Editorial [Hot topic: Biotechnology and Bioorganic of Fungi (Guest Editor: I. G. Collado)]

In this issue of Current Organic Chemistry, the emphasis is placed on the ever-changing field of the fungi as intriguing source of bioactive natural products and as efficient biocatalysts. I have been very pleased with the positive response to the first issue, which must be attributed to the high quality papers of the contributing authors. In my opinion this issue maintains that high level of quality and interest. So, the present issue features four chapters written by experts in the fields of biotechnology and bioorganic of fungi. The first review is illustrative, written by Warley de S. Borges, Keyller B. Borges, Pierina S. Bonato, Suraia Said and Monica T. Pupo, present an authoritative account on recent research data about endophytes as sources of novel and bioactive natural products, as producers of enzymes and their use on biotransformation processes. The occurrence of 2,6-cyclofarnesanes in the nature is scarce and their presence has only been described in fungi, where they are considered as taxonomic markers. Most of these cyclofarnesanes present interesting biological activities. In the second contribution, Barrero et al., provide a comprehensive review about the natural occurrence, biological properties, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis of these compounds. The biotransformation of sesquiterpenoids is an important tool in the structural modification of these compounds, especially for natural products with complex structures, due to their significant regio- and stereo-selectivity. The third review “Biotransformations of Sesquiterpenoids by Rhizopus species” provided by A.Garcia-Granados et al., offers a comprehensive and up-to-date review on the biotransformation of sesquiterpenoids by diverse Rhizopus species.