Soluble Pigment Research Articles

Amorosia littoralis Mantle & D. Hawksw. survives as root endophyte of mangroves and produces water soluble melanin pigment

Melanins are heterogenous biopolymers produced by many macro and microorganisms. They enhance the ecological fitness of the producer organisms by improving their virulence and protecting them from radiation, osmotic and heat stresses. Fungi synthesise either DOPA or DHN melanin and deposit them on their cell walls. Some fungal isolates produce water soluble melanin (pyomelanin) which is excerted out of the hyphae into the surrounding environment. Pyomelanin, a polymer of homogentisate, exhibits antimicrobial, UV screening, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities and recent studies also show that pyomelanin could find use in space travel as radiation shield. However, scant literature is available on fungi with ability to produce pyomelanin. We report for the first time that Amorosia littoralis occurs as a root endophyte in mangrove species including Avicennia marina, Bruguiera cylindrica and Bruguiera gymnorhiza and produces pyomelanin. Considering the various technological uses of pyomelanin, this study underscores the need to explore fungi of different habitats to identify hyperproducers and to obtain chemically diverse pyomelanin.

Comparative antioxidant potential, proximal biochemical composition, and pigment content of 11 brown seaweeds from the West of Ireland

The biorefinery and valorisation of sustainable bioresources such as seaweeds have increased in response to global circular economy initiatives. Several seaweed species are exploited worldwide in the biofertilizer, nutrition, bioenergy, cosmetics, or pharmaceutical sectors. Brown seaweeds are widespread, easily accessible, and abundant in northwest Europe regions, with some species being commercially harvested and processed.Here, both commercially exploited, and less studied brown seaweeds (n = 11) were collected from Irelands Atlantic coast and analysed for soluble carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, fatty acid, and pigment profiles as well as antioxidant potential. Soluble carbohydrates (62.7 µg glucose eq mg−1 DW) were highest in Saccharina latissima while lipids (148.2 mg L g−1 DW), fucoxanthin (1.35 mg g−1) and β-carotene (4.10 mg g−1) were greater in Dictyota dichotoma. The highest antioxidant activity (456.3 µmol Trolox eq mg−1 DW with TEAC assay) and soluble protein content (562.5 µg BSA eq mg−1 DW) were in Halidrys siliquosa extracts.Data matrix multivariate ordination indicated that some less studied brown seaweeds have further valorisation potential owing to their biochemical composition and bioactivity. The development of species-specific tailored cultivation strategies as part of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems has potential to contribute to environmental sustainability while introducing new natural bioactive products to markets.

Streptomyces profundus sp. nov., a novel marine actinobacterium isolated from deep-sea sediment of Madeira Archipelago, Portugal.

A novel strain, MA3_2.13T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment of Madeira Archipelago, Portugal, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. This strain produced dark brown soluble pigments, bronwish black substrate mycelia and an aerial mycelium with yellowish white spores, when grown on GYM 50SW agar. The main respiratory quinones were MK-10(H4), MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids and two glycophospholipids were identified as the main phospholipids. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 1, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 1 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene showed that strain MA3_2.13T is a member of the genus Streptomyces and was most closely related to Streptomyces triticirhizae NEAU-YY642T (NR_180032.1; 16S rRNA gene similarity 97.9 %), Streptomyces sedi YIM 65188T (NR_044582.1; 16S rRNA gene similarity 97.4 %), Streptomyces mimosae 3MP-10T (NR_170412.1; 16S rRNA gene similarity 97.3 %) and Streptomyces zhaozhouensis NEAU-LZS-5T (NR_133874.1; 16S rRNA gene similarity 97.0 %). Genome pairwise comparisons with closest related type strains retrieved values below the threshold for species delineation suggesting that strain MA3_2.13T represents a new branch within the genus Streptomyces. Based on these results, strain MA3_2.13T (=DSM 115980T=LMG 33094T) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces profundus sp. nov. is proposed.

