Emericellopsis species from extreme environmental conditions provide a rich source of unique and biologically active secondary metabolites. The paper exhibits a comprehensive genomic analysis including complete genome sequencing, phylogenetic reconstruction, and functional annotation of two Emericellopsis species from highly saline and alkaline coastal soil ecosystems. Comparative genomics has been applied to reveal the genetic evolution, metabolic diversity, and environmental adaptation of the Emericellopsis genus. The genomes of E. alkalina E101 and E. fimetaria p24 have been found to encode various enzymes, including carbohydrate-active enzymes such as endoxylanases, that are useful for many ecological adaptations. The genomes of E. alkalina E101 and E. fimetaria p24 feature numerous biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), capable of synthesizing both known and potentially novel secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity. Some BGCs show similarity to those producing known secondary metabolites, such as leucostatin A/B, clavaric acid, ascochlorin, (-)-mellein, and apicidin, among others. However, the majority of BGCs do not display any known similarities. Thus, comparative genomics offers new insights into the biology, adaptation, and evolutionary history of Emericellopsis fungi and may serve as a highly useful tool within biotechnological applications.

In this study, two compounds have been isolated from the Arctic-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum INA 13460. Structural elucidation, performed using 2D NMR and HR-ESIMS data, has identified the compounds as stereoisomers of secalonic acids, dimeric tetrahydroxanthones. The absolute configurations of these stereoisomers have been determined through conformational NMR analysis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of secalonic acids D and F has been evaluated against a diverse range of microorganisms, including Gram-positive multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, the phytopathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum VKM-B1247, and the fungi Fusarium oxysporum VKPM F 890, Aspergillus fumigatus VKM F-37, and A. niger ATCC 16404. Genomic and chemical analyses further support P. chrysogenum INA 13460 as a promising natural source for antimicrobial drug discovery and biological control applications.

The effect of hydrocarbon pollution on the fungal communities of littoral sediments of the cold-water White and Barents seas was investigated. The samples were collected at locations with different levels of pollution with oil products, from ports to relatively undisturbed areas. Using the diesel fuel-containing medium resulted in detection of hydrocarbon-degrading fungi in almost all studied samples, although in all cases they were less diverse than sugar-degrading fungi. In this relatively small group, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium brevicompactum were the most common organisms. Fungal communities isolated on a sugar-containing medium exhibited higher diversity and abundance, with being the most common sugar degraders. The major factors affecting the structure of the fungal communities were the percentage of hydrocarbons in the total mass of organic carbon in the samples in the case of hydrocarbon-degrading fungi and location, for sugar degraders. In the experiment, the highest hydrocarbon-degrading activity was shown for Penicillium chrysogenum (the loss of residual hydrocarbons was 77.4%), Cadophora fastigiata (72%), and Tolypocladium inflatum (67.2%).

This is the first report on abundance and diversity of cultured filamentous fungi and on abundance of yeasts in the sediments of the Laptev and East Siberian seas. A total of 63 isolates of filamentous fungi belonging to 32 morphotypes were obtained from 35 sediment samples. Most morphotypes were represented by single colonies in individual samples; the most frequently occurring species were Pseudeurotium zonatum, Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, and Cordyceps farinosа. In both seas, the abundance of filamentous fungi (up to 12 colonies per 1 g wet sediment) was lower than that of yeasts (up to 68 colonies per 1 g wet sediment). In the Laptev Sea, yeast abundance was low at all stations, while in the East Siberian Sea higher values were found at near-estuarine stations.

The study of alkali-resistant fungi has been carried out for the first time on the coast of saline lakes in the south of the Trans-Baikal region on the territory of the Daursky Biosphere Reserve (lakes Zun-Torey and Khangei). The changes in the structure of the community of alkali-resistant ascomycetes depend on local conditions. The coast of Khangei is devoid of halophites, but has a high content of Artemia eggs and is characterized by the absolute dominance of the alkaliphilic ascomycete Sodiomyces alkalinus (100% occurrence) and Emericellopsis alkalina (80%), with a minimum diversity of other fungi. S. alkalinus predominates (100%) on the coast of Lake Zun-Torey in damp places without plants. Dark-colored fungi from Dothideomycetes ( Alternaria , Neocamarosporium, etc.) predominate in the alkaline soil samples of this lake not far from the halophites; the occurrence of E. alkalina is 60% and S. alkalinus is not found here, but high occurrence is shown for the other species of Plectosphaerellaceae ( Chordomyces and Gibellulopsis ). The distribution, substrate preferences, and functional roles of alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant fungi in extreme natural habitats with soda salinity are discussed in this paper.

