabolism, amino acid (AA) metabolism, energy metabolism and fatty acid metabolism upon the DO oscillation. Taken together, the metabolic responses of P. chrysogenum to DO gradients reported here are important for elucidating metabolic regulation mechanisms, improving bioreactor design and scale‐up procedures as well as for constructing robust cell strains to cope with heterogenous industrial culture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mold-ripened cheese acquires a distinctive aroma and texture from mold cultures that mature on a fresh cheese wheel. Owing to its high moisture content (aw = 0.95) and pliability, soft cheese is prone to contamination. Many contaminating mold species are unable to grow at colder temperatures, and the lactic acid produced by the cheese bacteria inhibits further infiltration. Thus, Camembert cheese is generally well protected against contamination by a wide range of species. In this study, cocultures of Penicillium camemberti and widely distributed mycotoxin-producing mold species were incubated on different types of agars, and purchased Camembert samples were deliberately contaminated with mycotoxin-producing mold species capable of growing at both 25 °C and 4 °C. The production of mycotoxins was then monitored by the extraction of the metabolites and their subsequent measurement by means of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based targeted metabolite profiling approach. The production of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) was highly dependent on the species cocultivated with Penicillium camemberti, the temperature and the substrate. Contamination of Camembert cheese with Penicillium chrysogenum, Mucor hiemalis, or Penicillium glabrum induced CPA production at 25 °C. Although mold growth on cheese was not always evident on biofilms for certain cultures, except for Penicillium citrinum, which stained the monosaccharide agar yellow, mycotoxins were detected in many agar and cheese samples, as in all monosaccharide agar samples. In conclusion, cheese should be immediately discarded upon the first appearance of mold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to identify and characterize six samples of P. chrysogenum isolated from pomegranate fruits in Duhok City – Iraq. The study used morphological, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region anitsd PCR-RFLP markers. The morphological examination revealed consistent characteristics across all six samples, indicating their classification as P. chrysogenum. The macroscopic features showed dense, blue-green colonies with a velvety texture, revealing brush-like conidiophores and distinctive conidia structures. Molecular analysis of the ITS region showed an approximately 600bp band that confirmed the morphological identification, providing additional support for the presence of P. chrysogenum in the pomegranate samples. The obtained sequences using 28S rRNA partial gene of 1200bp showed a high degree of similarity with known P. chrysogenum reference sequences, further validating the identification. Furthermore, the enzymes Rsa I, Hae III, and Alu I were chosen to study the restriction site amplification of the affected ITS region of all examined P. chrysogenum. The results showed significant identical amplified bands among the studied isolates. This study may pave the way for the distribution of P. chrysogenum pathogens in Duhok City and highlights the importance of integrating molecular and morphological techniques for accurate identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of biopesticides in many industries can be hampered due to their high volatility, susceptibility to degradation when exposed to light or microbial activity, and reduced activity when exposed to stressful environmental conditions. Microencapsulation of biopesticides is a promising technique to solve and address such problems. This study aimed to encapsulate and characterize the extracts produced by Penicillium chrysogenum R1 and evaluate their antifungal activity in the plant assay. The capsules were prepared with a chitosan (0.5 mg/mL) and sodium alginate solution (2% w/v), and 20% (v/v) cell‐free extract recovered from the P. chrysogenum R1 fermentation. The capsules were synthesized in a 2.5% CaCl2 solution at room temperature. The capsules were characterized by DLS and SEM. To determine the efficiency of the free and encapsulated extract, they were applied to tomato plants infected with Fusarium oxysporum. Once the symptoms were observed, the severity and incidence of the disease, as well as the morphological parameters were evaluated. such as dry weight of aerial and root biomass, plant height, root length, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and number of leaflets. The extract produced by P. chrysogenum R1 was encapsulated in chitosan/alginate capsules with a size range of around 300 nm. The free and encapsulated extracts allowed to efficiently control the disease caused by F. oxysporum and the development of the plants. Therefore, the extract produced by P. chrysogenum R1 encapsulated in chitosan/alginate can effectively control tomato vascular wilt caused by F. oxysporum under greenhouse conditions, promoting plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to identify and characterize six samples of P. chrysogenum isolated from pomegranate fruits in Duhok City – Iraq. The study used morphological, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region anitsd PCR-RFLP markers. The morphological examination revealed consistent characteristics across all six samples, indicating their classification as P. chrysogenum. The macroscopic features showed dense, blue-green colonies with a velvety texture, revealing brush-like conidiophores and distinctive conidia structures. Molecular analysis of the ITS region showed an approximately 600bp band that confirmed the morphological identification, providing additional support for the presence of P. chrysogenum in the pomegranate samples. The obtained sequences using 28S rRNA partial gene of 1200bp showed a high degree of similarity with known P. chrysogenum reference sequences, further validating the identification. Furthermore, the enzymes Rsa I, Hae III, and Alu I were chosen to study the restriction site amplification of the affected ITS region of all examined P. chrysogenum. The results showed significant identical amplified bands among the studied isolates. This study may pave the way for the distribution of P. chrysogenum pathogens in Duhok City and highlights the importance of integrating molecular and morphological techniques for accurate identification.

