-
Huan Jing Ke Xue= Huanjing Kexue Jun 2024Studying the effects of different modified materials on the physicochemical properties and fungal community structure of saline-alkali soil can provide theoretical basis...
Studying the effects of different modified materials on the physicochemical properties and fungal community structure of saline-alkali soil can provide theoretical basis for reasonable improvement of saline-alkali soil. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to explore the effects of five treatments, namely, control (CK), desulfurization gypsum (T1), soil ameliorant (T2), organic fertilizer (T3), and desulfurization gypsum compounds soil ameliorant and organic fertilizer (T4), on soil physicochemical properties and fungal community diversity, composition, and structure of saline-alkali soil in Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia. The results showed that compared with those in CK, the contents of available phosphorus, available potassium, organic matter, and alkali hydrolysis nitrogen were significantly increased in modified material treatments, and the T4 treatment significantly decreased soil pH. Modified treatments increased the Simpson and Shannon indexes of fungi but decreased the Chao1 index. The dominant fungi were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota, and the dominant genera were , , , , and . The application of modified materials increased the relative abundance of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, , and , while decreasing the relative abundance of Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, and . LEfSe analysis showed that modified treatments altered the fungal community biomarkers. Correlation analysis showed that pH and available potassium were the main environmental factors affecting fungal community structure. The results can provide scientific basis for improving saline-alkali soil and increasing soil nutrients in Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia.
Topics: Soil Microbiology; Soil; Fungi; Alkalies; China; Fertilizers; Population Dynamics; Mycobiome; Ascomycota; Basidiomycota; Salinity
PubMed: 38897776
DOI: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202306086 -
Huan Jing Ke Xue= Huanjing Kexue Jun 2024This study was conducted to clarify the long-term effects of biochar application on the structure and function of the fungal community in continuous cropping watermelon...
This study was conducted to clarify the long-term effects of biochar application on the structure and function of the fungal community in continuous cropping watermelon soil. Taking watermelon root soil as the research object, Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing and FUNGuild platform were used to analyze the differences in soil fungal community composition, diversity, and function after 3-year biochar additions of 7.5, 15.0, and 30.0 t·hm and to explore the correlation between soil environmental factors and fungal community structure under the control of biochar. The results showed that compared to that in the absence of biochar (control), the soil pH, available phosphorus, available potassium, total nitrogen, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity increased, but available nitrogen decreased with biochar addition. High-throughput sequencing results showed that biochar amendment improved the fungal community structure in continuous cropping watermelon soil and increased the richness and diversity of soil fungi. A total of 922 OTU were obtained from all soil samples, and the species annotation results indicated that the dominant fungal groups were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Glomeromycota, with these phyla accounting for 85.70 %-92.45 % of the total sequences.The relative abundance of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota decreased, whereas the abundance of Mortierellomycota and Glomeromycota increased with biochar addition.At the genus level, the application of biochar increased the relative abundance of and but decreased the abundance of . The Mantel test showed that soil available potassium, available nitrogen, organic matter, and pH were the main environmental factors leading to the shift in the soil fungal community composition.The functional prediction with FUNGuild showed that the many nutrient types among the different treatments were saprotrophic, pathotrophic, and symbiotrophic. The relative abundance of pathotrophs significantly decreased, but the abundance of symbiotrophs significantly increased with the medium and high doses of biochar treatment. In conclusion, the application of biochar changed the soil physicochemical properties, promoted the development of soil fungal community structure and functional groups in a healthy and beneficial direction, and improved the quality of continuous cropping watermelon soil.
Topics: Charcoal; Citrullus; Soil Microbiology; Fungi; Soil; Mycobiome; Fertilizers
PubMed: 38897775
DOI: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202306208 -
FEMS Microbiology Ecology Jun 2024Fungi are increasingly recognized to play diverse roles within honey bee hives, acting as pathogens, mutualists, and commensals. Pollen products, essential for hive...
Fungi are increasingly recognized to play diverse roles within honey bee hives, acting as pathogens, mutualists, and commensals. Pollen products, essential for hive nutrition, host significant fungal communities with potential protective and nutritional benefits. In this study, we profile the fungal communities and antifungal properties of three pollen products from healthy and stressed hives: fresh pollen collected by forager bees from local plants; stored pollen packed into the comb inside the hive; and bee bread, which is stored pollen following anaerobic fermentation used for bee and larval nutrition. Using amplicon sequencing, we found significant differences in fungal community composition, with hive health and sample type accounting for 8.8% and 19.3% of variation in beta diversity, respectively. Pollen and bee bread extracts had species-specific antimicrobial activity and inhibited the fungal hive pathogens Ascosphaera apis, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigatus, and the bacterial hive pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. Activity was positively correlated with phenolic and antioxidant content and was diminished in stressed hives. The plant source of pollen determined by amplicon sequencing differed in stressed hives, suggesting altered foraging behaviour. These findings illustrate the complex interplay between honey bees, fungal communities, and hive products, which should be considered in hive management and conservation.
