Anti-neuroinflammatory andrastin-type meroterpenoids from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum HNNU w0032.

A new andrastin-type meroterpenoid penimerodione A (1), and three known analogues (2-4), were isolated from the culture of a marine-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum HNNU w0032 by the guidance of MS/MS-based molecular networking. The planar structure of 1 was established by extensive NMR spectroscopic and HRESIMS analyses, and the absolute configuration was elucidated by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 showed significant inhibitory effect on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV-2 macrophages with an IC50 value of 5.9 ± 0.3 µM. The Western blot result revealed that compound 1 exerted an anti-neuroinflammatory effect via the MAPK signalling pathway.

Penicillium chrysogenum: Beyond the penicillin.

Almost one century after the Sir Alexander Fleming's fortuitous discovery of penicillin and the identification of the fungal producer as Penicillium notatum, later Penicillium chrysogenum (currently reidentified as Penicillium rubens), the molecular mechanisms behind the massive production of penicillin titers by industrial strains could be considered almost fully characterized. However, this filamentous fungus is not only circumscribed to penicillin, and instead, it seems to be full of surprises, thereby producing important metabolites and providing expanded biotechnological applications. This review, in addition to summarizing the classical role of P. chrysogenum as penicillin producer, highlights its ability to generate an array of additional bioactive secondary metabolites and enzymes, together with the use of this microorganism in relevant biotechnological processes, such as bioremediation, biocontrol, production of bioactive nanoparticles and compounds with pharmaceutical interest, revalorization of agricultural and food-derived wastes or the enhancement of food industrial processes and the agricultural production.

Developing rational scale-down simulators for mimicking substrate heterogeneities based on cell lifelines in industrial-scale bioreactors.

The influence of extracellular variations on the cellular metabolism and thereby the process performance at large-scale can be evaluated using the so-called scale-down simulators. Nevertheless, the major challenge is to design an appropriate scale-down simulator, which can accurately mimic the cell lifelines that record the flow paths and experiences of cells circulating in large-scale bioreactors. To address this, a dedicated SDSA (scale-down simulator application) was purposedly developed on the basis of black box model and process reaction model established for Penicillium chrysogenum strain as well as cell lifelines or trajectories information in an industrial-scale fermentor. Guided by the SDSA, the industrial-relevant metabolic regimes for substrate availability, i.e., excess, limitation and starvation, were successfully reproduced at laboratory-scale three-compartment scale-down (SD) system. In addition, such SDSA can also display individual process dynamics in each compartment, and demonstrate how individual factors influence the entire bioprocess performance, thus serving both educational and research purposes.

Genomic insights into Penicillium chrysogenum adaptation to subseafloor sedimentary environments.

BACKGROUND: Penicillium chrysogenum is a filamentous fungal species with diverse habitats, yet little is known about its genetics in adapting to extreme subseafloor sedimental environments. RESULTS: Here, we report the discovery of P. chrysogenum strain 28R-6-F01, isolated from deep coal-bearing sediments 2306 m beneath the seafloor. This strain possesses exceptional characteristics, including the ability to thrive in extreme conditions such as high temperature (45 °C), high pressure (35 Mpa), and anaerobic environments, and exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, producing the antibiotic penicillin at a concentration of 358 µg/mL. Genome sequencing and assembly revealed a genome size of 33.19 Mb with a GC content of 48.84%, containing 6959 coding genes. Comparative analysis with eight terrestrial strains identified 88 unique genes primarily associated with penicillin and aflatoxins biosynthesis, carbohydrate degradation, viral resistance, and three secondary metabolism gene clusters. Furthermore, significant expansions in gene families related to DNA repair were observed, likely linked to the strain's adaptation to its environmental niche. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide insights into the genomic and biological characteristics of P. chrysogenum adaptation to extreme anaerobic subseafloor sedimentary environments, such as high temperature and pressure.

Avirulent Isolates of Penicillium chrysogenum to Control the Blue Mold of Apple Caused by P. expansum.

