EARTH, Laniakea Supercluster—In a discovery decades in the making, an undergraduate at West Virginia University (WVU) has pinpointed a previously unknown fungus associated with the origins of LSD-related compounds, potentially paving the way for new pharmaceutical research.

Corinne Hazel, a junior studying environmental microbiology and a Goldwater Scholar, identified the fungus while researching morning glory plants. This fungus produces ergot alkaloids—naturally occurring compounds such as ergine (also known as LSA)—which are chemically related to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), though not identical in effect.

LSD, first synthesized by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1938 using compounds derived from ergot fungus on rye, does not occur naturally in morning glories. However, Hofmann long suspected that a similar fungus within morning glory seeds was responsible for their psychoactive alkaloids. That hypothesis remained unresolved—until now.

Hazel's discovery occurred during research led by Daniel Panaccione, Davis-Michael Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at WVU's Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. While studying how morning glories distribute protective chemicals through their roots, Hazel noticed a subtle fuzz on the seed coats, indicating the presence of a fungus.

"We had a lot of plants around, and they had these tiny seed coats," Hazel
told WVU Today. "We noticed a little bit of fuzz in the seed coat. That was our fungus."

To confirm the fungus's identity, Hazel prepared a DNA sample, which was sequenced with funding from a WVU Davis College Student Enhancement Grant. The sequencing confirmed the discovery of a new species, and its genome sequence has now been deposited in a gene bank bearing Hazel's name.

"Sequencing a genome is a big deal," said Panaccione. "It's amazing for a student."

The identification, which Hazel named “Periglandula clandestina,” supports Hofmann’s long-held hypothesis that a hidden fungal partner was responsible for the psychoactive properties of morning glory seeds. Researchers believe this discovery may eventually contribute to the development of new medications, though further study is needed. Ergot alkaloids, including synthetic derivatives like LSD, have shown potential in treating conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and cluster headaches.

Hazel’s findings have been published in the peer-reviewed journal
Mycologia, marking a significant contribution to the fields of mycology and pharmacology. Her work not only highlights the importance of plant-fungal symbiosis but also underscores the impact undergraduates can have on major scientific questions when given access to high-level research opportunities.

And in the realm of consciousness, perhaps it opens the door to something much further.