Microbial Sources of Bioactive Compounds — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2022Another bioactive molecule, cyclosporin A, that is used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ-transplant patients, is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum. Statins produced by the yeast Monascus purpureus have been commercialised as blood-cholesterol lowering agents. It acts by competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for synthesis of cholesterol.
NTA tests students' knowledge of specific microorganisms and their commercially important products. From this paragraph, cyclosporin A from Trichoderma polysporum and statins from Monascus purpureus are key facts. The common trap is confusing which fungus/yeast produces which compound—students often mix up the organisms or their applications. Remember: Trichoderma polysporum produces cyclosporin A (immunosuppressant for organ transplants), while Monascus purpureus produces statins (cholesterol-lowering agents that inhibit cholesterol synthesis enzyme). These appeared in multiple NEET papers because they test both microbiology knowledge and practical medical applications, making them favorite MCQ topics.
This paragraph was tested 3 times in NEET.
Identify the microorganism which is responsible for the production of an immunosuppressive molecule Cyclosporin A: (NEET 2022 Phase 1)
Match the following columns and select the correct option. (NEET 2020)
Which of the following is a commercial blood cholesterol-lowering agent? (NEET 2019)
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.
88/90MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.