• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.26-29
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• 2007

Tautomycetin (TMC), which is produced by Streptomyces sp. CK4412, is a novel activated T cell-specific immunosuppressive compound with an ester bond linkage between a terminal cyclic anhydride moiety and a linear polyketide chain bearing an unusual terminal alkene. Antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and TMC productivity assayed by HPLC using culture extracts from Streptomyces sp. CK4412 grown on solid medium adjusted at various pH were measured. The cells cultured at acidic pH (pH 4-5) medium exhibited much stronger antifungal activity as well as higher TMC productivity than those cultured at neutral pH medium, implying that the acidic pH-shock should be an efficient strategy to induce the productivity of secondary metabolites in Streptomyces culture.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.575-588
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to select actinomycetes with antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum orbiculare, which are airborne pathogens in cucumber plants. In 2020, 560 species of actinomycetes were isolated from rhizome soils of various vegetables in Korea; 7 strains showing simultaneous antifungal activity against two pathogens were selected. Finally, strain S20-465 was selected through dual culture and plant assay. This strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. based on 16S rRNA analysis. The culture filtrate of strain S20-465 inhibited mycelial growth of both pathogens by more than 60%. In addition, when cucumber plants were treated with 20-fold and 40-fold diluted culture filtrates of S20-465, lesions caused by B. cinerea and C. orbiculare on cucumber leaves were significantly reduced compared to the control. This results suggest that strain S20-465 produces specific secondary metabolites with antifungal activity against both pathogens.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.326-329
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• 2020

Valuable natural compounds produced by a variety of microorganisms can be used as lead molecules for development of new agrochemicals. Furthermore, high-throughput in vitro screening systems with specific modes of action can increase the probability of discovery of new fungicides. In the current study, a rapid assay tested with various microbes was developed to determine the degree of respiratory inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in two different liquid media, YG (containing a fermentable carbon source) and NFYG (containing a non-fermentable carbon source). Based on this system, we screened 100 fungal isolates that were classified into basidiomycetes, to find microbial secondary metabolites that act as respiratory inhibitors. Consequently, of the 100 fungal species tested, the culture broth of an IUM04881 isolate inhibited growth of S. cerevisiae in NFYG medium, but not in YG medium. The result is comparable to that from treatment with kresoxim-methyl used as a control, suggesting that the culture broth of IUM04881 isolate might contain active compounds showing the inhibition activity for respiratory chain. Based on the assay developed in this study and spectroscopic analysis, we isolated and identified an antifungal compound (-)-oudemansin A from culture broth of IUM04881 that is identified as Oudemansiella venosolamellata. This is the first report that (-)-oudemansin A is identified from O. venosolamellata in Korea. Taken together, the development of this assay will accelerate efforts to find and identify natural respiratory inhibitors from various microbes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.488-500
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• 2022

Most fungal infections by opportunistic yeast pathogens such as Candida spp. are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with lowered immune. Previous studies have reported that some strains of Candida secret secondary metabolites play an important role in the decreasing of immunity in the infected patient. In this study, 110 Candida spp. were isolated from different clinical specimens from Baghdad hospitals. Candida isolates were identified by conventional methods, they were processed for Candida speciation on CHROMagar. The results of identification were confirmed by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Phylogenetic trees were analyzed with reference strains deposited in GenBank. Antifungal susceptibility testing was evaluated by the disc diffusion method and performed as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) M44-A document. Candida isolates investigated produce secondary metabolites gliotoxin with HPLC technique and quantification. Out of 110 Candida isolates, C. albicans (66.36%) was the most frequent isolate, followed by the isolates of C. tropicalis (10.9%) and C. glabrata (6.36%) respectively. Concerning the antifungal susceptibility test, Candida isolates showed a high level of susceptibility to Miconazole (70.9%), Itraconazole (68.2%), and Nystatine (64.5%). The ability of obtained isolates of Candida spp. to produce gliotoxin on RPMI medium was investigated, only 28 isolates had the ability to secret this toxin in culture filtrates. The highest concentrations were detected in C. albicans (1.048 ㎍/ml). Gliotoxin productivity of other Candida species was significantly lower. The retention time for gliotoxin was approximately 5.08 min.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 2024

