Filamentous fungi – mycolab.ai

Fungi as source for new bio-based materials: a patent review

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Researchers reviewed patents from 2009-2018 on using fungal mycelium to create eco-friendly materials. Instead of petroleum-based plastics, scientists grow fungi on agricultural waste like corn stalks and wood chips, where fungal threads bind the materials together into strong, biodegradable products. These fungal materials are being developed for packaging, car interiors, textiles, and insulation, offering sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics.

The forced activation of asexual conidiation in Aspergillus niger simplifies bioproduction

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Researchers developed a new method to simplify the production of L-malic acid using genetically modified Aspergillus niger fungi. Instead of growing spores on solid plates—a time-consuming and labor-intensive process—they engineered the fungi to produce spores directly in liquid medium controlled by adding xylose. This simplified approach maintains the fungi’s ability to produce high levels of L-malic acid while significantly reducing costs and labor requirements for industrial production.

Understanding and controlling filamentous growth of fungal cell factories: novel tools and opportunities for targeted morphology engineering

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Fungi are used in industry to produce medicines, chemicals, and enzymes in large fermentation tanks. However, the way these fungal cells grow and clump together greatly affects how much product they make, but scientists don’t yet fully understand or control this growth. This review discusses new tools like genetic engineering, computer modelling, and special imaging techniques that are helping researchers better understand and control fungal growth patterns to improve industrial production.

CBC Complex Regulates Hyphal Growth, Sclerotial Quantity, and Pathogenicity in the Necrotrophic Fungus Botrytis cinerea

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Scientists studied how two proteins (BcCbp20 and BcCbp80) work together in gray mold fungus, which destroys crops worldwide. These proteins control how the fungus grows, makes spores, forms long-term survival structures, and causes disease. The findings show that BcCbp80 is more important for growth and infection, while BcCbp20 helps the fungus survive stress. Understanding these proteins could help develop new antifungal treatments.

Vermiculite as a new carrier for extracellular protease production by Aspergillus spp. under solid-state fermentation

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Researchers discovered that vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral, is an excellent material for growing fungi that produce proteases—enzymes used in medicine, laundry detergents, and food processing. When Aspergillus fungi were grown on vermiculite using a technique called solid-state fermentation, they produced 3 to 18 times more protease than when grown on other materials. This discovery could make enzyme production more efficient and cost-effective for industrial applications.

Detection of Opportunistic Fungi from the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Specimens of Patients with Pulmonary Diseases

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Researchers examined lung fluid samples from patients with lung diseases to identify fungal infections. They found various types of fungi including Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Pneumocystis using microscopy and laboratory tests. Large numbers of fungi were present in many samples, which could interfere with medicine absorption and treatment. The study shows that quick and accurate identification of these fungi is important for treating lung infections properly.

Fusarium Corneal Abscess: A Case Report

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A 20-year-old healthy patient developed a serious fungal eye infection caused by Fusarium, a common soil fungus, despite having no typical risk factors like eye trauma or contact lens wear. The infection created an abscess (collection of pus) in the cornea and threatened the patient’s vision. Doctors used a combination of antifungal medications and eventually transplanted amniotic membrane tissue to prevent the cornea from rupturing, preserving the patient’s eyesight.

Peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by Fusarium: a case report and literature review

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A 61-year-old farmer on peritoneal dialysis developed a rare fungal infection caused by Fusarium after antibiotics failed to treat her peritonitis. Pharmacists helped doctors switch her to the antifungal medication voriconazole and carefully monitored blood levels to ensure the dose was high enough. After adjusting the dose based on blood tests, the patient recovered completely with no symptoms and normal test results within two months.

Identification of Challenging Dermatophyte Species Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

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This study shows that a specialized technique called MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry can quickly and accurately identify skin fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. By creating a library of local fungal strains from Taiwan and combining it with commercial databases, researchers achieved over 90% accuracy in identifying different dermatophyte species. This practical method could help doctors diagnose fungal infections faster and choose better treatments.

Hierarchical Structure of the Program Used by Filamentous Fungi to Navigate in Confining Microenvironments

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This research reveals how fungi navigate through tight spaces like soil and wood using sophisticated biological ‘programs’ operating at three levels: individual fungal threads, groups of threads, and entire fungal networks. Each level uses different strategies like sensing openings, remembering directions, and avoiding neighbors to efficiently explore confined spaces. By understanding these natural algorithms, scientists could develop new bio-inspired solutions for navigation and space exploration problems.

Research Keyword: Filamentous fungi