We have performed a characterization of cultivated haloalkalitolerant fungi from the sediments of Big Tambukan Lake in order to assess their biodiversity and antimicrobial activity. This saline, slightly alkaline lake is known as a source of therapeutic sulfide mud used in sanatoria of the Caucasian Mineral Waters, Russia. Though data on bacteria and algae observed in this lake are available in the literature, data on fungi adapted to the conditions of the lake are lacking. The diversity of haloalkalitolerant fungi was low and represented by ascomycetes of the genera Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chordomyces, Emericellopsis, Fusarium, Gibellulopsis, Myriodontium, Penicillium, and Pseudeurotium. Most of the fungi were characterized by moderate alkaline resistance, and they tolerated NaCl concentrations up to 10% w/v. The analysis of the antimicrobial activity of fungi showed that 87.5% of all strains were active against Bacillus subtilis, and 39.6% were also determined to be effective against Escherichia coli. The majority of the strains were also active against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans, about 66.7% and 62.5%, respectively. These studies indicate, for the first time, the presence of polyextremotolerant fungi in the sediments of Big Tambukan Lake, which probably reflects their involvement in the formation of therapeutic muds.

Впервые проведено исследование щелочеустойчивых грибов в разных субстратах береговой зоны засоленных озер юга Забайкальского края на территории биосферного заповедника "Даурский" (озера Зун-Торей, Хангей). Отмечены изменения структуры сообщества щелочеустойчивых аскомицетов в зависимости от локальных условий. Для побережья оз. Хангей в отсутствие галофитов, но с хорошо выраженными цианобактериальными матами и большим содержанием яиц рачка Artemia salinaбыло характерно абсолютное доминирование облигатно алкалофильного аскомицета Sodiomyces alkalinus (встречаемость 100 %) и Emericellopsis alkalina(80 %) при минимальном разнообразии других грибов. 100%-е доминирование S. alkalinus показано и для побережья оз. Зун-Торей во влажных местах без растений. В образцах солончаков этого озера рядом с зарослями растений-солянок преобладали темноокрашенные грибы из Dothideomycetes (Alternaria, Neocamarosporium), встречаемость E. alkalina составила 60 %. S. alkalinus не обнаружен, при этом высокая встречаемость отмечена у других видов сем. Plectosphaerellaceae (Chordomyces, Gibellulopsis). Обсуждаются распространение, субстратная приуроченность и функциональная роль алкалофильных и алкалотолерантных грибов в экстремальных природных местообитаниях с высокими значениями рН среды. The study of alkali-resistant fungi was carried out for the first time on the coast of saline lakes in the south of the Trans-Baikal region on the territory of the Daursky Biosphere Reserve (lakes Zun-Torey, Khangei). Indicated changes in the structure of the community of alkali-resistant ascomycetes depended on local conditions. The coast of Khangei was devoid of halophites, but with a high content of Artemia eggs and was characterized by the absolute dominance of the alkaliphilic ascomycete Sodiomyces alkalinus (100 % occurrence) and Emericellopsis alkalina (80 %), with a minimum diversity of other fungi. S. alkalinus predominated (100 %) on the coast of Lake Zun-Torey in damp places without plants. Dark-colored fungi from Dothideomycetes (Alternaria, Neocamarosporium, etc.) predominated in the alkaline soil samples of this lake not far from the halophites, the occurrence of E. alkalina was 60 %, and S. alkalinus was not found here, but the high occurrence was shown for the other species from Plectosphaerellaceae (Chordomyces, Gibellulopsis). The distribution, substrate preferences, and functional roles of alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant fungi in extreme natural habitats with soda salinity are discussed in this paper.

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0003683823320017

Peptaibols (Paib) are a class of biologically active peptides isolated from fungi and molds, which have attracted the attention of medicinal chemists due to their widely ranging pharmacological properties, including their antimicrobial activity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of various pH levels and cultivation conditions on peptaibol complex emericellipsins A-E (EmiA-E), produced by the alkaliphilic fungus Emericellopsis alkalina. Paib production has been studied in flasks and bioreactors for different pH values ranging from 7 to 11. The study of morphological features based on light and scanning electron microscopy has revealed differences between fungi grown at different pH values and cultivation conditions. Emericellipsins have been purified, sequenced, and identified by mass spectrometry. We have found that an alkaline pH of 10 could promote emericellipsins' biosynthesis most effectively during stationary fermentation on the 14th day of cultivation.

According to the Bulgarian legislation, the boundaries of the specialized objects of the Black Sea coast - sea beaches, coastal and coastal protection systems and facilities, coastal lakes, lagoons, limanas and wetlands, as well as sand dunes are determined by direct geodetic measurements and are reflected in the cadastral map and the property register, i.e. specialized maps and a specialized register shall be drawn up in accordance with a by-law (ordinance) on the conditions and procedure for the commissioning, creation and maintenance of the latter. The aim of this paper is to present the UML Use Case Model in order to standardize the geodetic activities in the production of specialized maps, register and information system of the above mentioned specialized objects of the Black Sea coast. The created UML Use Case Model contains the necessary Use Case diagrams that: align the definitions and ways of delimitation; the obligations of the administrative bodies to perform actions and to provide information and data; the content, creation and acceptance of the specialized maps and registers; the procedures and conditions for maintaining and updating the specialized maps and registers in a current state and for providing services from them.

