Fungi represent a cornerstone of industrial biotechnology, serving as indispensable platforms for the production of enzymes, organic acids, and high-value pharmaceuticals. In the era of synthetic biology and green manufacturing, the engineering of fungal cell factories offers unparalleled opportunities to address global challenges in sustainability, human health, and the circular bioeconomy. This article collection aims to capture the cutting-edge advances in fungal biomanufacturing, ranging from foundational metabolic engineering to the development of robust industrial strains.

Filamentous fungi and yeasts are powerful platforms for sustainable chemical production. As industries shift away from petrochemical-based processes, engineered fungal cell factories offer a renewable route to high-value compounds—from therapeutic alkaloids to biodegradable polymers. By integrating cutting-edge tools like CRISPR-Cas9, biosensors, and dynamic pathway regulation, we can overcome long-standing bottlenecks in titer, rate, and yield. Furthermore, linking fungal biomanufacturing with medicinal plant biomass valorization directly supports the circular bioeconomy, reduces agricultural waste, and enables the sustainable production of bioactive natural products that are otherwise difficult to source.

This collection will serve as a platform for presenting innovative strategies that bridge the gap between laboratory-scale design and industrial-scale application, emphasizing the critical role of fungi in shaping a sustainable manufacturing future. We invite contributions that explore the full spectrum of fungal biotechnology, with a focus on leveraging the unique metabolic versatility of yeast and filamentous fungi. Topics of interest include the design and optimization of fungal cell factories for the sustainable production of biofuels, biopolymers, and high-value natural products. We particularly welcome studies that integrate systems biology, CRISPR-based genome editing, and process engineering to overcome current bottlenecks in titers, yields, and rate of products. Additionally, given the growing significance of traditional medicine and functional foods, this issue will highlight the role of fungal systems in the herb bioprocessing to produce bioactive compounds.

Topics of Interest in details:

Development and optimization of Saccharomyces, Yarrowia, and non-conventional yeasts for industrial applications.

Pathway construction, flux optimization, and dynamic regulation in fungal hosts.

Development of genetic parts, CRISPR-Cas9/12 tools, and biosensors for fungal systems.

Heterologous biosynthesis of terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyketides, and fungal secondary metabolites.

Biotransformation, valorization, and sustainable production of bioactive compounds from medicinal plant biomass.

Morphology engineering and harnessing Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Basidiomycetes for enzyme and chemical production.

Bioprocess design, scaling-up strategies, and techno-economic analysis for fungal-based manufacturing.

 keywords:

Yeast cell factories

Metabolic engineering

Synthetic biology

Natural products

Herb bioprocessing

Filamentous fungi

CRISPR-Cas9

Sustainable bioprocesses

A new study shows how a type of disease-causing E. coli can quickly adapt when it loses one of its main ways of attaching to the intestine. The bacteria either change shape or make small changes to a protein that strengthens their grip on human cells. The findings help explain why these strains can still cause illness and identify a possible target for future treatments that could stop infection by preventing bacteria from attaching in the first place.

Fungi produce a vast and complex array of chemical compounds known as secondary metabolites. While not essential for their basic growth, these molecules play critical roles in how fungi interact with their environment, defend against competitors, and communicate. The genetic blueprints for these compounds are neatly organized into biosynthetic gene clusters. Thanks to breakthroughs in genomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology, we are now able to explore these pathways like never before, even awakening "silent" gene clusters to uncover novel molecules. This Article Collection aims to bring together the latest research and cutting-edge perspectives in this dynamic field.

Understanding fungal secondary metabolism is vital for both science and society. Many of our most important medicines, including the antibiotic penicillin, the immunosuppressant cyclosporin, and cholesterol-lowering statins, originated from fungi. As we face growing challenges like antibiotic resistance, the fungal kingdom represents a massive, untapped resource for discovering new drugs. On the other hand, some fungal metabolites are harmful mycotoxins that can contaminate food supplies, posing a significant threat to global health and food security. By studying how these compounds are made, we can unlock new therapeutic solutions and develop better strategies to protect our food.

This Article Collection will explore the multifaceted world of fungal secondary metabolism and biosynthesis. We invite contributions on a range of subtopics, including but not limited to: (1) The discovery, structure, and function of novel secondary metabolites; (2) The use of genomics and bioinformatics to identify and analyze biosynthetic gene clusters; (3) The genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate these pathways; (4) The application of synthetic biology and heterologous expression to produce new compounds; and (5) The ecological roles and evolutionary origins of fungal secondary metabolites. We welcome Original Research articles, Reviews, Methods, and Perspectives to provide a comprehensive overview of the field.

5 Keywords:

Fungal secondary metabolites

Biosynthesis

Synthetic biology

Genomic mining

Metabolic regulation

Scientists use light-driven chemistry to synthesize a valuable pharmaceutical building block and generate trifluoromethyl radicals directly from inexpensive, low-toxicity fluoroform.