Fungal Polysaccharides Research Articles

Microbiota Involved in the Degradation of Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharide and Microbial Enzymatic Potential Revealed by Microbiome and Metagenome

Tremella fuciformis, as a traditional edible fungus in Asian countries, is rich in polysaccharides with a variety of bioactivities. Nevertheless, its high molecular weight and complex structure have caused limitations in its application and structural analysis. In this study, we successfully screened a Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide-degrading bacterium from the soil by enriching and screening. The mixed bacterium consisted mainly of Verrucomicrobium (55.4%) and Lysobacter (43.8%), which released extracellular enzymes that enabled the degradation of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides. The functional annotation using microbiome and metagenome combined with bioinformatics revealed its active carbohydrate metabolism, binding, and catalysis. It exposed the enzymatic potential of the bacterium and provided a basis for the exploration of hydrolytic enzymes for hardly degradable polysaccharides in fungi.

New Polysaccharides from Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus (HO-P) and Agrocybe aegerita (AA-P) and their Biological Activities

Background Fungal polysaccharides are an essential active polymer compound in human cells. A clear understanding of the structure of polysaccharides is the foundation for conducting research and utilization of polysaccharides. Purpose To explore the structure and immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharides from Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus and Agrocybe aegerita. Methods High-performance liquid chromatography, high-performance gel-permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis were utilized to analyze the structure of Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus polysaccharide (HO-P) and Agrocybe aegerita polysaccharide (AA-P). The immunomodulatory activities of these polysaccharides were also studied. Results The HO-P consisted of (1↓6)-Galp, (1↓4)-Glup, (↓1)-Glup, and (1↓4,6)-D-Manp with the ratio of mannose, galactose, and glucose being 1:1:2. The AA-P was consisted of (1↓4,6)-Glup, (1↓4)-Arap, and (1↓6)-Galp with the ratio of galactose, glucose, and arabinose being 3:2:1. AA-P and HO-P could both mainly by reducing G0/G1 phase, which leads to the significant proliferation of B cells and RAW264.7 cells, respectively. At the same time, AA-P and HO-P could significantly stimulate the necrosis factor-α secretion of T cells, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM secretion of B cells and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion of RAW264.7 cells, but neither of them could stimulate interleukin-1↓ secretion of RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion Due to its better branching degree, AA-P is more conducive to forming a triple-helix, three-dimensional configuration, as well as better solubility and smaller molecular weight, thus exhibiting higher biological immune activity against immune cells than HO-P.

Evaluation of natural polysaccharides from edible mushrooms for the treatment of male testicular injury caused by X-ray.

Radiation exposure can lead to reproductive damage (RD), for which there is currently no effective treatment. Natural compounds, particularly fungal polysaccharides, have shown promising therapeutic potential for RD. Due to limited availability of effective polysaccharides, research has turned to alternative sources from edible mushrooms. This study evaluated polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii, Agaricus bisporus, Coprinus comatus, and Pleurotus citrinopileatus for their effects on male mice subjected to X-ray radiation. Histological analysis demonstrated significant damage to testicular tissue following X-ray exposure, alongside altered antioxidant markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Blood tests revealed mild leukopenia, erythropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Notably, the positive control groups treated with A. bisporus polysaccharides (ABPs) and Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides showed increased SOD and GSH-Px levels by 46.5% and 7.3%, and 15.9% and 10.1%, respectively, compared to the untreated group. MDA levels were reduced by 62.4% with ABP and by 32.1% with Coprinus comatus polysaccharides. ABPs were the most effective, significantly enhancing WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, and platelets by 58.3%, 8.9%, 30.6%, and 24.6%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of polysaccharides from edible fungi as natural therapeutic agents for mitigating radiation-induced reproductive damage. Future research on such compounds may pave the way for effective RD treatments.