We studied the culturable fungal community recovered from deep marine sediments in the maritime Antarctic, and assessed their capabilities to produce exoenzymes, emulsifiers and metabolites with phytotoxic activity. Sixty-eight Ascomycota fungal isolates were recovered and identified. The most abundant taxon recovered was the yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii, followed by the filamentous fungi Penicillium chrysogenum, P. cf. palitans, Pseudeurotium cf. bakeri, Thelebolus balaustiformis, Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus and Cladosporium sp. Diversity indices displayed low values overall, with the highest values obtained at shallow depth, decreasing to the deepest location sampled. Only M. guilliermondii and P. cf. palitans were detected in the sediments at all depths sampled, and were the most abundant taxa at all sample sites. The most abundant enzymes detected were proteases, followed by invertases, cellulases, lipases, carrageenases, agarases, pectinases and esterases. Four isolates showed good biosurfactant activity, particularly the endemic species A. psychrotrophicus. Twenty-four isolates of P. cf. palitans displayed strong phytotoxic activities against the models Lactuca sativa and Allium schoenoprasum. The cultivable fungi recovered demonstrated good biosynthetic activity in the production of hydrolytic exoenzymes, biosurfactant molecules and metabolites with phytotoxic activity, reinforcing the importance of documenting the taxonomic, ecological and biotechnological properties of fungi present in deep oceanic sediments of the Southern Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the dynamic interaction between various fungal strains, substrates, and treatment durations to optimize the nutritional value of these by‐products. Six fungi, including Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Penicillium crustosum, and Cosmospora viridescens, were evaluated across three substrates: wheat straw (WS), cedar sawdust (CW), and olive pomace (OP) over treatment periods of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The study discerned profound impacts of these fungi across multiple parameters, including cellulose variation (C.var), lignin variation (L.var), and in vitro true digestibility variation (IVTD.var). Our results demonstrated that the various fungi had a significant effect on all parameters (p <.001). Noteworthy, F. oxysporum and F. solani emerged as exemplars, displaying notable lignin degradation, cellulose liberation, and IVTD enhancement. Importantly, P. crustosum demonstrated substantial cellulose degradation, exhibiting optimal efficacy in just 4 weeks for all substrates. Notably, F. sp. excelled, yielding favorable results when treating WS. P. chrysogenum achieved optimal outcomes with 8‐week treatment for WS. Both Fusarium sp. and P. chrysogenum exhibited slight cellulose release, with remarkable reduction of WS lignin compared to other substrates. Especially, WS and OP displayed superior digestibility enhancements relative to CW. It should be noted that the treatment duration further shaped these outcomes, as prolonged treatment (12 weeks) fostered greater benefits in lignin degradation and digestibility, albeit with concomitant cellulose degradation. These findings underscore the intricate balance between fungal strains, substrates, and treatment durations in optimizing the nutritional value of lignocellulosic agro‐industrial by‐products. The outcomes of this study lead to the enhancement in the overall value of by‐products, promoting sustainable livestock feed and advancing agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) represents the third common interstitial lung disease caused by an exaggerated immune response following the inhalation of organic and/or chemical environmental antigens. The aim of this study was to determine the cut-off values of specific IgG antibodies (named precipitins) and their association with clinical data in the diagnosis of HP. In this 10-year retrospective study, the IgG concentrations against six antigens, Penicillium chrysogenum/notatum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Micropolyspora faeni, and pigeon droppings, were retrieved. The controlled group was made of 1516 healthy subjects without diagnosis of lung pathologies, while the case group consisted of 54 individuals affected by HP. Considering all six IgG antibodies together and the 97.5% percentiles determined in the control group, 30 of 54 subjects (56%) had one or more positive precipitins. In these patients, the major frequencies found were IgG antibodies against pigeon droppings, followed by Penicillium chrysogenum/notatum and Aspergillus niger. Although the sensitivity of serum precipitins depends on the population enrolled and the method used, the cut-off values determined in this study can be a valuable tool for clinicians in the diagnosis of HP, in eliminating the antigens responsible from the environment, and in establishing more specific IgG panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulb rot, a highly damaging disease of tulip plants, has hindered their profitable cultivation worldwide. This rot occurs in both field and storage conditions posing significant challenges. While this disease has been attributed to a range of pathogens, previous investigations have solely examined it within the framework of a single-pathogen disease model. Our study took a different approach and identified four pathogens associated with the disease: Fusarium solani, Penicillium chrysogenum, Botrytis tulipae, and Aspergillus niger. The primary objective of our research was to examine the impact of co-infections on the overall virulence dynamics of these pathogens. Through co-inoculation experiments on potato dextrose agar, we delineated three primary interaction patterns: antibiosis, deadlock, and merging. In vitro trials involving individual pathogen inoculations on tulip bulbs revealed that B. tulipae,was the most virulent and induced complete bulb decay. Nonetheless, when these pathogens were simultaneously introduced in various combinations, outcomes ranged from partial bulb decay to elongated rotting periods. This indicated a notable degree of antagonistic behaviour among the pathogens. While synergistic interactions were evident in a few combinations, antagonism overwhelmingly prevailed. The complex interplay of these pathogens during co-infection led to a noticeable change in the overall severity of the disease. This underscores the significance of pathogen-pathogen interactions in the realm of plant pathology, opening new insights for understanding and managing tulip bulb rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Dihydropinosylvin monomethyl ether (DPME) and pinosylvin monomethyl ether (PME) are pinosylvin derivatives that show high nematicidal activity against pine wood nematodes (PWNs). Here, we found that fungal elicitor treatment boosted the production of DPME and PME in cultured Pinus strobus L. cells and investigated the transcription factors (TFs) regulating the genes in the pinosylvin stilbenoid biosynthesis pathway. Context: The discovery of TFs involved in the synthesis of DPME and PME provides an important clue to understanding the pinosylvin stilbenoid synthesis in pine plants. Aims: We investigated the best fungal elicitor for the production of DPME and PME and the transcriptional activities of genes involved in PME and DPME biosynthesis in P. strobus L. cells after fungal elicitor treatment. Methods: The content of DPME and PME in P. strobus cells was examined after treatment with fungal elicitors prepared from seven different species of fungi. Moreover, the role of fungal elicitors in the transcriptional activity of genes involved in DPME and PME biosynthesis was investigated by transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing. Results: Penicillium chrysogenum Thorn was the most efficient fungal elicitor for the production of DPME and PME in P. strobus cells among the other fungal species. The accumulation of DPME and PME in P. strobus cells after P. chrysogenum elicitor treatment increased 12.7-fold and 23.7-fold, respectively, compared to the control. Transcriptome analysis revealed that fungal elicitor treatment resulted in enhanced transcription of the PAL, 4CL, STS, PMT, and ACC genes, which are involved in PME and DPME biosynthesis. Some transcription factors belonging to the bHLH, MYB, WRKY, and ERF families showed a high transcription rate after fungal elicitor treatment. Conclusions: We found that the fungal elicitor is a strong inducer of the accumulation of pinosylvin derivatives in the cells of P. strobus. We selected one unigene (c133966_g3_i1 in the MYB family) as the best candidate TF that regulates the DPME and PME biosynthesis in P. strobus by transcriptome analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fungal biodeteriogens of a cultural heritage church are isolated and identified. • P. chartarum and B. pseudobassiana are described first as fungal biodeteriogens. • Antifungal proteins (NFAP and NFAP2) inhibit the growth of biodeterioration fungi. • Application of NFAP and NFAP2 on wall model reduces the fungus-infected area. • The protective effect of NFAP and NFAP2 is maintained in long-term. Fungi are able to permanently damage cultural heritage buildings and stone monuments. Protection against these biodeteriogen fungi is challenging because it may require the use of drastic techniques to remove fungal colonies and chemicals, which can cause further damage, especially on mural paintings. Natural biocides are less damaging, greener, and safer and mainly include essential oils and plant-derived substances. Studies on the applicability of purified antifungal proteins in the conservation of cultural heritage buildings are lacking. In this study, we isolated mold mycoflora from the biodeteriorated inner walls of the Calvinist church of Kézdialbis (Kézdialbis, Romania) and investigated the in vitro antifungal efficacy of Neosartorya (Aspergillus) fischeri antifungal proteins, NFAP and NFAP2 against them. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed that these proteins inhibited the growth of the most commonly isolated indoor biodeteriogen fungi from the site (Aspergillus creber, Aureobasidium pullulans, Cladosporium sp. , Penicillium chrysogenum, and Parengyodontium album) and not common ones (Mucor hiemalis, Sarocladium kiliense) with different spectra and efficacies. A phytopathogen and an entomopathogen species (Pseudopithomyces chartarum and Beauveria pseudobassiana , respectively) were also isolated and described first as fungal biodeteriogens of the inner walls. Among them, P. chartarum was susceptible to NFAP2. Next, we tested the applicability of NFAP and NFAP2 in protecting cultural heritage buildings in a wall model experiment against A. creber. Topical application of both antifungal proteins significantly decreased the area infected by fungi. Scanning electron microscopy of the wall models showed that A. creber had reduced growth and conidiation in the presence of NFAP and NFAP2. This inhibitory activity was maintained for a long time. Strong UV irradiation decreased the protective effect of both proteins in the wall model. Taking into account these results, the high stability of NFAP and NFAP2 in harsh environments, and their bulk recombinant producibility, we suggest that both can be used in the protection and posttreatment of painted walls of cultural heritage buildings to clean up mural painting or to inhibit mold recolonization after mechanical, physical, or chemical decontamination. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections were histologically confirmed in 20 stranded sea turtles, including 18 Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), 1 green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and 1 leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Infection was detected antemortem in six cases. Gross external findings in live turtles included carapace lesions (n = 3) and dermatitis (n = 1). Radiographs revealed evidence of pneumonia in 18 animals. Bronchoscopy detected excessive fluid, mucus, clotted blood, or caseous material within the bronchi and lungs of three turtles. At necropsy, the most common gross lesions were pulmonary granulomas, consolidation, and/or hemorrhage (n = 18), and the most common histologic lesion was severe heterophilic-to-granulomatous pneumonia (n = 18). Nine animals had fungal infection at sites outside of the lung. The most commonly identified genera were Purpureocillium, Beauveria, and Fusarium. Other isolates included Metarhizium sp., Trichoderma sp., Clavispora lusitaniae (Candida lusitaniae), Leptospherulina sp., Penicillium chrysogenum, Mucor sp., and Aspergillus section Nigri. Antifungal susceptibility performed for 10 isolates indicated minimum inhibitory concentrations (milligrams per liter) for fluconazole ranging from 8 to >64, often >32; itraconazole from 0.06 to 16, often ≤1; voriconazole from 0.06 to 2, often ≤0.5; and terbinafine from 0.06 to >2, often ≤2. These data indicate that fluconazole resistance is common among the fungi that cause infection in sea turtles. Based on susceptibility data, itraconazole, voriconazole, or terbinafine may be appropriate for treatment of such infections, but additional clinical research is needed. Results of this study indicate that fungal infections can be difficult to diagnose antemortem in sea turtles, and more aggressive methods of diagnosis, such as lung biopsy, may be indicated for suspected cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Penicillium chrysogenum is a filamentous fungal species with diverse habitats, yet little is known about its genetics in adapting to extreme subseafloor sedimental environments. Results Here, we report the discovery of P. chrysogenum strain 28R-6-F01, isolated from deep coal-bearing sediments 2306 m beneath the seafloor. This strain possesses exceptional characteristics, including the ability to thrive in extreme conditions such as high temperature (45 °C), high pressure (35 Mpa), and anaerobic environments, and exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, producing the antibiotic penicillin at a concentration of 358 μg/mL. Genome sequencing and assembly revealed a genome size of 33.19 Mb with a GC content of 48.84%, containing 6959 coding genes. Comparative analysis with eight terrestrial strains identified 88 unique genes primarily associated with penicillin and aflatoxins biosynthesis, carbohydrate degradation, viral resistance, and three secondary metabolism gene clusters. Furthermore, significant expansions in gene families related to DNA repair were observed, likely linked to the strain’s adaptation to its environmental niche. Conclusions Our findings provide insights into the genomic and biological characteristics of P. chrysogenum adaptation to extreme anaerobic subseafloor sedimentary environments, such as high temperature and pressure.

The present study was specifically designed to develop bio-fungicides that may help mitigate reliance on hazardous synthetic chemicals which give rise to environmental safety concerns. A survey (2021–2022) of local fruit markets in Islamabad, Pakistan included morpho-molecular disease identification. It revealed Penicillium chrysogenum as a major phytopathogenic fungi causing fruit rot. The fungicidal action of plant essential oils might be boosted by the technique of application therefore, nanoencapsulation of essential oil and chitosan was performed. To attain the objective of antimicrobial packaging, essential oil and chitosan tablets were encapsulated in spun bond sachets against P. chrysogenum using a sachet volatile phase technique. In vitro screening of nano encapsulated eucalyptus essential oil showed significant inhibition of radial growth of P. chrysogenum colonies at 1.6 mg · ml–1 followed by 1.4, 1.2 and 1.0 mg · ml –1. Results of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry revealed the presence of eucalyptol in eucalyptus EO as a major antifungal component. An in vivo experiment analyzing the efficacy of essential oil tablets against pre-inoculated peach fruit with P. chrysogenum at ambient temperatures (7–37°C) showed significant reduction in lesion diameter, disease severity and prolonged shelf-life of peaches of more than 2 weeks. The natural ripening process of peach was not affected by the presence of antifungal sachets as no significant alteration in weight loss of fruit was recorded. The suppressiveness of fungal mycelial growth of P. chrysogenum was directly proportional to increases in E. globulus oil concentration. This research may have a significant impact on prolonging the shelf-life of peach fruit.

Fungal endophytes, symbiotic microorganisms residing within plants, are renowned for producing bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse beneficial properties. We investigated the antimicrobial potential of fungal endophytes isolated from Solanum mauritianum, an invasive weed, against clinically significant bacterial pathogens. Selected fungal endophytes (Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium sp., and Paracamarosporium leucadendri) were isolated from the plant’s leaves and fruits. Their crude extracts were tested against various referenced strains, such as Mycobacterium species (M. smegmatis ATCC 607 and M. bovis ATCC 27290), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6571, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 11774, Klebsiella species (K. pneumoniae ATCC 10031 and K. oxytoca ATCC 8724), Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Resazurin Microtiter Assay was used for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration. The chemical nature of the secondary metabolites in the crude extracts produced by fungal endophytes was evaluated using high-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using water and acetonitrile gradient. Liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) was employed for untargeted metabolomics. LC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 63 bioactive compounds across the three endophytes. P. chrysogenum had the highest activity against S. aureus and M. smegmatis (1.15 mg/mL and 0.02 mg/mL, respectively), while P. leucadendri demonstrated moderate activity against M. smegmatis (2.91 mg/mL) and E. coli (1.16 mg/mL). Fusarium sp. exhibited the broadest