Ganoderma – mycolab.ai

Comparative mitogenomic analysis reveals variations and evolution of ectomycorrhizal fungal Strobilomyces

mycolabadmin

Scientists sequenced and analyzed the genetic material of five species of Strobilomyces mushrooms, which form important relationships with trees in forests. They discovered these mushrooms have relatively similar genetic blueprints with some regional variations in gene organization. Some species from Vietnam have slightly different gene arrangements than those from the USA, suggesting their evolutionary history is linked to geography. This research helps scientists better understand how these important fungi evolved and are related to other mushroom species.

Fungal Microbiome Diversity in Urban Forest Decreases Asthma and Allergic Inflammation

mycolabadmin

This study found that living near urban forests with diverse fungal species may protect against asthma. Researchers collected fungi from air samples in Seoul and found that areas with more forests had fewer asthma cases. Laboratory tests showed that fungi from forests were better at reducing allergic inflammation than fungi from city centers. The diversity of fungal species, rather than specific types, appeared to provide protective benefits.

Would global warming bring an increase of invertebrate-associated cutaneous invasive fungal infections?

mycolabadmin

This paper discusses how invertebrate bites (from insects, spiders, and other small creatures) can transmit dangerous fungal infections to humans by directly injecting fungi into the skin. These infections are rare but serious, often causing tissue death and requiring amputation. As global warming increases temperatures, insect populations will expand into new areas, become more aggressive, and fungi may adapt to survive at higher temperatures, potentially making these infections more common and dangerous in the future.

The Effect of Pseudomonas putida on the Microbial Community in Casing Soil for the Cultivation of Morchella sextelata

mycolabadmin

Morel mushrooms are prized edible fungi, but growing them repeatedly in the same soil causes problems because toxic ethylene gas builds up and the soil microbiome becomes unbalanced. Scientists found that a beneficial soil bacterium called Pseudomonas putida can break down the ethylene precursor and improve the soil microbial community, making morels grow better and faster. This natural approach using microbial inoculation offers a practical solution to help farmers overcome these continuous cropping challenges.

Plants, fungi, and antifungals: A little less talk, a little more action

mycolabadmin

Researchers propose looking at how plants communicate with fungi to discover new antifungal medicines. Plants send chemical signals to fungi, and understanding these signals could help us develop better treatments for fungal infections in humans and crops. By studying a simple yeast model, scientists found that plant molecules called strigolactones control fungal phosphate metabolism, suggesting they could become new drug targets.

Artificial Neural Network Prediction of Mechanical Properties in Mycelium-Based Biocomposites

mycolabadmin

Researchers used artificial intelligence to predict how strong mushroom-based materials would be. These eco-friendly composites are made from wood particles held together by fungal networks instead of synthetic glue. The AI model successfully learned to predict the strength of these materials based on which type of fungus was used and what wood particles they were grown on, potentially reducing the need for expensive testing.

Increased Rates of Supplement-Associated Oxalate Nephropathy During COVID-19 Pandemic

mycolabadmin

During the COVID-19 pandemic, more people took dietary supplements and high-dose vitamin C for health reasons. However, this study found that excessive supplement intake led to a significant increase in a kidney disease called oxalate nephropathy, where calcium oxalate crystals damage the kidneys. The good news is that when patients stopped taking these harmful supplements, their kidney function often improved, emphasizing the importance of careful supplement use.

Plants, fungi, and antifungals: A little less talk, a little more action

mycolabadmin

Plants and fungi communicate through small chemical molecules, and scientists are discovering that understanding this dialogue could lead to new antifungal medicines. Researchers found that a plant hormone called strigolactone affects a specific fungal protein involved in nutrient uptake, suggesting this could be a target for new drugs. By using baker’s yeast as a laboratory model, scientists can study how fungal cells respond to plant chemicals and identify new ways to fight dangerous fungal infections that are becoming resistant to current treatments.

Astragalus Shiitake—A Novel Functional Food with High Polysaccharide Content and Anti-Proliferative Activity in a Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Line

mycolabadmin

Scientists developed a new type of Shiitake mushroom by growing it on a special substrate enriched with Astragalus root. This novel mushroom contains significantly more beneficial polysaccharides than regular Shiitake. When tested against colorectal cancer cells, extracts from this mushroom showed strong cancer-fighting properties, with the ultrasound extraction method being most effective. This research suggests Astragalus Shiitake could become a powerful functional food for cancer prevention and treatment.

Characterization of the gut mycobiome in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and correlations with serum metabolome

mycolabadmin

This study examined fungi in the gut of people with fatty liver disease and found that certain fungal species are more common in diseased patients. By analyzing both gut fungi and blood chemicals, researchers discovered that fungi significantly influence metabolic substances related to liver health. A computer model combining information about gut fungi and bacteria could identify fatty liver disease with reasonable accuracy, suggesting that fungi could be useful for disease diagnosis and potential treatment.

Fungal Species: Ganoderma