Useful functions of microbial metabolites

The mood-enhancing effects of fungi and their medicinal properties have been recognized for centuries. Ergot was initially used by midwives to speed childbirth in the Middle Ages. More recently their pharmacological action on dopamine receptors has been exploited to treat post-partum bleeding, migraine, Parkinson's disease and senile dementia. Further indications of the potential value of microbial metabolites are exemplified by the discovery and development of cyclosporin, to treat organ rejection, and mevinolin, a cholesterol-lowering drug. Such discoveries are not unexpected because we have known for some time that fungi regulate morphogenesis, differentiation and sexuality via hormonal molecules, ranging from peptides through to steroidal molecules similar in structure to human sex hormones. A combination of the power of molecular biology to design screens based on isolated disease mechanisms with the chemical inventiveness of microorganisms is providing numerous new pharmacophores for drug development.