Microbial natural compounds and secondary metabolites as Immunomodulators: A review

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Oct;278(Pt 3):134778. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134778. Epub 2024 Aug 15.

Abstract

Immunomodulatory therapies are beneficial strategies for the improvement of immune system function. Today, due to the increasing prevalence of immune disorders, cancer, and new viral diseases, there is a greater need to introduce immunomodulatory compounds with more efficiency and fewer side effects. Microbial derivatives are fertile and attractive grounds for discovering lots of novel compounds with various medical properties. The discovery of many natural compounds derived from bacterial sources, such as secondary metabolites with promising immunomodulating activities, represents the importance of this topic in drug discovery and emphasizes the necessity for a coherent source of study in this area. Considering this need, in this review, we aim to focus on the current information about the immunomodulatory effects of bacterial secondary metabolites and natural immunomodulators derived from microorganisms.

Keywords: Immune disorders; Immunomodulation; Microbial derivatives; Microbial secondary metabolites; Natural compounds.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Biological Products* / chemistry
  • Biological Products* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Immunomodulating Agents* / chemistry
  • Immunomodulating Agents* / pharmacology
  • Immunomodulation / drug effects
  • Secondary Metabolism

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Immunomodulating Agents
  • Immunologic Factors