Secondary Metabolites of Pathogenic Fungi: From Mechanism to Medicine
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 51
Special Issue Editors
Interests: microbiology and immunology (mycology)
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The biological complexity of fungi is reflected in their rich repertoire of secondary metabolites (SMs). Although not essential for basic growth, these small molecules play key roles in environmental adaptation, competition with other organisms, and host colonization. When toxic to humans or animals, they are termed mycotoxins and represent a significant, often underrecognized, threat to food safety and public health. The shift in fungi from saprophytes to pathogens often depends on the coordinated production of SMs, which can suppress host immunity and damage cellular structures.
From an evolutionary standpoint, SM production is energetically costly but offers clear selective advantages. In nutrient-limited settings, these compounds function as chemical defenses, signaling molecules, and mediators of ecological interactions. Their diversity is further enhanced by the ability of fungi to respond dynamically to environmental changes. This adaptability is exploited experimentally through the One Strain–Many Compounds (OSMAC) approach, where varying culture conditions activate otherwise silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs).
Within the One Health perspective, the risks associated with fungal toxins are increasingly shaped by environmental change. Climate shifts are expanding the distribution of toxins such as aflatoxins into new regions and can elevate production under crop stress. At the same time, widespread use of agricultural fungicides has contributed to azole resistance in pathogens like Aspergillus fumigatus, highlighting the need for coordinated, cross-sector management.
Scope of the Special Issue
This Special Issue aims to connect advances in metabolite discovery with clinical relevance. We welcome studies that integrate genomics, metabolomics, structural biology, and medicinal chemistry to clarify the molecular basis of fungal virulence. Insights into mechanisms such as ribotoxic stress and the regulation of BGCs may support the development of new diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies. Both original research and reviews that examine the chemical interactions between fungi and their environment are encouraged.
Dr. Kritsada Pruksaphon
Guest Editor
Dr. Nopawit Khamto
Guest Editor Assistant
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Keywords
- fungal secondary metabolites
- mycotoxins
- fungal virulence and fungal pathogenesis
- biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs)
- one strain–many compounds (OSMAC)
- metabolomics
- host–pathogen interaction
- ribotoxic stress
- one health and climate change
- diagnostic biomarkers
- antifungal therapeutics
- medicinal chemistry
- structural biology
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