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International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2019Depression is a common and severe neuropsychiatric disorder that is one of the leading causes of global disease burden. Although various anti-depressants are currently... (Review)
Review
Depression is a common and severe neuropsychiatric disorder that is one of the leading causes of global disease burden. Although various anti-depressants are currently available, their efficacies are barely adequate and many have side effects. also known as Lion's mane mushroom, has been shown to have various health benefits, including antioxidative, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects. It has been used to treat cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Bioactive compounds extracted from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of have been found to promote the expression of neurotrophic factors that are associated with cell proliferation such as nerve growth factors. Although antidepressant effects of have not been validated and compared to the conventional antidepressants, based on the neurotrophic and neurogenic pathophysiology of depression, may be a potential alternative medicine for the treatment of depression. This article critically reviews the current literature on the potential benefits of as a treatment for depressive disorder as well as its mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like activities.
Topics: Basidiomycota; Biological Products; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Clinical Trials as Topic; Depressive Disorder; Diterpenes; Humans; Indoles; Mycelium; Nerve Growth Factors
PubMed: 31881712
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010163 -
Cell Aug 2022Wheat crops are frequently devastated by pandemic stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). Here, we identify and characterize a wheat...
Wheat crops are frequently devastated by pandemic stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). Here, we identify and characterize a wheat receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase gene, TaPsIPK1, that confers susceptibility to this pathogen. PsSpg1, a secreted fungal effector vital for Pst virulence, can bind TaPsIPK1, enhance its kinase activity, and promote its nuclear localization, where it phosphorylates the transcription factor TaCBF1d for gene regulation. The phosphorylation of TaCBF1d switches its transcriptional activity on the downstream genes. CRISPR-Cas9 inactivation of TaPsIPK1 in wheat confers broad-spectrum resistance against Pst without impacting important agronomic traits in two years of field tests. The disruption of TaPsIPK1 leads to immune priming without constitutive activation of defense responses. Taken together, TaPsIPK1 is a susceptibility gene known to be targeted by rust effectors, and it has great potential for developing durable resistance against rust by genetic modifications.
Topics: Basidiomycota; Plant Diseases; Protein Kinases; Triticum; Virulence
PubMed: 35839760
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.027 -
Nutrients May 2020Since the 1980s, medicinal effects have been documented in scientific studies with the related mushrooms Murill (AbM), (HE) and (GF) from Brazilian and Eastern... (Review)
Review
Antitumor, Anti-Inflammatory and Antiallergic Effects of Mushroom Extract and the Related Medicinal Basidiomycetes Mushrooms, and : A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies.
Since the 1980s, medicinal effects have been documented in scientific studies with the related mushrooms Murill (AbM), (HE) and (GF) from Brazilian and Eastern traditional medicine. Special focus has been on their antitumor effects, but the mushrooms' anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties have also been investigated. The antitumor mechanisms were either direct tumor attack, e.g., apoptosis and metastatic suppression, or indirect defense, e.g., inhibited tumor neovascularization and T helper cell (Th) 1 immune response. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms were a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and changed gut microbiota, and the antiallergic mechanism was amelioration of a skewed Th1/Th2 balance. Since a predominant Th2 milieu is also found in cancer, which quite often is caused by a local chronic inflammation, the three conditions-tumor, inflammation and allergy-seem to be linked. Further mechanisms for HE were increased nerve and beneficial gut microbiota growth, and oxidative stress regulation. The medicinal mushrooms AbM, HE and GF appear to be safe, and can, in fact, increase longevity in animal models, possibly due to reduced tumorigenesis and oxidation. This article reviews preclinical and clinical findings with these mushrooms and the mechanisms behind them.
