Biology subjects

Adamatzky, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Adamatzky, A..

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Dynamics of electrical resistance of kombucha zoogleal mats

We demonstrated that zoogleal mats of kombucha exhibit spikes of electrical resistance. A kombucha is a sugared tea fermented by a symbiotic community of over twenty species of bacteria and yeasts which produce cellulosic gelatinous zoogleal mats. We recorded electrical resistance of the zoogleal mats via platinum electrodes placed at a distance one centimetre of each other. We found that the mats show temporal variations in electrical resistance in a range 0.13 MOhm to 0.19 MOhm. We discovered spikes of the mats resistance morphologically similar to action potential spikes. Average duration of a resistance spike is 1.8 min, average amplitude is 2.2 kOhm. Average interval between resistance spikes is c. 20 min. The discovered resistive spiking of kombucha mats might indicate on their memfractive properties, and thus open pathways towards prototyping neuromorphic devices with living zoogleal mats.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Reactive fungal insoles

Mycelium bound composites are promising materials for a diverse range of applications including wearables and building elements. Their functionality surpasses some of the capabilities of traditionally passive materials, such as synthetic fibres, reconstituted cellulose fibres and natural fibres. Thereby, creating novel propositions including augmented functionality (sensory) and aesthetic (personal fashion). Biomaterials can offer multiple modal sensing capability such as mechanical loading (compressive and tensile) and moisture content. To assess the sensing potential of fungal insoles we undertook laboratory experiments on electrical response of bespoke insoles made from capillary matting colonised with oyster fungi Pleurotus ostreatus to compressive stress which mimics human loading when standing and walking. We have shown changes in electrical activity with compressive loading. The results advance the development of intelligent sensing insoles which are a building block towards more generic reactive fungal wearables. Using FitzhHugh-Nagumo model we numerically illustrated how excitation wave-fronts behave in a mycelium network colonising an insole and shown that it may be possible to discern pressure points from the mycelium electrical activity.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Electrical potential spiking of kombucha zoogleal mats

A kombucha is a sugared tea fermented by a symbiotic community of over twenty species of bacteria and yeasts. The community produces and inhabits cellulosic gelatinous zoogleal mats. We studied electrical activity of the kombucha mats using pairs of differential electrodes. We discovered that the mats produce action like spikes of electrical potential. The spikes are often grouped in the trains of spikes. Characteristics of the spikes and trains of spikes are presented. We demonstrated that electrical responses of kombucha mats to chemical, electrical and optical stimulation are distinctive and therefore the mats can be used as sensors, or even unconventional computing devices.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Electrical spiking of psilocybin fungi

Psilocybin fungi, aka "magic" mushrooms, are well known for inducing colourful and visionary states of mind. Such psychoactive properties and the ease of cultivating their basidiocarps within low-tech setups make psilocybin fungi promising pharmacological tools for mental health applications. Understanding of the intrinsic electrical patterns occurring during the mycelial growth can be utilised for better monitoring the physiological states and needs of these species. In this study we aimed to shed light on this matter by characterising the extra-cellular electrical potential of two popular species of psilocybin fungi: Psilo-cybe tampanensis and P. cubensis. As in previous experiments with other common edible mushrooms, the undisturbed fungi have shown to generate electric potential spikes and trains of spiking activity. This short analysis provides a proof of intrinsic electrical communication in psilocybin fungi, and further establishes these fungi as a valuable tool for studying fungal electro-physiology.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Bio-electric potentials in superior plants: electric collective behaviour

Electrical activity is used by plants in long term signalling and information transfer between the distant parts of the plant. Biopotential recordings from trees in a natural environment have been so far less discussed in scientific literature. Here we present our data about the open science experiment TRee-hUMAn iNterface (TRUMAN) located in Paneveggio forest (Valle di Fiemme, Trento, Italy), cultivated since one thousand years for the production of harmonic wood from Picea abies (red fir). We show that: i) biopotential features based on xylem can be correlated with the solar (and lunar) cycle ii) dead tree logs show an electrical activity that is correlated with that of neighbouring trees iii) statistical features of the spike-like peaks are evidenced, including amplitude, frequency, propagation speed, entropy iv) a quantum field theory is presented to highlight the collective behaviour of the forest, supported by preliminar correlation analyses between electrical signal Kolmogorov entropy and thermographies Shannon entropy.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Fungal States of Minds

