22,012 results on '"Mycology"'
Search Results
2. Experiments with Fungi. Part I: Mushrooms.
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Dale, Michele
- Abstract
Discusses some of the important characteristics of fungi. Presents exercises designed to introduce students to factors influencing the development of mushroom fruiting bodies. (JRH)
- Published
- 1996
3. A Laboratory Exercise for Isolation and Characterizing Microbial Mutants with Metabolic Defects.
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Doe, Frank J. and Leslie, John F.
- Abstract
Describes science experiments for undergraduate biology instruction on the concepts of mutation and characterization of the resulting mutant strains. The filamentous fungi "Fusarium moniliforme" is used to illustrate the induction of mutants (mutagenesis), identification of the mutated gene, construction of a biochemical pathway, and genetic complementation. (PR)
- Published
- 1993
4. Fun with Fungi.
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McLure, John W.
- Abstract
Describes hands-on activities with fungi that may provoke the curiosity of early adolescents and increase their enjoyment and understanding of a vast, important portion of botany. Some of the activities may be conducted during the winter months when most fieldwork ceases. (PR)
- Published
- 1993
5. An Introduction to Mycorrhizae.
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Janerette, Carol A.
- Abstract
The author describes relationships between the fungi called mycorrhizae and plants. Describes the classes of mycorrhizae and the importance of such fungi in plant growth. Presents clear micrographs of the fungi and their interactions with plant root cells. Provides technological applications of mycorrhizae in agriculture and discusses problems with the technology. (30 references) (PR)
- Published
- 1991
6. The Edibility and Cultivation of the Oyster Mushroom.
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Brenneman, James and Guttman, Mark C.
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Describes an enjoyable and fascinating experience that involves the cultivation of oyster mushrooms. By allowing students to participate in this process, the students are able to better understand the biology and utility of fungi. (ZWH)
- Published
- 1994
7. Coprinus Cinereus: An Ideal Organism for Studies of Genetics and Developmental Biology.
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Moore, David and Pukkila, Patricia J.
- Abstract
Ink-cap mushrooms can be easily grown in culture and provide students with ideal material for studying a wide range of biological problems. The life cycle is discussed extensively with hints for inoculating plates, staining, and isolating basidiospores. Exercises are easy, safe, and provide opportunity to demonstrate several microbiological techniques. (DH)
- Published
- 1985
8. Sawdust, Spawn, and Shiitake.
- Author
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Cotter, Van T. and Lanphear-Cook, Carol J.
- Abstract
Deals with a fungus that plays an important role in the forests of Asia as a decomposer of recently dead trees and in agriculture as an important edible mushroom. Describes how to culture these mushrooms including materials, conditions, and troubleshooting. Gives ideas for classroom activities. (CW)
- Published
- 1988
9. Biology Notes
- Abstract
Presents contributed laboratory techniques and demonstrations aids. (CP)
- Published
- 1977
10. Growing Mushrooms in School.
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Campbell, Bob and Hancock, Pip
- Abstract
Provides instructions and advice on growing the edible mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) in school. Also suggests several classroom activities using these mushrooms. (JN)
- Published
- 1984
11. Experimental Mushroom-Growing
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Holden, David J. and Wallner, Stephen J.
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- 1971
12. Making Latex Models of Mushrooms
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Schumann, Donna N.
- Published
- 1972
13. Fungal cryopreservation across 61 genera: Practical application and method evaluation.
- Author
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Zalesky, Travis, Bradshaw, Alexander J., Bair, Zolton J., Meyer, Kyle W., and Stamets, Paul
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FILAMENTOUS fungi , *FUNGAL cultures , *CULTURAL maintenance , *LIQUID nitrogen , *MYCOLOGY - Abstract
Fungi occupy important environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic roles. However, biological research of this diverse kingdom has lagged behind that of other phylogenetic groups. This is partially the result of the notorious difficulty in culturing a diverse array of filamentous fungal species due to their (i) often unpredictable growth, (ii) unknown preferences for culturing conditions, and (iii) long incubation times compared with other microorganisms such as bacteria and yeasts. Given the complexity associated with concurrently culturing diverse fungal species, developing practical methods for preserving as many species as possible for future research is vital. The widely accepted best practice for preserving fungal tissue is the use of cryogenic biobanking at −165 C, allowing for the preservation and documentation of stable genetic lineages, thus enabling long-term diversity-centered research. Despite the extensive literature on fungal cryopreservation, substantial barriers remain for implementation of cryogenic biobanks in smaller mycological laboratories. In this work, we present practical considerations for the establishment of a fungal culture biobank, as well as provide evidence for the viability of 61 fungal genera in cryogenic storage. By providing a pragmatic methodology for cryogenically preserving and managing many filamentous fungi, we show that creating a biobank can be economical for independently owned and operated mycology laboratories, which can serve as a long-term resource for biodiversity, conservation, and strain maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
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14. MycoAI: Fast and accurate taxonomic classification for fungal ITS sequences.
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Romeijn, Luuk, Bernatavicius, Andrius, and Vu, Duong
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BIOLOGICAL classification , *DEEP learning , *GENETIC barcoding , *DATABASES , *PYTHON programming language , *TRANSFORMER models - Abstract
Efficient and accurate classification of DNA barcode data is crucial for large‐scale fungal biodiversity studies. However, existing methods are either computationally expensive or lack accuracy. Previous research has demonstrated the potential of deep learning in this domain, successfully training neural networks for biological sequence classification. We introduce the MycoAI Python package, featuring various deep learning models such as BERT and CNN tailored for fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences. We explore different neural architecture designs and encoding methods to identify optimal models. By employing a multi‐head output architecture and multi‐level hierarchical label smoothing, MycoAI effectively generalizes across the taxonomic hierarchy. Using over 5 million labelled sequences from the UNITE database, we develop two models: MycoAI‐BERT and MycoAI‐CNN. While we emphasize the necessity of verifying classification results by AI models due to insufficient reference data, MycoAI still exhibits substantial potential. When benchmarked against existing classifiers such as DNABarcoder and RDP on two independent test sets with labels present in the training dataset, MycoAI models demonstrate high accuracy at the genus and higher taxonomic levels, with MycoAI‐CNN being the fastest and most accurate. In terms of efficiency, MycoAI models can classify over 300,000 sequences within 5 min. We publicly release the MycoAI models, enabling mycologists to classify their ITS barcode data efficiently. Additionally, MycoAI serves as a platform for developing further deep learning‐based classification methods. The source code for MycoAI is available under the MIT Licence at https://github.com/MycoAI/MycoAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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15. From wild ecosystem to the pharmaceutical use–exploring the traditional medicine and socio-cultural heritage of macrofungi from Pakistan.
- Author
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Shah, Fahim Hussain, Azeem, Muhammad Atif, Ullah, Tauseef, Mumtaz, Abdul Samad, Shah, Sayed Afzal, Khan, Muhammad Binyamin, Karunarathna, Samantha C., Elgorban, Abdallah M., and Kiran, Munazza
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TRADITIONAL knowledge , *MACROFUNGI , *DIETARY supplements , *CITATION analysis , *RAINFALL - Abstract
Medicinal macrofungi, like prized plants and animals, have dietary, therapeutic and commercial significance. This knowledge, anchored in the traditional healthcare system, warrants the identification of the most prominent species harbouring novel natural products. A traditional ethnobiological approach was adopted to collect ethnomycological data by interviewing 110 informants (95 men and 15 women) inhabiting 10 settlements in Bannu District, Pakistan. Visiting the remote nomadic sites revealed the most unique data of its type. This data was assessed and correlated with previous studies, comparing the standard numerical indices: informant consensus factor, fidelity level, use value, relative frequency of citation and Jaccard index. Tradition medicinal uses of 30 species of wild macrofungi (belonging to 19 genera and 12 families) are documented here.
