Chapter 14 - Genus Penicillium: Advances and application in the modern era

Abstract

The genus Penicillium is among the most abundant and ubiquitous groups of soil fungi that exist in nature. The genus is phylogenetically represented by 2 subgenera and 26 sections under the family Aspergillaceae, with 429 globally valid species as per the International Commission on Penicillium and Aspergillus (ICPA). The Penicillium species produces a diverse range of structurally heterogeneous secondary metabolites (SMs) that are of prime interest in the industrial and therapeutic domains as well as to mycologists. A part of the polyphasic approach employed for identification includes the secondary metabolites that thrive as chemical signatures for biological segregation of these species. The biological activities demonstrated by these repositories of SMs are promising leads for drug discovery and development. This chapter summarizes and reviews some important Penicillium species and their bioactive metabolites that are reported to possess antibacterial, antitumor, antifungal, and antiinflammatory activities. It highlights the role of gene clusters accountable for the production of SMs, with a focus on their mechanism and regulation for enhanced metabolite production. It also encompasses the recent works on Penicillium species with advancements in using nanoparticles for multiple drug resistance as well as for bioremediation and wastewater treatment. The genus Penicillium contains a plethora of SMs that can be employed for their application in the present era. Further studies for the identification of new species, their biologically active compounds, coevolving secondary metabolite gene clusters, and metabolite pathways will, therefore, be important to mycologists as well as to scientists in the pursuit of novel industrial and therapeutic compounds.