Bassiana ATCC Research Articles

Adverse effects of the fungal biopesticide Beauveria bassiana on a predatory social wasp

Biopesticides are considered eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals. However, their impact on non-target organisms is still poorly understood. Social wasps, in particular, are a largely neglected group when it comes to risk assessment of plant protection products, despite the relevant ecological and economic services provided by these insects. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a common biopesticide, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, on the paper wasp Polistes dominula. We adopted a holistic approach in ecotoxicology by focusing not only on the detrimental effects on isolated individuals, but also on the whole colony. Both adult wasps belonging to different castes and immature larvae were topically exposed to a field-realistic concentration of fungal spores from the commercial strain of B. bassiana ATCC 74040 to assess the impact of the biopesticide on their survival, behavior and physiology. Our results showed that the fungus causes a number of adverse effects on P. dominula, that include increased mortality, altered locomotion and feeding rate, selective ejection of exposed larvae from nests, reduced oviposition rate and ovary development in foundresses, and colony failure. Our findings provide new insights on the often-neglected sublethal effects of pollutants that can jeopardize not only individual beneficial insects, but also the delicate social balance of their colonies and their valuable ecosystem services, highlighting that the natural origin of plant-protection products does not always guarantee environmental safety.

Microbial glycosylation of antitubercular agent chlorflavonin

Flavonoids have shown health-benefiting properties, such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, and are commonly used as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Although flavonoids are predominantly identified from plants, several filamentous fungal species have also been reported to produce bioactive flavonoids, including chlorflavonin from Aspergillus candidus, a novel halogenated flavonoid with potent antifungal and antitubercular (anti-TB) activities. Unfortunately, the low water-solubility of this molecule may hinder its bioavailability. Glycosylation is an effective method to enhance the polarity of natural products and alter their physicochemical properties. This work focuses on the development of novel water-soluble chlorflavonin derivatives to combat the threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis. In this study, we first increased the production titer of chlorflavonin in A.candidus NRRL 5214 by optimizing the fermentation and purification processes. Next, chlorflavonin-5-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (1) and chlorflavonin-7-O-4″-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) were produced from chlorflavonin using Streptomyces chromofuscus ATCC 49982 and Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159, respectively. Compared to chlorflavonin (4.38 ± 0.54mg/L in water), the water solubility of the two new glycosides was determined to be 117.86 ± 4.81mg/L (1) and 124.34 ± 9.13mg/L (2), respectively. This study provides a promising method to create water-soluble glycosides of chlorflavonin for the development of novel anti-TB drugs.

Efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium in the control of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract Background Among the phytosanitary problems, affecting tomato crops in greenhouses heated by geothermal water in southern Tunisia, the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is gaining prominence from year to year. Results This study determined the susceptibility of eggs, second-instar larvae of T. absoluta to commercial formulations of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium at different doses (1010, 109, 108, 107 and 106 spores/ml). Pathogenicity tests were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions at 27 ± 1 °C, and RH of 75 ± 5%, showed that the three commercial formulations of B. bassiana R444 (Bb-Protec®), B. bassiana ATCC 74,040 (Naturalis®) and L. muscarium Ve6 (Mycotal®) were effective against eggs and second instar larvae of T. absoluta. Mortality rates of eggs and larvae were high with increasing the concentrations of the fungi. B. bassiana ATCC 74,040 was the most effective one, with an egg mortality rate of (71.42%) and larval mortality was greater than (80%), at the highest concentration of 1010 spores/ml. The lethal concentration required to kill 50% of eggs was 1.56 × 108, 1.73 × 109 and 1.09 × 1010 conidia/ml for B. bassiana ATCC, B. bassiana R444, and L. muscarium, respectively. After 7 days, the median lethal concentration (LC50) values against larvae were the lowest for B. bassiana ATCC with 2.63 × 107 and 4.76 × 106 conidia/ml by way 1 and way 2 treatments, respectively. Thus, these three formulations affected the emergence of pest’s adults. The fungi significantly reduced pupation and adult emergence. Only 50.25, 60.15 and 69.16% of T. absoluta adults emerged in the treatments with B. bassiana ATCC, B. bassiana R444, and L. muscarium, respectively. Conclusions Biological performances of the EPF showed the role of a biological control agent that can be played against T. absoluta within the framework of an Integrated Pest Management program.

Efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium against two main pests, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) and Tetranychus urticae (Koch), under geothermal greenhouses of Southern Tunisia

BackgroundThe geothermal greenhouses in Southern Tunisia are an important axis of agricultural development. This sector faces many abiotic and biotic constraints that could threat its sustainability. Thus, the heated greenhouses encounter destructive pests such as the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae).ResultsThis study aimed to assess the effect of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana (strain ATCC and strain R444) and Lecanicillium muscarium strain Ve6 on simultaneous existence of T. urticae and B. tabaci in the host plants. The EPF had a significant effect on eggs and larvae of B. tabaci and on eggs and mobile forms of T. urticae in particular. The use of B. bassiana ATCC, B. bassiana R444 and L. muscarium strains Ve6 showed significant efficacies against B. tabaci larvae and eggs compared to untreated control. Indeed, the reduction percent of B. tabaci eggs varied between 42.65 and 58.52%. Thus, the efficacy against the number of B. tabaci larvae was in order to 65.04, 60.26 and 55.52% of B. bassiana strain ATCC, B. bassiana strain R444 and L. muscarium strain Ve6, respectively. In addition, these EPF were very effective on T. urticae eggs with a percentage reduction greater than 92.86%, whereas the percentage reduction in the T. urticae mobile forms varied between 95.11 and 98.52%.ConclusionsUse of EPF will be an imperative to develop directed interventions at the integrated management of these two pests in protected and geothermal crops.

Creating diverse glycosides of 2′-hydroxyflavone through microbial glycosylation

Four new 2′-hydroxyflavone glycosides, namely hydroxyflavone-2′-O-β-D-glucuronide (1), hydroxyflavone-2′-O-α-L-rhamnoside (2), hydroxyflavone-2′-O-β-D-glucoside (3), and hydroxyflavone-2′-O-4″-O-methyl-β-D-glucoside (4), were biosynthesized through microbial glycosylation using Streptomyces coeruleorubidus NRRL B-2569, Streptomyces toxytricini NRRL 15443, Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)/pWZ8, and Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159, respectively. Compounds 1–4 were structurally characterized through extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The water solubility of glycosylated products 1–4 were enhanced by 7 to 15 times compared to the substrate 2′-hydroxyflavone. Moreover, antioxidant assays revealed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited stronger 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than the substrate, decreasing the logIC50 by 68.7% and 80.7%, respectively. Therefore, this research provides several effective biocatalysts that can be used for structural modification of flavonoids for enhanced water solubility and biological activities.

Screening commercial entomopathogenic fungi for the management of Diaphorina citri populations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Ten strains of entomopathogenic ascomycete fungi, sourced from commercial formulations of blastopore or conidiospore formulations, were tested in 14 different formulations in a primary acquisition/direct spray bioassay against adult Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)). The Cordyceps (Isaria) javanica Apopka 97-C (conidia) strain was used as the standard. A statistical ranking system was established in which top performing pathogenic strains were selected for further screening and eventual field trials. Modified Potter-type spray towers were utilized to deliver a range of doses of viable spores to adult D. citri in an aqueous spray consistent with the rate of spores per hectare often used in real-world spray applications. Mortality was assessed after a seven-day incubation period under controlled climate conditions reflecting those in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, USA. Of the 14 preparations, the strains Metarhizium anisopliae E9, C. fumosorosea Ifr9901, Beauveria bassiana ATCC 74040 and ANT-03, M. anisopliae ESALQ1037, and M. robertsii DWR2009, showed greater levels of mortality than the standard, Apopka 97-C, in the laboratory setting. Of those six, two (Ifr9901 and ANT-03) were selected for further evaluation based on efficacy, commercial availability, geographical registration, and market outlook on production.

A highly versatile fungal glucosyltransferase for specific production of quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside in different hosts.

