Research Keyword: mycobiome

Insights into Persian Gulf Beach Sand Mycobiomes: Promises and Challenges in Fungal Diversity

Researchers studied fungi found in sand and water at beaches along Iran’s Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman coastlines. They discovered high levels of potentially harmful fungi, particularly Aspergillus terreus, which can cause respiratory infections. The study found that while some antifungal drugs like voriconazole were effective, some fungi showed resistance to common treatments. This information is important for protecting swimmers and beach visitors from fungal health risks.

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Cross-cohort microbiome-wide study reveals consistent alterations in the gut bacteriome, but not the gut mycobiome, in patients with hypertension

Researchers analyzed gut bacteria and fungi in hypertensive patients compared to healthy people across two regions in China. They found that hypertensive patients have significant changes in their gut bacteria, particularly an overgrowth of harmful species like Clostridium and a decrease in beneficial bacteria. Interestingly, fungi in the gut showed minimal differences. These bacterial changes could potentially be used as early warning signs for hypertension and might become targets for new treatments.

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Pneumocystis jirovecii is a potential pivotal ecological driver contributing to shifts in microbial equilibrium during the early-life lower airway microbiome assembly

Researchers studied how bacteria and fungi colonize infant lungs during the first year of life by examining lung tissue from autopsied infants. They found that the lung microbiome undergoes major changes between 2-4 months of age, and that a common fungal infection called Pneumocystis plays a key role in reshaping this microbial community. These early-life changes could have lasting impacts on children’s respiratory health later in life.

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A mass spectrometry-based strategy for investigating volatile molecular interactions in microbial consortia: unveiling a Fusarium-specific induction of an antifungal compound

Scientists developed a new method to study how different fungi communicate and compete with each other through invisible chemical signals called volatile organic compounds. By growing three types of fungi together in a controlled setup, they discovered that Fusarium culmorum specifically produces a compound called γ-terpinene when in contact with other fungi. This compound acts as a natural antifungal agent, helping Fusarium fight off competing fungi. This research provides a blueprint for understanding complex fungal interactions in environments like human lungs and could eventually help diagnose or prevent fungal-related diseases.

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Unraveling the Fungi–Cancer Connection

Fungi living in and around tumors play surprisingly important roles in cancer development and treatment response, yet they have been largely overlooked compared to bacteria. Different cancer types host specific fungal species that can promote tumor growth through immune suppression and toxin production. By better understanding and potentially targeting these tumor-associated fungi, researchers believe we could develop new combination treatments that enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies.

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Mycobiome of low maintenance iconic landscape plant boxwood under repeated treatments of contact and systemic fungicides

This study examined how different fungicide treatments affect the beneficial and harmful fungi living on boxwood plants. Researchers found that repeated applications of chlorothalonil-based fungicides reduced many beneficial fungi while having minimal effect on harmful pathogens, and that fungi became less sensitive to the same fungicide over time. The findings suggest that choosing the right fungicide and application method is important for maintaining plant health and preventing fungicide resistance.

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Characterization of fungal communities transmitted from sow to piglet

This study examined how fungi from mother pigs are passed to their newborn piglets. Researchers collected samples from sow feces, sow vaginas, and piglet feces and analyzed the fungal communities using genetic sequencing. They found that about 47% of the fungi in piglet feces came from the mother’s intestines, while a small amount came from the vagina, with the remainder from unknown environmental sources. The findings help us understand how maternal fungi help establish a healthy gut in newborns.

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One for All and All for One: Multikingdom Interplay in Severe Viral Pneumonia

This editorial discusses how bacteria, viruses, and fungi interact in the lungs during severe pneumonia from COVID-19 or influenza. When mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 had bacterial infections detected, their immune systems released more inflammatory chemicals. However, the same pattern was not observed in influenza patients. Understanding how all these microorganisms work together may help doctors better treat these serious lung infections.

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Recognizing the Importance of Public Health Mycology

This editorial highlights how fungal infections are a growing but overlooked global health crisis, killing about 2.5 million people annually. The paper brings together seven research articles studying different fungal diseases, from lung infections to skin conditions, showing how these diseases spread differently in different populations and how resistance to antifungal medications is increasing. The authors emphasize that better testing, treatment access, and worldwide disease tracking are urgently needed, especially in poorer countries where the burden of fungal disease is highest.

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High-Throughput Sequencing Uncovers Fungal Community Succession During Morchella sextelata Development

Researchers studied how the community of fungi in soil changes as morel mushrooms grow through different stages. They found that the diversity of soil fungi decreases once morels are planted, and dangerous fungi that cause diseases increase significantly as the fruiting bodies develop. This information can help farmers prevent diseases and improve morel production by managing soil fungal communities more effectively.

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