Search Results (414)

Gastrodia elata Blume is an important medicinal orchid, yet its large-scale cultivation is increasingly threatened by fungal diseases. The 4-coumarate–CoA ligase (4CL) gene family directs a key step in phenylpropanoid metabolism and plant defence, but its composition and function in G. elata have not been investigated. We mined the G. elata genome for 4CL homologues, mapped their chromosomal locations, and analysed their gene structures, conserved motifs, phylogenetic relationships, promoter cis-elements and codon usage bias. Publicly available transcriptomes were used to examine tissue-specific expression and responses to fungal infection. Subcellular localisation of selected proteins was verified by transient expression in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Fourteen Ge4CL genes were identified and grouped into three clades. Two members, Ge4CL2 and Ge4CL5, were strongly upregulated in tubers challenged with fungal pathogens. Ge4CL2 localised to the nucleus, whereas Ge4CL5 localised to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Codon usage analysis suggested that Escherichia coli and Oryza sativa are suitable heterologous hosts for Ge4CL expression. This study provides the first genome-wide catalogue of 4CL genes in G. elata and suggests that Ge4CL2 and Ge4CL5 may participate in antifungal defence, although functional confirmation is still required. The dataset furnishes a foundation for functional characterisation and the molecular breeding of disease-resistant G. elata cultivars. Full article

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to the expansion of the spectrum of invasive fungal infections beyond traditional immunocompromised populations. Although COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis is increasingly being recognised, COVID-19-associated mucormycosis remains rare, particularly in non-endemic regions. Concurrent COVID-19-associated invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis and pulmonary mucormycosis with histopathological confirmation is exceedingly uncommon and poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Case presentation: We report the case of a 57-year-old female with myelodysplastic syndrome who underwent haploidentical allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. During post-transplant recovery, she developed COVID-19 pneumonia, complicated by respiratory deterioration and radiological findings, including a reverse halo sign. Bronchoscopy revealed multiple whitish plaques in the right main bronchus. Despite negative serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid galactomannan assay results, cytopathological examination revealed septate hyphae and Aspergillus fumigatus was subsequently identified. Given the patient’s risk factors and clinical features, liposomal amphotericin B therapy was initiated. Subsequent surgical resection and histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of Rhizopus microsporus. Following antifungal therapy and surgical intervention, the patient recovered and was discharged in stable condition. Conclusions: This case highlights the critical need for heightened clinical suspicion of combined invasive fungal infections in severely immunocompromised patients with COVID-19, even in non-endemic regions for mucormycosis. Early tissue-based diagnostic interventions and prompt initiation of optimal antifungal therapy are essential for obtaining ideal outcomes when co-infection is suspected. Full article

Early blight, caused by the pathogen Alternaria solani, is a major fungal disease impacting potato production globally, with reported yield losses of up to 40% in susceptible varieties. As one of the most common diseases affecting potatoes, its incidence has been steadily increasing year after year. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to early blight by comparing gene expression profiles in resistant (B1) and susceptible (D30) potato seedlings. Transcriptome sequencing was conducted at three time points post-infection (3, 7, and 10 dpi) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and pathway enrichment analyses were performed to explore resistance-associated pathways and hub genes. Over 11,537 DEGs were identified, with the highest number observed at 10 dpi. Genes such as LOC102603761 and LOC102573998 were significantly differentially expressed across multiple comparisons. In the resistant B1 variety, upregulated genes were enriched in plant–pathogen interaction, MAPK signaling, hormonal signaling, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways, particularly flavonoid biosynthesis, which likely contributes to biochemical defense against A. solani. WGCNA identified 24 distinct modules, with hub transcription factors (e.g., WRKY33, MYB, and NAC) as key regulators of resistance. These findings highlight critical molecular pathways and candidate genes involved in early blight resistance, providing a foundation for further functional studies and breeding strategies to enhance potato resilience. Full article

