Antibiotic activity of Emerimicin IV isolated from Emericellopsis minima from Talcahuano Bay, Chile

Abstract

Due to the increasing emergence of resistance of bacterial pathogens to current antibiotics, we have examined the marine fungi present in sea sediments obtained 200 m offshore to discover new antibacterial compounds active against multidrug-resistant bacteria. One strain, identified as Emericellopsis minima, was isolated from sediments of Talcahuano Bay (Chile). From the liquid culture of E. minima, we isolated Emerimicin IV, a unique fungal peptaibol that exhibited antibacterial activity. The structure of this compound was assigned by interpretation of H NMR and HR-LCMS data. Emerimicin IV showed bacteriostatic activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis with MIC values ranging between 100 and 12.5 μg/mL.

Unveiling Biological Activities of Marine Fungi: The Effect of Sea Salt

“…Eight strains were selected for a deeper characterization of their biotechnological potential. These strains belong to genera widely known to produce active extracellular metabolites with antibacterial activity, such as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Cladosporium [73], or even Emericellopsis [74]. In the present work, 80% of the 25 strains tested in the preliminary screening were able to inhibit the growth of at least one bacterium, mainly Gram-positive bacteria, during the primary screening.…”

A Novel Lipopeptaibol Emericellipsin A with Antimicrobial and Antitumor Activity Produced by the Extremophilic Fungus Emericellopsis alkalina

“…It is interesting that the same dependence in antimicrobial activity was demonstrated by the reference positive control, vancomycin, which belongs to the group of glycopeptide antibiotics [ 14 ] and is structurally dissimilar to emericellipsin A. The same effect was demonstrated for peptaibol emerimicin IV, which was isolated from Emericellopsis minima and displays bactericidal activity towards methicillin-resistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (Gram-positive species); Gram-negative E. coli was resistant [ 15 ]. In general, the primary mechanism of the peptaibol action is associated with the disruption of cellular membranes [ 1 , 16 ].…”

Metabolites of Marine Sediment-Derived Fungi: Actual Trends of Biological Activity Studies

“…Emerimicin IV (34), a unique fungal peptaibol, was isolated from Emericellopsis minima (Talcahuano Bay, Chile) and showed bacteriostatic activity against clinical isolates of MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) [31].…”