-
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Dec 2022Antibiotics are antibacterial compounds that interfere with bacterial growth, without harming the infected eukaryotic host. Among the clinical agents, beta-lactams play... (Review)
Review
Antibiotics are antibacterial compounds that interfere with bacterial growth, without harming the infected eukaryotic host. Among the clinical agents, beta-lactams play a major role in treating infected humans and animals. However, the ever-increasing antibiotic resistance crisis is forcing the pharmaceutical industry to search for new antibacterial drugs to combat a range of current and potential multi-resistant bacterial pathogens. In this review, we provide an overview of the development, innovation, and current status of therapeutic applications for beta-lactams with a focus on semi-synthetic cephalosporins. Cephalosporin C (CPC), which is a natural secondary metabolite from the filamentous fungus Acremonium chrysogenum, plays a major and demanding role in both producing modern antibiotics and developing new ones. CPC serves as a core compound for producing semi-synthetic cephalosporins that can control infections with different resistance mechanisms. We therefore summarize our latest knowledge about the CPC biosynthetic pathway and its regulation in the fungal host. Finally, we describe how CPC serves as a key lead generation source for the in vitro and better, in vivo synthesis of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA), the major core compound for the pharmaceutical synthesis of current and future semi-synthetic cephalosporins. KEY POINTS: • Latest literature on cephalosporin generations • Biotechnical production of cephalosporins • In vivo production of 7-ACA.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Monobactams; Cephalosporins; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Industry
PubMed: 36401643
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12272-8 -
Fungal Systematics and Evolution Jun 2023Three new genera, six new species, three combinations, six epitypes, and 25 interesting new host and / or geographical records are introduced in this study. New genera:...
Three new genera, six new species, three combinations, six epitypes, and 25 interesting new host and / or geographical records are introduced in this study. New genera: (based on ), and (based on ). New species: (from cooling pad water, USA, (on dead wood of sp., Netherlands), (on lichen on brick wall, Netherlands), (on moss growing on a wall, Netherlands), (from rockwool, USA), and (from hydroponic water, USA). New combinations: (based on ), (based on ), and (based on ). Epitypes: (from water, USA), (on leaves of , Netherlands), (on , parasitic on , Germany), (on needles of , Canada), (on twigs of , Ukraine), and (on decayed branch, Netherlands). Furthermore, the higher order phylogeny of three genera regarded as is resolved, namely (), (, ), and (, ), with being an older name for Crous PW, Akulov A, Balashov S, Boers J, Braun U, Castillo J, Delgado MA, Denman S, Erhard A, Gusella G, Jurjević Ž, Kruse J, Malloch DW, Osieck ER, Polizzi G, Schumacher RK, Slootweg E, Starink-Willemse M, van Iperen AL, Verkley GJM, Groenewald JZ (2023). New and Interesting Fungi. 6. : 109-156. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2023.11.09.
PubMed: 38545457
DOI: 10.3114/fuse.2023.11.09 -
Marine Drugs Sep 2023Marine natural products are well-recognized as potential resources to fill the pipeline of drug leads to enter the pharmaceutical industry. In this circumstance,... (Review)
Review
Marine natural products are well-recognized as potential resources to fill the pipeline of drug leads to enter the pharmaceutical industry. In this circumstance, marine-derived fungi are one of the unique sources of bioactive secondary metabolites due to their capacity to produce diverse polyketides and peptides with unique structures and diverse biological activities. The present review covers the peptides from marine-derived fungi reported from the literature published from January 1991 to June 2023, and various scientific databases, including Elsevier, ACS publications, Taylor and Francis, Wiley Online Library, MDPI, Springer, Thieme, Bentham, ProQuest, and the Marine Pharmacology website, are used for a literature search. This review focuses on chemical characteristics, sources, and biological and pharmacological activities of 366 marine fungal peptides belonging to various classes, such as linear, cyclic, and depsipeptides. Among 30 marine-derived fungal genera, isolated from marine macro-organisms such as marine algae, sponges, coral, and mangrove plants, as well as deep sea sediments, species of were found to produce the highest number of peptides (174 peptides), followed by (23 peptides), (22 peptides), (18 peptides), (18 peptides), (17 peptides), and (12 peptides). The cytotoxic activity against a broad spectrum of human cancer cell lines was the predominant biological activity of the reported marine peptides (32%), whereas antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and various enzyme inhibition activities ranged from 7% to 20%. In the first part of this review, the chemistry of marine peptides is discussed and followed by their biological activity.
