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One new 2,5-DKP derivative O-dihydroxycyclopenol (1) and seven known congeners 2–8 were isolated from the marine fungus Penicillium sp. ZJUT-34 cultured on rice medium. The planar structure of 1 was established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS, while the relative configuration of 1 was determined by quantum chemical calculation. In the QS inhibitory assay, 1 significantly inhibited the production of violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC12472 (20.65%) at a concentration of 6.25 μg/mL without affecting the growth of the strain, as compared with norharmane (22.14%), a quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) identified in our previous study. It represented the first report on the QS inhibitory activity of the seven-membered 2,5-DKPs. In addition, compounds 1–8 were subjected to antibacterial assay against six pathogenic bacteria Compound 8 exhibited comparable antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis FA2-2 (MIC = 96 μg/mL) with the positive control gentamicin (MIC = 80 μg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The potential for the efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass has been extensively explored to produce a wide range of bioproducts. Many approaches have been sought for the deep conversion of lignin to generate products that are toxin‐free and beneficial for processing into high‐value‐added components.This study reported a fungus isolated from the deep sea with strong synthesis of multiple lignocellulases, conversion of lignin and guaiacol (0.1%) by 71.6% and 86.1% within 9 days at 30 °C respectively, and outstanding environmental adaptability (20–50 °C and pH 3–8). Metabolic pathway profiling showed that this fungus utilized lignin to rapidly activate multiple ring‐opening reactions including the 2,3‐ and 3,4‐cleavage pathways, with the 2,3‐cleavage pathway predominating after 5 days. Conversion of metabolic intermediates confirmed the superb potential of this strain for lignin treatment. Meanwhile, its shikimic acid pathway was metabolically active under lignin.This further expands the potential to produce valuable bioproducts during lignin treatment, especially under ambient conditions, which can significantly enhance high‐value precursor compound production. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For several decades, products derived from marine natural sources (PMN) have been widely identified for several therapeutic applications due to their rich sources of bioactive sub-stances, unique chemical diversity, biocompatibility and excellent biological activity. For the past 15 years, our research team explored several PMNs, especially fungi fibrinolytic compounds (FGFCs). FGFC is an isoindolone alkaloid derived from marine fungi, also known as staplabin analogs or Stachybotrys microspora triprenyl phenol (SMTP). For instance, our previous studies explored different types of FGFCs such as FGFC 1, 2, 3 and 4 from the marine fungi Stachybotrys longispora FG216 derived metabolites. The derivatives of FGFC are potentially employed in several disease treatments, mainly for stroke, cancer, ischemia, acute kidney injury, inflammation, cerebral infarction, thrombolysis and hemorrhagic activities, etc. Due to the increasing use of FGFCs in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, it is important to understand the fundamental signaling concept of FGFCs. Hence, for the first time, this review collectively summarizes the background, types, mode of action and biological applications of FGFCs and their current endeavors for future therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphelids are a poorly known group of algal parasites that have raised considerable interest because of their pivotal phylogenetic position as a sister lineage to the kingdom Fungi. Recent breakthroughs in sampling, sequencing, and bioinformatical analyses of environmental nucleic acids have revealed a magnificent biodiversity of aphelids. Nevertheless, only four genera have been described, Aphelidium, Paraphelidium, Amoeboaphelidium, and Pseudaphelidium. Among these, 18S rRNA gene sequences are available for all except for the marine genus Pseudaphelidium. Most of the environmental nucleic acid data is from analyses of freshwater samples. We isolated two new marine aphelid strains, X-138 and X-139, and herein describe the life cycle of Protaphelidium rhizoclonii gen. et sp. nov., a parasite of the green alga Rhizoclonium sp., and provide the first 18S rRNA gene sequences for cultivated marine aphelids. The new marine aphelid life cycle is mostly typical for aphelids but also includes previously undescribed stages. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that Protaphelidium rhizoclonii is a member of an environmental clade at the base of the aphelid tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine-derived fungi are assuming an increasingly central role in the search for natural leading compounds with unique chemical structures and diverse pharmacological properties. However, some gene clusters are not expressed under laboratory conditions. In this study, we have found that a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SYPUF29 would survive well by adding an exogenous nitric oxide donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) and nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor (L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, L-NAME) in culture conditions. Moreover, using the LC-MS/MS, we initially assessed and characterized the difference in metabolites of Aspergillus sp. SYPUF29 with or without an additional source of nitrogen. We have found that the metabolic pathway of Arginine and proline metabolism pathways was highly enriched, which was conducive to the accumulation of alkaloids and nitrogen-containing compounds after adding an additional source of nitrogen in the cultivated condition. Additionally, the in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory study showed that the extracts after SNP and L-NAME were administrated can potently inhibit LPS-induced NO-releasing of BV2 cells with lower IC50 value than without nitric oxide. Further Western blotting assays have demonstrated that the mechanism of these extracts was associated with the TLR4 signaling pathway. Additionally, the chemical investigation was conducted and led to nine compounds (SF1–SF9) from AS1; and six of them belonged to alkaloids and nitrogen-containing compounds (SF1–SF6), of which SF1, SF2, and SF8 exhibited stronger activities than the positive control, and showed potential to develop the inhibitors of neuroinflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobins (HFBs) and cerato-platanins (CPs) are surface-active extracellular proteins produced by filamentous fungi. This study identified two HFB genes (pshyd1 and pshyd2) and one CP gene (pscp) in the marine fungus Paradendryphiella salina. The proteins PsCP, PsHYD2, and PsHYD1 had molecular weights of 12.70, 6.62, and 5.98 kDa, respectively, with isoelectric points below 7. PsHYD1 and PsHYD2 showed hydrophobicity (GRAVY score 0.462), while PsCP was hydrophilic (GRAVY score − 0.202). Stability indices indicated in-solution stability. Mass spectrometry identified 2,922 proteins, including CP but not HFB proteins. qPCR revealed differential gene expression influenced by developmental stage and substrate, with pshyd1 consistently expressed. These findings suggest P. salina’s adaptation to marine ecosystems with fewer hydrophobin genes than other fungi but capable of producing surface-active proteins from seaweed carbohydrates. These proteins have potential applications in medical biocoatings, food industry foam stabilizers, and environmental bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Targeted melanoma therapies, including treatment with the small molecule drug dabrafenib, can become ineffective due to acquired drug resistance. Dabrafenib targets BRAF‐V600E, a mutation that is present in more than half of melanoma cancers. Therefore, drug discovery efforts need to explore alternative candidate molecules that selectively target and kill melanoma cells via mechanisms different to those of current drugs. Marine fungi are an underexplored resource for bioactive molecules. Mortiamide‐D, a seven amino acid cyclic peptide from Mortierella sp, is an example molecule with desirable features for drug development. We synthesized mortiamide‐D and three rationally designed analogs and observed modest