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Bio Systems Jan 2024Advancements in mycelium technology, stemming from fungal electronics and the development of living mycelium composites and skins, have opened new avenues in the fusion...
Advancements in mycelium technology, stemming from fungal electronics and the development of living mycelium composites and skins, have opened new avenues in the fusion of biological and artificial systems. This paper explores an experimental endeavour that successfully incorporates living, self-regenerating, and reactive Ganoderma sessile mycelium into a model cyborg figure, creating a bio-cybernetic entity. The mycelium, cultivated using established techniques, was homogeneously grown on the cyborg model's surface, demonstrating robust reactivity to various stimuli such as light exposure and touch. This innovative merger points towards the future of sustainable biomaterials and the potential integration of these materials into new and existing technologies.
Topics: Robotics; Biocompatible Materials; Electronics
PubMed: 38128872
DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105106 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2023Polysaccharides, key components present in , can be divided into those derived from fruiting bodies, mycelium, and fermentation broth based on their source. The...
Polysaccharides, key components present in , can be divided into those derived from fruiting bodies, mycelium, and fermentation broth based on their source. The structure of fruiting body-derived polysaccharides has been fully characterized. However, the structure of mycelium-derived polysaccharides remains to be elucidated. In this study, we obtained mycelia from by liquid fermentation and extracted them with water and alkaline solution. Then, the mycelia were isolated and purified to obtain homogeneity and systematically characterized by methylation and FT infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Structural analysis showed that two neutral fractions (WGFP-N-a and AGFP-N-a) have a common backbone composed of α-1,6-D-Me-Gal and α-1,6-D-Gal that were substituted at O-2 by 1,2-Man, α-1,3-L-Fuc, and α-T-D-Man and thus are identified as fucomannogalactans. WGFP-A-a, AGFP-A-b, and AGFP-A-c are β-1,6-glucans with different molecular weights and are branched with β-1,3-D-Glc and T-D-Glc at the O-3 of Glc. Our results provide important structural information about mycelium-derived polysaccharides and provide the basis for their further development and application.
PubMed: 37608863
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1227288 -
Microbiological Research Sep 2023β-glucans are a large class of complex polysaccharides found in abundant sources. Our dietary sources of β-glucans are cereals that include oats and barley, and... (Review)
Review
β-glucans are a large class of complex polysaccharides found in abundant sources. Our dietary sources of β-glucans are cereals that include oats and barley, and non-cereal sources can consist of mushrooms, microalgae, bacteria, and seaweeds. There is substantial clinical interest in β-glucans; as they can be used for a variety of diseases including cancer and cardiovascular conditions. Suitable sources of β-glucans for biopharmaceutical applications include bacteria, microalgae, mycelium, and yeast. Environmental factors including culture medium can influence the biomass and ultimately β-glucan content. Therefore, cultivation conditions for the above organisms can be controlled for sustainable enhanced production of β-glucans. This review discusses the various sources of β-glucans and their cultivation conditions that may be optimised to exploit sustainable production. Finally, this article discusses the immune-modulatory potential of β-glucans from these sources.
Topics: Humans; beta-Glucans; Agaricales; Immunity; Neoplasms; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 37301079
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127424 -
Bio Systems Jul 2023Living fungal mycelium networks are proven to have properties of memristors, capacitors and various sensors. To further progress our designs in fungal electronics we...
Living fungal mycelium networks are proven to have properties of memristors, capacitors and various sensors. To further progress our designs in fungal electronics we need to evaluate how electrical signals can be propagated through mycelium networks. We investigate the ability of mycelium-bound composites to convey electrical signals, thereby enabling the transmission of frequency-modulated information. Mycelium networks were found to reliably transfer signals with a recoverable frequency comparable to the input, in the 100Hz to 10 000Hz frequency range. Mycelial adaptive responses, such as tissue repair, may result in fragile connections, however. While the mean amplitude of output signals was not reproducible among replicate experiments exposed to the same input frequency, the variance across groups was highly consistent. Our work is supported by NARX modelling through which an approximate transfer function was derived. These findings advance the state of the art of using mycelium-bound composites in analogue electronics and unconventional computing.
