Clavatols exhibit a wide range of biological activities due to their diverse structures. A genome mining strategy identified an A5cla cluster from Penicillium sp. MYA5, derived from the Arctic plant Dryas octopetala, is responsible for clavatol biosynthesis. Seven clavatols, including one new clavatol derivate named penicophenone F (1) and six known clavatols (2-7), were isolated from Penicillium sp. MYA5 using a transcriptome mining strategy. These structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Antibacterial, aldose reductase inhibition, and siderophore-producing ability assays were conducted on compounds 1-7. Compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated inhibitory effects on the ALR2 enzyme with inhibition rates of 75.3% and 71.6% at a concentration of 10 μM, respectively. Compound 6 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 4.0 μg/mL and 4.0 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, compounds 1, 5, and 6 also showed potential iron-binding ability.

An eleven-year-old Pit Bull Terrier was presented to the veterinary practice with an acute onset of whole-body seizures. The clinical signs developed in a garden where the dog was kept that morning. There was a suspicion of tremorgenic mycotoxin poisoning by compost as the dog had vomited parts of compost right before the onset of the seizures and there was a pile of compost located in the garden. The dog underwent immediate decontamination following supportive treatment and recovered fully within 24 h of intensive care. The samples of the vomit and parts of the compost were cultivated. In the sample of the vomit, Penicillium sp. was found. Subsequently, tremorgenic mycotoxins paxilline, penitrem A and roquefortine C were determined chromatographically at significant concentrations in the vomit and a growth medium with cultivated Penicillium sp. The aim of this work is to describe the complex therapeutic and diagnostic approach to the patient with a suspected tremorgenic mycotoxin poisoning where a combination of mycological and chromatographic analyses was used to confirm the diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of canine tremorgenic mycotoxicosis in the Czech Republic and the first reported case of paxilline poisoning in a dog.

Chemical investigation of Penicillium sp. GDGJ-N37, a Sophora tonkinensis-associated fungus, yielded two new azaphilone derivatives, N-isoamylsclerotiorinamine (1) and 7-methoxyl-N-isoamylsclerotiorinamine (2), and four known azaphilones (3-6), together with two new chromone derivatives, penithochromones X and Y (7 and 8). Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data, CD spectrum, and semi-synthesis. Sclerotioramine (3) showed significant antibacterial activities against B. subtilis and S. dysentery, and it also showed most potent anti-plant pathogenic fungi activities against P. theae, C. miyabeanus, and E. turcicum.

In our chemical investigation into Penicillium sp. UJNMF0740 derived from mangrove sediment, fourteen indole diterpene analogs, including four new ones, are purified by multiple chromatographic separation methods, with their structures being elucidated by the analyses of NMR, HR-ESIMS, and ECD data. The antibacterial and neuroprotective effects of these isolates were examined, and only compounds 6 and 9 exhibited weak antibacterial activity, while compounds 5, 8, and 10 showed protective effects against the injury of PC12 cells induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Additionally, compound 5 could suppress the apoptosis and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in 6-OHDA-stimulated PC12 cells as well as trigger the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt. Taken together, our work enriches the structural diversity of indole diterpenes and hints that compounds of this skeleton can repress the 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells via regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which provides evidence for the future utilization of this fascinating class of molecules as potential neuroprotective agents.

In this bioremediation study, the fungus Penicillium sp. isolated from kefir grains was evaluated for its resistance to copper in the culture medium. Penicillium sp. was cultivated in liquid medium prepared using 2% malt-agar at pH 7.0. Biomass of the fungus was significantly reduced, but only when 800 mg·L-1 of Cu(NO3)2 copper nitrate was used. The effect on radial growth of the fungus in experiments combining different pH values and the inorganic contaminant showed an inhibition of 73% at pH 4.0, 75% at pH 7.0 and 77% at pH 9.0 in liquid medium. Thus, even though the growth of Penicillium sp. could be inhibited with relatively high doses of copper nitrate, images obtained with scanning electron microscopy showed the preservation of fungal cell integrity. Therefore, it can be concluded that Penicillium sp. isolated from kefir grains can survive while performing bioremediation to minimize the negative effects of copper on the environment through biosorption.