Glycosidic linkages of fungus polysaccharides influence the anti-inflammatory activity in mice

Over decades, the source-function relationships of bioactive polysaccharides have been progressively investigated, however, it is still unclear how a defined structure may conduce to the bioactivities of polysaccharides. To explore the structure-function relationship of fungus polysaccharides, we employed a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model to compare the anti-inflammatory activity of two fungus polysaccharides from Dictyophora indusiata (DIP) and Tremella fuciformis (TFP), which exhibit distinct glycosidic linkages. The structures of DIP and TFP were characterized through molecular weight detection, molecular morphology analysis, methylation analysis, and NMR analysis. Subsequently, we employed a DSS-induced colitis model to assess the anti-inflammatory efficacy of DIP and TFP. The colitis symptoms, histological morphology, intestinal inflammatory cytokines, and the composition and function of gut microbiota before and after polysaccharides treatment in colitis mice were also investigated. DIP, l,3-β-D-glucan with 1,4-β and 1,6-β-D-Glcp as branched chains, exhibited superior therapeutic effect than that of TFP consisted of a linear 1,3-α-D-mannose backbone with D-xylose and L-fucose in the side chains. Both DIP and TFP relieved DSS-induced colitis in a gut microbiota dependent manner. Furthermore, metagenomics showed that DIP and TFP could partially reverse the bacterial function in colitis mice. Glycoside Hydrolase 1 (GH1) and GH3 were shown to cleave the glucose linkages in DIP, while GH92 and GH29 were likely active on the α-1,3-linked mannose linkages and the glycosidic bonds of L-fucose residues in TFP. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of glycosidic linkages in anti-inflammatory activities of fungus polysaccharides and would promote the design and discovery of polysaccharides with designated activity to be used as functional foods and/or therapeutics.

Immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharide extract samples from Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200

Cyanobacteria are most abundant in aquatic systems and can grow in freshwater, saline or brackish water, and cold/hot springs. Cyanobacteria have attracted considerable research attention in the last decade as a potential source of numerous biological products in large quantities, such as biofuels, pigments, polyunsaturated fatty acids, nutraceuticals, enzymes, and polysaccharides. Unlike most plant and fungal polysaccharides, the chemical composition, immunomodulatory activity, and molecular mechanisms of action of Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 polysaccharides have been studied much less. The complexity of their primary structure due to the high variability of monosaccharides, their diverse bonds, the presence of substituents and high viscosity made detailed structural studies of cyanobacterial polysaccharides rare, which determines the need for analysis of cyanobacteria biomass components to identify active metabolites with promising biological activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides from Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200. Pharmacological and nutraceutical value of Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 has been set, defining our study’s scientific novelty. As a result, the molecular weight of immunoactive polysaccharide (6.0–8.0 kDa) was determined. The analysis shows that endopolysaccharide samples at a concentration of 300 mg/kg showed no significant immunomodulatory effect (1.60 ± 0.15 mg/g), and the thymus mass index of animals in the experimental group was comparable to that of the control group in which animals were immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide (1.15 ± 0.24 mg/g). When exopolysaccharide samples were used at a concentration of 600 mg/kg, the thymus mass index of animals in the experimental group (3.60 ± 0.32 mg/g) was statistically comparable to that of the control group (without polysaccharide) in which immunosuppression was not induced (thymus index was 3.70 ± 0.25 mg/g). It was found that endopolysaccharide samples at a concentration of 600 mg/kg also exhibited high immunomodulatory activity. When Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 endopolysaccharide samples were used, no internal organ changes were observed in experimental animals after immunosuppression. The empirical results presented in the study may find application in the development of both pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Characterization of Carbohydrate Specificity of Monoclonal Antibodies to Fungal Antigenic Markers Using Biotinylated Oligosaccharides as Coating Antigens.

