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Fungal Innovations—Advancing Sustainable Materials, Genetics, and Applications for Industry

Summary

Fungi can be engineered to create sustainable, eco-friendly materials that could replace traditional plastics and leather. Scientists are using advanced genetic tools to control how fungi grow and what they produce, enabling the creation of customized materials with specific properties. These fungal-based materials are biodegradable, require less water and energy to produce, and show promise for applications in packaging, clothing, and building materials. With improved manufacturing processes and genetic engineering, fungi could revolutionize how we make everyday products.

Background

Fungi play crucial roles in breaking down organic matter, producing valuable metabolites, and creating sustainable biomaterials. Filamentous fungi, particularly from Basidiomycota, offer transformative possibilities for producing both native and novel materials through mycelium-based composites. However, the full potential of fungi remains largely untapped due to limitations in controlling and optimizing their complex biological systems.

Objective

This review synthesizes key developments in synthetic biology and fabrication approaches to illustrate emerging opportunities for filamentous fungi in sustainable and biodegradable material applications. The focus is on addressing challenges in genetic engineering and material production while highlighting the potential of fungal-derived rigid and flexible materials.

Results

The review identifies key advances in synthetic transcription factors, genome editing tools, and combinatorial optimization methods that enable precise control of gene expression in filamentous fungi. Notable examples include Tet-responsive systems, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, and RNP-based approaches successfully implemented in Aspergillus and Trichoderma species, with emerging applications in Basidiomycetes.

Conclusion

Filamentous fungi represent promising platforms for sustainable bio-based technologies when combined with advanced synthetic biology tools and optimized fabrication processes. Overcoming challenges in automation, scalability, intellectual property landscapes, and regulatory frameworks is essential to realize the transformative potential of fungal materials across construction, textiles, packaging, and biomedical applications.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof11100721 | PMID: 41149911
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