Use of a bioassay to evaluate the toxicity of beauvericin to bacteria

An agar diffusion bioassay was used to compare the sensitivities of bacteria to the mycotoxin beauvericin. Bacillus pumilus LACB101 was inhibited by filter-paper disks containing 0.1 g of beauvericin; B. cereus, B. mycoides, B. sphaericus, Paenibacillus alvei, P. azotofixans, P. macquariensis, and P. pulvifaciens by 1 g; and P. validus by 25 g. The anaerobes Eubacterium biforme, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, P. productus, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Clostridium perfringens were also inhibited by beauvericin.     

拟青霉属一嗜热新种,短链拟青霉Paecilomyces curticatenatus

从福建福州荔枝根际土样中分离到一嗜热单瓶梗拟青霉新种,短链拟青霉。其主要鉴别特征为:在查氏培养基上,35℃,14天,菌落边缘浅波浪状,灰褐色;分生孢子梗缺乏或简单,瓶梗直接单生于气生菌丝上,偶而在简单的分生孢子梗上着生有由2~3个瓶梗组成的轮生体;分生孢子微粗糙,大多近球形至椭圆形,少数梭形;分生孢子链短,常由3~6个孢子组成。     

Bioactive endophytic fungi isolated from Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood) and identification of beauvericin as a trypanocidal metabolite from Fusarium sp.

Aiming to identify new sources of bioactive secondary metabolites, we isolated 82 endophytic fungi from stems and barks of the native Brazilian tree Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Fabaceae). We tested their ethyl acetate extracts in several in vitro assays. The organic extracts from three isolates showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 32-64 μg/mL]. One isolate inhibited the growth of Salmonella typhimurium (MIC 64 μg/mL) and two isolates inhibited the growth of Klebsiella oxytoca (MIC 64 μg/mL), Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis (MIC 64-128 μg/mL). Fourteen extracts at a concentration of 20 μg/mL showed antitumour activities against human breast cancer and human renal cancer cells, while two isolates showed anti-tumour activities against human melanoma cancer cells. Six extracts were able to reduce the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, indicating some degree of selective toxicity. Four isolates were able to inhibit Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and one isolate inhibited Trypanosoma cruzi by at least 40% at 20 μg/mL. The trypanocidal extract obtained from Fusarium sp. [{"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"KF611679","term_id":"560187972","term_text":"KF611679"}}KF611679] culture was subjected to bioguided fractionation, which revealed beauvericin as the compound responsible for the observed toxicity of Fusarium sp. to T. cruzi. This depsipeptide showed a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 1.9 μg/mL (2.43 μM) in a T. cruzi cellular culture assay.     

The mycotoxin beauvericin induces oocyte mitochondrial dysfunction and affects embryo development in the juvenile sheep

Beauvericin (BEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Beauveria bassiana and Fusarium species recently reported as toxic on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development. The aim of this study was to assess, in the juvenile sheep, whether its effects are due to alterations of oocyte and/or embryo bioenergetic/oxidative status. Cumulus‐oocyte‐complexes (COCs) were exposed to BEA during in vitro maturation (IVM), evaluated for cumulus cell (CC) apoptosis, oocyte maturation and bioenergetic/oxidative status or subjected to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo culture (IVEC). Oocyte nuclear maturation and embryo development were assessed after Hoechst staining and CC apoptosis was analysed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐End labeling assay and chromatin morphology after Hoechst staining by epifluorescence microscopy. Oocyte and blastocyst bioenergetic/oxidative status were assessed by confocal microscopy after mitochondria and reactive oxygen species labelling with specific probes. BEA showed various toxic effects, that is, short‐term effects on somatic and germinal compartment of the COC (CCs and the oocyte) and long‐term carry‐over effects on developing embryos. In detail, at 5 µM, it significantly reduced oocyte maturation and immature oocytes showed increased late‐stage (Type C) CC apoptosis and DNA fragmentation while matured oocytes showed unaffected CC viability but abnormal mitochondrial distribution patterns. At lower tested concentrations (3–0.5 µM), BEA did not affect oocyte maturation, but matured oocytes showed reduced mitochondrial activity. At low concentrations, BEA impaired embryo developmental capacity and blastocyst quality after IVF and IVEC. In conclusion, in the juvenile sheep, COC exposure to BEA induces CC apoptosis and oocyte mitochondrial dysfunction with negative impact on embryo development.     

