Antifungal Activity and Potential Action Mechanism of Allicin against Trichosporon asahii

Use of natural peptide TP4 as a food preservative prevents contamination by fungal pathogens

Molecules of natural origin often possess useful biological activities. For instance, the natural peptide Tilapia Piscidin 4 (TP4) exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens. In this study, we explored the potential application of TP4 as a food preservative, asking whether it can prevent spoilage due to microbial contamination. A preliminary in silico analysis indicated that TP4 should interact strongly with fungal cell membrane components. Hence, we tested the activity of TP4 toward Candida albicans within fruit juice and found that the addition of TP4 could abolish fungal growth. We further determined that the peptide acts via a membranolytic mechanism and displays concentration-dependent killing efficiency. In addition, we showed that TP4 inhibited growth of Rhizopus oryzae in whole fruit (tomato) samples. Based on these findings, we conclude that TP4 should be further evaluated as a potentially safe and green solution to prevent food spoilage.

Microbial diversity in earthen site of exhibition Hall of pit no. 1 at the terracotta warriors Museum in Emperor Qinshihuang's mausoleum site museum and its correlation with environmental factors

Introduction

Earthen sites are essential cultural relic resources, and site museums are a fundamental component of China's cultural heritage protection. The mausoleum of the Qin Shi Huang Emperor is one of the largest, most peculiar, and richest imperial tombs in the world. The exhibition hall of the burial pit No. 1 of the Terra Cotta Warriors is the earliest exhibition hall built and opened to the public. However, after years of excavation and open exhibitions, the earthen site of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum has deteriorated to varying degrees due to changes in the modern environment. There is an urgent need to control microbial diseases and protect the earthen site.

Methods

We analyzed the physical and chemical properties and bioindicators of the collected soil samples. We also established a metagenomic library and conducted a correlation analysis between microbial community composition and environmental factors. Cultivable fungi obtained from air and soil samples were identified, and allicin volatile gas fungistasis test was conducted.

Result

Research has found that four different areas of the exhibition hall have different types of microbial diseases owing to their different environments. The main pathogenic fungi in earthen site may lead to potential microbial diseases that affect important cultural relics such as the Terra Cotta Warriors. Penicillium, Aspergillus and Talaromyces showed relatively specific growth in relation to environmental factors and showed a better raw growth advantage.Allicin gas had a inhibitory effect on 12 types of fungi, therefore allicin gas had a potent inhibitory effect on the growth of the most culturable fungal hyphae.

Discussion

This study provides basic data for the study of microbial diversity in the exhibition hall of Pit No. 1 at the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. It provides a reference for future protection work, which is of great significance.

Combating Black Fungus: Using Allicin as a Potent Antifungal Agent against Mucorales

Invasive fungal (IF) diseases are a leading global cause of mortality, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic further exacerbated this scenario, intensifying comorbid IF infections such as mucormycoses of the nasopharynx. In the work reported here, it is shown that zygomycetes, significant contributors to mycoses, are sensitive to the natural product allicin. Inhibition of Mucorales fungi by allicin in solution and by allicin vapor was demonstrated. Mathematical modeling showed that the efficacy of allicin vapor is comparable to direct contact with the commercially available antifungal agent amphotericin B (ampB). Furthermore, the study revealed a synergistic interaction between allicin and the non-volatile ampB. The toxicity of allicin solution to human cell lines was evaluated and it was found that the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of allicin was 25-72 times higher in the cell lines as compared to the fungal spores. Fungal allicin sensitivity depends on the spore concentration, as demonstrated in a drop test. This study shows the potential of allicin, a sulfur-containing defense compound from garlic, to combat zygomycete fungi. The findings underscore allicin's promise for applications in infections of the nasopharynx via inhalation, suggesting a novel therapeutic avenue against challenging fungal infections.