The biotechnological potential of Epicoccum spp.: diversity of secondary metabolites

Abstract

Epicoccum is a genus of ubiquitous fungi typically found in air, in soil, and on decaying vegetation. They also commonly display an endophytic lifestyle and are isolated from diverse plant tissues. The fungi from the genus Epicoccum are mainly known for their use as biocontrol agents against phytopathogens and for their ability to produce many secondary metabolites with potential biotechnological applications, such as antioxidant, anticancer,r and antimicrobial compounds. Among the bioactive compounds produced by Epicoccum spp., epicocconone is a commercially available fluorophore, D8646-2-6 is a patented telomerase inhibitor, and taxol is an anticancer drug originally isolated from Taxus brevifolia. Epicoccum spp. also produces epicolactone, an antimicrobial compound with a unique and complex structure that has aroused considerable interest in the chemical-synthesis community. The main goal of the present review is to discuss the diversity of secondary metabolites produced by Epicoccum spp., their biotechnological applications, and proposed hypothetical biosynthesis. In addition, the use of Epicoccum spp. as biocontrol agents and the pigments produced by these fungi are also discussed.

Keywords:

• E. nigrum
• microbial ecology
• bio-active compounds
• biocontrol
• biotechnology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

RMB was financially supported by CAPES (process number BEX 7068/14–0) and CNPq (process number 141145/2012–9) during the development of this review. Work in the W.L.A. lab is supported in part by FAPESP (grant numbers 2015/11563–1 and 2017/12510–4). W.L.A. received Productivity-in-Research fellowships (Produtividade em Pesquisa—PQ) from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).