Antifungal activity of lipids from Antarctic filamentous fungi against human and plant pathogens

Abstract

Fungal diseases represent an increasing global threat, causing more than 1.7 million deaths annually and severe agricultural losses estimated at over USD 220 billion each year. The search for new antifungal agents with novel mechanisms of action is therefore both necessary and urgent. Antarctica is characterised by extreme environmental conditions and harbours unique microbial communities adapted to low temperatures, high salinity and oligotrophic conditions, making it an exceptional natural laboratory for discovering bioactive compounds. The present study was based on the hypothesis: “Antarctic filamentous fungi are a source of lipids, such as fatty acids, with antifungal properties against human and plant pathogenic fungi, and low ecotoxicity under in vivo conditions”. In this sense, the main objective was: “To explore both the antifungal properties and the ecotoxicity level of lipids from the cellular membrane of Antarctic filamentous fungi against both human and plant pathogenic fungi.” To address this hypothesis, three specific objectives were pursued. Ecological and taxonomic analyses (SO1) showed that cultivable fungal communities are shaped not by a single edaphic gradient but by the combined influence of multiple soil properties across vegetation contexts. In addition, this study represents a first characterisation of cultivable Antarctic filamentous fungi from Fildes Bay (Antarctica), integrating diversity and biotechnological potential. Chemical analyses (SO2) show that lipid extracts obtained from Antarctic filamentous fungi exhibit complex lipid profiles rich in fatty acids, reflecting adaptation to cold environments. Also, the results highlight the importance of selecting appropriate extraction methods to obtain reliable lipid profiles Antifungal assays (SO3) indicated that Antarctic fungal lipids may influence fungal development while remaining within an ecologically tolerable toxicity, supporting their potential compatibility with sustainable applications within a One Health approach.