Penicillium viridicatum, Penicillium verrucosum, and production of ochratoxin A

The taxonomy of the important mycotoxigenic species Penicillium viridicatum and P. verrucosum was reviewed to clarify disagreements relating to the three P. viridicatum groups erected by Ciegler and coworkers (A. Ciegler, D. I. Fennell, G. A. Sansing, R. W. Detroy, and G. A. Bennett, Appl. Microbiol. 26:271-278, 1973) and the mycotoxins produced by them. Cultures derived from the types of these two species and authentic cultures from each group and from many other sources were examined culturally, microscopically, and for mycotoxin production. It was concluded that P. viridicatum group II has affinities with P. verrucosum and not with P. viridicatum, as indicated by J. I. Pitt in the 1979 monograph (The Genus Penicillium and Its Teleomorphic States Eupenicillium and Talaromyces). As a result of this study it can now be unequivocally stated that the mycotoxins ochratoxin A and citrinin are not produced by P. viridicatum. Of species in subgenus Penicillium, only P. verrucosum is known to produce ochratoxin A.     

The Penicillium commune Thom and Penicillium clavigerum Demelius fungi--fumigaclavines A and B producers

The type strains Penicillium clavigerum VKM F-447 and P. commune VKM F-3233 are found to produce fumigaclavines A and B. Of the seven other strains of these species, only two strains, P. commune VKM F-3088 and F-3491, possess the ability to synthesize these alkaloids. It is suggested that the five other strains under study either lost such an ability or require very specific conditions for the synthesis of these alkaloids.     

Rugulosuvines A and B--diketopiperazine alkaloids from Penicillium rugulosum and Penicillium piscarium fungi]

Two diketopiperazine alkaloids, rugulosuvines A and B (tryptophan and phenylalanine are precursors), were isolated and purified from the culture liquid of Penicillium rugulosum VKM F-352 and Penicillium piscarium VKM F-325 fungi. Physical and physicochemical studies showed the absolute structure of rugulosuvine A. The absolute structure of rugulosuvine B was demonstrated to be similar to that of rugulosuvine A.     

Secondary metabolites characteristic of Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium steckii and related species

Two new carboxylic acids, tanzawaic acid E (1) and F (2) in addition to the unknown benzopyran 3,7-dimethyl-1,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-isochroman (3), and the known mycotoxin 3,7-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-6-methoxyisochroman (4) were produced by a marine-derived strain of Penicillium steckii isolated from an unidentified tunicate. The carboxylic acids and the benzopyran were identified on the basis of mass spectrometry, and one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques. The structures 1 and 2 resemble tanzawaic acid A-D, previously isolated from Penicillium citrinum. Screening of isolates of species related to P. citrinum and P. steckii showed that P. citrinum (25 isolates) consistently produced citrinin and tanzawaic acid A, P. steckii (18 isolates) produced isochroman toxins (except 2) and tanzawaic acid E, P. sizovae consistently produced tanzawaic acid A, P. corylophilum (10 isolates) produced citreoisocoumarinol and P. sumatrense (15 isolates) always produced curvularin.     

Rugulosuvines A and B,Diketopiperazine Alkaloids of Penicillium rugulosumand Penicillium piscariumFungi

Two diketopiperazine alkaloids, rugulosuvines A and B (tryptophan and phenylalanine are their precursors), were isolated and purified from a culture liquid of Penicillium rugulosumVKM F-352 and Penicillium piscariumVKM F-325 fungi. Physical and physicochemical studies showed the absolute structure of rugulosuvine A. The absolute structure of rugulosuvine B was demonstrated to be identical to that of rugulosuvine A.     

Penicillium viridicatum, Penicillium verrucosum, and production of ochratoxin A.

