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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Production of statins by fungal fermentation

Mishal Subhan A B , Rani Faryal B and Ian Macreadie B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan

B School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Vic. 3083, Australia

C Tel: +61 9925 6627, Email: ian.macreadie@rmit.edu.au

Microbiology Australia 38(2) 70-72 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA17031
Published: 30 March 2017

Abstract

Fungi are used industrially to obtain a variety of products, from low value bulk chemicals to high value drugs like, immunosuppressants, antibiotics, alkaloids and statins. Lovastatin and compactin are natural statins produced as secondary metabolites by predominantly Aspergillus and Penicillium species, following a polyketide pathway. Lovastatin was one of the first cholesterol-lowering drugs. Many statins are now chemically synthesised but lovastatin is still required to produce simvastatin. Apart from reducing blood cholesterol levels simvastatin causes pleotropic effects and has potential to treat various kinds of disorders including neurodegenerative disease and cancer.


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