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Russula subgenus Compactae is a group of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes, usually with large pileate fruitbodies. European members of the group are characterised by the absence of bright colours on the surfaces of their pilei, the context turning grey to black after cutting, the abundance of short lamellulae in the hymenophore, and spores with an inamyloid suprahilar spot and with low reticulate ornamentation. Our multi-locus phylogenetic study confirmed that this morphological delimitation corresponds to a well-supported clade. Within this clade, 16 species are recognised in Europe, of which five belong to the R. albonigra lineage and were described in a previous study, while eleven are fully described in this study. The application of the names R. acrifolia, R. adusta, R. anthracina, R. atramentosa, R. densissima, R. nigricans and R. roseonigra is based on the position of sequences retrieved from types or authentic material. Based on type sequences, R. fuliginosa is synonymised with R. anthracina and two varieties of R. anthracina are considered synonyms of R. atramentosa. The application of the name R. densifolia is based on a morphological match with the traditional species interpretation and the neotype specimen. Three species are described as new, R. marxmuelleriana sp. nov., R. picrophylla sp. nov. and R. thuringiaca sp. nov. This study recognises three major lineages and two species with isolated positions within the European Compactae and a morphological barcode was assigned to the species using an analysis of 23 selected characters. A search of publicly available sequences from the UNITE database revealed that the majority of species are host tree generalists and widely distributed in temperate and Mediterranean areas of Europe. Russula adusta is the only species so far proven to form ectomycorrhiza exclusively with conifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent development of fungus-resistant strains has caused concern in healthcare settings in Iraq. This has led to increased research interest in Basidiomycetes because it contains compounds with high medical efficacy. The current research explores the medical potential of the compound D-β-glucan extracted from the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus as an antifungal agent against clinical fungal pathogens that are resistant to the current generation of antifungals. During this study, samples of a fungus belonging to the genus P. ostreatus were obtained from different locations in the city of Mosul - Iraq. Standard isolations of Candida sp. species include Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicales, and C. lusitaniae which were obtained and activated. The active compound D-β-glucan was extracted using the Soxhlet extractor and purified from P. ostreatus using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and for the aqueous and ether extractors. The antifungal effect of D-β-Glucan complex was tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and turbidity or growth density was observed based on optical density (OD). The results showed that the highest concentration of D-β-glucan aqueous extract was 9.842 µg/mL in Mosul forest area, followed by 3.171 µg/mL for the Alhadba' farms, while the highest concentration of D-β-glucan in the ether extract was 265.205 µg/mL for the Mosul forest area, followed by the Alsalamia, where the concentration was 143.368 µg/mL. Finally, the highest inhibitory concentration against Candida lusitaniae was found at 200 pg/mL at OD 0.086, while the lowest OD value for Candida gabrata was 0.143 at the same concentration. We conclude through the study that it is possible to extract D-β-glucan compound from Basidiomycetes, including P. ostreatus, and we can conclude that D-β-glucan has the ability to inhibit the growth of fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During nocturnal field expeditions in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, an unexpected bioluminescent fungus with reduced form was found. Based on morphological data, the taxon was first identified as belonging to the cyphelloid genus Maireina, but in our phylogenetic analyses, Maireina was recovered and confirmed as a paraphyletic group related to genera Merismodes and Cyphellopsis. Maireina filipendula, Ma. monacha, and Ma. subsphaerospora are herein transferred to Merismodes. Based upon morphological and molecular characters, the bioluminescent cyphelloid taxon is described as the new genus Eoscyphella, characterized by a vasiform to urceolate basidiomata, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, being pigmented, weakly to densely encrusted external hyphae, regularly bi-spored basidia, unclamped hyphae, and an absence of both conspicuous long external hairs and hymenial cystidia. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA and LSU rDNA support the proposal of the new genus and confirm its position in Cyphellopsidaceae. Eoscyphella luciurceolata represents a new lineage of bioluminescent basidiomycetes with reduced forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We produced amazake (a fermented, sweet, non-alcoholic Japanese beverage) using mushrooms instead of Aspergillus oryzae. Fourteen strains were screened from 55 strains of edible mushroom by amylase activity at 50℃. Thermal stability of amylase was investigated for these strains. Amylase of Grifola frondosa SKB003 and Fuscoporia obliqua NBRC 8681 showed high thermal stability. The optimal medium composition for amylase production in G. frondosa SKB003 and F. obliqua NBRC 8681 was investigated. G. frondosa SKB003 showed extremely high amylase activity, 526 mU/g (50℃) and 565 mU/g (60℃) on brown rice medium. We selected G. frondosa SKB003, and produced amazake with this strain. The total sugar content and reducing sugar content of amazake produced by G. frondosa SKB003 (349.1 g/L and 232.9 g/L) were higher than those for commercial amazake (252.3 g/L and 161.6 g/L). The taste and aroma of amazake produced by G. frondosa SKB003 were good, and a significant difference was not observed for commercial amazake on sensory evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Theabrownins (TBs), which are produced from tea leaves, have been shown to have biological. To extract biologically active chemicals from polyphenol structures, an oxidizing enzyme (i.e. laccase) is used to oxidize the polyphenol structure, releasing smaller and more soluble molecular compounds, including TBs. This is a biologically active compound that is beneficial to human health. Therefore, using laccase to purify is significant in enhancing the oxidation process of polyphenols from fresh tea leaves to improve the efficiency of harvesting theabrownins. Methods: to purify laccase, we use a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose (DEAE), Sephadex G-75, and Q Sepharose® columns in a three-step column chromatography procedure. In addition, TBs formed by hydrolysis were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a refractive index detector (ultra violet-Vis 271 nm) and ICSep WA-1 Analysis column. Results: In this study, CliLac was effectively purified with a specific activity of 7.58 U/mg from strain Clitopilus prunulus BV18. Using DEAE, Sephadex G-75, and Q Sepharose® columns in a three-step column chromatography procedure, the enzyme was purified to a level of 21.4-fold purity. The enzyme with a molecular weight of 55.2 kDa demonstrated increased pH stability in the acidic range. Biochemical properties of CliLac showed that the optimum pH and temperature were 5.0 and 50°C, respectively. The activity retention was over 80% at pH 5.0 for more than 7 h of incubation. CliLac denatured at temperatures over 60°C. TBs production release increased up to 159 ppm after 72 h of incubation using a purified CliLac (10 U/gds) at 50°C. Conclusions: The study indicates that CliLac is appropriate for oxidizing the polyphenol structure and releases the TBs, which are smaller and more soluble molecular compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El hongo Rhizopus stolonifer causa pudrición de frutas y verduras, por lo que es importante la búsqueda de alternativas de control biológico. El objetivo fue realizar antagonismo y evaluar la actividad antifúngica de H. coffeata contra R. stolonifer. Se evaluó el porcentaje de reducción del crecimiento micelial (PRCM) y el tipo de antagonismo de R. stolonifer al crecerlo junto con las cepas antagonistas y se evaluó la actividad antifúngica del caldo de cultivo de H. coffeata. El PRCM fue mayor para H. coffeata y Daldinia sp., presentaron antagonismo de clase 1, inhibición por contacto, ya que el micelio de H. coffeata enrolló las hifas de R. stolonifer. Los tres caldos de cultivo de H. coffeata presentaron efecto sobre el crecimiento de R. stolonifer, pero, fue más evidente en el cocultivo, por lo que mediante este sistema se puede obtener moléculas para utilizarse en el bio-control de R. stolonifer.

