Research Topic: pathogenicity

Complete genome sequence analysis of Boeremia exigua, a fungal pathogen causing leaf spot disease of Panax notoginseng

Scientists have sequenced the complete genetic code of a fungus called Boeremia exigua that causes leaf spot disease on Panax notoginseng, a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal plant. The fungus has a toolkit of genes that help it break down plant cell walls and infect the plant. By understanding the fungus’s genetic makeup, researchers hope to develop better ways to prevent or control this disease and protect P. notoginseng crops.

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Protoplast-mediated transformation of Madurella mycetomatis using hygromycin resistance as a selection marker

Scientists have successfully developed a genetic engineering method for Madurella mycetomatis, the fungus that causes mycetoma, a serious tropical disease. They used a technique to remove the fungal cell wall and insert genes into the cells, creating strains that produce green fluorescent protein (GFP). This breakthrough enables researchers to better understand how this fungus causes disease and to develop new treatments.

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Genetic and Genomic Analysis Identifies bcltf1 as the Transcription Factor Coding Gene Mutated in Field Isolate Bc116, Deficient in Light Responses, Differentiation and Pathogenicity in Botrytis cinerea

Scientists discovered that a particular gray mold fungus collected from vineyards loses its ability to cause disease when exposed to light. They found this is due to a mutation in a single gene called bcltf1, which acts as a light-sensing control switch. When they restored this gene, the fungus regained its disease-causing ability. This discovery helps explain how fungal pathogens sense light and use it to decide when and how to infect plants.

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Pathogenic characterization of Phialophora submersa, a new black yeast isolated from freshwater sediments in Spain

Scientists discovered a new black yeast fungus called Phialophora submersa in Spanish river sediments and tested whether it could infect humans. Using laboratory macrophage (immune cell) models, they found that this environmental fungus exhibits pathogenic potential similar to known disease-causing Phialophora species, though at intermediate levels. The fungus showed resistance to some antifungal drugs and displayed strain-dependent ability to survive various stress conditions. This research suggests that environmental fungal species may pose unexpected health risks despite not being able to grow at normal human body temperature.

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Trachemys scripta Eggs as Part of a Potential In Vivo Model for Studying Sea Turtle Egg Fusariosis

Sea turtles around the world face a serious threat from a fungal disease called fusariosis that destroys their eggs before they hatch. Scientists wanted to study how this fungus causes disease, but working with endangered sea turtles in tropical regions is difficult and heavily regulated. They discovered they could use eggs from red-eared slider turtles, an invasive species, as a substitute model to understand how the fungus infects eggs. The research showed that the fungus is highly virulent and modifies the acidity of egg surfaces to help it grow, providing valuable insights that could help protect endangered sea turtles.

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