An inhibition study of beauvericin on human and rat cytochrome P450 enzymes and its pharmacokinetics in rats

Beauvericin is a secondary metabolite natural product from microorganisms and has been shown to have a new potential antifungal activity. In this study, the metabolism and inhibition of beauvericin in human liver microsomes (HLM) and rat liver microsomes (RLM) were investigated. The apparent K_m and V_max of beauvericin in HLM were determined by substrate depletion approach and its inhibitory effects on cytochromes P450 (CYP) activities were evaluated using probe substrates, with IC₅₀ and the (K_i) values were 1.2 μM (0.5 μM) and 1.3 μM (1.9 μM), respectively for CYP3A4/5 (midazolam) and CYP2C19 (mephenytoin). Similarly, beauvericin was also a potent inhibitor for CYP3A1/2 (IC₅₀: 1.3 μM) in RLM. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of beauvericin in the rat were studied after p.o administration alone and co-administration with ketoconazole, which indicated a pharmacodynamic function may play a role in the synergistic effect on antifungal activity.     

Isolation of beauvericin as an insect toxin from Fusarium semitectum and Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans

Nonpolar methylene chloride-soluble extracts from the mycelia of Fusarium semitectum and Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans were toxic to Colorado potato beetles. The major toxic metabolite was isolated and found to be the cyclodepsipeptide, beauvericin. This is the first report of the isolation of beauvericin from the genus Fusarium.     

The effect of the Fusarium metabolite beauvericin on electromechanical and -physiological properties in isolated smooth and heart muscle preparations of guinea pigs

The electromechanical and -physiological effects of beauvericin were studied in isolated smooth and heart muscle preparations of the guinea pig. Beauvericin concentration-dependently decreased the force of contraction in precontracted (60 mM KCl) terminal ilea with an IC₅₀ of 0.86 M, and in electrically stimulated (1 Hz) papillary muscles with an IC₅₀ of 18 M. This negative inotropic effect in papillary muscles was antagonised in a non-competitive way by increased extracellular calcium concentrations. Spontaneous activity in right atria was affected at concentrations >10 M beauvericin. The negative chronotropic effect was less pronounced than the negative inotropic effect. In action potentials of electrically driven (1 Hz) papillary muscles, 10 M beauvericin significantly decreased membrane resting potential until unexcitability of the preparation occurred. Despite depolarisation of the membrane the maximum rate of rise of the action potential was not changed. The action potential duration was shortened, but the decrease was only significant at times to 20% and 50% repolarisation. These data, derived from the electrophysiological experiments, not only imply an effect on the calcium current as suggested by the effects on contractility, but also an interaction with the sodium inward and potassium outward currents.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation of dipicolinic acid as an insecticidal toxin from Paecilomyces fumosoroseus

Several entomopathogenic fungi produce toxins that could be used as bioinsecticides in integrated pest management programs. Paecilomyces fumosoroseus is currently used for the biological control of the whiteflies Bemisia tabaci and B. argentifolii. Supernatants from submerged batch culture, where the fungus produced abundant dispersed mycelium, conidia and blastospores, were toxic to the whitefly nymphs. The most abundant metabolite was purified by HPLC and identified by mass spectrometry and NMR as dipicolinic acid. Both the dipicolinic acid produced by the fungus and the chemically synthesized compound had insecticidal activity against third-instar nymphs of the insect. Dipicolinic acid was toxic to the whitefly nymphs in bioassays involving topical applications. In submerged culture, the specific growth rate of P. fumosoroseus was 0.054 h⁻¹, the specific glucose consumption rate was 0.1195 g g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and the specific dipicolinic acid production rate was 0.00012 g g⁻¹ h⁻¹. Dipicolinic acid was detected after 24 h when the fungus started growing; and dipicolinic acid production was directly correlated with fungal growth. Nevertheless, the yield was low and the maximal concentration was only 0.041 g l⁻¹. The maximal concentrations of conidia and blastospores (per milliliter) were 1.4×10⁸ and 7×10⁷, respectively.     

