Solid phase microextraction and LC–MS/MS for the determination of paliperidone after stereoselective fungal biotransformation of risperidone

The present work describes for the first time the use of SPME coupled to LC–MS/MS employing the polar organic mode in a stereoselective fungal biotransformation study to investigate the fungi ability to biotransform the drug risperidone into its chiral and active metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone (9-RispOH). The chromatographic separation was performed on a Chiralcel OJ-H column using methanol:ethanol (50:50, v/v) plus 0.2% triethylamine as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min⁻¹. The SPME process was performed using a C18 fiber, 30 min of extraction time and 5 min of desorption time in the mobile phase. The method was completely validated and all parameters were in agreement with the literature recommendations. The Cunninghamella echinulata fungus was able to biotransform risperidone into the active metabolite, (+)-9-RispOH, resulting in 100% of enantiomeric excess. The Cunninghamella elegans fungus was also able to stereoselectively biotransform risperidone into (+)- and (−)-9-RispOH enantiomers at different rates.     

Antifeedant activity of long-chain alcohols,and fungal and plant metabolites against pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) as potential biocontrol strategy

Aphids are noxious insect pests of major crops including cereals and legumes. Particularly, pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) causes significant yield and quality loses in pea. Crop protection is largely based on noxious chemical pesticides which have prompted a renewed interest in the discovery of natural products as alternatives to synthetic insecticides. In this study different classes of natural compounds were tested in dual choice bioassays to evaluate their feeding deterrence and mortality effect on pea aphid. High feeding deterrence was produced by some of the compounds, particularly1-hexadecanol, gliotoxin, cyclopaldic acid and seiridin. On the contrary, aphid mortality was low although significant for 1-heptadecanol, cytochalasin A, 1-nonadecanol and gliotoxin. Phytotoxicity assessment showed low or imperceptible plant damaged for cytochalasin A, seiridin and 1-nonadecanol. The results obtained showed the potential of seiridin to be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.     

Voice Prosthesis Coated with Sustained Release Varnish Containing Clotrimazole Shows Long-Term Protection against Candida albicans: An In Vitro Study

Fungal biofilm formation on voice prosthesis (VP) is a major health problem that requires repeated replacement of the prosthesis. Candida albicans is one of the pathogens that frequently inhabits the VP. We proposed that coating VPs with sustained-release varnish (SRV) containing clotrimazole (CTZ) might prevent fungal biofilm formation. The long-term antifungal activities of SRV-CTZ- versus SRV-placebo-coated VPs was tested daily by measuring the inhibition zone of C. albicans seeded on agar plates or by measuring the fungal viability of C. albicans in suspension. The extent of biofilm formation on coated VPs was analyzed by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We observed that SRV-CTZ-coated VPs formed a significant bacterial inhibition zone around the VPs and prevented the growth of C. albicans in suspension during the entire testing period of 60 days. Fungal biofilms were formed on placebo-coated VPs, while no significant biofilms were observed on SRV-CTZ-coated VPs. HPLC analysis shows that CTZ is continuously released during the whole test period of 60 days at a concentration above the minimal fungistatic concentration. In conclusion, coating VPs with an SRV-CTZ film is a potential effective method for prevention of fungal infections and biofilm formation on VPs.     

Raman spectroscopic characterization of cinnabarin produced by the fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus (Fr.) Murr.

Raman spectroscopy with 1064 nm laser excitation is used here to identify the chemical composition of the extracts obtained from Pycnoporus sanguineus fungus, in comparison with the data produced from the red fungus itself. Polar and non‐polar solvents were used to separate cinnabarin and ergosterol, respectively, the main components of each extract. The Raman spectra of the extracts are dominated by specific vibrational modes that can be related to these components; in the case of ergosterol the main bands are those assignable to CH stretching and deformation along with bands related to the aryl skeletal rings. The cinnabarin fraction, on the other hand, gives a Raman spectrum where the most important bands are those related to NH₂ bending (1510 cm⁻¹) and C quinonoid stretching (1647 cm⁻¹) modes. The Raman spectrum obtained directly from the fungus shows similarity with the cinnabarin fraction, in agreement with the literature information from extracts that cinnabarin is the most significant component present in the red fungus. This result highlights the potential of Raman spectroscopic techniques for the monitoring of the fungus extraction process undertaken in small industries. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

海洋来源真菌烟曲霉中胶霉毒素类成分研究

为了从海洋来源的微生物中寻找新的抗肿瘤活性天然产物,对一株具有较强细胞毒活性的海洋来源真菌烟曲霉进行系统分离研究,以抗肿瘤活性为指标,采用硅胶柱层析、葡聚糖凝胶LH-20和HPLC等方法从中分离出4个单体化合物,经波谱数据分析及与文献对照分别鉴定为gliotoxin(1),bisdethiobis(methylthio)gliotoxin(2),d idehydrobisdethio-bis(methylthio)gliotoxin(3)和bis-N-norgliovictin(4),其中化合物(1)在0.15 mg/L浓度下对温敏型小鼠乳腺癌细胞(tsFT 210)显示了很强的细胞毒活性.     

Accumulation of cadmium,lead, and nickel by fungal and wood biosorbents

Native fungal biomass of fungiAbsidia orchidis, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus nigricans, and modified spruce sawdust (Picea engelmanii) sequestered metals in the following decreasing preference pb>Cd>Ni. The highest metal uptake was q_max = 351 mg Pb/gA. orchidis biomass. P.chrysogenum biomass could accumulate cadmium best at 56 mg Cd/g. The sorption of nickel was the weakest always at < 5 mg Ni/g. The spruce sawdust was modified by crosslinking, oxidation to acidic oxoforms, and by substitution. The highest metal uptake was observed in phosphorylated sawdust reaching q_max = 224 mg Pb/g, 56 mg Cd/g, and 26 mg Ni/g. The latter value is comparable to the value of nickel sorption by wet commercial resin Duolite GT-73. Some improvement in metal uptake was also observed after reinforcement of fungal biomass.