Medicinal – Page 138

Consecutive non-Aspergillus Fungal Invasive Infections in Chronic Granulomatous Disease: Data from the French National Reference Center for Primary ImmunoDeficiencies and literature review

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This study examines rare fungal infections in patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease, a genetic disorder affecting the immune system. Researchers found that these patients develop various unusual fungal infections despite taking preventive antifungal medications. The infections are difficult to diagnose, often requiring surgical procedures, but can sometimes be cured through stem cell transplantation combined with intensive antifungal treatment.

Marine-derived Acremonium strain prioritization using untargeted metabolomics approach for the identification of cytotoxic cyclic depsipeptides

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Researchers studied six fungal strains from Arctic driftwood to find cancer-fighting compounds. Using advanced chemical analysis methods, they identified one strain that was particularly good at killing cancer cells in the lab. From this strain, they isolated five related compounds called depsipeptides that showed strong activity against multiple types of cancer cells. This discovery highlights how fungi from extreme environments like the Arctic could be valuable sources for developing new cancer treatments.

Polysorbate 80 Differentially Impacts Erinacine Production Profiles in Submerged Cultures of Hericium

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Lion’s mane mushroom and related Hericium species produce beneficial compounds called erinacines that may protect the brain and help with neurological conditions. This study tested how adding glucose and a substance called polysorbate 80 to mushroom cultures affects erinacine production. Interestingly, while polysorbate 80 helped mushrooms grow more, it reduced erinacine levels in most strains, though effects varied by species. The findings could help cultivators choose conditions to grow mushrooms enriched with specific beneficial compounds.

Unveiling new features of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans through the reconstruction and exploitation of a dedicated genome-scale metabolic model

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Scientists have created a detailed computer model of how the dangerous fungus Cryptococcus neoformans works at the metabolic level. By studying 890 genes and thousands of chemical reactions in this pathogen, they identified new weak points that could be targeted with future antifungal drugs. The model reveals why this fungus is particularly good at causing brain infections and shows several unique metabolic features not found in other pathogenic yeasts, offering hope for more effective treatments.

Role of Candida species in pathogenesis, immune regulation, and prognostic tools for managing ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease

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This article explores how fungi, particularly Candida species, contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The fungal microbiota becomes imbalanced in IBD patients, triggering harmful immune responses and worsening inflammation. The researchers propose that measuring specific Candida levels could help doctors diagnose disease severity and predict treatment response, opening new possibilities for personalized IBD management.

First case of invasive Rasamsonia argillacea in a child with chronic granulomatous disease in Qatar

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A 16-year-old girl with a rare immune system disorder called chronic granulomatous disease developed a serious fungal infection caused by Rasamsonia argillacea, a fungus that is not commonly seen in clinical practice. The infection presented as a painful collection in her chest wall that required surgery and multiple antifungal medications. This is the first reported case of this particular fungal infection in the Arabian Peninsula, and successful treatment required a combination of drugs chosen based on laboratory testing of the fungus’s resistance patterns.

Adaptation and latent structure of the Brazilian version of the Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI-BR): an exploratory study

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This study adapted a psychological assessment tool called the Ego Dissolution Inventory for use in Brazil. Ego dissolution refers to the profound sense of losing one’s sense of self that people experience when using psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms and LSD. The researchers found that the adapted Brazilian version works well and identifies three dimensions of the experience: confidence/assertiveness, ego dissolution, and ego inflation. This validated tool can now help researchers in Brazil better understand psychedelic experiences and their potential therapeutic benefits.

Enhancing Nutritional Quality and Functionality of Legumes: Application of Solid-State Fermentation With Pleurotus ostreatus

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Researchers used a mushroom fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) to ferment lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans, making them more nutritious and easier for the body to digest. The fermentation process reduced harmful compounds called antinutrients while boosting protein content and antioxidant power. This simple bioprocessing method could help create healthier plant-based foods that rival animal protein sources in nutritional quality.

Evaluation of cellulase production by endophytic fungi isolated from young and mature leaves of medicinal plants using maize cob substrate

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This research studied beneficial fungi living inside the leaves of medicinal plants (neem and aloe) to see if they could produce cellulase enzymes, which are used in many industries. Scientists isolated 11 different fungi from plant leaves and tested their ability to break down corn cobs (agricultural waste) to produce these useful enzymes. Two fungi species – G. candidum and C. stellimalicola – were found to be the best enzyme producers, suggesting they could be used commercially to make cellulase enzymes in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way.

Caged-hypocrellin mediated photodynamic therapy induces chromatin remodeling and disrupts mitochondrial energy metabolism in multidrug-resistant Candida auris

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Researchers developed a new photodynamic therapy treatment using a light-activated compound called COP1T-HA to fight drug-resistant Candida auris infections. The therapy works by reorganizing the fungal cell’s genetic material architecture and disrupting energy production in mitochondria, ultimately killing the fungal cells. This approach represents a novel strategy to overcome antibiotic resistance, as it targets multiple cellular processes rather than a single pathway that fungi can easily resist.

Research Topic: Medicinal