Journal of Fungi最新文献

Leccinum is an ecologically significant and taxonomically complex genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi widely distributed across boreal, temperate, Mediterranean, and selected tropical regions. Despite its ecological, nutritional, and applied importance, no comprehensive review has previously synthesized global knowledge on this genus. This work provides the first integrative assessment of Leccinum research, combining a bibliometric analysis of 293 peer-reviewed publications with an in-depth qualitative synthesis of ecological, biochemical, and environmental findings. Bibliometric results show increasing scientific attention since the mid-20th century, with major contributions from Europe, Asia, and North America, and dominant research themes spanning taxonomy, ecology, chemistry, and environmental sciences. The literature review highlights substantial advances in phylogenetic understanding, species diversity, and host specificity. Leccinum forms ectomycorrhizal associations with over 60 woody host genera, underscoring its functional importance in forest ecosystems. Nutritionally, Leccinum species are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, bioactive polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and umami-related peptides, with demonstrated antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activities. At the same time, the genus exhibits notable bioaccumulation capacity for heavy metals (particularly Hg, Cd, and Pb) and radionuclides, making it both a valuable food source and a sensitive environmental bioindicator. Applications in biotechnology, environmental remediation, forest restoration, and functional food development are emerging but remain insufficiently explored. Identified research gaps include the need for global-scale phylogenomic frameworks, expanded geographic sampling, standardized biochemical analyses, and deeper investigation into physiological mechanisms and applied uses. This review provides the first holistic synthesis of Leccinum, offering an integrated perspective on its taxonomy, ecology, nutritional composition, environmental significance, and practical applications. The findings serve as a foundation for future mycological, ecological, and biotechnological research on this diverse and understudied fungal genus.

European plum (Prunus domestica) orchards in the Kashi region, Xinjiang, China, suffer from fruit brown spot disease. The disease typically appears as red spots on the fruit surface that expand into brown necrotic lesions; affected fruit flesh can shrink, and fruits can harden and drop. We isolate and identify pathogens associated with this disease in this plum from five Kashi counties. Of 210 fungal isolates obtained through standard tissue isolation, Alternaria accounted for 84.8%, with the remainder comprising species of Aspergillus (9.5%), Diplodia (3.3%), and Neoscytalidium (2.4%). Using PCR amplification and sequencing of five loci, pathogens were identified using multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, combined with observations of colony and spore morphology. Multi-locus sequences of Alternaria isolates were highly homologous to those of the Alternaria alternata type strain, and we refer them to an A. alternata species complex. Pathogenicity tests confirm that Alternaria isolates reproduce brown spot symptoms on European plum fruits. By demonstrating that Alternaria is the primary pathogen causing brown spot disease in European plum in Xinjiang, we clarify both the fungal species composition and taxonomic placement of the dominant pathogen associated with this disease.

The fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis forma specialis tritici (B.g. tritici) infects bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cause wheat powdery mildew disease. Elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying wheat susceptibility to the pathogenic fungus B.g. tritici could facilitate wheat genetic improvement. In this study, we identified the wheat TaSWI3B gene as a novel Susceptibility gene positively regulating wheat susceptibility to B.g. tritici. The TaSWI3B gene encodes the SWI3B subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. The overexpression of the TaSWI3B gene enhances wheat powdery mildew susceptibility, whereas TaSWI3B silencing results in attenuated wheat powdery mildew susceptibility. Importantly, we found that TaSWI3B could be enriched at the promoter regions of the salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis activator gene TaSARD1, facilitating nucleosome occupancy and thereby suppressing TaSARD1 transcription and inhibiting SA biosynthesis. Silencing of TaSARD1 and TaICS1 encoding a key enzyme in SA biosynthesis could attenuate the SA biosynthesis and powdery mildew resistance potentiated by knockdown of TaSWI3B expression. Collectively, these results suggest that the SWI3B subunit of the wheat SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex negatively regulates SA biosynthesis by suppressing TaSARD1 transcription at the epigenetic level and thus facilitates wheat powdery mildew susceptibility.

