Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of marine-associated fungi from the South Brazilian Coast

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 133; no. 2; pp. 211 - 216
• Main Authors: Scopel, Marina, dos Santos, Odelta, Frasson, Amanda Piccoli, Abraham, Wolf-Rainer, Tasca, Tiana, Henriques, Amélia T., Macedo, Alexandre J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-02-2013
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Brazil; Cercopithecus aethiops; coasts; cytotoxicity; Drug Resistance; drugs; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - microbiology; filtrates; Fresh clinical isolates; fungi; Fungi - chemistry; Fungi - physiology; hemolysis; Hemolysis - drug effects; Humans; Hypocrea - chemistry; Hypocrea - physiology; Marine-associated fungi; Metronidazole - pharmacology; microscopy; minimum inhibitory concentration; Molecular Sequence Data; parasites; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; parasitology; Penicillium - chemistry; Penicillium - physiology; Penicillium citrinum; Porifera - microbiology; Seawater; sexually transmitted diseases; therapeutics; Trichoderma harzianum; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomonas vaginalis - drug effects; Trichomonas vaginalis - microbiology; trichomoniasis; Vero Cells; women; Brazil; ASW, Brazil; Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis; Fresh clinical isolates; Marine-associated fungi
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.11.006

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► 42 marine-associated fungi species were selected to be screened against T. vaginalis. ► Hypocrea lixii and Penicillium citrinum were active against all isolates. ► The active filtrates also inhibited the metronidazole-resistant isolate growth. ► The P. citrinum F40 filtrate sample showed low cytotoxicity against Vero cells. ► Fungi from South Brazilian Coast are a potential source of antiparasitic molecules.
Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of trichomonosis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease. Infection with this protozoan may have serious consequences, especially for women. Currently, 5-nitroimidazole drugs are the treatment of choice for trichomonosis, but the emergence of resistance has limited the effectiveness of this therapy. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-T. vaginalis activity of marine-associated fungi found in the South Brazilian Coast. A total of 42 marine-associated fungal species (126 filtrate samples) isolated from 39 different marine organisms, mainly sponges, were selected to be screened against T. vaginalis. Of these, two filtrate samples from Hypocrea lixii F02 and Penicillium citrinum F40 showed significant growth-inhibitory activity (up to 100%) against ATCC 30236 and fresh clinical isolates, including a metronidazole-resistant isolate. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of H. lixii F02 and P. citrinum F40 samples for all isolates tested, including the metronidazole-resistant isolate, were 2.5mg/mL. The kinetic growth curve showed that the filtrate samples were able to reduce the density of parasites to zero within 24h of incubation, which was confirmed by microscopy. Both fungal filtrate samples exhibited no hemolytic activity, and the P. citrinum F40 filtrate sample showed low cytotoxicity against Vero cells. These data suggest that marine-associated fungi from the South Brazilian Coast may produce potential candidates for further investigation and possible use in the treatment of metronidazole-resistant trichomonosis.