B R Rennick studies the identification and discovery of edible truffle species in eastern North America. Using trained truffle-hunting dogs, they are able to sniff out these fungi in the wild, which are then confirmed through genetic testing. Their research focuses on the smell and chemical composition of these truffles, revealing their potential value for culinary use and commercial harvesting. This approach not only highlights new food sources but also emphasizes the role of dogs in enhancing the search for unknown edible fungi across the continent.
Key findings
Identified two new edible truffle species by utilizing trained dogs, highlighting their effectiveness in foraging for fungi.
The new truffle species have distinctive aromas, primarily due to the presence of compounds like dimethyl sulfide.
The research indicates that many more undescribed edible species may exist in North America, suggesting a rich potential for future discoveries.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Rennick study edible fungi?
Yes, Dr. Rennick focuses on the discovery of new edible truffle species in eastern North America.
What methods does Dr. Rennick use in their research?
They use trained truffle-hunting dogs to sniff out edible truffles, followed by genetic testing to confirm their discoveries.
Are Dr. Rennick's findings relevant for cooks or chefs?
Yes, the new edible truffle species have culinary value and can be harvested for gourmet cooking.
Publications in plain English
, two new ediblespecies from eastern North America discovered by truffle-hunting dogs.
2024
Mycologia
Sow A, Lemmond B, Rennick B, Van Wyk J, Martin L +6 more
Plain English Researchers identified two new edible truffle species growing wild in eastern North America by using trained dogs to sniff them out, then confirmed the discoveries through genetic testing and chemical analysis of their aromas. These truffles have culinary value and distinctive smells caused by compounds like dimethyl sulfide, making them potentially valuable for harvesting and selling. The findings show that truffle-hunting dogs are an effective tool for discovering unknown fungi in North America, where many undescribed edible species likely still exist.
, a new species from northeastern North America: Slug mycophagy aides in electron microscopy of ascospores.
2023
Mycologia
Rennick B, Benucci GMN, Du ZY, Healy R, Bonito G
Plain English This research paper discusses a newly identified species of truffle fungi from northeastern North America that lives in partnership with certain trees. Scientists found this fungus via genetic testing and studying its unique characteristics, noting that it can be found in the Midwest USA and Quebec, Canada. They also developed a new way to prepare the fungus's spores for viewing under a microscope, which helps reveal important details about its structure.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers studying fungal biology and ecology.
Chemical Composition and Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts from Cultivated Morel Mushrooms, Species of Genus Morchella (Ascomycota).
Plain English This study examined the potential health benefits of three types of cultivated morel mushrooms: M. rufobrunnea, M. sextelata, and M. americana. Researchers found that extracts from these mushrooms effectively reduced inflammation and prevented cell damage. Specifically, at a concentration of 100 micrograms per milliliter, they inhibited harmful processes by up to 62% in one test and up to 57% in another. This is important because it suggests that morel mushrooms could be a valuable natural source for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant treatments.
Who this helps: Patients looking for natural remedies for inflammation and oxidative stress.
Patient propagules: Do soil archives preserve the legacy of fungal and prokaryotic communities?
2020
PloS one
Benucci GMN, Rennick B, Bonito G
Plain English This study looked at how well tiny organisms in soil, like fungi and bacteria, can be preserved in soil that has been kept for a long time. Researchers found that while microbial life does decrease in numbers and diversity over 20 years, some species can survive well, showing that certain types of fungi can last a long time in archived soils. This is important because understanding how these microbial communities change over time helps us learn about ecosystem health and can inform land management practices.
Who this helps: This benefits scientists studying ecosystem health, land-use history, and agricultural practices.
Excretion and metabolism of nicotinic acid by the avian kidney.
1988
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
Springate J, Rennick B, Palumbo P, Bruckenstein D, Acara M
Plain English This study looked at how hens' kidneys process and excrete nicotinic acid (a form of vitamin B3). The researchers found that when they infused hens with nicotinic acid, the kidneys actively transported it into urine, reaching rates that matched those of other substances at higher doses. Specifically, at the highest infusion levels, both the nicotinic acid and a breakdown product were found in the urine, showing that the kidneys can handle increased amounts of this vitamin by first turning it into another substance before excreting it.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and researchers who are studying how vitamins are processed in birds and potentially in other animals.
Relation between transport maxima and inhibition of organic cation excretion in the chicken kidney.
