The antibiotic streptazolin (1), its E-isomer (2), along with the stereoisomers strepchazolin A (3) and strepchazolin B (4) and the inorganic compound cyclooctasulfur (5) were produced in solid culture by Streptomyces chartreusis ICBG377, which was isolated from the fungal garden of the leaf-cutter ant Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus. This is the first time compound 2 is reported as a natural product. Compound 5, which showed antagonist activity against the specialized pathogenic fungus Escovopsis sp., was also produced by Streptomyces chartreusis ICBG323, isolated from the exoskeleton of winged male of Mycocepurus goeldii. The absolute configurations of 3 and 4 were confirmed by the combination of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These results clearly demostrate the power of VCD to tell apart epimeric natural products. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 were produced by geographically distant but phylogenetically close strains, S. chartreusis ICBG 377 isolated in Brazil, and S. chartreusis NA02069, a marine sediment strain isolated in China.

The basic aim of the ICBG (International Cooperative Biodiversity Group) program is to benefit both the host country and the global scientific community by discovering and developing new solutions to human health problems based on previously unexplored genetic resources. The first ICBG in Brazil is jointly supported by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (FIC/NIH) in the USA and by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil. The ongoing ICBG, developed under the BIOTA-FAPESP Program, is based on the highly evolved fungus-growing ant multilateral symbiosis between three mutualists and one parasite. The project aligns chemical ecology and therapeutic application, increasing the chances of discovering new antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer and antiprotozoal hits and leads. In this article we describe the rationale of the ICBG and the legal requirements to develop this type of international collaborative project in Brazil.

Fungal biotransformations have become very important in the study of chiral drugs because the reactions performed by these microorganisms may be enantioselective. However, analyses of analytes present in liquid culture medium have proved to be very difficult due to the complexity of this matrix. The aim of this work was to couple dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with capillary electrophoresis to evaluate the biotransformation of the antidepressant drug venlafaxine (Vx) into its chiral metabolites, N-desmethylvenlafaxine (NDV) and O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV) by fungi. The chiral separation was carried out in 50 mmol L-1 sodium phosphate buffer pH 2.0 containing 8 mmol L-1 α-cyclodextrin and 1.0% (m/v) carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin. The temperature of the capillary was set at 20 °C. A voltage of +20 kV was applied during analysis. The DLLME was accomplished using 300 µL of isopropanol (disperser solvent) and 200 µL of chloroform (extraction solvent). The method was completely validated and showed to be linear over the concentration range of 75-938 ng μL-1 for ODV and NDV enantiomers and of 500-15000 ng μL-1for venlafaxine enantiomers with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.99. The selectivity of the method was evaluated and no interference peaks were detected in the migration time of the analytes. The limit of quantification was 75 ng μL-1 for metabolite enantiomers and 500 ng μL-1 for venlafaxine enantiomers. The study showed a stereoselective biotransformation of venlafaxine into (+)-(S)-N-desmethylvenlafaxine by the fungus Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 10028B with an enantiomeric excess of 100%.

Albendazole (ABZ) is an anthelmintic drug used for the treatment of infectious diseases in veterinary and human medicine. This drug is a prochiral drug that after administration, is rapidly oxidized in the pharmacologically active sulfoxide metabolite, which is also known as ricobendazole (ABZSOX). ABZSOX has a stereogenic center and possibly two enantiomers, (+)-ABZSOX and (-)-ABZSOX. In the present work, we investigate the pH effect on the asymmetric stereoselective sulfoxidation of ABZ into ABZSOX by employing the fungi Nigrospora sphaerica, Papulaspora immera Hotson, and Mucor rouxii. The results show a possibility of obtaining the pure enantiomers of the ricobendazole drug using fungi as biocatalytic agents. The three fungi showed a high degree of enantioselectivity expressed by enantiomeric excess. In addition, M. rouxii can be used as an alternative to obtain the (+)-ABZSOX enantiomer (ee 89.8%).