Topics: Agaricus; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Basidiomycota; Biological Products; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Grifola; Hericium; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Mice; Neoplasms; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Oxidative Stress; Rats; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
PubMed: 32397163
DOI: 10.3390/nu12051339 -
Biomolecules Nov 2023Multicopper oxidases (MCOs) share a common catalytic mechanism of activation by oxygen and cupredoxin-like folding, along with some common structural determinants.... (Review)
Review
Multicopper oxidases (MCOs) share a common catalytic mechanism of activation by oxygen and cupredoxin-like folding, along with some common structural determinants. Laccases constitute the largest group of MCOs, with fungal laccases having the greatest biotechnological applicability due to their superior ability to oxidize a wide range of aromatic compounds and lignin, which is enhanced in the presence of redox mediators. The adaptation of these versatile enzymes to specific application processes can be achieved through the directed evolution of the recombinant enzymes. On the other hand, their substrate versatility and the low sequence homology among laccases make their exact classification difficult. Many of the ever-increasing amounts of MCO entries from fungal genomes are automatically (and often wrongly) annotated as laccases. In a recent comparative genomic study of 52 basidiomycete fungi, MCO classification was revised based on their phylogeny. The enzymes clustered according to common structural motifs and theoretical activities, revealing three novel groups of laccase-like enzymes. This review provides an overview of the structure, catalytic activity, and oxidative mechanism of fungal laccases and how their biotechnological potential as biocatalysts in industry can be greatly enhanced by protein engineering. Finally, recent information on newly identified MCOs with laccase-like activity is included.
Topics: Laccase; Basidiomycota; Oxidation-Reduction; Protein Engineering
PubMed: 38136587
DOI: 10.3390/biom13121716 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022Since ancient times, has been proposed to have medicinal and food benefits. Modern phytochemistry and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that polysaccharides,... (Review)
Review
Since ancient times, has been proposed to have medicinal and food benefits. Modern phytochemistry and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that polysaccharides, the main components from appear to be an all-round talent resisting a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases and protecting against different types of tumors, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These health and pharmacological benefits have gained much attention from scholars around the world. Further, more and more methods for polysaccharides extraction, purification, structure identification have been proposed. Significantly, the bioactivity of fungus polysaccharides is affected by many factors such as extraction and purification conditions and chemical structure. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in the isolation, structural features and biological effects of polysaccharides derived from , covers recent advances in the field and outlines future research and applications of these polysaccharides.
Topics: Basidiomycota; Polysaccharides; Fungal Polysaccharides; Food
PubMed: 36569950
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1091210 -
Nutrients Jun 2022Edible and medicinal fungi, a group of eukaryotic organisms with numerous varieties, including , , , , and , have been demonstrated to possess a board range of... (Review)
Review
Edible and medicinal fungi, a group of eukaryotic organisms with numerous varieties, including , , , , and , have been demonstrated to possess a board range of pharmaceutical properties, including anti-virus, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotection. Moreover, edible and medicinal fungi have been traditionally consumed as food to provide multiple nutrients and as drugs owing to having the activities of invigorating blood circulation, reinforcing the healthy qi, clearing away heat, and eliminating stasis for thousands of years in China. Malignant tumors, well-known as the second leading cause of death globally, accounted for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Thus, in-depth exploration of strategies to prevent and treat cancer is extremely urgent. A variety of studies have reported that the main bioactive components of edible and medicinal fungi, mainly polysaccharides and triterpenoids, exhibit diverse anticancer activities via multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of cell proliferation and metastasis, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, reversing multidrug resistance, and regulation of immune responses, thus suggesting their substantial potential in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Our review summarizes the research progress on the anticancer properties of edible and medicinal fungi and the underlying molecular mechanism, which may offer a better understanding of this field. Additionally, few studies have reported the safety and efficacy of extracts from edible and medicinal fungi, which may limit their clinical application. In summary, there is a need to continue to explore the use of those extracts and to further validate their safety and efficacy.
Topics: Agaricales; Grifola; Humans; Neoplasms; Pleurotus; Reishi
PubMed: 35807802
DOI: 10.3390/nu14132622 -
Microbiology and Molecular Biology... Mar 2022The development of sexual fruiting bodies is one of the most complex morphogenetic processes in fungi. Mycologists have long been fascinated by the morphological and... (Review)
Review
The development of sexual fruiting bodies is one of the most complex morphogenetic processes in fungi. Mycologists have long been fascinated by the morphological and developmental diversity of fruiting bodies; however, evolutionary developmental biology of fungi still lags significantly behind that of animals or plants. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge on fruiting bodies of mushroom-forming Basidiomycota, focusing on phylogenetic and developmental biology. Phylogenetic approaches have revealed a complex history of morphological transformations and convergence in fruiting body morphologies. Frequent transformations and convergence is characteristic of fruiting bodies in contrast to animals or plants, where main body plans are highly conserved. At the same time, insights into the genetic bases of fruiting body development have been achieved using forward and reverse genetic approaches in selected model systems. Phylogenetic and developmental studies of fruiting bodies have each yielded major advances, but they have produced largely disjunct bodies of knowledge. An integrative approach, combining phylogenetic, developmental, and functional biology, is needed to achieve a true fungal evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) synthesis for fungal fruiting bodies.
