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

ABSTRACT: 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 Aspergillus jensenii MUT6581 and Cladosporium halotolerans MUT6558 being the most performing ones. Antiviral assays

SUBMITTER: Florio Furno M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11944246 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature