Frontiers in fungal biology最新文献

Mushrooms have long served as both food and medicine, providing polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenolics, and peptides with diverse health benefits. Extensive studies have begun to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying these therapeutic effects, which include anti-aging, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. Translational research is progressing from preclinical models to clinical trials, reinforcing the biomedical potential of mushroom-derived compounds. Advances in fungal genetic modification and gene editing have further positioned edible mushrooms as promising platforms for recombinant biopharmaceutical production. Their eukaryotic protein-processing capacity, natural bioencapsulation, and GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status make them well-suited for sustainable and orally deliverable therapeutics. Engineered mushrooms show strong potential as platforms for oral vaccines and recombinant protein production, bridging traditional medicinal use with modern molecular farming.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) affects the physical and mental health of millions of women worldwide. The leading cause of VVC, Candida albicans, can induce a strong mucosal inflammatory reaction during the VVC infection, where secreted and membrane-bound adhesion and hydrolases seem to be the key virulent factors to promote the mucosal antifungal immunity and immunopathology. Several hydrolases, such as Saps, Als, candidalysin, lipases, and phospholipases, have been identified in vaginal secretions isolated from VVC patients; however, the immune impacts of some hydrolases have not been well documented. In this review, we focus on the literature that addresses the immunopathogenic roles of the Als adhesin family or proteinase, such as Sap and candidalysin, in VVC. Our goal is to expand our knowledge of VVC pathogenesis in order to provide new strategies for VVC treatment.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of two biological agents, Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Pseudomonas yamanorum, together with compost addition. The results show that combining compost with the microbial consortium enhances the physicochemical properties of the soil by increasing nitrogen, carbon, and organic matter while reducing bulk density and nitrate levels. Furthermore, this combination stimulates plant defense mechanisms, leading to increased antioxidant enzyme activity and higher phenolic compound levels. The amendments also improved critical soil properties, increasing organic matter (up to 4.14%), organic carbon (up to 2.40%), and total nitrogen (up to 1.47 mg/g), suggesting that these effects may be linked to the richness of microorganisms in the compost. The combined treatments also reduced the symptoms of fungal diseases: the severity of Botrytis cinerea decreased from 82%-92% to 4.97%-7.71%; Erysiphe necator from 89%-95% to 2.34%-8.03%; and Plasmopara viticola from 70%-95% to 2.84%-5.66%. In conclusion, the use of compost and beneficial microorganisms as bio-stimulants could offer an effective and sustainable solution for improving grapevine soil quality and managing fungal diseases.

Introduction: Candida parapsilosis is a clinically important etiological agent of systemic infections associated with hospital outbreaks, which prevalence has been increasing in the last decade. Moreover, in recent years, fluconazole resistance in this species has been emerging in different countries, being a subject of significant interest and concern. In this context, the present study aims to determine the frequency of fluconazole resistance in C. parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates collected in Portugal (2003-2007 and 2017-2024), understand its associated molecular mechanisms, and relate it all with worldwide genomic data.

Methods: To this end, we performed phenotypic assays of 145 isolates of C. parapsilosis collected from different biological and environmental products in Portugal (majority from the Lisbon Metropolitan area), and explored the genomic features of the fluconazole-resistant ones.

Results: We found eight C. parapsilosis fluconazole-resistant isolates between 2017 and 2024, corresponding to a frequency of 8.5% in this period, and contrasting with the absence of fluconazole-resistant isolates collected before 2007. Sequencing of the ERG11 gene showed that all fluconazole-resistant isolates had the Y132F and R398I mutations.

Discussion: A phylogenomic analysis including publicly available isolates from other countries revealed that our Portuguese isolates are more closely related to those from the USA and Germany than to the isolates sequenced thus far from the neighbor country, Spain. Furthermore, although three distinct C. parapsilosis genetic clades were found in our dataset, all the fluconazole-resistant isolates detected in this study cluster together, raising the question of whether the increased fluconazole-resistance in the country could possibly be associated with the emergence or introduction of this particular lineage. Altogether, these results provide valuable insights on fluconazole resistance in a set of Portuguese C. parapsilosis isolates and their associated mechanisms, representing an important step towards a better understanding of the increasing C. parapsilosis fluconazole resistance in Southern Europe.