Wood-degrading white-rot fungi can efficiently degrade all plant biomass components, but the molecular mechanisms behind the degradation of plant polysaccharides remain poorly understood. For example, the gene sets and expression levels induced by the plant polysaccharide-derived monosaccharides in white-rot fungi do not reflect those induced by crude plant biomass substrates. To explore the molecular response of the white-rot fungus Dichomitus squalens to plant-derived oligo- and polysaccharides, we investigated the transcriptomes from mono- and dikaryotic strains of the fungus on 10 substrates and compared the expression of carbohydrate-active enzyme-encoding genes to that previously reported for different monosaccharides and cellobiose. Our results revealed that in D. squalens, a robust response to cellulose leads to its effective depolymerization, with an orthologue of the ascomycete Trichoderma reesei ACE3 likely acting as a central transcriptional regulator. The conserved response between cellulose and cellobiose further confirms cellobiose as the main cellulase inducer in D. squalens. Surprisingly, despite low abundance of pectin in the natural wood substrate of D. squalens, we identified polygalacturonic acid as a major inducer of a broad-targeted pectinolytic response including pectinase, pectin-related sugar transporter and catabolism genes, and four fungal specific transcription factors. This indicates that D. squalens has not only maintained its ability to degrade minor polysaccharide components in its biotope, but also a regulatory system spanning from extracellular degradation to metabolic conversion. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind white-rot fungal plant polysaccharide degradation and provides leads for functional studies of potential transcriptional regulators in basidiomycetes.

Wood-decaying fungi tend to have characteristic substrate ranges that partly define their ecological niche. Fomitopsis pinicola is a brown rot species of Polyporales that is reported on 82 species of softwoods and 42 species of hardwoods. We analyzed gene expression levels of F. pinicola from submerged cultures with ground wood powder (sampled at 5 days) or solid wood wafers (sampled at 10 and 30 days), using aspen, pine, and spruce substrates (aspen was used only in submerged cultures). Fomitopsis pinicola expressed similar sets of wood-degrading enzymes typical of brown rot fungi across all culture conditions and time points. Nevertheless, differential gene expression was observed across all pairwise comparisons of substrates and time points. Genes exhibiting differential expression encode diverse enzymes with known or potential function in brown rot decay, including laccase, benzoquinone reductase, aryl alcohol oxidase, cytochrome P450s, and various glycoside hydrolases. Comparing transcriptomes from submerged cultures and wood wafers, we found that culture conditions had a greater impact on global expression profiles than substrate wood species. These findings highlight the need for standardization of culture conditions in studies of gene expression in wood-decaying fungi.IMPORTANCE All species of wood-decaying fungi occur on a characteristic range of substrates (host plants), which may be broad or narrow. Understanding the mechanisms that allow fungi to grow on particular substrates is important for both fungal ecology and applied uses of different feedstocks in industrial processes. We grew the wood-decaying polypore Fomitopsis pinicola on three different wood species—aspen, pine, and spruce—under various culture conditions. We found that F. pinicola is able to modify gene expression (transcription levels) across different substrate species and culture conditions. Many of the genes involved encode enzymes with known or predicted functions in wood decay. This study provides clues to how wood-decaying fungi may adjust their arsenal of decay enzymes to accommodate different host substrates.

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic combined with seasonal epidemics of respiratory viral diseases requires targeted antiviral prophylaxis with restorative and immunostimulant drugs. The compounds of natural origin are low-toxic, but active against several viruses at the same time. One of the most famous compounds is Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract. The fruit body of basidial fungus I. obliquus is called Chaga mushroom. The aim of the work ‒ was to study the antiviral activity of I. obliquus aqueous extract against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in vivo. Materials and methods. Antiviral activity of I. obliquus aqueous extract sample (#20-17) was analyzed against strain of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron ВА.5.2 virus. The experiments were carried out in BALB/c inbred mice. The SARS-CoV-2 viral load was measured using quantitative real-time PCR combined with reverse transcription. The severity of lung tissue damage was assessed by histological methods. Results. The peak values of the viral load in murine lung tissues were determined 72 hours after intranasal inoculation at dose of 2,85 lg TCID50. The quantitative real-time PCR testing has shown a significant decrease in the viral load compared to the control group by 4,65 lg copies/ml and 5,72 lg copies/ml in the lung tissue and nasal cavity samples, respectively. Histological methods revealed that the decrease in the number and frequency of observed pathomorphological changes in murine lung tissues depended on the introduction of the compound under study. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate the possibility of using basidial fungus Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract as a preventive agent against circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Mycopharmaceuticals from basidiomycetes represent a promising source of new antimicrobials to overcome the challenges of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Here we report for the first time the in vitro activity of aurisin A, a dimeric sesquiterpenoid isolated from wild bioluminescent basidiomycetes Neonothopanus nambi DSM 24013, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Aurisin A revealed strong anti-MRSA activity with minimum inhibitory concentration 7.81 μg/mL against ATCC 33591 and ATCC 43300 reference strains, and BD 16876 and BD 15358 clinical strains. Activity against the clinical strains is 10- to 40-fold higher than that of the antibiotic fusidic acid. Furthermore, aurisin A proved to be more potent (MIC 3.91 μg/mL) in inhibiting growth of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) ATCC 700699 and displayed a rapid time-dependent bactericidal activity against MRSA (complete killing within 1 h). Additionally, aurisin A and oxacillin combination displayed synergy with notable decrease in the MICs of both compounds against MRSA. Notable synergism was also observed in combinations with linezolid and fusidic acid. Our findings indicate that aurisin A is a promising candidate for developing therapeutic agents against multidrug-resistant S. aureus and warrants further investigation.

This study aims to determine the effects of Hericium erinaceus extracts on cell viability and the effects of H. erinaceus water extract on the telomerase activity of MCF-7 cells. H. erinaceus is an edible mushroom widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Although its various therapeutic properties, the literature has not yet submitted evidence about H. erinaceus for its effects on the telomerase activity of MCF-7 cells.

