Articles tagged with Fungal Pathogens
Biosecurity measures have been shown to effectively curb invasive plant pathogen introductions, even as trade and travel increase. The study found that targeted biosecurity interventions can reduce the establishment of non-native pathogens in agricultural sectors, slowing their spread.
Researchers at UCR discover how plants package and deliver small RNAs to fight plant pathogens. The study found that plants transfer sRNAs into fungi, inhibiting their ability to cause disease, through a process called cross-kingdom RNA interference.
A study led by Rutgers University scientists has found that a fungus causing devastating rice disease became harmful 21 million years ago. The researchers identified key genes and proteins that promote the infection process, offering insights into developing new fungicides and quarantines to combat crop diseases.
Scientists have discovered key features that explain how two very similar fungi, one causing crop failure and the other producing mycoprotein for consumption, differ in lifestyle. The study highlights potential targets for disease control.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals the genetic basis of structural diversity among trichothecene toxins produced by fungi. The analysis of genomic sequences and molecular biology experiments found that different combinations and versions of TRI genes are responsible for the diversity of trichothecene structures.
A study published in Science reveals that some Central American frog species are recovering from a deadly fungal pathogen, with skin secretions showing improved antimicrobial defenses. The research suggests that the pathogen remains lethal, but frogs' natural defenses appear to be more effective than before the epidemic.
A recent study published in Science reveals that some tropical amphibian species are recovering from a deadly fungal disease, despite the pathogen remaining equally deadly over time. The researchers found that nearly a decade after the outbreak, some frogs in Panama are surviving and may have better defenses against the infection.
A new study suggests that amphibian populations in Panama have started becoming more resistant to the deadly fungal pathogen chytridiomycosis. Over 2,000 diagnostic samples show a decrease in the prevalence of the fungus since the initial epidemics occurred.
A new approach using drug-like molecules is being tested to tackle fungal infections, which cause billions of illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually. The project uses glycan-based molecules that weaken fungal cell walls, making them more visible to the immune system.
Researchers at KIT used high-resolution microscopy to observe the growth of mold fungi in living cells, gaining a comprehensive model for directed cell growth. The study reveals the role of vesicle transport in polar growth and has implications for understanding fungal growth and its applications.
Infected 'zombie ants' do not face aggression from their nest mates, but instead continue to share food resources until they leave the nest to die. The fungus is a chronic condition for the colony, without inducing strong defensive measures.
Ants with low-level infections are more susceptible to superinfections, but continue to perform risk-averse care. They alter their behavior to decrease transmission risk, depending on their current immune status.
A UCSB ecologist reconstructed the story of the missing foothill yellow-legged frog, finding a link to chytridiomycosis. The amphibian declined rapidly between 1960s and 1970s due to disease spread by the fungal pathogen.
Ants kill fungus-infected pupae to stop the pathogen's lifecycle and prevent infection in the colony. The ants detect sick colony members using chemical cues and perform 'destructive disinfection' to eliminate them.
A team of researchers has identified the first rust virulence molecule that triggers built-in wheat resistance, allowing plants to fend off devastating stem rust disease. This breakthrough could help prioritize resistance genes and inform fungicide use in high-yielding wheat varieties.
Researchers found that sunlight boosts beneficial microorganisms to combat stem end rot in mango fruits. The study reveals a diverse microbial community with both pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms, suggesting new possibilities for agriculture and food industry.
Ant queens perform 'undertaking behaviors' when co-founding a new colony with an infected queen, biting and burying the corpse to prevent pathogen transmission. This behavior is associated with a significant reduction in mortality among queens, suggesting that they have evolved complex strategies to limit disease transmission.
Researchers have developed bifunctional molecules that bind both chitin in fungal cell walls and human antibodies, redirecting the immune system to eliminate fungal pathogens. The new approach has shown synergistic effects with antifungal agents, holding promise for fighting echinocandin-resistant fungi.
A genome-wide association study identified the CD53 gene as a susceptible locus for tuberculosis. Increased CD53 expression was observed in active TB patients, supporting its biological role in disease susceptibility. This research lays the foundation for identifying individuals at high risk of developing tuberculosis.
Li-Jun Ma at UMass Amherst receives a five-year NSF CAREER grant to advance understanding of fungal pathogenesis and develop disease-resistant crops. Her research focuses on the plant-pathogen interface, exploring mechanisms to control pathogenic fungi causing wilt diseases in over 100 plant species.
