Fest vs. Flüssig“: Vergleich der Effektivität von Kulturtechniken zum Screening nach antitumoralen Photosensibilisatoren aus Pilzen der Gattungen Penicillium, Talaromyces und Hamigera
Student/in: Carmen Bendetta, BSc
Termin: 25.03.2026, um 14:30 Uhr
Ort: Seminarraum 13
1. Prüfer/in: Mag. Dr. Pamela Vrabl
2. Prüfer/in: : ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Ursula Peintner
Vorsitzende/r: Mag. Dr. Priv.-Doz Andreas Wagner
Interessierte Kolleginnen und Kollegen sind herzlich willkommen!
Abstract
Cancer persists as one of the principal causes of mortality worldwide, emphasizing the need for more effective therapeutic strategies. However, conventional anticancer treatments are largely non-targeted, mostly invasive, and commonly associated with systemic side effects. In this context, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) represents a promising alternative due to its more targeted approach. PDT employs photosensitizing compounds activated by light to induce targeted tumor cell death. Fungi of the genera Talaromyces, Penicillium, and Hamigera are known to produce diverse secondary metabolites. These metabolites represent a promising source of novel photosensitizers with potential applications in PDT.
The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of the selected fungal species from the genera Penicillium, Talaromyces, and Hamigera to produce antitumoral photosensitizers. Submerged cultures were assessed as an alternative to agar plate cultivation for screening purposes. Furthermore, photocytotoxicity assays were employed to determine photosensitizer activity in four cancer cell lines, in parallel with an evaluation of how the cultivation method modulates the metabolite profile and screening efficiency.
Out of the five selected strains, T. islandicus and P. restrictum produced photosensitizing compounds. The crude extracts derived from both agar plate cultivation and submerged cultivation exhibited strong photocytotoxic activity. However, agar plate cultivation was found to be more suitable for screening purposes than submerged cultivation, providing higher extract yields and more reliable induction of photosensitizer production. The strongest activity was observed in the extracts of P. restrictum cultivated on agar plates with YES medium, with an EC50 of 0.43 µg/ml, and in the extract of T. islandicus cultivated on agar plates with YES medium, with an EC50 of 0.45 µg/ml.