This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of culture fluid and mycelial mass of selected Hericium strains from the IBK Mushroom Culture Collection (Kyiv, Ukraine) against bacteria and fungi, as well as to evaluate the potential of these mushrooms for biomass and extracellular polysaccharides production.

Simple Summary: The Antarctic Polar Plateau is one of the most extreme environments on Earth and our knowledge on the microbial diversity inhabiting this region is still limited. The BacFinder project investigated microbial diversity on the snow surface of the Polar Plateau, focusing on the vicinity of the Concordia Antarctic Research Station, to assess the microbial diversity and the potential impact of human presence on such a pristine environment. We found that seasonality was the main driver for both bacterial and fungal assemblages, while biodiversity appeared unaffected by distance from the base. Amplicon sequencing revealed a predominance of Basidiomycota (49%) and Ascomycota (42%) for the fungal component. Bacteroidota (65.8%) is the main representative of the bacterial component. Basidiomycetes are almost exclusively represented by yeast-like fungi. Overall, the study highlighted the impact of human activity on the microbial composition in this environment and may provide critical information on the habitability of extra-terrestrial analogs on our planet and on the possibility to explore the surfaces of icy worlds. The French–Italian Concordia Research Station, situated on the Antarctic Polar Plateau at an elevation of 3233 m above sea level, offers a unique opportunity to study the presence and variation of microbes introduced by abiotic or biotic vectors and, consequently, appraise the amplitude of human impact in such a pristine environment. This research built upon a previous work, which explored microbial diversity in the surface snow surrounding the Concordia Research Station. While that study successfully characterized the bacterial assemblage, detecting fungal diversity was hampered by the low DNA content. To address this knowledge gap, in the present study, we optimized the sampling by increasing ice/snow collected to leverage the final DNA yield. The V4 variable region of the 16S rDNA and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS1) rDNA was used to evaluate bacterial and fungal diversity. From the sequencing, we obtained 3,352,661 and 4,433,595 reads clustered in 930 and 3182 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) for fungi and bacteria, respectively. Amplicon sequencing revealed a predominance of Basidiomycota (49%) and Ascomycota (42%) in the fungal component; Bacteroidota (65.8%) is the main representative among the bacterial phyla. Basidiomycetes are almost exclusively represented by yeast-like fungi. Our findings provide the first comprehensive overview of both fungal and bacterial diversity in the Antarctic Polar Plateau's surface snow/ice near Concordia Station and to identify seasonality as the main driver of microbial diversity; we also detected the most sensitive microorganisms to these factors, which could serve as indicators of human impact in this pristine environment and aid in planetary protection for future exploration missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in edible and medicinal macrofungi is millennial in terms of their uses in health and food products in Central Asia, while interest in inedible and medicinal macrofungi has grown in popularity in recent years. Edible and inedible medicinal basidiomycetes were collected during field surveys from different regions of Uzbekistan. The morphological characters and similarity assessment of rDNA-Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence data were used to measure diversity and habitat associations. A number of 17 species of medicinal macrofungi of ethnomycological and medicinal interest was found associated with 23 species of trees and shrubs belonging to 11 families and 14 genera. Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae were represented by the highest number of species followed by Ganodermataceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Auriculariaceae, Cerrenaceae, Grifolaceae, Phanerochaetaceae, Laetiporaceae, Schizophyllaceae, and Stereaceae. The highest number of medicinal basidiomycete species was reported in the following host genera: Acer, Betula, Celtis, Crataegus, Juglans, Juniperus, Lonicera, Malus, Morus, Platanus, Populus, Prunus, Quercus, and Salix. An updated list of edible and inedible medicinal mushrooms identified in Uzbekistan, their morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic placement are given for the first time. Information is provided on their uses in traditional and modern medicine. Their bioactive compounds and extracts can be applied as medicines, as well as food and cosmetic ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tremella caloplacae (Zahlbr.) Diederich is a species complex including at least nine different species. Here, we formally describe the new species Tremella elegantis , T. nimisiana , T. parietinae , T. pusillae and T. sorediatae. Tremella elegantis induces galls in the hymenium of Rusavskia elegans and forms 2-celled basidia, where cells rarely elongate and sometimes give the appearance of two immature, independent basidia. Tremella nimisiana has small basidiomata (less than 1 mm diam.), narrowly ellipsoid to pyriform 2-celled, occasionally clavate to subcylindrical 3-celled basidia, and grows in the hymenium of Xanthocarpia species. Tremella parietinae is characterized by the exclusive growth in the hymenium of Xanthoria parietina , the broadly fusiform to ellipsoid probasidia, and the subspherical, pyriform or ellipsoid 2(–3)-celled basidia. Tremella pusillae has ellipsoidal probasidia, 2(–3)-celled pyriform or ellipsoidal basidia that sometimes are constricted at the septum, and grows only on Calogaya pusilla. Tremella sorediatae is characterized by inducing galls on the thallus of Rusavskia sorediata and by pyriform to ellipsoid basidia that sometimes are constricted at the septum. Three species are not formally described and are left unnamed as Tremella sp. 13 on Calogaya biatorina , Tremella sp. 14 on Calogaya decipiens and Tremella sp. 15 on Polycauliona sp. Tremella caloplacae in the strict sense is re-circumscribed as a species confined to Variospora species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mycelial biomass production and chitosan extraction potential of various Basidiomycota strains, including Heterobasidion annosum, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus, Trametes versicolor, and Lentinus lepideus. Both submerged fermentation (SF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) methods were employed. The chitosan yield in basidiocarps of Pleurotus ostreatus, Agaricus bisporus, and Ganoderma applanatum was also evaluated as a reference material. The chitosan extracted from fungal cells was characterized using elemental analyses and FTIR spectroscopy. Among the cultivated strains, P. chrysosporium exhibited the highest mycelial biomass concentration in SF (1.03 g 100 mL–1) after 14 days, while T. versicolor achieved the highest biomass concentration in SSF (3.65 g 100 mL–1). The highest chitosan yield was obtained from the mycelium of P. chrysosporium (0.38%) and T. versicolor (0.37%) in shaken SF. Additionally, commercially cultivated A. bisporus demonstrated the highest chitosan yield in fungal fruiting bodies (1.7%). The extracted chitosan holds potential as a functional biopolymer additive for eco-friendly materials, serving as an alternative to synthetic wet and dry strength agents in packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of new biological preparations to control Heterobasidion root rot is a complex process, but when a potential antagonist is identified, cultivation of the fungus is required. In this study, five different substrates (deciduous sawdust, coniferous sawdust, rye bran, straw and corn kernels) were tested as substrates for the cultivation of three fungal species: Bjerkandera adusta, Phlebiopsis gigantea, and Sistotrema brinkmannii, which could be potentially used against Heterobasidion spp. Mycelial growth was evaluated visually, and oidia production was estimated microscopically. In the straw substrate, P. gigantea produced significantly more (p < 0.05) oidia compared to the other substrates. In addition, oidia production at two different incubation temperatures were compared. As a result, the best substrate for cultivation of all three fungal species was coniferous sawdust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edible oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the most cultivated species worldwide. Morphogenesis associated with the maturation of fruit bodies is controlled by two unlinked loci of sexual compatibility matA and matB with multiple alleles (tetrapolar system of sexual compatibility). Quantitative analysis of the alleles of mating compatibility loci in 17 natural isolates collected in the Moscow region was performed in mon–mon (monokaryons–monokaryon) and di–mon (dikaryon–monokaryon) crossings. Four monokaryotic testers strains which were heteroallelic at both mating type loci were obtained for each of the five natural mushroom isolates by using original technique of sterile spore prints on Petri dishes and mon–mon crossing. Twelve natural isolates were crossed via di-mon mating with the four monokaryotic testers M-38. Genetic analysis of the alleles of sexual compatibility loci in 17 natural isolates revealed multiple alleles at both loci: at least ten alleles at matA locus and eight alleles at matB locus. Structural organization analysis of the matA locus was performed in silico for homokaryotic strains PC9 and PC15 based on the whole-genome sequencing data available at DOE Joint Genome Institute. The matA locus has an extremely divergent structure: there are one copy of the homeodomain gene hd1 and one copy of the hd2 gene in the PC9 strain, whereas the matA locus of the PC15 strain is composed by two copies of hd1.1 and hd1.2 genes (class HD1 homeodomain proteins) and one copy of hd2 gene (class HD2 proteins). Comprehensive analysis of amino acid sequences of HD1 and HD2 homeodomain proteins demonstrated that the proteins have a globular structure with the nuclear localization and contain a variable N-terminus and a more conserved DNA-binding domain with a specific conserved motif WFXNXR in the third ɑ-helix. The results suggest that multiple alleles of the matA locus of sexual compatibility in basidiomycete fungi is achieved due to both different copy number of the coding hd genes within the locus and the variability of the coding gene sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is a part of Western Ghats (India), has diverse ecosystems and constitutes an important biogeographical 'hotspot' which is well known for its species richness and endemism. Since limited information was available on the mycoflora in this area, a survey was conducted to evaluate the macrofungal diversity in the wet evergreen forests of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. The survey was carried out during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2021-2022 and revealed the existence of 62 macrofungal species belonging to 43 genera, 24 families, and eight orders. Out of the eight orders, seven orders belong to the division Basidiomycota and the other order Xylariales belongs to Ascomycota. The family Polyporaceae was identified as the dominant family. The survey also noted the presence of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi. Among the identified species, the maximum density was of Panellus pusillus (6.08) followed by Microporus xanthopus (5.38). Microporus xanthopus (82.14%) exhibited the maximum frequency of occurrence and was identified as the most common species. Coprinellus disseminatus was the most abundant species among macrofungi. The assessment of macrofungal diversity using the Shannon biodiversity index resulted in a value of 2.99, indicating a rich and diverse fungal population within the forest. This finding emphasizes the significant role of the forest ecosystem in supporting a wide variety of fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa secretes protein effectors that manipulate the physiology of the host plant, but few effectors of this fungus have had their functions confirmed. We performed functional characterization of a promising candidate effector of M. perniciosa. The inoculation of rBASIDIN at 4 µmol L−1 in the mesophyll of leaflets of Solanum lycopersicum caused symptoms of shriveling within 6 h without the presence of necrosis. However, when sprayed on the plant at a concentration of 11 µmol L−1, it caused wilting symptoms only 2 h after application, followed by necrosis and cell death at 48 h. rBASIDIN applied to Theobroma cacao leaves at the same concentration caused milder symptoms. rBASIDIN caused hydrogen peroxide production in leaf tissue, damaging the leaf membrane and negatively affecting the photosynthetic rate of Solanum lycopersicum plants. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that BASIDIN has orthologs in other phytopathogenic basidiomycetes. Analysis of the transcripts revealed that BASIDIN and its orthologs are expressed in different fungal species, suggesting that this protein is differentially regulated in these basidiomycetes. Therefore, the results of applying BASIDIN allow the inference that it is an effector of the fungus M. perniciosa, with a strong potential to interfere in the defense system of the host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood decomposition is regulated by multiple controls, including climate and wood traits, that vary at local to regional scales. Yet decomposition rates differ dramatically when these controls do not. Fungal community dynamics are often invoked to explain these differences, suggesting that knowledge of ecosystem properties that influence fungal communities will improve understanding and projection of wood decomposition. We hypothesize that deadwood inputs decompose faster in forests with higher stocks of downed coarse woody material (CWM) because CWM is a resource from which lignocellulolytic fungi rapidly colonize new inputs. To test this hypothesis, we measure decomposition of 1,116 pieces of fine woody material (FWM) of five species, incubated for 13 to 49 months at five locations spanning 10°-latitude in eastern U.S. forest. We place FWM pieces near and far from CWM across observational transects and experimental common gardens. Soil temperature positively affects location-level mean decomposition rates, but these among-location differences are smaller than within-location variation in decomposition. Some of this variability is caused by CWM, where FWM pieces next to CWM decompose more rapidly. These effects are greater with time of incubation and lower initial wood density of FWM. The effect size of CWM is of the same relative magnitude as for the known controls of temperature, deadwood density and diameter. Abundance data for CWM is available for many forests and hence may be an ecosystem variable amenable for inclusion in decomposition models. Our findings suggest that conservation efforts to rebuild depleted CWM stocks in temperate forests may accelerate decomposition of fresh deadwood inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal diseases are a leading threat to human health, especially in individuals with compromised immunity. Although there have been recent important advances in antifungal drug development, antifungal resistance, drug–drug interactions and difficulties in delivery remain major challenges. Among its pleiotropic actions, nitric oxide (NO) is a key molecule in host defense. We have developed a flexible nanoparticle platform that delivers sustained release of NO and have demonstrated the platform's efficacy against diverse bacteria as well as some fungal species. In this work, we investigate the effects of two NO-releasing particles against a panel of important human yeast. Our results demonstrate that the compounds are both effective against diverse yeast, including ascomycota and basidiomycota species, and that NO-releasing particles may be a potent addition to our armamentarium for the treatment of focal and disseminated mycoses. • Nitric oxide-loaded particles have antifungal properties. • NO-releasing systems can be associated with nanoparticles and microparticles. • The NO-loaded particles are effective against planktonic ascomycetes and basidiomycetes species. • Candida albicans biofilm cells are susceptible to the NO-loaded particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Botanica Serbica is the property of University of Belgrade, Institute of Botany & Botanical Garden Jevremovac and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Invasive mold infections caused by molds other than Aspergillus spp. or Mucorales are emerging. The reported prevalences of infection due to these rare fungal pathogens vary among geographic regions, driven by differences in climatic conditions, susceptible hosts, and diagnostic capabilities. These rare molds-Fusarium, Lomentospora, and Scedosporium species and others-are difficult to detect and often show intrinsic antifungal resistance. Now, international societies of medical mycology and microbiology have joined forces and created the "Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of rare mould infections: an initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology in cooperation with the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology and the American Society for Microbiology" (published in Lancet Infect Dis, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30784-2), with the goal of improving the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and survival of persons with rare mold infections. The guideline provides cutting-edge guidance for the correct utilization and application of established and new diagnostic and therapeutic options.

Abstract Background Orsellinic acid (2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid, OA) and its structural analog o-Orsellinaldehyde, have become widely used intermediates in clinical drugs synthesis. Although the research on the biosynthesis of such compounds has made significant progress, due to the lack of suitable hosts, there is still far from the industrial production of such compounds based on synthetic biology. Results With the help of genome mining, we found a polyketide synthase (PKS, HerA) in the genome of the Hericium erinaceus, which shares 60% amino acid sequence homology with ArmB from Armillaria mellea, an identified PKS capable of synthesizing OA. To characterize the function of HerA, we cloned herA and heterologously expressed it in Aspergillus oryzae, and successfully detected the production of OA. Subsequently, the introduction of an incomplete PKS (Pks5) from Ustilago maydis containing only three domains (AMP-ACP-R), which was into herA-containing A. oryzae, the resulted in the production of o-Orsellinaldehyde. Considering the economic value of OA and o-Orsellinaldehyde, we then optimized the yield of these compounds in A. oryzae. The screening showed that when maltose was used as carbon source, the yields of OA and o-Orsellinaldehyde were 57.68 mg/L and 15.71 mg/L respectively, while the yields were 340.41 mg/Kg and 84.79 mg/Kg respectively in rice medium for 10 days. Conclusions Herein, we successfully expressed the genes of basidiomycetes using A. oryzae heterologous host. As a fungus of ascomycetes, which not only correctly splices genes of basidiomycetes containing multiple introns, but also efficiently produces their metabolites. This study highlights that A. oryzae is an excellent host for the heterologous production of fungal natural products, and has the potential to become an efficient chassis for the production of basidiomycete secondary metabolites in synthetic biology. Graphical Abstract

Under natural conditions in Spain, the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii, a basidomycete of great economic and gastronomic importance, appears at the base of the stem of (mainly) Eryngium campestre, surrounded by the plant’s dried-out basal leaves. Traditionally collected in the wild of Mediterranean areas, this fungus is now cultivated all over the world for its culinary and even medicinal properties. However, controversy exists regarding its lifestyle. Some authors indicate it is a saprotroph, while others suggest it is a weak or even virulent parasite that causes male sterility in E. campestre. The present work aims to clarify whether P. eryngii behaves as a saprotroph, a weak or virulent parasite to E. campestre. The soil beside the roots of naturally growing E. campestre plants was inoculated with a commercial strain of P. eryngii, and the trophic mode of the fungus recorded. Soil and root samples were subjected to molecular analysis to confirm the absence/presence of the fungus. The death of the plants and the molecular analysis showed P. eryngii is a facultative necrotrophic parasite of E. campestre in natural conditions and a virulent parasite in greenhouse.

Background: Theabrownins (TBs), which are produced from tea leaves, have been shown to have biological. To extract biologically active chemicals from polyphenol structures, an oxidizing enzyme (i.e. laccase) is used to oxidize the polyphenol structure, releasing smaller and more soluble molecular compounds, including TBs. This is a biologically active compound that is beneficial to human health. Therefore, using laccase to purify is significant in enhancing the oxidation process of polyphenols from fresh tea leaves to improve the efficiency of harvesting theabrownins. Methods: to purify laccase, we use a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose (DEAE), Sephadex G-75, and Q Sepharose® columns in a three-step column chromatography procedure. In addition, TBs formed by hydrolysis were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a refractive index detector (ultra violet-Vis 271 nm) and ICSep WA-1 Analysis column. Results: In this study, CliLac was effectively purified with a specific activity of 7.58 U/mg from strain Clitopilus prunulus BV18. Using DEAE, Sephadex G-75, and Q Sepharose® columns in a three-step column chromatography procedure, the enzyme was purified to a level of 21.4-fold purity. The enzyme with a molecular weight of 55.2 kDa demonstrated increased pH stability in the acidic range. Biochemical properties of CliLac showed that the optimum pH and temperature were 5.0 and 50°C, respectively. The activity retention was over 80% at pH 5.0 for more than 7 h of incubation. CliLac denatured at temperatures over 60°C. TBs production release increased up to 159 ppm after 72 h of incubation using a purified CliLac (10 U/gds) at 50°C. Conclusions: The study indicates that CliLac is appropriate for oxidizing the polyphenol structure and releases the TBs, which are smaller and more soluble molecular compounds.

This paper presents an annotated checklist of the Basidiomycota taxa (including lichenicolous fungi and the subdivision Pucciniomycotina) from the Azores archipelago and reviews the published records to account for their taxonomic status. The number of Basidiomycota species recorded in the Azores has increased considerably during the 20th century and now stands at 544 species. This study provides distribution data and includes changes in the nomenclature of the listed taxa. Sampling campaigns contributed to 116 new records of Basidiomycota for the Azores archipelago. In addition, there were new records for eight islands: 162 species found for the first time on São Miguel Island, 55 species new to Santa Maria Island, 33 species new to Flores Island, 15 species new to Terceira Island, 9 species new to Pico Island, 17 species new to São Jorge Island, 4 species new to Graciosa Island, and 2 species new to Corvo Island. The transformation of vegetation cover in the archipelago has been very drastic, and this is reflected in the presence of many foreign fungal species on the islands. From these data, we conclude that within Macaronesia, the diversity of Basidiomycota in the Azores is more similar to that in Madeira than in the Canary Islands.

It is controversial how useful bioassays are for identifying the in vivo toxicity of hazardous environmental exposures. In this study, fruiting bodies of forest mushrooms (n = 46), indoor mold colonies (n = 412), fungal secondary metabolites (n = 18), xenobiotic chemicals such as biocides and detergents (n = 6), and methanol extracts of indoor dusts from urban buildings (n = 26) were screened with two different bioactivity assays: boar sperm motility inhibition (BSMI) and inhibition of cell proliferation (ICP) tests. For the forest mushrooms, the toxicity testing result was positive for 100% of poisonous-classified species, 69% of non-edible-classified species, and 18% of edible-classified species. Colonies of 21 isolates of Ascomycota mold fungal species previously isolated from water-damaged buildings proved to be toxic in the tests. Out of the fungal metabolites and xenobiotic chemicals, 94% and 100% were toxic, respectively. Out of the indoor dusts from moldy-classified houses (n = 12) and from dry, mold-free houses (n = 14), 50% and 57% were toxic, respectively. The bioassay tests, however, could not differentiate the samples from indoor dusts of moldy-classified buildings from those from the mold-free buildings. Xenobiotic chemicals and indoor dusts were more toxic in the BSMI assay than in the ICP assay, whereas the opposite results were obtained with the Ascomycota mold colonies and fungal secondary metabolites. The tests recognized unknown methanol-soluble thermoresistant substances in indoor settled dusts. Toxic indoor dusts may indicate a harmful exposure, regardless of whether the toxicity is due to xenobiotic chemicals or microbial metabolites.

Comprehensive Summary: The structures assigned to all four members, 1—4, of the recently reported favolasin class of natural product have been prepared for the first time by chemical synthesis. Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling chemistry was used to establish the associated biaryl substructures. The key step used in preparing the 1,5‐benzodioxepin ring system associated with compounds 3 and 4 was the acid‐catalyzed 7‐exo‐tet cyclization of an appropriately substituted 2‐(oxiran‐2‐ylmethoxy)phenol while a base‐promoted 6‐exo‐tet cyclization of the same substrate was used to construct the 2,3‐dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine core of target 2. The spectral data derived from the four synthetically‐produced favolasins matched those reported for the corresponding natural products. Preliminary biological screening of compounds 1—3 as well as a suite of fourteen precursors reveal that they display no notable anti‐bacterial, anti‐fungal or anti‐tumor activities but congener K (4) is active, in the mM range, against Plasmodium falciparum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of wood-rotting and litter-deconstructing basidiomycetes to convert lignocellulose into a wide variety of products has been extensively studied. In particular, wood-rotting basidiomycete secretomes are attracting much attention from researchers and biotechnology companies due to their ability to produce extracellular hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes that effectively degrade cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of plant biomass. An analysis of the available literature data shows that Basidiomycota fungi, which are most adapted to the depolymerization of plant polysaccharides, are promising but so far unexploited sources of new hydrolytic enzymes. The review summarizes the latest data on the great variety, common features, and unique properties of individual fungi and the production of cellulases and xylanases by various physiological and ecological groups of basidiomycetes. The most important microbial cellulase-producing strains for submerged and solid-phase fermentation, as well as the main substrates, including the use of agro-industrial waste, are considered. It highlights ways to increase both cellulase and xylanase expression levels and the cost-effectiveness of producing these enzymes for various biotechnological applications. It is anticipated that this review will be particularly useful to novice scientists working in the lignocellulose biorefinery, as it describes current knowledge and issues related to the production and regulation of polysaccharide hydrolyzing enzyme synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Scleroderma contains gasteroid basidiomycetes, which form globose spores with echinulate to reticulate ornamentation on the surface. Based on the morphological observations in combination with molecular data, four new species, S. erubescens, S. separatum, S. squamulosum, and S. vinaceum, were described from Yunnan, southwestern China. Images of fresh basidiomata and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of basidiospores are provided. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequences show that these four new taxa belong to the Scleroderma section Scleroderma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa pulp represents an interesting by-product of cocoa production, with an appealing flavor. We developed a non-alcoholic beverage via the submerged fermentation of 10% pasteurized cocoa pulp in water with Laetiporus persicinus for 48 h; the product was characterized by tropical fruity notes such as coconut, mango, passion fruit and peach. The overall acceptance of the beverage compared to the non-fermented medium, as rated by a panel, increased from 2.9 to 3.7 (out of 5.0 points) for odor and from 2.1 to 4.2 for taste. (R)-Linalool (flowery, fruity), methyl benzoate (green, sweet), 2-phenylethanol (rose, sweet), 5-butyl-2(5H)-furanone (coconut, peach) and (E)-nerolidol (flowery, woody) contributed to the overall aroma with odor activity values of >1. During aroma dilution analysis, further substances with coconut, passion fruit and peach-like notes were perceived and structurally assigned to the group of sesquiterpenoids. The fermentation generated a highly interesting beverage using only 10% of the valuable cocoa pulp. The aroma formation via the fungus L. persicinus on cocoa pulp is of great interest for further research as an example of the formation of substances not yet described in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Pinus represents more than a hundred different tree species, most of them forming stems that can be commercially utilised for both timber and wood pulp industry. Pines are native to most of the Northern Hemisphere, while introduced and often naturalized in the Southern Hemisphere. The sapwood of pines is considered 'not durable' but generally easy to impregnate. On the contrary, the coloured heartwood of pines is difficult to impregnate and considered 'less to moderately durable' against decay fungi, but due to varying content and composition of extractives, both moisture performance and inherent durability vary within and between species. This study reviewed the literature to quantify the extent of variability of pine wood and its potential causes. Literature data from durability tests performed under laboratory and field conditions made it possible to compile reference factors for 26 pine species. The inter-species variation of biological durability is more prominent in above-ground exposure (0.7–14.9 times higher compared to the non-durable pine sapwood) compared to soil contact scenarios (1.0–2.4). The latter might be explained by fungicidal and hydrophobic extractives of pines, which play a more dominant role in above-ground exposure compared to soil exposure with permanent wetting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of nanoparticles of hydrated C60 fullerene and its N-monoamino acid derivatives on the oxidative metabolism and growth of the mycelial biomass of basidiomycetes during their submerged cultivation was studied. It was found that the supplementation of culture media with nanoparticles of the studied compounds at their final concentration range of 10−7 to 10−11 M significantly increased the resulting biomass, while the severity of the effect in this concentration range changed slightly. That prompted the use of nanomolar concentrations of compounds as reasonable. The most pronounced stimulating effect (an increase in biomass of about 240% with respect to control) was observed when culturing Laetiporus sulphureus, the intrinsically high level of oxidative metabolism of which was significantly lowered by the presence of the studied additives. It was shown that the growth-enhancing action of nanoparticles of fullerene C60 and its derivatives could not be attributed to photochemical reactions, particularly fullerene photoexcitation. Fullerene and its derivatives manifest a growth regulatory effect on bio-objects from different kingdoms of the living world (plants and fungi), which is indicative of these compounds' mechanism of action based on a direct impact on fundamental, universal for all living beings, biophysical processes, primarily chain free-radical oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Trichosporonaceae family comprises a large number of basidiomycetes widely distributed in nature. Some of its members, especially Trichosporon asahii, have the ability to cause human infections. This ability is related to a series of virulence factors, which include lytic enzymes production, biofilm formation, resistance to oxidising agents, melanin and glucuronoxylomannan in the cell wall, metabolic plasticity and phenotypic switching. The last two are poorly addressed within human pathogenic Trichosporonaceae. Objective: These factors were herein studied to contribute with the knowledge of these emerging pathogens and to uncover mechanisms that would explain the higher frequency of T. asahii in human infections. Methods: We included 79 clinical isolates phenotypically identified as Trichosporon spp. and performed their molecular identification. Lactate and N‐acetyl glucosamine were the carbon sources of metabolic plasticity studies. Morphologically altered colonies after subcultures and incubation at 37°C indicated phenotypic switching. Results and Conclusion: The predominant species was T. asahii (n = 65), followed by Trichosporon inkin (n = 4), Apiotrichum montevideense (n = 3), Trichosporon japonicum (n = 2), Trichosporon faecale (n = 2), Cutaneotrichosporon debeurmannianum (n = 1), Trichosporon ovoides (n = 1) and Cutaneotrichosporon arboriforme (n = 1). T. asahii isolates had statistically higher growth on lactate and N‐acetylglucosamine and on glucose during the first 72 h of culture. T. asahii, T. inkin and T. japonicum isolates were able to perform phenotypic switching. These results expand the virulence knowledge of Trichosporonaceae members and point for a role for metabolic plasticity and phenotypic switching on the trichosporonosis pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptional regulation is vital for organismal survival, with many layers and mechanisms collaborating to balance gene expression. One layer of this regulation is genome organization, specifically the clustering of functionally related, co-expressed genes along the chromosomes. Spatial organization allows for position effects to stabilize RNA expression and balance transcription, which can be advantageous for a number of reasons, including reductions in stochastic influences between the gene products. The organization of co-regulated gene families into functional clusters occurs extensively in Ascomycota fungi. However, this is less characterized within the related Basidiomycota fungi despite the many uses and applications for the species within this clade. This review will provide insight into the prevalence, purpose, and significance of the clustering of functionally related genes across Dikarya, including foundational studies from Ascomycetes and the current state of our understanding throughout representative Basidiomycete species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycopharmaceuticals from basidiomycetes represent a promising source of new antimicrobials to overcome the challenges of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Here we report for the first time the in vitro activity of aurisin A, a dimeric sesquiterpenoid isolated from wild bioluminescent basidiomycetes Neonothopanus nambi DSM 24013, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Aurisin A revealed strong anti-MRSA activity with minimum inhibitory concentration 7.81 μg/mL against ATCC 33591 and ATCC 43300 reference strains, and BD 16876 and BD 15358 clinical strains. Activity against the clinical strains is 10- to 40-fold higher than that of the antibiotic fusidic acid. Furthermore, aurisin A proved to be more potent (MIC 3.91 μg/mL) in inhibiting growth of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) ATCC 700699 and displayed a rapid time-dependent bactericidal activity against MRSA (complete killing within 1 h). Additionally, aurisin A and oxacillin combination displayed synergy with notable decrease in the MICs of both compounds against MRSA. Notable synergism was also observed in combinations with linezolid and fusidic acid. Our findings indicate that aurisin A is a promising candidate for developing therapeutic agents against multidrug-resistant S. aureus and warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesophytic mountain forest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in Mexico, in which there is a diverse mycobiota of which many aspects of its biology and properties are unknown. Pseudomarasmius nidus-avis is a recently discovered and described fungus that forms rhizomorphs used in the nesting habits of birds of the family Tyrannidae (Mionectes oleagineus and Tolmomyias sulfurescens). In this work, the bioactive properties of P. nidus-avis, seven basidiomycetes and two wild ascomycetes from the mesophytic mountain forest of central Veracruz state, Mexico, were evaluated in terms of their effect against phytopathogenic fungal (PF) species such as Fusarium oxysporum (ATCC-417 and CBF-185), Sclerotium cepivorum (CBF414) and Leptosphaerulina australis (CBF-433), which generate important economic losses in several crops. In vitro confrontation tests of mycelium isolated from the macrofungi against the PFs were developed, where 50 % of the wild fungi, including P. nidus-avis, showed effect on the phytopathogens. Furthermore, the crude extract obtained from the mycelium and supernatant of P. nidus-avis was evaluated against PF, showing an inhibition of 16.08 % against F. oxysporum (ATCC-417). These results show that P. nidus-avis has bioactive properties with potential for use in the control of some PF diseases of agricultural and forestry importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than a century, lichens have been used as an example of dual-partner symbiosis. Recently, this has been challenged by the discovery of various basidiomycetous yeasts that coexist in multiple lichen species, among which Cladonia lichens from Europe and the United States were discovered to be highly specifically associated with the basidiomycetous yeast of the family Microsporomycetaceae. To verify this highly specific relationship, we investigated the diversity of basidiomycetous yeasts associated with Cladonia rei, a widely distributed lichen in Japan, by applying two approaches: yeast isolation from the lichen thalli and meta-barcoding analysis. We obtained 42 cultures of Cystobasidiomycetous yeast which were grouped into six lineages within the family Microsporomycetaceae. Unexpectedly, although the cystobasidiomycetes-specific primer was used, not only the cystobasidiomycetous yeasts but species from other classes were also detected via the meta-barcoding dataset; in particular, pucciniomycetous yeasts were found at a high frequency in some samples. Further, Halobasidium xiangyangense, which was detected in every sample with high abundance, is highly likely a generalist epiphytic fungus that has the ability to associate with C. rei. In the pucciniomycetous group, most of the detected species belong to the scale insect-associated yeast Septobasidium genus. In conclusion, even though Microsporomyces species are not the only yeast group associated with Cladonia lichen, our study demonstrated that the thalli of Cladonia rei lichen could be a suitable habit for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mature tropical urban trees are susceptible to root and trunk rot caused by pathogenic fungi. A metagenomic survey of such fungi was carried out on 210 soil and tissue samples collected from 134 trees of 14 common species in Singapore. Furthermore, 121 fruiting bodies were collected and