Trichosporon montevideense WIN合成纳米金的催化特性

【目的】考察菌株Trichosporon montevideense WIN合成纳米金的催化特性及应用。【方法】利用活性WIN菌作用不同浓度HAu Cl_4(1、2和4 mmol/L)合成纳米金的特性,分别利用活性WIN菌和灭活WIN菌合成纳米金,分析合成纳米金的形貌、粒径及其催化特性。【结果】HAu Cl_4浓度为1 mmol/L时,菌株WIN合成了纳米金,HAu Cl_4浓度为2 mmol/L和4 mmol/L时,菌株WIN合成了纳米金及较大尺寸的金颗粒。通过紫外-可见光谱扫描、透射电子显微镜分析,发现活性和灭活WIN菌均能还原Au~(3+)合成纳米金,合成的纳米金均以球形为主,还有少量三角形、四边形及六边形。活性WIN菌合成的纳米金粒径范围为3 nm-252 nm,平均粒径为45.2 nm,而灭活WIN菌合成的纳米金为1 nm-271 nm,平均粒径为38.3 nm。活性和灭活WIN菌合成的纳米金对还原4-硝基苯酚的催化速率分别为2.76×10~(-3)s~(-1)和4.84×10~(-3)s~(-1)。【结论】菌株Trichosporon montevideense WIN的活性及灭活细胞均可以合成纳米金,且合成的纳米金具有良好的催化特性,在催化去除环境中难降解污染物中具有一定的应用前景。     

一株胞内合成纳米磁性颗粒菌株的筛选及鉴定

【目的】从聊城东昌湖湖水中分离纯化出一株可合成纳米磁性颗粒的菌株,将其命名为TZ-1。【方法】对该菌株进行形态学研究、分子生物学鉴定,将TZ-1菌株合成的纳米磁性颗粒进行提取纯化,并对菌体和纳米磁性颗粒进行透射电镜(transmission electron microscope,TEM)观察、扫描电镜(Scanning electron microscope,SEM)元素分析,对纳米磁性颗粒进行X射线衍射(X-ray diffraction,XRD)分析。【结果】经鉴定TZ-1属于伯克霍尔德氏菌属(Burkholderia sp.)。透射电镜下菌体为杆状,易聚集,有明显的单生鞭毛,有荚膜,在TEM下观察菌体内部有两种电子致密颗粒,较小颗粒分布在菌体细胞膜附近,近似多边形,大小约为60 nm,较大颗粒分布在菌体内部,大小约为180 nm,表面有膜包裹。扫描电镜(SEM)下细胞为杆状,大小与TEM下测量结果一致。SEM下对磁性颗粒进行元素分析,主要为Fe、P、O。根据TEM、SEM、XRD结果推测菌体可合成纳米磁性颗粒。【结论】分离纯化出的菌株TZ-1可合成纳米磁性颗粒,磁性颗粒X射线衍射结果分析知TZ-1合成的纳米磁性颗粒为单斜晶体,主要成分为Fe3(PO4)2·8H2O和Fe3O4。     

绿色木霉对小球藻细胞壁的酶解作用

【目的】探讨绿色木霉分泌液能否分解小球藻细胞壁。【方法】用海藻酸钠和氯化钙固定绿色木霉,游离绿色木霉和固定化绿色木霉分别培养一段时间,离心培养液,用分光光度计法检测上清液中纤维素酶活性。在上清液中加入浓缩的小球藻悬浮液,用显微镜计数细胞壁破碎的小球藻。【结果】绿色木霉能同时分泌内切葡聚糖酶、外切葡聚糖酶及β-1,4葡萄糖苷酶3种纤维素酶,其中外切葡聚糖酶活性最高。固定化绿色木霉反复使用5次后,分泌的纤维素酶活性能保持到初次的67.4%。市售纤维素酶、游离绿色木霉、固定化绿色木霉初次及第5次分解小球藻细胞壁的效率分别为47.3%、86.5%、81.5%、52.1%。【结论】市售纤维素酶、游离绿色木霉、固定化绿色木霉都能分解小球藻细胞壁,其中固定化绿色木霉因可重复使用,具有潜在的应用前景。     

