Bioprospecting marine fungi from the plastisphere: osteogenic and antiviral activities of fungal extracts

Marine microplastics (MPs) represent a novel ecological niche, populated by fungi with high potential for pharmaceutical discovery. This study explores the bioactivity of fungal strains isolated from MPs in Mediterranean sediments, focusing on their osteogenic and antiviral activities. Crude extracts prepared via solid-state and submerged-state fermentation were tested for their effects on extracellular matrix mineralization in vitro and bone growth in zebrafish larvae, and for their activity against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Several extracts exhibited significant mineralogenic and osteogenic activities, with Aspergillus jensenii MUT6581 and Cladosporium halotolerans MUT6558 being the most performing ones. Antiviral assays identified extracts from A. jensenii MUT6581 and Bjerkandera adusta MUT6589 as effective against RSV and HSV-2 at different extents, with no cytotoxic effect. Although chemical profiling of A. jensenii MUT6581 extract led to the isolation of decumbenones A and B, they did not reproduce the observed bioactivities, suggesting the involvement of other active compounds or synergistic effects. These results highlight the plastisphere as a valuable resource for novel bioactive compounds and suggest the need for further fractionation and characterization to identify the molecules responsible for these promising activities.