CURRENT BIOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 8.1
Qianwei Li,Miao Zhang,Biao Wei,Wei Lan,Qinghong Wang,Chunmao Chen,Huazhang Zhao,Daoqing Liu,Geoffrey Michael Gadd
Fungal biomineralization plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of metals in the environment and has been extensively explored for bioremediation and element biorecovery. However, the cellular and metabolic responses of fungi in the presence of toxic metals during biomineralization and their impact on organic matter transformations are unclear. This is an important question because co-contamination by toxic metals and organic pollutants is a common phenomenon in the natural environment. In this research, the biomineralization process and oxidative stress response of the geoactive soil fungus Aspergillus niger were investigated in the presence of toxic metals (Co, Cu, Mn, and Fe) and the azo dye orange II (AO II). We have found that the co-existence of toxic metals and AO II not only enhanced the fungal biomineralization of toxic metals but also accelerated the removal of AO II. We hypothesize that the fungus and in situ mycogenic biominerals (toxic metal oxalates) constituted a quasi-bioreactor, where the biominerals removed organic pollutants by catalyzing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation resulting from oxidative stress. We have therefore demonstrated that a fungal/biomineral system can successfully achieve the goal of toxic metal immobilization and organic pollutant decomposition. Such findings inform the potential development of fungal-biomineral hybrid systems for mixed pollutant bioremediation as well as provide further understanding of fungal organic-inorganic pollutant transformations in the environment and their importance in biogeochemical cycles.
研究领域:
环境科学
·
微生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
·
2025
·Vol. 41
·期 7
·1-16
·
IF 4.2
Gao Qingchao,Feng Zhiruo,Wang Zuli,Zhao Fangyuan,Ju Jian
Carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpenoid and major active constituent of plant essential oils, exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with potential applications in food preservation and agricultural biocontrol. Previous studies have shown that one of the antifungal mechanisms of carvacrol may be the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, but its specific action mechanism is still unclear. This study investigated the apoptosis mechanism of Aspergillus niger caused by ROS burst induced by carvacrol in the molecular level. Carvacrol induced ROS burst, leading to the accumulation of intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) concentration in A. niger which caused the cellular oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, leading to an increase in the content of unsaturated fatty acids as well as a decrease in the content of glycerophospholipids in the cell membrane, and then disrupted the integrity of cell membranes. RT-qPCR was used to analyze the expression levels of different subunit genes of NADPH oxidase, and the result showed that NoxA , Cdc24 , NoxD and NoxR were all upregulated to varying degrees. And the inhibitory effect of carvacrol on A. niger can be alleviated by adding an additional ROS scavenger. Meanwhile, NADPH oxidase inhibitors eliminated the ROS production induced by carvacrol. In summary, carvacrol can induce ROS burst in A. niger by regulating the gene expression levels of different subunits of NADPH oxidase, leading to membrane lipid peroxidation, irreversible damage to the cell membrane, the disruption of redox dynamic balance and finally cell death.
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PubMed
高影响因子
Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews
·
2013
·
IF 1.392
Zhang-Gao Le,Li-Tao Guo,Guo-Fang Jiang,Xiao-Bin Yang,Hui-Qiang Liu
The Henry reaction of aromatic aldehydes and nitroalkanes could be performed by catalyst of Lipase A from Aspergillus niger in organic/water medium, and the corresponding Henry products were obtained in yields up to 94%.
研究领域:
有机化学
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生物催化
·
酶催化
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DOI
高影响因子
Fermentation-Basel
·
2023
·Vol. 9
·期 1
·50
·
IF 3.7
Zhen Fan,Tianming Chen,Guolin Cai,Xiaoyu Huang,Suchuan Zhong,Xiaoming Li,Enping Zhang
Fermentation has been considered as an effective means to improve the feed nutrient digestibility of corn stalks, and it is beneficial to animal growth performance and health. The beneficial functions of fermented corn stalks are related to the variety of metabolites produced through fermentation, but the nature of these components is still unclear. In this study, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, combined with principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis, was used to explore the differential metabolites of corn stalks before and afterAspergillus nigerfermentation. A total of 32 potential characteristic compounds were obtained, mainly including sugar and glycoside derivatives, organic acids and their derivatives, alcohol compounds, benzene and its substituted derivatives, amino acids, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Compared with the metabolites in corn straw before fermentation, the relative content of D-threitol, mannitol-1-phosphate, coniferin, citrazinic, oxoglutaric acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, naproxen, 5-aminovaleric acid, vanillin, catechin, and UDP-glucuronic acid was significantly increased, and the relative content ofN-acetylgalactosamine, heneicosanoic acid, chlorogenic acid, and adenosine was significantly decreased. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that 20 metabolic pathways corresponded to the differential characteristic metabolites. The results of this study will provide theoretical support for the quality evaluation of fermented corn stalks and high-value product development in the future.Keywords:Aspergillus niger;fermentation;metabolomics;corn straw;metabolites
研究领域:
微生物学
·
动物营养学
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER BULLETIN
·
2026
·Vol. 83
·期 11
·637
·
IF 4.2
Ba Wenyan,Che Mingda,Cui Mei,Su Rongxin,Huang Renliang
The conversion of fungal biomass into functional biopolymer materials offers a promising route for renewable material fabrication and sustainable waste valorization. Aspergillus niger (A. niger) mycelium is rich in chitin and glucan, yet its conversion into fibrous chitin-based nanomaterials remains insufficiently connected to biomass processing, nanofiber structure, and final material performance. Here, a scalable strategy is proposed for preparing partially deacetylated chitin–glucan complex nanofibers (CGCNFs) from A. niger . Specifically, A. niger was cultured in PD medium containing 12 g/L potato extract and 60 g/L glucose for 96 h. Subsequent treatments, including alkaline processing, deacetylation, and high-pressure homogenization, yielded CGCNFs with an average diameter of 9.86 ± 1.86 nm and an aspect ratio of 25. Compared with traditional methods, the proposed process achieved approximately 15–48% increase in CGCNFs yield and a 75–81% reduction in raw material costs, demonstrating markedly higher efficiency and economic feasibility. Characterization by FTIR, XRD and solid-state 13 C NMR confirmed enhanced surface functionalization of the CGCNFs. Moreover, the CGCNFs exhibited strong antibacterial activity, inhibiting more than 99% of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Notably, CGCNFs/PVA films displayed a tensile modulus of 4.2 GPa, representing a 162.5% increase relative to neat PVA films. This work provides a sustainable strategy for biomass conversion, renewable polysaccharide material fabrication, and the development of functional biopolymer films for food related applications.
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高影响因子
Processes
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2026
·Vol. 14
·期 12
·2002
·
IF 3.4
Yuanyuan Dong,Jiamin Qian,Haiyang Huang,Yang Liu,Jingwen Zhang,Xiangwen Yin,Zhiqiang Cai
β-Galactosidase is an important enzyme for lactose hydrolysis because it catalyzes the conversion of lactose into glucose and galactose. In this study,Aspergillus nigerC18, which showed β-galactosidase-producing ability during preliminary screening, was selected as the gene source. A β-galactosidase gene from this strain was cloned into the pET28a vector and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Solid-state fermentation conditions were optimized to produce the native enzyme as a reference for comparison. The enzymatic properties of the recombinant enzyme were then systematically characterized and compared with those of the native enzyme. The recombinant β-galactosidase exhibited favorable thermal and pH stability. After incubation for 2 h at its optimal pH and optimal temperature, the recombinant enzyme retained 88.9% and 94.1% of its initial activity, respectively; specifically, 88.9% corresponded to pH stability and 94.1% corresponded to thermal stability. These results indicate favorable stability of the recombinant enzyme under the tested conditions. Thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses confirmed that the recombinant enzyme efficiently hydrolyzed lactose in a model lactose solution, achieving more than 99.0% lactose degradation after 12 h of reaction. These findings suggest that β-galactosidase derived fromA. nigerC18 is a promising candidate for lactose hydrolysis.
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DOI
高影响因子
AMB Express
·
2026
·
IF 3.9
Xinyue Huang,Liyan Yang,Wenbo Zhang,Dengfeng Yang,Hao Guo,Bin Zhang,Mingguo Jiang,Lixia Pan
Dextranase (DEX) is a high-value biocatalyst with substantial potential in oral hygiene and diverse industrial bioprocesses, yet its practical application is frequently constrained by the insufficient yields of wild-type strains. In this study, a high-efficiency DEX production system was established through an integrated strategy comprising Atmospheric and Room Temperature Plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis, molecular mechanism elucidation, and host-specific promoter engineering. A stable mutant, Chaetomium gracile B12, was isolated, exhibiting a 30.6-fold increase in DEX activity (16.23 U/mL) compared to the parental strain. Sequence analysis and multi-scale computational simulations, including AlphaFold2-based modeling and 100 ns molecular dynamics, generated a testable hypothesis that this mutation may contribute this enhancement. This substitution was found to augment structural rigidity and refine the spatial orientation of the substrate within the active pocket, facilitating a more "productive alignment" for catalysis. Furthermore, heterologous expression optimization uncovered a distinct host-specific promoter preference: the heterologous Pcdna1 promoter was most effective in C. gracile, whereas the endogenous inducible PgpdA proved superior in Aspergillus niger. Notably, this pioneering heterologous expression of DEX in A. niger streamlined the production cycle, slashing the fermentation period from 6 days to 48 h. Following systematic optimization of carbon/nitrogen sources and aeration intensity, the engineered A. niger strain H achieved a peak DEX activity of 36.00 U/mL. Biochemical characterization revealed that the recombinant DEX possessed a favorable near-neutral optimal pH (6.0-7.0) and a temperature optimum of 50 °C. Overall, this study reports the first heterologous expression of a dextranase in A. niger, reducing the fermentation period from 6 days to 48 h, and provides a comprehensive strategy for the overproduction of dextranase and offers molecular insights into enzymatic "fine-tuning", yielding a high-titer, neutral-pH compatible biocatalyst with significant promise for oral care and industrial applications.
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 7.3
Renli Ai,Kai Yan,Changyu Shao,Longfeng Wei,Qinqin He,Junxian Chen,Qinyi Hu,Yao Wang,Zhu Li
The exploration of effective biocontrol agents and the characterization of their functional components are crucial for precisely preventing and managing carrot postharvest disease. Herein, Aspergillus niger xj was shown to effectively inhibit the bacterial soft-rot pathogen named Pectobacterium aroidearum , with the functional compounds primarily localized in the extracellular fermentation broth. Correlation analysis between the inhibitory activity and content of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA) across 224 atmospheric and room-temperature plasma mutant strains and original strain xj indicated that HMFCA was an important inhibitory agent. The bioactivity of the bio-derived HMFCA isolated from the positive mutant strain 350–28 was validated through assays. In vitro inhibitory assays revealed that the half-maximal effective concentration (EC 50 ) of HMFCA against P. aroidearum was 1121 ± 8 μg mL −1 , with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.25 mg mL −1 and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 2.5 mg mL −1 . Moreover, HMFCA exhibited considerable potential to impede the growth of P. aroidearum . Furthermore, in vivo inhibitory assays indicated that HMFCA could assist carrot in resisting the infection caused by P. aroidearum within 24 h at three concentrations: EC 20 , EC 50 , and EC 80. However, the required effective concentration markedly increased at 48 h. These findings indicated that A. niger exhibited biocontrol activity through the extracellular secretion of active secondary metabolites, which directly suppressed the growth and reproduction of P. aroidearum . In particular, HMFCA was a functional compound, which offered a promising approach for the targeted postharvest management of carrot.
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高影响因子
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
·
2018
·
IF 2.829
Hanlin Ding,Xuegang Luo,Xiaonuo Zhang,Hao Yang
A novel alginate-immobilized Aspergillus niger microsphere (AAM) biosorbent was prepared and used for Th(IV) removal. Biosorption experiments indicated that the AAMs with an abundance of surface functional groups exhibited rapid complexation with Th(IV) and a superior biosorption performance (303.95 mg·g −1 ) at pH 6.0 and 40 °C. Multiple methods of characterizing the biosorbent revealed the successful immobilization of gap structures with increased surface area and multisorption sites (e.g., hydroxyl , carboxyl and protonated amine groups). A method that combined the superior Th(IV) biosorption ability along with inexpensive and eco-friendly microbe materials exhibited considerable potential as an immobilizing biosorbents for thorium preconcentrations . In addition, the biomaterial had good recyclability through immobilization and inactivation. The proposed biosorbent is effective for the removal of radionuclides from contaminated aqueous solutions.
研究领域:
环境科学
·
微生物学
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DOI
高影响因子
FOOD CONTROL
·
2015
·
IF 2.806
Yanzhen Wang,Xiaobin Zeng,Zhengkun Zhou,Ke Xing,Akalate Tessema,Hong Zeng,Jun Tian
The antifungal activity of Nerol (NEL) was evaluated against Aspergillus niger , a known cause of grape spoilage, and possible modes of action were explored. The antifungal efficacy of NEL against A. niger has been proven in a dose-dependent manner through in vitro (mycelial growth and spore germination) and in vivo (grapes) tests. An obvious increase in the membrane permeability was detected through the determination of extracellular pH and conductivity. The damage in the cell membrane was measured by monitoring the influx of Propidium iodide (PI) using flow cytometry and was further verified through the inhibition of ergosterol synthesis in the cell membrane. NEL induced morphological changes, and the integrity of the A. niger fungal cells decreased with increasing NEL concentrations. A dose-dependent decrease in ergosterol production was also seen in A. niger cell membranes upon exposure to NEL. The mechanism-of-action study revealed that NEL activated a membrane-active mechanism that inhibits ergosterol synthesis and consequently compromised the membrane integrity of A. niger . As a result, the membrane permeability changes and causes cell death. The membrane lesion mechanism makes NEL a natural alternative to commercial fungicide for control of stored grape spoilage.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
微生物学
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DOI
高影响因子
FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2020
·
IF 6.306
Qi Sun,Jianmei Li,Ying Sun,Qiao Chen,Lei Zhang,Tao Le
Cinnamaldehyde (CIN) is a promising replacement for chemical synthetic preservatives, which has exhibited effective antimicrobial activities in food applications. In this study we examined the antifungal efficiency of CIN against Aspergillus niger in vitro . In addition, we explored its mode of action and evaluated its application potential in bread preservation in situ . The results showed that CIN exerted different levels of antifungal activity through different treatments, wherein it showed the highest antifungal activity in the liquid broth test, followed by solid contact and gas diffusion methods. On the other hand, ultrastructure observation, propyl iodide staining and ergosterol detection showed that CIN may damage the cell ultrastructure and membrane integrity in a dose dependent manner. Besides, the content of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde were, respectively, 2.74 and 2.07 times higher in fungi treated with 100 μg/mL of CIN, compared with those in untreated fungi. Finally, shelf life experiment showed that, in the vapor phase, CIN can efficiently prolong the shelf life of bread. Altogether, these results indicate that CIN can be used as an alternative food preservative due to its antifungal effects that are exerted, at least in part in A. niger , through the induction of oxidative stress, which caused cell damage and increased membrane permeability.
研究领域:
食品科学
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微生物学
·
保鲜技术
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Food Bioscience
·
2024
·
IF 4.8
Qingzhi Ding,Yuan Zheng,Yongqi Zhu,Huamin Yang,Lin Luo,Haile Ma,Xiaoran Li
The individual and combined inhibitory activities of propolis extract (PE) and Hermetia illucens larval proteins (Black soldier fly larvae proteins) (BSFLP) against Aspergillus niger were investigated. The antifungal effects of PE, BSFLP and Synergy of PE and BSFLP (SPB) against Aspergillus niger were determined by mycelial growth , spore germination rate and hyphal elongation. Membrane integrity was measured by assessing changes in extracellular proteins, reducing sugars, and electrical conductivity . Intracellular MDA , H 2 O 2 , ergosterol , and mannan contents were also evaluated. SEM was used to observe the morphology of the Aspergillus niger mycelium . Additionally, AutoDock Tools software and multi-ligand docking methods were used to study the synergistic interactions of ligand combinations on the receptor. The results showed that the combination of PE and BSFLP had excellent effects. During the treatment of antifungal agents, the membrane permeability changed and a large amount of content leaked, while control check (CK) remained almost unchanged. Ergosterol content was found to increase, while mannan content decreased significantly, leading to cell death. In addition, SPB can cause abnormal accumulation of MDA and H 2 O 2 , leading to oxidative stress in cells. SEM results showed that morphology of Aspergillus niger treated with SPB was severe wrinkling, distortion and even breakage. Multi-ligand docking results showed that the binding affinity of receptor 1KS5 to 14 complex ligands increased, as indicated by the decrease in docking energy values. These results provide scientific basis for further study on the application of SPB and development of effective antifungal products.
研究领域:
微生物学
·
食品科学
·
药理学
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DOI
高影响因子
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