A Comprehensive Bibliometric Investigation on Antimicrobials from Fungal Origins with a Biotechnological Perspective

Interest in fungal research has increased in recent years due to its relevance in producing bioactive compounds, which serve as promising sources of bacteriostatic and fungistatic agents. Their use represents a significant alternative to traditional antibiotics, minimizing the risks associated with microbial resistance. In this context, the present work aimed to: assess the volume of annual publications on the subject and identify key players, analyze the collaboration network among researchers, and check the patents filed on this topic For this purpose, the Bibliometrix R-package, as well as scientific metadata from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, were used (n=506). In total, 256 sources, authors (n=2,526), keywords (n=1,812), and references (n=19,315), from 1989 to 2023, were analyzed. The academic debate on the subject has been promoted by India (29%), the United Kingdom (UK) (7%), China (6%), and the United States of America (USA) (6%). The authors identified as the most cited were Liu J (n = 142), followed by Jesu Arockiaraj (n = 106). A knowledge predominance of publications focusing on the life science disciplines. The most prolific institutions were the National Research Center (n=20) and the University of Pittsburgh (n=13). The most cited journals were the World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology (n=719) and Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (n=661). Finally, the United States Patent and Trademark Office represented 85% of the patents filed on the subject (n=28,303). Collectively, the findings herein can guide researchers and biotechnology industries in identifying the most relevant sources for antimicrobial biotechnology.