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Identification, characterization, antimicrobial activity and biocontrol potential of four endophytic fungi isolated from Amazonian plants

Mendieta-Brito, Sonia ; Sayed, Mahmoud LU orcid ; Hamza, Faqiha Ali ; Son, Eunjung ; Kim, Dong-Seon ; Plata, Giovanna ; Dávila, Marcelo and Pyo, Sang-Hyun LU orcid (2025) In Scientific Reports 15.
Abstract
Endophytic fungi, which reside within plants without causing disease,
are recognized for their ability to produce bioactive metabolites with
antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, as well as their
role in enhancing plant defense mechanisms. Due to these valuable
traits, endophytic fungi have attracted significant attention in
biotechnology and microbiology. The four endophytic fungal strains were
isolated from the leaves of four Amazonian plant species—Piper heterophyllum Ruiz & Pav. (Paichané negro), Peperomia sp., Faramea multiflora A. Rich. ex DC.(Yuracaré), and Dictyoloma vandellianum
A. Juss. (Sombrerillo). Molecular identification via 18 S rDNA
... (More)
Endophytic fungi, which reside within plants without causing disease,
are recognized for their ability to produce bioactive metabolites with
antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, as well as their
role in enhancing plant defense mechanisms. Due to these valuable
traits, endophytic fungi have attracted significant attention in
biotechnology and microbiology. The four endophytic fungal strains were
isolated from the leaves of four Amazonian plant species—Piper heterophyllum Ruiz & Pav. (Paichané negro), Peperomia sp., Faramea multiflora A. Rich. ex DC.(Yuracaré), and Dictyoloma vandellianum
A. Juss. (Sombrerillo). Molecular identification via 18 S rDNA
sequencing and NCBI-BLAST analysis, as well as morphological
characterization, were carried out for the isolates. Ethyl acetate
extracts were obtained from both the growth medium and the fungal
biomass. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) combined with various staining
techniques was used to identify the main groups of chemical compounds
present in the extracts. The extracts were then assessed for
antibacterial activity through a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
assay. The antagonistic potential of four endophytic fungi was evaluated
through confrontation with phytopathogenic fungi using the dual culture
plate assay. The results from molecular and morphological
identification revealed two Aspergillus strains (SMB-18 and SMB-22), one Fusarium strain (SMB-20), and one Alternaria
strain (SMB-28). Chemical profiling revealed a diverse composition,
including carotenoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. The
MIC assay demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against
Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Propionibacterium acnes),
with MIC values ranging from 15.6 to 500 µg/mL. Additionally,
antagonistic and biocontrol assays using dual-culture tests showed
strong antifungal activity. Strains SMB-18, SMB-20, and SMB-22
effectively inhibited Helminthosporium sp. (58–80%), Fusarium oxysporum (37–50%), and Fusarium solani
(51–57%), the well-known phytopathogenic fungi that affect potato
crops. These findings highlight the potential of Amazonian endophytic
fungi as sources of bioactive metabolites with promising applications in
agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology, reinforcing the importance of
biodiversity in bioprospecting. (Less)
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; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
15
article number
39361
pages
18 pages
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:41214208
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-025-26865-6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1ab85ddf-e8aa-4a77-8034-612b8670b28c
date added to LUP
2025-11-13 15:38:37
date last changed
2025-11-18 11:35:40
@article{1ab85ddf-e8aa-4a77-8034-612b8670b28c,
  abstract     = {{Endophytic fungi, which reside within plants without causing disease, <br>
are recognized for their ability to produce bioactive metabolites with <br>
antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, as well as their <br>
role in enhancing plant defense mechanisms. Due to these valuable <br>
traits, endophytic fungi have attracted significant attention in <br>
biotechnology and microbiology. The four endophytic fungal strains were <br>
isolated from the leaves of four Amazonian plant species—<i>Piper heterophyllum</i> Ruiz &amp; Pav. (Paichané negro), <i>Peperomia</i> sp., <i>Faramea multiflora</i> A. Rich. ex DC.(Yuracaré), and <i>Dictyoloma vandellianum</i><br>
 A. Juss. (Sombrerillo). Molecular identification via 18 S rDNA <br>
sequencing and NCBI-BLAST analysis, as well as morphological <br>
characterization, were carried out for the isolates. Ethyl acetate <br>
extracts were obtained from both the growth medium and the fungal <br>
biomass. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) combined with various staining <br>
techniques was used to identify the main groups of chemical compounds <br>
present in the extracts. The extracts were then assessed for <br>
antibacterial activity through a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) <br>
assay. The antagonistic potential of four endophytic fungi was evaluated<br>
 through confrontation with phytopathogenic fungi using the dual culture<br>
 plate assay. The results from molecular and morphological <br>
identification revealed two <i>Aspergillus</i> strains (SMB-18 and SMB-22), one <i>Fusarium</i> strain (SMB-20), and one <i>Alternaria</i><br>
 strain (SMB-28). Chemical profiling revealed a diverse composition, <br>
including carotenoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. The<br>
 MIC assay demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against <br>
Gram-positive bacteria (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, and <i>Propionibacterium acnes</i>),<br>
 with MIC values ranging from 15.6 to 500 µg/mL. Additionally, <br>
antagonistic and biocontrol assays using dual-culture tests showed <br>
strong antifungal activity. Strains SMB-18, SMB-20, and SMB-22 <br>
effectively inhibited <i>Helminthosporium</i> sp. (58–80%), <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> (37–50%), and <i>Fusarium solani</i><br>
 (51–57%), the well-known phytopathogenic fungi that affect potato <br>
crops. These findings highlight the potential of Amazonian endophytic <br>
fungi as sources of bioactive metabolites with promising applications in<br>
 agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology, reinforcing the importance of<br>
 biodiversity in bioprospecting.}},
  author       = {{Mendieta-Brito, Sonia and Sayed, Mahmoud and Hamza, Faqiha Ali and Son, Eunjung and Kim, Dong-Seon and Plata, Giovanna and Dávila, Marcelo and Pyo, Sang-Hyun}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Identification, characterization, antimicrobial activity and biocontrol potential of four endophytic fungi isolated from Amazonian plants}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-26865-6}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-025-26865-6}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}