Food waste as potential bioresources for extraction of carotenoid of nutraceutical importance: Current research and future challenges

Carotenoids are lipid soluble natural pigments found in various plants, animals, and microbes giving them their yellow, orange, or red hue. Carotenoids have been linked to a variety of health benefits as bioactive compound including antioxidant properties, reduced risk of certain cancers, improved ocular and cardiovascular health, and improved immune function and skin health to name a few. The global volume of wastage of edible part of food is accounts as 1.3 billion tons and a sizeable portion of this wastage have significant amount of carotenoid content which can be utilized for industrial purpose and economical values. However, most of these wastes are used as animal feed, composting and land filling. Although, chemical synthesis of carotenoids is possible, it has several disadvantages including complex extraction process, high cost, and low yield of final product and environmental impacts and safety concerns. The present review focuses on advances in extraction of carotenoid using non-thermal technologies, such as ultrasound assisted extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction, and microwave assisted extraction, from various food wastes to utilize the waste. The green extraction of carotenoids from food waste materials is an area that has a lot of potential for future development. Using environmentally friendly extraction methods and utilizing food waste as a source of carotenoids, we can create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly food production system.

Enhancing photosynthesis and root development for better fruit quality, aroma, and lessening of radioactive materials in key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) using Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus thuringiensis

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus thuringiensis alone or with gradual levels of NPK on photosynthesis, growth, fruit quality, aroma improvement and reduced radionuclides of key lime fruits. The lemon seedlings were treated with (T0) without fertilizers as control, (T1) 100g of NPK at 100%, (T2) 5 g of Trichoderma. harzianum at 50% + 50 g of NPK at 50%, (T3) 5 g of Bacillus thuringiensis at 50% + 50 g of NPK at 50 %, (T4) 7.5 g of Trichoderma harzianum at 75% + 25 g of NPK at 25 %, (T5) 7.5 g of Bacillus thuringiensis at 75% + 25 g of NPK at 25 %, (T6) 10 g of Trichoderma harzianum at 100 % and (T7)10 g of Bacillus thuringiensis at 100 %. The results showed that T2 increased net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, internal CO2 concentration, fresh and dry root biomass by 209%, 74%, 56%, 376%, 69.4% and 71.6%, while, T5 increased root volume, root length, and root tip number by 27.1%, 167%, and 67%, respectively over the control trees. The microbial treatments developed cortex, vascular cylinder and tracheal elements of the root. Fruit number, length, diameter, weight, pulp thickness, pulp/peel ratio, juice, total soluble solids (TSS), pigment contents and antioxidant activity increased significantly in the T2 treatment. Vitamin C, total phenols, total flavonoids, and total sugar content increased by 1.59-, 1.66-, 1.44- and 2.07- fold in T5 treated fruits compared to the control. The two microbes increased volatile compounds and decreased radionucleotides in the fruit, moreover, 27 identified and 2 (two) unmatched volatile compounds were identified by GCMS analysis. It is concluded that T. harzianum and B. thuringiensis with 25–50 g NPK treatments improved photosynthesis, root structure, fruit growth, fruit quality, aroma and lessened radionuclides in key lime fruits.

Nanochelating-based fertilizers: Innovations for yield enhancement in hydroponic cultivation

