Psilocybin Production With Genetically Modified Aspergillus nidulans Under Pressurized Conditions
Biotechnology and Bioengineering December 30, 2025 Sophie Weiser, Sidney Jung, Bettina Bardl et al. 1 citation
A bioprocess using a genetically modified strain of the fungus Aspergillus nidulans produced 542 mg per liter of psilocybin from glucose in 68 hours. The filamentous culture broth was sensitive to oxygen availability and power input, which affected viscosity and mass transfer. Scaling up from shake flasks to a 7-liter stirred tank reactor based on specific power input, along with enhanced oxygen supply in a pressure reactor and nitrogen limitation addressed by adding ammonium sulfate, yielded a robust batch process. This biotechnological approach could supplement chemical synthesis for supplying psilocybin for pharmaceutical use and demonstrates pressurized bioprocessing to overcome oxygen limitations for shear-sensitive filamentous organisms.