Fungal Melanin: Enemy or Friend? Evaluating its Role in Human Health and Antimicrobial Properties

PROJECT CODE: UP -VGTU-2024-02
PROJECT TITLE: Fungal Melanin: Enemy or Friend? Evaluating its Role in Human Health and Antimicrobial Properties
PROJECT LEADER: Anja Černoša, PhD; Ingrida Bružaitė, PhD
PERIOD: 1.1.2025 – 31.12.2025
BUDGET: 14. 000 EUR (7.000 EUR for UP)
FINANCING: Transform4Europe Seed Funding
PARTNERS: University of Primorska (Slovenia), Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania)

FUME project assesses the safety and potential of fungal-based technologies in daily applications.

The project investigates how melanin from different fungal species interacts with human cells, focusing on the factors that drive its varying cytotoxic effects. By examining melanin type, structure, and concentration, the research aims to identify the specific properties responsible for harmful or benign outcomes in human cell lines. In parallel, the project explores fungal melanin as a potential antimicrobial agent, testing its influence on bacterial viability and resistance.

This dual approach provides new insights into the role of melanin as both a risk factor for cellular toxicity and a possible resource for biomedical applications, establishing a foundation for safer and more effective uses of this complex pigment.

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