The increasing human population has resulted in a rise in the use of chemical fertilizers to enhance crop efficiency and quality. However, the utilization of these fertilizers has led to significant environmental pollution and raised concerns, including the potential risk of cancer. Consequently, there is a growing need for innovative fertilizer formulations that reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers. Nanochelating, an advanced technology, offers a promising solution by synthesizing chelated nutrients with diameters smaller than 100 nm. These nanochelates have shown considerable effects on crop productivity, even at lower concentrations compared with traditional chemical fertilizers. In this hydroponic study, we investigated the effects of various concentrations of nanochelated fertilizers (NCF) using the standard formulation outlined by "Resh" (0.25×Resh, 0.5×Resh, 0.75×Resh, 1×Resh and 1.25×Resh) in the cultivation of tomato and cucumber. Control plants were treated with chemical fertilizers (CF). The NCF-treated plants exhibited improvements in fruit attributes and plant development. Notably, the addition of 0.5×Resh-NCF significantly enhanced vegetative growth, fruit quality, total soluble solids, fruit length, and diameter, and plant pigments. Cucumber and tomato plants treated with 0.5×Resh NCF, at half the strength of the CF treatment, displayed the highest yield, with tomatoes yielding approximately 2.02 times more and cucumbers yielding 3 times more than the CF treatment. CF-fed tomato and cucumber plants exhibited lower cell membrane stability and water content. Proline content, an indicator of plant stress, decreased in the NCF-treated plants but increased at the highest concentration. Furthermore, catalase and peroxidase activity increased in tomato and cucumber plants following NCF application. These findings underscore the potential of nanochelating-based fertilizers to enhance growth, productivity, and associated components while minimizing fertilizer usage in hydroponic greenhouses.

Effect of sucrose in strawberry micro-propagation using platform bioreactor under temporary immersion system

The study was carried out in the tissue culture laboratories at the College of Agriculture / University of Kufa during the period from April 2020 to October 2021 where the aim was to assess the efficiency of micropropagation of strawberries by adding different concentrations of sucrose (30, 40 and 50 g.L-1 ) to the nutrient medium in combination with different cultivation systems: Semi-solid media system and temporary immersion system using the Plantform bioreactor. The results showed that both the highest concentration of sucrose and the culture system under the medium immersion, individually or combined, were the highest and significantly effective in increasing the rate of number of shoots (runners), leaf content of macro and minor elements, total soluble sugars, plant pigments and fresh weight of biomass. Generally, the highest values were recorded in the shoots grown in liquid media supplied with 50 g.L-1 sucrose under temporary immersion in the PlantForm bioreactor compared with those grown in semi-solid media. Keywords: Fragaria × ananassa, micro-propagation, plant nutrition, tissue culture, PlantForm bioreactor

Two New Species of Talaromyces Sect. Trachyspermi Discovered in China.

Two new species of sect. Trachyspermi isolated from soil are proposed, namely, T. albidus (ex-type AS3.26143T) and T. rubidus (ex-type AS3.26142T), based on the integrated taxonomic methods. Morphologically, T. albidus is characterized by slow growth, white gymnothecia, singly-borne asci and ellipsoidal echinulate ascospores. Talaromyces rubidus is distinguished by restricted growth, moderate to abundant red soluble pigment on CYA and YES, biverticillate penicilli, and commonlyovoid to globose echinulate conidia. The two proposed novelties are further confirmed by the phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated BenA-CaM-Rpb2-ITS sequence matrix and the individual BenA, CaM, Rpb2 and ITS sequence matrices. Talaromyces albidus is closely related to T. assiutensis and T. trachyspermus, while T. rubidus is in the clade containing T. albobiverticillius, T. rubrifaciens, T. catalonicus, T. heiheensis, T. erythromellis, T. halophytorum, T. pernambucoensis, T. solicola and T. aerius.

Bio-Circular green economy application for the recovery of high value added compounds, such as astaxanthin and glucosamine, from cephalothorax of Karamote shrimp Peneaus kerathurus in Western Greece

Shrimp waste can be used as source of high value added compounds, such as astaxanthin and glucosamine. Astaxanthin (C40H52O4) is a xanthophyll carotenoid and belongs to a larger class of terpenes. Astaxanthin exists in stereoisomers, geometric isomers, free and esterified forms based on the reaction with fatty acid. It is a fat soluble colorful pigment and can be found in aquatic environment in microalgae, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish and crustaceans. It has both lipophilic and hydrophilic properties, protect cells, lipids and membrane lipoproteins against oxidative damage. D-glucosamine (C6H13NO5), an amino sugar (hexosamine), is a part of the structure of two polysaccharides, chitosan and chitin. Naturally shows up in human body and crustacean shells. Glucosamine exists in the form of glucosamine sulphate, glucosamine hydrochloride, or N-acetyl-glucosamine and is extensively used as a dietary supplement in the treatment for osteoarthritis, knee and back pain. This research aims to optimize by chemical methods the extraction of glucosamine and astaxanthin from cephalothorax of Karamote shrimp Peneaus (Melicertus) kerathurus. Astaxanthin yield obtained using hexane as extraction solvent. Furthermore, results showed that G-HCl yield obtained with solid/liquid ratio of 1:20, at high hydrolysis reaction temperature and with agitation. Additionally, the low cooling temperature of 5 °C and the use of ethanol support the formation of G-HCl crystals.

Phylogeny, phenotypic characteristics and pathogenicity of Sphingomonas sp. and Erwinia persicina as bacterial causal agents of lettuce diseases in southwest of Iran

Bacterial-like symptoms, such as chlorosis, necrosis, and rot, have recently been observed on lettuce leaves in Khuzestan province, located in southwest Iran. To identify and specify the bacterial causal agents responsible for this outbreak, bacterial strains were purified from samples collected from lettuce fields in Dezful, Shushtar, and Shousha Daniel regions. The pathogenic bacterial strains were identified through hypersensitivity response (HR) and pathogenicity tests. By comparing the sequences of 16S rDNA of pathogenic strains, and phylogeny analysis, it was clarified that the pathogenic strains belonged to Erwinia persicina and genus Sphingomonas. Phenotypic study showed that Sphingomonas strains were resistant to streptomycin and gentamicin, and produced yellow pigment, and E. persicina strains fermented glucose, and produced pink soluble pigment. Additionally, the E. persicina strains were sensitive to streptomycin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, and erythromycin. The pathogenicity test showed that E. persicina strains induced necrosis, yellowing, and rot in the leaves of Romaine type of lettuce. Similarly, Sphingomonas strains caused necrosis, accompanied by a large yellow halo, in the leaves of Romaine type. Furthermore, the E. persicina and Sphingomonas strains induced necrosis of the veins of Romaine type, as well as brown spotting in the leaves of Iceberg type. In addition, the study of the host range of E. persicina and Sphingomonas strains showed that they infect the leaves of different crops (including cucumber, tomato, pepper, celery, and eggplant) and mallow weed. These crops are grown in rotation or simultaneously with lettuce in Khuzestan province. The diverse host range of mentioned pathogens facilitates their survival during the year in this area. This is the first report of the genus Sphingomonas in lettuce and the first report of E. persicina from Iran.

A new genus Neobelonopsis and two new species of Trichobelonium (Helotiales, Ascomycota) discovered mainly from poaceous grasses native to Asia in Japan.

Mollisioid fungi, represented by Mollisia (Fr.) P. Karst., are characterized by soft, sessile apothecia with globose, dark-celled excipula, hyaline ascospores, and worldwide distribution in temperate regions. Their generic and species delimitation is difficult due to the lack of distinct features, and studies based on DNA sequences are urgently required. Two genera of mollisioid fungi, Belonopsis and Trichobelonium, comprise relatively few species and are recognized by (0-)1-3-septate ascospores, medullary excipulum composed of loosely interwoven hyphae, and calcium oxalate crystals in the excipulum. Specimens of undescribed species that are morphologically assignable to Belonopsis or Trichobelonium were collected from various sites in Japan and their assignment to the proper genera was attempted. According to a molecular phylogenetic analysis involving members of Mollisiaceae based on concatenated sequences of ITS, LSU, and RPB1, eight taxonomic entities were placed in a strongly supported single clade with Mollisiadiesbachiana, separated from the type species of Belonopsis, B.excelsior. A new genus Neobelonopsis was thus proposed to accommodate the undescribed species. In this study, eight new species of Neobelonopsis and two new species of Trichobelonium were described. A new combination was also proposed for M.diesbachiana. The generic distinction of Neobelonopsis and Trichobelonium was supported by molecular analysis. Some additional characteristics to delimit Trichobelonium were identified, such as the presence of anchoring hyphae between the base of the apothecium and subiculum, and the production of abundant crystals and soluble pigments on the colonies. Derivative species of Neobelonopsis were found to have multi-septa in ascospores.

Antimicrobial Activities of Actinomycetes Isolated From Flooded and Unflooded Soils

Introduction: Flooding may cause the microbial population in the soil to move from one area to another. Actinomycete, a type of soil microbe, has the most commercial value due to its ability to produce secondary metabolites. This study aimed to elucidate the antimicrobial activities of actinomycetes isolated from flooded and unflooded areas. Methods: Soils samples were collected from flooded areas in Dabong, Kelantan, and unflooded areas in Jeli, Kelantan. Three isolation methods were used to isolate actinomycetes; Sonication, Centrifugation and Chloramine T. The isolated strains were screened for morphological characteristics based on their growth pattern (spore formation), colony color, aerial and substrate mycelia color, and soluble pigment formation in the growth medium. Morphologically different strains were tested against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans for its antibacterial and antifungal activities. Results: A total of 970 actinomycete strains were isolated from soil samples (570 strains from flooded soil and 400 strains from unflooded soils). Only 281 strains were morphologically different. Thirty actinomycete strains were tested for antibacterial and antifungal activity. Seventeen of these inhibit at least one test microorganism. Conclusion: In conclusion, our observations reveal that the soil samples obtained from flooded areas display a wide variety of actinomycetes, as evident from their morphological characteristics. This finding suggests that the flooded soil areas possess a higher diversity of actinomycetes compared to non-flooded soil areas. Furthermore, we found that 57% of the tested actinomycete strains exhibited activity against at least one test organism, indicating their potential for future research.

First Report of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens Causing Bacterial Wilt and Blight on Sunflower in Russia.

In the summer of 2018, wilt and leaf spots were observed on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants in fields near Kursk (51.74°N, 36.02°E) in Russia. In the following years, incidence of this disease was 5 to 20% in the inspected fields. Marginal chlorosis on seedling leaves developed into wilt and necrosis about one week later (Fig. 1). Mature plants had leaves with blight and reduced height compared to symptomless plants. Pathogen isolation from seeds was done by the method of Tegli et al. (2002) with modifications. Bacteria from diseased plants were isolated by streaking inoculum from symptomatic tissues on nutrient dextrose agar (NDA) (Schaad et al. 1988). The plates were incubated at 30°C for 7 to 10 days. Isolates consistently formed slow-growing, yellow, circular, smooth colonies without soluble pigment. The isolated bacteria were aerobic, gram-positive, and rod-shaped. Eight strains, CF-20 to CF-26 from plants, and Curt1 and Curt3 from seeds, were identified by MALDI TOF MS analysis as Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens or C. flaccumfaciens pv. poinsettiae. All strains had GENIII MicroPlate (BIOLOG) test results identical to C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens strain DSM20129T. Further analysis was done by specific PCR (Tegli et al. 2002) and 16S rDNA, gyrB, and atpD gene sequencing. For PCR amplification, DNA was extracted by the CitoSorb Kit (Syntol Co., Moscow). Primers 27F/1492R (16S rRNA) (Marchesi et al. 1998), 2F/6R (gyrB) (Richert et al. 2005), and aptD2F/aptD2R (Jacques et al. 2012) were used to amplify the target gene sequences. The PCR products were sequenced by Evrogen (Moscow). The 16S rRNA sequences (OL584192.1 to OL584199.1) were identical to that of C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens strain DSM20129T (AM410688.1; 1,477/1,477 bp). The phylogenetic tree of concatenated gyrB (560 bp) and atpD (716 bp) sequences (OL548915.1 to OL548922.1 and OL548923.1 to OL548930.1, respectively) clustered the strains from sunflower among C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens, C. flaccumfaciens pv. betae, and C. flaccumfaciens pv. oortii (Fig. 2) with high genetic similarity to other C. flaccumfaciens strains: 96.3 to 100% for atpD and 95 to 100% for gyrB. A pathogenicity test for each of the strains was performed by injecting 5 μl of a bacterial suspension (108 CFU/ml) grown for 72 h on NDA into the stems of five plantlets (four true leaf stage) of the sunflower cv. Tunka (Limagrain, France) and soybean cv. Kasatka (VIM, Russia). Strain DSM20129T was a positive control, while sterile water was a negative control. The plants were incubated at 24°C, 80% relative humidity, and 14-h light/day. Wilting and blight on sunflower (Fig. 3) and tan spots on soybean were observed in 15 to 20 days after inoculation for all sunflower strains and strain DSM20129T. The negative control plants were asymptomatic. The bacteria re-isolated from the inoculated plants exhibited the same morphological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence as the original culture, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. The presence of C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in sunflower seeds indicated that the bacterium was transmitted via seed. Sunflower has been previously reported as a host for the pathogen (Harveson et al. 2015). The presence of C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens on beans in Russia was suggested from the disease symptoms (Nikitina and Korsakov 1978), but, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the pathogen affecting sunflower in Russia. Phytosanitary categorization placed C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in the EPPO A2 list (EPPO 2011). Thus, sunflower seeds should be tested to protect pathogen-free areas from introduction of this pathogen.