Blue mold is an economically significant postharvest disease of pome fruit that is primarily caused by Penicillium expansum. To manage this disease and sustain product quality, novel decay intervention strategies are needed that also maintain long-term efficacy. Biocontrol organisms and natural products are promising tools for managing postharvest diseases. Here, two Penicillium chrysogenum isolates, 404 and 413, were investigated as potential biocontrol agents against P. expansum in apple. Notably, 404 and 413 were non-pathogenic in apple, yet they grew vigorously in vitro when compared to the highly aggressive P. expansum R19 and Pe21 isolates. Whole-genome sequencing and species-specific barcoding identified both strains as P. chrysogenum. Each P. chrysogenum strain was inoculated in apple with the subsequent co-inoculation of R19 or Pe21 simultaneously, 3, or 7 days after prior inoculation with 404 or 413. The co-inoculation of these isolates showed reduced decay incidence and severity, with the most significant reduction from the longer establishment of P. chrysogenum. In vitro growth showed no antagonism between species, further suggesting competitive niche colonization as the mode of action for decay reduction. Both P. chrysogenum isolates had incomplete patulin gene clusters but tolerated patulin treatment. Finally, hygromycin resistance was observed for both P. chrysogenum isolates, yet they are not multiresistant to apple postharvest fungicides. Overall, we demonstrate the translative potential of P. chrysogenum to serve as an effective biocontrol agent against blue mold decay in apples, pending practical optimization and formulation.

The Regulation of Phosphorus Release by Penicillium chrysogenum in Different Phosphate via the TCA Cycle and Mycelial Morphology.

Phosphate-solubilizing fungi (PSF) efficiently dissolve insoluble phosphates through the production of organic acids. This study investigates the mechanisms of organic acid secretion by PSF, specifically Penicillium chrysogenum, under tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2, Ca-P) and ferric phosphate (FePO4, Fe-P) conditions. Penicillium chrysogenum exhibited higher phosphorus (P) release efficiency from Ca-P (693.6 mg/L) than from Fe-P (162.6 mg/L). However, Fe-P significantly enhanced oxalic acid (1193.7 mg/L) and citric acid (227.7 mg/L) production by Penicillium chrysogenum compared with Ca-P (905.7 and 3.5 mg/L, respectively). The presence of Fe-P upregulated the expression of genes and activity of enzymes related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle, including pyruvate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase. Additionally, Fe-P upregulated the expression of chitinase and endoglucanase genes, inducing a transformation of Penicillium chrysogenum mycelial morphology from pellet to filamentous. The filamentous morphology exhibited higher efficiency in oxalic acid secretion and P release from Fe-P and Ca-P. Compared with pellet morphology, filamentous morphology enhanced P release capacity by > 40% and > 18% in Ca-P and Fe-P, respectively. This study explored the strategies employed by PSF to improve the dissolution of different insoluble phosphates.

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Indigenous Penicillium chrysogenum/rubens Strain Portfolio for Penicillin V Production.

Beta (ß)-lactam antibiotic is an industrially important molecule produced by Penicillium chrysogenum/rubens. Penicillin is a building block for 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA), an important active pharmaceutical intermediate (API) used for semi-synthetic antibiotics biosynthesis. In this investigation, we isolated and identified Penicillium chrysogenum, P. rubens, P. brocae, P. citrinum, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. sydowii, Talaromyces tratensis, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, P. oxalicum, and P. dipodomyicola using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the ß-tubulin (BenA) gene for precise species identification from Indian origin. Furthermore, the BenA gene distinguished between complex species of P. chrysogenum and P. rubens to a certain extent which partially failed by the ITS region. In addition, these species were distinguished by metabolic markers profiled by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Secalonic acid, Meleagrin, and Roquefortine C were absent in P. rubens. The crude extract evaluated for PenV production by antibacterial activities by well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus NCIM-2079. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for simultaneous detection of 6-APA, phenoxymethyl penicillin (PenV), and phenoxyacetic acid (POA). The pivotal objective was the development of an indigenous strain portfolio for PenV production. Here, a library of 80 strains of P. chrysogenum/rubens was screened for PenV production. Results showed 28 strains capable of producing PenV in a range from 10 to 120 mg/L when 80 strains were screened for its production. In addition, fermentation parameters, precursor concentration, incubation period, inoculum size, pH, and temperature were monitored for the improved PenV production using promising P. rubens strain BIONCL P45. In conclusion, P. chrysogenum/rubens strains can be explored for the industrial-scale PenV production.

Secondary metabolites from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum Y20-2, and their pro-angiogenic activity.

A systematic chemical study of the secondary metabolites of the marine fungus, Penicillium chrysogenum (No. Y20-2), led to the isolation of 21 compounds, one of which is new (compound 3). The structures of the 21 compounds were determined by conducting extensive analysis of the spectroscopic data. The pro-angiogenic activity of each compound was evaluated using a zebrafish model. The results showed that compounds 7, 9, 16, and 17 had strong and dose-dependent pro-angiogenic effects, with compound 16 demonstrating the strongest pro-angiogenic activity, compounds 6, 12, 14, and 18 showing moderate activity, and compounds 8, 13, and 19 exhibiting relatively weak activity.

A comprehensive review on the medicinally valuable endosymbiotic fungi Penicillium chrysogenum.

Recently, it has been shown that metabolites derived from endosymbiotic fungi attracted high attention, since plenty of them have promising pharmaceutical applications. The variation of metabolic pathways in fungi is considered an optimistic source for lead compounds. Among these classes are terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, and steroids, which have proved several pharmacological activities, including antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral actions. This review concludes the major isolated compounds from different strains of Penicillium chrysogenum during the period 2013-2023, together with their reported pharmacological activities. From literature surveys, 277 compounds have been identified from P. chrysogenum, which has been isolated as an endosymbiotic fungus from different host organisms, with specific attention paid to those showing marked biological activities that could be useful in the pharmaceutical industry in the future. This review represents documentation for a valuable reference for promising pharmaceutical applications or further needed studies on P. chrysogenum.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Acetaminophen Biodegradation by Penicillium chrysogenum var. halophenolicum and Insights into Energy and Stress Response Pathways.

(1) Background: Acetaminophen (APAP), an active component of many analgesic and antipyretic drugs, is one of the most concerning trace contaminants in the environment and is considered as an emergent pollutant of marine and aquatic ecosystems. Despite its biodegradability, APAP has become a recalcitrant compound due to the growth of the global population, the ease of availability, and the inefficient wastewater treatment applied. (2) Methods: In this study, we used a transcriptomic approach to obtain functional and metabolic insights about the metabolization of APAP by a phenol-degrading fungal strain, Penicillium chrysogenum var. halophenolicum. (3) Results: We determined that the transcriptomic profile exhibited by the fungal strain during APAP degradation was very dynamic, being characterized by an abundance of dysregulated transcripts which were proportional to the drug metabolization. Using a systems biology approach, we also inferred the protein functional interaction networks that could be related to APAP degradation. We proposed the involvement of intracellular and extracellular enzymes, such as amidases, cytochrome P450, laccases, and extradiol-dioxygenases, among others. (4) Conclusions: Our data suggested that the fungus could metabolize APAP via a complex metabolic pathway, generating nontoxic metabolites, which demonstrated its potential in the bioremediation of this drug.

Morphology of Penicillium rubens Biofilms Formed in Space.

Fungi biofilms have been found growing on spacecraft surfaces such as windows, piping, cables, etc. The contamination of these surfaces with fungi, although undesirable, is highly difficult to avoid. While several biofilm forming species, including Penicillium rubens, have been identified in spacecraft, the effect of microgravity on fungal biofilm formation is unknown. This study sent seven material surfaces (Stainless Steel 316, Aluminum Alloy, Titanium Alloy, Carbon Fiber, Quartz, Silicone, and Nanograss) inoculated with spores of P. rubens to the International Space Station and allowed biofilms to form for 10, 15, and 20 days to understand the effects of microgravity on biofilm morphology and growth. In general, microgravity did not induce changes in the shape of biofilms, nor did it affect growth in terms of biomass, thickness, and surface area coverage. However, microgravity increased or decreased biofilm formation in some cases, and this was incubation-time- and material-dependent. Nanograss was the material with significantly less biofilm formation, both in microgravity and on Earth, and it could potentially be interfering with hyphal adhesion and/or spore germination. Additionally, a decrease in biofilm formation at 20 days, potentially due to nutrient depletion, was seen in some space and Earth samples and was material-dependent.

Novel Antifungal and Antifeedant Metabolites from Penicillium chrysogenum Co-Cultured with Nemania primolutea and Aspergillus fumigatus.

The endophyte Nemania primolutea, inhibited the growth of Penicillium chrysogenum in the coculture system. Four new compounds, nemmolutines A-B (1-2), and penigenumin (3) from N. primolutea, penemin (4) from P. chrysogenum were isolated from the coculture. On the other hand, P. chrysogenum inhibited the Aspergillus fumigatus in the coculture. Induced metabolites (13-16) with monasone naphthoquinone scaffolds including a new one from P. chrysogenum were produced by the coculture of P. chrysogenum, and A. fumigatus. Interesting, cryptic metabolites penicichrins A-B isolated from wild P. chrysogenum induced by host Ziziphus jujuba medium were also found in induced P. chrysogenum cultured in PDB ordinary medium. So the induction of penicichrin production by supplementing with host extract occurred in the fungus P. chrysogenum not the host medium. The productions of penicichrins were the spontaneous metabolism, and the metabolites (13-16) were the culture driven. Compounds 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, and 15 showed significant antifungal activities against the phytopathogen Alternaria alternata with MICS of 1-8 µg/mL, and compounds 7, 9, and 12 indicated significant antifeedant activities against silkworms with feeding deterrence indexes (FDIs) of 92 %, 66 %, and 64 %. The carboxy group in 4-(2-hydroxybutynoxy)benzoic acid derivatives, and xylabisboeins; the hydroxy group in mellein derivatives; and the quinoid in monasone naphthoquinone increased the antifungal activities.

Acetylcholine Esterase Inhibitory Effect, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Metabolomic Profiling, and an In Silico Study of Non-Polar Extract of The Halotolerant Marine Fungus Penicillium chrysogenum MZ945518.

Major health issues, such as the rise in oxidative stress, incidences of Alzheimer's disease, and infections caused by antibiotic-resistant microbes, have prompted researchers to look for new therapeutics. Microbial extracts are still a good source of novel compounds for biotechnological use. The objective of the current work was to investigate marine fungal bioactive compounds with potential antibacterial, antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects. Penicillium chrysogenum strain MZ945518 was isolated from the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. The fungus was halotolerant with a salt tolerance index of 1.3. The mycelial extract showed antifungal properties against Fusarium solani with an inhibitory percentage of 77.5 ± 0.3, followed by Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum with percentages of 52 ± 0.0 and 40 ± 0.5, respectively. The extract also showed antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains using the agar diffusion technique. The fungal extract was significantly more effective with Proteus mirabilis ATCC 29906 and Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341; inhibition zones recorded 20 and 12 mm, respectively, compared with the antibiotic gentamycin, which recorded 12 and 10 mm, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the fungus extract revealed that it successfully scavenged DPPH free radicals and recorded an IC50 of 542.5 µg/mL. Additionally, it was capable of reducing Fe3+ to Fe2+ and exhibiting chelating ability in the metal ion-chelating test. The fungal extract was identified as a crucial inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase with an inhibition percentage of 63% and an IC50 value of 60.87 µg/mL. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), 20 metabolites were detected. The most prevalent ones were (Z)-18-octadec-9-enolide and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, with ratios of 36.28 and 26.73%, respectively. An in silico study using molecular docking demonstrated interactions between the major metabolites and the target proteins, including: DNA Gyrase, glutathione S-transferase, and Acetylcholinesterase, confirming the extract's antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Penicillium chrysogenum MZ945518, a halotolerant strain, has promising bioactive compounds with antibacterial, antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities.

Histopathological, Immunohistochemical, Biochemical, and In Silico Molecular Docking Study of Fungal-Mediated Selenium Oxide Nanoparticles on Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg, 1831) Snails.

Daphnia magna and freshwater snails are used as delicate bioindicators of contaminated aquatic habitats. Due to their distinctive characteristics, selenium oxide nanoparticles (SeONPs) have received interest regarding their possible implications on aquatic environments. The current study attempted to investigate the probable mechanisms of fungal-mediated selenium nanoparticles' ecotoxicological effects on freshwater Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Daphnia magna. SeONPs revealed a toxicological impact on D. magna, with a half-lethal concentration (LC50) of 1.62 mg/L after 24 h and 1.08 mg/L after 48 h. Survival, fecundity, and reproductive rate were decreased in B. alexandrina snails exposed to SeONPs. Furthermore, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were markedly elevated, while albumin and total protein levels decreased. Histopathological damage in the hermaphrodite and digestive glands was detected by light, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry studies. The molecular docking study revealed interactions of selenium oxide with the ALT and AST. In conclusion, B. alexandrina snails and D. magna could be employed as bioindicators of selenium nanomaterial pollution in aquatic ecosystems. This study emphasizes the possible ecological effects of releasing SeONPs into aquatic habitats, which could serve as motivation for regulatory organizations to monitor and control the use and disposal of SeONPs in industry.

Molecular and Biological Investigation of Isolated Marine Fungal Metabolites as Anticancer Agents: A Multi-Target Approach.

