molecules Article Epipyrone A, a Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Compound Produced by Epicoccum nigrum ICMP 19927 Alex J. Lee 1 , Melissa M. Cadelis 2,3 , Sang H. Kim 1, Simon Swift 3 , Brent R. Copp 2 and Silas G. Villas-Boas 1,* 1 School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3A Symonds Street, 1010 Auckland, New Zealand;
[email protected] (A.J.L.);
[email protected] (S.H.K.) 2 School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, 1010 Auckland, New Zealand;
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[email protected] (B.R.C.) 3 School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, 1023 Auckland, New Zealand;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] Academic Editor: Rosa Durán Patron Received: 31 October 2020; Accepted: 16 December 2020; Published: 18 December 2020 Abstract: We have isolated a filamentous fungus that actively secretes a pigmented exudate when growing on agar plates. The fungus was identified as being a strain of Epicoccum nigrum. The fungal exudate presented strong antifungal activity against both yeasts and filamentous fungi, and inhibited the germination of fungal spores. The chemical characterization of the exudate showed that the pigmented molecule presenting antifungal activity is the disalt of epipyrone A—a water-soluble polyene metabolite with a molecular mass of 612.29 and maximal UV–Vis absorbance at 428 nm. This antifungal compound showed excellent stability to different temperatures and neutral to alkaline pH. Keywords: polyenes; pigment; fungicide; antimicrobial; yeast; antibiotic; bioactives 1. Introduction Epicoccum species are primarily saprophytic fungi from the family Didymellaceae.