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is substantial economic importance in South Korea, with its cultivation occupying a significant portion of agricultural land. However, sustainable cucumber production requires effective management of various diseases affecting the crop yield. In this study, we explored the potential of Streptomyces sp. S20-465-derived metabolites in controlling cucumber anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare. This study identified 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone as a potent antifungal compound present in the n-hexane extract of Streptomyces sp. S20-465 culture filtrate. This compound exhibited significant the disease reduction, demonstrating their potential as control agents. Our findings suggest that Streptomyces sp. S20-465-derived metabolite could serve as an effective tool for managing cucumber anthracnose, offering a sustainable approach to enhancing cucumber production. Further research into the application and efficacy of these compounds in agricultural system will be conducted.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.725-734
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• 2024

CYP102A1 from Bacillus megaterium is an important enzyme in biotechnology, because engineered CYP102A1 enzymes can react with diverse substrates and produce human cytochrome P450-like metabolites. Therefore, CYP102A1 can be applied to drug metabolite production. Terpinen-4-ol is a cyclic monoterpene and the primary component of essential tea tree oil. Terpinen-4-ol was known for therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Because terpenes are natural compounds, examining novel terpenes and investigating the therapeutic effects of terpenes represent responses to social demands for eco-friendly compounds. In this study, we investigated the catalytic activity of engineered CYP102A1 on terpinen-4-ol. Among CYP102A1 mutants tested here, the R47L/F81I/F87V/E143G/L188Q/N213S/E267V mutant showed the highest activity to terpinen-4-ol. Two major metabolites of terpinen-4-ol were generated by engineered CYP102A1. Characterization of major metabolites was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas chromatography-MS, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Based on the LC-MS results, the difference in mass-to-charge ratio of an ion (m/z) between terpinen-4-ol and its major metabolites was 16. One major metabolite was defined as 1,4-dihydroxyp-menth-2-ene by NMR. Given these results, we speculate that another major metabolite is also a mono-hydroxylated product. Taken together, we suggest that CYP102A1 can be applied to make novel terpene derivatives.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2009

Polymerase chain reactin (PCR) could be a simple way to screen new microbial strains producing useful secondary metabolites if their biosynthetic genes are known and candidate strains to be screened are available. In this study, we have screened two myxobacterial strains, KYC3047 and KYC3076, carrying genes appeared to be biosynthetic genes of soraphen A, a potent antifungal substance, out of 50 cellulose degrading myxobacteria using PCR. The two strains were identified as Sorangium cellulosum based on morphological, physiological, and molecular biological characteristics. Both of the strains produced substances having strong antifungal activities as expected against Candida albicans, a causative agent of candidiasis, and Colletotrichum acutatum, a causative agent of anthracnose on pepper.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.216-220
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• 2005

Periconicin A and B, two new fusicoccane diterpenes originally isolated from the cultures of endophytic fungus Periconia sp. OBW-15, were tested by several biological assays. Periconicin A was consistently more active than periconicin B. In an antifungal activity assay, periconicin A showed potent inhibitory activity against the agents of human mycoses, including Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and T. rubrum, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the range of 3.12- 6.25 $\mug$ /ml. In a plant growth regulatory activity assay, periconicins inhibited hypocotyl elongation and root growth of Brassica campestris L. and Raphanus sativus L. At concentrations below 1 μg/ml, however, both compounds accelerated root growth by 110- 135%. From these results, it is apparent that a methyl group positioned in a cyclopentane ring may play an important role in plant and fungal growth inhibitory activity.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2020

Streptomyces griseus S4-7, a well-characterized keystone taxon among strawberry microbial communities, shows exceptional disease-preventing ability. The whole-genome sequence, functional genes, and bioactive secondary metabolites of the strain have been described in previous studies. However, proteomics studies of not only the S4-7 strain, but also the Streptomyces genus as a whole, remain limited to date. Therefore, in the present study, we created a proteomics reference map for S. griseus S4-7. Additionally, analysis of differentially expressed proteins was performed against a wblE2 mutant, which was deficient in spore chain development and did not express an antifungal activity-regulatory transcription factor. We believe that our data provide a foundation for further in-depth studies of functional keystone taxa of the phytobiome and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions, especially those involving the Streptomyces genus.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2014

Myxococcus stipitatus KYC4013 extract exhibited the most potent antifungal activity among the extracts of 207 Myxococcus strains isolated in Korea. High-resolution LC-MS analysis revealed that M. stipitatus KYC4013 produces five antifungal substances and three other secondary metabolites that were predicted to be melithiazol and phenalamide derivatives, respectively. The putative melithiazol derivatives were best produced in CYS medium and the putative phenalamide derivatives were best produced in VY3 medium.