UNIVERSITY OF BUEA

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

MCB601: ADVANCED GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY

THE BENEFITS OF FUNGI TO HUMANS

PRESENTED BY

TEGHOUO AKEH PEMI R. (SC24P218)

TANFU ADELSON (SC24P231)

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. ESEMU SERAPHINE

DECEMBER, 2024

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Introduction

Although fungi are often associated with decay or disease, fungi are vital to life on earth and

provide numerous benefits to humans across a wide range of fields. They influence the well-

being of human populations on a large scale because they are part of the nutrient cycle in

ecosystems. They offer numerous benefits to humans spanning across fields such as medicine,

agriculture, food production, environmental management and biotechnology.

A. Preparation of medicine

Different types of fungi are used in the production of important numbers of drugs. The most

important species are Penicillium notatum, Claviceps purpurea, Saccharomyces cerevisiae,

Aspergillus proliferans etc

a. Antibiotics:

Fungi contribute to antibiotic production by producing secondary metabolites (chemicals not

directly involved in their growth and reproduction), some of which are potent antimicrobial

agents. Antibiotics are naturally produced by fungi to kill and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Table 1: Some antibiotics produced from fungi

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b. Vitamins

Vitamins are the micronutrients required for the growth of living organisms. Fungi are valuable

in the production of vitamins due to their ability to synthesize bioactive compounds during

fermentation. Some key fungi involved in vitamin production include;

Eremothecium ashbyii and Ashbya gossypii used for industrial riboflavin production,

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger used to produced ergosterol which is

converted in vitamin D2 upon UV radiation, yeasts like Candida utilis in co-culture systems

with bacteria such as Propionibacterium or Pseudomonas facilitate Vitamin B12 synthesis,

Aspergillus niger and Penicillium spp. used to produce precursor compounds (e.g 2-keto-L-

gulonic acid) in the synthesis of vitamin C, Aspergillus oryzae and Mucor spp. used in the

production of vitamin K.

c. Steroids

Steroids are used for a variety of conditions such as the hormonal therapies and the control of

inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma and allergies. Many fungi have the capacity

to synthesis and modify different steroid precursors. They are used because of their ability to

carry out complex biochemical transformations such as hydroxylation and dehydrogenation.

For example, cortisol produced by Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus arrhizus, progesterone

produced by Aspergillus niger, corticosteroids and estrogens produced by Penicillium spp. and

Mucor spp.

d. Vaccines

Fungi are used in the production of certain vaccines, either as direct contributors to the vaccine

components or as hosts for the production of antigens that trigger an immune response in

humans. Vaccines made from fungi typically utilize fungal derived components such as

proteins, polysaccharides or attenuated fungal cells to stimulate immune response. For

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example, Saccharomyces cerevisiae used to produce Hepatitis B and COVID-19 (Novavax)

vaccines.

e. Ergotism drugs

Fungi have been used in the production of ergot alkaloids which are bioactive compounds

produced by certain fungi particularly those that parasitize cereal grains like rye. These drugs

are used primarily because they have an effect on the nervous and vascular systems. Several

alkaloids are produced and accumulated in the sclerotium of Claviceps spp. For example,

Claviceps purpurea which produces ergot alkaloids such as ergotamine, ergocriptine,

ergometrine and ergocornine used in treating migraines, Parkinson’s disease, controlling

postpartum bleeding and inducing labor respectively.

f. Ephedrine

It is a sympathomimetic drug used for conditions like asthma, nasal congestion and

hypotension during anesthesia. Aspergillus niger and Penicillum spp. are used to produce

intermediates or mimic pathways for ephedrine biosynthesis.

Other medicinal benefits

- Immunosuppressive drugs: Several fungi secondary metabolites are also a source for

immunosuppressive agents. For example, Cyclosporine derived from Tolypocladium inflatum

is widely used to prevent organ transplant rejection.

