Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040256
Authors: Amy P. Hsu
Coccidioidomycosis occurs after inhalation of airborne spores of the endemic, dimorphic fungus, Coccidioides. While the majority of individuals resolve the infection without coming to medical attention, the fungus is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the endemic region, and chronic pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease poses significant personal and economic burdens. This review explores the literature surrounding human susceptibility to coccidioidomycosis, including chronic pulmonary and extrapulmonary dissemination. Over the past century of study, themes have emerged surrounding factors impacting human susceptibility to severe disease or dissemination, including immune suppression, genetic susceptibility, sex, pregnancy, and genetic ancestry. Early studies were observational, frequently with small numbers of cases; several of these early studies are highly cited in review papers, becoming part of the coccidioidomycosis “canon”. Specific genetic variants, sex, and immune suppression by TNF inhibitors have been validated in later cohort studies, confirming the original hypotheses. By contrast, some risk factors, such as ABO blood group, Filipino ancestry, or lack of erythema nodosum among black individuals, are repeated in the literature despite the lack of supporting studies or biologic plausibility. Using examination of historical reports coupled with recent cohort and epidemiology studies, evidence for commonly reported risk factors is discussed.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040255
Authors: Enchen Li Jia Liu Shuwu Zhang Bingliang Xu
Alternaria leaf blight has recently been described as an emerging fungal disease of apple trees which is causing the significant damage in the apple-growing areas of Tianshui and Jingning, Gansu, China. In the present study, the pathogen species involved in apple leaf blight and its biological characteristics were identified, and the inhibitory activity of different botanical fungicides against the pathogen was evaluated in vitro. Four strains were isolated from the symptomatic areas of necrotic apple leaves, and initially healthy leaves showed similar symptoms to those observed in orchards after inoculation with the ABL2 isolate. The ABL2 isolate was identified as Alternaria tenuissima based on the morphological characteristics of its colonies, conidiophores, and conidia, and this was also confirmed by multi-gene sequence (ITS, OPA10-2, Alta-1, and endoPG) analysis and phylogenic analysis. The optimum temperature, pH, carbon source, and nitrogen source for the growth of A. tenuissima mycelia were 28 °C, 6–7, soluble starch, and soy flour, respectively. In addition, the botanical fungicide eugenol exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth and conidia germination of A. tenuissima, and the median effective concentration (EC50) values were 0.826 and 0.755 μg/mL, respectively. The protective and curative efficacy of eugenol were 86.85% and 76.94% after inoculation in detached apple leaves at a concentration of 4 μg/mL. Our research provides new insights into the control of apple leaf blight disease by applying botanical fungicides.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040254
Authors: Xian Wu Zhihui Du Lian Liu Zhilin Chen Yurong Li Shaobin Fu
Flavonoids are a diverse family of natural compounds that are widely distributed in plants and play a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. In recent years, the biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants has been well-researched, with the successive discovery of key genes driving this process. However, the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in fungi remains unclear. Stropharia rugosoannulata is an edible mushroom known for its high nutritional and pharmacological value, with flavonoids being one of its main active components. To investigate the flavonoid content of S. rugosoannulata, a study was conducted to extract and determine the total flavonoids at four stages: young mushroom (Ym), gill (Gi), maturation (Ma), and parachute-opening (Po). The findings revealed a gradual increase in total flavonoid concentration as the fruiting body developed, with significant variations observed between the Ym, Gi, and Ma stages. Subsequently, we used UPLC-MS/MS and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to quantify the flavonoids and identify regulatory genes of Ym, Gi, and Ma. In total, 53 flavonoid-related metabolites and 6726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, we identified 59 structural genes encoding flavonoid biosynthesis-related enzymes, most of which were up-regulated during the development of the fruiting body, consistent with the accumulation of flavonoids. This research led to the establishment of a comprehensive transcriptional metabolic regulatory network encompassing flavonoids, flavonoid synthases, and transcription factors (TFs). This represents the first systematic exploration of the molecular mechanism of flavonoids in the fruiting of fungi, offering a foundation for further research on flavonoid mechanisms and the breeding of high-quality S. rugosoannulata.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040253
Authors: Gabriel Davi Marena Gabriela Corrêa Carvalho Alba Ruiz-Gaitán Giovana Scaramal Onisto Beatriz Chiari Manzini Bugalho Letícia Maria Valente Genezini Maíra Oliveira Dos Santos Ana Lígia Blanco Marlus Chorilli Tais Maria Bauab
The Candida auris species is a multidrug-resistant yeast capable of causing systemic and lethal infections. Its virulence and increase in outbreaks are a global concern, especially in hospitals where outbreaks are more recurrent. In many cases, monotherapy is not effective, and drug combinations are opted for. However, resistance to antifungals has increased over the years. In view of this, nanoemulsions (NEs) may represent a nanotechnology strategy in the development of new therapeutic alternatives. Therefore, this study developed a co-encapsulated nanoemulsion with amphotericin B (AmB) and micafungin (MICA) (NEMA) for the control of infections caused by C. auris. NEs were developed in previous studies. Briefly, the NEs were composed of a mixture of 10% sunflower oil and cholesterol as the oil phase (5:1), 10% Polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether (Brij® 58) and soy phosphatidylcholine as surfactant/co-surfactant (2:1), and 80% PBS as the aqueous phase. The in vivo assay used BALB/c mice weighing between 25 and 28 g that were immunosuppressed (CEUA/FCF/CAr n° 29/2021) and infected with Candida auris CDC B11903. The in vivo results show the surprising potentiate of the antifungal activity of the co-encapsulated drugs in NE, preventing yeast from causing infection in the lung and thymus. Biochemical assays showed a higher concentration of liver and kidney enzymes under treatment with AmB and MICAmB. In conclusion, this combination of drugs to combat the infection caused by C. auris can be considered an efficient therapeutic option, and nanoemulsions contribute to therapeutic potentiate, proving to be a promising new alternative.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040252
Authors: Huihui Hua Xinyi Zhang Jie Xia Xuehong Wu
A novel strain of Fusarium oxysporum virus 1 (FoV1) was identified from the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum strain X-GS16 and designated as Fusarium oxysporum virus 1-FON (FoV1-FON). The full genome of FoV1-FON is 2902 bp in length and contains two non-overlapping open reading frames (ORFs), ORF1 and ORF2, encoding a protein with an unknown function (containing a typical −1 slippery motif G_GAU_UUU at the 3′-end) and a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), respectively. BLASTx search against the National Center for the Biotechnology Information (NCBI) non-redundant database showed that FoV1-FON had the highest identity (97.46%) with FoV1. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed that FoV1-FON clustered with FoV1 in the proposed genus Unirnavirus. FoV1-FON could vertically transmit via spores. Moreover, FoV1-FON was transmitted horizontally from the F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum strain X-GS16 to the F. oxysporum strain HB-TS-YT-1hyg. This resulted in the acquisition of the F. oxysporum strain HB-TS-YT-1hyg-V carrying FoV1-FON. No significant differences were observed in the sporulation and dry weight of mycelial biomass between HB-TS-YT-1hyg and HB-TS-YT-1hyg-V. FoV1-FON infection significantly increased the mycelial growth of HB-TS-YT-1hyg, but decreased its virulence to potato tubers and sensitivity to difenoconazole, prochloraz, and pydiflumetofen. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hypovirulence and reduced sensitivity to difenoconazole, prochloraz, and pydiflumetofen in F. oxysporum due to FoV1-FON infection.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040251
Authors: Jata Shankar Raman Thakur Karl V. Clemons David A. Stevens
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused by various species of Aspergillus, most notably A. fumigatus. This fungus causes a spectrum of diseases, including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and invasive aspergillosis. The clinical manifestations and severity of aspergillosis can vary depending on individual immune status and the specific species of Aspergillus involved. The recognition of Aspergillus involves pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as glucan, galactomannan, mannose, and conidial surface proteins. These are recognized by the pathogen recognition receptors present on immune cells such as Toll-like receptors (TLR-1,2,3,4, etc.) and C-type lectins (Dectin-1 and Dectin-2). We discuss the roles of cytokines and pathogen recognition in aspergillosis from both the perspective of human and experimental infection. Several cytokines and chemokines have been implicated in the immune response to Aspergillus infection, including interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), CCR4, CCR17, and other interleukins. For example, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is characterized by Th2 and Th9 cell-type immunity and involves interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10. In contrast, it has been observed that invasive aspergillosis involves Th1 and Th17 cell-type immunity via IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17. These cytokines activate various immune cells and stimulate the production of other immune molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides and reactive oxygen species, which aid in the clearance of the fungal pathogen. Moreover, they help to initiate and coordinate the immune response, recruit immune cells to the site of infection, and promote clearance of the fungus. Insight into the host response from both human and animal studies may aid in understanding the immune response in aspergillosis, possibly leading to harnessing the power of cytokines or cytokine (receptor) antagonists and transforming them into precise immunotherapeutic strategies. This could advance personalized medicine.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040250
Authors: Ofir Degani Assaf Chen Elhanan Dimant Asaf Gordani Tamir Malul Onn Rabinovitz
Charcoal rot disease (CRD), caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, is a significant threat to cotton production in Israel and worldwide. The pathogen secretes toxins and degrading enzymes that disrupt the water and nutrient uptake, leading to death at the late stages of growth. While many control strategies were tested over the years to reduce CRD impact, reaching that goal remains a significant challenge. The current study aimed to establish, improve, and deepen our understanding of a new approach combining biological agents and chemical pesticides. Such intervention relies on reducing fungicides while providing stability and a head start to eco-friendly bio-protective Trichoderma species. The research design included sprouts in a growth room and commercial field plants receiving the same treatments. Under a controlled environment, comparing the bio-based coating treatments with their corresponding chemical coating partners resulted in similar outcomes in most measures. At 52 days, these practices gained up to 38% and 45% higher root and shoot weight and up to 78% decreased pathogen root infection (tracked by Real-Time PCR), compared to non-infected control plants. Yet, in the shoot weight assessment (day 29 post-sowing), the treatment with only biological seed coating outperformed (p < 0.05) all other biological-based treatments and all Azoxystrobin-based irrigation treatments. In contrast, adverse effects are observed in the chemical seed coating group, particularly in above ground plant parts, which are attributable to the addition of Azoxystrobin irrigation. In the field, the biological treatments had the same impact as the chemical intervention, increasing the cotton plants’ yield (up to 17%), improving the health (up to 27%) and reducing M. phaseolina DNA in the roots (up to 37%). When considering all treatments within each approach, a significant benefit to plant health was observed with the bio-chemo integrated management compared to using only chemical interventions. Specific integrated treatments have shown potential in reducing CRD symptoms, such as applying bio-coating and sprinkling Azoxystrobin during sowing. Aerial remote sensing based on high-resolution visible-channel (RGB), green–red vegetation index (GRVI), and thermal imaging supported the above findings and proved its value for studying CRD control management. This research validates the combined biological and chemical intervention potential to shield cotton crops from CRD.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040249
Authors: Ting Zhou Jingjing Pan Jingjing Wang Qinru Yu Pengcheng Zhang Tongfei Lai
Penicillium digitatum is a major postharvest pathogen that threatens the global citrus fruit industry and causes great economic losses annually. In the present study, inhibitory properties of cinnamon bark oil (CBO) against P. digitatum in vitro were investigated. Results indicated that 0.03% CBO could efficiently inhibit the spore germination, germ tube elongation, mycelial growth, colonial expansion and conidial accumulation of P. digitatum. The results of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and MitoTraker Orange (MTO) staining also proved the suppression effects of CBO against P. digitatum. Meanwhile, CBO could inhibit green mold rots induced by P. digitatum in citrus fruit when the working concentration of CBO exceeded 0.06%. In addition, the expressions of 12 genes critical for the growth and virulence of P. digitatum were also significantly regulated under CBO stress. Through a transcriptomic analysis, a total of 1802 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in P. digitatum after 4 h and 8 h of CBO treatment. Most of the DEG products were associated with carbohydrate, amino acid and lipid metabolism. They directly or indirectly led to the disturbance of the membrane and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our results may deepen the understanding of antifungal properties of CBO against P. digitatum and provide the theoretical foundation to uncover the antifungal mechanism of CBO at the molecular level.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040248
Authors: Zeao Sun Yijian Wu Shihua Long Sai Feng Xiao Jia Yan Hu Maomao Ma Jingxin Liu Bin Zeng
Aspergillus oryzae, a biosafe strain widely utilized in bioproduction and fermentation technology, exhibits a robust hydrolytic enzyme secretion system. Therefore, it is frequently employed as a cell factory for industrial enzyme production. Moreover, A. oryzae has the ability to synthesize various secondary metabolites, such as kojic acid and L-malic acid. Nevertheless, the complex secretion system and protein expression regulation mechanism of A. oryzae pose challenges for expressing numerous heterologous products. By leveraging synthetic biology and novel genetic engineering techniques, A. oryzae has emerged as an ideal candidate for constructing cell factories. In this review, we provide an overview of the latest advancements in the application of A. oryzae-based cell factories in industrial production. These studies suggest that metabolic engineering and optimization of protein expression regulation are key elements in realizing the widespread industrial application of A. oryzae cell factories. It is anticipated that this review will pave the way for more effective approaches and research avenues in the future implementation of A. oryzae cell factories in industrial production.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040247
Authors: Marie-Gabrielle Ayika Avril Rosano Jacqueline Valiente Seemanti Chakrabarti Jeffrey A. Rollins Braham Dhillon
Thielaviopsis paradoxa sensu lato is a soilborne fungal pathogen that causes Thielaviopsis trunk rot and heart rot in palms. The loss of structural integrity resulting from trunk rot can cause the palm trunk to collapse suddenly and poses a serious threat to life and property. Even though rudimentary knowledge about the Thielaviopsis infection process in palms is available, nothing is known about the T. paradoxa species complex in the US. The aim of this study was to characterize T. paradoxa s. lat. isolates collected from diseased palms grown in Florida. Multi-locus phylogeny using three genes, ITS, β-tubulin, and tef1-α, revealed that the isolates separate into two distinct clades with high bootstrap support. The majority of the isolates clustered with the species T. ethacetica, while two isolates formed a separate clade, distinct from T. musarum, and might represent an undescribed Thielaviopsis species. One representative isolate from each clade, when grown on three distinct media and at four different temperatures, showed differences in gross colony morphology, as well as growth rates. The T. ethacetica isolate TP5448 and the Thielaviopsis sp. isolate PLM300 grew better at opposite ends of the temperature spectrum tested in this study, i.e., 35 °C and 10 °C, respectively. In pathogenicity assays on whole plants, the T. ethacetica isolate proved to be more aggressive than Thielaviopsis sp. isolate PLM300, as it produced larger lesions when inoculated on wounded leaflets. An unequal distribution was observed for the mating-type locus of T. ethacetica, as 12 isolates carried the MAT1-1-1 allele, while the status for four isolates remained undefined. Variation in mycelial growth in response to different fungicides was also observed between the two clades. These results demonstrate the existence of two Thielaviopsis clades that can infect palms in Florida and underscore the need for targeted sampling to help uncover the diversity of Thielaviopsis species across palm-growing regions in the US.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040246