ZnS量子点的生物合成及对阿萨尔基亚芽胞杆菌的标记

通过微生物合成金属量子点是目前研究的热点。本研究通过白色念珠菌合成ZnS量子点,对合成的量子点用高分辨透射电镜(HR-TEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)进行表征,用生物合成的ZnS量子点标记生防菌阿萨尔基亚芽胞杆菌,为建立生防菌阿萨尔基亚芽胞杆菌的荧光探针标记提供科学依据。实验结果表明,ZnSO4浓度为20 mmol/L时白色念珠细胞内合成ZnS量子点,通过反复冻融破细胞壁提出胞内ZnS量子点,紫外-可见光谱(UV)检测ZnS量子点在348 nm处显示有吸收带,HR-TEM测其粒径约7. 06 nm,荧光分光光谱分析量子点激发波在280 nm和363 nm,XRD显示ZnS量子点特征峰。ZnS量子点中加入1-乙基-3-(3-二甲基氨丙基)-碳化二亚胺(EDC)和N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺(NHS)偶联剂的芽胞杆菌样本的标记效率明显高于不加偶联剂的样本。白色念珠菌合成的ZnS量子点可以用于微生物标记。     

链霉菌Streptomyces antibioticus NRRL 8167中Naphthgeranine A生物合成基因簇的分析鉴定

【背景】微生物来源的天然产物是小分子药物或药物先导物的重要来源。对链霉菌Streptomyces antibioticus NRRL 8167的基因组分析显示,其包含多个次级代谢产物的生物合成基因簇,具有产生多种新化合物的潜力。【目的】对链霉菌S. antibioticus NRRL 8167中次级代谢产物进行研究,以期发现结构新颖或生物活性独特的化合物,并对相应产物的生物合成基因簇和生物合成途径进行解析。【方法】利用HPLC图谱结合特征性紫外吸收和LC-MS方法,排除S. antibioticus NRRL 8167产生的已知化合物,确定具有特殊紫外吸收的化合物作为挖掘对象,然后利用正、反相硅胶柱色谱、高效液相色谱等技术对次级代谢产物进行分离纯化,分离化合物。利用质谱及核磁共振光谱技术对化合物结构进行解析和鉴定;提取链霉菌S. antibioticus NRRL 8167基因组DNA,利用PacBio测序平台进行基因组测序;利用生物信息学对基因组进行注释,并对合成该化合物的基因簇进行定位分析,推导其生物合成途径。【结果】确定这个化合物是NaphthgeranineA,属于聚酮类化合物。全基因组序列分析发现S.antibioticusNRRL8167基因组含有28个次级代谢产物生物合成基因簇,其中基因簇20可能负责Naphthgeranine A的生物合成,并对其生物合成途径进行了推导。【结论】基于紫外吸收光谱和质谱特征,从S. antibioticus NRRL 8167菌株的发酵提取物中分离鉴定了一个聚酮类化合物Naphthgeranine A。该菌株的全基因组测序为其生物合成基因簇的鉴定提供了前提,对Naphthgeranine A生物合成基因簇和生物合成途径的推测为进一步研究这个化合物的生物合成机制奠定了基础。     

小分子功能化的金纳米粒子对革兰氏阴性多药耐药细菌的抗菌特性

【目的】研究大肠杆菌tRNA合成底物类似物4,6-二氨基-2-巯基嘧啶功能化的金纳米粒子(gold nanoparticles,AuNPs)对革兰氏阴性多药耐药细菌的抗菌特性。【方法】以4,6-二氨基-2-巯基嘧啶为表面配体合成AuNPs,采用肉汤稀释法测定其对4种临床分离的革兰氏阴性多药耐药细菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)。通过不同浓度AuNPs处理后经平板计数绘制不同菌株的时间-杀菌动力学曲线。以铜绿假单胞菌为代表菌株,采用激光共聚焦显微镜、透射电子显微镜和凝胶电泳分析AuNPs对细菌细胞组分的损伤。通过亚致死浓度反复诱导评估细菌对AuNPs的耐药性演化。并以MTT实验初步评估了AuNPs对哺乳动物细胞的生物相容性。【结果】4,6-二氨基-2-巯基嘧啶介导的AuNPs平均粒径为6.8nm,zeta电位为+38.4mV。该AuNPs对4种临床分离的革兰氏阴性多药耐药细菌均表现出时间和浓度依赖的抗菌活性,MIC值介于4–8μg/mL之间。抗菌机制研究显示AuNPs主要通过诱导细菌细胞膜损伤和DNA断裂导致细菌死亡。耐药性演化评估发现细菌在为期30d的反复诱导下也基本不会对该AuNPs产生耐药性。细胞毒性结果显示AuNPs对哺乳动物细胞具有良好的生物相容性,在浓度达到256μg/mL时正常肝细胞L02和正常肺细胞AT II的存活率仍高达85%以上。【结论】小分子介导的AuNPs对临床分离的革兰氏阴性多药耐药细菌具有较好的抗菌活性,在应对当前严峻的多药耐药细菌感染方面具有潜在的应用价值。     

