Articles tagged with Fungi
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
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Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
A recent study by Mark Baker and colleagues has identified nine proteins that contribute to the cherished aroma of black Périgord truffles. The researchers also discovered biomarkers of authenticity, freshness, and perfume maturation, shedding light on this culinary delicacy.
A new research coordination network is working to study eukaryotic biodiversity using high-throughput DNA sequencing technology. Researchers will focus on microscopic organisms playing vital roles in ecosystems, such as breaking down organic matter and turning over soil nutrients.
The latest issue of ZooKeys has been automatically registered in ZooBank, marking the successful deployment of an automated registration-to-publication pipeline for taxonomic names. This innovation is part of a joint EU and US National Science Foundation project to develop the Global Names Architecture.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a new way to produce novel compounds with antibiotic potential by deleting a master regulator gene in a common fungus. This finding opens up the door to studying dozens of new compounds and potentially discovering new antibiotics.
Researchers found that the fungus can survive on various carbon sources and grow in a wide pH range, making it hard to stop its spread. It can also tolerate sulfur compounds and calcium, but struggles to absorb water from dry surfaces.
Researchers found that a fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, blocks the adaptive immune response in amphibians, allowing it to survive. The study suggests that the fungus targets a conserved vulnerability shared by both amphibian and mammalian lymphocytes.
A toxic factor released by a deadly frog-killing fungus disables the amphibian immune response, preventing conventional lymphocyte activation. The fungus's ability to inhibit cell growth in cancerous cells suggests potential new treatments.
Researchers found that targeting a specific fungal component could render Candida albicans harmless, providing a potential new approach for treating deadly infections. By inhibiting the acidification of the fungal vacuole, the fungus can no longer form deadly filaments, allowing it to coexist peacefully with humans.
Researchers have closed the genetic map of the fungal kingdom by sequencing the genome of Pyronema confluens, a basal filamentous ascomycete. The study reveals key differences between this species and higher ascomycetes, shedding light on the evolution of mating type genes and light-activated processes.
Researchers have discovered that fungal sex can generate genetic diversity in organisms like Cryptococcus neoformans, enabling the creation of drug-resistant and virulent strains. This discovery sheds light on how pathogenic microbes evolve to cause diseases.
Research reveals that contaminated bivalve molluscs contain toxins at higher levels than the surrounding environment, posing a risk to human health.
A study found that emerging lethal fungus infection can easily pass its deadly genes to closely related fungal strains but less readily to distantly related ones. This understanding will help predict the spread of outbreaks and inform surveillance efforts.
A new species of fungus has ravaged fire salamander populations in the Netherlands, killing over 90% of the original population. The fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, can rapidly kill fire salamanders and is thought to have originated from elsewhere in the world.
A new study reveals that global warming is causing crop pests to spread towards the North and South Poles at an alarming rate. Currently, 10-16% of global crop production is lost to pests, with losses from fungi alone amounting to enough to feed nearly nine percent of today's global population.
Researchers have identified a genetic link between HIV infection and increased susceptibility to cryptococcal disease, which can cause devastating fungal meningitis. Patients with the high-affinity Fc receptor gene are up to 20 times more likely to develop the disease, highlighting the need for a predictive test to save lives.
A fungal-bacterial consortium converts tough plant materials into isobutanol, producing 1.88 grams per liter of fluid, with 62% energy conversion rate. The system reduces capital investment and operating cost, making biofuel production economically viable.
Research in Navarre's beech groves reveals traditional forestry management reduces fungal diversity, with some species disappearing and families affected. The study highlights the importance of decomposing dead wood for fungal populations, contradicting current forest management practices.
Researchers identified non-disease causing fungal relatives of WNS-causing fungus, which live in bat hibernation sites and on bats. This discovery may aid in understanding the molecular toolbox used by the deadly fungus to kill bats.
Researchers identified fungal meningitis cases with ischemic stroke after contaminated methylprednisolone injections. The condition presents with varying incubation periods, requiring better recognition of clinical characteristics for efficient care.
Researchers have identified nine fungal lineages associated with ambrosia beetles threatening avocado production in the US and Israel. The unique fungi adaptability poses a threat to global farms and forests.
