Cordyceps cicadae is an entomogenous fungus with important uses in traditional Chinese medicine. However, its wild resources have not met consumers’ demand due to excessive harvesting practices. Artificial cultivation is therefore an important alternative, but research on cultivating C. cicadae in natural habitats has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to explore the viability of cultivating C. cicadae in a natural habitat, in the soil of Pinus massoniana forest. We assessed and compared the yield, metabolite contents and bacterial community composition of C. cicadae grown in the Antheraea pernyi pupae at different growth stages, and under different cultivation conditions, in the soil of a natural habitat and in sterile glass bottles. Our results showed that cultivating C. cicadae in a natural habitat is feasible, with up to 95% of pupae producing C. cicadae fruiting bodies. The content of nitrogen compounds (amino acids) in C. cicadae cultivated in a natural habitat was significantly higher than in glass bottles, while the yield and carbon compound (mannitol and polysaccharide) and nucleoside (cordycepin and adenosine) contents were lower. Different bacterial genera were enriched in C. cicadae at different growth stages and cultivation environments, and these bacterial genera were closely related to metabolites contents during growth. This study demonstrated the viability of a novel cultivation method of C. cicadae, which could be used as an alternative to wild stocks of this fungus. These findings provided new insights into the growth mechanism of C. cicadae and its interaction with soil microorganisms.
Patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) experience a low quality of life and increase pressure on healthcare systems both nationally and globally. DNA methylation, which refers to the pathway by which DNA methyltransferase facilitates the addition of a methyl group to DNA, is of critical importance in this respect primarily because the epigenetic modification is implicated in a range of serious conditions including atherosclerosis, CVDs, and cancer. Research findings indicate that the number of epigenetic alterations can be elicited (both in utero and in adults) through the administration of certain nutritional supplements, including folic acid and methionine; this is partly attributable to the effect employed by methyl-containing nutrients in DNA methylation. Thus, for the purpose of illuminating viable therapeutic measures and preventive strategies for CVDs, research should continue to explore the intricate associations that exist between epigenetic regulation and CVD pathogenesis. This review centers on an exposition of the mechanism by which DNA methylation takes place, the impact it has on a range of conditions, and the potential clinical value of nutrition, driven mainly by the observation that nutritional supplements such as folic acid can affect DNA methylation.
The study was conducted to investigate the changes of intestinal microbiota composition and innate immunity with different dietary dosages of aspartate (Asp) supplementation. Thirty-six female ICR mice were divided randomly to four groups and thereafter fed the basal diets (controls) or those supplemented with additional 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% aspartate. After 2 week feeding, microbial composition in ileum and feces, gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine, and innate immune factors in ileum were determined. The ratio of Firmicutes: Bacteroidetes in ileum and feces decreased in 0.5 and 1.0% Asp-supplemented groups, whereas this ratio increased in feces in 2.0% Asp-supplemented group. Meanwhile, the gene expression of IL-17 and IFN-γ in ileum decreased in 1.0% Asp-supplemented group; the gene expression in ileum of Muc2 decreased in 0.5 and 1.0% Asp-supplemented groups. Dietary supplementation with 2.0% Asp enhanced the expression of pIgR and Crp1 as compared to the other three groups. The results indicated that dietary 1.0% Asp supplementation lowers the ratio of Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes, which affects the innate immunity by decreasing the gene expression of IL-17, IFN-γ, and Muc2 in ileum.
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