Biotechnological Innovations for Unlocking the Antimicrobial Potential of Endophytic Fungal Metabolites

Abstract

Antibiotic consumption has augmented globally without proper guidelines, accelerating the development of bacterial resistance to them, which is the ability of microorganisms to survive and proliferate despite the action of these substances. Given this situation, it is crucial to seek more accessible alternatives, such as endophytic fungi. These are eukaryotes that inhabit the internal tissues of plants, where they establish mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships without harming them. Research to date has demonstrated that the genetic diversity and variety of secondary metabolites found in these fungi reinforce the importance of continuing to explore them, as certain molecules have shown antibiotic activity against various pathogenic bacteria. Nonetheless, their effective utilization is limited by their low natural productivity and the lack of knowledge about their symbiotic relationships and the regulation of their metabolic pathways. Therefore, biotechnological strategies have been developed and implemented to overcome these limitations. Techniques such as media optimization, the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) approach, co-culture, epigenetic modification, and genetic engineering have been used to activate latent biosynthetic pathways and increase metabolite production. However, research has not included animal models, much less clinical trials. Therefore, the path to commercialization still requires significant research by the pharmaceutical industry.