- Cancer treatment: Certain fungi produce bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides,

triterpenoids and alkaloids that show potential in cancer therapy by inhibiting cancer growth,

inducing apoptosis, stimulating the immune system and even preventing the spread of cancer

cells. Secondary metabolites of Aspergillus terreus, Chaetomium globosum, Cordyceps

sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum are used in cancer treatment.

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- Anti-inflammatory agents: Fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum are used in traditional

medicine for anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

- Cardiovascular drugs: For example, lovastatin from Aspergillus terreus is used to lower

cholesterol levels and may also have anti-cancer properties.

- Hallucinogens: Psilocybin, a compound found in the fungi Psilocybe cyanescens have been

used for their hallucinogenic properties in the treatment of depression, anxiety and even

migraines.

B. Fungi as food

Some fungi have been used directly as food and some are used in food processing:

a. Direct use:

Some fungi like mushroom (Agaricus campestris) are used as food due to their high protein

contents (21-30% on dry weight) and have good amount of lysine, amino acids, minerals like

K, Na, Ca and P. These are recommended as ideal food for heart patients and diabetics as they

are low in calories and fat making them a healthy option for human diets. Also, mushroom

cultivation has recently gained considerable popularity and has contributed to the national

economy of some countries as a source of income.

b. Industrial application

Fungi are used in many important industries in the production of varied products such as

alcoholic fermentation, Industrial products (organic acids), pigments and enzymes.

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 ❖ Alcohol production

Alcohol fermentation is the basis of brewing industries. The enzyme zymase produced by the

yeast is responsible for alcohol production. Wines are produced from grapes or other fruits by

Saccharomyces ellipsoideus with about 10-14% alcohol concentration. Beer is brewed from

malts by Saccharomyces cerevisiae with 3-8% alcohol production. Aspergillus flavus is used

in the preparation of African native beer.

❖ Bread and cake production

The most commonly used yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast). During alcoholic

fermentation of the yeast, Carbon dioxide been released as bubbles are used in baking industries

to make the bread and cakes have a spongy appearance.

❖ Cheese production

Some fungi play and important role in refining cheese. Penicillum roqueforti and Penicillum

camemberti used in making Roquefort and Camembert cheeses respectively.

❖ Organic acids

Fungi, particularly filamentous fungi have been studied and utilized for their ability to produce

a range of organic acids through fermentation processes.

Table 2; List of some fungi along with produced organic acids

Organic acids Fungi

1. Citric acid Aspergillus niger

2. Gallic acid Aspergillus gallomyces, Penicillum glaucum
3. Gluconic acid Aspergillus niger, Penicillum chysogenum
4. Fumaric acid Rhizopus nigricans
5. Lactic acid Rhizopus oryzae

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 ❖ Enzyme production

Fungi are prolific producers of enzymes that can be used in breaking down organic waste,

textile industries, biofuel production, detergent manufacturing and food processing.

Table 3; List of some fungi along with produced enzymes

Enzymes Fungi
1. Amylase Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae
2. Cellulase Trichoderma reesei
3. Zymase & Invertase Saccharomyces cerevisiae
4. Pectinase Penicillium glaucum, Aspergillus spp.
5. Proteases Aspergillus spp.

❖ Pigments: Different color pigments are found in the mycelium and spores of many

fungi. For example, Cladosporium spp. producing green pigments, Monascus spp.

producing red, yellow and orange pigments, Aspergillus spp. producing black, yellow

and orange pigments.

C. Agricultural benefits

- Soil fertility: By decomposing organic matter, fungi help to increase minerals and other

substances thereby increasing soil fertility. For example, the combined action of fungi like

Fusarium, Chaetomium, Chytridium, Penicillium and Aspergillus can decompose the structural

polymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lipid, protein, starch etc.

