Journal of Fungi

17 pages, 7190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Dothideomycetes from Freshwater Habitats in Spain

by Viridiana Magaña-Dueñas, José Francisco Cano-Lira and Alberto Miguel Stchigel

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121102 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2933

The Dothideomycetes are a class of cosmopolitan fungi that are present principally in terrestrial environments, but which have also been found in freshwater and marine habitats. In the present study, more than a hundred samples of plant debris were collected from various freshwater [...] Read more.

The Dothideomycetes are a class of cosmopolitan fungi that are present principally in terrestrial environments, but which have also been found in freshwater and marine habitats. In the present study, more than a hundred samples of plant debris were collected from various freshwater locations in Spain. Its incubation in wet chambers allowed us to detect and to isolate in pure culture numerous fungi producing asexual reproductive fruiting bodies (conidiomata). Thanks to a morphological comparison and to a phylogenetic analysis that combined the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nrDNA with fragments of the RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2), beta tubulin (tub2), and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1) genes, six of those strains were identified as new species to science. Three belong to the family Didymellaceae: Didymella brevipilosa, Heterophoma polypusiformis and Paraboeremia clausa; and three belong to the family Phaeosphaeriaceae:Paraphoma aquatica, Phaeosphaeria fructigena and Xenophoma microspora. The finding of these new taxa significantly increases the number of the coelomycetous fungi that have been described from freshwater habitats. Full article

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13 pages, 3740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Additions to Lyophyllaceae s.l. from China

by Jize Xu, Xiaodong Yu, Nakarin Suwannarach, Yi Jiang, Wei Zhao and Yu Li

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121101 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3132

Abstract

Four new species, viz. Calocybe coacta, C. fulvipes, C. vinacea and Clitolyophyllum umbilicatum, are described in northern China. Comparisons are made of macro- and micromorphological features among the new species and closely related species within the genus. The new species [...] Read more.

Four new species, viz. Calocybe coacta, C. fulvipes, C. vinacea and Clitolyophyllum umbilicatum, are described in northern China. Comparisons are made of macro- and micromorphological features among the new species and closely related species within the genus. The new species feature unique morphological characteristics that separate them from the previously described species. Calocybe coacta is characterized by medium- to large-sized basidiocarps, greyish cream, felty pileus and non-cellular epicutis. The key characteristics of C. fulvipes are rose-brown to greyish-brown pileus, stone-brown stipe and non-cellular epicutis. The unique morphological characteristics of C. vinacea that distinguish it from its closely related species are pastel red to dull-red pileus and stipe surface with densely white pruina. The main characteristics of Clitolyophyllum umbilicatum are deeply depressed dark orange to light-brown pileus, central stipe and subglobose-ellipsoid spores. Phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS and 28S regions indicated that the four new species are distinct and monophyletic. Full descriptions, color images, illustrations and a phylogenetic tree that show the placement of the four new species are provided. A key to the Calocybe species reported from China is also given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polyphasic Identification of Fungi)

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18 pages, 1432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Efficiency In Vitro Wound Healing of Dictyophora indusiata Extracts via Anti-Inflammatory and Collagen Stimulating (MMP-2 Inhibition) Mechanisms

by Yasir Nazir, Pichchapa Linsaenkart, Chiranan Khantham, Tanakarn Chaitep, Pensak Jantrawut, Chuda Chittasupho, Pornchai Rachtanapun, Kittisak Jantanasakulwong, Yuthana Phimolsiripol, Sarana Rose Sommano, Jiraporn Tocharus, Salin Mingmalairak, Anchali Wongsa, Chaiwat Arjin, Korawan Sringarm, Houda Berrada, Francisco J. Barba and Warintorn Ruksiriwanich

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121100 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4244

Abstract

Dictyophora indusiata or Phallus indusiatus is widely used as not only traditional medicine, functional foods, but also, skin care agents. Biological activities of the fruiting body from D. indusiata were widely reported, while the studies on the application of immature bamboo mushroom extracts [...] Read more.

Dictyophora indusiata or Phallus indusiatus is widely used as not only traditional medicine, functional foods, but also, skin care agents. Biological activities of the fruiting body from D. indusiata were widely reported, while the studies on the application of immature bamboo mushroom extracts were limited especially in the wound healing effect. Wound healing process composed of 4 stages including hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. This study divided the egg stage of bamboo mushroom into 3 parts: peel and green mixture (PGW), core (CW), and whole mushroom (WW). Then, aqueous extracts were investigated for their nucleotide sequencing, biological compound contents, and wound healing effect. The anti-inflammatory determination via the levels of cytokine releasing from macrophages, and the collagen stimulation activity on fibroblasts by matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) inhibitory activity were determined to serve for the wound healing process promotion in the stage 2–4 (wound inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling of the skin). All D. indusiata extracts showed good antioxidant potential, significantly anti-inflammatory activity in the decreasing of the nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-1 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion from macrophage cells (p < 0.05), and the effective collagen stimulation via MMP-2 inhibition. In particular, CW extract containing high content of catechin (68.761 ± 0.010 mg/g extract) which could significantly suppress NO secretion (0.06 ± 0.02 µmol/L) better than the standard anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (0.12 ± 0.02 µmol/L) and their MMP-2 inhibition (41.33 ± 9.44%) was comparable to L-ascorbic acid (50.65 ± 2.53%). These findings support that CW of D. indusiata could be an essential natural active ingredient for skin wound healing pharmaceutical products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mushrooms—Mycotherapy and Mycochemistry 2.0)

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12 pages, 27491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Virulence of Candida albicans by Staphylococcus aureus: Evidence in Clinical Bloodstream Infections and Infected Zebrafish Embryos

by Yen-Mu Wu, Po-Yen Huang, Yi-Chuan Cheng, Chih-Hua Lee, Meng-Chieh Hsu, Jang-Jih Lu and Shao-Hung Wang

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121099 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2357

Abstract

Coinfection with Candida and Staphylococcus results in higher mortality in animal studies. However, the pathogenesis and interplay between C. albicans and S. aureus in bloodstream infections (BSIs) is unclear. This study determines the clinical features and outcomes of mixed C. albicans/S. [...] Read more.

