Abstract:

Members of the ‘Kingdom Fungi’ are extremely diverse, ranging from small single cell yeasts and chytrids to large complex “mushrooms”. They are active in almost every environment you can imagine. Some fungal acquaintances are shown. Of long importance as food, for “recreational use!” and in brewing it is only since the ‘wonder drug’ Penicillin that the potential of fungi has been recognised. They have been a gold-mine for lead compounds for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Fungal metabolites heralded the ‘natural product era’.

A number of interesting metabolites from Malaysian fungi are discussed.

Fungi hold many mysteries and a few that have been encountered are highlighted.

Where to from here?