spectrum of antibacterial activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.03 mg/mL (B. subtilis) to 10 mg/mL (M. smegmatis). P. leucadendri produced 29 metabolites, Fusarium sp. had 23 identified metabolites, and a total of 11 metabolites were identified from P. chrysogenum. The fruits of the plant, accounting for 60%, appeared to be the most abundant in the endophyte diversity when compared to the stems and leaves. This study highlights the potential of fungal endophytes from S. mauritianum as a source of novel bioactive compounds, particularly against multidrug-resistant pathogens, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The sorbicillinoid family is a large class of natural products known for their structural variety and strong, diverse biological activities. A special member of this family, sorbicillactone A, the first nitrogen-containing sorbicillinoid, exhibits potent anti-leukemic and anti-HIV activities and possesses a unique structure formed from sorbicillinol, alanine, and fumaric acid building blocks. To facilitate in-depth biological and structure-activity relationship studies of this promising natural product, we developed a chemoenzymatic approach that provides access to sorbicillactone A and several analogs with excellent yields under precise stereochemical control. The key steps of the highly convergent, stereoselective, and short route are the enantioselective oxidative dearomatization of sorbillin to sorbicillinol catalyzed by the enzyme SorbC and the subsequent Michael addition of a fumarylazlactone building block. Additionally, our synthetic findings and bioinformatic analysis suggest that sorbicillactone A is biosynthetically formed analogously. Sorbicillactone A is a nitrogen-containing sorbicillinoid that displays various bioactivities, identified from a sponge-derived Penicillium chrysogenum strain. The first and so far obly total synthesis of sorbicillactone A led to the racemate in 12 linear steps and a 0.13% overall yield. Here, the authors develop a chemoenzymatic stereoselective total synthesis of sorbicillactone A in 4 steps and 11% yield by using the enzyme SorbC for the enantioselective oxidative dearomatization of sorbillin to sorbicillinol followed by addition of an azlactone unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodegradation of building materials refers to the problem of loss of performance due to biological agents, mainly dry rot fungi, moulds (filamentous fungi), bacteria and insects. Biocorrosion not only leads to the damage and deterioration of building materials, but can also pose a direct threat to human health. Inorganic building materials are a difficult substrate for microorganisms because they need food sources for their metabolism. However, they become colonised by microorganisms. In this paper, the effect of mould fungi on the moisture content and structure of CEM I and CEM I cement–polymer mortars with a 5% polysiloxane latex admixture was analysed. The analysis was carried out after 15 months of exposure to the biological environment. It was found that the cementitious materials were susceptible to the corrosive environment in the form of the filamentous fungi Penicillium chrysogenum and Cladosporium herbarum. It was also found that, after 15 months of exposure to mould fungi, CEM I cementitious materials without admixtures were slightly less susceptible to mould fungi than CEM I with the addition of a 5% polysiloxane admixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of buildings experiencing humidity problems and fungal growth appears to be increasing as energy-saving measures and changes in construction practices and climate become more common. Determining the cause of the problem and documenting the type and extent of fungal growth are complex processes involving both building physics and indoor mycology. New detection and identification methods have been introduced, and new fungal species have been added to the list of building-related fungi. However, the lack of standardised procedures and general knowledge hampers the effort to resolve the problems and advocate for an effective renovation plan. This review provides a framework for building inspections on current sampling methods and detection techniques for building-related fungi. The review also contains tables with fungal species that have been identified on commonly used building materials in Europe and North America (e.g., gypsum wallboard, oriented strand board (OSB), concrete and mineral wool). The most reported building-associated fungi across all materials are Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus versicolor. Chaetomium globosum is common on all organic materials, whereas Aspergillus niger is common on all inorganic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-arginine deiminase (ADI, EC 3.5.3.6) hydrolyzes arginine to ammonia and citrulline which is a natural supplement in health care. ADI was purified from Penicillium chrysogenum using 85% ammonium sulfate, DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G200. ADI was purified 17.2-fold and 4.6% yield with a specific activity of 50 Umg− 1 protein. The molecular weight was 49 kDa. ADI expressed maximum activity at 40oC and an optimum pH of 6.0. ADI thermostability was investigated and the values of both t0.5 and D were determined. Kd increased by temperature and the Z value was 38oC. ATP, ADP and AMP activated ADI up to 0.6 mM. Cysteine and dithiothreitol activated ADI up to 60 µmol whereas the activation by thioglycolate and reduced glutathione (GSH) prolonged to 80 µmol. EDTA, α,α-dipyridyl, and o-phenanthroline inactivated ADI indicating that ADI is a metalloenzyme. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), butanedione (BD), dansyl chloride (DC), diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) and N-acetyl-imidazole (NAI) inhibited ADI activity indicating the necessity of sulfhydryl, tryptophanyl, arginyl, lysyl, histidyl and tyrosyl groups, respectively for ADI catalysis. The obtained results show that ADI from P. chrysogenum could be a potential candidate for industrial and biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antimicrobial activity of submicron particles of new photocatalytic active complex metal oxide CsTeMoO6 against bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and fungi Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum (spores and vegetative mycelium) was studied. It has been established that CsTeMoO6 has the antimicrobial activity in both under dark and visible light conditions in relation to all test cultures of microorganisms. The most inhibitory effect of CsTeMoO6 was noted for E. coli. The light enhanced the antimicrobial effect of the test compound against all cultures of bacteria and fungi, which is associated with the presence of photocatalytic activity of CsTeMoO6. The antifungal activity of CsTeMoO6 increased against spores and vegetative mycelium of fungi under light condition, and this effect increased with an increasing duration of time exposure. The different degree of survival rate of the studied microorganisms in the presence of this compound (under both dark and light) may be associated with the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the used microorganisms, including different mechanisms of resistance against complex metal oxide and reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Penicillium chrysogenum is a filamentous fungal species with diverse habitats, yet little is known about its genetics in adapting to extreme subseafloor sedimental environments. Results: Here, we report the discovery of P. chrysogenum strain 28R-6-F01, isolated from deep coal-bearing sediments 2306 m beneath the seafloor. This strain possesses exceptional characteristics, including the ability to thrive in extreme conditions such as high temperature (45 °C), high pressure (35 Mpa), and anaerobic environments, and exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, producing the antibiotic penicillin at a concentration of 358 μg/mL. Genome sequencing and assembly revealed a genome size of 33.19 Mb with a GC content of 48.84%, containing 6959 coding genes. Comparative analysis with eight terrestrial strains identified 88 unique genes primarily associated with penicillin and aflatoxins biosynthesis, carbohydrate degradation, viral resistance, and three secondary metabolism gene clusters. Furthermore, significant expansions in gene families related to DNA repair were observed, likely linked to the strain's adaptation to its environmental niche. Conclusions: Our findings provide insights into the genomic and biological characteristics of P. chrysogenum adaptation to extreme anaerobic subseafloor sedimentary environments, such as high temperature and pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strains of micromycetes and bacteria with lipolytic activity were isolated from oil palm biomass waste. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the obtained micromycetes are closely related to Penicillium chrysogenum, P. goetzii, P. citreosulfuratum, P. citrinum, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Aspergillus hortae. Opportunistic microorganisms prevailed among the bacterial isolates. The non-opportunistic isolate Pseudomonas sp. Z-M-7T2 exhibited lipolytic activity but did not show active utilization of palm oil. The study showed that micromycete strains related to P.chrysogenum and P.goetzii are most promising for decomposition of oil palm biomass waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically valuable canvas paintings are often exposed to conditions enabling microbial deterioration. Painting materials, mainly of organic origin, in combination with high humidity and other environmental conditions, favor microbial metabolism and growth. These preconditions are often present during exhibitions or storage in old buildings, such as churches and castles, and also in museum storage depositories. The accumulated dust serves as an inoculum for both indoor and outdoor fungi. In our study, we present the results on cultivable fungi isolated from 24 canvas paintings, mainly exhibited in Slovenian sacral buildings, dating from the 16th to 21st centuries. Fungi were isolated from the front and back of damaged and undamaged surfaces of the paintings using culture media with high- and low-water activity. A total of 465 isolates were identified using current taxonomic DNA markers and assigned to 37 genera and 98 species. The most abundant genus was Aspergillus, represented by 32 species, of which 9 xerophilic species are for the first time mentioned in contaminated paintings. In addition to the most abundant xerophilic A. vitricola, A. destruens, A. tardicrescens, and A. magnivesiculatus, xerophilic Wallemia muriae and W. canadensis, xerotolerant Penicillium chrysogenum, P. brevicompactum, P. corylophilum, and xerotolerant Cladosporium species were most frequent. When machine learning methods were used to predict the relationship between fungal contamination, damage to the painting, and the type of material present, proteins were identified as one of the most important factors and cracked paint was identified as a hotspot for fungal growth. Aspergillus species colonize paintings regardless of materials, while Wallemia spp. can be associated with animal fat. Culture media with low-water activity are suggested in such inventories to isolate and obtain an overview of fungi that are actively contaminating paintings stored indoors at low relative humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiomes in soil ecosystems play a significant role in solubilizing insoluble inorganic and organic phosphate sources with low availability and mobility in the soil. They transfer the phosphate ion to plants, thereby promoting plant growth. In this study, we isolated an unidentified fungal strain, POT1 (Penicillium olsonii TLL1) from indoor dust samples, and confirmed its ability to promote root growth, especially under phosphate deficiency, as well as solubilizing activity for insoluble phosphates such as AlPO4, FePO4⋅4H2O, Ca3(PO4)2, and hydroxyapatite. Indeed, in vermiculite containing low and insoluble phosphate, the shoot fresh weight of Arabidopsis and leafy vegetables increased by 2-fold and 3-fold, respectively, with POT1 inoculation. We also conducted tests on crops in Singapore's local soil, which contains highly insoluble phosphate. We confirmed that with POT1, Bok Choy showed a 2-fold increase in shoot fresh weight, and Rice displayed a 2-fold increase in grain yield. Furthermore, we demonstrated that plant growth promotion and phosphate solubilizing activity of POT1 were more effective than those of four different Penicillium strains such as Penicillium bilaiae, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium janthinellum, and Penicillium simplicissimum under phosphate-limiting conditions. Our findings uncover a new fungal strain, provide a better understanding of symbiotic plant-fungal interactions, and suggest the potential use of POT1 as a biofertilizer to improve phosphate uptake and use efficiency in phosphate-limiting conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a multi-resonant terahertz (THz) metamaterial perfect absorber (MPA)-based biosensor in the working frequency range of 0 - 3.8 T H z for sensing of microorganisms (such as fungi, yeast) and wheat pesticides. Nearly 100 % absorption is realized at f 1 = 1.7 T H z , f 2 = 2.8 T H z , f 3 = 3.2 T H z , and f 4 = 3.5 T H z . We designed our THz MPA sensor making resonators' gap area compatible with the microorganisms' size. To obtain optimum performance of the MPA, a mapping of amplitudes and shifts in the absorption resonance peaks with different structural parameters of the resonators is carried out. A very high-frequency shift is obtained for microorganisms such as Penicillium chrysogenum (fungi), yeast, and pesticides (Imidacloprid, N, N-Diethyldithiocarbamate sodium salt trihydrate, Daminozide, N, N-Diethyldithiocarbamate sodium salt hydrate, and Dicofol). An equivalent circuit model using Advance Design System (ADS) software is developed. The calculated results through the model show similar trends as obtained in the simulations using CST. Investigations of the effect of incidence angle of THz wave on the absorption spectra of the MPA are also carried out. It is found that incidence angle does not impact the stability of the lower resonance absorption peak (1.79THz). Due to the wide working frequency range, the proposed sensor is extremely suitable for the detection of all range of pesticides because their specific absorption fingerprint lies in the frequency range of 0–3.8THz. We believe that our sensor could be a potential detection tool for detecting pesticide residues in agriculture and food products. The THz MPA-based biosensor is capable of detecting a very small change in the effective dielectric constant of the MPA environment. Therefore, it can also offer huge opportunities in label-free biosensing for future biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study isolated two dominant molds (Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus sydowii) from cigar tobacco leaves. Gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC–IMS) was used for rapid qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of mold growing from 0 to 7 days on potato dextrose agar (PDA). GC–IMS fingerprint, galleryplot, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and partial least squares – discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to assess different periods of cigar tobacco mildew. ANOVA and PLS-DA were compared to identify possible mildew markers in PDA. The potential mildew markers were verified using 0–7 days of artificial mildew samples. The results showed that 1-octene-3-alcohol, 1-pentanol, and pentanal were characteristic markers of early mildew in cigar tobacco. In conclusion, GC–IMS and chemometrics enables early warning of cigar tobacco mold, which is of great significance for storage and quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Food enzymes play a crucial role in enhancing specific food attributes, such as improving texture, eliminating toxins and allergens, producing carbohydrates, and enhancing flavor and appearance characteristics. Glucose oxidase (GOX) catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to produce gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, making it applicable in various practical scenarios. This enzyme could be utilized to eliminate glucose, thereby facilitating the creation of functional food suitable for individuals with diabetes and glucose intolerance. Our main goal was to characterize GOX from a Penicillium chrysogenum strain isolated from Armenian ecosystems. Methods: GOX of P. chrysogenum MDC 8358 was obtained by surface fermentation using glucose as a carbon source. The enzyme was purified 230-fold to homogeneity using a three-step purification scheme consisting of ion exchange, adsorption, and gel filtration chromatography. Results: The specific activity of the purified enzyme reached 271.2 U/mg. GOX from P. chrysogenum MDC 8358 has shown to be dimeric with a molecular weight of 135.5 kDa, consisting of two equal subunits with a molecular weight of 70 kDa. Isoelectric focusing has revealed a pH of 4.6. The enzyme has displayed a temperature optimum of 40 °C, and a pH optimum of 6.8, being more thermostable at acidic pH. Characterized GOX was highly specific for β-D-glucose and has shown only minor activities to mannose, xylose, and galactose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue mold is an economically significant postharvest disease of pome fruit that is primarily caused by Penicillium expansum. To manage this disease and sustain product quality, novel decay intervention strategies are needed that also maintain long-term efficacy. Biocontrol organisms and natural products are promising tools for managing postharvest diseases. Here, two Penicillium chrysogenum isolates, 404 and 413, were investigated as potential biocontrol agents against P. expansum in apple. Notably, 404 and 413 were non-pathogenic in apple, yet they grew vigorously in vitro when compared to the highly aggressive P. expansum R19 and Pe21 isolates. Whole-genome sequencing and species-specific barcoding identified both strains as P. chrysogenum. Each P. chrysogenum strain was inoculated in apple