Scientists mass-produce 'magic mushroom' active ingredient from bacteria The study shows that psilocybin can be produced in a sustainable manner. https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/scientists-mass-produce-magic-mushroom-active-ingredient-from-bacteria/ byTibi Puiu October 3, 2019 Psilocybin, the active psychoactive compound found in specific mushrooms, is a promising drug that can be used to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Looking towards the future, researchers at Miami University have used genetic engineering to coax harmless E. coli bacteria to produce psilocybin. Psilocybe semilanceata. Credit: Pixabay. The mushrooms that produce psilocybin, such as Psilocybe cubensis, are not particularly expensive or difficult to grow. However, they do take up a lot of space and require many [...]