The footprint of gut microbiota in gallbladder cancer: a mechanistic review.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary system with the worst prognosis. Even after radical surgery, the majority of patients with GBC have difficulty achieving a clinical cure. The risk of tumor recurrence remains more than 65%, and the overall 5-year survival rate is less than 5%. The gut microbiota refers to a variety of microorganisms living in the human intestine, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, which profoundly affect the host state of general health, disease and even cancer. Over the past few decades, substantial evidence has supported that gut microbiota plays a critical role in promoting the progression of GBC. In this review, we summarize the functions, molecular mechanisms and recent advances of the intestinal microbiota in GBC. We focus on the driving role of bacteria in pivotal pathways, such as virulence factors, metabolites derived from intestinal bacteria, chronic inflammatory responses and ecological niche remodeling. Additionally, we emphasize the high level of correlation between viruses and fungi, especially EBV and Candida spp., with GBC. In general, this review not only provides a solid theoretical basis for the close relationship between gut microbiota and GBC but also highlights more potential research directions for further research in the future.

The CRZ1 transcription factor in plant fungi: regulation mechanism and impact on pathogenesis.

Calcium (Ca2+) is a universal signaling molecule that is tightly regulated, and a fleeting elevation in cytosolic concentration triggers a signal cascade within the cell, which is crucial for several processes such as growth, tolerance to stress conditions, and virulence in fungi. The link between calcium and calcium-dependent gene regulation in cells relies on the transcription factor Calcineurin-Responsive Zinc finger 1 (CRZ1). The direct regulation of approximately 300 genes in different stress pathways makes it a hot topic in host-pathogen interactions. Notably, CRZ1 can modulate several pathways and orchestrate cellular responses to different types of environmental insults such as osmotic stress, oxidative stress, and membrane disruptors. It is our belief that CRZ1 provides the means for tightly modulating and synchronizing several pathways allowing pathogenic fungi to install into the apoplast and eventually penetrate plant cells (i.e., ROS, antimicrobials, and quick pH variation). This review discusses the structure, function, regulation of CRZ1 in fungal physiology and its role in plant pathogen virulence.

Stalk rot species diversity and molecular phylogeny associated with diseased maize in India.

Stalk rot disease is a major constraint in maize production and till date reported to be caused by two to three species of phytopathogenic fungi but, in our present study, we disclose the first report of stalk rot is caused by complex species of phytopathogens, which belongs to five different genera. Therefore, to substantiate these findings, a total of 105 diseased samples of maize were collected from 21 different locations in six different geographical locations of India from which 48 isolates were used for the research study. Morphological features such as pigmentation, colony color, type of mycelium and pattern of mycelium was examined using macro and microscopic methods. A total of 11 different spp. of pathogens belonging to the five different genera: Fusarium verticillioides (56.25%), F. equiseti (14.5%), F. andiyazi (6.25%), F. solani (2.08%), F. proliferatum (2.08%), F. incarnatum (2.08%), Lasidioplodia theobrame (6.25%), Exserohilum rostrtum (4.16%), Nigrospora spp. (4.16%). and Schizophyllum commune (2.08%) were identified by different housekeeping genes (ITS, TEF-1α, RPB2 and Actin). Fusarium verticillioides, F. equiseti and F. andiyazi were major pathogens involved in stalk rot. This is the first report on F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. incarnatum, Lasidioplodia theobrame, Exserohilum rostrtum, Nigrospora spp. and Schizophyllum commune causing stalk rot of maize and their distribution in the different states of India. Studies on population dynamics of PFSR will enhance the understanding of pathogen behavior, virulence, or its association with different pathogens across India, which will facilitate the development of resistant maize genotypes against the PFSR.

Advanced genetic techniques in fungal pathogen research.

Although fungi have been important model organisms for solving genetic, molecular, and ecological problems, recently, they are also becoming an important source of infectious disease. Despite their high medical burden, fungal pathogens are understudied, and relative to other pathogenic microbes, less is known about how their gene functions contribute to disease. This is due, in part, to a lack of powerful genetic tools to study these organisms. In turn, this has resulted in inappropriate treatments and diagnostics and poor disease management. There are a variety of reasons genetic studies were challenging in pathogenic fungi, but in recent years, most of them have been overcome or advances have been made to circumvent these barriers. In this minireview, we highlight how recent advances in genetic studies in fungal pathogens have resulted in the discovery of important biology and potential new antifungals and have created the tools to comprehensively study these important pathogens.

