Species of fungi recommended for inclusion in the 2nd edition of the Red Data Book of the Oryol Region

Based on the results of the long-term (2008–2020) studies of macromycetes in Oryol Region, a list of 24 fungal species recommended for the second edition of the regional Red Data Book has been compiled. The list includes 4 species of basidial fungi (Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Cortinarius violaceus, Grifola frondosa, and Gyroporus cyanescens) that were included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Oryol Region (2007) and another 20 species (Aeruginoscyphus sericeus, Bulgaria inquinans, Clavaria zollingeri, Ganoderma lucidum, Gloiodon strigosus, Gyroporus castaneus, Hericium coralloides, Holwaya mucida, Hydnocristella himantia, Metuloidea murashkinskyi, Phellinidium ferrugineofuscum, Polyporus umbellatus, Ramaria fennica, Ramariopsis crocea, Ramariopsis pulchella, Rhizochaete sulphurina, Rhodonia placenta, Rhodotus palmatus, Skeletocutis odora, Triblidium caliciiforme) that are proposed for protection for the first time. Each species is provided with the Latin name, followed by brief characteristics of its current taxonomic position, biology and ecology, population‐limiting factors in the region, data on the range in Russia and on the distribution in Oryol Region, as well as the recommended protection category. The presented species list includes two species (Clavaria zollingeri, Rhodotus palmatus) from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and three species (Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Polyporus umbellatus) recorded in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (2008). Two species (Aeruginoscyphus sericeus and Rhodotus palmatus) are new to Oryol Region.

Use of transcriptomic profiling to identify candidate genes involved in Polyporus umbellatus sclerotial formation affected by oxalic acid

Polyporus umbellatus is a precious medicinal fungus. Oxalic acid was observed to affect sclerotial formation and sclerotia possessed more medicinal compounds than mycelia. In this study, the transcriptome of P. umbellatus was analysed after the fungus was exposed to various concentrations of oxalic acid. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding a series of oxidases were upregulated, and reductases were downregulated, in the low-oxalic-acid (Low OA) group compared to the control (No OA) group, while the opposite phenomenon was observed in the high-oxalic-acid (High OA) group. The detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in P. umbellatus mycelia was performed visually, and Ca2+ and H2O2 fluxes were measured using non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT). The sclerotial biomass in the Low OA group increased by 66%, however, no sclerotia formed in the High OA group. The ROS fluorescence intensity increased significantly in the Low OA group but decreased considerably in the High OA group. Ca2+ and H2O2 influx significantly increased in the Low OA group, while H2O2 exhibited efflux in the High OA group. A higher level of oxidative stress formed in the Low OA group. Different concentrations of oxalic acid were determined to affect P. umbellatus sclerotial formation in different ways.

Current distribution data for the red-listed species of aphyllophoroid fungi in Ukraine

The article provides current information on distribution patterns of six species of aphyllophoroid fungi (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine: Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Gomphus clavatus, Hericium coralloides, Picipes rhizophilus, Polyporus umbellatus, and Sparassis crispa. Altogether, about 500 occurrences of the fungal fruitbodies in the country are reported. Of them, over 410 recent observations have been added to those published in the Red Data Book of Ukraine in 2009. Majority of that data has been provided over the last few years via mushroom citizen science, i.e. involvement of volunteers in collecting distribution data for macrofungi with large and distinctive fruitbodies. Only specialist-verified observations were included in the datasets reported in the article. The compiled data will serve as a considerably improved basis for future re-assessments of the conservation status of these threatened species for the next edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Polyporus Umbellatus Protects Against Renal Fibrosis by Regulating Intrarenal Fatty Acyl Metabolites

Background: Chronic renal failure (CRF) results in significant dyslipidemia and profound changes in lipid metabolism. Polyporus umbellatus (PPU) has been shown to prevent kidney injury and subsequent kidney fibrosis.Methods: Lipidomic analysis was performed to explore the intrarenal profile of lipid metabolites and further investigate the effect of PPU and its main bioactive component, ergone, on disorders of lipid metabolism in rats induced by adenine. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed for choosing intrarenal differential lipid species in CRF rats and the intervening effect of n-hexane extract of PPU and ergone on CRF rats.Results: Compared with control group, decreased creatinine clearance rate indicated declining kidney function in CRF group. Based on the lipidomics, we identified 65 lipid species that showed significant differences between CRF and control groups. The levels of 12 lipid species, especially fatty acyl lipids including docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid (22n-3), 10,11-Dihydro-12R-hydroxy-leukotriene C4, 3-hydroxydodecanoyl carnitine, eicosapentaenoic acid, hypogeic acid and 3-hydroxypentadecanoic acid had a strong linear correlation with creatinine clearance rate, which indicated these lipid species were associated with impaired renal function. In addition, receiver operating characteristics analysis showed that 12 lipid species had high area under the curve values with high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating CRF group from control group. These changes are related to the perturbation of fatty acyl metabolism. Treatment with PPU and ergone improved the impaired kidney function and mitigated renal fibrosis. Both chemometrics and cluster analyses showed that rats treated by PPU and ergone could be separated from CRF rats by using 12 lipid species. Intriguingly, PPU treatment could restore the levels of 12 lipid species, while treatment with ergone could only reverse the changes of six fatty acids in CRF rats.Conclusion: Altered intrarenal fatty acyl metabolites were implicated in pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. PPU and ergone administration alleviated renal fibrosis and partially improved fatty acyl metabolism. These findings suggest that PPU exerted its renoprotective effect by regulating fatty acyl metabolism as a potential biochemical mechanism. Therefore, these findings indicated that fatty acyl metabolism played an important role in renal fibrosis and could be considered as an effective therapeutic avenue against renal fibrosis.

