Characterization and application of fungal metabolites and assessment of new biofungicides potential

The object of proposed research are various species of micro- and macromycetes, because of their great diversity and potential economic significance. The diversity will be studied on the basis of morpho-physiological and biochemical analyses, as well as testing of molecular and genetical polymorphism among taxa. The special attention will be given to selected secondary fungal metabolites and possibilities of the application in human and animal health and environmental protection. The proposed research will be aimed to definition of optimal conditions for synthesis of selected biologically active metabolites, as well as their isolation and characterization. Since numerous substances of plant origin also possess antimicrobial and antioxidative activities, the selected aromatic plant species collected in Serbia and region will be the object of proposed research with the aim of obtaining natural remedies for control of different diseases. Skreening of antimicrobial, antioxidative, antitumor, cytotoxic and immunomodulating activity of mycelial and fruit bodies ethanolic and water extracts of selected fungal and lichen species, selected plants secondary metabolites, as well as newly synthesized compounds, will be examined using modern methods. Considering the big amounts of chemically stable organic pollutants with significant cancerogenic and mutagenic effects, the study of fungal enzymatic systems, as well as their potential for biodegradation is proposed.