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My research focuses on exploring fungal diversity and evolution to investigate the vast array of chemical and cryptic ecological traits that have allowed Fungi to permeate every aspect of the world around us. In particular, I focus on the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe, colloquially known as “magic mushrooms.” Psilocybe are at the center of an exciting body of research due to their psychotherapeutic potential in treating mental health-related issues. Despite this, studies related to their evolution and biology have been virtually ignored for decades. How diverse is psychoactivity in mushroom-forming Fungi? Did the psychoactive compound psilocybin first evolve in Psilocybe? Why are they psychoactive? What else can we learn about Fungi using Psilocybe as a study system? A robust understanding of the evolution of Psilocybe can provide the predictive power needed to explore unknown biochemical and physical properties that can teach us about the shared evolutionary history across the Fungi. In turn, understanding the unique characteristics that Fungi exhibit can be harnessed for human use and well-being. The broad applicability of my research interest would allow for a high degree of interdisciplinary work and potential funding sources that are equally diverse, ranging from industry to medical institutions and government agencies.
Evolution of Psilocybe and Secondary Metabolism in the Basidiomycota
Psilocybe contains ~160 described species worldwide and is best known as the core group of psychedelic mushrooms. Psilocybe mushrooms have immense cultural value and have been used for centuries in indigenous Mesoamerica. In more recent years, Psilocybe spp. and its psychoactive compounds, psilocybin, and psilocin, have been targeted as a promising therapeutic for a growing mental health crisis. Nevertheless, a thorough understanding of the diversity, taxonomy, and general biology of Psilocybe is incomplete. To date, molecular diversity studies of the Psilocybe genus are severely lacking, and much of the known diversity has no evolutionary context.
Phylogenetic relationships of Psilocybe spp. and their associated psilocybin-producing gene cluster arrangements. Bradshaw et all, PNAS 2024
Type Specimen Studies
Type specimens are the ultimate authority for applying names to other collections and are essential references for accurately naming and describing diversity. In recent years, generating DNA sequences from historical specimens (“museomics”) has benefited from advances in DNA extraction methods, as well as the increasing accessibility and cost reduction of amplicon-independent high-throughput sequencing. Historical collections represent hundreds of years of collective effort and are a significant concentration of rare
and unique samples.
Outside of a handful of common species, Psilocybe spp. are not commonly collected, and many specimens.
They are only represented by a single collection, making research tremendously difficult. Currently, I have a goal of obtaining 90% type specimen representation for the genus to provide both taxonomic stability and an evolutionary backbone to be used for future studies.
Sampling of type specimens of Psilocybe cyanescens and Stropharia cubensis (=Psilocybe cubensis).
Preliminary Biogeographic analysis of the genus Psilocybe
Evolutionary Origins of Psilocybe
Psilocybe is a globally distributed genus with biodiversity hotspots in the temperate zones of the Americas. However, high diversity in this genus seems to be prevalent outside of this area, and this pattern may be due to sampling bias or historical collector interest across the Americas.
With a better understanding of the evolutionary history of Psilocybe, we can now investigate their phylogeographic distribution and hone in on their evolutionary origin.
Sequenced and analyzed here are the metagenomes of 110 new fungarium specimens vouchered as Psilocybe to produce a dataset with 71 unique type specimens that include species across the globe. Phylogenomic analysis of thousands of single-copy BUSCO genes allowed for producing a robust phylogeny, with all branches receiving strong statistical support. With expanded sampling and a global representation of Psilocybe, it is now possible to perform biogeographic reconstruction of the genus and ask questions about their evolution through time and space.
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