autophagy – Page 2

Terpinen-4-ol triggers autophagy activation and metacaspase-dependent apoptosis against Botrytis cinerea

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Terpinen-4-ol, a natural compound from tea tree oil, effectively kills gray mold fungus that spoils fruits and vegetables after harvest. The compound works by damaging fungal cell membranes, creating harmful reactive molecules inside fungal cells, and triggering the fungal cells’ self-destruction pathways. When tested on tomatoes and strawberries, terpinen-4-ol successfully reduced mold growth and disease spread, suggesting it could be a safe, eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides for protecting fresh produce.

Autophagy and the Mitochondrial Lon1 Protease Are Necessary for Botrytis cinerea Heat Adaptation

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Researchers studied how a common plant-damaging fungus called Botrytis cinerea survives high temperatures. They found that two cellular cleanup systems—autophagy (which recycles damaged components) and a mitochondrial protease called Lon1—work together to help the fungus survive heat stress. When either system was disabled, the fungus was much more sensitive to heat and showed increased cell death, suggesting these processes are essential for the fungus’s survival strategy.

Immunomodulatory functions of fungal melanins in respiratory infections

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Some dangerous fungi produce a dark pigment called melanin that acts like a cloak, protecting them from the body’s immune system. This review explains how melanin blocks multiple immune defenses, including suppressing warning signals to immune cells, preventing immune cells from engulfing and killing the fungi, and even absorbing harmful reactive molecules. Understanding these sneaky tactics could help scientists develop new treatments that strip away this protective cloak, making the fungi vulnerable to both the body’s natural defenses and antifungal drugs.

The mycelium of the Trametes versicolor synn. Coriolus versicolor (Turkey tail mushroom) exhibit anti-melanoma activity in vitro

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Turkey tail mushrooms, used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, show promise in fighting melanoma skin cancer. Scientists tested mushroom extracts on melanoma cells in the laboratory and found they kill cancer cells through multiple mechanisms, including triggering programmed cell death and activating the immune system. The mushroom extract also reduced cancer cell migration and showed potential to work better when combined with standard chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel. These findings suggest turkey tail could be a valuable addition to melanoma treatment strategies.

Antioxidant Potential-Rich Betel Leaves (Piper betle L.) Exert Depigmenting Action by Triggering Autophagy and Downregulating MITF/Tyrosinase In Vitro and In Vivo

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This research shows that betel leaves, a traditional herb used in Asian cultures, can lighten skin pigmentation through multiple mechanisms. The extract works by reducing tyrosinase enzyme activity, activating cellular cleanup processes called autophagy, and boosting the body’s natural antioxidant defenses. In both laboratory cells and living mice exposed to UV radiation, betel leaves extract effectively reduced unwanted skin darkening, suggesting it could be developed into safe natural skin-whitening products.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses unravel the different pathogenic mechanisms of Ustilaginoidea virens in indica and japonica rice

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Rice is vulnerable to a fungal disease called false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens. Scientists found that this fungus attacks different rice varieties in different ways. By studying gene expression and chemical changes in infected rice, they discovered that the fungus uses different molecular pathways to infect indica rice versus japonica rice, explaining why these varieties have different levels of resistance to the disease.

Roles of the Sec2p Gene in the Growth and Pathogenicity Regulation of Aspergillus fumigatus

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Researchers studied a gene called Sec2p in a dangerous fungus that causes serious lung infections in people with weak immune systems. By removing this gene, they found the fungus grew slower, caused less damage, and fewer infected mice died. This discovery suggests that blocking Sec2p could be a new way to treat these fungal infections.

Three-phase extraction of polysaccharide from Stropharia rugosoannulata: Process optimization, structural characterization and bioactivities

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Researchers developed an efficient new method called three-phase extraction to isolate beneficial compounds called polysaccharides from wine cap mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata). These polysaccharides showed strong antioxidant properties and boosted immune cell activity in laboratory tests by triggering specific cellular pathways. The findings suggest these mushroom extracts could become useful ingredients in functional foods or medicines to support immune health.

Research Keyword: autophagy