The taxonomy of the important mycotoxigenic species Penicillium viridicatum and P. verrucosum was reviewed to clarify disagreements relating to the three P. viridicatum groups erected by Ciegler and coworkers (A. Ciegler, D. I. Fennell, G. A. Sansing, R. W. Detroy, and G. A. Bennett, Appl. Microbiol. 26:271-278, 1973) and the mycotoxins produced by them. Cultures derived from the types of these two species and authentic cultures from each group and from many other sources were examined culturally, microscopically, and for mycotoxin production. It was concluded that P. viridicatum group II has affinities with P. verrucosum and not with P. viridicatum, as indicated by J. I. Pitt in the 1979 monograph (The Genus Penicillium and Its Teleomorphic States Eupenicillium and Talaromyces). As a result of this study it can now be unequivocally stated that the mycotoxins ochratoxin A and citrinin are not produced by P. viridicatum. Of species in subgenus Penicillium, only P. verrucosum is known to produce ochratoxin A.     

Penicillium rubrum and Penicillium biforme, new sources of rugulovasines A and B.

An isolate of Penicillium biforme Thom produced rugulovasines A and B. An isolate of Penicillium rubrum Stoll produced rugulovasines A and B and also chlororugulovasines A and B. Both fungi represent new sources of the rugulovasines.     

The Penicillium commune Thom and Penicillium clavigerum Demelius Fungi Producing Fumigaclavines A and B

The type strains Penicillium clavigerum VKM F-447 and P. commune VKM F-3233 are found to produce fumigaclavines A and B. Of the seven other strains of these species, only two strains, P. commune VKM F-3088 and F-3491, possess the ability to synthesize these alkaloids. It is suggested that the five other strains under study either lost such an ability or require very specific conditions for the synthesis of these alkaloids.     

New metabolites from the alga-derived fungi Penicillium thomii Maire and Penicillium lividum Westling

A new meroterpenoid, austalide H acid ethyl ester (1), 5-(2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methylphenyl)-3-methylfuran-2-carboxylic acid (2), 5-(2′-hydroxy-6′-methylphenyl)-3-methylfuran-2-carboxylic acid (3) and 5-((6′-methyl-4′-oxo-3′,4′-dihydro-2H-pyran-2′-yl)methyl)-3-methylfuran-2-carboxylic acid (4), along with six known compounds, austalides H, J, K, and P (5–8), questin (9) and sulochrin (10) were isolated from the lipophilic extract of the alga-derived fungi Penicillium thomii KMM 4645 and Penicillium lividum KMM 4663. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on spectroscopic methods. The austalides showed significant inhibitory activity against endo-1,3-β-d-Glucanase from a crystalline stalk of the marine mollusk Pseudocardium sachalinensis.     

Seven new species of Penicillium and a new variety of Penicillium novae-caledoniae Smith

Seven new species of Penicillium Link ex Fries and a new variety of Penicillium novae-caledoniae Smith are described and illustrated. Four of them have been recovered from the air in Madrid, Spain, one from beech leaves litter in a beech forest near Nancy, France, two from sandy soils in Madrid, and one from an andosol in the Spanish Province of Navarra. They clearly differ from all species of the genus described so far and are, therefore, described and proposed as new taxa: Penicillium turolense sp. nov., Penicillium murcianum sp. nov., Penicillium ovetense sp. nov., Penicillium asturianum sp. nov., Penicillium onobense sp. nov., Penicillium castellonense sp. nov., Penicillium aragonense sp. nov., and Penicillium novae-caledoniae Smith, var. album var. nov.     

Release of protoplasts from Penicillium paxilli by Penicillium purpurogenum enzymes

Spherical, osmotically fragile protoplasts were obtained from the mycelium of Penicillium paxilli. The lytic enzymes were derived from the culture filtrate of P. purpurogenum grown on disintegrated mycelium of P. paxilli. Maximum numbers of protoplasts were released from 36 h mycelium, using 1 M sorbitol as an osmotic stabilizer, at pH 5.8, after 2 h incubation with lytic enzymes at 30 degrees C.     

Penicillium chrysogenum endophthalmitis

Infections caused byPenicillium chrysogenum are rare. The first case of posttraumatic endophthalmitis caused by this saprophytic fungus is reported. Therapy with amphotericin B and topical natamycin eradicated the organism.