Ethyl acetate extracts of cultures grown in liquid Czapek and on solid rice media of the fungal endophyte Fusarium oxysporum SS46 isolated from the medicinal plant Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob., Asteraceae, exhibited considerable cytotoxic activity when tested in vitro against human cancer cells. Chromatographic separation yielded anhydrofusarubin (1) and beauvericin (2) that were identified based on their ¹H and 13C NMR data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed the strongest cytotoxic activity against different cancer cell lines. Compound 2 also showed promising activity against Leishmania braziliensis. Hexanic extract of F. oxysporum SS50 grown on solid rice media also afforded a mixture of compounds that displayed cytotoxic activity against different cancer cell lines. Chemical analysis of the mixture of compounds, investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), showed that there was a predominance of methyl esters of fatty acids and alkanes.

Um método rápido por cromatografia líquida foi desenvolvido para a determinação simultânea de omeprazol (OMZ), 5-hidroxiomeprazol (5-HOMZ) e omeprazol sulfona (OMZ SUL) em meio de cultura líquido, para aplicação em estudos de biotransformação empregando fungos fitopatogênicos e endofíticos. A separação foi realizada empregando uma coluna monolítica Chromolith Fast gradient RP 18 com a fase móvel constituída por ácido trifluoroacético (TFA) 0,15% (v/v) em água (solvente A) e TFA 0,15% (v/v) em acetonitrila (solvente B). Foi empregado um gradiente linear de 5 a 90% de B em 1 minuto, vazão de 1,0 mL min-1, temperatura de 30 ºC e detecção em 220 nm. A extração líquido-líquido foi empregada na preparação das amostras, com recuperações na faixa de 62,3-76,6% para todos os analitos. O método foi linear na faixa de 0,2-10,0 µg mL-1 (r ≥ 0,995). Os valores de precisão e exatidão intra- e inter-dias (coeficiente de variação e erro relativo) foram inferiores a 15% para todos os analitos. O método validado foi utilizado para avaliar a biotransformação do OMZ em seus principais metabólitos humanos pelos fungos selecionados. Em geral, os fungos fitopatogênicos foram mais eficientes para biotransformar o OMZ. A reação de sulfonação foi mais prevalente em todos os fungos estudados

A fast liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of omeprazole (OMZ), 5-hydroxyomeprazole (5-HOMZ) and omeprazole sulphone (OMZ SUL) in liquid culture medium for application in biotransformation studies employing phytopathogenic and endophytic fungi. The separation was achieved using a monolithic Chromolith Fast gradient RP 18 endcapped column, using a mobile phase consisting of 0.15% (v/v) trifluoroacetid acid (TFA) in water (solvent A) and 0.15% (v/v) TFA in acetonitrile (solvent B), under linear gradient of 5 to 90% of B in 1 min, flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1, temperature at 30 ºC and detection at 220 nm. Sample preparation was performed by liquid-liquid extraction, with recoveries in the range of 62.3 to 76.6% for all analytes. The method was linear in the range of 0.2 to 10.0 µg mL-1 (r ≥ 0.995). The values for intra- and inter-day precision (% coefficient of variation) and accuracy (% relative error) were < 15% for all analytes. The validated method was used to evaluate OMZ biotransformation to their mammalian metabolites by selected fungi. In general, the phytopathogenic fungi studied were more efficient to biotransform OMZ. The sulfonation reaction was more prevalent for all studied fungi.

Previamente o fungo endofítico Nigrospora sphaerica foi identificado como um profícuo produtor do diterpeno bioativo afidicolina. Neste artigo foi realizado um estudo a fim de se verificar as melhores condições para a produção do diterpeno em meio Czapek. A fonte de açúcar (glicose e sacarose) e o tempo de incubação (4-15 dias) foram otimizados, para posterior aplicação no estudo biossintético do diterpeno. Os níveis mais elevados da produção da afidicolina foram obtidos no 8° dia com 1% de glicose e no 12° dia com 3% de sacarose nos meios de cultura. A biossíntese da afidicolina foi estudada empregando [1-13C]-D-glicose como precursor, e o padrão de incorporação foi determinado através de espectroscopia de RMN de 13C quantitativo. A incorporação de [1-13C]-D-glicose mostrou que as unidades isoprênicas da afidicolina são derivadas da via do mevalonato.

We have previously identified the endophytic fungus Nigrospora sphaerica as a prolific producer of the bioactive diterpene aphidicolin. Herein we report a study to establish the best conditions for the production of aphidicolin by N. sphaerica in Czapek medium. The sugar source (glucose and sucrose) and the incubation time (4-15 days) were optimized for further application on biosynthetic studies of the diterpene. The highest levels of production of aphidicolin were found on the 8th day with 1%-glucose and on the 12th day with 3%-sucrose based media. The biosynthesis of aphidicolin was investigated using [1-13C]-D-glucose as a precursor, and showed that the isoprene units of aphidicolin are derived from the mevalonate pathway.

O tirosol é provavelmente uma molécula sinalizadora em fungos endofíticos. A análise do tirosol em cultura líquida Czapek de fungo endofítico foi realizada através de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência acoplada a detector por arranjo de diodos. As análises foram obtidas em sistema de fase móvel utilizando gradiente, modo linear, iniciando em acetonitrila/água (1:9 v/v) e terminando em acetonitrila 100% em 30 minutos com vazão de 1 mL min-1. Coluna analítica ZORBAX® ODS (250 × 4,6 mm, 5 μm) à 25 ºC foi utilizada. Extração líquido-líquido de 0,5 mL do meio (pH 7,0) com acetato de etila e injeção de 20 μL após concentração do solvente sob ar comprimido originou bons resultados. Os parâmetros validados foram: linearidade 0,0125-5,0 μg mL-1 (r = 0,9967), limite de quantificação 0,0125 μg mL-1 obtidos pela média das análises; %CV (precisão) e %E (exatidão) com valores abaixo de 15% e recuperação de cerca de 80%. Além disso, o método desenvolvido apresentou valores de validação satisfatórios demonstrando eficiência na análise do tirosol em meio líquido Czapek.

Tyrosol is a possible quorum sensing molecule in endophytic fungi. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detector (DAD) was used for the analysis of tyrosol in liquid Czapek fungal cultures. The optimized conditions were gradient mobile phase, in linear mode, consisting initially of acetonitrile/water (1:9 v/v) and increasing up to acetonitrile (100%) in 30 minutes at a flow rate of 1 mL min-1. The column used was a ZORBAX® ODS (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) at 25 ºC. Liquid-liquid extraction of 0.5 mL medium (pH 7.0) with ethyl acetate and injection of 20 μL after solvent evaporation under air flow gave good results. Some validation parameters obtained were: linearity 0.0125-5.0 μg mL-1 medium (r = 0.9967), quantification limit of 0.0125 μg mL-1 medium, %CV (precision) and %E (accuracy) bellow 15% and recovery around 80%. Therefore, the developed method presented satisfactory validation parameters and it was efficient for the analysis of tyrosol in Czapek medium.

A biotransformação da lignana tetraidrofurânica, (-)-grandisina, pelo fungo endofítico Phomopsis sp, obtido de Viguiera arenaria, conduziu à formação de um novo metabólito caracterizado como 3,4-dimetil-2-(4'-hidróxi-3',5'-dimetóxifenil)-5-metóxi-tetraidrofurano. O metabólito foi analisado contra o parasita Trypanosoma cruzi, o agente causador da doença de Chagas, e mostrou uma atividade tripanocida (IC50 9,8 μmol L-1) similar ao precursor natural (IC50 3,7 μmol L-1).

The biotrasformation of the tetrahydrofuran lignan, (-)-grandisin, by the endophitic fungus Phomopsis sp, obtained from Viguiera arenaria, led to the formation of a new compound determined as 3,4-dimethyl-2-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-tetrahydrofuran. The metabolite was evaluated against the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas's disease, and showed a trypanocidal activity (IC50 9.8 μmol L-1) similar to the natural precursor (IC50 3.7 μmol L-1).

Endophytes live in association with host plants during all or part of their life cycle without causing any apparent disease. They are considered outstanding and underexploited sources of novel bioactive compounds. Chaetomium globosum was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the healthy leaves of Viguiera robusta. C.globosum is a remarkable producer of chaetoglobosins, which are typically cytotoxic. In this work, chaetoglobosins B (1), D (2) and E (3) have been produced by the endophytic C. globosum strain. Chaetoglobosin B was evaluated against Jurkat (leukemia) and B16F10 (melanoma) tumoral cells and showed 89.55% and 57.10% of inhibition at 0.1 mg mL-1, respectively. Chaetoglobosin B also showed weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 120 µg/mL) and Escherichia coli (MIC 189 µg/mL).

Sete dicetopiperazinas, correspondentes aos ciclos (L)-Pro-(L)-Phe, (L)-Pro-Gly, (L)-Pro-(L)-Pro, (L)-Pro-(L)-Val, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Leu, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Phe e (L)-Pro-(L)-Leu, foram isoladas do caldo da cultura do fungo Aspergillus fumigatus. As estereoquímicas relativas e absolutas foram determinadas, respectivamente, com base nos experimentos de NOESY e através de modificação do método de Marfey em CLAE.

Seven diketopiperazines, corresponding to the cyclos (L)-Pro-(L)-Phe, (L)-Pro-Gly, (L)-Pro-(L)-Pro, (L)-Pro-(L)-Val, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Leu, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Phe, and (L)-Pro-(L)-Leu, were isolated from the Aspergillus fumigatus fermentation broth. The relative and absolute stereochemistries were determined on the basis of NOESY experiments and by using a modified version of Marfey's method using HPLC, respectively.

Molecular Modeling is an important tool in drug design and it is very useful to predict biological activity from a library of compounds. A wide variety of computer programs and methods have been developed to visualize the tridimensional geometry and calculate physical properties of drugs. In this work, we describe a practical approach of molecular modeling as a powerful tool to study structure-activity relationships of drugs, including some antibacterials, hormones, cholinergic and adrenergic agents. At first, the students learn how to draw 3D structures and use them to perform conformational and molecular analysis. Thus, they compare drugs with similar pharmacological activity by superimposing one structure on the top of another and evaluate the geometry and physical properties.

O trabalho descreve o isolamento de três novos sesquiterpenóides do extrato metanólico dos galhos de Trichilia claussenii: 14-hidroxielemol, germacra-10(14)-en-9,11,15-triol e germacra-3,10(14)-dien-9,11-diol-4-carbaldeído. Também foram isolados os sesquiterpenos beta-eudesmol, criptomeridiol e o triterpeno 22,25-diidroxi-9beta,19-ciclolanost-23-en-3-ona. Do extrato diclorometânico das folhas de T. lepidota foram isolados mistura de hidrocarbonetos (C29H60, C31H64 e C33H68), mistura dos sesquiterpenos epóxido de cariofileno e epóxido de humuleno, espatulenol e os esteróides 24-metileno-12beta-hidroxicolesterol, 24-metil-12beta-hidroxicolest-4-en-3-ona, 3-palmitato de 24-metil-12beta-hidroxicolest-5-eno, mistura de 24-metilenocolesterol, campesterol, estigmasterol e beta-sitosterol, além de alfa-tocoferol e fitol. O extrato metanólico forneceu a N-metil-4-hidroxiprolina. As estruturas das substâncias isoladas foram estabelecidas com base em dados espectroscópicos.

The methanol extract of stems of Trichilia claussenii yielded three new sesquiterpenoids: 14-hydroxyelemol, germacra-10(14)-en-9,11,15-triol and germacra-3,10(14)-dien-9,11-diol-4-carbaldehyde. Two known sesquiterpenoids beta-eudesmol, cryptomeridiol and the triterpenoid 22,25-dihydroxy-9beta,19-cyclolanost-23-en-3-one were also isolated. The dichloromethane extract from the leaves of T. lepidota afforded a mixture of hydrocarbons (C29H60, C31H64 and C33H68), a mixture of the sesquiterpenes caryophyllene and humulene epoxides, spathulenol, and a series of sterols: 24-methylene-12b-hydroxycholesterol, 24-methyl-12beta-hydroxycholest-4-en-3-one, 24-methylene-12beta-hydroxycholest-5-ene-3-palmitate; a mixture of 24-methylenecholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol; besides alpha-tocoferol and phytol. From the methanol extract it was isolated N-methyl-4-hydroxyproline. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.