Potentiated inhibition of Trichoderma virens and other environmental fungi by new biocide combinations

Valli�res, Cindy; Alexander, Cameron; Avery, Simon V.

Abstract

Fungi cause diverse, serious socio-economic problems, including biodeterioration of valuable products and materials that spawns a biocides industry worth ~$11 billion globally. To help combat environmental fungi that commonly colonise material products, this study tested the hypothesis that combination of an approved fungicide with diverse agents approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) could reveal potent combinatorial activities with promise for fungicidal applications. The strategy to use approved compounds lowers potential development risks for any effective combinations. A high-throughput assay of 1,280 FDA-approved compounds was conducted to find those that potentiate the effect of iodopropynyl-butyl-carbamate (IPBC) on the growth of Trichoderma virens; IPBC is one of the two most widely used Biocidal Products Regulations-approved fungicides. From this library, 34 compounds in combination with IPBC strongly inhibited fungal growth. Low-cost compounds that gave the most effective growth inhibition were tested against other environmental fungi that are standard biomarkers for resistance of synthetic materials to fungal colonization. Trifluoperazine (TFZ) in combination with IPBC enhanced growth-inhibition of three of the five test fungi. The antifungal hexetidine (HEX) potentiated IPBC action against two of the test organisms. Testable hypotheses on the mechanisms of these combinatorial actions are discussed. Neither IPBC + TFZ nor IPBC + HEX exhibited a combinatorial effect against mammalian cells. These combinations retained strong fungal growth-inhibition properties after incorporation to a polymer matrix (alginate) with potential for fungicide delivery. The study reveals the potential of such approved compounds for novel combinatorial applications in the control of fungal environmental-opportunists.

Citation

Vallières, C., Alexander, C., & Avery, S. V. (2021). Potentiated inhibition of Trichoderma virens and other environmental fungi by new biocide combinations. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 105, 2867-2875. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11211-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 14, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 18, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Deposit Date: Mar 15, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 19, 2022
• Journal: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Print ISSN: 0175-7598
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-0614
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 105
• Pages: 2867-2875
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11211-3
• Keywords: Biotechnology; Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5396558
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-021-11211-3