- Mycorrhizal symbiosis: Many fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants through

mycorrhizae which enhance plant nutrient absorption particularly phosphorus. The fungal

partner supplies water and minerals and in turn, they take nutrition from the plant. For example,

Rhizoctonia, Tricholoma, Boletus, Phallus, Amanita association with the roots of higher plants.

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- Biological control of plant diseases: Trichoderma spp. are used as biological agents for

preventing and controlling plant diseases caused by harmful pathogens

- Fungal fertilizers: Aspergillus and Penicillium solubilize phosphate for plant nutrition.

- Production plant hormone: Some fungi like Gibberella fujikuro are used to produce plant

hormone like Gibberellin which is used to accelerate growth in crops.

- Biological control of plant diseases: The antagonistic activity of some fungi like

Trichoderma sp. Has shown to be parasitic on many soil-borne and foliage pathogens.

Trichoderma sp. is being used to control plant diseases in sustainable diseases management

systems. Beauveria bassiana is a naturally occurring fungus in soils throughout the world and

has been researched for control of soil borne insects e.g. the beetle in Europe

D. Biotechnological Applications

- Bioremediation: Fungi help in environmental cleanup by breaking down hazardous

pollutants in soil and water. The most commonly used is the white rot fungi Phanerochaete

chrysosporium is known for its ability to degrade lignin and various toxic substances such as

dioxins. Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. play a role in the removal of heavy metals.

- Biopesticides: Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps melonthae are used as natural pesticides

- Biosensors: Innovative use of fungi to detect toxins and pathogens e.g Saccharomyces

cerevisiae or Trichoderma spp modified to express reporter genes in the presences of

chemicals. Some strains of Aspergillus niger have been used to detect trace elements like Zn,

Cu, and Mo, even if the substances are present in very minute quantity in the substrate. These

elements when absorbed by the fungus give a particular color to the conidia. Similarly,

Neurospora crassa has been used to detect Vitamin B complex.

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- Biofuel production: Fungi like Mucor and Rhizopus spp. have the ability to produce

bioethanol and other biofuels from cellulosic biomass.

E. Fungi in biological research

Fungi are important model research organisms for eukaryotic systems. Many advances in

modern genetics were achieved by the use of the mold Neurospora crassa in genetic and

cytologic studies. Also, many important genes discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae served

as a starting point in discovering analogous human genes. As a eukaryotic organism, the yeast

cell produces and modifies proteins in a similar manner to human cells which makes it an ideal

model organism in understanding gene regulation, chromosome structure and the cell cycle.

This also makes yeast a much better organism to use in recombinant DNA technology as

opposed to the bacterium Escherichia coli which lacks the internal membrane structures and

enzymes to tag proteins for export.

Physarum polycephalum has been used to study DNA synthesis due to its multinucleated

nature.

CRISPR-mediated fungal engineering is used for novel drug discovery and enhanced enzyme

production by allowing precise manipulation of fungi genetic makeup. Fungi like Aspergillus

nidulans and Penicillum chrysogenum are used.

Aspergillus nidulans is used to study gene regulation, expression and function.

N.B: CRISPR means Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats

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 REFERENCES

“Benefits of fungi to the environment and humans.” Decade on Restoration, 2023.

“Fungi and their Role in Modern Biotechnology.” Biotechnology for Biofuels,

vol.17, no.1, 2024, pp. 21-34.

“Fungi in Pharmaceutical industry: Natural products as a Treasure for Drug

Development.” Pharmaceutical Research, vol.41, no.8, 2024, pp.1-15.

“Mycorrhizal fungi and Agricultural sustainability.” Journal of Agriculture and

Food Chemistry, vol. 72, no.15, 2024, pp. 4210-4221.

24.5 Importance of fungi to human life from Biology 2e by Openstax

Lab (2) Economic importance of fungi- Fungi practical

Tavares, Teresa. “Fungi in Biotechnology: From medicine to Bioremediation.”

Springer journal of Mycology, vol.47, no.2,2024, pp.162-179.

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