Journal of Fungi最新文献

Fungal infections are common in highly immunosuppressed, solid organ transplant recipients. They can be quite difficult to diagnose in a timely manner; thus, we present a review of current studies focusing on broad categories of molecular diagnostics, i.e., metagenomic sequencing, magnetic resonance, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. We further discuss their syndrome-specific utilization in the diagnosis of fungemia and disseminated disease, pneumonia, and central nervous system infections. We assess the level of evidence of their utility as fungal diagnostics particularly in solid organ transplant recipients using the STARD criteria. In addition, we provide future research directions to substantiate and appropriately utilize these platforms in clinical practice. Directed polymerase chain reaction testing and targeted metagenomic sequencing are being used clinically and show the most promise, though only in conjunction with conventional methods at this time. The majority of these platforms contain limited data, and thus further larger studies are needed in order to properly implement their use.

The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with Epichloë endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a primary defense. In addition, ryegrass can activate induced defense mechanisms, with peramine remaining the central agent in response to herbivorous insect attacks. Therefore, this study assessed the feeding of the ASW on ryegrass carrying endophytic fungus and peramine levels in aerial organs and its effects on pest performance. Argentine stem weevil adults and larvae were placed on ryegrass leaves and stems to assess feeding. Two treatments were used: endophyte-free plants and endophyte-colonized plants. After ASW feeding damage, insect consumption was measured by the leaf area consumed. To evaluate peramine production and its increase in response to ASW attack, peramine levels in leaves were analyzed using liquid chromatography. Damaged E+ ryegrass plants showed significant increases in peramine, with adult and larval herbivory raising levels by 291% and 216% in stems and by 135% and 85% in leaves, respectively, compared to controls. Endophyte-free (E-) plants experienced more ASW damage, as insects preferred feeding on them, showing reduced activity as peramine levels rose in endophyte-infected (E+) plants. An oviposition assay confirmed insect preference for endophyte-free (E-) plants. Additionally, larvae reared on endophyte-infected (E+) plants had lower survival rates, correlating negatively with peramine levels. These results emphasize peramine's role in strengthening ryegrass defenses against ASW, impacting both feeding and larval development.

Microsporum canis, a zoophilic dermatophyte, infects the stratum corneum and keratinized tissues like hair and nails in cats and dogs, with cats serving as the primary reservoir. Most human infections arise from animal contact. We present the case of a girl aged 8 with skin scalp lesions persisting for two months. Several scalp lesions, with a maximum diameter of 4 cm, presented as erythematous plaques with superficial scaling, yellow crusts, and edematous areas with purulent exudate. Dermoscopy revealed yellow crusts on an erythematous background, along with white scales, pustules, broken hairs, and comma hairs. Ultraviolent-enhanced fluorescence dermoscopy (UEFD) showed slight celadon green fluorescence, which enhanced the diagnosis and further helped to monitor the treatment. The PCR test confirmed the presence of M. canis. Treatment included topical ciclopirox and oral terbinafine. Lesions on the scalp and noticeable hair regrowth were observed in the areas of hair loss after two months. Kerion celsi can result in severe alopecia. To prevent scarring associated with hair loss in children, early mycological diagnostics, supported by dermoscopy and UEFD, is recommended.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a fungus that is cultured through fermentation from wild Chinese cordyceps. While studies have examined its metabolites, the evaluation of its antioxidant capacity remains to be conducted. The antioxidant results of O. sinensis indicate that the ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), antioxidant capacity (2.74 ± 0.12 μmol Trolox/g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) free radical scavenging rate (60.21 ± 0.51%), and the hydroxyl free radical scavenging rate (91.83 ± 0.68%) reached a maximum on day 30. Using LC-MS/MS to measure the metabolites on D24, D30, and D36, we found that the majority of the differential accumulated metabolites (DAMs) primarily accumulate in lipids, organoheterocyclic compounds, and organic acids and their derivatives. Notably, the DAMs exhibiting high peaks include acetylcarnitine, glutathione, linoleic acid, and L-propionylcarnitine, among others. The transcriptome analysis results indicate that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibiting high expression peaks on D30 primarily included lnaA, af470, and ZEB1; high expression peaks on D24 comprised SPBC29A3.09c and YBT1; high expression peaks on D36 included dtxS1, PA1538, and katG. The combined analysis revealed significant and extremely significant positive and negative correlations between all the DAMs and DEGs. The primary enriched pathways (p < 0.05) included glutathione metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and phenylalanine metabolism. The metabolic pathway map revealed that the DAMs and DEGs influencing the antioxidant activity of O. sinensis were significantly up-regulated on D30 but down-regulated on D36. The correlation analysis suggests that an increase in the content of DEGs and DAMs promotes an increase in the levels of enzyme and non-enzyme substances, ultimately enhancing the antioxidant capacity of O. sinensis. These findings serve as a reference of how DAMs and DEGs affect the antioxidant activity of O. sinensis. This may contribute to the enhanced development and application of O. sinensis.

