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The mushroom femoral head. A radiographic investigation.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: In 1913, anthropologist Ales Hrdlicka described a number of femora as having "mushroom heads," a deformity he attributed to arthritis deformans. The authors have attempted to define the cause of this condition. METHODS: Forty of 41 femora with "mushroom" femoral heads collected by Hrdlicka were grossly inspected and examined with plain radiographs and with computed tomography. Femoral neck angulation and degree of anteversion were determined. RESULTS: Three distinct categories were established: group I, those specimens with normal angulation and short femoral necks; group II, those with varus angulation and short femoral necks; and group III, those with normal-sized femoral necks and normal femoral neck angulation. No correlation was found between degree of anteversion and the categories. Additionally, most of the mushroom deformities were related to osteophyte formation. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the changes in the femora were the result of osteoarthritis. Two groups showed evidence of growth disturbances that occurred early in life. The changes in the second group were similar to those seen in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

Epiphyses, Slipped↗

Convergent coevolution in the domestication of coral mushrooms by fungus-growing ants.

Comparisons of phylogenetic patterns between coevolving symbionts can reveal rich details about the evolutionary history of symbioses. The ancient symbiosis between fungus-growing ants, their fungal cultivars, antibiotic-producing bacteria and cultivar-infecting parasites is dominated by a pattern of parallel coevolution, where the symbionts of each functional group are members of monophyletic groups. However, there is one outstanding exception in the fungus-growing ant system, the unidentified cultivar grown only by ants in the Apterostigma pilosum group. We classify this cultivar in the coral-mushroom family Pterulaceae using phylogenetic reconstructions based on broad taxon sampling, including the first mushroom collected from the garden of an ant species in the A. pilosum group. The domestication of the pterulaceous cultivar is independent from the domestication of the gilled mushrooms cultivated by all other fungus-growing ants. Yet it has the same overall assemblage of coevolved ant-cultivar-parasite-bacterium interactions as the other ant-grown fungal cultivars. This indicates a pattern of convergent coevolution in the fungus-growing ant system, where symbionts with both similar and very different evolutionary histories converge to functionally identical interactions.

Animals↗

Respiratory and immunological reactions among Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mushroom workers.

Four workers, the total work force employed at a Shiitake farm, developed cough and sputum production following a variable period of exposure to Shiitake mushrooms. All four had abnormal diffusing capacity and three had abnormal spirometry values. Chest roentgenograms demonstrated an interstitial pattern in one worker. Pulmonary function tests performed before and during several days of work demonstrated a significant decrease (greater than 20%) in forced vital capacity (FVC) and/or maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) in three workers. Although specific antibodies to an extract of Shiitake spores were detected in sera from three workers none were IgE. High levels of Shiitake spores were detected in growing rooms (greater than 10(6)/m3) as well as other locations at the farm. Shiitake spore airborne antigen, detected by an immunochemical assay, was present in dust collected with a volumetric sampler from different locations at the farm. Antigenic determinants of Shiitake spore antigens, in common with antigens from other cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus and Pleurotus) were demonstrated by ELISA inhibition assay. This study demonstrates that workers exposed to high levels of Shiitake spores develop symptoms and laboratory findings suggestive of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Strict environmental control and the wearing of a face mask is probably needed to reduce the high risk of sensitization and possible development of immunological lung disease. Shiitake spores must be considered as an aetiological agent of mushroom workers' lung.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗

Precipitating antibodies against Micropolyspora phaeni in sera from mushroom workers.

A new method for determining precipitating antibodies in allergic alveolitis is presented. The principle used is immunoelectrophoresis, either as a counterelectrophoresis or as a crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel. Twenty-two mushroom workers without anamnestic signs of allergic alveolitis and 15 control persons were investigated. Twelve mushroom workers (55%) had precipitating antibodies as determined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and nine of these persons had antibodies demonstrated with counterelectrophoresis. Thus, the sensitivity seems greater in the crossed immunoelectrophoresis, but we find that the simpler counterelectrophoresis is an excellent screening procedure in patients suspected of allergic alveolitis. In the controls only one person had precipitating antibodies, though the antigen tested for Micropolyspora phaeni exists ubiquitously. It seems probable from this study that the antigenic load is important, although it is remarkable that no mushroom worker with precipitating antibodies against M. phaeni had ever experienced symptoms compatible with allergic alveolitis.

Actinomycetales Infections↗

Fermented mushroom milk-supplemented dietary fibre prevents the onset of obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats.

