The genus Cordyceps and allied species, such as entomopathogenic fungi, mainly parasitize insects and other arthropods and have been known since ancient times. They are a source of hundreds of metabolites of medicinal significance used in drug discovery and drug development.
The book reviews the developments in cordyceps research and its applications. It covers areas such as diversity, distribution, taxonomy, phylogeny, genetics, bioactive potential, nutraceutical values, biotechnological prospects, plant protection, safety concerns, and marketed products. Further, the impact of human interference as well as climate change on the habitats of Cordyceps has been discussed. The book is meant for readers with an interest in mycology and allied areas. It is also invaluable to personnel carrying out research in disciplines like applied biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, ecology, entomology, environmental biology, field biology, forestry, and zoology.
Kandikere R. Sridhar is an adjunct faculty member at Mangalore University, India. His primary area of study is aquatic fungi in freshwater and marine waters. He has research collaborations in the USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and Portugal. He was president of the Mycological Society of India (2018), a distinguished Asian mycologist (2015), and one of the world's top 2% scientists in the field of mycology (2019-21).
Sunil K. Deshmukh is a Scientific Advisor to Greenvention Biotech, Uruli-Kanchan, Pune, India, and Agpharm Bioinnovations LLP, Patiala, Punjab, India. Veteran industrial mycologist spent a substantial part of his career in drug discovery at Hoechst Marion Roussel Limited [now Sanofi India Ltd.], Mumbai, and Piramal Enterprises Limited, Mumbai. He has also served as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Deakin University, Australia.
Shin-Yee Fung is a Professor of Biochemistry from Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), United Kingdom. She is the pioneering scientist for Malaysia's National Treasure, the tiger milk mushrooms (Lignosus sp.) which have received several prestigious international and local prizes and Malaysian patents. Her work transcends from bench to bedside and is groundbreaking for Malaysia and beyond. She is the founder and CTO of Essenti Nutrien Sdn. Bhd., which specializes in and pioneers ACE technology.
Shivannegowda Mahadevakumar is serving as a scientist at the Botanical Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of India. His primary area of research is mycology and plant pathology, focusing on the molecular systematics of fungal pathogens and mushrooms. He served as Scientist B at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (2022) and Assistant Professor at KSOU, Mysuru (202122). He received the DST-INSPIRE, the CSIR-RA, the KSNUAHS Post-Doc, and the DST-SERB-NPDF Fellowship.