Biological Control of sheath blight disease in rice using Marine Actinomycetes (Streptomycetes rochei) AMET A311 strain

The soil samples were taken from the rhizome soil of coastal sand dune plants along the Hare islands, Tuticorin, East Coast of Tamil Nadu, in order to isolate an efficient antifungal marine actinomycetes. A total of 70 actinomycetes were isolated from the samples collected. Based on colony morphology, aerial mass color, melanoid pigments, reverse side pigments, soluble pigments, spore chain morphology and spore surface, 62 of the 70 isolates were identified as distinct. Fifty isolates from the 62 distinct colony were chosen for the antifungal activity based on their capacity to endure salt concentrations over 1M. Rhizoctonia solani, a fungus pathogen, was tested against each of the 50 identified strains. Rhizoctonia solani, a fungus, was resistant to about 36% of the isolates. AMET 307, AMET 308 and AMET 307, AMET 311 and AMET 315 exhibited the highest level of antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani. Using 16s rRNA sequencing, this effective antifungal strain was further identified as the Streptomycetes rochei AMET 311 strain (KT334600).

Применение ферментов при выработке фруктового сока: обзор

Enzymatic treatment is a common method of fruit juice production that facilitates juice extraction from plant cells. The choice of enzyme depends on the fruit composition. Pectinase and cellulase are the most popular enzymes while amylase remains less wide-spread. For some raw materials, enzymatic procedures are more efficient than mechanical comminution or thermal processing. The fruit juice industry uses enzymes for streamlining. Enzymes maximize juice extraction from raw materials and improve such processes as pressing, solid settling, and solid removal. Juices that underwent enzymatic treatment are clear and, as a result, more aesthetically appealing to consumers.
 The review covered the most recent and influential publications on the enzyme treatment of fruit juices (2000–2021). The list of enzymes included pectinase, cellulase, and amylase. The research included the factors that affect the juice fermentation process, i.e., hydromodule, enzyme concentration, incubation time, temperature, and enzyme combination. The methods included data extraction, data analysis, and data compilation, as well as literature search and screening.
 The review focuses on the effects that individual parameters have on specific responses, e.g., yield, viscosity, total soluble solids, acidity, turbidity, clarity, pigment concentration, phenolic content, color, and solids. A greater enzyme concentration, incubation time, and temperature decrease the viscosity of juice and turbidity but cause color changes. If used in different combinations and at different concentrations, enzymes boost the production of bael pulp, banana, sapodilla, durian, pawpaw, grape, white pitaya, and water melon juices. A longer incubation period improves the production of bael pulp, citron, date, and pawpaw juices. However, higher incubation temperatures seem to have no positive effect on the juice yield. Cellulases, pectinases, amylases, and their combinations are able to produce more fruit juice of higher quality with a more favorable time-temperature combination of incubation.
 The optimal enzyme concentration, incubation time, and temperature can increase the juice yield. Therefore, enzymatic treatment is an effective method that ensures favorable properties of the finished product.

