A new polyketide synthase−nonribosomal peptide synthetase hybrid metabolite from plant endophytic fungus Periconia sp

Bioprospecting endophytic fungi for bioactive metabolites with seed germination promoting potentials

There is an urgent need for new bioactive molecules with unique mechanisms of action and chemistry to address the issue of incorrect use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which hurts both the environment and the health of humans. In light of this, research was done for this work to isolate, identify, and evaluate the germination-promoting potential of various plant species' fungal endophytes. Zea mays L. (maize) seed germination was examined using spore suspension of 75 different endophytic strains that were identified. Three promising strains were identified through screening to possess the ability mentioned above. These strains Alternaria alternate, Aspergilus flavus, and Aspergillus terreus were isolated from the stem of Tecoma stans, Delonix regia, and Ricinus communis, respectively. The ability of the three endophytic fungal strains to produce siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) was also examined. Compared to both Aspergillus flavus as well as Aspergillus terreus, Alternaria alternata recorded the greatest rates of IAA, according to the data that was gathered. On CAS agar versus blue media, all three strains failed to produce siderophores. Moreover, the antioxidant and antifungal potentials of extracts from these fungi were tested against different plant pathogens. The obtained results indicated the antioxidant and antifungal activities of the three fungal strains. GC-Mass studies were carried out to determine the principal components in extracts of all three strains of fungi. The three strains' fungus extracts included both well-known and previously unidentified bioactive compounds. These results may aid in the development of novel plant growth promoters by suggesting three different fungal strains as sources of compounds that may improve seed germination. According to the study that has been given, as unexplored sources of bioactive compounds, fungal endophytes have great potential.

Biological activities of endophytic fungi isolated from Annona muricata Linnaeus: a systematic review

Abstract This systematic review integrates the data available in the literature regarding the biological activities of the extracts of endophytic fungi isolated from Annona muricata and their secondary metabolites. The search was performed using four electronic databases, and studies' quality was evaluated using an adapted assessment tool. The initial database search yielded 436 results; ten studies were selected for inclusion. The leaf was the most studied part of the plant (in nine studies); Periconia sp. was the most tested fungus (n = 4); the most evaluated biological activity was anticancer (n = 6), followed by antiviral (n = 3). Antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities were also tested. Terpenoids or terpenoid hybrid compounds were the most abundant chemical metabolites. Phenolic compounds, esters, alkaloids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, aromatic compounds, and peptides were also reported. The selected studies highlighted the biotechnological potentiality of the endophytic fungi extracts from A. muricata. Consequently, it can be considered a promising source of biological compounds with antioxidant effects and active against different microorganisms and cancer cells. Further research is needed involving different plant tissues, other microorganisms, such as SARS-CoV-2, and different cancer cells.

Two new 5/6/6 polyketide-amino acid hybrids from a genetic mutant of Periconia sp. F-31

Peridecalins C and D (1 and 2), one decalin and one oxygen-decalin containing polyketide-amino acid hybrids with 5/6/6 ring system, was isolated from a genetic mutant of Periconia sp. F-31. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 1 D/2D NMR and HR-MS spectra. Biosynthetically, two proposed Diels-Alder reactions are supposed to be involved in the skeleton construction of 1 and 2.

The Chemistry and Pharmacology of Fungal Genus Periconia: A Review

Periconia is filamentous fungi belonging to the Periconiaceae family, and over the last 50 years, the genus has shown interest in natural product exploration for pharmacological purposes. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the different species of Periconia containing natural products such as terpenoids, polyketides, cytochalasan, macrosphelides, cyclopentenes, aromatic compounds, and carbohydrates carbasugar derivates. The isolated compound of this kind, which was reported in 1969, consisted of polyketide derivatives and their structures and was determined by chemical reaction and spectroscopic methods. After some years, 77 compounds isolated from endophytic fungus Periconia were associated with eight plant species, 28 compounds from sea hare Aplysia kurodai, and ten from endolichenic fungi Parmelia sp. The potent pharmacological agents from this genus are periconicin A, which acts as an antimicrobial, pericochlorosin B as an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), peribysin D, and pericosine A as cytotoxic agents, and periconianone A as an anti-inflammatory agent. Furthermore, information about taxol and piperine from Periconia producing species was also provided. Therefore, this study supports discovering new drugs produced by the Periconia species and compares them for future drug development.

Z, Cubilla-Rios L. Structurally Uncommon Secondary Metabolites Derived from Endophytic Fungi

Among microorganisms, endophytic fungi are the least studied, but they have attracted attention due to their high biological diversity and ability to produce novel and bioactive secondary metabolites to protect their host plant against biotic and abiotic stress. These compounds belong to different structural classes, such as alkaloids, peptides, terpenoids, polyketides, and steroids, which could present significant biological activities that are useful for pharmacological or medical applications. Recent reviews on endophytic fungi have mainly focused on the production of novel bioactive compounds. Here, we focus on compounds produced by endophytic fungi, reported with uncommon bioactive structures, establishing the neighbor net and diversity of endophytic fungi. The review includes compounds published from January 2015 to December 2020 that were catalogued as unprecedented, rare, uncommon, or possessing novel structural skeletons from more than 39 different genera, with Aspergillus and Penicillium being the most mentioned. They were reported as displaying cytotoxic, antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, or anti-inflammatory activity. The solid culture, using rice as a carbon source, was the most common medium utilized in the fermentation process when this type of compound was isolated.

