Research Topic: Medicinal

Modern Pro-Health Applications of Medicinal Mushrooms: Insights into the Polyporaceae Family, with a Focus on Cerrena unicolor

This research explores how medicinal mushrooms, especially a species called Cerrena unicolor, could be used to improve human health through functional foods and dietary supplements. These mushrooms contain natural compounds that fight cancer, bacteria, viruses, and free radicals that damage our cells. Scientists have found that incorporating these mushroom extracts into foods, particularly dairy products, could create powerful health-promoting foods that help with cancer treatment, diabetes management, and wound healing.

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Cutaneous Mucormycosis Following Polytrauma: A Multidisciplinary Approach

A 22-year-old man suffered severe injuries from a motorcycle-truck collision that damaged his perineal area and left thigh. Despite antibiotics and wound therapy, a dangerous fungal infection called mucormycosis developed in the wound. The medical team treated this by repeatedly removing infected tissue, using powerful antifungal medications (amphotericin B and posaconazole), and carefully managing the wound with special therapy before skin grafting, ultimately achieving successful healing.

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Coexistence of Malassezia Species and Microsporum canis in the Lesions of Adult with Tinea Capitis

A 60-year-old woman developed unusual hair loss and rash on her scalp that looked like dandruff. Tests revealed three types of fungi, including Microsporum canis (usually found in animals) and two types of Malassezia yeast. Treatment with antifungal medications for three months cleared the infection. Laboratory experiments showed that the yeast species may actually help the fungus grow better, which could explain why adults sometimes get scalp fungal infections differently than children.

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Large language models and their performance for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis

Researchers tested whether artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot could help doctors diagnose histoplasmosis, a serious fungal infection affecting people with HIV/AIDS that is often missed. They presented 20 real patient case descriptions to different AI systems and found that Microsoft Copilot performed best, correctly identifying histoplasmosis in 90% of cases—about as good as laboratory tests. While the AI showed promise as a helpful tool to suggest this neglected disease during diagnosis, doctors would still need to verify findings with actual tests.

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Loss of the Aspergillus fumigatus spindle assembly checkpoint components, SldA or SldB, generates triazole heteroresistant conidial populations

This research reveals that disabling certain cell division checkpoint proteins in the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus creates populations resistant to triazole antifungal drugs. The resistant fungal cells appear to have abnormal amounts of genetic material, suggesting that loss of these checkpoint controls allows cells with extra chromosomes to survive drug exposure. This discovery provides new insight into how dangerous fungal infections can develop resistance to our most important antifungal treatments.

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Aspergillus in Children and Young People with Cystic Fibrosis: A Narrative Review

Cystic fibrosis is a serious genetic disease affecting children that damages the lungs through chronic infections. Aspergillus, a common mold in the environment, colonizes the airways of CF patients and can cause additional lung damage. While new CFTR modulator medications have improved outcomes and reduced Aspergillus infections, more research is needed to better diagnose and treat fungal infections in children with CF.

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Heat Treatment of Reishi Medicinal Mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi) Basidiocarp Enhanced Its β-glucan Solubility, Antioxidant Capacity and Lactogenic Properties

This study shows that heating dried Reishi mushrooms at 150°C for 20 minutes improves their health benefits. The heat treatment increases antioxidant compounds, makes the beneficial β-glucans more available, and enhances prebiotic effects that feed good gut bacteria while suppressing harmful bacteria. These findings suggest that properly heated Reishi mushroom products could be more effective as functional food ingredients without losing their medicinal properties.

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Odontogenic-onset mucormycosis: A case series from a tertiary care institute in North India

This case series describes five patients from India who developed a serious fungal infection in their jaw and mouth after dental procedures. All patients had uncontrolled diabetes, which weakened their immune system and allowed the fungus to grow. The infection was treated with anti-fungal medications and surgery, and most patients recovered well. The study emphasizes the importance of keeping dental equipment sterile and managing blood sugar levels properly before dental work.

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Isolation and Structural Characterization of Melanins from Red and Yellow Varieties of Stropharia rugosoannulata

Researchers studied the pigments that give mushrooms their colors, specifically looking at red and yellow varieties of wine cap mushrooms. They found that these colors come from melanin, the same pigment found in human skin. The study revealed that the red variety has more of certain melanin types than the yellow variety, which explains why they look different. These pigments could have health benefits because melanins are known to have antioxidant and anti-tumor properties.

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In Vitro Screening of the Antifungal and Antimycotoxin Effects of a Stilbenoids-Rich Grapevine Cane Extract on Fusarium graminearum, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium expansum

This study tested a natural extract from grapevine pruning waste to see if it could stop three dangerous fungi that produce harmful toxins in crops. The extract worked well at stopping both fungal growth and toxin production, with effects that lasted even after the extract was removed. These results suggest that grapevine waste could be turned into a natural fungicide to protect crops from contamination.

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