Daldinia eschscholzii (Ascomycota, Xylariaceae) isolado na Amazônia brasileira: características taxonômicas e condições de crescimento micelial

The Amazon has a high diversity of fungi, including species of the genus Daldinia (Ascomycota, Xylariaceae), which produce secondary metabolites with recognized nematicidal and antimicrobial activity. The ecological role of Daldinia is important, as stromata serve as refuges to many insects and arthropodes, and the fungi contribute to the degradation of vegetable organic matter. The aim of this study was to analyze the taxonomic features and mycelial growth conditions in vitro of a Daldinia specimen collected in the Brazilian Amazon. Morphological and molecular studies of the fungus identified it as D. eschscholtzii. To evaluate mycelial growth, we cultivated the fungus at 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C in malt extract-peptone agar (MEPA), malt extract-peptone (MEP), potato dextrose (PD), and minimum medium (MM). The best mycelial growth occurred at 35 °C, although the greatest amount of biomass was obtained at 25 °C and 30 °C. PD proved to be the best medium for biomass production.A Amazônia apresenta alta diversidade de fungos, incluindo Daldinia (Ascomycota, Xylariaceae), cujas espécies produzem metabólitos secundários com reconhecida atividade antimicrobiana e nematicida. O papel ecológico é importante, visto que estromas servem de abrigo para muitos insetos e artrópodes, além de contribuir na degradação da matéria orgânica vegetal. O objetivo desse estudo foi analizar as características taxonômicas e as condições do crescimento micelial in vitro de um espécime de Daldinia coletado na Amazônia brasileira. Estudos morfológicos e moleculares do fungo o indetificaram como D. eschscholtzii. Para avaliação do crescimento micelial o fungo foi cultivado nas temperaturas de 20, 25, 30, 35 e 40 °C e nos meios de cultura extrato de malte-peptona ágar (EMPA), extrato de malte-peptona (EMP), batata dextrose (BD) e meio mínimo (MM). O melhor crescimento micelial ocorreu a 35 °C, entretanto, a maior quantidade de biomassa foi obtida a 25 e 30 °C. O meio BD provou ser o melhor meio para produção de biomassa

Cytochalasans Act as Inhibitors of Biofilm Formation of Staphylococcus aureus

During the course of our ongoing work to discover new inhibitors of biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus from fungal sources, we observed biofilm inhibition by cytochalasans isolated from cultures of the ascomycete Hypoxylon fragiforme for the first time. Two new compounds were purified by a bioassay-guided fractionation procedure; their structures were elucidated subsequently by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). This unexpected finding prompted us to test further cytochalasans from other fungi and from commercial sources for comparison. Out of 21 cytochalasans, 13 showed significant inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation at subtoxic levels. These findings indicate the potential of cytochalasans as biofilm inhibitors for the first time, also because the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) are independent of the anti-biofilm activities. However, cytochalasans are known to be inhibitors of actin, making some of them very toxic for eukaryotic cells. Since the chemical structures of the tested compounds were rather diverse, the inclusion of additional derivatives, as well as the evaluation of their selectivity against mammalian cells vs. the bacterium, will be necessary as next step in order to develop structure-activity relationships and identify the optimal candidates for development of an anti-biofilm agent

