Agency for Innovative Development under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Nature contains a vast world that is invisible to the human eye but may be of great importance to medicine and pharmaceuticals. Endophytic fungi living inside plants are among these microorganisms. They live in close association with plant organisms and are attracting increasing scientific interest due to their ability to produce various biologically active compounds.

Doctor of Biological Sciences Farhod Eshboyev conducted an in-depth study of these microorganisms during his scientific internship at the University of Debrecen in Hungary. The main objective was to identify promising strains among endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants naturally growing in Uzbekistan that could potentially serve as sources of new biologically active compounds.

The research went beyond simple observation. First, the fungi were identified at the molecular level, after which their genomes, produced compounds, and biological activity were comprehensively studied. In this way, the entire process was analyzed step by step — from determining the species of a microorganism to identifying the compounds it produces and their biological effects.

At the initial stage of the research, 60 fungal isolates were molecularly identified using the ITS-Sanger sequencing method. Put simply, the unique “genetic passport” of each fungus was studied. This made it possible to determine their species, distinguish them from one another, and select the most promising samples for further research.

At the next stage, the genomes of 2 promising fungal strains with high biological activity were sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics methods. By studying the genomes, scientists sought to identify not only the fungi’s genetic characteristics, but also their potential ability to synthesize biologically active secondary metabolites. In particular, functional genes and genetic mechanisms that may be involved in the biosynthesis of beneficial compounds were analyzed.

The importance of this approach lies in the fact that it offers a more precise way of searching for new natural compounds than a random approach. In other words, genetic data enables scientists to assess in advance which fungal strains are likely to be the most promising.

The substances produced by the fungi were also a particular focus of the study. The metabolomic profiles of 10 fungal strains were investigated, and the composition of the secondary metabolites they produced was analyzed using modern analytical technologies, including LC-MS/MS and chromatographic methods.

Metabolomic analysis can, in simple terms, be imagined as studying a fungus’s “chemical fingerprint.” If the genome shows what a fungus has the potential to produce, metabolomic analysis helps determine which compounds are actually being produced. Therefore, studying genomic and metabolomic data together further increases the scientific value of the research.

Another important aspect of the study was the assessment of the anticancer activity of endophytic fungi. A total of 14 fungal extracts were tested in vitro on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The study identified promising bioactive extracts that demonstrated a significant effect on cancer cells.

Of course, these results cannot be interpreted as the creation of a ready-to-use drug. At this stage, the findings indicate promising biological activity identified under laboratory conditions. However, the results suggest that some endophytic fungi may contain interesting compounds that could be further explored in the future as potential sources of new biologically active substances.

The significance of the research is not limited to anticancer applications. Some metabolites produced by endophytic fungi may potentially serve in the future as a basis for developing biologically active compounds that could be used in the treatment of inflammation, diabetes, and other diseases. This will, of course, require further in-depth studies of the properties, safety, and mechanisms of action of these compounds.

The research also highlighted another important point: endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants naturally growing in Uzbekistan remain insufficiently studied. This means that Uzbekistan’s natural environment contains a significant biological resource that could contribute to new scientific discoveries but has not yet been fully explored.

This is not only about studying the plants themselves. Microorganisms that live together with plants can also be sources of new biologically active compounds. In-depth research into their genomes, metabolomes, and biological properties could open up new opportunities for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Farhod Eshboyev’s scientific internship in Hungary is significant precisely from this perspective. The use of modern genomic, metabolomic, and biological research methods in an international scientific laboratory provided valuable experience and a scientific foundation for studying Uzbekistan’s natural biological resources through new approaches.

Today, the promising fungal strains identified in the laboratory are not yet medicines. However, the new data on their genetic characteristics, produced compounds, and biological activity can serve as an important foundation for future research. Most importantly, these studies demonstrate that every organism in nature, even a microorganism invisible to the human eye, can become a source of new opportunities for human health and pharmaceuticals.

The search for new medicines sometimes begins not in large laboratories, but in the small and invisible world of nature.

For reference: this scientific internship was funded by the Fund for Financing Science and Supporting Innovation.