Glycosylation is an effective way to improve the water solubility of natural products. In this work, a novel glycosyltransferase gene (BbGT) was discovered from Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified enzyme was functionally characterized through in vitro enzymatic reactions as a UDP-glucosyltransferase, converting quercetin to five monoglucosylated and one diglucosylated products. The optimal pH and temperature for BbGT are 35 ℃ and 8.0, respectively. The activity of BbGT was stimulated by Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+, but inhibited by Zn2+. BbGT enzyme is flexible and can glycosylate a variety of substrates such as curcumin, resveratrol, and zearalenone. The enzyme was also expressed in other microbial hosts including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pseudomonas putida, and Pichia pastoris. Interestingly, the major glycosylation product of quercetin in E. coli, P. putida, and P. pastoris was quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, while the enzyme dominantly produced quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside in S. cerevisiae. The BbGT-harboring E. coli and S. cerevisiae strains were used as whole-cell biocatalysts to specifically produce the two valuable quercetin glucosides, respectively. The titer of quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucosides was 0.34 ± 0.02mM from 0.83mM quercetin in 24h by BbGT-harboring E. coli. The yield of quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside was 0.22 ± 0.02mM from 0.41mM quercetin in 12h by BbGT-harboring S. cerevisiae. This work thus provides an efficient way to produce two valuable quercetin glucosides through the expression of a versatile glucosyltransferase in different hosts. KEY POINTS: • A highly versatile glucosyltransferase was identified from B. bassiana ATCC 7159. • BbGT converts quercetin to five mono- and one di-glucosylated derivatives in vitro. • Different quercetin glucosides were produced by BbGT in E. coli and S. cerevisiae.

Biocontrol of strawberry fruit infected by Botrytis cinerea: Effects on the microbial communities on fruit assessed by next‐generation sequencing

AbstractFruit grey mould, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, is known to be a harmful disease of strawberry at postharvest stage. However, effects of an application of biological control agents (BCAs) on strawberry fruit in terms of shift in the microbial community are still unknown. The present research aimed to investigate the effects of an application of BCAs on postharvest microbial populations present on strawberry fruits. Strawberry plants were sprayed with three kinds of BCA, RhizoVital 42 fl. (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42), Trianum‐P (Trichoderma harzianum T22) and Naturalis (Beauveria bassiana ATCC 74040), targeting Botrytis cinerea fungus. Control plots were composed of water and fungicide treatments. Microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) were analysed via next‐generation sequencing on an Illumina MiSeq. Analysis of 16S RNA and ITS rRNA sequences indicated that the BCAs application modified both bacterial and fungal community compositions and diversity. An application of two BCAs together had more effects on microbial community composition than a single application. These results suggest that BCAs can modify bacterial and fungal community composition and diversity on strawberry fruits, which may consequently improve the efficiency and establishment of these products on control of postharvest diseases of fruits, such as grey mould.

Control of Botrytis cinerea in strawberries by biological control agents applied as single or combined treatments

There is little knowledge about the effects of simultaneously applied biological control agents (BCAs) on the incidence of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in strawberries under field conditions. Our objective was, therefore, to investigate the use of three BCAs (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42, Aureobasidium pullulans DSM 14940 and DSM 14941 and Beauveria bassiana ATCC 74040) with respect to their efficacy against B. cinerea in field grown strawberries following single compared to combined application. In two subsequent years (2011 and 2012), improved control of B. cinerea resulted from combined BCA treatments, whereas the single BCAs were not efficient. Efficient combinations of BCA treatments were not the same in 2011 and 2012, however. The development of B. cinerea was reduced by single treatments of B. amyloliquefaciens and A. pullulans as well as by most combined BCA treatments during storage for one of two fruit samples in 2011. In 2012, however, no effects on B. cinerea during storage resulted from BCA treatments. The results of the present study suggest that the use of combined BCA treatments only cannot overcome inconsistent efficacies of BCAs against strawberry grey mould under field conditions. Further investigations on the interactions between the BCAs in combined BCA treatments as well as between the BCAs and the pathogen in dependence on multiple factors prevailing in the phyllosphere, however, need to be included to tailor combined BCA treatments with constant efficacies in different years.