Topics: Bees; Animals; Pollen; Fungi; Stress, Physiological; Paenibacillus larvae; Mycobiome; Ascomycota; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 38886123
DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae091 -
IMeta Apr 2024The human microbiome exhibits a profound connection with the cancer development, progression, and therapeutic response, with particular emphasis on its components of the... (Review)
Review
The human microbiome exhibits a profound connection with the cancer development, progression, and therapeutic response, with particular emphasis on its components of the mycobiome, which are still in the early stages of research. In this review, we comprehensively summarize cancer-related symbiotic and pathogenic fungal genera. The intricate mechanisms through which fungi impact cancer as an integral member of both gut and tissue-resident microbiomes are further discussed. In addition, we shed light on the pivotal physiological roles of various nutrients, including cholesterol, carbohydrates, proteins and minerals, in facilitating the growth, reproduction, and invasive pathogenesis of the fungi. While our exploration of the interplay between nutrients and cancer, mediated by the mycobiome, is ongoing, the current findings have yet to yield conclusive results. Thus, delving into the relationship between nutrients and fungal pathogenesis in cancer development and progression would provide valuable insights into anticancer therapy and foster precision nutrition and individualized treatments that target fungi from bench to bedside.
PubMed: 38882486
DOI: 10.1002/imt2.170 -
Ecology Letters Jun 2024Mast seeding is a well-documented phenomenon across diverse forest ecosystems. While its effect on aboveground food webs has been thoroughly studied, how it impacts the...
Mast seeding is a well-documented phenomenon across diverse forest ecosystems. While its effect on aboveground food webs has been thoroughly studied, how it impacts the soil fungi that drive soil carbon and nutrient cycling has not yet been explored. To evaluate the relationship between mast seeding and fungal resource availability, we paired a Swiss 29-year fungal sporocarp census with contemporaneous seed production for European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). On average, mast seeding was associated with a 55% reduction in sporocarp production and a compositional community shift towards drought-tolerant taxa across both ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic guilds. Among ectomycorrhizal fungi, traits associated with carbon cost did not explain species' sensitivity to seed production. Together, our results support a novel hypothesis that mast seeding limits annual resource availability and reproductive investment in soil fungi, creating an ecosystem 'rhythm' to forest processes that is synchronized above- and belowground.
Topics: Fagus; Mycorrhizae; Biodiversity; Soil Microbiology; Seeds; Switzerland; Fungi; Mycobiome
PubMed: 38877759
DOI: 10.1111/ele.14460 -
Indian Journal of Gastroenterology :... Jun 2024Dysregulation of cytokines and intestinal mycobiome has been surveyed in the progression of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and...
BACKGROUND
Dysregulation of cytokines and intestinal mycobiome has been surveyed in the progression of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). On the other hand, the intestinal fungal flora and its main receptor, Dectin-1, induce immune-derived cytokines.
METHODS
Total 64 individuals comprising 32 patients with UC (case group) and 32 healthy subjects (HS group) were assessed. The type and prevalence of fecal yeast species were determined by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using ITS4 and ITS5 primers. Furthermore, the ribonucleic acid (RNAs) of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IL-22 and IFN-γ were extracted. The expression of Dectin-1 gene was then measured in the excised tissue samples.
RESULTS
A higher global fungal load in UC-affected patients (75%) was found in comparison with the HS group (25%), especially Candida albicans. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was significantly reduced in the fecal samples of UC-affected patients compared to HS (15.04% vs. 1.93% UC). The expression level of Dectin-1 was significantly elevated in patients with active UC (7.37 ± 0.81) than in patients with non-active UC (5.01 ± 77.25) and healthy controls (0.97 ± 0.24) (p < 0.05). The expression levels of IL-4, IL-10, especially both IL-17 and IL-22, were higher in the active UC group compared to the HS group (p = 0.0101, p = 0.0155, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). Similar expression level of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IL-22 (p > 0.999) and lower expression of interferongamma (IFN-γ) (p = 0.0021) were found in the non-active UC group compared to the HS group. A significant weak to moderate correlation was detected between Dectin-1 and IL-17 (r = 0.339, p = 0.019), as well as Dectin-1 and IL-22 (r = 0.373, p = 0.015). Furthermore, the expression levels of Dectin-1, IL-17 and IL-22 displayed significant associations with disease activity (p < 0.001, p = 0.029 and p = 0.003, respectively), regardless of the participant group.
CONCLUSIONS
The current study revealed a possible role for intestinal fungi to promote colonic inflammation and increase UC activity through Dectin-1 stimulation. A positive correlation was detected between intestinal fungal richness with UC susceptibility and activity. IL-4 and IL-10 were associated with disease activity. Besides, the expression levels of Dectin-1, IL-17 and IL-22 were independently associated with disease activity.
