Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Transgenic Maize Expressing the α-amylase Inhibitor from Lablab purpureus L.
09:21

Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Transgenic Maize Expressing the α-amylase Inhibitor from Lablab purpureus L.

Published on: February 15, 2019

Targeting antioxidative signal transduction and stress response system: control of pathogenic Aspergillus with

J H Kim1, B C Campbell, N Mahoney

  • 1Plant Mycotoxin Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, Albany, CA 94710, USA.

Journal of Applied Microbiology
|July 13, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Phenolic compounds can target fungal antioxidative systems, inhibiting growth of Aspergillus species. Combining phenolics with mitochondrial respiration inhibitors offers an effective strategy for fungal control, potentially leading to safer alternatives to conventional antifungals.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Antioxidative response systems are crucial for fungal survival and virulence.
  • Understanding these systems can reveal novel targets for antifungal drug development.
  • Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus are significant opportunistic fungal pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate antioxidative response systems as molecular targets for controlling Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus.
  • To evaluate the impact of phenolic agents on fungal mitochondrial respiration.
  • To determine the efficacy of phenolics, alone or combined with mitochondrial inhibitors, against fungal growth.

Main Methods:

  • Phenolic agents and known mitochondrial respiration inhibitors were tested against A. fumigatus, A. flavus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • Gene-based bioassays were conducted using a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) deletion strain (sakAΔ) of A. fumigatus.
  • Complementation analysis involved the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) gene (sodA) of A. flavus in an S. cerevisiae mutant (sod2Δ).

Main Results:

  • Several phenolic agents demonstrated significant inhibition of fungal growth, particularly when combined with mitochondrial respiration inhibitors.
  • The study confirmed the role of mitochondrial antioxidative stress systems in fungal response to tested antifungal agents.
  • Specific phenolics showed sensitivity in the sod2Δ mutant of S. cerevisiae, indicating targeting of mitochondrial pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal antioxidative response systems represent an effective molecular target for phenolic compounds in pathogen control.
  • The combined application of phenolics and mitochondrial respiration inhibitors can significantly suppress fungal growth.
  • Natural compounds targeting these systems offer potential as safe alternatives or adjuncts to conventional antifungals.

More Related Videos

Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress11:00

Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress

Published on: August 31, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...