Potential of Halotolerant and Halophilic Fungi as a Source of New Extracellular Enzymes and Antimicrobial Compounds

The scope of this review is the literature published over the last 10 years and presents information on studies conducted on microscopic fungi isolated from various natural saline ecosystems (aquatic and terrestrial). Another interesting point is that it presents a classification of halophilic fungi and the concepts of halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms. The main aim of this review is to show fungal diversity of different natural salinity ecosystems and the biotechnological potential of halophilic and halotolerant fun¬gi as producers of biologically active substances (antibiotics, enzymes, polysaccharides). A careful study on halophilic and halotolerant fungi could offer new biologically active compounds that could be used in many industrial processes taking place in unfavorable conditions, such as high salt concentration, low water activity, high pressure or high temperature, etc.