超高压对单增李斯特菌细胞膜的损伤和致死机理

【目的】研究超高压对病原微生物单增李斯特菌细胞膜损伤的影响。【方法】本文以单增李斯特菌为研究对象,探讨了不同压力处理(100-500 MPa)对单增李斯特菌的灭活作用,利用透射电镜观察高压处理对细菌细胞超微结构的影响,通过紫外分光光度法、原子吸收分光光度法和荧光分光光度法测定高压处理对细菌细胞膜通透性的影响,采用超微量Na+/K+-ATP酶试剂盒测定高压处理对细菌细胞膜Na+/K+-ATP酶活力的影响。【结果】25℃经300、350、400 MPa压力处理15 min后,单增李斯特菌总数由9.00分别降至5.20、3.27、1.35个对数单位,经450MPa及以上的压力处理后,单增李斯特菌的致死率达到100%。超高压处理对单增李斯特菌的细胞超微结构造成明显的损伤,细胞结构不完整,细胞壁局部被破坏,细胞膜通透性增大,细胞内物质聚合,出现透电子区。由于细胞膜的损伤使得细胞内无机盐离子、紫外吸收物质流出,细胞膜上的Na+/K+-ATPase失活。【结论】超高压处理造成单增李斯特菌细胞形态结构明显损伤,改变细胞膜的通透性,降低细胞膜上Na+/K+-ATP酶活力,最终使得细胞内无机盐离子和胞内大分子物质外流而死亡。     

希瓦氏菌Shewallena oneidensis MR-1合成硒纳米棒

摘要:【目的】探索采用希瓦氏菌合成硒(Se)纳米棒,并阐明合成底物Se(IV)的浓度与细菌培养时间对生物合成的影响。【方法】将希瓦氏菌Shewallena oneidensis MR-1 接种至Luria-Bertani(LB)液体培养基,分别以Se(IV)浓度0.1、1、10和100 mmol/L的Na2 SO3作为电子受体,厌氧培养并绘制生长曲线。再将希瓦氏菌接种到含最适Se( IV)浓度的LB 培养基中,在厌氧培养后第24和72 h离心获取沉淀。采用扫描电镜、X射线能谱和X射线衍射对沉淀进行分析。【结果】在Se(IV)浓度1 mmol/L的培养基中培养24 h形成的纳米棒沉淀截面直径约80 nm,长度2－3 μm。而培养72 h形成的沉淀较大,超出纳米物质范畴。采用X射线能谱和X射线衍射确定纳米棒组成为单质Se。【结论】本研究为生物合成Se纳米棒提供了一种可行的方法。希瓦氏菌最适宜在1 mmol/L Se(IV)浓度下以及在对数生长期大量合成Se纳米棒,具有潜在应用价值。     

