The utility of diverse species of endophytic fungi as a viable source for drug agents with clinical applicability for the treatment of human diseases continues to expand. In this study we examined secondary metabolites of Nigrospora sphaerica isolated from the flowering dogwood, Cornus florida L., for their anticancer properties on lung cancer and glioblastoma.  Molecular identification of N. sphaerica was determined using ITS-rDNA sequence.  The expression of translational pathway proteins were examined after exposure to various crude extract concentrations (2µg/ml, 4µg/ml, 8µg/ml) using immunoblotting procedures, while tumor cell migration analysis was performed using boyden chamber assays.  Crude N. sphaerica extracts exhibited antiproliferative and antimigratory effects on solid tumors as determined by cell proliferation and cell migration assays, respectively.  The antitumorigenic effects of N. sphaerica were as a consequence of negatively regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR translational control signaling pathway, a canonical mechanistic axis that contributes to the maintenance and progression of several human cancers.  To our knowledge this is the first evidence that demonstrates N. sphaerica from C. florida inhibits tumor cell migration, and thus disease recurrence a major factor in the therapeutic resistance of cancers to chemotherapeutic agents.

Bacterial endophytes selected for their capability to suppress diverse fungal pathogens in vitro and in greenhouse studies have been shown to promote plant growth. The effect of volatile compounds emitted by selected bacteria on plant growth in Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) was evaluated on container-grown plants nested above bacterial cultures, with roots exposed to the volatiles without direct contact between bacterial cells and the plant roots. Significant increases in plant growth were observed in plant height, root length, leaf size, fresh weight, and chlorophyll content in all plants tested. Although diverse chemical compounds may be involved in promoting plant growth, including volatile and nonvolatile compounds, observations in this study have implications for the potential role of the selected bacteria in plant production as biofertilizers and biopesticides.

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