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Microbiology Spectrum May 2017The characteristic growth pattern of fungal mycelia as an interconnected network has a major impact on how cellular events operating on a micron scale affect colony... (Review)
Review
The characteristic growth pattern of fungal mycelia as an interconnected network has a major impact on how cellular events operating on a micron scale affect colony behavior at an ecological scale. Network structure is intimately linked to flows of resources across the network that in turn modify the network architecture itself. This complex interplay shapes the incredibly plastic behavior of fungi and allows them to cope with patchy, ephemeral resources, competition, damage, and predation in a manner completely different from multicellular plants or animals. Here, we try to link network structure with impact on resource movement at different scales of organization to understand the benefits and challenges of organisms that grow as connected networks. This inevitably involves an interdisciplinary approach whereby mathematical modeling helps to provide a bridge between information gleaned by traditional cell and molecular techniques or biophysical approaches at a hyphal level, with observations of colony dynamics and behavior at an ecological level.
Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Biomass; Ecology; Ecosystem; Food; Fungi; Hyphae; Models, Biological; Models, Theoretical; Mycelium; Plants; Soil Microbiology; Water
PubMed: 28524023
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0033-2017 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2023Gradient porous structures (GPS) are characterized by structural variations along a specific direction, leading to enhanced mechanical and functional properties compared...
Gradient porous structures (GPS) are characterized by structural variations along a specific direction, leading to enhanced mechanical and functional properties compared to homogeneous structures. This study explores the potential of mycelium, the root part of a fungus, as a biomaterial for generating GPS. During the intentional growth of mycelium, the filamentous network undergoes structural changes as the hyphae grow away from the feed substrate. Through microstructural analysis of sections obtained from the mycelium tissue, systematic variations in fiber characteristics (such as fiber radii distribution, crosslink density, network density, segment length) and pore characteristics (including pore size, number, porosity) are observed. Furthermore, the mesoscale mechanical moduli of the mycelium networks exhibit a gradual variation in local elastic modulus, with a significant change of approximately 50% across a 30 mm thick mycelium tissue. The structure-property analysis reveals a direct correlation between the local mechanical moduli and the network crosslink density of the mycelium. This study presents the potential of controlling growth conditions to generate mycelium-based GPS with desired functional properties. This approach, which is both sustainable and economically viable, expands the applications of mycelium-based GPS to include filtration membranes, bio-scaffolds, tissue regeneration platforms, and more.
Topics: Tissue Scaffolds; Porosity; Biocompatible Materials; Elastic Modulus; Mycelium
PubMed: 37935723
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45842-5 -
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of... Jun 2023This study investigates the compressive deformation and the effect of structural architecture on the compressive strength of bioprocessed mycelium biocomposites...
This study investigates the compressive deformation and the effect of structural architecture on the compressive strength of bioprocessed mycelium biocomposites reinforced with laterite particles. In the mycelium blocks, lignocellulosic hemp hurds function as reinforcing and nutritional substrates. The mycelium acts as a supportive matrix, binding the hemp hurds and the laterite particles which are integrated for further reinforcement to improve the compressive strength of the composite. The compressive behavior of the composites is elucidated using a combined approach of experimental and theoretical studies. The deformation mechanisms are investigated via in-situ observations of the specimens under uniaxial compressive loading. The experiments show that the compressive deformation results in progressive micro-buckling in slender specimens, whereas thicker samples exhibit a soft elastic response at small strain levels followed by continuous stiffening at larger strains. Based on the experimental observations and the morphological characterization, a column buckling analysis was developed for the mycelium-hemp composites to further explain the observed deformation phenomena.
Topics: Mycelium; Compressive Strength; Pressure; Models, Theoretical
PubMed: 37075528
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.105831 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2022Electrical activity of fungus Pleurotus ostreatus is characterised by slow (h) irregular waves of baseline potential drift and fast (min) action potential likes spikes...
Electrical activity of fungus Pleurotus ostreatus is characterised by slow (h) irregular waves of baseline potential drift and fast (min) action potential likes spikes of the electrical potential. An exposure of the myceliated substrate to a chloroform vapour lead to several fold decrease of the baseline potential waves and increase of their duration. The chloroform vapour also causes either complete cessation of spiking activity or substantial reduction of the spiking frequency. Removal of the chloroform vapour from the growth containers leads to a gradual restoration of the mycelium electrical activity.
Topics: Action Potentials; Anesthetics, Inhalation; Chloroform; Mycelium; Pleurotus; Time Factors; Volatilization
PubMed: 35013424
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04172-0 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Nov 2014The mycelium is an organised cellular network that develops according to a functionally coherent plan. As it expands, the mycelium is capable of modulating the relative... (Review)
Review
The mycelium is an organised cellular network that develops according to a functionally coherent plan. As it expands, the mycelium is capable of modulating the relative abundance of different cell types to suit the prevailing environmental conditions. This versatile pattern of multicellular development involves sophisticated environmental sensing and intercellular communication systems that have barely been recognised. This review describes an insight into our current understanding of the signalling molecules and mechanisms that take part in the ordered and timely emergence of various cell types and their biological significance. The prospects that this emerging knowledge may offer for the sustainable control of fungal colonisation or dispersal will also be considered.
Topics: Fungi; Mycelium; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 25172134
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6019-6 -
ELife Jul 2019Mutualistic interactions between free-living algae and fungi are widespread in nature and are hypothesized to have facilitated the evolution of land plants and lichens....
