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Microbial Natural Products: A Promising Source for Medical Application (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 7046

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Anna Malm

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Interests: medical microbiology; antimicrobial compounds of synthetic and natural origin; human microbiota
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Izabela Korona-Głowniak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Interests: microbiology; antimicrobial activity testing; biofilm; infectious diseases; microbiota; molecular microbiology; antibiotic resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you for a contribution to the Special Issue, entitled “Microbial Natural Products: A Promising Source for Medical Application (2nd Edition)”. Microorganisms create a rich reservoir of several natural compounds, displaying a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological activity, although this remains underexplored. Both primary and secondary microbial metabolites possess potential benefits for human health.

This Special Issue aims to extensively study the significance of microbial natural products and their potential application as food supplements, functional food and/or medicines in the prophylaxis and treatment of several disorders. We are especially interested in treatments for diseases that constitute significant epidemiological problems in the 21st century, e.g., infectious, metabolic and neurological diseases, as well as cancer.

In this Special Issue, we welcome short communications, original research articles and reviews in the field of microbiology, biotechnology, pharmacology, biopharmacy and/or food sciences. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following topics: microbial natural compounds as antimicrobial, anticancer and neuroprotective agents, as well as gut microbiota compounds for prevention-related and therapeutic purposes.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Anna Malm
Dr. Izabela Korona-Głowniak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microorganisms
  • primary and secondary metabolites
  • antimicrobial and anticancer agents
  • neuroprotective agents
  • gut microbiota compounds
  • food supplements
  • functional food
  • medicines

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1778 KiB  
Communication
1-Acetyl-β-Carboline from a Jeju Gotjawal Strain Lentzea sp. JNUCC 0626 and Its Melanogenic Stimulating Activity in B16F10 Melanoma Cells
by Kyung-A Hyun, Yang Xu, Kyung-Hwan Boo and Chang-Gu Hyun
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4586; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194586 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 723
Abstract
The genus Lentzea is a prolific source of bioactive and structurally diverse secondary metabolites. We isolated a novel strain, Lentzea sp. JNUCC 0626, from Hwasun Gotjawal on Jeju Island, Korea. Based on 16S rRNA partial gene sequence analysis, strain JNUCC 0626 is closely [...] Read more.
The genus Lentzea is a prolific source of bioactive and structurally diverse secondary metabolites. We isolated a novel strain, Lentzea sp. JNUCC 0626, from Hwasun Gotjawal on Jeju Island, Korea. Based on 16S rRNA partial gene sequence analysis, strain JNUCC 0626 is closely related to Lentzea isolaginshaensis NX62 (99.41% similarity), Lentzea pudingi DHS C021 (99.31%), and Lentzea cavernae SYSU K10001 (99.26%). From the fermentation broth of JNUCC 0626, we isolated 1-acetyl-β-carboline, whose structure was established using IR, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. 1-acetyl-β-carboline was found to activate melanogenesis in mouse B16F10 cells without cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 50 μM. At this concentration, the compound increased melanin content by 27.44% and tyrosinase activity by 240.64% compared to the control, by upregulating key melanogenic enzymes, including tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a central regulator of melanogenesis. In addition, 1-acetyl-β-carboline significantly inhibited ERK phosphorylation, reducing it by 20.79% at a concentration of 12.5 μM and by 25.63% at 25 μM. This inhibition supports the hypothesis that 1-acetyl-β-carboline enhances melanin synthesis by upregulating MITF and melanogenic enzymes via the ERK signaling pathway. This study aimed to isolate and identify 1-acetyl-β-carboline from a novel strain of Lentzea sp. JNUCC 0626, discovered in Gotjawal, Jeju Island, and to evaluate its effect on melanin production in B16F10 melanoma cells. Skin irritation tests on 32 subjects confirmed its safety for topical use, and the findings suggest that 1-acetyl-β-carboline, which enhances melanogenesis without cytotoxicity, holds promise as a therapeutic agent for hypopigmentation-related conditions or as a cosmetic ingredient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Natural Products: A Promising Source for Medical Application (2nd Edition))
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10 pages, 4961 KiB  
Communication
Bioactive α-Pyrone Analogs from the Endophytic Fungus Diaporthe sp. CB10100: α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Studies
by Zhong Wang, Qingxian Ma, Guangling Wu, Yani Zhong, Bin Feng, Pingzhi Huang, Aijie Li, Genyun Tang, Xueshuang Huang and Hong Pu
Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1768; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081768 - 12 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1345
Abstract
Two α-pyrone analogs were isolated from the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. CB10100, which is derived from the medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum. These analogs included a new compound, diaporpyrone F (3), and a known compound, diaporpyrone D (4). The [...] Read more.
Two α-pyrone analogs were isolated from the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. CB10100, which is derived from the medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum. These analogs included a new compound, diaporpyrone F (3), and a known compound, diaporpyrone D (4). The structure of 3 was identified by a comprehensive examination of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that biosynthetic gene clusters for α-pyrone analogs are common in fungi of Diaporthe species. The in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and antibacterial assay of 4 revealed that it has a 46.40% inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase at 800 μM, while no antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Mycolicibacterium (Mycobacterium) smegmatis or Klebsiella pneumoniae at 64 μg/mL. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations of 4 with α-glucosidase further suggested that the compounds are potential α-glucosidase inhibitors. Therefore, α-pyrone analogs can be used as lead compounds for α-glucosidase inhibitors in more in-depth studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Natural Products: A Promising Source for Medical Application (2nd Edition))
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19 pages, 3873 KiB  
Article
Chemical Epigenetic Regulation Secondary Metabolites Derived from Aspergillus sydowii DL1045 with Inhibitory Activities for Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
by Xuan Shi, Xia Li, Xiaoshi He, Danyang Zhang, Chunshan Quan, Zhilong Xiu and Yuesheng Dong
Molecules 2024, 29(3), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030670 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1340
Abstract
Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are ubiquitous in living organisms and are promising drug targets for cancer, diabetes/obesity, and autoimmune disorders. In this study, a histone deacetylase inhibitor called suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) was added to a culture of marine fungi (Aspergillus sydowii [...] Read more.
Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are ubiquitous in living organisms and are promising drug targets for cancer, diabetes/obesity, and autoimmune disorders. In this study, a histone deacetylase inhibitor called suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) was added to a culture of marine fungi (Aspergillus sydowii DL1045) to identify potential drug candidates related to PTP inhibition. Then, the profile of the induced metabolites was characterized using an integrated metabolomics strategy. In total, 46% of the total SMs were regulated secondary metabolites (SMs), among which 20 newly biosynthesized metabolites (10% of the total SMs) were identified only in chemical epigenetic regulation (CER) broth. One was identified as a novel compound, and fourteen compounds were identified from Aspergillus sydowii first. SAHA derivatives were also biotransformed by A. sydowii DL1045, and five of these derivatives were identified. Based on the bioassay, some of the newly synthesized metabolites exhibited inhibitory effects on PTPs. The novel compound sydowimide A (A11) inhibited Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP1), T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) and leukocyte common antigen (CD45), with IC50 values of 1.5, 2.4 and 18.83 μM, respectively. Diorcinol (A3) displayed the strongest inhibitory effect on SHP1, with an IC50 value of 0.96 μM. The structure–activity relationship analysis and docking studies of A3 analogs indicated that the substitution of the carboxyl group reduced the activity of A3. Research has demonstrated that CER positively impacts changes in the secondary metabolic patterns of A. sydowii DL1045. The compounds produced through this approach will provide valuable insights for the creation and advancement of novel drug candidates related to PTP inhibition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Natural Products: A Promising Source for Medical Application (2nd Edition))
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Review

