ICBG Central Asia Project: Fungal Associate Program (FAP)
Endophytic and epibiotic fungi (fungi that live within plants) produce biologically active and structurally diverse secondary metabolites. The Clavicipitaceae are among the most evolutionarily advanced and complex of all fungi. Rresearch suggests that clavicipitalean species produce many families of alkaloids, including ergotamine, various sesquiterpenoids and unique phenolic glycerides - all having pharmacological activities.
Almost nothing is known about these fungi in Central Asia, although symbiotic fungi are present in plants from many families. Central Asia has neither been explored for fungal endophytes and epiphytes nor for the bioactive natural products these fungi produce. This exploration will be done in collaboration with Uzbek and Kyrgyz scientists. An exploratory project focused on the Clavicipitaceae in Central Asia is expected to yield many new pharmacologically active fungal metabolites for the treatment of several diseases.