PERMANOVA – mycolab.ai

Effect of fiber-modified kombucha tea on gut microbiota in healthy population: A randomized controlled trial (RCT)

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Researchers studied a kombucha tea drink enriched with fiber from chicory root in healthy adults over six weeks. The study found that people who consumed the fiber-enriched kombucha had lower triglyceride levels (blood fats) and beneficial changes in their gut bacteria, particularly an increase in Bifidobacterium, a bacteria known to support digestive health. These results suggest that this type of kombucha could be beneficial for metabolic and gut health, though more research is needed to confirm these benefits.

Screening microbial inhibitors of Pseudogymnoascus destructans in Northern China

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Scientists in Northern China have found bacteria living on bat skin and in cave soil that can kill the fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome, a disease devastating bat populations worldwide. These bacteria produce various antifungal compounds including volatile organic compounds that diffuse through the air and damage the fungus’s structure. By analyzing the genetic makeup of these bacteria, researchers identified specific genes responsible for producing these antifungal compounds, offering hope for developing biological control treatments that could protect bats and reduce fungal loads in cave environments.

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 different fungi living in elm tree shoots to understand why some elm species are more resistant to Dutch elm disease than others. Researchers found that healthy elms host fewer fungal species compared to diseased trees, and that fungal communities differ significantly between elm species and urban versus rural locations. Importantly, a fungus called Sphaeropsis ulmicola appears to be a significant emerging threat to elms in northern Europe, separate from the classic Dutch elm disease pathogen.

Detection of Pestalotiopsis abbreviata sp. nov., the Causal Agent of Pestalotiopsis Leaf Blight on Camellia japonica Based on Metagenomic Analysis

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Researchers discovered a new fungal species called Pestalotiopsis abbreviata that causes leaf disease on Camellia japonica, an ornamental tree popular in Korea. Instead of using traditional time-consuming laboratory methods, they used advanced genetic sequencing (metagenomic analysis) to quickly identify the fungus among hundreds of other microbes living on the tree leaves. This new approach is faster and more accurate than old methods, making it easier to monitor and manage plant diseases in the future.

Characterization of the gut mycobiome in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and correlations with serum metabolome

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This study examined fungi in the gut of people with fatty liver disease and found that certain fungal species are more common in diseased patients. By analyzing both gut fungi and blood chemicals, researchers discovered that fungi significantly influence metabolic substances related to liver health. A computer model combining information about gut fungi and bacteria could identify fatty liver disease with reasonable accuracy, suggesting that fungi could be useful for disease diagnosis and potential treatment.

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.

The Expanding Truffle Environment: A Study of the Microbial Dynamics in the Old Productive Site and the New Tuber magnatum Picco Habitat

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Researchers studied how microbial communities (fungi and bacteria) develop in expanding white truffle forests compared to established productive forests in Tuscany, Italy. Over two years, they found that new forest areas have more diverse and unstable microbial communities with rapid colonization by various fungi, while older forests show more stable communities dominated by truffle-associated fungi. The study reveals how forest management practices, like selective cutting, influence the balance between fungi that break down plant material and those that form beneficial relationships with tree roots, suggesting that understanding these microbial dynamics is key to successfully expanding truffle cultivation.

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

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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.

Ancient Microbiomes as Mirrored by DNA Extracted From Century-Old Herbarium Plants and Associated Soil

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Scientists extracted and analyzed ancient DNA from plant roots and soil samples stored in herbarium collections for over 120 years. The DNA showed typical signs of age and preserved microbial communities that originally lived in the soil around these plants. By comparing these ancient microbial communities to modern ones, researchers found that herbarium storage preserved the original characteristics of soil microbiomes, making these museum specimens valuable for studying how farming practices have changed soil ecosystems over time.

Mycobiome of Stool, Blood, Thrombus and Vessel Wall in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Patients

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This study examined fungal communities in blood, stool, and damaged aorta tissues from patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, a serious condition where the main blood vessel weakens and bulges. Researchers found that healthy blood vessels contain protective fungi called Tomentella, while damaged vessels have high levels of harmful fungi called Malassezia. Interestingly, the fungi found in damaged vessel walls may not come directly from the gut, suggesting they originate from other body parts like the mouth or skin. These findings suggest that controlling fungal communities with targeted antifungal treatments might help prevent or slow aneurysm development.

Research Keyword: PERMANOVA