\u3cem\u3ePhaeophleospora vochysiae\u3c/em\u3e Savi & Glienke sp. nov. Isolated from \u3cem\u3eVochysia divergens\u3c/em\u3e Found in the Pantanal, Brazil, Produces Bioactive Secondary Metabolites

Microorganisms associated with plants are highly diverse and can produce a large number of secondary metabolites, with antimicrobial, anti-parasitic and cytotoxic activities. We are particularly interested in exploring endophytes from medicinal plants found in the Pantanal, a unique and widely unexplored wetland in Brazil. In a bio-prospecting study, strains LGMF1213 and LGMF1215 were isolated as endophytes from Vochysia divergens, and by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses were characterized as Phaeophleospora vochysiae sp. nov. The chemical assessment of this species reveals three major compounds with high biological activity, cercoscosporin (1), isocercosporin (2) and the new compound 3-(sec-butyl)-6-ethyl-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methylcyclohex-2-enone (3). Besides the isolation of P. vochysiae as endophyte, the production of cercosporin compounds suggest that under specific conditions this species causes leaf spots, and may turn into a pathogen, since leaf spots are commonly caused by species of Cercospora that produce related compounds. In addition, the new compound 3-(sec-butyl)-6-ethyl-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methylcyclohex-2-enone showed considerable antimicrobial activity and low cytotoxicity, which needs further exploration

Composition of endophytic fungal community associated with leaves of maize cultivated in south Brazilian field

The objective of this study was to conduct a survey about fungi associated with leaves from two different maize plant lineages and to analyze their microbiota diversity. Isolated fungi were identified by morphological analysis and molecular taxonomy was performed using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA. About 27 fungi morphotypes were obtained, 15 of them were from the first maize lineage. About 86.7% of the individuals belonged to the Dothideomycetes class (Phoma sorghina, Epicocum nigrum, Cladosporium sp., Bipolaris zeicola, and Alternaria alternata complex) and 13.3% to the Sordariomycetes class (Diaporthe/Phomopsis sp. and Nigrospora sp.). This ratio was opposite in the other maize lineage with 25.0% of Dothideomycetes (E. nigrum and Pleosporales) and 75.0% of Sordariomycetes (Gibberella fujikuroi complex, Fusarium graminearum complex, Diaporthe/Phomopsis sp., and Nigrospora sp.). By concerning the analyses of morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, this study intended to identify the groups of saprophytic, phytopathogenic, and mycotoxin fungi, which differently co-inhabit leaf tissue of maize plants in both tested lineages

Analysis of the genetic diversity of Candida isolates obtained from diabetic patients and kidney transplant recipients

Yeasts of the genu

Endophytes of Brazilian Medicinal Plants with Activity against Phytopathogens

Plant diseases caused by phytopathogens are responsible for significant crop losses worldwide. Resistance induction and biological control have been exploited in agriculture due to their enormous potential. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi of leaves and petioles of medicinal plants Vochysia divergens and Stryphnodendron adstringens located in two regions of high diversity in Brazil, Pantanal, and Cerrado, respectively. We recovered 1,304 fungal isolates and based on the characteristics of the culture, were assigned to 159 phenotypes. One isolate was selected as representative of each phenotype and studied for antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens. Isolates with better biological activities were identified based on DNA sequences and phylogenetic analyzes. Among the 159 representative isolates, extracts from 12 endophytes that inhibited the mycelial growth (IG) of Colletotrichum abscissum (≥40%) were selected to expand the antimicrobial analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were determined against citrus pathogens, C. abscissum, Phyllosticta citricarpa and Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri and the maize pathogen Fusarium graminearum. The highest activity against C. abscissum were from extracts of Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum CMRP4328 (IG: 83% and MIC: 40 μg/mL) and Diaporthe vochysiae CMRP4322 (IG: 75% and MIC: 1 μg/mL), both extracts also inhibited the development of post-bloom fruit drop symptoms in citrus flowers. The extracts were promising in inhibiting the mycelial growth of P. citricarpa and reducing the production of pycnidia in citrus leaves. Among the isolates that showed activity, the genus Diaporthe was the most common, including the new species D. cerradensis described in this study. In addition, high performance liquid chromatography, UV detection, and mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography analyzes of extracts produced by endophytes that showed high activity, indicated D. vochysiae CMRP4322 and P. stromaticum CMRP4328 as promising strains that produce new bioactive natural products. We report here the capacity of endophytic fungi of medicinal plants to produce secondary metabolites with biological activities against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. The description of the new species D. cerradensis, reinforces the ability of medicinal plants found in Brazil to host a diverse group of fungi with biotechnological potential