Topics: Mycelium; Fungi
PubMed: 37257553
DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.104933 -
International Journal of Oral Science Sep 2023Candida albicans is the most abundant fungal species in oral cavity. As a smart opportunistic pathogen, it increases the virulence by switching its forms from yeasts to...
Candida albicans is the most abundant fungal species in oral cavity. As a smart opportunistic pathogen, it increases the virulence by switching its forms from yeasts to hyphae and becomes the major pathogenic agent for oral candidiasis. However, the overuse of current clinical antifungals and lack of new types of drugs highlight the challenges in the antifungal treatments because of the drug resistance and side effects. Anti-virulence strategy is proved as a practical way to develop new types of anti-infective drugs. Here, seven artemisinins, including artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid, artesunate, artemether and arteether, were employed to target at the hyphal development, the most important virulence factor of C. albicans. Artemisinins failed to affect the growth, but significantly inhibited the hyphal development of C. albicans, including the clinical azole resistant isolates, and reduced their damage to oral epithelial cells, while arteether showed the strongest activities. The transcriptome suggested that arteether could affect the energy metabolism of C. albicans. Seven artemisinins were then proved to significantly inhibit the productions of ATP and cAMP, while reduced the hyphal inhibition on RAS1 overexpression strain indicating that artemisinins regulated the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway to inhibit the hyphal development. Importantly, arteether significantly inhibited the fungal burden and infections with no systemic toxicity in the murine oropharyngeal candidiasis models in vivo caused by both fluconazole sensitive and resistant strains. Our results for the first time indicated that artemisinins can be potential antifungal compounds against C. albicans infections by targeting at its hyphal development.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Candida albicans; Candidiasis, Oral; Antifungal Agents; Hyphae; Artemisinins
PubMed: 37699886
DOI: 10.1038/s41368-023-00245-0 -
Polymers Jul 2023This research focuses on exploring the potential of mycelium as a sustainable alternative to wood or solid foam in pultruded glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP)...
This research focuses on exploring the potential of mycelium as a sustainable alternative to wood or solid foam in pultruded glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) sandwich profiles. The study evaluates the performance and the environmental sustainability potential of this composite by mechanical tests and life cycle assessment (LCA). Analysis and comparison of pultruded sandwich profiles with mycelium, polyurethane (PUR) foam and chipboard demonstrate that mycelium is competitive in terms of its performance and environmental impact. The LCA indicates that 88% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to mycelium production, with the heat pressing (laboratory scale) being the main culprit. When pultruded profiles with mycelium cores of densities 350 and 550 kg/m³ are produced using an oil-heated lab press, a global warming potential (GWP) of 5.74 and 9.10 kg CO-eq. per functional unit was calculated, respectively. When using an electrically heated press, the GWP decreases to 1.50 and 1.78 kg CO-eq. Compared to PUR foam, a reduction of 23% in GWP is possible. In order to leverage this potential, the material performance and the reproducibility of the properties must be further increased. Additionally, an adjustment of the manufacturing process with in situ mycelium deactivation during pultrusion could further reduce the energy consumption.
PubMed: 37571099
DOI: 10.3390/polym15153205 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2023This paper presents significant advances in mycelium biofabrication using permanent knitted textile formwork and a new substrate formulation to dramatically improve the...
This paper presents significant advances in mycelium biofabrication using permanent knitted textile formwork and a new substrate formulation to dramatically improve the mechanical properties of mycelium-textile biocomposites suitable for large-scale components for use in construction. The paper outlines the biofabrication process, detailing the composition of , a viscous mycelium substrate developed for use with permanent knitted formwork, and the injection process required to regulate the filling of slender tubes of fabric with mycocrete. The use of a permanent integrated knitted formwork shows promise as a composite system for use with mycelium to improve mechanical performance and enable complex shapes to be fabricated for lightweight construction. Results of mechanical testing show dramatic improvements in tensile, compressive and flexural strength and stiffness compared to conventional mycelium composites. The testing demonstrates the importance of both the mycocrete paste recipe and the knitted textile formwork. In addition, the paper highlights the advantages of the proposed biofabrication system with reference to the prototype: a 1.8 m high freestanding arched dome composed of very slender biohybrid knit-mycelium tubes. This prototype demonstrates the opportunity to utilize the potential for lightweight construction and complex form offered by a textile formwork with low environmental impact mycelium biomaterials. The combination of textiles and mycelium present a compelling new class of textile biohybrid composite materials for new applications within the construction sector.
