Endophytic fungi (that live within plants) and epibiotic fungi (that live on the surfaces of plants)

produce biologically active and structurally diverse secondary metabolites. Diverse taxa exist as asymtomatic endophytes and epiphytes. This project is inclusive of all groups of fungi that exist as endophytes or epibionts. Among endophytic and epiphytic fungal groups is the Clavicipitaceae (Ascomycetes), a family that contains both endophytic and epibiotic species. These fungi are among the most evolutionarily advanced and complex of all fungi.  Research suggests that clavicipitalean species produce many families of alkaloids, including ergotamine, various sesquiterpenoids and unique phenolic glycerides - all having pharmacological activities. Research on other groups of endophytes confirms that they too are rich sources of bioactive compounds.

Little is known about endophytes and epibionts in Central Asia, although symbiotic fungi are

present in plants from many families. In the previous five years of research in Central Asia we have identified several compounds that show promise as pharmaceuticals. Currently we are investigating 9 bioactive compounds for potential application in medicine. Through studies of endophytes from plants in diverse habitats in Kyrgyzstan we have also determined that certain habitats tend to yield a higher frequency of bioactive endophytes than other habitats. Habitats with optimal growth conditions for host plants tend to yield bioactive endophytes at higher frquencies than plants from habitats where plants are stressed by low nutrients or poor light conditions. From this association we proposed the ‘nutritional abundance hypothesis’ that holds that abundant plant nutrients are a prerequisite to the development and maintenance of fungal endophytes that are rich producers of secondary metabolites. Continued exploration will be done in collaboration with Central Asian scientists.