All Fungi articles – Page 2
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NewsGene editing, traditional crossbreeding produce disease-resistant cacao plants
Researchers reported that they edited the gene TcNPR3 in cacao plants, ultimately resulting in disease-resistant cacao plants that had 42% smaller disease lesions when infected with phytophthora, compared to non-edited plants.
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NewsPathogenic yeast strains found in urban air but not along the coast
A pilot study has found that urban air contained pathogenic strains of Candida yeast that were absent in coastal air samples, revealing a potential transmission method.
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NewsFungi set the stage for life on land hundreds of millions of years earlier than thought
New research indicates the diversification of fungi hundreds of millions of years before the emergence of land plants. It suggests a common ancestor of living fungi dating to roughly 1.4–0.9 billion years ago.
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NewsFriendly soil fungus could replace chemical sprays in battle against crop diseases
A common soil fungus could help farmers reduce their reliance on synthetic fungicides by producing natural airborne chemicals that suppress plant diseases. Trichoderma hamatum releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that inhibit the growth of crop pathogens.
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NewsNatural antimicrobial drugs found in pollen could help us protect bee colonies from infection
Pollen gathered by honeybees contains antimicrobial-producing bacteria that protect the hive against disease, a new study reveals. The same beneficial bacteria occur in pollen stores of honeybee colonies and on pollen of nearby plants.
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NewsFungal toxin offers colonization support - in small doses
The yeast fungus Candida albicans not only uses the toxin candidalysin to cause infections, but also to colonize the oral mucosa inconspicuously – but only in finely balanced amounts. Too little toxin prevents oral colonization, too much triggers the immune system.
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NewsAI tool enables accurate measurement of diseased spikelet rate of wheat Fusarium Head Blight from phone images
A new study proposes a deep learning algorithm that can automatically measure the diseased spikelet rate (DSR) trait from wheat spike images with complex backgrounds captured by mobile phones, providing a measurement tool for wheat Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) resistance breeding.
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NewsRevealed: How fungus-farming termites protect gardens from invaders
When harmful fungi invade their carefully cultivated crops, some fungus-farming termites fight back with the precision of skilled gardeners, a new study reveals, smothering them in soil clumps enriched with microbial allies that inhibit fungal growth.
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NewsNew study reveals subway station fungal communities
Researchers who collected monthly samples from subway stations in Beijing found high fungal diversity, mostly non-pathogenic. Some opportunistic pathogens were also detected. Fungal communities varied significantly by season and station types.
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NewsFungal genome secrets unlocked in breakthrough for crop disease research
Scientists have developed a new method to improve the accuracy of gene mapping in complex organisms. Using an advanced bioinformatics tool, they re-annotated the genome of Zymoseptoria tritici, a major fungal pathogen responsible for septoria leaf blotch.
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NewsTea plant defense: new insights into anthracnose resistance mechanisms
In a recent study, researchers identified key genetic factors that enhance tea plant resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the pathogen responsible for anthracnose, a devastating disease in tea cultivation.
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NewsMagic mushrooms invent active compound twice
A study shows that fungi have developed the ability to produce psilocybin at least twice independently of each other. While Psilocybe species use a known enzyme toolkit for this purpose, fiber cap mushrooms employ a different biochemical arsenal – and yet arrive at the same molecule.
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NewsYeast in gut microbiome can worsen salmonella infection
Researchers have discovered that a yeast commonly found in our gut can make infection with salmonella worse. Salmonella binds to Candida albicans and triggers a chain reaction that allows the bacteria to better invade cells lining the intestines.
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NewsBeer and wine: the latest microbe-related discoveries
To produce haziness, researchers added yeast extracts to two brands of clear lager - and reported what happened. Another team carried out lab tests investigating how sulfites added to wine and an ethanol-containing liquid affect gut bacteria.
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NewsOral microbes linked to increased risk of pancreatic cancer
Twenty-seven species of bacteria and fungi among the hundreds that live in people’s mouths have been collectively tied to a 3.5 times greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer, a study shows.
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NewsMagnetic fields improve Monascus pigments and inhibit citrinin yield via interfering with the iron metabolism
A research team has reported magnetic fields intensities that could improve the yield of Monascus purpureus fermented products while inhibiting citrinin production without adversely affecting M. purpureus growth.
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NewsNew phenolic bisabolane sesquiterpenoids discovered from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sydowii
Three new phenolic bisabolane sesquiterpenoids (PBS) derivatives (±)-aspersydonol A (1a/1b) and aspersydonol B (2), along with 12 known analogues, have been isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sydowii LF51.
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NewsCheese fungi color changes help unlock secrets of evolution
Color changes in fungi on cheese rinds point to specific molecular mechanisms of genetic adaptation—and sometimes a tastier cheese.
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NewsHow an immune cell receptor dampens the fight against fungal infection
People are constantly exposed to fungal spores, including those of Aspergillus fumigatus, but individuals with weakened immune systems may develop life-threatening infections. In a recent study, researchers clarified the mechanisms by which the dendritic cell immunoreceptor (Dcir) suppresses neutrophil activity during infection with A. fumigatus.
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NewsMolecular Sustainable Solutions receives investment from BeAble Capital to boost disinfection and sterilization methods
Molecular Sustainable Solutions, a spin-off from the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló (UJI), secures €186,000 investment from BeAble Capital, a leading Science Equity fund specializing in disruptive scientific technologies.