Applications of microbial co-cultures in polyketides production

Polyketides are a large group of natural biomolecules that are normally produced by bacteria, fungi and plants. These molecules have clinical importance due to their anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyketides are biosynthesized from units of acyl-CoA by different polyketide synthases (PKSs), which display wide diversity of functional domains and mechanisms of action between fungi and bacteria. Co-culture of different micro-organisms can produce novel products distinctive from those produced during single cultures. This study compared the new polyketides produced in such co-culture systems and discusses aspects of the cultivation systems, product structures and identification techniques. Current results indicate that the formation of new polyketides may be the result of activation of previously silent PKSs genes induced during co-culture. This review indicated a potential way to produce pure therapeutic polyketides by microbial fermentation and a potential way to develop functional foods and agricultural products using co-co-culture of different micro-organisms. It also pointed out a new perspective for studies on the process of functional foods, especially those involving multiple micro-organisms.

Total Synthesis of Pericoannosin A

The first total synthesis of pericoannosin A (1) containing 15 steps in the longest linear sequence with an overall yield of 5.5% is reported. The hybrid peptide-polyketide was isolated from the endophytic fungus Periconia sp. F-31 and bears a unique tricyclic core structure. The key steps are a glycolate aldol reaction and a Diels-Alder reaction utilizing an Evans auxiliary for controlling the stereochemistry. Furthermore, a late-stage equilibration was employed.

Structural Diversity and Biological Activities of Novel Secondary Metabolites from Endophytes

Exploration of structurally novel natural products greatly facilitates the discovery of biologically active pharmacophores that are biologically validated starting points for the development of new drugs. Endophytes that colonize the internal tissues of plant species, have been proven to produce a large number of structurally diverse secondary metabolites. These molecules exhibit remarkable biological activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, to name but a few. This review surveys the structurally diverse natural products with new carbon skeletons, unusual ring systems, or rare structural moieties that have been isolated from endophytes between 1996 and 2016. It covers their structures and bioactivities. Biosynthesis and/or total syntheses of some important compounds are also highlighted. Some novel secondary metabolites with marked biological activities might deserve more attention from chemists and biologists in further studies.

Differentiated surface fungal communities at point of harvest on apple fruits from rural and peri-urban orchards

The diverse fungal communities that colonize fruit surfaces are closely associated with fruit development, preservation and quality control. However, the overall fungi adhering to the fruit surface and the inference of environmental factors are still unknown. Here, we characterized the fungal signatures on apple surfaces by sequencing internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region. We collected the surface fungal communities from apple fruits cultivated in rural and peri-urban orchards. A total of 111 fungal genera belonging to 4 phyla were identified, showing remarkable fungal diversity on the apple surface. Comparative analysis of rural samples harboured higher fungal diversity than those from peri-urban orchards. In addition, fungal composition varied significantly across apple samples. At the genus level, the protective genera Coniothyrium, Paraphaeosphaeria and Periconia were enriched in rural samples. The pathogenic genera Acremonium, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Tilletiposis were enriched in peri-urban samples. Our findings indicate that rural samples maintained more diverse fungal communities on apple surfaces, whereas peri-urban-planted apple carried potential pathogenic risks. This study sheds light on ways to improve fruit cultivation and disease prevention practices.

Bysspectin A, an unusual octaketide dimer and the precursor derivatives from the endophytic fungus Byssochlamys spectabilis IMM0002 and their biological activities

Bysspectin A (1), a polyketide-derived octaketide dimer with a novel carbon skeleton, and two new precursor derivatives, bysspectins B and C (2 and 3), were obtained from an organic extract of the endophytic fungus Byssochlamys spectabilis that had been isolated from a leaf tissue of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Edgeworthia chrysantha, together with a known octaketide, paecilocin A (4). Their structures were determined by HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. A plausible route for their biosynthetic pathway is proposed. Compounds 1-3 were tested for their antimicrobial activities. Only compound 3 was weakly active against Escherichia coli and Staphyloccocus aureus with MIC values of 32 and 64 μg/mL, respectively. Further, the inhibitory effects on human carboxylesterases (hCE1, hCE2) of compounds 1 and 4 were evaluated. The results demonstrated that bysspectin A (1) was a novel and highly selective inhibitor against hCE2 with the IC₅₀ value of 2.01 μM. Docking simulation also demonstrated that active compound 1 created interaction with the Ser-288 (the catalytic amino-acid in the catalytic cavity) of hCE2 via hydrogen bonding, revealing its highly selective inhibition toward hCE2.

A new p-hydroxybenzoic acid derivative from an endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. of Nerium indicum

A new p-hydroxybenzoic acid derivative named 4-(2'R, 4'-dihydroxybutoxy) benzoic acid (1) was isolated from the fermentation of Penicillium sp. R22 in Nerium indicum. The structure was elucidated by means of spectroscopic (HR-ESI-MS, NMR, IR, UV) and X-ray crystallographic methods. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of compound 1 was tested, and the results showed that compound 1 revealed potent antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Alternaria alternata, and Alteranria brassicae with MIC value of 31.2 μg/ml.

Neural anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenoids from the endophytic fungus Trichoderma sp. Xy24

Three new sesquiterpenoids trichoacorenols B-C and cyclonerodiol B (1-3), along with three known ones (4-6), were isolated from the mangrove plant endophytic fungus Trichoderma sp. Xy24 using various column chromatography techniques. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analyses. Compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 were four acorane sesquiterpenes, 3 and 6 were two monocyclic sesquiterpenediols. Compounds 3 and 5 exhibited significant neural anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting LPS-induced NO production in BV2 cells with the inhibitory rates of 75.0% and 39.2% at 0.1 μM, respectively, which are more potent than curcumin, a positive control with the inhibitory rate of 21.1% at 0.1 μM.