Mould spoilage is a major challenge in bakery production, yet the sources and persistence of contaminating strains remain poorly understood. We applied whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to 68 isolates from potato-cereal wraps and their production environment in a Norwegian bakery. Barcode-based identification using ITS, BenA, CaM, and RPB2 confirmed that 65 isolates belonged to the Penicillium commune/Penicillium fuscoglaucum lineage but could not fully resolve species status or resolve strain-level differences. Genome-wide comparison using Mash placed these isolates in a single clade within series Camembertiorum, distinct from cheese-associated taxa. SNP analysis revealed extremely low diversity within the main cluster (up to 60 SNPs after recombination filtering) and demonstrated that genetically similar strains persisted in the facility for 15 months, spanning multiple products and environmental samples. No consistent association with potato suppliers or production dates was detected, indicating that long-term environmental reservoirs were the main source of contamination. These findings show that persistent clonal lineages can survive routine cleaning in dry bakery environments, enabling recurrent contamination. WGS provided the strain-level resolution needed to uncover this persistence and clarify phylogenetic placement, underscoring its value for monitoring and controlling mould spoilage in food production.

Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin is a well-known entomopathogenic fungus that occupies diverse ecological niches, including soilborne, epiphytic, and endophytic habitats. Its capacity to function as an endophyte has received growing interest in potential applications for sustainable pest management, particularly in woody perennial systems where delivery and persistence of biological control agents are challenging. This study investigated endophytic colonization of peach (Prunus persica Batsch) seedlings by B. bassiana and quantified production of the insecticidal secondary metabolite beauvericin (BEA) in and on plant tissues. Seedlings were inoculated via foliar spray or soil drench. Fungal recovery was assessed from leaf, stem, and root tissues. Colonization patterns indicated systemic movement, however foliar spray increased recovery from leaf tissues and soil drench increased recovery from roots over time. BEA concentrations varied significantly by tissue type, inoculation method, and surface sterilization status. The highest levels were detected in non-surface-sterilized leaves of foliar-sprayed plants, measured two weeks post-inoculation. Surface sterilization prior to extraction significantly reduced detected concentrations, suggesting that BEA is primarily produced by epiphytic fungal growth. Larval bioassays with Tenebrio molitor L. revealed increased mortality associated with foliar-sprayed tissues, aligning with observed BEA levels and suggesting localized insecticidal activity. These findings demonstrate that the spatial dynamics of fungal colonization and metabolite localization are critical considerations for the effective deployment of B. bassiana in biocontrol strategies. Further research is needed to determine how environmental factors, host physiology, fungal strain, and time influence secondary metabolite production in and on plants treated with B. bassiana.

Introduction: Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal mushroom known for producing diverse bioactive metabolites with therapeutic potential. However, cultivation strategies aimed at enhancing both fungal yield and metabolite bioactivity, particularly through light-mediated physiological modulation, remain insufficiently investigated. This study explored the influence of different LED light spectra on the growth performance and cytotoxic potential of H. erinaceus mycelia cultivated on a nutrient-rich red sorghum substrate.

Methods: Mycelia were cultivated for 30 days under four LED light spectra-blue, red, green, and RGB, compared to a control treatment (which was kept in darkness). Growth parameters, including radial growth rate, colonization speed, fresh weight, biomass increase, and mycelial density, were recorded at harvest. Ethanol extracts prepared from the mycelia of each treatment were tested for cytotoxic activity against SW480 colorectal cancer cells, HepG2 liver cancer cells, and normal colon epithelial cells (CCD-841 CoN), and IC₅₀ values were determined.

Results and discussion: Blue light produced the most pronounced enhancement in growth performance, yielding the highest mycelial density (0.344 g/cm²), fresh weight (6.75 g), and biomass increase (12.28%), along with the fastest radial expansion and substrate colonization. Extracts from blue light-treated mycelia showed the strongest cytotoxic effects against SW480 (IC₅₀ = 133.71 μg/mL) and HepG2 cells (IC₅₀ = 114.84 μg/mL), while exerting minimal effects on normal CCD-841 CoN cells. These findings suggest that targeted light spectra can modulate fungal physiology, likely via photoreceptor-mediated pathways, to enhance both agronomic performance and production of cytotoxic metabolites. This study provides a framework for optimizing H. erinaceus cultivation for functional food and therapeutic applications.

Hydrophobins are small amphiphilic proteins secreted by filamentous fungi. These proteins confer hydrophobic properties to the hyphae and conidia. Bipolaris maydis is the causal agent of southern corn leaf blight; the biological function of its hydrophobins is not clear. In the present study, we focused on the broad function of hydrophobins in the life cycle of this fungus. We found that the B. maydis genome encodes four hydrophobins-Hyp1 of class I, and Hyp2, Hyp3 and Hyp4 of class II-and all of them are expressed. We generated single disruptants of each gene, as well as triple and quadruple disruptants. No differences were detected between the wild type and any of disruptants in mycelial growth, conidiation, stress tolerance, virulence, or sexual reproduction. The colony hydrophobicity of all disruptant strains was similar to that of the wild-type strain. Complementation of a null Aspergillus nidulans mutant of dewA, which showed a significantly reduced colony hydrophobicity, with each of the four B. maydis hydrophobin genes restored the hydrophobic phenotype, although the degree of hydrophobicity varied among them. Despite the absence of any significant phenotypic changes in the B. maydis mutants generated, results strongly suggest that all four hydrophobins have retained their function in hydrophobicity. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that the role of hydrophobins might change depending on the fungal species.

Colletotrichum tropicale is an endophyte that has been reported as a pathogen in ripe mango fruits (Mangifera indica L. cv. Azúcar) in Magdalena, Colombia, causing anthracnose. However, gene expression in the host that promotes its lifestyle transition remains unknown. This study aimed to analyze gene expression during the interaction between ripe mango fruit cv. Azúcar and C. tropicale to identify differentially expressed host genes that facilitate the pathogen's infection process. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was conducted at 0 and 12 h post inoculation (hpi), including de novo assembly and bioinformatic functional annotation using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). A total of 5,435 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the interaction, of which only 421 DEGs were detected in ripe mango fruits. Among these, 379 were upregulated and 42 were downregulated (T0 vs. T12 hpi). GO functional annotation of downregulated fruit genes revealed that the molecular functions affected at 12 hpi were related to the plant's defensive oxidative burst mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-including NADPH oxidase activity, hydrogen peroxide formation, and the action of peroxidases and oxidoreductase enzymes-whereas upregulated genes were associated with stress response, defense, transferase activity, and kinase activity. KEGG analysis identified pathways related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity, and phenylalanine metabolism. In conclusion, ripe mango fruit cv. Azúcar activates a defense response against C. tropicale at 12 hpi that does not overcome the pathogen's initial quiescent phase but instead facilitates conditions for its establishment by suppressing oxidative burst pathways, which may later contribute to oxidative stress during the necrotrophic phase.

Hypsizygus marmoreus is a wood-rotting fungus of significant medicinal value, extensively cultivated industrially. As the scale of production expands, the issue of "same strains with different names" has become increasingly important, necessitating an accurate, efficient, and rapid method for variety identification. In this study, we resequenced 79 strains of H. marmoreus and selected 32 strains to construct a database comprised of 369 multiple nucleotide polymorphism (MNP) molecular markers and subsequently analyzed the genetic similarity among these strains. The results revealed that none of the 32 selected strains exhibited 100% genetic similarity. Specifically, the genetic similarity of the 369 MNP markers among the white strains ranged from 11.92% to 88.62%, while that of the gray strains ranged from 2.71% to 74.53%, indicating that the gray strains exhibited greater genetic diversity than their white counterparts. Furthermore, we compared the identification results of MNP molecular markers with those obtained from cross-plating experiments and ISSR molecular markers. This comparison highlighted the advantages of the MNP molecular marker method in terms of stability, accuracy, and high efficiency, thereby significantly contributing to the advancement of H. marmoreus strains identification and creation.