Tag Archives: fungus

Summary: A new study reveals that an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a common gut fungus, may alter the brain’s dopamine reward circuitry and influence alcohol consumption. Researchers found that as fungal populations increased, they triggered production of inflammatory molecules called PGE2, which crossed into the brain and changed dopamine signaling in the dorsal striatum. Unexpectedly, mice with high fungal levels …

Health officials across the Rio Grande Valley said they are keeping an eye on the rising cases of a potentially deadly fungus. Officials said the fungus — known as Candida Auris — is not a current risk to the public, but it can be deadly for patients in hospitals and nursing homes. The fungus spreads primarily in hospitals and long-term …

A fungus flagged as a “critical” concern by the World Health Organization may have a secret weapon: a virus hidden inside it. Now, a new study suggests that targeting this virus may offer a new strategy for treating these dangerous fungal infections in people. The virus, called A. fumigatus Polymycovirus-1 (AfuPmV-1M), was known prior to the new research. But the …

Deadly Fungus Spreading in Hospitals Triggers European Warning  Bloomberg.com Drug-resistant fungus is spreading ‘rapidly’ in European hospitals, EU health agency warns  Euronews.com £1.45m grant funds new drugs to fight deadly candida infections  Health Tech World Candida Auris Infection Market Set to Reach USD 2.51 Billion, with a Healthy 7.84% CAGR Till Forecasts 2034  openPR.com Could rising temps mean more infections?  Clark University Source link

The death cap mushrooms contain three main types of toxins: amatoxins, phallotoxins, and virotoxins. The α-amanitin toxin is one of the most deadly poisons found in nature. This substance kills any cell without exception, whether it be healthy or cancerous. Death cap mushroom toxicity can initially lead to gut problems, which may look like food poisoning. It may later progress …

The rare Antrodia cinnamomea fungus (also known as Taiwanofungus camphoratus) is only found in Taiwan, and is associated with one particular type of endangered tree. Long used for herbal medicines, the fungus has now been linked to cancer-fighting capabilities through a specific kind of sugar molecule. Researchers from the National Taiwan University and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in …

A mysterious fungus is turning spiders into real-life ‘zombies,’ consuming their organs and taking control of their behavior. Known as Gibellula attenboroughii, the fungus attaches to the spider, invades its body and devours it from the inside out. It then manipulates the spider’s brain chemistry, altering dopamine levels to force the insect out of its web and into the open, …

Thousands of Americans have contracted an incurable fungus on the West Coast being dubbed a new ‘epidemic’.  Valley Fever, which got its name because a majority of cases are found in Arizona and California, is a deadly lung infection that kills one in 100 people that contract it.  In just 25 years, cases have climbed more than 1,200 percent in …

It’s the horror destroyer of fruit flies – a fungus that emits spores that land on the flies and infiltrate their bodies, says Sheena Harvey. Burrowing into the fly’s gut, the cells of Entomophthora muscae multiply rapidly and feed on the fly’s internal organs. Then they make their way to the brain.  This is where the fungus takes control. The common fruit …

‘Zombie’ fungi that hijack insects are not just a modern forest horror story. A pair of tiny fossils locked in Burmese amber shows that these parasites stalked ants and flies nearly 100 million years ago in what is now Myanmar. The newly described fungi, Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae and Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae, sprouted from their long‑dead hosts, just like today’s entomopathogenic relatives. This gruesome strategy …