secondary metabolism – Page 5

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

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Scientists discovered a special bacterium called Streptomyces formicae living with plant-ants in Africa that produces powerful antibiotics. This bacterium can kill dangerous drug-resistant bacteria and fungi that are hard to treat with current medicines. By using genetic tools, researchers are unlocking the bacterium’s hidden potential to create many more new antibiotics that could help fight infections.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Modulates Shiraia Hypocrellin A Biosynthesis Through ROS/NO Signaling in Response to Bamboo Polysaccharide Elicitation

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Researchers discovered that a naturally derived compound from bamboo boosts the production of hypocrellin A, a promising cancer-fighting and antimicrobial agent made by a special fungus. By studying a key enzyme called G6PDH, they found that it acts as a molecular switch controlling hypocrellin production when the fungus senses bamboo components. This discovery enables cost-effective large-scale production of this powerful medicine through simple fermentation, potentially making novel cancer treatments and antibiotics more accessible.

The VelB IDD promotes selective heterodimer formation of velvet proteins for fungal development

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Fungi use special proteins called velvet factors to decide whether to make spores, form protective structures, or produce toxins. This research discovered that one velvet protein called VelB has a special flexible region that helps it choose the right partner protein to team up with. This teamwork determines what developmental path the fungus takes and what chemicals it produces, revealing a clever biological control system.

Transformation of Alternaria dauci demonstrates the involvement of two polyketide synthase genes in aldaulactone production and fungal pathogenicity

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A fungus that causes leaf spots on carrots produces a toxic chemical that helps it infect plants. Scientists identified two genes responsible for making this toxin and used genetic engineering to create mutant fungi unable to produce it. When these mutant fungi tried to infect carrot plants, they were much less damaging than the normal fungus, proving the toxin is crucial for the fungus to cause disease.

Strain and contact-dependent metabolomic reprogramming reveals distinct interaction strategies between Laccaria bicolor and Trichoderma

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Scientists studied how two types of fungi interact when grown together in the laboratory. They found that different strains of Trichoderma fungi and beneficial mushroom fungi (Laccaria) communicate and compete using chemical signals that vary depending on how close they are to each other. When fungi are far apart, they use airborne chemicals, but when they touch directly, they change their chemical production dramatically. These findings could help improve the use of Trichoderma as biological pest control agents in agriculture.

Genetic regulation of l-tryptophan metabolism in Psilocybe mexicana supports psilocybin biosynthesis

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Researchers studied how magic mushrooms (Psilocybe mexicana) control their chemical processes to make psilocybin. They found that when mushrooms start producing psilocybin, they turn on genes that make more of an amino acid called tryptophan, while turning off genes that would break it down. They also discovered and studied an enzyme that helps control tryptophan use. This understanding could help grow these mushrooms with more consistent psilocybin levels for legitimate medical research into treating depression.

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

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Scientists have discovered a special bacterium called Streptomyces formicae that lives with ants in African acacia trees and produces powerful antibiotics. This bacterium naturally makes compounds called formicamycins that can kill dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA, as well as antifungal compounds. Researchers are using advanced gene-editing techniques to unlock more hidden antimicrobial compounds from this bacterium’s genome, which could lead to discovering new medicines to treat infections.

Screening of Basidiomycete Strains Capable of Synthesizing Antibacterial and Antifungal Metabolites

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Researchers tested 18 types of medicinal mushrooms to see if they could produce natural antibiotics. Most of them (16 out of 18) showed antimicrobial properties, with some being particularly effective against dangerous bacteria and fungi. The most promising mushroom strain (Hericium corraloides 4) showed strong activity against multiple disease-causing organisms. This research suggests that mushrooms could be valuable sources for developing new antibiotics to fight drug-resistant infections.

Tracing the Origin and Evolution of the Fungal Mycophenolic Acid Biosynthesis Pathway

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Mycophenolic acid is an important drug that helps transplant patients by preventing their immune systems from rejecting new organs. Scientists studied the genes that fungi use to make this drug and found it in several fungal species. They discovered that this ability to produce the drug evolved a long time ago in fungi but was lost in most species over time, remaining only in a few special fungi.

Positive interaction between melatonin and methyl jasmonate enhances Fusarium wilt resistance in Citrullus lanatus

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Researchers discovered that two natural plant signaling molecules, melatonin and methyl jasmonate, work together to protect watermelons from a devastating fungal disease called Fusarium wilt. When applied to watermelon plants at the right concentrations, these molecules trigger the plant’s natural defense mechanisms, making the plants more resistant to infection. The study shows these compounds can be used as natural, sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides for protecting crops.

Research Keyword: secondary metabolism