During a field expedition into the Lentochnye pine forests of the Altai Territory, researchers uncovered a previously unknown slime-like fungal protist, part of the mucous mold group known as myxomycetes. This organism harbors more than 100 biologically active substances, the majority of which demonstrate notable antibacterial properties. The finding was shared with socialbites.ca by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Anastasia Vlasenko and Vyacheslav Vlasenko, both scientists in the Laboratory of Mycology, Algology and Lichenology at the Central Siberian Botanical Garden, which operates under the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, collaborated with a foreign colleague to describe the new species of fungal protist.
According to the researchers, the new species shows distinct morphological features that set it apart from known relatives. Investigations used light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy at the Central Siberian Botanical Garden to examine the organism. The species displays reticulated spores and a partially preserved membranous peridium. Its shape includes an expanding column resembling an amphora, which inspired the chosen name Stemonitis amphoracolumella. Anastasia Vlasenko, head of the laboratory and a candidate of biological sciences, explained the naming and distinguishing characteristics to Gazeta.ru.
Highlighting the practical potential, the scientists noted that extracts from the fruiting bodies and plasmodia of myxomycetes contain over 100 biologically active substances. Many of these compounds exhibit strong antibacterial activity, including effectiveness against antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The discovery may pave the way for developing new pharmacological agents to combat resistant bacterial infections.
Molecular genetic analyses have confirmed that the described organism is a previously unrecorded species. In nature, mushroom-like slime molds typically form small fruiting bodies that measure only a few millimeters. Their ecological role includes feeding on bacteria and yeasts and occupying soil, leaf litter, decaying wood, and living tree bark. Slime molds play a crucial part in regulating organic matter decomposition and influence the populations of bacteria and yeasts while serving as a food source for several insects.
Earlier, biologists achieved another noteworthy milestone by decoding the genome of sea sponges that possess a unique silicon dioxide skeleton, underscoring the broad scope of recent advances in organismal genetics and natural product discovery. (attribution: Ministry of Education and Science)