AIM: Fermented milk product containing edible mushroom water extracts (mushroom yogurt; MY) has been reported to have glycaemic control and triglyceride-lowering effects in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Here, we investigated how MY-supplemented dietary fibre (10 and 20%, v/w) influences the onset of obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats. METHODS: The OLETF rats were fed a powdered chow diet supplemented with MY at the levels of 10 (v/w) and 20% for 6 weeks from 10 weeks of age, but the OLETF control rats were not supplemented. Their weight, fat distribution and lipid profile have been determined. RESULTS: The body weights in MY-fed rats were reduced compared with the control rats. The perirenal fat was decreased in both MY groups, but the visceral and epididymal fats reduced only in the MY 20% group. The concentrations of serum triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid in MY-fed rats were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. However, the levels of other serum lipid profiles [total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol] were comparable among all rats. CONCLUSION: Anti-obesity and triglyceride lowering by MY-supplemented dietary fibre in OLETF rats might have resulted from the synergistic effect of components in the fermented mushroom-milk product.

Adipose Tissue↗

Mushrooms by magic: making connections between signal transduction and fruiting body development in the basidiomycete fungus Schizophyllum commune.

The basidiomycete fungus Schizophyllum commune has been utilised as a model system for examining the genetic regulation of sexual reproduction, a process that culminates in the production of mushrooms in this and many other related species. Recent studies have suggested that conserved elements of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signalling pathway play a role in the control of mushroom development in S. commune. The small G-protein Ras also appears to impinge on the process, either by inputting into the cAMP pathway, or by acting in parallel. The molecular connections between nutrient sensing and mushroom development are now beginning to be examined.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Effect of different isomers of dihydroxybenzoic acids (DBA) on the rate of DL-dopa oxidation by mushroom tyrosinase.

Dihydroxybenzoic acids (DBA), such as 3,4-DBA, 3,5-DBA, and 2,4-DBA--at all concentrations tested--inhibited the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation to dopachrome (lambda max = 475 nm) by mushroom tyro0sinase. 2,3-DBA and 2,5-DBA at relatively low concentration had a synergistic effect on the reaction, whereas at relatively high concentrations they inhibited the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation. The synergistic effect of 0.6-13.3 mM 2,3-DBA on the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation to dopachrome (lambda max = 475 nm) was found to be due to the ability of 2,3-DBA-o-quinone (formed by the oxidation of 2,3-DBA by mushroom tyrosinase or by sodium periodate) to oxidize DL-DOPA to dopachrome (via dopaquinone) non-enzymatically. A similar explanation is likely to be valid for the synergism exerted by 2,5-DBA on the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation by mushroom tyrosinase.

Basidiomycota↗

Temporal and spatial dispersal of cladobotryum conidia in the controlled environment of a mushroom growing room.

Cladobotryum spp. are responsible for cobweb disease of mushrooms. In two commercial and one experimental mushroom-growing room, Cladobotryum conidia were released into the air in direct response to physical disturbance of disease colonies during either crop watering or treatment by covering with salt to 10 mm. Conidia were detected using a Burkard spore trap or agar-based trap plates. A maximum concentration of approximately 25,000 conidia m(-3) was recorded in a small (75-m(3)) experimental growing room in the hour following the salting of 16 cobweb patches (0.55 m(2)). Concentrations of 100 and 40 conidia m(-3) were recorded in the two larger commercial growing rooms in the hour following the salting of 18 and 11 patches of cobweb (diameter, approximately 50 to 200 mm), respectively. In controlled experiments, disturbed conidia were dispersed rapidly throughout a small growing room, with 91 to 97% of conidia settling out within 15 min. Eighty-five percent of conidia settled out within a 0.5-m radius when air-conditioning fans were switched off, consistent with airborne spore dispersal. Alternative methods for treating diseased areas to minimize conidial release and distribution were investigated and included covering disease colonies with damp paper tissue prior to salt application (tissue salting) and holding a dust extractor above disease colonies during salt application. Both methods resulted in no detectable airborne conidia, but the tissue paper salting technique was more convenient. Prevention of airborne conidial release and distribution is essential to avoid mushroom spotting symptoms, secondary colonies, and early crop termination.

Agaricus↗

Isolation of amoebae from edible mushrooms.

Isolation of amoebae from the surface and internal tissues of edible mushrooms was investigated. Samples tested over a 3-year period included mushrooms cultivated from six geographic localities. Of 168 mushroom surfaces tested, 161 (96%) yielded amoebae. Of 166 samples of internal stalk and cap tissues tested, only 1 yielded amoebae.

Amoeba↗

Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from retail mushrooms.

Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 3 (1.5%) of 200 retail, polyvinyl chloride film-wrapped, fresh mushrooms. These results indicate that fresh mushrooms may indeed be a source of C. jejuni and support previously reported epidemiological data (Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, Surveillance of the Flow of Salmonella and Campylobacter in a Community, 1984) which revealed an an elevated relative risk of developing campylobacter enteritis in individuals who consume mushrooms.

Basidiomycota↗

Comparison of the post-Chernobyl 137Cs contamination of mushrooms from eastern Europe, Sweden, and North America.

A comparison was made of 134Cs and 137Cs contamination in fungi from eastern Europe and eastern North America. Mean activities of 25 Ukrainian, 6 Swedish, and 10 North American collections were 4,660, 9,750, and 205 Bq/kg (dry weight), respectively. Additional measurements were made on samples from the Moscow, southern Belarus, and Yugoslavia/Bulgaria regions. Activity values were found to vary by several orders of magnitude within all geographic areas, even for the same mushroom species. Significantly higher specific activities were observed in mycorrhizal species than in saprophytic and parasitic fungi. Unfortunately, many of the European mycorrhizal species considered as prized edibles contained unacceptably high levels of 137Cs (> 1,000 Bq/kg [dry weight]) and should be used sparingly as food. By contrast, no mushrooms collected in Ontario or northern Michigan exceeded 1,000 Bq of 137Cs per kg (dry weight). The excessive 137Cs contamination was evident in mushrooms from areas that had substantial fallout from the 1986 accident in reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. However, observations suggest that about 20% of the 137Cs in eastern Europe (Moscow area, Belarus, and Ukraine) is of non-Chernobyl origin.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗

Inoculation of Scytalidium thermophilum in Button Mushroom Compost and Its Effect on Yield.

Scytalidium thermophilum isolates in culture, as well as the endogenous strain(s) in mushroom compost, were inactivated at 70 degrees C. This temperature was used to pasteurize composts for experiments. Of nine thermophilic fungal species, only S. thermophilum and Myriococcum thermophilum grew well on pasteurized compost in test tubes. The effect of both species on the crop yield of Agaricus bisporus mushrooms was studied. In solid-state fermentation rooms called tunnels, compost was pasteurized and inoculated. After incubation, the inoculated organisms were reisolated and counted, showing their successful colonization. The yield of mushrooms on inoculated composts was almost twice that on the pasteurized control. This result demonstrates the effectiveness of S. thermophilum in compost preparation. Inoculation is not necessary for traditional compost preparation. Naturally occurring strains of S. thermophilum, present in ingredients, readily colonize compost during preparation. Inoculation may be vital if compost is pretreated at a high temperature in tunnels. This finding is of relevance for the environmentally controlled production of high-yielding compost.

Journal Article↗

Characterization, molecular cloning, and differential expression analysis of laccase genes from the edible mushroom Lentinula edodes.

The effect of different substrates and various developmental stages (mycelium growth, primordium appearance, and fruiting-body formation) on laccase production in the edible mushroom Lentinula edodes was studied. The cap of the mature mushroom showed the highest laccase activity, and laccase activity was not stimulated by some well-known laccase inducers or sawdust. For our molecular studies, two genomic DNA sequences, representing allelic variants of the L. edodes lac1 gene, were isolated, and DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that lac1 encodes a putative polypeptide of 526 amino acids which is interrupted by 13 introns. The two allelic genes differ at 95 nucleotides, which results in seven amino acid differences in the encoded protein. The copper-binding domains found in other laccase enzymes are conserved in the L. edodes Lac1 proteins. A fragment of a second laccase gene (lac2) was also isolated, and competitive PCR showed that expression of lac1 and lac2 genes was different under various conditions. Our results suggest that laccases may play a role in the morphogenesis of the mushroom. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the cloning of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation in this economically important edible fungus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cholinergic synaptic transmission in insect mushroom bodies in vitro.

The mushroom body of the bee brain is an important site for learning and memory. Here we investigate synaptic transmission in the mushroom body using extracellular recording techniques in a whole bee brain in vitro preparation. The postsynaptic response showed attenuation by cadmium and paired-pulse facilitation, similar to in vivo findings. This confirms the viability of the in vitro preparation and supports the isolated whole bee brain as a useful model of the in vivo preparation. Bath application of the acetylcholine receptor antagonists, D-tubocurarine and alpha-bungarotoxin attenuated the postsynaptic response by 61 and 62% of control, respectively. The glutamate receptor antagonists, (+)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, had no effect. The invertebrate monoamine and neuromodulator, octopamine, transiently increased the postsynaptic response by 130% of control. These results suggest that synaptic transmission of the olfactory input pathway in the mushroom body is 1) mediated primarily by acetylcholine and 2) modulated by octopamine.

