Paecilomyces Lilacinus Research Articles

Introduction: Purpureocillium lilacinum (formerly Paecilomyces lilacinus) is an emerging, saprophytic fungus known to cause severe, treatment-refractory ocular infections. It is notoriously clinically resistant to several common antifungal agents, including amphotericin B. Risk factors for Purpureocillium lilacinum (P. lilacinum) keratitis include contact lens wear, ocular trauma, and local or systemic immunosuppression. Case Presentation: We describe the clinical course of a 70-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a history of long-term soft contact lens use who presented with a right corneal ulcer. Despite initial treatment with topical voriconazole, the infection progressed over two months to involve the entire globe, resulting in intractable endophthalmitis. Microbiological analysis of corneal scrapings identified P. lilacinum, confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and ITS sequencing. Despite the addition of systemic voriconazole, the patient’s condition deteriorated, leading to a painful blind right eye which ultimately needed enucleation. Conclusions: This case highlights the aggressive potential of P. lilacinum in a host with multiple risk factors. It underscores the critical need for a high index of suspicion, rapid and accurate mycological diagnosis, and immediate, aggressive management. The therapeutic challenges, including intrinsic and emerging antifungal resistance, often necessitate early surgical intervention to prevent catastrophic outcomes.

Purpureocillium lilacinum is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that can cause a variety of infections, including pulmonary disease, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Its rare pulmonary involvement presents significant diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms and imaging findings. We present the case of a 60-year-old male with a history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus, and smoking, who presented with chronic cough and weight loss. Imaging revealed a cavitary lesion in the left lung apex. Despite initial antibiotic treatment, his symptoms persisted, prompting further investigation. Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) led to the identification of Purpureocillium lilacinum infection. The patient was treated with oral voriconazole 200 mg twice daily for four weeks, with notable clinical and radiographic improvement. Purpureocillium lilacinum should be considered as a potential cause of cavitary lung disease in patients with persistent respiratory symptoms, particularly those with predisposing factors. Early diagnosis and antifungal therapy, such as voriconazole, are crucial for effective treatment and improved outcomes.

Entomopathogenic fungi represent a promising low-impact alternative for pest control. This study aimed to isolate and select entomopathogenic fungi from Amazonian soils for the biological control of the termite Nasutitermes sp. (Blattodea: Termitidae). Ten soil samples were collected from different Amazonian sites, and the decimal dilution technique was employed for sample processing. Fungi were isolated by spreading the dilutions onto a selective medium containing 2% macerated termites as the sole carbon source. Termites of the genus Nasutitermes sp. were collected from natural mounds and used in pathogenicity assays with the three most frequently isolated fungal morphospecies, at concentrations of 10⁵, 10⁶, 10⁷, and 10⁸ conidia/mL, alongside a control group. The most frequently isolated fungus was identified through molecular techniques. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s test. A total of 19 fungal isolates were obtained and grouped into six morphospecies. The most frequent were Paecilomyces lilacinus (42.11%), Paecilomyces sp. 2 (26.32%), and Aspergillus sp. 1 (10.53%). Paecilomyces sp. 2 (4.816) and Aspergillus sp. 1 (4.808) achieved 100% termite mortality at all tested concentrations from the sixth day onward. Paecilomyces lilacinus (4.807) also reached 100% mortality on the sixth day. The termite-based selective medium proved effective for isolating entomopathogenic fungi, as all tested strains showed potential for controlling Nasutitermes sp. This study presents the first report of virulence of Paecilomyces lilacinus against the termite Nasutitermes sp.

Synergistic enhancement of PBAT biodegradation by Purpureocillium lilacinum BA1S: Insights from transcriptomics and functional analyses.

