Abstract: Soil fungi represent an immense, largely untapped source of bioactive secondary metabolites with significant pharmaceutical potential. In southeast Asia, where tropical climates, diverse ecosystems, and complex soil systems converge, fungal communities are particularly rich yet remain critically understudied. The chapter synthesizes current research on soil-derived fungi across the region, highlighting notable genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Ganoderma, which have produced metabolites with antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Over 130 novel compounds have been identified in the past decade alone, predominantly in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. However, the pace of fungal discovery lags behind studies on bacteria, endophytes, and mycorrhizae, reflecting longstanding biases in microbial research. Methodological challenges include taxonomic complexity, culturing difficulty, and limited access to genomic and metabolomic tools. These limitations are further compounded by soil degradation, particularly in dominant soil types such as Acrisols and Ferralsols, which are low in fertility and prone to erosion, acidification, and nutrient depletion. Anthropogenic pressures – from deforestation and monoculture farming to peatland drainage – threaten fungal biodiversity across the region. Recognizing soil fungi as both vulnerable ecological assets and promising biomedical resources is key to transforming the region’s microbial wealth into sustainable health innovations.

Abstract: Myconanotechnology is an interdisciplinary field that harnesses fungi for the green synthesis of nanomaterials with applications across medicine, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Southeast Asia, a biodiversity hotspot, offers a rich repository of fungal species with the potential to serve as natural biofactories for nanoparticle production. The chapter provides a synthesis of current research on fungal-mediated nanoparticle synthesis in the region, focusing on mechanisms, biomedical applications, agricultural innovations, and industrial scalability. Fungal systems produce bioactive nanomaterials such as silver, gold and zinc oxide nanoparticles through eco-friendly and cost-effective processes mediated by fungal enzymes, secretomes, and cellular structures. These nanomaterials have demonstrated potent antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities, with several studies across the region highlighting promising therapeutic effects. In agriculture, fungal-derived nanomaterials enhance crop protection, food preservation, and environmental remediation, offering sustainable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals and fertilizers. Despite these advancements, challenges such as strain variability, lack of standardization, regulatory gaps and limited infrastructure hinder wider adoption and commercialization. Strengthening regional research collaborations, investment in biosafety infrastructure, and public-private partnerships are vital in unlocking the full potential of fungal nanotechnology in Southeast Asia.

Abstract: Rising copper (Cu) demand and a growing inventory of Cu-bearing mine wastes highlight their potential as alternative resources, though extraction remains challenging. Electrokinetic in situ leaching (EK-ISL) offers a non-invasive alternative but its biofunctional consequence on post-treated material remains unknown. Here, we examine the potential impact of citric acid-aided (0.5 M) EK-ISL on community-wide microbiome response under laboratory conditions through 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Citrate-driven chemical gradients under electrokinetically-induced conditions resulted in efficient Cu leaching but altered soil bacterial ecology, favoring copiotrophic (Proteobacteria/Firmicutes) over oligotrophic (Chloroflexi) taxa. Functional predictions suggested an adaptive shift supporting copiotrophic traits linked to rapid growth and niche colonization. Despite microbiome restructuring, our findings argue in favor of citrate as a soil amendment, rather than a harmful contaminant by allowing key pedogenic functions like nitrogen fixation to persist. These findings highlight citrate’s potential to balance efficient metal extraction with ecological recovery.