Peptaibols as Potential Antifungal and Anticancer Antibiotics: Current and Foreseeable Development (Review)

Abstract

Today’s shortage of effective antimicrobial agents can be overcome by using antimicrobial peptides, which are produced naturally by a wide range of organisms, including microorganisms, plants, and mammals. Among these chemical groups, peptaibols are the well-known compounds with various biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antimycoplasmic, antitrypanosomal, and others. In this review, we summarize today’s knowledge on the sources, direct surface applications, and the mode of action of the peptaibols with anticancer and antifungal activity produced by filamentous fungi.