Antifungal Agents from <i>Pseudallescheria boydii</i> SNB-CN73 Isolated from a <i>Nasutitermes</i> sp. Termite

Abstract

Defense mutualisms between social insects and microorganisms have been described in the literature. The present article describes the discovery of a <i>Pseudallescheria boydii</i> strain isolated from <i>Nasutitermes</i> sp. The microbial symbiont produces two antifungal metabolites: tyroscherin and <i>N</i>-methyltyroscherin, a compound not previously described in the literature. Methylation of tyroscherin has confirmed the structure of <i>N</i>-methyltyroscherin. Both compounds are effective antifungal agents with favorable selectivity indices for <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Trichophyton rubrum</i>