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Metabolism and Ecological Role of Fungi in Extreme Environments
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Metabolism and Ecological Role of Fungi in Extreme Environments

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Ecological Interactions of Fungi".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 2625

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Changhong Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: extreme environmental fungi; fungal biology; fungal ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Journal of Fungi is preparing a Special Issue focused on the "Metabolism and Ecological Role of Fungi in Extreme Environments". This collection aims to explore how fungi adapt to and function in extreme conditions, highlighting their metabolic processes and ecological significance. We invite original research and review articles on topics such as fungal survival strategies in harsh environments, the diversity and bioactivity of fungal metabolites, interactions with other organisms, and their role in biogeochemical cycles. This Special Issue aims to advance understanding of fungal resilience and their essential ecological contributions, offering new insights into their role in extreme habitats and fostering further research in this dynamic field.

Prof. Dr. Changhong Liu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fungi
  • extreme environments
  • metabolism
  • adaptation
  • ecological role
  • biogeochemical cycles
  • survival strategies
  • fungal diversity

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 31961 KB  
Article
From Contact to Stalemate: MAPK-Associated Chemical and Enzymatic Defenses Shape a Stable Barrage in the Co-Culture of Trametes sp. D and Aspergillus niger L14
by Jialiang Ying and Huawei Zhang
J. Fungi 2026, 12(5), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12050327 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1487
Abstract
The co-culture between Trametes sp. D and Aspergillus niger L14 resulted in a distinct orange-brown antagonistic band at their interface. Direct hyphal contact was associated with markedly enhanced production of numerous secondary metabolites (SMs), some of which were absent or decreased in monocultures. [...] Read more.
The co-culture between Trametes sp. D and Aspergillus niger L14 resulted in a distinct orange-brown antagonistic band at their interface. Direct hyphal contact was associated with markedly enhanced production of numerous secondary metabolites (SMs), some of which were absent or decreased in monocultures. T. sp. D induced indolic compounds and cyclic dipeptides, such as Indole-3-acetamide and Cyclo-(Pro-Phe), whereas A. niger L14 overproduced polyketide-derived pigments and organic acids, such as Fonsecin and Kojic acid. These SMs did not inhibit their producer but suppressed the opponent’s growth, indicating reciprocal chemical antagonism. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of stress-related and metabolic genes, consistent with each fungus activating defense pathways. Biochemical assays showed that the confrontation zone had the highest oxidative stress markers, cell wall-degrading enzyme activity, and acidification (notably by A. niger L14), reflecting intense interfungal antagonism. The stress-response mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was also activated in both fungi. Our findings supported a mechanistic model of fungal competition involving direct contact, chemical exchange, enzymatic attack, and stress signaling, highlighting that physical interactions likely contributed to triggering cryptic secondary metabolism and robust defense responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism and Ecological Role of Fungi in Extreme Environments)
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17 pages, 2597 KB  
Article
Differential Responses of Fungal Community Diversity and Soil Environmental Variables to Freeze–Thaw Disturbance in Seasonally Frozen Soil
by Hong Pan, Xiaoyu Fu, Xiaosong Shan, Siyuan Liu, Dan Wei, Daoguang Zhu, Xinming Lu, Zhichao Cheng and Libin Yang
J. Fungi 2026, 12(3), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12030213 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 637
Abstract
Permafrost regions serve as sensitive indicators of global warming due to their ecological sensitivity and role as climate archives. To study how soil microbial communities in seasonal permafrost respond to freeze–thaw alternations, we analyzed composition and diversity during freezing, freeze–thaw, and thawing stages, [...] Read more.
Permafrost regions serve as sensitive indicators of global warming due to their ecological sensitivity and role as climate archives. To study how soil microbial communities in seasonal permafrost respond to freeze–thaw alternations, we analyzed composition and diversity during freezing, freeze–thaw, and thawing stages, identifying key taxa and environmental drivers. Our results identified 11 known fungal phyla and 13 dominant genera in permafrost regions. Most dominant fungi showed stable abundance during soil warming. However, the genera Inocybe and Sebacina were significantly suppressed when transitioning from frozen to freeze–thaw conditions. Fungal species diversity gradually increased with rising temperature and freeze–thaw frequency, with thawed soil showing higher richness and evenness. Frozen, freeze–thaw, and thawed soil were respectively associated with 90.48%, 71.43%, and 66.67% of node species. Adjacent stages shared 57.14% of coexisting species. Keystone node species declined progressively from frozen to thawed stages, indicating substantial yet continuous community reorganization. Furthermore, total carbon, organic carbon, available nitrogen, and phospholipid fatty acids peaked in freeze–thaw alternating soil. Active fungal biomass and species richness were most strongly correlated with soil carbon, temperature, and moisture. Overall, the influence of nutrients on soil fungi was limited across different freeze–thaw stages, while temperature emerged as the primary driver reshaping fungal community structure during freeze–thaw dynamics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism and Ecological Role of Fungi in Extreme Environments)
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