A global study has identified the evolutionary steps leading to the spread of the wheat blast fungus, a pathogen causing significant yield losses in Asia and South America. The fungus emerged through host jumps from a weed pathogen and its distribution was initially restricted to South America before re-emerging on the Eurasian continent.
A recent study found that exposing baby cacao plants to healthy adult plant microbes reduces the risk of disease. Microbes from mother trees strengthen the immune system of baby trees, making them less susceptible to pathogens. This discovery has significant implications for the global chocolate industry.
Researchers identified a gene in wheat that protects against a deadly fungus, which was lost from many wheat crops in the 1980s. Restoring this gene could limit impacts of the fungal pathogen.
Researchers developed a yeast-based tool that can detect fungal pathogens responsible for major human disease, agricultural damage, and food spoilage. The one-component biosensor is extremely low-cost, easy to use, and doesn't require cold-storage facilities, making it a game-changer for global pathogen surveillance.
Scientists discovered a novel virus that weakens fungal incompatibility, allowing for transmission of unrelated viruses. This breakthrough could aid in controlling fungal diseases using viruses as a strategy.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens suggests that proteins produced by the toxoplasmosis parasite may play a role in developing host-directed tuberculosis therapies. The researchers found that these proteins interact with human proteins to activate anti-tuberculosis defense mechanisms.
A new study found that spraying barley crops with an RNA molecule inhibits fungus growth, while the plant's vascular system transports it to distant infection sites. The researchers also identified a key protein involved in the process.
Researchers discovered that trans-kingdom small RNAs can protect crops from fungal pathogens, including the causal agent of 'Cotton Cancer'. The study found that specific sRNAs can be expressed in cotton cultivars to confer resistance to Verticillium wilt disease.
Researchers identified Mp1p as a key virulence factor in Talaromyces marneffei, allowing it to survive in macrophages and cause disease. The protein's homologs were also found to contribute to pathogenicity, highlighting a potential target for treatment.
Researchers have discovered the DNA of a fungus that causes black Sigatoka disease in bananas, which could lead to more effective disease control methods. The findings provide insights into the interaction between the fungus and banana plants, offering opportunities for developing resistant banana crops.
Four new Colletotrichum species have been identified in Australian chillies, causing anthracnose disease that lowers yield and produces sunken black spots. The discovery highlights the need for a more effective diagnostic quarantine system to protect Australia's billion-dollar agriculture export industry.
Researchers discovered that fungal blastospores can kill mosquito larvae rapidly, with specific characteristics contributing to their virulence. The study found that blastospore invasion can occur even in the presence of drugs inhibiting protease activity, making them a promising alternative to chemical pesticides.
A team of Duke researchers has solved the structure of an enzyme required to synthesize trehalose, a chemical cousin to table sugar that pathogenic fungi need to survive in human hosts. The research paves the way for designing new antifungal drugs against three deadly fungi: Cryptococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus.
A global study by TGen found six new species of Histoplasma fungus, linked to bat evolution, which causes histoplasmosis and poses a deadly risk to HIV and other immunocompromised patients. The disease is known for its high mortality rate in Latin America and is becoming more frequent globally.
Researchers discovered that a few changes in the genome are sufficient to turn a fungal plant pathogen into a potentially beneficial organism. The beneficial fungus has gained new genes and lost others, leading to reduced effector proteins needed to suppress the plant's immune system.
A team of scientists from the UK and Bangladesh is making genetic data for the wheat blast pathogen publicly available in an effort to address the growing threat. The researchers hope that by sharing their findings, they can develop effective measures to manage the disease and ensure food security.
Researchers found Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in over half of hospitalized children with pneumonia in Beijing, predicting an ongoing epidemic. The study may help clinicians slow the spread of the disease.
A novel study has found that higher biodiversity reduces infectious disease severity in a Tibetan alpine meadow, supporting the dilution hypothesis. Artificial fertiliser weakens this effect, increasing disease load.
Researchers discovered that volatile compounds from Pseudomonas aeruginosa stimulate the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus found in lung infections. The most potent signal was dimethyl sulfide, which is taken up by the fungus to support growth.
