{"title":"Molecular Identification of <i>Fusarium</i> Isolates from Bozcaada Çavuş and Karalahna Grapes in Türkiye.","authors":"Gülçin Özcan Ateş","doi":"10.3390/jof11050373","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050373","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Contamination of agricultural products by <i>Fusarium</i> species is a significant concern and is commonly found in various agricultural products. They cause severe economic losses in the products, and contaminate and threaten human and animal health due to the toxins they produce. Therefore, determining species diversity in various agricultural products is crucial. Bozcaada is well suited for cultivating the highest quality Çavuş grape due to its unique location and climate. Therefore, in this study, the sequencing of the <i>tef1</i> and <i>tub2</i> genes in <i>Fusarium</i> isolates from table Çavuş and wine grapes Karalahna, which are specific to Bozcaada, was performed, and their phylogenetic relationships were examined. As a result, it was determined that 11 of the 17 isolates were <i>Fusarium annulatum</i> from the <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex (FFSC), 2 were <i>Fusarium nirenbergiae</i> from the <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> species complex (FOSC), 2 were <i>Fusarium fabacearum</i> from the FOSC, and the last 2 isolates were <i>Fusarium makinsoniae</i> and <i>Fusarium clavus</i> (as '<i>clavum'</i>) from the <i>F. incarnatum-equiseti</i> species complex (FIESC). The <i>F. makinsoniae</i> and <i>F. fabacearum</i> species obtained in the study are the first recorded for Türkiye. This research highlights the variety of <i>Fusarium</i> species identified in Bozcaada vineyards in Türkiye.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12112858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms for Mycorrhiza-Enhanced Drought Tolerance in Maize by Regulating the Ca<sup>2+</sup> Signaling Pathway.","authors":"Qiaoming Zhang, Wenjing Yang, Miaomiao Wang, Junwei Chen, Zhaoran Zhang, Yanan Wei, Qingshan Chang, Minggui Gong","doi":"10.3390/jof11050375","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050375","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the continuous change of climate, drought stress has emerged as the primary constraint on crop growth, posing a significant threat to the stability of global grain reserves. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as a kind of widely distributed root endophytes, enhance the drought tolerance of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) through regulating the physiological and molecular responses. However, comprehensive transcriptome analysis to reveal the molecular mechanism of drought tolerance in the symbiotic process between AMF and maize is still limited. In the potted plant experiment, maizes inoculated with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus <i>Funneliformis mosseae</i> were grown under well-watered (WW) or drought-stressed (DS) conditions. By using RNA-Seq and transcriptome analysis on maize roots and leaves, this work aimed to investigate the differential expressed genes (DEGs) related to the Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling pathway induced by AMF symbiosis under drought stress. Our findings indicated that <i>F. mosseae</i> inoculation resulted in a decrease in the net fluxes of Ca<sup>2+</sup>, while simultaneously elevating Ca<sup>2+</sup> contents in the maize roots and leaves under well-watered or drought-stressed conditions. Notably, 189 DEGs were regulated not only by AMF symbiosis and drought stress, but also exhibited preferential expression in either leaves or roots. The annotation and enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that most of the DEGs were significantly enriched in Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling pathway genes, related to signal transduction, cellular process, and defense response. A high number of DEGs with this function (including calcineurin B-like protein (CBL), CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) receptor kinases) were upregulated-DEGs or downregulated-DEGs in <i>F. mosseae</i>-inoculated maizes under drought stress. Furthermore, some DEGs belong to transcription factor (TF) families, including bHLH ERF, and, MYB, were speculated to play key roles in improving the drought tolerance of maize. Based on the expression data and co-expression analysis between TF and Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling pathway genes, <i>Whirly1</i> with <i>CBL11</i>, and BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (<i>BES1</i>) with <i>CBL10</i>, <i>CIPK24</i>, <i>CDPK1</i>, <i>CDPK14</i>, <i>CDPK19</i>, and <i>MAPK9</i> genes showed significant