Mannan and β-(1→3)-glucan are two polysaccharide markers that are characteristic for a number of fungal pathogens, including Candida albicans, which is the most common cause of invasive mycoses in humans. In this study, we examined epitope specificity of two monoclonal antibodies, CM532 and FG70, which recognize certain oligosaccharide fragments of these fungal polysaccharides. Using a panel of biotinylated oligosaccharides as coating antigens, we found that the CM532 antibody obtained by immunization with the pentamannoside β-Man-(1→2)-β-Man-(1→2)-α-Man-(1→2)-α-Man-(1→2)-α-Man KLH conjugate, selectively recognizes the trisaccharide β-Man-(1→2)-α-Man-(1→2)-α-Man epitope. Another antibody, FG70, obtained by immunization with heptaglucan β-Glc-(1→3)-[β-Glc-(1→3)]5-β-Glc conjugate with KLH, interacts with the linear β-(1→3)-linked pentaglucoside fragment, and presence of 3,6-branches within this epitope does not significantly affect the interaction efficiency. The data obtained indicate that the monoclonal antibodies under consideration could be used to create effective diagnostics for detection of fungal infections, which are not available at present.

Second-Sphere Histidine Catalytic Function in a Fungal Polysaccharide Monooxygenase.

Fungal polysaccharide monooxygenases (PMOs) oxidatively degrade cellulose and other carbohydrate polymers via a mononuclear copper active site using either O2 or H2O2 as a cosubstrate. Cellulose-active fungal PMOs in the auxiliary activity 9 (AA9) family have a conserved second-sphere hydrogen-bonding network consisting of histidine, glutamine, and tyrosine residues. The second-sphere histidine has been hypothesized to play a role in proton transfer in the O2-dependent PMO reaction. Here the role of the second-sphere histidine (H157) in an AA9 PMO, MtPMO9E, was investigated. This PMO is active on soluble cello-oligosaccharides such as cellohexaose (Glc6), thus enabling kinetic analysis with the point variants H157A and H157Q. The variants appeared to fold similarly to the wild-type (WT) enzyme and yet exhibited weaker affinity toward Glc6 than WT (WT KD = 20 ± 3 μM). The variants had comparable oxidase (O2 reduction to H2O2) activity to WT at all pH values tested. Using O2 as a cosubstrate, the variants were less active for Glc6 hydroxylation than WT, with H157A being the least active. Similarly, H157Q was competent for Glc6 hydroxylation with H2O2, but H157A was less active. Comparison of the crystal structures of H157Q and WT MtPMO9E reveals that a terminal heteroatom of Q157 overlays with Nε of H157. Altogether, the data suggest that H157 is not important for proton transfer, but support a role for H157 as a hydrogen-bond donor to diatomic-oxygen intermediates, thus facilitating catalysis with either O2 or H2O2.

Dietary Pleurotus citrinopileatus Polysaccharide Improves Growth Performance and Meat Quality Associated with Alterations of Gut Microbiota in Arbor Acre Broilers.

Adding edible fungal polysaccharides to animal diets improves growth performance, meat quality, intestinal health, and immunity without adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Pleurotus citrinopileatus polysaccharide (PCP, including PCP250, PCP500, PCP750, and PCP1000 mg/kg) on the growth performance, meat quality, and microbial composition of Arbor Acre (AA) broilers (total 180) by metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that adding PCP enhanced chicken meat tenderness, redness (a*), and water retention and raised essential amino acids and flavor amino acids (such as umami and sweet amino acids) content. The metabolomics revealed that IMP, creatine, betaine, sarcosine, and taurine were related to improving meat quality in broilers by PCP addition. In addition, amino acid, purine, and lipid metabolism were the main metabolic pathways. Moreover, PCP could regulate muscle metabolism by increasing the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillus and the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Therefore, PCP may become a promising new dietary supplement in the future, which may improve the yield and quality of broiler chickens.