Antiangiogenic-Like Properties of Fermented Extracts of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants.

The three ayurvedic medicinal plants, Withania somnifera, Emblica officinalis, and Bacopa monnieri, were extracted by high-pressure static extraction using the Zippertex(®) technology. The extracts were mixed to reach quantifiable amounts of active compounds identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. The mixture of extracts was incubated with resting cells of the fungus Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159. The fermentation promoted the fluidization of the starting dense mixture, while HPLC monitoring evidenced the disappearance of glucogallin from E. officinalis extract and the concomitant increase in gallic acid content. Topical exposure of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) to the nonfermented extract led to the extensive necrosis and destruction of the treated membrane. However, the fermented extract was shown to be free of any toxicity. Furthermore, compared with the untreated CAM, the fermented sample reduced CAM vascularization, suggesting its antiangiogenic potency. The innocuity of the fermented extract was demonstrated using the in vivo LD50 test, the morphological examination of internal organs of treated rats, as well as the evaluation of blood biomarkers of liver damage (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase). The fermented extract was developed as a nutraceutical antiangiogenic treatment of age-related macular degeneration and commercialized in an oral form named Ethnodyne-Visio™.

Biosynthesis of human diazepam and clonazepam metabolites

A screening of fungal and microbial strains allowed to select the best microorganisms to produce in high yields some of the human metabolites of two benzodiazepine drugs, diazepam and clonazepam, in order to study new pharmacological activities and for chemical standard proposes. Among the microorganisms tested, Cunninghamella echinulata ATCC 9244 and Rhizopus arrhizus ATCC 11145 strains, were the most active producers of the mains metabolites of diazepam which included demethylated, hydroxylated derivatives. Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 and Chaetomium indicum LCP 984200 produced the 7 amino-clonazepam metabolite and a product of acid hydrolysis of this benzodiazepine.

Vasorelaxant activity of 7-β-O-glycosides biosynthesized from flavonoids

In this work we report the vasorelaxant activity of 7-β-O-glycosides obtained with biosynthesis of naringenin-7-β-O-glycoside (3) and quercetin-7-β-O-glycoside (4). These compounds were obtained from naringenin (1) and quercetin (2) glycosylation catalyzed by Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159. Screening of the best strain as a catalyst for glycosylation was carried out and the reaction conditions established. Cultures were grown in PDSM medium for 7 days at 27°C. After purification by reverse-phase preparative HPLC, naringenin-7-β-O-glycoside (3) and quercetin-7-β-O-glycoside (4) were identified by 1H and 13C NMR. The right position and β-configuration of the glucose was determined through HSQC and HMBC experiments. The vasorelaxation potential of naringenin, quercetin and its glycosylated derivatives was evaluated using isolated aorta in vitro models. Interestingly, results suggest that vasorelaxation properties of naringenin, rutin and its glycosides are due to different pathways.

Leaf Microbiota of Strawberries as Affected by Biological Control Agents

The increasing use of biological control agents (BCAs) against Botrytis cinerea in strawberry raises the question of whether there are any undesirable impacts of foliar applications of BCAs on nontarget microorganisms in the phyllosphere. Therefore, our objective was to investigate this issue within a field study. Strawberry plants were repeatedly sprayed with three BCAs-namely, RhizoVital 42 fl. (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42), Trianum-P (Trichoderma harzianum T22), and Naturalis (Beauveria bassiana ATCC 74040)-to suppress Botrytis cinerea infections. Microbial communities of differentially treated leaves were analyzed using plate counts and pyrosequencing and compared with the microbial community of nontreated leaves. Plate count results indicate that the applied Bacillus and Trichoderma spp. survived in the strawberry phyllosphere throughout the strawberry season. However, no significant impacts on the leaf microbiota could be detected by this culture-dependent technique. Pyrosequencing of internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA and 16S RNA sequences revealed a change in fungal composition and diversity at class level after the introduction of T. harzianum T22 to the phyllosphere, whereas the bacterial composition and diversity was not affected by either this Trichoderma preparation or the other two BCAs. Our results suggest that pyrosequencing represents a useful method for studying microbial interactions in the phyllosphere.

