The challenge of incorporating photothermal conversion function into chitosan (CS) hybrid fibers lies in balancing functionality and mechanical properties. In this study, we successfully prepared a chitosan/graphene oxide/gelatin (CS/GA/GO) hybrid fiber using the wet spinning process, achieving improved mechanical properties and efficient photothermal conversion capabilities. When compared with pure CS fiber with a breaking strength of 1.07 cN/dtex, the breaking strength of the CS/ GA composite fiber increased by 46.73%, while the CS/GA/GO hybrid fiber showed an even greater increase of 85.98%. In addition, the introduction of gelatin (GA) led to secondary scattering of near-infrared light, enhancing the photothermal conversion efficiency. As a result, the CS/GA/GO hybrid fiber exhibited a faster temperature rise rate and higher maximum temperatures (94.3 °C, 103.0 °C, and 111.3 °C) as compared to the CS/GO hybrid fiber. The successful incorporation of GA not only improved the mechanical properties but also enhanced the photothermal performance of the hybrid fiber.

Through data mining of the Cordyceps militaris genome, a lectin-encoding gene, CMLec3, was identified. In this study, the CMLec3 sequence was analyzed using bioinformatics approaches, and the gene was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 cells. The biological activity of the product was examined. In addition, CMLec3 gene expression levels were assessed. The results showed that the CMLec3 protein contained a lectin domain structure and was successfully expressed. The CMLec3 protein partly inhibited HeLa cell proliferation. CMLec3 exhibited the highest gene expression in the primordium at a level 5.19 times that of the mycelium and 1.35 times that of the fruiting body. This suggests that the gene may be related to fruiting body development.

Lentinus tigrinus (L. tigrinus), a white-rot fungus that grows naturally on rotten hardwood during spring and summer in China, is an edible and medicinal mushroom containing a valuable combination of nutrients including high amino acid concentrations and low sugar levels. However, no reports have isolated and characterized FIP genes from L. tigrinus to date. In our study, two novel fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs) from Lentinus tigrinus were identified and named Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2. The bioactive characteristics of Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 were compared to a well-known FIP (LZ-8 from Ganoderma lucidum) to investigate the effect of Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 expression on Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced liver injury. Both Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 protected livers from ConA-induced necrosis, as evidenced by decreased serum aminotransferase levels (AST, ALT) and relieved liver histology. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and oxidative stress (SOD, MDA) were shown to be reduced by expressing Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2. In addition, the hepatoprotective effect of Fip-lti1, Fip-lti2, and LZ-8 correlated with ameliorating the imbalance of Th1/Th2 (IFN-γ/IL-4). The observed liver protection of Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 was mechanistically explored. Treatments with Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 regulated GATA3/T-bet expression, activated the decreased Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway, and countered the upregulated NLRP3/ASC/NF-κBp65 signaling in ConA-stimulated liver injury. In conclusion, we identified two fungal proteins (Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2) that can protect liver from ConA-induced liver injury.

Lentinula edodes is an important cultivated mushroom in China. The development of Lentinula edodes production promotes more studies on it. In our previous work, degenerate PCR and chromosome walking technologies were used to obtain one pheromone receptor gene and one pheromone precursor gene from Lentinula edodes. In this study, four pairs of specific primers were designed according to the whole genome sequencing of the protoplast monokaryon of Lentinula edodes strain 135, to amplify STE3-like pheromone receptor gene and its flanking conserved genes in the protoplast monokaryon strain SUP2 derived from Lentinula edodes strain Suxiang and 33655bp DNA sequence was obtained. By BlastX search, seven putative genes were identified, and three of them are pheromone receptor encoded genes. Furthermore, near to two pheromone receptor genes, four genes encoding proteins with conserved motifs of pheromone precursors were found. This study firstly reveals the molecular organization of the B mating type locus of Lentinula edodes.