In a laboratory at West Virginia University, a discovery has been made that bridges a decades-old gap in botanical and pharmaceutical science. Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology student and Goldwater Scholar, has identified a long-sought-after fungus that resides within morning glory plants—an organism that produces the natural precursors to the semisynthetic drug LSD. The discovery of this fungus, which has been named Periglandula clandestina, represents a significant milestone for researchers looking to harness the therapeutic potential of ergot alkaloids for conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction.
The identification of this species is the culmination of a mystery that traces its roots back to the mid-20th century. For years, scientists have understood that certain varieties of morning glories possessed psychedelic properties, but the exact biological source of these chemical compounds remained a subject of intense speculation and unsuccessful searches. By identifying Periglandula clandestina, Hazel has provided the scientific community with a tangible source for these potent chemicals, opening new doors for drug development and agricultural science.
Hazel, a native of Delaware, Ohio, made the discovery while working under the mentorship of Daniel Panaccione, the Davis-Michael Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at the WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The research was initially focused on a different aspect of plant physiology: how morning glories distribute protective chemicals, known as ergot alkaloids, through their root systems. It was during this systematic investigation of the plants’ defensive mechanisms that Hazel noticed something unusual.
The breakthrough occurred almost by chance, though it was facilitated by Hazel’s keen observational skills. In the lab, the researchers were surrounded by a large volume of morning glory specimens. While examining the plants, Hazel turned her attention to the tiny, often overlooked seed coats. It was there that she spotted a subtle physical clue—a small amount of "fuzz" nestled within the seed coat. This minute biological material turned out to be the hidden fungus that had evaded researchers for generations.
To confirm the identity of the organism, Hazel and Panaccione took a rigorous molecular approach. They prepared a DNA sample from the fungal material and submitted it for full genome sequencing. This high-level analysis was made possible through a WVU Davis College Student Enhancement Grant, which Hazel had successfully obtained to fund her research. When the results returned, they confirmed what the team suspected: they had found a brand-new species of fungus. The genetic sequence of Periglandula clandestina has since been deposited into an international gene bank, a prestigious achievement that cements Hazel’s contribution to the global scientific record.
Professor Panaccione emphasized the weight of this accomplishment, noting that for an undergraduate student to lead the way in sequencing a genome is a remarkable feat. The significance of the work, however, goes beyond the academic prestige of naming a new species; it connects directly to the history of modern pharmacology and the work of Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann.
In the late 1930s, Hofmann became famous for synthesizing lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, while studying ergot alkaloids. His work was based on the modification of natural compounds found in the ergot fungus, which typically grows on grains like rye. Hofmann was well aware of the anecdotal and indigenous use of morning glory seeds for their psychoactive effects and hypothesized that a similar fungal relationship must exist within those plants. He suspected that a "hidden" fungus, closely related to the ergot found on rye, was the true manufacturer of the alkaloids found in morning glories.
Despite his brilliance and the efforts of many researchers who followed him, the specific fungus remained a ghost in the machinery of the plant. Panaccione explained that while researchers could easily detect high concentrations of lysergic acid derivatives in the plants, the source of those chemicals was never found. The plants and the fungi live in a symbiotic relationship, where the fungus produces the alkaloids to protect the plant from herbivores and pests, and the plant provides a stable environment for the fungus to thrive. Because the fungus is so integrated into the plant’s tissues and is often present in very small amounts in specific locations, it remained "clandestine" until Hazel’s discovery.
The name Periglandula clandestina was chosen specifically to honor this history of evasion. The term "clandestina" refers to the organism’s ability to remain hidden from investigators for nearly a century. This naming reflects both the biological reality of the fungus and the persistence required to finally bring it to light.
The implications for medicine are vast. Ergot alkaloids are a class of compounds with a complex reputation. In nature, they can be highly toxic; when consumed inadvertently through contaminated grain, they can cause ergotism, a dangerous condition characterized by hallucinations and vasoconstriction. However, when isolated and administered in precise, controlled dosages, these same chemicals are incredibly effective therapeutic agents. Currently, ergot-derived drugs are used to treat a variety of serious conditions, including debilitating migraines, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and uterine hemorrhaging following childbirth.
The discovery of Periglandula clandestina is particularly exciting because the fungus is highly efficient at producing these alkaloids in large quantities. This efficiency suggests that the fungus could serve as a biological factory for pharmaceutical precursors. By studying the genetic makeup and the metabolic pathways of this specific fungus, scientists may be able to engineer ways to produce therapeutic compounds more reliably and with fewer side effects.
Panaccione noted that the "toxicity" of a substance is often a matter of dosage and delivery. By gaining a deeper understanding of how this fungus synthesizes ergot alkaloids, researchers can look for ways to modify the chemicals to retain their medicinal benefits while stripping away the unwanted physical or psychological side effects that currently limit their use. This is a primary concern for both the medical community and the agricultural industry, as these chemicals play a role in both human health and plant protection.
Hazel’s work did not end with the naming of the species. She is currently engaged in the difficult task of determining the most effective ways to culture the fungus in a laboratory setting. Periglandula clandestina is a slow-growing organism, which presents a challenge for researchers who need large amounts of the fungus for study. Mastering the cultivation of this species is a necessary step for any future industrial or pharmaceutical applications.
Furthermore, Hazel is expanding her scope to investigate other species of morning glories. Given the diversity within the morning glory family, she is curious to see if other yet-to-be-described fungal symbionts are responsible for the alkaloid profiles of different plants. This suggests that Periglandula clandestina may be just the first of many discoveries in this specific field of microbiology.
Reflecting on the experience, Hazel expressed a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to such a long-standing scientific inquiry. She acknowledged the element of luck involved in looking in the right place at the right time, but her success is clearly rooted in the diligent application of her training as a microbiologist. Her ability to recognize the significance of the "fuzz" on a seed coat transformed a routine study of root systems into a breakthrough that validated a 70-year-old hypothesis.
The collaboration between Hazel and Panaccione serves as a testament to the research culture at West Virginia University. Panaccione praised Hazel’s talent and her ability to seize the opportunities provided by the university’s research programs. For a student to move a project from a simple observation to a published finding in a journal like Mycologia requires not only technical skill but also the intellectual drive to see the work through to its conclusion.
As the scientific community begins to digest the findings published in Mycologia, the focus will likely shift toward the practical applications of Hazel’s discovery. With the genome sequenced and the source of the morning glory’s alkaloids finally identified, the path toward new treatments for mental health disorders and neurological conditions has become clearer. The "clandestine" fungus is hidden no longer, and its discovery marks the beginning of a new chapter in the study of natural products and their role in modern medicine.
