Research Keyword: cell-to-cell communication

Detection of electrical signals in fungal mycelia in response to external stimuli

Scientists developed a new tool to detect electrical signals produced by fungal mycelia, the root-like networks of fungi. Using special circuit boards with tiny sensors and a noise-reducing cage, they successfully measured electrical activity in growing fungi that varied when exposed to toxic chemicals. These findings suggest fungi use electrical signals to communicate within their networks, similar to how nerve cells communicate in animals.

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Things you wanted to know about fungal extracellular vesicles (but were afraid to ask)

Fungal extracellular vesicles are tiny particles released by fungal cells that play important roles in how fungi cause disease and how our immune system responds. These particles can either help fight infections or make them worse depending on the type of fungus and conditions involved. Scientists are discovering that these vesicles could potentially be used as vaccines and may explain why some antifungal drugs stop working.

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Things you wanted to know about fungal extracellular vesicles (but were afraid to ask)

Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny packages released by fungal cells that play important roles in fungal infections and how our immune system responds to them. Scientists have confirmed these EVs are real biological structures, not laboratory artifacts, and discovered they are produced by many different fungal species. Interestingly, these EVs can have opposite effects on the immune system depending on the fungus involved—sometimes helping our bodies fight infection and sometimes making infections worse, making them both potential vaccines and virulence factors.

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