Authors: Haoming Liang Fang Li Yundan Huang Quan Yu Zhenxin Huang Quan Zeng Baoshan Chen Jiaorong Meng
Fusarium sacchari is a causal agent of sugarcane Pokkah boeng, an important fungal disease that causes a considerable reduction in yield and sugar content in susceptible varieties of sugarcane worldwide. Despite its importance, the fungal factors that regulate the virulence of this pathogen remain largely unknown. In our previous study, mapping of an insertional mutant defect in virulence resulted in the identification of a cutinase G-box binding protein gene, designated FsCGBP, that encodes a C2H2-type transcription factor (TF). FsCGBP was shown to localize in the nuclei, and the transcript level of FsCGBP was significantly upregulated during the infection process or in response to abiotic stresses. Deletion or silencing of FsCGBP resulted in a reduction in mycelial growth, conidial production, and virulence and a delay in conidial germination in the F. sacchari. Cutinase genes FsCUT2, FsCUT3, and FsCUT4 and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes FsHOG1, FsMGV1, and FsGPMK1, which were significantly downregulated in ΔFsCGBP. Except for FsHOG1, all of these genes were found to be transcriptionally activated by FsCGBP using the yeast one-hybrid system in vitro. The deletion of individual cutinase genes did not result in any of the phenotypes exhibited in the ΔFsCGBP mutant, except for cutinase activity. However, disruption of the MAPK pathway upon deletion of FsMGV1 or FsGPMK1 resulted in phenotypes similar to those of the ΔFsCGBP mutant. The above results suggest that FsCGBP functions by regulating the MAPK pathway and cutinase genes, providing new insights into the mechanism of virulence regulation in F. sacchari.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040245
Authors: Kyle Roberts Abdullah Osme Carlo De Salvo Eleonora Zoli Janet Herrada Thomas S. McCormick Mahmoud Ghannoum Fabio Cominelli Luca Di Martino
Candida (C.) infections represent a serious health risk for people affected by inflammatory bowel disease. An important fungal virulence factor is the capacity of the fungus to form biofilms on the colonized surface of the host. This research study aimed to determine the effect of a C. tropicalis and C. albicans co-infection on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The colitis severity was evaluated using histology and a colonoscopy. The mice were mono-inoculated with C. albicans or C. tropicalis or co-challenged with both species. The mice were administered 3% DSS to induce acute colitis. The biofilm activity was assessed using (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl] 2H-tetrazoliumhydroxide (XTT) and dry-weight assays. The abundance of C. albicans in the colon tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The co-challenged mice showed a decreased colitis severity compared to the mono-inoculated mice. The dry-weight assay demonstrated a marked decrease in C. albicans biofilm production in a C. albicans culture incubated with C. tropicalis supernatant. Immunohistochemical staining showed that C. albicans was more abundant in the mucosa of C. albicans mono-inoculated mice compared to the co-inoculated group. These data indicate an antagonistic microbial interaction between the two Candida species, where C. tropicalis may produce molecules capable of limiting the ability of C. albicans to adhere to the host intestinal surface, leading to a reduction in biofilm formation.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040244
Authors: Marcin Piorunek Honorata Kubisiak-Rzepczyk Aleksandra Dańczak-Pazdrowska Tomasz Trafas Jarosław Walkowiak
Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal skin infection common in humans around the world and is one of the many zoonotic skin diseases that cat owners are at risk of contracting. This retrospective study was conducted based on a detailed analysis of the results of mycological examination and medical documentation of 56 patients diagnosed with cat-to-human dermatophytoses from January 2017 to July 2022. Zoonotic mycoses were diagnosed more frequently in young people and women. In children, lesions most often occurred in the scalp area, and in adults, in the glabrous skin area. Skin infections caused by Microsporum canis (M. canis) prevailed and were confirmed in 47 patients (83.9%). Trichophyton mentagrophytes (T. mentagrophytes) was found in nine (16.1%) patients. M. canis predominantly caused infections of the scalp, followed by lower limb infections. Hairy scalps were almost exclusively involved in children. The odds of diagnosing M. canis infection compared to T. mentagrophytes infection was significantly higher in the head than in other regions, especially among children. The positive predictive value of a direct macroscopic examination was relatively low.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040243
Authors: Nang Nwet Noon Kham Somsay Phovisay Kridsada Unban Apinun Kanpiengjai Chalermpong Saenjum Saisamorn Lumyong Kalidas Shetty Chartchai Khanongnuch
This study aims to utilize the microbial resources found within Laphet-so, a traditional fermented tea in Myanmar. A total of 18 isolates of thermotolerant yeasts were obtained from eight samples of Laphet-so collected from southern Shan state, Myanmar. All isolates demonstrated the tannin tolerance, and six isolates were resistant to 5% (w/v) tannin concentration. All 18 isolates were capable of carboxy-methyl cellulose (CMC) degrading, but only the isolate DK showed ethanol production at 45 °C noticed by gas formation. This ethanol producing yeast was identified to be Cyberlindnera rhodanensis based on the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain on rRNA gene. C. rhodanensis DK produced 1.70 ± 0.01 U of thermostable extracellular β-glucosidase when cultured at 37 °C for 24 h using 0.5% (w/v) CMC as a carbon source. The best two carbon sources for extracellular β-glucosidase production were found to be either xylose or xylan, with β-glucosidase activity of 3.07–3.08 U/mL when the yeast was cultivated in the yeast malt extract (YM) broth containing either 1% (w/v) xylose or xylan as a sole carbon source at 37 °C for 48 h. The optimal medium compositions for enzyme production predicted by Plackett–Burman design and central composite design (CCD) was composed of yeast extract 5.83 g/L, peptone 10.81 g/L and xylose 20.20 g/L, resulting in a production of 7.96 U/mL, while the medium composed (g/L) of yeast extract 5.79, peptone 13.68 and xylan 20.16 gave 9.45 ± 0.03 U/mL for 48 h cultivation at 37 °C. Crude β-glucosidase exhibited a remarkable stability of 100%, 88% and 75% stable for 3 h at 35, 45 and 55 °C, respectively.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040242
Authors: Dingyi Yang Xiaojun Zhang Yuqing Ming Chenglin Liu Xianlong Zhang Shiming Liu Longfu Zhu
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov) is a common soilborne fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium wilt (FW) disease in cotton. Although considerable progress has been made in cotton disease-resistance breeding against FW in China, and the R gene conferring resistance to Fov race 7 (FOV) in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) has been identified, knowledge regarding the evolution of fungal pathogenicity and virulence factors in Fov remains limited. In this study, we present a reference-scale genome assembly and annotation for FOV7, created through the integration of single-molecule real-time sequencing (PacBio) and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) techniques. Comparative genomics analysis revealed the presence of six supernumerary scaffolds specific to FOV7. The genes or sequences within this region can potentially serve as reliable diagnostic markers for distinguishing Fov race 7. Furthermore, we conducted an analysis of the xylem sap proteome of FOV7-infected cotton plants, leading to the identification of 19 proteins that are secreted in xylem (FovSIX). Through a pathogenicity test involving knockout mutants, we demonstrated that FovSIX16 is crucial for the full virulence of FOV7. Overall, this study sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of Fov’s pathogenicity and provides valuable insights into potential management strategies for controlling FW.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040241
Authors: Radoslav Abrashev Ekaterina Krumova Penka Petrova Rumyana Eneva Vladislava Dishliyska Yana Gocheva Stefan Engibarov Jeny Miteva-Staleva Boryana Spasova Vera Kolyovska Maria Angelova
Sialidases (neuraminidases) catalyze the removal of terminal sialic acid residues from glycoproteins. Novel enzymes from non-clinical isolates are of increasing interest regarding their application in the food and pharmaceutical industry. The present study aimed to evaluate the participation of carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in the regulation of cold-active sialidase biosynthesis by the psychrotolerant fungal strain Penicillium griseofulvum P29, isolated from Antarctica. The presence of glucose inhibited sialidase activity in growing and non-growing fungal mycelia in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The same response was demonstrated with maltose and sucrose. The replacement of glucose with glucose-6-phosphate also exerted CCR. The addition of cAMP resulted in the partial de-repression of sialidase synthesis. The CCR in the psychrotolerant strain P. griseofulvum P29 did not depend on temperature. Sialidase might be subject to glucose repression by both at 10 and 25 °C. The fluorescent assay using 4MU-Neu5Ac for enzyme activity determination under increasing glucose concentrations evidenced that CCR may have a regulatory role in sialidase production. The real-time RT-PCR experiments revealed that the sialidase gene was subject to glucose repression. To our knowledge, this is the first report that has studied the effect of CCR on cold-active sialidase, produced by an Antarctic strain.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040240
Authors: Jianzhou Zhang Jiahui Zhang Jianhua Wang Mengyuan Zhang Chunying Li Wenyu Wang Yujuan Suo Fengping Song
In China, Fusarium pseudograminearum has emerged as a major pathogen causing Fusarium crown rot (FCR) and caused significant losses. Studies on the pathogen’s properties, especially its mating type and trichothecene chemotypes, are critical with respect to disease epidemiology and food/feed safety. There are currently few available reports on these issues. This study investigated the species composition, mating type idiomorphs, and trichothecene genotypes of Fusarium spp. causing FCR in Henan, China. A significant shift in F. pseudograminearum-induced FCR was found in the present study. Of the 144 purified strains, 143 were F. pseudograminearum, whereas only 1 Fusarium graminearum was identified. Moreover, a significant trichothecene-producing capability of F. pseudograminearum strains from Henan was observed in this work. Among the 143 F. pseudograminearum strains identified, F. pseudograminearum with a 15ADON genotype was found to be predominant (133 isolates), accounting for 92.36% of all strains, followed by F. pseudograminearum with a 3ADON genotype, whereas only one NIV genotype strain was detected. Overall, a relatively well-balanced 1:1 ratio of the F. pseudograminearum population was found in Henan. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has examined the Fusarium populations responsible for FCR across the Henan wheat-growing region.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040239
Authors: Jae Sung Lee Makoto Kakishima Ji-Hyun Park Hyeon-Dong Shin Young-Joon Choi
Rust disease poses a major threat to global agriculture and forestry. It is caused by types of Pucciniales, which often require alternate hosts for their life cycles. Nyssopsora cedrelae was previously identified as a rust pathogen on Toona sinensis in East and Southeast Asia. Although this species had been reported to be autoecious, completing its life cycle solely on T. sinensis, we hypothesized that it has a heteroecious life cycle, requiring an alternate host, since the spermogonial and aecial stages on Aralia elata, a plant native to East Asia, are frequently observed around the same area where N. cedrelae causes rust disease on T. sinensis. Upon collecting rust samples from both A. elata and T. sinensis, we confirmed that the rust species from both tree species exhibited matching internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU) rDNA, and cytochrome oxidase subunit III (CO3) mtDNA sequences. Through cross-inoculations, we verified that aeciospores from A. elata produced a uredinial stage on T. sinensis. This study is the first report to clarify A. elata as an alternate host for N. cedrelae, thus providing initial evidence that the Nyssopsora species exhibits a heteroecious life cycle.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040238
Authors: Wenli Jiao Maoxiang Li Tianyi Lei Xiaoli Liu Junting Zhang Jun Hu Xianghui Zhang Jinliang Liu Shusen Shi Hongyu Pan Yanhua Zhang
APSES (Asm1p, Phd1p, Sok2p, Efg1p, and StuAp) family transcription factors play crucial roles in various biological processes of fungi, however, their functional characterization in phytopathogenic fungi is limited. In this study, we explored the role of SsStuA, a typical APSES transcription factor, in the regulation of cell wall integrity (CWI), sclerotia formation and pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which is a globally important plant pathogenic fungus. A deficiency of SsStuA led to abnormal phosphorylation level of SsSmk3, the key gene SsAGM1 for UDP-GlcNAc synthesis was unable to respond to cell wall stress, and decreased tolerance to tebuconazole. In addition, ΔSsStuA was unable to form sclerotia but produced more compound appressoria. Nevertheless, the virulence of ΔSsStuA was significantly reduced due to the deficiency of the invasive hyphal growth and increased susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide. We also revealed that SsStuA could bind to the promoter of catalase family genes which regulate the expression of catalase genes. Furthermore, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was found to be increased in ΔSsStuA. In summary, SsStuA, as a core transcription factor involved in the CWI pathway and ROS response, is required for vegetative growth, sclerotia formation, fungicide tolerance and the full virulence of S. sclerotiorum.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040237
Authors: Elisa Maria Brandenburg Ralf Thomas Voegele Michael Fischer Falk Hubertus Behrens
Viticulture worldwide is challenged by grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs). Involvement of arthropods in the dissemination process of GTD pathogens, notably esca pathogens, is indicated after detection of associated pathogens on arthropod exoskeletons, and demonstration of transmission under artificial conditions. The present study is the first to quantify spore loads via qPCR of the esca-relevant pathogen Phaeomoniella chlamydospora on arthropods collected in German vineyards, i.e., European earwigs (Forficula auricularia), ants (Formicidae), and two species of jumping spiders (Marpissa muscosa and Synageles venator). Quantification of spore loads showed acquisition on exoskeletons, but most arthropods carried only low amounts. The mycobiome on earwig exoskeletons was described for the first time to reveal involvement of earwigs in the dispersal of GTDs in general. Metabarcoding data support the potential risk of earwigs as vectors for predominantly Pa. chlamydospora and possibly Eutypa lata (causative agent of Eutypa dieback), as respective operational taxonomical unit (OTU) assigned genera had relative abundances of 6.6% and 2.8% in total reads, even though with great variation between samples. Seven further GTD-related genera were present at a very low level. As various factors influence the successful transmission of GTD pathogens, we hypothesize that arthropods might irregularly act as direct vectors. Our results highlight the importance of minimizing and protecting pruning wounds in the field.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040236
Authors: María Barnés-Guirado Alberto Miguel Stchigel José Francisco Cano-Lira
The Saladas de Sástago-Bujaraloz is an endorheic and arheic complex of lagoons located in the Ebro Basin and protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Due to the semi-arid climate of the region and the high salinity of their waters, these lagoons constitute an extreme environment. We surveyed the biodiversity of salt-tolerant and halophilic fungi residents of the Laguna de Pito, a lagoon belonging to this complex. Therefore, we collected several samples of water, sediments, and soil of the periphery. Throughout the study, we isolated 21 fungal species, including a strain morphologically related to the family Microascaceae. However, this strain did not morphologically match any of genera within this family. After an in-depth morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis using a concatenated sequence dataset of four phylogenetically informative molecular markers (the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA); the D1-D2 domains of the 28S gene of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU); and a fragment of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) and the β-tubulin (tub2) genes), we established the new genus Dactyliodendromyces, with Dactyliodendromyces holomorphus as its species. Additionally, as a result of our taxonomic study, we reclassified the paraphyletic genus Wardomyces into three different genera: Wardomyces sensu stricto, Parawardomyces gen. nov., and Pseudowardomyces gen. nov., with Parawardomyces ovalis (formerly Wardomyces ovalis) and Pseudowardomyces humicola (formerly Wardomyces humicola) as the type species of their respective genera. Furthermore, we propose new combinations, including Parawardomyces giganteus (formerly Wardomyces giganteus) and Pseudowardomyces pulvinatus (formerly Wardomyces pulvinatus).
