climate change – Page 2

Climate change impacts on the distribution of valuable Thelephora fungi in China

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This study examines how climate change will affect the distribution of four valuable edible fungi species in China and surrounding regions. Using computer models, researchers predict that warming temperatures will push these fungi northward by 2090, though their habitats may shrink by 2050 under high-emission scenarios. The research suggests that replanting forests with the correct host trees could help protect these economically important fungi from climate change impacts.

Editorial: Fungal virulence

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Fungal infections are becoming more dangerous and common worldwide, especially as climate change warms the planet. Scientists are studying how fungi develop the ability to cause disease, focusing on features like their stickiness to human tissues and ability to form protective biofilms. Recent research shows that specific proteins and growth conditions affect how dangerous different fungi are and how our immune system responds to them. Understanding these mechanisms could help doctors develop better treatments and vaccines against fungal infections.

A Model of the Current Geographic Distribution and Predictions of Future Range Shifts of Lentinula edodes in China Under Multiple Climate Change Scenarios

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Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are popular edible mushrooms found throughout China with high nutritional value including immune-boosting compounds. This study used computer modeling to map where these mushrooms currently grow and predict where they might be found as climate change continues. The research found that shiitake mushrooms will likely lose significant habitat area and shift northward and westward as temperatures rise and precipitation patterns change, suggesting urgent conservation measures are needed to protect wild populations.

New epidemiological routes of Coccidioidomycosis in Mexico – the extension of this pathogen to new areas

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Coccidioidomycosis, a fungal lung disease traditionally found in desert regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States, is spreading to new areas where it was never seen before. Researchers tracked 122 cases between 1991 and 2023 and found that nearly half of the patients had no history of travel to known high-risk areas, suggesting the disease is becoming established in new locations. Climate change and drought conditions are likely helping the fungus expand its range, making it important for doctors everywhere to consider this disease when diagnosing respiratory infections.

Transcriptional response of mushrooms to artificial sun exposure

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As climate change causes more trees to die and forest canopies to open up, mushrooms on the forest floor are exposed to more intense sun and heat. Researchers exposed Shiitake mushrooms to artificial sunlight and found that the mushrooms activate protective molecular mechanisms, particularly heat-shock proteins, to cope with the stress. This suggests that mushrooms have built-in defenses against harsh sun exposure, though scientists are not yet sure if these defenses are strong enough to protect mushroom reproduction under real-world climate change conditions.

Changing Climate, Changing Candida: Environmental and Social Pressures on Invasive Candidiasis and Antifungal Resistance in Latin America

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Invasive fungal infections caused by Candida yeasts are becoming more serious in Latin America, with drug-resistant strains spreading rapidly in hospitals. The problem is worsened by climate change and overuse of antifungal medicines in agriculture, which help resistant fungi survive and spread. Many hospitals in the region lack modern diagnostic tools to quickly identify the specific type of infection, delaying treatment. The authors recommend a comprehensive approach combining better environmental monitoring, smarter use of antifungal drugs, improved diagnostic access, and coordinated public health efforts across the region.

Implantation of Aspergillus Section Flavi in French Maize and Consequences on Aflatoxin Contamination of Maize at Harvest: Three-Year Survey

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A harmful fungus called Aspergillus that produces cancer-causing toxins (aflatoxins) has become increasingly common in French maize crops over the past three years. Researchers collected and tested maize samples from across France and found that by 2020, about 80% of samples contained this fungus, and 16% had measurable levels of aflatoxins. This is happening because of hotter and drier conditions caused by climate change, which favor the fungus’s growth. The findings suggest that France needs to improve its monitoring and safety measures for maize to protect consumers and farmers.

Research landscape of experiments on global change effects on mycorrhizas

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Scientists conducted a comprehensive review of research studies examining how mycorrhizal fungi—fungi that help plants grow by living in their roots—respond to environmental changes caused by humans. They analyzed nearly 2,900 studies and found that most research focuses on just one environmental stress at a time, with very little studying how multiple stresses work together. The review identifies important gaps in our knowledge, particularly for emerging environmental threats like microplastics and for certain types of mycorrhizal fungi that haven’t been studied as much.

Plant species and soil moisture shape rhizosphere microbiota in an unusually productive tundra ecosystem of North Greenland

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In one of Earth’s most extreme environments—North Greenland’s Arctic tundra—scientists discovered that water availability and plant types strongly influence the invisible microbial communities living in soil around plant roots. Using advanced genetic sequencing, they found that different plants host distinct communities of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, with fungi showing the strongest plant-specific associations. These findings help us understand how Arctic ecosystems function and may adapt to climate change.

Changing Climate, Changing Candida: Environmental and Social Pressures on Invasive Candidiasis and Antifungal Resistance in Latin America

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Invasive fungal infections caused by Candida species are becoming increasingly common and dangerous in Latin American hospitals, with newer strains showing resistance to multiple antifungal drugs. Rising temperatures from climate change and widespread use of fungicides in agriculture appear to be selecting for these resistant fungi. Most hospitals in the region lack advanced diagnostic tools to quickly identify which fungal strain is causing infection, leading to delayed and sometimes inappropriate treatment. Implementing better diagnostic access, stricter antifungal use policies, and coordinated surveillance programs across the region could help control this growing public health problem.

Research Topic: climate change