Disease: parasitic infections

Domestication of a magic therapeutical wine glass fungus (Podoscypha petalodes) from Pakistan

Researchers successfully grew Podoscypha petalodes, a medicinal mushroom known as wine glass fungus, under controlled conditions for the first time. The best growth was achieved using a mixture of sawdust and tea waste at 28°C, which produced high yields in just 10 days. This breakthrough means that this therapeutic fungus, which has antiviral and anti-cancer properties, can now be cultivated year-round commercially instead of relying on rare wild specimens.

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Nature’s Own Pharmacy: Mushroom-Based Chemical Scaffolds and Their Therapeutic Implications

This comprehensive review explores how mushrooms can be used as natural medicines. Various mushroom species contain powerful compounds that can fight cancer, boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and treat infections. The paper details 15 important medicinal mushrooms and their therapeutic uses, showing that mushrooms are indeed a nature’s pharmacy with significant potential for treating many diseases.

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Research on the Action and Mechanism of Pharmacological Components of Omphalia lapidescens

Omphalia lapidescens, a medicinal fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, contains multiple bioactive compounds with promising health benefits. These compounds can fight parasitic infections, inhibit cancer cell growth, reduce inflammation, and provide antioxidant protection. While clinical use shows benefits especially for gastric cancer when combined with chemotherapy, more research is needed to understand how these compounds work and to improve cultivation and production methods.

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Not everything that wiggles is a worm: Pseudoparasites in parasitology

When examining patient samples under a microscope, parasitologists must be careful to distinguish real parasites from artifacts that only look like parasites. Items such as pollen, plant fibers, yeast, and food remnants can closely resemble parasitic organisms and lead to incorrect diagnoses and unnecessary treatment. By using proper training, multiple diagnostic techniques, and careful morphological evaluation, healthcare professionals can avoid these diagnostic errors and ensure accurate patient care.

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Chitosan and Chitooligosaccharide: The Promising Non-Plant-Derived Prebiotics with Multiple Biological Activities

Chitosan and chitooligosaccharide are natural compounds derived from crustacean shells and fungi that act as prebiotics to improve gut health. These compounds can fight bacteria and viruses, reduce inflammation, protect against oxidative stress, and help maintain healthy weight and blood sugar levels. They represent a promising, biodegradable alternative to synthetic pharmaceuticals with multiple health benefits.

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Antimicrobial and antiparasitic potential of lupeol: antifungal effect on the Candida parapsilosis species complex and nematicidal activity against Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers tested a natural compound called lupeol against disease-causing yeasts and parasitic worms. Lupeol successfully killed or inhibited the growth of Candida yeast species that are becoming resistant to current medications. The compound also showed strong activity against parasitic roundworms. This discovery suggests lupeol could be developed as a new treatment option for fungal and parasitic infections.

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The First Whole Genome Sequence and Methylation Profile of Gerronema lapidescens QL01

Scientists have sequenced the complete genetic code of Lei Wan (Gerronema lapidescens), a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating parasitic infections and digestive problems. The research revealed how this mushroom produces beneficial compounds and how its genes are regulated through a process called methylation. This information could help develop better ways to cultivate this increasingly rare mushroom sustainably rather than harvesting it from the wild, making it available for future medical research and treatment.

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