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040235
Authors: Paloma Sánchez-Torres Luis González-Candelas Ana Rosa Ballester
Green mold caused by Penicillium digitatum (Pers.:Fr.) Sacc is the most prevalent postharvest rot concerning citrus fruits. Using the subtractive suppression hybridization (SSH) technique, different P. digitatum genes have been identified that could be involved in virulence during citrus infection in the early stages, a crucial moment that determines whether the infection progresses or not. To this end, a comparison of two P. digitatum strains with high and low virulence has been carried out. We conducted a study on the gene expression profile of the most relevant genes. The results indicate the importance of transcription and regulation processes as well as enzymes involved in the degradation of the plant cell wall. The most represented expressed sequence tag (EST) was identified as PDIP_11000, associated with the FluG domain, which is putatively involved in the activation of conidiation. It is also worth noting that PDIP_02280 encodes a pectin methyl esterase, a cell wall remodeling protein with a high expression level in the most virulent fungal strains, which is notably induced during citrus infection. Furthermore, within the group with the greatest representation and showing significant induction in the early stages of infection, regulatory proteins (PDIP_68700, PDIP_76160) and a chaperone (PDIP_38040) stand out. To a lesser extent, but not less relevant, it is worth distinguishing different regulatory proteins and transcription factors, such as PDIP_00580, PDIP_49640 and PDIP_78930.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10040234
Authors: Erico S. Loreto Juliana S. M. Tondolo Régis A. Zanette
This review article explores the effectiveness of antibacterial drugs that inhibit protein synthesis in treating pythiosis, a difficult-to-treat infection caused by Pythium insidiosum. The article highlights the susceptibility of P. insidiosum to antibacterial drugs, such as macrolides, oxazolidinones, and tetracyclines. We examine various studies, including in vitro tests, experimental infection models, and clinical case reports. Based on our synthesis of these findings, we highlight the potential of these drugs in managing pythiosis, primarily when combined with surgical interventions. The review emphasizes the need for personalized treatment strategies and further research to establish standardized testing protocols and optimize therapeutic approaches.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030233
Authors: Britt Puidet Mati Koppel Riinu Kiiker
This study explores the population dynamics of Phytophthora infestans in Estonia from 2005 to 2022, focusing on genetic diversity and potential shifts in reproductive strategies. In total, 153 P. infestans isolates were collected throughout Estonia over ten growing seasons. Genotyping revealed considerable genetic diversity, with most isolates not corresponding to known multilocus genotypes (MLGs). Still, instances of invasive clonal lineages were observed, notably EU_41_A2. The data indicate the likelihood of random mating rather than clonal reproduction in all the analyzed years. The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) results revealed no distinct clustering among the sampling years. Statistical analysis and the minimum spanning network (MSN) indicated low genetic differentiation between years with minimal fluctuations in allele frequencies. The continuous monitoring of P. infestans populations is essential for detecting any changes from the current evolutionary trajectory and implement effective disease management strategies, especially considering the recent emergence of EU_41_A2 in the Nordics and the potential impacts of climate change.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030232
Authors: Silvia Crotti Deborah Cruciani Manuela Papini
We have read with interest the comments and observations made regarding the paper “A terbinafine sensitive Trichophyton indotineae strain in Italy: the first clinical case of tinea corporis and onychomycosis” [...]
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030231
Authors: Inigo Navarro-Fernandez
I have read the paper “A Terbinafine Sensitive Trichophyton indotineae Strain in Italy: The First Clinical Case of tinea corporis and onychomycosis” by Crotti et al [...]
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030230
Authors: Hui Li Bing-Yao Peng Jun-Ya Xie Yu-Qing Bai De-Wei Li Li-Hua Zhu
Pinus massoniana Lamb. is an important, common afforestation and timber tree species in China. Species of Pestalotiopsis are well-known pathogens of needle blight. In this study, the five representative strains were isolated from needle blight from needles of Pi. massoniana in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Based on multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of the three genomic loci (ITS, TEF1, and TUB2), in conjunction with morphological characteristics, a new species, namely Pestalotiopsis jiangsuensis sp. nov., was described and reported. Pathogenicity tests revealed that the five representative strains of the species described above were pathogenic to Pi. massoniana. The study revealed the diversity of pathogenic species of needle blight on Pi. massoniana. This is the first report of needle blight caused by P. jiangsuensis on Pi. massoniana in China and worldwide. This provides useful information for future research on management strategies of this disease.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030229
Authors: Sheng Xu Ying Chen Jingru Qi Runpeng Wang Erjun Wei Qiang Wang Yiling Zhang Xudong Tang Zhongyuan Shen
Chaperonin containing tailless complex polypeptide 1 (CCT) is a molecular chaperone protein that consists of eight completely different subunits and assists in the folding of newly synthesized peptides. The zeta subunit of CCT is a regulatory factor for the folding and assembly of cytoskeletal proteins as individuals or complexes. In this study, the zeta subunit of Nosema bombycis (NbCCTζ) is identified for the first time. The complete ORF of the NbCCTζ gene is 1533 bp in length and encodes a 510 amino acid polypeptide. IFA results indicate that NbCCTζ is colocalized with actin and β-tubulin in the cytoplasm during the proliferative phase and that NbCCTζ is completely colocalized with NbCCTα in the cytoplasm of N. bombycis throughout the entire life cycle. Furthermore, the yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that the NbCCTζ interacts with NbCCTα. The transcriptional level of NbCCTζ is significantly downregulated by knocking down the NbCCTα gene, while the transcriptional level of NbCCTα is downregulated after knocking down the NbCCTζ gene. These results suggest that NbCCTζ may play a vital role in the proliferation of N. bombycis by coordinating with NbCCTα.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030228
Authors: Qianhui Huang Xing Han Zongjun Tong Youjin Deng Luyu Xie Shengrong Liu Baogui Xie Weirui Zhang
Nucleotide substitutions have played an important role in molecular evolution, and understanding their dynamics would contribute to genetic studies. Related research with defined DNA sequences lasted for decades until whole-genome sequencing arose. UV radiation (UVR) can generate base changes and other genetic variations in a short period of time, so it would be more meaningful to explore mutations caused by UVR from a genomic perspective. The monokaryon enoki strain WT583 was selected as the experimental material in this study because it can spontaneously produce large amounts of oidia on PDA plates, and the monokaryons originating from oidia have the same genotype as their mother monokaryon. After exposure to UV radiation, 100 randomly selected mutants, with WT583 as the reference genome, were sent for genome sequencing. BWA, samtools, and GATK software were employed for SNP calling, and the R package CMplot was used to visualize the distribution of the SNPs on the contigs of the reference genome. Furthermore, a k-mer-based method was used to detect DNA fragment deletion. Moreover, the non-synonymous genes were functionally annotated. A total of 3707 single-base substitutions and 228 tandem mutations were analyzed. The immediate adjacent bases showed different effects on the mutation frequencies of adenine and cytosine. For adenine, the overall effects of the immediate 5′-side and 3′-side bases were T > A > C > G and A > T > G > C, respectively; for cytosine, the overall effects of the immediate 5′-side and 3′-side bases were T > C > A > G and C > T > A > G, respectively. Regarding tandem mutations, the mutation frequencies of double-transition, double-transversion, 3′-side transition, and 5′-side transition were 131, 8, 72, and 17, respectively. Transitions at the 3′-side with a high mutation frequency shared a common feature, where they held transversions at the 5′-side of A→T or T→A without covalent bond changes, suggesting that the sequence context of tandem motifs might be related to their mutation frequency. In total, 3707 mutation sites were non-randomly distributed on the contigs of the reference genome. In addition, pyrimidines at the 3′-side of adenine promoted its transversion frequency, and UVR generated DNA fragment deletions over 200 bp with a low frequency in the enoki genome. The functional annotation of the genes with non-synonymous mutation indicated that UVR could produce abundant mutations in a short period of time.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030227
Authors: Andrea Grassi Claudia Cafarchia Nicola Decaro Wafa Rhimi Vittoriana De Laurentiis Giulia D’Annunzio Andrea Luppi Paola Prati
This study reports a peculiar case of systemic candidiasis infection associated with pulmonary aspergillosis in an apparently immunocompetent alpaca. A captive 7-year-old female alpaca exhibited respiratory symptoms, underwent treatment with benzylpenicillin and dexamethasone, and succumbed to the infection 40 days later. During the post-mortem examination, subcutaneous emphysema, widespread pneumonia with multiple suppurative foci, scattered necro-suppurative lesions throughout the renal and hepatic parenchyma were evident. Histopathological analysis of the collected tissues revealed multifocal mild lymphoplasmacytic chronic interstitial nephritis, necro-suppurative pneumonia with the presence of fungal hyphae, multifocal foci of mineralization, and fibrosis in the liver. Fungal cultures confirmed the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus from the lungs, and Candida albicans from the liver, kidney, and heart. The only recognizable risk factor for candidiasis and pulmonary aspergillosis in this case was prior corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy. Nevertheless, it is crucial to consider systemic candidosis and pulmonary aspergillosis as potential differential diagnoses in respiratory infections among camelids. Prolonged treatment with glucocorticoids and antibiotics should be avoided as it could represent a risk factor for the onset of pathologies caused by opportunistic fungi such as Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030226
Authors: Zexing Jin Guiwei Wang Timothy S. George Lin Zhang
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi engage in symbiosis with more than 80% of terrestrial plants, enlarging root phosphorus (P) absorption volume by producing extensive extraradical hyphae (ERH) in the soil. In addition, AM fungi recruit and cooperate with soil bacteria to enhance soil organic P mobilization and improve fungal and plant fitness through hyphal exudates. However, the role of the dominant compounds in the hyphal exudates in enhancing organic P mobilization in the mycorrhizal pathway is still not well understood. In this study, we added sugars, i.e., glucose, fructose, and trehalose, which are detected in the hyphal exudates, to the hyphal compartments (HCs) that allowed the ERH of the AM fungus to grow or not. The results showed that in AM fungus-inoculated pots, adding three sugars at a concentration of 2 mmol C kg−1 soil significantly increased the phosphatase activity and facilitated the mobilization of organic P in the HCs. The addition of fructose at a concentration of 2 mmol C kg−1 soil was the most efficient in increasing the phosphatase activity and enhancing organic P mobilization. The released inorganic P was then absorbed by the ERH of the AM fungus. The enhanced mobilization of organic P was correlated with the increase in phoD gene number and the changing bacterial community in the presence of fungal hyphae. The sugar addition enriched the relative abundance of some bacterial taxa, e.g., Betaproteobacteriales. Our study suggested that the addition of the sugars by mycorrhizae could be a pivotal strategy in managing P uptake in agricultural production, potentially directing future practices to optimize plant–fungi–bacteria interactions for improved P use efficiency.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030225
Authors: Vesna Lazić Anita Klaus Maja Kozarski Ana Doroški Tomislav Tosti Siniša Simić Jovana Vunduk
The mushroom industry should implement green extraction technologies; however, there is not enough information on the differences between these techniques expressed as the chemical composition of the resulting extract. In this study, selected types of green extraction techniques (GETs) were used on Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) (Fr.) Pilát from Serbia (IS) and Mongolia (IM) to examine the differences that would enable the composition-based technology choices in the mushroom supplement industry. Subcritical water extraction (SWE), microwave-assisted (MW) extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (VAE) were used to prepare the extracts. SWE was performed at two different temperatures (120 and 200 °C), while 96% ethanol, 50% ethanol, and water were used for MW and VAE. The yield, the content of total phenols, total proteins, and carbohydrates, qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, including α- and β- and total glucans, and fatty acids, were determined in the obtained extracts. SWE resulted in a significantly higher yield, total polysaccharide, and glucan content than any other technique. Glucose was the most dominant monosaccharide in the SWE samples, especially those extracted at 200 °C. The MW 50% EtOH extracts showed the highest yield of total phenols. Among the tested phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid was the most dominant. SWE can be recommended as the most efficient method for extracting commercially important compounds, especially glucans and phenols.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030224
Authors: Anshuman Yadav Sudisht K. Sah David S. Perlin Elena Rustchenko
The opportunistic fungus Candida albicans is the leading cause of invasive candidiasis in immune-compromised individuals. Drugs from the echinocandin (ECN) class, including caspofungin, are used as a first line of therapy against invasive candidiasis. The only known mechanism of clinical resistance to ECNs is point mutations in the FKS1 gene, which encodes the drug target. However, many clinical isolates developed decreased ECN susceptibilities in the absence of resistance-associated FKS1 mutations. We have identified 15 C. albicans genes that contribute to decreased drug susceptibility. We explored the expression of these 15 genes in clinical isolates with different levels of ECN susceptibility. We found that these 15 genes are expressed in clinical isolates with or without FKS1 mutations, including those strains that are less susceptible to ECNs. In addition, FKS1 expression was increased in such less susceptible isolates compared to highly susceptible isolates. Similarities of gene expression patterns between isolates with decreased ECN susceptibilities in the absence of FKS1 mutations and clinically resistant isolates with mutations in FKS1 suggest that clinical isolates with decreased ECN susceptibilities may be a precursor to development of resistance.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030223
Authors: Thi Ha Giang Pham Eugene Popov Alina Alexandrova Daria Ivanova Olga Morozova
Two new species of Boletaceae (Hortiboletus rubroreticulatus and Tylopilus aurantiovulpinus) discovered during an investigation of the mycobiota of Central Vietnam (Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve; Ta Dung National Park; Bidoup—Nui Ba National Park; Kon Ka Kinh National Park) are described on the basis of molecular and morphological data. Illustrated descriptions of their macro- and microscopic features and discussion on similar taxa are given. Additionally, eight species which were recorded for the first time in Vietnam are listed and illustrated here. A new combination Kgaria virescens was made for one of these species. These results were confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS1-5.8S-ITS2, nrLSU, and tef1α regions.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030222
Authors: Bhabasha Gyanadeep Utkalaja Satya Ranjan Sahu Sushree Subhashree Parida Narottam Acharya
The incidence of infections caused by Candida species, specifically by drug-resistant isolates, is a major health concern as they can disseminate to and colonize most vital organs, enhancing morbidity and mortality. Several molecular mechanisms have been reported to be involved in drug resistance. These are mostly drug- and isolate-specific. Here, we characterized three different genetically modified strains of C. albicans that were multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and deciphered a uniform mechanism responsible for resistance. DNA polymerase epsilon (Polε) is a leading strand-specific polymerase consisting of four subunits, namely, Pol2, Dpb2, Dpb3, and Dpb4. The deletion of one or both of the Dpb3 and Dpb4 subunits in C. albicans rendered multi-drug resistance. A detailed characterization of these strains revealed that acquired mutagenesis, drug efflux pumps, and other known mechanisms did not play a significant role because the complemented strain showed drug sensitivity. More importantly, the function of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in these knockout strains is critical for reducing susceptibility to several antifungal drugs. Cell wall deformity and composition in these strains can add to such a phenotype. The inhibition of Hsp90 function by geldanamycin and tricostatin A sensitized the MDR strains to antifungals. Considering our earlier research and this report, we suggest that replication stress induces Hsp90 expression and activity in order to orchestrate a cellular stress response circuit and thus develop fungal drug resistance. Thus, Hsp90 is an important drug target for use in combinatorial therapy.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030221
Authors: Tamás Emri Károly Antal Kinga Varga Barnabás Csaba Gila István Pócsi
