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Marine Drugs Jan 2020Microbial co-cultivation is employed for awakening silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) to enhance chemical diversity. However, the selection of appropriate partners...
Microbial co-cultivation is employed for awakening silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) to enhance chemical diversity. However, the selection of appropriate partners for co-cultivation remains a challenge. Furthermore, competitive interactions involving the suppression of BGCs or upregulation of known, functional metabolite(s) during co-cultivation efforts is also common. Herein, we performed an alternative approach for targeted selection of the best co-cultivation pair. Eight marine sediment-derived fungi were classified as strong or weak, based on their anti-phytopathogenic potency. The fungi were co-cultured systematically and analyzed for their chemical profiles and anti-phytopathogenic activity. Based on enhanced bioactivity and a significantly different metabolite profile including the appearance of a co-culture specific cluster, the co-culture of (strong) and (weak) was prioritized for chemical investigation. Large-scale co-cultivation resulted in isolation of five polyketide type compounds: two 12-membered macrolides, dendrodolide E () and its new analog dendrodolide N (), as well as two rare azaphilones spiciferinone () and its new analog 8a-hydroxy-spiciferinone (). A well-known -naphtho-γ-pyrone type mycotoxin, cephalochromin (), whose production was specifically enhanced in the co-culture, was also isolated. Chemical structures of compounds - were elucidated by NMR, HRMS and [] analyses. Compound showed the strongest anti-phytopathogenic activity against and with IC values of 0.9 and 1.7 µg/mL, respectively.
Topics: Agrochemicals; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Products; Coculture Techniques; Fungi; Geologic Sediments; Industrial Microbiology; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Metabolomics; Phytophthora infestans; Polyketides; Research Design; Xanthomonas campestris
PubMed: 31979232
DOI: 10.3390/md18020073 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023Rhizosphere microbial communities can influence plant growth and development. Natural regeneration processes take place in the tree stands of protected areas, which...
Rhizosphere microbial communities can influence plant growth and development. Natural regeneration processes take place in the tree stands of protected areas, which makes it possible to observe the natural changes taking place in the rhizosphere along with the development of the plants. This study aimed to determine the diversity (taxonomic and functional) of the rhizosphere fungal communities of Norway spruce growing in one of four developmental stages. Our research was based on the ITS region using Illumina system sequencing. Saprotrophs dominated in the studied rhizospheres, but their percentage share decreased with the age of the development group (for 51.91 from 43.13%). However, in the case of mycorrhizal fungi, an opposite trend was observed (16.96-26.75%). The most numerous genera were: saprotrophic (2.54-3.83%), (6.47-12.86%), (1.39-11.78%), pathogenic (0.53-4.39%), and mycorrhizal (1.80-5.46%), (2.94-5.64%) and (4.54-15.94%). The species composition of rhizosphere fungal communities was favorable for the regeneration of natural spruce and the development of multi-generational Norway spruce stands. The ratio of the abundance of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi to the abundance of pathogens was high and promising for the durability of the large proportion of spruce in the Wigry National Park and for forest ecosystems in general.
Topics: Rhizosphere; Abies; Picea; Poland; Parks, Recreational; Mycorrhizae; Pinus; Microbiota; Norway
PubMed: 37628809
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612628 -
Plant Diversity Feb 2017var. s is an important medicinal plant with abundant saponins that are widely used in the pharmaceuticals industry. It is unclear why the levels of active ingredients...
var. s is an important medicinal plant with abundant saponins that are widely used in the pharmaceuticals industry. It is unclear why the levels of active ingredients increase as these plants age. We speculated that the concentrations of those components in the rhizomes are mediated by fungal endophytes. To test this hypothesis, we took both culture-dependent and -independent (metagenomics) approaches to analyze the communities of endophytic fungi that inhabit those rhizomes in plants of different age classes (four, six, and eight years old). In all, 147 isolates representing 18 fungal taxa were obtained from 270 segments (90 per age class). Based on morphological and genetic characteristics, (46.55% frequency of occurrence) was the predominant endophyte, followed by sp. (8.66%) and (6.81%). Colonization of endophytic fungi was maximized in the eight-year-old rhizomes (33.33%) when compared with four-year-old (21.21%) and six-year-old (15.15%) rhizomes. Certain fungal species were present only at particular ages. For example, sp., sp., sp., , sp., , , and were found only in the oldest plants. Analysis of (metagenomics) community DNA extracted from different-aged samples revealed that, at the class level, the majority of fungi had the highest sequence similarity to members of Sordariomycetes, followed by Eurotiomycetes and Saccharomycetes. These results were mostly in accord with those we obtained using culture methods. Fungal diversity and richness also changed over time. Our investigation is the first to show that the diversity of fungi in rhizomes of var. is altered as plants age, and our findings provide a foundation for future examinations of useful compounds.
PubMed: 30159492
DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2016.11.006 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Jun 2019Here we present a 79-year old man with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis probably caused by fungal contamination of a bagpipe. Several samples were taken from the...
Here we present a 79-year old man with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis probably caused by fungal contamination of a bagpipe. Several samples were taken from the patient's bagpipe. Four potential fungal antigens () as potential trigger of hypersensitivity pneumonitis were identified. A serum ELISA test with indicated reactivity. Cessation of playing the bagpipe and application of glucocorticoids lead to an improvement of the patient's symptoms.
PubMed: 30989036
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2019.03.005 -
Microbiological Research Jul 2015The community and Cd-resistance of endophytic fungi from roots of Salix variegata Franch. collected from the water-level-fluctuation zone of Three Gorges Reservoir...
The community and Cd-resistance of endophytic fungi from roots of Salix variegata Franch. collected from the water-level-fluctuation zone of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China, were investigated. A total of 53 strains were isolated and identified to 13 morphotaxa, in which Chromosporium, Fusarium and Gonatobotrys were dominant genera. Among them, 27 isolates were selected to measure their resistance to 0.02 mg ml(-1) Cd(2+) and 11 were growth stimulated (Tolerance index>100%). Of these active isolates, four dark septate endophyte (DSE) isolates (Paraphaeosphaeria sp. SR46, Pyrenochaeta sp. SR35, Rhizopycnis vagum SR37 and R. vagum SR44) were further tested for minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Cd and SR46 was found to be the most tolerant isolate with MIC of 0.39 mg ml(-1). Additionally, the maximum uptake values of these DSEs ranged from 3.01 to 7.89 mg g(-1), but there was no significant correlation between metal uptake with fungal biomass and metal tolerance. Subsequently, a pot experiment was conducted for investigating the impact of SR46 on corn seedlings in Cd-enriched soil. The results obtained suggested that SR46 reduced the Cd bioaccumulation of plant under low (100 mg kg(-1)) Cd stress and enhanced the Cd translocation from root zone to aerial parts under high (200 mg kg(-1)) Cd stress. Besides, it promoted plant growth without Cd stress. These findings indicated S. variegata harbors an endophytic fungal flora showing a high genetic diversity as well as a high level of metal resistance to Cd that has potential values in cadmium cycling and restoration of plant, soil and water system.
Topics: Cadmium; China; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Endophytes; Fungi; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Roots; Salix; Zea mays
PubMed: 26070690
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2015.03.013 -
Journal of Natural Products Feb 2016A central challenge of natural products research is assigning bioactive compounds from complex mixtures. The gold standard approach to address this challenge,...
A central challenge of natural products research is assigning bioactive compounds from complex mixtures. The gold standard approach to address this challenge, bioassay-guided fractionation, is often biased toward abundant, rather than bioactive, mixture components. This study evaluated the combination of bioassay-guided fractionation with untargeted metabolite profiling to improve active component identification early in the fractionation process. Key to this methodology was statistical modeling of the integrated biological and chemical data sets (biochemometric analysis). Three data analysis approaches for biochemometric analysis were compared, namely, partial least-squares loading vectors, S-plots, and the selectivity ratio. Extracts from the endophytic fungi Alternaria sp. and Pyrenochaeta sp. with antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus served as test cases. Biochemometric analysis incorporating the selectivity ratio performed best in identifying bioactive ions from these extracts early in the fractionation process, yielding altersetin (3, MIC 0.23 μg/mL) and macrosphelide A (4, MIC 75 μg/mL) as antibacterial constituents from Alternaria sp. and Pyrenochaeta sp., respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of biochemometrics coupled with bioassay-guided fractionation to identify bioactive mixture components. A benefit of this approach is the ability to integrate multiple stages of fractionation and bioassay data into a single analysis.
Topics: Alternaria; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biological Products; Heterocyclic Compounds; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Structure; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 26841051
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b01014 -
Experimental and Clinical... Apr 2017Infections are Achilles heel of kidney transplant recipients. Opportunistic fungal infections are increasingly recognized in these patients. We report a case of kidney...