Temperature and high nutrients enhance hypo-salinity tolerance of the bloom forming green alga, Ulva prolifera

The response of seaweeds to environmental stressors can be population-specific, and be related to the regime of their habitats. To explore the growth and physiological responses of Ulva prolifera, two strains of this alga (Korean and Chinese strains) were studied under an interaction of temperature (20 and 25 °C), nutrients (low nutrients: 50 μM of nitrate and 5 μM of phosphate; high nutrients: 500 μM of nitrate and 50 μM of phosphate) and salinity (20, 30 and 40 psu). The lowest growth rates of both strains were observed at 40 psu of salinity, independent of temperature and nutrient levels. At 20 °C and low nutrients condition, the carbon: nitrogen (C: N) ratio and growth rate in the Chinese strain were increased by 31.1% and 21.1% at a salinity of 20 psu in comparison to the salinity of 30 psu, respectively. High nutrients decreased the ratio of C:N in both strains with increasing tissue N content. At the same time, high nutrients also increased soluble protein and pigments contents, as well as photosynthetic and growth rates in both strains at the same salinity levels at 20 °C. Under 20 °C and high nutrients conditions, the growth rates and C:N ratio of both strains were significantly decreased with increasing salinity. The pigment, soluble protein and tissue N showed an inverse trend with the growth rate at all conditions. Moreover, the higher temperature of 25 °C inhibited the growth in both strains regardless of nutrients levels. The temperature of 25 °C enhanced the contents of tissue N and pigments in the Chinese strain only at the low nutrients level. The interaction of high nutrients and 25 °C led to the accumulation of tissue N and pigment contents in both strains under all salinity conditions compared to the 20 °C and high nutrients level. The temperature of 25 °C and high nutrients decreased the growth rate in the Chinese strain at both salinities of 30 and 40 psu more than the 20 °C, and low nutrients level at the same salinity. These results suggest that the Ulva blooms caused by the Chinese strain were more impacted at hypo-salinity levels compared to the Korean strain. Eutrophic or high nutrients level enhanced the salinity tolerance in both strains of U. prolifera. There will be a decline of U. prolifera blooms of the Chinese strain at hyper-salinity levels.

The effect of an anthocyanin on the gut permeability of a Type 2 Diabetic Drosophila melanogaster

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affected slightly less than half a billion patients globally in 2019 and is expected to affect 700 million by 2045. T2DM is characterized by the body's inability to respond to the body’s circulating insulin, a phenomenon known as insulin resistance. A symptom of T2DM is increased gut permeability, which can lead to an increase in the toxins that enter the gut and bloodstream, resulting in complications such as nerve damage, heart disease, and kidney damage. The current treatment for T2DM, Metformin, can exacerbate gut permeability. One potential alternative to combat Metformin’s negative effects is anthocyanins, like purple sweet potato extract (PSPE), which are water soluble plant pigments with antidiabetic effects like increased insulin secretion. Once anthocyanins reach the large intestine and are transformed by the gut microbiota, they form into metabolites, chemical compounds responsible for metabolism, resulting in decreased gut permeability. Therefore, we hypothesized that anthocyanins can be used as potential chemical mediators that decrease gut permeability. Our research aimed to find whether metabolites of purple sweet potato extract (PSPE) are associated with decreased gut permeability using a type 2 diabetic Drosophila melanogaster model. To determine the gut permeability, we used the Surf Assay and observed that the PSPE treatment drastically reduced gut permeability of the flies. Our research provides valuable knowledge about the relationship between PSPE, gut permeability, and T2DM, which may positively impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

Localized and regulated peptide pigment formation inside liquid droplets through confined enzymatic oxidation.

