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Biochemistry. Biokhimiia Jan 2021The review describes the CRISPR/CAS system and its adaptation for the genome editing in filamentous fungi commonly used for production of enzyme complexes, enzymes,... (Review)
Review
The review describes the CRISPR/CAS system and its adaptation for the genome editing in filamentous fungi commonly used for production of enzyme complexes, enzymes, secondary metabolites, and other compounds used in industrial biotechnology and agriculture. In the second part of this review, examples of the CRISPR/CAS technology application for improving properties of the industrial strains of fungi from the Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and other genera are presented. Particular attention is given to the efficiency of genome editing, as well as system optimization for specific industrial producers.
Topics: Aspergillus; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Fungi; Gene Editing; Penicillium; Trichoderma
PubMed: 33827404
DOI: 10.1134/S0006297921140091 -
Toxins Aug 2019Citrus are vulnerable to the postharvest decay caused by , , and , which are responsible for the green mold, blue mold, and sour rot post-harvest disease, respectively.... (Review)
Review
Citrus are vulnerable to the postharvest decay caused by , , and , which are responsible for the green mold, blue mold, and sour rot post-harvest disease, respectively. The widespread economic losses in citriculture caused by these phytopathogens are minimized with the use of synthetic fungicides such as imazalil, thiabendazole, pyrimethanil, and fludioxonil, which are mainly employed as control agents and may have harmful effects on human health and environment. To date, numerous non-chemical postharvest treatments have been investigated for the control of these pathogens. Several studies demonstrated that biological control using microbial antagonists and natural products can be effective in controlling postharvest diseases in citrus, as well as the most used commercial fungicides. Therefore, microbial agents represent a considerably safer and low toxicity alternative to synthetic fungicides. In the present review, these biological control strategies as alternative to the chemical fungicides are summarized here and new challenges regarding the development of shelf-stable formulated biocontrol products are also discussed.
Topics: Citrus; Fungicides, Industrial; Geotrichum; Penicillium; Pest Control, Biological
PubMed: 31390769
DOI: 10.3390/toxins11080460 -
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Nov 2021Interactions between fungi and tardigrades have scarcely been described. The few studies that address such relationships suggest a primarily parasitic nature for various...
Interactions between fungi and tardigrades have scarcely been described. The few studies that address such relationships suggest a primarily parasitic nature for various fungal taxa, including the infectious chytridiomycetes. The aim of this study was to determine the identity of a fungus growing on a tardigrade of the genus Diaforobiotus and if it could infect other tardigrade genera. Using morphological analysis and ITS barcoding, we identified a mold isolate belonging to the Trichoderma harzianum species complex and found that it infected Diaforobiotus tardigrades, as well as animals in the eutardigrade genus Milnesium, and heterotardigrade genus Viridiscus.
Topics: Animals; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Tardigrada; Trichoderma
PubMed: 34627793
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107677 -
Mycopathologia Oct 2021
Topics: Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus gattii; Cryptococcus neoformans; Humans
PubMed: 34224075
DOI: 10.1007/s11046-021-00577-7 -
Natural Product Reports Jun 2024A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products, such as... (Review)
Review
A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products, such as penihemeroterpenoid A from .
Topics: Biological Products; Penicillium; Molecular Structure
PubMed: 38818703
DOI: 10.1039/d4np90026j -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2021Marine fungi produce many halogenated metabolites with a variety of structures, from acyclic entities with a simple linear chain to multifaceted polycyclic molecules.... (Review)
Review
Marine fungi produce many halogenated metabolites with a variety of structures, from acyclic entities with a simple linear chain to multifaceted polycyclic molecules. Over the past few decades, their pharmaceutical and medical application have been explored and still the door is kept open due to the need of new drugs from relatively underexplored sources. Biological properties of halogenated compounds such as anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antifouling, and insecticidal activity have been investigated. This review describes the chemical structures and biological activities of 217 halogenated compounds derived mainly from and marine fungal strains reported from 1994 to 2019.
