ß-Glucan content and in vitro bile-acid binding capacity of Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus spp.

The cholesterol lowering properties of oats and barley, attributed to their high ß-glucan content, are well established, but it remains unclear whether mushrooms, also rich in ß-glucan, exhibit a similar functionality. We aimed to quantify the ß-glucan content of commonly consumed Australian mushrooms and evaluated their bile acid binding capacity, the primary cholesterol lowering mechanism of ß-glucan. Raw, boiled and fried Australian grown Agaricus bisporus (button, cup, flat and brown mushrooms) and Pleurotus spp. (shimeji and oyster) along with oats were freeze-dried and the ß-glucan content was determined. The bile acid binding capacity of these samples was assessed using an in vitro digestion assay. The ß-glucan content of freeze-dried raw A. bisporus mushrooms (4.5-8.1 g per 100 g) was similar to that of oats (7.6 g per 100 g, all p > 0.05), whereas Pleurotus mushrooms contained ∼5 times more ß-glucan (32.5-37.4 g, p < 0.05). Boiling increased the ß-glucan content of oyster, button, flat and brown mushrooms by 3-7% (p < 0.05), but did not affect the ß-glucan content of shimeji or cup mushrooms. Frying had no effect on any mushroom type. The bile acid binding capacity of A. bisporus mushrooms (29-36%) was equivalent to that of raw oats (36%, p > 0.05), whereas the bile acid binding capacity of oyster mushrooms (22%) was lower than that of oats (p < 0.05). Both boiling and frying increased the bile acid binding capacity. The cholesterol lowering effects of A. bisporus mushrooms and the acceptability of consumption at the required levels need to be confirmed by clinical trials.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) powder: Investigation of performance, meat quality, serum profile lipid, and intestinal morphology in broilers.

BACKGROUND: With the ban on the use of antibiotics in poultry nutrition, the opinion of nutritionists turned to their alternatives. Garlic and mushroom are the two important phytobiotic compounds in poultry nutrition. OBJECTIVES: This experiment was done to investigate the effect of garlic powder (GP) and mushroom powder (MP) on the growth performance, meat quality, serum lipid profile, and intestinal morphology of broilers. METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-six one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were assigned to eight treatments with six replications based on a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement of 4*2 with four levels of GP (0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50%) and two levels of MP (0.00, 1.00%). RESULTS: No significant effects of GP and MP on the performance were observed. With increasing levels of GP in the diets, the lightness and redness of breast meat decreased and increased, respectively (p < 0.05). The effect of increasing the amount of GP on the reduction of total cholesterol level was similar in the absence or presence of MP. With increasing levels of GP in the diets, the villus height (VH) and VH to crypt depth ratio (VH: CD) increased. The use of MP in the diets significantly increased VH and VH: CD (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of GP and MP to the broilers' diets did not have any negative effect on the performance. These pharmaceutic herbs improved intestinal morphology. In addition, increasing the level of GP amended the meat color and reduced the level of serum cholesterol.

A low-molecular-weight α-glucan from edible fungus Agaricus blazei Murrill activates macrophage TFEB-mediated antibacterial defense to combat implant-associated infection.

Implant-associated infection (IAI) is a prevalent and potentially fatal complication of orthopaedic surgery. Boosting antibacterial immunity, particularly the macrophage-mediated response, presents a promising therapeutic approach for managing persistent infections. In this study, we successfully isolated and purified a homogeneous and neutral water-soluble polysaccharide, designated as AM-1, from the edible fungus Agaricus blazei Murrill. Structure analysis revealed that AM-1 (Mw = 3.87 kDa) was a low-molecular-weight glucan characterized by a primary chain of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ and side chains that were linked at the O-6 and O-3 positions. In vivo assays showed that AM-1 effectively attenuated the progression of infection and mitigated infectious bone destruction in IAI mouse models. Mechanistically, AM-1 promotes intracellular autophagy-lysosomal biogenesis by inducing the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB, finally enhancing the bactericidal capabilities and immune-modulatory functions of macrophages. These findings demonstrate that AM-1 significantly alleviates the progression of challenging IAIs as a presurgical immunoenhancer. Our research introduces a novel therapeutic strategy that employs natural polysaccharides to combat refractory infections.

Effect of Royal Sun Medicinal Mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (Agaricomycetes) Cultivated Outdoors on Wound Healing and Maintaining Skin Elasticity.

