Pathogenic Fungi: Morphogenesis, Pathogenicity and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites—3rd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

There are an estimated 1.5 million species of fungi, among which pathogenic fungi can cause diseases to humans, plants, animals and even other fungi. Morphological changes are required for pathogenic fungi to cause disease. Physiological and environmental stimuli regulate morphogenic differentiation through conserved signaling pathways. In addition to cell size and shape, morphogenesis is linked to changes in cell surface composition, which are required by diverse microbes to be successful as pathogens. Pathogenic fungi utilize various pathogenic effectors to infect their hosts. The effectors are important virulence determinants of pathogenic fungi and play important roles in successful pathogenesis, predominantly by avoiding the host surveillance system. However, besides being important for pathogenesis, fungal effectors might be recognized by resistant cultivars of the host, which produce a strong immune response to ward off pathogens. Pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria toxigenic species, are found to produce a wide variety of toxic secondary metabolites, which seriously threaten human health and green agricultural practices.

In recent years, the development of molecular biology tools has led to the development of faster, more reliable detection techniques, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the adaptation and speciation of pathogenic fungi. The aim of this Special Issue is to characterize the morphogenesis, pathogenicity and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites of pathogenic fungi through comprehensive reviews, original studies and novel perspectives.

Prof. Dr. Zhenhong Zhuang
Guest Editor

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