host-pathogen interaction – Page 4

Roles of NADPH oxidases in regulating redox homeostasis and pathogenesis of the poplar canker fungus Cytospora chrysosperma

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Poplar trees suffer from a serious fungal disease caused by Cytospora chrysosperma that devastates plantations. Scientists discovered that three genes controlling enzyme complexes called NADPH oxidases are critical for the fungus to cause disease. When these genes are removed, the fungus cannot produce enough of a toxic acid it uses to attack trees, and the fungus cells become stressed and damaged. These findings suggest new ways to control the disease by targeting these enzyme complexes.

Fungal Assemblages in Northern Elms—Impacts of Host Identity and Health, Growth Environment, and Presence of Dutch Elm Disease

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This study examined the fungi living in elm tree shoots to understand how different elm species, tree health, and location affect fungal communities. Researchers found that diseased elms had more diverse fungi than healthy ones, and that a fungus called Sphaeropsis ulmicola may be as damaging as the classic Dutch elm disease pathogen. Urban elm trees hosted more different types of fungi than rural ones, suggesting that city conditions influence which fungi can grow on elms.

Annotated Checklist of Poroid Hymenochaetoid Fungi in Central Asia: Taxonomic Diversity, Ecological Roles, and Potential Distribution Patterns

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Scientists studied wood-decay fungi found in Central Asia’s mountains and forests, identifying 43 species that help break down wood and sometimes damage trees. These fungi have been used traditionally in medicine for various health benefits. The research used computer models to predict where these fungi are most likely to grow based on temperature, rainfall, and host plant availability, finding that they thrive best in mountainous regions where specific trees and shrubs grow.

John Perfect Shares Insights on Infectious Diseases, Antifungal Therapy, and Drug Resistance

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Dr. John Perfect, a leading infectious disease expert, discusses his 48-year career studying fungal infections, particularly cryptococcal meningitis. He reflects on the dramatic transformation of HIV/AIDS from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition and emphasizes that antifungal resistance is less concerning than the underlying diseases that complicate treatment. Perfect advocates for developing more potent antifungal drugs that work faster, and discusses promising approaches like molecular diagnostics and immune-based therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Transposons and accessory genes drive adaptation in a clonally evolving fungal pathogen

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Researchers studied how a fungal plant pathogen called Fusarium oxysporum rapidly adapts to new environments by analyzing genetic changes during repeated passages through tomato plants and laboratory media. They discovered that jumping genes (transposons) were responsible for most mutations driving adaptation, and surprisingly found that genes located in specialized ‘accessory’ regions of the fungus’s genome controlled important functions like growth and virulence. This research reveals how fungal pathogens can evolve quickly to become better competitors or invaders.

Fungal pathogens and symbionts: Living off the fat of the land

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Certain fungi that live exclusively in or on hosts have evolved a clever survival strategy: they stopped making their own fatty acids and instead steal them from their hosts. This includes fungi that cause pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, yeasts on skin, and beneficial fungi that help plants absorb nutrients from soil. By examining how these fungi scavenge fatty acids from their hosts, scientists hope to develop better treatments and diagnostic tools for fungal infections.

The expression of fungal CotH, human glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and predicted miRNAs in macrophages and diabetic mice infected with Rhizopus oryzae

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Mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection caused by Rhizopus oryzae that is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes. This study shows that a fungal protein called CotH3 attaches to a human cell receptor called GRP78, allowing the fungus to invade cells more easily in diabetic patients. The research found that diabetes increases GRP78 production, making fungal invasion more likely, while antifungal treatment (liposomal amphotericin B) can reduce the expression of both CotH3 and GRP78.

Effects of simulated microgravity on biological features and virulence of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

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Scientists studied how a dangerous fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans behaves in space-like conditions. They found that in simulated microgravity, the fungus becomes more dangerous by developing thicker protective capsules and producing more melanin, while also becoming more resistant to certain stresses. Interestingly, the fungus became more sensitive to one antifungal drug but maintained resistance to others. When tested on microscopic worms, the fungus grown in simulated microgravity killed them more quickly, suggesting space conditions could make this fungus more harmful to astronauts.

The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

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Scientists discovered that a specific protein called SsSR acts as a master switch controlling how dangerous a fungus called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum becomes when attacking plants. Unlike other protein switches that make the fungus grow faster, this one specifically controls the fungus’s ability to cause infection by managing the production of ergosterol, a critical component of the fungus’s cell membranes. This discovery could lead to new ways to protect crops like oilseed rape from this devastating disease.

SUB6 Subtilisin is Involved During the Initial Adhesion of Trichophyton benhamiae and T. mentagrophytes onto Reconstructed Human Epidermis

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This study examined how a fungal protein called SUB6 helps dermatophytes (fungi causing ringworm) stick to human skin. Researchers used genetically modified fungi without SUB6 and found that these strains had difficulty initially attaching to skin but eventually infected it anyway. The results suggest SUB6 is a useful marker for detecting fungal infections but isn’t absolutely necessary for the fungus to cause disease.

Research Keyword: host-pathogen interaction