Melanin pigments are found in most life forms, where they are responsible for coloration and ultraviolet (UV) light protection. Natural melanin is a poorly soluble and complex biosynthesis product produced through confined and templated enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine. It has been challenging to create water-soluble synthetic mimics. This study demonstrates the enzymatic synthesis of oxidized phenols confined inside liquid droplets. We use an amphiphilic, bifunctional peptide, DYFR9, that combines a tyrosine tripeptide previously shown to undergo enzymatic oxidation to form peptide pigments with broad absorbance, and polyarginine to facilitate complex coacervation in the presence of ATP. When ATP, DYFR9 are mixed and exposed to tyrosinase, pigmented liquid droplets result, while no appreciable oxidation is observed in the bulk.

Penicillium poederi and P. tirolense, two new species of section Torulomyces.

Here we describe two new species of the genus Penicillium section Torulomyces with solitary phialides. Penicillium poederi sp. nov. was isolated from volcanic soils in Iceland. Penicillium tirolense sp. nov. was isolated from a sporocarp of Serpula lacrymans. Both species are characterised by slow growth rates and the production of a brown soluble pigment on CYA, conidiophores with solitary ampulliform phialides with smooth-walled stipes and warty, globose conidia and with connectives without visible rings. The spores of. P. poederi are 2.5 μm diam, while the spores of P. tirolense are 2.0 μm diam. In a multigene phylogeny based on the ITS, BenA, CaM and RPB2 gene regions P. tubakianum and P. wollemiicola are the closest relatives of P. poederi. This species differs from P. tubakianum and P. wollemiicola by its growth rates and by its pigmentation. The holotype of P. poederi is IB2017/0007, while SF014017 (CBS 147622) is a culture derived from the holotype. The closest relatives of P. tirolense are P. austricola and P. riverlandense. It differs from P. austricola by lower growth rates on all tested media and temperatures and by its larger spores. It differs from P. riverlandense by lower growth rates and the absence of growth at 37 °C. The holotype of P. tirolense is IBF2019/0162, while SF015108 (CBS 147625) is a culture derived from the holotype. Citation: Kirchmair M, Embacher J, Heimdörfer D, Walch G, Neuhauser S (2022). Penicillium poederi and Penicillium tirolense, two new species of section Torulomyces. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 10: 91-101. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2022.10.03.

Biotechnological potential of Talaromyces sp. isolated from soil of Caatinga biome in the production of pigments with antimicrobial activity

Global demand for natural pigments and dyes has increased much in recent years, driven by a heightened awareness of the toxic effects of various synthetic dyes on pollution of the environment and health human. The pigments and colorants obtained through plants and microbes are the primary source exploited by modern industries. Among the other non-conventional sources, filamentous fungi particularly are known to produce an extraordinary range of colors including several chemical classes of pigments such as melanins, azaphilones, flavins, phenazines, and quinines. The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of pigments produced by Talaromyces spp. and its antimicrobial activity. In this context, strains of the fungi Talaromyces spp. were isolated from soil of biome Caatinga and showed production of dark red, red and yellow pigments. Almost all fungi were able to grow and produce soluble pigments in the solid medium containing different carbon sources (sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose, and starch), as well as in different salinity concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 6%), kept at room temperature (28ºC). All the extracted pigments showed antimicrobial activity against to bacteria Gram negative, as well as to yeasts, evidencing the high potential of application in the textile industry to produce antimicrobial fabrics.