Mechanisms of action of fungal polysaccharides and their therapeutic effect.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the relationship between the therapeutic bioactivity of basidial fungal polysaccharides (BFPs) BFPs and their structural characteristics and conformational features, as well as to characterize the mechanisms of action of BFPs in diseases of various origins. The review was conducted using the PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science and the Russian Science Citation Index databases. 8645 records were identified, of which 5250 were studies (86 were randomized controlled trials). The period covered is from 1960 to the present. The most significant studies conducted mainly in Southeast Asian countries were selected for the review. Based on clinical studies, as well as the results obtained on in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo models, it has been proven that BFPs have diverse and highly effective biological activity in the human body in various diseases. The production of BFPs-based vaccines is an innovative strategy from a clinical and biochemical point of view, since as potential immunoprotective and low-toxic biopolymers they have innate immune receptors in the body. Promising results have been obtained in the development of antidiabetic drugs, probiotic, renoprotective and neurodegenerative dietary supplements. The biological activity, mechanism of action and specific therapeutic effect of BFPs largely depend on their structural and physicochemical characteristics. BFPs as multifunctional macromolecular complexes with low toxicity and high safety are ideal as new powerful pharmaceuticals for the treatment and prevention of many diseases.

A human lectin array for characterizing host-pathogen interactions

A human lectin array has been developed to probe the interactions of innate immune receptors with pathogenic and commensal micro-organisms. Following the successful introduction of a lectin array containing all of the cow C-type carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs), a human array described here contains the C-type CRDs as well as CRDs from other classes of sugar-binding receptors, including galectins, siglecs, R-type CRDs, ficolins, intelectins and chitinase-like lectins. The array is constructed with CRDs modified with single-site biotin tags, ensuring that the sugar-binding sites in CRDs are displayed on a streptavidin-coated surface in a defined orientation and are accessible to the surfaces of microbes. A common approach used for expression and display of CRDs from all of the different structural categories of glycan-binding receptors allows comparisons across lectin families. In addition to previously documented protocols for binding of fluorescently-labeled bacteria, methods have been developed for detecting unlabeled bacteria bound to the array by counter-staining with DNA-binding dye. Screening has also been undertaken with viral glycoproteins and bacterial and fungal polysaccharides. The array provides an unbiased screen for sugar ligands that interact with receptors and many show binding not anticipated from earlier studies. For example, some of the galectins bind with high affinity to bacterial glycans that lack lactose or N-acetyllactosamine. The results demonstrate the utility of the human lectin array for providing a unique overview of the interactions of multiple classes of glycan-binding proteins in the innate immune system with different types of micro-organisms.

Extraction Optimization, Structural Analysis, and Potential Bioactivities of a Novel Polysaccharide from Sporisorium reilianum.

Sporisorium reilianum is an important biotrophic pathogen that causes head smut disease. Polysaccharides extracted from diseased sorghum heads by Sporisorium reilianum exhibit significant medicinal and edible value. However, the structure and biological activities of these novel polysaccharides have not been explored. In this study, a novel polysaccharide (WM-NP'-60) was isolated and purified from the fruit bodies of S. reilianum and aimed to explore the structural characteristics and substantial antioxidant and antitumor properties of WM-NP'-60. Monosaccharide composition determination, periodate oxidation-Smith degradation, 1D/2D-NMR analysis, and methylation analysis revealed that WM-NP'-60 consisted mainly of β-1,6-D-Glcp, β-1,3-D-Glcp, and β-1,3,6-D-Glcp linkages. The antioxidant assays demonstrated that WM-NP'-60 exhibited great activities, including scavenging free radicals, chelating ferrous ions, and eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells. The HepG2, SGC7901, and HCT116 cells examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed typical apoptotic bodies. Therefore, a novel fungal polysaccharide (WM-NP'-60) was discovered, extracted, and purified in this experiment, with the aim of providing a reference for the development of a new generation of food and nutraceutical products suitable for human consumption.