Topics: Animals; Ascomycota; Basidiomycota; Biological Evolution; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal; Morphogenesis; Phylogeny
PubMed: 34817241
DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00019-21 -
Journal of Microbiological Methods Jul 2022Lentinus crinitus (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) is a saprophytic fungus with biotechnological importance described more than 20 years ago. However, there are few studies...
Lentinus crinitus (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) is a saprophytic fungus with biotechnological importance described more than 20 years ago. However, there are few studies on the long-term preservation of this basidiomycete. Cryopreservation is a long-term storage technique that reduces the metabolic activity of microorganisms, but its success depends on the adjustment of the freezing process, the cryoprotectants, and the protective substrates for each species. This study aimed to assess the mycelial viability and genetic stability of L. crinitus strains cryopreserved at -86 °C for two years by the wheat grain technique using different cryoprotectants and freezing methods. Three strains of L. crinitus (U9-1, U13-5, and U15-12) were subjected to different concentrations and types of cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, glucose, and sucrose), freezing methods such as immediate freezing from 25 to -86 °C and progressing freezing from 25 to -86 °C in a freezing container with isopropyl alcohol to control the rate of cell freezing at -1 °C min, protective substrate (wheat grain and 2% malt extract agar), and cryopreservation period (1, 6, 12, and 24 months). After thawing, samples were evaluated for mycelial viability, time to mycelial recovery, mycelial stability, and genetic stability of the fungus. All techniques achieved effective cryopreservation at -86 °C, mainly with the wheat grain technique. All cryoprotectants (3.5% glycerol, 1.5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 25% sucrose, and 5% glucose), freezing methods (immediate and gradual), and protective substrate (wheat grain and malt extract agar) were effective for cryopreservation of the three L.crinitus strains in an ultra-low temperature freezer for two years. Mycelial viability, mycelial stability, and genetic stability of the fungus were not affected after two-year cryopreservation, evidencing the robustness of the long-term cryopreservation technique and the fungus.
Topics: Agar; Basidiomycota; Cryopreservation; Cryoprotective Agents; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Freezing; Glucose; Glycerol; Lentinula; Plant Extracts; Sucrose; Triticum
PubMed: 35588992
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2022.106491 -
BioTechniques Sep 2023Technological advancements in genome sequencing, assembly and annotation platforms and algorithms that resulted in several genomic studies have created an opportunity to... (Review)
Review
Technological advancements in genome sequencing, assembly and annotation platforms and algorithms that resulted in several genomic studies have created an opportunity to further our understanding of the biology of phytopathogens, including species. Most species are facultative necrotrophs that cause root- and stem-rot, usually on woody plants, significantly impacting agriculture and forestry worldwide. Genome sequencing, assembly and annotation in terms of samples used and methods applied in genome projects are evaluated in this review. Infographic guidelines and a database of resources to facilitate future genome projects were developed. Knowledge gained from genomic studies of species is summarized and prospects for further research are provided. This guide can be applied to other diploid and dikaryotic fungal genomics.
Topics: Armillaria; Basidiomycota; Algorithms; Databases, Factual; Diploidy
PubMed: 37681497
DOI: 10.2144/btn-2023-0023 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2022Rust fungi in Pucciniales have caused destructive plant epidemics, have become more aggressive with new virulence, rapidly adapt to new environments, and continually... (Review)
Review
Rust fungi in Pucciniales have caused destructive plant epidemics, have become more aggressive with new virulence, rapidly adapt to new environments, and continually threaten global agriculture. With the rapid advancement of genome sequencing technologies and data analysis tools, genomics research on many of the devastating rust fungi has generated unprecedented insights into various aspects of rust biology. In this review, we first present a summary of the main findings in the genomics of rust fungi related to variations in genome size and gene composition between and within species. Then we show how the genomics of rust fungi has promoted our understanding of the pathogen virulence and population dynamics. Even with great progress, many questions still need to be answered. Therefore, we introduce important perspectives with emphasis on the genome evolution and host adaptation of rust fungi. We believe that the comparative genomics and population genomics of rust fungi will provide a further understanding of the rapid evolution of virulence and will contribute to monitoring the population dynamics for disease management.
Topics: Basidiomycota; Chromosome Mapping; Fungi; Genomics; Plant Diseases; Virulence
PubMed: 36077025
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179629