Bioactivity-Based Molecular Networking-Guided Isolation of Epicolidines A–C from the Endophytic Fungus Epicoccum sp. 1-042

Abstract

Bioactivity-based molecular networking-guided fractionation enabled the isolation of three new polycyclic tetramic acids bearing cis-decalin, epicolidines A−C (1−3), along with one known compound, PF 1052 (4), from the endophytic fungus Epicoccum sp. 1-042 collected in Tibet, China. Their structures were assigned on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data, partial hydrolysis, advanced Marfey's method, quantum chemistry calculations, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 2−4 displayed promising activities against Gram-positive bacteria in vitro. Particularly, compound 4 displayed remarkable potential against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) with an MIC value of 0.25 μg/mL, lower than the MIC (0.5 μg/mL) of the antibiotic combination quinupristin/dalfopristin (Q/D). In a further in vivo study, compound 4 increased the survival rate to 100% in the VRE-G. mellonella infection model at a concentration of 10 mg/kg.