1987
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
Springate J, Hasan M, Rennick B, Fildes R, Feld L +1 more
Plain English This study looked at how certain organic compounds affect the removal of two specific cations, TEA and NMN, from chicken kidneys. Researchers found that quinine, TEA, and NMN could inhibit their excretion, with NMN being the easiest to inhibit, followed by TEA, and then cimetidine. This matters because understanding how these substances interact can help improve drug safety and treatment effectiveness by preventing unwanted effects on kidney function.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and patients by informing better medication choices that avoid kidney complications.
Tubular transport and metabolism of cimetidine in chicken kidneys.
1984
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
Rennick B, Ziemniak J, Smith I, Taylor M, Acara M
Plain English This study looked at how cimetidine, a medication, is processed and transported by chicken kidneys. Researchers found that cimetidine is actively transported at a rate 88% that of another substance used for comparison, and that it has some effect on the transport of other drugs, such as thiamine and ranitidine. Understanding these interactions is important because they can influence how medications are eliminated from the body, which may affect treatment outcomes.
Who this helps: This benefits doctors and researchers working with medications in patients, particularly regarding drug interactions.
Effect of renal transplantation on the levels of choline in the plasma of uremic humans.
1983
Nephron
Acara M, Rennick B, LaGraff S, Schroeder ET
Plain English This study looked at how kidney transplants affect choline levels in the blood of patients with kidney failure. Researchers found that after receiving a transplant, choline levels in patients dropped from 29.8 to 15.7 micromoles per liter the day after surgery and remained normal for at least 7 months. This is important because reducing high choline levels helps improve health outcomes for kidney transplant recipients.
Who this helps: This helps kidney transplant patients.
Plain English This study examined how the kidneys transport certain organic compounds, specifically organic cations, which include substances like choline and morphine. The researchers found that these cations are actively moved in the kidneys, affecting how drugs and natural substances are expelled from the body. The findings show that while organic cations can interfere with each other's transport, organic anions do not, which has important implications for drug interactions and kidney function.
Who this helps: This benefits doctors and patients who rely on medications processed by the kidneys.
Direct renal tubular effects of choline on electrolyte excretion in the chicken.
1981
The American journal of physiology
Besseghir K, Rennick B
Plain English This study looked at how choline affects the kidneys in chickens, specifically focusing on how it influences the excretion of electrolytes, which are important for body balance. The research found that acetylcholine, a related compound, was more effective than choline itself in altering electrolyte levels. This is important because it shows that choline actively interacts with the kidney in a meaningful way, rather than just being a harmless substance.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and veterinarians working with chickens and potentially impacts animal health.
Renal tubular transport and metabolism of organic cations by the rabbit.
1981
The American journal of physiology
Besseghir K, Pearce LB, Rennick B
Plain English This study examined how rabbits' kidneys handle certain substances, specifically organic cations like tetraethylammonium (TEA), N1-methylnicotinamide (NMN), and choline. The researchers found that TEA was cleared from the kidneys much more effectively than NMN, which had a clearance ratio of only 1.31, suggesting it is not processed as efficiently. This research is important because it helps us understand how these substances are transported and metabolized in the kidneys, providing a foundation for future studies.
Who this helps: This information benefits researchers studying kidney function and drug metabolism.
Renal tubule transport and electrolyte effects of amiloride in the chicken.
1981
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
Besseghir K, Rennick B
Plain English Researchers studied how a drug called amiloride is handled by the kidneys in chickens. They found that when amiloride is infused, it gets actively secreted by the kidney, and at a certain dose (5 X 10^-9 mol/kg.min), it leads to a mild increase in sodium excretion and a beneficial effect on potassium retention. This matters because understanding how amiloride works can help in developing better treatments for kidney-related issues.
Who this helps: This helps patients with kidney problems.
Renal transport and renal metabolism of 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxyacetate by the chicken.
1979
Journal of environmental pathology and toxicology
Koschier FJ, Conway WD, Rennick BR
Plain English This study looked into how chickens handle a specific herbicide called 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4,5-T) in their kidneys. The researchers found that chicken kidney cells absorbed the herbicide significantly, showing a high accumulation ratio of 26 after two hours, and the absorption was reduced when certain substances were introduced. Chickens also broke down the herbicide much more effectively than rats or rabbits, suggesting that the mechanism of how chickens eliminate this compound from their bodies is unique.
