Frontiers in fungal biology最新文献

Cannabinoids, such as Δ⁹tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are bioactive compounds with well-documented therapeutic potential, including applications in pain relief, neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory treatments, and seizure control. Traditionally sourced from Cannabis plants, their production remains limited by agricultural constraints, regulatory hurdles, and environmental concerns. In response, recent advances in biotechnology have enabled the microbial biosynthesis of cannabinoids, offering a scalable and sustainable alternative. Engineered fungi, in particular, have gained attention as promising production platforms due to their metabolic flexibility, ease of genetic manipulation, and capacity for synthesizing complex secondary metabolites. This mini-review explores key innovations in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering that have enabled fungal cannabinoid biosynthesis. It highlights strategies such as pathway reconstruction, enzyme optimization, host strain engineering, and the application of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. In addition, it examines ongoing challenges, including product toxicity, metabolic burden, and regulatory considerations. Finally, the review outlines future directions in systems biology, the production of rare cannabinoids, and bioprocess optimization. Overall, the development of engineered fungi for cannabinoid biosynthesis represents a major conceptual advance in microbial biotechnology, with far-reaching implications for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial sectors.

Some Candida species of clinical interest have undergone recent nomenclature changes. These yeasts have a high capacity to adhere to and infect host tissues, driven by their virulence factors, as well as by the incidence of antifungal resistance. This review aimed to analyze the taxonomic changes of the main species of clinical interest within the Candida genus, considering the clinical implications of their virulence factors and the main mechanisms of antifungal resistance. The research results allowed us to understand that the updated nomenclature of Candida species is essential to maintain the criteria that define a genus, organizing the species according to their phylogenetic and evolutionary characteristics. Understanding the virulence factors and resistance mechanisms of the different species of clinical interest helps us understand how infections are initiated and established, as well as how these same species behave to neutralize the action of antifungals. Therefore, integrating knowledge of taxonomy, virulence, and resistance profiles is crucial for effective strategies to control and treat fungal infections.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.805127.].

Bioethanol is a sustainable, low-impact energy source with the potential to reduce or even replace fossil fuel consumption. Second-generation (2G) bioethanol exploits lignocellulosic agro-industrial residues, contributing to circular economy strategies by valorizing these waste streams. However, conventional Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains are unable to efficiently metabolize the pentose sugars abundant in lignocellulose, prompting growing interest in non-conventional yeasts such as Spathaspora passalidarum. This species, recognized for its innate ability to assimilate pentoses, remains underexplored, particularly regarding its metabolic performance in mixed-sugar environments containing hexoses, pentoses, and disaccharides. Our results demonstrate that S. passalidarum's xylose metabolism is strongly inhibited by pulses of hexoses such as glucose, galactose, and mannose, as well as by the disaccharide maltose. Notably, inhibition was also triggered by the non-metabolizable glucose analog 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), indicating that the regulatory signal originates during the early stages of glucose uptake into the cytosol rather than from downstream glycolytic pathways. In contrast, xylose metabolism was prioritized over fructose and sucrose. Furthermore, S. passalidarum was able to metabolize arabinose and glycerol, although these pathways favored biomass production through oxygen-dependent processes. Arabinose could be co-metabolized with xylose, but its assimilation was markedly suppressed in the presence of glucose. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the metabolic regulation of S. passalidarum and highlight its potential role in the design of robust strategies for 2G bioethanol production.

Spontaneously fermenting grape juices represent complex ecosystems resulting from the dynamic interaction between the unique characteristics of a grape varietal and its indigenous associated microbiota. The extent to which specific grape variety volatile compounds versus microbially derived ones shape wine identity remains incompletely understood. In this work, we explored this issue by characterizing the volatile compound profiles at early stages of fermentation of the highly aromatic Isabella (V. labrusca L.) grape juice, conducted by native microbial communities prepared from either Isabella (homologous fermentation) or Malbec (V. vinifera L., heterologous fermentation) grapes. Results revealed that microbial starters derived from V. labrusca L. and V. vinifera L. markedly influenced the volatile profiles of the resulting fermented Isabella grape juices. Joint analysis of volatile profiles from Malbec and Isabella juices fermented with the same set of Vitis-specific microbial communities showed that, despite the strong influence of the microbial consortia, the fermented juices retained traits consistent with their original grape varietal identity. Characterization and identification of cultivable yeast species in these homologous and heterologous fermentations of Isabella grape juice showed H. uvarum, H. opuntiae, and S. bacillaris as dominant species in Malbec and Isabella microbial ecosystems. Our results highlight the potential of this innovative experimental approach to examine the relative roles of microbial communities and grape varietals in shaping wine identity. Moreover, they show that different Vitis-specific microbiota can distinctly influence the volatile profiles of a fermenting grape juice without altering its varietal identity.

Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are vital and versatile components of plant cellular systems. They are characterized by a conserved eight-cysteine motif and are increasingly recognized for their dual roles in direct defense and stress modulation. nsLTPs serve critical structural and signaling functions in plant immunity. In contrast, other lipid transfer proteins, which lack the conserved cysteine motif, are primarily localized at membrane contact sites, specialized inter-organelle junctions that act as central hubs for lipid trafficking and signaling. This review explores the diverse roles of nsLTPs from structural, functional, and evolutionary perspectives, and examines current classification methodologies for the plant nsLTP superfamily. Functionally, nsLTPs contribute to the formation of protective barriers by transporting cutin monomers and other lipids, while also possessing lipid-specific antimicrobial properties that disrupt pathogen membranes. They support redox balance by scavenging reactive oxygen species, thereby minimizing oxidative stress. Additionally, nsLTPs are involved in defense signaling by transporting lipid-derived molecules essential to systemic acquired resistance. Their structural adaptability enables binding to a wide range of lipid species, underpinning their involvement in cuticle integrity, immune responses, and abiotic stress tolerance. These attributes position nsLTPs as promising targets for engineering durable, broad-spectrum disease resistance in crops. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding their structure-function relationships, lipid transport mechanisms, and roles in defense signaling and pathogen resistance. Addressing these challenges through advanced molecular and genetic tools could unlock the potential of nsLTPs to enhance crop resilience and contribute significantly to global food security.

Fungal peritonitis represents a significant complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and can result in severe consequences. However, fungal peritonitis caused by Fusarium is relatively rare, and there is no standard treatment plan for reference. Consequently, clinical pharmacists participated in a drug therapy for a rare case of fungal peritonitis in PD caused by Fusarium through literature review and therapeutic drug monitoring. Finally, this case received oral voriconazole, and the plasma concentration was maintained above 2 μg/ml. Moreover, the patient achieved favorable outcomes.

Fungal pathogens continue to devastate global agriculture, causing significant crop losses, compromising food security, and posing emerging threats to public health. This paper critically examines the revolutionary role of nanotechnology-driven innovations in combating fungal diseases in crops, offering an integrative framework that bridges plant health, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. We synthesize recent advancements in agricultural nanomaterials, including silver, zinc oxide, and copper oxide nanoparticles, as well as green-synthesized nanoformulations. We examine their antifungal mechanisms, including membrane disruption, induction of oxidative stress, targeted delivery, and inhibition of spore germination. The review highlights how nanosensors can facilitate early detection of pathogens, while nano-enabled packaging and innovative delivery systems prevent post-harvest contamination and extend shelf life. Crucially, we underscore the public health benefits of reduced chemical pesticide use, lowered mycotoxin exposure, and the potential for mitigating antimicrobial resistance. The paper advances the discourse on environmentally responsible, high-precision disease control strategies in agriculture by linking nanotechnology to broader sustainability goals. Furthermore, we identify key challenges, including regulatory ambiguity, ecotoxicological concerns, and barriers to equitable adoption, especially among smallholder farmers in the Global South. This paper contributes a forward-looking agenda for integrating nanotechnology into holistic pest management systems through inclusive policies, interdisciplinary research, and stakeholder-driven implementation pathways. Overall, this review positions nanotechnology as a transformative tool in reengineering crop protection paradigms that align innovation with sustainability, resilience, and public health imperatives in the face of escalating global challenges.

Melanin is a dark macromolecule found in organisms ranging from animals to fungi and plants. In fungi, melanin is a secondary metabolite that is not essential per se for growth but does provide various benefits that facilitate adaptation to stressful conditions such as UV light, desiccation, oxygen radicals, and extreme temperatures. The biosynthetic pathways of most types of melanin are known and documented, but the regulation of those pathways is not well understood. In fungi, known pathways for melanin production include those directing the synthesis of 1,8-DHN melanin and L-DOPA melanin, as well as the tyrosine degradation pathway. Genetic studies have identified structural genes and enzymes that play a role in these different melanin biosynthesis pathways. Recent studies have focused on the roles of various transcription factors (TFs) and signaling circuits (e.g., cAMP/PKA and the HOG pathway) in regulating the expression of the biosynthetic pathways. The review will provide insights into what is known about these TFs and regulatory circuits in diverse fungi in an attempt to identify common themes.

Chili pepper exports from Ghana are subject to stringent chemical residue regulations in key export destinations. Consequently, microbial biopesticides are urgently needed to complement current nonchemical control options for key pests of chili pepper, particularly the phytosanitary insect, False Codling Moth (FCM). Thus, the search for native entomopathogenic fungi in Ghanaian farms was initiated in 2023. Seven Metarhizium isolates (UGSUHCI, UGJKCS9, UGJKCS10, UGAFMF8, UGAFM F12, UGNAKC1 and UGKAP1), obtained from agricultural soils in Ghana, showed high virulence against the soil-dwelling stages of FCM under laboratory conditions. To facilitate the selection of these virulent isolates for development into a mycoinsecticide for FCM, the UV sensitivity and virulence following UV exposure were investigated for all seven isolates in this study. All isolates exhibited extreme susceptibility to UV radiation in comparison to similar research. Exposure to simulated full-spectrum solar radiation at 0.6 W/m² for 30 min reduced relative conidial germination by 28-40% 48 h following exposure, while 60 min exposure killed all isolates. High insect mortalities were recorded for four isolates, regardless of UV radiation. The findings suggest that an effective UV-protectant formulation could be required for success in the field against fruit and foliar pests of chili pepper, including those of FCM.