Sea fungi in the fight against antibiotic resistance

Hi there, shroomers 🍄 !

This week’s highlights include 💤 melatonin in fungi and a 🌿 forest bathing artist.

SpongeBob: Biofilm buster

F is for friends who do stuff together! 🧽 Researchers uncovered found that the marine fungi on sea sponges have a chemical structure that could help fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Published in the Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, the study highlights the unique relationship between sea sponges and their symbiotic fungi, which produce compounds capable of inhibiting bacterial growth and disrupting biofilms.

• Bio-ew 🎞️ Biofilms are the complex communities of bacteria that stick together and attach themselves to surfaces. Imagine a group of bacteria coming together and producing a slimy, protective layer that acts like a shield. This helps them stick to surfaces (like teeth, medical devices, or even inside your body) and protects them from threats, like antibiotics and the body's immune system.

• The big picture 🖼️ With antibiotic resistance on the rise, leading to a projected 10 million annual deaths by 2050, the discovery of these compounds offers hope for the development of new antibiotics that can overcome current resistance mechanisms.

• Sea sponge to the rescue 🦠 Sea sponges are interesting because they work together with microorganisms like fungi to survive. These fungi have been identified as sources of drug development because they make special chemicals that can do things like keep away harmful microbes or protect the sponge from diseases.

• Studying the fungi 🔍️ Fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, were isolated and cultivated. Their compounds were then tested for antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.

• The results 📊 The study identified several effective compounds, including anthraquinones, sterigmatocystin analogs, and hydroxy pyrrolidine alkaloids, that showed potential in combating bacterial infections and preventing biofilm formation.  👉️ Read more.

Step aside tremella

Skincare that works 🧴 A recent study unveiled the significant antioxidant capacity of a novel mixture derived from reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) extracts. Well-known for their therapeutic properties in ancient and modern texts, these medicinal mushrooms were combined to create a product that had astonishing results against oxidative stress.

• Oxidative what 🫣 Oxidative stress is a condition where harmful molecules called free radicals build up in the body, leading to cell damage and contributing to diseases like cancer and heart disease.

• How it was made 🧪 Prior to extraction, the mushrooms were cultivated under well-controlled conditions to ensure their consistency and quality.

• The results 📊 The mixture contained 94 identified substances, including bioactive compounds like ferulic acid, ganoderic acid A, adenosine, and cordycepin, which significantly reduced cell death in human skin cells subjected to oxidative stress by 21 to 22 percent.

• The future 🫀 This could lead to the development of new health supplements or medications for treating conditions associated with oxidative stress, like neurodegenerative diseases or heart problems.

• Skincare 🥒 The mixture could even have topical applications in skincare, like anti-aging serums, antioxidant face creams, protective sunscreens, eye treatments, healing night masks. 👉️ Read more.

We can use… melatonin?

Mushrooms, they’re just like us 🌟 Melatonin is a hormone you've probably heard of in the context of sleep regulation. It's not just found in humans or animals, it's also present in fungi, which are a type of organism that includes mushrooms and mold. Recent research has shown that melatonin does several important things for fungi.

• Growth 🌱 Melatonin helps fungi grow properly. It plays a part in morphogenesis, which is a fancy way of saying it helps fungi take on their correct shapes and structures. This includes forming their network of roots, known as mycelium, and the parts of fungi that we can see above ground, like mushrooms.

• High in antioxidants ☀️ Fungi, like all living things, can be damaged by environmental stresses such as too much sunlight (UV radiation) or toxic substances like heavy metals. Melatonin acts like a shield for fungi against these stresses. It neutralizes harmful molecules (because of its antioxidant properties) that could damage the cells of the fungi, and it helps reduce the build-up of heavy metals within the fungi's cells.

• Synthesis ♻️ The way fungi produce melatonin is pretty similar to how plants do it, which shows that melatonin is a crucial substance across different life forms in helping organisms manage stress and grow correctly.

Potential applications that have emerged from understanding how melatonin functions in fungi, like…

• Higher yield 🧺 Applying melatonin externally can boost the early stages of mushroom growth, potentially leading to a higher overall yield of mushrooms.

• All of the crops 🍅 Treating mycorrhizal fungi (which form a symbiotic relationship with crops and help them absorb nutrients) with melatonin can enhance their beneficial effects and lead to stronger, more resilient plants.

• Biocontrol agents 🛡️ Melatonin could also be used to make certain fungi more effective at protecting crops from pests and diseases, offering a natural alternative to chemical pesticides. 👉️ Read more.

Featured artist: Kate 🌿 Forest Bathing Artist 🌿

A photographer based in Australia, Kate (@garden_and_cosmos) never ceases to amaze with the varieties she captures. The forest truly opens for her, from the stunning Entoloma virescens to the story in the vines she captures. Just look at those shaggy caps and tell me if you’ve seen that beautiful color before.

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