Mutualistic interactions between free-living algae and fungi are widespread in nature and are hypothesized to have facilitated the evolution of land plants and lichens. In all known algal-fungal mutualisms, including lichens, algal cells remain external to fungal cells. Here, we report on an algal-fungal interaction in which algal cells become internalized within the hyphae of the fungus . This apparent symbiosis begins with close physical contact and nutrient exchange, including carbon and nitrogen transfer between fungal and algal cells as demonstrated by isotope tracer experiments. This mutualism appears to be stable, as both partners remain physiologically active over months of co-cultivation, leading to the eventual internalization of photosynthetic algal cells, which persist to function, grow and divide within fungal hyphae. and are biotechnologically important species for lipids and biofuel production, with available genomes and molecular tool kits. Based on the current observations, they provide unique opportunities for studying fungal-algal mutualisms including mechanisms leading to endosymbiosis.
Topics: Biofuels; Endocytosis; Lipid Metabolism; Mortierella; Mycelium; Photosynthesis; Stramenopiles; Symbiosis
PubMed: 31307571
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.47815 -
Communications Biology Jun 2020Fungal mycelium is an emerging bio-based material. Here, mycelium films are produced from liquid shaken cultures that have a Young's modulus of 0.47 GPa, an ultimate...
Fungal mycelium is an emerging bio-based material. Here, mycelium films are produced from liquid shaken cultures that have a Young's modulus of 0.47 GPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 5.0 MPa and a strain at failure of 1.5%. Treating the mycelial films with 0-32% glycerol impacts the material properties. The largest effect is observed after treatment with 32% glycerol decreasing the Young's modulus and the ultimate tensile strength to 0.003 GPa and 1.8 MPa, respectively, whereas strain at failure increases to 29.6%. Moreover, glycerol treatment makes the surface of mycelium films hydrophilic and the hyphal matrix absorbing less water. Results show that mycelium films treated with 8% and 16-32% glycerol classify as polymer- and elastomer-like materials, respectively, while non-treated films and films treated with 1-4% glycerol classify as natural material. Thus, mycelium materials can cover a diversity of material families.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Biofilms; Biomass; Glycerol; Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Mycelium; Schizophyllum; Tensile Strength; Water
PubMed: 32591629
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1064-4 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Dec 2020Filamentous fungi have been considered as candidates to replace petroleum-based adhesives and plastics in novel composite material production, particularly those...
Filamentous fungi have been considered as candidates to replace petroleum-based adhesives and plastics in novel composite material production, particularly those containing lignocellulosic materials. However, the nature of the role of surface mycelium in the adhesion between lignocellulosic composite components is not well-known. The current study investigated the functionality of surface mycelium for wood bonding by incubating on yellow birch veneers and compared the lap-shear strengths after hot-pressing to evaluate if the presence of surface mycelium can improve the interface between two wood layers and consequently improve bonding. We found that the lap-shear strength of the samples was enhanced by the increase of surface mycelium coverage up to 8 days of incubation (up to 1.74 MPa) without a significant wood weight loss. We provide evidence that the bottom surface of the mycelium layer is more hydrophilic, contains more small-scale filamentous structure and contains more functional groups, resulting in better bonding with wood than the top surface. These observations confirm and highlight the functionality of the surface mycelium layer for wood bonding and provide useful information for future developments in fully biobased composites manufacturing.
Topics: Adhesives; Materials Testing; Mycelium; Polyporaceae; Shear Strength; Surface Properties; Wood
PubMed: 33306341
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c18165 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2017We study a unique biomaterial developed from fungal mycelium, the vegetative part and the root structure of fungi. Mycelium has a filamentous network structure with...
We study a unique biomaterial developed from fungal mycelium, the vegetative part and the root structure of fungi. Mycelium has a filamentous network structure with mechanics largely controlled by filament elasticity and branching, and network density. We report the morphological and mechanical characterization of mycelium through an integrated experimental and computational approach. The monotonic mechanical behavior of the mycelium is non-linear both in tension and compression. The material exhibits considerable strain hardening before rupture under tension, it mimics the open cell foam behavior under compression and exhibits hysteresis and the Mullins effect when subjected to cyclic loading. Based on our morphological characterization and experimental observations, we develop and validate a multiscale fiber network-based model for the mycelium which reproduces the tensile and compressive behavior of the material.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Compressive Strength; Mycelium; Stress, Mechanical; Tensile Strength; Viscosity
PubMed: 29026133
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13295-2 -
International Journal of Medicinal... 2021This study used a He-Ne laser with pulsed light irradiation to produce mutant strains of Phellinus igniarius strain JQ9 with enhanced characteristics for fermentation...
This study used a He-Ne laser with pulsed light irradiation to produce mutant strains of Phellinus igniarius strain JQ9 with enhanced characteristics for fermentation (17.685 ± 3.092 g/L) compared with the parent strain (12.062 ± 1.119 g/L). The combined treatment conditions were as follows: He-Ne laser irradiation for 30 min using a spot diameter of 10 mm, pulsed light treatment power set at 100 J, a treatment distance of 14.5 cm, and a flash frequency of 0.5 s. The production of bioactive polysaccharides and small biocompounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and triterpenes increased together with mycelium production. The results showed that polyphenol content was significantly correlated with L*, a*, and b* values (R = -0.594, P < 0.01; R = 0.571, P < 0.01; and R = 0.500, P < 0.05; respectively). Antagonistic and random amplified polymorphic DNA analyses indicated that the genetic material of the screened mutants was altered. The mutant screening using a He-Ne laser with pulsed light irradiation could be an effective method for the development of Phellinus strains and could thus improve mycelium production.
Topics: Colorimetry; Culture Media; Fermentation; Flavonoids; Lasers, Gas; Mutagenesis; Mycelium; Phellinus; Pigmentation; Polyphenols; Polysaccharides; Protoplasts; Triterpenes
PubMed: 33822508
DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v23.i4.60