🐝 Hy-five: MycoTiles in Kenya, A.Bisporus Antibacterial Gels, Honey Truffle Flavour Modulator, Bee protecting Fungus.
Sporadic round-up of mycological research and industry news.
Hello dear fungi enthusiast,
I’ve always believed that the best conversations happen before and after the actual meetings, hence the importance of catching up face-to-face. Thus, I’m pleased to share a few European events for us to connect in the flesh in May and June.
If you’re attending the Rethinking Materials next week in London, I’ll be leading a roundtable conversation The Future is Fungi: What's next for Mycelium Based Materials Wednesday May 14, 12:20 PM to 1:00 PM.
If you’re attending VitaFoods in Barcelona in two weeks, I’ll be joining Eric Puro from Kääpä Biotech, Kenn Israel and Adrian Lopresti for a panel discussion on The "Shroom Boom": How functional mushrooms are shaping mental wellness Tuesday May 20, 2025 1:15 PM to 1:45 PM.
Finally, if you’re an investor, we’ll be hosting intimate investor gatherings on the 22nd and 23rd May in London and week of the 9th of June in Paris.
Get in touch if you want to catch-up at one of these events.
#1 MycoTile’s Mycelium Panels Tackle Kenya’s Construction and Climate Challenges
Developed in collaboration with CrossBoundary Real Estate, Mosaic Co-living Residences in Nairobi has become a real-world demonstration of how fungi can help green the built environment. MycoTile’s insulation panels are made by growing mycelium on organic waste such as straw and sugarcane bagasse.
Kenya’s housing deficit is sharpest in urban centres like Nairobi, where students and young professionals face soaring rental costs and poor housing quality. Privately owned hostels have stepped in to meet demand, but they often rely on resource-intensive construction methods. Mosaic aims to offer an alternative: 70 co-living units built with sustainable materials.
#2 Can White Button Mushrooms Help Heal Infected Wounds?
Infections remain one of the most stubborn complications in wound care, often leading to delayed healing, extended hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs.
Researchers from several institutions in China have developed a wound dressing built from decellularised stems of Agaricus bisporus, more commonly known as the white button mushroom. These stems were processed into an aerogel then coated with lysine-modified graphene oxide and polydopamine. The result is a composite dressing with a three-step antibacterial mechanism: attract bacteria, trap them inside the scaffold, and kill them using light-activated heat.
#3 MycoTechnology Wins US Approval for Honey Truffle Flavour Modulator
Colorado-based fermentation specialist MycoTechnology has received FEMA GRAS approval for its latest innovation: ClearHT, a honey-truffle-derived flavour modulator. The regulatory greenlight from the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association now paves the way for the ingredient’s commercial rollout in the US by early 2026.
ClearHT, produced via precision fermentation, enhances sweetness and refines flavour perception at low inclusion levels. It intensifies notes like vanilla, caramel, tropical fruits, and berries, while mitigating the off-notes often associated with plant-based proteins and high-intensity sweeteners like stevia.
4# Can a Fungus Protect Bees from one of Their Deadliest Parasite?
The Varroa destructor mite is one of the most damaging threats to global honeybee populations. These parasitic mites feed on bee fat bodies, suppress immune function, and spread lethal viruses throughout the colony. Conventional treatments often rely on synthetic acaricides, which can lead to resistance and chemical residues in hives. But a new study suggests that help might come from an unexpected ally: Fomes fomentarius, a wood-rotting mushroom with a long history of medicinal use.
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