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Fungal Melanin: Enemy or Friend? Evaluating its Role in Human Health and Antimicrobial Properties

Naziv

Tittle

Fungal Melanin: Enemy or Friend? Evaluating its Role in Human Health and Antimicrobial Properties

Akronim

Acronim

Fungal Melanin: Enemy or Friend? Evaluating its Role in Human Health and Antimicrobial Properties

Opis

Description

Fungal melanin, a complex biopolymer produced by many fungi, has attracted considerable attention due to its role in evading the immune system and its unclear link to virulence. While it is known that melanized fungal cells exhibit increased resistance to the body's immune defenses, it remains uncertain whether melanin directly threatens human health. Conflicting findings on its involvement in virulence emphasizes the need for further investigation. Additionally, while the biotechnological potential of melanin, such as enhanced durability, bioremediation, and environmental resilience is already known, the antimicrobial properties of melanin have not yet been investigated. Understanding how fungal melanin behaves is crucial to ensure the safety and functionality of biotechnological products, such as engineered living materials, in the human environment. By studying the biochemical properties of fungal melanin and its interaction with human cells and bacteria, researchers can gain new understanding of the pathogenesis of fungi and the possibility of using it as an antimicrobial agent. Such research is also vital for assessing the safety and potential of fungal-based technologies in daily applications.

Program

Program

Joint Research Collaborative Seed Grant Program 2024

Trajanje

Duration

01/01/2025 - 31/12/2025

URL

URL

Vodja projekta

Project Leader

Anja Černoša, Ingrida Bružaitė

Sodelujoče organizacije

Participating organizations

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

Oddelek

Department

InnoRenew CoE Center odličnosti za raziskave in inovacije na področju obnovljivih materialov in zdravega bivanjskega okolja
Univerza na Primorskem

Inštitut Andrej Marušič
UP IAM

Muzejski trg 2
6000 Koper
Slovenija

tel.: +386 (0)5 611 75 91
fax.: +386 (0)5 611 75 92
e-mail: info@iam.upr.si
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