Changes in preservation conditions act as an important environmental filter driving shifts in microbial communities. However, the precise identities, functional traits, and ecological mechanisms of the dominant agents driving stage-specific deterioration remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated microbial communities and dominant fungal degraders in waterlogged versus dried bamboo slips using amplicon sequencing, multivariate statistics, and microbial isolation. Results revealed compositionally distinct communities, with dried slips sharing only a small proportion of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with waterlogged slips, while indicating the persistence of a subset of taxa across preservation states. A key discovery was the dominance of Fonsecaea minima (92% relative abundance) at the water-solid-air interface of partially submerged slips. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) indicate that this fungus forms melanin-rich, biofilm-like surface structures, suggesting enhanced surface colonization and stress resistance. In contrast, the fungal community isolated from dried slips was characterized by Apiospora saccharicola associated with detectable xylanase activity. Meanwhile, the xerophilic species Xerogeomyces pulvereus dominated (99% relative abundance) the storage box environment. Together, these results demonstrate that preservation niches select for fungi with distinct functional traits, highlighting the importance of stage-specific preservation strategies that consider functional traits rather than taxonomic identity alone.

Since 1997, a laboratory-based survey on cryptococcosis has been conducted in Colombia. We present the results for the period 2017-2024. A total of 891 surveys were received. The overall incidence was 0.22 cases per 100,000 people. Among those living with HIV, the incidence was 38, and among HIV-negative people, it was 0.08. Cryptococcosis demonstrated a higher prevalence among men than women (3.2:1). Among patients living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the condition primarily affected younger adults (26-40 years). In contrast, among HIV-negative people, it was mostly observed in older adults (≥60 years). HIV infection was the most significant risk factor (63%), but another cause of immunosuppression was identified in 21.2% cases. Neurocryptococcosis was the most common form of presentation (62.2%), followed by disseminated cryptococcosis (31.1%). The diagnosis was confirmed by culture in 99.4% of patients; the most important sample was cerebrospinal fluid (67.3%), followed by blood (35.4%). Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in 93.1% of cases, and Cryptococcus gatti in 6.9%. Predominant molecular patterns were VNI (92.4%) and VGII (45.3%). The epidemiology of cryptococcosis in Colombia is changing, with a progressive decrease in HIV coinfection and an increase in other immunosuppressive conditions in older people. This study highlights the importance of cryptococcosis in Colombia and the need to report it in order to improve knowledge and thereby promote the quality of diagnosis and the opportunity for more effective treatment.

Lycium barbarum L. is an important economic crop in Qinghai province, China. However, root rot seriously reduces the economic results of L. barbarum. Here, we collected the diseased L. barbarum roots from Nuomuhong Farm of Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China, to clarify the diversity, pathogenicity, and biological characteristics of its root rot pathogens. A total of 125 isolates were collected, and based on morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS, TEF-1α, and RPB2 genes sequence analysis, they were identified as Fusarium equiseti, F. avenaceum, F. solani, F. citri, F. acuminatum, F. culmorum, F. sambucinum, F. incarnatum, F. oxysporum, F. tricinctum, Microdochium bolleyi, and Clonostachys rosea. These fungi were used to inoculate the roots of 1-year-old L. barbarum seedlings using scratching and root-irrigation inoculation methods, and all isolates caused root rot. This is the first report that M. bolleyi, F. avenaceum, and F. citri caused root rot in L. barbarum. And the best media, the lethal temperatures, and the optimum carbon sources and nitrogen sources of the 12 pathogen species were determined in this study. Moreover, our findings provide a theoretical foundation for root rot management in the future.

