''Microporus'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

in the family

Polyporaceae The Polyporaceae () are a family (biology), family of polypore, poroid fungi belonging to the Basidiomycota. The trama (mycology), flesh of their basidiocarp, fruit bodies varies from soft (as in the case of the dryad's saddle illustrated) to v ...

. The genus has a widespread distribution and, according to a 2008 estimate, contains 11 species. The genus name combines the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

words ("small") and ("pore").

Species

Index Fungorum ''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names (scientific names) in the fungus kingdom. As of 2015, the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partners along with Landcare Research and th ...

accepts 12 species in ''Microporus'': *'' M. affinis'' (Blume & T.Nees) Kuntze (1898) *'' M. affinis-microloma'' (Lloyd) T.Hatt. & Sotome (2013) *'' M. atroalbus'' (Henn.) Kuntze (1898) *'' M. atrovillosus'' Ryvarden (1975) *'' M. concinnus'' P.Beauv. (1804) *'' M. incomptus'' (Afzel. ex Fr.) Kuntze (1898) *'' M. internuntius'' (Corner) T. Hatt. (2005) *'' M. longisporus'' T.Hatt. (2000) *'' M. luteoceraceus'' D.A.Reid (1986) – Peninsular Malaysia *'' M. nipponicus'' (Yasuda) Imazeki (1943) *'' M. subvernicipes'' (Murrill) T.Hatt. & Sotome (2013) *'' M. xanthopus'' (Fr.) Kuntze (1898)

Chemistry

Seven novel

diterpene Diterpenes are a class of terpenes composed of four isoprene units, often with the molecular formula C20H32. They are biosynthesized by plants, animals and fungi via the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate being a primary ...

molecules, microporenic acids A–G, were isolated from the

cultures Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

of an undescribed species of ''Microporus'' found in the

Kakamega Forest Kakamega Forest is a tropical rainforest situated in the Kakamega County, Kakamega, Vihiga County, Vihiga, and Nandi_County, Nandi counties of Kenya, northwest of the capital Nairobi, and near the border with Uganda. It is Kenya's only tropical r ...

of Kenya. These compounds have

antimicrobial An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms (microbicide) or stops their growth (bacteriostatic agent). Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they are used to treat. For example, antibiotics are used aga ...

activity against several

Gram-positive bacteria In bacteriology, gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their type of cell wall. The Gram stain ...

, and also inhibit the formation of

biofilm A biofilm is a Syntrophy, syntrophic Microbial consortium, community of microorganisms in which cell (biology), cells cell adhesion, stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy ext ...

by ''

Staphylococcus aureus ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a Gram-positive spherically shaped bacterium, a member of the Bacillota, and is a usual member of the microbiota of the body, frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. It is often posi ...

''.

References

Polyporaceae Polyporales genera Taxa described in 1805 {{Polyporales-stub