Podaxis pistillaris macrofungi was preference ranked with priority therapeutic uses, medicinally for stomach problems, as an antipyretic, for erotic uses, as an immune booster and as an antidiabetic; it is also nutritionally significant. Temperature and humidity are key factors for the growth of macrofungi generally in Pakistan (in spring and during the monsoon season), while the dynamic frequency of rain in the rainy season due to the impact of climate change cannot be neglected. Indigenous communities divided the ethnomycological potential of macrofungi into three main clusters: (a) edible macrofungi, for treating various disorders and as nutritional supplements; (b) non-edible macrofungi, medicinally important or just poisonous; (c) unknown or unused, without any known utility. Importantly, eight novel species with traditional uses are reported here, and the present work is the first ethnomycological study of macrofungi from Pakistan. This research aims to trace the traditional knowledge related to the naturally occurring medicinal macrofungi in the Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Documentation of new medicinal species and novel uses of existing species reflect a healthy relationship between inhabitants of the Bannu District and wild medicinal macrofungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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16. Testing for Blastomycosis, Coccidioidomycosis, and Histoplasmosis at a Major Commercial Laboratory, United States, 2019–2024.
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Benedict, Kaitlin, Williams, Samantha L, Smith, Dallas J, Lindsley, Mark D, Lockhart, Shawn R, and Toda, Mitsuru
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MEDICAL personnel , *MYCOSES , *BLASTOMYCOSIS , *PUBLIC health surveillance , *IMMUNOENZYME technique , *HISTOPLASMOSIS - Abstract
Background Blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis are environmentally acquired fungal diseases that clinically resemble bacterial and viral community-acquired pneumonia and require laboratory testing for diagnosis. Patients frequently present to primary care and experience diagnostic delays when a fungal etiology is not initially suspected. Current national-level public health surveillance for these diseases is limited and does not include laboratory data, so nationwide testing practices are unknown. Methods We identified laboratory tests for blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis ordered during 1 March 2019–29 February 2024 and performed within a major national commercial laboratory system. We analyzed test results, patient and healthcare provider features, reasons for testing, and temporal trends. Results Results included 5693 Blastomyces complement fixation tests (of those, 12% were positive), 71 858 immunodiffusion tests (0.1% positive), and 1186 serum enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests (11% positive); 154 989 Coccidioides EIA immunoglobulin M results (5% positive) and 154 968 immunoglobulin G results (8% positive); and 46 346 Histoplasma complement fixation tests (30% positive), 49 062 immunodiffusion tests (1% positive), 35 506 serum EIA tests (4% positive), and 82 489 urine EIA tests (2% positive). Most histoplasmosis (58%–74%) and blastomycosis (42%–68%) tests were ordered from hospitals, whereas coccidioidomycosis tests were most frequently ordered by primary care providers (40%). A yearly average of 2727 positive tests were ordered by healthcare providers in states without public health surveillance for these diseases. Conclusions Blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis are likely underdetected in primary care settings or by public health surveillance. Increased testing by primary care providers and expanded surveillance are needed to reduce disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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17. The fungus Aphanoascella galapagosensis affects bacterial diversity of Galapagos giant tortoise carapaces.
- Author
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Perea Brugal, Miguel, Burbano Moscoso, Manuela, Nieto-Claudín, Ainoa, Deem, Sharon L, Siddons, David C, and Caroca Cáceres, Rodrigo
- Subjects
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BACTERIAL communities , *BACTERIAL population , *NUCLEOTIDE sequencing , *MYCOLOGY , *MICROBIAL communities - Abstract
Aims This study aimed to describe the bacterial microbiome associated with the carapace of three species of Galapagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis porteri, Chelonoidis donfaustoi , and Chelonoidis vandenburghi) and determine the potential effect of the whitish lesions caused by the fungus Aphanoascella galapagosensis. Methods and results We used Oxford Nanopore's MinION to evaluate the external bacterial microbiome associated with the carapaces from the aforementioned species. Taxonomic assignment was carried out by Bugseq and the bacterial communities were compared between carapaces with and without lesions using a NMDS with Bray–Curtis as the dissimilarity index. We found four genera of bacteria that were ubiquitous throughout all individuals, suggesting the presence of shared taxa. The results also displayed a significant difference in the microbiome between carapaces with and without lesions, and for species-carapace interaction, but not among species. Conclusions This study establishes a baseline of the bacterial diversity of the carapace within three Galapagos giant tortoise species, showcasing the presence of a distinctive microbial community. Furthermore, our findings suggest a significant influence of the fungus Aphanoascella galapagosensis on the bacterial populations inhabiting the carapace of these reptiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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18. Genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of a nosocomial outbreak of Candida auris in Spain during 5 years.
- Author
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Mulet‐Bayona, Juan Vicente, Cancino‐Muñoz, Irving, Salvador‐García, Carme, Tormo‐Palop, Nuria, Guna‐Serrano, María del Remedio, Ferrer‐Gómez, Carolina, Melero‐García, Mercedes, González‐Candelas, Fernando, and Gimeno‐Cardona, Concepción
- Subjects
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WHOLE genome sequencing , *INFECTIOUS disease transmission , *MYCOLOGY , *MOLECULAR epidemiology , *GENOTYPES - Abstract
Objectives: The investigation of Candida auris outbreaks is needed to provide insights into its population structure and transmission dynamics. We genotypically and phenotypically characterised a C. auris nosocomial outbreak occurred in Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia (CHGUV), Spain. Methods: Data and isolates were collected from CHGUV from September 2017 (first case) until September 2021. Thirty‐five isolates, including one from an environmental source, were randomly selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS), and the genomes were analysed along with a database with 335 publicly available genomes, assigning them to one of the five major clades. In order to identify polymorphisms associated with drug resistance, we used the fully susceptible GCA_003014415.1 strain as reference sequence. Known mutations in genes ERG11 and FKS1 conferring resistance to fluconazole and echinocandins, respectively, were investigated. Isolates were classified into aggregating or non‐aggregating. Results: All isolates belonged to clade III and were from an outbreak with a single origin. They clustered close to three publicly available genomes from a hospital from where the first patient was transferred, being the probable origin. The mutation VF125AL in the ERG11 gene, conferring resistance to fluconazole, was present in all the isolates and one isolate also carried the mutation S639Y in the FKS1 gene. All the isolates had a non‐aggregating phenotype (potentially more virulent). Conclusions: Isolates are genotypically related and phenotypically identical but one with resistance to echinocandins, which seems to indicate that they all belong to an outbreak originated from a single isolate, remaining largely invariable over the years. This result stresses the importance of implementing infection control practices as soon as the first case is detected or when a patient is transferred from a setting with known cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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19. Elias Magnus Fries's fungus exsiccati Scleromyceti Sueciae: New light on the obscure "fascicle nine".
- Author
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Karakehian, Jason M., Pfister, Donald H., and Miller, Andrew N.
