Exploring the Brazilian diversity of Aspergillus sp. strains for lovastatin and itaconic acid production.

Filamentous fungi are well known for producing secondary metabolites applied in various industrial segments. Among these, lovastatin and itaconic acid, produced by Aspergillus terreus, have applications in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Lovastatin is primarily used for the control of hypercholesterolemia, while itaconic acid is a building block for the production of synthetic fibers, coating adhesives, among others.