16 - Production of antibiotics by filamentous fungi

Abstract

Antibiotics are the agents that fight against bacteria to prevent infection in humans and animals. The production of antibiotics from microbes is an attractive approach and among microbes, filamentous fungi represent an important group of organisms producing several antibiotics. After the first report of antibiotic production by fungus by Alexander Fleming in 1929, several fungi are explored for novel antibiotics. The research studies on the production of fungal antibiotics also lead to the mining of genetic makeup and deciphering the metabolic pathway in the organism to improve the antibiotic production and synthesis of novel antibiotics. Even though most of the antibiotics are produced through semisynthetic and synthetic approach, microbial species are still preferred for finding novel antibiotics. The present chapter discusses the potential of filamentous fungi for the production of antibiotics, provides updated data regarding the production process and metabolic engineering approaches and the future potential for tapping filamentous fungi for antibiotics production. Advantages and drawbacks of different types of fermentation strategies adopted for antibiotic production by filamentous fungi were also discussed.