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Special Issue "Pathogenic Fungi: Morphogenesis, Pathogenicity and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites"

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A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Cell Biology, Metabolism and Physiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2023 | Viewed by 2555

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Prof. Dr. Zhenhong Zhuang

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, Proteomic Research Center, and School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: the regulatory mechanism of morphogenesis; secondary metabolism and pathogenicity, especially in the field of epigenetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There are an estimated 1.5 million species of fungi, among which pathogenic fungi can cause diseases to human, plants, animals and even other fungi. Morphological changes are required for pathogenic fungi to cause disease. Physiological and environmental stimuli regulate morphogenic differentiation through conserved signaling pathways. In addition to cell size and shape, morphogenesis is linked to changes in cell-surface composition, which is required by diverse microbes to be successful pathogens. Pathogenic fungi utilize various pathogenicity factors for infecting their hosts. The effectors are important virulence determinants of pathogenic fungi and play important roles in successful pathogenesis, predominantly by avoiding the host-surveillance system. However, besides being important for pathogenesis, fungal effectors end-up being recognized by resistant cultivars of the host, which produce a strong immune response to ward-off pathogens. Pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Alternaria toxigenic species, are found to produce a wide variety of toxic secondary metabolites, which can determine host specificity in pathogenic fungi.

In recent years, the development of molecular biology tools has led to the development of faster, more reliable diagnostic techniques for pathogens, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the adaptation and speciation of pathogenic fungi. The aim of this Special Issue is to characterize the morphogenesis, pathogenicity and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites of pathogenic fungi through comprehensive reviews, original studies and novel perspectives.

Prof. Dr. Zhenhong Zhuang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

pathogenic fungi
morphogenesis
pathogenicity
secondary metabolites

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

The MAP Kinase PvMK1 Regulates Hyphal Development, Autophagy, and Pathogenesis in the Bayberry Twig Blight Fungus Pestalotiopsis versicolor

Muhammad Aamir Sohail

Zihong Ye

Lei Zhou

and

Xingjiang Qi

J. Fungi 2023, 9(6), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9060606 - 24 May 2023

Viewed by 262

Abstract

Bayberry twig blight caused by the ascomycete fungus Pestalotiopsis versicolor is a devastating disease threatening worldwide bayberry production. However, the molecular basis underlying the pathogenesis of P. versicolor is largely unknown. Here, we identified and functionally characterized the MAP kinase PvMk1 in P. versicolor through genetic and cellular biochemical approaches. Our analysis reveals a central role of PvMk1 in regulating P. versicolor virulence on bayberry. We demonstrate that PvMk1 is involved in hyphal development, conidiation, melanin biosynthesis, and cell wall stress responses. Notably, PvMk1 regulates P. versicolor autophagy and is essential for hyphal growth under nitrogen-depleting conditions. These findings suggest the multifaceted role of PvMk1 in regulating P. versicolor development and virulence. More remarkably, this evidence of virulence-involved cellular processes regulated by PvMk1 has paved a fundamental way for further understanding the impact of P. versicolor pathogenesis on bayberry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Fungi: Morphogenesis, Pathogenicity and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites)

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Open AccessArticle

Loss of Phosphomannose Isomerase Impairs Growth, Perturbs Cell Wall Integrity, and Reduces Virulence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense on Banana Plants

and

J. Fungi 2023, 9(4), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9040478 - 16 Apr 2023

Viewed by 707

Abstract

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) causes Fusarium wilt of banana, necessitating urgent measures to control this disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Foc TR4 virulence remain elusive. Phosphomannose isomerase is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of GDP mannose, an important precursor of fungal cell walls. In this study, two phosphomannose isomerases were identified in the Foc TR4 genome, of which only Focpmi1 was highly expressed throughout all developmental stages. Generated null mutants in Foc TR4 showed that only the ΔFocpmi1 mutant required exogenous mannose for growth, indicating that Focpmi1 is the key enzyme involved in GDP mannose biosynthesis. The Focpmi1 deficient strain was unable to grow without exogenous mannose and exhibited impaired growth under stress conditions. The mutant had reduced chitin content in its cell wall, rendering it vulnerable to cell wall stresses. Transcriptomic analysis revealed up- and down-regulation of several genes involved in host cell wall degradation and physiological processes due to the loss of Focpmi1. Furthermore, Focpmi1 was also found to be crucial for Foc TR4 infection and virulence, making it a potential antifungal target to address the threats posed by Foc TR4. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Fungi: Morphogenesis, Pathogenicity and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites)

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Open AccessArticle

The Regulatory Hub of Siderophore Biosynthesis in the Phytopathogenic Fungus Alternaria alternata

and

J. Fungi 2023, 9(4), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9040427 - 29 Mar 2023

Viewed by 613

Abstract

A GATA zinc finger-containing repressor (AaSreA) suppresses siderophore biosynthesis in the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata under iron-replete conditions. In this study, targeted gene deletion revealed two bZIP-containing transcription factors (AaHapX and AaAtf1) and three CCAAT-binding proteins (AaHapB, AaHapC, and AaHapE) that positively regulate gene expression in siderophore production. This is a novel phenotype regarding Atf1 and siderophore biosynthesis. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that only AaHapX and AaSreA were regulated by iron. AaSreA and AaHapX form a transcriptional feedback negative loop to regulate iron acquisition in response to the availability of environmental iron. Under iron-limited conditions, AaAtf1 enhanced the expression of AaNps6, thus playing a positive role in siderophore production. However, under nutrient-rich conditions, AaAtf1 plays a negative role in resistance to sugar-induced osmotic stress, and AaHapX plays a negative role in resistance to salt-induced osmotic stress. Virulence assays performed on detached citrus leaves revealed that AaHapX and AaAtf1 play no role in fungal pathogenicity. However, fungal strains carrying the AaHapB, AaHapC, or AaHapE deletion failed to incite necrotic lesions, likely due to severe growth deficiency. Our results revealed that siderophore biosynthesis and iron homeostasis are regulated by a well-organized network in A. alternata. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Fungi: Morphogenesis, Pathogenicity and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites)

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Open AccessArticle

Effects of Carbon, Nitrogen, Ambient pH and Light on Mycelial Growth, Sporulation, Sorbicillinoid Biosynthesis and Related Gene Expression in Ustilaginoidea virens

and

J. Fungi 2023, 9(4), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9040390 - 23 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 656

Abstract

Sorbicillinoids are a class of hexaketide metabolites produced by Ustilaginoidea virens (teleomorph: Villosiclava virens), an important fungal pathogen that causes a devastating rice disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of environmental factors, including carbon and nitrogen sources, ambient pH and light exposure, on mycelial growth, sporulation, as well as the accumulation of sorbicillinoids, and the expression of related genes involved in sorbicillinoid biosynthesis. It was found that the environmental factors had great influences on mycelial growth and sporulation of U. virens. Fructose and glucose, complex nitrogen sources, acidic conditions and light exposure were favorable for sorbicillinoid production. The relative transcript levels of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis genes were up-regulated when U. virens was separately treated with those environmental factors that favored sorbicillinoid production, indicating that sorbicillinoid biosynthesis was mainly regulated at the transcriptional level by different environmental factors. Two pathway-specific transcription factor genes, UvSorR1 and UvSorR2, were found to participate in the regulation of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis. These results will provide useful information to better understand the regulation mechanisms of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis, and be conducive to develop effective means for controlling sorbicillinoid production in U. virens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Fungi: Morphogenesis, Pathogenicity and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites)

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