Cell Wall Strengthening and Remodeling Provide New Insights on Sclerotia Development of Medicinal Fungus Polyporus Umbellatus

Sclerotium is a special form of many species of fungi and cell wall thickening is a common phenomenon in sclerotium. Rational manipulation of sclerotium would be an innovative approach for pathogenic control as well as for medicinal fungal resource revival. Sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus were used to treat multiple human diseases. However, the mechanism of thickened cell wall (TCW) is still unclear. In this study, Sequential Windowed Acquisition of all THeoretical fragment ions spectra-MS (SWATH-MS) and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) technology were introduced to demonstrate biomarkers at protein level associated with TCW as sclerotia development from initial sclerotia (IS) to developmental and mature sclerotia (DS and MS). 72 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were associated with TCW, and evidence supported presence and accumulation of chitin, glycan, xylcan and hydrophobins in the cell wall of P. umbellatus sclerotia. Puctg112, a new hydrophobin in P. umbellatus expressed up sharply with DS/IS 119.85 and MS/IS 128.17, and located at cell wall and septum of hypha in sclerotia by immune colloidal gold technique. In addition, sclerotial cell wall could be remodeled via O-mannosylation, O-fucosylation and deacetylation to strengthen cell wall. This study provides new insights on fungal cell wall especially to sclerotia-formed fungus.

Transcriptomic Profiling Identifies Candidate Genes Involved in Polyporus Umbellatus Sclerotial Formation Affected by Oxalic Acid

Polyporus umbellatus is a precious medicinal fungus. The whole transcriptome of P. umbellatus exposed to different concentrations of oxalic acid was performed and analyzed using RNA-seq based on sequencing technology. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection of P. umbellatus mycelia was visually conducted and using non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT), the net Ca2+ and H2O2 fluxes of P. umbellatus were measured. Totally, 22,523 unigenes were generated by De novo assembly of reads and there are 1223 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the control group and the high oxalic acid complemented (PD_S) group and 459 DEGs between the control group and the low concentration oxalic acid additive (PU_SM) group. The transcriptomic analysis indicated DEGs encoding enzymes related to oxidative stress, energy metabolism and so on. Compared to that of the control group, the biomass of the sclerotia in the PU_SM group increased 66%, however, no sclerotia formed in the PD_S group. The low concentration of oxalic acid could increase Ca2+ and H2O2 influx, while the high concentration of oxalic acid presented slight H2O2 efflux. There is a great significant positive correlation between the net Ca2+ and H2O2 fluxes. Different concentrations of exogenous oxalic acid affected P. umbellatus sclerotial formation in different ways.

About rare species of mushrooms in the Altai Territory

The article presents a data on new locations of rare mushrooms in the Altai Territory: Calvatia gigantea,Dictyophora duplicata, Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium coralloides, Mutinus caninus, Mutinus ravenelii, Phallus impudicus, Polyporus umbellatus, Sparassis crispa.

Some Antiviral Mushrooms of Nepal

The present paper is a review based on published articles to highlight some potential antiviral mushrooms, which are also found in Nepal. Nepalese mushrooms have not yet been analyzed and investigated so far for their antiviral properties except antioxidant and ACE-Inhibition sources of 62 Nepalese mushrooms as evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. OphicordycepsSinensiswas screened for its chemical compound in Nepal The published paper from abroad includes the species like Calvatia gigantia, Cordyceps militaris, Cortinarius caperatus, Fomes fomentarius, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifolafrondosa, HericiumErinaceus, Inonotushispidus, Inonotus obliquus, Lentinula edodes, Omphalotusilludens, Ophiocordyceps Sinensis, Phellinus Ignarius, Pleurotus citrinopileatus, Pleurotus eryngii. Pleurotus ostreatus, Polyporus Umbellatus, Russula Delica.Schizophyllum commune, Scleroderma citrinum, Tremella sp., and Trametes Versicolor are also found in the natural temperate (Schima – Castanopsis- Rhododendron – Quercus) forests of Kathmandu valley. This paper may provide the researchers with a glimpse of the aspects of the experiment and lead to investigate on medicinal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties of mushrooms found in Nepal.