Cancer is the leading cause of death globally, with an increasing number of cases being annually reported. Nature-derived metabolites have been widely studied for their potential programmed necrosis, cytotoxicity, and anti-proliferation leading to enrichment for the modern medicine, particularly within the last couple of decades. At a more rapid pace, the concept of multi-target agents has evolved from being an innovative approach into a regular drug development procedure for hampering the multi-fashioned pathophysiology and high-resistance nature of cancer cells. With the advent of the Red Sea Penicillium chrysogenum strain S003-isolated indole-based alkaloids, we thoroughly investigated the molecular aspects for three major metabolites: meleagrin (MEL), roquefortine C (ROC), and isoroquefortine C (ISO) against three cancer-associated biological targets Cdc-25A, PTP-1B, and c-Met kinase. The study presented, for the first time, the detailed molecular insights and near-physiological affinity for these marine indole alkaloids against the assign targets through molecular docking-coupled all-atom dynamic simulation analysis. Findings highlighted the superiority of MEL's binding affinity/stability being quite in concordance with the in vitro anticancer activity profile conducted via sulforhodamine B bioassay on different cancerous cell lines reaching down to low micromolar or even nanomolar potencies. The advent of lengthy structural topologies via the metabolites' extended tetracyclic cores and aromatic imidazole arm permitted multi-pocket accommodation addressing the selectivity concerns. Additionally, the presence decorating polar functionalities on the core hydrophobic tetracyclic ring contributed compound's pharmacodynamic preferentiality. Introducing ionizable functionality with more lipophilic characters was highlighted to improve binding affinities which was also in concordance with the conducted drug-likeness/pharmacokinetic profiling for obtaining a balanced pharmacokinetic/dynamic profile. Our study adds to the knowledge regarding drug development and optimization of marine-isolated indole-based alkaloids for future iterative synthesis and pre-clinical investigations as multi-target anticancer agents.

In-package cold plasma treatment for microbial inactivation in plastic-pouch packaged steamed rice cakes.

In-package atmospheric cold plasma (ICP) treatment was investigated as a method to inactivate microorganisms in Korean steamed rice cakes (SRCs) packaged in plastic pouches. The effect against Escherichia coli O157:H7 increased with increasing ICP treatment power and time and using nylon-containing pouches. Moreover, E. coli O157:H7 growth was effectively inhibited at 4 and 25 °C when SRCs were in a pouch filled with an O2-CO2 (70 % and 30 %) gas. Under optimal treatment power (30 W), treatment time (4 min), and headspace-to-SRC volume ratio (7:1) conditions, ICP effectively inactivated E. coli O157:H7, Bacillus cereus spores, Penicillium chrysogenum, and indigenous aerobic bacteria, as well as yeast and molds in SRCs packaged with air in the nylon/low density polyethylene pouch by 2.2 ± 0.2 log CFU/g, 1.4 ± 0.2 log spores/g, 2.2 ± 0.3 log spores/g, 1.1 ± 0.2 log CFU/g, and 1.0 ± 0.1 log CFU/g, respectively. Furthermore, post-treatment storage was effective in preventing the growth of E. coli O157:H7 in SRCs at 4 °C and 25 °C when the pouch was filled with N2-CO2 (50 % and 50 %) or O2-CO2 (70 % and 30 %). Collectively, these findings indicate that ICP treatment effectively decontaminates SRCs and represents a potential non-thermal microbial decontamination technology for SRCs in pouch packaging.

Biotechnological Fungal Platforms for the Production of Biosynthetic Cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids are bioactive meroterpenoids comprising prenylated polyketide molecules that can modulate a wide range of physiological processes. Cannabinoids have been shown to possess various medical/therapeutic effects, such as anti-convulsive, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, antinausea, and anti-microbial properties. The increasing interest in their beneficial effects and application as clinically useful drugs has promoted the development of heterologous biosynthetic platforms for the industrial production of these compounds. This approach can help circumvent the drawbacks associated with extraction from naturally occurring plants or chemical synthesis. In this review, we provide an overview of the fungal platforms developed by genetic engineering for the biosynthetic production of cannabinoids. Different yeast species, such as Komagataella phaffii (formerly P. pastoris) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been genetically modified to include the cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway and to improve metabolic fluxes in order to increase cannabinoid titers. In addition, we engineered the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum for the first time as a host microorganism for the production of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid from intermediates (cannabigerolic acid and olivetolic acid), thereby showing the potential of filamentous fungi as alternative platforms for cannabinoid biosynthesis upon optimization.

