Editing Ascomycota (section)

=== Beneficial effects for humans ===
On the other hand, ascus fungi have brought some significant benefits to humanity.
* The most famous case may be that of the mold ''[[Penicillium chrysogenum]]'' (formerly ''Penicillium notatum''), which, probably to attack competing bacteria, produces an antibiotic that, under the name of [[penicillin]], triggered a revolution in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases in the 20th century.
* The medical importance of ''[[Tolypocladium niveum]]'' as an [[immunosuppression|immunosuppressor]] can hardly be exaggerated. It excretes [[Ciclosporin]], which, as well as being given during [[Organ transplantation]] to prevent rejection, is also prescribed for auto-immune diseases such as [[multiple sclerosis]]. However, there is some doubt over the long-term side effects of the treatment.
[[File:Blue Stilton Quarter Front.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Stilton cheese veined with ''Penicillium roqueforti'']]
* Some ascomycete fungi can be easily altered through [[genetic engineering]] procedures. They can then produce useful proteins such as [[insulin]], [[human growth hormone]], or TPa, which is employed to dissolve blood clots.
* Several species are common [[model organism]]s in biology, including ''[[Saccharomyces cerevisiae]]'', ''[[Schizosaccharomyces pombe]]'', and ''[[Neurospora crassa]]''. The [[genome]]s of some ascomycete fungi have been fully sequenced.
* Baker's Yeast (''[[Saccharomyces cerevisiae]]'') is used to make [[bread]], [[beer]] and [[wine]], during which process sugars such as [[glucose]] or [[sucrose]] are fermented to make [[ethanol]] and [[carbon dioxide]]. Bakers use the yeast for carbon dioxide production, causing the bread to rise, with the ethanol boiling off during cooking. Most vintners use it for ethanol production, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during fermentation. Brewers and traditional producers of [[sparkling wine]] use both, with a primary fermentation for the alcohol and a secondary one to produce the carbon dioxide bubbles that provide the drinks with a "sparkling" texture in the case of wine and the desirable foam in the case of beer.
* Enzymes of ''[[Penicillium camemberti]]'' play a role in the manufacture of the cheeses [[Camembert]] and [[Brie]], while those of ''[[Penicillium roqueforti]]'' do the same for [[Gorgonzola (cheese)|Gorgonzola]], [[Roquefort]] and [[Stilton cheese|Stilton]].
* In Asia, ''[[Aspergillus oryzae]]'' is added to a pulp of soaked soya beans to make [[soy sauce]] and is used to break down starch in rice and other grains into simple sugars for fermentation into East Asian alcoholic beverages such as [[huangjiu]] and [[sake]].
* Finally, some members of the Ascomycota are choice edibles; [[Morchella|morel]]s (''Morchella spp.''), [[truffle]]s (''Tuber spp.''), and [[Hypomyces lactifluorum|lobster mushroom]] (''Hypomyces lactifluorum'') are some of the most sought-after fungal delicacies.
* [[Cordyceps militaris]] is known for its numerous medicinal benefits, including supporting the immune system, reducing inflammation, providing antioxidant effects, enhancing metabolic health, improving athletic performance, and promoting respiratory health. It contains bioactive compounds such as [[cordycepin]], cordycepic acid, [[adenosine]], and [[Polysaccharide|polysaccharides]], [[Beta-glucan|beta-glucans]], and [[ergosterol]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Abdullah |first1=Salik |last2=Kumar |first2=Abhinandan |title=A brief review on the medicinal uses of Cordyceps militaris |journal=Pharmacological Research – Modern Chinese Medicine |date=June 2023 |volume=7 |pages=100228 |doi=10.1016/j.prmcm.2023.100228 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Das |first1=Gitishree |last2=Shin |first2=Han-Seung |last3=Leyva-Gómez |first3=Gerardo |last4=Prado-Audelo |first4=María L. Del |last5=Cortes |first5=Hernán |last6=Singh |first6=Yengkhom Disco |last7=Panda |first7=Manasa Kumar |last8=Mishra |first8=Abhay Prakash |last9=Nigam |first9=Manisha |last10=Saklani |first10=Sarla |last11=Chaturi |first11=Praveen Kumar |last12=Martorell |first12=Miquel |last13=Cruz-Martins |first13=Natália |last14=Sharma |first14=Vineet |last15=Garg |first15=Neha |last16=Sharma |first16=Rohit |last17=Patra |first17=Jayanta Kumar |title=Cordyceps spp.: A Review on Its Immune-Stimulatory and Other Biological Potentials |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |date=8 February 2021 |volume=11 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2020.602364 |doi-access=free |pmid=33628175 |pmc=7898063 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Danyu |last2=Tang |first2=Qingjiu |last3=He |first3=Xianzhe |last4=Wang |first4=Yipeng |last5=Zhu |first5=Guangyong |last6=Yu |first6=Ling |title=Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of Cordyceps militaris spent substrate |journal=PLOS ONE |date=8 September 2023 |volume=18 |issue=9 |pages=e0291363 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0291363 |doi-access=free |pmid=37682981 |bibcode=2023PLoSO..1891363Z |pmc=10490986 }}</ref>
* Species of Ascomycota are able to produce various [[enzymes]] that are useful in [[biochemistry]], examples include the production of [[lactase]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Manici |first1=Luisa M. |last2=Caputo |first2=Francesco |last3=De Sabata |first3=Davide |last4=Fornasier |first4=Flavio |title=The enzyme patterns of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi reveal their different functions in soil |journal=Applied Soil Ecology |date=April 2024 |volume=196 |pages=105323 |doi=10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105323 |bibcode=2024AppSE.19605323M }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812085.pdf|title=Production of lactase from microorganism and purification of it|author1=Sadhana Sathaye|author2=Rahul Wankhede|publisher= Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga|journal=Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Researc}}</ref>