Fungus Food: CRISPR turns a simple fungus into a meatlike protein with a smaller environmental footprint

    As the demand for sustainable food continues to increase, scientists are exploring alternatives to traditional animal proteins (which currently amount for nearly 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions). Mycoprotein, developed from fungi, has come to be a promising solution due to its meat-like texture and smaller environmental impact. One of the leading sources, Fusarium venenatum, is already approved for consumption in several countries. However, its thick cell walls make it difficult to digest in addition to it being costly to produce.

    To address these challenges, researchers at Jiangnan University in China used CRISPR gene-editing technology to improve both the nutritional value and efficiency of Fusarium venenatum. By taking away two specific genes related to chitin production and metabolism, they created a new strain titled FCPD. The thinner cell wall significantly improved digestibility, while metabolic changes allowed the fungus to produce protein much more efficiently. As a result, the modified strain used 44% less sugar and produced the same amount of protein 88% faster than the original version. There was also no foreign DNA introduced.

                                                                        Picture of Fusarium venenatum.

    Past improving efficiency, the environmental benefits of FCPD were dramatic. A full life-cycle analysis across six countries with different energy systems showed that FCPD consistently produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional mycoprotein, with reductions of about 60%. In comparison to animal protein, the results were even more striking: FCPD needed 70% less land and caused 78% less freshwater pollution than chicken production in China. This breakthrough highlights how gene-edited foods could play a major role in feeding an increasing global population while crucially reducing strain on the planet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121082049.htm 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/fusarium-venenatum 

Using Genetically Modified Fungus as an Alternative to Meat

Benjamin Pruss

BIOL-2110-001 GENETICS

 Professor Guy F. Barbato

November 23rd, 2025

     A study published on November 19th focuses on a group of scientists who used CRISPR to genetically modify a fungus to produce protein more efficiently while also being more environmentally friendly. This fungus, known as Fusarium venenatum, also referred to as Quorn, is being explored as a potential alternative source of protein or a meat substitute. 

    Fusarium venenatum is a popular alternative to meat due to its similar taste and texture. However, it is not the best source of protein due to its thick cell walls, which aren't easily digested, and it is not the easiest to grow. The researchers wanted to make the fungus easier to digest and grow. The new genetically-modified F. venenatum had thinner cell walls, which made it easier to digest, and also reduced the amount of nutrients required to produce protein. "Gene-edited foods like this can meet growing food demands without the environmental costs of conventional farming," said one of the authors of the study, Xiao Liu of Jiangnan University in Wuxi, China. They found that the production of the GMO required significantly less land and produced less pollution than chicken production. Although they didn't comment on the cost of producing the fungus, it is certainly more environmentally friendly than previously.

Sources

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121082049.htm

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167779925004044?via%3Dihub

Peaceful Fungus Species Turned Into a Carnivorous Killer

     A common fungus is capable of turning into a formable predator almost instantly. Scientists have been studying this fungus (Arthrobotrys oligospora) ever since the 80's but still are trying to understand how it transforms a peaceful fungus into a carnivorous killer. This species survive and feed on organic matter that is already dead, but when their nitrogen supply is limited they do whatever it takes to survive. With this, this is one of the few fungi species that are able to do this. The fungus turns into it's "predator: mode when they sense roundworms are nearby. 

    Scientists found that once a fungus detects it's prey, DNA and also ribosome replication production is increased. With this, researchers were able to see an increase in the activity of genes involving building and operating traps. They were also able to identify a new class of proteins Called trap enriched proteins (TEP).  TEP proteins are critical for trap adhesion to nematodes. Once a fungus traps it's prey, it then penetrates the worm's body and digests it using filaments that are called hyphae. instead of chewing the hyphae fills the worm from the inside and breaks down nutrients to be absorbed. Researchers are further studying this case and understanding more on this fungus and it's potential. 

Links:

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-genes-that-turn-a-peaceful-fungus-into-a-carnivorous-killer

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/arthrobotrys-oligospora

Transforming Fungus into a Cure

An article by Science Daily describes how researched turned a fungus into a cure for a tropical disease called African sleeping sickness. The disease infects thousands of people in remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa every year. The fungus Acremonium egyptiacum produces two different types of antibiotic. One is toxic, but the other is a specific antibiotic that is a treatment for African sleeping sickness. Researchers wanted to engineer the fungus to produce that antibiotic because it is not cost effective to chemically synthesize it. Professor Abe from the University of Tokyo identified that the fungus's two antibiotics are both made from the same precursor molecule. Researches deleted the genes that were responsible for producing the toxic antibiotic, so only the desired one was produced. The antibiotic used for treatment is called ascofuranone and is also a candidate for cancer treatment.

I think that this study is a good example for how helpful and important genetic engineering is in the science world. It is impressive that scientists can alter the genes of an organism so that it produces a desired product. It is also good that this specific antibiotic is a candidate treatment for cancer. I wonder what other diseases can be treated in the future by genetically altering the genes of other organisms. 

How molecules in cells 'find' one another and organize into structures

For the first time, a team of researchers shows that RNA molecules can recognize one another to form into the same droplet. This is due to specific 3D shapes that the molecules assume. They worked with fungus cells and colleagues, which showed the RNA molecules ended up in the same droplets, if these 3D structures allow them to bind to one another through base pairing.  They then found out that RNA molecules will end up in different droplets in their secondary 3D structure is shielding any complementarity.  This finding is important because it reveals a selective mechanism for forming these RNA protein condensates.

They still need more evidence; with using fungus researchers believed there should be a liquid-to-liquid phase separation in order for the two different biological processes to occur. But they need more evidence that matters for the cell function. There has also been indication that with these liquid condensates that it should condense to more of a solid state may be a factor in disease such as Parkinson, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180412141037.htm

http://www.parallelstate.com/news/how-molecules-in-cells-find-one-another-and-organize-into-structures/656302