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NATURAL history museums ,PAMPHLETS ,MYCOLOGY ,FUNGI ,TAXONOMY - Abstract
Elias Magnus Fries's fungus exsiccati Scleromyceti Sueciae documents specimens cited in several of Fries's publications that are now considered sanctioning works in the nomenclature and taxonomy of several groups of fungi. The first eight fascicles of the first edition of the Scleromyceti Sueciae were issued periodically during the years 1819–1822. Each fascicle was issued as a bound booklet that included, among other information, a printed title page with a date, and an index followed by 30–40 specimens. A ninth fascicle that concluded the first edition was issued without a date. Scholars of the Scleromyceti Sueciae inferred an approximate date of issuance of mid‐1825 based on Fries's correspondence, but they were uncertain whether fascicle nine was issued as a booklet or on loose sheets. In addition, the location of the printed index to fascicle nine that they studied was unclear. We obtained images of a complete, original copy of fascicle nine from the collections of the Natural History Museum of Denmark of the University of Copenhagen. This copy proves that fascicle nine was issued as a bound booklet like the previous eight fascicles and contained a printed index and printed specimen labels. Because of the apparent rarity of a complete, original copy of fascicle nine, we describe the copy at the Natural History Museum of Denmark and provide images of the index. We discuss potential problems in typifying names from material issued in the Scleromyceti Sueciae second edition. Using an example from fascicle nine, we discuss Fries's omissions, errors, and lapses in citing specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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20. The Impact of the Fungal Priority Pathogens List on Medical Mycology: A Northern European Perspective.
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Arendrup, Maiken Cavling, Armstrong-James, Darius, Borman, Andrew M, Denning, David W, Fisher, Matthew C, Gorton, Rebecca, Maertens, Johan, Martin-Loeches, Ignacio, Mehra, Varun, Mercier, Toine, Price, Jessica, Rautemaa-Richardson, Riina, Wake, Rachel, Andrews, Natalie, and White, P Lewis
- Abstract
Fungal diseases represent a considerable global health concern, affecting >1 billion people annually. In response to this growing challenge, the World Health Organization introduced the pivotal fungal priority pathogens list (FPPL) in late 2022. The FPPL highlights the challenges in estimating the global burden of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance (AFR), as well as limited surveillance capabilities and lack of routine AFR testing. Furthermore, training programs should incorporate sufficient information on fungal diseases, necessitating global advocacy to educate health care professionals and scientists. Established international guidelines and the FPPL are vital in strengthening local guidance on tackling fungal diseases. Future iterations of the FPPL have the potential to refine the list further, addressing its limitations and advancing our collective ability to combat fungal diseases effectively. Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited (Mundipharma UK) organized a workshop with key experts from Northern Europe to discuss the impact of the FPPL on regional clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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21. Common leaf spot of lucerne and the dawn of mycology and plant pathology in Australia.
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Ryley, Malcolm J.
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LEAF spots , *PLANT diseases , *MYCOLOGY , *FUNGI classification , *AUSTRALIANS , *MYCOSPHAERELLA , *SUBURBS - Abstract
As the number of livestock increased in the years following English colonisation of Australia in 1788, the need for nutritious fodder, including lucerne (Medicago sativa), grew. One of the first diseases found on lucerne was a leaf spot which was collected in 1879 by George Bancroft, a physician and naturalist, in a suburb of Brisbane. The Queensland Government Botanist Frederick Manson Bailey sent a specimen to the prominent English mycologists Miles Joseph Berkeley and Christopher Edmund Broome who in 1883 formally described and named the fungus Sphaerella destructiva. That fungus is now known as Pseudopeziza medicaginis , the causal agent of common leaf spot of lucerne. It was one of over 300 fungi that were included in a 1880 paper co-written by the Reverend Julian Tenison-Woods and Frederick Bailey. At that time almost all of these fungi which had been collected in Australia were identified by overseas mycologists, particularly Berkeley and Broome. It can be argued that their 1880 paper was the first significant one published in Australia which focussed on fungi. Just a decade or so later Australian scientists, in particular Daniel McAlpine, were describing new fungal taxa on their own. Among the fungi recorded in a paper published in the 1880 Proceedings of the Linnaean Society of New South Wales was Sphaerella destructiva , now Pseudopeziza medicaginis , the cause of common leaf spot of lucerne. The paper, co-authored by the naturalist Reverend Julian Tenison-Woods and the Queensland Government Botanist Frederick Manson Bailey was the first known comprehensive list of Australian fungi published by Australian residents. It is a milestone in the evolution of mycology and plant pathology studies in Australia. Photograph by H. H. Baily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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22. MYCOLOGICAL ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION IN THE CAFETERIA OF HAWLER CITY KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ.
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Ahmed, Tablo Abdulrahim
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MYCOLOGY , *CAFETERIA benefit plans , *DEXTROSE , *MONOSACCHARIDES , *CLADOSPORIUM - Abstract
In order to forecast the effects of the fungi on humans, this study was conducted to isolate and identify the fungi in three distinct samples in the college of science cafeteria. In order to obtain well-isolated colonies, the power plate method with Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) was used to isolate and identify various fungal species. The results show the identity and the total colony forming units (CFU) for fungi. The most frequently isolated fungi were Cladosporium, Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus Sp, Alternaria, Yeast, Penicillium. While the less frequently detected fungi species were Trichocladium, Drecheslera sp.and Botrytis sp. According to the fungi the higher numbers of fungi were isolated on menu and containers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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23. Fungal Endocarditis: Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management.
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Thompson, George, Jenks, Jeffrey, Baddley, John, Lewis, James, Egger, Matthias, Schwartz, Ilan, Boyer, Johannes, Patterson, Thomas, Chen, Sharon, Pappas, Peter, and Hoenigl, Martin
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cardiac ,diagnosis ,endocarditis ,endocardium ,fungal ,mycologic ,mycology ,treatment ,Humans ,Mycoses ,Endocarditis ,Endocarditis ,Bacterial ,Antifungal Agents ,Candidiasis ,Candida ,Aspergillus - Abstract
Fungal endocarditis accounts for 1% to 3% of all infective endocarditis cases, is associated with high morbidity and mortality (>70%), and presents numerous challenges during clinical care. Candida spp. are the most common causes of fungal endocarditis, implicated in over 50% of cases, followed by Aspergillus and Histoplasma spp. Important risk factors for fungal endocarditis include prosthetic valves, prior heart surgery, and injection drug use. The signs and symptoms of fungal endocarditis are nonspecific, and a high degree of clinical suspicion coupled with the judicious use of diagnostic tests is required for diagnosis. In addition to microbiological diagnostics (e.g., blood culture for Candida spp. or galactomannan testing and PCR for Aspergillus spp.), echocardiography remains critical for evaluation of potential infective endocarditis, although radionuclide imaging modalities such as 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography are increasingly being used. A multimodal treatment approach is necessary: surgery is usually required and should be accompanied by long-term systemic antifungal therapy, such as echinocandin therapy for Candida endocarditis or voriconazole therapy for Aspergillus endocarditis.
- Published
- 2023
24. Bioconvergence: Bridging Science and Nature to Shape Tomorrow
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Siragusa, Nina, Matz, Laura, Siragusa, Nina, editor, and Nemat, André T., editor
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- 2024
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25. Poetic Mycography and Mycelial Dérives in John Cage: Towards an Ecocentric Creative Practice
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Mansell, Lisa, Holloway, Philippa, editor, and Jordan-Baker, Craig, editor
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- 2024
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26. Disseminated nodulo-ulcerative lesions associated with chronic liver disease
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Francilene Moreira Peçanha, MD, Katia Santana Cruz, PhD, Flávio Luis Dantas Portela, MD, Vírginia Vilasboas, MD, and Andréa de Souza Cavalcante, MD
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alcoholism ,immunosuppression ,mycology ,sporotrichosis ,tropical diseases ,Dermatology ,RL1-803 - Published
- 2024
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27. A case of dermatophyte abscess and adjunctive use of a novel RNA: In situ hybridization to confirm Trichophyton rubrum
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Andrea Marie Bernales-Mendoza, MD, Akira Shimizu, MD, Takashi Mochizuki, MD, Kazushi Anzawa, MSc, Reimon Yamaguchi, MD, and Kiminobu Takeda, MD
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dermatopathology ,dermatophyte ,fungus ,infectious diseases ,molecular biology ,mycology ,Dermatology ,RL1-803 - Published
- 2024
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28. Mucormicosis: un dulce enemigo, serie de casos.
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Manrique-Castaño, Santiago, Armando Velásquez-Trujillo, Luis, Ángel-Correa, Mariana, Humberto Bravo, José, and Matta-Cortés, Lorena
- Abstract
Copyright of Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud of Colombia 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.)
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- 2024
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29. Emydomyces testavorans DNA is detected from shell swabs of companion chelonians.
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Brunner, Timothy J., Wong, Amanda D., Adamovicz, Laura, Simmons, Amber, Ospina, Emilie, and Keller, Krista A.
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Emydomyces testavorans is an emerging fungus associated with shell lesions in aquatic chelonians. At this time, reporting has focused on species of conservation concern including the northwestern pond turtle (Actinomyces marmorata) and aquatic chelonians in conservation programs or managed collections, however, little attention has been focused on the occurrence of E. testavorans infection in companion chelonians. Swabs of the plastron and carapace of client owned companion chelonians (n = 64) presenting to a teaching hospital were collected and assayed for E. testavorans via qPCR. Categorical information including signalment, and the presence or absence of clinical shell and cutaneous lesions was collected. Three of 64 (4.7%, 95% confidence interval 1.6%–12.9%) companion chelonians had positive ET qPCR results with quantities of 150.93, 372.30 and 11,469 target copies per reaction. The 3 positive shell swabs were all from red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). One of the 3 positive chelonians had grossly apparent shell lesions, while the others did not. E. testavorans DNA is detectable in companion chelonians both with and without externally appreciable shell lesions. Veterinarians working with aquatic companion chelonians, particularly red-eared sliders, should be aware of this important differential and consider diagnostic testing for E. testavorans in suspicious cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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30. Suillus: an emerging model for the study of ectomycorrhizal ecology and evolution.
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Lofgren, Lotus, Nguyen, Nhu H., Kennedy, Peter G., Pérez‐Pazos, Eduardo, Fletcher, Jessica, Liao, Hui‐Ling, Wang, Haihua, Zhang, Kaile, Ruytinx, Joske, Smith, Alexander H., Ke, Yi‐Hong, Cotter, H. Van T., Engwall, Eiona, Hameed, Khalid M., Vilgalys, Rytas, and Branco, Sara
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COMPETITION (Biology) , *NUTRIENT cycles , *PLANT nutrition , *SYMBIOSIS , *BIOLOGICAL invasions , *DATABASES - Abstract
Summary: Research on mycorrhizal symbiosis has been slowed by a lack of established study systems. To address this challenge, we have been developing Suillus, a widespread ecologically and economically relevant fungal genus primarily associated with the plant family Pinaceae, into a model system for studying ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations. Over the last decade, we have compiled extensive genomic resources, culture libraries, a phenotype database, and protocols for manipulating Suillus fungi with and without their tree partners. Our efforts have already resulted in a large number of publicly available genomes, transcriptomes, and respective annotations, as well as advances in our understanding of mycorrhizal partner specificity and host communication, fungal and plant nutrition, environmental adaptation, soil nutrient cycling, interspecific competition, and biological invasions. Here, we highlight the most significant recent findings enabled by Suillus, present a suite of protocols for working with the genus, and discuss how Suillus is emerging as an important model to elucidate the ecology and evolution of ECM interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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31. Mimicry unveiled: The challenging diagnosis of pigmented purpura‐like mycosis fungoides initially misdiagnosed as pigmented purpura.
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Aryal, Sabita, Zhu‐qian, Jiang, Qiang, Liu ye, and Haque, Md Ariful
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CUTANEOUS T-cell lymphoma , *DIAGNOSIS , *DIAGNOSTIC examinations , *MYCOSIS fungoides , *BLOOD vessels , *CUTANEOUS manifestations of general diseases , *ITCHING - Abstract
Key Clinical Message: Unlike most cases, the lesions were localized to the dorsum of the hand, lacked pruritus (itching), and did not exhibit "sperm‐like blood vessels," which are typically pathognomonic to classical MF. The study presents a rare case involving a 44‐year‐old woman who developed a skin condition on the base of her left thumb. Initially misdiagnosed as pigmented purpura, the need for further investigation arose to determine the nature of the condition accurately. The medical evaluation encompassed a comprehensive analysis of the patient's skin ailment. A series of diagnostic examinations were conducted to ascertain the underlying cause. Although routine blood tests yielded unremarkable results, the distinct characteristics of the rash prompted a more thorough investigation. Subsequent assessment revealed that the skin condition was not pigmented purpura, as initially presumed, but rather a manifestation of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) known as mycosis fungoides (MF). MF is an infrequent lymphoma predominantly affecting individuals aged 45–65, exhibiting a male‐to‐female sex ratio of 2:1. The annual incidence of MF ranges from 0.3 to 0.96 cases per 100,000 individuals. The woman's skin exhibited discrete patches adorned with colored dots, progressively thickening and pigmentation. Notably, the absence of pruritus did not dispel suspicion. This case underscores the significance of accurately diagnosing uncommon dermatological disorders to facilitate appropriate medical intervention. The unique appearance of the rash and its distinctive features, despite normal blood results, enabled the identification of MF. The patient's treatment encompassed a combination of steroids and narrowband UV therapy. Vigilance, continued research, and heightened awareness are paramount for early intervention and improved patient outcomes. Such efforts contribute to an enhanced understanding of the complexities of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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32. The power of citizen science to advance fungal conservation.
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Haelewaters, Danny, Quandt, C. Alisha, Bartrop, Lachlan, Cazabonne, Jonathan, Crockatt, Martha E., Cunha, Susana P., De Lange, Ruben, Dominici, Laura, Douglas, Brian, Drechsler‐Santos, Elisandro Ricardo, Heilmann‐Clausen, Jacob, Irga, Peter J., Jakob, Sigrid, Lofgren, Lotus, Martin, Thomas E., Muchane, Mary Nyawira, Stallman, Jeffery K., Verbeken, Annemieke, Walker, Allison K., and Gonçalves, Susana C.
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CITIZEN science , *ENDANGERED species , *NUMBERS of species , *MYCOLOGISTS , *POLITICAL participation , *ENVIRONMENTAL sampling , *POPULATION viability analysis - Abstract
Fungal conservation is gaining momentum globally, but many challenges remain. To advance further, more data are needed on fungal diversity across space and time. Fundamental information regarding population sizes, trends, and geographic ranges is also critical to accurately assess the extinction risk of individual species. However, obtaining these data is particularly difficult for fungi due to their immense diversity, complex and problematic taxonomy, and cryptic nature. This paper explores how citizen science (CS) projects can be leveraged to advance fungal conservation efforts. We present several examples of past and ongoing CS‐based projects to record and monitor fungal diversity. These include projects that are part of broad collecting schemes, those that provide participants with targeted sampling methods, and those whereby participants collect environmental samples from which fungi can be obtained. We also examine challenges and solutions for how such projects can capture fungal diversity, estimate species absences, broaden participation, improve data curation, and translate resulting data into actionable conservation measures. Finally, we close the paper with a call for professional mycologists to engage with amateurs and local communities, presenting a framework to determine whether a given project would likely benefit from participation by citizen scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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33. Molecular characterization of fungal endophytes associated with Hypericum perforatum in Samsun, Turkey.
