Journal of Fungi最新文献

Blueberry rust disease is caused by the fungal pathogen Pucciniastrum minimum (syn. Thekopsora minima). Despite its importance as a plant pathogen, there are relatively few published studies on P. minimum. This study investigated and refined methodologies to cultivate and study this obligate parasite. P. minimum was successfully cultivated on detached blueberry leaves by misting leaves with water, followed by dusting with dry urediniospores. In vitro germination of urediniospores on water agar was achieved using a spore dusting technique, and germination rates were 70% higher compared to a spore suspension. Time after leaf detachment affected urediniospore germination and highlighted the importance of the processing time for replicability between experiments. Urediniospore viability could be evaluated by co-staining with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide, and the assessed viability was significantly higher than germination rates achieved in vitro. In detached leaf inoculations, leaves sourced from inside the glasshouse developed more rust than those from outside; this is discussed in the context of knowledge gaps on the infection process of P. minimum. This study resolves some key methodological issues involved with studying P. minimum rust urediniospores, and the general protocols we developed can be applied to other rust species for biological survival research.

The presence of lithobionts has historically been associated with biodeterioration, posing significant challenges to the conservation of culturally and historically significant stone heritage. This perception stems from abundant evidence of their role in biogeophysical processes, such as mechanical disruption of stone structures, and biogeochemical processes, which chemically alter stone composition through metabolic activity. These processes, while integral to natural systems, often accelerate the weathering and deterioration of heritage materials. Coupled with the aesthetic impact of lithobiont growth, frequently resulting in discoloration or obscuring of intricate details, such effects have justified the widespread removal of these organisms from heritage surfaces. However, recent research has revealed a far more nuanced picture. These communities can enhance biodiversity, contribute to the perceived authenticity of aged monuments, and, in some cases, form a biological layer that shields stone from pollutants and weathering forces. Moreover, developments in biomediated conservation approaches, such as biocementation and biocleaning, highlight their potential as sustainable allies in preservation. This dual role of lithobionts-both as friends and foes in preservation-is central to this review. This review focuses on how these organisms-with a particular emphasis on fungi, often perceived as enemies of conservation-may also serve as unexpected partners in safeguarding our stone heritage, emphasizing the need for case-by-case evaluation of active communities and their environmental context.

The species Candidozyma auris (formerly known as Candida auris) can be subdivided into four major and two minor clades. It is considered an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen that causes invasive outbreaks around the world. Therefore, the accurate identification of this species plays an important role in combating invasion and facilitating pathogenic management. In our study an optional identification method was developed considering the possibility of using cellular fatty acids (FAs) as a taxonomic and diagnostic tool. FAs were recorded in the collected C. auris strains, and the species characteristic components were determined. Within the isolates examined, the clades were also separated in the statistical analysis. Furthermore, FAs from strains belonging to clade I and II have been divided into two distinct clusters. In testing the performance of the method, all identified samples showed good matches with the established C. auris record in the database without misreading. Taken together, cellular fatty acids were investigated as potential discriminatory biomarkers. The results suggest that this approach can distinguish C. auris from related species and provides distinctive fatty acid profiles for the investigated C. auris clades. The present findings revealed the first report on the application of whole cell FA components as taxonomic features in C. auris.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils severely impairs plant growth, disrupts microbial communities, and threatens food safety due to its high toxicity and mobility. Conventional remediation methods are often expensive and environmentally unsustainable. In contrast, plant-microbiome interactions offer an eco-friendly solution to reduce Cd accumulation and improve plant growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB) are known to improve plant growth and resilience in Cd-contaminated soils. However, the mechanisms by which AMF and MHB co-inoculation could reduce soil Cd contamination by altering the rhizosphere fungal community remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate how co-inoculation with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) and MHB (Alcaligenes faecalis) affects plant Cd uptake and soil Cd content, and how it reshapes the cucumber rhizosphere fungal community. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with four treatments: CK (no inoculation), Fm (AMF inoculation), Af (MHB inoculation), and FA (AMF + MHB co-inoculation). Co-inoculation with AMF and MHB (FA) significantly reduced Cd concentrations in both plant tissues and soil. Fungal communities were profiled using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the ITS region, and diversity metrics and structural changes were assessed through PCoA and DESeq2. Co-inoculation (FA) significantly reshaped the fungal community, increasing the relative abundances of beneficial phyla such as Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota and Glomeromycota, while decreasing the abundance of potentially pathogenic Ascomycota. Double inoculation with AMF and MHB also enhanced fungal diversity, as measured by the Simpson index, and enriched specific OTUs. This study uncovers the mechanisms through which AMF-MHB co-inoculation reduces Cd concentrations in both plants and soil by altering the cucumber rhizosphere fungal community composition. These findings demonstrate that AMF-MHB co-inoculation is an effective, biologically driven strategy for remediating Cd-contaminated soils by restructuring cucumber rhizosphere fungal communities.