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26 pages, 2335 KiB  
Review
Exploring Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus Nematode Symbionts in Search of Novel Therapeutics
by Ewa Sajnaga, Waldemar Kazimierczak, Magdalena Anna Karaś and Monika Elżbieta Jach
Molecules 2024, 29(21), 5151; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29215151 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 760
Abstract
Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria, which live in mutualistic symbiosis with entomopathogenic nematodes, are currently recognised as an important source of bioactive compounds. During their extraordinary life cycle, these bacteria are capable of fine regulation of mutualism and pathogenesis towards two different hosts, a [...] Read more.
Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria, which live in mutualistic symbiosis with entomopathogenic nematodes, are currently recognised as an important source of bioactive compounds. During their extraordinary life cycle, these bacteria are capable of fine regulation of mutualism and pathogenesis towards two different hosts, a nematode and a wide range of insect species, respectively. Consequently, survival in a specific ecological niche favours the richness of biosynthetic gene clusters and respective metabolites with a specific structure and function, providing templates for uncovering new agrochemicals and therapeutics. To date, numerous studies have been published on the genetic ability of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria to produce biosynthetic novelty as well as distinctive classes of their metabolites with their activity and mechanism of action. Research shows diverse techniques and approaches that can lead to the discovery of new natural products, such as extract-based analysis, genetic engineering, and genomics linked with metabolomics. Importantly, the exploration of members of the Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus genera has led to encouraging developments in compounds that exhibit pharmaceutically important properties, including antibiotics that act against Gram- bacteria, which are extremely difficult to find. This article focuses on recent advances in the discovery of natural products derived from these nematophilic bacteria, with special attention paid to new valuable leads for therapeutics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Natural Products: A Promising Source for Medical Application (2nd Edition))
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19 pages, 2001 KiB  
Review
Metabolic Engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum for the Production of Flavonoids and Stilbenoids
by Luan Luong Chu, Chau T. Bang Tran, Duyen T. Kieu Pham, Hoa T. An Nguyen, Mi Ha Nguyen, Nhung Mai Pham, Anh T. Van Nguyen, Dung T. Phan, Ha Minh Do and Quang Huy Nguyen
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2252; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102252 - 10 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2339
Abstract
Flavonoids and stilbenoids, crucial secondary metabolites abundant in plants and fungi, display diverse biological and pharmaceutical activities, including potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. However, conventional production methods, such as chemical synthesis and plant extraction, face challenges in sustainability and yield. Hence, there [...] Read more.
Flavonoids and stilbenoids, crucial secondary metabolites abundant in plants and fungi, display diverse biological and pharmaceutical activities, including potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. However, conventional production methods, such as chemical synthesis and plant extraction, face challenges in sustainability and yield. Hence, there is a notable shift towards biological production using microorganisms like Escherichia coli and yeast. Yet, the drawbacks of using E. coli and yeast as hosts for these compounds persist. For instance, yeast’s complex glycosylation profile can lead to intricate protein production scenarios, including hyperglycosylation issues. Consequently, Corynebacterium glutamicum emerges as a promising alternative, given its adaptability and recent advances in metabolic engineering. Although extensively used in biotechnological applications, the potential production of flavonoid and stilbenoid in engineered C. glutamicum remains largely untapped compared to E. coli. This review explores the potential of metabolic engineering in C. glutamicum for biosynthesis, highlighting its versatility as a cell factory and assessing optimization strategies for these pathways. Additionally, various metabolic engineering methods, including genomic editing and biosensors, and cofactor regeneration are evaluated, with a focus on C. glutamicum. Through comprehensive discussion, the review offers insights into future perspectives in production, aiding researchers and industry professionals in the field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Natural Products: A Promising Source for Medical Application (2nd Edition))
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