Antifungal activity and active compound identification of Myrothecium spp. against grape anthracnose and gray mold.

Grape anthracnose and gray mold, caused by Elsinoë ampelina and Botrytis cinerea, are devastating fungal diseases resulting in remarkable loss to grapevine production. In this study, the biological control potential of three strains of Myrothecium spp. against E.

Functional characterization and regioselectivity manipulation of two Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids O-methyltransferases from Stephania yunnanensis.

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) constitute a vast and diverse class of plant-derived secondary metabolites, renowned for their potent therapeutic activities. O-methylation, catalyzed by O-methyltransferases (OMTs), is a prevalent feature of BIA molecules, which is intrinsically related to their bioactivities. Herein, we described the identification and characterization of two functionally identical but phylogenetically different BIA 7OMTs, SyOMT4 and SyOMT5, from the transcriptomic data of Stephania yunnanensis-a well-known anti-COVID-19 drug cepharanthine producing plant.

Chryxanthone A, an extracted substance from endophytic fungal Aspergillus versicolor, produces anti-oxidant neuroprotection possibly via the action on mTOR/CREB axis.

Background: Neurons are susceptible to oxidative stress due to the elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the limited antioxidant defense mechanisms. Therefore, it is possible to treat oxidative stress-related neurological disorders via the inhibition of oxidative stress. Chryxanthone A is an extracted substance derived from the endophytic fungal Aspergillus versicolor, with an atypical dihydropyran ring.

Myeloid cells meet CD8 T cell exhaustion in cancer: What, why and how.

Exhausted T cell (Tex) is a specific state of T cell dysfunction, in which these T cells gradually lose their effector function and change their phenotype during chronic antigen stimulation. The enrichment of exhausted CD8 T cell (CD8 Tex) in the tumor microenvironment is one of the important reasons leading to the poor efficacy of immunotherapy. Recent studies have reported many reasons leading to the CD8 T cell exhaustion.

Neuroprotective Indole Alkaloids from the Soil-Derived Fungus sp. XZ8.

A chemical investigation of the soil-derived fungus sp. XZ8 led to the isolation of five new indole alkaloids, trichindoles A-E (-), with diverse architectures, along with seven known analogues (-). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, and their absolute configurations were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and modified Mosher's method.

Cytochalasins and orsellinic acid derivatives with cytotoxicity from the soil-derived fungus Trichocladium asperum.

Four undescribed cytochalasins (1-4), three undescribed orsellinic acid derivatives (5-7) and two known metabolites including methyl lecanorate (8) and methyl orsellinate (9) were isolated from the solid-state cultivation of a soil-derived fungus Trichocladium asperum SQ2-3 collected in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectrometry data. The absolute configurations of 1-7 were assigned by a combination of the modified Mosher's method, microscale derivatization and Mo(OAc)-induced circular dichroism experiment.

Fungal Coculture of sp. and Induces Production of Diverse Metabolites with Anti-Parkinson's Neuroprotective Activity.

Co-cultivation of isopod-associated fungi sp. SF09 and SF09A led to the reciprocal induction of thirteen new compounds (- and -) with diverse architectures. Importantly, compounds and are rare fungal sesquiterpene-saccharide hybrids incorporating a xylopyranose moiety, compound (±)- represents the first example of a natural linear sesquiterpene racemate, and compound is a rare α-pyrone derivative with a xylopyranose motif.

Herpotrichone A Exerts Neuroprotective Effects by Relieving Ferroptosis.

Inhibition of oxidative stress and ferroptosis is currently considered to be a promising therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases. Herpotrichones, a class of compounds derived from insect symbionts, have shown potential for neuroprotective activity with low toxicity. However, the specific mechanisms through which herpotrichones exert their neuroprotective effects remain to be fully elucidated.

Polyketides with α-glucosidase inhibitory and neuroprotective activities from associated with .

, an endophytic fungus associated with the herbal medicine , produced four new polyketides, aspeversins A-D (1-2 and 5-6) and four known compounds, -methylaverufin (2), aversin (3), varilactone A (7) and spirosorbicillinol A (8). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, and their absolute configurations were determined by calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and Mo(AcO)-induced CD data. Compound 5 was found to exhibit α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC value of 25.

Common and divergent gene regulatory networks control injury-induced and developmental neurogenesis in zebrafish retina.

Following acute retinal damage, zebrafish possess the ability to regenerate all neuronal subtypes through Müller glia (MG) reprogramming and asymmetric cell division that produces a multipotent Müller glia-derived neuronal progenitor cell (MGPC). This raises three key questions. First, do MG reprogram to a developmental retinal progenitor cell (RPC) state? Second, to what extent does regeneration recapitulate retinal development? And finally, does loss of different retinal cell subtypes induce unique MG regeneration responses? We examined these questions by performing single-nuclear and single-cell RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq in both developing and regenerating retinas.

Uncovering the energy-carbon-water footprint of waste rubber recycling: Integrated environmental and economic perspectives.

The commitment to waste management has gained increasing momentum as global waste generation continues to skyrocket and threaten the environment. However, detailed assessments and clear insights remain absent to address the global waste utilization conundrum. This study evaluated the impact-oriented energy, carbon, and water (ECW) footprints of three typical scenarios for a waste recycling activity (i.

CellAnn: a comprehensive, super-fast, and user-friendly single-cell annotation web server.

Motivation: Single-cell sequencing technology has become a routine in studying many biological problems. A core step of analyzing single-cell data is the assignment of cell clusters to specific cell types. Reference-based methods are proposed for predicting cell types for single-cell clusters.

Common and divergent gene regulatory networks control injury-induced and developmental neurogenesis in zebrafish retina.

