Research Keyword: dimorphism

Fruiting Body Heterogeneity, Dimorphism and Haustorium-like Structure of Naematelia aurantialba (Jin Er Mushroom)

Jin Er mushroom, a popular health food in Asia, is actually made up of two different types of fungi growing together. This study discovered that Jin Er can change its form depending on temperature and nutrients, switching between yeast-like and filament-like structures. The research also found special hook-like structures that may help the two fungi interact with each other, which could help improve how Jin Er mushrooms are grown commercially.

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Interaction with amoeba drives virulence-associated phenotypes in the Candida haemulonii complex

Researchers discovered that when fungal pathogens called Candida haemulonii are exposed to soil amoebae in laboratory conditions, they develop enhanced disease-causing abilities. These fungi undergo multiple changes including forming stronger protective biofilms, producing more virulence factors, and becoming harder to kill by immune defenses. This suggests that fungal pathogens might develop some of their dangerous traits not from infecting humans, but from surviving in soil environments where they must evade predatory organisms like amoebae.

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Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy

Researchers discovered a new fungus called Mucor germinans that infected a cancer patient’s lungs and appeared as yeast cells rather than the typical thread-like fungal structures. This is unusual because Mucor infections normally show filamentous hyphae, and the yeast-like appearance made it look like a different fungus, potentially delaying correct diagnosis and treatment. The study shows that this fungus can change forms depending on temperature and other conditions, and identifying it requires checking for multiple nuclei in the cells to distinguish it from other similar-looking yeasts.

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Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy

Researchers identified a new fungal species called Mucor germinans from a patient with Burkitt lymphoma that can switch between filamentous and yeast-like forms. This is unusual because Mucor species are typically identified by their thread-like filaments, not budding yeast cells. The yeast form appeared at body temperature and resembled a different fungus called Paracoccidioides, potentially causing misdiagnosis. The discovery emphasizes the importance of recognizing that some Mucor infections may present with yeast-like cells and highlights the need for rapid, accurate identification to guide appropriate antifungal treatment.

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