Periodontal diseases in pediatric subjects represent a challenging and relatively underexplored area compared to the extensive data available about periodontal diseases in adults. The present narrative review aims to explore the periodontal status and the related subgingival and/or salivary microbial profiles in pediatric subjects (≤18 years), focusing also on the state of health or systemic diseases. In healthy periodontium, early colonizers, such as Streptococcus and Actinomyces spp., dominate the subgingival microbiota, supporting an eubiosis state. Low levels of Candida albicans and latent Herpesviridae may be detected. In gingivitis, the microbial profile shifts towards more pathogenic species, including Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum. In necrotizing gingivitis, typically affecting systemically compromised children, the microbial profile is characterized by spirochetes, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella intermedia. Viral coinfections—especially with HSV, CMV, and EBV—are more frequently detected. In periodontitis, the microbiota was dominated by red complex pathogens along with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the aggressive forms, especially in systemically compromised children, as Herpesviridae reactivation and co-infections. Fungal involvement is less well characterized; Candida albicans may be present, particularly in cases of severe immune suppression. Nevertheless, the lack of pediatric longitudinal studies investigating periodontal disease progression after periodontal treatment and related changes in microbiological composition limited the understanding and exploration of the oral microbiota over time. Full article

Almond decline and dieback have become significant challenges in newly established orchards, with symptoms including internal necrosis, canker, and external gummosis. This work aims to explore the potential fungal and bacterial causative agents through metabarcoding and traditional culture plate isolation across six almond cultivars. Our results emphasize the multifactorial nature of almond decline and dieback, with possible co-infections by opportunistic fungi and bacteria playing a central role. Classical isolation identified 47 fungal species or genera, including Diaporthe amygdali, Diplodia corticola, Phytophthora sp., and several Fusarium species. Almond metabarcoding revealed a more diverse microbial community, highlighting the prevalence of soilborne pathogens such as Neocosmospora rubicola, Dactylonectria estremocensis, and Plectosphaerella niemeijerarum. Soil metabarcoding suggested that these pathogens likely originate from nursery substrates or soils shared with other crops, such as olives and vineyards, that serve as a source of inoculum. ‘Soleta’ generally presented lower richness when compared to the other tested cultivars, suggesting a higher degree of biotic stress and decreased plant resilience. This study highlights the value of integrating NGS approaches to comprehensively study complex diseases and the need for further research on pathogen interactions and cultivar susceptibility for the future development of new sustainable, targeted management strategies in almond orchards. Full article

Background/Objectives: Candidiasis, primarily caused by Candida albicans, and sporotrichosis, mainly caused by Sporothrix schenckii, are skin fungal infections that pose serious threats to global health. The Candida auris is a great concern in immunocompromised individuals, and while Sporothrix brasiliensis cause sporotrichosis, an infection commonly found in cats, this disease can be transmitted to humans through scratches or bites. Existing treatments for these fungal infections often cause problems related to resistance and significant side effects. Consequently, development of alternative therapeutic approaches such as nanotechnology-based topical lipid-based formulations is interesting. Thus, the objectives of this study were to prepare clove oil (CO)-in-water nanoemulsions (NEs) containing amphotericin B (AmB) and characterize them with respect to stability, release profile, and in vitro cytotoxic activity against Candida and Sporothrix strains. As a future alternative for the treatment of fungal skin diseases. Methods: Chemical analysis of clove oil was obtained by GC-MS. The NEs were produced using an ultrasound (sonicator) method with varying proportions of CO, Pluronic^® F-127, and AmB. The NEs were characterized by droplet size, morphology, stability and in vitro release profile. The antifungal and cytotoxic activity against C. albicans, C. auris, S. schenckii, and S. brasiliensis were ascertained employing agar diffusion and colorimetric MTT assay methods. A checkerboard assay was carried out using clove oil and amphotericin B against C. auris. Results: Eugenol was the major compound identified in CO at a concentration of 80.09%. AmB-loaded NEs exhibited particle sizes smaller than 50 nm and a polydispersity index below 0.25. The optimal Ne (NEMLB-05) remained stable after 150 days of storage at 4 °C. It exhibited rapid release within the first 24 h, followed by a slow and controlled release up to 96 h. NEMLB-05 more effectively inhibited C. auris compared to free AmB and also demonstrated greater activity against C. albicans, S. schenckii, and S. brasiliensis. Clove oil and amphotericin B presented synergism inhibiting the growth of C. auris. Conclusions: The selected CO-in-water NEs containing AmB demonstrated promising potential as a topical therapeutic alternative for treating fungal infections. Full article

