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Secondary metabolites from hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi: novel bioactive compounds

Liwen Zhang1, Opemipo Esther Fasoyin1, István Molnár2

  • 1Biotechnology Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing 100081, P.R. China. xuyuquan@caas.cn.

Natural Product Reports
|March 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi (HEF) produce diverse secondary metabolites (SMs) crucial for insect pathogenicity, biopesticide development, and pharmaceutical applications. This review covers HEF-derived SMs from 2014-2019, highlighting their roles in virulence and broader applications.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Fungal biochemistry
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Entomopathogenic fungi, primarily within the order Hypocreales (HEF), represent a specialized fungal group.
  • HEF genomes are rich in predicted secondary metabolite (SM) biosynthetic gene clusters.
  • SMs produced by HEF play multifaceted roles in fungal-insect interactions and ecological functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To survey the structures and biological activities of secondary metabolites (SMs) from Hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi (HEF).
  • To summarize recent findings on the roles of these SMs in fungal virulence.
  • To highlight the applications of HEF-derived SMs in agriculture and medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies published between 2014 and Q3 2019.
  • Analysis of secondary metabolite structures and their associated biological activities.
  • Compilation of information on the roles of SMs in fungal pathogenicity and host-pathogen interactions.

Main Results:

  • HEF produce a wide array of SMs with diverse biological activities.
  • These SMs function as virulence factors, modulating fungal-insect interactions.
  • SMs also contribute to host defense, communication, and stress mitigation.
  • HEF-derived SMs have applications as biopesticides, lead compounds for chemical pesticides, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.

Conclusions:

  • Secondary metabolites from HEF are critical for their ecological roles and pathogenicity.
  • The diverse bioactivities of these SMs offer significant potential for agricultural and pharmaceutical innovations.
  • Continued research into HEF-derived SMs is essential for harnessing their full potential.

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