Coinfection with Candida and Staphylococcus results in higher mortality in animal studies. However, the pathogenesis and interplay between C. albicans and S. aureus in bloodstream infections (BSIs) is unclear. This study determines the clinical features and outcomes of mixed C. albicans/S. aureus (CA/SA) BSIs and biofilm formation on pathogenesis during coinfection. Demographics and outcomes for mixed BSIs and monomicrobial candidemia were compared. Compared to 115 monomicrobial C. albicans BSIs, 22 patients with mixed CA/SA BSIs exhibited a significantly higher mortality rate and shorter survival time. In vitro and in vivo biofilm analysis showed that C. albicans accounted for the main biofilm architecture, and S. aureus increased its amount. Antibiotic tolerance in S. aureus, which adhered to Candida hyphae observed by scanning electron microscope, was demonstrated by the presence of wild-type C. albicans co-biofilm. Upregulation in exotoxin genes of S. aureus was evidenced by quantitative RT-PCR when a co-biofilm was formed with C. albicans. Mixed CA/SA BSIs result in a higher mortality rate in patients and in vivo surrogate models experiments. This study demonstrates that the virulence enhancement of C. albicans and S. aureus during co-biofilm formation contributes to the high mortality rate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts)

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15 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessReview

Combination Therapy for HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis—A Success Story

by William J. Hurt, Thomas S. Harrison, Síle F. Molloy and Tihana A. Bicanic

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121098 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3072

Abstract

Cryptococcal meningitis is the leading cause of adult meningitis in patients with HIV, and accounts for 15% of all HIV-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. The mainstay of management is effective antifungal therapy, despite a limited arsenal of antifungal drugs, significant progress has been [...] Read more.

Cryptococcal meningitis is the leading cause of adult meningitis in patients with HIV, and accounts for 15% of all HIV-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. The mainstay of management is effective antifungal therapy, despite a limited arsenal of antifungal drugs, significant progress has been made developing effective treatment strategies by using combination regimens. The introduction of fluconazole as a safe and effective step-down therapy allowed for shorter courses of more fungicidal agents to be given as induction therapy, with higher doses achieving more rapid CSF sterilisation and improved treatment outcomes. The development of early fungicidal activity (EFA), an easily measured surrogate of treatment efficacy, has enabled rapid identification of effective combinations through dose ranging phase II studies, allowing further evaluation of clinical benefit in targeted phase III studies. Recent clinical trials have shown that shorter course induction regimens using one week of amphotericin paired with flucytosine are non-inferior to traditional two-week induction regimens and that the combination of fluconazole and flucytosine offers a viable treatment alternative when amphotericin is unavailable. Access to drugs in many low and middle-income settings remains challenging but is improving, and novel strategies based on single high dose liposomal amphotericin B promise further reduction in treatment complications and toxicities. This review aims to summarise the key findings of the principal clinical trials that have led to the success story of combination therapy thus far. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antifungal Combinations in Fungal Infections)

108 pages, 30970 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogenetic Reassessment, Taxonomy, and Biogeography of Codinaea and Similar Fungi

by Martina Réblová, Miroslav Kolařík, Jana Nekvindová, Kamila Réblová, František Sklenář, Andrew N. Miller and Margarita Hernández-Restrepo

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121097 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4933

Abstract

The genus Codinaea is a phialidic, dematiaceous hyphomycete known for its intriguing morphology and turbulent taxonomic history. This polyphasic study represents a new, comprehensive view on the taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of Codinaea and its relatives. Phylogenetic analyses of three nuclear loci confirmed [...] Read more.

The genus Codinaea is a phialidic, dematiaceous hyphomycete known for its intriguing morphology and turbulent taxonomic history. This polyphasic study represents a new, comprehensive view on the taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of Codinaea and its relatives. Phylogenetic analyses of three nuclear loci confirmed that Codinaea is polyphyletic. The generic concept was emended; it includes four morphotypes that contribute to its morphological complexity. Ancestral inference showed that the evolution of some traits is correlated and that these traits previously used to delimit taxa at the generic level occur in species that were shown to be congeneric. Five lineages of Codinaea-like fungi were recognized and introduced as new genera: Codinaeella, Nimesporella, Stilbochaeta, Tainosphaeriella, and Xyladelphia. Dual DNA barcoding facilitated identification at the species level. Codinaea and its segregates thrive on decaying plants, rarely occurring as endophytes or plant pathogens. Environmental ITS sequences indicate that they are common in bulk soil. The geographic distribution found using GlobalFungi database was consistent with known data. Most species are distributed in either the Holarctic realm or tropical geographic regions. The ancestral climatic zone was temperate, followed by transitions to the tropics; these fungi evolved primarily in Eurasia and Americas, with subsequent transitions to Africa and Australasia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Holarctic Fungi: Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Ecology, Nutrition Interactions and Distribution)

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7 pages, 795 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Fungal Invasive Co-Infection Due to Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus arrhizus: A Rhino-Orbital Presentation

by Juan Pablo Ramírez-Hinojosa, Salvador Medrano-Ahumada, Roberto Arenas, Arturo Bravo-Escobar, Sara Paraguirre-Martínez, Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Erick Martínez-Herrera and Rigoberto Hernández-Castro

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121096 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3317

Abstract

Aspergillosis and mucormycosis are filamentous fungal infections occurring predominantly in immunocompromised patients. Fulminant process with rapid infiltration of the contiguous tissue is distinctive for both type of fungi. The rhinocerebral co-infection by Aspergillus and Mucorales is very rare and is usually associated in [...] Read more.

Aspergillosis and mucormycosis are filamentous fungal infections occurring predominantly in immunocompromised patients. Fulminant process with rapid infiltration of the contiguous tissue is distinctive for both type of fungi. The rhinocerebral co-infection by Aspergillus and Mucorales is very rare and is usually associated in immunocompromised patients with a high mortality rate. This rare co-infection leads to difficulties in diagnosis, and therapeutic delays can result in a poor prognosis. Overall, the treatment of choice is surgical debridement and liposomal amphotericin B. This paper describes a combined aspergillosis and mucormycosis case in a diabetes mellitus type 2 patient with chronic ulcerations of the palatal and cheek. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an uncommon co-infection of Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus arrhizus in a rhino-orbital presentation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel, Emerging and Neglected Fungal Pathogens for Humans and Animals)

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20 pages, 931 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sugarcane Smut: Current Knowledge and the Way Forward for Management

by Muhammad Aslam Rajput, Nasir Ahmed Rajput, Rehana Naz Syed, Abdul Mubeen Lodhi and Youxiong Que

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121095 - 19 Dec 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7735

Abstract

Whip smut of sugarcane is the most serious and widely spread disease of sugarcane and causes a significant reduction in cane quantity and quality. The severity of this disease often depends on the pathogen races, environmental conditions, cultivar genotype and the interaction among [...] Read more.