positive correlations, while <i>B3</i> domain-containing transcription factors (<i>B3</i> TFs) with <i>MAPK1</i> and both <i>CBL9</i> genes showed significant negative correlations in response to both <i>F. mosseae</i> inoculation and drought stress. The regulation of Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling pathways by AMF symbiosis was an important response mechanism of maize to improve their drought resistance. This study provides insightful perspectives on how AMF-induced modulation of gene expression within the C","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113064/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiao-Xu You, Xiao-Gang Li, Xing-Kai Zhang, Wen Gu, Di Chen, Sen He, Guan-Hua Cao
{"title":"Arsenic Stress Resistance in the Endophytic Fungus <i>Cladosporium cladosporioides</i>: Physiological and Transcriptomic Insights into Heavy Metal Detoxification.","authors":"Xiao-Xu You, Xiao-Gang Li, Xing-Kai Zhang, Wen Gu, Di Chen, Sen He, Guan-Hua Cao","doi":"10.3390/jof11050374","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050374","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aims to evaluate the tolerance of an endophytic fungus isolated from the fibrous roots of <i>Gentiana yunnanensis</i> Franch. to arsenic (As) and elucidate the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms. The filamentous fungus is identified as <i>Cladosporium cladosporioides</i> based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic tree analysis, belonging to the family Moniliaceae and Phyla Hyphomycetes. The tolerance of <i>C. cladosporioides</i> to As(V) was assessed by measuring its biomass under varying concentrations of As(V). The fungus exhibited remarkable As(V) tolerance, with an EC<sub>50</sub> value of 2051.94 mg/L, and accumulated high concentrations of As in its mycelium. Subcellular distribution analysis revealed that As was predominantly localized in the cell wall fraction, with levels 4.06 times higher than those in the non-cell wall fraction. Notably, the concentrations of total organic As and As(III) in the mycelium were 852.75 μg/g and 24.94 μg/g, respectively, with conversion ratios of 76.64% and 2.24%. The organic As levels significantly surpassed both As(V) and As(III) concentrations in all cellular fractions (cell wall and non-cell wall components), demonstrating particularly efficient As transformation in <i>C. cladosporioides</i>. Under As(V) stress, the membrane antioxidant system, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), metallothionein (MT), glutathione (GSH), and melanin, was activated and significantly enhanced to mitigate oxidative damage. Transcriptomic analysis identified 4771 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 2527 upregulated), including highly expressed As-responsive genes (<i>CcArsH_1</i>, <i>CcARR_1</i>, <i>CcARR_</i>3, <i>CcGST_1</i>, and <i>CcGST</i>_<i>3</i>). Strong correlations emerged between As speciation (total/organic/As(V)/As(III)), antioxidant levels, and DEG expression patterns. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that <i>C. cladosporioides</i> employs a multi-faceted As detoxification strategy involving subcellular distribution and reductive transformation (As(V) to As(III)/organic As), antioxidant system enhancement, transcriptomic adaptations, and integrated defense strategy. This work highlights <i>C. cladosporioides</i> potential for As bioremediation and elucidates As accumulation mechanisms in <i>G. yunnanensis</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12112881/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multiple Analyses Reveal Evidence for Three New Species of <i>Collybia</i> (Clitocybaceae, Basidiomycete) from China.","authors":"Yue Qi, Aiguo Xu, Liu Yang, Hongbo Guo, Yaobin Guo, Fashuang Wan, Ruiheng Yang, Ying Pei, Xiaodan Yu","doi":"10.3390/jof11050371","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Three new species of <i>Collybia</i> in China, <i>Collybia clavipes</i>, <i>C. carnea</i> and <i>C. violea</i>, are originally reported and described based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. This study provides detailed morphological descriptions of these three new species of <i>Collybia</i>, which can be accurately distinguished from other species within the genus <i>Collybia</i>. Phylogenetic relationships of Clitocybaceae were analyzed using a four-loci combined dataset (ITS-nrLSU-<i>rpb2</i>-<i>tef1-α</i>), and the results show that the three newly discovered species of <i>Collybia</i> form three distinct lineages, respectively. Based on the combination of morphological and molecular methods, these three newly collected species of <i>Collybia</i> are confirmed as new to science. A theoretical basis is provided for the species diversity of <i>Collybia</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12112982/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Saika Anne, Maranda R McDonald, Yuan Lu, Ryan L Peterson
