Secondary metabolites from hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi: novel bioactive compounds

Abstract

Hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi produce a large variety of secondary metabolites with diverse ecological roles. These compounds serve as nutraceuticals and traditional remedies, and as drug leads for the modern pharmaceutical industry.

Uncovering Prospective Role and Applications of Existing and New Nutraceuticals from Bacterial, Fungal, Algal and Cyanobacterial, and Plant Sources

“…Fungi are also known to adapt rapidly to environmental changes and can produce a variety of secondary metabolites in response to different ecological interactions such as protection from invertebrates; the explanation for this adaptation lies in the complexity of their biochemical pathways and the richness of gene clusters [82]. Future research could highlight nutraceuticals from traditional remedies and allows the modern pharmaceutical/nutraceuticals industry to reintroduce those metabolites as new health supplements [83].…”

Bioactive Metabolites and Potential Mycotoxins Produced by Cordyceps Fungi: A Review of Safety

“…Different compounds have been isolated from entomopathogenic fungi including Cordyceps species [ 17 ]. One of the most important but arguable metabolites produced by C. militaris is cordycepin, i.e., the adenosine analog 3’-deoxyadenosine ( Figure 2 ).…”

“…On the other hand, similar to other traditional herbs, the safety of consuming these fungi has long been a concern [ 16 ]. A plethora of bioactive metabolites have been identified from Hypocrealean entomopathogens [ 14 , 17 , 18 ], including those which have been developed as commercial drugs such as the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporin A, a cyclodepsipeptide isolated from the Ophiocordycipitaceae fungus Tolypocladium inflatum [ 6 ] and the anti-leukemia drug pentostatin, first isolated from Streptomyces , found in C. militaris [ 19 ]. Apart from the medicinal or beneficial effects reported for the chemicals identified from Cordyceps fungi, side effects of cytotoxicity and or neurological toxicity have also been reported for these compounds ( Table 1 ).…”

Isolation of Beauveria bassiana from the Chagas Disease Vector Triatoma infestans in the Gran Chaco Region of Argentina: Assessment of Gene Expression during Host–Pathogen Interaction

“…But the way in which fungus and host interact is key to knowing the final result of the infection process [ 9 ]. B. bassiana secretes toxic or immunosuppressive compounds (often referred to as secondary metabolites) during hemocoel invasion, such as the cyclooligomer nonribosomal peptides beauvericin and bassianolide, the diketomorpholine bassiatin, the cyclic peptides beauverolides, the dibenzoquinone oosporein, and the 2-pyridone tenellin [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Even though the genes involved in some of these secondary metabolites biosynthetic pathways have been studied, most of their biological roles remain to be uncovered [ 11 ].…”

“…B. bassiana secretes toxic or immunosuppressive compounds (often referred to as secondary metabolites) during hemocoel invasion, such as the cyclooligomer nonribosomal peptides beauvericin and bassianolide, the diketomorpholine bassiatin, the cyclic peptides beauverolides, the dibenzoquinone oosporein, and the 2-pyridone tenellin [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Even though the genes involved in some of these secondary metabolites biosynthetic pathways have been studied, most of their biological roles remain to be uncovered [ 11 ]. In this regard, their expression pattern when the fungus grows within its insect host might help to better understand their role in pathogenesis.…”