Monocytes, dendritic cells (DC's) and macrophages play important roles in many host reactions. They mediate immune and inflammation processes via the production and release of a variety of soluble mediators, like radicals as superoxide anions, cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-a (TNFa), and enzymes such as cyclooxygenase-2. These biologically active agents were shown to modulate cell differentiation and proliferation.

In an immature state monocytes are found in the blood, equipped with chemokine and adhesion receptors that mediate their migration from blood to tissues during infection. When migrated to tissues, monocytes may differentiate into DC's and finally become macrophages. DC's can move from tissues into T-cell and B-cell zones of lymphoid organs. Of particular interest is the role of DC's in mucosal immunity such as in the lungs and in the intestine and their associated lymphoid tissues. DC's can mount appropriate immune responses to pathogenic micro-organisms leading to protection of affected tissues from damage. Given the limited life span of dendritic cells, it is important that a continuous flow of monocytes takes place into the tissues that are to be protected.

Our research efforts focus on the inflammatory response; and in vitro monocyte differentiation seems to be a good starting point in elucidating the possible preventive and/or curative role of medicinal mushroom extracts. The THP-1 human myeloid leukaemia cell line (Tsuchiya et al., 1980) is of monocytic nature and considered as a good model for phagocyte biology. In our present study we looked for various fungal extracts and components that cause morphological differentiation of the human monocyte cell line Thp-1 into wall adhering dendritic cells, i.e. into macrophages. Our data showed that polysaccharide extracts of the basidiomycete mushrooms A. bisporus, A. blazei (syn. A. brasiliensis) and L. edodes induced rapid differentiation of the human monocytic cell line THP-1 into macrophages in vitro, i.e. into wall adhering cells that do absorb opsonized latex particles. The in vivo differentiation of monocytes into macrophages before or after migration to the intestinal system plays a protective role, therapeutically and/or preventively, against intestinally-active pathogens. Acute infections by Salmonella sp., or by various strains of E. coli sp. are presently obvious examples. Specific mushroom extracts could possibly be used as adjuvants in oral vaccination directed to strengthen mucosal immunity. Prevention of malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and of a multitude of parasitic infections is the ultimate goal of oral vaccination.

References

Mosser, D.M., Edwards, J.P. 2008. Exploring the full spectrum of macrophage activation. Nature Rev. Immunol. 8(12), 958-69.

Tsuchiya, S., Yamabe, M., Yamaguchi, Y., Kobayashi, Y., Konno, T., Tada, K. 1980. Establishment and characterization of a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1). Int.J.Cancer 26, 171-176.






back to the beginning
 

Time passes very quickly. Three years are already gone since the last 6TH ICMBMP was organized by Dr. Jan Lelley in Germany. We still have good memories of the excellent academic program of the conference, the boat cruise on the Rhine River, and of course, the beautiful old narrow streets of Bonn... It seems like it happened just yesterday...

Our next conference, the 7CMBMP, will be held in a few months from now, and we see again how time passes very quickly. As October 4th 2011 approaches, like Dr. Jean Michel Savoie, we already have the feeling that it will start tomorrow. We know that Dr. Savoie and his research group will organize an excellent conference: we have seen the list of plenary lectures on the conference website and they look great. The whole program is now being put together and we are sure it will be of the highest level concerning mushroom science, R&D, teaching and extension. For sure, at the end of each conference day, we will have time to visit and enjoy the salty sea breezes around the beautiful Ville d�Arcachon; certainly we will have the opportunity to taste good wine there!

A few days before our conference in Arcachon, the 6th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference (IMMC6) will be held in Zagreb, Croatia. Since both ICMBMP7 and IMMC6 are mushroom related and chronologically and geographically close, there are some concerns about overlapping; however we believe that both conferences have attracted good support from participants and that both will be successful. Something similar happened in 2008, when the 6th ICMBMP and the 17th ISMS Conferences were organized in the same year, although in widely different geographical locations.

During our forthcoming conference in Arcachon the Society's Council will discuss future events and issues related to the society conference; we will have time to meet and discuss with society members and get their views on future events. We need to start talking about the 8CMBMP... where will it be held? Who will organize it? Who will be the Chairman? These are questions to be answered by Society Members, so, we invite all research Groups willing to organize the 8th conference, to submit proposals to the Society Council. There will be time to discuss the subject during the meeting but proposals are being sought and encouraged now. Please send them to us at your earliest convenience.

Another subject that concerns our Society is the renewal of the Society Council. This topic will be discussed during our WSMBMP-meeting and members are already invited to propose -or self propose- and then vote for the renewal of our Council. By doing so we participate in defining the future of our Society.

