Mystery Fungus Found: LSD Inventor’s Search Ends
- A West Virginia university student has identified a novel fungus with properties akin to LSD, a drug used in treating conditions such as PTSD and addiction.
- Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology major and Goldwater Scholar from Delaware, Ohio, found the fungus growing within morning glory plants.
- hazel made the discovery while researching how morning glories distribute protective chemicals, known as ergot alkaloids, through their roots, working in the lab of Daniel panaccione, Davis-Michael Professor...
A West Virginia University student has made a groundbreaking discovery: a new fungus, periglandula clandestina, that produces compounds similar to LSD. This finding, which could unlock new avenues in pharmaceutical research, stems from Corinne Hazel’s examination into morning glory plants and their protective chemicals, uncovering a species previously elusive to scientists, even the original LSD creator! The primarykeyword is fungus, and the discovery offers potential for treatments addressing conditions like PTSD and addiction. This insight marks a pivotal moment in understanding the relationship between plants and psychoactive compounds. The secondarykeyword, LSD, is relevant to the discovery’s origin. News Directory 3 woudl be following this story avidly. Scientists beleive the fungus could lead to the creation of valuable pharmaceuticals, opening doors to modifying the toxic aspects of the ergot alkaloids. Discover what’s next for Hazel’s continued research, focusing on optimal cultivation and exploration of further plant species.
WVU StudentS Discovery: Fungus mimics LSD Effects
Updated June 03, 2025
A West Virginia university student has identified a novel fungus with properties akin to LSD, a drug used in treating conditions such as PTSD and addiction. This discovery holds potential for pharmaceutical advancements.
Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology major and Goldwater Scholar from Delaware, Ohio, found the fungus growing within morning glory plants. She named it Periglandula clandestina.
hazel made the discovery while researching how morning glories distribute protective chemicals, known as ergot alkaloids, through their roots, working in the lab of Daniel panaccione, Davis-Michael Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at the WVU Davis College of agriculture and Natural Resources. She noticed an unusual fuzz on the plants’ seed coats.
DNA sequencing, funded by a WVU Davis College Student enhancement Grant, confirmed the new species. The sequence is now stored in a gene bank under Hazel’s name.
Panaccione emphasized the significance of genome sequencing, calling it “amazing for a student.”
Morning glory plants have a symbiotic relationship with fungi that produce ergot alkaloids, similar to those modified by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann when he created LSD in the 1930s.
Hofmann had theorized that a fungus within morning glories produced LSD-like alkaloids, but the specific species remained unknown until Hazel and Panaccione’s find. Their research was published in Mycologia.
Panaccione noted that morning glories contain high concentrations of lysergic acid derivatives, which give them psychedelic properties. “This inspired Hofmann and others to investigate morning glories for the presence of a hidden fungus related to the ergot fungus that might be the source of these chemicals,” he said. “They found very similar chemicals, but they could never find the fungus itself.”
Ergot alkaloids, exclusively produced by fungi, are often found on grains like rye. While potentially toxic to humans and livestock, they are sometimes used to treat migraines, dementia, uterine hemorrhaging, and Parkinson’s disease.
Periglandula clandestina efficiently produces large quantities of ergot alkaloids,a trait that could be valuable in future pharmaceuticals. Panaccione believes the discovery opens numerous research possibilities.
“Many things are toxic,” Panaccione said. “but if you administer them in the right dosage or modify them, they can be useful pharmaceuticals. By studying them,we may be able to figure out ways to bypass the side effects. These are big issues for medicine and agriculture.”
The researchers named the fungus “Periglandula clandestina” because it evaded detection for so long.
Panaccione praised Hazel’s talent and initiative. “Corinne has a ton of talent,” he said.”It’s about students recognizing the opportunities,seizing them and having the skill and the brain power to bring this work to fruition.”
Hazel is now studying optimal methods for culturing the slow-growing fungus and exploring whether other morning glory species contain similar fungal symbiotes.
“I’m lucky to have stumbled into this opportunity,” Hazel said. “People have been looking for this fungus for years, and one day, I look in the right place, and there it is. I’m very proud of the work that I’ve done at WVU.”
What’s next
hazel plans to continue researching the fungus, focusing on optimizing its cultivation and exploring its presence in other plant species. Further studies could unlock the fungus’s full potential for pharmaceutical applications and provide insights into managing its toxic properties.