Topics: Aquatic Organisms; Aspergillus; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; Penicillium
PubMed: 33467200
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26020458 -
Infection and Immunity Sep 2023Fungal infections represent a major, albeit neglected, public health threat with serious medical and economic burdens globally. With unacceptably high mortality rates,... (Review)
Review
Fungal infections represent a major, albeit neglected, public health threat with serious medical and economic burdens globally. With unacceptably high mortality rates, invasive fungal pathogens are responsible for millions of deaths each year, with a steadily increasing incidence primarily in immunocompromised individuals. The poor therapeutic options and rise of antifungal drug resistance pose further challenges in controlling these infections. These fungal pathogens have adapted to survive within mammalian hosts and can establish intracellular niches to promote survival within host immune cells. To do that, they have developed diverse methods to circumvent the innate immune system attack. This includes strategies such as altering their morphology, counteracting macrophage antimicrobial action, and metabolic adaptation. This is reminiscent of how bacterial pathogens have adapted to survive within host cells and cause disease. However, relative to the great deal of information available concerning intracellular bacterial pathogenesis, less is known about the mechanisms fungal pathogens employ. Therefore, here we review our current knowledge and recent advances in our understanding of how fungi can evade and persist within host immune cells. This review will focus on the major fungal pathogens, including , and , among others. As we discover and understand the strategies used by these fungi, similarities with their bacterial counterparts are becoming apparent, hence we can use the abundant information from bacteria to guide our studies in fungi. By understanding these strategies, new lines of research will open that can improve the treatments of these devastating fungal diseases.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mycoses; Candida albicans; Aspergillus fumigatus; Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus neoformans; Mammals
PubMed: 37506189
DOI: 10.1128/iai.00434-22 -
Archives of Microbiology Mar 2023Biosurfactants are surface-active molecules that are synthesized by many microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and yeast. These molecules are amphiphilic in nature,... (Review)
Review
Biosurfactants are surface-active molecules that are synthesized by many microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and yeast. These molecules are amphiphilic in nature, possessing emulsifying ability, detergency, foaming, and surface-activity like characteristics. Yeast species belongs to the genus Candida has gained globally enormous interest because of the diverse properties of biosurfactants produced by theme. In contrast to synthetic surfactants, biosurfactants are claimed to be biodegradable and non-toxic which labels them as a potent industrial compound. Biosurfactants produced by this genus are reported to possess certain biological activities, such as anticancer and antiviral activities. They also have potential industrial applications in bioremediation, oil recovery, agricultural, pharmaceutical, biomedical, food, and cosmetic industries. Various species of Candida have been recognized as biosurfactant producers, including Candida petrophilum, Candida bogoriensis, Candida antarctica, Candida lipolytica, Candida albicans, Candida batistae, Candida albicans, Candida sphaerica, etc. These species produce various forms of biosurfactants, such as glycolipids, lipopeptides, fatty acids, and polymeric biosurfactants, which are distinct according to their molecular weights. Herein, we provide a detailed overview of various types of biosurfactants produced by Candida sp., process optimization for better production, and the latest updates on the applications of these biosurfactants.
Topics: Candida; Surface-Active Agents; Bacteria; Yeasts; Candida albicans
PubMed: 36995448
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03495-y -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Sep 2022Airborne fungi can pose serious health concerns in humans; however, the area-specific abundance and composition of airborne fungal microbiota discharged from composting...
Airborne fungi can pose serious health concerns in humans; however, the area-specific abundance and composition of airborne fungal microbiota discharged from composting facilities remain unclear. In the present study, we collected air samples from composting, packaging, office, and downwind areas of four commercial composting facilities. The characteristics of airborne fungi, including pathogen/allergen-containing genera, and their corresponding human exposure in different areas of composting facilities were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and ddPCR. High fungal concentrations and richness were detected in the air of the packaging area. In all four areas, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota were observed to be the primary fungal phyla, with Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus as the consistently dominant fungal genera. A large number of endemic airborne fungi were found in the composting and packaging areas, which also shared the most common airborne fungi as well as pathogen/allergen-containing genera. The packaging area contributed substantially to airborne fungi in the office and downwind areas. Area-specific human exposure to broad airborne fungal compositions was revealed, especially regarding the pathogen/allergen-containing genera. Current results provide valuable data for a comprehensive understanding of area-specific airborne fungi in composting facilities and highlight the importance of assessing the inhaled exposure to airborne fungi in evaluating their following health risks.
Topics: Air Microbiology; Allergens; Alternaria; Aspergillus; Composting; Fungi; Humans
PubMed: 36007318
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113991 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Feb 2023
Review
Topics: Humans; Cryptococcus; Cryptococcosis; Fungemia; Cryptococcus neoformans
PubMed: 36840562
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00548-22