Whip smut of sugarcane is the most serious and widely spread disease of sugarcane and causes a significant reduction in cane quantity and quality. The severity of this disease often depends on the pathogen races, environmental conditions, cultivar genotype and the interaction among these three factors. Under optimum climatic conditions, this disease has the potential to cause total crop failure. Resistance screening is an ongoing process due to the variability among smut pathogen isolates. Multiple races and mutation ability of smut pathogen makes the breeding task more complex. A number of studies on various aspects of the disease epidemiology and management have been published. Due to many overlapping characteristics within the species complex, there is a dearth of information on early detection and strategies to control the smut pathogen. Furthermore, there is a need to coordinate these findings to expedite its research and control. In this paper, we summarize the disease etiology, especially disease impact on the qualitative and quantitative parameters of sugarcane. We also gathered research progress on molecular-based detection and available information on genetic variability in S.scitamineum. The research on the set of management options needed to effectively cope with the disease are reviewed herein. The present review is expected to be helpful for the further investigation on smut resistance in sugarcane. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smut Fungi 2.0)

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13 pages, 7250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inactivation of mrpigH Gene in Monascus ruber M7 Results in Increased Monascus Pigments and Decreased Citrinin with mrpyrG Selection Marker

by Li Li, Na Xu and Fusheng Chen

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121094 - 19 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2127

Abstract

Monascus pigments (MPs) have been used as food colorants for several centuries in Asian countries and are currently used around the world via Asian catering. The MPs biosynthetic pathway has been well-illustrated; however, the functions of a few genes including mrpigH in the [...] Read more.

Monascus pigments (MPs) have been used as food colorants for several centuries in Asian countries and are currently used around the world via Asian catering. The MPs biosynthetic pathway has been well-illustrated; however, the functions of a few genes including mrpigH in the MPs gene cluster of M. ruber M7 are still unclear. In the current study, mrpigH was disrupted in Δmrlig4ΔmrpyrG, a highly efficient gene modification system, using mrpyrG as a selection marker, and ΔmrpigHΔmrlig4ΔmrpyrG::mrpyrG and ΔmrpigHΔmrlig4ΔmrpyrG have been obtained. Subsequently, their morphologies, biomasses, MPs and citrinin (CIT) production were analyzed, respectively. These results have revealed that the deletion of mrpigH has significant effects on the morphology and growth of M. ruber M7. Moreover, compared with M. ruber M7, the yields of MPs and CIT were drastically increased and decreased in mrpigH mutants, respectively. Full article

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15 pages, 5552 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Malignant Keratitis Caused by a Highly-Resistant Strain of Fusarium Tonkinense from the Fusarium Solani Complex

by Jens Schrecker, Berthold Seitz, Tim Berger, Loay Daas, Wolfgang Behrens-Baumann, Claudia Auw-Hädrich, Sabine Schütt, Sabine Kerl, Sascha Rentner-Andres and Herbert Hof

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121093 - 18 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2530

Abstract

Fusarium spp. are moulds ubiquitously distributed in nature and only occasionally pathogenic for humans. Species of the Fusarium solani complex are the predominant keratitis-inducing pathogens, because they are endowed with proper virulence factors. These fungi can adhere to the cornea creating a biofilm [...] Read more.

Fusarium spp. are moulds ubiquitously distributed in nature and only occasionally pathogenic for humans. Species of the Fusarium solani complex are the predominant keratitis-inducing pathogens, because they are endowed with proper virulence factors. These fungi can adhere to the cornea creating a biofilm and, with the help of enzymes and cytotoxins, penetrate the cornea. Whereas an intact cornea is hardly able to be invaded by Fusarium spp. in spite of appropriate virulence factors, these opportunistic fungi may profit from predisposing conditions, for example mechanical injuries. This can lead to a progressive course of corneal infection and may finally affect the whole eye up to the need for enucleation. Here, we present and discuss the clinical, microbiological and histopathological aspects of a particular case due to Fusarium tonkinense of the Fusarium solani complex with severe consequences in a patient without any obvious predisposing factors. A broad portfolio of antifungal agents was applied, both topically and systemically as well as two penetrating keratoplasties were performed. The exact determination of the etiologic agent of the fungal infection proved likewise to be very challenging. Full article

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10 pages, 522 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Invasive Aspergillosis from a Fourth Level Hospital in Bogota, Colombia: A Retrospective Study

by Ana Goyeneche-García, Juan Rodríguez-Oyuela, Guillermo Sánchez and Carolina Firacative

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121092 - 18 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2351

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe mycosis caused by Aspergillus species. The infection mainly affects immunocompromised patients with a significant clinical burden. This study aimed to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with IA in a fourth level hospital in [...] Read more.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe mycosis caused by Aspergillus species. The infection mainly affects immunocompromised patients with a significant clinical burden. This study aimed to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with IA in a fourth level hospital in Colombia, as these data are scarce in the country. A retrospective, observational study, from a single center was conducted with 34 male and 32 female patients, between 1 month- and 90-year-old, diagnosed with proven (18.2%), probable (74.2%) and possible (7.6%) IA, during a 21-year period. The most frequent underlying conditions for IA were chemotherapy (39.4%) and corticosteroid use (34.8%). The lung was the most common affected organ (92.4%). Computed tomography (CT) imaging findings were mainly nodules (57.6%) and consolidation (31.8%). A low positive correlation was found between serum galactomannan and hospitalization length. Aspergillus fumigatus prevailed (73.3%) in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage cultures. Most patients were hospitalized in general wards (63.6%) and treated with voriconazole (80.3%). Mortality rate was 15.2%. Common risk factors for IA were identified in the Colombian cohort, including medications and underlying diseases. However, their frequency differs from other countries, reinforcing the idea that local surveillance is essential and at-risk patients should be carefully monitored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts)

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23 pages, 2690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome and Metabolome MS-Based Mining of a Marine Strain of Aspergillus affinis

by Micael F. M. Gonçalves, Sandra Hilário, Marta Tacão, Yves Van de Peer, Artur Alves and Ana C. Esteves

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121091 - 18 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3581

Abstract

Aspergillus section Circumdati encompasses several species that express both beneficial (e.g., biochemical transformation of steroids and alkaloids, enzymes and metabolites) and harmful compounds (e.g., production of ochratoxin A (OTA)). Given their relevance, it is important to analyze the genetic and metabolic diversity of [...] Read more.

Aspergillus section Circumdati encompasses several species that express both beneficial (e.g., biochemical transformation of steroids and alkaloids, enzymes and metabolites) and harmful compounds (e.g., production of ochratoxin A (OTA)). Given their relevance, it is important to analyze the genetic and metabolic diversity of the species of this section. We sequenced the genome of Aspergillus affinis CMG 70, isolated from sea water, and compared it with the genomes of species from section Circumdati, including A. affinis’s strain type. The A. affinis genome was characterized considering secondary metabolites biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), and transporters. To uncover the biosynthetic potential of A. affinis CMG 70, an untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS) approach was used. Cultivating the fungus in the presence and absence of sea salt showed that A. affinis CMG 70 metabolite profiles are salt dependent. Analyses of the methanolic crude extract revealed the presence of both unknown and well-known Aspergillus compounds, such as ochratoxin A, anti-viral (e.g., 3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and epigallocatechin), anti-bacterial (e.g., 3-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol, l-pyroglutamic acid, lecanoric acid), antifungal (e.g., lpyroglutamic acid, 9,12,13-Trihydroxyoctadec-10-enoic acid, hydroxyferulic acid), and chemotherapeutic (e.g., daunomycinone, mitoxantrone) related metabolites. Comparative analysis of 17 genomes from 16 Aspergillus species revealed abundant CAZymes (568 per species), secondary metabolite BGCs (73 per species), and transporters (1359 per species). Some BGCs are highly conserved in this section (e.g., pyranonigrin E and UNII-YC2Q1O94PT (ACR toxin I)), while others are incomplete or completely lost among species (e.g., bikaverin and chaetoglobosins were found exclusively in series Sclerotiorum, while asperlactone seemed completely lost). The results of this study, including genome analysis and metabolome characterization, emphasize the molecular diversity of A. affinis CMG 70, as well as of other species in the section Circumdati. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fungus)

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19 pages, 5560 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multilocus Phylogeography of the Tuber mesentericum Complex Unearths Three Highly Divergent Cryptic Species

by Marco Leonardi, Daniele Salvi, Mirco Iotti, Gian Luigi Rana, Aurelia Paz-Conde and Giovanni Pacioni

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121090 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3055

Abstract

Tuber mesentericum is an edible European black truffle, apparently easy to recognize, but showing a high degree of genetic variability. In this study, we performed an integrative taxonomic assessment of the T. mesentericum complex, combining a multilocus phylogeographic approach with morphological analyses, and [...] Read more.

Tuber mesentericum is an edible European black truffle, apparently easy to recognize, but showing a high degree of genetic variability. In this study, we performed an integrative taxonomic assessment of the T. mesentericum complex, combining a multilocus phylogeographic approach with morphological analyses, and including authentic specimens of Vittadini, and Berkeley and Broome. We performed maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses, based on single and concatenated gene datasets (ITS rDNA, β-tubulin, elongation factor 1-α), and including all available sequences from previous studies. Phylogenetic analyses consistently recovered three reciprocally monophyletic and well-supported clades: clade I, with a wide range across Europe; clade II, specimens collected mainly in the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas; and clade III, specimens collected almost exclusively in central Italy. Genetic distance between clades ranged from 10.4% to 13.1% at the ITS region. We also designed new primer pairs specific for each phylogenetic lineage. Morphology of spores, asci, and peridium were investigated on specimens representing the three lineages. Macro- and micromorphological analyses of ascomata revealed only a few, but not diagnostic, differences between the three phylogenetic lineages, thus, confirming that they are morphologically cryptic. By studying authentic specimens of Vittadini, and Berkeley and Broome, it was possible to identify the three clades as T. mesentericum, Tuber bituminatum, and Tuber suave sp. nov., and to designate an epitype for T. mesentericum s.s. and a lectotype for T. bituminatum. Future investigations on volatile organic compound (VOC) composition are needed to define the aroma repertoires in this species complex. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Diversity in Europe)

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6 pages, 2403 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

First Report of an Invasive Infection by Cephalotrichum gorgonifer in a Neutropenic Patient with Hematological Malignancy under Chemotherapy

by Ana Álvarez-Uría, Pilar Escribano, Verónica Parra-Blanco, José Francisco Cano-Lira, Alberto Miguel Stchigel, Gillen Oarbeascoa, Patricia Muñoz and Jesús Guinea

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121089 - 17 Dec 2021

Viewed by 2277

Abstract

The etiological agents of infrequent invasive fungal infections (IFI) are difficult to identify on the species level using classic morphological examination. We describe the first case of an IFI caused by Cephalotrichum gorgonifer in a neutropenic patient with a hematological malignancy and put [...] Read more.

The etiological agents of infrequent invasive fungal infections (IFI) are difficult to identify on the species level using classic morphological examination. We describe the first case of an IFI caused by Cephalotrichum gorgonifer in a neutropenic patient with a hematological malignancy and put it on the map as a new causative agent of IFI. Case report, microbiological findings and description of the etiological agent. A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma. A CT scan confirmed the presence of lung infiltrates located at the right upper lobe. Histological examination of one of the nodules showed a large number of narrow septate hyphae with acute-angle branching and irregular round cell morphology; vessels walls appeared infiltrated, proving an angioinvasive pulmonary IFI. Sample culture resulted positive and molecular identification proved the presence of Cephalotrichum gorgonifer. Voriconazole was used for 12 months and the patient did not report any complications or side effects. Complete remission of lymphoma was achieved later by the time chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and radioimmunotherapy consolidation were completed. We recommend the inclusion of Cephalotrichum gorgonifer in the list of opportunistic pathogens causing mycoses in neutropenic hematological patients with suspected mould-related IFI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts)

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18 pages, 2058 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogenetic Relationships, Speciation, and Origin of Armillaria in the Northern Hemisphere: A Lesson Based on rRNA and Elongation Factor 1-Alpha

by Junmin Liang, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Lei Cai, Zhilin Yuan, Peng Zhao, Clement K. M. Tsui and Zhifeng Zhang

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121088 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2754

Abstract

Armillaria species have a global distribution and play various roles in the natural ecosystems, e.g., pathogens, decomposers, and mycorrhizal associates. However, their taxonomic boundaries, speciation processes, and origin are poorly understood. Here, we used a phylogenetic approach with 358 samplings from Europe, East [...] Read more.

Armillaria species have a global distribution and play various roles in the natural ecosystems, e.g., pathogens, decomposers, and mycorrhizal associates. However, their taxonomic boundaries, speciation processes, and origin are poorly understood. Here, we used a phylogenetic approach with 358 samplings from Europe, East Asia, and North America to delimit the species boundaries and to discern the evolutionary forces underpinning divergence and evolution. Three species delimitation methods indicated multiple unrecognized phylogenetic species, and biological species recognition did not reflect the natural evolutionary relationships within Armillaria; for instance, biological species of A. mellea and D. tabescens are divergent and cryptic species/lineages exist associated with their geographic distributions in Europe, North America, and East Asia. While the species-rich and divergent Gallica superclade might represent three phylogenetic species (PS I, PS II, and A. nabsnona) that undergo speciation. The PS II contained four lineages with cryptic diversity associated with the geographic distribution. The genus Armillaria likely originated from East Asia around 21.8 Mya in early Miocene when Boreotropical flora (56–33.9 Mya) and the Bering land bridge might have facilitated transcontinental dispersal of Armillaria species. The Gallica superclade arose at 9.1 Mya and the concurrent vicariance events of Bering Strait opening and the uplift of the northern Tibetan plateau might be important factors in driving the lineage divergence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)

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21 pages, 3204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Why Is the Correct Selection of Trichoderma Strains Important? The Case of Wheat Endophytic Strains of T. harzianum and T. simmonsii

by Alberto Pedrero-Méndez, H. Camilo Insuasti, Theodora Neagu, María Illescas, M. Belén Rubio, Enrique Monte and Rosa Hermosa

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1087; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121087 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3656

Abstract

The search for endophytic fungi in the roots of healthy wheat plants from a non-irrigation field trial allowed us to select 4 out of a total of 54 cultivable isolates belonging to the genus Trichoderma, identified as T. harzianum T136 and T139, [...] Read more.

The search for endophytic fungi in the roots of healthy wheat plants from a non-irrigation field trial allowed us to select 4 out of a total of 54 cultivable isolates belonging to the genus Trichoderma, identified as T. harzianum T136 and T139, T. simmonsii T137, and T. afroharzianum T138. In vitro assays against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum showed that the T. harzianum strains had the highest biocontrol potential and that T136 exhibited the highest cellulase and chitinase activities. Production patterns of eight phytohormones varied among the Trichoderma strains. All four, when applied alone or in combination, colonized roots of other wheat cultivars and promoted seed germination, tillering, and plant growth under optimal irrigation conditions in the greenhouse. Apart from T136, the endophytic Trichoderma strains showed plant protection capacity against drought as they activated the antioxidant enzyme machinery of the wheat plants. However, T. simmonsii T137 gave the best plant size and spike weight performance in water-stressed plants at the end of the crop. This trait correlated with significantly increased production of indole acetic acid and abscisic acid and increased 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity by T137. This study shows the potential of Trichoderma endophytes and that their success in agricultural systems requires careful selection of suitable strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Trichoderma-Plant Beneficial Interactions)

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21 pages, 15982 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Asproinocybaceae fam. nov. (Agaricales, Agaricomycetes) for Accommodating the Genera Asproinocybe and Tricholosporum, and Description of Asproinocybe sinensis and Tricholosporum guangxiense sp. nov.

by Guang-Fu Mou and Tolgor Bau

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121086 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3378

Abstract

Asproinocybe and Tricholosporum are not well known, and their placement at the family level remains undetermined. In this study, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA (nrLSU), and a dataset with six [...] Read more.

Asproinocybe and Tricholosporum are not well known, and their placement at the family level remains undetermined. In this study, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA (nrLSU), and a dataset with six molecular markers (ITS, LSU, RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), 18S nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA (nrSSU), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α)) using Bayesian (BA) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods, we found that the species of Asproinocybe and Tricholosporum formed an independent family-level clade (0.98/72). Asproinocybaceae fam. nov., a new family, is established here for accommodating this clade. Two new species, Asproinocybe sinensis and Tricholosporum guangxiense, from subtropical and tropical karst areas of China, are also described here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dimensions of Tropical Fungal Diversity)

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18 pages, 2943 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Engineering Aspergillus oryzae for the Heterologous Expression of a Bacterial Modular Polyketide Synthase

by Jin Feng, Maurice Hauser, Russell J. Cox and Elizabeth Skellam

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121085 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3975

Abstract

Microbial natural products have had phenomenal success in drug discovery and development yet form distinct classes based on the origin of their native producer. Methods that enable metabolic engineers to combine the most useful features of the different classes of natural products may [...] Read more.

Microbial natural products have had phenomenal success in drug discovery and development yet form distinct classes based on the origin of their native producer. Methods that enable metabolic engineers to combine the most useful features of the different classes of natural products may lead to molecules with enhanced biological activities. In this study, we modified the metabolism of the fungus Aspergillus oryzae to enable the synthesis of triketide lactone (TKL), the product of the modular polyketide synthase DEBS1-TE engineered from bacteria. We established (2S)-methylmalonyl-CoA biosynthesis via introducing a propionyl-CoA carboxylase complex (PCC); reassembled the 11.2 kb DEBS1-TE coding region from synthetic codon-optimized gene fragments using yeast recombination; introduced bacterial phosphopantetheinyltransferase SePptII; investigated propionyl-CoA synthesis and degradation pathways; and developed improved delivery of exogenous propionate. Depending on the conditions used titers of TKL ranged from <0.01–7.4 mg/L. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that A. oryzae can be used as an alternative host for the synthesis of polyketides from bacteria, even those that require toxic or non-native substrates. Our metabolically engineered A. oryzae may offer advantages over current heterologous platforms for producing valuable and complex natural products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Secondary Metabolites from Fungi—in Honour of Prof. Dr. Ji-Kai Liu's 60th Birthday)

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15 pages, 4235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vacuolar Protein-Sorting Receptor MoVps13 Regulates Conidiation and Pathogenicity in Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

by Xueming Zhu, Lin Li, Jiaoyu Wang, Lili Zhao, Huanbin Shi, Jiandong Bao, Zhenzhu Su, Xiaohong Liu and Fucheng Lin

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121084 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2938

Abstract

Magnaporthe oryzae (synonym Pyricularia oryzae) is a filamentous fungal pathogen that causes major yield losses in cultivated rice worldwide. However, the mechanisms of infection of M. oryzae are not well characterized. The VPS13 proteins play vital roles in various biological processes in [...] Read more.

Magnaporthe oryzae (synonym Pyricularia oryzae) is a filamentous fungal pathogen that causes major yield losses in cultivated rice worldwide. However, the mechanisms of infection of M. oryzae are not well characterized. The VPS13 proteins play vital roles in various biological processes in many eukaryotic organisms, including in the organization of actin cytoskeleton, vesicle trafficking, mitochondrial fusion, and phagocytosis. Nevertheless, the function of the Vps13 protein in plant pathogenic fungi has not been explored. Here, we analysed the biological functions of the Vps13 protein in the development and pathogenicity of M. oryzae. Deletion mutants of MoVps13 significantly reduced the conidiation and decreased the rate of fungal infection on hosts. Moreover, the loss of MoVps13 resulted in defective cell wall integrity (CWI) and plasma membrane (PM) homeostasis when treated with chemicals for inducing cell wall stress (200 mg/mL Congo Red or 0.005% SDS) and sphingolipid synthesis inhibitors (2 μM myriocin or 2 μM amphotericin B). This indicated that MoVps13 is also involved in cell wall synthesis and sphingolipid synthesis. Through immunoblotting, autophagic flux detection, co-localization, and chemical drug sensitivity assays, we confirmed the involvement of Movps13 in ER-phagy and the response to ER stress. Additionally, we generated the C-terminal structure of MoVps13 with high accuracy using the alphaflod2 database. Our experimental evidence indicates that MoVps13 is an important virulence factor that regulates the pathogenicity of M. oryzae by controlling CWI, lipid metabolism and the ER-phagy pathway. These results have expanded our knowledge about pathogenic fungi and will help exploration for novel therapeutic strategies against the rice blast fungus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Fungal Pathogenesis and Disease Control)

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16 pages, 1234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical Profile by GC–MS of Fungal Biomass Produced from the Ascospores of Tirmania nivea as a Natural Renewable Resource

by Jamal M. Khaled, Naiyf S. Alharbi, Ramzi A. Mothana, Shine Kadaikunnan and Ahmed S. Alobaidi

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1083; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121083 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

The edible fruiting bodies of desert truffles are seasonally collected and consumed in many regions of the world. Although they are very expensive, they are bought and sold as a result of considerable scientific reports confirming their health and nutritional benefits. This study [...] Read more.

The edible fruiting bodies of desert truffles are seasonally collected and consumed in many regions of the world. Although they are very expensive, they are bought and sold as a result of considerable scientific reports confirming their health and nutritional benefits. This study aimed to conduct laboratory production of the fungal biomass of Tirmania nivea as a natural renewable resource of many active biological compounds using an artificial growth medium. The T. nivea collected from Hafar Al-Batin, which is north of Saudi Arabia, and their ascospores were harvested and used to produce fungal biomass in potato dextrose broth. The cultivation was conducted using a shaking incubator at 25 °C for two weeks at 200 rpm. The crud extracts of the fungal biomass and mycelium-free broth were prepared using ethyl acetate, methanol and hexane. Preliminary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis and their biological activity as antimicrobial agents were investigated. The results showed that the crude extracts have biological activity against mold, yeast and bacteria. The preliminary GC–MS analysis reported that the fungal biomass and extracellular metabolites in the growth medium are industrial renewable resources of several biological compounds that could be used as antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-trypanosomal and anti-inflammatory agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Pathogen as Potent Toxin for Pest and Disease Control)

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24 pages, 5318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution and Assembly Processes of Soil Fungal Communities along an Altitudinal Gradient in Tibetan Plateau

by Sarfraz Hussain, Hao Liu, Senlin Liu, Yifan Yin, Zhongyuan Yuan, Yuguo Zhao and Hui Cao

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1082; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121082 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2994

Abstract

In soil ecosystems, fungi exhibit diverse biodiversity and play an essential role in soil biogeochemical cycling. Fungal diversity and assembly processes across soil strata along altitudinal gradients are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the structure and abundance of soil fungal communities [...] Read more.

In soil ecosystems, fungi exhibit diverse biodiversity and play an essential role in soil biogeochemical cycling. Fungal diversity and assembly processes across soil strata along altitudinal gradients are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the structure and abundance of soil fungal communities among soil strata and elevational gradients on the Tibetan Plateau using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of internal transcribed spacer1 (ITS1). The contribution of neutral and niche ecological processes were quantified using a neutral community model and a null model-based methodology. Our results showed that fungal gene abundance increased along altitudinal gradients, while decreasing across soil strata. Along with altitudinal gradients, fungal α-diversity (richness) decreased from surface to deeper soil layers, while β-diversity showed weak correlations with elevations. The neutral community model showed an excellent fit for neutral processes and the lowest migration rate (R² = 0.75). The null model showed that stochastic processes dominate in all samples (95.55%), dispersal limitations were dominated at the surface layer and decreased significantly with soil strata, while undominated processes (ecological drift) show a contrary trend. The log-normal model and the null model (βNTI) correlation analysis also neglect the role of niche-based processes. We conclude that stochastic dispersal limitations, together with ecological drifts, drive fungal communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)

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19 pages, 3416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ustilago maydis Secreted Endo-Xylanases Are Involved in Fungal Filamentation and Proliferation on and Inside Plants

by Ismael Moreno-Sánchez, María Dolores Pejenaute-Ochoa, Blanca Navarrete, Ramón R. Barrales and José I. Ibeas

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121081 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2923

Abstract

Plant pathogenic fungi must be able to degrade host cell walls in order to penetrate and invade plant tissues. Among the plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) produced, xylanases are of special interest since its degradation target, xylan, is one of the main [...] Read more.

Plant pathogenic fungi must be able to degrade host cell walls in order to penetrate and invade plant tissues. Among the plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) produced, xylanases are of special interest since its degradation target, xylan, is one of the main structural polysaccharides in plant cell walls. In the biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis, attempts to characterize PCWDEs required for virulence have been unsuccessful, most likely due to functional redundancy. In previous high-throughput screening, we found one xylanase to be important for U. maydis infection. Here, we characterize the entire U. maydis endo-xylanase family, comprising two enzymes from the glycoside hydrolase (GH) 10 family, Xyn1 and Xyn2, one from GH11, Xyn11A, and one from GH43, Xyn3. We show that all endo-xylanases except Xyn3 are secreted and involved in infection in a non-redundant manner, suggesting different roles for each xylanase in this process. Taking a closer look inside the plant during the pathogenic process, we observed that all secreted xylanases were necessary for fungal proliferation. Finally, we found that at least Xyn11A accumulated in the apoplast of the infected plant after three days, highlighting the role of these enzymes as important secreted proteins during fungal proliferation inside plant tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smut Fungi 2.0)

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28 pages, 4858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphology, Phylogeny, and Pathogenicity of Pestalotioid Species on Camellia oleifera in China

by Lingling Li, Qin Yang and He Li

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1080; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121080 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3768

Abstract

Tea-oil tree (Camellia oleifera) is an important edible oil woody plant with a planting area of over 3,800,000 hectares in southern China. Pestalotioid fungi are associated with a wide variety of plants worldwide along with endophytes, pathogens, and saprobes. In this [...] Read more.