Research by UCLA mathematician Marcus Roper reveals that fungus cells use a dynamic movement of nuclei to keep them well mixed, benefiting the organism's infectiousness. The flow is propelled by pressure gradients across the colony, optimizing nuclear mixing for maximum advantage.
Research reveals that powdery mildew fungi favor asexually produced offspring for infection, while sexual reproduction is crucial for adaptation to host defense mechanisms. The study suggests an ancient co-evolutionary history between the fungus and its hosts, highlighting the complex dynamics of plant-fungus interactions.
A massive fungal meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroid injections has been reported in the US, with over 13,000 people affected. Researchers found that a dark-colored environmental mold, Exserohilum rostratum, infects humans mainly through cerebrospinal fluid migration.
Researchers have shed light on how the rice blast fungus invades plant tissue by evolving two distinct secretion systems. Understanding this process is crucial in controlling the disease and will help prove pivotal in blast disease control.
Researchers have found that the rice blast fungus uses two distinct secretion systems to invade plant tissue, shedding light on a devastating crop disease. The discovery is a step towards controlling blast disease, which destroys enough rice to feed 60 million people annually.
A two-year study by Oregon State University and the University of Pittsburgh found that bullfrogs can both carry and die from a deadly chytrid fungus. The research suggests that bullfrogs may not be the primary hosts for this pathogen, contrary to previous assumptions.
A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology identifies new fungal enzymes that can break down cellulose, a key component of plant biomass. The researchers found that the fungi and bacteria in leaf-cutter ant gardens work together to convert plant biomass into energy-rich compounds.
Researchers found evidence of actively metabolizing and proliferating bacteria, archaea, and fungi in the deep biosphere, with implications for global biogeochemical cycles. The study revealed diverse biochemical pathways and movement mechanisms, including flagellar-driven locomotion and gliding.
Researchers found over 50% of commercial apple juice samples exceeding patulin limits, with one sample having 162.2 μg/kg. Mycotoxins were also detected in beers, cereals, and products like gofio flour, highlighting the need for better control measures.
A new technique developed by researchers at Concordia University has slashed data-crunching time for law enforcement, allowing investigators to extract hidden knowledge from large volumes of text. The new method automatically identifies criminal topics and provides visualization of social networks among participants.
African clawed frogs in California are found to carry a deadly fungal infection that has led to the decline or extinction of some 200 amphibian species worldwide. The fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatis, is transmitted through water and can cause skin thickening, electrolyte imbalance, and brain swelling.
A recent study uses DNA sequencing to identify five new species of lichen-forming fungi, highlighting the importance of recognizing cryptic diversity in various ecosystems. The research also provides a reference database for specimen identification, enabling more accurate and reliable species recognition.
A study reveals that lichen fungi can colonize different ecosystems by choosing from a diverse array of algal partners. This adaptation allows them to thrive in various environments, including polar and Mediterranean regions.
Researchers developed two innovative techniques to minimize lead migration and anchor site pain in spinal cord stimulators. Advanced anchoring and multiple lead placement through a single port reduced complications and improved patient outcomes.
The BBSRC has awarded funding to two projects: the Nornex consortium, studying the molecular and cellular basis of interactions between the fungus and ash trees, and Professor Christopher Gilligan's team, developing computer models to predict the spread of ash dieback in the UK.
A new study investigates the connection between amphibian social habits and a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which causes Chytridiomycosis. The researchers aim to understand how behavior affects the spread of the disease in California's slender salamander populations.
Researchers at MIT synthesized and tested 60 fungal compounds, finding some to be potent against human cancer cells. The most effective compounds had specific sulfur atom arrangements and larger attached rings.
Researchers from Cardiff University have discovered hundreds of fungal particles in the lungs of asthma sufferers and healthy individuals alike. The study reveals that asthma patients have a distinct array of fungal species not present in healthy lungs, potentially leading to new treatment avenues.
Researchers have discovered a method to induce sexual reproduction in Penicillium chrysogenum, leading to the development of new strains with improved industrial characteristics. This breakthrough aims to increase penicillin production, making it cheaper to produce, and potentially applicable to other economically important fungi.
Researchers have discovered that the penicillin-producing fungus Penicillium chrysogenum reproduces sexually through a two-gender cycle. This leads to strains with new properties, including high penicillin production without contaminating genes.