{"title":"<i>Pseudogymnoascus destructans</i> Transcriptional Response to Chronic Copper Stress.","authors":"Saika Anne, Maranda R McDonald, Yuan Lu, Ryan L Peterson","doi":"10.3390/jof11050372","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050372","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Copper (Cu) is an essential metal micronutrient, and a fungal pathogen's ability to thrive in diverse niches across a broad range of bioavailable copper levels is vital for host colonization and fungal propagation. Recent transcriptomic studies have implied that trace metal acquisition is important for the propagation of the white nose syndrome (WNS) causing fungus, <i>Pseudogymnoascus destructans</i>, on bat hosts. This report characterizes the <i>P. destructans</i> transcriptional response to Cu-withholding and Cu-overload stress. We identify 583 differently expressed genes (DEGs) that respond to Cu-withholding stress and 667 DEGs that respond to Cu-overload stress. We find that the <i>P. destructans</i> Cu-transporter genes CTR1a and CTR1b, as well as two homologs to <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> Cbi1/BIM1 <i>VC83_03095</i> (BLP2) and <i>VC83_07867</i> (BLP3), are highly regulated by Cu-withholding stress. We identify a cluster of genes, <i>VC83_01834</i> - <i>VC83_01838</i>, that are regulated by copper bioavailability, which we identify as the Cu-Responsive gene Cluster (CRC). We find that chronic exposure to elevated copper levels leads to an increase in genes associated with DNA repair and DNA replication fidelity. A comparison of our transcriptomic datasets with <i>P. destructans</i> at WNS fungal infection sites reveals several putative fungal virulence factors that respond to environmental copper stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144149947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shyam Kumar Mishra, Rajesh Kuppusamy, Christina Nguyen, Jennifer Doeur, Harleen Atwal, Samuel Attard, Kristian Sørensen, Jennifer S Lin, Edgar H H Wong, Alex Hui, Annelise E Barron, Naresh Kumar, Mark Willcox
{"title":"Evaluation of the Synergistic Activity of Antimicrobial Peptidomimetics or Colistin Sulphate with Conventional Antifungals Against Yeasts of Medical Importance.","authors":"Shyam Kumar Mishra, Rajesh Kuppusamy, Christina Nguyen, Jennifer Doeur, Harleen Atwal, Samuel Attard, Kristian Sørensen, Jennifer S Lin, Edgar H H Wong, Alex Hui, Annelise E Barron, Naresh Kumar, Mark Willcox","doi":"10.3390/jof11050370","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With rising multidrug-resistant yeast pathogens, conventional antifungals are becoming less effective, urging the need for adjuvants that enhance their activity at lower doses. This study evaluated the synergistic activity of antimicrobial peptidomimetics (TM8 and RK758) or colistin sulphate in combination with conventional antifungals against <i>Candida albicans</i>, <i>C. tropicalis</i>, <i>C. parapsilosis</i>, <i>Meyerozyma guilliermondii</i>, <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i>, <i>Pichia kudriavzevii</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i>, and <i>Candidozyma auris</i> using the checkerboard microdilution test. RK758 was synergistic with fluconazole in 78% of isolates, with the remaining 22% of isolates still showing partial synergy; it showed synergy with amphotericin B in 56% of isolates, and with caspofungin, 78% of isolates exhibited either synergy or partial synergy. TM8 showed synergy with fluconazole in 44% (with partial synergy in another 44%) of isolates, with amphotericin B in 67% of isolates, and with caspofungin in 44% (with partial synergy in another 44%) of isolates. Colistin with fluconazole or caspofungin exhibited synergy or partial synergy in 56% of the isolates. No antagonism was observed in any of the combinations. Additionally, a time-kill assay further demonstrated synergistic activity between fluconazole and TM8 or RK758. The effects of these peptidomimetics on cell membrane integrity were demonstrated in an ergosterol binding assay, supported by SYTOX Green and cellular leakage assays, both indicating a lytic effect. These results suggest that peptidomimetics can synergise with conventional antifungals, offering a potential strategy for combination therapy against yeast infections. The membrane lytic activity of the peptidomimetics likely plays a role in their synergistic interaction with antifungals, thereby enhancing the antimicrobial activities of both compounds at sub-MIC levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12112644/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vincent Landré, Felix Karl-Ludwig Klingebiel, Christiaan Hendrik Bas van Niftrik, Elisabeth Goetze, Roberto F Speck, Christian Thomas Hübner, Hans-Christoph Pape, Frank Peter Schäfer