micromolar activity against HT144 melanoma cells that are sensitive or resistant to dabrafenib. By contrast, mortiamide‐D and analogs did not kill noncancer HaCaT cells at these concentrations. Substitution of D‐Ile at position 7 with D‐Arg improved membrane permeability and enhanced potency against HT144 cells via a mode‐of‐action that includes perturbation of mitochondrial membrane potential. These studies suggest the potential of mortiamides as modifiable scaffolds for developing a new class of molecule for targeting melanoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is still one of the greatest threats to human health. Marine fungi are abundant in constituents that can cause various bioactivities for many purposes. Compounds are the basis of drug development, leading to more studies on exploring these bioactive items. In this study, 9 compounds were isolated from Penicillium terrigenum. Four compounds isolated from the Trichocomaceae family, two compounds isolated from the Penicillium genus, as well as the other compounds, were all isolated from this strain for the first time. Compounds PTL-1 - PTL-6 were initially screened for antiproliferative activity on liver and lung cancer cells using the MTT assay in vitro. The results showed that the 6 compounds exhibited different antiproliferative activities. From the results, PTL-2, 7-ethylcamptothecin significantly inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells, highlighting it as a potential drug or lead compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the culturable fungal community recovered from deep marine sediments in the maritime Antarctic, and assessed their capabilities to produce exoenzymes, emulsifiers and metabolites with phytotoxic activity. Sixty-eight Ascomycota fungal isolates were recovered and identified. The most abundant taxon recovered was the yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii, followed by the filamentous fungi Penicillium chrysogenum, P. cf. palitans, Pseudeurotium cf. bakeri, Thelebolus balaustiformis, Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus and Cladosporium sp. Diversity indices displayed low values overall, with the highest values obtained at shallow depth, decreasing to the deepest location sampled. Only M. guilliermondii and P. cf. palitans were detected in the sediments at all depths sampled, and were the most abundant taxa at all sample sites. The most abundant enzymes detected were proteases, followed by invertases, cellulases, lipases, carrageenases, agarases, pectinases and esterases. Four isolates showed good biosurfactant activity, particularly the endemic species A. psychrotrophicus. Twenty-four isolates of P. cf. palitans displayed strong phytotoxic activities against the models Lactuca sativa and Allium schoenoprasum. The cultivable fungi recovered demonstrated good biosynthetic activity in the production of hydrolytic exoenzymes, biosurfactant molecules and metabolites with phytotoxic activity, reinforcing the importance of documenting the taxonomic, ecological and biotechnological properties of fungi present in deep oceanic sediments of the Southern Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Indonesian Fisheries Processing Journal / Jurnal Pengolahan Hasil Perikanan Indonesia is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Despite a rising interest in the diversity and ecology of fungi in marine environments, there are few published genomes of fungi isolated from the ocean. The basidiomycetous yeast (unicellular fungus) genus Rhodotorula are prevalent and abundant in the open ocean, and they have been isolated from a wide range of other environments. Many of these environments are nutrient poor, such as the Antarctica and the Atacama deserts, raising the question as to how Rhodotorula yeasts may have adapted their metabolic strategies to optimize survival under low nutrient conditions. In order to understand their adaptive strategies in the ocean, the genome of R. sphaerocarpa ETNP2018 was compared to that of fourteen representative Rhodotorula yeasts, isolated from a variety of environments. RESULTS: Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa ETNP2018, a strain isolated from the oligotrophic part of the eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP) oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), hosts the smallest of the fifteen genomes and yet the number of protein-coding genes it possesses is on par with the other strains. Its genome exhibits a distinct reduction in genes dedicated to Major Facilitator Superfamily transporters as well as biosynthetic enzymes. However, its core metabolic pathways are fully conserved. Our research indicates that the selective pressures of the ETNP OMZ favor a streamlined genome with reduced overall biosynthetic potential balanced by a stable set of core metabolisms and an expansion of mechanisms for nutrient acquisition. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study offers insights into the adaptation of fungi to the oligotrophic ocean and provides valuable information for understanding the ecological roles of fungi in the ocean.

Abstract The escalating threat posed by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) to global health necessitates the urgent discovery of effective antiviral agents, as there are currently no specific drugs available for its treatment, and existing inhibitors are hindered by toxicity and poor pharmacokinetic profiles. This study aimed to identify potent MPXV inhibitors by screening a diverse library of small molecule compounds derived from marine fungi, focusing on the viral protein VP39, a key methyltransferase involved in viral replication. An extensive virtual screening process identified four promising compounds—CMNPD15724, CMNPD28811, CMNPD30883, and CMNPD18569—alongside a control molecule. Rigorous evaluations, including re-docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and hydrogen bond analysis, were conducted to assess their inhibitory potential against MPXV VP39. CMNPD15724 and CMNPD30883, in particular, demonstrated a superior binding affinity and stable interactions within the target protein's active site throughout the MD simulations, suggesting a capacity to overcome the limitations associated with sinefungin. The stability of these VP39-compound complexes, corroborated by MD simulations, provided crucial insights into the dynamic behavior of these interactions. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based free energy landscape assessments offered a detailed understanding of the dynamic conformational changes and energetic profiles underlying these compounds' functional disruption of VP39. These findings establish CMNPD15724, CMNPD28811, CMNPD30883, and CMNPD18569 as promising MPXV inhibitors and highlight marine fungi as a valuable source of novel antiviral agents. These compounds represent potential candidates for further experimental validation, advancing the development of safer and more effective therapeutic options to combat this emerging viral infection.

Abstract Background Wound healing represents a complex clinical challenge, necessitating the selection of appropriate wound dressings to facilitate an efficient healing process. This study aims to explore an effective approach to enhance wound healing by investigating the therapeutic potential of a nanocellulose-based anthraquinone derived from marine fungi. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, including a control group and various four treatment groups. The wound healing process was assessed by measuring the wound area at different time points. Results The results showed promising outcomes in terms of wound healing progression. The group treated with anthraquinone and nanocellulose demonstrated the most favorable results, with normal epidermal architecture, marked hyperkeratosis, and minimal dermal edema. This study provides comprehensive evidence supporting the efficacy of this novel alternative therapy through histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses conducted on a rat model. Conclusion By addressing the limitations associated with conventional wound dressings, our research contributes to the development of innovative strategies for optimizing wound healing outcomes. The findings presented herein underscore the potential of nanocellulose-based anthraquinone as a promising therapeutic option for promoting skin wound healing. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and establish the clinical viability of this alternative therapy.

The escalating threat posed by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) to global health necessitates the urgent discovery of effective antiviral agents, as there are currently no specific drugs available for its treatment, and existing inhibitors are hindered by toxicity and poor pharmacokinetic profiles. This study aimed to identify potent MPXV inhibitors by screening a diverse library of small molecule compounds derived from marine fungi, focusing on the viral protein VP39, a key methyltransferase involved in viral replication. An extensive virtual screening process identified four promising compounds—CMNPD15724, CMNPD28811, CMNPD30883, and CMNPD18569—alongside a control molecule. Rigorous evaluations, including re-docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and hydrogen bond analysis, were conducted to assess their inhibitory potential against MPXV VP39. CMNPD15724 and CMNPD30883, in particular, demonstrated a superior binding affinity and stable interactions within the target protein's active site throughout the MD simulations, suggesting a capacity to overcome the limitations associated with sinefungin. The stability of these VP39-compound complexes, corroborated by MD simulations, provided crucial insights into the dynamic behavior of these interactions. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based free energy landscape assessments offered a detailed understanding of the dynamic conformational changes and energetic profiles underlying these compounds' functional disruption of VP39. These findings establish CMNPD15724, CMNPD28811, CMNPD30883, and CMNPD18569 as promising MPXV inhibitors and highlight marine fungi as a valuable source of novel antiviral agents. These compounds represent potential candidates for further experimental validation, advancing the development of safer and more effective therapeutic options to combat this emerging viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sponge-associated marine fungi are potential source for secondary metabolite compounds. The aim of this research was to investigate sponge-associated marine fungus as secondary metabolite producers against Escherichia coli. The fungus was isolated from Indonesian marine sponge Stylissa sp. and identified as Aspergillus hortai through a combination of morphological and molecular characteristics of ITS DNA and β-tubulin genes. The fungus was tested against E. coli using fungal broth and mycelial extracts. The optimized condition was achieved by fungal broth grown in corn meal broth at 6-days of shaking incubation. Fungal extract was produced using three liters of filtered fungal broth and extracted in ethyl acetate. The antibiotic activity of the extract is vulnerable to 45°C heat and basic or acidic conditions. Therefore, the extraction was done at pH 7 with evaporation at 40°C. The extract shows 7 major bands on TLC with 1 band shows activity against E. coli (Rf 0.81) on bioautogram. The band was observed as a yellow color and turned black in short-wave UV and did not show any fluorescence in long-wave UV. This research shows that sponge- associated marine fungi obtained from Indonesia has the potential as anti E. coli worth to be explored for searching new antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass serves as a quintessential reservoir for obligate marine Lulworthiaceae fungi. Our current knowledge of the mycological diversity associated with seagrass in Hong Kong remains poor. We analyzed the diversity of fungi associated with the most widely distributed seagrass species in Hong Kong Halophila ovalis (Hydrocharitaceae), using a combination of culture-based methods and high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Halophilomyces hongkongensis, a novel fungal species in a newly proposed genus within the Lulworthiaceae family, was isolated from H. ovalis roots and rhizomes. The novel fungus showed distinct morphological characteristics, while both combined 18S-28S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) phylogenetic trees based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods supported its discrimination from other existing Lulworthiaceae members. The ITS2 region in the Illumina sequencing results of multiple H. ovalis compartments, water, and adjacent non-seagrass sediments revealed continuous recruitment of H. hongkongensis by H. ovalis throughout the year despite dramatically fluctuating environmental conditions, with remarkably high proportions of this taxon found in root and rhizome internal tissues, possibly indicating a strong and specialized relationship established between the Lulworthiaceae fungal partner and its seagrass host. The inhibitory abilities exhibited by H. hongkongensis against Staphylococcus aureus SA29213 and ATCC 43300 (methicillin-resistant) may imply its capacity in producing (novel) antibacterial compounds. The discovery of H. hongkongensis as the first novel Lulworthiaceae taxon in Hong Kong, along with its distributional pattern in the seagrass meadow, provides valuable insights into the systematics and ecology of this strictly marine fungal family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish contamination by fungi is considered one of the most vital causes of aquaculture losses. Therefore, our study aimed to examine commonly consumed fish species, Mugil cephalus an experimental study investigating the antimicrobial activity on Mugil cephalus. During the 2023, 10 fish samples of Mugil cephalus were randomly collected from Annangkoil landing centre. All samples were examined, fungal disease in Mugil cephalus samples, the average mold count was 1.65 × 102 CFU/g. Two species of fungi were isolated from one species of fish. The common fungal species Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated and identified by from the fish. In addition, we recommend dipping or spraying fish with a kanamycin solution as an effective strategy to reduce the number of fungi in raw fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wound healing represents a complex clinical challenge, necessitating the selection of appropriate wound dressings to facilitate an efficient healing process. This study aims to explore an effective approach to enhance wound healing by investigating the therapeutic potential of a nanocellulose-based anthraquinone derived from marine fungi. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, including a control group and various four treatment groups. The wound healing process was assessed by measuring the wound area at different time points. Results: The results showed promising outcomes in terms of wound healing progression. The group treated with anthraquinone and nanocellulose demonstrated the most favorable results, with normal epidermal architecture, marked hyperkeratosis, and minimal dermal edema. This study provides comprehensive evidence supporting the efficacy of this novel alternative therapy through histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses conducted on a rat model. Conclusion: By addressing the limitations associated with conventional wound dressings, our research contributes to the development of innovative strategies for optimizing wound healing outcomes. The findings presented herein underscore the potential of nanocellulose-based anthraquinone as a promising therapeutic option for promoting skin wound healing. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and establish the clinical viability of this alternative therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional isolation methods often lead to the rediscovery of known natural products. In contrast, genome mining strategies are considered effective for the continual discovery of new natural products. In this study, we discovered a unique prenyltransferase (PT) through genome mining, capable of catalyzing the transfer of a prenyl group to an aromatic nucleus to form C-C or C-O bonds. A pair of new hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivative enantiomers with prenyl units, (±)-peniprenydiol A (1), along with 16 known compounds (2–17), were isolated from a marine fungus, Penicillium sp. W21C371. The separation of 1 using chiral HPLC led to the isolation of the enantiomers 1a and 1b. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by a modified Mosher method. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1 was deduced, facilitated by PT catalysis. In the in vitro assay, 2 and 3 showed promising inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase (EcGUS), with IC50 values of 44.60 ± 0.84 μM and 21.60 ± 0.76 μM, respectively, compared to the positive control, D-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone hydrate (DSL). This study demonstrates the advantages of genome mining in the rational acquisition of new natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine holothurian-derived fungal strain KMM 4401 has been identified as Paragliomastix luzulae using 28S rDNA, ITS regions and the partial TEF1 gene sequences. The metabolite profile of the fungal culture was studied by UPLC-MS technique. The strain KMM 4401 is a source of various virescenoside-type isopimarane glycosides suggested as chemotaxonomic feature for this fungal species. Also Px. luzulae KMM 4401 was proposed as possible source of new bioactive secondary metabolites especially antimicrobials. Moreover, the co-cultures of Px. luzulae KMM 4401 with another marine fungus Penicillium hispanicum KMM 4689 inoculated simultaneously or after two weeks were investigated by same way. It was shown, that P. hispanicum KMM 4689 suppressed the production of most of Px. luzulae KMM 4401 metabolites. On the other hand, the co-cultivation of P. hispanicum KMM 4689 and Px. luzulae KMM 4401 resulted in increasing of production of main deoxyisoaustamide alkaloids of P. hispanicum KMM 4689 on 50–190%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first report on abundance and diversity of cultured filamentous fungi and on abundance of yeasts in the sediments of the Laptev and East Siberian seas. A total of 63 isolates of filamentous fungi belonging to 32 morphotypes were obtained from 35 sediment samples. Most morphotypes were represented by single colonies in individual samples; the most frequently occurring species were Pseudeurotiumzonatum, Pseudogymnoascuspannorum, and Cordycepsfarinosа. In both seas, the abundance of filamentous fungi (up to 12 colonies per 1 g wet sediment) was lower than that of yeasts (up to 68 colonies per 1 g wet sediment). In the Laptev Sea, yeast abundance was low at all stations, while in the East Siberian Sea higher values were found at near-estuarine stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweed, a valuable marine resource widely cultivated worldwide, can be vulnerable to stress and microbiome alterations, resulting in the decay of seaweeds and substantial economic losses. To investigate the seaweed-microbiome interaction, our study aimed to isolate marine bacteria and fungi that can cause Ice–Ice disease and evaluate their enzymatic characteristics for potential application in bioethanol production from seaweed biomass. Three red seaweed species (Gracilaria edulis, Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Eucheuma cottonii) were obtained for our study and placed in separate culture tanks. Among the 18 isolated marine microbial species, 12 tested positive for agar and carrageenan activity: six exhibited both activities, three displayed only agar activity, and three only carrageenan activity. DNA sequencing of the positive microbes identified ten bacteria and two yeast species. The 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) assay results revealed that the identified bacterial Caldibacillus kokeshiiformis strain FJAT-47861 exhibited the highest carrageenase activity (0.76 units/ml), while the yeast Pichia fermentans strain PM79 demonstrated the highest agarase activity (0.52 units/ml). Notably, Pichia fermentans strain PM79 exhibited the highest overall agarase and carrageenase activity, averaging 0.63 units/ml. The average carrageenase activity of all six positive microbes was 1.5 times higher than their agarase activity. These findings suggest that the 12 isolated microbes hold potential for bioethanol production from macroalgae, as their agarase and carrageenase activity indicates their ability to break down seaweed cell wall carbohydrates, causing ice–ice disease. Moreover, these results provide exciting prospects for harnessing the bioconversion capabilities of these microbes, paving the way for sustainable and efficient bioethanol production from seaweed resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A marine-derived fungal strain, Aspergillus sp. ITBBc1, was isolated from coral collected from the South China Sea in Hainan province. Intensive chemical investigation of the fermentation extract of this strain afforded four new secondary metabolites (1–4), named megastigmanones A–C and prenylterphenyllin H, along with four known compounds (5–8). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including one-and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). The modified Mosher's method was undertaken to determine the absolute configurations of new compounds. The phytotoxic activity test showed that compounds 6–8 exhibited significant antagonistic activity against the germination of Triticum aestivum L. and Oryza sativa L. seeds with a dose-dependent relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yeasts are prevalent in the open ocean, yet we have limited understanding of their ecophysiological adaptations, including their response to nitrogen availability, which can have a major role in determining the ecological potential of other planktonic microbes. In this study, we characterized the nitrogen uptake capabilities and growth responses of marine-occurring yeasts. Yeast isolates from the North Atlantic Ocean were screened for growth on diverse nitrogen substrates, and across a concentration gradient of three environmentally relevant nitrogen substrates: nitrate, ammonium, and urea. Three strains grew with enriched nitrate while two did not, demonstrating that nitrate utilization is present but not universal in marine yeasts, consistent with existing knowledge of nonmarine yeast strains. Naganishia diffluens MBA_F0213 modified the key functional trait of cell size in response to nitrogen concentration, suggesting yeast cell morphology changes along chemical gradients in the marine environment. Meta-analysis of the reference DNA barcode in public databases revealed that the genus Naganishia has a global ocean distribution, strengthening the environmental applicability of the culture-based observations. This study provides novel quantitative understanding of the ecophysiological and morphological responses of marine-derived yeasts to variable nitrogen availability in vitro , providing insight into the functional ecology of yeasts within pelagic open ocean environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isochromanone, cladosporinisochromanone (1), accompanied by 15 known compounds (2–16) were obtained from secondary metabolites produced by marine-derived fungus Cladosporium sp. DLT-5. NMR and HRESIMS spectra elucidation determined the planar structure of 1. Subsequent electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiment assigned the absolute configuration of 1. Compounds 1, 2, 4–6, and 10 displayed different degrees of neuroprotective activities on human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y. Five compounds (1, 3–5, and 13) emerged resistance to protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), further kinetic analysis and molecular docking study indicated that the most potent compound 13 (IC50 value of 10.74±0.61 µmol/L) was found as a noncompetitive inhibitor for PTP1B. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking studies also demonstrated the interaction between compound 12 and Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1), which has been identified as significant therapeutic target for hypercholesteremia. In addition, compounds 3, 6, and 14 showed attractive inhibitory activity against the phytopathogenic fungi: Colletotrichum capsici. Therefore, library of Cladosporium metabolites is enriched and new active uses of known compounds are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to isolate endosymbiontic fungi from the marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea and to explore their antioxidant potential. Marine-derived fungi, with their vast biodiversity, are considered a promising source of novel antioxidants which can replace synthetic ones. Marine sponges have previously reported bioactive properties that could ameliorate oxidative stress, particularly their associated fungi, producing high-frequency bioactive molecules (adaptogenic molecules) in response to stressors. 19 endosymbiont fungi associated with marine sponges were isolated, and their extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant capacities. Extract of an endosymbiont fungus, isolate SPG6, identified as Alternaria destruens, through surface electron microscopy (SEM) and ITS gene sequencing, showed broad range antioxidant activities (EC50 values) (free radical scavenging 32.54 mg L−1, Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity < 0.078 g L−1, total reducing power 0.114 g L−1, Chelating power 0.262 g L−1, H2O2 scavenging activity < 0.078 g L−1, and Superoxide radical scavenging activity > 5.0 g L−1). The extract of isolate SPG6 was fractioned and analyzed through GC–MS. Marine sponge-associated endosymbiont fungi are a rich source of antioxidant molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mycosystema is the property of Mycosystema Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One new lanostane-type triterpenoid, 3β-acetoxy-7,11-dioxolanosta-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (1), together with six known analogues (2–7), were isolated from the cultures of a marine fungus Ceriporia lacerata CD7-5, which was derived from the shellfish Ostrea denselamellosa. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature reported. The biological activities of these lanostane triterpenoids against marine-derived microalgae, zooplankton, and pathogenic bacteria were also evaluated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThe marine environment is extremely complex and exerts strong evolutionary pressure often leading to the appearance of microbial strains with new metabolic competencies. Microorganisms in marine ecosystems are still largely unknown and should be explored and conserved for biodiversity preservation, possible ecosystem restoring, and other applications. Biodiversity conservation should become a basic ecological strategy of particular significance in relation to global change. In this context, the present research aimed at exploring the culturable mycobiota associated with the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca, never studied before. In addition, the isolated strains were tested for potential application (antimicrobial activity and presence of genes related to the production of secondary metabolites).MethodsFive jellyfishes were collected in the coastal area of Giglio Island and processed to isolate epizoic fungi. The strains were identified using a polyphasic approach (morphological, physiological, and molecular) and their salt preference was also investigated. The antifungal and antibacterial activity were tested for each strain with agar plug diffusion test. The presence of some key genes related to the main pathways for the production of secondary metabolites in fungi, polyketide synthases (PKSs), and non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPSs), was also assessed.ResultsA total of 164 isolates were obtained; after the dereplication, 40 morphotypes, and 23 species were identified. The phylogenetic analyses suggested the presence of new taxa belonging to Pleosporales: two new genera and species, and a new species of Tamaricicola. The detected mycobiota showed a relatively high diversity, if compared to other epizoic fungal communities. All isolated strains were marine fungi as confirmed by their salt preference and marked euryhalinism. The genes related to the two main pathways for the production of secondary metabolites in fungi, PKSs and NRPSs, were identified in four and nine strains, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was revealed in 70% of the strains, including the new taxa. The abundance of bioactive strains may be related to the potential involvement of epizoic fungi in host defense strategies. Moreover, these strains could show a high potential for further biotechnological applications particularly in the case of new taxa. All strains are maintained in culture collections.

The green synthesis pathway for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) used in bacterial treatment is regarded as crucial because of its cost-effectiveness, nontoxicity, and eco-friendliness. During the present work, the mangliculous marine fungi Amarenographium solium isolated from the Arabian Gulf Coast of Saudi Arabia were utilized for the synthesis of AgNP, through the bio-reduction of aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution. The success in AgNP synthesis was visually identified by the development of dark brown color in the cell-free filtrate and was further confirmed by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, which showed a peak at 425 nm. The AgNPs produced were further characterized using X-ray diffraction data analysis that proved the bioreduction of silver to 20 nm, and transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles with an average mean size of 12 nm. The optimization reaction parameters of temperature, pH, and metal salt concentration were carried out and resulted in a combination of 30°C, 7 and 1.5 mM, respectively, for rapid and maximum yield production. The antibacterial activity of the produced nanoparticles was evaluated using the two-fold microdilution method and showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 9.375 μg/mL of AgNP against multiple drug-resistant bacterial strains.

Aspergillus have been proven to be excellent resources for new natural products. During our systematic biodiversifying new compounds from marine derived fungi, one novel compound, asperbrunneo acid (1), along with seven bistetrahydroxanthone analogues, secalonic acid D (2), secalonic acid F (3), secalonic acid F1 (4), secalonic acid H (5), penicillixanthone A (6), chrysoxanthone C (7), and asperdichrome (8), one ketodivinyllactonic steroid, herbarulide (9), as well as one tyrosine-derived compound, aspergillusol A (10), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus MF180246. These structures were elucidated by HRMS, 1 D and 2 D NMR analysis. Compound 1 possessed the first reported new carbon skeleton natural product. Compounds 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 200, 25, 50, 6.25, 50, and 25 µg/ml, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical epigenetic manipulation of Aspergillus terreus GZU-31-1 led to the discovery of five butanolide derivatives (1–5), including two new ones (1 and 2), and four known diphenyl ether derivatives (6−9). Compound 1 featured a Z-configuration double bond in the isoprenyl group was a potential anti-inflammatory bioactive group. Compound 2 was a new natural product. Moreover, compound 3 with a deacetylated group at C-4 was rarely reported as a butanolide analogue, which was isolated from the liquid culture treated with polyketide pathway inhibitor sodium citrate dihydrate. All of the isolates (1−9) were tested for their anti-inflammatory effects on the production of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial cells (RAW 264.7 cells). Compounds 1, 7, 8 and 9 exhibited more potent anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 16.31, 20.16, 9.53 and 21.64 μM than the positive control (indomethacin, IC50, 24.0 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown that endophytic fungal metabolites possess vital biological activities; nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the medicinally important marine endophytic fungi associated with the seaweeds mainly found in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. In this study, six endophytic fungi, belonging to five genera and four classes, were isolated from the well-known chlorophyte, Ulva sp. and were most closely related to Chaetomium globosum, Nigrospora magnoliae, Curvularia sp., Curvularia moringae, Aspergillus terreus and Collariella sp. This is the first report of these fungi as endophytes associated with Ulva sp. from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. A preliminary biological evaluation of the ethyl acetate extract of each endophytic fungal crude extract was the prime objective of this research, e.g., antimicrobial assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity and brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Evaluation of test results revealed that each fungal crude extract possessed one or more relevant biological activities. Preliminary chemical screening using TLC and NMR spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of several secondary metabolites in the crude fungal extracts. These findings suggest that the marine endophytic fungus may be a valuable source for investigating potentially bioactive chemicals or leads for novel drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Sea stands out as a hotspot of biodiversity, whose fungal composition remains underexplored. Marine sediments represent the most diverse substrate; however, the challenge of recovering fungi in culture hinders the precise identification of this diversity. Concentration techniques like skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) could represent a suitable solution. Here, we compare the effectiveness in recovering filamentous ascomycetes of direct plating and SMF in combination with three culture media and two incubation temperatures, and we describe the fungal diversity detected in marine sediments. Sediments were collected at different depths on two beaches (Miracle and Arrabassada) on the Spanish western Mediterranean coast between 2021 and 2022. We recovered 362 strains, and after a morphological selection, 188 were identified primarily with the LSU and ITS barcodes, representing 54 genera and 94 species. Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Scedosporium were the most common genera, with different percentages of abundance between both beaches. Arrabassada Beach was more heterogeneous, with 42 genera representing 60 species (Miracle Beach, 28 genera and 54 species). Although most species were recovered with direct plating (70 species), 20 species were exclusively obtained using SMF as a sample pre-treatment, improving our ability to detect fungi in culture. In addition, we propose three new species in the genera Exophiala, Nigrocephalum, and Queenslandipenidiella, and a fourth representing the novel genus Schizochlamydosporiella. We concluded that SMF is a useful technique that, in combination with direct plating, including different culture media and incubation temperatures, improves the chance of recovering marine fungal communities in culture-dependent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitin and chitosan are important structural macromolecules for most fungi and marine crustaceans. The functions and application areas of the two molecules are also adjacent beyond their similar molecular structure, such as tissue engineering and food safety where solution systems are involved. However, the elasticities of chitin and chitosan in solution lack comparison at the molecular level. In this study, the single-molecule elasticities of chitin and chitosan in different solutions are investigated via atomic force microscope (AFM) based single-molecule spectroscopy (SMFS). The results manifest that the two macromolecules share the similar inherent elasticity in DOSM due to their same chain backbone. However, obvious elastic deviations can be observed in aqueous conditions. Especially, a lower pH value (acid environment) is helpful to increase the elasticity of both chitin and chitosan. On the contrary, the tendency of elastic variation of chitin and chitosan in a larger pH value (alkaline environment) shows obvious diversity, which is mainly determined by the side groups. This basic study may produce enlightenment for the design of intelligent chitin and chitosan food packaging and biomedical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria alternata FB1 is a marine fungus identified as a candidate for plastic degradation in our previous study. This fungus has been recently shown to produce secondary metabolites with significant antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the notorious aquaculture pathogen Vibrio anguillarum. The antibacterial compounds were purified and identified as alternariol (AOH) and its derivative, alternariol monomethyl ether (AME). We found that AOH and AME primarily inhibited pathogenic bacteria (MRSA or V. anguillarum) by disordering cell division and some other key physiological and biochemical processes. We further demonstrated that AOH could effectively inhibit the unwinding activity of MRSA topoisomerases, which are closely related to cell division and are the potential action target of AOH. The antibacterial activities of AOH and AME were verified by using zebrafish as the in vivo model. Notably, AOH and AME did not significantly affect the viability of normal human liver cells at concentrations that effectively inhibited MRSA or V. anguillarum. Finally, we developed the genetic operation system of A. alternata FB1 and blocked the biosynthesis of AME by knocking out omtI (encoding an O-methyl transferase), which facilitated A. alternata FB1 to only produce AOH. The development of this system in the marine fungus will accelerate the discovery of novel natural products and further bioactivity study. IMPORTANCE More and more scientific reports indicate that alternariol (AOH) and its derivative alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) exhibit antibacterial activities. However, limited exploration of their detailed antibacterial mechanisms has been performed. In the present study, the antibacterial mechanisms of AOH and AME produced by the marine fungus Alternaria alternata FB1 were disclosed in vitro and in vivo. Given their low toxicity on the normal human liver cell line under the concentrations exhibiting significant antibacterial activity against different pathogens, AOH and AME are proposed to be good candidates for developing promising antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio anguillarum. We also succeeded in blocking the biosynthesis of AME, which facilitated us to easily obtain pure AOH. Moreover, based on our previous results, A. alternata FB1 was shown to enable polyethylene degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new butoxy substituted indolediketopiperazine (1), together with five known indolediketopiperazines (2-6), which are derivatives of brevianamides, were isolated from the marine derived fungus Aspergillus sp. 66may. Careful analysis and comparison of the HRESIMS, as well as 1D and 2D NMR datasets, identified the structures of the isolated compounds. The subsequent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities showed that compound 4 possessed antimicrobial bioactivities against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 39620 with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 64 µg/mL. Compounds 1, 2, 4 exhibited potential inhibitory activities against NO production with IC50 value of 28.2, 21.3, 23.6 µM, respectively. It seems that butoxy substitution at C-9 in brevianamides have little effects on their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the diverse array of biologically active compounds derived from microbial symbionts, particularly focusing on the isolation and characterization of diepoxides, highly oxygenated triterpenoids, secosteroids, ergostane-type steroids, and meroterpenoids from various marine and plant-derived fungi. We highlight significant discoveries such as vitamin D variants from fungal species, unique sesterterpenoids from mangrove endophytic fungi, and secosteroids with potential medicinal applications. The study delves into the structural uniqueness and bioactivities of these compounds, including their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and cytotoxic effects. Notable findings include the isolation of compounds with significant activity against cancer cell lines, the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, and promising antifouling properties. This work underscores the potential of microbial symbionts as a rich source of novel bioactive compounds with diverse therapeutic applications, highlighting the importance of marine and fungal biodiversity in drug discovery and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological treatment using microorganisms is an alternative low-cost wastewater treatment method with minimal environmental impact. However, there have been few studies on such purification technologies in marine environments. Moreover, for practical application, an appropriate safety assessment accounting for the impact on the ecosystem is necessary. To fill this gap, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the marine fungal strain Pestalotiopsis disseminata AN-7 isolated from mangroves in Iriomote Island (Okinawa, Japan) in decolorizing synthetic dyes in the presence of salt and the changes in ecotoxicity during the decolorization process. The acute inhibition test for the azo dye Reactive Red 120 (RR120) and the xanthene dyes Food Red No. 104 (FR104) and Food Red No. 105 (FR105) showed half-maximal effective concentrations of 20.6, 12.1, and 0.69 mg/L to inhibit swimming of Daphnia magna. Pestalotiopsis disseminata AN-7 showed decolorization ratios of 75.6%, 60.6%, and 96.6%, respectively, and decolorization was also visually verified. A maximum decolorization ratio of 89.3% was obtained for a mixture of the three dyes. After decolorization, inhibition rates significantly decreased from 81.7 to 1.7% for RR120, 83.3 to 40% for FR104, 100 to 25% for FR105, and 100 to 18.3% for the dye mixture. High decolorization ratios (59.1–96.0%) were also maintained under NaCl concentrations of 1.5–3%. This study confirms the usefulness and safety of microorganisms for marine bioremediation in decolorizing synthetic dyes, even in the presence of salt and high dye concentrations, and further highlights the importance of acute toxicity assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi in marine ecosystems play crucial roles as saprotrophs, parasites, and pathogens. The definition of marine fungi has evolved over the past century. Currently, "marine fungi" are defined as any fungi recovered repeatedly from marine habitats that are able to grow and/or sporulate in marine environments, form symbiotic relationships with other marine organisms, adapt and evolve at the genetic level, or are active metabolically in marine environments. While there are a number of recent reviews synthesizing our knowledge derived from over a century of research on marine fungi, this review article focuses on the state of knowledge on planktonic marine fungi from the coastal and open ocean, defined as fungi that are in suspension or attached to particles, substrates or in association with hosts in the pelagic zone of the ocean, and their roles in remineralization of organic matter and major biogeochemical cycles. This review differs from previous ones by focusing on biogeochemical impacts of planktonic marine fungi and methodological considerations for investigating their diversity and ecological functions. Importantly, we point out gaps in our knowledge and the potential methodological biases that might have contributed to these gaps. Finally, we highlight recommendations that will facilitate future studies of marine fungi. This article first provides a brief overview of the diversity of planktonic marine fungi, followed by a discussion of the biogeochemical impacts of planktonic marine fungi, and a wide range of methods that can be used to study marine fungi. Plain Language Summary: Fungi are an important yet often overlooked member of marine food webs, especially in the water column. This review highlights the important ecological roles fungi play in the ocean water column, such as the recycling of dead organic matter and acting as parasites of microalgae in the ocean. We provide a summary of state‐of‐the‐art methods for studying planktonic marine fungi and making discoveries in the future. Key Points: Planktonic marine fungi play key roles in the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and metals in the oceanThere is a large potential for discovering novel lineages and functions of planktonic marine fungi, particularly in the open oceanThe ecological roles of planktonic marine fungi should be studied by combining multi‐omics and biochemical tools [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study represents a primary investigation centered on screening six marine fungi, Emericellopsis maritima, Engyodontium album, Hypomontagnella monticulosa, Hortaea werneckii, Trichoderma harzianum, and Aspergillus sp.7, associated with the red algae Pterocladiella capillacea, which was collected from Chao-Jin Park in Keelung, Taiwan, as potential immunostimulants for shrimp aquaculture. Recognizing the imperative for novel strategies to combat pathogen resistance arising from the use of antibiotics and vaccines in aquaculture, this study aimed to evaluate the metabolomic profile, antioxidant capabilities, and antibacterial properties of marine fungi. The antibacterial activity of the fungal extract was evaluated against five major aquaculture pathogens: Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aeruginosa, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The viability and cytotoxicity of marine fungal extracts were preliminarily evaluated using brine shrimps before assessing cytotoxicity, growth performance, immune efficacy, and disease resistance in white shrimp. The present study demonstrated that total phytochemical analysis correlated with antioxidant activity. Emericellopsis maritima and Trichoderma harzianum exhibited the strongest DPPH antioxidant scavenging activities of half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 16.5 ± 1.2 and 12.2 ± 2.6, which are comparable to ascorbic acid. LC-HDMSE analysis of the marine fungal extracts identified more than 8000 metabolites mainly classified under the superclass level of organic oxygen compounds, Organoheterocyclic compounds, Phenylpropanoids and polyketides, alkaloid and derivatives, benzenoids, lignans and neolignans, lipid and lipid-like molecules, nucleotides and nucleosides, organic nitrogen compounds, and organic acids and derivatives. Overall, our study significantly contributes to the advancement of sustainable practices by exploring alternative antimicrobial solutions and harnessing the bioactive potential inherent in marine endophytic fungi. In conclusion, our study advances our comprehension of fungal communities and their applications and holds promise for the development of effective and environmentally friendly approaches for enhancing shrimp health and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Obesity is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide with less ideal approved agents in clinic. Activating the HSF1/PGC-1a axis in adipose tissues has been reported to induce thermogenesis in mice, which presents a promising therapeutic avenue for obesity treatment. The present study aimed to identified novel natural HSF1 activator and evaluated the therapeutic effects of the newly discovered compound on obesity-associated metabolic disorders and the molecular mechanisms of these effects. Methods: Our previous reported HSF1/PGC-1a activator screening system was used to identify novel natural HSF1 activator. The PGC-1a luciferase activity, immunoblot, protein nuclear-translocation, immunofluorescence, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to evaluate the activity of compound HN-001 in activating HSF1. The experiments of mitochondrial number measurement, TG assay and imaging, cellular metabolic assay, gene assays, and CRISPR/Cas 9 were applied for investigating the metabolic effect of HN-001 in C3H10-T1/2 adipocytes. The in vivo anti-obesity efficacies and beneficial metabolic effects of HN-001 were evaluated by performing body and fat mass quantification, plasma chemical analysis, GTT, ITT, cold tolerance test, thermogenesis analysis. Results: HN-001 dose- and time-dependently activated HSF1 and induced HSF1 nuclear translocation, resulting in an enhancement in binding with the gene Pgc-1a. This improvement induced activation of adipose thermogenesis and enhancement of mitochondrial oxidation capacity, thus inhibiting adipocyte maturation. Deletion of HSF1 in adipocytes impaired mitochondrial oxidation and abolished the above beneficial metabolic effects of HN-001, including adipocyte