Monitoring the phenology of plant pathogenic fungi: why and how?

Phenology is a key adaptive trait of organisms, shaping biotic interactions in response to the environment. It has emerged as a critical topic with implications for societal and economic concerns due to the effects of climate change on species' phenological patterns. Fungi play essential roles in ecosystems, and plant pathogenic fungi have significant impacts on global food security. However, the phenology of plant pathogenic fungi, which form a huge and diverse clade of organisms, has received limited attention in the literature. This diversity may have limited the use of a common language for comparisons and the integration of phenological data for these taxonomic groups. Here, we delve into the concept of 'phenology' as applied to plant pathogenic fungi and explore the potential drivers of their phenology, including environmental factors and the host plant. We present the PhenoFun scale, a phenological scoring system suitable for use with all fungi and fungus-like plant pathogens. It offers a standardised and common tool for scientists studying the presence, absence, or predominance of a particular phase, the speed of phenological phase succession, and the synchronism shift between pathogenic fungi and their host plants, across a wide range of environments and ecosystems. The application of the concept of 'phenology' to plant pathogenic fungi and the use of a phenological scoring system involves focusing on the interacting processes between the pathogenic fungi, their hosts, and their biological, physical, and chemical environment, occurring during the life cycle of the pathogen. The goal is to deconstruct the processes involved according to a pattern orchestrated by the fungus's phenology. Such an approach will improve our understanding of the ecology and evolution of such organisms, help to understand and anticipate plant disease epidemics and their future evolution, and make it possible to optimise management models, and to encourage the adoption of cropping practices designed from this phenological perspective.

Wisconsin bill would restrict pathogen studies.

Efforts to ban "gain-of-function" research on viruses and bacteria worry scientists.

The yeast-human coevolution: Fungal transition from passengers, colonizers, and invaders.

Fungi are the cause of more than a billion infections in humans every year, although their interactions with the host are still neglected compared to bacteria. Major systemic fungal infections are very unusual in the healthy population, due to the long history of coevolution with the human host. Humans are routinely exposed to environmental fungi and can host a commensal mycobiota, which is increasingly considered as a key player in health and disease. Here, we review the current knowledge on host-fungi coevolution and the factors that regulate their interaction. On one hand, fungi have learned to survive and inhabit the host organisms as a natural ecosystem, on the other hand, the host immune system finely tunes the response toward fungi. In turn, recognition of fungi as commensals or pathogens regulates the host immune balance in health and disease. In the human gut ecosystem, yeasts provide a fingerprint of the transient microbiota. Their status as passengers or colonizers is related to the integrity of the gut barrier and the risk of multiple disorders. Thus, the study of this less known component of the microbiota could unravel the rules of the transition from passengers to colonizers and invaders, as well as their dependence on the innate component of the host's immune response. This article is categorized under: Infectious Diseases > Environmental Factors Immune System Diseases > Environmental Factors Infectious Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

Characteristics and potential clinical applications of the extracellular vesicles of human pathogenic Fungi.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of lipid membrane-enclosed compartments that contain different biomolecules and are released by almost all living cells, including fungal genera. Fungal EVs contain multiple bioactive components that perform various biological functions, such as stimulation of the host immune system, transport of virulence factors, induction of biofilm formation, and mediation of host-pathogen interactions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on EVs of human pathogenic fungi, mainly focusing on their biogenesis, composition, and biological effects. We also discuss the potential markers and therapeutic applications of fungal EVs.

Cross-kingdom small RNA communication between plants and fungal phytopathogens-recent updates and prospects for future agriculture.

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are short non-coding regulatory RNA sequences that silence the complementary expressive transcripts through an endogenous RNA mediated interference mechanism (RNAi). These sRNAs typically move through plasmodesmata and phloem in plants to support disease resistance, and also through septal pores and vesicles in fungi to act as effector of pathogenicity. Notably, recent reports have shown the occurrence of a bidirectional trafficking of these sRNAs between the host plants and the attacking fungal phytopathogen which have significant implication in the nature of the infection. While the trans-species sRNAs from the pathogen can silence the host mRNAs and inhibit the host immunity genes, the sRNA modules from the host plants can silence the mRNA in the pathogen by impeding the expression of the pathogenicity-related genes. In the present review, we discuss the current state of sRNA trafficking between the plant and the pathogen with special emphasis on the mechanism of cross-kingdom communication which could contribute to the development of pathogen and pest control in future agriculture.