barcoded. Out of the 22,067 OTUs (operational taxonomic units) identified, 10,646 OTUs had annotation information, and most were either ascomycetes (63.4%) or basidiomycetes (22.5%). Based on their detection in the diseased tissues and surrounding soils and/or the presence of fruiting bodies, fourteen basidiomycetes (nine Polyporales, four Hymenochaetales, one Boletales) and three ascomycetes (three species of Scytalidium) were strongly associated with the diseased trees. Fulvifomes siamensis affected the largest number of tree species surveyed. The association of three fungi was further supported by in vitro wood decay studies. Genetic heterogeneity was common in the diseased tissues and fruiting bodies (Ganoderma species especially). This survey identified the common pathogenic fungi of tropical urban trees and laid the foundation for early diagnosis and targeted mitigation efforts. It also illustrated the complexity of fungal ecology and pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ballistospory has been a governing factor in mushroom diversification. Modifications to fruit body morphology are subject to a series of fundamental constraints imposed by this uniquely fungal mechanism. Gill spacing in lamellate mushrooms, tube width in poroid species, and other configurations of the hymenium must comply with the distance that spores shoot themselves from their basidia. This reciprocal relationship between the development of fruit bodies and spores may have been maintained by a form of evolutionary seesaw proposed in this article. The necessity of the accurate gravitropic orientation of gills and tubes is another constraint on mushroom development and physiology, along with the importance of evaporative cooling of the hymenium for successful spore discharge and the aerodynamic shaping of the fruit body to aid dispersal. Ballistospory has been lost in secotioid and gasteroid basidiomycetes whose spores are dispersed by animal vectors and has been replaced by alterative mechanisms of active spore discharge in some species. Partnered with the conclusions drawn from molecular phylogenetic research, the biomechanical themes discussed in this review afford new ways to think about the evolution of basidiomycetes. • Mushroom evolution has been constrained by the mechanism of ballistospory • Fruit bodies have been fitted to spores by an evolutionary seesaw. • Studies on fungal phylogeny are enriched by experiments on physiology and mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to establish the composition of the community of beetles associated with xylotrophic fungi on the territory of the Saratov city landscapes which diff ers from the natural forest regional ecosystems. Collections of coleoptera (imagos and larvae) were carried out in the spring-summer period 2017–2020 from fruiting bodies of various xylotrophic basidiomycetes from deciduous tree species of the city areas in the Volzhsky, Kirovsky, Frunzensky, Oktyabrsky and Zavodsky districts of the town. When collecting the material, various methods were used: manual collection, fl otation method and mounted traps. Beetles were found on 129 fruiting bodies of 7 species of xylotrophic fungi. 986 beetles’ specimens of 29 species from 8 families were collected on fruiting bodies of various xylotrophic fungi. The mycetophilic beetles’ community is based on Staphylinidae (41.3%), Tenebrionidae (17.2%), Erotylidae (10.3%), Mycetophagidae (6,8%) and Ciidae (10.3%). The most typical for xylotrophic fungi were eight beetles’ species: Anotylus nitidulus (Gravenhorst, 1802), Gyrophaena joyi Wendeler, 1924 (Staphylinidae), Diaperis bolete (Linnaeus, 1758), Eledona agricola (Herbst, 1783) (Tenebrionidae), Cis comptus Gyllenhal, 1827 (Ciidae), Mycetophagus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus, 1760) (Mycetophagidae), Dacne bipustulata (Thunberg, 1781) and D. pontica (Bedel, 1868) (Erotylidae). It has been established that three main trophic groups of Coleoptera are associated with xylotrophic fungi, among which more than 76% were specialized mycetobionts – obligate mycetophagans, for which fungi are the only or predominant food source. Over 21% accounted for the share of mixophagans and only 3% of the species complex falls on the third group – predators (zoophagous).

Abstract Background Oxidative stress is responsible for the onset of several chronic and degenerative diseases. Exogenous supply of antioxidants is reported to neutralize the effects of oxidative stress. Several synthetic antioxidants suffer from various side effects which necessitates the exploration of antioxidant compounds from natural sources. Endophytic fungi residing in the plants are gaining the attention of researchers as a source of novel antioxidants. Majority of the research conducted so far on endophytic fungi has been restricted to the members of phylum ascomycota. Basidiomycota, inspite of their immense bioactive potential remain relatively unexploited. This study aimed to assess the ameliorative effects of an endophytic Schizophyllum commune (basidiomycetous fungus) against oxidative stress associated altered antioxidant levels, genotoxicity and cellular damage to different organs in bisphenol A exposed fresh water fish Channa punctatus. Results Good antioxidant and genoprotective potential was exhibited by S. commune extract in in vitro studies conducted using different antioxidant, DNA damage protection, and cytokinesis blocked micronuclei assays. In vivo studies were performed in fresh water fish Channa punctatus exposed to bisphenol A. A significant decrease in the considered parameters for DNA damage (% micronuclei and comet assay) were recorded in fish treated with S. commune extract on comparison with untreated bisphenol A exposed group. The S. commune extract treated fish also exhibited an increase in the level of antioxidant enzymes viz. catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase as well as histoprotective effect on various organs. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 3-n-propyl-2,4-pentanedione, n-heptadecanol-1, trans-geranylgeraniol, 3-ethyl-2-pentadecanone, 1-heneicosanol and squalene as some of the compounds in S. commune extract. Conclusion The study highlights the significance of an endophytic basidiomycetous fungus S. commune as a source of antioxidant compounds with possible therapeutic potential.

Background: Orsellinic acid (2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid, OA) and its structural analog o-Orsellinaldehyde, have become widely used intermediates in clinical drugs synthesis. Although the research on the biosynthesis of such compounds has made significant progress, due to the lack of suitable hosts, there is still far from the industrial production of such compounds based on synthetic biology. Results: With the help of genome mining, we found a polyketide synthase (PKS, HerA) in the genome of the Hericium erinaceus, which shares 60% amino acid sequence homology with ArmB from Armillaria mellea, an identified PKS capable of synthesizing OA. To characterize the function of HerA, we cloned herA and heterologously expressed it in Aspergillus oryzae, and successfully detected the production of OA. Subsequently, the introduction of an incomplete PKS (Pks5) from Ustilago maydis containing only three domains (AMP-ACP-R), which was into herA-containing A. oryzae, the resulted in the production of o-Orsellinaldehyde. Considering the economic value of OA and o-Orsellinaldehyde, we then optimized the yield of these compounds in A. oryzae. The screening showed that when maltose was used as carbon source, the yields of OA and o-Orsellinaldehyde were 57.68 mg/L and 15.71 mg/L respectively, while the yields were 340.41 mg/Kg and 84.79 mg/Kg respectively in rice medium for 10 days. Conclusions: Herein, we successfully expressed the genes of basidiomycetes using A. oryzae heterologous host. As a fungus of ascomycetes, which not only correctly splices genes of basidiomycetes containing multiple introns, but also efficiently produces their metabolites. This study highlights that A. oryzae is an excellent host for the heterologous production of fungal natural products, and has the potential to become an efficient chassis for the production of basidiomycete secondary metabolites in synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]