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.
Paraprobiotics are inactivated bacterial cells that offer the same health benefits as live probiotics but are much more stable and don’t require refrigeration. When added to high-protein ice cream, paraprobiotics help boost immune function and gut health while improving the product’s texture and shelf-life. This makes paraprobiotic-enriched ice cream an ideal functional dessert for athletes, people with dietary restrictions, and anyone seeking healthier frozen food options.
This systematic review examined effective ways to prevent respiratory infections like flu and COVID-19 in care homes where elderly residents live. The researchers found that antiviral medications like oseltamivir can halve the risk of influenza even in vaccinated residents if given within 7 days of detecting a case. High-dose vitamin D supplementation (100,000 IU monthly) reduced respiratory infection risk by 40%. Educational programs to improve staff hygiene practices showed mixed results, while other supplements like probiotics did not significantly help.
This study investigated how lentinan, a compound from shiitake mushrooms, might help treat patients who have both gastric cancer and COVID-19. Researchers identified five genes that predict patient outcomes and found that lentinan may work by controlling immune cell activity and reducing inflammation. The study suggests lentinan could be a useful additional treatment for this challenging combination of diseases, though more research is needed.
Scientists are developing new ways to fight dangerous infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and drug-resistant pathogens. Recent discoveries include safer uses of existing drugs, better dosing strategies tailored to individual patients, and effective combination therapies that reduce antibiotic resistance. These advances represent important progress in treating serious infectious diseases like COVID-19, tuberculosis, and bacterial infections.
Mushrooms contain special compounds called peptides and proteins that can boost your immune system and fight harmful bacteria. These mushroom-derived compounds show promise as natural alternatives to antibiotics, which are becoming less effective due to antibiotic resistance. Researchers are studying how these mushroom compounds could help treat difficult infections, wounds that won’t heal, and cancer, though more testing is needed before they can be used widely as medicines.
Researchers successfully grew Podoscypha petalodes, a medicinal mushroom known as wine glass fungus, under controlled conditions for the first time. The best growth was achieved using a mixture of sawdust and tea waste at 28°C, which produced high yields in just 10 days. This breakthrough means that this therapeutic fungus, which has antiviral and anti-cancer properties, can now be cultivated year-round commercially instead of relying on rare wild specimens.
Scientists are searching for new treatments for COVID-19 by studying indole-containing compounds, which are found in many plants and can be made in laboratories. Some approved drugs with indole structures, like the antiviral drug Arbidol, have been repurposed to fight COVID-19. Researchers are also designing new indole compounds and using computer simulations to predict which ones might work best against the virus’s key proteins.
Black ear mushrooms (Auricularia cornea) are nutritious and medicinal fungi that can be grown on waste materials from wood industries. Researchers tested different combinations of sawdust and bran to find the best growing mixture. They used artificial intelligence to predict which combinations would give the best yields, finding that a mix of 70% beech sawdust with 30% wheat bran worked best and could be produced efficiently.
This comprehensive review examines how agricultural and forestry waste containing lignocellulose can be transformed into valuable products like biofuels, packaging materials, and medical supplies. The paper covers various treatment methods to break down the tough plant material structure and highlights how artificial intelligence can improve these processes. By utilizing this abundant waste resource efficiently, we can reduce environmental pollution, generate renewable energy, and create useful products while supporting a circular economy approach.