Pineapple is ranked sixth in terms of global fruit production and the most traded tropical fruit worldwide. Internal browning (IB), a physiological disorder of pineapple fruit after harvest, limits the export and industry development of pineapple. Evidence confirmed that endophyte played a pivotal role in plant disease. This study investigated the relationship between endophyte fungi community structure, population abundance in healthy and IB pineapple fruit; as well as the effect of endophyte Penicillium sp. inoculation on pineapple IB. Intended to explore a new effective measure for controlling IB and reducing postharvest losses in pineapple by an economical and environmentally friendly approach. We found the abundance of endophyte fungi in healthy pineapple fruit was different from that in IB fruit by high-throughput sequencing. The results emphasized that the endophyte Penicillium sp. inoculation dramatically alleviated pineapple IB intensity and severity, delayed crown withering and fruit yellowing, and maintained the exterior quality traits during the postharvest period at 20 °C. Penicillium sp. retarded H2O2 accumulation and increased the total phenols level in pineapple. Application of Penicillium sp. also maintained the higher antioxidant capacity by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and ascorbic acids levels, regulated of the homeostasis of endogenous hormones, and increased the abundance of Penicillium sp. in the fruit. In summary, Penicillium sp. retarded the occurrence of IB and enhanced the storability of pineapple at postharvest, and this economical and environmentally friendly technology is convenient to spread in agriculture.

Two new xanthones (1 and 2) were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium sp. MCCC 3A00126 along with 34 known compounds (3-36). The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 was validated by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD spectra. All isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity and ferroptosis inhibitory activities. Compounds 14 and 15 exerted potent cytotoxicity against CCRF-CEM cells, with IC50 values of 5.5 and 3.5 μM, respectively, whereas 26, 28, 33, and 34 significantly inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis, with EC50 values of 11.6, 7.2, 11.8, and 2.2 μM, respectively.

Grapes\' infection by phytopathogenic fungi may often lead to rot and impair the quality and safety of the final product. Due to the concerns associated with the extensive use of chemicals to control these fungi, including their toxicity for environment and human health, bio-based products are being highly preferred, as eco-friendlier and safer alternatives. Specifically, yeasts have shown to possess antagonistic activity against fungi, being promising for the formulation of new biocontrol products.In this work 397 wine yeasts, isolated from Portuguese wine regions, were studied for their biocontrol potential against common grapes phytopathogenic fungal genera: Aspergillus, Botrytis, Mucor and Penicillium. This set comprised strains affiliated to 32 species distributed among 20 genera. Time-course monitoring of mold growth was performed to assess the inhibitory activity resulting from either diffusible or volatile compounds produced by each yeast strain. All yeasts displayed antagonistic activity against at least one of the mold targets. Mucor was the most affected being strongly inhibited by 68% of the tested strains, followed by Botrytis (20%), Aspergillus (19%) and Penicillium (7%). More notably, the approach used allowed the detection of a wide array of yeast-induced mold response profiles encompassing, besides the decrease of mold growth, the inhibition or delay of spore germination and the complete arrest of mycelial extension, and even its stimulation at different phases. Each factor considered (taxonomic affiliation, mode of action and fungal target) as well as their interactions significantly affected the antagonistic activity of the yeast isolates. The highest inhibitions were mediated by volatile compounds. Total inhibition of Penicillium was achieved by a strain of Metschnikowia pulcherrima, while the best performing yeasts against Mucor, Aspergillus and Botrytis, belong to Lachancea thermotolerans, Hanseniaspora uvarum and Starmerella bacillaris, respectively. Notwithstanding the wide diversity of yeasts tested, only three strains were found to possess a broad spectrum of antagonistic activity, displaying strong or very strong inhibition against the four fungal targets tested. Our results confirm the potential of wine yeasts as biocontrol agents, while highlighting the need for the establishment of fit-for-purpose selection programs depending on the mold target, the timing, and the mode of application.

In this study, the fungus Penicillium sp. was isolated from rotting postharvest blueberry fruits at different storage stages and identified into genera. Inoculation of this strain on the surface of fresh fruits was able to cause rotting. The strain was then used as a reference strain to test the chemical control effect of ozone fumigation during storage. The results showed that ozone fumigation had an obvious inhibitory effect on Penicillium sp. in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, ozone fumigation treatment could prevent the loss of fruit firmness, slow down the decrease of soluble solids, total phenolics, and anthocyanins, and maintain a lower activity of PPO and higher activities of POD and CAT. As far as we know, this is the first report on the effects of ozone fumigation on the postharvest pathogenic fungi Penicillium sp. and on the storage quality of postharvest blueberry collected from Majiang County, Guizhou province, China.

Three new humulane-type sesquiterpenoids, penirolide A (1), penirolide B (2), and 10-acetyl-phomanoxide (3), together with three known compounds aurasperone A (4), pughiinin A (5), and cyclo(l-Leu-l-Phe) (6) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. derived from the leaves of Carica papaya L. Their structures including their absolute configurations were determined based on the analysis of NMR and HRESIMS spectra, NMR chemical shifts, and ECD calculations. Compounds 2, 3, 5, and 6 significantly inhibited glucagon-induced hepatic glucose production, with EC50 values of 33.3, 36.1, 18.8, and 32.1 μM, respectively. Further study revealed that compounds 2, 3, 5, and 6 inhibited hepatic glucose production by suppression of glucagon-induced cAMP accumulation.