Infections are Achilles heel of kidney transplant recipients. Opportunistic fungal infections are increasingly recognized in these patients. We report a case of kidney transplant recipient with skin and soft tissue infection caused by Pyrenochaeta romeroi, a dematiaceous fungi. Infection by this organism is rare.
Topics: Adult; Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Debridement; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Immunosuppressive Agents; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Opportunistic Infections; Phaeohyphomycosis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26789021
DOI: 10.6002/ect.2014.0283 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Dec 2019Dematiaceous fungi can cause subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, an uncommon fungal infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. is an emerging organism that can...
Dematiaceous fungi can cause subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, an uncommon fungal infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. is an emerging organism that can infect patients with subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, especially immunocompromised patients. The present case involved subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by in an 80-year-old Thai male with poorly controlled diabetes, for whom the lesion underwent spontaneous remission after his glycemic control was improved. Furthermore, cases of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis for the last 10 years were reviewed.
PubMed: 31890487
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2019.07.006 -
Microbes and Environments Jul 2018A soil cooling system that prepares soil for temperate soil temperatures for the growth of temperate crops under a tropical climate is described herein. Temperate...
A soil cooling system that prepares soil for temperate soil temperatures for the growth of temperate crops under a tropical climate is described herein. Temperate agriculture has been threatened by the negative impact of temperature increases caused by climate change. Soil temperature closely correlates with the growth of temperate crops, and affects plant processes and soil microbial diversity. The present study focuses on the effects of soil temperatures on lettuce growth and soil microbial diversity that maintains the growth of lettuce at low soil temperatures. A model temperate crop, loose leaf lettuce, was grown on eutrophic soil under soil cooling and a number of parameters, such as fresh weight, height, the number of leaves, and root length, were evaluated upon harvest. Under soil cooling, significant differences were observed in the average fresh weight (P<0.05) and positive development of the roots, shoots, and leaves of lettuce. Janthinobacterium (8.142%), Rhodoplanes (1.991%), Arthrospira (1.138%), Flavobacterium (0.857%), Sphingomonas (0.790%), Mycoplana (0.726%), and Pseudomonas (0.688%) were the dominant bacterial genera present in cooled soil. Key soil fungal communities, including Pseudaleuria (18.307%), Phoma (9.968%), Eocronartium (3.527%), Trichosporon (1.791%), and Pyrenochaeta (0.171%), were also recovered from cooled soil. The present results demonstrate that the growth of temperate crops is dependent on soil temperature, which subsequently affects the abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities that maintain the growth of temperate crops at low soil temperatures.
Topics: Bacteria; Biodiversity; Crops, Agricultural; Fungi; Lactuca; Malaysia; Soil; Soil Microbiology; Temperature; Tropical Climate
PubMed: 29709895
DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.ME17181 -
European Journal of Immunology Nov 2014While the presentation mechanism of antigenic peptides derived from exogenous proteins by MHC class II molecules is well understood, relatively little is known about the...
While the presentation mechanism of antigenic peptides derived from exogenous proteins by MHC class II molecules is well understood, relatively little is known about the presentation mechanism of endogenous MHC class II-restricted antigens. We therefore screened a chemical library of 200 compounds derived from natural products to identify inhibitors of the presentation of endogenous MHC class II-restricted antigens. We found that pyrenocine B, a compound derived from the fungus Pyrenochaeta terrestris, inhibits presentation of endogenous MHC class II-restricted minor histocompatibility antigen IL-4 inducible gene 1 (IL4I1) by primary dendritic cells (DCs). Phage display screening and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis were used to investigate the mechanism of suppressive action by pyrenocine B. EpsinR, a target molecule for pyrenocine B, mediates endosomal trafficking through binding of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs). Lentiviral-mediated short hairpin (sh) RNA downregulation of EpsinR expression in DCs resulted in a decrease in the responsiveness of CD4+ T cells. Our data thus suggest that EpsinR plays a role in antigen presentation, which provides insight into the mechanism of presentation pathway of endogenous MHC class II-restricted antigen.
Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; Animals; Antigen Presentation; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Surface Display Techniques; Dendritic Cells; Flavoproteins; Fungal Proteins; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; L-Amino Acid Oxidase; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pyrones; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering; SNARE Proteins; Surface Plasmon Resonance
PubMed: 25196058
DOI: 10.1002/eji.201444475