Biomedical exploitation of the fungus-growing ant symbiosis
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
There is a constant need for discovering novel sources of compounds with antimicrobial properties, and recent studies support that symbiotic associations involving chemically mediated interactions may be a prominent source of novel compound discovery. Here I review a particularly promising natural system involving such interactions, the multipartite fungus-growing ant symbiosis. This includes a review of the ancient symbiosis involving intricate interactions between at least six symbionts, a review of the efforts that have been made in examining host-symbiont and symbiont-symbiont interactions, as well as the efforts made in identifying and characterizing chemical compounds mediating these interactions. Finally, I outline the prospects for future natural product discoveries from the system, touching on how advances in chemical analyses and whole-genome sequencing techniques will facilitate the process of natural product discovery of biomedical interest.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Drug News & Perspectives |
Vol/bind | 23 |
Udgave nummer | 3 |
Sider (fra-til) | 203-10 |
Antal sider | 8 |
ISSN | 0214-0934 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 1 apr. 2010 |
Eksternt udgivet | Ja |
ID: 33257367