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Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that live inside plants and are a promising source of bioactive molecules. These fungi have aroused a growing interest in research due to their ability to produce a variety of substances. Thus, this study aims to emphasize the relevance of endophytic fungi present in plants as a source of bioactive compounds, which have several applications in biotechnology. For this, scientometrics was used as a methodology, based on a search in the ScienceDirect database using the terms "endophytic fungi", "plants", "metabolites" and "biotechnological application" in a time frame between 2015 and 2022. These fungi have aroused a growing interest in research due to their ability to produce a variety of bioactive compounds. The interaction between endophytic fungi and plants is crucial for plant survival, and many of the compounds produced by fungi have biotechnological potential. Scientometrics revealed an increase in the number of publications on the subject, with emphasis on research studies and reviews. The prospection of endophytic fungi has focused on families of plants with medicinal attributes. These complex interactions between fungi and plants play an important role in plant health and development. Research in this area continues to grow, with many compounds identified as potential bioactive products in diverse biotechnological applications.

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that inhabit plant tissues, without causing damage to the host. When in association with medicinal plants, they are able to prompt the production of secondary metabolites with important biological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi associated with Aspidosperma subincanum against Gram positive bacteria of clinical relevance and perform the chemical characterization of the extract with the highest antibacterial activity. Endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of A. subincanum were submitted to ethanolic extraction. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was evaluated against S. aureus ATCC 25923, using the microdilution method. From a total of 116 extracts, only 4 (3.44%) were considered positive and then evaluated against B. cereus. The ethanolic endophytic extract AM59.1-98 was able to completely inhibit the growth of both microorganisms and was selected for chemical characterization, which indicated the presence of saponins and tannins. Further studies have to be conducted to confirm if the chemical substances detected are those responsible for its antibacterial activity. The current research provides, for the first time, substantial results concerning the antibacterial activity of endophytes associated with A. subincanum as an alternative path in the search for new drugs.

Interest in exploring endophytic fungi has increased in recent years, especially those associated with medicinal plants, reflecting the great potential of these microorganisms for the production of bioactive substances. Medicinal plants shelter a high diversity of endophytes that represent targets for use in biotechnological processes. These fungi synthetize several compounds that can be used in pharmaceutical, agricultural and other industries. Additionally, endophytes produce many bioactive metabolites involved in host-endophyte symbiosis, such as those that increase resistance to stressful conditions, alter physiological properties, and produce phytohormones, toxins, antimicrobial compounds and medicinal substances, immunosuppressants, antitumoral agents, and other biotechnological substances of interest, such as enzymes. In this review, information regarding plant interactions with endophytes is highlighted, contributing to a better understanding of this association, benefits and potential for biotechnological utilization.

AbstractBackgroundESBLs hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring of antibiotics and are not affected by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation antibiotics. There are over 400 ESBL enzymes that have already been investigated globally are present inEnterobacteriaceaespecies such asEscherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniaeandKlebsiella oxytocastrains. Prevalence of ESBLs is slowly increased, from 10 to 40% inE. coliandK. pneumoniastrains. Microorganisms producing ESBLs are challenging to physicians, clinical microbiologists, and antibiotic researchers.ResultsIn this study, ESBL-producing strains ofE. coliwere subjected to antibiotic sensitivity screening. The efficacy of myco BR-AgNPs on growth inE. coliATCC (25922) and clinical isolates ofE. coliwas determined by well diffusion method. Myco BR-AgNPs reduced the growth as well as inhibited the biofilm formation in ESBL-producing strains ofE. coli. MIC and MBC were determined by using serial microdilution and surface drop method. The MICs were 0.078–0.625 µg/ml and MBCs were 0.312–1.25 µg/ml. The biofilm formation was effectively inhibited by myco BR-AgNPs when compared with control. The expression of CTX-M-15 gene was studied in clinical isolates ofE. colitreated with antibiotic (positive control), mycosilver nanoparticles (test) and compared with the other positive control (untreated strains). Interestingly, the expression of CTX-M-15 was downregulated in the samples treated with myco BR-AgNPs.ConclusionThe use of myco BR-AgNPs and their growth inhibitory effect on ESBL-positive strains were the main focus of this research. ATCC and ESBL strains used in this study were effectively inhibited by myco BR-AgNPs. The effect of myco BR-AgNPs on the expression of a gene encoding CTX-M-15 was tested on a molecular level, and the observed results showed that the gene expression was reduced when compared with control and antibiotic treatment. According to the current research, myco BR-AgNPs synthesized with the aid of endophytic fungal extract could be used to suppress the growth of ESBL-positive strains ofE. coli. Myco BR-AgNPs may be an important alternative to various antibiotics in preventing bacterial resistance if optimized and tested for toxicity.

Endophytic fungi live within plant tissues without causing any harm to the host, promote its growth, and induce systemic resistance against pests and diseases. To mitigate the challenging concealed feeding behavior of immature stages of Tuta absoluta in both tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and nightshade (Solanum scabrum) host plants, 15 fungal isolates were assessed for their endophytic and insecticidal properties. Twelve isolates were endophytic to both host plants with varied colonization rates. Host plants endophytically-colonized by Trichoderma asperellum M2RT4, Beauveria bassiana ICIPE 706 and Hypocrea lixii F3ST1 outperformed all the other isolates in reducing significantly the number of eggs laid, mines developed, pupae formed and adults emerged. Furthermore, the survival of exposed adults and F1 progeny was significantly reduced by Trichoderma sp. F2L41 and B. bassiana isolates ICIPE 35(4) and ICIPE 35(15) compared to other isolates. The results indicate that T. asperellum M2RT4, B. bassiana ICIPE 706 and H. lixii F3ST1 have high potential to be developed as endophyticfungal- based biopesticide for the management of T. absoluta. ; The icipe core funding provided by UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; and the Government of the Republic of Kenya. ; http://www.nature.com/srep ; am2021 ; Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) ; Zoology and Entomology