Alternaria is a widespread genus and a diverse taxonomic group of fungi, whose members exhibit a wide range of ecological roles, from endophytes and saprophytes to potent plant pathogens, and in some cases, to opportunistic pathogens or allergens affecting humans. Their high adaptability to various environmental conditions determines their widespread distribution and resilience. A key feature of the genus Alternaria is its substantial species diversity. According to the Species Fungorum database, it currently comprises 792 registered species, which are grouped into 29 sections. It should be noted that this number reflects the current state of taxonomic classification and is subject to ongoing revision. The ecological role of representatives of this genus is particularly relevant in the context of agriculture, as many species are pathogens and causative agents of Alternaria leaf spot in important agricultural plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, apples, wheat, and others. This disease causes significant economic losses. At the same time, some strains demonstrate potential for use in biotechnology due to their ability to produce biologically active metabolites. This review examines the taxonomy, morphological characteristics, ecological role, pathogenicity, and control methods of fungi of the genus Alternaria, as well as their biotechnological potential.

Sporothrix species are thermally dimorphic fungi responsible for sporotrichosis, a globally prevalent subcutaneous mycosis and an emerging zoonotic threat, particularly in South America. The high virulence of Sporothrix brasiliensis and its efficient transmission from cats to humans have intensified recent outbreaks, underscoring the importance of understanding the pathogenic mechanisms. While several putative virulence factors have been identified, such as melanin production, cell wall remodeling, extracellular vesicles, and thermotolerance, functional studies remain hampered by limited molecular tools. Recent advances, including random mutagenesis, protoplast-mediated transformation, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, are changing this landscape. These methods have enabled the functional validation of key virulence factors and the investigation of gene function in both environmental and clinical strains. In this review, we summarize the genetic toolbox available for Sporothrix, outline current challenges, and discuss how these strategies are reshaping the study of fungal virulence and host-pathogen interactions.

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised pediatric patients. This is a multicenter prospective cohort study with a nested retrospective analysis aimed at identifying risk factors for IFD in immunocompromised children with cancer and episodes of persistent high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN). One hundred and seventy-four episodes of persistent HRFN were analyzed, of which 34 (19.5%) were confirmed as IFD, 52.9% were caused by filamentous fungi, and 47.1% by yeasts. Logistic regression and survival analyses identified the following significant risk factors for IFD: male sex (OR 4.04), adolescence (OR 4.65), C-reactive protein ≥ 90 mg/L at admission (OR 3.13), and transfer to a critical care unit (OR 10.73). The predictive model demonstrated strong discriminatory capacity (AUC 0.84), with 79.4% sensitivity and 82.1% specificity. These findings highlight that adolescents, particularly males with severe clinical conditions and elevated inflammatory markers, are at the highest risk for IFD during episodes of HRFN. The proposed risk factor-based model may support early risk stratification and guide targeted antifungal prophylaxis or therapy, potentially improving outcomes in this population. Validation an external cohort is required to confirm these results and optimize clinical applicability.

(1) Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) represent significant challenges in clinical practice, particularly among immunocompromised individuals, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. The present document aims to provide evidence-based consensus for the timely initiation of antifungal treatment, focusing on early empiric approaches among immunocompromised patients. (2) Methods: A multidisciplinary expert panel of nine healthcare professionals (HCPs) reviewed the literature, including guidelines and consensus reports (2013-2023; PubMed, Scopus). The panel defined appropriate empiric antifungal approaches for invasive candidiasis, aspergillosis, and mucormycosis among hematological and critically ill patients. Consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement. (3) Results: A total of 47 statements were included. The experts recommend that early targeted antifungal therapy is critical for high-risk patients with suspected IFDs. Empiric therapy may be initiated before definitive diagnosis, considering the local fungal prevalence and the patient's risk category. Close monitoring is essential, and switching between antifungal classes may be necessary for patients who experience deterioration or side effects. The transition from intravenous to oral therapy depends on the specific infection, the availability of therapeutic drug monitoring, and the patient's progress. (4) Conclusions: Implementing this targeted, early approach may improve the outcomes of vulnerable patients with IFDs.