Dietary supplementation with Tolypocladium sinense mycelium prevents dyslipidemia inflammation in high fat diet mice by modulation of gut microbiota in mice

Microascus microspora sp. nov. and Tolypocladium terrae sp. nov.; Two Novel Fungal Species Isolated from Soil in Korea

During an investigation of microfungi from various ecosystems in South Korea, two novel fungal species (KNUF-22-094T and KNUF-23-321CT) were discovered within the genera Microascus and Tolypocladium. The strain KNUF-22-094T stands out among other Microascus species due to its distinctive conidiogenous cells and conidial size ranges. The conidiogenous cells of KNUF-22-094T measured 2.3-4.3 × 2.0-3.6 µm, notably smaller than those of M. rothbergiorum (7.5-11.5 × 2.5-4.5 µm), M. sparsimycelialis (5.0-10.0 × 3.0-5.0 µm), which is considerably larger in both dimensions. For the conidial structures, conidia measured 2.6-4.8 × 2.6-4.4 µm, falling within a distinct range that is smaller than those of M. rothbergiorum (4.0-5.5 × 3.5-4.5 µm), M. verrucosus (5.0-7.0 × 4.5-6.0 µm), and M. restrictus (4.5-6.0 × 4.0-5.5 µm), but comparable in size to M. murinus, which tends to be more elongated (4.0-6.0 × 1.5-1.9 µm). The phialides of KNUF-23-321CT are globose, with a notably broad length range of 3.7-22.5 µm and a width of 0.9-1.5 µm, making it one of the most variable in length compared to species like T. album (3.5-10 µm) and T. endophyticum (1.3 ± 0.2 µm, 4.1 µm on average). Phylogenetic analyses using a multi-locus sequences supported to confirm their distinctness under the genus Microascus and Tolypocladium species. Thus, these fungal strains isolated from soil in Korea are proposed as a novel species according to their characteristics and are named Microascus microspora sp. nov. and Tolypocladium terrae sp. nov. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic data are provided to support the recognition of these new species.

Innovative mycelium-based food: Advancing One Health through nutritional insights and environmental sustainability

One Health states that human health is indispensably connected with animal health and environmental health. Traditionally, humans consume meat to get animal-sourced protein in order to fulfill the goal of maintaining physical health. However, meat productions seem already not supportive to the current food system when facing to the enormous population, which potentially enhances the development of alternative protein industry. In 2023, about 28.9% of the world populations were exposed to moderate or severe food insecurity. Meanwhile, intensive livestock farming has caused serious issues on atmospheric pollution, land occupation, and water consumption. To alleviate such stresses, alternative proteins come to the spotlight. Currently, plant-based protein, cell-cultured protein, mycelium-based protein (MBP), and algal-based protein are the main categories of alternative proteins, among which MBP is acquiring more popularity as a nutritional, eco-friendly, and sustainable source of protein. More than a protein provider, the mycelium-based food (MBF) is abundant with various nutrients and bioactive compounds that make great contribution to human health. Unlike conventional animal husbandry, mycelium production puts less stress on the environment as mycelium can grow on waste substrates, recycling the wastes that used to be abandoned. This review aims to establish a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics, nutritional value, functional properties, and potential applications of MBFs. Additionally, it explores advancements in production technologies, potential challenges, and future research directions to optimize the development and commercialization of MBF products.

Evaluation of acute and 28-day repeated dose toxicity of Tolypocladium sinense soft capsule in Sprague-Dawley rats

Tolypocladium sinense is a new asexual strain isolated from natural Cordyceps sinensis. The mycelium produced by its fermentation culture has similar chemical components and pharmacological effects to C. sinensis. T. sinense soft capsule is primarily prepared from T. sinense mycelium, which is mainly used for the treatment of body damage induced by low-dose ionizing radiation. However, its potential toxicity remains unclear. This study was designed to assess the toxicological characteristics of T. sinense soft capsules through acute and 28-day repeated dose toxicity studies. In the acute toxicity study, no toxic symptoms or mortality were observed in rats following a single oral administration of 10 000 mg/kg of T. sinense soft capsules. The maximum tolerated dose for a single oral dose of T. sinense soft capsules in rats was over 10 000 mg/kg. During the repeated dose toxicity test, oral administration of 90, 360, and 1440 mg/kg/day of T. sinense soft capsules for 28 consecutive days did not lead to significant toxic effects in rats. The no observed adverse effect level in rats surpassed 1440 mg/kg/day. These results provide preliminary evidence that T. sinense soft capsules are relatively safe.

