Study of chemical epigenetic modifiers in the cultivation of endophytic fungi associated with Paepalanthus chiquitensis (Eriocaulaceae) and evaluation of antimicrobial activity

• Grant number: 16/05480-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Lourdes Campaner dos Santos
• Grantee: Felipe Hilário
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/01620-6 - New strategies for accessing fungal secondary metabolites focused at the discovery of antimicrobials agents against resistance microorganism, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

This project propose the search for new active secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi associated to the aerial parts of the Paepalanthus chiquitensis (Eriocaulaceae). Taking into consideration the current importance and relevance of natural products derived from fungi, a chemical study of endophytic fungus associated to the Eriocaulaceae was implemented by our research group. The existing knowledge of metabolites from the endophytic fungus greatly complements the extensive phytochemical study which was being carried out by us in the study with Eriocaulaceae over the past few years. Among the approaches used in the discovery of new secondary metabolites, the use of epigenetic modifiers and metal ions are excellent tools which lead to the expression of silent biosynthetic pathways to produce secondary metabolites by endophytic fungi. In the beginning of this work, we will be studying the fungi Bipolaris sp. and Fusarium sp., isolated from leaves and capitulae from P. chiquiten-sis, respectively. Among the 25 isolated fungi of the Eriocaulaceae species, the Bipolaris sp. and Fusarium sp., gave the best results in antimicrobial activity and presented the widest chemical diversity. The fungus will be cultivated in small scale in the presence and absence of different epigenetic modifiers and metal ions, resulting in the respective ethyl acetate extracts. Extracts which present greater antimicrobial activity will be studied. Substances will be purified by classical chromatographic methods and by high performance liquid chromatography. The identification of the chemical structures will be carried out by spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques. The antimicrobial assays of extracts and pure substances will also be performed.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

HILÁRIO, Felipe. Study of chemical epigenetic modifiers in the cultivation of endophytic fungi associated with Paepalanthus chiquitensis (Eriocaulaceae) and evaluation of antimicrobial activity. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas. Araraquara Araraquara.