A gut fungus reduced radiation damage in mice through two routes
In mouse experiments, Mucor racemosus supplied amino acids that support DNA repair and altered bacterial metabolism; protection has not been shown in people.
Science··Morning
Intestinal injury fell in mice
Researchers tested the gut-colonising filamentous fungus Mucor racemosus in mice exposed to radiation. Animals given the fungus showed less weight loss, intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress and gut-barrier disruption than controls. Damage markers also fell in germ-free mice, suggesting that the effect did not depend solely on an existing bacterial community. Medical Xpress details the experimental design and tissue measurements, while ScienceAlert reports the same core result in an independently written account.[1], [2]
Two metabolic routes stood out
Cell-culture and animal experiments identified two possible mechanisms. Glutamate, aspartate and lysine produced by the fungus were linked to DNA repair in irradiated intestinal cells. In a separate route, fungal methylthioadenosine altered the growth and metabolism of the bacterium Limosilactobacillus reuteri; the bacterium's increased methionine production was also associated with protection of intestinal tissue. These results provide experimental support for the mechanisms, but they do not show how strongly either route would operate in a living person.[1], [2]
Protection has not yet been tested in people
The work is limited to mice, cell cultures and fungus-bacterium cocultures; no clinical trial was conducted in people. Detection of Mucor racemosus in human faecal datasets is not evidence of radioprotection. The fermented-cheese experiment also does not amount to dietary advice. Both reports note that immunocompromised people, especially those receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy, may avoid fungus-containing foods because of infection risk. Any safe application would require separate human tests of dose, viability, efficacy and infection risk.[1], [2]
