ARS scientists and their South Korean colleagues injected lectin extracted from Fomitella fraxinea (a wood-rotting mushroom seen mostly on black locust tree stumps) into 18-day-old embryos to activate their innate immune systems and later challenged the newly hatched chicks with coccidiosis-causing parasites. This treatment significantly protected chickens against coccidiosis-associated weight loss and reduced fecal shedding of live parasites.
This particular lectin is usually prepared under less-stringent conditions than are other mushroom compounds that produce a similar effect, making its commercial production more feasible. Currently, this new method is the subject of a patent application.
This particular lectin is usually prepared under less-stringent conditions than are other mushroom compounds that produce a similar effect, making its commercial production more feasible. Currently, this new method is the subject of a patent application.
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