OBJECTIVETo identify the endophyte strain E8 with high activity from Curcuma wenyujin and study its secondary metabolites.

METHODThe strain E8 was identified by morphological observation and ITS sequence analysis. Manifold chromatographic methods were used to separate and purify the chemical constituents of fermentation broth from strain E8, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTThe strain E8 belongs to P. oxalicum. Four compounds were isolated from the fermentation broth of this strain and elucidated as chrysophanol, emodin, secalonic acid A and beta-sitosterol.

CONCLUSIONThe endophyte P. oxalicum was isolated from medicinal plant Curcuma wenyujin for the first time. Four compounds were first isolated from endophytic fungus in C. wenyujin. Thus, microbial fermentation is a new access for these compounds production.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Curcuma ; microbiology ; Emodin ; analysis ; Fermentation ; Penicillium ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Sitosterols ; analysis ; Xanthones ; analysis

Endophytic fungi which reside in the tissue of mangrove plants seem to play an important role in the discovery of new biologically active substances. During the course of screening for the antimicrobial metabolites from the endophytic fugus Penicillium sp. FJ-1 of mangrove plant Avicennia marina, a new aurone glycoside (1) was isolated by repeated column chromatography on silica gel and recrystallization methods. The structure of 1 was elucidated as (Z)-7,4'-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-aurone-4-O-β-glucopyranoside, on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 exhibited antifungal activity against Candida sp., with the potency comparable to amphotericin B and much better than fluconazole. Compound 1 can also inhibit extracellular phospholipase secretion in a concentration-dependent manner.
Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Candida ; drug effects ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Penicillium ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Seawater ; microbiology

Penicillium marneffei is the only dimorphic fungus among Penicillium spp. that can cause a fatal infection in immunocompromised patients. P. marneffei is endemic in Southeast Asia and eastern China. P. marneffei infection is an AIDS-defining illness and the third most common opportunistic infection in the endemic regions. Here, the authors report a case of disseminated P. marneffei infection in a patient who underwent liver transplantation in China. During the hospital stay, the mold form of the fungus that produced a red wine-colored pigment on the agar plate was isolated from the patient's urine, transtracheal aspirate, and blood. The fungus was identified as P. marneffei by direct sequencing of the D1-D2 and ITS regions. Thermal dimorphism was also confirmed by subculturing the colony at 37degrees C. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Korean case of disseminated P. marneffei infection in a liver transplant recipient.
Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis ; *Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Penicillium/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Penicillium marneffei may cause life-threatening systemic fungal infection in immune-compromised patients and it is endemic in Southeast Asia. A 39-yr-old HIV-infected male, living in Laos, presented with fever, cough, and facial vesiculopapular lesions, which had been apparent for two weeks. CT scans showed bilateral micronodules on both lungs; Pneumocystis jirovecii was identified by bronchoscopic biopsy. Despite trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and anti-tuberculosis medications, the lung lesions progressed and the facial lesions revealed central umbilications. Biopsy of the skin lesions confirmed disseminated penicilliosis, with the culture showing P. marneffei hyphae and spores. The P. marneffei was identified by rRNA PCR. A review of the bronchoscopic biopsy indicated penicilliosis. The patient completely recovered after being prescribed amphotericin-B and receiving antiretroviral therapy. This is the first case of penicilliosis in a Korean HIV-infected patient. It is necessary to consider P. marneffei when immunocompromised patients, with a history of visits to endemic areas, reveal respiratory disease.
Adult ; Amphotericin B/therapeutic use ; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use ; Bronchoscopy ; Dermatomycoses/drug therapy/microbiology/pathology ; HIV Infections/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Laos ; Lung Diseases/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Male ; Penicillium/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Pneumocystis jirovecii/isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed