Article
Infectious Diseases
Lanyu Zhang, Saisai Wang, Nan Hong, Muyuan Li, Yiting Liu, Tao Zhou, Yan Peng, Changhua Hu, Xiaoxu Li, Zhen Zhang, Mengzhu Guo, Massimo Cogliati, Megan Hitchcock, Jianping Xu, Min Chen, Guojian Liao
Summary: Genotypic diversity and antifungal susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans species complex isolates from HIV-infected patients in China were investigated. The study found novel genotypes, ST15 and ST632/ST636, and an increasing trend of drug resistance in this region.
Article
Mycology
Aporajita Das Trisha, Jaasia Momtahena Hafsa, Akibul Hasan, Ahsan Habib, Humaira Rashid Tuba, Gisela H. Degen, Nurshad Ali
Summary: The presence of OTA in breast milk and urine samples of nursing mothers in Bangladesh indicates widespread exposure to this mycotoxin. Some nursed infants were found to have daily OTA intake exceeding the safety limit. Further studies and investigations on major sources of OTA in food commodities are encouraged.
MYCOTOXIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Poppy Sephton-Clark, Elvis Temfack, Jennifer L. Tenor, Dena L. Toffaletti, Angela Loyse, Sile F. Molloy, John R. Perfect, Tihana Bicanic, Thomas S. Harrison, Olivier Lortholary, Charles Kouanfack, Christina A. Cuomo
Summary: Cryptococcal meningitis, caused by Cryptococcus, is one of the leading causes of death in HIV/AIDS patients. This study compares clinical Cryptococcus samples from Cameroon and Malawi, revealing the genetic diversity of these isolates. The study identifies mixed-strain infections and genetic variants arising in Cryptococcus over the course of the disease.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ulrich Wernery, Marina Joseph, Sunitha Joseph, Fatma Al Mheiri
Summary: This study isolated Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum from the eye socket of a horse infected with epizootic equine lymphangitis, and observed and recorded its growth pattern on different solid media and temperatures.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sarah Delliere, Yael Amar, Samia Hamane, Nesrine Aissaoui, Blandine Denis, Anne Bergeron, Abdellatif Tazi, Alexandre Alanio
Summary: This study compared the diagnostic potential of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and bronchial aspirate (BA) in diagnosing fungal infections. The results showed that BA had higher fungal loads and a higher positive detection rate compared to BALF. Further investigation is needed to explore the use of BA in diagnostic algorithms.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lucy X. Li, Shakila Tenkayala Abdul Rajack, Darin Ostrander, Kausik Datta, Marissa Totten, Robin K. Avery, Sean X. Zhang, Kieren A. Marr, Nitipong Permpalung
Summary: This study retrospectively investigated patients with histoplasmosis from 2009 to 2019, finding that patients with progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) differ from those with other forms of histoplasmosis (OFH) in terms of higher rates of preexisting immunocompromising conditions and more chronic immunosuppression. Diagnosis of PDH was most frequently achieved through urinary or serum antigen testing, with higher rates of positivity compared to OFH. Median time to diagnosis was prolonged for both PDH and OFH. PDH patients received more liposomal amphotericin for treatment, but survival rates and treatment response were similar between the two groups. PDH patients were more often hospitalized, but there were no differences in hospital length of stay or intensive care unit admission rate.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Junyu Liu, Ruiqi Dong, Hongya Zhang, Shiqi Yao, Jia Liu, Lu Yang, Liuxu Fan, Xiaohong Su, Anni Wang, Zhihui Su, Iok Keng Ngai, Kai Dai, Ying Jiang, Fuhua Peng
Summary: Through the study of non-HIV-associated CM patients, we found that baseline CSF OP < 250mm H2O was associated with the low-risk status. Low-risk patients had a lower rate of headache, lower CSF OP, lower CSF cryptococcal count, higher CSF white blood cell and protein levels. The duration of treatment for low-risk patients was shorter and the success rate was higher.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Kevin Amses, Alessandro Desiro, Abigail Bryson, Igor Grigoriev, Stephen Mondo, Anna Lipzen, Kurt Labutti, Robert Riley, Vasanth Singan, Paris Salazar-Hamm, Jason King, Elizabeth Ballou, Teresa Pawlowska, Rasheed Adeleke, Gregory Bonito, Jessie Uehling
Summary: This study investigates the genomes of Mycoavidus and its intracellular bacterial endosymbionts, showing that the endosymbiont genomes are highly reduced compared to free-living relatives. The study also reveals patterns of vertical transmission and host-specificity in many endosymbiont isolates, shedding light on the convergent adaptation to the intrahyphal selective landscape. The research provides insights into the functional implications of genome reduction and the evolution of eukaryotic endosymbiont genomes.
FUNGAL GENETICS AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dianiris Luciano-Rosario, Omer Barda, Joanna Tannous, Dean Frawley, Ozgur Bayram, Dov Prusky, Edward Sionov, Nancy P. Keller
Summary: Epigenetic modification plays an important role in secondary metabolism and sporulation in filamentous fungal pathogens. The SntB protein, along with KdmB and RpdA, is crucial for the regulation of virulence, spore production, and mycotoxin synthesis in Penicillium expansum.
FUNGAL GENETICS AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Mycology
Michal Tomsovsky, Sirapitcha Kaeochulsri, Tomas Kudlacek, Laszlo Benedek Dalya
Summary: The phenomenon of cryptic species is widespread in fungal lineages. The taxonomic status of F. inzengae and F. fomentarius has been disputed due to their problematic morphological identification. This study examines the distribution, host preferences, morphology, and phylogenetic relationships of these two species in Czechia, revealing their ecological preferences and contact zone, and confirming their distinction through multigene sequence analyses.