The Purpureocillium lilacinum NCHU-NPUST-175 (Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175) strain has been previously reported as an entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) with potential for controlling Forcipomyia taiwana (little black mosquito). In this study, genome sequencing of Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 was performed via long-read sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, ONT). The comparative genomic analysis was conducted to identify isolate- and species-specific DNA regions for developing markers for rapid molecular identification, in order to detect the fungus in an environment and to confirm species identity before practical field applications. The genome assembly of Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 is 36.55Mb, consisting of 13 contigs with a GC content of 58.64%. The largest contig of the Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 genome was 6.79Mb, and the N50 value was 4.08Mb. The genome contains 14,069 putative protein-coding genes, with a gene density of 384.90 genes per Mb and a median number of three exons per gene. Additionally, one mitogenome, Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175, was assembled with a size of 0.23 Mb and contained 16 protein-coding genes. In the Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 genome, repeat regions accounted for 3.70% of the genome. Most repetitive sequences exhibit a nucleotide sequence divergence of less than 30%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 is most closely related to other P. lilacinum strains. To identify distinctive genomic regions (DGRs), a comparative genomics analysis was conducted between Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175, P. takamizusanense and P. lilacinum. A total of 1,154 unaligned fragments were identified by genome-wide alignment, ten DGRs were randomly selected for specific primer design, and the specificity of the primer sets was tested. The results showed that all primer sets could serve as specific molecular markers for Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175. Among the ten primer sets, three primer sets were selected for the soil-sample detection test. The qualitative PCR results indicate that all three isolate-specific primer sets (pl_1, pl_8, and pl_10) detected 105 conidia g-1 soil in the natural soil samples for up to 14days. However, qPCR improve the accuracy and sensitivity of detecting Low fungal concentrations 103 conidia g-1 soil in complex environmental matrices like soil. These findings suggest that these primers set have potential for future applications in monitoring specific fungal isolates in the field over period of time. The genome sequence of Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 was decoded and compared with those of closely related isolates and species. Based on a developed comparative genomics approach, we highlight the feasibility of developing specific molecular markers of EPF, and this method could be further applied to commercialize EPF products to address sustainability in the natural environment.

Root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) and false root-knot (Nacobbus aberrans) nematodes limit greenhouse tomato productivity. The effectiveness of integrating pre-plant biofumigation with post-plant chemical, biological, and botanical inputs was assessed under commercial conditions. A split-plot trial (2019) contrasted biofumigated and non-biofumigated whole plots (50 t ha−1 of sorghum residues plus poultry and sheep manures) and 13 subplot treatments (fluopyram, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Pochonia chlamydosporia, Trichoderma viride, Tagetes erecta, and plant oil formulations). Nematodes were sampled 0, 60, and 120 days after transplanting, and the area under the nematode population curve (AUNPC), area under the root-damage curve (AURDC), and yield were analyzed. Biofumigation reduced pre-transplant N. aberrans populations by 86% and lowered the AUNPC by 39% relative to the non-biofumigated treatment; the whole-plot yields did not differ. Meloidogyne incognita remained at a very low density throughout. Among the subplot treatments, fluopyram decreased the AURDC by ≈22% and more than doubled the yield (63 vs. 26 t ha−1; +142%), while the AUNPC of N. aberrans was unchanged. Biological and botanical packages reduced damage indices in some cases but did not increase the yield. No whole-plot × subplot interaction was detected for the yield. The results indicate that sorghum-based biofumigation, complemented by a low-risk nematicide at transplanting, can be embedded in integrated nematode-management programs for greenhouse tomato.

Isolation and evaluation of a polysaccharides from Paecilomyces lilacinus as a plant bio-stimulants to enhance growth and secondary metabolite accumulation in peppermint under salt tolerance.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the efficacy of five entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) strains (Purpureocillium lilacinum CB2, Metarhizium anisopliae Bp1e, Metarhizium robertsii Bp1k, Beauveria bassiana Cg1k, and Penicillium citrinum CaS1d) as biocontrol agents against the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret), an important pest in viticulture. Direct pathogenicity assays and endophytic colonisation of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Riesling’) were investigated. M. robertsii Bp1k demonstrated the highest virulence, reducing P. ficus survival to 34.1% after 14 days from the treatment. Differently, P. citrinum CaS1d exhibited moderate pathogenicity but superior endophytic colonisation, with a 93% re-isolation rate from vine leaves 3 days post-inoculation. However, endophytic colonisation by both strains did not significantly affect the survival or development of P. ficus. These findings underline the potential of EPF for direct pest control and their capacity to establish endophytic relationships within vine, suggesting their promising role in sustainable pest management strategies in grapevine cultivation.