The addition of acetic acid to Monascus ruber cultures is usually used to inhibit the growth of heterotrophic bacteria; however, we found that acetic acid also promotes the growth of M. ruber CICC41233, as well as the synthesis of Monascus pigments (MPs). Compared with no acetic acid or HCl addition, the diameter of M. ruber CICC41233 colonies increased significantly under acetic acid conditions. On the sixth day of fermentation, the yield of total pigments in M. ruber increased significantly by 9.97 times (compared with no acetic acid) and 13.9 times (compared with hydrochloric acid). The transcriptomics data showed that the differentially expressed genes between M. ruber with acetic acid and without acetic acid were mainly involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, and that these differentially expressed genes were not involved in amino acid metabolism. Gene expression analysis showed that the relative expression levels of MP synthesis genes (MpPKS5, MppA, MpFasB, MppB, MppD, and MppR2) were significantly up-regulated under acetic acid conditions. This study clarified the metabolic mechanism of acetic acid promoting the growth of M. ruber and the synthesis of MPs, which provided some theoretical guidance for the large-scale production of MPs in the industry in future.

We read the review by Gupta et al [...].

We find the comment on the article titled "Diabetic Foot and Fungal Infections: Etiology and Management from a Dermatologic Perspective" informative and wish to thank the authors for their added insight on this complex topic [...].

Palm trees (Arecaceae) are among the most popular ornamental plants worldwide. Despite extensive research on the fungi associated with Arecaceae, the diversity and ecological dynamics of fungi affecting ornamental palms remain poorly studied, although they have significant impact on palm health and economic value. Furthermore, while research on palm fungal diversity has traditionally focused on tropical assemblages, ornamental palms in temperate climates offer a unique opportunity to explore the diversity of palm fungi in non-native habitats. The present study conducted a preliminary assessment of the diversity and ecology of potential phytopathogenic fungi associated with foliar lesions on various ornamental palm host species in Portugal, combining morphological examination, PCR-based genomic fingerprinting, and biodiversity data analysis. The examination of 134 foliar lesions sampled from 100 palm trees resulted in a collection of 2064 palm leaf spotting fungi (PLSF), representing a diverse fungal assemblage of 320 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) across 97 genera. The overall fungal community composition revealed a distinct assemblage dominated by Neosetophoma, Alternaria, Phoma, and Cladosporium, with a profusion of infrequent and rare taxa consistent with a logseries distribution. Significantly positive co-occurrence (CO) patterns among prevalent and uncommon taxa suggest potential synergistic interactions enhancing fungal colonisation, persistence, and pathogenicity. The taxonomic structures of the PLSF contrasted markedly from tropical palm fungi, especially in the prevalence of pleosporalean coelomycetes of the Didymellaceae and Phaeosphaeriaceae, including recently introduced or not previously documented genera on Arecaceae. This novel assemblage suggests that climatic constraints shape the structure of palm fungal communities, resulting in distinctive temperate and tropical assemblages. In addition, the fungal assemblages varied significantly across palm host species, with temperate-native palms hosting more diverse, coelomycete-enriched communities. The present findings highlight foliar lesions as hyperdiverse microhabitats harbouring fungal communities with intricate interactions and a complex interplay of climatic, host, and ecological factors. With climate change altering environmental conditions, the identification of fungi thriving in or inhabiting these microhabitats becomes crucial for predicting shifts in pathogen dynamics and mitigating future fungal disease outbreaks. Understanding these complex ecological dynamics is essential for identifying potential phytopathogenic threats and developing effective management strategies for the health and sustainability of ornamental plants.

The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known for its high altitude, geological history of plate collision, crustal uplift, and special ecology factors, provides an ideal environment for studying fungal biodiversity in extreme environmental conditions. Some species within the Conocybe, containing secondary metabolites such as psilocybin, phallotoxins, and amatoxins, have potential medicinal value for treating psychiatric disorders and for use in drug development. This study investigates Conocybe (Bolbitiaceae, Agaricales) on the Plateau, based on specimens collected over the past decade, using morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Seven species were identified, including four new species: C. alticola, C. alticoprophila, C. versicolor, and C. yadongensis. Molecular analyses, utilizing multi-gene sequence data (ITS, nrLSU, and tef-1α), support the taxonomic position of these new species within this genus as new species. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, photographs, line drawings, and comparisons with related species are provided for the new taxa. This study enriches the species diversity of Conocybe on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, further enhancing our understanding of fungal biodiversity in this region.

Southern corn rust (SCR) caused by Puccinia polysora Underw. has recently emerged as a focal point of study because of its extensive distribution, significant damage, and high prevalence in maize growing areas such as the United States, Canada, and China. P. polysora is an obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen that cannot be cultured in vitro or genetically modified, thus complicating the study of the molecular bases of its pathogenicity. High temperatures and humid environmental conditions favor SCR development. In severe cases, SCR may inhibit photosynthesis and cause early desiccation of maize, a decrease in kernel weight, and yield loss. Consequently, an expedited and accurate detection approach for SCR is essential for plant protection and disease management. Significant progress has been made in elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms of P. polysora, identifying resistance genes and developing SCR-resistant cultivars. A detailed understanding of the molecular interactions between maize and P. polysora will facilitate the development of novel and effective approaches for controlling SCR. This review gives a concise overview of the biological characteristics and symptoms of SCR, its life cycle, the molecular basis of interactions between maize and P. polysora, the genetic resistance of maize to SCR, the network of maize resistance to P. polysora infection, SCR management, and future perspectives.