Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts

Marine microplastics (MPs) represent a novel ecological niche, populated by fungi with high potential for pharmaceutical discovery. This study explores the bioactivity of fungal strains isolated from MPs in Mediterranean sediments, focusing on their osteogenic and antiviral activities. Crude extract...

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Main Authors: Matteo Florio Furno, Vincent Laizé, Irene Arduino, Giang Nam Pham, Federica Spina, Mohamed Mehiri, David Lembo, Paulo J. Gavaia, Giovanna Cristina Varese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Marine Drugs
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/3/115
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author Matteo Florio Furno
Vincent Laizé
Irene Arduino
Giang Nam Pham
Federica Spina
Mohamed Mehiri
David Lembo
Paulo J. Gavaia
Giovanna Cristina Varese
author_facet Matteo Florio Furno
Vincent Laizé
Irene Arduino
Giang Nam Pham
Federica Spina
Mohamed Mehiri
David Lembo
Paulo J. Gavaia
Giovanna Cristina Varese
author_sort Matteo Florio Furno
collection DOAJ
description Marine microplastics (MPs) represent a novel ecological niche, populated by fungi with high potential for pharmaceutical discovery. This study explores the bioactivity of fungal strains isolated from MPs in Mediterranean sediments, focusing on their osteogenic and antiviral activities. Crude extracts prepared via solid-state and submerged-state fermentation were tested for their effects on extracellular matrix mineralization in vitro and bone growth in zebrafish larvae, and for their activity against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Several extracts exhibited significant mineralogenic and osteogenic activities, with <i>Aspergillus jensenii</i> MUT6581 and <i>Cladosporium halotolerans</i> MUT6558 being the most performing ones. Antiviral assays identified extracts from <i>A. jensenii</i> MUT6581 and <i>Bjerkandera adusta</i> MUT6589 as effective against RSV and HSV-2 at different extents, with no cytotoxic effect. Although chemical profiling of <i>A. jensenii</i> MUT6581 extract led to the isolation of decumbenones A and B, they did not reproduce the observed bioactivities, suggesting the involvement of other active compounds or synergistic effects. These results highlight the plastisphere as a valuable resource for novel bioactive compounds and suggest the need for further fractionation and characterization to identify the molecules responsible for these promising activities.
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spelling doaj-art-d74afacdd0784a54ae1cd9061663df422025-08-20T02:11:11ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972025-03-0123311510.3390/md23030115Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal ExtractsMatteo Florio Furno0Vincent Laizé1Irene Arduino2Giang Nam Pham3Federica Spina4Mohamed Mehiri5David Lembo6Paulo J. Gavaia7Giovanna Cristina Varese8Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis (MUT), Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Turin, ItalyCentre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, PortugalDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, 10, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, ItalyMarine Natural Products Team, UMR 7272, Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 06108 Nice, FranceDepartment of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis (MUT), Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Turin, ItalyMarine Natural Products Team, UMR 7272, Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, 06108 Nice, FranceDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, 10, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, ItalyCentre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, PortugalDepartment of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis (MUT), Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Turin, ItalyMarine microplastics (MPs) represent a novel ecological niche, populated by fungi with high potential for pharmaceutical discovery. This study explores the bioactivity of fungal strains isolated from MPs in Mediterranean sediments, focusing on their osteogenic and antiviral activities. Crude extracts prepared via solid-state and submerged-state fermentation were tested for their effects on extracellular matrix mineralization in vitro and bone growth in zebrafish larvae, and for their activity against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Several extracts exhibited significant mineralogenic and osteogenic activities, with <i>Aspergillus jensenii</i> MUT6581 and <i>Cladosporium halotolerans</i> MUT6558 being the most performing ones. Antiviral assays identified extracts from <i>A. jensenii</i> MUT6581 and <i>Bjerkandera adusta</i> MUT6589 as effective against RSV and HSV-2 at different extents, with no cytotoxic effect. Although chemical profiling of <i>A. jensenii</i> MUT6581 extract led to the isolation of decumbenones A and B, they did not reproduce the observed bioactivities, suggesting the involvement of other active compounds or synergistic effects. These results highlight the plastisphere as a valuable resource for novel bioactive compounds and suggest the need for further fractionation and characterization to identify the molecules responsible for these promising activities.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/3/115secondary metabolitesplastisphere<i>Aspergillus jensenii</i>SSFSmFmicroplastics
spellingShingle Matteo Florio Furno
Vincent Laizé
Irene Arduino
Giang Nam Pham
Federica Spina
Mohamed Mehiri
David Lembo
Paulo J. Gavaia
Giovanna Cristina Varese
Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts
Marine Drugs
secondary metabolites
plastisphere
<i>Aspergillus jensenii</i>
SSF
SmF
microplastics
title Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts
title_full Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts
title_fullStr Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts
title_full_unstemmed Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts
title_short Bioprospecting Marine Fungi from the Plastisphere: Osteogenic and Antiviral Activities of Fungal Extracts
title_sort bioprospecting marine fungi from the plastisphere osteogenic and antiviral activities of fungal extracts
topic secondary metabolites
plastisphere
<i>Aspergillus jensenii</i>
SSF
SmF
microplastics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/3/115
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