Royal sun medicinal mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 has various beneficial pharmacological effects; however, these effects are influenced by its cultivation conditions. A. brasiliensis KA21 is rich in ß-glucan, which promotes wound healing. This study evaluated the wound healing-promoting effects of A. brasiliensis KA21 and the influence of cultivation conditions on these effects. Upon evaluation of its effect on wound healing, the outdoor-cultivated A. brasiliensis KA21 (KAOD) promoted wound healing in mice, and the effect of KAOD was stronger than that of the indoor-cultivated one (KAID). In addition, A. brasiliensis KA21 promoted the synthesis of collagen I and III, which are involved in promoting wound healing; KAOD strongly induced collagen III production. Furthermore, KAOD suppressed the decrease in skin elasticity after acetone application in our mouse model, which was not observed for KAID. These results show that KAOD is useful as a supplement in surgery and injury healing for humans and animals, improving immunity against pathogens in wound areas and promoting wound healing. In addition, KAOD may be useful in the field of skin aesthetics for repairing skin damage and maintaining skin elasticity.

Assessing the toxicity of green Agaricus bisporus-based Cadmium Sulfide nanoparticles on Musca domestica as a biological model.

The common housefly, Musca domestica, known for transmitting over 100 infections, was studied using green-synthesized Cadmium Sulfide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) from Agaricus bisporus. These CdS NPs were tested on third-instar larvae under laboratory conditions using dipping and feeding methods with concentrations (75, 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 µg/mL). The toxicity, measured by LC50, was found to be 138 µg/mL for dipping treatment and 123 µg/mL for feeding treatment. Analysis with an energy-dispersive X-ray microanalyzer confirmed Cd accumulation in the larval midgut, indicating penetration of CdS NPs into the organism, which may potentially increase their toxicity. CdS NPs caused disruptions in Heat Shock Protein 70, cell apoptosis, and various biochemical components. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological abnormalities in larvae, pupae, and adults exposed to CdS NPs. Ultrastructural examination showed significant midgut tissue abnormalities in larvae treated with 123 µg/mL of CdS NPs. Our study demonstrated that green-synthesized CdS NPs from A. bisporus can effectively control the development of M. domestica larvae.

Interactions between soluble dietary fibers from three edible fungi and gut microbiota.

Edible fungi are emerging as a valuable dietary fiber source with health benefits, where their bioactivity hinges on their structure. This study targets the structure-activity relationship of soluble dietary fibers from Lentinus edodes (LESDF), Agaricus bisporus (ABSDF), and Hericium erinaceus (HESDF), focusing on their impact on gut microbiota and health. We explored the properties and structures of edible fungi, finding their soluble fibers affect metabolites and gut microbiota by increasing gas and lowering pH. Among these, HESDF demonstrated superior effects (pH: △1.4 ± 0.07; Gas production: △24.5 ± 0.4 mL). Furthermore, different types of edible fungi dietary fiber exhibited distinct capabilities in promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids by gut microorganisms. For instance, ABSDF exceled in acetic acid production (26.12 ± 0.35 mM) and propionic acid production (9.50 ± 0.13 mM), while HESDF stood out in butyric acid production (17.86 ± 0.09 mM). LESDF showed higher levels of Phascolarctobacterium, ABSDF had elevated levels of Ruminococcus, and HESDF displayed increased levels of Faecalibacterium. These results contribute to our understanding of how soluble dietary fiber from different edible fungi impacts gut microbiota and offers insights for the development and utilization of these fibers as functional food.

Investigating immune-modulatory function of α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides by MC38-N4/OT-I co-culture system.

The potential antitumor function of polysaccharides is well accepted, it is unclear whether polysaccharides have immunoregulatory effect on CD8+ T lymphocyte cells to attack tumor cells. To evaluate the CD8+ T function enhancing role of polysaccharide compounds, the MC38-N4/OT-I co-culture system was established. The synergistic and complementary immune effect of α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides can be achieved by manipulating the antigen-specific T-cell expansion capacity and efficacy. This study was designed to investigate the antitumor-enhancement activity of a α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides by determining the activation of CD8+ T cells in a co-culture system. Compared to the control group (42.5 % ± 0.72 %), the specific α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides, comprising Agaricus blazei Murill, Grifola frondosa and Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, demonstrated a significant decrease (20.4 % ± 1.23 %, p < 0.05) in the survival rate of MC38-N4 cells in the co-culture system. Additionally, the α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides resulted in a substantial increase (p < 0.01) in the proportion of CD8+ T cells and CD62L+ central memory T cells, which is a less differentiated T cell subset with high immune activity. Collectively, we reported that specific polysaccharide combination, which remodel the function of cytotoxic T cells and provided a basis for improving immune functions by using the specific types of polysaccharides.