Pathogen-associated grooming.

A fungal surface protein elicits grooming in flies.

Changes of the microbial community in kiwifruit during storage after postharvest application of Wickerhamomyces anomalus.

High-throughput sequencing techniques can provide important information for understanding the interaction between exogenous microbial agents and fruit microbial communities, and explain how it controls postharvest fungal diseases. In this study, we found that Wickerhamomyces anomalus could control the postharvest disease of kiwifruit. Meanwhile, high-throughput sequencing technology results showed that the composition and structure changes of the fungal community in microbial flora were significantly greater than those of bacteria after W. anomalus treated. W. anomalus could colonize inside the fruit and regulate the community composition of bacteria to reduce the abundance of pathogens and eventually maintain the healthy state of the fruit. The dominant genus in the microbiota of kiwifruit after application of W. anomalus showed an increased ability to interact. Some fungi or bacteria are positively associated with yeast in the epiphytic and endophytic sample communities, guiding the synthesis of compound biocontrol strains for kiwifruit postharvest diseases.

Filtrates from cultures of endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of Copaifera oblongifolia (Fabaceae) affect germination and seedling development differently / Fungos endofíticos isolados de folhas de Copaifera oblongifolia (Fabaceae) afetam diferentemente a germinação e o desenvolvimento das plântulas

Interactions between endophytic fungi (EFs) and their host plants range from positive to neutral to negative. The results of such interactions can vary depending on the organ of the infected host plant. EFs isolated from the leaves of some species of plants have potential for use as agents to inhibit seed germination and control invasive plants. The objectives of this study were to identify EFs present in the leaves of Copaifera oblongifolia and to evaluate the role of these fungi in seed germination and seedling development. A total of 11 species of EFs were isolated, which were identified using the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) sequence of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. The isolated species of EFs are generalists and probably are transmitted horizontally. Laboratory tests revealed that filtrates of these fungal isolates differently affect seed germination and seedling development of C. oblongifolia. The species Curvularia intermedia, Neofusicoccum parvum, Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum and Phomopsis sp. negatively affected seed germination, with N. parvum standing out for its negative effects, inhibiting seedling germination and survival in 89 and 222%, respectively. In addition, Cochliobolus intermedius negatively affected seedling development. Thus, the combined use of N. parvum and C. intermedius, or products from the metabolism of these microorganisms, in the control of invasive plants deserves attention from future studies.

As interações entre fungos endofíticos (FEs) e suas plantas hospedeiras variam de positivas, neutras a negativas. Os resultados destas interações podem variar dependendo do órgão da planta hospedeira infectada. FEs isolados de folhas de algumas espécies de plantas têm potencial para serem usados como agentes inibidores da germinação de sementes e no controle de plantas invasoras. Os objetivos deste estudo foram identificar os FEs presentes nas folhas de Copaifera oblongifolia e avaliar o papel destes fungos na germinação das sementes e no desenvolvimento das plântulas. Um total de 11 espécies de FEs foi isolado das folhas de C. oblongifolia e identificado através da sequência dos espaçadores internos transcritos do DNA ribossomal nuclear. As espécies de FEs isoladas são generalistas e provavelmente devem ser transmitidas horizontalmente. Os resultados dos testes de germinação mostraram que filtrados destes isolados fúngicos podem afetar diferentemente a germinação das sementes e o desenvolvimento das plântulas de C. oblongifolia. As espécies Curvularia intermedia, Neofusicoccum parvum, Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum e Phomopsis sp. afetaram negativamente a germinação das sementes de C. oblongifolia. Dentre estas espécies devemos destacar que N. parvum reduziu a germinação e a sobrevivência das plântulas em 89 e 222%, respectivamente. Além disso, Cochiliobolus intermedius afetou negativamente o desenvolvimento das plântulas. Assim, o uso combinado de N. parvum e C. intermedius, ou de produtos do metabolismo destas espécies de fungos, têm potencial para serem usados no manejo de plantas invasoras.