Deep Subseafloor Fungi as an Untapped Reservoir of Amphipathic Antimicrobial Compounds.

ABSTRACT: The evolving global threat of antimicrobial resistance requires a deep renewal of the antibiotic arsenal including the isolation and characterization of new drugs. Underexplored marine ecosystems may represent an untapped reservoir of novel bioactive molecules. Deep-sea fungi isolated from a record-depth sediment core of almost 2000 m below the seafloor were investigated for antimicrobial activities. This antimicrobial screening, using 16 microbial targets, revealed 33% of filamentous fungi synthesizing bioactive compounds with activities against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Interestingly, occurrence of antimicrobial producing isolates was well correlated with the complexity of the habitat (in term of microbial richness), as higher antimicrobial activities were obtained at specific layer

SUBMITTER: Navarri M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4820304 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature