Diversity of culturable fungi in Antarctic lakes and their potential for producing compounds of biotechnological interest

Authors: SOUZA, LAUREN MACHADO - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; RIBEIRO, JULIA DE PAULA - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; BARRETO, DEBORA LUIZA - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; TEIXEIRA, ELISA AMORIM - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; CARVALHO, CAMILA - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; LIRIO, JUAN - Argentine Antarctic Institute; CORIA, SILVIA - Argentine Antarctic Institute; CONVEY, PETER - University Of Birmingham; OLIVEIRA, JFABIO SOARES - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; Cantrell, Charles; DUKE, STEPHEN - University Of Mississippi; ROSA, CARLOS - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; ROSA, LUIZ - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais

Submitted to: Extremophiles
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2025
Publication Date: 10/23/2025
Citation: Souza, L.D., Ribeiro, J.M., Barreto, D.C., Teixeira, E.A., Carvalho, C.R., Lirio, J.M., Coria, S., Convey, P., Oliveira, J., Cantrell, C.L., Duke, S.O., Rosa, C.A., Rosa, L.H. 2025. Diversity of culturable fungi in Antarctic lakes and their potential for producing compounds of biotechnological interest. Extremophiles . (2025) 29:36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-025-01405-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-025-01405-2

Interpretive Summary: We evaluated the diversity and biotechnological potential of culturable fungi from sediments of Florencia and Katerina lakes, James Ross Island, maritime Antarctica. A total of 24 taxa were identified: 16 from Florencia and eight from Katerina. Florencia Lake showed greater taxonomic richness and diversity than Katerina Lake. Of all taxa, 12 were exclusive to Florencia, four to Katerina, and four were shared. Eight isolates (produced biosurfactants and 50 contained intracellular lipid bodies. A Penicillium sp. isolate fully inhibited germination of Allium schoenoprasum seeds, and NMR analysis confirmed (-)-palitantin as the active compound. These results confirm that Antarctic lake sediments harbor diverse fungi with potential for producing enzymes, biosurfactants, lipids and bioactive metabolites, reinforcing the value of studying extremophilic fungi as a source of bioproducts in the context of fragile ecosystems affected by climate change.

Technical Abstract: We evaluated the diversity and biotechnological potential of culturable fungi from sediments of Florencia and Katerina lakes, James Ross Island, maritime Antarctica. A total of 24 taxa were identified: 16 from Florencia and eight from Katerina. Ascomycota was the dominant phylum, followed by Mortierellomycota and Basidiomycota. The main genera included Cladosporium, Dactylaria, Glaciozyma, Graphium, Leucosporidium, Mortierella, Penicillium, Pseudeurotium, Pseudogymnoascus, Tetracladium, and Thelebolus. Pseudogymnoascus sp. 1 and Thelebolus species were the most frequent. Florencia Lake showed greater taxonomic richness and diversity than Katerina Lake. Of all taxa, 12 were exclusive to Florencia, four to Katerina, and four were shared. Fifty-seven isolates were screened for the production of 11 industrially relevant enzymes; inulinase was the most common, followed by protease, invertase, gelatinase and pectinase. Eight isolates (Pseudogymnoascus and Thelebolus) produced biosurfactants and 50 contained intracellular lipid bodies. A Penicillium palitans isolate fully inhibited germination of Allium schoenoprasum seeds, and NMR analysis confirmed (-)-palitantin as the active compound. These results confirm that Antarctic lake sediments harbor diverse fungi with potential for producing enzymes, biosurfactants, lipids and bioactive metabolites, reinforcing the value of studying extremophilic fungi as a source of bioproducts in the context of fragile ecosystems affected by climate change.