Rutin of Moringa oleifera as a potential inhibitor to Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase as revealed from the molecular dynamics of inhibition.

Tyrosinase is a binuclear copper-containing enzyme that catalyzes the conversation of monophenols to diphenols via o-hydroxylation and then the oxidation of o-diphenols to o-quinones which is profoundly linked to eukaryotic melanin synthesis and fruits browning. The hyperpigmentation due to unusual tyrosinase activity has gained growing health concern. Plants and their metabolites are considered promising and effective sources for potent antityrosinase enzymes. Hence, searching for potent, specific tyrosinase inhibitor from different plant extracts is an alternative approach in regulating overproduction of tyrosinase. Among the tested extracts, the hydro-alcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera L. leaves displayed the potent anti-tyrosinase activity (IC50 = 98.93 µg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner using L-DOPA as substrate; however, the kojic acid showed IC50 of 88.92 µg/ml. The tyrosinase-diphenolase (TYR-Di) kinetic analysis revealed mixed inhibition type for the Ocimum basilicum L. and Artemisia annua L. extracts, while the Coriandrum sativum L. extract displayed a non-competitive type of inhibition. Interestingly, the extract of Moringa oleifera L. leaves exhibited a competitive inhibition, low inhibition constant of free enzyme ( K ii app ) value and no Pan-Assay Interfering Substances, hinting the presence of strong potent inhibitors. The major putative antityrosinase compound in the extract was resolved, and chemically identified as rutin based on various spectroscopic analyses using UV-Vis, FTIR, mass spectrometry, and 1H NMR. The in silico computational molecular docking has been performed using rutin and A. bisporus tyrosinase (PDB code: 2Y9X). The binding energy of the predicted interaction between tropolone native ligand, kojic acid, and rutin against 2Y9X was respectively - 5.28, - 4.69, and - 7.75 kcal/mol. The docking simulation results revealed the reliable binding of rutin to the amino acid residues (ASN260, HIS259, SER282) in the tyrosinase catalytic site. Based on the developed results, rutin extracted from M. oleifera L. leaves has the capability to be powerful anti-pigment agent with a potential application in cosmeceutical area. In vivo studies are required to unravel the safety and efficiency of rutin as antityrosinase compound.

Multigene phylogeny and morphological descriptions of five species of Agaricus sect. Minores from subtropical climate zones of Pakistan.

The genus Agaricus includes more than 500 species mostly containing the edible and cultivated species worldwide. As part of the ongoing studies on the biodiversity of genus Agaricus in Pakistan, our objective was to focus on A. sect. Minores which is the largest section of the genus. In the first phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, our sample included specimens of 97 named species, 27 unnamed species, and 31 specimens (29 newly generated sequences in this study) from subtropical climate zones of Pakistan that likely belong to this section based on their morphology. The 31 specimens grouped into five distinct, well-supported clades corresponding to five species: A. glabriusculus already known from Pakistan and India, A. robustulus first recorded from Pakistan and briefly described here but already known from Bénin, Malaysia, China, and Thailand, and three possibly endemic new species described in detail A. badiosquamulosus sp. nov., A. dunensis sp. nov., and A. violaceopunctatus sp. nov. The sixth species currently known in Pakistan, including A. latiumbonatus also found in Thailand, were included in a multigene tree based on ITS, LSU, and Tef-1α sequence data. They all belong to a large pantropical paraphyletic group while most temperate species belong to a distinct clade, which includes about half of the species of the section. The current study aims to propose three novel species of genus Agaricus based on comprehensive morphological as well as molecular phylogenetic evidences from Pakistan.

Preparation, characterization and antioxidant and anticancerous potential of Quercetin loaded ß-glucan particles derived from mushroom and yeast.

