''Microporus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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

in the family

Polyporaceae The Polyporaceae are a family of poroid fungi belonging to the Basidiomycota. The flesh of their fruit bodies varies from soft (as in the case of the dryad's saddle illustrated) to very tough. Most members of this family have their hymeniu ...

. 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 ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

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

Species

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

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 chemical compounds 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 ...

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

cultures Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...

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

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

of Kenya. These compounds have

antimicrobial An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. For example, antibiotics are used against bacteria, and antifungals ar ...

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. Gram-positive bact ...

, and also inhibit the formation of

biofilm A biofilm comprises any syntrophic consortium of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix that is composed of extracellular ...

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 positive ...

''.

References

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