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Mycological Progress 2022Perylenequinones (PQs) are aromatic polyketides with an oxidized pentacyclic core that make up a family of natural compounds. Naturally occurring PQs mostly are produced... (Review)
Review
Perylenequinones (PQs) are aromatic polyketides with an oxidized pentacyclic core that make up a family of natural compounds. Naturally occurring PQs mostly are produced by phytopathogenic fungi, with few aphides, crinoids, and plants. PQs, also known as photosensitizers, absorb light energy which empowers them to produce reactive oxygen species that damage host cells. Therefore, PQs gained a considerable interest in pharmaceutical application notably in photodynamic therapy. This review presents a comprehensive overview of fungal PQs. Their occurrence, categorization, biosynthesis, structures, and bioactivities are all discussed in detail. After that, an analysis outlines their distribution across the kingdom of fungi. A total of 66 fungal PQs have been described from 22 ascomycete genera (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and ). account for the majority of documented fungal PQs (82%), followed by (14%), (3%), and (1%). Herein, five families , , , , and are highlighted as potential sources of novel PQs due to their diversity. The review intends to pique bioprospectors' interest in fungal PQs. Indeed, the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries might gain greatly by exploiting fungal perylenequinones. Graphical abstract.
PubMed: 35401071
DOI: 10.1007/s11557-022-01790-4 -
Persoonia Jun 2020Fresh collections and their ascospore and conidial isolates backed up by type studies and molecular phylogenetic analyses of a multigene matrix of partial nuSSU-,...
Fresh collections and their ascospore and conidial isolates backed up by type studies and molecular phylogenetic analyses of a multigene matrix of partial nuSSU-, complete ITS, partial LSU rDNA, , and sequences were used to evaluate the boundaries and species composition of and related genera of the . Eight species, of which five are new, are recognised in s.str., 13 in with eight new species and two in the new genus with one new species. is combined in , in , and in . is distinct from and combined in . is a synonym of , which is combined in . is synonymous with , with , with , and is synonymous with , and the latter is lectotypified. , and are lecto- and epitypified, , , and are epitypified in order to stabilise the names in their phylogenetic positions. A neotype is proposed for . A determinative key to species is given. Asexual morphs of fenestelloid fungi are phoma-like and do not differ from those of other representatives of the . The phylogenetic structure of the fenestelloid clades is complex and can only be resolved at the species level by protein-coding genes, such as , and . All fungal species studied here occur, as far as has been possible to determine, on members of , most frequently on asexual and sexual morphs of .
PubMed: 33116334
DOI: 10.3767/persoonia.2020.44.01 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Coelomycetous fungi are among the emerging causes of infections and have been involved in many kinds of infections, including keratitis and endophtalmitis. Here, we...
Coelomycetous fungi are among the emerging causes of infections and have been involved in many kinds of infections, including keratitis and endophtalmitis. Here, we present the first case of keratitis caused by a coelomycetous fungus belonging to the family Cucurbitariaceae. In this case report, we describe the clinical presentation of a 56-year-old woman, a regular contact lens wearer, who was treated for pain in her right eye and fixed spot vision after an injury with plant debris. On examination, a corneal ulcer was observed, the foreign body was removed, and topical eye-drop therapy was started. After an initial improvement, the patient returned three weeks later due to a recurrence of discomfort in her right eye, observing the persistence of the corneal ulcer. Corneal scrapings were taken for culture, growing a filamentous fungus after seven days, which was identified by sequencing the fungal internal transcribed spacer region. It should be noted that microbiological identification of the coelomycetes in the clinical laboratory is not easy because of their difficulty in sporulating, making molecular techniques based on the amplification and sequencing of appropriate phylogenetic markers essential. Identification of these fungi is mandatory in order to optimise treatment due to the difficulty in eradicating them with antifungal treatment, requiring surgery in 50% of cases.
PubMed: 36675829
DOI: 10.3390/jof9010008 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2020Intensive greenhouse vegetable cultivation aggravates continuous cropping, resulting in the disturbance of the microbial community structure and the diversity of the...
Intensive greenhouse vegetable cultivation aggravates continuous cropping, resulting in the disturbance of the microbial community structure and the diversity of the soil matrix. In this study, we evaluated the diversity of the rhizosphere matrix fungi in rotation and continuous cropping systems by using high-throughput sequencing analysis of substrates under 6-years of continuous tomato cropping and rotation with cabbage, bean, or celery in greenhouse pots. The results showed that fungal richness in the Chinese cabbage rotation treatment (B) was significantly lower than that of other treatments, and fungal diversities of treatment B and the bean rotation treatment (D) were significantly lower than that of continuous tomato cropping (CK). Contrastingly, the celery rotation treatment (Q) increased the fungal diversity and richness. Furthermore, a principal coordinate analysis showed that the fungal soil community structure of each rotation treatment was different from that of CK. The relative abundances of several harmful fungi (such as , , and ) in control CK were significantly higher than those in rotation treatments. In addition, the matrix electrical conductivity, organic matter, total K, and available P in treatments B and D were significantly higher than those in control CK. Moreover, pH and total N of treatment Q were significantly higher than those of control CK. Most fungi were positively correlated with organic matter and available P and negatively correlated with pH. Therefore, rotation with celery could improve the abundance and diversity of fungi in continuous tomato cropping substrates and reduce the relative abundance of harmful fungi. These results indicated that the rotation of celery and tomato could effectively maintain the ecological balance of the substrate microenvironment and provide a more effective way to prevent the problems of continuous tomato cropping in greenhouse.
