Ergot Fungi

1. Ergot Fungi JAMES Francis Mycology Monday 6:30

2. Overview • During this presentation we will cover • Ergot Fungi • Types of Ergot Fungi • The Life Cycle • The Varieties of Claviceps purpurea • Identification,Removal, and Prevention • Ergotism • Symptoms and Treatment • Historical Relevance • Medicinal Uses • LSD • Developments • Effect • Uses • Conclusions

3. Types of Ergot Fungi • Belong in the genus Claviceps • 50 known species • Prominent Members are • Claviceps purpurea – rye ergot fungi • Grows on rye and related plants • Known to cause ergotism due to consumption of fruiting structure • Claviceps fusiformis • Grows on Peal millet and buffel grasses • Claviceps paspali • Grows on dallis grasses • Claviceps Africana • Grows on sorghum

4. Life Cycle

5. Claviceps purpurea varieties • Occur due to an outcrossing of rye with other wheat species such as wheat and barley • Differ in host specificity • G1 - found on grasses located in open meadows or fields • G2 - found in moist forest or mountain habitats • G3 – found on salt water grasses (C. purpurea var. spartinae)

6. Identification, Removal, and Prevention • Milled ergot produces a fine red powder but is easily missed in dark rye flower. • Dark purple or black fungi bodies should be removed before harvest, size is dependent on host species • Fields should be deep plowed in order to bury ergot head as they will not germinate if buried more than one inch deep • Mowing of wild and escaped grasses and pastures before flowering has been shown to prevent ergot infections • Commercially prepared animals feeds are regulated for ergot to prevent consumption • Homegrown green should be screened prior to feeding

7. Ergotism • Long term effect of ergot poisoning caused by the ingestion of alkaloids • Causes • Toxic Ergot alkaloids have deleterious side effects • Can be caused through ingestion of ergot based drugs, contaminated bread, or passed on through lactation • Symptoms • Effects neurotransmission and circulation • Central nervous system • Painful seizures, spasms, diarrhea, paresthesias, itching, mania , headaches, nausea, vomiting, • Gangrenous • Vasoconstriction effecting distal structures • Death of skin, weak peripheral pulses, loss of sensation, death of tissue • Treatment • Use of herbs that increase blood flow

8. Historical Relevance • First referenced to ergotism occurred in 857 – “a Great plague of swollen blisters consumed the people by a loathsome rot, so that their limbs were loosened and fell off before death” in Annales Xantenses • Outbreaks occurred around Mediterranean • Middle ages identified as Saint Anthony’s Fire or ignis sacer (holy fire), named after an order of monks that were successful in treating the ailment. • Outbreaks occurred in France and England • Denis Dodart reported to French Royal Academy of Science in 1676 a relation between the fungus found on rye on bread poisoning, not defined as ergotism till 1853 • Evidence that ergot poisoning may have been used in ritual killings of certain bog bodies • Has been used an explanation of bewitchment (example Salem Witch Trials) • Outbreaks still occur in under developed countries

9. Medical Uses of Ergot Alkaloids • Medicines to treat a variety of conditions have been biosynthesized from ergot fungi • Can be classified in to two classes • derivatives of 6,8-dimethylergoline • lysergic acid derivatives • Pharmaceutical preparations include • Cafergot (Caffeine and Ergotamine) • Treatment of migraine • Ergometrine • Induction of uterine contractions and control of bleeding after child birth • Used to expel the placenta or to stop hemorrhaging

10. LSD • Semisynthetic psychedelic drug • Known for its psychological effects • Altered thinking, visuals, altered sense of space and time • Key role in 1960’s counter cultureas a recreational drug • Used in psychedelic therapy • Non addictive, not known to cause brain damage • May have adverse psychiatric reactions such as paranoia and delusions

11. Development • First synthesized in 1938 by Albert Hofman from ergotamine • Name comes from an abbreviation of Lysergic acid diethylamide • Various psychiatric uses developed by Sandoz laboratories in 1947 • Used by CIA in 1950’s believed int could be used for mind control or chemical warfare • Propagated use through young servicemen and college campuses • Use eventually led to prohibition • Is sensitive to oxygen, ultraviolet light, and chlorine, potency may last for years if stored correctly • Pure form is odorless colorless and tasteless • Can be delivered orally through and absorbent or in a liquid form through injection • Very potent • Experiments resumed in 2009 for the first time in 35 years

12. Effects • Physical • Effect may be secondary to a psychological effect • Pupil dilation, effect on appetite, wakefulness, numbness, weakness, nausea, elevated blood sugar, heart rate increase, jaw cleansing, perspiration, tremors, saliva and mucus production • Psychological • Also called a trip • May vary from person to person, can depend on factors such as previous experiences, state of mind, environment, and dose strength • Can have long term psychoemotioanl effects • Bad trips • Sensory • Effects begin between 30 to 90 minutes after ingestion • Altered sensory experiences may occur between 6 to 14 hours after the trip • Altered senses, emotions, memories, time and awareness

13. Uses • LSD has been used in the following ways in the 1950’s and 1960’s • Psychotherapy • Believe to increase effect of psycho therapy • End of life anxiety • Help to cope with impending deaths • Alcoholism • Those treated with LSD were shown to misuse alcohol almost 60% less, effects lasted 6 months • Pain • Causes less distress about pain does not relieve it • Spiritual • May cause intense spiritual experiences that include out of body • Headaches • Derived from a drug used to treat headaches • Creativity • Explored in the 1950s and 1960s by various artists

14. Conclusions • Ergot has been known by humans for centuries but was still able to cause sickness and death • Through science we were able to refine and isolate the best traits of this type of Fungi in the form of various drugs and prevent outbreaks of ergot poisoning. • LSD has a multitude of effects that may prove harmful with use

15. Works Cited • Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit; Frederickson, Debra E.; McLaren, Neal W.; Odvody, Gary N.; Ryley, Malcolm J. (1998). "Ergot: A New Disease Threat to Sorghum in the Americas and Australia". Plant Disease 82 (4): 356. • Butler, M.D., Alderman, S. C., Hammond, P.C., Berry, R. E. (2001). "Association of Insects and Ergot (Claviceps purpurea) in Kentucky Bluegrass Seed Production Fields". J. Econ. Entomol. 94 (6): 1471–1476. • Lüscher C, Ungless MA (November 2006). "The Mechanistic Classification of Addictive Drugs". PLoS Med. 3 (11): e437. • Schardl CL, Panaccione DG, Tudzynski P (2006). "Ergot alkaloids – biology and molecular biology". The Alkaloids: Chemistry and Biology. The Alkaloids: Chemistry and Biology 63: 45–86. • Spanos NP, Gottlieb J (December 1976). "Ergotism and the Salem Village witch trials". Science 194 (4272): 1390–4. • Tudzynski P, Correia T, Keller U (2001). "Biotechnology and genetics of ergot alkaloids". Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 57 (5–6): 4593–4605.