ß-glucans are polysaccharides found in the cell walls of various fungi, bacteria and cereals. ß-glucan have been found to show various kinds of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic antioxidant and anticancerous activities. In the present study, we have isolated ß-glucan from the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus and tested their antioxidant potential and anticancerous activity against prostate cancer cell line PC3. Particles were characterized with zeta sizer and further with FTIR that confirmed that the isolated particles are ß-glucan and alginate sealing made slow and sustained release of the Quercetin from the ß-glucan particles. Morphological analysis of the hollow and Quercetin loaded ß-glucan was performed with the SEM analysis and stability was analyzed with TGA and DSC analysis that showed the higher stability of the alginate sealed particles. Assessments of the antioxidant potential showed that Quercetin loaded particles were having higher antioxidant activity than hollow ß-glucan particles. Cell viability of the PC3 cells was examined with MTT assay and it was found that Quercetin loaded alginate sealed Agaricus bisporus derived ß-glucan particles were having lowest IC50. Further ROS generation was found to increase in a dose dependent manner. Apoptosis detection was carried out with Propidium iodide and AO/EtBr staining dye which showed significant death in the cells treated with higher concentration of the particles. Study showed that particles derived from both of the sources were having efficient anticancer activity and showing a dose dependent increase in cell death in PC3 cells upon treatment.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay coupled with gold nanoparticles for colorimetric detection of Trichoderma spp. in Agaricus bisporus cultivation substrates.

One of the significant challenges in organic cultivation of edible mushrooms is the control of invasive Trichoderma species that can hinder the mushroom production and lead to economic losses. Here, we present a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay coupled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for rapid colorimetric detection of Trichoderma spp. The specificity of LAMP primers designed on the tef1 gene was validated in silico and through gel-electrophoresis on Trichoderma harzianum and non-target soil-borne fungal and bacterial strains. LAMP amplification of genomic DNA templates was performed at 65 °C for only 30 min. The results were rapidly visualized in a microplate format within less than 5 min. The assay is based on salt-induced aggregation of AuNPs that is being prevented by the amplicons produced in case of positive LAMP reaction. As the solution color changes from red to violet upon nanoparticle aggregation can be observed with the naked eye, the developed LAMP-AuNPs assay can be easily operated to provide a simple initial screening for the rapid detection of Trichoderma in button mushroom cultivation substrate.

Expression of Concern: Garlic (Allium sativum) and mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) powder: Investigation of performance, immune organs and humoural and cellular immune response in broilers.

H. Noruzi and F. Aziz-Aliabadi, "Garlic (Allium Sativum) and Mushroom (Agaricus Bisporus) Powder: Investigation of Performance, Immune Organs and Humoural and Cellular Immune Response in Broilers," Veterinary Medicine and Science 10, no. 2 (2024): e31367, https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1367. This Expression of Concern is for the above article, published online on 15 February 2024 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), and has been published by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Gayle Hallowell and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The Expression of Concern has been agreed due to concerns raised by a third party regarding the availability of an ethical approval. The authors have received Higher Degree by Research (HDR) committee approval and a bioethical course certificate. The authors and their institute confirmed that this was equivalent to an ethical approval from the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad at the time when the research was conducted but could not provide the HDR committee approval documentation. Since this does not fully comply with the ethics policy of the journal, as noted on the journal's author guidelines page, the journal has decided to issue an Expression of Concern to inform and alert the readers.

Kiwifruit-Agaricus blazei intercropping effectively improved yield productivity, nutrient uptake, and rhizospheric bacterial community.

Intercropping systems have garnered attention as a sustainable agricultural approach for efficient land use, increased ecological diversity in farmland, and enhanced crop yields. This study examined the effect of intercropping on the kiwifruit rhizosphere to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between cover plants and kiwifruit in this sustainable agricultural system. Soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities were analyzed using the Kiwifruit-Agaricus blazei intercropping System. Moreover, a combined analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomic sequencing was used to identify differential microbes and metabolites in the rhizosphere. Intercropping led to an increase in soil physicochemical and enzyme activity, as well as re-shaping the bacterial community and increasing microbial diversity. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Patescibacteria were the most abundant and diverse phyla in the intercropping system. Expression analysis further revealed that the bacterial genera BIrii41, Acidibacter, and Altererythrobacter were significantly upregulated in the intercropping system. Moreover, 358 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified between the monocropping and intercropping cultivation patterns, with fatty acyls, carboxylic acids and derivatives, and organooxygen compounds being significantly upregulated in the intercropping system. The KEGG metabolic pathways further revealed considerable enrichment of DMs in ABC transporters, histidine metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism. This study identified a significant correlation between 95 bacterial genera and 79 soil metabolites, and an interactive network was constructed to explore the relationships between these differential microbes and metabolites in the rhizosphere. This study demonstrated that Kiwifruit-Agaricus blazei intercropping can be an effective, labor-saving, economic, and sustainable practice for reshaping bacterial communities and promoting the accumulation and metabolism of beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere.