This is a first report on diversity of the micromycetes associated with living thalli of the edible red algae Palmaria palmata (dulse). Samples were collected in the Kandalaksha Gulf of the White Sea at upper (10 thalli in the littoral zone) and lower (10 thalli in the sublittoral zone) boundaries of this species distribution. The study was conducted using the culture techniques; fungi were isolated from the surface of thalli. The maximum number of morphotypes was 24; from 0 to 55 colonies were isolated from one thallus. The total diversity amounted to 52 morphotypes, of which 48 were mycelia and four were yeast. All identified yeasts belong to Basidiomycota; of filamentous fungi, two species belong to Zygomycota, and others belong to Ascomycota, the absolute majority of which were represented by the anamorphic stages. The most diverse genera included Acremonium (ten morphotypes), Penicillium (nine), and Cladosporium (six); Acremonium (158 colonies) and Cladosporium (103 colonies) were the most numerous. Acremonium fuci was the most commonly occurring species on the studied thalli (122 colonies on 15 thalli). The habitat is a critical factor for the formation of the surface mycobiota of dulse: littoral and sublittoral algal populations differed significantly in the fungal communities’ population size and structure. The thalli of the littoral population are appreciably richer in the fungi. Dark-colored species, as well as Acremonium fuci and Sarocladium strictum, were dominant in mycobiota of littoral samples, whereas mycobiota of sublittoral samples largely contained light-colored species, while the majority of yeasts were likewise isolated from the sublittoral samples.

A comparative assessment of the content of low-molecular secondary metabolites of micromycetes (mycotoxins) in the thalli of brown algae Fucus vesiculosus, F. distichus, and Ascophyllum nodosum, collected in Kandalaksha Bay in the White Sea, is performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the studied fucoids revealed the entire set of analyzed mycotoxins, while the content of substances varies greatly. A higher mycotoxin content is shown for F. vesiculosus and F. distichus compared to A. nodosum.

The adaptations that alkaliphilic microorganisms have developed due to their extreme habitats promote the production of active natural compounds with the potential to control microorganisms, causing infections associated with healthcare. The primary purpose of this study was to isolate and identify a hydrophobin, Sa-HFB1, from an alkaliphilic fungus, Sodiomyces alkalinus. A potential antifungal effect against pathogenic and opportunistic fungi strains was determined. The MICs of Sa-HFB1 against opportunistic and clinical fungi ranged from 1 to 8 µg/mL and confirmed its higher activity against both non- and clinical isolates. The highest level of antifungal activity (MIC 1 µg/mL) was demonstrated for the clinical isolate Cryptococcus neoformans 297 m. The hydrophobin Sa-HFB1 may be partly responsible for the reported antifungal activity of S. alkalinus, and may serve as a potential source of lead compounds, meaning that it can be developed as an antifungal drug candidate.

Features of the biochemical adaptations of alkaliphilic fungi to exist in extreme environments could promote the production of active antibiotic compounds with the potential to control microorganisms, causing infections associated with health care. Thirty-eight alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant Emericellopsis strains (E. alkalina, E. cf. maritima, E. cf. terricola, Emericellopsis sp.) isolated from different saline soda soils and belonging to marine, terrestrial, and soda soil ecological clades were investigated for emericellipsin A (EmiA) biosynthesis, an antifungal peptaibol previously described for Emericellopsis alkalina. The analysis of the Emericellopsis sp. strains belonging to marine and terrestrial clades from chloride soils revealed another novel form with a mass of 1032.7 Da, defined by MALDI-TOF Ms/Ms spectrometers, as the EmiA lacked a hydroxyl (dEmiA). EmiA displayed strong inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and viability of HCT 116 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manners and induced apoptosis.

Novel antimicrobial peptides with antifungal and cytotoxic activity were derived from the alkalophilic fungus Emericellopsis alkalina VKPM F1428. We previously reported that this strain produced emericellipsin A (EmiA), which has strong antifungal and cytotoxic properties. Further analyses of the metabolites obtained under a special alkaline medium resulted in the isolation of four new homologous (Emi B–E). In this work, we report the complete primary structure and detailed biological activity for the newly synthesized nonribosomal antimicrobial peptides called emericellipsins B–E. The inhibitory activity of themajor compound, EmiA, against drug-resistant pathogenic fungi was similar to that of amphotericin B (AmpB). At the same time, EmiA had no hemolytic activity towards human erythrocytes. In addition, EmiA demonstrated low cytotoxic activity towards the normal HPF line, but possessed cancer selectivity to the K-562 and HCT-116 cell lines. Emericillipsins from the alkalophilic fungus Emericellopsis alkaline are promising treatment alternatives to licensed antifungal drugs for invasive mycosis therapy, especially for multidrug-resistant aspergillosis and cryptococcosis.

Meringosphaera mediterranea is the type species of the genus. The species is widely distributed in the polar, temperate, and tropical marine waters. For many years the systematic position of this species was unclear (the most common opinion was that the species is xanthophyte or chrysophyte alga), and its affiliation to centrohelids was clarified quite recently. In this paper, we report on the finding of M. mediterranea in the East Siberian Sea and for the first time in the Laptev Sea and provide a description of this species accompanying by LM and SEM microphotographs. Also, we summarize all available published information on the global distribution of M. mediterranea.