Pathogens have to cope with oxidative, iron- and carbon(glucose)-limitation stresses in the human body. To understand how combined iron–carbon limitation alters oxidative stress responses, Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured in glucose–peptone or peptone containing media supplemented or not with deferiprone as an iron chelator. Changes in the transcriptome in these cultures were recorded after H2O2 treatment. Responses to oxidative stress were highly dependent on the availability of glucose and iron. Out of the 16 stress responsive antioxidative enzyme genes, only the cat2 catalase–peroxidase gene was upregulated in more than two culturing conditions. The transcriptional responses observed in iron metabolism also varied substantially in these cultures. Only extracellular siderophore production appeared important regardless of culturing conditions in oxidative stress protection, while the enhanced synthesis of Fe-S cluster proteins seemed to be crucial for oxidative stress treated iron-limited and fast growing (glucose rich) cultures. Although pathogens and host cells live together in the same place, their culturing conditions (e.g., iron availability or occurrence of oxidative stress) can be different. Therefore, inhibition of a universally important biochemical process, like Fe-S cluster assembly, may selectively inhibit the pathogen growth in vivo and represent a potential target for antifungal therapy.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030220
Authors: Wen-Qiang Yang Jia-Xin Li Mao-Qiang He Shi-Hui Wang Xin-Yu Zhu Dorji Phurbu Jian-Min Yun Rui-Lin Zhao
The species of Gymnopilus (Hymenogastraceae, Agricales) are commonly recognized as wood-decaying fungi. Certain members of this genus have been identified as psilocybin-producing mushrooms. Gymnopilus exhibits a diverse range and has a global distribution. In this study, a total of seventy-eight specimens were gathered from ten provinces in China. A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted, employing gene sequences including ITS, nrLSU, nrSSU, rpb1, rpb2, and tef1-α. Additionally, morphological examinations were also carried out. The phylogenetic topology of Gymnopilus from this study generally agreed with previous studies and facilitated the identification of all those specimens. As a result, eleven species, including five newly discovered ones named Gy. gyirongensis, Gy. variisporus, Gy. tomentosiceps, Gy. tenuibasidialis, and Gy. aurantipileatus, were recognized. Significantly, four of the five newly identified species are native to the Xizang Autonomous Region, emphasizing their specialization in this distinctive habitat. This research contributes to our comprehension of Gymnopilus diversity and lays the groundwork for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Gymnopilus resources.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030219
Authors: Isha Gautam Kalpana Singh Malitha C. Dickwella Widanage Jayasubba Reddy Yarava Tuo Wang
The fungal cell wall plays a critical role in regulating cellular integrity and communication, and serves as a frontline defense against stress. It is also a prime target for the development of antifungal agents. The cell wall is comprised of diverse polysaccharides and proteins and poses a challenging target for high-resolution structural characterization. Recently, the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) analysis of intact Aspergillus fumigatus cells has provided atomic-level insights into the structural polymorphism and functional assembly principles of carbohydrate components within the cell wall. This physical perspective, alongside structural information from biochemical assays, offers a renewed understanding of the cell wall as a highly complex and dynamic organelle. Here, we summarize key conceptual advancements in the structural elucidation of A. fumigatus mycelial and conidial cell walls and their responses to stressors. We also highlight underexplored areas and discuss the opportunities facilitated by technical advancements in ssNMR spectroscopy.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030218
Authors: Alejandra Calderón-Hernández Nelly Castro-Bonilla Mariamalia Cob-Delgado
Yeast infections are challenging human and animal medicine due to low rates of detection and the emergence of unknown ecology isolates. The aim of this study was to verify the biochemical identification of yeasts and yeast-like microorganisms obtained from animals comparing the results with chromogenic media and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF MS). Between January and August 2023, yeast and yeast-like isolates from samples of animals with suspicion of mycosis were identified using Vitek® 2 Compact, Brilliance® Candida Agar and MALDI Biotyper® MSP. A total of 39 cases were included, and 45 isolations were obtained. Cryptococcus neoformans (15.5%, 7/45), Meyerozyma guilliermondii (13.3%, 6/45), Candida parapsilosis (11.1%, 5/45), Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis (8.9%, each one 4/45) were the most identified organisms. There was full agreement with the three identification methods in 71.1% (32/45) of the isolates, disagreement on species in 17.8% (8/45), disagreement on genus and species in 6.7% (3/45) and, in 4.4% (2/45), there was no matched pattern in MALDI-TOF to compare the results. Biochemical methods are a good option in laboratories where proteomics are not available, and chromogenic media enhances diagnostics by detecting mixed infections. Surveillance must be implemented to improve the detection of agents shared between humans and animals.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030217
Authors: Ying Zhou Ishara S. Manawasinghe Zhizheng He Wei Zhang Mei Liu Jinyan Song Shifang Li Zaifeng Fan Jiye Yan
Peach (Prunus persica L.) is one of the most important and oldest stone fruits grown in China. Even though P. persica is one of the most commonly grown stone fruits in China, little is known about the biodiversity of microfungi associated with peach branch diseases. In the present study, samples were collected from a wide range of peach growing areas in China, and fungal pathogens associated with peach branch diseases were isolated. In total, 85 isolates were obtained and further classified into nine genera and 10 species. Most of the isolates belonged to Botryosphaeriaceae (46), including Botryosphaeria, Diplodia, Neofusicoccum, Phaeobotryon, and Lasiodiplodia species; Ascochyta, Didymella, and Nothophoma species representing Didymellaceae were also identified. Herein, we introduce Ascochyta prunus and Lasiodiplodia pruni as novel species. In addition, we report the first records of Nothophoma pruni, Neofusicoccum occulatum, and Phaeobotryon rhois on peach worldwide, and Didymella glomerata, Nothophoma quercina, and Phaeoacremonium scolyti are the first records from China. This research is the first comprehensive investigation to explore the microfungi associated with peach branch disease in China. Future studies are necessary to understand the pathogenicity and disease epidemiology of these identified species.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030216
Authors: Klaus Klug Pinkuan Zhu Patrick Pattar Tobias Mueller Nassim Safari Frederik Sommer Claudio A. Valero-Jiménez Jan A. L. van Kan Bruno Huettel Kurt Stueber David Scheuring Michael Schroda Matthias Hahn
While Botrytis cinerea causes gray mold on many plants, its close relative, Botrytis fabae, is host-specifically infecting predominantly faba bean plants. To explore the basis for its narrow host range, a gapless genome sequence of B. fabae strain G12 (BfabG12) was generated. The BfabG12 genome encompasses 45.0 Mb, with 16 chromosomal telomere-to-telomere contigs that show high synteny and sequence similarity to the corresponding B. cinerea B05.10 (BcB0510) chromosomes. Compared to BcB0510, it is 6% larger, due to many AT-rich regions containing remnants of transposable elements, but encodes fewer genes (11,420 vs. 11,707), due to losses of chromosomal segments with up to 20 genes. The coding capacity of BfabG12 is further reduced by nearly 400 genes that had been inactivated by mutations leading to truncations compared to their BcB0510 orthologues. Several species-specific gene clusters for secondary metabolite biosynthesis with stage-specific expression were identified. Comparison of the proteins secreted during infection revealed high similarities, including 17 phytotoxic proteins that were detected in both species. Our data indicate that evolution of the host-specific B. fabae occurred from an ancestral pathogen with wide host range similar to B. cinerea and was accompanied by losses and degeneration of genes, thereby reducing its pathogenic flexibility.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030215
Authors: Jing Luo Kumar Ganesan Baojun Xu
Aging is a complex biological process that is influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Recently, it has been discovered that reactive oxygen species can accelerate the aging process, leading to an increased incidence of age-related diseases that are characteristic of aging. This review aims to discuss the potential of mushrooms as a dietary intervention for anti-aging, focusing on their nutritional perspective. Mushrooms contain various bioactive compounds, including carbohydrates, bioactive proteins, fungal lipids, and phenolic compounds. These compounds have shown promising effectiveness in combating skin aging and age-related diseases. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that treatments with mushrooms or their extracts can significantly extend lifespan and improve health span. Furthermore, studies have aimed to elucidate the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms of action and the structure–activity relationship of mushroom bioactive compounds. These findings provide a strong basis for further research, including human clinical trials and nutritional investigations, to explore the potential benefits of mushrooms in real-life anti-aging practices. By exploring the anti-aging effects of mushrooms, this review aims to provide valuable insights that can contribute to the development of broader strategies for healthy aging.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030214
Authors: Paschalis Paranos Ana Espinel-Ingroff Joseph Meletiadis
Commercial tests are often employed in clinical microbiology laboratories for antifungal susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi. Method-dependent epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) have been defined in order to detect non-wild-type (NWT) isolates harboring resistance mechanisms. We reviewed the literature in order to find studies where commercial methods were used to evaluate for in vitro susceptibility of filamentous fungi and assess their ability to detect NWT isolates according to the available ECVs. Data were found for the gradient concentration strips Etest and MIC Test Strips (MTS), broth microdilution Sensititre YeastOne (SYO), Micronaut-AM and the agar dilution VIPcheck assays. Applying itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole Etest ECVs for A. fumigatus, Etest was able to detect 90.3% (84/93), 61.2% (90/147) and 86% (31/36) of isolates with known cyp51A mutations, respectively. Moreover, Etest also was able to detect 3/3 fks mutants using caspofungin ECVs and 2/3 micafungin mutant isolates. Applying the voriconazole and posaconazole SYO ECVs, 57.7% (67/116) and 100% (47/47) of mutants with known cyp51A substitutions were classified as NWT, respectively. VIPcheck detected 90.3% (159/176), 80.1% (141/176) and 66% (141/176)of mutants via itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole, respectively, whereas Micronaut-AM detected 88% (22/25). In conclusion, Etest posaconazole and itraconazole, as well as micafungin and caspofungin ECVs, detected A. fumigatus mutants. On the other hand, while the posaconazole SYO ECV was able to detect cyp51A mutants, similar data were not observed with the SYO voriconazole ECV.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030213
Authors: Meimei Zhang Qiyuan An Yingzhe Wang Shigan Ye Xiaoliang Zhu
Candida albicans is a clinically significant opportunistic fungus that is generally treated with antifungal drugs such as itraconazole and fluconazole. However, the recent emergence of fungal resistance has made treatment increasingly difficult. Therefore, novel antifungal treatment methods are urgently required. Hexanol ethosome photodynamic therapy (HE-PDT) is a method that uses photosensitizers (PS), such as hexanol ethosome, to exert antifungal effects, and can be used to treat resistant fungal strains. However, due to the high dose of PS required for antifungal treatment, excess photosensitizers may remain. Furthermore, once exposed to light, normal tissues or cells are damaged after photodynamic therapy, which limits the clinical application of HE-PDT. Therefore, improving the efficacy without increasing the dose is the key to this treatment. In this study, the antifungal effect of copper sulfate combined with HE-PDT was investigated, and its mechanism was explored. The results suggested that exogenous copper sulfate significantly increased the antifungal effect of HE-PDT by enhancing the rate of C. albicans inhibition, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, increasing the rate of apoptosis, and altering the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP concentration, which is related to the downregulation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF1) expression. In conclusion, copper sulfate combined with photodynamic therapy significantly inhibited the activity of C. albicans by inducing apoptosis. The combined approach reported herein provides new insights for future antifungal therapy.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030212
Authors: Ninghong Ren Lei Wang Chongjuan You
Diplodia tip blight, caused by Diplodia sapinea (=Sphaeropsis sapinea), are widely distributed in Honghuaerji, Inner Mongolia, China, causing severe damage on natural Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica). D. sapinea is an endophyte that becomes pathogenic under conditions of drought, hail damage, or temperature-associated stress. The role of the endophytic community inhabiting different pine tissues in the expression of disease is still unknown. In this study, the diversity and community structure of endophytic fungi among asymptomatic and symptomatic Mongolian pine were detected using culture-based isolation and high-throughput sequencing (HTS), and the potential antagonistic endophytes against D. sapinea were also screened. The results indicated that 198 and 235 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from different tissues of symptomatic and asymptomatic Mongolian pine, respectively. D. sapinea was the most common endophyte isolated from the current-year needles and shoots of symptomatic trees, and Diplodia was also the most common in the HTS data. There were no significant differences in the endophytic fungal species richness among asymptomatic and symptomatic trees, but there were differences observed within specific sampled tissues. The ANOSIM analysis confirmed that the endophytic fungi community structure significantly differed between sampling tissues among symptomatic and asymptomatic Mongolian pine. Furthermore, the antagonism study revealed Penicillium fructuariae-cellae with the ability to inhibit the growth of D. sapinea in vitro, and the potential performance of this fungus, acting as biological control agent, was evaluated under greenhouse. Our findings can pave the way to a better understanding of the interactions between D. sapinea, other endophytic fungi and their hosts, and provide helpful information for more efficient disease management strategies.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030211
Authors: Jinhua Zhang Mengya An Yanliu Chen Shengkun Wang Junfeng Liang
Suillus bovinus is a wild edible ectomycorrhizal fungus with important economic and ecological value, which often forms an ectomycorrhiza with pine trees. We know little about the mechanisms associated with the metabolism and symbiosis of S. bovinus and its effects on the nutritional value. In this study, the whole-genome sequencing of S. bovinus was performed using Illumina, HiFi, and Hi-C technologies, and the sequencing data were subjected to genome assembly, gene prediction, and functional annotation to obtain a high-quality chromosome-level genome of S. bovinus. The final assembly of the S. bovinus genome includes 12 chromosomes, with a total length of 43.03 Mb, a GC content of 46.58%, and a contig N50 size of 3.78 Mb. A total of 11,199 coding protein sequences were predicted from genome annotation. The S. bovinus genome contains a large number of small secreted proteins (SSPs) and genes that encode enzymes related to carbohydrates, as well as genes related to terpenoids, auxin, and lipochitooligosaccharides. These genes may contribute to symbiotic processes. The whole-genome sequencing and genetic information provide a theoretical basis for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of the mycorrhizal symbiosis of S. bovinus and can serve as a reference for comparative genomics of ectomycorrhizal fungi.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030210
Authors: Jose Lucio Irene Gonzalez-Jimenez Alejandra Roldan Jorge Amich Laura Alcazar-Fuoli Emilia Mellado
One of the systems responsible for the recognition and repair of mistakes occurring during cell replication is the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. Two major protein complexes constitute the MMR pathway: MutS and MutL. Here, we investigated the possible relation of four A. fumigatus MMR genes (msh2, msh6, pms1, and mlh1) with the development of azole resistance related to the phenomenon of multi-drug resistance. We examined the MMR gene variations in 163 Aspergillus fumigatus genomes. Our analysis showed that genes msh2, pms1, and mlh1 have low genetic variability and do not seem to correlate with drug resistance. In contrast, there is a nonsynonymous mutation (G240A) in the msh6 gene that is harbored by 42% of the strains, most of them also harboring the TR34/L98H azole resistance mechanism in cyp51A. The msh6 gene was deleted in the akuBKU80 A. fumigatus strain, and the ∆msh6 isolates were analyzed for fitness, azole susceptibility, and virulence capacity, showing no differences compared with the akuBKU80 parental strain. Wild-type msh6 and Δmsh6 strains were grown on high concentrations of azole and other non-azole fungicides used in crop protection. A 10- and 2-fold higher mutation frequency in genes that confer resistance to boscalid and benomyl, respectively, were observed in Δmsh6 strains compared to the wild-type. This study suggests a link between Msh6 and fungicide resistance acquisition.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030209
Authors: Betsy Verónica Arévalo-Jaimes Eduard Torrents
Viability and vitality assays play a crucial role in assessing the effectiveness of novel therapeutic approaches, with stain-based methods providing speed and objectivity. However, their application in yeast research lacks consensus. This study aimed to assess the performance of four common dyes on C. parapsilosis planktonic cells as well as sessile cells that form well-structured biofilms (treated and not treated with amphotericin B). Viability assessment employed Syto-9 (S9), thiazole orange (TO), and propidium iodide (PI). Metabolic activity was determined using fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and FUN-1. Calcofluor white (CW) served as the cell visualization control. Viability/vitality percentage of treated samples were calculated for each dye from confocal images and compared to crystal violet and PrestoBlue results. Heterogeneity in fluorescence intensity and permeability issues were observed with S9, TO, and FDA in planktonic cells and biofilms. This variability, influenced by cell morphology, resulted in dye-dependent viability/vitality percentages. Notably, PI and FUN-1 exhibited robust C. parapsilosis staining, with FUN-1 vitality results comparable to PrestoBlue. Our finding emphasizes the importance of evaluating dye permeability in yeast species beforehand, incorporating cell visualization controls. An improper dye selection may lead to misinterpreting treatment efficacy.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030208
Authors: Chenming Zhao Xiaoyue Yang Wenqiang Jiang Guifen Zhang Dongfang Ma
GDP-mannose transporters (GMTs) have been implicated in the virulence of some important pathogenic fungi, and guanosine diphosphate (GDP) mannose transporters transport GDP-mannose from the cytosol to the Golgi lumen prior to mannosylation, where mannose attaches to the modified protein. GMTs could be potential targets for new antifungal drugs, as disruption of any step in GDP-mannose biosynthesis can affect fungal viability, growth, or virulence. To date, the GDP-mannose transporter has been extensively studied in yeast, but its biological function in fungi, particularly F. graminearum, is still unclear. In this experimental study, the role of the GDP-mannose transporter in F. graminearum was investigated by analysing the VRG4 gene. FgGmtA and FgGmtB were blastp-derived from their Scvrg4 protein sequences and proved to be their functional homologues. The mutant and complementary strains of FgGmtA, FgGmtB and FgGmtA&B genes were generated and used to evaluate the effect of the two GMTs genes on mycelial growth, asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, cell wall sensitivity, glyphosate synthesis and drug susceptibility. Only in the FgGmtB and FgGmtA&B mutants was the rate of mycelial growth slowed, conidium production increased, sexual reproduction impaired, cell wall sensitivity increased, glycemic content decreased, and drug sensitivity reduced. The results of the pathogenicity assessment of GMTs showed that only FgGmtB affects the patogenicity of F. graminearum. At the same time, the effect of GMTs on the ability of rhinoceros to synthesise DON toxins was investigated and the results showed that the ability of ΔFgGmtB and ΔFgGmtA&B mutants to produce the DON toxin was significantly reduced, and the expression of toxin-related genes was also reduced.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030207
Authors: Nadielle Tamires Moreira Melo Ana Caroline de Oliveira Junqueira Letícia Ferreira Lima Kamila Botelho Sampaio de Oliveira Micaela Cristiane Gomes dos Reis Octávio Luiz Franco Hugo Costa Paes
Lactic acid (LA) production has seen significant progress over the past ten years. LA has seen increased economic importance due to its broadening use in different sectors such as the food, medicine, polymer, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. LA production bioprocesses using microorganisms are economically viable compared to chemical synthesis and can benefit from metabolic engineering for improved productivity, purity, and yield. Strategies to optimize LA productivity in microorganisms on the strain improvement end include modifying metabolic routes, adding gene coding for lactate transporters, inducing tolerance to organic acids, and choosing cheaper carbon sources as fuel. Many of the recent advances in this regard have involved the metabolic engineering of yeasts and filamentous fungi to produce LA due to their versatility in fuel choice and tolerance of industrial-scale culture conditions such as pH and temperature. This review aims to compile and discuss metabolic engineering innovations in LA production in yeasts and filamentous fungi over the 2013–2023 period, and present future directions of research in this area, thus bringing researchers in the field up to date with recent advances.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030206
Authors: Patricia Moya Salvador Chiva Tamara Pazos Eva Barreno Pedro Carrasco Lucia Muggia Isaac Garrido-Benavent
Ramalina farinacea is a widely distributed epiphytic lichen from the Macaronesian archipelagos to Mediterranean and Boreal Europe. Previous studies have indicated a specific association between R. farinacea and Trebouxia microalgae species. Here, we examined the symbiotic interactions in this lichen and its closest allies (the so-called “R. farinacea group”) across ten biogeographic subregions, spanning diverse macroclimates, analyzing the climatic niche of the primary phycobionts, and discussing the specificity of these associations across the studied area. The most common phycobionts in the “R. farinacea group” were T. jamesii and T. lynnae, which showed a preference for continentality and insularity, respectively. The Canarian endemic R. alisiosae associated exclusively with T. lynnae, while the other Ramalina mycobionts interacted with both microalgae. The two phycobionts exhibited extensive niche overlap in an area encompassing Mediterranean, temperate Europe, and Macaronesian localities. However, T. jamesii occurred in more diverse climate types, whereas T. lynnae preferred warmer and more humid climates, often close to the sea, which could be related to its tolerance to salinity. With the geographical perspective gained in this study, it was possible to show how the association with different phycobionts may shape the ecological adaptation of lichen symbioses.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030205
Authors: Qian Zhou Qianquan Jiang Xin Yang Jiawei Yang Changlin Zhao Jian Zhao
In this present study, five new wood-inhabiting fungal taxa, Botryobasidium gossypirubiginosum, Botryobasidium incanum, Botryobasidium yunnanense, Coltricia zixishanensis, and Coltriciella yunnanensis are proposed. Botryobasidium gossypirubiginosum is distinguished by its slightly rubiginous hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, which branches at right angles, and subglobose, smooth basidiospores (14–17.5 × 13–15.5 µm); B. incanum is characterized by its white to incanus basidiomata having a hypochnoid hymenial surface, and ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores (6.5–8.5 × 3.5–5 µm); B. yunnanense is characterized by its buff to slightly yellowish hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, and broadly ellipsoid to globose, smooth, thick-walled basidiospores (11.5–14.5 × 9.5–10.5 µm); Coltricia zixishanensis differs in its rust brown pileal surface, and ellipsoid, thick-walled basidiospores (5–6.5 × 4–4.5 µm). Coltriciella yunnanensis is distinguished by its tiny pilei, short stipe, and navicular, verrucose basidiospores (10.5–12.5 × 6–7 µm). Sequences of ITS and nLSU genes were used for phylogenetic analyses using the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic results inferred from ITS sequences revealed that B. gossypirubiginosum was closely related to B. robustius; the species B. incanum was grouped with B. vagum; B. yunnanense was related to B. indicum. The species C. zixishanensis was grouped with C. confluens and C. perennis. ITS sequences revealed that C. zixishanensis was grouped into the genus Coltriciella, in which it was grouped with Co. globosa and Co. pseudodependens.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030204
Authors: Yoshiki Takata Celynne Ocampo-Padilla Mike Andre C. Malonzo Dan Charlie Joy Camara Pangilinan Shunsuke Nozawa Kyoko Watanabe
Similar to cacao pod rot, cherelle wilt decreases production from cacao fields. Among all known fungal pathogens of the cacao, Colletotrichum spp. are common infectious agents that affect the cherelles and pods of cacao; thus, cacao diseases are often classified by stage. Therefore, knowing whether these pathogens are common in both fruit stages is necessary for implementing disease control measures. Symptoms of cherelle wilt were found in cacao plants in Pangasinan, Philippines, in 2022. The fungal strain obtained from the lesion was found to be pathogenic towards cherelles, but not towards pods. The strain was classified as an unknown species belonging to the gigasporum species complex, based on the morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS, GAPDH, CHS1, ACT, and TUB2. We propose Colletotrichum kapreanum sp. nov. as a causal agent of cacao cherelle wilt, but not pod rot.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030203
Authors: Violeta Díaz-Sánchez Marta Castrillo Jorge García-Martínez Javier Avalos M. Carmen Limón
The phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium fujikuroi has a rich secondary metabolism which includes the synthesis of very different metabolites in response to diverse environmental cues, such as light or nitrogen. Here, we focused our attention on fusarins, a class of mycotoxins whose synthesis is downregulated by nitrogen starvation. Previous data showed that mutants of genes involved in carotenoid regulation (carS, encoding a RING finger protein repressor), light detection (wcoA, White Collar photoreceptor), and cAMP signaling (AcyA, adenylate cyclase) affect the synthesis of different metabolites. We studied the effect of these mutations on fusarin production and the expression of the fus1 gene, which encodes the key polyketide synthase of the pathway. We found that the three proteins are positive regulators of fusarin synthesis, especially WcoA and AcyA, linking light regulation to cAMP signaling. Genes for two other photoreceptors, the cryptochrome CryD and the Vivid flavoprotein VvdA, were not involved in fusarin regulation. In most cases, there was a correspondence between fusarin production and fus1 mRNA, indicating that regulation is mainly exerted at the transcriptional level. We conclude that fusarin synthesis is subject to a complex control involving regulators from different signaling pathways.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030202
Authors: Zhong-Ping Hao Lei Sheng Zeng-Bei Feng Wei-Xin Fei Shu-Min Hou
Aphids and Sclerotinia stem rot in oilseed rape are often studied in isolation, and their relationship is rarely explored. Our field studies have revealed a significant positive correlation between the number of aphids and the incidence of Sclerotinia stem rot. Hence, starting with the colonizing stages of the two pests, Breveroryne brassicae was assessed for its potential to acquire, transmit, and inoculate Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by being sprayed with an ascospore suspension. Moreover, distinctions in aphid feeding behavior were examined between aphids on inoculated/uninoculated winter and spring oilseed rape plants or aphids, both with and without S. sclerotiorum ascospores, using electropenetrography (EPG). The results showed that aphid feeding followed by dropping ascospore suspension significantly increased the incidence of S. sclerotiorum. Ascospores were able to adhere to aphids and were carried by aphids to healthy plants, causing disease. The results of the EPG analysis indicated that aphid feeding behavior was significantly altered in all leaf tissue levels following infection with S. sclerotiorum. Specifically, aphids initiated their first puncture significantly sooner, began probing mesophyll cells earlier, had a significantly shorter pathway duration, and secreted saliva more frequently but reduced salivation prior to feeding and ingestion compared to aphids feeding on uninfected oilseed rape. Additionally, the feeding behavior of aphids carrying ascospores was markedly different from that of aphids not carrying ascospores, implying that ascospores directly influence aphid feeding behavior but that this influence appeared to be beneficial only for S. sclerotiorum infection. Aphids carrying ascospores started to puncture cells more quickly, with a significant increase in the frequency and duration of short probes and cell punctures, shortened pathway durations, and reduced salivation before feeding compared to aphids not carrying ascospores. It is clear that there is an interaction between aphids and S. sclerotiorum. The impact of S. sclerotiorum on aphid feeding behavior is directional, favoring the spread of the fungus.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030201
Authors: Cristina Jiménez-Ortigosa Jennifer Jiang Muyuan Chen Xuyuan Kuang Kelley R. Healey Paul Castellano Nikpreet Boparai Steven J. Ludtke David S. Perlin Wei Dai
The authors wish to update the article title to “Cryo-Electron Tomography of Candida glabrata Plasma Membrane Proteins” [...]
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030200
Authors: Kholoud M. Alananbeh Viviana Rivera Ivette Acuña Bravo Gary Secor Neil C. Gudmestad
Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) Hughes is an asexual fungus with five vegetative compatibility groups. It was postulated that C. coccodes was isolated at the center of origin of potato at one time, and due to the movement of potato around the globe, the fungus was established on each continent but became bottlenecked and genetically unable to form stable heterokaryons via vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG) studies. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine if the VCGs around the world are related to the VCGs in Chile, (ii) to determine the diversity of C. coccodes populations in Chile, and (iii) to find any evidence for a cryptic sexual life cycle for this fungus. Worldwide C. coccodes populations have been found to be genetically correlated and belong to one or more C. coccodes-identified VCGs. The most distributed VCG in Chile was VCG2, which is the most common VCG in North America. We hypothesize that one or more VCGs had spread from Chile to the rest of the world. Precautions and further studies should be investigated by using other molecular markers and gene sequencing.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030199
Authors: Ross Joseph Constance Darrisaw Aaron Lloyd David Hoel Nemat O. Keyhani
Only a handful of microbial mosquito larval pathogens have been described to date. Sampling several natural enzootic infections of mosquito larvae in southwestern Florida indicated the presence of microbial pathogens capable of extensive larval mortality. A microscopic analysis of one sample site revealed extensive apparent growth of a Pythium-like microbe on mosquito larvae, with the highest degree of infection observed in the siphon and head regions. Structures consistent with sporangia were seen on infected insects after lactophenol blue staining, and higher-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed sporangia and encysted zoospores targeting the head and siphon regions. The isolate was single-colony purified, and molecular identification targeting the ITS and COX1 loci coupled to phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the isolate belonged to the Pythium genus but was distinct from its closest characterized species, P. inflatum. Morphological features were characterized, with the isolate showing rapid growth on all mycological media tested and relatively high thermotolerance, capable of robust growth at 37 °C; hence, it was designated P. thermoculicivorax. Sampling from a second series of natural infections of mosquito larvae resulted in the molecular identification of three Trichoderma isolates, one with high similarity to T. strigosum and the other two clustering closely with T. asperellum. These data highlight the occurrence of natural enzootic infections of mosquito larvae, potentially as a resource for the identification of new mosquito pathogens.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030198
Authors: Emily L. Coffey Liang Ma Ousmane H. Cissé Joseph A. Kovacs Katie M. Minor Antti Sukura Patrizia Danesi Steven G. Friedenberg Jonah N. Cullen Christiane Weissenbacher-Lang Julie C. Nadeau Amber M. Graham Martin N. Granick Natalie K. Branson Kyle C. Branson Barbara Blasi Casandra M. Jacobs Eva Furrow
Pet dogs are a valuable natural animal model for studying relationships between primary immunodeficiencies and susceptibility to Pneumocystis and other opportunistic respiratory pathogens. Certain breeds, such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, are over-represented for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), suggesting the presence of a primary immunodeficiency in the breed. Here, we report the discovery of a CARMIL2 nonsense variant in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs with either PCP (n = 2) or refractory Bordetella pneumonia (n = 1). CARMIL2 encodes a protein that plays critical roles in T-cell activation and other aspects of immune function. Deleterious CARMIL2 variants have recently been reported in human patients with PCP and other recurrent pneumonias. In addition to opportunistic respiratory infection, the affected dogs also exhibited other clinical manifestations of CARMIL2 deficiencies that have been reported in humans, including early-onset gastrointestinal disease, allergic skin disease, mucocutaneous lesions, abscesses, autoimmune disorders, and gastrointestinal parasitism. This discovery highlights the potential utility of a natural canine model in identifying and studying primary immunodeficiencies in patients affected by PCP.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030197
Authors: Kirill Smirnov Florian Weiss Anna-Maria Hatzl Lukas Rieder Kjeld Olesen Sanne Jensen Anton Glieder
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-based technologies are powerful, programmable tools for site-directed genome modifications. After successful adaptation and efficient use of CRISPR-Cas9 for genome engineering in methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii, a broader variety of employable endonucleases was desired to increase the experimental flexibility and to provide alternatives in case there are specific legal restrictions in industrial research due to the intellectual property rights (IPRs) of third parties. MAD7, an engineered Class 2 Type V Cas nuclease, was promoted as a royalty-free alternative for academic and industrial research and developed by Inscripta (Pleasanton, CA, USA). In this study, for the first time, CRISPR-MAD7 was used for genome editing in K. phaffii with a high gene-editing rate (up to 90%), as demonstrated for the three targeted genes coding for glycerol kinase 1 (GUT1), red fluorescence protein (DsRed), and zeocin resistance gene (Sh ble). Additionally, the genome-editing efficiencies of the CRISPR-MAD7 and CRISPR-Cas9 systems were systematically compared by targeting 259 kinase genes in K. phaffii. In this broad testing, the CRISPR-Cas9 had a higher genome-editing rate of about 65%, in comparison to the applied CRISPR-MAD7 toolbox (about 23%).