Physiological and environmental conditions that enhance the production of carotenoids by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Em micro-organismos produtores, carotenoides são pigmentos, precursores de vitamina A, que os protegem contra o estresse oxidativo. Fatores ambientais extrínsecos tais como temperatura, fontes específicas de carbono e indutores de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) como luz e peróxido de hidrogênio associados a condições fisiológicas (fase de crescimento exponencial máxima, fase estacionária inicial e tardia) influenciam no acúmulo de carotenoides pelas células microbianas. Uma levedura pigmentada foi isolada do horto da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram identificar esta levedura isolada no horto da UFV e analisar a influência dos fatores ambientais (temperatura, intensidade de luz e concentração de arabinose) e das diferentes condições fisiológicas (fase log, estacionária inicial e tardia) na produção de carotenoides e na velocidade de crescimento da levedura. A identificação taxonômica da levedura foi feita pelo Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS) por meio das análises das sequências 5,8S e 26S do rRNA e por ferramentas moleculares e bioquímicas, resultando na identificação da espécie como Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. A influência das condições ambientais e fisiológicas na produção de carotenoides e na taxa de crescimento foi verificada pela metodologia de superfície de resposta (RSM) por meio de um delineamento composto central (CCD) com três fatores e seis replicatas do ponto central. Os 20 experimentos foram feitos em 91h de batelada e as amostras foram coletadas em diferentes estados fisiológicos da cultura, isto é na fase de crescimento máximo (fase log), fase de desaceleração do crescimento (2h iniciais na entrada da fase estacionária) e fase estacionária (60h após alcançar a massa celular máxima). Demonstrou-se que a formação de carotenoides pela levedura não é associada ao crescimento. O rendimento máximo de carotenoides por massa celular (μg/g) ocorreu na fase de desaceleração do crescimento. A velocidade específica máxima de crescimento (μmax) e o rendimento em carotenóide total por massa celular (μg/g) foram ajustados ao modelo matemático, com R2 de 0,96 e 0,91 respectivamente, e o desajuste não foi significante (p>0,05). Os níveis de intensidade de luz (μmol m-2s-1), arabinose (%p/v) e temperatura (°C) que criaram a resposta máxima de rendimento de carotenóides totais (93,92 μg/g) foram 100 μmol m-2s-1; 5%; 18 °C e da velocidade de crescimento (0,31h-1) foram 63,6 μmol m-2s-1; 3,7% e 24,6 °C.In pigmented microorganisms, carotenoids are pigments, precursors of vitamin A that provide protective effects against oxidative damage. Extrinsic environmental factors such as temperature, specific carbon sources and inducers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide and light associated with physiological conditions (maximum exponential growth phase, early and late stationary phase) influence the accumulation of carotenoids in microbial cells. A pigmented yeast was isolated from an orchard in Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The main aims were to identify the isolated yeast and analyze the influence of environmental (light, temperature and arabinose) and physiological conditions (log phase, early and late stationary phase) on the production of carotenoids and the growth rate of the yeast. The taxonomical identification of the yeast strain was accomplished through analysis of 5.8S and 26S rRNA by the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS) and biochemical and molecular approaches. The yeast was identified as Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. In order to analyze the influence of factors on production of carotenoids and growth rate we used a methodology of response surface (RSM), and a central composite factorial design (CCD) with three factors and six replicates of central point was applied. The 20 experiments were done in batch in 91h and samples were collected at different physiological stages of the culture, at maximum growth rate (log phase), at deceleration growth phase (2h initial at the entrance of the stationary phase) and at stationary phase (60h after reaching the maximum cell mass). It implicates that carotenogenesis is not associated with cellular growth. The maximum carotenoid yield per cell mass (μg/g) occurred at deceleration growth phase. The growth rate (μ) and total carotenoid yield (μg/g) calculations well- adjusted to the mathematical model, with R2 of 0.96 and 0.91, respectively, and the lack of fit was not significant (p>0.05). The levels of light (μmol m-2s-1), arabinose (%w/v) and temperature (°C) that created a maximum answer of total carotenoid yield (93.92 μg/g) were 100 μmol m-2s-1; 5% and 18 °C and growth rate (0.31h-1) were 63.6 μmol m-2s-1; 3.7% and 24.6 °C.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológic

cis-2-Alkenoic acids as promising drugs for the control of biofilm infections.

Microbes attached to surfaces and form biofilms where they are difficult to eradicate. Here they are embedded in a complex matrix of polymers and are much less sensitive against antibiotics or the immune system

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Control Biofilm Formation of Staphylococcus aureus and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria

Infections involving biofilms are difficult to treat due to increased resistances against antibiotics and the immune system. Hence, there is an urgent demand for novel drugs against biofilm infections. During our search for novel biofilm inhibitors from fungi, we isolated linoleic acid from the ascomycete Hypoxylon fragiforme which showed biofilm inhibition of several bacteria at sub-MIC concentrations. Many fatty acids possess antimicrobial activities, but their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) are high and reports on biofilm interferences are scarce. We demonstrated that not only linoleic acid but several unsaturated long-chain fatty acids inhibited biofilms at sub-MIC concentrations. The antibiofilm activity exerted by long-chain fatty acids was mainly against Gram-positive bacteria, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. Micrographs of treated S. aureus biofilms revealed a reduction in the extracellular polymeric substances, pointing to a possible mode of action of fatty acids on S. aureus biofilms. The fatty acids had a strong species specificity. Poly-unsaturated fatty acids had higher activities than saturated ones, but no obvious rule could be found for the optimal length and desaturation for maximal activity. As free fatty acids are non-toxic and ubiquitous in food, they may offer a novel tool, especially in combination with antibiotics, for the control of biofilm infections

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Control Biofilm Formation of and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria.

Infections involving biofilms are difficult to treat due to increased resistances against antibiotics and the immune system. Hence, there is an urgent demand for novel drugs against biofilm infections. During our search for novel biofilm inhibitors from fungi, we isolated linoleic acid from the ascomycete Hypoxylon fragiforme which showed biofilm inhibition of several bacteria at sub-MIC concentrations. Many fatty acids possess antimicrobial activities, but their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) are high and reports on biofilm interferences are scarce. We demonstrated that not only linoleic acid but several unsaturated long-chain fatty acids inhibited biofilms at sub-MIC concentrations. The antibiofilm activity exerted by long-chain fatty acids was mainly against Gram-positive bacteria, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. Micrographs of treated S. aureus biofilms revealed a reduction in the extracellular polymeric substances, pointing to a possible mode of action of fatty acids on S. aureus biofilms. The fatty acids had a strong species specificity. Poly-unsaturated fatty acids had higher activities than saturated ones, but no obvious rule could be found for the optimal length and desaturation for maximal activity. As free fatty acids are non-toxic and ubiquitous in food, they may offer a novel tool, especially in combination with antibiotics, for the control of biofilm infections

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Control Biofilm Formation of Staphylococcus aureus and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria.

Infections involving biofilms are difficult to treat due to increased resistances against antibiotics and the immune system. Hence, there is an urgent demand for novel drugs against biofilm infections. During our search for novel biofilm inhibitors from fungi, we isolated linoleic acid from the ascomycete Hypoxylon fragiforme which showed biofilm inhibition of several bacteria at sub-MIC concentrations. Many fatty acids possess antimicrobial activities, but their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) are high and reports on biofilm interferences are scarce. We demonstrated that not only linoleic acid but several unsaturated long-chain fatty acids inhibited biofilms at sub-MIC concentrations. The antibiofilm activity exerted by long-chain fatty acids was mainly against Gram-positive bacteria, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. Micrographs of treated S. aureus biofilms revealed a reduction in the extracellular polymeric substances, pointing to a possible mode of action of fatty acids on S. aureus biofilms. The fatty acids had a strong species specificity. Poly-unsaturated fatty acids had higher activities than saturated ones, but no obvious rule could be found for the optimal length and desaturation for maximal activity. As free fatty acids are non-toxic and ubiquitous in food, they may offer a novel tool, especially in combination with antibiotics, for the control of biofilm infections

Biofilm Inhibitory Abscisic Acid Derivatives from the Plant-Associated Dothideomycete Fungus, Roussoella sp.

Roussoella species are well recorded from both monocotyledons and dicotyledons. As part of a research program to discover biologically active compounds from plant-associated Dothideomycetes in Thailand, the strain Roussoella sp. (MFLUCC 17-2059), which represents an undescribed species, was isolated from Clematis subumbellata Kurz, fermented in yeast-malt medium and explored for its secondary metabolite production. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract yielded the new abscisic acid derivative, roussoellenic acid (1), along with pestabacillin B (2), a related congener, and the cyclodipeptide, cyclo(S-Pro-S-Ile) (3). The structure of 1 was determined by 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESIMS data analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 showed inhibitory activity on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus. The biofilm formation of S. aureus was reduced to 34% at 16 µg/mL by roussoellenic acid (1), while pestabacillin B (2) only showed 36% inhibition at 256 µg/mL. In addition, compound 1 also had weak cytotoxic effects on L929 murine fibroblasts and human KB3-1 cancer cells