Auricularia auricula-judae. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

A description is provided for Auricularia auricula-judae, found on dead branches of Sambucus nigra. Some information on its morphology, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia), Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Fujian, Hainan, Hong Kong, Manchuria, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Cyprus, Republic of Georgia, India, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Altai Republic, Amur Oblast, Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, Republic of Sakha, Sakhalin Oblast,, Singapore, Korea Republic, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam), Atlantic Ocean (Portugal, Madeira, Spain, Islas Canarias), Australasia (Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, New Zealand), Caribbean (American Virgin Islands, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico), Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama), Europe (Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Belgorod Oblast, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Krasnodar Krai, Kursk Oblast, Leningrad Oblast, Moscow Oblast, Republic of Adygea, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK), Indian Ocean (Mauritius), North America (Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Mexico, USA, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming), Pacific Ocean (French Polynesia, Guam, Norfolk Island, USA, Hawaii), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, Pará, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela)) and host (S. nigra).

The Content Analysis of Amino Acids in Auricularia auricula from Heilongjiang and Jilin

The content of amino acids in Auricularia auricula was analyzed by the method of acid hydrolysis and automatic online analysis. The content of total amino acids in A. auricula produced in Heilongjiang was between 68.287 and 110.949 mg/g, and the average was 90.848 mg/g. The content of essential amino acids in A. auricula from Heilongjiang was between 28.847 and 45.757 mg/g, and the average was 37.987 mg/g. The proportion of essential amino acids (EAA) to total amino acids (TAA) in A. auricula from Heilongjiang was between 41.24% and 42.26%. However, the content of total amino acids in A. auricula from Jilin was between 71.716 and 124.143 mg/g, and the average was 94.318 mg/g. The content of essential amino acids in A. auricula from Jilin was between 29.775 and 52.063 mg/g, and the average was 38.498 mg/g. The ratio of essential amino acids (EAA) to total amino acids (TAA) in A. auricula from Jilin was between 39.75% and 41.94%. The content of total amino acids and essential amino acids in A. auricula from Jilin was higher than that from Heilongjiang. However, EAA/TAA in A. auricula from Heilongjiang was higher than that of Jilin. The content of total amino acids in different batches of A. auricula in the same production area was quite different, but the ratio of essential amino acids content to total amino acids content was basically the same.

Macrofungi diversity in Lawu Mountain Forests and their potential uses as medicinal mushroom for inducing immunity against Covid-19

Macrofungi is one of bio-medicinal sources containing various bioactive compounds, such as β-glucans, which are scientifically proven as immunity booster against coronavirus, including Covid-19. Lawu Mountain Forest has been reported as one of the macro fungi-rich ecosystems in Java. Due to its unique geography, each side of the mountain has a different climate with the southern slope is typically more suitable for various species of mushroom to grow. The aims of this study were to assess fungal diversity in the southern slope of Lawu Mountain Forest, and to ascertain their potential uses for medicinal purpose, particularly for boosting immunity against Covid-19. Cruise method was used to identify macroscopic fungi collected along the hiking trail of Lawu Mountain Forest at the elevation ranges of 1800- 3100 m asl. Their morphological characteristics, including color, diameter, veil surface, lamella (ring and pore, type of lamella, and volva), stem shape, length and diameter, were observed. The study found 46 species from 15 families of macrofungi. Seven species potentially containing bioactive compounds as immunomodulator for boosting immunity were Auricularia auricula, Cerrena unicolor, Lentinus edodes, Pleuretus ostreatus, Stereum hirsutum, Schizophyllum commune, Trametes versicolor.

Auricularia auricula Melanin Protects against Alcoholic Liver Injury and Modulates Intestinal Microbiota Composition in Mice Exposed to Alcohol Intake

The potential effects of Auricularia auricula melanin (AAM) on the intestinal flora and liver metabolome in mice exposed to alcohol intake were investigated for the first time. The results showed that oral administration of AAM significantly reduced the abnormal elevation of serum total triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and significantly inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis in mice exposed to alcohol intake. Besides, the abnormally high levels of bile acids (BAs) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the liver of mice with alcohol intake were significantly decreased by AAM intervention, while the hepatic levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were appreciably increased. Compared with the model group, AAM supplementation significantly changed the composition of intestinal flora and up-regulated the levels of Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Romboutsia, Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, etc. Furthermore, liver metabolomics demonstrated that AAM had a significant regulatory effect on the composition of liver metabolites in mice with alcohol intake, especially the metabolites involved in phosphatidylinositol signaling system, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, galactose metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. At the gene level, AAM treatment regulated the mRNA levels of lipid metabolism and inflammatory response related genes in liver, including ACC-1, FASn, CPT-1, CD36, IFN-γ, LDLr and TNF-α. Conclusively, these findings suggest that AAM has potential beneficial effects on alleviating alcohol-induced liver injury and is expected to become a new functional food ingredient.

Species Listing of Macrofungi Found in Paracelis Mountain Province, Philippines

Mushrooms are an important natural source of food and medicine. In the Philippines, only a few studies have been conducted on the diversity of mushrooms especially in the mountainous areas. The present study was conducted to document the species of macrofungi found in Paracelis, Mountain Province. The knowledge gained from this study can reveal their importance to the community. A total of 37 macrofungi belonging to 16 families, 26 genera, and 29 species were collected and identified. Twenty nine of the collected macrofungi were identified up to its species level and eight were only identified at its genus level. The collected samples were subjected to morphological identification based on its macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. The identified macrofungi were: Auricularia auricula-judae, Conocybe arrhenii, Coprinellus disseminatus, Coprinus sp., Crepidotus mollis, Daldinia concentrica, Earliella scabrosa, Favolus acervatus, Fomes fomentarium, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma fornicatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Hygrocybe sp., Irpex lacteus, Lentinus strigosus, Lenzites elegans, Lepiota lilacea, Lepiota sp., Marasmiellus ramealis, Microporus xanthopus, Mycena sp., Panellus mitis, Paneolus cyanescens, Parasola plicalitis, Psathyrella candolleana, Psathyrella sp., Russula sp. Schizophyllum commune, Trametes elegans, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes hirsuta, Trametes versicolor, Trametes sp. 1, Trametes sp. 2, and Xylaria papulis. Out of these macrofungi, four species were identified as edible, viz: Auricularia auricula, Lentinus strigosus, Coprinus disseminatu, and Schizophyllum commune.