with the subsequent co-inoculation of R19 or Pe21 simultaneously, 3, or 7 days after prior inoculation with 404 or 413. The co-inoculation of these isolates showed reduced decay incidence and severity, with the most significant reduction from the longer establishment of P. chrysogenum. In vitro growth showed no antagonism between species, further suggesting competitive niche colonization as the mode of action for decay reduction. Both P. chrysogenum isolates had incomplete patulin gene clusters but tolerated patulin treatment. Finally, hygromycin resistance was observed for both P. chrysogenum isolates, yet they are not multiresistant to apple postharvest fungicides. Overall, we demonstrate the translative potential of P. chrysogenum to serve as an effective biocontrol agent against blue mold decay in apples, pending practical optimization and formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the compounds in the hexane extract of Cirsium vulgare (Savi.) Ten. and to determine the antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities of different extracts. The Cirsium vulgare (NGBB 7229) plant was collected from Turkey's Trakya region. Crude extracts were obtained using different solvents. The chemical composition of Cirsium vulgare was determined in hexane extract using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), the β-carotene bleaching method, and the determination of superoxide anion scavenging activities. The antibacterial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Salmonella typhimurium, whereas the antifungal activity was tested against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Aspergillus fumigatus by applying microdilution methods. A total of 41 bioactive compounds were identified using the GC–MS library. Terpenoids were found to be dominant (52.89%), and lup-20(29)-en-3-yl-acetate and lupeol were the most abundant terpenoids. The highest total flavonoid content (25.73 mg catechin/g) and antioxidant capacity were found in the methanolic extract. The highest antibacterial activity was detected against Bacillus subtilis in the ethyl acetate extract, and the highest antifungal activity was found against Candida krusei and Aspergillus fumigatus in the hexane extract. The observed antioxidant characteristics of the C. vulgare extracts could be attributed to the presence of flavonoids. The high antifungal activity of the hexane extract against all fungal strains can be attributed to its constituents, i.e., terpenoids. This study discloses the potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, including some bioactive components, of Cirsium vulgare and implies that Cirsium vulgare holds possible applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of aflatoxigenic fungi on grains is accountable for adverse health consequences in human and animals. The aim of this study was to determine proximate valves, the incidence of aflatoxigenic moulds and attempt control with nontoxigenic fungi isolated from sorghum. In this study, forty (40) samples of sorghum were purchased from some major markets and the proximate values determined using standard methods. They were evaluated for fungal contaminants using conventional mycological techniques. The aflatoxin production potentials of the fungal isolates were determined on Yeast Extract Sucrose Agar Medium supplemented with 0.3% cyclodextrin and 0.6% Sodium Desoxycholate (YCSD) and also on coconut agar medium. The inhibitory activity of non-toxigenic fungi on the aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strain was then determined. While the incidence of aflatoxigenic moulds was also determined, the total aflatoxin from the sorghum was determined using ELISA. Red sorghum presented the least moisture 6.99±80 and highest was white sorghum with 8.27±0.25. Eight moulds and one yeast was isolated from these studies: Saccharonycetes cerevisae, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus stolinifer, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium sp. and mucor spp. The moulds count range was 3.6 x 10² ± 32.7 - 2.4 x 10³ ±70.9 CFU/g in white sorghum. Red sorghum presented maximum count of 8.8×10² ± 59.9 - 1.2x10³ ± 80.3 CFU/g. Aspergillus flavus had the incidence of 14/20 and 11/20 for red and white sorghum respectively. Aspergillus parasiticus had incidence of 11/20 in red sorghum and 13/20 in white sorghum. Incidence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus recorded 5/20 and 7/20 in red and white sorghum respectively. All the samples had different aflatoxin levels. The highest was 6.3 μg/kg and the least was 1.2 μg/kg. While all the grain samples were within the 10 μg/kg, fifteen percent (15.0%) of the total samples exceeded the 4.0 μg/kg EU recommended limit. There was no inhibition of aflatoxin production by any of the eight nonaflatoxigenic fungi after incubation with aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus. The occurrence of aflatoxigenic moulds and the detection of aflatoxins in this study emphasize the need for effort to eradicate their occurrence in foods. Awareness on grain handling and aflatoxins is hereby advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botrytis cinerea, causing grey mold, is a dangerous plant pathogen able to infect agricultural crops during the whole production cycle, including storage and transportation. A wide set of pathogenicity factors, high ecological plasticity, and universality of propagation and spreading of this fungus significantly complicate the control of this pathogen. A rapid increase in pathogen tolerance to fungicides dictates the necessity of developing antiresistant protection strategies, which include the use of biopreparations based on antagonistic microorganisms or their metabolites. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of a dry biomass of P. chrysogenum VKM F-4876D (DMP), both individually and in combination with tebuconazole-, fludioxonil-, or difenoconazole-containing compounds recommended to control grey mold, in relation to B. cinerea isolated from grape samples. A water suspension of DMP was added to the PDA medium at a concentration of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 g/L. The pathogen growth inhibition was evaluated after 3, 7, and 14 days of cultivation; fungal cultures grown on DMP-free medium were used as a control. The resulting effective DMP concentration was 2.5 g/L. The effective concentrations of fungicides included in the study were determined to be 0.5 mg/L (tebuconazole), 0.1 g/L (difenoconazole), and 0.04 mg/L (fludioxonil). Combining DMP (2.5 g/L) with tebuconazole, difenoconazole, or fludioxonil (all taken at the effective concentrations) resulted in pathogen growth inhibition after 7 days of incubation by 86.5, 85.6, and 84.6%, respectively. Among all studied variants, the DMP (2.5 g/L) + difenoconazole (1.0 mg/L) combination provided the most efficient control of B. cinerea development under in vitro conditions: even after 14 days of incubation, the pathogen growth suppression remained at the level of 51.3%, whereas the DMP combination with tebuconazole or fludioxonil provided only 28.5 and 37.4%, respectively. The obtained results show good prospects for the efficient control of grey mold development, together with the reduction of pesticide loads on agrobiocoenoses and the prevention of the emergence of new resistant forms of plant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 12-month period between February 2014 and January 2015, this study was carried out in the homes of 55 asthma patients living in 14 different regions of Istanbul (Ataşehir, Bulgurlu, Fikirtepe, Hasanpaşa, İçerenköy, Moda, Göztepe, Çekmeköy, Ümraniye, Altayçeşme Neighborhood, Esenkent Neighborhood, Feyzullah Neighborhood, Gülsuyu Neighborhood, Yalı Neighborhood). Air ideal (Biomerieux, France) air vacuuming device was used to determine the fungal flora in the domestic ambient air of the relevant patients. In this context, in order to prevent bacterial growth, Streptomycin antibiotic was added and Rose Bengali potato dextrose agar was placed in the slot of the device and the air filter of the device was installed. The device, which was placed at a height of 75-85 cm from the ground, was operated for 3-5 minutes and 200 liters of domestic ambient air was vacuumed. A total of 1071 microfungi colonies isolated in the study were found to belong to a total of 10 genuses and 23 species. The obtained genera are Alternaria (Arıküfü), Aspergillus (Asper), Aureobasidium (Karamaya), Chaetomium (Günoku), Cladosporium (Havaküfü), Fusarium (Solduran), Mucor (Ekmekküfü), Paecilomyces (Günküfü), Penicillium (Penisilyum) and Rhizopus (Karaküf). Among them, the most isolated genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Fusarium. The most isolated species in this study were Aspergillus niger (Kara asper), Fusarium poae (Buğday solduran), Alternaria alternata (Astımküfü), Cladosporium cladosporioides (Karakökküfü), Penicillium brevicompactum (Sağlam penisilyum), Cladosporium macrocarpum (İrikurutan), Cladosporium sphaerospermum (Güllekurutan) and Penicillium glabrum (Bol penisilyum). In the 12-month period, the lowest microfungi concentration was observed in January and