Combined effect of microbial and chemical control agents on subterranean termites

Termite mortality was measured when fungi were combined with bacteria or a chemical termiticide to determine whether a synergistic effect occurred. The fungus Beauveria bassiana was combined with the non-repellant chemical termiticide imidacloprid. Of the three B. bassiana strains tested one, B. bassiana ATCC 90519, was sufficiently pathogenic on its own that the advantage of a supplementary chemical treatment was marginal. The mortality caused by another fungal strain, B. bassiana ATCC 26037, was improved in combination with imidacloprid at both of the tested chemical concentrations over the first 14 days. The remaining fungal strain, B. bassiana ATCC 90518, demonstrated an overall mortality rate in combination with imidacloprid of 82.5%, versus a rate of 65.0% for the fungus alone. The fungus Isaria fumosorosea (Ifr) was combined with the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). On day 5, Ifr, Bt, and the combined treatment at a 10(6) spores or cells/ml dosage caused 8.8%, 22.5%, and 15.0% mortality, respectively. The Bt and combined mortality rates are not significantly different. Control mortality on day 5 was 5.0%. On day 13 the combined 10(6) treatment mortality rate was 91.3%, which was significantly higher than all other treatments: control at 17.5%, Ifr at 36.3% and Bt at 35.0%. When Ifr and Bt were applied at a 10(9) spores or cells/ml dosage, Ifr alone caused a mortality rate of 97.5% as early as day 5. The combination with Bt could not significantly increase the effectiveness of this dosage. These data demonstrate the potential for synergistic effects of fungal and chemical treatment methods, thereby broadening the use of microbial control agents and reducing the quantity of chemical agents necessary to effect control.

Engineered production of fungal anticancer cyclooligomer depsipeptides in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Two fungal cyclooligomer depsipeptide synthetases (CODSs), BbBEAS (352kDa) and BbBSLS (348kDa) from Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159, were reconstituted in Saccharomyces cerevisiae BJ5464-NpgA, leading to the production of the corresponding anticancer natural products, beauvericins and bassianolide, respectively. The titers of beauvericins (33.8±1.4mg/l) and bassianolide (21.7±0.1mg/l) in the engineered S. cerevisiae BJ5464-NpgA strains were comparable to those in the native producer B. bassiana. Feeding d-hydroxyisovaleric acid (d-Hiv) and the corresponding l-amino acid precursors improved the production of beauvericins and bassianolide. However, the high price of d-Hiv limits its application in large-scale production of these cyclooligomer depsipeptides. Alternatively, we engineered another enzyme, ketoisovalerate reductase (KIVR) from B. bassiana, into S. cerevisiae BJ5464-NpgA for enhanced in situ synthesis of this expensive substrate. Co-expression of BbBEAS and KIVR in the yeast led to significant improvement of the production of beauvericins. The total titer of beauvericin and its congeners (beauvericins A–C) was increased to 61.7±3.0mg/l and reached 2.6-fold of that in the native producer B. bassiana ATCC 7159. Supplement of l-Val at 10mM improved the supply of ketoisovalerate, the substrate of KIVR, which consequently further increased the total titer of beauvericins to 105.8±2.1mg/l. Using this yeast system, we functionally characterized an unknown CODS from Fusarium venenatum NRRL 26139 as a beauvericin synthetase, which was named as FvBEAS. Our work thus provides a useful approach for functional reconstitution and engineering of fungal CODSs for efficient production of this family of anticancer molecules.

Generation of two New Macrolactones through Sequential Biotransformation of Dihydroresorcylide

Biotransformation is an effective method to generate new derivatives from natural products. Combination of various enzymes or whole-cell biocatalysts creates new opportunities for natural product biosynthesis. Dihydroresorcylide (1) is a phytotoxic macrolactone from Acremonium aeae. It was first chlorinated at C-11 by an engineered Escherichia coli BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIL/pJZ54 strain that overexpresses a fungal flavin-dependent halogenase, and subsequently glycosylated at 12-OH by Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159, giving rise to a novel derivative, 11-chloro-4'-O-methyl-12-O-beta-D-glucosyl-dihydroresorcylide (3). Although 1 can be converted into a new 4'-O-methyl-glucosylated derivative 4 by B. bassiana, this product cannot be further chlorinated by E. coli BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIL/pJZ54 to afford 3. The sequence of these two biotransformation steps was thus restricted and not interchangeable. This sequential biotransformation approach can be applied to other structurally similar natural products to create novel derivatives.