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Kilicoglu, Melike Cebi, Baialieva, Gulsina, and Ozkoc, Ibrahim
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ENDOPHYTIC fungi ,MYCOLOGY ,HYPERICUM perforatum ,PHYLOGENY ,TAXONOMY - Abstract
In this study, twenty-eight endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of the good health Hypericum perforatum plants collected from Samsun, Turkey. Molecular characterization based on sequence variations in the rDNA-ITS (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region of 19 from 28 endophytes obtained from H. perforatum was used in genus-level identification. rDNA-ITS sequences were analyzed using the BLAST similarity application on the website of the NCBI. Maximum likelihood rDNA-ITS trees were construct with MEGA11 using the data file of each genus derived from alignments. 13 of the endophytic fungi were determined as Fusarium spp., 5 as Diaporthe spp. and 1 as Dactylonectria spp. To our knowledge, this study was the first report to determine the endophytic fungi in H. perforatum plant from Turkey. Diaporthe spp. and Dactylonectria spp. were determined for the first time in H. perforatum in worldwide with this study. Furthermore, Fusarium spp. was isolated for the first time from H. perforatum in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
34. The sphingolipid inhibitor myriocin increases Candida auris susceptibility to amphotericin B.
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Stieber, Hanna, Junghanns, Lara, Wilhelm, Hannah, Batliner, Maria, Aldejohann, Alexander Maximilian, Kurzai, Oliver, and Martin, Ronny
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AMPHOTERICIN B , *ECHINOCANDINS , *CANDIDA , *EUKARYOTIC cells , *SACCHAROMYCES cerevisiae , *LIPID rafts , *MYCOLOGY , *MEMBRANE lipids - Abstract
Background: The emergence of the pathogenic yeast Candida auris is of global concern due to its ability to cause hospital outbreaks and develop resistance against all antifungal drug classes. Based on published data for baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sphingolipid biosynthesis, which is essential for maintaining membrane fluidity and formation of lipid rafts, could offer a target for additive treatment. Methods: We analysed the susceptibility of C. auris to myriocin, which is an inhibitor of the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids in eukaryotic cells in comparison to other Candida species. In addition, we combined sublethal concentrations of myriocin with the antifungal drugs amphotericin B and fluconazole in E‐tests. Consequently, the combinatory effects of myriocin and amphotericin B were examined in broth microdilution assays. Results: Myriocin‐mediated inhibition of the sphingolipid biosynthesis affected the growth of C. auris. Sublethal myriocin concentrations increased fungal susceptibility to amphotericin B. Isolates which are phenotypically resistant (≥2 mg/L) to amphotericin B became susceptible in presence of myriocin. However, addition of myriocin had only limited effects onto the susceptibility of C. auris against fluconazole. Conclusions: Our results show that inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis increases the susceptibility of C. auris to amphotericin B. This may potentially enhance antifungal treatment options fighting this often resistant yeast pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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35. Morphological, Molecular Identification and Virulence of Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated From Dendroctonus micans (Kugelann,1794) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
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Biryol, Seda, Soydinç, Ali, and İşık, Sevda
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CURCULIONIDAE , *FUNGAL virulence , *INSECT larvae , *ENTOMOPATHOGENIC fungi , *BEETLES , *METARHIZIUM anisopliae - Abstract
In this study, to determine an effective fungal agent against Dendroctonus micans (Kugelann, 1794) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which causes significant economic losses in forested areas, Picea orientalis (L.) Link in Artvin between 2021-2022. Dendroctonus micans larvae and adults were collected from the trees, and 18 fungi were isolated from larvae and adult insects. Morphological (infection type, colony morphology, spore form) and molecular (ITS1-5.8S ITS2 gene region) characterization determined that the isolates were Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin, 1883 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), M. robertsii, M. pinghaense and Clonostachys rosea Samuels & Rossman, 1999 (Hypocreales: Bionectriaceae). Isolates M. robertsii (OZM4) and M. pinhaense (OZM9) have been isolated from this pest for the first time. As a result of insecticidal activity tests performed on D. micans larvae and adults of 1x107 spore/ml spore suspension, the larvae, M. anisopliae (OZM2), showed a mortality rate of 92% within 7 days and adults mortality was determined 100% at the end of the experiment, and mycosis rates were found to be consistent with mortality rates. These results show that isolates with high virulence are promising in microbial and integrated control applications against important forest pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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36. Benzalkonium chloride and polyhexanide disinfectant (F10 SC) requires off-label use for environmental disinfection to be effective against Nannizziopsis guarroi.
- Author
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Seth, Varun, Adamovicz, Laura, and Keller, Krista A
- Abstract
Nannizziopsis guarroi causes contagious dermatomycosis in lizards. Treatment failures are commonly encountered and may be related to the prolonged environmental persistence of this microbe. F10 SC, containing benzalkonium chloride and polyhexanide, is a commercially available disinfectant often used in management of reptile infections particularly by hobbyists and breeders. Three molecularly confirmed isolates of N. guarroi were aseptically collected into aqueous suspensions and diluted to 2 fungal concentrations. Each concentration of each isolate was exposed to 3 dilutions of F10 SC (1:20, 1:100, 1:500) for a 10-minute contact time based upon product label recommendations. Culture growth on standard potato-dextrose agar after 10 days of incubation was assessed for characteristic colony growth and cytology evaluation for fungal elements. The experimental design included control conditions as well as biological and technical replication. All control conditions grew characteristic fungal colonies with fungal elements visualized cytologically. Both concentrations of all 3 isolates exhibited no growth after contact with the highest concentration of the disinfectant (1:20) however fungal growth was evident after contact with the lowest concentration of disinfectant (1:500). Environments exposed and/or contaminated with N. guarroi can be effectively disinfected using F10 SC for a contact time of 10 minutes. Exposure to living tissue has not been evaluated and cannot be recommended at this time. Further work evaluating F10 SC disinfection against clinically relevant microbes should be pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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37. First report of Pestalotioid species causing foliar diseases on mangrove trees in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.
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Sahibu, A., Abdullah, M. M., Farizah, A. Nurul, and Nordahliawate, M. S. Siti
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TREE diseases & pests ,SPECIES ,MANGO ,RHIZOPHORA ,MYCOLOGY - Abstract
This article reports on the first identification of Pestalotioid species causing foliar diseases on mangrove trees in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. The study was conducted by researchers from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Sains Malaysia. The researchers collected and examined mangrove leaves from different species and identified the causal organism as Neopestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis. This finding contributes to Malaysia's disease monitoring program for mangroves. [Extracted from the article]
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- 2024
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38. Friendly fungi: Tropical insect families form partnerships with intracellular fungi related to pathogens
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Ruby Siehl, Katherine Vyhnal, and Shana K. Goffredi
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Entomology ,Mycology ,Science - Abstract
Summary: Sap-sucking insects fail to obtain vitamins, amino acids, and sterols from their plant diet. To compensate, obligate intracellular bacterial symbionts (usually Sulcia and Vidania) provide these missing nutrients. Notably, some planthoppers within the Fulgoromorpha (suborder Auchenorrhyncha) associate with intracellular fungi, which either accompany or replace the anciently associated bacterial partners. Planthopper-symbiont surveys, however, have only been conducted in limited temperate regions, thus necessitating examination of these relationships in the tropics, where insect and fungal diversity is high. Here, five tropical planthopper families host yeast-like endosymbionts related to the parasitic genus Ophiocordyceps. Fungal endosymbiont identity generally corresponded to host family, suggesting possible coevolution. Vertical transmission to offspring was supported by the occurrence of fungal cells in developing eggs. This serves as the most comprehensive tropical planthopper-symbiont survey to date, doubling the roster of known Fulgoromorpha species that host intracellular fungi and further elucidating the remarkable success of this diverse insect group.