Penicillium chrysogenum as a fungal factory for feruloyl esterases.

Plant biomass is a promising substrate for biorefinery, as well as a source of bioactive compounds, platform chemicals, and precursors with multiple industrial applications. These applications depend on the hydrolysis of its recalcitrant structure. However, the effective biological degradation of plant cell walls requires several enzymatic groups acting synergistically, and novel enzymes are needed in order to achieve profitable industrial hydrolysis processes. In the present work, a feruloyl esterase (FAE) activity screening of Penicillium spp. strains revealed a promising candidate (Penicillium rubens Wisconsin 54-1255; previously Penicillium chrysogenum), where two FAE-ORFs were identified and subsequently overexpressed. Enzyme extracts were analyzed, confirming the presence of FAE activity in the respective gene products (PrFaeA and PrFaeB). PrFaeB-enriched enzyme extracts were used to determine the FAE activity optima (pH 5.0 and 50-55 °C) and perform proteome analysis by means of MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. The studies were completed with the determination of other lignocellulolytic activities, an untargeted metabolite analysis, and upscaled FAE production in stirred tank reactors. The findings described in this work present P. rubens as a promising lignocellulolytic enzyme producer. KEY POINTS: • Two Penicillium rubens ORFs were first confirmed to have feruloyl esterase activity. • Overexpression of the ORFs produced a novel P. rubens strain with improved activity. • The first in-depth proteomic study of a P. rubens lignocellulolytic extract is shown.

First report of fungal meningoencephalitis by Penicillium chrysogenum in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Fungal infections of the central nervous system present a variety of clinical syndromes, such as meningitis, encephalitis, raised intracranial pressure with a nonspecific presentation, and, in the last two decades, have increased the incidence of these fungal infections. Fungal meningoencephalitis is frequently associated with Cryptococcus, but this report stands out for presenting one species of Penicillium genus. OBJECTIVES: Here, we present the first case of meningoencephalitis associated with brain injury caused by Penicillium chrysogenum, in a patient who is immunocompetent and was admitted to Hospital Naval Marcílio Dias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: To identify the fungal species, we performed phenotypic and genotypic methodologies, from the culture to the sequencing of internal transcribed spacer region, and ß-tubulin gene, a rare fungus in cerebrospinal fluid cultures, belonging to the genus Penicillium, was identified. CONCLUSION: We highlight the importance of the first report of meningoencephalitis caused by P. chrysogenum in a patient who is immunocompetent, registered in Brazil. We also emphasize the need for further studies to determine an effective treatment with the least possible side effects for patients infected by fungi that are rarely related to the most severe forms of invasive infections.

Antifeedant and larvicidal activity of bioactive compounds isolated from entomopathogenic fungi Penicillium sp. for the control of agricultural and medically important insect pest (Spodoptera litura and Culex quinquefasciatus).

The use of chemical insecticides in agriculture has posed several challenges to environment and ecosystem health. Pesticides of biological origin are considered to be suitable for sustainable environment. In the present study bioactive compounds from Penicillium sp. was isolated and tested for insecticidal activity on Spodoptera litura and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Ethyl acetate extract of Penicillium sp. were characterized using GC-MS and FT-IR analysis. GC-MS analysis showed 20 different bioactive compounds namely, Propanoic acid, ethyl ester, Acetic Acid, Propyl Ester, Isopentyl Acetate, Acetic Acid, 2-Methylpropyl Ester, Behenic alcohol, 1-Hexadecene, 1-Octadecene, 1-Hexacosanol, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 1-Tetradecanol, 1-Dodecene, Tetrydamine, and Octadecanoic acid. The presence of functional groups such as, chloroalkanes, sulfonates, phosphines, amines, carboxylic acid, alkanes, and isocyanates was identified by using FTIR. Ethyl acetate extract of Penicillium sp., were tested for larvicidal activity on Spodoptera litura and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae showed significant larval mortality after 48 h of exposure with LC50: 72.205 mg/ml: LC90: 282.783 mg/ml and LC50: 94.701 mg/ml: LC90:475.049 mg/ml respectively. High antifeedant activity was observed in 300 µg/ml at 48 h of crude extract exposure. The present study concludes that Penicillium sp., secondary metabolites are effective for control of Spodoptera litura and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae.