Biosynthesis of nanoparticles by fungus Monacrosporium thaumasium and its action on egg masses of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata

Nematophagous fungi are widely utilized for biological control against both helminths and their intermediate hosts. This study investigates the fungus Monacrosporium thaumasium’s potential in synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The efficacy of a crude extract from an M. thaumasium isolate (strain NF34) combined with silver nitrate (AgNO3) was tested on egg masses of Biomphalaria glabrata, serving as a model for embryotoxicity. The experiment followed a completely randomized design, with treatments containing AgNPs (in various proportions) and a control group with dechlorinated water maintained at 25 °C for ten days. Results indicate that M. thaumasium effectively produces AgNPs, causing 100% inhibition in exposed snail egg masses. The experimental results indicate that the fungus exhibits a potential molecular mechanism for nanoparticle formation, along with demonstrating embryotoxic activity in snail egg masses. These findings underscore the importance of further investigating this action and the underlying mechanism to provide potential applications in biological control.