Micrographical analysis of growth deformities in common pathogens induced by voucher fungi from India

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Microbiology
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Macrofungi represent a largely untapped source of novel bioactive compounds.
• Ethnomedicinal knowledge points to the potential of wild mushrooms for therapeutic applications.
• Antimicrobial resistance necessitates the search for new agents to combat infectious diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify ethnomycologically important mushrooms from Meghalaya, India.
• To microscopically characterize mushroom structures.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of mushroom extracts against pathogenic bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Morphological and molecular identification of mushroom fruiting bodies.
• Methanol extraction of dried mushroom tissues.
• Antimicrobial screening using the 2,3,-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay.
• Microscopic examination of mushroom structures and pathogen deformities via optical and scanning electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• Mushroom extracts demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with inhibitory zones ranging from 9-22 mm (Gram-negative) and 16-24 mm (Gram-positive).
• Microscopic analysis revealed distinct structural deformities in bacteria, including biofilm accumulation in Gram-positive and shrinkage with cavity formation in Gram-negative bacteria.
• The study identified diverse mushroom species with ethnobotanical significance in the region.

Conclusions:

• Wild mushrooms from Meghalaya possess potent antimicrobial properties against a range of bacteria.
• Mushroom extracts exhibit distinct mechanisms of action against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens.
• This research supports the ethnomycological use of these mushrooms and suggests their potential as a source for novel antimicrobial drug discovery.