IntroductionRoot-knot disease in tomato, caused by Meloidogyne incognita, presents a major challenge to global tomato production. This study explored a sustainable management approach by evaluating host-plant resistance through grafting combined with bio-inputs in farmers’ fields with high natural infestations of M. incognita.MethodsThe commercial F1 hybrid Shivam® tomato was grafted onto bacterial wilt-resistant eggplant rootstocks, EG 203 and TS 03. Two field experiments were conducted with six treatment groups to compare the performance of 'EG 203-tomato' and 'TS 03-tomato' grafts against the non-grafted hybrid tomato, both with and without bio-input applications. The bio-input protocol included soil application of neem cake (250 kg/ha) and soil and seedling drenching at nursery and transplant stages using biocontrol agents (Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma asperellum, and Purpureocillium lilacinum, each at 5 g/L).ResultsResults indicated that the 'EG 203-tomato' graft demonstrated strong resistance to M. incognita, while the 'TS 03-tomato' graft remained susceptible, akin to the non-grafted Shivam® hybrid. The EG 203-tomato graft treated with the bio-inputs achieved the highest suppression of M. incognita, with reductions of 76.8–77.7% juvenile populations in the soil, 62.0–66.1% in female populations within roots, 73.6–77.3% in egg masses per female, and 38.1–40.0% in eggs per egg mass. This treatment also resulted in the lowest root gall index, measured at 2.0–2.1.DiscussionIn both trial locations, 'EG 203-tomato' graft plants enriched with bio-inputs outperformed the non-grafted tomato in growth and yield metrics, achieving greater plant height (54.6–54.7 cm), leaf count (81.3–84.3 per plant), branch count (3.1–3.7) and fruit yield (10.8–11.5 kg/plant). These findings support the recommendation of EG 203-tomato grafts with bio-input management as an effective large-scale strategy for tomato growers combating M. incognita infestations.

The pH-responsive regulator PlPacC and GATA transcription factor PlAreB are involved in the regulation of the biosynthesis of the antifungal lipopeptaibols leucinostatins in Purpureocillium lilacinum.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is recognized as the most destructive soybean pathogen. Biological control of SCN using fungi associated with cyst nematodes (Heteroderidae) could be a promising strategy. In this study, we screened 75 fungal isolates representing 55 species associated with different cyst nematodes to assess antagonistic effects on SCN. A rapid 24-well plate in vitro assay was used to evaluate fungal cell-free filtrates for their effect on SCN egg viability and hatch. Filtrates of 14 isolates significantly reduced egg viability and hatch by inducing "vacuole-like" structural aberrations in SCN eggs. The 14 fungal isolates were further tested for their effect on SCN second-stage juvenile (J2) viability and direct egg parasitism. Filtrates of Alternaria tenuissima, Fusarium solani, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Debaryomyces hansenii, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Arthopyrenia salicis, and Cosmospora lavitskiae resulted in the most significant reduction in egg viability. Filtrates of C. lavitskiae, D. hansenii, F. acaciae-mearnsii and F. solani were the most toxic to SCN J2 in the mortality assay. Trichoderma virens, A. tenuissima, F. acaciae-mearnsii and Pochonia chlamydosporia had the highest degree of SCN egg parasitism. Based on in vitro assays, 10 promising fungal isolates were selected for evaluation in a soil-based experiment. Trichoderma virens, P. lilacinum, and P. chlamydosporia significantly reduced SCN cyst and egg densities, while Talaromyces ramulosus, P. cucumerina, and C. lavitskiae provided moderate SCN suppression. These findings highlight the potential of nematophagous fungi isolated from cyst nematodes for SCN management and offer a screening approach for identifying potent fungal biocontrol agents.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of photoactivated 0.1% rose bengal (RB) for in vitro growth inhibition of the most prevalent fungi isolates in infectious keratitis. Eight corneal clinical isolates were included in the experiments: Fusarium solani complex, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis complex, Exophiala oligosperma, Scedosporium apiospermum complex, Aspergillus niger complex, and Curvularia geniculata. Microorganisms, previously identified by phenotypical methods, were grown and incubated at specific conditions and prepared in suspension for concentration adjustments. The following groups were evaluated in triplicate: group I, no treatment; group II, treated with RB and exposed to the dark for 30 minutes; group III, exposed to green-light light-emitting diode 7.2 mW for 30 minutes (photodynamic therapy [PDT]); and group IV, treated with RB and PDT (RB-PDT). The final work concentration was 104 cells per mL. The RB-PDT was combined with Amphotericin B (AmphoB) to target isolates that were not inhibited by RB-PDT alone. Plates were incubated at specific conditions and photographed after growth for pixel analyses. The growth was inhibited after RB-PDT for F. solani complex, P. lilacinum, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis complex, and E. oligosperma, and not inhibited for S. apiospermum complex, A. niger complex, and C. geniculata, even though combining RB-PDT with AmphoB. RB-PDT presented good activity against five of the tested microorganisms. For the first time, we demonstrated that RB-PDT could inhibit growth of P. lilacinum, C. parapsilosis complex, E. oligosperma, and not inhibit S. apiospermum, A. niger complex, and C. geniculata, even when combined with AmphoB.

