Antarctic fungi produce pigment with antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities.
Sabrina Barros Cavalcante, André Felipe da Silva, Lucas Pradi, Jhuly Wellen Ferreira Lacerda, Tiago Tizziani, Louis Pergaud Sandjo, Lenon Romano Modesto, Ana Claudia Oliveira de Freitas, Mario Steindel, Patricia Hermes Stoco, Rubens Tadeu Delgado Duarte, Diogo Robl
Author Information
Sabrina Barros Cavalcante: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
André Felipe da Silva: Bioprocess and Biotechnology Engineering Undergraduate Program, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi, TO, Brazil.
Lucas Pradi: Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Jhuly Wellen Ferreira Lacerda: Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Tiago Tizziani: Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Louis Pergaud Sandjo: Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Lenon Romano Modesto: Centre for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Ana Claudia Oliveira de Freitas: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Mario Steindel: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Patricia Hermes Stoco: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Rubens Tadeu Delgado Duarte: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Diogo Robl: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. diogo.robl@ufsc.br. ORCID
Natural pigments have received special attention from the market and industry as they could overcome the harm to health and the environmental issues caused by synthetic pigments. These pigments are commonly extracted from a wide range of organisms, and when added to products they can alter/add new physical-chemical or biological properties to them. Fungi from extreme environments showed to be a promising source in the search for biomolecules with antimicrobial and antiparasitic potential. This study aimed to isolate fungi from Antarctic soils and screen them for pigment production with antimicrobial and antiparasitic potential, together with other previously isolated strains A total of 52 fungi were isolated from soils in front of the Collins Glacier (Southeast border). Also, 106 filamentous fungi previously isolated from the Collins Glacier (West border) were screened for extracellular pigment production. Five strains were able to produce extracellular pigments and were identified by ITS sequencing as Talaromyces cnidii, Pseudogymnoascus shaanxiensis and Pseudogymnoascus sp. All Pseudogymnoascus spp. (SC04.P3, SC3.P3, SC122.P3 and ACF093) extracts were able to inhibit S. aureus ATCC6538 and two (SC12.P3, SC32.P3) presented activity against Leishmania (L.) infantum, Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanossoma cruzii. Extracts compounds characterization by UPLC-ESI-QToF analysis confirmed the presence of molecules with biological activity such as: Asterric acid, Violaceol, Mollicellin, Psegynamide A, Diorcinol, Thailandolide A. In conclusion, this work showed the potential of Antartic fungal strains from Collins Glacier for bioactive molecules production with activity against Gram positive bacteria and parasitic protozoas.
