Fungi naturally produce many compounds that kill harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This review explores how these fungal compounds could replace antibiotics that no longer work due to drug resistance. These natural substances could be used not only as medicines but also in cosmetic products to prevent bacterial growth and improve skin health.
Scientists tracked how fungi and bacteria decompose fallen tree logs over five years in a Minnesota forest. They discovered that fungi living dormant inside healthy wood trees become the dominant decomposers when wood begins to decay, outcompeting fungi arriving from soil and air. Wet, ground-contact conditions and bark coverage changed which fungi dominated, but bacterial communities followed a different pattern, remaining diverse regardless of conditions.
Scientists developed a method to purify laccase enzymes from oyster mushrooms using membrane filtration technology. They compared mathematical models to predict how membranes get clogged during filtration and found that using crossflow (tangential) filtration significantly reduces harmful clogging. Understanding these clogging patterns helps improve enzyme purification for use in industrial applications like textile processing and bioremediation.
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.
This review examines how edible mushrooms, particularly Lion’s mane, Reishi, and Caterpillar mushroom, might help treat depression as part of a dietary approach. These mushrooms contain compounds that may influence brain chemistry, especially serotonin levels, which are important for mood regulation. While early studies show promising results, especially for Lion’s mane, more research is needed to confirm these benefits in larger groups of patients.
Researchers developed a fast, non-destructive method using fluorescence lifetime imaging to identify different types of plastic particles, even when covered with bacteria, fungi, and proteins. This technique could help scientists quickly detect and study microplastics in the environment without needing extensive cleaning procedures. The study found that biological coatings on plastics don’t prevent accurate identification using this fluorescence method. This advancement could make monitoring plastic pollution easier and more efficient in real environmental samples.
Veterinary medicines used in livestock are contaminating our water and soil, creating serious problems like antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Scientists are discovering that natural microorganisms like bacteria and fungi can break down these pharmaceutical pollutants effectively. Advanced technologies combining microbes with electrical systems show promise for cleaning up contaminated wastewater, offering hope for a more sustainable solution to this growing environmental problem.
This comprehensive review examines ten natural products that have been proven in clinical studies to help fight breast cancer. These products—including omega-3 fatty acids from fish, compounds in broccoli sprouts, garlic, soy, curcumin from turmeric, and green tea—work by triggering cancer cells to self-destruct, stopping their growth, and preventing blood vessel formation that feeds tumors. What makes these findings especially promising is that these natural products appear to work well alongside conventional treatments while causing minimal side effects, offering patients additional options for managing this serious disease.
Sulphur shelf fungus, known as ‘chicken of the woods,’ is a bright yellow mushroom that grows on tree trunks and has remarkable health benefits. Research shows it contains compounds with antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties, making it valuable for both food and medicine. The fungus can be cultivated relatively quickly and easily, and some countries already recognize it as safe for food use, potentially opening new applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Actinobacteria and fungi are powerful microorganisms that can be used together to clean up polluted environments and improve agriculture. When these two types of organisms work together in co-cultures, they can degrade toxic substances like pesticides and heavy metals more effectively than either could alone. This approach offers a sustainable way to address environmental contamination while potentially reducing reliance on chemical treatments.