Beauveria bassiana: quercetinase production and genetic diversity

Beauveria bassiana genetic diversity and ability to synthesize quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase (quercetinase) were analyzed. B. bassiana isolates, obtained from Brazilian soil samples, produced quercetinase after induction using 0.5 g/L quercetin. B. bassiana ATCC 7159 (29.6 nmol/mL/min) and isolate IP 11 (27.5 nmol/ml/min) showed the best performances and IP 3a (9.5 nmol/mL/min) presented the lowest level of quercetinase activity in the culture supernatant. A high level of polymorphism was detected by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The use of internal-transcribed-spacer ribosomal region restriction fragment length polymorphism (ITS-RFLP) did not reveal characteristic markers to differentiate isolates. However, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequence analysis provided more information on polymorphism among the isolates, allowing them to be clustered by relative similarity into three large groups. Correlation was tested according to the Person's correlation. Data of our studies showed, that lower associations among groups, level of quercetinase production, or geographical origin could be observed. This study presents the production of a novel biocatalyst by B. bassiana and suggests the possible industrial application of this fungal species in large-scale biotechnological manufacture of quercetinase.

Microbial Transformation of Podocarpic Acid and Evaluation of Transformation Products for Antioxidant Activity

Podocarpic acid was metabolized by Mucor ramannianus ATCC 9628, and Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 to afford two new metabolites, 2 alpha-hydroxy podocarpic acid and 11-hydroxy podocarpic acid, along with the known metabolite 13-hydroxy podocarbic acid. The identity of these metabolites was verified using different spectral methods. The antioxidant activity of the metabolites was tested, and comparable results to those observed for ascorbic acid were obtained.

Regio- and Stereoselective Subterminal Hydroxylations of n-Decane by Fungi in a Liquid–Liquid Interface Bioreactor (L–L IBR)

Abstract This article may be the first report to describe the excellent regio- and stereoselective subterminal hydroxylations of n-alkane with microorganisms. Approximately 2000 fungal strains were screened for the regioselective hydroxylation of n-decane with a solid–liquid interface bioreactor, which is a microbial transformation device on an interface between an agar plate and an organic phase (n-decane). Although Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159, a typical fungus having a strong and versatile hydroxylating ability, mainly produced a mixture of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-decanone regioisomers into a n-decane layer, Monilliela sp. NAP 00702 and Rhizopus oryzae R-38-8 typically accumulated 4- and 5-decanols into the n-decane layer, respectively. Although a small amount of 4- and 5-decanones were also produced, the regioselectivity at C-4 and C-5 positions of n-decane reached 99 and 90%, respectively. Furthermore, the hydroxylation of n-decane with Monilliela sp. NAP 00702 stereoselectively proceeded to afford almost 100% ee of (−)-4-decanol.

Selection of filamentous fungi of the Beauveria genus able to metabolize quercetin like mammalian cells

Microbial biotransformations constitute an important alternative as models for drug metabolism study in mammalians and have been used for the industrial synthesis of chemicals with pharmaceutical purposes. Several microorganisms with unique biotransformation ability have been found by intensive screening and put in commercial applications. Ten isolates of Beauveria sp genus filamentous fungi, isolated from soil in the central Brazil, and Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 were evaluated for their capability of quercetin biotransformation. Biotransformation processes were carried out for 24 up to 96 hours and monitored by mass spectrometry analyses of the culture broth. All strains were able to metabolize quercetin, forming mammalian metabolites. The results were different from those presented by other microorganisms previously utilized, attrackting attention because of the great diversity of reactions. Methylated, sulphated, monoglucuronidated, and glucuronidated conjugated metabolites were simultaneously detected.