Optimization of polysaccharide conditions and analysis of antioxidant capacity in the co-culture of Sanghuangporus vaninii and Pleurotus sapidus

Fungal polysaccharides are commonly utilized in the food industry and biomedical fields as a natural and safe immune modulator. Co-culturing is a valuable method for enhancing the production of secondary metabolites. This study used intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) content as a screening index, co-culturing seven different fungi with Sanghuangporus vaninii. The seed pre-culture liquid culture time was selected through screening, and conditions were assessed using single factor experimentation, a Plackett-Burman (PB) design, and response surface methodology (RSM) optimization. RSM optimization was conducted, leading to the measurement of antioxidant capacity. Results indicated that the co-culture of S. vaninii and Pleurotus sapidus exhibited the most effective outcome. Specifically, pre-culturing S. vaninii and P. sapidus seed cultures for 2 days and 0 days, respectively, followed by co-culturing, significantly increased IPS content compared to single-strain culturing. Further optimization of co-culture conditions revealed that yeast extract concentration, liquid volume, and S. vaninii inoculum ratio notably influenced IPS content in the order of yeast extract concentration > liquid volume > S. vaninii inoculum ratio. Under the optimal conditions, IPS content reached 69.9626 mg/g, a 17.04% increase from pre-optimization co-culture conditions. Antioxidant capacity testing demonstrated that co-cultured IPS exhibited greater scavenging abilities for DPPH and ABTS free radicals compared to single strain cultures. These findings highlight the potential of co-culturing S. vaninii and P. sapidus to enhance IPS content and improve antioxidant capacity, presenting an effective strategy for increasing fungal polysaccharide production.

Armillariella tabescens-derived polysaccharides alleviated Ɒ-Gal-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive injury through enterocerebral axis and activation of keap-1/Nrf2 pathway

The early symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases include oxidative stress disorder and accelerated inflammation levels. Edible fungi polysaccharides play essential roles in anti-neuroinflammation. We analyzed the regulatory mechanisms of polysaccharides from extracellular Armillariella tabescens (ATEP) in alleviating neuroinflammation in mice. Mice were induced with d-galactose and aluminum chloride to establish an animal model of Alzheimer's disease, then intragastrically treated with ATEP, which had been previously analyzed for its physicochemical properties. We assessed the critical characteristics of mice treated for neuroinflammation, including cognitive behavior, the anti-inflammatory potential of ATEP in hippocampal pathology and critical protein expression, and changes in fecal microbial composition and metabolites. ATEP intervened in oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and suppressing the Keap-1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Changing the Nrf2 content in the nucleus led to changes in the downstream oxidation-related enzymes, HO-1, NQO-1, iNOS, and COX-2, and the neuronal morphology in CA3 region of the hippocampus. Microbiome analysis revealed that ATEP remodeled the gut microbiotas and regulated the short-chain fatty acids-producing bacteria. Early intervention with ATEP via active dietary supplementation may promote neuroprotection.

Combining metabolomics and transcriptomics to analyze key response metabolites and molecular mechanisms of Aspergillus fumigatus under cadmium stress

The co-cultivation of fungi with microalgae facilitates microalgae harvesting and enhances heavy metal adsorption. However, the mechanisms of fungal tolerance to cadmium (Cd) have not yet been studied in detail. In this study, functional groups of fungi were analyzed under Cd stress using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) to explore their morphology. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) was used to characterize the changes in the content of extracellular polysaccharides and proteins, and a decrease in the ratio of glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was monitored. The GSH and GSSG contents in mycelium were 7.4 and 7.9 times higher than that in the control, respectively. After 72 h of Cd treatment, the fungal extracellular polysaccharide and extracellular protein contents increased by 16 and 11.4 mg/g, respectively, compared to the control. This provided several functional groups for the complexation of Cd ions to enhance fungal Cd tolerance. The metabolomic and transcriptomic results revealed a total of 358 differential metabolites after 20, 48, and 72 h in the positive and negative ion modes, and the number of differential metabolites specific to each group was 104, 14, and 89, respectively. There were 927, 1167, and 1287 up-regulated genes, and 1301, 1480, and 1683 down-regulated genes at 20, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the ABC transport system are the key metabolic pathways for tolerance enhancement and heavy metal detoxification in fungi. The expression of S-cysteinosuccinic acid was significantly up-regulated after Cd stress and associated with enhanced fungal tolerance and resistance to Cd.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the humic acids and chitosan suppressing Alternaria solani growth.

