Abstract

Michael Hearst , , David Nelson , Graham McCollum , Linda M. Ballard , B. Cherie Millar , Sara Moore , Stephen McClean , John E. Moore , and Juluri R. Rao ,*

Protein extracts of either native or exotic rare mushroom fungi and plants that are normally known for novel therapeutics including immune modulation were investigated for their potential antimicrobial effects. Data obtained using the Kirby-Bauer’s disc-diffusion assay methods showed that a number of locally sourced wild mushroom fungi (e.g. Ganoderma resinaceum, Russula fragilis and Inocybe grammata) had proteins with inherent antimicrobial properties against a number of typical hospital pathogens. The wild type fungus Mycena pura exhibited strong antagonism against Escherichia coli, an organism often commonly associated with nosocomial infections both locally and worldwide. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of protein extracts revealed unique protein banding patterns for the exotic fungal species and possessed significant inhibitory effects against a range of nosocomial pathogens including MRSA, Salmonella, Candida and Aspergillus species. This small-scale study revealed the occurrence of wild fungal peptides of potential therapeutic significance and antimicrobial potential for exploitation in complementary therapies in clinical and veterinary medicine.