Tolypocladium sinense Mycelium Polysaccharide Alleviates Obesity, Lipid Metabolism Disorder, and Inflammation Caused by High Fat Diet via Improving Intestinal Barrier and Modulating Gut Microbiota

SCOPE

Tolypocladium sinense is a fungus isolated from Cordyceps. Cordyceps has some medicinal value and is also a daily health care product. This study explores the preventive effects of T. sinense mycelium polysaccharide (TSMP) on high-fat diet-induced obesity and chronic inflammation in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Here, the study establishes an obese mouse model induced by high-fat diet. In this study, the mice are administered TSMP daily basis to evaluate its effect on alleviating obesity. The results show that TSMP can significantly inhibit obesity and alleviate dyslipidemia by regulating the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes such as liver kinase B1 (LKB1), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) in the liver. TSMP can increase the protein expression of zona occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-1 in the colon, improve the intestinal barrier dysfunction, and reduce the level of serum LPS, thereby reducing the inflammatory response. 16S rDNA sequencing shows that TSMP alters the intestinal microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, while decreasing the relative abundance of Faecalibaculum.

CONCLUSION

The findings show that TSMP can inhibit obesity and alleviates obesity-related lipid metabolism disorders, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress by modulating the gut microbiota and improving intestinal barrier.

Mechanisms of 3-Hydroxyl 3-Methylglutaryl CoA Reductase in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide and has a high incidence in the elderly. Unfortunately, there is no effective therapy for AD owing to its complicated pathogenesis. However, the development of lipid-lowering anti-inflammatory drugs has heralded a new era in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Several studies in recent years have shown that lipid metabolic dysregulation and neuroinflammation are associated with the pathogenesis of AD. 3-Hydroxyl 3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) is a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis that plays a key role in cholesterol metabolism. HMGCR inhibitors, known as statins, have changed from being solely lipid-lowering agents to neuroprotective compounds because of their effects on lipid levels and inflammation. In this review, we first summarize the main regulatory mechanism of HMGCR affecting cholesterol biosynthesis. We also discuss the pathogenesis of AD induced by HMGCR, including disordered lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, microglial proliferation, and amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition. Subsequently, we explain the possibility of HMGCR as a potential target for AD treatment. Statins-based AD treatment is an ascent field and currently quite controversial; therefore, we also elaborate on the current application prospects and limitations of statins in AD treatment.

The ratios of dietary non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) to neutral detergent fiber (NDF) influence intestinal immunity of rabbits by regulating gut microbiota composition and metabolites

Carbohydrate is the most common macronutrient consumed across all phases of the diet and acts as a potential regulator in modulating the gut microbiota in animals. However, the influences of dietary non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) to neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in different ratios on gut microbiota, metabolites, intestinal immunity, and growth performance have not been fully explored. A total of 135 healthy weaned rabbits (45.1 ± 0.7 d of age) with an average body weight of 1.08 ± 0.07 kg were randomly divided into five groups. Under the same other nutrient levels, rabbits were fed diets with NFC/NDF ratios of 0.7 (T1), 1.0 (T2), 1.3 (T3), 1.6 (T4), and 1.9 (T5). During the 28-day experiment, T3 rabbits showed the highest final body weight and the lowest feed-to-weight ratio than T5 rabbits (P < 0.05) but no significant difference with T1 or T2 rabbits. The expression of cecal pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α was increased in the T4 and T5 than in those of other groups (P < 0.05). Conversely, the tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin) were decreased to varying degrees in the T4 and T5 groups. The pH value in the cecal digesta of T5 rabbits was lower than that of T1, T2, and T3 (P < 0.05), while the concentration of volatile fatty acids and propionate was higher than those of T1, T2, and T3 rabbits (P < 0.05). In terms of gut microbiota, at the phylum level, the relative burden of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria in T2 rabbits was the highest (P < 0.05), and the relative burden of Proteobacteria in T5 rabbits was higher than that of other groups (P < 0.05). At the genus level, the relative burden of Ruminococcus was higher in T2 and T3 rabbits than that of other groups, and T5 rabbits have the lowest relative burden of Ruminococcus. Combination analysis showed that cecal metabolites were positively associated with fermentation-related phenotypes and the burden of Firmicutes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, different dietary NFC/NDF ratios can affect the intestinal immune response and growth performance of rabbits, and there was a positive effect when dietary NFC/NDF = 1.0-1.3.