Acetylcholine↗

Cholesterol-lowering effect of the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus in hereditary hypercholesterolemic rats.

We studied the effect of the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (4% in diet containing 1% of cholesterol) on serum and liver lipids in female rats with hereditary enhanced sensitivity to alimentary cholesterol. We found that the consumption of the mushroom-containing diet prevented serum cholesterol increase which was manifested at the end of the 4th week of the experiment. At the end of the 7th week of the experiment the cholesterolemia was lowered by almost 40% as compared with control animals kept on the same diet but without the mushroom. The decrease in serum cholesterol levels is a consequence of the decreased cholesterol concentrations of very-low-density lipoproteins and of low-density lipoproteins.

Animals↗

Understanding cultural significance, the edible mushrooms case.

BACKGROUND: Cultural significance is a keystone in quantitative ethnobiology, which offers the possibility to make inferences about traditional nomenclature systems, use, appropriation and valuing of natural resources. In the present work, using as model the traditional mycological knowledge of Zapotecs from Oaxaca, Mexico, we analyze the cultural significance of wild edible resources. METHODS: In 2003 we applied 95 questionnaires to a random sample of informants. With this data we integrated the Edible Mushroom Cultural Significance Index. This index included eight variables: frequency of mention, perceived abundance, use frequency, taste, multifunctional food use, knowledge transmission, health and economy. Data were analyzed in an inductive perspective using ordination and grouping techniques to reveal the behavior of species in a cultural multivariate dimension. RESULTS: In each variable the species had different conducts. Cantharellus cibarius s.l. was the species with most frequency of mention. Pleurotus sp. had the highest perceived abundance. C. cibarius s.l. was the most frequently consumed species. Gomphus clavatus was the most palatable species and also ranked highest in the multifunctional food index. Cortinarius secc. Malacii sp. had the highest traditional importance. Only Tricholoma magnivelare was identified as a health enhancer. It also had the most economic importance. According to the compound index, C. cibarius s.l., the Amanita caesarea complex, Ramaria spp. and Neolentinus lepideus were the mushrooms with highest cultural significance. Multivariate analysis showed that interviewees identify three main groups of mushrooms: species with high traditional values, frequent consumption and known by the majority; species that are less known, infrequently consumed and without salient characteristics; and species with low traditional values, with high economic value and health enhancers. CONCLUSION: The compound index divided the cultural significance into several cultural domains and showed the causes that underlie this phenomenon. This approach can be used in cross-cultural studies because it brings a list with the relative position of species among a cultural significance gradient. This list is suitable for comparisons and also it is flexible because cultural variables can be included or removed to adjust it to the nature of the different cultures or resources under study.

Adult↗

Fate of the mushroom hydrazine agaritine in the rat and mouse.

The fate of the mushroom hydrazine [14C]agaritine was investigated in the mouse and rat strains previously employed in carcinogenicity studies with the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Agaritine was rapidly absorbed in both species, achieving higher blood levels in the mouse, but with similar area under the curve. Covalent binding of agaritine material to proteins was detected only in the liver and kidney, but the extent of binding was the same in the rat and mouse. Most of the radioactivity was excreted during the first 24 hours in both animal species: in the rat it was distributed equally between urine and feces, whereas in the mouse more of the radioactivity was excreted in the urine. No qualitative differences in the metabolic profile were evident, but quantitative differences were observed. Treatment of the urine with deconjugating enzymes did not reveal the presence of any conjugates. Agaritine, N'-acetyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylhydrazine, and 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzene diazonium ion were not detected in the urine or in the plasma of either species. No mutagens or promutagens were detected by the Ames mutagenicity assay in the urine of either species after exposure to agaritine. Repeated administration of agaritine to rats and mice did not alter the urinary metabolic profile and excretion of radioactivity. Similarly, feeding mice a raw mushroom diet, according to the protocol employed in the carcinogenicity studies, did not modulate the excretion of radioactivity or the urinary metabolic pattern. No major species differences in the fate of agaritine in rat and mouse were noted that could provide a rationale for the carcinogenicity of A. bisporus in the mouse, but not in the rat.

Agaricus↗

Suppression of D-galactosamine-induced liver injury by mushrooms in rats.

Six species of edible mushroom were found to suppress D-galactosamine-induced enhancement of plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities when powdered mushrooms were added to the diet (5%) and fed to rats for 2 wk. Grifola frondosa exhibited the most potent effect in a dose-dependent manner. A significant effect was observed only from the water-soluble low-molecular-weight fraction of G. frondosa. The results indicate that several mushrooms possess a protective effect against liver injury induced by D-galactosamine.

Agaricales↗