Antarctic Marine-Derived Fungi: Metabolomic Signatures and Antibiofilm-Driven Anti-Infective Potential Against Drug Resistant Pathogens

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Konuklugil B., Uras İ. S., Candido P. H. S. C., Luis C., Marques V., Rodrigues C. M. P.

Marine drugs, vol.24, no.267, pp.2-20, 2026 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 24 Issue: 267
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Journal Name: Marine drugs
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Page Numbers: pp.2-20
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Lokman Hekim University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Antarctic marine-derived fungi represent an underexplored reservoir of bioactive secondary

metabolites shaped by extreme environmental pressures. In this study, nine fungal isolates

obtained from Antarctic macroalgae, lichens, sponge tissue, and sediments were evaluated

for their antimicrobial, anticancer, antibiofilm, and metabolomic profiles. Untargeted LC–

MS/MS molecular networking (GNPS) revealed a chemically rich metabolome, dominated

by alkaloids, followed by polyketides, meroterpenoids, and diketopiperazines, with Penicillium

crustosum (A15A) emerging as a major biosynthetic contributor. The annotation of

structurally diverse metabolites, including roquefortines, viridicatin derivatives, andrastins,

and multiple diketopiperazines, highlights the metabolic plasticity of Antarctic fungi. Anticancer

evaluation indicated cytotoxicity, with Aspergillus awamori (A30), Alternaria malorum

(A36), and Cladosporium malorum (A38) displaying activity toward HCT 116 colorectal

cancer cells at IC50 ≥ 30 μg/mL. Extracts were screened against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus

aureus (MRSA, COL), methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA, NCTC8325 4), and

Escherichia coli K12, revealing low to no activity against these pathogens. Six of the nine

isolates exhibited strong antibiofilm activity without inhibiting planktonic bacterial growth,

indicating selective biofilm inhibition against MSSA and meeting the criteria for clinical

developmental “hits”. Biofilm inhibition ranged from 81.10% to 98.50%, with A15A showing

the highest activity (98.50% at 250 μg/mL), followed by A36 (91.16% at 31.35 μg/mL).

Botrytis sp. (A22A), P. chrysogenum (A7), Ulocladium microsporum (A24B), and A30 also

demonstrated strong antibiofilm activity (81.10–85.89%). To our knowledge, this is the first

report describing antibiofilm activity of Antarctic fungal extracts.