ABSTRACT
Filamentous fungi produce a vast array of bioactive secondary metabolites [1], including antibacterials (penicillin, cephalosporins, and fusidic acid), antifungals (pneumocandins, griseofulvin, and strobilurins), immunosuppressants (cyclosporin A and mycophenolic acid), antihypercholesterolemia agents (lovastatin and pravastatin), migraine and obstetrics pharmacologics (ergot alkaloids), plant growth hormones (gibberellins), and an animal growth promoter (zearalenone). Despite these successes, most efforts have been focused on fungi that can be easily isolated, cultured, and maintained on laboratory media. We expect to continue to discover new secondary metabolites from easily culturable fungi, but expansion of fungal natural products sources to unculturable and slow-growing fungi may lead to even more new structural classes. Improved cultivation techniques can help to take advantage of less manageable fungi, but some fungi may never be cultivated.