Monascus spp. are renowned for producing valuable Monascus azaphilone pigments (MonAzPs), yet their biosynthesis is intrinsically linked to the co-production of the mycotoxin citrinin, posing a significant safety challenge and limiting industrial application. Conventional approaches to disrupt citrinin synthesis often inadvertently reduce MonAzPs yield. To circumvent this limitation, we employed a dual-targeting strategy in Monascus ruber. In this study, we selected the mresa1-overexpressed strain-which can produce more MonAzPs and citrinin-as wild strain to construct a pksCT-deleted strain and explore whether pksCT deletion can affect the enhancement of MonAzPs caused by MrEsa1 overexpression. The results showed that the growth, development, and production of MonAzPs in △pksCT-M7::PtrpC-mresa1 were comparable to those in M7::PtrpC-mresa1, showing accelerated growth and higher MonAzPs yields than in M7. In addition, the relative expression levels of genes involved in MonAzPs synthesis in △pksCT-M7::PtrpC-mresa1 and M7::PtrpC-mresa1 showed the same trend compared with M7, indicating that MrEsa1 overexpression can resist the reduction in MonAzPs caused by pksCT deletion. This study establishes a novel and effective paradigm for decoupling desirable metabolite production from toxin synthesis in fungi, providing a strategic framework for the safe and enhanced production of MonAzPs.

Oudemansiella raphanipes is a prized edible mushroom renowned for its "three-high, one-low" nutritional profile (high protein, fiber, vitamins; low fat). However, the stage-specific molecular dynamics governing its development and their potential link to its superior nutrition remain unknown, hindering targeted genetic improvement. This study aimed to decipher the first comprehensive transcriptomic atlas across its five key developmental stages and to explore potential molecular signatures linked to its distinctive nutrition. We first confirmed the superior nutritional profile of O. raphanipes via comparative analysis with nine commercial mushrooms. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on samples from five defined developmental stages (spores, mycelia, primordia, closed-cap and open-cap fruiting bodies), followed by de novo transcriptome assembly, functional annotation, and differential expression analysis. Results revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming, with the most dramatic changes occurring at the spore-to-mycelium transition (19,827 differentially expressed genes). Stage-specific pathway enrichment highlighted regulators of germination (e.g., ribosome, transmembrane transport), primordium formation (e.g., glycerophospholipid metabolism, GTPase signaling), fruiting body development (e.g., starch/sucrose metabolism, terpenoid synthesis), and maturation (e.g., glycolysis, fatty acid biosynthesis, transcription factors MADS-box/bZIP). We identified 588 stage-exclusive genes in spores and 515 constitutively upregulated genes linked to energy metabolism and proteostasis. Crucially, integrating nutritional phenotypes with stage-resolved transcriptomics revealed that sustained transcriptional programs in mature fruiting bodies are associated with its nutritional excellence; e.g., upregulation of ribosomal/amino acid metabolic pathways aligns with high protein content, while active fatty acid degradation correlates with low fat levels. Our study provides the first multi-stage transcriptomic blueprint for O. raphanipes development, revealing stage-specific regulators and proposing molecular associations for its nutritional traits. This resource offers a foundational basis and candidate genetic targets for future breeding strategies aimed at enhancing agronomic and nutritional traits in this prized fungus.

Pomegranate dieback is a disease whose etiology remains only partially understood. In this study, surveys were carried out in orchards located in the Apulia, Basilicata, and Veneto regions from 2016 to 2020 with the objective to identify pathogens involved in pomegranate dieback. Six fungal species were isolated from symptomatic trees and identified through morphological and molecular analyses. In addition to the known pomegranate pathogens Neofusicoccum parvum, Diaporthe eres and D. foeniculina, new fungal species, including Neopestalotiopsis rosae, Sporothrix stenoceras, and one belonging to the Xenoacremonium genus, were identified. This study represents the first report of their association with pomegranate plants exhibiting dieback symptoms. When artificially inoculated on pomegranate trees, these fungi caused wood browning, proving their pathogenicity. All fungal species exhibited optimal growth in the temperature range 25-30 °C, although D. eres and N. roseae showed a good adaptability in the range 5-10 °C. Since some of the identified pathogens were isolated from the same trees, cross-pairing assays were conducted, revealing that these fungi can coexist within the same ecological niche while maintaining their viability. Given the need for sustainable management options against these co-occurring pathogens, biological control strategies were evaluated. In vitro experiments demonstrated that both Bacillus and Trichoderma biological control agents (BCAs) inhibit the investigated pomegranate pathogens, highlighting their potential inclusion in integrated management strategies targeting these newly identified fungal pathogens.

The majority of terrestrial plants can interact with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to form symbiotic relationships. AMF colonization not only enhances the host plant's uptake of mineral nutrients but also improves its tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In return, the host plant supplies the AMF with carbon sources essential for completing its life cycle. How AMF overcome the plant immune system to successfully establish symbiosis has remained an unresolved question. During colonization, AMF also secrete effector proteins, similar to how pathogenic fungi utilize effectors to promote virulence. In this study, we employed machine learning models such as SignalP 6.0 and EffectorP 3.0 to predict potential effectors in Rhizophagus irregularis, leading to the identification of 227 effector candidates. Using EffectorP 3.0, ApoplastP, and LOCALIZER, most R. irregularis effectors were predicted to be localized in the cytoplasm rather than the apoplast, suggesting a functional role in regulating symbiotic development. Only 26% of the predicted effectors were annotated by Pfam, indicating that the majority are proteins of unknown function. Effector proteins from 14 microbial species representing five ecological types (Ectomycorrhizae, Ericoid mycorrhizae, Endophyte, Arbuscular mycorrhizae, and Pathogen) clustered distinctly by species, highlighting the high degree of species specificity among effectors. Two R. irregularis effectors containing the RxLR motif were identified. Although these effectors localized to the cytoplasm, they did not exhibit virulence factor activity. Additionally, we characterized a functionally conserved chitin deacetylase effector, RiPDA1, which localized to the apoplastic space. The Y2H assay indicated that RiPDA1 forms homodimers. The in vitro chitin-binding assay showed that RiPDA1 has an affinity for chitin. RiPDA1 may function as a secretory polysaccharide deacetylase that facilitates symbiosis by deacetylating chitin oligomers. In summary, this study systematically identified and characterized effector proteins in R. irregularis. Similar to pathogenic fungi, AMF appear to employ cell wall-modifying enzymes to overcome plant immune defenses.

Excessive fertilizer use drives soil degradation and resource waste. This study investigates how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) formulations (powder vs. granular) optimize maize (Zea mays L.) yield, soil microbiome, and economic benefits under 50% and 75% fertilizer reduction. Field trials showed that the AMF powder formulation under 50% fertilizer reduction (AP50) increased maize yield by 14.67%. This increase was associated with rapid root colonization (85.3%), enhanced phosphorus availability, and the recruitment of beneficial fungi such as Mortierellomycota. Granular formulation at 75% reduction (AG75) achieved 7.18% yield gain via sustained symbiosis. Fungal communities exhibited greater sensitivity to fertilization than bacteria (Chao1, p = 0.0094), with AMF suppressing Fusarium by 42% while enriching functional taxa (Actinobacteria, Mortierellomycota). Economic analysis confirms that AP50 (30,435 CNY/ha) and AG75 (26,954 CNY/ha) yield higher net profits, where CNY denotes Chinese Yuan. Powder formulations maximize immediate benefits in medium- to low-fertility soils, whereas granules support long-term soil health in high-organic systems, providing a precision strategy for sustainable agriculture.

Disseminated cutaneous coccidioidomycosis (DCC) is an uncommon manifestation of Coccidioides infection resulting from hematogenous spread to the skin. While recurrence after treatment discontinuation has been reported in 17 to 50 percent of cases, associated frequency, timing, and risk factors are not well defined. We conducted a retrospective review of biopsy-proven or probable DCC cases between January 2008 and March 2024, and investigated for evidence of recurrence. Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were abstracted, including antifungal regimen, adherence, immune status, and coccidioidal titers. A total of 45 subjects met the inclusion criteria, including 27 immunocompetent and 18 immunosuppressed patients. Eleven (24.4%) experienced one or more recurrences, totaling 22 recurrences; 19 of these (86.4%) occurred at previously affected sites. Ten immunocompetent patients (37.0%) had 21 total recurrences, while one immunosuppressed patient (5.6%) experienced a single recurrence. Median antifungal-free interval before recurrence was 14 months (range, 1-96), and 10 recurrences (90.9%) occurred while off antifungal therapy. Ten patients underwent initial surgical excision, with four (40.0%) experiencing a total of 11 recurrences afterwards. DCC recurrence was common, mostly among immunocompetent individuals not on suppressive antifungal therapy, and frequently presented with multiple recurrences. Recurrences were almost always at prior lesion sites, often years after treatment discontinuation.