When it comes to size, we tend to imagine awe-inspiring creatures: the blue whale, weighing over 100 tons; the giant sequoia, so largest that it rising more than 100 meters above the ground; or coral reefs, visible from space.
But there is one superorganism that defies all these dimensions and, despite its size, remains almost invisible: a fungus of the Armillaria genus, considered the largest living organism on the planet.
THE GIANT OF THE FOREST
This fungus, also known as the “honey fungus,” is found in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon (USA). What’s most astonishing isn’t its visible fruiting body (the typical caps that emerge from the ground in autumn), but rather the underground mass of mycelium that connects the entire ecosystem across more than 9 km².
That’s equivalent to:
-
Over 1,600 football fields.
-
1,200 times the size of the Roman Colosseum.
-
An area larger than many cities.
This organism is estimated to be between 1,900 and 8,500 years old. In other words, it already existed when the pyramids of Egypt were built.
MYCELIUM, THE ESSENTIAL NETWORK
The mycelium is the vegetative part of the fungus, a subterranean network made up of microscopic filaments called hyphae. Although we can’t see it, it stretches beneath the soil, among plant roots and decaying matter such as dead wood. This quiet but active network plays essential roles in ecosystems.
It acts as a system of communication and cooperation between plant species, allowing the exchange of nutrients, redistribution of resources, and even the transmission of warning signals in response to threats. It also plays a key role in soil regeneration by breaking down organic matter and returning vital elements to the environment.
In many cases, mycelium forms symbiotic relationships with plant roots, known as mycorrhizal fungi, which strengthen their hosts and help them resist disease, drought, or the presence of heavy metals.
This behavior has led scientists to speak of fungal intelligence: a form of decentralized coordination that keeps entire ecosystems alive.
A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH MEDICINE
Just as Armillaria connects and protects an entire forest, at Hifas Biologics, we believe fungi can bridge science and health, offering real solutions to one of medicine’s greatest challenges: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Mycelium not only sustains ecosystems—it also produces a wide variety of bioactive compounds with defensive functions. These substances, developed by fungi over millions of years of evolution, allow them to compete with other microorganisms and survive in hostile environments. Some have shown remarkable antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity, making them promising candidates for modern medicine.
These natural compounds also hold great potential for the development of new antibiotics capable of addressing today’s challenges, such as the growing resistance to conventional treatments. Many of them exhibit novel mechanisms of action, capable of acting on multidrug-resistant bacteria in ways current drugs cannot match.
At Hifas Biologics, our work focuses on isolating, studying, and scientifically validating these molecules using advanced tools from biotechnology, pharmacology, and computational analysis. We combine mycological knowledge with technological innovation to explore the full therapeutic potential of the fungal kingdom.