Topics: Humans; Aspergillus; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Peptides; Biological Products; Aquatic Organisms; Fungi
PubMed: 37888445
DOI: 10.3390/md21100510 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Sorbicillinoids are a family of hexaketide metabolites with a characteristic sorbyl side chain residue. Sixty-nine sorbicillinoids from fungi, newly identified from 2016... (Review)
Review
Sorbicillinoids are a family of hexaketide metabolites with a characteristic sorbyl side chain residue. Sixty-nine sorbicillinoids from fungi, newly identified from 2016 to 2021, are summarized in this review, including their structures and bioactivities. They are classified into monomeric, dimeric, trimeric, and hybrid sorbicillinoids according to their basic structural features, with the main groups comprising both monomeric and dimeric sorbicillinoids. Some of the identified sorbicillinoids have special structures such as ustilobisorbicillinol A, and sorbicillasins A and B. The majority of sorbicillinoids have been reported from fungi genera such as , , , and , with some sorbicillinoids exhibiting cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, phytotoxic, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. In recent years, marine-derived, extremophilic, plant endophytic, and phytopathogenic fungi have emerged as important resources for diverse sorbicillinoids with unique skeletons. The recently revealed biological activities of sorbicillinoids discovered before 2016 are also described in this review.
PubMed: 35050002
DOI: 10.3390/jof8010062 -
Marine Drugs Jul 2022Anthraquinones are an interesting chemical class of polyketides since they not only exhibit a myriad of biological activities but also contribute to managing ecological... (Review)
Review
Anthraquinones are an interesting chemical class of polyketides since they not only exhibit a myriad of biological activities but also contribute to managing ecological roles. In this review article, we provide a current knowledge on the anthraquinoids reported from marine-derived fungi, isolated from various resources in both shallow waters such as mangrove plants and sediments of the mangrove habitat, coral reef, algae, sponges, and deep sea. This review also tentatively categorizes anthraquinone metabolites from the simplest to the most complicated scaffolds such as conjugated xanthone-anthraquinone derivatives and bianthraquinones, which have been isolated from marine-derived fungi especially from the genera , , , , , , , , and other fungal strains. The present review, covering a range from 2000 to 2021, was elaborated through a comprehensive literature search using the following databases: ACS publications, Elsevier, Taylor and Francis, Wiley Online Library, MDPI, Springer, and Thieme. Thereupon, we have summarized and categorized 296 anthraquinones and their derivatives, some of which showed a variety of biological properties such as enzyme inhibition, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitubercular (against ), cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antifouling, and antioxidant activities. In addition, proposed biogenetic pathways of some anthraquinone derivatives are also discussed.
Topics: Anthraquinones; Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; Fungi; Penicillium; Polyketides
PubMed: 35892942
DOI: 10.3390/md20080474 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Aug 2023Mycetoma is one of the six Neglected Tropical Diseases that are prevalent in Turkana County (northwest Kenya). The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of...
Mycetoma is one of the six Neglected Tropical Diseases that are prevalent in Turkana County (northwest Kenya). The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of mycetoma in the county, as well as to describe the main causative agents involved in the disease using methods affordable locally. Based on the data collected by the team of cooperative medicine Cirugia en Turkana (Surgery in Turkana), a specific study for mycetoma was started during the 16th humanitarian medicine campaign in February 2019. Patients with suspected mycetoma were studied at the Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH). After informing the patient and getting their consent, the lesions were examined and sampled (mainly by biopsy) and clinical data were recorded. Samples were washed in sterile saline solution and cut in fragments. Some of these were inoculated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, Malt Extract Agar, and diluted Nutrient Agar plates. One fragment of each sample was used for DNA extraction. The DNA and the rest of the fragments of samples were kept at -20°C. All cultures were incubated at room temperature at the LCRH laboratory. The DNA obtained from clinical samples was submitted to PCR amplification of the ITS-5.8S and the V4-V5 16S rRNA gene region, for the detection and identification of fungi and bacteria respectively. From February 2019 till February 2022, 60 patients were studied. Most of them were men (43, 74,1%) between 13 and 78 y.o. (mean age 37). Half of the patients were herdsmen but, among women 40% (6) were housewives and 26.7% (4) charcoal burners. Lesions were mainly located at the feet (87.9%) and most of the patients (54; 93.1%) reported discharge of grains in the exudate, being 27 (46.6%) yellow or pale colored and 19 (32.8%) of them dark grains. Culture of clinical samples yielded 35 fungal and bacterial putative causative agents. Culture and molecular methods allowed the identification of a total of 21 causative agents of mycetoma (39.6% of cases studied). Most of them (17) corresponded to fungi causing eumycetoma (80.9%) being the most prevalent the genus Madurella (7; 41.2%), with two species involved (M. mycetomatis and M. fahalii), followed by Aspergillus (2; 11.8%). Other minority genera detected were Cladosporium, Fusarium, Acremonium, Penicillium, and Trichophyton (5.9% each of them). Actinobacteria were detected in 19.1% of samples, but only Streptomyces somaliensis was identified as a known agent of mycetoma, the rest being actinobacteria not previously described as causative agents of the disease, such as Cellulosimicrobium cellulans detected in two of the patients. Although Kenya is geographically located in the mycetoma belt, to our knowledge this is the first report on mycetoma in this country from 1973, and the first one for Turkana County.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Adult; Mycetoma; Kenya; Agar; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Madurella
PubMed: 37578968
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011327 -
Indian Journal of Microbiology Mar 2022Fungi are one of the most widely distributed microorganisms in the environment, including food such as fruits, vegetables and other crops, posing a potential threat to...