Root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne incognita is one of the major diseases affecting mulberry, significantly reducing both the quality and quantity of mulberry leaves. It results in approximately 10–12% leaf yield loss. In-vitro studies were undertaken in the Pathology Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Sericulture, Chintamani, to evaluate the efficacy of various bioagents, viz., Trichoderma harzianum, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Lecanicillium lecanii, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Microbial Consortia 1 (MC1: P. fluorescens + B. subtilis + L. lecanii), and Microbial Consortia 2 (MC2: T. harzianum + P. fluorescens + L. lecanii). Different concentrations of the culture filtrates (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were tested to assess their effects on larval mortality of the nematode at 24, 48, and 72 hours of exposure, in comparison to an untreated control. The experiment consisted of nine treatments replicated three times, following a completely randomized design (CRD). Among the biocontrol agents tested, the highest juvenile mortality (64.33%) was observed at 100% concentration of the culture filtrate of MC1, followed by MC2, which recorded 59.33% mortality at 72 hours after incubation.

Camarotella torrendiella and Camarotella acrocomiae, the causal agents of coconut black leaf spot, are of great economic importance to coconut cultivars. Species of hyperparasites have previously been reported in the stromata of these species, which delay and reduce the viability of the ascospores of these pathogens, demonstrating their bio-control potential. In order to identify and analyse the parasitic species affecting the pathogens that cause coconut black leaf spot, symptomatic leaflets exhibiting parasitized stromata of both C. torrendiella and C. acrocomiae were collected in the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba (Brazil) and the fungi present in the stromata were isolated. The hyperparasites were phylogenetically identified based on different gene regions according to genera and presented in this paper with a detailed taxonomic description as well as their abundance and constancy in the coconut grove. A new species of Fusicolla was described in this study as Fusicolla parasitica sp. nov. Acremonium cavaraeanum presented a new record for the states of Paraíba and Pernambuco. Fusarium pseudocircinatum and Fusarium caatingaense presented the first report of their fungicolous lifestyles, while Purpureocillium lilacinum was for the first time recorded hyperparasitizing a Camarotella spp. causing leaf lesions. This study shows Fusicolla parasitica and Acremonium cavaraeanum as constant and abundant species in the coconut grove, while Fusarium pseudocircinatum and Purpureocillium lilacinum are accessory and common; Fusarium caatingaense was considered rare and accidental. Citation: Sá CEVA, Souza-Motta CM, Tiago PV, Machado AR (2025). Diversity of fungicolous fungi associated with Camarotella spp. (Phyllachorales, Sordariomycetes) on Cocos nucifera in Brazil, including Fusicolla parasitica sp. nov. (Nectriaceae). Fungal Systematics and Evolution 16: 155-180. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.16.9.

Chemical constituents of the deep-sea-derived fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum XIA-18 and their chemotaxonomic significance

The present study aimed to assess the in-vitro efficacy of selected biocontrol agents in inhibiting egg hatching of Meloidogyne incognita to evaluate the efficacy of various bioagents viz., Trichoderma harzianum, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Lecanicillium lecanii, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, microbial consortia1 (P. fluorescens+ B. subtilis+ L. lecanii) and microbial consortia2 (T. harzianum +P. fluorescens+ L. lecanii). Experimental results showed that all the bioagents significantly reduced the hatching rate of juveniles and increased the egg hatching inhibition rate. Among the bioagents, microbial consortia 1 (P. fluorescens + B. subtilis + L. lecanii) was found to be the most effective treatment with a minimum juvenile hatching rate of 9.67% and maximum egg hatching inhibition rate of 84.97% at 100% concentration after 72 hours, followed by microbial consortia 2 (T. harzianum + P. fluorescens + L. lecanii) and Paecilomyces lilacinus.