Antibacterial Activity of Endophytic Actinomycetes Isolated from the Medicinal Plant \u3cem\u3eVochysia divergens\u3c/em\u3e (Pantanal, Brazil)

Endophytic actinomycetes from medicinal plants produce a wide diversity of secondary metabolites (SM). However, to date, the knowledge about endophytes from Brazil remains scarce. Thus, we analyzed the antimicrobial potential of 10 actinomycetes isolated from the medicinal plant Vochysia divergens located in the Pantanal sul-mato-grossense, an unexplored wetland in Brazil. Strains were classified as belonging to the Aeromicrobium, Actinomadura, Microbacterium, Microbispora, Micrococcus, Sphaerisporangium, Streptomyces, and Williamsia genera, through morphological and 16S rRNA phylogenetic analyzes. A susceptibility analysis demonstrated that the strains were largely resistant to the antibiotics oxacillin and nalidixic acid. Additionally, different culture media (SG and R5A), and temperatures (28 and 36°C) were evaluated to select the best culture conditions to produce the active SM. All conditions were analyzed for active metabolites, and the best antibacterial activity was observed from metabolites produced with SG medium at 36°C. The LGMB491 (close related to Aeromicrobium ponti) extract showed the highest activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with a MIC of 0.04 mg/mL, and it was selected for SM identification. Strain LGMB491 produced 1-acetyl-β-carboline (1), indole-3-carbaldehyde (2), 3-(hydroxyacetyl)-indole (4), brevianamide F (5), and cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Phe) (6) as major compounds with antibacterial activity. In this study, we add to the knowledge about the endophytic community from the medicinal plant V. divergens and report the isolation of rare actinomycetes that produce highly active metabolites

The Amsterdam Declaration on Fungal Nomenclature

The Amsterdam Declaration on Fungal Nomenclature was agreed at an international symposium convened in Amsterdam on 19–20 April 2011 under the auspices of the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF). The purpose of the symposium was to address the issue of whether or how the current system of naming pleomorphic fungi should be maintained or changed now that molecular data are routinely available. The issue is urgent as mycologists currently follow different practices, and no consensus was achieved by a Special Committee appointed in 2005 by the International Botanical Congress to advise on the problem. The Declaration recognizes the need for an orderly transitition to a single-name nomenclatural system for all fungi, and to provide mechanisms to protect names that otherwise then become endangered. That is, meaning that priority should be given to the first described name, except where that is a younger name in general use when the first author to select a name of a pleomorphic monophyletic genus is to be followed, and suggests controversial cases are referred to a body, such as the ICTF, which will report to the Committee for Fungi. If appropriate, the ICTF could be mandated to promote the implementation of the Declaration. In addition, but not forming part of the Declaration, are reports of discussions held during the symposium on the governance of the nomenclature of fungi, and the naming of fungi known only from an environmental nucleic acid sequence in particular. Possible amendments to the Draft BioCode (2011) to allow for the needs of mycologists are suggested for further consideration, and a possible example of how a fungus only known from the environment might be described is presented

Genome of Herbaspirillum seropedicae Strain SmR1, a Specialized Diazotrophic Endophyte of Tropical Grasses

The molecular mechanisms of plant recognition, colonization, and nutrient exchange between diazotrophic endophytes and plants are scarcely known. Herbaspirillum seropedicae is an endophytic bacterium capable of colonizing intercellular spaces of grasses such as rice and sugar cane. The genome of H. seropedicae strain SmR1 was sequenced and annotated by The Paraná State Genome Programme—GENOPAR. The genome is composed of a circular chromosome of 5,513,887 bp and contains a total of 4,804 genes. The genome sequence revealed that H. seropedicae is a highly versatile microorganism with capacity to metabolize a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources and with possession of four distinct terminal oxidases. The genome contains a multitude of protein secretion systems, including type I, type II, type III, type V, and type VI secretion systems, and type IV pili, suggesting a high potential to interact with host plants. H. seropedicae is able to synthesize indole acetic acid as reflected by the four IAA biosynthetic pathways present. A gene coding for ACC deaminase, which may be involved in modulating the associated plant ethylene-signaling pathway, is also present. Genes for hemagglutinins/hemolysins/adhesins were found and may play a role in plant cell surface adhesion. These features may endow H. seropedicae with the ability to establish an endophytic life-style in a large number of plant species