Progress towards Investigation of Edible and Medicinal Fungi Based on the Achievements of Experimental Mycology

Abstract— A review of modern methods and approaches of experimental mycology in studying edible and medicinal fungi is presented. The necessity for detailed research into edible and medicinal fungi, amid rising populations and the quest for alternate sustenance, is well-founded. A special emphasis is placed on the advances in fungal genomics and epigenomics, on studying the role of microRNAs in nutrition, and on the prospects for their further study. These approaches provide an opportunity to understand more deeply how the consumption of fungi affects human health, life expectancy, and quality of life. The article notes a growing popularity of using CRISPR-Cas systems, associated with their high precision and reliability for targeted editing of DNA and RNA sequences. This technology allows us not only to edit the genes and regulate their expression, but also to control biosynthesis, improving the properties of final products. The examples of successful application of CRISPR-Cas systems for modifying the genomes of various fungal species are presented, as well as the associated challenges and prospects are discussed. A potential of new methods of genetic analysis in expanding knowledge about edible and medicinal fungi is estimated.