MYCOLOGICAL PROGRESS
(2023)
Review
Mycology
Dionisio P. A. M. O. R. I. M. Neto, Anderson S. Sant'ana
Summary: This article explores the role of gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease, suggesting that molds and yeasts, or their secondary metabolites, can both protect and induce the leading clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
FUNGAL BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Mycology
Ifunanya R. Akaniro, Ikenna V. Chibuike, Emmanuel C. Onwujekwe, Francis A. Gbadamosi, Deborah O. Enyi, Oge N. Onwe
Summary: In modern research, the roles of biomanufacturing and environmental sustainability in chemical and energy production, as well as societal growth and well-being, are widely explored. Penicillium, a diverse microbial group found in various habitats, has the potential for synthesizing bioactive secondary metabolites with environmental applications. Studying the biosynthetic and degradative machinery of Penicillium species offers opportunities for the synthesis of useful products to remove soil and water pollutants and improve environmental health at low costs. This review discusses the current state of biotechnological applications of Penicillium species in bioremediation, biofuel production, and food fermentation, as well as future research directions.
FUNGAL BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Mycology
Anthony T. Buaya, Ichen Tsai, Tatyana A. Klochkova, Marco Thines
Summary: Holocarpic oomycetes have regained scientific interest recently, especially those infecting commercially valuable red algae. We discovered a previously unnoticed parasite, Sirolpidium litorale, infecting the widespread littoral green algae Urospora neglecta, and found it to be distinct from another green algae-infesting species. Establishing a genetically tractable system using U. neglecta could provide valuable insights into the pathogenicity, ecological roles, and evolutionary history of Sirolpidium species.
MYCOLOGICAL PROGRESS
(2023)
Review
Mycology
T. S. Suryanarayanan, J. P. Ravishankar
Summary: Saline habitats support both halophilic and halotolerant fungi. Halophilic fungi are restricted to hypersaline environments and there is limited information about them. However, the ecological roles of halotolerant fungi in saline environments require attention due to their co-occurrence with halophilic microorganisms and salt tolerance.
FUNGAL BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jakob Joachin, Camryn Kritzell, Elliot Lagueux, Noah C. Luecke, Kerri M. Crawford
Summary: Pathogens play a crucial role in shaping plant communities through their species-specific effects on plants. Changes in water availability can alter plant communities by affecting the specificity of plant-pathogen interactions. This study found that under high water availability, a pathogenic soil fungus had stronger negative effects on plant biomass and exhibited species-specific effects.
Article
Dermatology
Ralph Bertram, Hans-Theodor Naumann, Vanessa Bartsch, Wolfgang Hitzl, Martina Kinzig, Golo-Sung Haarmeyer, Matthias Baumgaertel, Arnim Geise, Dorothea Muschner, Jens Nentwich, Stefan John, Fritz Soergel, Joerg Steinmann, Rainer Hoehl
Summary: This study aimed to determine the plasma concentrations of isavuconazole in ICU patients with COVID-19 and invasive fungal infection, and evaluate the factors contributing to sub-therapeutic drug levels. The results showed that patients' risk factors and supportive therapies can negatively affect the plasma levels of isavuconazole.
Article
Mycology
Lian-Hui Huang, Jing Wang, Shu-Hong Li, Wei-Qiang Qin, Hai-Jiao Li, Xiang-Hua Wang
Summary: This study focuses on the edible mushroom group known as Huotanjun in southern China, which is different from European and North American species. The research identifies four new species and establishes the phylogenetic position of the potentially fatal Russula subnigricans. The study also recommends caution when consuming mushrooms with similar characteristics and advises to only eat species with a blackening context and gills.
MYCOLOGICAL PROGRESS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Fatemeh Khelghatibana, Mohammad Javan-Nikkhah, Naser Safaie, Ahmad Sobhani, Somayeh Shams, Ehsan Sari
Summary: In this study, the transcriptome of O. leptostyla was assembled for the first time and analyzed during walnut infection. The results showed that O. leptostyla had elevated transcription at 96 hours post infection and identified several candidate effectors. These findings are important for understanding the pathogenic mechanism and gene regulation of O. leptostyla.
FUNGAL GENETICS AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Mycology
Hossein Masigol, Pieter Van West, Seyedeh Roksana Taheri, Juan-Miguel Fregeneda-Grandes, Lucian Parvulescu, Debbie McLaggan, Tim Tobias Bliss, Reza Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa, Mohammad Javad Pourmoghaddam, Hans-Peter Grossart
Summary: This study reviewed 1073 papers and 2803 ITS sequences of Saprolegniales to investigate their taxonomy, diversity, and potential roles in freshwater ecosystems. The results showed that our knowledge on the diversity and ecology of Saprolegniales is limited, and both classic taxonomy and molecular techniques have been insufficient for their identification and distribution. Furthermore, the involvement of Saprolegniales in carbon turnover and food web dynamics is not well understood. The study proposes new research avenues and suggests increasing the practicality of classic taxonomy and utilizing molecular toolboxes to overcome the challenges in studying Saprolegniales.
FUNGAL BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Mycology
Bagdevi Mishra, Sebastian Ploch, Claus Weiland, Marco Thines
Summary: Phylogenetic inference is often used as a tool in biological studies to interpret laboratory experiments, but it is often performed at low standards, leading to potential misinterpretations. The TrEase web service was developed to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive pipeline for phylogenetic analysis, enabling beginners and researchers in biodiversity studies to easily access current phylogenetic methods.
MYCOLOGICAL PROGRESS
(2023)
