CRISPR-Cas9 – Page 2

Towards engineering agaricomycete fungi for terpenoid production

mycolabadmin

Mushroom-forming fungi, particularly species like shiitake and oyster mushrooms, naturally produce valuable compounds called terpenoids used in medicines, food, and cosmetics. Scientists are learning to genetically engineer these fungi to produce even larger amounts of these beneficial compounds, potentially making them as important to biotechnology as baker’s yeast and mold have been historically. This could create new sustainable sources for medicinal compounds and industrial chemicals.

AlkTango reveals a role for Jeb/Alk signaling in the Drosophila heart

mycolabadmin

Researchers developed a new method to track when and where a specific signaling protein called Alk is active in fruit fly hearts. They discovered that Alk is switched on in heart muscle cells of developing and adult flies, with a nearby protein called Jeb acting as the activating signal. When they increased Alk signaling artificially, flies developed irregular heartbeats and had shorter lifespans, especially under heat stress, revealing an important role for this protein in maintaining healthy heart function.

Morphological Engineering of Filamentous Fungi: Research Progress and Perspectives

mycolabadmin

Filamentous fungi are microscopic organisms used to produce important enzymes and chemicals in industries. However, their growth forms during fermentation vary significantly and affect product quality. Scientists are developing methods to control how these fungi grow, both by adjusting fermentation conditions like temperature and oxygen levels, and by using genetic engineering to modify their growth patterns. These approaches help improve industrial production of medicines, enzymes, and other useful compounds.

Providing a toolbox for genomic engineering of Trichoderma aggressivum

mycolabadmin

Scientists have developed a set of techniques to genetically modify the fungus Trichoderma aggressivum, which is usually known for ruining mushroom crops. This genetic toolkit allows researchers to edit genes in this fungus to study how it produces various compounds and why it affects mushrooms. By using modern gene-editing technology called CRISPR, researchers can now create specific mutations and study the fungus’s useful properties, such as its potential to protect crops or promote plant growth.

Recent innovations and challenges in the treatment of fungal infections

mycolabadmin

Fungal infections are becoming more common and dangerous, especially for people with weakened immune systems, and many fungi are developing resistance to current medications. Doctors and researchers are developing new treatment strategies, including combining multiple drugs together and using advanced technologies to deliver medicines more effectively to infected areas. Natural compounds from plants and new biotechnology tools like genetic engineering and nanoparticles show promising results for fighting drug-resistant fungal infections.

Orthrus: a Pumilio-family gene involved in fruiting body and dark stipe development in Coprinopsis cinerea

mycolabadmin

Scientists studied a gene called ort2 in a common lab mushroom species to understand how mushrooms develop their fruiting bodies. They found that this gene is particularly important for developing dark stipes – elongated structures that mushrooms grow in darkness to push themselves toward light. By turning this gene off or increasing its activity, researchers could control how many dark stipes formed, suggesting this gene could have practical applications in mushroom farming.

Microbe Profile: Streptomyces formicae KY5: an ANT-ibiotic factory

mycolabadmin

Scientists have discovered a special bacterium called Streptomyces formicae that lives in ant nests and produces powerful antibiotics. This bacterium makes formicamycins, which can kill dangerous bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that resists many common antibiotics. Using advanced genetic tools, researchers can modify this bacterium to unlock hidden antibiotic-producing pathways, potentially leading to new medicines to fight drug-resistant infections.

Identification of a psychiatric risk gene NISCH at 3p21.1 GWAS locus mediating dendritic spine morphogenesis and cognitive function

mycolabadmin

Researchers identified a gene called NISCH that increases the risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. When this gene is overactive, it changes the shape of connections between brain cells and impairs working memory in mice. Interestingly, blood pressure medications like clonidine can reduce NISCH activity and improve cognitive function, suggesting these drugs might help psychiatric patients.

Orthrus: a Pumilio-family gene involved in fruiting body and dark stipe development in Coprinopsis cinerea

mycolabadmin

Scientists studied a gene called ort2 in mushrooms that controls how fruiting bodies develop, especially the long structures called dark stipes that form in darkness. They found that when this gene is active, mushrooms make more of these elongated forms, while disabling it prevents dark stipe formation. This discovery could help improve mushroom cultivation for species where these elongated forms are commercially valuable.

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

mycolabadmin

Fungi can be engineered to create sustainable, eco-friendly materials for construction, textiles, and packaging. Using advanced genetic tools and controlled growing conditions, scientists can customize fungal materials to have specific properties like flexibility or rigidity. These mycelium-based materials are biodegradable, renewable, and offer promising alternatives to traditional synthetic and conventional materials, helping reduce our dependence on petroleum-based products.

Research Keyword: CRISPR-Cas9