Trichoderma viride bioactive peptaibol induces apoptosis in Aspergillus niger infecting tilapia in fish farms

Abstract

A Trichoderma viride metabolite culture filtrate was tested for its apoptotic effect on the fish fungal pathogen Aspergillus niger The filtrate was characterized as a non-enzymatic protein. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and liquid mass chromatography (UPLC/MS/MS) revealed a predominant peak at 1294 m/z which is characteristic of peptaibol. Fungal culture extract was used to test its apoptotic effect on A. niger infecting Nile tilapia fish. Incubating the extract with A. niger increased catalase enzyme, protein content, and lipid peroxidation. Caspase-3 enzyme increase in A. niger suggested the involvement of mitochondria: this was confirmed by the increase in fluorescent intensity of Mitotracker red in A. niger treated with the T. viride culture extract. The extract was tested on tilapia fish blood, results of in vitro DNA analysis showed that 20 μl of the incubated extract was effective in inducing apoptosis in a pathogenic strain of A. niger but non-toxic to Nile tilapia.