有效霉素A对棘孢木霉的影响及协同防治玉米纹枯病作用

【背景】玉米纹枯病逐渐发展为制约我国玉米持续增产的主要病害,有效霉素A与生防菌木霉均对纹枯病菌具有抗性,但二者各有优缺点。【目的】研究有效霉素A与木霉菌协同作用的可行性,提高对玉米纹枯病的防治水平,实现抗生素类化学农药的减量使用,提高生态环境安全性。【方法】测定有效霉素A处理后的棘孢木霉GDSF1009的细胞壁降解酶及防御反应相关酶活性,烟草叶片验证活性氧及过敏性反应。利用转录组及气相色谱-飞行时间质谱联用分析有效霉素A对GDSF1009基因表达差异及生长代谢的影响,并进行叶片及平皿协同抑菌实验。【结果】有效霉素A对棘孢木霉GDSF1009的几丁质酶、纤维素酶及木聚糖酶的活性无影响,有效霉素A未进入到棘孢木霉菌细胞内。在转录组水平,有效霉素A处理木霉24h和48 h后,与对照相比,差异基因所占比例分别为8.932%和6.779%,有效霉素A对GDSF1009相关的糖类及脂类代谢没有显著影响,仅对氨基酸代谢相关的基因有一些影响,这些基因并不会造成氨基酸代谢的大量变化。同时验证了在二者联合使用时,可以显著地提高玉米纹枯病的防治效果。【结论】有效霉素A对棘孢木霉菌的初生代谢系统是比较安全的,二者协同作用的抗病效果显著高于单因子作用。     

一个甲基转移酶基因lomo3在洛蒙真菌素生物合成途径中的功能

【目的】洛蒙真菌素是在洛蒙德链霉菌(Streptomyces lomondensis)中生物合成的一种具有广谱抑菌活性的吩嗪类抗生素,但其合成机理仍不清晰。在洛蒙德链霉菌S015的洛蒙真菌素生物合成核心基因簇下游,有一甲基转移酶基因——lomo3,研究该基因对洛蒙真菌素生物合成的影响。【方法】对lomo3基因进行无痕敲除得到基因缺失突变株S015Δlomo3,再过表达重组质粒构建回补突变株S015Δlomo3::lomo3,比较两株突变株与野生型S015的发酵产物的变化。【结果】发现基因缺失菌株S015Δlomo3不能合成洛蒙真菌素,而基因回补菌株S015Δlomo3::lomo3则可恢复洛蒙真菌素的合成能力。【结论】甲基转移酶基因lomo3在洛蒙真菌素生物合成过程中起着重要的作用,但该基因的具体功能还有待深入研究。研究对于阐明洛蒙真菌素的生物合成途径具有一定的指导作用。     

Biogenic synthesis of multidimensional gold nanoparticles assisted by Streptomyces hygroscopicus and its electrochemical and antibacterial properties

The fabrication of reliable, green chemistry processes for nanomaterial synthesis is an important aspect of nanotechnology. The biosynthesis of single-pot room-temperature reduction of aqueous chloroaurate ions by Streptomyces hygroscopicus cells has been reported to facilitate the development of an industrially viable greener methodology for the synthesis of technologically important gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Multidimensional AuNPs are generated via the manipulation of key growth parameters, including solution pH and reaction time. The synthesized nanostructures are characterized by UV/Vis and energy dispersive X-ray analysis studies. Particle morphology is characterized by HRTEM, FE-SEM and BioAFM. Additionally, we have demonstrated the electrochemical and antibacterial properties of AuNPs via cyclic voltammetry analysis and a minimal inhibitory concentration assay. Owing to the drawbacks of chemical synthesis, a biological synthesis method has been developed to generate biocompatible, inexpensive and eco-friendly size-controlled nanoparticles.     

Exploitation of marine bacteria for production of gold nanoparticles

Background

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have found wide range of applications in electronics, biomedical engineering, and chemistry owing to their exceptional opto-electrical properties. Biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles by using plant extracts and microbes have received profound interest in recent times owing to their potential to produce nanoparticles with varied shape, size and morphology. Marine microorganisms are unique to tolerate high salt concentration and can evade toxicity of different metal ions. However, these marine microbes are not sufficiently explored for their capability of metal nanoparticle synthesis. Although, marine water is one of the richest sources of gold in the nature, however, there is no significant publication regarding utilization of marine micro-organisms to produce gold nanoparticles. Therefore, there might be a possibility of exploring marine bacteria as nanofactories for AuNP biosynthesis.

Results

In the present study, marine bacteria are exploited towards their capability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) production. Stable, monodisperse AuNP formation with around 10?nm dimension occur upon exposure of HAuCl₄ solution to whole cells of a novel strain of Marinobacter pelagius, as characterized by polyphasic taxonomy. Nanoparticles synthesized are characterized by Transmission electron microscopy, Dynamic light scattering and UV-visible spectroscopy.

Conclusion

The potential of marine organisms in biosynthesis of AuNPs are still relatively unexplored. Although, there are few reports of gold nanoparticles production using marine sponges and sea weeds however, there is no report on the production of gold nanoparticles using marine bacteria. The present work highlighted the possibility of using the marine bacterial strain of Marinobacter pelagius to achieve a fast rate of nanoparticles synthesis which may be of high interest for future process development of AuNPs. This is the first report of AuNP synthesis by marine bacteria.     

Biosorption of Cr (VI) with Trichoderma viride immobilized fungal biomass and cell free Ca-alginate beads

Ability of Cr (VI) biosorption with immobilized Trichoderma viride biomass and cell free Ca-alginate beads was studied in the present study. Biosorption efficiency in the powdered fungal biomass entrapped in polymeric matric of calcium alginate compared with cell free calcium alginate beads. Effect of pH, initial metal ion concentration, time and biomass dose on the Cr (VI) removal by immobilized and cell free Ca-alginate beads were also determined. Biosorption of Cr (VI) was pH dependent and the maximum adsorption was observed at pH 2.0. The adsorption equilibrium was reached in 90 min. The maximum adsorption capacity of 16.075 mgg(-1) was observed at dose 0.2 mg in 100 ml of Cr (VI) solution. The high value of kinetics rate constant Kad (3.73 x 10(-2)) with immobilized fungal biomass and (3.75 x 10(-2)) with cell free Ca- alginate beads showed that the sorption of Cr (VI) ions on immobilized biomass and cell free Ca-alginate beads followed pseudo first order kinetics. The experimental results were fitted satisfactory to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The hydroxyl (-OH) and amino (-NH) functional groups were responsible in biosorption of Cr (VI) with fungal biomass spp. Trichoderma viride analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer.     

Synthesis of biologically stable gold nanoparticles using imidazolium-based amino acid ionic liquids

A novel double-step reduction procedure for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using amino acid ionic liquids has been employed. 1-Dodecyl-3-methyl imidazolium tryptophan ([C(12)mim]Trp) and 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium tryptophan ([C(2)mim]Trp) were used for this synthesis. The synthesized AuNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The behavior of these AuNPs were also probed in a biological media. It was proven that AuNPs synthesized at [C(12)mim]Trp have more stability than AuNPs synthesized at [C(2)mim]Trp due to the longer alkyl chain of the imidazolium moiety. The solubility test shows that the resultant AuNPs have a hydrophilic nature. Finally, it was seen that due to the presence of a biomolecule, namely Trp, in the structure of AuNPs protecting shell, higher stability and biocompatibility was achieved in the biological media.     

Current state and prospects of the phytosynthesized colloidal gold nanoparticles and their applications in cancer theranostics

The design, development, and biomedical applications of phytochemical-based green synthesis of biocompatible colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are becoming an emerging field due to several advantages (safer, eco-friendly, simple, fast, energy efficient, low-cost, and less toxic) over conventional chemical synthetic procedures. Biosynthesized colloidal gold nanoparticles are remarkably attractive in several biomedical applications including cancer theranostics due to small size, unusual physico-chemical properties, facile surface modification, high biocompatibility, and numerous other advantages. Of late, several researchers have investigated the biosynthesis and prospective applications (diagnostics, imaging, drug delivery, and cancer therapeutics) of AuNPs in health care and medicine. However, not a single review article is available in the literature that demonstrates the anti-cancer potential of biosynthesized colloidal AuNPs with detailed mechanistic study. In the present review article, we for the first time discuss the biointerface of colloidal AuNPs, plants, and cancer mainly (i) comprehensive mechanistic aspects of phytochemical-based synthesis of AuNPs; (ii) proposed anti-cancer mechanisms along with biomedical applications in diagnostics, imaging, and drug delivery; and (iii) key challenges for biogenic AuNPs as future cancer nanomedicine.

