Antiviral, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Properties of Peptavirins A and B Produced by Apiocrea sp.14T

Two peptaibol antibiotics, peptavirins A and B, which exhibited strong inhibitory effect against Tobacco mosaic vials (TMV) infection, were isolated from steam-cooked rice culture of Apiocrea sp.14T. The peptavirins were identified as new derivatives of chrysospermins, which are 19-mer and have been reported to be produced in a fungal isolate. The physicochemical properties of the peptavirins were mostly identical with chrysospermins A through D except for the UV absorption spectrum. The peptavirins inhibited the growths of the Grampositive bacteria tested, including the plant pathogenic bacterium, Corynebacterium lilium, and the fungus, Aspergillus niger. Peptavirin A was somewhat cytotoxic to cancer cell lines, especially K562 (leukemia) and UACC 62 (melanoma), whereas peptavirin B only exhibited slight cytotoxicity.