Laboratory of Fungal Biology and Biotechnology

The Laboratory of Fungal Biology and Biotechnology of the Research Institute of Biology was established in 2005 in the Faculty of Biology of YSU, under the renaming of the Fungal Biology and Biotechnology Scientific Group (FBBG), which has been operating since 1993, within the framework of grants for laboratory equipment from NATO and the National Academy of Sciences. 

The field of laboratory research includes:

• molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of macromycetes,

• fungal genetics,

• fungal biology,

• mushroom biotechnology,

• fungal bioactive compounds, enzymes,

• mycopharmacology, herbs.

The main scientific directions operating in the laboratory:

• Modern phylogenetic analysis of species or separate taxonomic groups of fungi belonging to Basidiomycota and Ascomycota divisions, particularly Agaricomycetes and Pezizomycetes widespread in Armenia, review of taxonomic affiliation and nomenclature of their mycobiota based on molecular taxonomy, description of new species to identify the potential of fungal resources.

• Study of intraspecific variability, crossbreeding mechanisms, vegetative and genetic incompatibility, as well as speciation phenomena, particularly in arboreal macromycetes (Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomes fomentarius, Ganoderma, Trametes species, etc.).

• Creation of specialized collections of pure fungal cultures (edible mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms), in particular the study of biological, including morphological and ecological characteristics of macromycetes mycelium in different food environments, temperature and pH conditions, identification of vegetative criteria of new taxonomic significance for their application in the process of biotechnological cultivation.

• Studying the morphological and genetic features of individual clades (polyporoid, coprine, acaricoid, etc.) and the life cycle of macromycetes, particularly the asexual stage, of the Dikarya subsection, and evaluating their taxonomic, biological, fundamental and applied significance.

• Creating and maintaining professional collections of macromycetes, in particular edible mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms, studying favorable conditions for their biotechnological cultivation, revealing biotechnological potential based on available genetic information.

• Macromycetes as a natural source of bioactive compounds (polysaccharides, terpenoids, lipids, sterols, phenolic compounds, etc.) and enzymes (extracellular proteases). Study of the chemical composition (organic acids, sterols, lipids, etc.) of fruit bodies and mycelium of strains (species) belonging to different taxonomic groups, evaluation of their practical significance.

• Studying the pharmacological properties (antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant, etc.) of macromycetes, particularly the species common in Armenia, evaluating their resource and biomedical potential to obtain new biotechnological products (medicines, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, etc.).

Cooperation

The laboratory cooperates with the following institutions:

• Since 1993, Prof. S. Rapior Laboratory, University of Montpellier, (Montpellier, France),

• Since 2000, Prof. A. Zambonelli Laboratory, University of Bologna, (Bologna, Italy),

• Since 2002, Prof. U. Cuse Laboratory, University of Göttingen (Goettingen, Germany);

• Since 2010, Prof. A. Shnireva Laboratory, Moscow State University (Russia),

• 1998-2005: Dr. Mushaka Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History (Paris, France),

• 2002-2019: prof. K. Hughes Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Department of Botany (Knoxville, USA),

• Since 2002, Prof. O. Ishikumen Laboratory, North Carolina State University of Agriculture and Technology (Greensboro, USA);

• 2009-2020: prof. V. Stocchi Laboratory, University of Urbino (Urbino, Italy);

• Since 2015, Prof. V. Mukhin Laboratory, Ural Federal University (Ekaterinburg, RF),

• Since 2018, S. Nadezhdin Laboratory, Belgorod State University (Belgorod, RF),

• Since 2019, Prof. M. Iotti Laboratory, University of L'Aquila (L'Aquila, Italy),

• And other universities and scientific centers.

Staff

1. Badalyan Susanna 

2. Gharibyan Narine 

3. Barkhudaryan Anush 

4. Gasparian Ani 

Top 5 publications (Scopus, Web of Science 2018-2023):

1. Badalyan S.M., 2018. Morphological characteristics of monokaryotic and dikaryotic collections of three medicinal Coprinellus species (Agaricomycetes). Int J Med Mushrooms, 20(7):665–676.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.