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030196
Authors: Yulian Wei Jianbin Xue Jiangtao Shi Tong Li Haisheng Yuan
In forest ecosystems, most of the soil organic matter is derived from trees, as deadwood lignocellulose and wood-decaying basidiomycetes are the most important decomposers of lignin and cellulose. Fomes fomentarius is one of the most common white-rot fungi colonizing angiosperm trees and is often found in birch deadwood but seldom in pine deadwood. To reveal the mechanism through which F. fomentarius selects angiosperms as its preferred host trees, birch and pinewood sticks were selected for culturing for two months. The weight loss, cellulose and lignin degradation rates, activities of degrading enzymes, and transcriptome analyses of two degradation models were compared and analyzed. The results showed that F. fomentarius-degraded birchwood with higher efficiency than pinewood. A GO enrichment analysis found that more upregulated genes related to the top 30 terms showed a molecular function related to degradation, and most genes belonged to the CAZymes family in F. fomentarius-degraded birchwood. However, pinewood degradation did not show these phenomena. A KEGG pathway analysis also indicated that, for the same pathway, more upregulated genes were involved in birchwood degradation caused by F. fomentarius than in pinewood degradation.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030195
Authors: Kaize Shen Yu Xiong Yanfang Liu Xingwang Fan Rui Zhu Zumao Hu Congying Li Yan Hua
Polygala crotalarioides, a perennial herbaceous plant found in southwest China, has the potential to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Endophytic fungi that reside within medicinal herbs play an important ecological role in their host plants and can serve as a valuable source for identifying active components. However, little is known about the diversity, and structure of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides. In this study, we investigated the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi in the leaves, stems, and roots of P. crotalarioides at both 1- and 2-year-growth stages using a modern culture-independent method using both culture-independent (high-throughput sequencing, HTS) and culture-based methods. Using HTS, our results revealed that the richness and diversity of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides varied depending on the organs and growth stages. Specifically, stems and leaves exhibited significantly higher diversity compared to roots. Additionally, the highest diversity of endophytic fungi was observed in the stems of the 2-year-old plants. At the genus level, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, and Phoma were the most abundant endophytic fungi in 1-year-old samples, while Cercospora, Apiotrichum, and Fusarium were prevalent in 2-year-old samples. A total of 55 endophytic fungal strains belonging to two phyla and 24 genera were isolated from 150 plant tissue segments using culture-based methods. The anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of these isolates was evaluated in vitro and five of them, Phialophora mustea PCAM010, Diaporthe nobilis PCBM027, Fusarium oxysporum LP41, F. oxysporum SR60, and Phoma herbarum SM81, showed strong activity (>50% inhibition rate). These findings will serve as a theoretical basis and practical guide for comprehending the structural composition, biological diversity and bioactivity of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030194
Authors: Yinglian Deng Jinfa Li Changlin Zhao Jian Zhao
Four new wood-inhabiting fungi were found in Southwestern China within the genera Phanerochaete, Phlebiopsis, Asterostroma, and Vararia of the families Phanerochaetaceae and Peniophoraceae, belonging to the orders Polyporales and Russulales individually. Combined with their morphological characteristics and molecular biological evidence, the present study describes them as new fungal taxa. Asterostroma yunnanense is characterized by the resupinate, membranaceous to pellicular basidiomata with a cream to salmon-buff hymenial surface, hyphal system dimitic bearing simple-septa, thin- to thick-walled, yellowish brown asterosetae with acute tips, and thin-walled, echinulate, amyloid, globose basidiospores. Phanerochaete tongbiguanensis is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with a white to cream hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa generative hyphae, the presence of subclavate cystidia covered with a lot of crystals, and oblong ellipsoid basidiospores (6–9 × 3–4.5 µm). Phlebiopsis fissurata is characterized by the membranaceous, tuberculate basidiomata with a buff to slightly brown hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa, conical cystidia, and broadly ellipsoid. Vararia yingjiangensis is characterized by a corky basidiomata with a pinkish buff to cinnamon-buff hymenial surface, cracking, yellowish dichohyphae with slightly curved tips, subulate gloeocystidia, and thick-walled, ellipsoid basidiospores (6.5–11.5 × 5–7 µm). The phylogenetic analyses of ITS + nLSU revealed that the two new species were nested into the genera Phanerochaete and Phlebiopsis within the family Phanerochaetaceae (Polyporales), in which Phanerochaete tongbiguanensis was sister to P. daliensis; Phlebiopsis fissurata was grouped with P. lamprocystidiata. Two new species were clustered into the genera Asterostroma and Vararia within the family Peniophoraceae (Russulales), in which Asterostroma yunnanense was sister to A. cervicolor; Vararia yingjiangensis formed a single branch.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030193
Authors: Eun Jeong Won Heungsup Sung Mi-Na Kim
This study assessed the changes in Candida species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic compared with a pre-pandemic period in Korea. We retrospectively investigated the specimen, species type, and antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolates obtained between 2016 and 2022. Data between two periods were compared: 2016–2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020–2022 (pandemic). We included 11,396 clinical isolates of Candida species (5137 isolates in the pre-pandemic and 6259 isolates in the pandemic). The most prevalent species was Candida albicans (50.4%), followed by Candida glabrata (22.7%), Candida tropicalis (12.5%), and Candida parapsilosis complex (12.5%). Their ranks were unchanged; however, their relative isolation ratios varied during the pandemic, exhibiting differences ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 across species. The incidence of candidemia increased during the pandemic (average 1.79 episodes per 10,000 patient days) compared with pre-pandemic levels (average 1.45 episodes per 10,000 patient days) in both intensive-care-unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients. Additionally, C. parapsilosis complex candidemia increased by 1.6-fold during the pandemic. During the pandemic, C. albicans and C. tropicalis candidemia significantly increased by 1.5- and 1.4-fold in ICU patients. In contrast, C. parapsilosis complex candidemia surged 2.1-fold in non-ICU patients. These species exhibited reduced resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin in the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic. This study underscores the heightened incidence of Candida-related infections during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the importance of ongoing surveillance of Candida species epidemiology beyond the pandemic’s scope.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030192
Authors: Amjad N. Kanj Joseph H. Skalski
This review explores the ‘gut–lung axis’ in asthma with a focus on commensal fungal organisms. We explore how changes to the intestinal commensal fungal community composition alter lung immune function. We comprehensively review available studies that have profiled the composition of the gut mycobiome in adults and children with asthma, and discuss mechanisms of gut–lung interactions that have been described in animal models of asthma. Studies indicate that intestinal fungal dysbiosis, such as an increased abundance of certain fungi like Candida, can elevate the risk of asthma in children and exacerbate it in adults. This effect is mediated through various pathways: the host immune system’s sensing of dysbiosis via C-type lectin receptors (e.g., Dectin-2), the impact of pro-inflammatory fungal metabolites (e.g., 12,13-diHOME, prostaglandin E2), and the role of lung immune cells (e.g., group 2 innate lymphoid cells [ILC2], M2 macrophages). We also describe strategies for modulating the gut mycobiome as potential therapies for severe asthma. The review concludes by emphasizing the necessity for further research into the role of the gut mycobiome in asthma to deepen our understanding of these complex interactions.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030191
Authors: Jesús Fortún Elia Gómez-García de la Pedrosa Alberto Martínez-Lorca Patricia Paredes Pilar Martín-Dávila Alicia Gómez-López María José Buitrago Javier López-Jiménez Francesca Gioia Rosa Escudero Maria Elena Alvarez-Alvarez Cruz Soriano Javier Moreno-García Diana San Miguel Noelia Vicente Santiago Moreno
Although nebulized liposomal amphotericin B (NLAB) is being used in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) prophylaxis, no clinical trial has shown its efficacy as a therapeutic strategy. NAIFI is the inaugural randomized, controlled clinical trial designed to examine the safety and effectiveness of NLAB (dosage: 25 mg in 6 mL, three times per week for 6 weeks) against a placebo, in the auxiliary treatment of IPA. Throughout the three-year clinical trial, thirteen patients (six NLAB, seven placebo) were included, with 61% being onco-hematological with less than 100 neutrophils/μL. There were no significant differences noted in their pre- and post-nebulization results of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and oxygen saturation between the groups. Neither bronchospasm nor serum amphotericin B levels were reported in any patients given NLAB. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET-TC) was carried out at the baseline and after 6 weeks. A notable decrease in median SUV (standardized uptake value) was observed in NLAB patients after 6 weeks (−3.6 vs. −0.95, p: 0.039, one tail). Furthermore, a reduction in serum substance galactomannan and beta-D-Glucan was identified within NLAB recipients. NLAB is well tolerated and safe for patients with IPA. Encouraging indirect efficacy data have been derived from image monitoring or biomarkers. However, further studies involving more patients are necessary.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030190
Authors: Weikang Chen Miao Yu Shiji Chen Tianmi Gong Linlin Xie Jinqin Liu Chang Bian Guolei Huang Caijuan Zheng
The fungus genus Xylaria is an important source of drug discoveries in scientific fields and in the pharmaceutical industry due to its potential to produce a variety of structured novel and bioactive secondary metabolites. This review prioritizes the structures of the secondary metabolites of Xylaria spp. from 1994 to January 2024 and their relevant biological activities. A total of 445 new compounds, including terpenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, polyketides, lactones, and other classes, are presented in this review. Remarkably, among these compounds, 177 compounds show various biological activities, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, immunosuppressive, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. This paper will guide further investigations into the structures of novel and potent active natural products derived from Xylaria and their potential contributions to the future development of new natural drug products in the agricultural and medicinal fields.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030189
Authors: Wen-Li Li Rui-Ru Liang Jing Yang Jian-Kui Liu
Xylariomycetidae comprises extremely diverse taxa that are widespread on decaying wood worldwide. An investigation of the diversity of microfungi on oil tree plantations in Sichuan Province was conducted during 2020–2021. Twelve saprobic taxa representing five species were identified as members of Amphisphaeriales and Xylariales through morphological comparisons. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, rpb2, tub2 and tef1 sequence data indicated a distinct clade formed by three strains within Xylariomycetidae, unrelated to any currently recognized families. Thus, a novel anthostomella-like genus, Bicellulospora, is proposed and treated as Xylariales genera incertae sedis. Bicellulospora is characterized by dark brown to black, immersed, subglobose ascomata with a clypeus, cylindrical asci, and hyaline to yellowish brown, inequilaterally ellipsoidal ascospores with a large upper cell and a dwarf lower cell. Two new species of Amphisphaeria, namely A. oleae and A. verniciae, are introduced based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2) coupled with morphological characteristics. Amphisphaeria micheliae and Endocalyx ptychospermatis are reported as new host records.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030188
Authors: Chihiro Kadooka Takuji Oka
Filamentous fungi of the genus Aspergillus include producers of industrially important organic acids, enzymes, and secondary metabolites, as well as pathogens of many plants and animals. Novel genes in the Aspergillus genome are potentially crucial for the fermentation and drug industries (e.g., agrochemicals and antifungal drugs). A research approach based on classical genetics is effective for identifying functionally unknown genes. During analyses based on classical genetics, mutations must be identified easily and quickly. Herein, we report the development of a cosmid-based plasmid pTOCK1 and the use of a genomic library of Aspergillus nidulans constructed using pTOCK1. The cosmid-based genomic library was used for convenient auxotrophic mutants (pyroA and pabaB), as well as mutants with abnormal colony morphology (gfsA) and yellow conidia (yA), to obtain library clones complementary to these phenotypes. The complementary strain could be obtained through a single transformation, and the cosmid could be rescued. Thus, our cosmid library system can be used to identify the causative gene in a mutant strain.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030187
Authors: Xiaomei Xu Wenjin Lin Nemat O. Keyhani Sen Liu Lisha Li Yamin Zhang Xuehua Lu Qiuran Wei Daozhi Wei Shuaishuai Huang Pengxi Cao Lin Tian Junzhi Qiu
The Asian water plantain, Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. The dried tubers of the Alisma orientale, commonly referred to as Alismatis rhizome (AR), have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases. Soil properties and the soil microbial composition are known to affect the quality and bioactivity of plants. Here, we sought to identify variations in soil fungal communities and soil properties to determine which would be optimal for cultivation of A. orietale. Soil properties, heavy metal content, and pesticide residues were determined from soils derived from four different agricultural regions around Shaowu City, Fujian, China, that had previously been cultivated with various crops, namely, Shui Dao Tu (SDT, rice), Guo Shu Tu (GST, pecan), Cha Shu Tu (CST, tea trees), and Sang Shen Tu (SST, mulberry). As fungi can either positively or negatively impact plant growth, the fungal communities in the different soils were characterized using long-read PacBio sequencing. Finally, we examined the quality of A. orientale grown in the different soils. Our results show that fungal community diversity of the GST soil was the highest with saprotrophs the main functional modes in these and SDT soils. Our data show that GST and SDT soils were most suitable for A. orientale growth, with the quality of the AR tubers harvested from GST soil being the highest. These data provide a systematic approach at soil properties of agricultural lands in need of replacement and/or rotating crops. Based on our findings, GST was identified as the optimal soil for planting A. orientale, providing a new resource for local farmers.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030186
Authors: Bryan Ortiz Roque López Carlos Muñoz Kateryn Aguilar Fernando Pérez Isis Laínez-Arteaga Fernando Chávez Celeste Galindo Luis Rivera Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal Pablo Méndez-Pfeiffer Dora Valencia Gustavo Fontecha
Kodamaea ohmeri is an environmental yeast considered a rare emerging pathogen. In clinical settings, the correct identification of this yeast is relevant because some isolates are associated with resistance to antifungals. There is a lack of available data regarding the geographical distribution, virulence, and drug resistance profile of K. ohmeri. To contribute to the knowledge of this yeast, this study aimed to describe in depth three isolates of K. ohmeri associated with fungemia in Honduras. The identification of the isolates was carried out by sequencing the ribosomal ITS region. In addition, the susceptibility profile to antifungals was determined, and some properties associated with virulence were evaluated (exoenzyme production, biofilm formation, cell adhesion, and invasion). The isolates showed strong protease, phospholipase, and hemolysin activity, in addition to being biofilm producers. Adherence and invasion capacity were evident in the HeLa and Raw 264.7 cell lines, respectively. This study expands the understanding of the underlying biological traits associated with virulence in K. ohmeri, and it is the first report of the detection and identification of K. ohmeri in Honduras as a cause of human infection.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030185
Authors: Zhenzhen Yan Xiong Xiao Quan Liu Yangjian Wei DongBo Cai Xiong Chen Xin Li
The salt–tolerant yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii is a typical aroma–producing yeast used in food brewing, but its mechanism of high temperature tolerance is still unclear. In this study, the response mechanism of Z. rouxii to glucose under high temperature stress at 40 °C was explored, based on the total synthetic lowest–nutrient medium. The results of the growth curves and scanning electron microscopy showed that high glucose was necessary for Z. rouxii to restore growth under high temperature stress, with the biomass at 300 g/L of glucose (OD600, 120h = 2.44 ± 0.26) being 8.71 times higher than that at 20 g/L (OD600, 120h = 0.28 ± 0.08). The results of the transcriptome analysis, combined with RT–qPCR, showed that the KEGG analysis of differentially expressed genes was enriched in pathways related to glucose metabolism, and high glucose (300 g/L) could effectively stimulate the gene expression of glucose transporters, trehalose synthesis pathways, and xylitol synthesis pathways under a high temperature, especially the expression of the glucose receptor gene RGT2 (up–regulated 193.7 times at 12 h). The corresponding metabolic characteristics showed that the contents of intracellular metabolites, such as glucose (Cmax, 6h = 6.50 ± 0.12 mg/g DCW), trehalose (Cmax, 8h = 369.00 ± 17.82 μg/g DCW), xylitol (Cmax, 8h = 1.79 ± 0.27 mg/g DCW), and glycerol (Cmax, 8h = 268.10 ± 44.49 μg/g DCW), also increased with time. The accumulation of acetic acid, as the main product of overflow metabolism under high temperature stress (intracellular Cmax, 2h = 126.30 ± 10.96 μg/g DCW; extracellular Cmax, 12h = 499.63 ± 27.16 mg/L), indicated that the downstream glycolysis pathway was active. Compared with the normal physiological concentration of glucose, a high glucose concentration can effectively stimulate the gene expression and metabolism of salt–tolerant Z. rouxii under high–temperature conditions to restore growth. This study helps to deepen the current understanding of the thermoadaptive growth mechanism of salt–tolerant Z. rouxii.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030183
Authors: Viraj Whabi Bosco Yu Jianping Xu
Modern efforts to influence materials science with principles of biology have allowed fungal mycelial materials to take a foothold and develop novel solutions for the circular bioeconomy of tomorrow. However, recent studies have shown that the value of tomorrow’s green materials is not determined simply by their environmental viability, but rather by their ability to make the polluting materials of today obsolete. With an inherently strong structure of chitin and β-glucan, the ever-adaptable mycelia of fungi can compete at the highest levels with a litany of materials from leather to polyurethane foam to paper to wood. There are significant efforts to optimize pure mycelial materials (PMMs) through the entire process of species and strain selection, mycelial growth, and fabrication. Indeed, the promising investigations of novel species demonstrate how the diversity of fungi can be leveraged to create uniquely specialized materials. This review aims to highlight PMMs’ current trajectory, evaluate the successes in technology, and explore how these new materials can help shape a better tomorrow.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030184
Authors: József Bakonyi Diána Seress Zoltán Á. Nagy Ildikó Csorba Mónika Cséplő Tibor A. Marton Anke Martin Klára Mészáros
Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt), the causal agent of net form net blotch (NFNB) disease, is an important and widespread pathogen of barley. This study aimed to quantify and characterize the virulence of Ptt isolates collected from experimental fields of barley in Hungary. Infection responses across 20 barley differentials were obtained from seedling assays of 34 Ptt isolates collected from three Hungarian breeding stations between 2008 and 2018. Twenty-eight Ptt pathotypes were identified. Correspondence analysis followed by hierarchical clustering on the principal components and host-by-pathogen GGE biplots suggested a continuous range of virulence and an absence of specific isolate × barley differential interactions. The isolates were classified into four isolate groups (IG) using agglomerative hierarchical clustering. One IG could be distinguished from other IGs based on avirulence/virulence on one to five barley differentials. Several barley differentials expressed strong resistance against multiple Ptt isolates and may be useful in the development of NFNB-resistant barley cultivars in Hungary. Our results emphasize that the previously developed international barley differential set needs to be improved and adapted to the Hungarian Ptt population. This is the first report on the pathogenic variations of Ptt in Hungary.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030182
Authors: Xin Fang Xinqing Lee Gratien Twagirayezu Hongguang Cheng Hongyu Lu Shenglan Huang Linbo Deng Bo Ji
Cadmium-contaminated soil significantly threatens global food security and human health. This scenario gives rise to significant worries regarding widespread environmental pollution. Biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can effectively immobilize cadmium in the soil in an environmentally friendly way. Existing studies have separately focused on the feasibility of each in remediating polluted soil. However, their association during the remediation of cadmium-polluted soils remains unclear. This review paper aims to elucidate the potential of biochar, in conjunction with AMF, as a strategy to remediate soil contaminated with cadmium. This paper comprehensively analyzes the current understanding of the processes in cadmium immobilization in the soil environment by examining the synergistic interactions between biochar and AMF. Key factors influencing the efficacy of this approach, such as biochar properties, AMF species, and soil conditions, are discussed. The influences of biochar–AMF interactions on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and overall ecosystem health in cadmium-contaminated environments are highlighted. This review indicates that combining biochar and AMF can improve cadmium immobilization. The presence of AMF in the soil can create numerous binding sites on biochar for cadmium ions, effectively immobilizing them in the soil. Insights from this review contribute to a deeper understanding of sustainable and eco-friendly approaches to remediate cadmium-contaminated soils, offering potential applications in agriculture and environmental management.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030181
Authors: Pedro Romon-Ochoa Pankajini Samal Tom Pace Tim Newman Mark Oram Nicholas Baxter John A. S. Manning Mick Biddle Kerry Barnard Daegan Inward Paul Taylor Steven Hendry Ana Pérez-Sierra Lisa Ward
Sweet chestnut, an Asiatic tree introduced in many parts of Europe including the United Kingdom, is planted for nut production, timber, and amenity. Its major threat is the disease called blight, caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, which infects through wounds by airborne spores. Field trapping using sticky rods rotating traps was performed in an infected area in Devon (between May 2021 and April 2023). An improved dual hydrolysis Taqman probes real-time PCR was used. The number of spores was calculated by comparing the cycle threshold to the Ct of standards with known amounts of conidia or known target fragment copies cloned into a plasmid. Weekly spore counts were in the range of around 60 to approximately 8.5 × 103, with fluctuations of peaks (mainly in late summer–autumn 2021) and troughs. The effects of weather parameters were modelled, finding correlations between spore numbers and temperature, humidity, dewpoint, rainfall, wind speed, and wind duration. Additionally, an insect trapping was performed to confirm the presence/absence and quantity of C. parasitica conidia potentially phoretic on some insects by using the same molecular approach. None of the ten collected insect species harboured spores of this fungus.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030180
Authors: Adam P. Ryan Marizeth Groenewald Maudy Th. Smith Cian Holohan Teun Boekhout Kenneth H. Wolfe Geraldine Butler
Annual surveys of Irish soil samples identified three isolates, CBS 16921 (UCD88), CBS 18246 (UCD443), and CBS 18247 (UCD483), of an apiculate yeast species within the Hanseniaspora genus. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA sequences showed that these are isolates of the recently described species Hanseniaspora menglaensis, first isolated from Southwest China. No genome sequence for H. menglaensis is currently available. The genome sequences of the three Irish isolates were determined using short-read (Illumina) sequencing, and the sequence of one isolate (CBS 16921) was assembled to chromosome level using long-read sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technologies). Phylogenomic analysis shows that H. menglaensis belongs to the fast-evolving lineage (FEL) of Hanseniaspora. Only one MAT idiomorph (encoding MATα1) was identified in all three sequenced H. menglaensis isolates, consistent with one mating type of a heterothallic species. Genome comparisons showed that there has been a rearrangement near MATα of FEL species compared to isolates from the slowly evolving lineage (SEL).
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030179
Authors: Luyang Song Rongrong Zhong Zhengzhe Guan Lina Huang Ganlin Wang Zhimin Yang Ke Shao Yanhong Qin Caiyi Wen Ying Zhao Fei Wang
Root rot as a result of Salvia miltiorrhiza is a common root disease caused by Fusarium spp., which has become one of the main diseases affecting the production of S. miltiorrhiza. Currently, several hypovirulence-related mycoviruses have been identified in many phytopathogenic fungi, including Fusarium spp., which show potential as biological controls. In this study, we report a new mycovirus, Fusarium oxysporum partitivirus 1 (FoPV1), isolated from F. oxysporum strain FCR51, which is a causal agent of S. miltiorrhiza dry rot. The FoPV1 genome contains two double-stranded RNA segments (dsRNA1 and dsRNA2). The size of dsRNA1 is 1773 bp, and it encodes a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The dsRNA2 is 1570 bp in length, encoding a putative capsid protein (CP). Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses based on the amino acid sequences of the RdRp and the CP proteins indicated that FoPV1 appears to be a new member of the family Partitiviridae that is related to members of the genus Gammapartitivirus. Pathogenicity assay showed that FoPV1 confers hypervirulence to its host, F. oxysporum. This is the first report of a partitivirus infecting F. oxysporum and the first hypovirulence-related mycovirus from the causal agent of S. miltiorrhiza dry rot.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030178
Authors: Yihong Yue Haibo Hao Qian Wang Tingting Xiao Yuchen Zhang Hui Chen Jinjing Zhang
Temperature and moisture belong to the most important environmental factors affecting the growth and development of fungi. However, the effect of temperature on the mycelia of the edible Morchella mushrooms has not been determined. Here, a comprehensive analysis was performed to determine the influence of culture temperature on 13 strains of mycelia of three Morchella species (Morchella sextelata, Morchella septimelata, and Morchella importuna) at 5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C. The mycelial branching and growth rate data showed that 15–20 °C was a suitable temperature range for the mycelial growth of the 13 Morchella strains. RNA sequences revealed that a total of 2843, 2404, 1973, 1572, and 1866 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C compared with 20 °C. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis further indicated that the purine nucleotide and tyrosine metabolism pathways were crucial for mycelium development. Moreover, the enrichment of autophagy of mitochondria, regulation of cell morphogenesis, and piecemeal microautophagy of the nuclei at 25 °C (vs. 20 °C) indicated the damage caused by heat stress in Morchella mycelia. Notably, a total of four unique module eigengenes (MEs) were identified through a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Among them, 2293 genes in the turquoise module were significantly positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.946, p < 0.001), whereas 739 genes in the blue module were significantly negatively correlated with temperature (r = −0.896, p < 0.001), suggesting that the effect of high temperatures on mycelial genes was significantly greater than that of low temperatures. Moreover, the coexpression network indicated that high culture temperatures accelerated the oxidative stress response and energy metabolism in mycelia, while upregulation of purine nucleotide catabolism and ribosomal protein-related genes were improved by low-temperature tolerance. In addition, the upregulated expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and heat shock protein (HSP) genes in mycelia was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated damage at high temperatures. Overall, this study provides an important theoretical basis and application value for optimizing Morchella cultivation techniques.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030177
Authors: Maria Shariatnasery Valentina Stein Ines Teichert Ulrich Kück
The supramolecular striatin-interacting phosphatases and kinases (STRIPAK) complex is highly conserved in eukaryotes and controls diverse developmental processes in fungi. STRIPAK is genetically and physically linked to the Hippo-related septation initiation network (SIN), which signals through a chain of three kinases, including the terminal nuclear Dbf2-related (NDR) family kinase DBF2. Here, we provide evidence for the function of DBF2 during sexual development and vegetative growth of the homothallic ascomycetous model fungus Sordaria macrospora. Using mutants with a deleted dbf2 gene and complemented strains carrying different variants of dbf2, we demonstrate that dbf2 is essential for fruiting body formation, as well as septum formation of vegetative hyphae. Furthermore, we constructed dbf2 mutants carrying phospho-mimetic and phospho-deficient codons for two conserved phosphorylation sites. Growth tests of the phosphorylation mutants showed that coordinated phosphorylation is crucial for controlling vegetative growth rates and maintaining proper septum distances. Finally, we investigated the function of DBF2 by overexpressing the dbf2 gene. The corresponding transformants showed disturbed cytokinesis during ascospore formation. Thus, regulated phosphorylation of DBF2 and precise expression of the dbf2 gene are essential for accurate septation in vegetative hyphae and coordinated cell division during septation and sexual spore formation.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030176
Authors: Yongtong Wang Zhiqiang Xiao Siqi Zhang Xinjia Tan Yifei Zhao Juan Liu Ning Jiang Yang Shan
Isoflavones are predominantly found in legumes and play roles in plant defense and prevention of estrogen-related diseases. Genistein is an important isoflavone backbone with various biological activities. In this paper, we describe how a cell factory that can de novo synthesize genistein was constructed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Different combinations of isoflavone synthase, cytochrome P450 reductase, and 2-hydroxyisoflavone dehydratase were tested, followed by pathway multicopy integration, to stably de novo synthesize genistein. The catalytic activity of isoflavone synthase was enhanced by heme supply and an increased intracellular NADPH/NADP+ ratio. Redistribution of the malonyl-CoA flow and balance of metabolic fluxes were achieved by adjusting the fatty acid synthesis pathway, yielding 23.33 mg/L genistein. Finally, isoflavone glycosyltransferases were introduced into S. cerevisiae, and the optimized strain produced 15.80 mg/L of genistin or 10.03 mg/L of genistein-8-C-glucoside. This is the first de novo synthesis of genistein-8-C-glucoside in S. cerevisiae, which is advantageous for the green industrial production of isoflavone compounds.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030175
Authors: Shujing Zhang Yunfei Han Lanying Wang Jinhua Han Zhiqiang Yan Yong Wang Yonghong Wang
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, a polyphagous necrotrophic fungal pathogen, has brought about significant losses in agriculture and floriculture. Until now, the most common method for controlling S. sclerotiorum has been the application of fungicides. Xenocoumacin 1 (Xcn1) is a potential biopesticide having versatile antimicrobial activities, generated by Xenorhabdus nematophila. This study was intended to isolate Xcn1 from X. nematophila YL001 and clarify its efficacies for S. sclerotiorum control. Xcn1 demonstrated a wider antifungal spectrum against 10 plant-pathogenic fungi. It also exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum with an EC50 value of 3.00 μg/mL. Pot experiments indicated that Xcn1 effectively inhibited disease extension on oilseed rape and broad bean plants caused by S. sclerotiorum. Morphological and ultrastructural observations revealed that the hyphae of S. sclerotiorum became twisted, shriveled, and deformed at the growing points after treatment with Xcn1 at 3.00 μg/mL and that the subcellular fractions also became abnormal concurrently, especially the mitochondrial structure. Moreover, Xcn1 also increased cell membrane permeability and decreased the content of exopolysaccharide as well as suppressing the activities of polygalacturonase and cellulase of S. sclerotiorum, but exerted no effects on oxalic acid production. This study demonstrated that Xcn1 has great potential to be developed as a new biopesticide for the control of S. sclerotiorum.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030174
Authors: Youlei Shen Tingyu Duan
In nature, plants frequently experience concurrent colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and grass endophytes (Epichloë). These two fungi assist in mineral uptake and stress tolerance by the host. Despite the abundance of recent studies exploring the individual functions of these fungi in diverse ecosystems, research on the effects of the interaction between these two symbiotic fungi on the host, particularly in agricultural production and ecological conservation. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the interaction between AMF and grass endophytes and their synergistic effects on host plants in response to abiotic and biotic stress, while also outlining prospects for future research in this field. This knowledge not only enhances our comprehension of complex interaction effects between the two fungi, but also facilitates the optimal utilization of fungal resources, contributing to ecological construction and higher agricultural production.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030173
Authors: Theo N. Kirkland Chiung-Yu Hung Lisa F. Shubitz Sinem Beyhan Joshua Fierer
Coccidioidomycosis is an important fungal disease that is found in many desert regions of the western hemisphere. The inhaled organisms are highly pathogenic, but only half of infected, immunologically intact people develop symptomatic pneumonia; most symptomatic infections resolve spontaneously, although some resolve very slowly. Furthermore, second infections are very rare and natural immunity after infection is robust. Therefore, the host response to this organism is very effective at resolving the infection in most cases and immunizing to prevent second infections. People who are immunocompromised are much more likely to develop disseminated infection. This is a comprehensive review of the innate and acquired immune responses to Coccidioides spp., the genetics of resistance to severe infection, and the search for an effective vaccine.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030172
Authors: Shiyi Wang Min Xu Ye Han Zhijiang Zhou
The control of Aspergillus niger (A. niger) is of great significance for the agricultural economy and food safety. In this study, the antifungal effect and mechanism of iturin A from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (CGMCC No. 8473) against A. niger (ATCC 16404) were investigated using biochemical analyses and proteomics. Changes in a mycelium treated with iturin A were observed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, including mycelial twisting and collapse, organelle disintegration, and intracellular vacuolization. The cytomembrane integrity of A. niger was affected by iturin A, as detected by propidium iodide staining. In addition, the generation of excess reactive oxygen species, the hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and malondialdehyde accumulation also indicated that iturin A induced apoptosis in A. niger through the oxidative stress pathway. Proteomics results showed that 310 proteins were differentially expressed in the A. niger mycelium exposed to iturin A, including 159 upregulated proteins and 151 downregulated proteins, which were mainly associated with energy metabolism of A. niger. We propose that iturin A might inhibit the growth of A. niger by disrupting cytomembrane integrity, via oxidative stress, and by interfering with glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Overall, iturin A is a promising antifungal agent that provides a rationale for controlling A. niger contamination in food.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030171
Authors: Yue Zhou Todd B. Reynolds
Life-threatening systemic fungal infections occur in immunocompromised patients at an alarming rate. Current antifungal therapies face challenges like drug resistance and patient toxicity, emphasizing the need for new treatments. Membrane-bound enzymes account for a large proportion of current and potential antifungal targets, especially ones that contribute to cell wall and cell membrane biosynthesis. Moreover, structural biology has led to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which these enzymes synthesize their products, as well as the mechanism of action for some antifungals. This review summarizes the structures of several current and potential membrane-bound antifungal targets involved in cell wall and cell membrane biosynthesis and their interactions with known inhibitors or drugs. The proposed mechanisms of action for some molecules, gleaned from detailed inhibitor–protein studeis, are also described, which aids in further rational drug design. Furthermore, some potential membrane-bound antifungal targets with known inhibitors that lack solved structures are discussed, as these might be good enzymes for future structure interrogation.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030170
Authors: Angie Paola Sastoque José Francisco Cano-Lira Alberto Miguel Stchigel
Rock-inhabiting fungi (RIF) are usually extremely tolerant or extremophilic, as they can survive on natural and artificial rocks despite being exposed to stressful conditions. RIF have serious negative effects on the appearance and cohesion of rocky substrates, causing the alteration and decomposition of building materials, but also on human and animal health, as they can act as opportunistic pathogens. Their identification is therefore of great importance, especially in urban areas. In the present study, culturing techniques for isolating fungi, and a polyphasic taxonomic approach to their identification, were used to assess the diversity of micromycetes that darken the surfaces of buildings in various villages and cities in Tarragona Province (Spain). Sixty-four species of RIF belonging to forty-one genera were identified, including a new genus (Coccodomyces) and the following six new fungal species: Coccodomyces pleiosporus, Exophiala caementiphila, Exophiala multiformis, Neocatenulostroma spinulosum, Neodevriesia longicatenispora, and Paradevriesia holothallica. Thus, we have established that building materials are ecological niches where a high biodiversity of RIF can develop.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030169
Authors: Lu Ren Nan Qin Junqi Ning Hui Yin Hong Lü Xiaojun Zhao
Chilli anthracnose is a major infectious disease of the genus Capsicum. Chemical control is the primary means of controlling this disease; however, the excessive use of chemical pesticides can adversely affect ecological security and human health. Here, our aim was to explore the synergistic effects of chemical and biological pesticides in the control of chilli anthracnose. The bacterial strain LY7, which is antagonistic to the anthracnose-causing fungus Colletotrichum scovillei, inhibited the growth of C. scovillei by 83.52%. Through morphological and genetic analyses, this strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis. Then, the compatibility of LY7 with three common chemical fungicides was determined. The in vitro protective and therapeutic efficacies of the 1 × 109 CFU/mL (colony-forming unit/mL) bacterial solution were 66.38% and 35.18%, respectively, but both were significantly lower than those of prochloraz, the most compatible fungicide. We then conducted field efficacy trials to elucidate the best combination of prochloraz and LY7; the highest control efficiency was achieved with a suspension of 1.0 × 108 CFU/mL of LY7 mixed with 0.75 g/L prochloraz (3:7 ratio). Electron microscopy revealed the inhibitory effects of LY7 and prochloraz on C. scovillei mycelial growth. These results suggest that an LY7-based biofungicide can partially replace prochloraz, serving as an integrated management strategy to control chilli anthracnose.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030168
Authors: Julie Valentin Geoffrey Grotta Thibaut Muller Pieter Bourgeois Kinan Drak Alsibai Magalie Demar Pierre Couppie Romain Blaizot
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic neglected fungal disease, usually met in tropical areas. French Guiana is a South American territory with limited epidemiological data. This retrospective study concerned all patients with CBM proven by at least one paraclinical examination and diagnosed in French Guiana between 1950 and 2023. In total, 23 patients were included, mostly males (87%) of Creole origin, living in the coastal region (87%) and involved in outdoor occupations (74%). Lesions were mostly observed on the lower limbs (78.3%), with a median time to diagnosis of four years. Laboratory tests included positive direct microscopic examinations (78.3%) and mycological cultures (69.6%), identifying 14 cases of Fonsecaea pedrosoi and one case of Exophiala janselmei. Various treatments were employed, including antifungals, surgery and combinations of both. In conclusion, CBM in French Guiana involves a different population than other subcutaneous mycoses such as Lobomycosis or Paracoccidioidomycosis, mostly found in the forest hinterland. Surgery should be recommended for recent and limited lesions. Itraconazole and terbinafine should systematically be proposed, either in monotherapy or in combination with surgery or cryotherapy.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030167