PubMed: 37520299
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1229693 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Morel mushroom ( spp.) is a rare edible and medicinal fungus distributed worldwide. It is highly desired by the majority of consumers. Bacterial diseases have been...
Morel mushroom ( spp.) is a rare edible and medicinal fungus distributed worldwide. It is highly desired by the majority of consumers. Bacterial diseases have been commonly observed during artificial cultivation of . Bacterial pathogens spread rapidly and cause a wide range of infections, severely affecting the yield and quality of . In this study, two strains of bacterial pathogens, named M-B and M-5, were isolated, cultured, and purified from the tissues of the infected . Koch's postulates were used to determine the pathogenicity of bacteria affecting , and the pathogens were identified through morphological observation, physiological and biochemical analyses, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Subsequently, the effect of temperature on the growth of pathogenic bacteria, the inhibitory effect of the bacteria on on plates, and the changes in mycelial morphology of mycelium were analyzed when mycelium was double-cultured with pathogenic bacteria on plates. The results revealed that M-B was subsp. and M-5 was . Strain M-B started to multiply at 10-15°C, and strain M-5 started at 15-20°C. On the plates, the pathogenic bacteria also produced significant inhibition of mycelium, and the observation of mycelial morphology under the scanning electron microscopy revealed that the inhibited mycelium underwent obvious drying and crumpling, and the healthy mycelium were more plump. Thus, this study clarified the pathogens, optimal growth environment, and characteristics of bacterial diseases, thereby providing valuable basic data for the disease prevention and control of production.
PubMed: 38029130
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1231353 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023The phenomenon of drug resistance in micro-organisms necessitates the search for new compounds capable of combating them. Fungi emerge as a promising source of such... (Review)
Review
The phenomenon of drug resistance in micro-organisms necessitates the search for new compounds capable of combating them. Fungi emerge as a promising source of such compounds as they produce a wide range of secondary metabolites with bacteriostatic or fungistatic activity. These compounds can serve as alternatives for commonly used antibiotics. Furthermore, fungi also accumulate compounds with antiviral activity. This review focuses on filamentous fungi and macrofungi as sources of antimicrobial compounds. The article describes both individual isolated compounds and extracts that exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity. These compounds are produced by the fruiting bodies and mycelium, as well as the biomass of mycelial cultures. Additionally, this review characterizes the chemical compounds extracted from mushrooms used in the realm of cosmetology; specifically, their antimicrobial activity.
PubMed: 37765008
DOI: 10.3390/ph16091200 -
Virulence Dec 2023is an important opportunistic pathogenic fungus that frequently causes serious systemic infection in humans. Due to the vital roles of biofilm formation and the...
is an important opportunistic pathogenic fungus that frequently causes serious systemic infection in humans. Due to the vital roles of biofilm formation and the yeast-to-hypha transition in the infection process, we have selected a series of diaryl chalcogenides and tested their efficacy against SC5314 pathogenicity by the inhibition of biofilm formation and the yeast-to-hypha transition. The compounds 5-sulfenylindole and 5-selenylindole were found to have excellent abilities to inhibit both biofilm formation and hyphal formation in SC5314. Intriguingly, the two leading compounds also markedly attenuated SC5314 virulence in human cell lines and mouse infection models at micromolar levels. Furthermore, our results showed that the presence of the compounds at 100 µM resulted in a marked decrease in the expression of genes involved in the cAMP-PKA and MAPK pathways in SC5314. Intriguingly, the compounds 5-sulfenylindole and 5-selenylindole not only attenuated the cytotoxicity of species strains but also showed excellent synergistic effects with antifungal agents against the clinical drug-resistant strain HCH12. The compound 5-sulfenylindole showed an obvious advantage over fluconazole as it could also restore the composition and richness of the intestinal microbiota in mice infected by . Together, these results suggest that diaryl chalcogenides can potentially be designed as novel clinical therapeutic agents against infection. The diaryl chalcogenides of 5-sulfenylindole and 5-selenylindole discovered in this study can provide new direction for developing antifungal agents against infection.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Candida albicans; Antifungal Agents; Virulence; Candidiasis; Fluconazole; Hyphae; Biofilms
PubMed: 37771181
DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2265012