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) serves as the exclusive host plant for the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) and is cultivated mainly for its nutritious foliage. However, leaf yield and quality are adversely impacted by several soil-borne pathogens, with root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) being one of the most destructive pests. The present investigation was conducted in vitro at the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Sericulture, Chintamani, to evaluate the nematicidal efficacy of secondary metabolites extracted from selected biocontrol agents, including Paecilomyces lilacinus, Lecanicillium lecanii and Pseudomonas fluorescens. A total of five treatments were tested, each replicated four times, and both egg hatching inhibition of M. incognita were assessed at four concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) over a 72-hour period under in-vitro conditions. The study revealed that these metabolites effectively suppressed egg hatching when compared to untreated control plates. Notably, Paecilomyces lilacinus exhibited the highest suppression, recording 85.60 per cent egg hatching inhibition after 72 hours of incubation at 100 per cent metabolite concentration. These results suggest that fungal secondary metabolites, particularly from P. lilacinus, offer promise potential as eco-friendly alternatives for managing M. incognita in mulberry cultivation systems.

ABSTRACT A fungal strain (MEAPA0029) was isolated from an adult Leptopharsa gibbicarina in a Colombian oil palm plantation and evaluated for its potential as a biopesticide. This study focuses on its identification, production feasibility under varying conditions, metabolic fingerprinting, and insecticidal efficacy. Morphological characterisation, combined with molecular identification via EF-1α region sequencing and proteomic analysis using MALDI TOF MS, confirmed the isolate as Purpureocillium lilacinum. The strain exhibited high conidial production (6.4 × 10⁸ conidia cm−2 on MAYP agar), adaptability to a broad pH range (4-9) and temperatures (20-35°C), and desiccation resistance (4 h at 45°C). Bioassays showed high virulence against L. gibbicarina, achieving 90% adult mortality (LC₉₀) at 1.1 × 10⁷ conidia mL−1, with a mean survival time (LT₅₀) of 2.9 days. Metabolic profiling using Biolog FF MicroPlate™ revealed diverse carbon assimilation capabilities, with the strong preferences for D-trehalose and adenosine. In solid-state fermentation supplemented with D-trehalose, conidial production reached 5.25 × 109 conidia g-1 substrate, with germination over 95%, on the fifth day of fermentation. These findings highlight the strain's potential as a sustainable biopesticide for integrated pest management in tropical oil palm systems.

Indane and phenylpropyl derivatives are interesting precursors for the synthesis of bioactive compounds, including those with antifungal or anti-inflammatory properties. In light of the increasing interest in the biocatalytic potential of marine-derived fungi, a study was conducted in which the substrates indene (1), indanone (2), 5-chloroindanone (2a), 1-phenylpropyl acetate (3), and 1-(4′-chlorophenyl)propyl acetate (3a) were biotransformed by the marine sediment-derived fungal strains Purpureocillium lilacinum BC17-2 and Emericellopsis maritima BC17. Fermentations led to the isolation of sixteen derivatives, which exhibited noteworthy stereoselectivities. The absolute configurations of the optically active indane and phenylpropyl derivatives isolated were determined through electronic circular dichroism and optical rotation dispersion computational calculations. Furthermore, given the known biocatalytic potential of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea to modify the structures of certain antifungal phenylpropyl derivatives, substrates 3 and 3a were also subjected to biotransformation by the strain B. cinerea UCA992. The antifungal activities of the biotransformation products (R)-5, (S)-6, syn-(1S,2R)-7, anti-(1R,2R)-7, (R)-8, (R)-9, threo-(1R,2R)-11, and erythro-(1R,2S)-11 were evaluated against B. cinerea UCA992 using a resazurin-based microdilution method.

Purpureocillium lilacinum strain UdeA0106 has shown strong nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita-javanica, attributed both to its fungal structures and to metabolites present in its filtrate. This study aimed to evaluate the bioactivity of metabolites produced during fungal fermentation and to approach their chemical characterization. Four extracts were obtained from liquid fermentations and evaluated in vitro against nematode eggs and juveniles. The dichloromethane and butanol extracts exhibited the highest levels of activity (84.4% and 78.2% for dichloromethane; 76.2% and 92% for butanol, respectively). Morphological alterations observed in the affected nematodes included the formation of intracellular vacuoles, cuticle damage, and immobility. Chemical analysis identified compounds previously reported for this species, such as Acremonidin, Aspergillicin C, Leucinostatins, and Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (NAAD) in the butanol fraction, and D-lysine and Cerebroside in the dichloromethane fraction. These findings indicate a diversity of bioactive metabolites with nematicidal potential. The results obtained for strain UdeA0106 highlight its relevance as a source of compounds applicable to the biological control of phytoparasitic nematodes. This study represents an initial step in understanding the biotechnological potential of P. lilacinum UdeA0106 and provides a foundation for developing sustainable agricultural strategies through the use of entomopathogenic fungi and their metabolites.