{"title":"Mucormycosis Caused by <i>Apophysomyces elegans</i>-A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature of Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Cases of the Genus <i>Apophysomyces</i>.","authors":"Vincent Landré, Felix Karl-Ludwig Klingebiel, Christiaan Hendrik Bas van Niftrik, Elisabeth Goetze, Roberto F Speck, Christian Thomas Hübner, Hans-Christoph Pape, Frank Peter Schäfer","doi":"10.3390/jof11050368","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050368","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Orbitocerebral mucormycosis, caused by <i>Apophysomyces</i>, is a rare infection, usually occurring in tropical and subtropical climates, with a high mortality rate. We report a case of orbitocerebral mucormycosis caused by <i>A. elegans</i> in a person living with HIV (PLWHIV) from Africa alongside a systematic literature review updating current diagnostic and treatment strategies for orbitocerebral mucormycosis caused by <i>Apophysomyces</i>.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The presented case was treated in our hospital for polytrauma following a motor vehicle accident (MVA) with aggressive surgical debridement and therapy with liposomal Amphotericin B (AMB). We evaluated clinical presentation, imaging, surgery, and postoperative outcomes. A systematic review of English or German language articles (published between 1985 and 2025) was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Articles describing patients with mucormycosis due to <i>Apophysomyces</i> were summarized. Quantitative values for relevant parameters that indicated a reduction in mortality and morbidity were obtained.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The systematic search initially identified 452 publications, from which 79 studies were retrieved. Seventeen publications comprising 21 cases were included, along with one additional case from our institution, for a total of 22 rhino-orbito-cerebral infections caused by the genus <i>Apophysomyces</i>. <i>Apophysomyces elegans</i> (<i>A. elegans</i>) was the most frequently isolated species (n = 17), followed by <i>A. variabilis</i> (n = 4) and <i>A. ossiformis</i> (n = 1); <i>A. trapeziformis</i> was not reported. The majority of patients were male (72.7%), with a mean age of 40.7 ± 15.9 years. Trauma (27.3%) and diabetes mellitus (18.2%) were the most common underlying risk factors, with SARS-CoV-2 infection identified in 13.6% of cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mucormycosis due to <i>Apophysomyces</i> is a rare but potentially devastating condition. Based on our experience and the literature, we suggest that the early diagnosis of <i>Apophysomyces</i> treated with liposomal AMB and aggressive surgical debridement is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12112950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Comprehensive Review on Chemical Structures and Bioactivities of <i>Ostropomycetidae</i> Lichens.","authors":"Yunhui Wang, Chengyue Hao, Shuhao Jiang, Yanhu Ju, Wei Li, Zefeng Jia","doi":"10.3390/jof11050369","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050369","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lichenized fungi, recognized as an ecologically vital and pharmaceutically promising resource, hold substantial value in both environmental conservation and medicinal applications. As the second largest subclass within the lichen-forming fungi of Lecanoromycetes, <i>Ostropomycetidae</i> emerged as a critical reservoir of bioactive secondary metabolites. Current research has revealed that these secondary metabolites demonstrate remarkable bioactivities, positioning them as potential sources for novel pharmaceutical compounds. Despite considerable progress in characterizing chemical constituents and evaluating bioactivities within this subclass, a systematic summary of these discoveries remains absent. This review synthesizes the lichenochemical research progress, providing critical evaluations of 202 structurally characterized compounds from <i>Ostropomycetidae</i> lichen species over recent decades. These <i>Ostropomycetidae</i>-derived compounds cover the phenols, polyketides, fatty acids, terpenoids, steroids, and non-ribosomal peptides, and exhibit diverse bioactivities including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-neurodegenerative diseases, antitubercular, anti-herbivore, and antitrypanosomal, and so on. The aim of this review is to establish a robust chemodiversity framework and to offer strategic guidance for targeted exploration of lichen-derived drug candidates in the biological resources of <i>Ostropomycetidae</i> lichens.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113121/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chuyu Tang, Yuejun Fan, Tao Wang, Jie Wang, Mengjun Xiao, Min He, Xiyun Chang, Yuling Li, Xiuzhang Li
