Fungal Species:  Amanita phalloides

Chitosan extraction from Amanita phalloides: yield, crystallinity, degree of deacetylation, azo dye removal and antibacterial properties

Scientists successfully extracted chitosan, a useful natural polymer, from the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides). This chitosan showed excellent ability to remove blue dye from water and killed harmful bacteria effectively. The extraction method was efficient and eco-friendly, making it a promising solution for cleaning polluted water and developing antibacterial products.

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Immunomodulatory Effects of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Bioactive Immunoregulatory Products

Mushrooms have been used for health for thousands of years and contain special compounds that help boost the immune system and fight cancer. Scientists have identified several key active ingredients in mushrooms like polysaccharides and proteins that can activate immune cells and reduce tumors. Some mushroom products like lentinan from shiitake mushrooms have already been approved as cancer treatments in Japan. While most evidence comes from lab studies, ongoing research suggests mushroom-based medicines could become important therapeutic options.

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mGem: How many fungal secondary metabolites are produced by filamentous fungi? Conservatively, at least 1.4 million

Scientists have discovered about 30,000 fungal compounds with useful properties, from life-saving antibiotics like penicillin to cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, new research suggests that fungi actually produce somewhere between 1.4 million and 4.3 million different chemical compounds, meaning we’ve only discovered about 1-2% of what’s out there. By studying the genomes of fungi, researchers estimate that for every fungal medicine we know about, there could be 50-100 more waiting to be discovered, representing an enormous opportunity for developing new drugs and therapies.

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A high-quality genome assembly of angel-wing mushroom Pleurocybella porrigens that causes acute encephalopathy

Scientists created a detailed genetic blueprint of the angel-wing mushroom, which caused serious poisonings in Japan. They identified three toxic compounds in the mushroom and found a gene that likely produces one of the most dangerous toxins responsible for brain damage. This research helps explain how the mushroom makes its poison and could lead to better understanding of foodborne illness prevention.

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A Systematic Review on Important Risk Factors and Possible Involved Mechanisms of Medicinal Plants on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This comprehensive review examined 43 medicinal plants that can help prevent and treat fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is increasingly common in developed countries. Most of these plants work by reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, helping with weight management, improving blood sugar control, and lowering blood pressure. The plants contain natural compounds like flavonoids and polyphenols that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver. Using these herbal supplements alongside other lifestyle changes may offer a promising natural approach to managing NAFLD and its related conditions.

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Spatiotemporal fluctuations in fluorescence intensity of rhodamine phalloidin–labeled actin filaments

Researchers discovered that fluorescent labels attached to actin filaments (cell structures involved in movement and shape) don’t glow uniformly along their length. Instead, they create a mottled pattern of bright and dark regions. This happens because the filament structure varies along its length, affecting how many labels stick to different parts. Interestingly, when the cell’s energy molecule contains a phosphate group, the filament structure becomes more uniform and the pattern disappears.

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Acute liver failure caused by Amanita verna: a case series and review of the literature

This case study examines three patients who became severely ill after eating poisonous Amanita verna mushrooms in China. One patient successfully received a liver transplant and recovered, while the other two died from brain bleeding complications. The study highlights that liver transplantation can be life-saving for mushroom poisoning victims with severe liver failure, though doctors need better guidelines to decide when transplantation is the right choice.

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First Chemical Investigation of Korean Wild Mushroom, Amanita hemibapha subsp. javanica and the Identification of Anti-Helicobacter pylori Compounds

Researchers studied a Korean edible mushroom called Amanita hemibapha subsp. javanica and found it contains compounds that can kill the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach ulcers and gastric cancer. One compound in particular showed strong antibacterial activity, performing even better than some known antibiotics. These findings suggest this mushroom could be a natural source for developing new medicines to treat H. pylori infections and fight antibiotic-resistant strains.

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An Automated and Highly Sensitive Chemiluminescence Immunoassay for Diagnosing Mushroom Poisoning

Poisoning from deadly mushrooms like Amanita phalloides kills about 90% of poisoning victims. Current methods to diagnose these poisonings take too long for doctors to help patients quickly. This study describes a new automated test that can detect the toxic compounds (phallotoxins) in patient blood and urine in just 45 minutes with very high accuracy, potentially saving lives by enabling faster medical treatment.

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A genetic strategy to allow detection of F-actin by phalloidin staining in diverse fungi

Scientists discovered that many fungi cannot be stained with phalloidin, a widely-used fluorescent dye that helps visualize actin filaments in cells. They traced this problem to a single amino acid difference in fungal actin proteins. By changing this one amino acid back to its original form using genetic engineering, they successfully enabled phalloidin staining in previously incompatible fungi, providing researchers with better tools to study fungal cell biology.

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