从甘蔗渣泥中分离降解木质素的真菌

采用涂布平板法从甘蔗渣泥中共分离得到5株优势真菌,分别为头孢霉属（Cephalosporium）、曲霉属（Asper-gillus）、木霉属（Trichoderma）、毛霉属（Mucor）和地霉属（Geotrichum）。对分离得到的真菌进行产酶特性的研究。采用两种不同的产酶培养基（培养基Ⅴ,培养基Ⅵ）,这两种培养基的无机盐成分、含量相同,它们的主要差别为碳源不同。培养基Ⅴ的主要碳源为葡萄溏,培养基Ⅵ的主要碳源为甘蔗渣（过60目筛）。结果表明：分离得到的真菌在这两种培养基中的产酶酶活力相差很大,最优菌株为木霉属Q-3,在培养基Ⅵ中产酶酶活最高,赖锰过氧化物酶和漆酶最高活性分别为4．2245U／mL、1．2525U／mL,相对应的纤维素酶活性较低。     

Isolation and properties of chloroperoxidase isozymes

A new purification method for chloroperoxidase from Caldariomyces fumago is described. This method involves dialysis, alumina gel adsorption, DEAE-cellulose chromatography at pH 6, and then at pH 3.85 and crystallization. Two isozymes have been isolated and one has been crystallized. The MWs estimated by gel filtration are 46000 for chloroperoxidase A and 40000 for chloroperoxidase B. The guaiacol peroxidation catalysed by these isozymes is proportional to their chlorination activity.     

拟青霉属一嗜热新种,短链拟青霉Paecilomyces curticatenatus

从福建福州荔枝根际土样中分离到一嗜热单瓶梗拟青霉新种,短链拟青霉。其主要鉴别特征为:在查氏培养基上,35℃,14天,菌落边缘浅波浪状,灰褐色;分生孢子梗缺乏或简单,瓶梗直接单生于气生菌丝上,偶而在简单的分生孢子梗上着生有由2~3个瓶梗组成的轮生体;分生孢子微粗糙,大多近球形至椭圆形,少数梭形;分生孢子链短,常由3~6个孢子组成。     

A beauvericin hot spot in the genus Isaria

Beauvericin is a naturally occurring cyclohexadepsipeptide originally described from Beauveria bassiana but also reported from several Fusarium species as well as members of the genus Isaria. Twenty-six isolates of Isaria species and its Cordyceps teleomorph, and ten taxonomically close strains including Beauveria, Nomuraea and Paecilomyces species were sequenced and tested for beauvericin production. Trees using ITS rDNA and β-tubulin sequence data were constructed and used to infer the phylogenetic distribution of beauvericin production. A group comprising Isaria tenuipes and its known teleomorph Cordyceps takaomontana, Isaria cicadae and its Cordyceps teleomorph, Isaria japonica and Isaria fumosorosea, showed positive beauvericin production which correlated well with combined ITS rDNA and β-tubulin phylogenies. The results suggested that beauvericin can serve as a chemotaxonomic marker for these limited species of the I. tenuipes complex.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from the entomopathogenic hyphomycete,Paecilomyces fumosoroseus

Nine microsatellite markers were isolated from the entomopathogenic haploid fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus. Genetic diversity was assessed in 26 P. fumosoroseus isolates originated from the whitefly Bemisia tabaci collected in various geoclimatic areas. Eight loci were polymorphic with an observed number of alleles ranging from two to six. The loci differentiated some isolates and group of isolates according to their geographical location, showing promise for the study of gene flow. All loci failed to give clear amplifications in P. fumosoroseus isolates from hosts other than B. tabaci. These microsatellite markers provide powerful tools for ecological, epidemiological, and population genetic studies.     

蝉拟青霉代谢产物清除DPPH自由基和抗真菌活性的研究

用二苯代苦味肼基自由基(DPPH)-TLC法和酶标仪法对一株蝉拟青霉P3菌丝体和发酵液甲醇提取物的清除自由基活性进行了定性和定量测定,发现两种提取物具有较强的清除自由基活性,在浓度为5.0mg/mL,于37℃下保温10min时,两种样品对0.4mg/mL的DPPH自由基的清除率分别可达55.52%和74.86%.以一种黑曲霉菌为指示菌,采用薄层色谱法对蝉拟青霉菌丝体和发酵液甲醇提取物进行抑菌活性试验,实验中根据抑菌圈大小判定代谢物抑菌活性的大小.同时,以致病菌白色假丝酵母菌为指示菌,采用牛津杯法对提取物进行进一步抑菌活性验证,结果表明,菌丝体和发酵液提取物样品浓度为5.0mg/mL时,其抑菌圈直径分别可达11.23mm和21.42mm.     