Tea-oil tree (Camellia oleifera) is an important edible oil woody plant with a planting area of over 3,800,000 hectares in southern China. Pestalotioid fungi are associated with a wide variety of plants worldwide along with endophytes, pathogens, and saprobes. In this study, symptomatic leaves of C. oleifera were collected from Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, and Jiangsu Provinces and pestalotioid fungi are characterized based on combined sequence data analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta tubulin (tub2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1α) coupled with morphological characteristics. As a result, seven species were confirmed, of which five species are described as new viz. N. camelliae-oleiferae, P. camelliae-oleiferae, P. hunanensis, P. nanjingensis, P.nanningensis, while the other two are reported as known species, viz., N. cubana and N. iberica. Pathogenicity assays showed that all species except for P. nanjingensis developed brown lesions on healthy leaves and P. camelliae-oleiferae showed stronger virulence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polyphasic Identification of Fungi)

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17 pages, 2328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis, Fungitoxic Activity against Botrytis cinerea and Phytotoxicity of Alkoxyclovanols and Alkoxyisocaryolanols

by Adriana de Almeida Pinto Bracarense, Jociani Ascari, Giovanni Gontijo de Souza, Thays Silva Oliveira, Antonio Ruano-González, Ana A. Pinto, Maria Amélia Diamantino Boaventura, Jacqueline Aparecida Takahashi, Isidro G. Collado, Rosa Durán-Patrón and Antonio J. Macías-Sánchez

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1079; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121079 - 15 Dec 2021

Viewed by 1838

Abstract

Clovane and isocaryolane derivatives have been proven to show several levels of activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. Both classes of sesquiterpenes are reminiscent of biosynthetic intermediates of botrydial, a virulence factor of B. cinerea. Further development of both classes [...] Read more.

Clovane and isocaryolane derivatives have been proven to show several levels of activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. Both classes of sesquiterpenes are reminiscent of biosynthetic intermediates of botrydial, a virulence factor of B. cinerea. Further development of both classes of antifungal agent requires exploration of the structure–activity relationships for the antifungal effects on B. cinerea and phytotoxic effects on a model crop. In this paper, we report on the preparation of a series of alkoxy-clovane and -isocaryolane derivatives, some of them described here for the first time (2b, 2d, 2f–2h, and 4c–4e); the evaluation of their antifungal properties against B. cinerea, and their phytotoxic activites on the germination of seeds and the growth of radicles and shoots of Lactuca sativa (lettuce). Both classes of compound show a correlation of antifungal activity with the nature of side chains, with the best activity against B. cinerea for 2d, 2h, 4c and 4d. In general terms, while 2-alkoxyclovan-9-ols (2a–2e) exert a general phytotoxic effect, this is not the case for 2-arylalkoxyclovan-9-ols (2f–2i) and 8-alkoxyisocaryolan-9-ols (4a–4d), where stimulating effects would make them suitable candidates for application to plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infection Mechanisms of Botrytis cinerea and Compounds with Antifungal Activity)

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23 pages, 8733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Characterization and Comparative Genomics of the Melanin-Producing Yeast Exophiala lecanii-corni Reveals a Distinct Stress Tolerance Profile and Reduced Ribosomal Genetic Content

by Jillian Romsdahl, Zachary Schultzhaus, Christina A. Cuomo, Hong Dong, Hashanthi Abeyratne-Perera, W. Judson Hervey IV and Zheng Wang

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121078 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2562

Abstract

The black yeast Exophiala lecanii-corni of the order Chaetothyriales is notable for its ability to produce abundant quantities of DHN-melanin. While many other Exophiala species are frequent causal agents of human infection, E. lecanii-corni CBS 102400 lacks the thermotolerance requirements that enable pathogenicity, [...] Read more.

The black yeast Exophiala lecanii-corni of the order Chaetothyriales is notable for its ability to produce abundant quantities of DHN-melanin. While many other Exophiala species are frequent causal agents of human infection, E. lecanii-corni CBS 102400 lacks the thermotolerance requirements that enable pathogenicity, making it appealing for use in targeted functional studies and biotechnological applications. Here, we report the stress tolerance characteristics of E. lecanii-corni, with an emphasis on the influence of melanin on its resistance to various forms of stress. We find that E. lecanii-corni has a distinct stress tolerance profile that includes variation in resistance to temperature, osmotic, and oxidative stress relative to the extremophilic and pathogenic black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis. Notably, the presence of melanin substantially impacts stress resistance in E. lecanii-corni, while this was not found to be the case in E. dermatitidis. The cellular context, therefore, influences the role of melanin in stress protection. In addition, we present a detailed analysis of the E. lecanii-corni genome, revealing key differences in functional genetic content relative to other ascomycetous species, including a significant decrease in abundance of genes encoding ribosomal proteins. In all, this study provides insight into how genetics and physiology may underlie stress tolerance and enhances understanding of the genetic diversity of black yeasts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yeast Biorefineries)

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13 pages, 1581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Host-Specific Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Two Caragana Species in Desert Grassland

by Xin Guo, Zhen Wang, Jing Zhang, Ping Wang, Yaoming Li and Baoming Ji

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1077; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121077 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2174

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form symbioses with most land plants, could benefit their hosts and potentially play important roles in revegetation of degraded lands. However, their application in revegetation of desert grasslands still faces challenges and uncertainties due to the unclear specificity [...] Read more.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form symbioses with most land plants, could benefit their hosts and potentially play important roles in revegetation of degraded lands. However, their application in revegetation of desert grasslands still faces challenges and uncertainties due to the unclear specificity of AMF-plant interactions. Here, Caragana korshinskii and Caragana microphylla were inoculated with either conspecific (home) or heterospecific (away) AM fungal communities from the rhizosphere of three common plant species (C. korshinskii, C. microphylla and Hedysarum laeve) in Kubuqi Desert, China. AMF communities of the inocula and their home and away effects on growth and nutrition status of two Caragana species were examined. Results showed that AMF communities of the three inocula from C. korshinskii, H. laeve and C. microphylla were significantly different, and were characterized by high abundance of Diversispora, Archaeospora, and Glomus, respectively. The shoot biomass, photosynthetic rate, foliar N and P contents of C. korshinskii only significantly increased under home AMF inoculation by 167.10%, 73.55%, 9.24%, and 23.87%, respectively. However, no significant effects of AMF on C. microphylla growth were found, regardless of home or away AMF. Positive correlations between C. korshinskii biomass and the abundance of AMF genus Diversispora were found. Our study showed strong home advantage of using native AMF community to enhance C. korshinskii growth in the desert and presented a potentially efficient way to use native AMF in restoration practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant and Fungal Interactions)

