virulence – mycolab.ai

Transcriptome sequencing reveals Vmplc1 involved in regulating the pathogenicity of Valsa Mali under low temperature induction

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Apple trees suffer from a fungal disease called Valsa canker that becomes more severe in cold weather. Scientists discovered that the fungus has a special protein called Vmplc1 that acts like a temperature sensor, telling the fungus to produce more aggressive enzymes when it’s cold. When researchers disabled this protein, the fungus lost its ability to damage apple trees during cold periods. This discovery helps explain why the disease is worse in spring and could lead to better disease management strategies.

The Velvet Complex Is Essential for Sclerotia Formation and Virulence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

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Scientists studied a destructive fungus that damages crops by identifying key genes controlling its ability to form protective resting structures called sclerotia and cause disease. Using genetic screening techniques, they discovered that two genes called SsLae1 and SsVel1 work together as master controllers of both the fungus’s survival and its ability to infect plants. These findings could help develop new ways to control the disease by targeting these critical genes.

Context-Dependent Fitness Trade-Offs in Penicillium expansum Isolates Resistant to Multiple Postharvest Fungicides

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This research examines how apples and pears get a fungal disease called blue mold and how the fungus develops resistance to commonly used fungicides. Scientists tested fungus samples that resist different fungicides to see if this resistance makes them weaker. They found that resistant fungus strains do struggle more under stressful laboratory conditions, but remain dangerous during long-term cold storage of fruit, especially when fungicides are present.

A novel partitivirus confers dual contradictory effects to its host fungus: growth attenuation and virulence enhancement

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Researchers discovered a new virus that infects a fungus causing disease in tea plants. Interestingly, this virus has opposing effects: it slows down the fungus’s growth but makes it more damaging to tea leaves. This unusual combination of effects provides new insights into how viruses interact with fungal pathogens and could inform new strategies for managing tea plant diseases.

Sanctuary: a Starship transposon facilitating the movement of the virulence factor ToxA in fungal wheat pathogens

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Researchers found that a disease-causing gene called ToxA, which helps fungal pathogens infect wheat crops, travels between different fungal species using molecular ‘cargo ships’ called Starship transposons. By sequencing multiple fungal isolates, scientists discovered that ToxA rides within a larger mobile genetic element called Sanctuary that can move around within fungal genomes and between species. This discovery helps explain how wheat pathogens become more dangerous over time through horizontal gene transfer.

SsMet1 is a critical gene in methionine biosynthesis in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

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Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a destructive plant pathogen causing white mold and other crop diseases. This study identified and deleted the SsMet1 gene, which is essential for methionine production in this fungus. Fungi lacking this gene could not grow properly, form survival structures called sclerotia, or infect plants. These findings suggest that blocking methionine biosynthesis could be a new way to develop fungicides against this important crop pathogen.

A mycovirus enhances fitness of an insect pathogenic fungus and potentially modulates virulence through interactions between viral and host proteins

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Scientists discovered a virus that infects a beneficial fungus used to control insect pests. Instead of harming the fungus, this virus makes it much better at its job by doubling spore production, helping it survive harsh conditions like UV radiation and heat, and making it more deadly to target insects. The improvement comes from specific interactions between viral and fungal proteins that work together to enhance the fungus’s natural pest-killing abilities.

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.

Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus

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Researchers studied how a dangerous fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus produces a toxin called gliotoxin when it forms biofilms, which are organized communities of fungal cells found in human infections. They compared two clinical strains from infected patients and found they produced gliotoxin at different times and in different amounts, despite forming similar biofilm structures. By analyzing which genes were turned on and off, they discovered that one strain rapidly produced toxin early while the other strain produced it more slowly, suggesting different strategies for survival. Understanding these differences could help develop better treatments for serious lung infections caused by this fungus.

Fusiform nanoparticle boosts efficient genetic transformation in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

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Scientists developed a new method using tiny fusiform nanoparticles to introduce genes into a destructive plant fungus called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This approach is simpler and faster than traditional genetic engineering methods because it doesn’t require complex cell preparation steps. The research shows that by silencing specific fungal genes, they could reduce the fungus’s ability to cause disease, which could help develop better strategies to protect crops like rapeseed and soybean.

Research Keyword: virulence