Gut Fungus Shows Promise for Protecting Mice From Radiation Damage

A fungus that lives in the gut helped mice suffer less intestinal damage after radiation exposure.

Medicine

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A fungus called Mucor racemosus may have a surprising role in protecting the gut from radiation damage. In a recent study, researchers found that mice given the fungus showed less weight loss, inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to the intestinal barrier after radiation exposure. The protective effect also appeared in germ-free mice, suggesting the fungus can act directly rather than depending entirely on the animals existing gut microbes. Researchers identified several possible mechanisms. The fungus produces amino acids including glutamate, aspartate, and lysine that may support DNA repair and recovery in intestinal cells. It also produces methylthioadenosine, which appears to alter another gut bacterium and increase production of methionine, creating an additional protective pathway. The researchers also tested cheese fermented with the fungus and found reduced intestinal inflammation and improved gut barrier measures in irradiated mice. The findings are promising, but they remain experimental. The work was performed primarily in mice and cells, so it does not show that consuming the fungus would protect people from radiation or radiation sickness. Human studies would be needed before any medical use could be considered.

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