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Rubber from Mushrooms

Posted by michael on from the better-tasting-pencil-erasers dept.

Abhishek writes "The Hindustan Times reports that researchers at Gunma University, west of Tokyo, have produced rubber from the chichitake mushroom and the end-product has the advantage of not containing a protein that can cause allergies, according to Hiroshi Mitomo, head of the research team at the university's biological and chemical engineering department. The only obstacle is the high production costs which the scientists wish to conquer pretty soon."

4 of 26 comments (clear)

  1. This is actually awesome news by multiplexo · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Latex allergies are pretty common, and from talking to the nurses I know can be developed in people who are not initially allergic but who are exposed to latex on a day to day basis (nurses, doctors, prostitutes, etc). So what's the replacement for latex gloves? Nitrile gloves. Unfortunately most of the ones I've seen aren't as flexible as latex so they don't fit as well and tend to tear.

    --
    cheap labor conservatives - they want to keep you hungry enough to be thankful for minimum wage.
  2. Alternatives to latex by geekwench · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I really hope that they can get the production cost issues conquered. (Has a farmed source been considered, I wonder? Not all fungi are so accomodating - truffles being a classic example - but it would make the supply problems easier to handle if it's possible.)

    As someone who knows several people with latex sensitivities varying in intensity from rashes to anaphylactic shock, I applaud any attempts to find an alternative material. (Heck, I even develop contact dermatitis if I wear latex gloves for extended periods.) This is one area in which I think that people would pay at least a little extra for a safer product.

    --
    Doing my level best to piss off the religious right wing...
  3. Some mushrooms do similar things... by andrewski · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I have read of many mushrooms that make some of the compounds found in hydrogogic rocket fuel, and of others which concentrate radioactive elements. There are probably a host of organic, ready to use 'factories' in these mushrooms that may even outperform our industrial ones.

  4. growing spores by courseB · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "Also, the mushrooms are not grown commercially, are found only at the height of summer and rot after only about 10 days."

    a friend recently told me about his business idea to grow mushrooms, mostly edible. the plan consisted of: a very clean greenhouse, tree log, spores to be plugged into log.

    the chichitake was on the top of his list to grow for cash. he seemed to think it was possible.