Following acute retinal damage, zebrafish possess the ability to regenerate all neuronal subtypes. This regeneration requires Müller glia (MG) to reprogram and divide asymmetrically to produce a multipotent Müller glia-derived neuronal progenitor cell (MGPC). This raises three key questions.

Ergostane-type sterols and sesquiterpenes with anti-neuroinflammatory activity from a Nigrograna species associated with Clematis shensiensis.

Nigrograna sp. LY66, an endophytic fungus associated with the herbal medicinal plant Clematis shensiensis, produced four undescribed steroids, nigergostanes A-D (1-4), including an unusual ketal-containing nigergostane (1), and four undescribed sesquiterpenoids decorated with cyclohexanone motifs, nigbisabolanes A-D (7-10), along with three known compounds, 23R-hydroxy-(20Z,24R)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),20(22)-tetraen-3-one (5), ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol (6), and curculonone A (11). The structures and absolute configurations of these undescribed compounds were confirmed using spectroscopic data (NMR and HRESIMS), modified Mosher's method, and ECD experiments.

Ethylidene-Tethered Chromene-Pyrone Hybrids as Potential Plant-Growth Regulators from an Endolichenic Species.

sp., a lichen-associated fungus, produced six skeletally new dimeric spiciferones (-) and four known metabolites (-). The new structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and their absolute configurations were determined by electronic circular dichroism calculations.

Tricrilactones A-H, Potent Antiosteoporosis Macrolides with Distinctive Ring Skeletons from Trichocladium crispatum, an Alpine Moss-Associated Fungus.

Tricrilactones A-H (1-8), a new family of oligomeric 10-membered macrolides featuring collectively five unique ring skeletons, were isolated from a hitherto unexplored fungus, Trichocladium crispatum. Compounds 1 and 7 contain two unconventional bridged (aza)tricyclic core skeletons, 2, 3, 5, and 6 share an undescribed tetracyclic 9/5/6/6 ring system, 4 bears an uncommon 9/5/6/10/3-fused pentacyclic architecture, and 8 is a dimer bridged by an unexpected C-C linkage. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculations, and X-ray diffraction analysis.

How can ecosystem status be more comprehensively reflected? A case study of Jinan City, China.

Ecosystems provide benefits to human well-being, but highly concentrated human activities also cause environmental pressure. Previous studies focused only on one aspect: either ecosystem services (ESs) or ecosystem damage (ED). To provide comprehensive view of ecosystem status in the selected study area, an integrated ecosystem performance analytic framework was established based on the ED-ESs synergistic effect.

Environmental footprints of soybean production in China.

As a significant protein source for humans and animals, soybean () has experienced a fast growth with the rapid development of population and economy. Despite broad interest in energy consumption and CO emissions generated by soybean production, there are few impact-oriented water footprint assessments of soybean production. This study evaluates the fossil energy, carbon, and water footprints of China's soybean production so that key environmental impacts can be identified.

Strategies for improving the environmental performance of nickel production in China: Insight into a life cycle assessment.

Nickel is a critical metal for global low-carbon energy transition, but its production processes require massive energy inputs and emit large amounts of pollutants. This study constructed life cycle inventories of the mainstream electrolytic nickel production chains in China at the industrial level and subsequently evaluated their environmental performance via a regionalised life cycle impact assessment method. Results show that environmental indicator results of the electrolytic nickel production from the leaching electrowinning method were 17.

Does it pay to develop a ground source heat pump system? Evidence from China.

The application potential and environmental benefits of ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems have become the focal points of decarbonization in the building sector. Synchronized and scientific analysis of GSHP systems' environmental and economic performance, however, remains lacking. This study analyzes the application prospects of GSHP systems via a life cycle assessment-based life cycle costing method, and considers China's actual status quo.

Structures and absolute configurations of butenolide derivatives from the isopod-associated fungus Pidoplitchkoviella terricola.

In this research, twenty aromatic and branched aliphatic polyketides, including seven previously undescribed butenolide derivatives, piterriones A-G and one known analogue, along with twelve known altenusin derivatives, were isolated from the isopod-associated fungus Pidoplitchkoviella terricola. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectrometry data, and their absolute configurations were determined by Mosher's method, microscale derivatization, and comparison of their specific rotations and ECD spectra. Dihydroaltenuene B exhibited mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an IC value of 38.

Alkylated Salicylaldehydes and Prenylated Indole Alkaloids from the Endolichenic Fungus and Their Bioactivities.

Sixteen metabolites, including seven C-alkylated salicylaldehyde derivatives (-) and nine prenylated indole alkaloids (-), three of which are new, namely, asperglaucins A and B ( and ) and neoechinulin F (), were separated from the endolichenic fungus SQ-8. Asperglaucin A () represents an unusual phthalide-like derivative with a benzo[]thiophen-1(3)-one scaffold. All compounds were assessed for antibacterial, antineuroinflammatory, and antioxidant activities.

Structurally Diverse Sesquiterpenoids with Anti-neuroinflammatory Activity from the Endolichenic Fungus Cryptomarasmius aucubae.

Two new sterpurane sesquiterpenoids named sterpurol D (1) and sterpurol E (2), and one skeletally new sesquiterpene, cryptomaraone (3), bearing a 5,6-fused bicyclic ring system, along with five known ones, sterpurol A (4), sterpurol B (5), paneolilludinic Acid (6), murolane-2α, 9β-diol-3-ene (7) and (-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesol (8) were isolated from an endolichenic fungus Cryptomarasmius aucubae. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of NMR spectroscopic spectra and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic data analysis and comparison of specific optical rotation, as well as the biosynthetic consideration.