Sea foam as a source of fungal inoculum for the isolation of biologically active natural products.
Due to a rate increase in the resistance of microbial pathogens to currently used antibiotics, there is a need in society for the discovery of novel antimicrobials. Historically, fungi are a proven source for antimicrobial compounds. The main goals of this study were to investigate the fungal diversity associated with sea foam collected around the coast of Prince Edward Island and the utility of this resource for the production of antimicrobial natural products. Obtained isolates were identified using ITS and nLSU rDNA sequences, fermented on four media, extracted and fractions enriched in secondary metabolites were screened for antimicrobial activity. The majority of the isolates obtained were ascomycetes, consisting of four recognized marine taxa along with other ubiquitous genera and many 'unknown' isolates that could not be identified to the species level using rDNA gene sequences. Secondary metabolite isolation efforts lead to the purification of the metabolites epolones A and B, pycnidione and coniothyrione from a strain ofNeosetophoma samarorum; brefeldin A, leptosin J and the metabolite TMC-264 from an unknown fungus (probably representative of anEdeniasp.); and 1-hydroxy-6-methyl-8-hydroxymethylxanthone, chrysophanol and chrysophanol bianthrone from aPhaeospheria spartinaeisolate. The biological activity of each of these metabolites was assessed against a panel of microbial pathogens as well as several cell lines.
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3 ; Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3 ; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
David P
DP
Overy
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3 ; Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Fabrice
F
Berrue
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Hebelin
H
Correa
Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Novriyandi
N
Hanif
Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Kathryn
K
Hay
Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Martin
M
Lanteigne
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Kathrine
K
Mquilian
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Stephanie
S
Duffy
Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Patricia
P
Boland
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Ramesh
R
Jagannathan
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Gavin S
GS
Carr
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Marieke
M
Vansteeland
Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3 ; Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3 ; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island , 550 University Ave., Charlottetown , PEI , Canada C1A 4P3.
Russell G
RG
Kerr
Neosetophoma samarorum; Phaeosphaeria spartinae; antimicrobials; fungal diversity; sea foam; secondary metabolites