In the quiet, methodical environment of a microbiology laboratory at West Virginia University, a discovery has been made that bridges a gap in scientific history spanning nearly a century. Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology student and Goldwater Scholar, has identified a previously unknown species of fungus that serves as the biological engine behind the potent chemical compounds found in morning glory plants. This discovery, which has eluded some of the most prominent figures in 20th-century chemistry, carries significant implications for the future of pharmaceutical development, particularly in the treatment of mental health conditions and neurological disorders.
The fungus, which Hazel has officially named Periglandula clandestina, is the long-sought source of ergot alkaloids—natural compounds that share a striking chemical blueprint with the semisynthetic drug LSD. While LSD is often associated with its countercultural history, it has recently emerged as a focal point of modern clinical research for its potential to treat severe depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various forms of addiction. By identifying the specific organism responsible for producing the precursors to these effects, Hazel has provided the scientific community with a new map for exploring how these complex chemicals are synthesized in nature.
Hazel, a native of Delaware, Ohio, made the discovery while conducting research within the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. Working under the guidance of Daniel Panaccione, a Davis-Michael Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Hazel was initially focused on a different aspect of plant biology. Her primary task was to investigate how morning glory plants disperse protective chemicals, known as ergot alkaloids, through their root systems into the surrounding soil. During this process, however, her attention was drawn to a subtle physical detail that others had overlooked for decades.
The discovery was not the result of a high-tech sensor or an automated scan, but rather the keen observation of a dedicated researcher. As Hazel examined the morning glory specimens, she noticed a faint, microscopic presence on the plant’s seeds. The lab was filled with a large volume of plant material, and among the numerous "tiny little seed coats," Hazel spotted what she described as a "little bit of fuzz." This inconspicuous growth turned out to be the hidden fungal partner that scientists had hypothesized existed but could never physically locate or identify.
The relationship between morning glories and fungi is a classic example of symbiosis, a biological partnership where two different organisms live in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. In this case, the fungus lives within the plant tissues, producing ergot alkaloids that serve as a chemical defense system. These alkaloids are toxic to many insects and herbivores, thereby protecting the plant from being eaten. In exchange, the plant provides the fungus with a stable environment and nutrients. While this relationship was understood in theory, the specific identity of the fungus remained a mystery until Hazel’s intervention.
The historical weight of this discovery cannot be overstated, as it directly addresses a hypothesis first proposed by the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann. In the late 1930s, Hofmann was working for Sandoz Laboratories when he famously synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, while studying the chemical properties of ergot, a fungus that typically grows on rye and other grains. Hofmann eventually turned his attention to morning glory plants, which were known in indigenous cultures for their psychoactive properties. He successfully identified that the plants contained lysergic acid derivatives very similar to those he had modified to create LSD.
