gene knockout – mycolab.ai

A putative ABC transporter gene, CcT1, is involved in beauvericin synthesis, conidiation, and oxidative stress resistance in Cordyceps chanhua

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Cordyceps chanhua is a medicinal fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine that produces a compound called beauvericin, which has health benefits but can be toxic in high amounts. Researchers discovered a gene called CcT1 that controls how much beauvericin the fungus makes. By removing this gene, they could reduce beauvericin production by 64%, making the fungus safer to use as medicine while maintaining other beneficial properties.

The Function of Chitinases CmCH1 and CmCH10 in the Interaction of Coniothyrium minitans and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

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Scientists studied two enzyme genes in a fungus that eats other harmful fungi. When they removed one gene at a time, the fungus still worked fine. But when they removed both genes together, the fungus grew slower and couldn’t attack its target fungus as effectively. This shows that these genes work together as a team to help the fungus do its job as a natural pest control agent.

FoCup, a secreted protein, is essential for virulence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum on cucumber

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Researchers identified a key protein called FoCup that helps a fungal pathogen infect cucumber plants and cause devastating wilt disease. By deleting this protein from the fungus, scientists significantly reduced its ability to cause disease and produce spores needed for spreading. This discovery could help develop new ways to protect cucumber crops by targeting this critical virulence factor.

Snowball: a novel gene family required for developmental patterning of fruiting bodies of mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes)

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Scientists discovered a new gene called snb1 that is critical for mushroom development. When this gene is removed, mushrooms grow into simple ball-shaped structures without the normal parts like caps and stems. By studying these abnormal mushrooms, researchers identified many other genes involved in proper mushroom formation. This discovery helps explain how mushrooms develop their complex structures from simple fungal networks.

Impact of OTAbZIP on Ochratoxin A production, mycelium growth and pathogenicity of Aspergillus westerdijkiae under water activity stress

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Researchers studied how a specific gene (OTAbZIP) in a fungus called Aspergillus westerdijkiae controls the production of ochratoxin A, a poisonous substance that can contaminate food. By removing this gene, scientists found that the fungus could no longer produce the toxin, even when exposed to different moisture levels. This discovery could help prevent food contamination with this dangerous mycotoxin and protect human health.

Functional Characterization of FgAsp, a Gene Coding an Aspartic Acid Protease in Fusarium graminearum

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Scientists studied a specific gene called FgAsp in a fungus that causes wheat disease and produces harmful toxins. By deleting this gene, they found it controls important fungal processes like growth, reproduction, and the ability to infect wheat plants. The modified fungus produced less toxin and was less harmful, suggesting this gene could be targeted to develop new fungicides to protect crops.

Functions of the Three Common Fungal Extracellular Membrane (CFEM) Domain-Containing Genes of Arthrobotrys flagrans in the Process of Nematode Trapping

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Researchers studied three genes (CFEM1-3) in a fungus called Arthrobotrys flagrans that traps and kills parasitic worms. By deleting or increasing these genes, scientists found they control how the fungus makes sticky trap networks and how thick the trap walls are. This knowledge could help develop natural pest control products to protect plants and animals from harmful parasitic nematodes.

Aspergillus fumigatus ctf1 – a novel zinc finger transcription factor involved in azole resistance

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A. fumigatus is a dangerous fungal infection that kills many immunocompromised patients and increasingly resists common antifungal drugs. Researchers identified a key protein called ctf1 that helps the fungus resist the drug voriconazole by pumping it out of fungal cells and altering the fungal cell membrane. Understanding how ctf1 works could lead to new treatments for these difficult-to-treat infections.

Functions of the Three Common Fungal Extracellular Membrane (CFEM) Domain-Containing Genes of Arthrobotrys flagrans in the Process of Nematode Trapping

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Researchers studied a special fungus called Arthrobotrys flagrans that traps and kills parasitic worms. They focused on three genes (AfCFEM1-3) that produce proteins important for making the sticky traps. When they removed two of these genes, the fungus became better at killing worms, while removing the third gene made it worse. The study shows these genes are crucial for the fungus to create effective sticky traps and could help develop better natural pest control products.

The small GTPases FoRab5, FoRab7, and FoRab8 regulate vesicle transport to modulate vegetative development and pathogenicity in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans

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Researchers studied three important protein switches (Rab GTPases) in a fungus that causes cabbage wilt disease. By deleting these proteins one at a time, they found that each plays a critical role in fungal growth, spore production, and the ability to infect plants. The findings suggest that targeting these proteins could be a strategy to control the devastating cabbage wilt disease.

Research Keyword: gene knockout