FungalBioChile · Unlocking the Antimicrobial Potential of Chilean Fungi through Integrated Functional and Genomic Approaches

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, demanding innovative discovery pipelines for new bioactive molecules. Fungi represent a proven yet underexploited source of antibacterial compounds, but current approaches are hampered by high rediscovery rates and limited integration of genomic data. This project leverages an exceptional collection of 164 Chilean fungal strains preserved at the Westerdijk Institute, covering more than 50 years of sampling (1968–2022) and diverse ecosystems from the Atacama Desert to temperate rainforests. Importantly, it includes underexplored genera such as Pewenomyces, Resinogalea, Entomortierella, and Leohumicola, for which no secondary metabolites have been reported to date. The workflow combines high-throughput antimicrobial screening with stringent dereplication to prioritize novel chemistry early on, ensuring resources are directed toward unique candidates. Active extracts will be fractionated and profiled by HRMS, while parallel genome and transcriptome sequencing will link bioactivity to biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Moreover, fungi will be cultivated under elicitation conditions, to activate silent pathways and enhance metabolite discovery.By integrating functional screening with genome-based approaches, the project will accelerate the identification of novel antibacterial molecules with potential relevance against multidrug-resistant pathogens. Beyond discovery, the results will expand our understanding of the untapped biosynthetic capacity of Chilean fungi, positioning them as a valuable resource for future natural product research and sustainable drug development.