Polysaccharides isolated from mushrooms have been identified as potential prebiotics that could impact gut microbiota. In this study, a water-soluble polysaccharide (MP) extracted from wild morels was evaluated for its effects on the gut microbiota of non-treated and cyclophosphamide (CP)-treated mice. The results showed that MP restored the spleen weight and increased the counts of white blood cells and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and spleen of the CP-treated mice. Mice treated with MP exhibited increased levels of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, especially Lachnospiraceae, compared to normal mice, and increased levels of Bacteroidetes and SCFA-producing bacteria, especially Ruminococcaceae, compared to the CP-treated mice. Moreover, MP treatment increased the production of valeric acid and decreased the production of acetic acid in the non-treated mice and increased the production of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid in the CP-treated mice. These results show that MP is potentially good for health.

This study investigated Morchella importuna strain degeneration during repeated subculturing and employed metabolomics, transcriptomics, and other techniques to explore its molecular mechanisms. Significant metabolic and transcriptional differences were observed between normal mycelia (NM) and degenerated mycelia (DG). Metabolomic analysis revealed 699 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) that were predominantly enriched in secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways, particularly flavonoids and indole alkaloids. Total flavonoid content was markedly higher in NM than in DG, with most flavonoid compounds showing reduced levels in degenerated strains. Transcriptomic profiling revealed 2691 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), primarily associated with metabolic pathways and genetic information processing. Integrated analysis showed that metabolic dynamics were regulated by DEGs, with pyruvate metabolism being significantly enriched. The FunBGCeX tool identified biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in the M. importuna genome, highlighting the critical role of the non-reducing polyketide synthase (NR-PKS) gene in flavonoid biosynthesis. This gene exhibited significantly downregulated expression in DG strains. These findings indicate that M. importuna degeneration resulted from systemic dysregulation of gene expression networks and metabolic pathway reorganization. The results presented herein also provide theoretical insights into degeneration mechanisms and potential prevention strategies for this edible fungus.

The Qinling Mountains are the geographic boundary between northern and southern China. In our current study, we investigated the biodiversity of macrofungi in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi and discovered a new species, Psilocybe ningshanensis. The phylogenetic tree shows its position in a group composed by P. hopii and P. mescaleroensis. They differ in some macro- and microscopic features, such as the presence or absence of an annulus or veil, the surface characteristics of the pileus, and the sizes and shapes of basidiospores and cheilocystidia. In addition, they are geographically distanced. P. ningshanensis was first discovered in Ningshan, China, whereas P. hopii and P. mescaleroensis were both found in the United States. In this article, we introduce the new species with illustrated description, ITS sequences, and comparisons with similar species.

Sporocarps of macrofungi support other diverse fungal species that are termed fungicolous fungi. However, the external environmental factors that affect the diversity and composition of fungicolous fungal communities remains largely unknown. In this study, the diversities, composition, and trophic modes of fungicolous fungal communities residing in host macrofungi from diverse habitats in the Qinling Mountains were analyzed. Additionally, the number of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) encoded by saprophytic, pathogenic, and symbiotic fungi was also quantified and compared. The results revealed that the diversity and composition of fungicolous fungal communities varied with months of collection and the habitats of host fungi, and saprophytic fungi were more abundant on wood than on the ground. Meanwhile, it was also found that saprophytic fungi possessed higher abundances of cell-wall-degrading enzymes than pathogenic or symbiotic fungi. Based on the above findings, it was hypothesized that the greater abundance of saprophytic fungi on wood compared to the ground may be due to their possession of a more diverse array of enzymes capable of degrading wood cell walls, thereby allowing for more efficient nutrient acquisition from decaying wood.