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Epiconone, one novel cyclohexenone from endophytic fungi Epicoccum sp. 1-042

The Journal of Antibiotics volume 78, pages 330–335 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Targeting drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, two fungal strains, Epicoccum sp. 1-042 and Penicillium sp. 19-115, were identified from 35 fungi isolated from Tibet. Bioassay-guided isolation from Epicoccum sp. 1-042 yielded a novel cyclohexenone, epiconone (1), and parasitenone (2), while patulin (3) was isolated from Penicillium sp. 19-115. Structural elucidation was accomplished through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemistry calculations. The biosynthetic pathways of compounds 1 and 2 were proposed based on bioinformatics analysis. Compounds 1 − 3 exhibited antibacterial activity against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) with MIC values ranging from 4 to 128 μg mL-1.

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Acknowledgements

This research was co-funded by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (82104047) and CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS, 2021-I2M-1-028).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Shanshan Chang, Xinyue Huang.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAMS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology for Drug Innovation, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People’s Republic of China

    Shanshan Chang, Xinyue Huang, Meng Liu, Ning He, Yihong Li, Mengna Luo, Mengyuan Wang & Yunying Xie

  2. School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Lihu Road No.1800, Wuxi, 214122, People’s Republic of China

    Meng Liu

  3. NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People’s Republic of China

    Yan Li

  4. CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tiantan xili No.1, Beijing, 100050, People’s Republic of China

    Hu Li

  5. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jiangnan University Medical Center (Wuxi No.2 People’s Hospital), Wuxi, 214000, People’s Republic of China

    Xichi Hu

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  1. Shanshan Chang
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Contributions

These authors contributed equally: Shanshan Chang and Xinyue Huang

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Correspondence to Xichi Hu or Yunying Xie.

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Chang, S., Huang, X., Liu, M. et al. Epiconone, one novel cyclohexenone from endophytic fungi Epicoccum sp. 1-042. J Antibiot 78, 330–335 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-025-00813-y

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