拟青霉属一嗜热新种,短链拟青霉Paecilomyces curticatenatus

从福建福州荔枝根际土样中分离到一嗜热单瓶梗拟青霉新种,短链拟青霉。其主要鉴别特征为:在查氏培养基上,35℃,14天,菌落边缘浅波浪状,灰褐色;分生孢子梗缺乏或简单,瓶梗直接单生于气生菌丝上,偶而在简单的分生孢子梗上着生有由2~3个瓶梗组成的轮生体;分生孢子微粗糙,大多近球形至椭圆形,少数梭形;分生孢子链短,常由3~6个孢子组成。     

Brefeldin A,a cytotoxin produced by Paecilomyces sp. and Aspergillus clavatus isolated from Taxus mairei and Torreya grandis

Paecilomyces sp. and Aspergillus clavatus, which were isolated from Taxus mairei and Torreya grandis from southeast China, produced toxic metabolites when grown in liquid culture. Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, infrared spectrometry, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy and X-ray analysis identified brefeldin A, a bioactive metabolite produced by a number of fungal species belonging to the genera Alternaria, Ascochyta, Penicillium, Curvularia, Cercospora and Phyllosticta. This is the first report of the isolation of the cytotoxin from Paecilomyces sp. and A. clavatus. The relevance of brefeldin A to the association between these fungi and their host plants is discussed.     

粉拟青霉类枯草杆菌蛋白酶基因的cDNA克隆及其序列和蛋白质分析

粉拟青霉是一种常见的昆虫病原真菌,被广泛用于生物防治。根据GenBank中已登录的淡紫拟青霉,球孢白僵菌和金龟子绿僵菌的类枯草杆菌蛋白酶基因序列的同源性比较,以它们高度保守的核苷酸序列设计一对引物,采用RT-PCR和3’/5’-RACE相结合的方法,首次从粉拟青霉中克隆出完整的类枯草杆菌蛋白酶cDNA基因。其全序列为2060bp,该序列5’-端和3’-端的非编码序列长度分别为209bp和252bp,开放阅读框为1599bp,编码532个氨基酸,信号肽长度为16个氨基酸。成熟蛋白的氨基酸序列和金龟子绿僵菌小孢变种(CAB63913),玉米赤霉菌(EAA68914),金龟子绿僵菌蚱蜢变种(CAC95047)及柄孢壳(AAC03564)的同源性分别为69%、71%、68%和68%。成熟蛋白具有典型的丝氨酸蛋白酶活性位点,同时有5个半胱氨酸,3个潜在的N-糖基化位点和2个可能的O-糖基化位点。该基因在的密码子第三位碱基的使用上,显示出明显的对C的偏爱。     

紫杉醇产生菌分离的研究

报道了1993年从东北红豆杉树(Taxuscuspidata Sieb.et     

Lethal activity of beauvericin,a Beauveria bassiana mycotoxin,against the two‐spotted spider mites,Tetranychus urticae Koch

The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin is known to produce a broad range of secondary metabolites. Beauvericin, a cyclic hexadepsipeptide, is the best known mycotoxin produced by B. bassiana; however, reports discussing the insecticidal activity of beauvericin per se are limited. In this study, we assessed the lethal activity of beauvericin against Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acarina: Tetranychidae). In addition, screening for suitable application of the mycotoxin against T. urticae on greenhouse strawberries is discussed. Beauvericin was able to control successfully T. urticae where concentrations of 10, 100 and 1,000 µg/g recorded mortalities of 84%, 100% and 100%, respectively, against motile stages. Furthermore, beauvericin inhibited egg hatching up to 83.3%, 69.3% and 53.3%, respectively, using the same concentrations under laboratory conditions. Under greenhouse conditions, the efficacy recorded was 52.6%, 85.7%, 72.4% and 72.4% at 1, 3, 7 and 10 days post‐inoculation, respectively. Beauvericin was efficacious under greenhouse conditions since the application increased strawberry yields while showing no phytotoxicity and ecotoxicological risk. Resistance to beauvericin was not detected initially at the unselected strain of T. urticae. Yet, the laboratory selection of populations of T. urticae exposed to beauvericin resulted in relatively resistant T. urticae strain that displayed no cross‐resistance to cyflumetofen and bifenazate. The acaricidal activity of beauvericin documented in this study would increase the efficacy of integrated pest management strategies.