PubMed: 32508762
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00829 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2022Moso bamboo () has an extremely fast growth rate and major carbon sequestration potential. However, little information is available on the dynamics of soil C...
Moso bamboo () has an extremely fast growth rate and major carbon sequestration potential. However, little information is available on the dynamics of soil C accumulation and fungi communities related to different management practices. Here, we investigated changes in the soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and fungal communities of a Moso bamboo plantation under three different management practices (M0: undisturbed; M1: extensively managed; and M2: intensively managed). Compared with M0, SOC levels were reduced by 41.2% and 71.5% in M1 and M2, respectively; furthermore, four SOC fractions (C1: very labile; C2: labile; C3: less labile; and C4: nonlabile) and the carbon management index (CMI) were also significantly reduced by plantation management. These practices further altered fungal communities, for example, by increasing and , and by decreasing and . , , , and were identified as keystone taxa. Soil fungal communities were significantly related to the pH, NH-N, AP, C3, and the C4 fractions of SOC. Random forest modeling identified soil C3 and as the most important predictors of the CMI. Our results suggest that reducing human interference would be beneficial for fungal community improvement and C sequestration in Moso bamboo plantations.
PubMed: 35736123
DOI: 10.3390/jof8060640 -
Microbiological Research Mar 2020Microbial diversity in Peruvian mountain areas is poorly know, specially endophytic microorganisms of medicinal native plants from the Cordillera Blanca. So, nine...
Microbial diversity in Peruvian mountain areas is poorly know, specially endophytic microorganisms of medicinal native plants from the Cordillera Blanca. So, nine bacterial and six fungal species were isolated from Gentianella weberbaueri and Valeriana pycnantha. According to 16S rDNA analysis, bacterial strains belong to genera Rahnella, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Rouxiella, and Bacillus; while ITS analysis showed that fungi belong to Pyrenochaeta, Scleroconidioma, Cryptococcus, and Plenodomus genera. Rahnella sp. GT24B and P. trivialis VT20B solubilized tricalcium phosphate and produced siderophores at 10 and 24 °C. Five bacteria strains produced indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) at 10 and 24 °C, where Rahnella sp. VT19B showed more production at 10 °C than 24 °C. Rahnella sp. GT24B, Serratia sp. VT28B, and Rahnella sp. GT25B inhibited Fusarium oxysporum growth up to 100, 78 and 74 %, respectively. R. inusitata VT25B and B. licheniformis GT10B showed high cellulolytic and proteolytic activities. On the other hand, only a few fungi moderately inhibited growth of F. oxysporum, and produced siderophores and cellulases. Most of bacteria inoculated on Medicago sativa "alfalfa" and Triticum aestivum "wheat" seeds got better root development, especially Rahnella sp. GT24B, Rouxiella sp.VT24B, Serratia sp. VT28B, and Rahnella sp. VT34B. Finally, this study is the first report of endophytic microorganisms associated to wild medicinal high-mountain Peruvian plants and it show a valuable microbial diversity and its possible role in promoting growth of crops and wild medicinal plants.
Topics: Bacteria; Crops, Agricultural; Endophytes; Fungi; Gentianella; Indoleacetic Acids; Peru; Phylogeny; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Valerian
PubMed: 31981904
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126413 -
American Journal of Ophthalmology Case... Dec 2022(syn. ) is a rare fungal species belonging to the Coelomycetes group, mostly isolated from infected nails and skin.We present a case of contact lens-related fungal...
PURPOSE
(syn. ) is a rare fungal species belonging to the Coelomycetes group, mostly isolated from infected nails and skin.We present a case of contact lens-related fungal keratitis caused by .
OBSERVATIONS
We present a case of a 69-year-old woman with multiple risk factors for a fungal keratitis including ophthalmological history of herpetic keratitis, contact lens wear and chronic steroid use. At presentation, the corneal ulcer resembled a recurrent herpetic keratitis but evolved into a more dense stromal infiltrate despite antiviral therapy. Microscopic examination, culture and staining of corneal tissue obtained by scraping showed mycelia. PCR and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of . Topical antifungal treatment was able to dim the inflammation. Because of a persistent epithelial defect, an amniotic membrane transplantation was performed. Although corneal epithelium was restored, stromal scarring in the visual axis resulted in substantial vision loss.
CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge no other cases of fungal keratitis caused by have been described Early diagnosis can allow prompt initiation of antifungal treatment, which should be guided by susceptibility testing.
PubMed: 36312788
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101731 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Members of are broadly distributed across subtropical and tropical areas of southwest and southern China. This host provides multiple substrates that can be richly...
Members of are broadly distributed across subtropical and tropical areas of southwest and southern China. This host provides multiple substrates that can be richly colonized by numerous undescribed fungal species. There is a severe lack of microfungal studies on in China, and consequently, the diversity, phylogeny and taxonomy of these microorganisms are all largely unknown. This paper presents two new genera and four new species in three orders of Dothideomycetes gathered from dead twigs of in Honghe, China. All new collections were made within a selected area in Honghe from a single sp. This suggests high fungal diversity in the region and the existence of numerous species awaiting discovery. Multiple gene sequences (non-translated loci and protein-coding regions) were analysed with maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Results from the phylogenetic analyses supported placing gen. et sp. in the Teratosphaeriaceae family. Analysis of sequences resulted in sp. nov., while analysed Lophiostomataceae sequences revealed gen. et sp. nov. Finally, phylogeny based on a combined dataset of pyrenochaeta-like sequences demonstrates strong statistical support for placing sp. nov. in Parapyrenochaetaceae. Morphological and updated phylogenetic circumscriptions of the new discoveries are also discussed.
PubMed: 33802406
DOI: 10.3390/jof7030180 -
Marine Drugs Jun 2022Mangrove-associated fungi are rich sources of novel and bioactive compounds. A total of 102 fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal mangrove collected from the...
Mangrove-associated fungi are rich sources of novel and bioactive compounds. A total of 102 fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal mangrove collected from the South China Sea. Eighty-four independent culturable isolates were identified using a combination of morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses, of which thirty-seven strains were selected for phylogenetic analysis. The identified fungi belonged to 22 genera within seven taxonomic orders of one phyla, of which four genera , , , and were first isolated from mangroves. The cytotoxic activity of organic extracts from 55 identified fungi was evaluated against human lung cancer cell lines (A-549), human cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa), human hepatoma cells (HepG2), and human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (Jurkat). The crude extracts of 31 fungi (56.4%) displayed strong cytotoxicity at the concentration of 50 μg/mL. Furthermore, the fungus sp. (HS-N-27) still showed strong cytotoxic activity at the concentration of 25 µg/mL. Integrating cytotoxic activity-guided strategy and fingerprint analysis, a well-known natural Golgi-disruptor and Arf-GEFs inhibitor, brefeldin A, was isolated from the target active strain HS-N-27. It displayed potential activity against A549, HeLa and HepG2 cell lines with the IC values of 101.2, 171.9 and 239.1 nM, respectively. Therefore, combining activity-guided strategy with fingerprint analysis as a discovery tool will be implemented as a systematic strategy for quick discovery of active compounds.
Topics: Acanthaceae; Antineoplastic Agents; Ascomycota; Brefeldin A; Fungi; Gene Library; Humans; Phylogeny
PubMed: 35877725
DOI: 10.3390/md20070432 -
The Science of the Total Environment May 2021The role of endophytic fungi isolated from different populations of European Ni hyperaccumulators was investigated in regard to the microorganisms' ability to enhance...
The role of endophytic fungi isolated from different populations of European Ni hyperaccumulators was investigated in regard to the microorganisms' ability to enhance the hyperaccumulation of Ni in Noccaea caerulescens. Effects of particular species of endophytic fungi on adaptation of N. caerulescens to excess Ni were tested by co-cultivation with single strains of the fungi. Seven of these had a positive effect on plant biomass production, whereas two of the tested species inhibited plant growth; biomass production of inoculated plants was significantly different compared to non-inoculated control. Inoculation with six fungal strains: Embellisia thlaspis, Pyrenochaeta cava, Phomopsis columnaris, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Alternaria sp. stimulated the plant to uptake and accumulate more Ni in both roots and shoots, compared to non-inoculated control. P. columnaris was isolated from all plant species sampled. Strains isolated from Noccaea caerulescens and Noccaea goesingensis increased Ni root and shoot accumulation of their native hosts (compared to non-inoculated control). Inoculation of different populations of Noccaea with P. columnaris of foreign origin did not cause its host to accumulate more Ni, with the exception of the Ni-unadapted ecotype of N. goesingensis. Inoculation with P. columnaris from N. caerulescens significantly improved Ni uptake, but the effect of the fungus was not as prominent as in the case of N. caerulescens. By comparing the transcriptomes of N. caerulescens and N. goesingensis from Flatz inoculated with P. columnaris, we showed that enhanced uptake and accumulation of Ni in the plants is accompanied by an upregulation of several genes mainly involved in plant stress protection and metal uptake and compartmentation.
Topics: Ascomycota; Brassicaceae; Cladosporium; Fungi; Nickel
PubMed: 33736318
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144666