Laboratory of Fungal Biology and Biotechnology

The Laboratory of Fungal Biology and Biotechnology (FBBL) of the Research Institute of Biology was established in 2005 with the support of NATO Reintegration and DAAD Equipment grants based on the scientific research group of Fungal Biology and Biotechnology (FBBG) founded in 1993 at the Faculty of Biology, YSU.

The main research area:

• Molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of macromycetes,
• Fungal biology,
• Fungal genetics,
• Sexual and asexual stages of the life cycle in Basidiomycetes fungi
• Fungal biotechnology,
• Fungal bioactive compounds and enzymes,
• Medicinal mushrooms,
• Mycopharmacology, mycocosmetology,
• Assessment, conservation and usage of bioresource potential of macromycetes in Armenia,
• Mushrooms-derived biotech products,
• Fungal culture collections.

The main research directions:

1. Modern phylogenetic analysis of different taxonomic groups of macroscopic fungi belonging to the divisions of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, particularly classes Agaricomycetes and Pezizomycetes distributed in Armenia, revision their taxonomic affiliation and nomenclature based on molecular data, description of new species and assessment of their resource value.

2. Study of intraspecific variability, mating mechanisms, vegetative and genetic incompatibility and speciation in several bracket fungi (Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomes fomentarius, Ganoderma and Trametes species, etc).

3. Establishment and maintenance of specialized fungal culture collections of edible and medicinal mushrooms, study of biological (morphological and ecological) characteristics of mycelia using different nutrient media, pH and temperatures, to reveal the taxonomic significance of vegetative structures useful for identification of fungal species during
their biotechnological cultivation.

4. Study of morphological and cytogenetic characteristics of the life cycle of macromycetes from different clades (polyporoid, coprinoid, agaricoid, etc.), assessment of taxonomic significance of asexual and vegetative structures.

5. Creation and maintenance of specialized culture collections of edible and medicinal mushrooms, study favorable conditions for their biotechnological cultivation, evaluation of biotechnological potential based on available genomic information.

6. Study of bioactive compounds (polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenolics, lipids, fatty acids, sterols, etc.) and enzymes (extracellular proteases) of selected species/strains from different taxonomic groups, assessment their biotechnological and biomedicinal potential.

7. Study of medicinal properties (antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, antioxidant, etc.) of macroscopic fungi, particularly distributed in the territory of Armenia, assessment their resource value to develop mushrooms-d rived biotech products (pharmaceuticals, nutriceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals).
 

Cooperation

The laboratory cooperates with the following institutions:

• Since 1993 Prof. S. Rapior, University of Montpellier, France
• Since 2000 Prof. A. Zambonelli lab, University of Bologna, Italy
• Since 2002 Prof. U. Kües, University of Goettingen, Germany
• Since 2010 Prof. A. Shnyreva, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
• Since 2019 Prof. M. Iotti, L’Aquilla University, Italy
• Since 2015 Prof. V. Muchin, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
• Since 2018 Prof. S. Nadejdin, Belgorod State University, Belgorod, Russia
• Since 2002 Prof. O. Isikhuemhen, North Carolina A&T State University, USA
• 1998-2005 Dr. Mouchacca, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France
• 2002-2019 Prof. K. Hughes, Tennessee University, Knoxville, USA
• 2009-2020 Prof. V. Stocchi, Urbino University, Italy and other universities and research institutions.

Staff
Susanna Badalyan
Narine Gharibyan
Anush Barkhudaryan
Ani Gasparyan
Sirarpi Arstamyan
Izabella Karapetyan

Web of Science (2019-2024):

1. Badalyan SM, Barkhudaryan A, Rapior S. 2019. Recent progress in research on the pharmacological potential of mushrooms and prospects for their clinical application. In: Medicinal Mushrooms - Recent Progress in Research and Development. Eds. D. Agrawal & M. Dhanаsekaran. Springer Nature Singapore, pp. 1-70.

2. Badalyan SM, Zhuykova EV, Mukhin VA. 2022. The phylogenetic analysis of Armenian collections of medicinal tinder polypore Fomes fomentarius (Agaricomycetes, Polyporaceae). Italian J Mycology. 51:23-33.

3. Badalyan SM, Zambonelli A. 2023. The Potential of Mushrooms to Develop Healthy Food and Biotech Products. In: Fungi and Fungal Products in Human Welfare and Biotechnology. Eds. T. Satyanarayana & Deshmukh SK, Springer Nature Singapore. pp. 307-344.

4. Badalyan SM, Gharibyan N, Gianchino C, Iotti M, Zambonelli A. 2023. Morphological observation and biomass formation in different edible medicinal Morchella collections (Pezizomycetes, Ascomycota). Italian Journal of Mycology. 52:50-61.

5. Badalyan SM, Shnyreva AV. Barkhudaryan AL. 2024. Antimicrobial Activity of Different Collections of Medicinal Polypore Fungus Fomitopsis pinicola (Agaricomycetes). Int J Med Mushrooms. 26(12):33-48.