Articles tagged with Fungi
The genome sequence of Podospora anserina shows the fungus has a large set of genes involved in breaking down complex carbon sources, including cellulose and lignin. This discovery may lead to novel regulatory mechanisms during growth and reproduction, with potential applications in biotechnology.
Conservation efforts in Madagascar could avert catastrophic biodiversity loss with pro-active programs. The country harbors
New Bt corn varieties have shown reduced levels of aflatoxin and lower rates of fungal infection, offering a potential solution to the global threat of this deadly toxin. The developments come as part of Monsanto's efforts to engineer better corn crops resistant to insect pests and environmental stressors.
Researchers explore alternative materials for digital signal processing, including fungi, bacteria, and DNA, which can enhance images and compress data without electrical currents. The field holds promise for improved algorithms and applications in disease detection and data storage.
Researchers found that disabling the ZFR1 gene reduces toxin production by 82% in Fusarium verticillioides on corn kernels. The study identified a specific sugar transporter, FST1, necessary for FB1 production, which acts as a molecular sensor for toxin creation.
Researchers discovered that ants have been farming fungus for approximately 50 million years, with four distinct agricultural systems emerging over time. These findings shed light on the evolution of agriculture and could lead to improved human agricultural and medical methods.
A new study reveals similarities between DNA that determine mating types in fungi and those that determine sex in plants and animals. This makes fungi an interesting model organism for studying the evolutionary development of sex chromosomes.
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a gene that guards all grass species against a devastating fungus, which can destroy crops vital for human food supplies. The naturally occurring disease resistance has allowed grasses to thrive for 60 million years.
A team from Duke University Medical Center isolated sex-determining genes from an ancient fungus, Phycomyces blakesleeanus, which contains insights into the evolution of human sexual differentiation. The findings suggest that HMG-domain proteins may have marked the beginning of sex determination in both fungi and humans.
Researchers have discovered how life evolved from simple self-replicating molecules to complex organisms by studying a primitive fungus protein. The study shows how RNA progressed to share functions with proteins, a critical missing step in the evolution of life.
Researchers have successfully sequenced the complete genome of Malassezia globosa, a naturally occurring fungus responsible for dandruff and other skin conditions. The genetic make-up of M. globosa has expanded treatment targets from a few observational characteristics to over 4,000 molecular targets.
Researchers sequence Fusarium graminearum genome to understand its interaction with plants and develop resistance. The study aims to identify genes that enable the fungus to cause disease and produce toxins, which can be fatal to humans and livestock.
The Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) data management system has been upgraded to Version 2.3, featuring new microbial genomes from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Reference Sequence collection. The system now includes fungi, protists, and plant genomes, providing a broader comparative analysis platform.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham discovered that Aspergillus nidulans fungi can reproduce sexually without a partner. This 'DIY reproduction' allows individuals to produce new offspring by activating internal sexual machinery, bypassing traditional mating.
A new genetic analysis suggests that the frog-killing fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, may be a greater threat to mountain yellow-legged frogs due to its ability to spread over long distances and persist in the environment through sexual reproduction. This could make it harder to save the frogs from extinction.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory cloned the band gene, finding it's an allele of ras-1, which plays a crucial role in circadian rhythms. The study uses Neurospora crassa as a model organism, demonstrating how a dominant point mutation in ras-1 affects circadian growth cycles.
Researchers will identify Alternaria fungus antigens responsible for chronic sinusitis and its link to asthma. The goal is to develop new treatments and understand disease mechanisms.
Researchers have identified a bacterium that repels a deadly fungus causing worldwide amphibian deaths and extinctions. The discovery could lead to procedures for 'vaccinating' endangered populations.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found fungi can harness ionizing radiation to produce food and spur growth, recalculating Earth's energy balance. This discovery could provide a sustainable food source for long-duration space missions or planetary colonization.
Researchers will investigate the mechanisms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a debilitating airway disease affecting millions worldwide. They aim to identify specific fungal antigens contributing to the pathology and develop novel treatments.
A recent study by University of Cincinnati researchers suggests that early exposure to indoor fungal components can help build stronger immune systems and protect against future allergies. Infants exposed to high levels of fungal glucans were nearly three times less likely to wheeze compared to those with low levels.
