1. JAMES Francis Mycology Monday 6:30
Ergot Fungi
JAMES Francis
Mycology
Monday 6:30

2. Overview During this presentation we will cover Ergot Fungi Ergotism
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
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 culture as 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 Psychological Sensory
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–
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 (4272): 1390–4.
Tudzynski P, Correia T, Keller U (2001). "Biotechnology and genetics of ergot alkaloids". Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 57 (5–6): 4593–4605.