The NIFA-NSF Joint Plant-Biotics Interactions program supports research on plant-biotic interactions, focusing on fundamental mechanisms and translational efforts. Funding is available for projects addressing agriculture and relevance to plant health, with applications due in June and April.
A rare fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus deuterogatti, has lost over a dozen genes involved in RNA interference, a defense mechanism used by fungi to protect their genomes. This loss of gene silencing machinery makes the fungus more virulent and deadly to humans.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered that plants can predict when they'll be infected with a fungal pathogen and increase their resistance levels accordingly. The key finding is a single protein called JAZ6, which connects the plant clock to its immune system.
The conservation community has taken swift and coordinated action to prevent the introduction and spread of Batrachocytrium salamandrivorans, a deadly fungal pathogen threatening North American salamander populations. Conservation organizations have called for policy changes to aid in preventing the disease's entry into the region.
A new fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), poses a significant threat to North America's amphibian populations. The authors propose concrete steps to prevent or reduce the risk of Bsal entry into the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A study reveals that Aspergillus fumigatus uses its sugar galactosaminogalactan to evade the immune system, making it more resistant to neutrophil killing and increasing its virulence. This finding suggests targeting GAG as a potential antifungal approach for human patients.
Researchers identified key locations for sampling and managing insect and fungal problems along US and Australian rail routes. The analysis revealed that North Dakota, Illinois, Kansas, and Nebraska are critical hubs linking states together.
Researchers found that hibernating bats infected with the white nose fungus exhibited a partial immune response, including acute inflammation and wound healing. However, the influx of white blood cells into infected tissue was missing, which may be related to the unique characteristics of the Pd pathogen.
Beneficial fungi in yew trees serve as a combination bandage-immune system, producing taxol to protect against pathogenic fungi while allowing the tree's own tissues to heal. Researchers hope this discovery could lead to cheaper and more efficient production of cancer-fighting drug Taxol.
A caterpillar's feces induces corn plants to lower their defenses against insect predators, allowing the caterpillar to eat more and grow faster. This deception has likely evolved over thousands of years and may lead to the development of organic pesticides.
A devastating crop disease called Septoria tritici blotch is threatening European wheat production. The UK government has launched an international research initiative to understand the disease and develop sustainable control mechanisms.
Li-Jun Ma's research focuses on deciphering the mechanisms underlying fungal pathogenesis and developing novel antifungal therapies. Her work aims to address the growing threat of opportunistic fungal infections, which claim over 1.5 million lives each year.
Researchers found that a sublethal dose of imidacloprid significantly weakens termites' ability to fight off fungal diseases by knocking out key microbes in the termite gut and suppressing social hygiene habits. This combination wiped out laboratory colonies in just seven days.
A study in a California grassland reveals fundamental principles underlying disease dynamics, predicting pathogen spillover based on species relatedness. The results show that closely related species are more vulnerable to disease, while introducing rare species can create openings for less common species.
Researchers detect deadly chytrid fungus in Madagascar, threatening its unique amphibian population. The discovery highlights the global pandemic's impact on biodiversity and calls for continued monitoring and breeding programs.
Researchers discuss the role of Malassezia yeasts as pathogens, highlighting common skin diseases such as dandruff and atopic eczema. The study also explores the potential link between Malassezia and skin cancer, as well as bloodstream infections in vulnerable populations.
A University of Utah study found that pathogens killing tree seedlings in drier forests allow more diverse tree species to thrive in the wetter Caribbean environment. This separation is crucial for conservation planning and understanding how tree species adapt to climate change.
Scientists at SUNY-ESF have successfully created blight-resistant American chestnut trees through genetic engineering, powered by a single gene from wheat. The trees, which can co-exist with the invasive fungus that devastated the species, are being prepared for potential reforestation efforts.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham discovered how a rare fungus, Cryptococcus gattii, can infect healthy individuals by exploiting the body's immune response. The fungus triggers a 'division of labour' in its invading cells, allowing it to establish itself and cause life-threatening infections.
Pathogens specifically target highly networked proteins with multiple functions to weaken their host. The plant model Arabidopsis thaliana shows that different pathogens attack the same proteins, suggesting a convergent targeting strategy.
Researchers at the University of South Florida found that frogs can develop immunity against a deadly chytrid fungus by learning to avoid it after just one exposure. This acquired resistance could aid in conservation efforts and even offer protection for other animals threatened by fungal pathogens.