Inhibition of hepatitis B virus gene expression & replication by crude destruxins from Metarhizium anisopliae var. dcjhyium.

Background & objectives: Destruxin A, destruxin B and destruxin E isolated from entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae showed a strong suppressive effect on the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in human hepatoma cells. In this study, the anti-HBV effects of the crude destruxins extracted from M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium were detected both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: HepG2.2.15 cells were cultured to observe the inhibitory effects of the crude destruxins on the gene expression and replication of HBV by radioimmunoassay detection and real-time quantitative PCR. In vivo, duck HBV (DHBV)-infected ducks were treated with the crude destruxins at 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 μg/kg once a day for 15 days, DHBV DNA was examined by real-time quantitative PCR. Results: The crude destruxins suppressed the replication of HBV-DNA and the production of HBsAg and HBeAg with IC50 of about 1.2 and 1.4 μg/ml. Transcript of viral mRNA was significantly suppressed by the crude destruxins in HepG2.2.15 cells. In vivo, the duck serum DHBV-DNA levels were markedly reduced in the group of the crude destruxins. Interpretation & conclusions: The crude destruxins inhibited the gene expression and replication of HBV both in vitro and in vivo, and their anti-HBV effect was stronger than that with destruxin B. Our results indicate that the crude destruxins from M.anisopliae var. dcjhyium may be potential antivirus agents. Further studies need to be done to confirm these findings

Screening of Metarhizium spp. strains for anticancer indolizidine alkaloid production and its rapid detection by MS analysis

Six fungi strains (M. anisopliae 3935, 4516, 4819, PL57, PL43 and M. flavoviride CG291) were studied regarding their ability to produce an anticancer indolizidine alkaloid. The culture process was carried out in Shaken flask at 26ºC and 200 rpm using three different culture medium containing oat meal extract supplemented with glucose and DL-lysine or Czapek culture medium. The mycelial extracts produced by Metarhizium spp. cultures were directly submitted to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis and the highest alkaloid concentration (approximately, 6 mg.L-1) was reached when M. anisopliae 3935 was tested.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar diferentes cepas dos fungos M. anisopliae e M. flavoviride ao respeito da sua capacidade de produzir um alcalóide anticancerígeno, por fermentação em frascos erlenmeyers usando três meios de cultura distintos. De seis cepas testadas, quatro foram capazes de produzir o composto de interesse, M. anisopliae 3935, PL57 e PL43 e M. flavoviride CG291, sendo que a maior concentração de alcalóide (aproximadamente, 6 mg.L-1) foi produzida pelo M. anisopliae 3935, contendo um meio constituído de extrato de farinha de aveia, glicose e DL-lisina a 26ºC e 200 rpm.