Mean while, enjoy the summer holidays and see you in Arcachon!!






back to the beginning
 

The purpose of ICMBMP7 is to bring together scientists with an interest in mushrooms from the standpoint of any subdivision of biology and people having practical economic concerns with mushrooms and mushroom products. The conference has as its goal the exchange of information about new findings in the aspects of mushroom biology and mushroom products including (i) Genomics, genetics, molecular biology and breeding (ii) Evolution, biodiversity and systematics (iii) Biochemistry, Physiology, Nutritional and medicinal aspects, Innovative products from mushrooms, (iv) Cultivation technology and bioconversions.

We are proud to announce the invited speakers for the ICMBMP7 who will introduce the different sessions:
Dr Richard W Kerrigan (Sylvan Inc, USA): The Agaricus genome project and its interest for progress in mushroom biology and mushroom products.
Dr Anton Sonnenberg (WUR, The Netherlands): The typical life cycle of Agaricus bisporus: Opportunities for breeders and challenges for strain protection.
Prof. Jianping Xu (MacMaster University, Canada): Diversity and population biology of wild mushrooms.
Prof. Kevin Hyde (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand): Inventory of local edible mushrooms and their development as cultivatable species.
Prof. Gary Foster (University of Bristol, UK): Biobased antibiotics from basidios : Case study of the identification and manipulation of the pleuromutilin gene cluster from Clitopilus passeckerianus
Prof. Robert Beelman (Pennsylvania State University, USA): Practical Methods to Enrich Mushrooms with the Important Bioactive Compounds: Selenium, Ergothioneine and Vitamin D2.
Prof Tadanori Aimi (Tottori University, Japan): Expression of Genes for the Glucoamylases (Glycoside Hydrolase Family 15, GH15) in edible mushrooms.
Prof. Ursula Kues (University of Gottingen, Germany): Development of fruiting-bodies in mushrooms.
Dr Antonios Philippoussis (NAGREF, Greece): Conversion of bio-industrial wastes and agricultural residues into high value products by mushroom cultivation.
Prof Petr Baldrian (ASCR, Czech Republic): Production of lignocellulolytic enzymes by mushrooms.

Mushroom scientists from 37 countries replied to the call for abstracts which was open from October 2010 to May 2011. In addition to the ten invited lectures, 82 short oral communications and 65 poster presentations have been selected by the scientific committee of the conference. Half of the contributions are coming from a group of seven countries representing three continents: India, China, Japan; Brazil, Mexico; France, The Netherlands.
The topics covered by the communications and the posters are: Genomics and breeding, diversity and taxonomy, Physiology and development; Pests and diseases; Mycorrhizal mushrooms; New mushrooms and cultivation technologies; Biodegradations and enzyme productions; Waste conversion, substrates and casing; Mycosourced molecules and nutritional quality; Medicinal properties; Economics and overview of mushroom production.
Each oral and poster presenter is invited to submit a full paper (research article) for publication in the conference proceeding. Open access to the proceeding will be available in www.symposcience.org (Quae Editions) to ensure good dissemination of the scientific progress reported during the conference.


In addition to the invited lectures, communications and poster sessions, three panel discussions / small seminars are scheduled. The final topics will be selected according to the interests of the participants. Potential topics include: Regulations for the protection of new mushroom varieties; Preservation of edible and medicinal mushroom resources: towards international cooperation; Standardization and regulation of mushroom products quality; Promotion of mushroom production and waste bioconversion for income generation in under-developed rural areas; New developments in integrated pest management for mushroom culture; Production of edible mushrooms in forests: trends in the development of mycosilviculture ...

To attend the conference, it is necessary to register first online on the site of the conference (https://colloque.inra.fr/icmbmp7) containing practical information.
The conference will commence from 15:00 on Tuesday, 4th October with registration at the Convention Centre of Arcachon. In the evening, a welcome cocktail will be offered by Amycel-Spawnmate Company, one of the partners of ICMBMP7. This will be a great opportunity to meet with colleagues and friends in a relaxed atmosphere.

The parallel sessions, poster sessions and small seminars are scheduled to run from Wednesday 5th at 08:30 hrs to Friday 7th October at 18:00 hrs. The Conference Banquet on Friday night will close these three days of intensive work. The development of the World Society for Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products will be discussed during a meeting open to all the delegates.

Surrounded by golden sands, the pleasant resort city of Arcachon lies on the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon - a rare inlet on the long, straight, west coast of France. It offers many possibilities of promenades and the delegates are encouraged to discover the landscapes and the typical productions of the Aquitaine region. Arcachon is just sixty kilometres from the great wine capital of Bordeaux, a classical French city on the list of UNESCO's World Heritage sites since 2007. Information will be delivered by the tourism office to the delegates and tours may be organized for accompanying people or after the conference.