     

Environmentally benign rapid biosynthesis of extracellular gold nanoparticles using Aspergillus flavus and their cytotoxic and catalytic activities

In this study, the rapid biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by Aspergillus flavus culture supernatant was achieved by reducing 1 mM of chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄) within 2 min at pH 7 and 30 °C. The biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited maximum absorbance at 545 nm in UVvis spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy exhibited that AuNPs tend to take nearly spherical shapes with an average size of 12 nm. Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated that carboxyl, amine, and hydroxyl groups may participate in the biosynthesis and stabilization of AuNPs. Its zeta potential was found to be -33.01 mV. Energy dispersive X-rays showed a strong and typical beak of gold nanocrystallites with 80.84 % of analyzed sample. X-Ray diffraction spectrum displayed Bragg reflections identical to the gold nanocrystals. The results confirmed that biosynthesized AuNPs are a potent anticancer agent against A549, HepG2 and MCF7 cell lines with IC₅₀ value 53.5, 60.7 and 100 μg/mL, respectively. Crystal violet assay confirmed the cytopathic effects of AuNPs on HepG2 and A549 cell lines. Annexin-V FITC assay and cell cycle confirmed the apoptotic effect and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, respectively for A549 cell line. Moreover, the results showed a degradation efficiency of AuNPs to 4-nitrophenol within 16 min.     

A Bacteriophage Mediated Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis and Their Anti-biofilm Activity

In the present study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesis was carried out by using a rare bacteriophage which is morphologically similar to 7–11 phages of the C3 morphotype of tailed phage belonging to Podoviridae family as green route. Effect of various physiological parameters like pH, temperature and concentration of gold chloride salt on AuNPs synthesis was studied. The reaction mixtures have shown vivid colours at various physiological parameters. Phage inspired AuNPs were further characterized by using different techniques such as UV–Vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). DLS study revealed synthesis of various sizes of AuNPs in the range of 20–100 nm. SEM studies revealed synthesis of varied shaped AuNPs, viz., spheres, hexagons, triangles, rhomboids and rectangular etc. The presence of Au in the nanostructures was confirmed by EDS. The XRD pattern reflects the crystalline nature and nano size of AuNPs. These phage inspired AuNPs showed anti-bacterial activity against different bacterial pathogens. Anti-biofilm activity of AuNPs was evaluated on a glass slide. It was noticed that at 0.2 mM concentration of these AuNPs about 80% of biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a human pathogen was inhibited. Thus, the phage inspired AuNPs synthesis could be potential therapeutic agents against human pathogens.     

Counter ions and temperature incorporated tailoring of biogenic gold nanoparticles

Despite the vast research being conducted on the development of biosynthetic procedures, the process is limited owing to the unavailability of modes to control the size and shape of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. In this study, we investigate the size and shape control of gold nanoparticles synthesized by leaf extract of Piper betle (PBE). The effects of various counter ions, temperatures, pH and reaction times on the morphology of gold nanoparticles are also scrutinized. Results from this study indicate that the presence of iodine during biosynthesis leads to the formation of spherical gold nanoparticles and induces the presence of bromine-emanating, truncated nanoplatelets. Spherical nanoparticles are formed with increasing incubation temperature. pH 3 was found to be the optimum for nanoparticles synthesis. The presence of phosphates, sulphates and nitrates increases the productivity of nanoparticles. ICP analysis revealed complete reduction of AuCl₄⁻ ions within 48 h of the reaction. The use of plant extract for rapid synthesis represents a novel and environmentally friendly approach for the fabrication of gold nanoparticles and nanoplatelets, as an alternative to chemical methods.     

Mycogenesis of gold nanoparticles using a phytopathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis>

The development of an eco-friendly and reliable process for the synthesis of gold nanomaterials (AuNPs) using microorganisms is gaining importance in the field of nanotechnology. In the present study, AuNPs have been synthesized by bio-reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄) using the fungal culture filtrate (FCF) of Alternaria alternata. The synthesis of the AuNPs was monitored by UV–visible spectroscopy. The particles thereby obtained were characterized by UV, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Energy-dispersive X-ray study revealed the presence of gold in the nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of a protein shell outside the nanoparticles which in turn also support their stabilization. Treatment of the fungal culture filtrate with aqueous Au⁺ ions produced AuNPs with an average particle size of 12 ± 5 nm. This proposed mechanistic principal might serve as a set of design rule for the synthesis of nanostructures with desired architecture and can be amenable for the large scale commercial production and technical applications.