Research Keyword: virulence mechanisms

Sporothrix is neglected among the neglected

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Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix species that usually affects the skin but can spread to joints, lungs, and eyes. While traditionally spread through plant material during gardening, the disease has increasingly spread between cats and humans through bites and scratches, particularly in South America and other regions. The fungus is developing resistance to common antifungal drugs, and scientists worry climate change could expand where this disease occurs worldwide.

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A 3D Fusarium keratitis model reveals isolate-specific adhesion and invasion properties in the Fusarium solani species complex

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Researchers studied three species of Fusarium fungus that cause serious eye infections. They found that one species (F. keratoplasticum) is much more dangerous than the others, invading deeper into the eye and causing more damage. Using a new 3D model that mimics the structure of the human cornea, they discovered that Fusarium fungi penetrate much deeper than other fungal pathogens, which helps explain why eye infections from these fungi are so difficult to treat and why patients often lose their vision.

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A conserved fungal Knr4/Smi1 protein is crucial for maintaining cell wall stress tolerance and host plant pathogenesis

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Researchers discovered a fungal protein called Knr4 that is essential for fungal diseases in wheat crops. This protein helps fungi survive stress and cause disease. Importantly, this protein is found in many fungal pathogens but not in other organisms, making it an ideal target for developing new disease control strategies. When this protein is removed from fungal pathogens, they lose their ability to survive stress and infect plants, suggesting it could be used to combat fungal crop diseases.

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Plant Pathogenic Fungi Special Issue: Genetics and Genomics

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This scientific review discusses how modern genetics and genomics tools are helping researchers better understand and manage plant diseases caused by fungi. Seven research studies are presented covering topics like identifying different fungal species, understanding how fungi attack plants, and finding natural alternatives to chemical fungicides. The research emphasizes the importance of monitoring fungal diseases and developing crops that resist infection to protect global food production.

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Chemical clues to infection: A pilot study on the differential secondary metabolite production during the life cycle of selected Cordyceps species

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This study examined two types of parasitic fungi (Cordyceps javanica and Cordyceps blackwelliae) that infect insects, comparing how they kill their hosts and what chemical compounds they produce during infection. Researchers found that each species uses different toxic molecules to infect insects, with C. javanica being more deadly and producing diverse compounds called beauveriolides. By analyzing infected insect corpses, scientists provided the first direct evidence that these toxic compounds are actually made during real infections, not just in laboratory cultures.

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