Isolation of 2,2'-azoxybisbenzyl alcohol from Agaricus subrutilescens and its inhibitory activity against bacterial biofilm formation.

Virulence pathways in pathogenic bacteria are regulated by quorum sensing mechanisms, particularly biofilm formation through autoinducer (AI) production and sensing. In this study, the culture filtrate extracted from an edible mushroom, Agaricus subrutilescens, was fractionated to isolate a compound that inhibits biofilm formation. Four gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Enterobacter cloacae) and two gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) were used for the bioassay. The bioassay-guided chromatographic separations of the culture filtrate extract resulted in the isolation of the compound. Further, spectroscopic analyses revealed the identity of the compound as 2,2'-azoxybisbenzyl alcohol (ABA). The minimum inhibitory and sub-inhibitory concentrations of the compound were also determined. Azoxybisbenzyl alcohol was significantly effective in inhibiting biofilm formation in all tested bacteria, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 3-11 µg/mL. Additionally, the bioactivity of ABA was confirmed through the bioassays for the inhibition of exopolysaccharide matrixes and AI activities.

Exploring the impact of Agaricus bisporus on mitigating lead reproductive toxicity using the Caenorhabditis elegans model.

Given that Agaricus bisporus, an edible mushroom, has demonstrated antioxidant properties, our investigation aimed to assess whether Agaricus bisporus could mitigate the toxic effects of lead (Pb) on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. A dose-response study was conducted involving Pb and Agaricus bisporus to determine appropriate doses. Subsequently, a co-exposure study utilizing C. elegans strains N2 and CL2166 was implemented, with groups designated as Control, Pb, Agaricus bisporus, and Pb + Agaricus bisporus. Our findings revealed that co-exposure to Pb + 100 mg/mL Agaricus bisporus resulted in reduced embryonic and larval lethality, increased brood size, and enhanced motility compared to nematodes exposed solely to Pb. Notably, our observations indicated a transfer of reproductive toxicity from nematode parents to their offspring. Thus, Agaricus bisporus may play a significant role in Pb detoxification, suggesting its potential as a natural antioxidant for neutralizing the detrimental effects of Pb on reproductive health.

Synthesis and evaluation of 3-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives as inhibitors of tyrosinase.

The tyrosinase (TYR) enzyme catalyses sequential reactions in the melanogenesis pathway: l-tyrosine is oxidised to yield L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-dopa), which in turn is converted to dopaquinone. These two reactions are the first two steps of melanin biosynthesis and are rate limiting. The accumulation or overproduction of melanin may cause skin hyperpigmentation and inhibitors of TYR are thus of interest to the cosmeceutical industry. Several TYR inhibitors are used to treat skin hyperpigmentation, however, some are ineffective and possess questionable safety profiles. This emphasises the need to develop novel TYR inhibitors with better safety and efficacy profiles. The small molecule, 3-hydroxycoumarin, has been reported to be a good potency TYR inhibitor (IC50 = 2.49 µM), and based on this, a series of eight structurally related 3-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives were synthesised with the aim to discover novel TYR inhibitors. The results showed that four of the derivatives inhibited TYR from the champignon mushroom Agaricus bisporus (abTYR) with IC50 < 6.11 µM. The most potent inhibitor displayed an IC50 value of 2.52 µM. Under the same conditions, the reference inhibitors, thiamidol and kojic acid, inhibited abTYR with IC50 values of 0.130 and 26.4 µM, respectively. Based on the small molecular structures of the active 3-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one inhibitors which are amenable to structure optimisation, it may be concluded that this class of compounds are good leads for the design of TYR inhibitors for cosmeceutical applications.

Enzymatically Oxidized Carbohydrates As Dicarbonyl Biobased Cross-Linkers for Polyamines.