Scientists at the University of Chicago have reclassified Prototaxites as a giant fungus, based on new evidence and chemical analysis. The fungus is believed to have stood up to 20 feet tall and thrived on land during the Silurian and Devonian periods.
MacroChem Corporation has completed patient enrollment in a Phase II efficacy study for EcoNail, a topical antifungal treatment for onychomycosis. The company aims to assess early signs of efficacy and collect 24-week interim data later this year.
Researchers found that a fungus relies on bacterial symbionts to break down plant nutrients and form spores, maintaining mutualism. The study highlights the critical role of symbiotic relationships in shaping biological processes.
A study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that female rats can detect changes in males' germline cells due to exposure to vinclozolin, leading them to avoid mating with those males. This avoidance behavior is linked to an epigenetic change that affects the male's fertility.
Researchers at the University of Vermont have developed a 'whey-based fungal micro-factory' to combat the eastern hemlock tree's decline due to an exotic pest. The approach involves spraying a sweet whey solution with targeted fungus into infected forests, promoting self-replication and reducing pesticide use.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have designed a more powerful weapon to fight bacteria by combining key properties of antimicrobial peptides and lipopeptides. The new synthetic peptides exhibit both positive charge and soap-like ability to dissolve oils, targeting a range of bacterial and fungal infections.
Scientists identify AbNPS2 gene crucial to fungal spore cell wall integrity, impacting viability and host plant damage. Disruption of the gene leads to structural changes, decreased germination rates, and reduced survival under adverse conditions.
An international team of researchers has identified genes in Ustilago maydis that help the fungus live at its host plant's expense without killing it. The findings could lead to new ways to combat this fungus, which affects maize and other crops worldwide.
Researchers found that a gene for an anti-insect enzyme is up to 250 times more active in people with severe sinus inflammation. The enzyme's presence was linked to chronic sinusitis, which affects an estimated 32 million Americans.
The genome sequences of P. ramorum and P. sojae could lead to strategies to combat these destructive plant pathogens. Phytophthora species cause significant losses in various crops, including soybeans, oak trees, and cocoa beans, resulting in hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damage annually.
Researchers have developed a method to synthesize rasfonin, a cancer-killing compound derived from a fungus, in enough quantity to conduct proper biological tests. The new process produces 67 times more rasfonin than previous methods, offering a promising lead for the development of a potential anticancer drug.
Researchers aim to understand how prolonged space trips affect human immune systems by studying fruit flies on a Space Shuttle mission. The flies will be exposed to bacteria, fungi, and reduced gravity to determine if their weakened immune systems make them more susceptible to infection.
A study documents a sharp increase in Fusarium keratitis cases among contact lens wearers in Singapore, with nearly all patients wearing soft lenses and using ReNu brand cleaning solution. The outbreak has led to severe, sight-threatening lesions requiring hospitalization and corneal transplantation.
Researchers found that symbiotic fungus reproduces sexually and disperse independently of ants, contradicting long-held theories. The fungi's ability to cross geographical boundaries allows them to intermingle genes with mainland populations.
A new study by the University of Cincinnati found that infants exposed to specific airborne fungal spores have a higher risk of developing multiple allergies. The research team collected fungal spores from 144 infant homes and found that some fungi may cause allergic sensitization, while others inhibit allergy development.
A total of 34 cases of fungal keratitis were reported among soft contact lens wearers, with all cases caused by the fungus Fusarium. The average age of patients was 34.9 years, and most used ReNu brand contact lens solution.
A team of researchers has discovered a population of the painted frog, considered extinct since 1995, in Colombia's deserts. The finding offers hope that other species can survive the chytridiomycosis fungus and highlights the need for urgent conservation measures.
A new method has been developed to identify secondary metabolites in fungi, which are compounds that can have medicinal properties. The technique, known as genomic mining, allows researchers to pinpoint the genes responsible for producing these compounds, offering a promising tool for finding new medicines.
Researchers have identified genome sequences for three species of Aspergillus fungus, shedding light on their role in disease and potential for new treatments. The findings may help develop diagnostic tests and prevent allergies and diseases like pneumonia and sinusitis.