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- 2024
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39. Sac1 links phosphoinositide turnover to cryptococcal virulence
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Elizabeth A. Gaylord, Hau Lam Choy, Guohua Chen, Sydney L. Briner, and Tamara L. Doering
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Cryptococcus neoformans ,mycology ,phosphoinositide ,PI4P ,phosphatase ,Sac1 ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
ABSTRACT Cryptococcus neoformans is an environmentally acquired fungal pathogen that causes over 140,000 deaths per year. Cryptococcal infection occurs when infectious particles are deposited into the lung, where they encounter host phagocytic cells. C. neoformans may be engulfed by these phagocytes, an important step of infection that leads to outcomes ranging from termination of infection to cryptococcal dissemination. To study this critical process, we screened approximately 4,700 cryptococcal gene deletion mutants for altered uptake, using primary mouse and human phagocytic cells. Among the hits of these two screens, we identified 93 mutants with perturbed uptake in both systems, as well as others with differences in uptake by only one cell type. We further screened the hits for changes in thickness of the capsule, a protective polysaccharide layer around the cell which is an important cryptococcal virulence factor. The combination of our three screens yielded 45 mutants, including one lacking the phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate phosphatase Sac1. In this work, we implicate Sac1 in both host cell uptake and capsule production. We found that sac1 mutants exhibit lipid trafficking defects, reductions in secretory system function, and changes in capsule size and composition. Many of these changes occur specifically in tissue culture media, highlighting the role of Sac1 phosphatase activity in responding to the stress of host-like conditions. Overall, these findings show how genome-scale screening can identify cellular factors that contribute to our understanding of cryptococcal biology and demonstrate the role of Sac1 in determining fungal virulence.IMPORTANCECryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen with significant impact on global health. Cryptococcal cells inhaled from the environment are deposited into the lungs, where they first contact the human immune system. The interaction between C. neoformans and host cells is critical because this step of infection can determine whether the fungal cells die or proliferate within the human host. Despite the importance of this stage of infection, we have limited knowledge of cryptococcal factors that influence its outcome. In this study, we identify cryptococcal genes that affect uptake by both human and mouse cells. We also identify mutants with altered capsule, a protective coating that surrounds the cells to shield them from the host immune system. Finally, we characterize the role of one gene, SAC1, in these processes. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of how C. neoformans interacts with and protects itself from host cells.
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- 2024
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40. Immunological correlates of protection mediated by a whole organism, Cryptococcus neoformans, vaccine deficient in chitosan
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Charles A. Specht, Ruiying Wang, Lorena V. N. Oliveira, Maureen M. Hester, Christina Gomez, Zhongming Mou, Diana Carlson, Chrono K. Lee, Camaron R. Hole, Woei C. Lam, Rajendra Upadhya, Jennifer K. Lodge, and Stuart M. Levitz
- Subjects
live vector vaccines ,mycology ,Cryptococcus neoformans ,T cells ,AIDS ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
ABSTRACT The global burden of infections due to the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus is substantial in persons with low CD4+ T-cell counts. Previously, we deleted three chitin deacetylase genes from Cryptococcus neoformans to create a chitosan-deficient, avirulent strain, designated as cda1∆2∆3∆, which, when used as a vaccine, protected mice from challenge with virulent C. neoformans strain KN99. Here, we explored the immunological basis for protection. Vaccine-mediated protection was maintained in mice lacking B cells or CD8+ T cells. In contrast, protection was lost in mice lacking α/β T cells or CD4+ T cells. Moreover, CD4+ T cells from vaccinated mice conferred protection upon adoptive transfer to naive mice. Importantly, while monoclonal antibody-mediated depletion of CD4+ T cells just prior to vaccination resulted in complete loss of protection, significant protection was retained in mice depleted of CD4+ T cells after vaccination but prior to challenge. Vaccine-mediated protection was lost in mice genetically deficient in interferon-γ (IFNγ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), or interleukin (IL)-23p19. A robust influx of leukocytes and IFNγ- and TNFα-expressing CD4+ T cells was seen in the lungs of vaccinated and challenged mice. Finally, a higher level of IFNγ production by lung cells stimulated ex vivo correlated with lower fungal burden in the lungs. Thus, while B cells and CD8+ T cells are dispensable, IFNγ and CD4+ T cells have overlapping roles in generating protective immunity prior to cda1∆2∆3∆ vaccination. However, once vaccinated, protection becomes less dependent on CD4+ T cells, suggesting a strategy for vaccinating HIV+ persons prior to loss of CD4+ T cells.IMPORTANCEThe fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is responsible for >100,000 deaths annually, mostly in persons with impaired CD4+ T-cell function such as AIDS. There are no approved human vaccines. We previously created a genetically engineered avirulent strain of C. neoformans, designated as cda1∆2∆3∆. When used as a vaccine, cda1∆2∆3∆ protects mice against a subsequent challenge with a virulent C. neoformans strain. Here, we defined components of the immune system responsible for vaccine-mediated protection. We found that while B cells and CD8+ T cells were dispensible, protection was lost in mice genetically deficient in CD4+ T cells and the cytokines IFNγ, TNFα, or IL-23. A robust influx of cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells was seen in the lungs of vaccinated mice following infection. Importantly, protection was retained in mice depleted of CD4+ T cells following vaccination, suggesting a strategy to protect persons who are at risk of future CD4+ T-cell dysfunction.
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- 2024
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41. Impact of zinc on arbuscular mycorrhizal-mediated nutrient acquisition in urban horticulture
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Miles P.A. Bate-Weldon, Jill E. Edmondson, and Katie J. Field
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Mycology ,Plant biology ,Horticulture ,Science - Abstract
Summary: A major barrier to sustainably improving food security for a growing global population is the availability of suitable space for growing crops. Urban areas offer a potential solution to increase availability of land, however, horticultural soils often accumulate zinc. These increased levels may affect the interactions between crops and soil microbes with potential implications for crop health and nutrition. Using radio-isotope tracing, we investigated the effect of urban environmentally relevant concentrations of zinc in soils on the nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and pea plants. At higher concentrations of zinc, transfer of phosphorus from fungi to plants and the movement of carbon from plants to fungi was dramatically decreased. Our results suggest that while urban horticulture holds promise for sustainably enhancing local food production and addressing global food security, the unchecked presence of contaminants in these soils may pose a critical hurdle to realizing the potential of urban soils.
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- 2024
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42. Fission yeast Bgs1 glucan synthase participates in the control of growth polarity and membrane traffic
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Mariona Ramos, Rebeca Martín-García, M. Ángeles Curto, Laura Gómez-Delgado, M. Belén Moreno, Mamiko Sato, Elvira Portales, Masako Osumi, Sergio A. Rincón, Pilar Pérez, Juan C. Ribas, and Juan C.G. Cortés
- Subjects
Functional aspects of cell biology ,Mycology ,Organizational aspects of cell biology ,Science - Abstract
Summary: Rod-shaped fission yeast grows through cell wall expansion at poles and septum, synthesized by essential glucan synthases. Bgs1 synthesizes the linear β(1,3)glucan of primary septum at cytokinesis. Linear β(1,3)glucan is also present in the wall poles, suggesting additional Bgs1 roles in growth polarity. Our study reveals an essential collaboration between Bgs1 and Tea1-Tea4, but not other polarity factors, in controlling growth polarity. Simultaneous absence of Bgs1 function and Tea1-Tea4 causes complete loss of growth polarity, spread of other glucan synthases, and spherical cell formation, indicating this defect is specifically due to linear β(1,3)glucan absence. Furthermore, linear β(1,3)glucan absence induces actin patches delocalization and sterols spread, which are ultimately responsible for the growth polarity loss without Tea1-Tea4. This suggests strong similarities in Bgs1 functions controlling actin structures during cytokinesis and polarized growth. Collectively, our findings unveil that cell wall β(1,3)glucan regulates polarized growth, like the equivalent extracellular matrix in neuronal cells.
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- 2024
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43. The gut mycobiome signatures in long-lived populations
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Lixia Pu, Shifu Pang, Wenjie Mu, Xiaodong Chen, Yang Zou, Yugui Wang, Yingying Ding, Qi Yan, Yu Huang, Xiaochun Chen, Tao Peng, Weifei Luo, and Shuai Wang
- Subjects
age ,human ,microbiome ,mycology ,Science - Abstract
Summary: Long-lived individuals have been extensively studied as a model to investigate the role of the gut microbiota in aging, but their gut fungi remain almost unexplored. Here, we recruited a community-dwelling cohort of 251 participants (24–108 years, including 47 centenarians) from Guangxi in China to characterize the gut mycobiome signatures. We found gut mycobiome markedly varied during aging and determined aging as a predominant factor driving these variations. For long-lived individuals, core taxa, including Penicillium and Aspergillus, were maintained and Candida enterotype was enriched when compared with old counterparts. Individuals with this enterotype were more likely to possess Bacteroides enterotype enriched in young and centenarians. Moreover, the drivers from Candida enterotype were positively linked with the bacteria components dominated in Bacteroides enterotype. We also identified potentially beneficial yeasts-enriched features to differentiate long-lived individuals from others. Our findings suggest that the gut mycobiome develops with aging, and long-lived individuals possess unique fungal signatures.
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- 2024
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44. Methionine synthases as targets for antifungal drug development
- Author
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Scott, Jennifer, Bromley, Michael, Bignell, Elaine, and Amich Elias, Jorge
- Subjects
folates ,methionine synthase ,regulatable promoter ,virulence ,established infection ,target validation ,human pathogen ,conditionally essentiality ,primary metabolism ,enzyme assay ,drug discovery ,sulfur ,mycoses ,fungi ,mycology ,aspergillus fumigatus ,aspergillosis ,fungal - Abstract
Fungal infections pose an urgent threat to human health and are responsible for approximately 1.6 million deaths annually. Current therapeutic options for life-threatening mycoses, such as those caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans or Cryptococcus neoformans, are severely limited and even under antifungal treatment these infections have mortality rates of ~50%. To improve patient outcomes there is a critical need for development of novel antimycotic drugs. This urgency is further exacerbated by the pharmacological weaknesses of current chemotherapeutics, surges in susceptible patient groups and rising antifungal resistance. Fungal pathogenic potential is strongly dependent on metabolic versatility. Pathways required for cellular metabolism and nutrient homeostasis in host tissues are fundamental for infection and represent exciting targets for drug discovery. The fungal cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (metH), which belongs to a different enzyme class to the cobalamin-dependent version found in humans, forms a junction between two critical primary metabolic pathways: the transsulfuration and one-carbon cycles. The enzyme has been shown to be essential for the viability and/ or virulence of A. fumigatus and other clinically relevant fungal species indicating it has potential as a fungal specific target with broad applications. However, the reason why MetH is indispensable for fungi beyond methionine auxotrophy, has so far not been identified. To improve the likelihood of success in the drug discovery process and fully exploit the enzyme's potential as an antifungal target this thesis investigated the mechanistic basis of MetH's essentiality in A. fumigatus. Phenotypic analyses using point-mutated versions of MetH revealed that enzymatic activity converting homocysteine to methionine is indispensable for A. fumigatus viability. Overexpression of genes that prevent accumulation of the potentially toxic substrate homocysteine did not rescue growth, implying that its accumulation is not responsible for the enzyme's essentiality. Supplementation of the growth media with several metabolites which are potentially depleted in the absence of MetH's enzymatic activity restored fungal viability with very limited growth. This suggested that methionine synthases' essentiality is explained by the depletion of critical molecules. Metabolomics analyses indicated that suppressing metH reduces cell energetics and phenotypic experiments confirmed that this was the additional cause of MetH essentiality in A. fumigatus, as supplementation with compounds selected to enhance energetics was able to fully rescue growth of the fungus in the absence of methionine synthase enzymatic activity. Taken together, our results suggest that cellular energetics is deleteriously disrupted in MetH's absence, supporting methionine synthase's value as an antifungal drug target. As conditions encountered, and consequently fungal metabolic requirements, may vary significantly throughout infection it is crucial to validate targets in established infections. To ascertain the relevance of MetH for fungal growth in various developmental stages we took advantage of the metH_tetOFF mutant, which expresses metH under the control of the regulatable tetOFF system, whereby the addition of doxycycline (Dox) shuts down expression of the gene. Modulation of metH expression in vitro revealed that it is required for growth of conidia, germlings and hyphae in a fungistatic manner. The genetic model was optimised for use in murine and Galleria mellonella models of established invasive aspergillosis. These models showed that downregulation of metH reduces A. fumigatus virulence in established infections at a level comparable to downregulating expression of the target of the azoles, the lanosterol 14-a-demethylase, making methionine synthase an attractive antifungal drug target. Following validation of MetH as a promising antifungal target this work investigated whether the enzyme was druggable and assayable. In this study we aimed to use complimentary approaches to initiate the early stages of drug development: a structure-based virtual screening for the directed design of binding fragments and optimisation of a simple, cost-effective enzymatic assay suitable for high-throughput screening. To facilitate computational analyses the structure A. fumigatus MetH was predicted using the previously crystallised, and highly similar, C. albicans version of the enzyme. In silico comparisons determined structural differences between the substrate binding sites of human and fungal methionine synthases, which could guide the production of novel fungal specific inhibitors with reduced off target binding. Molecular docking of ligands from the Maybridge Ro3 fragment library identified fragments with a high probability to specifically bind regions crucial for the fungal MetH's enzymatic activity. Finally, the expression and purification of soluble MetH in Escherichia coli was achieved, which allowed optimisation of an economic method of measuring appearance of one of the products of MetH's enzymatic reaction. This enzymatic assay provides a promising tool by which to measure the ability of potential drugs to inhibit methionine synthase activity during the early stages of drug development. Overall, our results support MetH as an attractive druggable, specific and broad-spectrum antifungal drug target that is relevant to the establishment and progression of invasive disease. The insights gained in this work provides the opportunity to harness the full potential of methionine synthase as an antimycotic target in A. fumigatus and provides tools for the interrogation and validation of other targets in in vivo models of established invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.
- Published
- 2023
45. Secondary peritonitis in a patient with cirrhosis involving Hyphopichia burtonii, an emerging fungal pathogen
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Feldman, Erica B, Bellinghausen, Amy L, Vodkin, Irine E, Abeles, Shira R, and Kamdar, Biren B
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Rare Diseases ,Digestive Diseases ,Mycology ,Peritonitis ,Intensive care unit ,Cirrhosis - Abstract
We present a case where Hyphopichia burtonii, a yeast, speciated from peritoneal fluid in a cirrhotic patient with secondary peritonitis. The patient, a man in his 60s with decompensated cirrhosis, was admitted for an upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. On admission, he was treated empirically for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) but failed to improve with antibiotics. Serial paracenteses revealed polymicrobial peritonitis and rising peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). These findings raised concerns for secondary peritonitis, prompting an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan which revealed ischemic bowel. Among the peritoneal microbiota isolated, Hyphopichia burtonii predominated. Hyphopichia burtonii has only recently been reported as a human pathogen, previously it had only reported as a pathogen in bats[1,2].
