Cyclosporin A: Immunosuppressant from Trichoderma polysporum
Biology · Microbes in Human Welfare · NEET
Cyclosporin A is a bioactive molecule used as an immunosuppressant. It is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum. Doctors give it to organ-transplant patients so the body does not reject the new organ. Memory hook: "Cyclo (like cycle) + Tricho (like tricycle)" — Cyclosporin comes from Trichoderma. Keep it separate from Statins (Monascus purpureus, lowers cholesterol).
Flow from source microbe to use: Trichoderma polysporum (a fungus) makes Cyclosporin A, a bioactive molecule used as an immunosuppressant in organ-transplant patients. Do not confuse it with Statins from Monascus purpureus.
Your doubts, answered
Which microbe produces Cyclosporin A?
Cyclosporin A is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum. NEET repeats this pairing almost every year, so learn it exactly: microbe = Trichoderma polysporum, product = Cyclosporin A, use = immunosuppressant.
Is Cyclosporin A obtained from a bacterium or a fungus?
It is from a fungus, not a bacterium. Trichoderma polysporum is a fungus. A common NEET trap swaps it with a bacterium like Clostridium or Streptococcus, so remember: Cyclosporin A = fungal product.
What does immunosuppressant mean?
An immunosuppressant is a drug that lowers the activity of the body's immune system. In an organ transplant, the immune system may attack the new organ as foreign. Cyclosporin A calms this immune attack, so the transplanted organ is accepted.
How is Cyclosporin A different from Statins?
Both are bioactive molecules in the same NCERT list, so students mix them up. Cyclosporin A is from Trichoderma polysporum and acts as an immunosuppressant. Statins are from Monascus purpureus and lower blood cholesterol. Different microbe, different job.
Is Trichoderma the same as the biocontrol Trichoderma?
They are related fungi but tested in two different NCERT topics. Trichoderma polysporum gives Cyclosporin A (a bioactive molecule). Trichoderma species are also used as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. NEET can test either use, so read the question carefully.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ Cyclosporin A is produced by a bacterium such as Clostridium or Streptococcus. ✓ Cyclosporin A is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum. Statins (not cyclosporin) come from Monascus purpureus, and clot-busting streptokinase comes from Streptococcus. 🧠 NEET loves match-the-column traps: keep Cyclosporin A = Trichoderma (fungus, immunosuppressant) locked, and do not swap it with acid or clot-buster microbes.
Real NEET questions
NEET 2022
Identify the microorganism which is responsible for the production of an immunosuppressive molecule cyclosporin A:
A · Trichoderma polysporum ✓
B · Clostridium butylicum
C · Aspergillus niger
D · Streptococcus cerevisiae
Solution: Cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressive agent used in organ-transplant patients and is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum. Clostridium butylicum produces butyric acid and Aspergillus niger produces citric acid, so they are decoys.
NEET 2016 Phase 1
Which of the following is wrongly matched in the given table (Microbe – Product – Application)?
A · Trichoderma polysporum – Cyclosporin A – Immunosuppressive drug
B · Monascus purpureus – Statins – Lowering of blood cholesterol
C · Streptococcus – Streptokinase – Removal of clot from blood vessel
D · Clostridium butylicum – Lipase – Removal of oil stains ✓
Solution: The Trichoderma–Cyclosporin A–immunosuppressant row is correct. The wrongly matched row is Clostridium butylicum, which makes butyric acid, not lipase. Lipases are enzymes used in detergents but are not from Clostridium butylicum.
NEET 2026
Match List I (Bioactive molecules) with List II (Importance): A. Streptokinase B. Statins C. Lipases D. Cyclosporin A; I. Immunosuppressive agent II. Removal of clots from the blood vessels III. Blood cholesterol-lowering agent IV. Detergent formulations.
A · A–II, B–III, C–I, D–IV
B · A–IV, B–III, C–II, D–I
C · A–III, B–II, C–IV, D–I
D · A–II, B–III, C–IV, D–I ✓
Solution: Streptokinase removes clots (II), Statins lower cholesterol (III), Lipases go in detergents (IV), and Cyclosporin A is the immunosuppressive agent (I). This gives A–II, B–III, C–IV, D–I.
Solved Microbes in Human Welfare NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