Researchers have discovered how plants use genes to fight off powdery mildew disease, a common fungal infection that affects over 9,000 species of plants. By disabling protective genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, the researchers found that a complex gene system can signal cell death and spare healthy cells from infection.
The lack of sexual reproduction in the asexual fungus Penicillium marneffei is limiting its ability to adapt to new environments, making it highly successful in its local area but stopping its spread to other areas. This inability to adapt may ultimately lead to extinction due to the importance of gene mixing for adaptation.
A recent study by the University of Manchester discovered that pillows can contain a substantial fungal load, with some samples having over 1 million fungal spores per pillow. The research highlights the potential for fungal contamination to exacerbate respiratory diseases like asthma and sinusitis in adults.
A team of researchers has isolated a new defensin, plectasin, from fungi that is highly effective against drug-resistant bacteria. Plectasin targets specific strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes, including those resistant to conventional antibiotics.
A study by Alex Woods and colleagues suggests that climate change may be behind an unprecedented epidemic of dothistroma needle blight in forests. Increased summer precipitation is believed to have spread the pathogen, which typically thrives in moist conditions.
A recent study found that infected tall fescue grass outcompetes native plants more quickly when herbivores are present. The symbiotic fungus Neotyphodium coenophialum produces alkaloids that harm livestock, but also contributes to the spread of infected fescue.
Researchers found that low temperatures trigger a specific splicing mechanism in frq mRNA, excluding the l-FRQ translation initiation site and modulating circadian rhythmicity. This temperature-dependent inhibition of translation by uORFs effectively regulates FRQ levels and circadian rhythms.
The study found that Bermudagrass lawns support twice as many fungal spores as St. Augustine grass, which can trigger allergic reactions. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing is also recommended to reduce potential allergens.
Biologists discovered a common corn fungus can launch its spores at incredible speeds of up to 80 miles an hour. The spore travels only two-tenths of an inch before landing due to atmospheric drag, which plays a significant role in the physics of scaling.
Researchers discover Aspergillus fumigatus has genes required for sexual reproduction, affecting disease control and potential antifungal drug resistance. The fungus's common presence in compost heaps may be a hotbed of fungal sex.
Researchers found nearly equal proportions of two different sexes in a worldwide collection of 290 specimens, indicating recent evolutionary history of sexual activity. This discovery could lead to new strains with increased ability to cause disease and infect humans.
Researchers found evidence of a 600-million-year-old fungi-algae symbiosis in fossilized specimens from the Doushantuo Formation in South China. The discovery suggests that this symbiotic relationship may have evolved independently on land and in marine environments.
Fungus-farming termites cultivated fungi as a food source inside their nests, with the relationship representing an impressive example of mutualistic symbiosis. Researchers suggest that termite agriculture originated in the African rainforest and gave rise to various fungus-cultivating termite species.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that members of the same sex can mate and produce offspring in the infectious fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. This novel type of sexual cycle allows for genetic exchange between individuals, potentially providing an advantage for the fungus.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have successfully created an artificial version of mother of pearl, a naturally occurring compound that is several times stronger than nylon. By layering molecules on top of each other, scientists can engineer the mechanical properties of the material to suit specific applications.
A team of researchers, led by UCR scientist Michael Allen, investigated the response of a mycorrhizal fungal community to CO2 concentrations over six years. The findings suggest that previous work has overestimated the magnitude of community and ecosystem responses to carbon dioxide changes.
Researchers have mapped the genome of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that causes severe inflammation of the brain in people with HIV and those taking chemotherapy or steroid treatments. The study identified 30 new genes involved in the fungus's biosynthesis, offering potential targets for treatment.
Evolutionary adaptation leads to permanent antibiotic resistance in fungi, making it difficult to prevent its spread. Researchers focus on reducing dependence on antibiotics to combat this growing issue.
Botrytis cinerea, a major problem in horticulture and viniculture, uses ABC transporters to pump toxic substances out of the fungus. The research reveals that this mechanism is comparable to multiple drug resistance in humans, with the protein BcatrB playing a key role.
Researchers discovered Cf-4 and Cf-9 resistance genes in wild tomato species, likely retained against the fungus C. fulvum.