MUSHROOMS: AN UNTAPPED RESERVOIR FOR NUTRACEUTICAL ANTIBACTERIAL APPLICATIONS AND ANTIBACTERIAL COMPOUNDS

摘要

Mushrooms are found on every continent on planet Earth. Most of the million plus species have yet to be identified. These diverse populations of fungi synthesize secondary metabolites to thwart invaders, such as nematodes, other fungi, and even bacterial species. Presently, antibiotic resistance among bacteria continues to grow. Some bacterial strains are resistant to all of the drugs commercially available, rendering treatment options as beingfutile. New nutraceuticals with antibacterial activities and antibacterial drugs are sorely needed to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria, like Burkholderia cepacia and Acinetobacter baumanni. Mushrooms could be used in a nutraceutical capacity to treat patients with bacterial infections and could also help to bolster the drug pipeline. This review will examine how mushrooms may be used in a nutraceutical capacity for the treatment of bacterial infection and provide examples of a representative selection of mushroom fruiting bodies that are being mined for small molecules, carbohydrates, and proteins that have antibacterial activities.