A team of researchers set out to understand the differences


in odors and published their findings in the English journal New Phytologist (230[4]: 1623–1638). Previously all manner of reasons were cited for difference in odors from one collection site to another, including, simply, fruiting body maturity, host tree association, genetics of the fungus and tree hosts, other environmental factors (e.g., soil, climate, season)—even microbes colonizing truffle fruiting bodies. In this recent study, Niimi et al. considered all these factors and analyzed how volatiles from the white truffle vary with fruiting body maturity, the truffle’s own microbiome, and soil, climate, and season. Volatiles exuded from truffles collected in Italy and Croatia comprised a similar range of compounds that nonetheless varied in relative concentration to produce distinct aromas. Te diversity in volatile profile, it turns out, is partly associated with the truffle species … and partly due to the diversity in microbial affiliates. Tus, like fine wines, truffle aromas can also be attributed to terroir, the volatile profiles of individual truffles vary more within a region.


Fungal chemistry, part I: yet another zombifying fungus discovered!


W


ell it’s been some big year for cicadas! Specifically Brood X of the enigmatic Periodical Cicada of eastern North


America inundated many towns and dominated the news. Undoubtedly all readers of FUNGI saw mention of the cicada zombifying fungus Massospora in the news as well. (We’ve featured this interesting fungus in FUNGI a few times over the past few years and you can quickly find the articles online.) Tis fungus bides its time underground along with the cicadas—for 13 or 17 years, depending on host species—until emerging to reproduce. Unwitting hosts become zombified by the fungus into doing their bidding. Other zombie fungi have made the news in recent memory, including those that attack ants. And so it comes as no surprise that there are other similar


fungi awaiting discovery … most recently, fungi hosted by Diptera, the true flies. Te two zombifying fungi, new to science, infect flies and eject spores out of a large hole in the insect’s abdomen like “small rockets.” Named Strongwellsea tigrinae and S. acerosa, these fungi were discovered in Denmark and are host-specific for Coenosia tigrina and C. testacea (family Muscidae; these flies resemble houseflies). What’s with the zombifying thing, anyway? Glad you asked. While most fungi sporulate once the host is dead, zombified hosts insects continue to live for days, carrying out normal activities and socializing with other flies—unwittingly spreading more contagion among others of its kind. Te fungus digests the host from within and ultimately causes death. Do zombifying fungi have anything in common, physiologically? A great question. Scientists think these fungi could be producing substances that drug their hosts with compounds similar to those recently discovered in the Massospora fungus—including psilocybin. Of further interest are the fungal compounds and how they work. Collectively, this group of insect-destroying fungi may represent the next frontier for drug discovery.


10 FUNGI Volume 14:4 Fall 2021


Fungal chemistry and drug discovery, part II: deadly Amanitas


C


ancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, despite decades of research. But recently, progress towards a cure


has come from an unlikely source: Amanita phalloides—the Death Cap mushroom. One particular type of breast cancer is especially tough to treat, that of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). Currently available HER2-targeted therapy has a low success rate as there are few proteins on the cells of this form of cancer cell to target. However, researchers recently have found that HER2-low breast cancer cells often have a corresponding loss of DNA on chromosome 17. In addition to being involved in the manifestation of cancer, this DNA deletion also seems to result in the tumor cells being highly sensitive to α-amanitin. Treating mice with antibody- drug conjugates (ADCs) with α-amanitin was successful in killing tumor cells and just may represent an effective targeted precision immunotherapy for patients with HER2-low breast cancer. Tis exciting new work was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine (Feb. 2021; vol. 13, n.580; DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abc6894). A previously reported study using phalloidin as a tool for therapy research was reviewed in FUNGI a few years ago. It’s amazing to think that mushrooms responsible for nearly all mushroom-related fatalities could all be the source of life-saving medicines one day.


Milk thistle warning M


ilk thistle (Silybum marianum) has recently been touted as a potential curative for amatoxin poisoning


(but without a lot of convincing data to this editor’s eyes). It turns out, this “cure” comes with its own hazards. A paper in a special mycotoxins edition of the journal Toxins (12[12]: 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12120782) analyzes the consumption of a number of herbal-based supplements which are believed to have beneficial effects on human health with no side effects. Such supplements have become popular around the world (you pretty much see them discussed just about everywhere) and this trend is still increasing. Silybum marianum, commonly known as milk thistle (MT), is the most commonly studied herb associated with the treatment of liver diseases. Te hepatoprotective effects of active substances in silymarin, with silybin being the main compound, have been demonstrated in many studies. However, MT can be affected by toxigenic micro-fungi and contaminated by mycotoxins causing adverse effects. Te beneficial effect of silymarin can thus be reduced or totally antagonized by mycotoxins. MT has proven to be affected by micro-fungi of the Fusarium and Alternaria genera, in particular, and their mycotoxins—some of which can cause long-term damage to the body, cancer, or death. This Toxins review focuses on summarizing cases of mycotoxins in MT to emphasize the need for strict monitoring and regulation, as mycotoxins in relation with MT-based dietary supplements are not covered by European Union legislation.


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