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10 pages, 879 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Chromosome-Wide Characterization of Intragenic Crossover in Shiitake Mushroom, Lentinula edodes

by Wenbing Gong, Nan Shen, Lin Zhang, Yinbing Bian and Yang Xiao

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121076 - 15 Dec 2021

Viewed by 2123

Abstract

Meiotic crossover plays a critical role in generating genetic variations and is a central component of breeding. However, our understanding of crossover in mushroom-forming fungi is limited. Here, in Lentinula edodes, we characterized the chromosome-wide intragenic crossovers, by utilizing the single-nucleotide polymorphisms [...] Read more.

Meiotic crossover plays a critical role in generating genetic variations and is a central component of breeding. However, our understanding of crossover in mushroom-forming fungi is limited. Here, in Lentinula edodes, we characterized the chromosome-wide intragenic crossovers, by utilizing the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) datasets of an F₁ haploid progeny. A total of 884 intragenic crossovers were identified in 110 single-spore isolates, the majority of which were closer to transcript start sites. About 71.5% of the intragenic crossovers were clustered into 65 crossover hotspots. A 10 bp motif (GCTCTCGAAA) was significantly enriched in the hotspot regions. Crossover frequencies around mating-type A (MAT-A) loci were enhanced and formed a hotspot in L. edodes. Genome-wide quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping identified sixteen crossover-QTLs, contributing 8.5–29.1% of variations. Most of the detected crossover-QTLs were co-located with crossover hotspots. Both cis- and trans-QTLs contributed to the nonuniformity of crossover along chromosomes. On chr2, we identified a QTL hotspot that regulated local, global crossover variation and crossover hotspot in L. edodes. These findings and observations provide a comprehensive view of the crossover landscape in L. edodes, and advance our understandings of conservation and diversity of meiotic recombination in mushroom-forming fungi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Fungal Genomics, Genetics and Molecular Biology)

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2 pages, 520 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Traditional and Latest Researches on Aspergillus oryzae and Related Koji Molds

by Yujiro Higuchi and Katsuhiko Kitamoto

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121075 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4823

Abstract

We would like to thank all the contributors to this Special Issue on Aspergillus oryzae and related Koji molds (https://www [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus oryzae and related Koji molds)

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14 pages, 13085 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fungal Diversity and Composition of the Continental Solar Saltern in Añana Salt Valley (Spain)

by Maia Azpiazu-Muniozguren, Alba Perez, Aitor Rementeria, Irati Martinez-Malaxetxebarria, Rodrigo Alonso, Lorena Laorden, Javier Gamboa, Joseba Bikandi, Javier Garaizar and Ilargi Martinez-Ballesteros

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121074 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2769

Abstract

The Añana Salt Valley in Spain is an active continental solar saltern formed 220 million years ago. To date, no fungal genomic studies of continental salterns have been published, although DNA metabarcoding has recently expanded researchers’ ability to study microbial community structures. Accordingly, [...] Read more.

The Añana Salt Valley in Spain is an active continental solar saltern formed 220 million years ago. To date, no fungal genomic studies of continental salterns have been published, although DNA metabarcoding has recently expanded researchers’ ability to study microbial community structures. Accordingly, the aim of this present study was to evaluate fungal diversity using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metabarcoding at different locations along the saltern (springs, ponds, and groundwater) to describe the fungal community of this saline environment. A total of 380 fungal genera were detected. The ubiquity of Saccharomyces was observed in the saltern, although other halotolerant and halophilic fungi like Wallemia, Cladosporium, and Trimmatostroma were also detected. Most of the fungi observed in the saltern were saprotrophs. The fungal distribution appeared to be influenced by surrounding conditions, such as the plant and soil contact, cereal fields, and vineyards of this agricultural region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Fungi: From Natural Ecosystems to Unusual Habitats (or) under Environmental Changes)

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14 pages, 26866 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Native Entomopathogenic Fungi for the Control of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Thailand: A Sustainable Way for Eco-Friendly Agriculture

by Julius Rajula, Sarayut Pittarate, Nakarin Suwannarach, Jaturong Kumla, Aneta A. Ptaszynska, Malee Thungrabeab, Supamit Mekchay and Patcharin Krutmuang

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121073 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3904

Abstract

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, entered Thailand in late 2018 and has now spread in several regions, with devastating effects in maize and rice production, which are some of the most important cereals in the world. Since then, farmers have utilized the available [...] Read more.

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, entered Thailand in late 2018 and has now spread in several regions, with devastating effects in maize and rice production, which are some of the most important cereals in the world. Since then, farmers have utilized the available chemical insecticides to try to control it, but their efforts have been futile. Instead, they have ended up using extraordinary dosages, hence threatening non-target species and other fauna and flora, as well as being costly. In this regard, research has been ongoing, aiming to come up with eco-friendly solutions for this insect. We surveyed and collected various isolates of native entomopathogenic fungi intending to test their efficacy against fall armyworm. Six isolates of entomopathogenic fungi were obtained and identified to Beauveria bassiana based on morphological characteristics and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. Thereafter, the six isolates of B. bassiana were used to perform efficacy experiments against fall armyworm. Additionally, the glycosyl transferase-like protein 1 (GAS1) gene was analyzed. Consequently, all the isolates showed efficacy against S. frugiperda, with isolate BCMU6 causing up to 91.67% mortality. Further, molecular analysis revealed that all the isolates possess the GAS1 gene, which contributed to their virulence against the insect. This is the first report of utilizing native entomopathogenic B. bassiana to manage S. frugiperda in Thailand, with the revelation of GAS1 as a factor in inducing virulence and cuticle penetration. This study has provided valuable information on the potential development of Beauveria bassiana as an eco-friendly bioinsecticide for the management of fall armyworm in Thailand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Pathogen as Potent Toxin for Pest and Disease Control)

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