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Title: SEARCHING FOR POLYKETIDES IN INSECT PATHOGENIC FUNGI

Author
item Gibson, Donna
item KRASNOFF, STUART - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item CHURCHILL, ALICE - CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/2006
Publication Date: 12/3/2006
Citation: Gibson, D.M., Krasnoff, S.B., Churchill, A.C. 2006. Searching for polyketides in insect pathogenic fungi. In: Rimando, A., Bauer, S., editors. Polyketides: Biosynthesis, Genetics, and Biological Activity. ACS Book Series 955. p. 48-67.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Among the major microbial taxa, fungi are surpassed only by actinomycetes as a source of therapeutic agents, especially antibiotics. It has been argued that there is a higher likelihood of discovering producers of novel antibiotics among parasitic microorganisms because of the unique adaptive roles adduced to secondary metabolites during the infection, both in overcoming host defenses and in competing with other micro-organisms for host resources. The extensive polyketide synthase sequence data available for fungi now makes molecular screening for novel bioactive polyketides a viable alternative to traditional screening approaches. The development, application, and utility of one such screening approach to predict chemistries in insect pathogenic fungi are described herein.