Antiviral fungal metabolites and some insights into their contribution to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, which started in late 2019, drove the scientific community to conduct innovative research to contain the spread of the pandemic and to care for those already affected. Since then, the search for new drugs that are effective against the virus has been strengthened. Featuring a relatively low cost of production under well-defined methods of cultivation, fungi have been providing a diversity of antiviral metabolites with unprecedented chemical structures. In this review, we present viral RNA infections highlighting SARS-CoV-2 morphogenesis and the infectious cycle, the targets of known antiviral drugs, and current developments in this area such as drug repurposing. We also explored the metabolic adaptability of fungi during fermentation to produce metabolites active against RNA viruses, along with their chemical structures, and mechanisms of action. Finally, the state of the art of research on SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors of fungal origin is reported, highlighting the metabolites selected by docking studies.

Edible mushrooms as a ubiquitous source of essential fatty acids.

Many different species of mushrooms are consumed around the world, after harvesting from nature or cultivated under controlled conditions. Fruiting bodies of mushrooms from the Agaricus, Lentinula, and Pleurotus genera are reported as the most cultivated and commercialized ones in many countries, while wild edible mushroom species vary greatly according to the growth location. Mushrooms are nutritionally well-balanced sources of carbohydrates and proteins, with low fat concentrations, usually ranging from 0.1 to 16.3% making them very health foods. Although mushrooms are not a choice source of lipids, they contain essential fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic, and linolenic in their lipid profiles, usually as the major constituents. Therefore, compared to other food of vegetal and animal origin, mushrooms have the advantage of possessing high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Percentage of these fatty acids (in 100 g of total fatty acids) in mushrooms varies greatly: linoleic acid ranges from 0.0-81.1%, oleic acid between 1.0 and 60.3%, and linolenic acid from 0.0-28.8%. A global overview of the lipid composition of mushrooms is presented in this review, emphasizing the presence and levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and PUFA. Literature points that, in mushrooms, unsaturated fatty acid levels are generaly greater than those of saturated ones, regardless of the continent where the mushroom is cultivated or harvested. Comparing individually different species of the same mushroom (Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Boletus edulis) from different continents, similar fatty acid profile is also frequently observed. The great variety of edible mushrooms found worldwide and their consistent production of fatty acids, regardless the geographic source, make mushrooms an important source of essential fat acids for a human health diet.

Antimicrobial activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition by extracts from chromatin modulated fungi.

Major health challenges as the increasing number of cases of infections by antibiotic multiresistant microorganisms and cases of Alzheimer's disease have led to searching new control drugs. The present study aims to verify a new way of obtaining bioactive extracts from filamentous fungi with potential antimicrobial and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, using epigenetic modulation to promote the expression of genes commonly silenced. For such finality, five filamentous fungal species (Talaromyces funiculosus, Talaromyces islandicus, Talaromyces minioluteus, Talaromyces pinophilus, Penicillium janthinellum) were grown or not with DNA methyltransferases inhibitors (procainamide or hydralazine) and/or a histone deacetylase inhibitor (suberohydroxamic acid). Extracts from T. islandicus cultured or not with hydralazine inhibited Listeria monocytogenes growth in 57.66±5.98% and 15.38±1.99%, respectively. Increment in inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed for the extract from P. janthinellum grown with procainamide (100%), when compared to the control extract (39.62±3.76%). Similarly, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity increased from 20.91±3.90% (control) to 92.20±3.72% when the tested extract was obtained from T. pinophilus under a combination of suberohydroxamic acid and procainamide. Concluding, increases in antimicrobial activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition were observed when fungal extracts in the presence of DNA methyltransferases and/or histone deacetylase modulators were tested.

Antimicrobial activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition by extracts from chromatin modulated fungi

ABSTRACT Major health challenges as the increasing number of cases of infections by antibiotic multiresistant microorganisms and cases of Alzheimer's disease have led to searching new control drugs. The present study aims to verify a new way of obtaining bioactive extracts from filamentous fungi with potential antimicrobial and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, using epigenetic modulation to promote the expression of genes commonly silenced. For such finality, five filamentous fungal species (Talaromyces funiculosus, Talaromyces islandicus, Talaromyces minioluteus, Talaromyces pinophilus, Penicillium janthinellum) were grown or not with DNA methyltransferases inhibitors (procainamide or hydralazine) and/or a histone deacetylase inhibitor (suberohydroxamic acid). Extracts from T. islandicus cultured or not with hydralazine inhibited Listeria monocytogenes growth in 57.66 ± 5.98% and 15.38 ± 1.99%, respectively. Increment in inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed for the extract from P. janthinellum grown with procainamide (100%), when compared to the control extract (39.62 ± 3.76%). Similarly, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity increased from 20.91 ± 3.90% (control) to 92.20 ± 3.72% when the tested extract was obtained from T. pinophilus under a combination of suberohydroxamic acid and procainamide. Concluding, increases in antimicrobial activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition were observed when fungal extracts in the presence of DNA methyltransferases and/or histone deacetylase modulators were tested.