homologous recombination – Page 2

Development of a molecular genetics and cell biology toolbox for the filamentous fungus Diplodia sapinea

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Scientists have developed new tools to study a fungus called Diplodia sapinea that damages pine trees around the world. They created a method to genetically modify this fungus and tag its cell nuclei with a red fluorescent marker so they can track the infection process. They also developed a simple way to test infections using young pine seedlings in the laboratory instead of large greenhouse setups. Using these new tools together, researchers can now watch in real-time how the fungus grows inside infected pine plants, which will help develop better ways to protect forests.

Transformation of Alternaria dauci demonstrates the involvement of two polyketide synthase genes in aldaulactone production and fungal pathogenicity

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A fungus that causes leaf spots on carrots produces a toxic chemical that helps it infect plants. Scientists identified two genes responsible for making this toxin and used genetic engineering to create mutant fungi unable to produce it. When these mutant fungi tried to infect carrot plants, they were much less damaging than the normal fungus, proving the toxin is crucial for the fungus to cause disease.

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.

Protoplast-mediated transformation of Madurella mycetomatis using hygromycin resistance as a selection marker

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Scientists have successfully developed a genetic engineering method for Madurella mycetomatis, the fungus that causes mycetoma, a serious tropical disease. They used a technique to remove the fungal cell wall and insert genes into the cells, creating strains that produce green fluorescent protein (GFP). This breakthrough enables researchers to better understand how this fungus causes disease and to develop new treatments.

A genetic strategy to allow detection of F-actin by phalloidin staining in diverse fungi

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Scientists discovered that many fungi cannot be stained with phalloidin, a widely-used fluorescent dye that helps visualize actin filaments in cells. They traced this problem to a single amino acid difference in fungal actin proteins. By changing this one amino acid back to its original form using genetic engineering, they successfully enabled phalloidin staining in previously incompatible fungi, providing researchers with better tools to study fungal cell biology.

A GDP-mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase as a potential HIGS target against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

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Scientists identified a critical fungal protein called SsMPG2 that helps the plant disease-causing fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infect crops and survive. When this protein is silenced using genetic engineering techniques, plants become resistant to the fungus. The research shows this protein is important in many plant-pathogenic fungi, making it a promising target for developing disease-resistant crops through genetic modification.

Co-transformation of Aspergillus fumigatus: a simple and efficient strategy for gene editing without linking selectable markers

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Scientists have developed a new technique for editing genes in a dangerous fungal pathogen called Aspergillus fumigatus. Instead of permanently attaching antibiotic resistance markers to the target genes (which can interfere with normal gene function), they use a clever strategy of introducing two different DNA pieces simultaneously. One piece makes the desired gene edit while the second introduces a resistance marker to a completely different location in the genome. This approach is simple, inexpensive, and works about 11% of the time, making it practical for identifying successfully edited strains.

Improved Protoplast Production Protocol for Fungal Transformations Mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 in Botrytis cinerea Non-Sporulating Isolates

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Scientists have developed a better method to isolate protoplasts (fungal cells without cell walls) from non-sporulating varieties of gray mold fungus. By optimizing the incubation time, culture container, and enzyme used, they produced more viable protoplasts that can regenerate and be genetically modified. This advancement allows researchers to use CRISPR gene-editing technology to understand and potentially control gray mold, which causes significant crop losses worldwide.

Research Keyword: homologous recombination