the highest microfungi concentration was observed in May. During the study, the temperature of the sample areas were measured with a thermometer and the humidity rates were measured with a hygrometer. In this study, the types of allergen microfungus that cause the onset of asthma disease or the progression of the degree of disease are stated. These were determined as Alternaria alternariae (Fıstık küfü), Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus (Kıran asper), Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium pullulans (Karamaya), Chaetomium globosum (Top günoku), Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium herbarum (Yaygınkurutan), Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Penicillium chrysogenum (Penisilyum), Penicillium glabrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was specifically designed to develop bio-fungicides that may help mitigate reliance on hazardous synthetic chemicals which give rise to environmental safety concerns. A survey (2021--2022) of local fruit markets in Islamabad, Pakistan included morpho-molecular disease identification. It revealed Penicillium chrysogenum as a major phytopathogenic fungi causing fruit rot. The fungicidal action of plant essential oils might be boosted by the technique of application therefore, nanoencapsulation of essential oil and chitosan was performed. To attain the objective of antimicrobial packaging, essential oil and chitosan tablets were encapsulated in spun bond sachets against P. chrysogenum using a sachet volatile phase technique. In vitro screening of nano encapsulated eucalyptus essential oil showed significant inhibition of radial growth of P. chrysogenum colonies at 1.6 mg · ml-1 followed by 1.4, 1.2 and 1.0 mg · ml-1. Results of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry revealed the presence of eucalyptol in eucalyptus EO as a major antifungal component. An in vivo experiment analyzing the efficacy of essential oil tablets against pre-inoculated peach fruit with P. chrysogenum at ambient temperatures (7--37°C) showed significant reduction in lesion diameter, disease severity and prolonged shelf-life of peaches of more than 2 weeks. The natural ripening process of peach was not affected by the presence of antifungal sachets as no significant alteration in weight loss of fruit was recorded. The suppressiveness of fungal mycelial growth of P. chrysogenum was directly proportional to increases in E. globulus oil concentration. This research may have a signifi- cant impact on prolonging the shelf-life of peach fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifenthrin is a type I broad spectrum pyrethroid insecticide widely employed in urban and agricultural settings with little knowledge about its biodegradation. Bifenthrin was subjected to a 35 days incubation period in which it was degraded by five fungal strains named as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Penicillium chrysogenum was found to be extremely effective in degrading bifenthrin up to 85%. Furthermore, response surface methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design is applied to optimize the degradation conditions with varying pH, temperature (°C), and incubation time (days). The p value < 0.05 in the response surface design and analysis of variance showed the significance of the reaction parameters. The ideal conditions for Penicillium chrysogenum to break down bifenthrin (10 mgL−1) were found to be 30 °C, pH 7, and a 24 days incubation period. In eutrophic conditions and a glucose-rich media, this fungus co-metabolized bifenthrin. By hydrolytically cleaving the carboxyl ester bond, the Penicillium chrysogenum breaks down bifenthrin, as shown by the chromatogram of four metabolites from GCMS. The biodegradation of bifenthrin by strain Penicillium chrysogenum and its use in agronomic situations are now well understood as per the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Polyphosphate nanoparticles as phosphatase-degradable carriers for Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein (PAF) can enhance the antifungal activity of the protein against Candida albicans biofilm. PAF-polyphosphate (PP) nanoparticles (PAF-PP NPs) were obtained through ionic gelation. The resulting NPs were characterized in terms of their particle size, size distribution and zeta potential. Cell viability and hemolysis studies were carried out in vitro on human foreskin fibroblasts (Hs 68 cells) and human erythrocytes, respectively. Enzymatic degradation of NPs was investigated by monitoring release of free monophosphates in the presence of isolated as well as C. albicans -derived phosphatases. In parallel, shift in zeta potential of PAF-PP NPs as a response to phosphatase stimuli was determined. Diffusion of PAF and PAF-PP NPs through C. albicans biofilm matrix was analysed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Antifungal synergy was evaluated on C. albicans biofilm by determining the colony forming units (CFU). PAF-PP NPs were obtained with a mean size of 300.9 ± 4.6 nm and a zeta potential of −11.2 ± 2.8 mV. In vitro toxicity assessments revealed that PAF-PP NPs were highly tolerable by Hs 68 cells and human erythrocytes similar to PAF. Within 24 h, 21.9 ± 0.4 μM of monophosphate was released upon incubation of PAF-PP NPs having final PAF concentration of 156 μg/ml with isolated phosphatase (2 U/ml) leading to a shift in zeta potential up to −0.7 ± 0.3 mV. This monophosphate release from PAF-PP NPs was also observed in the presence of C. albicans -derived extracellular phosphatases. The diffusivity of PAF-PP NPs within 48 h old C. albicans biofilm matrix was similar to that of PAF. PAF-PP NPs enhanced antifungal activity of PAF against C. albicans biofilm decreasing the survival of the pathogen up to 7-fold in comparison to naked PAF. In conclusion, phosphatase-degradable PAF-PP NPs hold promise as nanocarriers to augment the antifungal activity of PAF and enable its efficient delivery to C. albicans cells for the potential treatment of Candida infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of small amount of soluble forms of Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Zinc (Zn) in most soils is one of the limiting factors for agronomic crop production. The current study focuses on Macrotyloma uniflorum (horse gram or gahat), the most commonly cultivated crop in Uttarakhand. The current initiative and study were started, because there is a little information available on the impact of co-inoculation of beneficial fungi on crops in agricultural fields. Aspergillus niger K7 and Penicillium chrysogenum K4 were isolated and selected for the study on the basis of in vitro P, K and Zn-solubilizing activity. The solubilizing efficiency of K4 strain was 140% and K7 was 173.9% for P. However, the solubilizing efficiencies of K4 and K7 were 160% and 138.46% for Zn and 160% and 466% for K, respectively. The field trials were performed for two consecutive years, and growth and yield related parameters were measured for evaluation of the effect of P, K and Zn-solubilizing fungal strains on the crop. All the treatments showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in growth and yield of M. uniflorum plants over uninoculated control; however, the best treatment was found to be soil inoculated with P. chrysogenum K4 + A. niger K7 in which the yield was enhanced by 71% over control. Thus, the co-inoculation of K4 and K7 strains showed a great potential to improve the growth and yield of plants. Both the fungal strains simultaneously solubilized three important nutritional elements in soil, which is a rare trait. Moreover, the capacity of these fungal strains to enhance the plant root nodulation and microbial count in soil makes the co-inoculation practice quite beneficial for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An antifungal agent can either kill or inhibit the growth of fungi by interfering with the formation of fungal cell membrane, weakening it and hindering cell division. Antifungal agents of amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole and voriconazole of Thermo Fisher Scientific limited were used for this study. Cultural analysis of stored grains and legumes (rice, maize, wheat, groundnut and beans) from Imo State was done using streak plate method. Sabouraud dextrose agar was used for the culture while Mueller Hinton agar was used for Antifungal sensitivity test. Moulds were further identified using 18s rRNA gene sequencing method. The antifungal sensitivity profile of isolated and identified moulds was evaluated using the clinical laboratory and standard institute approved methods for testing of moulds, the disk diffusion and tetrazolium chloride test. The results showed that Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus and Penicillium chrysogenum were the moulds isolated and identified using both cultural and 18S rRNA sequence. The fungal isolates were susceptible to ketoconazole and voriconazole. Amphotericin B was both resistant and susceptible to different moulds. The fungal isolates were resistant to fluconazole. Inhibition effects were more with the antifungal disc than with tetrazolium salts. All the isolates were