Ants/Nest-Associated Fungi and Their Specialized Metabolites: Taxonomy, Chemistry, and Bioactivity

Abstract Microscopic fungi occupy a vast number of habitats, are taxonomically diverse, degrade complex substrates, and have stood out for their capacity to biosynthesize plethora specialized metabolites. Such molecules structurally many applications in fundamental applied sciences, example, medicine, material food chemistry, textile pharmaceutical industries, agronomy, among other fields. However, despite the tremendous biotechnological value fungi, these organisms understudied, limiting knowledge taxonomy, some putative applications. Notably, specific habitats remain unexplored terms mycobiota. Based on considerations, this review describes known fungal diversity associated with ants/nests, metabolic potential, possible metabolites drug discovery programs focused developing treatments human diseases. According revision, has been studied by applying conventional methodologies such as isolation morphological identification soil from mounds nest chambers, indirectly ants’ cuticles glands. The subfamilies, genera, taxonomical information, geographical origin ants which filamentous yeast commonly isolated also described. Furthermore, important information is presented concerning difference between ant-associated mycobiota that surroundings, discarding extrapolation chemical biological fungi. Altogether, evidenced lack regarding composition encouraging research exploring chemistry biosynthesized mycobiota, well elucidation allelopathic potential inside nests. Graphical