Who this helps: This information benefits veterinarians and animal health professionals by improving their understanding of how chickens process herbicides.
Renal N-oxidation of trimethylamine in the chicken during tubular excretion.
1977
Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
Acara M, Camiolo S, Rennick B
Plain English This study looked at how chickens process a substance called trimethylamine (TMA) in their kidneys. Researchers found that when TMA was infused, a high majority (about 85%) of it was converted into another substance called trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and excreted in urine. Specifically, the kidneys produced TMAO at a rate of 0.12 per minute for each gram of kidney tissue, showing that the conversion of TMA to TMAO is very efficient in chickens.
Who this helps: This research benefits veterinarians and chicken farmers by improving their understanding of chicken health and waste management.
Relations of renal transport rate, transport maximum, and competitor potency for tetraethylammonium and choline.
1977
The American journal of physiology
Rennick B, Acara M, Glor M
Plain English This study looked at how two substances, tetraethylammonium (TEA) and choline, are processed by chicken kidneys. It found that TEA's maximum transport rate in the kidneys was different from choline's by a factor of 2.4, meaning the kidneys handle these substances in different ways. This is important because it helps us understand how certain drugs and compounds are absorbed and can guide better treatments for managing kidney function.
Who this helps: This helps doctors and researchers working on kidney health and drug therapies.
Renal tubular transport of prostaglandins: inhibition by probenecid and indomethacin.
1977
The American journal of physiology
Rennick BR
Plain English This study looked at how certain substances, specifically prostaglandins, are transported in the kidneys of chickens. Researchers found that when prostaglandins were introduced, they were actively excreted in the urine, but this process was blocked by medications like probenecid and indomethacin. This shows that these medications not only reduce the production of prostaglandins but also limit their movement in the body, which is important for understanding how anti-inflammatory drugs work.
Who this helps: This helps patients needing pain relief and doctors who prescribe anti-inflammatory medications.
The biphasic effect of organic cations on the excretion of other organic cations.
1976
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
Acara M, Rennick B
Plain English This study looked at how adding certain organic compounds, called organic cations, affects the body's ability to get rid of other similar compounds through urine. Researchers found that small amounts of these cations increased the excretion of choline and acetylcholine, while larger amounts decreased it. For example, increasing the infusion rate of thiamine from 1 x 10^(-11) to 1 x 10^(-8) mol/min significantly improved the excretion of thiamine from 0.25 to 0.95. Understanding how these different rates of organic cations impact excretion is important for developing better treatments and therapies.
Who this helps: This benefits patients who require treatments involving these compounds, as well as doctors managing their medications.
Choline loss during hemodialysis: homeostatic control of plasma choline concentrations.
1976
Kidney international
Rennick B, Acara M, Hysert P, Mookerjee B
Plain English This study looked at the levels of choline in the blood of patients undergoing regular hemodialysis. Researchers found that these patients had nearly double the normal choline levels, averaging 37 micromolar, and they lost about 730 micromoles of choline during a six-hour dialysis session. Additionally, patients with lower choline levels experienced more severe peripheral nerve damage.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients on hemodialysis by highlighting the importance of monitoring choline levels to manage nerve health.
Renal tubular excretion of triethylcholine (TEC) in the chicken: enhancement and inhibition of renal excretion of choline and acetylcholine by TEC.
1975
British journal of pharmacology
Acara M, Kowalski M, Rennick B, Hemsworth B
Plain English This study looked at how triethylcholine (TEC) is processed by the kidneys in chickens. The researchers found that TEC is actively transported in the kidneys, with a transport rate that is 85% that of another substance called p-aminohippuric acid. They also discovered that while small amounts of TEC boost the excretion of other important substances like choline and acetylcholine, larger amounts can actually slow it down.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors understand how certain substances are handled by the kidneys, which could impact treatments for kidney-related issues.
Tubular secretion of creatine, trimethylamine oxide, and other organic bases by the aglomerular kidney of Lophius americanus.
1958
The Journal of general physiology
FORSTER RP, BERGLUND F, RENNICK BR
Plain English This study looked at how the American anglerfish (Lophius americanus) processes two important compounds—creatine and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO)—through its kidneys. Researchers found that these substances are removed from the bloodstream and into the urine using different mechanisms. Specifically, they discovered that TMAO is affected by certain chemicals, while the excretion of creatine works independently.
Who this helps: This research benefits scientists studying kidney function and comparison among different fish species.