Understanding the inhibitory effects of natural organic substances on soil-borne pathogenic fungi and the relevant molecular mechanisms are highly important for future development of green prevention and control technology against soil-borne diseases. Our study elucidates the inhibitory effect of the combined application of humic acids (HAs) and chitosan on Alternariasolani and the light on the corresponding mechanism. The effect on A. solani growth by HAs incorporated with chitosan was investigated by plate culture and the corresponding mechanism was revealed using transcriptomics. The colony growth of A. solani was suppressed with the highest inhibition rate 33.33% when swine manure HAs was compounded with chitosan at a ratio of 1:4. Chitosan changed the colony morphology from round to irregularly. RNA-seq in the HAs and chitosan (HC) treatment revealed 239 differentially expressed genes compared with the control. The unigenes associated with enzymes activities related to growth and biological processes closely related to mycelial growth and metabolism were downregulated. RNA-seq also revealed that chitosan altered the expression of genes related to secondary metabolism, fungal cell wall formation and polysaccharide synthesis, and metabolism. Meanwhile, weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed that, genes expression in the module positively correlated with mycelial growth was significantly reduced in the HC treatment; and the results were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The co-inhibition effect of HAs and chitosan on A. solani is associated with downregulated genes expression correlated with mycelial growth.

Relationship between the extraction methods, structural characteristics, and biological activities of polysaccharides from 5 typical polyporaceae fungi

Polyporaceae fungi are widely found in nature and have long been an important part of the field of traditional Chinese medicine field. The numerous health benefits of Polyporaceae fungi may be related to their polysaccharides, which have significant biological activities in terms of antitumor, immunomodulation, antioxidation, liver protection, and blood lipid-lowering effects. Studies have shown that different extraction methods have a significant impact on the structural characteristics and biological activity of polysaccharides. The structural characteristics of fungal polysaccharides, such as composition, molecular weight, branching degree, and glycosidic bond type, are closely related to their biological activity. This article has systematically reviewed the relationship between the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, and biological activities of 5 typical fungal polysaccharides, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the application of polypore fungal polysaccharides in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and lay the foundation for their further research and development.

Hirsutella sinensis polysaccharides and Parabacteroides goldsteinii reduce lupus severity in imiquimod-treated mice

BackgroundThe incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing in developed countries, possibly due to the modern Western diet and lifestyle. We showed earlier that polysaccharides derived from the medicinal fungus Hirsutella sinensis produced anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects by modulating the gut microbiota and increasing the abundance of the commensal Parabacteroides goldsteinii in mice fed with a high-fat diet. MethodsWe examined the effects of the prebiotics, H. sinensis polysaccharides, and probiotic, P. goldsteinii, in a mouse model of imiquimod-induced systemic lupus erythematosus. ResultsThe fungal polysaccharides and P. goldsteinii reduced markers of lupus severity, including the increase of spleen weight, proteinuria, and serum levels of anti-DNA auto-antibodies and signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4). Moreover, the polysaccharides and P. goldsteinii improved markers of kidney and liver functions such as creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, glomerulus damage and fibrosis, and serum liver enzymes. However, the prebiotics and probiotics did not influence gut microbiota composition, colonic histology, or expression of tight junction proteins in colon tissues. ConclusionsOur results indicate that H. sinensis polysaccharides and the probiotic P. goldsteinii can reduce lupus markers in imiquimod-treated mice. These prebiotics and probiotics may therefore be added to other interventions conducive of a healthy lifestyle in order to counter autoimmune diseases.