browning induction, improvements in mitogenesis and oxidation capacity, and lipid-lowering ability. In mice, HN-001 treatment efficiently alleviated diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders. These changes were associated with increased body temperature in mice and activation of the HSF1/PGC-1a axis in adipose tissues. UCP1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis were increased in both white and brown adipose tissues of HN-001-treated mice. Conclusion: These data indicate that HN-001 may have therapeutic potential for obesity-related metabolic diseases by increasing the capacity of energy expenditure in adipose tissues through a mechanism involving the HSF1/PGC-1a axis, which shed new light on the development of novel anti-obesity agents derived from marine sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diketopiperazine alkaloids have proven the most abundant heterocyclic alkaloids up to now, which usually process diverse scaffolds and rich biological activities. In our search for bioactive diketopiperazine alkaloids from marine-derived fungi, two novel diketopiperazine alkaloids, penipiperazine A (1) and its biogenetically related new metabolite (2), together with a known analogue neofipiperzine C (3), were obtained from the strain Penicillium brasilianum. Their planar structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, 13C NMR calculation, Marfey's, ECD, and ORD methods. Compound 1 featured a unique 6/5/6/6/5 indole-pyrazino-pyrazino-pyrrolo system, and its plausible biogenetic pathway was also proposed. Additionally, compounds 1–3 have been tested for their inflammatory activities. 1 and 2 significantly inhibited the release of NO and the expression of related pro-inflammatory cytokines on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, suggesting they could be attracting candidate for further development as anti-inflammatory agent. Key points: • A novel diketopiperazine alkaloid featuring a unique 6/5/6/6/5 indole-pyrazino-pyrazino-pyrrolo system was isolated from the marine fungus Penicillium brasilianum. • The structure of 1 was elucidated by detailed analysis of 2D NMR data, 13C NMR calculation, Marfey's, ECD, and ORD methods. • Compounds 1 and 2 significantly inhibited the release of NO and the expression of related pro-inflammatory cytokines on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though fungi are ubiquitous in the biosphere, the ecological knowledge of marine fungi remains rather rudimentary. Also, little is known about their tolerance to salinity and how it influences their activities. Extracellular enzymatic activities (EEAs) are widely used to determine heterotrophic microbes' enzymatic capabilities and substrate preferences. Five marine fungal species belonging to the most abundant pelagic phyla (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) were grown under non-saline and saline conditions (0 g/L and 35 g/L, respectively). Due to their sensitivity and specificity, fluorogenic substrate analogues were used to determine hydrolytic activity on carbohydrates (β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase); peptides (leucine aminopeptidase and trypsin); lipids (lipase); organic phosphorus (alkaline phosphatase), and sulfur compounds (sulfatase). Afterwards, kinetic parameters such as maximum velocity (Vmax) and half-saturation constant (Km) were calculated. All fungal species investigated cleaved these substrates, but some species were more efficient than others. Moreover, most enzymatic activities were reduced in the saline medium, with some exceptions like sulfatase. In non-saline conditions, the average Vmax ranged between 208.5 to 0.02 μmol/g biomass/h, and in saline conditions, 88.4 to 0.02 μmol/g biomass/h. The average Km ranged between 1553.2 and 0.02 μM with no clear influence of salinity. Taken together, our results highlight a potential tolerance of marine fungi to freshwater conditions and indicate that changes in salinity (due to freshwater input or evaporation) might impact their enzymatic activities spectrum and, therefore, their contribution to the oceanic elemental cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 15 Lulworthiales strains isolated from the marine tunicate Halocynthia papillosa collected in the central Tyrrhenian Sea were characterized using a polyphasic approach (morpho-physiological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses). Based on multi-locus phylogenetic inference and morphological characters, a new genus, Rambellisea, and two new species, R. halocynthiae and R. gigliensis (Lulworthiales), were proposed. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses using the nuclear ribosomal regions of DNA (nrITS1-nr5.8S-nrITS2, nrLSU, and nrSSU) sequence data strongly supported the new taxa. Phylogenetic inference, estimated using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference, clearly indicates that Rambellisea gen. nov. forms a distinct clade within the order Lulworthiales. Moreover, the two new species were separated into distinct subclades, solidly supported by the analyses. This is the first report of Lulworthiales species isolated from animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of hydrocarbon pollution on the fungal communities of littoral sediments of the cold-water White and Barents seas was investigated. The samples were collected at locations with different levels of pollution with oil products, from ports to relatively undisturbed areas. Using the diesel fuel-containing medium resulted in detection of hydrocarbon-degrading fungi in almost all studied samples, although in all cases they were less diverse than sugar-degrading fungi. In this relatively small group, Penicilliumchrysogenum and Penicilliumbrevicompactum were the most common organisms. Fungal communities isolated on a sugar-containing medium exhibited higher diversity and abundance, with being the most common sugar degraders. The major factors affecting the structure of the fungal communities were the percentage of hydrocarbons in the total mass of organic carbon in the samples in the case of hydrocarbon-degrading fungi and location, for sugar degraders. In the experiment, the highest hydrocarbon-degrading activity was shown for Penicilliumchrysogenum (the loss of residual hydrocarbons was 77.4%), Cadophorafastigiata (72%), and Tolypocladiuminflatum (67.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cladosporium, a genus of ascomycete fungi in the Dematiaceae family, is primarily recognized as a widespread environmental saprotrophic fungus or plant endophyte. Further research has shown that the genus is distributed in various environments, particularly in marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, mangroves and the polar region. Cladosporium, especially the marine-derived Cladosporium, is a highly resourceful group of fungi whose natural products have garnered attention due to their diverse chemical structures and biological activities, as well as their potential as sources of novel leads to compounds for drug production. This review covers the sources, distribution, bioactivities, biosynthesis and structural characteristics of compounds isolated from Cladosporium in the period between January 2000 and December 2022, and conducts a comparative analysis of the Cladosporium isolated compounds derived from marine and terrestrial sources. Our results reveal that 34% of Cladosporium-derived natural products are reported for the first time. And 71.79% of the first reported compounds were isolated from marine-derived Cladosporium. Cladosporium-derived compounds exhibit diverse skeletal chemical structures, concentrating in the categories of polyketides (48.47%), alkaloids (19.21%), steroids and terpenoids (17.03%). Over half of the natural products isolated from Cladosporium have been found to have various biological activities, including cytotoxic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and enzyme-inhibitory activities. These findings testify to the tremendous potential of Cladosporium, especially the marine-derived Cladosporium, to yield novel bioactive natural products, providing a structural foundation for the development of new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]