Screening of basidiomycetes for antimicrobial activities

• Published in: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2000-08, Vol.78 (2), p.129-139
• Main Authors: SUAY, Inmaculada, ARENAL, Francisco, PELAEZ, Fernando, VICENTE, M. Francisca, ASENSIO, Francisco J, BASILIO, Angela, CABELLO, M. Angeles, DIEZ, M. Teresa, GARCIA, Juan B, GONZALEZ DEL VAL, Antonio, GORROCHATEGUI, Julian, HERNANDEZ, Pilar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents - metabolism; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics, microbial producers, chemotherapic agents, antiseptics, disinfecting agents; Antifungal Agents - isolation & purification; Antifungal Agents - metabolism; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial agents; Applied microbiology; Ascomycota - drug effects; Bacteria; Basidiomycota - classification; Basidiomycota - isolation & purification; Basidiomycota - metabolism; Bioactive compounds; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Metabolites; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiology; Spain
• ISSN: 0003-6072; 1572-9699
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1026552024021

As a part of a screening programme developed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of basidiomycetes, 317 isolates representing 204 species collected in Spain were screened against a range of human clinical pathogens and laboratory controls. Extracts from 45% of the isolates, representing 109 species, showed antimicrobial activity. Antibacterial activity was more pronounced than antifungal activity. The proportion of extracts from basidiomycetes showing antimicrobial activity was similar to or above that obtained for representative orders of Ascomycetes, such as Pezizales and Xylariales, but lower than that produced by members of the orders Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Leotiales and Sordariales. Suprageneric taxa (orders and families) did not show pronounced differences in their antimicrobial activities though such differences were observed at the genus level, suggesting that the ability to produce these bioactive compounds is not homogenously distributed amongst the basidiomycetes. Isolates from some species showed large differences in their ability to produce metabolites with antimicrobial activity, possibly reflecting genetic differences at the infraspecific level.