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Autoregulatory Properties of (+)-Thujopsene and Influence of Environmental Conditions on Its Production by Penicillium decumbens

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Abstract

A Penicillium decumbens strain was collected from a water-damaged building, and the production of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) was investigated by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction, followed by GC-MS analysis. The strain was characterized by a high production of (+)-thujopsene. The influence of various temperatures, relative humidity (RH) values, substrates, and inoculum concentrations on fungal growth and (+)-thujopsene production was studied. The optimal temperature and relative humidity for P. decumbens growth were 30°C and 100% RH, respectively. In general, the more favourable the incubation parameters were for growth, the faster maximum (+)-thujopsene production was reached. Moreover, the antifungal activity of thujopsene was tested against 16 fungal strains. The growth of five of these fungal strains was negatively affected both by thujopsene alone and when grown in contact with the MVOCs produced by P. decumbens. Following these results and since growth of P. decumbens itself was also inhibited by thujopsene, an autoregulatory function for this compound was proposed. Few data are present in the literature about chemical communication between fungi. The present research could, therefore, contribute to understanding fungal metabolism and behaviour in indoor environments.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are indebted to the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen) for financial support (research project G.0034.07) and for a Postdoctoral Fellowship of A. Adams.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Viviana Polizzi, Lisa Fazzini, An Adams & Norbert De Kimpe

  2. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Food Analysis, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Viviana Polizzi, Sarah De Saeger & Carlos Van Peteghem

  3. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Territorial Ecology and Environment, Pavia University, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Lisa Fazzini & Anna Maria Picco

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  1. Viviana Polizzi
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  2. Lisa Fazzini
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Correspondence to Norbert De Kimpe.

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Polizzi, V., Fazzini, L., Adams, A. et al. Autoregulatory Properties of (+)-Thujopsene and Influence of Environmental Conditions on Its Production by Penicillium decumbens . Microb Ecol 62, 838–852 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-011-9905-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-011-9905-9

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