Authors: Giselle Torres-Farradá Sofie Thijs Francois Rineau Gilda Guerra Jaco Vangronsveld
Industrial development has enhanced the release into the environment of large quantities of chemical compounds with high toxicity and limited prospects of degradation. The pollution of soil and water with xenobiotic chemicals has become a major ecological issue; therefore, innovative treatment technologies need to be explored. Fungal bioremediation is a promising technology exploiting their metabolic potential to remove or lower the concentrations of xenobiotics. In particular, white rot fungi (WRF) are unique microorganisms that show high capacities to degrade a wide range of toxic xenobiotic compounds such as synthetic dyes, chlorophenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, organophosphate pesticides, explosives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this review, we address the main classes of enzymes involved in the fungal degradation of organic pollutants, the main mechanisms used by fungi to degrade these chemicals and the suitability of fungal biomass or extracellular enzymes for bioremediation. We also exemplify the role of several fungi in degrading pollutants such as synthetic dyes, PAHs and emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and perfluoroalkyl/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Finally, we discuss the existing current limitations of using WRF for the bioremediation of polluted environments and future strategies to improve biodegradation processes.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030166
Authors: Israel Pérez-Vargas Javier Tuero-Septién Nereida M. Rancel-Rodríguez José Antonio Pérez Miguel Blázquez
It has long been assumed that lichen-forming fungi have very large distribution ranges, and that endemic species are rare in this group of organisms. This is likely a consequence of the “everything small is everywhere” paradigm that has been traditionally applied to cryptogams. However, the description of numerous endemic species over the last decades, many of them in oceanic islands, is challenging this view. In this study, we provide another example, Xanthoparmelia ramosae, a species that is described here as new to science on the basis of morphological, chemical, and macroclimatic data, and three molecular markers (ITS rDNA, nuLSU rDNA, and mtSSU). The new species is endemic to the island of Gran Canaria but clusters into a clade composed exclusively of specimens collected in Eastern Africa, a disjunction that is here reported for the first time in lichen-forming fungi. Through the use of dating analysis, we have found that Xanthoparmelia ramosae diverged from its closely related African taxa in the Pliocene. This result, together with the reproductive strategy of the species, points to the Relict theory as a likely mechanism behind the disjunction, although the large gap in lichenological knowledge in Africa makes this possibility hard to explore any further.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030165
Authors: Larissa Rodrigues Fabris Nathan Guilherme de Oliveira Bruna Eduarda Bortolomai Lavínia Cássia Ferreira Batista Marcos Henrique Sobral Alisson André Ribeiro Ursulla Vilella Andrade Antonio Conceição Paranhos Filho Lídia Raquel de Carvalho Ida Maria Foschiani Dias Baptista Rinaldo Poncio Mendes Anamaria Mello Miranda Paniago
The incidence of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) varies in Latin America, and it is influenced by environmental factors. This study evaluated the distribution of PCM acute/subacute form (AF) cases and their correlation with geoclimatic factors in the Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) state. The study included 81 patients diagnosed with the PCM/AF at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul between January 1980 and February 2022. Geographic coordinates, health microregion of patient’s residence, compensated average temperature, relative air humidity (RH), El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and average global temperature were analyzed. The highest incidence was observed in the Aquidauana (7/100,000 inhabitants), while Campo Grande, the state’s capital, had the highest number (n = 34; 42.4%) and density (4.4 cases/km2) of cases. The number of cases increased during extended periods of the El Niño phenomenon. A positive correlation was found between higher RH and PCM/AF cases. Most PCM/AF cases were found in areas with loamy soils and RH ranging from 60.8 to 73.6%. In MS, the health microregions of PCM/AF patients are characterized by deforestation for agricultural and pasture use, coupled with loamy soils and specific climatic phenomena leading to higher soil humidity.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030164
Authors: Mariandrea García-Gaona David Botero-Rozo Leonardo Araque Hernán Mauricio Romero
Bud Rot, caused by Phytophthora palmivora, is considered one of the main diseases affecting African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). In this study, we investigated the in vitro molecular dynamics of the pathogen–host interaction by analyzing gene expression profiles from oil palm genotypes that were either susceptible or resistant to the disease. We observed distinct interactions of P. palmivora with resistant and susceptible oil palms through co-expression network analysis. When interacting with susceptible genotypes, P. palmivora exhibited upregulation of carbohydrate and sulfate transport genes. These genes demonstrated co-expression with apoplastic and cytoplasmic effectors, including cell wall degrading enzymes, elicitins, and RxLR motif effectors. The pathogen manipulated susceptible oil palm materials, exacerbating the response and compromising the phenylpropanoid pathway, ultimately leading to susceptibility. In contrast, resistant materials exhibited control over their response through putative Heat Shock Proteins (HSP) that maintained homeostasis between primary metabolism and biotic defense. Co-expressed genes related to flavonoids, WRKY transcripts, lectin-type receptors, and LRR receptors may play important roles in pathogen control. Overall, the study provides new knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between E. guineensis and P. palmivora, which can contribute to controlling Bud Rot in oil palms and gives new insights into the interactions of P. palmivora with their hosts.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10030163
Authors: Jiangyang Chen Zhiguang Liu Qili Liu Dan Zhang Huali Xue Suqin Shang Yang Bi
Penicillium expansum is the predominant causal agent causing blue mold in postharvest fresh Codonopsis pilosula during storage. The pathogen reduces the yield and affects the quality of C. pilosula and even generates patulin, threatening human health. In this study, postharvest fresh, healthy C. pilosula was sprayed with P. expansum, and the control effect of ozone on postharvest diseases of C. pilosula was studied, and the effect of ozone on the contents in the main active ingredients of C. pilosula was compared; finally, the effect of ozone on reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism in C. pilosula was analyzed. The results showed that 2 mg L−1 ozone application significantly inhibited the occurrence of postharvest blue mold caused by P. expansum, reduced weight loss rate, controlled the accumulation of patulin and maintained the contents of the main active components in C. pilosula. The study will provide a theoretical basis for ozone treatment to control the occurrence of postharvest diseases of C. pilosula.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10020162
Authors: Jia-Li He Chang-Jing Chen Yong-Hong Liu Cheng-Hai Gao Rui-Ping Wang Wen-Fei Zhang Meng Bai
Austin was first isolated as a novel polyisoprenoid mycotoxin from Aspergillus ustus in 1976. Subsequently, some new austin-type meroterpenoids (ATMTs) have been continually found. This review attempts to give a comprehensive summary of progress on the isolation, chemical structural features, biological activities, and fungal biodiversity of 104 novel ATMTs from 5 genera of terrestrial- and marine-derived fungi reported from October 1976 to January 2023. The genera of Penicillium and Aspergillus are the two dominant producers, producing 63.5% and 30.8% of ATMTs, respectively. Moreover, about 26.9% of ATMTs display various pronounced bioactivities, including insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and PTP1B inhibitory activities. The chemical diversity and potential activities of these novel fungal ATMTs are reviewed for a better understanding, and a relevant summary focusing on the source fungi and their taxonomy is provided to shed light on the future development and research of austin-type meroterpenoids.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10020161
Authors: Roderic Gilles Claret Diabankana Mikhail Frolov Bakhtiyar Islamov Elena Shulga Maria Nikolaevna Filimonova Daniel Mawuena Afordoanyi Shamil Validov
Plant pathogens present a major challenge to crop production, leading to decreased yield and quality during growth and storage. During long-term storage, healthy onions can develop diseases from latent pathogen infections. This poses a challenge for onion growers because infected bulbs without visible symptoms can lead to significant crop losses during the growing season. In this study, we aimed to isolate and identify Fusarium species from yellow onion bulbs (Allium cepa L.) that developed disease symptoms during storage. The aggressiveness of these strains against onion bulbs and seedlings was also evaluated. The isolated strains were further subjected to morphological and molecular differentiation. The results revealed that all 16 isolated strains belonged to the Fusarium complex species incarnatum-equiseti and Fusarium fujikuroi, namely, F. proliferatum (98%), F. oxysporum (1%), and Fusarium sp. (1%). Koch’s postulate analysis of isolated strains revealed varying aggressiveness on onion bulbs and plants depending on fungal species. Disease symptoms developed more slowly on plants than on onion bulb plants according to Koch’s postulates. Moreover, the results revealed that Fusarium strains that can infect onion plants were less pathogenic to onion bulbs and vice versa. In addition, three isolates were found to be non-pathogenic to onions. Furthermore, the in vitro control of Fusarium species through Bacillus velezensis KS04-AU and Streptomyces albidoflavus MGMM6 showed high potential for controlling the growth of these pathogenic fungi. These results may contribute to the development of environmentally friendly approaches for controlling onion spoilage caused by pathogens during storage.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10020160
Authors: Jiali Wang Haoran Shi Aidang Lu
Plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi or oomycetes seriously affect crop growth and the quality and yield of products. A series of novel 1,2,4-triazole derivatives containing carboxamide fragments based on amide fragments widely used in fungicides and the commercialized mefentrifluconazole were designed and synthesized. Their antifungal activities were evaluated against seven kinds of phytopathogenic fungi/oomycete. Results showed that most compounds had similar or better antifungal activities compared to mefentrifluconazole’s inhibitory activity against Physalospora piricola, especially compound 6h (92%), which possessed outstanding activity. Compound 6h (EC50 = 13.095 μg/mL) showed a better effect than that of mefentrifluconazole (EC50 = 39.516 μg/mL). Compound 5j (90%) displayed outstanding anti-oomycete activity against Phytophthora capsici, with an EC50 value of 17.362 μg/mL, far superior to that of mefentrifluconazole (EC50 = 75.433 μg/mL). The result of molecular docking showed that compounds 5j and 6h possessed a stronger affinity for 14α-demethylase (CYP51). This study provides a new approach to expanding the fungicidal spectrum of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10020159
Authors: Gabriel S. M. Sousa Rodrigo S. De Oliveira Alex B. De Souza Ruan C. Monteiro Elaine P. T. E. Santo Luciano C. Franco Filho Silvia H. M. Da Silva
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and phaeohyphomycosis (FEO) are infections caused by melanized filamentous fungal agents, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Both infections pose significant challenges for the correct identification of the causative agent due to their morphological similarity, making conventional methods of morphological analysis highly subjective. Therefore, molecular techniques are necessary for the precise determination of these species. In this regard, this study aimed to contribute to a new methodology based on PCR-RFLP for the identification of agents causing CBM and FEO. Sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region were used to identify potential restriction enzyme sites in silico, followed by in vitro validation using the selected restriction enzymes. The obtained results were compared with species identification through morphological analyses and sequencing. The results demonstrated that the PCR-RFLP applied in this study accurately identified two major agents of chromoblastomycosis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Fonsecaea monophora, as well as Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala dermatitidis, both causative agents of phaeohyphomycosis. In this context, the proposed assay can complement current methods for identifying these species, aiding in diagnosis, and contributing to the proper management of these infections.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10020158
Authors: Muyuan Wang Yikun Zhang Haibin Cai Xinyang Zhao Zhongfeng Zhu Yichao Yan Ke Yin Guanyun Cheng Yinsheng Li Gongyou Chen Lifang Zou Min Tu
Natural rubber is an important national strategic and industrial raw material. The leaf anthracnose of rubber trees caused by the Colletotrichum species is one of the important factors restricting the yields of natural rubber. In this study, we isolated and identified strain Bacillus velezensis SF334, which exhibited significant antagonistic activity against both C. australisinense and C. siamense, the dominant species of Colletotrichum causing rubber tree leaf anthracnose in the Hainan province of China, from a pool of 223 bacterial strains. The cell suspensions of SF334 had a significant prevention effect for the leaf anthracnose of rubber trees, with an efficacy of 79.67% against C. siamense and 71.8% against C. australisinense. We demonstrated that SF334 can lead to the lysis of C. australisinense and C. siamense mycelia by causing mycelial expansion, resulting in mycelial rupture and subsequent death. B. velezensis SF334 also harbors some plant probiotic traits, such as secreting siderophore, protease, cellulase, pectinase, and the auxin of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and it has broad-spectrum antifungal activity against some important plant pathogenic fungi. The genome combined with comparative genomic analyses indicated that SF334 possesses most genes of the central metabolic and gene clusters of secondary metabolites in B. velezensis strains. To our knowledge, this is the first time a Bacillus velezensis strain has been reported as a promising biocontrol agent against the leaf anthracnose of rubber trees caused by C. siamense and C. australisinense. The results suggest that B. velezensis could be a potential candidate agent for the leaf anthracnose of rubber trees.
]]>Journal of Fungi doi: 10.3390/jof10020156
Authors: Yang Liu Jiahao An Asma Safdar Yang Shen Yang Sun Wenhui Shu Xiaojuan Tan Bo Zhu Jiaxin Xiao Jan Schirawski Feng He Guoping Zhu
Rice production in the Anhui province is threatened by fungal diseases. We obtained twenty-five fungal isolates from rice and wild rice leaves showing leaf spot disease collected along the Yangtze River. A phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF1-α), and beta tubulin (TUB2) sequences revealed one isolate (SS-2-JB-1B) grouped with Nigrospora sphaerica, one (QY) with Nigrospora chinensis, twenty-two with Nigrospora oryzae, and one isolate (QY-2) grouped in its own clade, which are related to but clearly different from N. oryzae. Nineteen tested isolates, including sixteen strains from the N. oryzae clade and the three isolates of the other three clades, caused disease on detached rice leaves. The three isolates that did not belong to N. oryzae were also able to cause disease in rice seedlings, suggesting that they were rice pathogens. Isolate QY-2 differed from the other isolates in terms of colony morphology, cell size, and susceptibility to fungicides, indicating that this isolate represents a new species that we named Nigrospora anhuiensis. Our analysis showed that N. sphaerica, N. chinensis, and the new species, N. anhuiensis, can cause rice leaf spot disease in the field. This research provides new knowledge for understanding rice leaf spot disease.
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