Biologists at Bielefeld University have confirmed that certain algae species can draw energy from other plants by digesting cellulose, a previously thought exclusive trait of fungi and bacteria. This groundbreaking discovery has significant implications for bioenergy production.
Researchers have found that treating corn stover with white rot fungus can extract up to 30% more sugar from leaves and 50% more from stalks and cobs. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient ethanol production and reduce the need for corn-based supplies.
A hospital in Roanoke, VA established a treatment protocol for dozens of patients with suspected fungal meningitis, using IV voriconazole and amphotericin-B. The clinical course and long-term neurological consequences are still being studied.
Neutron scattering experiments have provided new insights into the origin of AmB's side effects, revealing that it interacts differently with fungal and animal cell membranes. The study suggests that AmB can open up holes in fungal cells but is unable to do so as readily in human cells, leading to harmful side effects.
Researchers found that levels of IL-6 and IL-12 were higher among patients with sarcoidosis compared to controls. Mold/fungi levels in the home also showed a significant relation to β-glucan levels. The study supports the hypothesis that exposure to fungi increases the risk of sarcoidosis.
The 2002 Exophiala dermatitidis meningitis outbreak highlights the dangers of contaminated injectable corticosteroids. Without proper sterility, fungus can grow aggressively and cause invasive mycosis with a potentially long incubation period.
A physician warns of the dangers of fungal meningitis due to contaminated injectable corticosteroids, emphasizing the importance of sterility in compounding processes. The author advocates for a case-by-case approach to treatment and calls for increased regulation to prevent future outbreaks.
A ranking system of the ten most important phytopathogenic fungi has been developed by 495 international researchers. The rice blast fungus is at the top of the list, followed by Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum.
A recent fungal meningitis outbreak has highlighted the aggressive nature of this condition, particularly after joint or bone injections. The researchers report on a clinical observation involving a patient who died due to severe brain and spinal cord damage.
Biologists at Ruhr-Universität used a combination of laser microdissection and RNA-seq to analyze gene activity in the entire genome of certain fungi. They found that gene expression differs between tissue types, with some genes active only in specific tissues.
The fungi treatment process modifies the acoustic properties of the instrument, making it sound indistinguishably similar to a Stradivarius. The research could soon make high-quality wood available for violin making.
A new article provides simple guidelines for establishing basic authenticity and reliability of fungal ITS sequences, targeting traditional DNA sequencing. The guidelines aim to assist researchers in sharpening their datasets and reducing noise in public sequence databases.
A new fungal species, Hebelomagriseopruinatum, has been officially classified as a novel species after discovery on Zealand in Denmark. The fungus has been found to coexist intimately with plants, similar to edible fungi like chantarelles and truffles.
A new study investigates the relationship between beetle body size, horn size, and grip strength in males. The researchers found that male beetles have a stronger grip than females, likely due to their larger limb size.
Researchers analyzed fungal genomes and transcriptomes to understand how lifestyle affects gene expression and host specificity. They discovered new functions for fungal infection organs, including sensing the presence of plants.
Harvard researchers found that a fungus produces superoxide, which oxidizes manganese, forming reactive minerals used for water cleanup and nutrient control. The discovery lends insight to environmental remediation and raises questions about the role of fungi in biogeochemistry.
Scientists have discovered a white rot fungus that can break down tough cellulose in corn stover, releasing sugars for ethanol fermentation. The study found that the fungus extracted up to 30% more sugar from corn leaves and 50% more from stalks and cobs.
Scientists discovered that a widespread plant pest arose from the fusion of two unknown parent species just a few hundred years ago. The study reveals new insights into fungal evolution, showing that hybridization can lead to rapid speciation in plants and fungi.
A group of highly specialized fungi, identified through comparative analysis of 31 fungal genomes, developed a mechanism to efficiently decay plant biomass. These ancient organisms produced peroxidases that acted in synergy with other oxidative enzymes to degrade lignin, a polymer present in wood.
The University of Leicester will receive £340,000 in funding to support its asthma and allergy research. The Midlands Asthma and Allergy Research Association has funded the study, which aims to better understand fungal allergies and develop new treatments.