Fungal organisms can perceive the outer world in a way similar to what animals sense. Does that mean that they have full awareness of their environment and themselves? Is a fungus a conscious entity? In laboratory experiments we found that fungi produce patterns of electrical activity, similar to neurons. There are low and high frequency oscillations and convoys of spike trains. The neural-like electrical activity is yet another manifestation of the fungal intelligence. In this paper we discuss fungal cognitive capabilities and intelligence in evolutionary perspective, and question whether fungi are conscious and what does fungal consciousness mean, considering their exhibiting of complex behaviours, a wide spectrum of sensory abilities, learning, memory and decision making. We overview experimental evidences of consciousness found in fungi. Our conclusions allow us to give a positive answer to the important research questions of fungal cognition, intelligence and forms of consciousness.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2021

On electrical spiking of Ganoderma resinaceum

Fungi exhibit action-potential like spiking activity. Up to date most electrical activity of oyster fungi has been characterised in sufficient detail. It remains unclear if there are any patterns of electrical activity specific only for a certain set of species or if all fungi share the same language of electrical signalling. We use pairs of differential electrodes to record extracellular electrical activity of the antler-like sporocarps of the polypore fungus Ganoderma resinaceum. The patterns of the electrical activity are analysed in terms of frequency of spiking and parameters of the spikes. The indicators of the propagation of electrical activity are also highlighted.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Fungi anaesthesia

Electrical activity of fungus Pleurotus ostreatus is characterised by slow (hours) irregular waves of baseline potential drift and fast (minutes) action potential likes spikes of the electrical potential. An exposure of the mycelium colonised substrate to a chloroform vapour lead to several fold decrease of the baseline potential waves and increase of their duration. The chloroform vapour also causes either complete cessation of spiking activity or substantial reduction of the spiking frequency. Removal of the chloroform vapour from the growth containers leads to a gradual restoration of the mycelium electrical activity.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2017

Programmable transport of micro- and nanoparticles by Paramecium caudatum

We exploit chemo- and galvanotactic behaviour of Paramecium caudatum to design a hybrid device that allows for controlled uptake, transport and deposition of environmental micro- and nanoparticulates in an aqueous medium. Manipulation of these objects is specific, programmable and parallel. We demonstrate how device operation and output interpretation may be automated via a DIY low-cost fluorescence spectrometer, driven by a microprocessor board. The applications of the device presented range from collection and detoxification of environmental contaminants (e.g. nanoparticles), to micromixing, to natural expressions of computer logic.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

Studies in Particle Sorting by Paramecium Cilia Arrays

Motile cilia are cell-surface organelles whose purposes, in ciliated protists and certain ciliated vertebrate epithelia, include generating fluid flow, chemosensation, mechanosensation and substance uptake. Certain properties of cilia arrays, such as beating synchronisation and manipulation of external proximate particulate matter, are considered emergent, but remain incompletely characterised despite these phenomena having being the subject of extensive modelling. This study constitutes a laboratory experimental characterisation of one of the emergent properties of motile cilia; microparticle manipulation. The work demonstrates through automated videomicrographic particle tracking that interactions between microparticles and somatic cilia arrays of the ciliated model organism Paramecium caudatum constitute a form of rudimentary sorting. Small particles are drawn into the organisms proximity by cilia-induced fluid currents at all times, whereas larger particles may be held immobile at a distance from the cell margin when the cell generates characteristic feeding currents in the surrounding media. These findings can contribute to the design and fabrication of biomimetic cilia, with potential applications to the study of ciliopathies.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

Toxicity and applications of internalised magnetite nanoparticles within live Paramecium caudatum cells

The nanotechnology revolution has allowed us to speculate on the possibilities of hybridising nanoscale materials with live substrates, yet significant doubt still remains pertaining to the effects of nanomaterials on biological matter. In this investigation we cultivate the ciliated protistic pond-dwelling microorganism Paramecium caudatum in the presence of excessive quantities of magnetite nanoparticles in order to assess both potential beneficial applications for this technique as well as any deleterious effects on the organisms health. Our findings indicate that these nanoparticles are well-tolerated by paramecia, who were observed to consume in quantities exceeding 10% of their body volume: cultivation in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles does not alter P. caudatum cell volume, swim speed, growth rate or peak colony density and cultures may persist in nanoparticle-contaminated medium for many weeks. We demonstrate that P. caudatum cells ingest starch coated magnetite nanoparticles which facilitates their being magnetically immobilised whilst maintaining apparently normal ciliary dynamics, thus demonstrating that nanoparticle biohybridisation is a viable alternative to conventional forms of ciliate quieting. Ingested magnetite nanoparticle deposits appear to aggregate, suggesting that (a) the process of being internalised concentrates and therefore detoxifies nanomaterial suspensions in aquatic environments and (b) P. caudatum is a candidate organism for programmable nanomaterial manipulation and delivery.

microbiology↗