Mushrooms – the true all-rounders?

Soon they will sprout again and raise their heads. And in many places, people wander about with baskets in search of edible specimens. Yet mushrooms are far more than just a culinary delight. The fact that these organisms take on so many different forms was already a source of unease for people in the Middle Ages. So-called fairy rings – a circular spread of mushrooms – especially frightened people. It was believed that witches gathered here to dance on Walpurgis Night, and they were considered the work of the devil. People therefore avoided setting a foot inside the ring, so as not to fall prey to the spell of evil spirits. Nor should a cow graze in such a place, for it would certainly not give good milk.

Although around 200 of the approximately 140,000 known species of fungi can cause various diseases in people, the benefits of fungi are undisputed:

In medicine, fungi have a large role as manufacturers of medicines such as antibiotics, statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) and cyclosporine (an immunosuppressant), or in the production of hepatitis B vaccines. To achieve this, the gene for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is inserted into common baker’s yeast, which then produces HBsAg.

Pathogenic fungi

Fungi are clinically significant as triggers of allergies, poisoning and infections.

In the case of a mould allergy, the immune system reacts to invisible mould spores or fragments of mould. These can enter the body via both the respiratory tract and food. Especially during the summer and autumn months, large numbers of mould spores are present in the air thanks to the air circulation. A mould allergy is primarily characterised by sneezing fits, a runny nose, coughing, hives or allergic asthma. Furthermore, gastrointestinal health problems can occur when consuming food containing harmful mould spores. As with most allergies, the most important action is to avoid the trigger. However, this is highly difficult in the case of a mould allergy. 

Moulds occur everywhere in nature, but especially in the soil and where organic waste is located. Here, the fungi perform important work, as they break down and recycle organic materials. In living areas, mould growth often occurs due to construction defects or poorly ventilated areas. The formation of typical mould damage occurs, for example, thanks to damp behind wallpaper, wooden panelling and tiled walls. Mould colonies can also establish themselves in inadequately cleaned fridges, waste bins, flower pots, humidifiers, wine cellars or greenhouses, along with organic waste bins. From there, mould spores enter the indoor air.

Mushroom toxins are toxic metabolic compounds found in macrofungi that occur in such high concentrations that their ingestion causes symptoms of poisoning in people or animals (mushroom poisoning). In the northern hemisphere, there are around 200 species of poisonous mushrooms, of which approximately 40 are dangerous and around 10 are fatal. Some cap mushrooms, such as the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) or the death cap (Amanita phalloides), are well known for causing acute symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, after a latency period of 8–22 hours. After a few days, organ damage to the liver, kidneys or heart can also occur. Unfortunately, there is not an antidote for every one of these toxins.

Mycotoxins is the collective term for various toxins produced by different species of mould. To date, over 250 species of mould have been discovered, which together produce over 300 different mycotoxins. The mycotoxins of significance to people are aflatoxins, patulin, ochratoxins and trichothecenes. Depending on the mycotoxin group, different foods can be identified as potential sources of danger. Generally, mycotoxins are found in cereals and cereal products, including maize, in nuts, particularly pistachios, and in fruit and dried fruit.

The typical musty smell emanating from mouldy objects, but also from damp soil, is caused thanks to volatile organic metabolites such as geosmin, which is harmless to health.

The fungi responsible for fungal infections (mycoses) are classified according to the DHS system into dermatophytes (filamentous fungi), yeasts (budding fungi) and moulds.& nbsp;

Dermatophytes specialise in growing in the skin, hair and nails, thanks to the fact that they possess keratinases (enzymes) that break down keratin. They are provided with slow growth at temperatures around 25°C and are not spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. Furthermore, they have no allergenic potential and do not produce mycotoxins.

Yeast fungi are the cause of skin and nail mycoses along with mucosal mycoses. If they spread via the bloodstream, systemic fungal infections such as pneumonia, arthritis or meningitis can form in people with weakened immune systems. Yeasts are usually facultatively pathogenic, i.e. the patient must have a particular susceptibility to these pathogens. This includes changes in the normal bacterial flora, metabolic disorders or hormonal changes.

Our product recommendation for skin and nail fungal infections: The new peclavus Nail Fungus Plus Care Set.

Among moulds, which rarely cause skin and nail fungal infections, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis holds a special place. It possesses keratinases and can therefore also cause nail mycoses. This fungus, with a description that includes the term ‘arsenic fungus’, can grow on arsenic-containing substrates (e.g. old wallpaper dyed with the arsenic-containing pigment Schweinfurter Grün) and emit arsenic-containing gases. The most prominent victim of such arsenic poisoning is likely to have been Napoleon. The areas of his exile on St Helena were painted green. An analysis of his remains carried out a few years ago revealed large quantities of arsenic in his hair and fingernails.

Note for consumers: Are you not a podiatrist, but looking for help with your own skin and nail care?
In our official peclavus shop, you’ll find products that are ideal for your needs and important tips on skin and nail fungus.

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