Undescribed specialised metabolites from the endophytic fungus Emericella sp. XL029 and their antimicrobial activities.

The fungus Emericella sp. XL029 isolated from leaves of Panax notoginseng was investigated for agents with potential antibacterial and antifungal activities using a one strain-many compounds (OSMAC) strategy. Fifteen compounds, including seven undescribed structures, were obtained from this species. Their structures were confirmed by extensive spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray crystallography and quantum chemistry calculations. Emerlactam A exhibited better antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium and antifungal activity against Helminthosporium maydis, with an MIC value of 12.5 µg/mL. Quiannulatic acid displayed significant antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium and multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis with MIC values of 1.56 µg/mL and 3.13 µg/mL, respectively. 5-alkenylresorcinol exhibited significant antifungal activity against all tested phytopathogenic fungi with MIC values ranging from 6.25 to 12.5 µg/mL.

Capsulactone: a new 4-hydroxy-α-pyrone derivative from an endophytic fungus Penicillium capsulatum and its antimicrobial activity.

A new 4-hydroxy-α-pyrone, namely capsulactone (1), was isolated from an endophytic fungus Penicillium capsulatum XL027 obtained from the leaves of Panax notoginseng. The structure and absolute configuration of 1 were elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic data and computed methods, as well as by comparison with literature data. Compound 1 exhibited weak activity against methicinllin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with an MIC value of 100 µg/ml.

A new fusicoccane diterpene and a new polyene from the plant endophytic fungus Talaromyces pinophilus and their antimicrobial activities.

A new fusicoccane diterpene, pinophicin A (1), and a new polyene, pinophol A (2), were isolated from the plant endophytic fungus Talaromyces pinophilus obtained from the aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza. The structures and relative configurations of 1-2 were determined by the analysis of extensive spectroscopic data, chemical method, and comparison with known compounds. Compound 2 exhibited weak antibacterial activity against Bacterium paratyphosum B with an MIC value of 50 µg/mL.

Two New Prenylated Indole Diterpenoids from Tolypocladium sp. and Their Antimicrobial Activities.

Two new prenylated indole diterpenoids, tolypocladins K and L (1 and 2), together with a known analog terpendole L (3), were isolated from the solid fermentation culture of a mine soil-derived fungus Tolypocladium sp. XL115. Their structures and relative configurations were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, as well as by comparison of their NMR data with those related known compounds. Compound 3 exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus with an MIC value of 6.25 µg/mL, and compounds 1 and 3 displayed moderate antifungal activity selectively against tested strains with MIC values of 25-50 µg/mL.

Emericellins A and B: Two sesquiterpenoids with an unprecedented tricyclo[4,4,2,1]hendecane scaffold from the liquid cultures of endophytic fungus Emericella sp. XL 029.

Two novel sesquiterpenoids with an unprecedented tricyclo[4,4,2,1]hendecane scaffold, namely emericellins A (1) and B (2) representing a new skeleton, were isolated from the liquid cultures of an endophytic fungus Emericella sp. XL 029 associated with the leaves of Panax notoginseng. Their structures and relative configurations were characterized by extensive spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-2 displayed moderate activities against three fungal strains (Verticillium dahliae Kleb, Helminthosporium maydis, and Botryosphaeria dothidea) and three bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli) with MIC values of 25-50 µg/mL.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of odorant-binding protein (OBP) genes in the malaria vector Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae).

Anopheles sinensis is a major malaria vector. Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) may function in the reception of odorants in the olfactory system. The classification and characterization of the An. sinensis OBP genes have not been systematically studied. In this study, 64 putative OBP genes were identified at the whole-genome level of An. sinensis based on the comparison between OBP conserved motifs, PBP_GOBP, and phylogenetic analysis with An. gambiae OBPs. The characterization of An. sinensis OBPs, including the motif's conservation, gene structure, genomic organization and classification, were investigated. A new gene, AsOBP73, belonging to the Plus-C subfamily, was identified with the support of transcript and conservative motifs. These An. sinensis OBP genes were classified into three subfamilies with 37, 15 and 12 genes in the subfamily Classic, Atypical and Plus-C, respectively. The genomic organization of An. sinensis OBPs suggests a clustered distribution across nine different scaffolds. Eight genes (OBP23-28, OBP63-64) might originate from a single gene through a series of historic duplication events at least before divergence of Anopheles, Culex and Aedes. The microsynteny analyses indicate a very high synteny between An. sinensis and An. gambiae OBPs. OBP70 and OBP71 earlier classified under Plus-C in An. gambiae are recognized as belonging to the group Obp59a of the Classic subfamily, and OBP69 earlier classified under Plus-C has been moved to the Atypical subfamily in this study. The study established a basic information frame for further study of the OBP genes in insects as well as in An. sinensis.