Endophytic fungal species Nigrospora oryzae and Alternaria alternata exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative multi-drug resistant clinical bacterial isolates.

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and the lack of new antimicrobial drugs is a major public health concern that needs urgent and innovative solutions. Endophytic fungi living in unique niches such as in endosymbiosis with plants are increasingly drawing attention as alternative sources of novel and chemically diverse compounds with unique mechanisms of action.

Methods: In the present study, ten endophytic fungi isolated from the medicinal plant, Sclerocarya birrea were screened for bioactivity against a panel of indicator bacteria.