(±)-Peniorthoesters A and B, Two Pairs of Novel Spiro-Orthoester en-antiomers With an Unusual 1,4,6-Trioxaspi-ro[4.5]decane-7-One Unit From Penicillium minioluteum

Natural Enantiomers: Occurrence, Biogenesis and Biological Properties

The knowledge that natural products (NPs) are potent and selective modulators of important biomacromolecules (e.g., DNA and proteins) has inspired some of the world's most successful pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Notwithstanding these successes and despite a growing number of reports on naturally occurring pairs of enantiomers, this area of NP science still remains largely unexplored, consistent with the adage "If you don't seek, you don't find". Statistically, a rapidly growing number of enantiomeric NPs have been reported in the last several years. The current review provides a comprehensive overview of recent records on natural enantiomers, with the aim of advancing awareness and providing a better understanding of the chemical diversity and biogenetic context, as well as the biological properties and therapeutic (drug discovery) potential, of enantiomeric NPs.

Talaromyces minioluteus: New Postharvest Fungal Pathogen in Serbia

Talaromyces minioluteus is one of the important species of genus Talaromyces, which has cosmopolitan distribution and is encountered on a wide range of different habitats. This species has not been considered as an important plant pathogen, even though it has been isolated from various plant hosts. Fruits and vegetables with Penicillium-like mold symptoms were collected from 2015 to 2017 from markets in Serbia. Isolates originating from quince, tomato, and orange fruits, onion bulbs, and potato tubers were identified and characterized on a morphological, physiological, and molecular level. Morphological and physiological examination included observing micromorphology, testing growth on six different media and at five different temperatures, and production of three enzymes. Molecular identification and characterization were performed using four molecular markers: internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II second largest subunit. The results of morphological and molecular analyses were in agreement, and they proved that the obtained isolates are T. minioluteus. In the pathogenicity assay, T. minioluteus was confirmed as a pathogen of all species tested with the exception of potato tubers. This is the first report of T. minioluteus as a postharvest plant pathogen on quince, tomato, and orange fruit and onion bulbs. Also, this is the first record of T. minioluteus in Serbia.

Canescones A–E: aromatic polyketide dimers with PTP1B inhibitory activity from Penicillium canescens

Canescones A–E (1–5), aromatic polyketide dimers bearing unprecedented 5/6/6/6/5 heteropentacyclic ring skeletons with novel scaffolds, were isolated from Penicillium canescens.