resistant to tetrazolium chloride and gave no zone of inhibition. Combination of antifungal agent and tetrazolium chloride showed sensitivity only to ketoconazole. Antifungal disc alone gave a better zone of inhibition than the combination of antifungal agents with tetrazolium salts. This study showed that ketoconazole has greater inhibitory potential than other antifungal agents. Ketoconazole remains the best drug of choice among the studied antifungal agents for fungal infections. Therefore antifungal drugs can be used against moulds of economic importance in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are increasingly recognised as being able to inhabit extreme environments. The deep sea is considered an extreme environment because of its low temperatures, high hydrostatic and lithostatic pressures, 3.5% salinity, and low oxygen, nutrient and light availability. Fungi inhabiting the deep sea may have evolved to produce proteins that allow them to survive these conditions. Investigation and characterisation of fungal lignocellulolytic enzymes from extreme environments like the deep sea is needed, as they may have unusual adaptations that would be useful in industry. This work, therefore, aimed to profile in detail the lignocellulolytic capabilities of fungi isolated from deep-sea sediments in the Atlantic Ocean, and a comparative lignocellulolytic terrestrial isolate. The isolates were strains of Emericellopsis maritima, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. antarcticum and Talaromyces stollii. Lignocellulolytic enzyme induction was achieved using liquid-state fermentation (LSF) with wheat bran as the main carbon source, while enzyme characteristics were evaluated using biochemical assays and gel-based proteomics. This study revealed that the isolates were halotolerant, produced xylanase over wide pH and temperature ranges, and produced a variety of glycoside hydrolase and feruloyl esterase activities. The T. stollii secretome demonstrated remarkable levels of exo-glycoside hydrolase activity, with xylanase activity optimum between pH 1.5–6.0 and temperatures between 1–60 °C, making this isolate an ideal candidate for biotechnological applications. This study is the first to quantitatively characterise xylanase activities and exo-glycoside hydrolase activities secreted by E. maritima, P. antarcticum and a marine T. stollii strain. This study is also the first to quantitatively characterise xylanase activities by a marine strain of P. chrysogenum during LSF. [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]

This article is a reply to comments made by Özdemir regarding a study on allergic rhinitis (AR) in children. The study followed guidelines for diagnosing AR and used sIgE testing to identify allergies. The researchers correlated the test results with the patients' symptoms to determine clinically significant sensitizations. The study found that mold sensitization may play a role in adenoid hypertrophy, while sensitivity to house dust mites (HDMs) was more common among children without adenoid hypertrophy. The prevalence of allergens varied across different regions in China. The article also provides clarification on the methodology used in the study. The authors express gratitude for the comments and state that there is no conflict of interest. [Extracted from the article]

Trabalho realizado no Serviço Nacional de Câncer em cooperação com o Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Baseado nas pesquisas de Juvenal Ricardo Meyer, atual Diretor do Instituto Biológico de São Paulo, que estudou "in vitro" a ação antineoplásica de certa ssubstâncias contidas nos meios de cultura do "Penicillium Notatum", o autor visa verificar clinicamente a ação terapêutica dos extratos dessas substâncias, usando-os em doentes matriculados no Serviço Nacional de Câncer. Após recorrer à colaboração do Dr. Arêa Leão, Chefe de Serviço do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, quanto ao melhor processo de preparação do extrato a ser empregado, dada a grande experiência daquele cientista em assuntos de micologia. O autor, iniciou as primeiras observações, em junho de 1947, lançando mão de extratos brutos, do referido Penicillium, em doentes tidos como inoperáveis.

This current study is to identify the most appropriate dose against intra and extrahepatic toxic agents as well as hematosuppressive agent in rats. The animals were divided into six groups (n ​= ​10). Group 1 was placed on basal diet. Group II, III and IV were placed on a basal diets supplemented with 9.9%, 19.8% and 30%, respectively of MCF-ADSPC. Group V was placed on basal diet fed with unfermented Adasonia digitata seeds (UF-ADS) for 56 days. The results revealed 9.9% MCF-ADSPC as better dose to augment weight growth and total protein in rats. Similarly, MCF-ADSPC generated slight increase of WBC and centrophils count at lowest dose (9.9%) and highest dose (30%), respectively better than UF-ADS. The levels of PCV, RBC, haemoglobin, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophils, basophils and monocytes showed no significant difference. Whereas, 19.8% MCF-ADSPC showed a better protection against hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, intestinal mucosa, abnormal cholesterol level and splenomegaly in relation to 9.9%, 30% MCF-ADSPC and UF-ADS. Conclusively, MCF-ADSPC nutriment at 19.8% dose protected functional endpoints of intra and extrahepatic tissues than UF-ADS in a rat model.

Background and Objectives: The present study was to evaluate the microbial diversity inhabiting biodeteriorated precious manuscripts of the Holy Quran placed in one of the repositories of the Library of Astan Quds Razavi (AQR), and its relation to the air microbial diversity. Materials and Methods: Three non-invasive sampling methods, culture-based techniques, and molecular identification were used to investigate the microorganisms involved in deterioration. To investigate the air microbial quality and its role in the destruction of the repository objects, air samples were taken from six different points inside the repository. Biomodeling studies were designed to verify the impact of microbial isolates. Results: 14 fungal isolates were obtained from three deteriorated ancient Quran manuscripts. The most frequently isolated fungi from the different substrates were Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. In the air, the prevalence across fungal genera was rather uniform. 30 species of the identified bacteria were collected from three manuscripts. The results obtained in the present study showed that the bacterial species from different genera belonged to three phyla: Proteobacteria (n = 2), Actinobacteria (n = 4), and Firmicutes (n = 24). The paper strips were artificially colonized by Aspergillus sp., Penicillium chrysogenum, and Talaromyces diversus producing spots which were visible to the naked eye. In the scanning electron microscopy images, the colonization of the selected organism was observed. Conclusion: The characteristics of paper inoculated artificially with these microbial isolates confirmed their deteriorating effects. Based on molecular identification, the similarity of fungal and bacterial species isolated from both substrates and air samples suggest the direct relationship between microorganisms from the air and those isolated from the manuscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are widely exploited for large-scale production in the biotechnological industry to produce a diverse range of substances due to their versatility and relative ease of growing on various substrates. The occurrence of a phenomenon—the so-called fungal strain degeneration—leads to the spontaneous loss or decline of production capacity and results in an economic loss on a tremendous scale. Some of the most commonly applied genera of fungi in the biotechnical industry, such as Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Penicillium, are threatened by this phenomenon. Although fungal degeneration has been known for almost a century, the phenomenon and its underlying mechanisms still need to be understood. The proposed mechanisms causing fungi to degenerate can be of genetic or epigenetic origin. Other factors, such as culture conditions, stress, or aging, were also reported to have an influence. This mini-review addresses the topic of fungal degeneration by describing examples of productivity losses in biotechnical processes using Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Trichoderma reesei, and Penicillium chrysogenum. Further, potential reasons, circumvention, and prevention methods are discussed. This is the first mini-review which provides a comprehensive overview on this phenomenon in biotechnologically used fungi, and it also includes a collection of strategies that can be useful to minimize economic losses which can arise from strain degeneration. Key points: • Spontaneous loss of productivity is evident in many fungi used in biotechnology. • The properties and mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are very versatile. • Only studying these underlying mechanisms enables the design of a tailored solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]