Abstract
Fungi offer an amazing variety of biosynthetic pathways to be exploited for novel drugs or biotechnology processes. Previously neglected ecological niches and habitats in marine systems are now used to increase fungal diversity for biorefinery and fossil-free production of organic compounds. Research on marine fungi has long been impeded by the fact that the majority of marine specimens were homologous to terrestrial species. Thus, the pure existence of marine fungi as well as their ecological role had long been disputed. However, distantly related sequences found in oceanic samples and isolation of obligate marine strains have now proven the existence of marine fungi as a separate fungal ecotype. They show unique cultivation properties and features, applicable in biotechnology for new products but also for the redesign of existing biotechnological processes with more robust or challenging culture conditions.
Here, we illustrate the marine fungal diversity and its potential for biotechnology, describe the current stage of technological realization, and highlight special challenges in working with marine fungi.
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Kramer, A., Labes, A. (2020). Biotechnology of Marine Fungi: New Workhorses and Applications. In: Benz, J.P., Schipper, K. (eds) Genetics and Biotechnology. The Mycota, vol 2. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49924-2_16
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