bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
January 2, 2026
Jason C. Slot, Alexander J. Bradshaw, Bryn T. M. Dentinger et al.
Abstract Production of the psychoactive compound psilocybin is a defining feature of the genus Psilocybe , commonly referred to as “psychedelic mushrooms”. However, Psilocybe fuscofulva is a striking exception within Psilocybe sensu stricto as it lacks the stereotypical blue bruising characteristic of the genus, and psilocybin has not been detected in the species.To investigate the evolutionary...
Mycologia
October 7, 2025
Scott Ostuni, Pietro Voto, Joshua Birkebak et al.
Panaeolus oligotrophus sp. nov., a species macromorphologically resembling Panaeolus cinctulus, was collected in central Florida. Its macro- and micromorphological features are described and compared with all other known Panaeolus species. Color photos of the fruiting bodies and micrographs of key microscopic features are provided, along with an updated phylogenetic analysis. A microscopic...
Current Biology
June 1, 2025
Jason C. Slot, Dirk Hoffmeister
2 citations
Several species of fungi, collectively known as 'psychedelic fungi', produce a range of psychoactive substances, such as psilocybin, ibotenic acid, muscimol and lysergic acid amides. These substances interact with neurotransmitter receptors in the human brain to induce profound psychological effects. These substances are found across multiple fungal phyla, in the mushroom-forming genera...
Microbiology Resource Announcements
December 27, 2024
Harte Singer, Jordan Jacobs, Marshall Tyler et al.
3 citations
ABSTRACT Psilocybe is a genus of mushroom-forming fungi with ecological, ethnomycological, and clinical importance due to psilocybin production by most species. We present five genomes that enable deeper discovery and analysis of the psilocybin gene cluster and increase taxonomic resolution within Psilocybe : Psilocybe semilanceata , Psilocybe gandalfiana nom. prov., Psilocybe caeruleorhiza ,...
Fungal Systematics and Evolution
July 23, 2024
Alistair R. Mctaggart, K. Scarlettt, Jason C. Slot et al.
5 citations
Magic mushrooms are fungi that produce psilocybin, an entheogen with long-term cultural use and a breakthrough compound for treatment of mental health disorders. Fungal populations separated by geography are candidates for allopatric speciation, yet species connectivity typically persists because there is minimal divergence at functional parts of mating compatibility genes. We studied whether...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 5, 2024
Dusty R. Miller, Jordan Taylor Jacobs, Alan Rockefeller et al.
7 citations
Abstract Psilocybe zapotecorum is a strongly blue-bruising psilocybin mushroom used by indigenous groups in southeastern Mexico and beyond. While this species has a rich history of ceremonial use, research into its chemistry and genetics has been limited. Herein, we report on mushroom morphology, cultivation parameters, chemical profile, and the full genome sequence of P. zapotecorum . First,...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 29, 2023
Neşe Devenot, Brian A. Pace, Jason C. Slot et al.
1 citation
Amidst an unfolding resurgence of psychedelic research, there is the opportunity to discuss new approaches for integrating psychedelics into both academia and society.In partnership with the newly founded Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education (CPDRE) at The Ohio State University, the editors of this special issue convened the Psychedemia, 2022 conference as a rigorous...
Current Biology
December 1, 2023
Alistair R. Mctaggart, Stephen Mclaughlin, Jason C. Slot et al.
6 citations
Fungi that are edible or fermentative were domesticated through selective cultivation of their desired traits. Domestication is often associated with inbreeding or selfing, which may fix traits other than those under selection, and causes an overall decrease in heterozygosity. A hallucinogenic mushroom, Psilocybe cubensis, was domesticated from its niche in livestock dung for production of...
November 17, 2023
Alistair R. Mctaggart, Kelly Scarlett, Jason C. Slot et al.
2 citations
Magic mushrooms are fungi that produce psilocybin, a compound with breakthrough status for treatment of mental health disorders. Wood-degrading species of Psilocybe , such as P . subaeruginosa and relatives, have high concentrations of psilocybin but are discouraged for clinical production due to a temporary paralytic side effect known as Wood Lover’s Paralysis, the cause of which is unknown....
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
November 2, 2023
Jordan Taylor Jacobs, Alan Rockefeller, Harte Singer et al.
4 citations
preprint
Abstract Psilocybe zapotecorum is a strongly blue-bruising psilocybin mushroom used by indigenous groups in southeastern Mexico and beyond. While this species has a rich history of ceremonial use, research into its chemistry and genetics have been limited. Herein, we detail mushroom morphology and report on cultivation parameters, chemical profile, and the full genome sequence of P. zapotecorum...
Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B
June 1, 2023
Matthew Meyer, Jason C. Slot
28 citations
Fungi produce diverse metabolites that can have antimicrobial, antifungal, antifeedant, or psychoactive properties. Among these metabolites are the tryptamine-derived compounds psilocybin, its precursors, and natural derivatives (collectively referred to as psiloids), which have played significant roles in human society and culture. The high allocation of nitrogen to psiloids in mushrooms,...
Fungal Genetics and Biology
December 29, 2022
Alistair R. Mctaggart, Timothy Y. James, Jason C. Slot et al.
13 citations
Knowledge of breeding systems and genetic diversity is critical to select and combine desired traits that advance new cultivars in agriculture and horticulture. Mushrooms that produce psilocybin, magic mushrooms, may potentially be used in therapeutic and wellness industries, and stand to benefit from genetic improvement. We studied haploid siblings of Psilocybe subaeruginosa to resolve the...
Fungal biology
April 1, 2022
R C Van Court, M S Wiseman, K W Meyer et al.
92 citations
Therapeutic use of psilocybin has become a focus of recent international research, with preliminary data showing promise to address a range of treatment-resistant mental health conditions. However, use of psilocybin as a healing entheogen has a long history through traditional consumption of mushrooms from the genus Psilocybe. The forthcoming adoption of new psilocybin-assisted therapeutic...
ChemBioChem
August 11, 2018
Felix Blei, Janis Fricke, Jonas Wick et al.
31 citations
Abstract Psilocybe mushrooms are best known for their l ‐tryptophan‐derived psychotropic alkaloid psilocybin. Dimethylation of norbaeocystin, the precursor of psilocybin, by the enzyme PsiM is a critical step during the biosynthesis of psilocybin. However, the “magic” mushroom Psilocybe serbica also mono‐ and dimethylates l ‐tryptophan, which is incompatible with the specificity of PsiM. Here,...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
July 24, 2018
Greg R. Boyce, Emile Gluck‐thaler, Jason C. Slot et al.
1 citation
preprint
Abstract Entomopathogenic fungi routinely kill their hosts before releasing infectious spores, but select species keep insects alive while sporulating, which enhances dispersal. Transcriptomics and metabolomics studies of entomopathogens with post-mortem dissemination from their parasitized hosts have unraveled infection processes and host responses, yet mechanisms underlying active spore...
Evolution Letters
February 27, 2018
Hannah T. Reynolds, Vinod Vijayakumar, Emile Gluck‐thaler et al.
114 citations
Abstract Secondary metabolites are a heterogeneous class of chemicals that often mediate interactions between species. The tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite, psilocin, is a serotonin receptor agonist that induces altered states of consciousness. A phylogenetically disjunct group of mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricales produce the psilocin prodrug, psilocybin. Spotty phylogenetic...