Fungi are one of the most widely distributed microorganisms in the environment, including food such as fruits, vegetables and other crops, posing a potential threat to food safety and human health. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity, intensity and drug resistance of potentially pathogenic filamentous fungi isolated from the fresh raspberries ( L.). A total of 50 strains belonging to genera , , , , , , and were tested for drug resistance against 11 antifungals by disc diffusion and gradient strips methods. The average mycological contamination in the examined samples of raspberries amounted to 4.34 log CFU/g. The was isolated from all tested samples, followed by and with a frequency of 61% and 34%, respectively. The highest level of drug resistance was observed for genera and strains recorded a wide variation in drug resistance as revealed by susceptibility with amphotericin B and voriconzole with MICs ranged from 0.5-4 µg/ml and posaconazole with MICs ranging from 3-8 µg/ml. All fungal strains showed 100% resistance to caspofungin, fluconazole and flucytosine with both the methods, and 100% resistance to micafungin and anidulafungin in the gradient strip method.
PubMed: 35068614
DOI: 10.1007/s12088-021-00966-y -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022Canastra cheese is the most well-known artisanal cheese produced in Brazil. Although its production includes a step to remove fungi from the cheese surface, in recent...
Canastra cheese is the most well-known artisanal cheese produced in Brazil. Although its production includes a step to remove fungi from the cheese surface, in recent years some cheesemakers have preserved the autochthonous fungi grown during ripening due to an interest in the sensory characteristics attributed to these microorganisms. In this work, the mycobiota of artisanal cheeses produced in the Canastra region was characterized based on ITS marker gene analysis. A total of 96 artisanal cheeses from 16 different farms across 9 cities were collected during two different periods (dry and wet seasons). The Canastra cheese mycobiota was significantly impacted by the season, the city of production and the farm but altitude did not affect the fungal community of the cheeses analyzed. was most abundant in the majority of samples across both seasons. During the wet season, and were the next most abundant species, followed by and These results highlight the importance of manufacturing practices and seasonality on the fungal composition of Canastra cheeses. These insights are particularly important in light of recent new regulation in Brazil, removing previous obstacles for surface fungi to persist on cheese. These new regulations will allow new approaches to cheese production, and ultimately, novel products.
PubMed: 36817100
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1076672 -
Neural Regeneration Research Sep 2019Fungi are important infectious disease-causing agents, but are often overlooked as environmental factors in disease. We review several lines of evidence that point to a... (Review)
Review
Fungi are important infectious disease-causing agents, but are often overlooked as environmental factors in disease. We review several lines of evidence that point to a potential fungal origin of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neurone disease. Approximately 90% cases of ALS are sporadic, and the aetiology of sporadic ALS is still unknown. We have previously postulated that grass or soil-associated fungal infections may be a leading cause of sporadic ALS. Herein we extend this proposal to water-associated fungi. A wide variety of fungi have been reported in drinking water including Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium and Trichoderma. Some of these are known to produce neurotoxic mycotoxins. Despite this, drinking water is not routinely monitored for fungal contamination. Fungal contamination could explain the close correlation between distribution of well water and cases of sporadic ALS in the United States. We propose several mechanisms by which an opportunistic fungal infection from environmental exposure (to water, soil or plants) can lead to long term neuronal degradation resulting in the hallmarks of ALS. If confirmed, the association between fungal infection and sporadic ALS could lead to novel treatment strategies for this progressive and fatal disease.
PubMed: 31089037
DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.255959