Carbonyl cross-linkers are used to modify textiles and form resins, and are produced annually in megatonne volumes. Due to their toxicity toward the environment and human health, however, less harmful biobased alternatives are needed. This study introduces carbonyl groups to lactose and galactose using galactose oxidase from Fusarium graminearum (FgrGalOx) and pyranose dehydrogenase from Agaricus bisporus (AbPDH1) to produce four cross-linkers. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to compare cross-linker reactivity, most notably resulting in a 34 °C decrease in reaction peak temperature (72 °C) for FgrGalOx-oxidized galactose compared to unmodified galactose. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy were used to verify imine formation and amine and aldehyde depletion. Cross-linkers were shown to form gels when mixed with polyallylamine, with FgrGalOx-oxidized lactose forming gels more effectively than all other cross-linkers, including glutaraldehyde. Further development of carbohydrate cross-linker technologies could lead to their adoption in various applications, including in adhesives, resins, and textiles.

Infusion of active compound into sliced button mushrooms through vacuum impregnation to improve functionality: Comparing response surface methodology and artificial neural network.

The present study explores the infusion of active compounds (ascorbic acid and calcium lactate) into sliced button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) to increase the nutritional value and reduce the browning effect of sliced mushrooms using the vacuum impregnation (VI) technique. The aim was to functionalize the vacuum-infused sliced mushrooms and evaluate the physicochemical properties of button mushrooms for diversifying food use. The central composite design was implemented to determine the optimized condition for the process with four independent factors, that is, immersion time (IT) 30-90 min, solution temperature (ST) 35-55°C, solution concentration (SC) 4%-12%, and vacuum pressure (VP) 50-170 mbar. The optimum VI processes obtained were ST-40°C, SC-8%, VP-140 mbar, and IT-65 min with a desirability function of 0.77. Statistically, two models (response surface methodology [RSM] and artificial neural network [ANN]) were employed to compare the better performance for the prediction of VI operational process parameters. The RSM model showed a better prediction of VI process parameters than the ANN model, with a higher R2 value (0.9228 vs. 0.8160) and lower root mean square error value (1.4004 vs. 2.1751), χ2 (2.4491 vs. 5.2762), mean absolute error (1.1177 vs. 1.1611), and absolute average deviation (4.3532 vs. 5.6746) for water loss. A similar pattern was observed for solute gain, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, color change, firmness, and pH. Therefore, the VI process was found to be an effective method for enhancing the nutritional properties of sliced mushrooms. These findings concluded that the RSM model is more efficient for better prediction with good accuracy of the VI process than the ANN model.

Effects of Outdoor-Grown Royal Sun Medicinal Mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (Agaricomycetes) Fruiting Body on Canine Malassezia Dermatitis.

Brazil-grown outdoor-cultivated Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 fruiting body (KA21) significantly increases the production of serum anti-beta-glucan antibody. Therefore, KA21 ingestion may be useful for the prevention and alleviation of fungal infections. This study aimed to determine the effects of KA21 in fungal infections in animals. KA21 was administered to nine dogs infected with Malassezia. Notably, the anti-beta-glucan antibody titer remained unchanged or tended to decrease in the oral steroid arm, whereas in the non-steroid arm, antibody titer increased in almost all animals after KA21 ingestion. Dogs showing improved clinical symptoms exhibited increased anti-beta-glucan antibody titers. The results of this study suggest that KA21 ingestion may alleviate the symptoms of Malassezia and other fungal infections and that continuous ingestion may help prolong recurrence-free intervals. Additionally, the ingestion of KA21 during oral steroid dosage reduction or discontinuation may enable smoother steroid withdrawal.

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons polluted soil by spent mushroom substrates: Microbiological structure and functionality.

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) holds valuable microbiota that can be useful in remediating polluted soils with hydrocarbons. However, the microorganisms behind the bioremediation process remain uncertain. In this work, a bioremediation assay of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) polluted soil by SMS application was performed to elucidate the microorganisms and consortia involved in biodegradation by a metabarcoding analysis. Untreated polluted soil was compared to seven bioremediation treatments by adding SMS of Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus, and combinations. Soil microbial activity, TPH biodegradation, taxonomic classification, and predictive functional analysis were evaluated in the microbiopiles at 60 days. Different metagenomics approaches were performed to understand the impact of each SMS on native soil microbiota and TPHs biodegradation. All SMSs enhanced the degradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, being A. bisporus the most effective, promoting an efficient consortium constituted by the bacterial families Alcanivoraceae, Alcaligenaceae, and Dietziaceae along with the fungal genera Scedosporium and Aspergillus. The predictive 16 S rRNA gene study partially explained the decontamination efficacy by observing changes in the taxonomic structure of bacteria and fungi, and changes in the potential profiles of estimated degradative genes across the different treatments. This work provides new insights into TPHs bioremediation.