Isobenzofuranone monomer and dimer derivatives from the mangrove endophytic fungus Epicoccum nigrum SCNU-F0002 possess α-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activity.

Four new isobenzofuranone monomers, (+)-epicoccone C ((+)-1), (-)-epicoccone C ((-)-1), epicoccone D (2), epicoccone E (3) and one new isobenzofuranone dimer, epicolactone A (4), together with four known related dimers were obtained from the fermentation of an endophytic fungus, Epicoccum nigrum SCNU-F0002, which was isolated from the fresh fruit of the mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius L. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. These isolated compounds (1-8) were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity. All of the compounds except 5 exhibited more potent α-glucosidase inhibitory effect than acarbose. Most of the compounds showed superior antioxidant activity with IC50 values ranging from 10.2 to 15.3 µM than positive control, gallic acid and vitamin C.

Ophiobolin-Type Sesterterpenoids from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus sp. ZJ-68.

Eleven new ophiobolin-type sesterterpenoids, asperophiobolins A-K (1-11), along with 12 known analogues (12-23) were isolated from the cultures of the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. ZJ-68. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated through spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations were assigned by a combination of Mo2(AcO)4-induced electronic circular dichroism spectra and quantum chemical calculations. Asperophiobolins A-D (1-4) represent the first examples possessing a five-membered lactam unit between C-5 and C-21 in ophiobolin derivatives. In the bioactivity assays, compounds 8-10 and 14-17 exhibited inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells with IC50 values ranging from 9.6 to 25 µM, and compound 8 was found to show comparable inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B with an IC50 value of 19 µM.

The Purification, Characterization, and Biological Activity of New Polyketides from Mangrove-Derived Endophytic Fungus Epicoccum nigrum SCNU-F0002.

Six new polyketides, including one coumarin (1), two isocoumarins (2 and 3), dihydroradicinin (4), and two benzofuranone derivatives (7 and 8), together with seven known analogues (5-6 and 9-13) were isolated from the culture of the mangrove endophytic fungus Epicoccum nigrum SCNU-F0002. The structures were elucidated on the interpretation of spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of Compounds 2 and 3 were determined by comparison of their ECD spectra with the data of their analogue dihydroisocoumarins described in the literature. The absolute configuration of 4 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All the compounds were screened for their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-phytopathogenic fungi and cytotoxic activities. Using a DPPH radical-scavenging assay, Compounds 10-13 showed potent antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 13.6, 12.1, 18.1, and 11.7 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, Compounds 6 and 7 showed antibacterial effects against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6538), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), with MIC values in the range of 25-50 µg/mL.

Differentiate Clinical Characteristics Between Viral Pneumonia and Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Nomograms for Predicting Mycoplasma pneumoniae : A Retrospective Study in Primary Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the difference in clinical characteristics between viral pneumonia and Mycoplasma pneumoniae , providing cues on their differential diagnosis for primary hospitals with the insufficient pathogen detection capacity. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infections, and pathogenic microbes test results were analyzed. Clinical characteristics, routine blood parameters and hospitalization duration and fee were compared between M. pneumoniae and viral pneumonia. We used in the multivariable logistic regression to predict the probability of children with M. pneumoniae and graphically represented by a dynamic nomogram. The discrimination and clinical utility of the model were confirmed by receiver operating characteristic and decision curve analysis curves. RESULT: A total of 375 children with community-acquired pneumonia were included. Mycoplasma infection accounted for the largest proportion (22.13%). The incidence of both hypothermia and vomiting was lower in M. pneumoniae compared to viral pneumonia (hypothermia: 10.50% vs. 0.00%; vomiting: 7.90% vs. 0.00%). The prevalence of hyperthermia was higher in M. pneumoniae (hyperthermia: 89.5% vs. 100%). Procalcitonin, peripheral blood white blood cell count and lymphocyte levels were higher in the viral pneumonia group, and eosinophil levels were conversely lower. As for the duration of illness, the mean length of stay was 5.20 ± 2.12 (viral pneumonia) and 6.27 ± 2.48 days ( M. pneumoniae ). Children with M. pneumoniae had higher overall hospital costs and required more medical treatment. The above were all statistically significant with a P < 0.05. The scoring system was established based on the above results. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed good model-discrimination ability with 0.844 of the area under the curve in the training set and 0.778 in the test set. Decision curve analysis curves demonstrated the discriminative superiority of this model. The web-based dynamic nomogram calculator is accessible at https://zhxylxy0160128.shinyapps.io/Nomogram/ . CONCLUSION: Nomograms have satisfactory discrimination, and clinical utility may benefit in predicting the probability of developing M. pneumoniae in children. Children with M. pneumoniae have a higher burden than those with viral pneumonia and may require more intensive in-hospital monitoring.

Two new secondary metabolites from the mangrove endophytic fungus Pleosporales sp. SK7.

Two new compounds, an abscisic acid-type sesquiterpene (1), and one asterric acid derivative (2), together with three known compounds (3-5) were isolated from mangrove endophytic fungus Pleosporales sp. SK7. The structures of these metabolites were determined by NMR, X-ray crystal diffraction, CD and HR-ESI-MS. All compounds were tested for their antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, among these compounds, 5 showed cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-435 cell with an IC50 of 25.96 ± 0.32 µM.

New furo[3,2-h]isochroman from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. 085242.

Four new compounds, asperisocoumarin G (1), asperisocoumarin H (2), (±)-asperisocoumarin I [(±)-3], along with the known pergillin (4) and penicisochroman L (5) were isolated from a mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. 085242 by further chemical investigation. The structures of the new compounds, including their absolute configurations, were established by analysis of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic data, and ECD calculation. Asperisocoumarins G-I (1-3) were new isocoumarins belonging to the class of furo[3, 2-h]isocoumarins which are rarely found in natural sources. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory effects, and compounds 1 and 4 showed moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, respectively. In an antimicrobial test, the racemate of 3 showed antibacterial activity against Salmonella.

Thiocladospolide E and cladospamide A, novel 12-membered macrolide and macrolide lactam from mangrove endophytic fungus Cladosporium sp. SCNU-F0001.

Chemical investigation of the mangrove endophytic fungus Cladosporium sp. SCNU-F0001 resulted in the isolation and identification of a new macrolide compound named thiocladospolide E (1) and a novel macrolide lactam named cladospamide A (2), along with the known cladospolide B (3). The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configurations were determined by X-ray diffraction and HPLC analysis after chemical derivatization. All compounds were tested for their antibacterial and cytotoxic activity.