LAUSR

During the last few decades, endophytes have attracted increased attention due to their ability to produce a plethora of bioactive secondary metabolites. These compounds not only help the endophytes to outcompete other plant-associated microbes or pathogens through quorum sensing but also enable them to surmount plant immune system. However, only very few studies have described the interlink between various biochemical and molecular factors of host-microbe interactions involved in the production of these pharmacological metabolites. The peculiar mechanisms by which endophytes modulate plant physiology and metabolism through elicitors, as well as how they use transitional compounds of primary and secondary metabolism as nutrients and precursors for synthesis of new compounds or enhancing existing metabolites are still less understood. This study thus attempts to address the aspects of synthesis of such metabolites used in therapeutics by the endophytes, in the light of their ecological significance, adaptation and inter-community interactions. Our study addressed how endophytes adapt to the specific host environment especially in medicinal plants that produce metabolites with pharmacological potential and simultaneously modulate host gene expression for biosynthesis of these metabolites. The study also discusses the differential interaction of fungal and bacterial endophyte with their host.