PubMed: 38874868
DOI: 10.1007/s12664-024-01605-2 -
Molecular Neurobiology Jun 2024The human mycobiome encompasses diverse communities of fungal organisms residing within the body and has emerged as a critical player in shaping health and disease.... (Review)
Review
The human mycobiome encompasses diverse communities of fungal organisms residing within the body and has emerged as a critical player in shaping health and disease. While extensive research has focused on the skin and gut mycobiome, recent investigations have pointed toward the potential role of fungal organisms in neurological disorders. Among those fungal organisms, the presence of the commensal fungus Malassezia in the brain has created curiosity because of its commensal nature and primary association with the human skin and gut. This budding yeast is responsible for several diseases, such as Seborrheic dermatitis, Atopic dermatitis, Pityriasis versicolor, Malassezia folliculitis, dandruff, and others. However recent findings surprisingly show the presence of Malassezia DNA in the brain and have been linked to diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The exact role of Malassezia in these disorders is unknown, but its ability to infect human cells, travel through the bloodstream, cross the blood-brain barrier, and reside along with the lipid-rich neuronal cells are potential mechanisms responsible for pathogenesis. This also includes the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, gut-microbe interaction, and accumulation of metabolic changes in the brain environment. In this review, we discuss these key findings from studies linking Malassezia to neurological disorders, emphasizing the complex and multifaceted nature of these cases. Furthermore, we discuss potential mechanisms through which Malassezia might contribute to the development of neurological conditions. Future investigations will open up new avenues for our understanding of the fungal gut-brain axis and how it influences human behavior. Collaborative research efforts among microbiologists, neuroscientists, immunologists, and clinicians hold promise for unraveling the enigmatic connections between human commensal Malassezia and neurological disorders.
PubMed: 38871941
DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04270-w -
Nature Genetics Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Metagenomics; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mycobiome; Fungi; Metagenome
PubMed: 38871865
DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01817-4 -
Mycopathologia Jun 2024Aspergillosis encompasses a wide range of clinical conditions based on the interaction between Aspergillus and the host. It ranges from colonization to invasive... (Review)
Review
Aspergillosis encompasses a wide range of clinical conditions based on the interaction between Aspergillus and the host. It ranges from colonization to invasive aspergillosis. The human lung provides an entry door for Aspergillus. Aspergillus has virulence characteristics such as conidia, rapid growth at body temperature, and the production of specific proteins, carbohydrates, and secondary metabolites that allow A. fumigatus to infiltrate the lung's alveoli and cause invasive aspergillosis. Alveolar epithelial cells play an important role in both fungus clearance and immune cell recruitment via cytokine release. Although the innate immune system quickly clears conidia in immunocompetent hosts, A. fumigatus has evolved multiple virulence factors in order to escape immune response such as ROS detoxifying enzymes, the rodlet layer, DHN-melanin and toxins. Bacterial co-infections or interactions can alter the immune response, impact Aspergillus growth and virulence, enhance biofilm formation, confound diagnosis, and reduce treatment efficacy. The gut microbiome's makeup influences pulmonary immune responses generated by A. fumigatus infection and vice versa. The real-time PCR for Aspergillus DNA detection might be a particularly useful tool to diagnose pulmonary aspergillosis. Metagenomics analyses allow quick and easy detection and identification of a great variety of fungi in different clinical samples, although optimization is still required particularly for the use of NGS techniques. This review will analyze the current state of aspergillosis in light of recent discoveries in the microbiota and mycobiota.
Topics: Humans; Aspergillosis; Mycobiome; Aspergillus fumigatus; Aspergillus; Virulence Factors; Microbiota; Virulence; Metagenomics; Host-Pathogen Interactions
PubMed: 38864956
DOI: 10.1007/s11046-024-00853-2 -
Iranian Journal of Microbiology Apr 2024The presence of fungi in the respiratory tract as mycobiome, particularly species (spp.), remains a serious problem due to increasing numbers of immunocompromised...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The presence of fungi in the respiratory tract as mycobiome, particularly species (spp.), remains a serious problem due to increasing numbers of immunocompromised patients. The confirmed reliable existence of these pathogens due to frequent colonization is essential. This investigation aimed to recognize spp. among isolates from bronchoalveolar lavage of immunocompromised and critically ill patients and to evaluate their susceptibility to antimycotic drugs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected from 161 hospitalized patients presenting with suspected respiratory fungal infection /colonization. The specimens were examined by standard molecular and mycological assays. spp. were recognized with sequence assessment of the D1-D2 section of the large subunit ribosomal DNA. The susceptibility of isolates to common antimycotic drugs was distinguished by standard broth microdilution.
RESULTS
Seventy-one clinical isolates of spp. were recognized. was the most frequent, followed by (), and We found 5.1% of isolates and 8% of isolates to show resistance to fluconazole. The whole of the spp. were sensitive to amphotericin B and caspofungin.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that and are the most common isolates of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients, and the drug susceptibility screening confirmed that amphotericin B and caspofungin are effective against spp. but some and isolates showed resistance to fluconazole.
PubMed: 38854989
DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v16i2.15362