{"title":"Integrated Amino Acid Profiling and 4D-DIA Proteomics Reveal Protein Quality Divergence and Metabolic Adaptation in <i>Cordyceps</i> Species.","authors":"Chuyu Tang, Yuejun Fan, Tao Wang, Jie Wang, Mengjun Xiao, Min He, Xiyun Chang, Yuling Li, Xiuzhang Li","doi":"10.3390/jof11050365","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050365","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To explore the differences in protein quality among classic medicinal entomopathogenic fungi and to evaluate their metabolic adaptability, we analyzed the amino acid composition and proteomic characteristics of <i>Cordyceps sinensis</i> (CS), <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> (CM), and <i>Cordyceps cicadae</i> (CC). Quantitative analysis showed CM contained the highest crude protein and lysine, methionine, threonine, and valine. CS adapted to high-altitude hypoxia and exhibited lower protein but elevated leucine, isoleucine, and histidine contents, which may contribute to membrane stabilization and oxidative stress resistance. CC displayed higher non-essential amino acids such as arginine, proline, and tyrosine, reflecting active nitrogen metabolism. Four-dimensional data-independent acquisition (4D-DIA) proteomics identified 495 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Compared with CS, CM and CC displayed upregulated glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases 2 (GOT2), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) coordinately regulate nitrogen flux through the alanine-aspartate-glutamate metabolic network and urea cycle, supporting metabolic intermediate replenishment for energy metabolism. The upregulation of branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha (BCKDHA) and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase short/branched chain (ACADSB) in CM and CC facilitated the integration of branched-chain amino acid catabolism with the TCA cycle, explaining species-specific differences in protein content. This study presents the first application of 4D-DIA proteomics to compare CS, CM, and CC, providing insights into quality divergence mechanisms in medicinal fungi.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113033/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploration of Mangrove Endophytes as Novel Sources of Tannase Producing Fungi.","authors":"Vinodkumar Kushwaha, Jitendra R Patil, Ganesh Chandrakant Nikalje, Lal Sahab Yadav","doi":"10.3390/jof11050366","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jof11050366","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tannase, a highly adaptive biocatalyst, plays a pivotal role in diverse bioconversion reactions in nature. This enzyme exhibits numerous applications across various industrial sectors, including food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and beverages. This study aimed to screen and characterize fungal endophytes isolated from mangrove plants for their enzyme tannase-producing ability. Eighty-five filamentous endophytic fungi were isolated from different mangrove samples and subsequently identified. These fungal strains were initially screened using the tannic acid agar plate method. Out of the screened strains, 13 fungal isolates demonstrated tannase production ability. The quantitative estimation of extracellular tannase was performed using the submerged fermentation technique. Among the studied endophytes, eight isolates, namely LV_084 (21.21 IU/mL), LV_074 (15.41 IU/mL), LV_078 (6.98 IU/mL), LV_038 (6.97 IU/mL), LV_077 (6.32 IU/mL), LV_016 and LV_066 (6.37 IU/mL), and LV_060 (6.18 IU/mL) exhibited excellent tannase activity. Among these isolates, LV_084 <i>Phyllosticta capitalensis</i> and LV_074 <i>Aspergillus chevalieri</i> showed the highest enzyme-producing ability. These isolates were authenticated using ITS rDNA sequencing, followed by BLAST search and phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, the physical and chemical conditions for the maximum enzyme production were optimized. This is the first report of enzyme tannase production by <i>Phyllosticta capitalensis</i> and <i>Aspergillus chevalieri</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":15878,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fungi","volume":"11 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12112942/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}