A college student has just solved a decades-old scientific mystery, and her discovery could lead to future breakthroughs in medicine.
Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology student at West Virginia University (WVU), has found a hidden fungus that produces powerful chemicals similar to those found in LSD.
This fungus, which had eluded researchers for years, could help in developing new treatments for conditions like depression, PTSD, addiction, and more.
Hazel discovered the new species while working in a lab with WVU professor Daniel Panaccione.
They were studying how morning glory plants release protective chemicals through their roots.
While examining the seeds of these plants, Hazel noticed a bit of fuzz on the seed coats—something most people would have ignored. That tiny fuzz turned out to be the fungus.
Curious, the team took a DNA sample and sent it off for genome sequencing, a process that reads the entire genetic code of an organism. The results confirmed it was a completely new species. Hazel named it Periglandula clandestina, a name that reflects how well the fungus had managed to stay hidden until now.
This discovery is especially exciting because of its connection to LSD. In the 1930s, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann created LSD by modifying chemicals called ergot alkaloids, which are produced by certain fungi.
Hofmann suspected that morning glory plants might have their own hidden fungus producing similar chemicals. Scientists found lysergic acid compounds in the plants, which are chemically close to LSD, but they never found the fungus itself—until now.
Ergot alkaloids are naturally made by fungi and are sometimes found on crops like rye. In large amounts, they can be toxic to humans and animals.
But in the right doses or modified forms, they are already used in medicine to treat migraines, dementia, and even Parkinson’s disease. The newly discovered Periglandula clandestina appears to produce these chemicals efficiently, which means it could become a valuable tool for developing new drugs.
Hazel is now studying how to grow this slow-growing fungus more effectively and is curious whether other morning glory species might have similar fungi inside them.
Panaccione praised Hazel’s talent and curiosity, noting how rare and impressive it is for a student to contribute something so meaningful. “She has a ton of talent,” he said. “People have been searching for this fungus for years, and she found it.”
Hazel says she feels lucky and proud. “One day I looked in the right place, and there it was,” she said. “I’m proud of what I’ve done at WVU.”
