Fungal Biology Reviews最新文献

Apiospora and Arthrinium have undergone a period of upheaval with disparate phylogenic affiliation during the past ten years. Recently, they were divided into two separate clades with the majority being Apiospora and several species changing genus from Arthrinum to Apiospora. The first genome annotation became available in 2020, and the potential for novel secondary metabolite production appears very high in these yet unexplored genera compared to other more famous filamentous fungi. In this review, we present the current state of knowledge of 269 secondary metabolites isolated from the two fungal genera combined and highlight some of the compounds with known biological or toxic effects.

Oomycetes form a phylogenetically distinct group of eukaryotic microorganisms that include some of the most notorious pathogens of plants and animals. Through the deployment of a remarkably diverse array of effector proteins, oomycete pathogens succeed to overcome host defences and cause infection. Effectors can operate extracellularly or enter living cells where they target diverse subcellular compartments. Genome sequence information indicates that oomycetes express several hundred host-translocating effectors potentially targeting a myriad of host processes. To counteract, plants rely on a wide variety of extra- and intracellular immune receptors facilitating pattern-triggered and effector-triggered immunity, respectively. Similarly, effectors from animal pathogenic oomycetes also target host immune response pathways, which in turn causes the activation of the humoral and adaptive immune system. In this review, we compare plant and animal pathogenic oomycete effectors regarding their type, function, genetic diversity, as well as host responses.

Fungal pathogens cause life-threatening diseases in humans, and the increasing prevalence of these diseases emphasizes the need for new targets for therapeutic intervention. Nutrient acquisition during infection is a promising target, and recent studies highlight the contributions of endomembrane trafficking, mitochondria, and vacuoles in the sensing and acquisition of heme by fungi. These studies have been facilitated by genetically encoded biosensors and other tools to quantitate heme in subcellular compartments and to investigate the dynamics of trafficking in living cells. In particular, the applications of biosensors in fungi have been extended beyond the detection of metabolites, cofactors, pH, and redox status to include the detection of heme. Here, we focus on studies that make use of biosensors to examine mechanisms of heme uptake and degradation, with guidance from the model fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae and an emphasis on the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans that threaten human health. These studies emphasize a role for endocytosis in heme uptake, and highlight membrane contact sites involving mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum and vacuoles as mediators of intracellular iron and heme trafficking.

Light plays a crucial role in the growth and development of fungi. Fungal photoperception is controlled by several receptors such as phytochromes, cryptochromes/photolyase, opsins, and light oxygen voltage proteins that can trigger specific responses along the light spectrum. Although the filamentous fungus, Neurospora crassa is a leading research model in photoresponse studies, the analysis of a diverse range of fungal species has led to a better understanding of light signals in growth, reproduction, and secondary metabolism in the Fungi kingdom. In fungal pathogens, light has been demonstrated to be crucial during infection, colonization, and for the successful development of plant diseases. In this review, the most recent findings on the photobiology of the best-studied fungal pathogens of cereals are summarized. In particular, the effects of light on the germination, growth, sporulation, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism of the most important wheat, barley, maize, and rice pathogens are discussed.