- Published
- 2023
46. Endemic pediatric fungal infections in India: clues to diagnosis
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Bhalla, Deeksha, Jana, Manisha, Manchanda, Smita, Bhalla, Ashu Seith, Naranje, Priyanka, Kabra, Sushil K., and Seth, Rachna
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- 2024
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47. The mutual value of histopathology and ITS sequencing in the diagnosis of mucormycosis.
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Zacharias, Martin, Thüringer, Andrea, Krause, Robert, Kashofer, Karl, and Gorkiewicz, Gregor
- Subjects
- *
MUCORMYCOSIS , *HISTOPATHOLOGY , *FUNGAL DNA , *RHIZOPUS oryzae , *FUNGAL cultures - Abstract
Aims: Mucormycosis is a fast‐progressing disease with a high mortality rate. The most important factor determining survival of patients is early and accurate diagnosis. Although histopathology often recognises invasive mould infections at first, histomorphology alone is insufficient in providing an accurate diagnosis. Unbiased molecular methods to detect and identify fungi are promising, yet their role in complementing routine histopathological workflows has not been studied sufficiently. Methods and results: We performed a retrospective single‐centre study examining the clinical value of complementing histopathology with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing of fungal DNA in the routine diagnosis of mucormycosis. At our academic centre, we identified 14 consecutive mucormycosis cases diagnosed by histopathology and subsequent ITS sequencing. Using histomorphological examination, fungal hyphae could be detected in all cases; however, morphological features were unreliable regarding specifying the taxa. Subsequent ITS sequencing identified a remarkable phylogenetic diversity among Mucorales: the most common species was Rhizopus microsporus (six of 14; 42.9%), followed by Lichtheimia corymbifera (three of 14, 21.4%) and single detections of Rhizopus oryzae, Actinomucor elegans, Mucor circinelloides, Rhizomucor pusillus and Rhizomucor miehei (one of 14; 7.1%, respectively). In one case, we additionally detected Pneumocystis jirovecii in the same lung tissue specimen, suggesting a clinically relevant co‐infection. Fungal culture was performed in 10 cases but yielded positive results in only two of 10 (20%), revealing its limited value in the diagnosis of mucormycosis. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that a combination of histopathology and ITS sequencing is a practically feasible approach that outperforms fungal culture in detecting Mucorales in tissue‐associated infections. Therefore, pathologists might adapt diagnostic workflows accordingly when mucormycosis is suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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48. A novel case of cutaneous, nasal and systemic fusariosis in a goat.
- Author
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Leschke, DHZ
- Subjects
- *
FUSARIOSIS , *VETERINARY medicine , *AUTOPSY , *POTASSIUM iodide , *MUSCULOCUTANEOUS flaps , *SODIUM iodide , *NASAL cannula - Abstract
The clinical findings associated with nasal, cutaneous and systemic fusariosis in a 3‐year‐old billy Boer goat are summarised. The clinical features, treatment, postmortem findings and laboratory diagnostics are reported and discussed in the context of existing knowledge on mycoses of small ruminants. The goat presented primarily for respiratory signs (inspiratory dyspnoea) with unilateral left‐sided mucopurulent nasal discharge, and multifocal variably ulcerative and necrotic cutaneous nodules. Histopathology of nasal and cutaneous biopsies revealed necrotising pyogranulomatous inflammation with intralesional septate hyphal elements that correlated with culture of Fusarium oxysporum. The patient continued to deteriorate clinically during treatment with oxytetracycline and meloxicam, with the addition of sodium iodide and potassium iodide, and was humanely euthanased. Postmortem examination revealed multifocal nodular lesions throughout the kidneys, abdominal lymph nodes and lungs. These lesions were consistent with those identified antemortem from which F. oxysporum was cultured. Although treatment was unsuccessful, to the author's knowledge, no instance of rhinofacial or systemic caprine infection with Fusarium spp. has been documented in the veterinary literature, making this the first recognised instance of this form of infection in small ruminant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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49. A direct PCR approach with low-biomass insert opens new horizons for molecular sciences on cryptogam communities.
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Jung, Patrick, Briegel-Williams, Laura, Werner, Lina, Jost, Emily, Schultz, Matthias, Nürnberg, Dennis J., Grube, Martin, and Lakatos, Michael
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LICHENS , *BIOLOGICAL systems , *CRUST vegetation , *BIOFILMS , *NUCLEIC acid isolation methods , *ENVIRONMENTAL sampling , *MYCOLOGY - Abstract
Molecular sequence data have transformed research on cryptogams (e.g., lichens, microalgae, fungi, and symbionts thereof) but methods are still strongly hampered by the small size and intermingled growth of the target organisms, poor cultivability and detrimental effects of their secondary metabolites. Here, we aim to showcase examples on which a modified direct PCR approach for diverse aspects of molecular work on environmental samples concerning biocrusts, biofilms, and cryptogams gives new options for the research community. Unlike traditional approaches, this methodology only requires biomass equivalent to colonies and fragments of 0.2 mm in diameter, which can be picked directly from the environmental sample, and includes a quick DNA lysis followed by a standardized PCR cycle that allows co-cycling of various organisms/target regions in the same run. We demonstrate that this modified method can (i) amplify the most widely used taxonomic gene regions and those used for applied and environmental sciences from single colonies and filaments of free-living cyanobacteria, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens, including their mycobionts, chlorobionts, and cyanobionts from both isolates and in situ material during co-cycling; (ii) act as a tool to confirm that the dominant lichen photobiont was isolated from the original sample; and (iii) optionally remove inhibitory secondary lichen substances. Our results represent examples which highlight the method’s potential for future applications covering mycology, phycology, biocrusts, and lichenology, in particular. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, and other cryptogams play crucial roles in complex microbial systems such as biological soil crusts of arid biomes or biofilms in caves. Molecular investigations on environmental samples or isolates of these microorganisms are often hampered by their dense aggregation, small size, or metabolism products which complicate DNA extraction and subsequent PCRs. Our work presents various examples of how a direct DNA extraction and PCR method relying on low biomass inserts can overcome these common problems and discusses additional applications of the workflow including adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. MycoNews 2023: Editorial, news, reports, awards, personalia, and book news.
- Author
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Hawksworth, David L.
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PLANT-fungus relationships , *OCTOGENARIANS , *CONFERENCES & conventions , *MYCOLOGISTS , *MYCOLOGY - Abstract
This fifth annual edition of MycoNews starts with an editorial on the critical importance of International Mycological Congresses (IMCs) to the health of mycology. Items on Counting down to IMC12, the State of the World's Plants and Fungi 2023, and progress towards Improving nomenclatural stability in medically important fungi follow. Reports are provided of several mycological meetings in 2023: the Asian Mycological Congress, XIX Congress of European Mycologists, a meeting of European Mycological Groups and Societies, the XI Latin American Mycological Congress, Westerdijk Spring Symposium on Fungal Evolution, the Brazilian Society of Mycology, the Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of China, and the Fifth Iranian Mycological Congress. Information is provided on how to make nominations for the various IMA Awards due to be presented at IMC12 in August, the new Future is Fungi Award launched in 2023, and the Adel-Azeem and Stamets Award for work on Psilocybe in Africa. The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute Awards for 2023 were made to Andrey Yurkov and Cathie Aime and the citations to those awards are provided. We include tributes to the passing of two eminent mycologists, Lorelei Norvell and Takashi Matsushima, and also send birthday greetings to Bryce Kendrick who turned 90, and Maria Ławrynowicz, Yu Li, and Anthony Whalley who all became octogenarians. Reviews of seven mycological books published in 2022–2023 are included in the Book News section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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