Research Topic: fungal biomass

Exploring the Potential of Fungal Biomass for Bisphenol A Removal in Aquatic Environments

Researchers discovered that mushroom fruiting bodies can effectively remove bisphenol A (BPA), a harmful plastic component, from water. Five mushroom species were particularly efficient, removing between 72-82% of BPA from solutions. The mushroom biomass works best at room temperature and neutral pH, can be reused multiple times after treatment with ethanol, and could potentially clean enormous volumes of contaminated water using small amounts of material.

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Biobased Materials from Microbial Biomass and Its Derivatives

This review explores how scientists are creating environmentally friendly materials using microorganisms like yeast, fungi, and bacteria instead of petroleum. These microbial-based materials can form flexible films suitable for food packaging and other applications. They are biodegradable, renewable, and can even be made from waste products generated by brewing and other industries. This approach offers a sustainable solution to plastic pollution while supporting a circular economy.

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Biosorption of cesium and strontium from aqueous solution by Aspergillus flavus biomass

This research demonstrates that dead fungal biomass from Aspergillus flavus can effectively remove radioactive cesium and strontium from contaminated water, offering an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional treatment methods. The fungus shows excellent ability to capture strontium ions (90% removal) and can be reused multiple times by treating it with nitric acid. This finding is particularly relevant following nuclear accidents like Fukushima and provides a sustainable solution for treating radioactive wastewater from nuclear facilities.

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Engineering Strategies for Fungal Cell Disruption in Biotechnological Applications

Fungal cells have tough, protective walls that make it difficult to extract valuable products like proteins, oils, and medicines. This review examines different techniques—from physical methods like grinding with beads to chemical and enzyme-based approaches—to break open fungal cells efficiently. By understanding which method works best for different types of fungi and desired products, researchers can develop better, more sustainable ways to use fungi in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, food products, and other valuable compounds.

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Innovative chitin-glucan based material obtained from mycelium of wood decay fungal strains

Researchers have developed a new sustainable leather-like material from fungal mycelium that could replace traditional animal leather and synthetic alternatives. By growing specific wood decay fungi in controlled fermentation systems and extracting their chitin and glucan content, they created flexible sheets with mechanical properties similar to real leather. The materials are biodegradable, require no animal farming, and avoid toxic tanning processes, making them a promising eco-friendly solution for fashion and furniture industries.

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Genetic Ablation of the Conidiogenesis Regulator Enhances Mycoprotein Production

Scientists created a genetically modified version of the Quorn fungus (Fusarium venenatum) by removing a gene that controls spore production. This modification caused the fungus to grow faster and produce more biomass while also containing higher levels of amino acids. When combined with another genetic modification, the fungus produced 22% more biomass than normal, which could significantly reduce costs for mycoprotein production used in meat alternative products.

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Influence of Pleurotus sapidus fruiting bodies on the performance, cecal microbiome, and gene expression in the liver and breast muscle of broilers

Researchers tested whether edible mushroom fruiting bodies could be used as animal feed for chickens. They found that chickens fed diets containing oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sapidus) had reduced growth and lower nutrient absorption compared to control chickens. While mushroom-based feed appeared to increase beneficial gut bacteria diversity, it ultimately impaired overall chicken performance, suggesting mushroom fruiting bodies are not suitable as a primary feed component for commercial poultry production.

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Filamentous fungal pellets as versatile platforms for cell immobilization: developments to date and future perspectives

Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, can be grown into small spherical structures called pellets that act as excellent platforms for attaching and growing various types of cells. These fungal pellets are sustainable, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic materials and can support different cell types for applications ranging from producing cultivated meat to treating wastewater. The porous structure of fungal pellets allows cells to attach and grow while maintaining the ability to transfer nutrients and oxygen efficiently.

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Optimized protocol for culturing and extracting DNA from fungal isolates associated with brown spot needle blight in pine trees

Scientists developed an optimized method for growing brown spot needle blight fungi from infected pine needles and extracting their DNA for research. They tested four different growth media and four DNA extraction techniques to find the best combination. Sabouraud dextrose medium combined with a CTAB-based extraction method containing polyvinylpyrrolidone worked best, producing high-quality DNA suitable for advanced genetic studies. This standardized approach will help researchers better understand this important forest disease.

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