From penicillin to the blood - cholesterol lowering statin , dozens of revolutionary andlife - saving drugshave already been produce from chemicals produced by kingdom Fungi . The organisms in this unequaled kingdom keep on giving , continually surprising scientists with new possible applications for theirmany bioactive compounds .
In the late exciting research , a squad from Washington State University , the US Department of Agriculture , and a troupe anticipate Fungi Perfecta used yesteryear insights into the alterative properties of mushroom-shaped cloud to make treatment that could help salvage the world ’s peril honeybee population – therefore also saving the ecosystems and agricultural manufacture on which so many other specie rely .
Writing in the journalScientific Reports , the author explain that the ongoing crisis ofcolony prostration disorderhas been linked to epidemic - level surges of several viruses . ( Neonicotinoid pesticides bring the other primary function by poison bees directly or weakening their immune system , thus worsening viral infections . )
Two of the most devastating infections are induce by the deformed wing virus ( DWV ) and the Lake Sinai virus group ( LSV ) ; pathogen that spread speedily through bee populations via parasitical varroa mites and infected pollen .
“ Currently , beekeepers are only able-bodied to indirectly control computer virus level by using miticides to cut down mite plague rate in deal dearest bees . Overall , this travail has worked with only limited achiever , give way the celerity with which varroa mites have developed resistor to man-made miticides , ” the author noted . What the industriousness really need , they summate , is a non - toxic product that process the virus directly . But nothing meet that description was known to exist .
That is , until famed mycologist Paul Stamets come into the icon . Stamets , the paper ’s first writer and fountainhead ofFungi Perfecta , has work on numerous project exploring the medicative and therapeutic applications of mushroom for humans .
" He show about viruses hurt bee and telephone us to explore the use of the extracts on honey bee . After two years , we demonstrated that those anti - viral belongings stretch out to honey bees , " lead author Walter Sheppard allege in a statement .
Their collaborative investigation kicked off with testing ground - based experiments aspire at identifying which mushroom-shaped cloud compounds were best at reduce transmission of the two viruses in caged bee . After the two most promising extracts were find – those fromFomes fomentariusorGanoderma resinaceum – the team performed field testing on several little outside colonies that had been overrun with computer virus - persuade varroa mites .
Within just 12 days , bees feed sugar sirup mixed with one of the two excerpt read dramatically reduced viral scores compared to those fed bare sugar syrup . Using PCR analytic thinking , the researchers determined that theF. fomentariusextract intervention lead to distort wing virus levels 44 times humble than ascendency , and Lake Sinai virus layer 88 times lower . G. resinaceumextract also lour DWV infection to levels nearly 80 - fold low than controls , but then genuinely stole the show with its bodily process against LSV : treated colonies had 45,000 - fold broken viral degree .
" We are n’t sure if the mycelium is boosting the bee ' resistant scheme or actually fighting the viruses , " Sheppard said . In improver to answering that question , the team ’s next step is to educate protocols on how to use the infusion to its full voltage .
" Time is running out for bee populations and the safety and security of the domain ’s solid food supply hinges on our power to encounter mean to improve pollinator health . "
previse the large need from beekeepers eager to protect their boot , Stamets added that his caller is ramping up production of the excerption as quickly as possible .
