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Edible mushrooms as emerging biofactories for natural therapeutics and oral biopharmaceutical delivery

Summary

Mushrooms are emerging as natural medicine factories that can be genetically engineered to produce medications taken by mouth. Beyond their traditional use as health foods, scientists are now using advanced genetic techniques to program mushrooms to manufacture therapeutic proteins and vaccines. These engineered mushrooms can naturally package and protect these medications as they pass through the stomach, releasing them safely in the intestines for absorption. This approach offers a sustainable, affordable, and cold-chain-independent alternative to conventional injected medications.

Background

Mushrooms have been used as food and medicine for centuries, providing bioactive compounds with diverse health benefits. Recent advances in fungal genetic modification and gene editing have positioned edible mushrooms as promising platforms for recombinant biopharmaceutical production. Their eukaryotic protein-processing capacity, natural bioencapsulation, and GRAS status make them suitable for sustainable and orally deliverable therapeutics.

Objective

To review the therapeutic potential of edible mushrooms and their emerging role as biofactories for recombinant protein and oral vaccine production. The paper synthesizes evidence on mushroom-derived bioactive compounds and discusses advances in fungal biotechnology for sustainable biopharmaceutical development.

Results

Mushroom-derived compounds including polysaccharides, terpenoids, and peptides demonstrate anti-aging, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities through multiple molecular pathways. Clinical trials show improved immune parameters and disease outcomes. Advanced fungal transformation systems and CRISPR/Cas-based editing enable marker-free genetic engineering for food-grade biopharmaceutical production.

Conclusion

Edible mushrooms represent a transformative platform bridging traditional mycotherapy with modern molecular farming for sustainable, accessible biopharmaceuticals. Future integration of automated cultivation, marker-free engineering, and oral delivery strategies will enable mushrooms as next-generation biofactories for vaccines and therapeutic proteins.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Fungal Biology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41488566, DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2025.1742455
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