Therapeutic Potential of Fungal Polysaccharides in Gut Microbiota Regulation: Implications for Diabetes, Neurodegeneration, and Oncology.

This review evaluates the therapeutic effects of polysaccharides derived from mushroom species that have medicinal and edible properties. The fungal polysaccharides were recently studied, focusing on their modulation of the gut microbiota and their impact on various diseases. The study covers both clinical and preclinical studies, detailing the results and highlighting the significant influence of these polysaccharides on gut microbiota modulation. It discusses the potential health benefits derived from incorporating these polysaccharides into the diet for managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the interaction between fungal polysaccharides and the gut microbiota, underscoring their role in modulating the gut microbial community. It presents a systematic analysis of the findings, demonstrating the substantial impact of fungal polysaccharides on gut microbiota composition and function, which may contribute to their therapeutic effects in various chronic conditions. We conclude that the modulation of the gut microbiota by these polysaccharides may play a crucial role in mediating their therapeutic effects, offering a promising avenue for further research and potential applications in disease prevention and treatment.

Isolation, structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity on RAW264.7 cells of a novel exopolysaccharide of Dictyophora rubrovalvata

Fungal polysaccharides have been explored by many for both structural studies and biological activities, but few studies have been done on the extracellular polysaccharides of Dictyophora rubrovalvata, so a new exopolysaccharide was isolated from Dictyophora rubrovalvata and its structure and its immunological activity were investigated. The crude exopolysaccharide (EPS) was purified by DEAE52 cellulose and Sephadex G-200 to obtain a new acidic polysaccharide (DR-EPS). DR-EPS (2.66 × 103 kDa) was consisted mainly of mannose, glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid with a molar ratio of 1: 0.86: 0.20: 0.01. In addition, DR-EPS increased the phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 cells up to 2.67 times of the blank control group. DR-EPS improved intracellular nucleic acid and glycogen metabolism as observed by AO and PAS staining. DR-EPS(40 μg/mL) promoted NO production up to 30.66 μmol, enhanced acid phosphatase (ACP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, with activity maxima of 660 U/gprot and 96.27 U/mgprot, respectively, and DR-EPS (160 μg / mL) significantly increased the lysozyme content as 2.73 times of the control group. The good immunological activity of extracellular polysaccharides of Dictyophora rubrovalvata provides directions for the use of fermentation broths.

Increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium complex infection in miniature Schnauzer dogs caused by a codon deletion in CARD9

Mammals are generally resistant to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections. We report here on a primary immunodeficiency disorder causing increased susceptibility to MAC infections in a canine breed. Adult Miniature Schnauzers developing progressive systemic MAC infections were related to a common founder, and pedigree analysis was consistent with an autosomal recessive trait. A genome-wide association study and homozygosity mapping using 8 infected, 9 non-infected relatives, and 160 control Miniature Schnauzers detected an associated region on chromosome 9. Whole genome sequencing of 2 MAC-infected dogs identified a codon deletion in the CARD9 gene (c.493_495del; p.Lys165del). Genotyping of Miniature Schnauzers revealed the presence of this mutant CARD9 allele worldwide, and all tested MAC-infected dogs were homozygous mutants. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a dog homozygous for the CARD9 variant exhibited a dysfunctional CARD9 protein with impaired TNF-α production upon stimulation with the fungal polysaccharide β-glucan that activates the CARD9-coupled C-type lectin receptor, Dectin-1. While CARD9-deficient knockout mice are susceptible to experimental challenges by fungi and mycobacteria, Miniature Schnauzer dogs with systemic MAC susceptibility represent the first spontaneous animal model of CARD9 deficiency, which will help to further elucidate host defense mechanisms against mycobacteria and fungi and assess potential therapies for animals and humans.