Fungal infections are recognized as a global health issue, in particular considering the spread of different forms of resistance to the commonly used antifungal drugs and their involvement in the occurrence of co-infections in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. In this paper, a small series of hybrid compounds were designed and synthesized by linking the privileged chromone and xanthone scaffolds, endowed with recognized antimicrobial potential, to the tert-butylbenzylamino portion of the antifungal drug butenafine, through selected linkers. The results showed for the xanthone-based compound 3 a promising activity towards C. auris, C. tropicalis, and C. neoformans, for which a high degree of resistance is commonly observed, together with a significant antibacterial potency towards Gram-positive bacteria, such as S. aureus. Considering that compound 3 displayed favorable selectivity and therapeutic indexes (9.1 and >16, respectively), it appeared as a valuable prototype, deserving further hit-to-lead optimization. Full article

The global market size of animal parasiticides was valued at USD 12.9 billion in 2024. Animal deworming only results in temporary cures with little to no preventive effects; therefore, a strategy that combines animal deworming with prevention is essential in improving the control of helminths. The effectiveness of co-administrating curative and preventive agents and their compatibility were considered based on the parasitophagous fungus Mucor circinelloides, which was developed in edible agar–agar (red seaweed)-carrying dewormers. Accordingly, Petri dishes were prepared with either a biopolymer alone (control, G-C) or with the anthelmintic piperazine (550, 1102, 2210, and 5500 mg/plate) or levamisole (37.5, 75, 150, and 300 mg/plate) and were used to culture the fungus Mucor circinelloides. Strong fungal growth and high numbers of spores were observed in the presence of the anthelmintics. No differences were measured between the control plates and those containing parasiticide drugs. Similar mycelial growth patterns and sporogenesis rates were recorded for different amounts of each anthelmintic. In conclusion, this novel formulation based on biopolymers containing anthelmintics and enriched with the parasitophagous fungus represents a highly promising tool to consider for jointly deworming animals and minimizing the risks of helminth infection. Further studies are in progress to confirm these in vitro results. Full article

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) represents one of the main respiratory infections found among immunocompromised patients. Objective: The study analyzes the incidence of RSV infection in different populations of immunocompromised patients as organ transplant recipients (lung, other solid organs, hematopoietic stem cells) and oncologic patients (solid organ malignancy and hematological malignancy) compared to a group of non-immunocompromised patients. We also assessed the prevalence of viral, bacterial, and mycotic coinfection. Moreover, we aimed at evaluating the efficacy of ribavirin treatment in terms of mortality reduction. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on a total of 466 transplant patients undergoing bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage for suspected viral disease or surveillance between 2016 and 2023, compared to 460 controls. Results: The incidence of RSV was significantly higher in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with lung and bone marrow transplants. Among RSV+ patients, a higher prevalence of viral (influenza virus), bacterial (S. pneumoniae, M. pneumoniae, Nocardia spp.), and fungal (Aspergillus spp.) coinfections were observed. The efficacy of ribavirin in reducing mortality did not show significant differences compared to supportive therapy alone. Conclusions: The results of our exploratory study suggest that immunocompromised patients are particularly vulnerable to RSV infection and coinfections. Our hypothesis-generating data warrant the need for future studies aimed at exploring preventive and therapeutic strategies for RSV infection in these high-risk patient groups. Full article

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the scientific community to prioritize the discovery of preventive methods and new therapeutics, including the investigation of natural compounds with antiviral potential. Fungal secondary metabolites (SMs) represent a promising source of antiviral drugs due to their structural diversity and intrinsic biocompatibility. Herein, the antiviral activity of 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP) against bovine coronavirus (BCoV) has been evaluated in vitro. Considering that BCoV and SARS-CoV-2 are both members of the Betacoronavirus genus and share several key features, BCoV represents a valuable reference model for human coronavirus research. A non-cytotoxic dose of 6PP was used on MDBK cells to evaluate its antiviral activity against BCoV. Different experimental conditions were employed to examine cell monolayer protection both pre- and post-infection, as well as the potential inhibition of viral internalization. Overall, post-infection 6PP treatment reduced viral load and decreased viral internalization. Results were analyzed using viral titration and quantitative PCR, while data interpretation was performed by statistical software tools. This study presents a novel fluorescence quantification approach with high confidence demonstrated by its significant concordance with RT-qPCR results. These data suggest that 6PP could be an effective antiviral agent for BCoV, warranting further investigation of its role in coronavirus inhibition. Full article

Root rot, a globally devastating disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), remains a major constraint on bean production across China. Despite its agricultural impact, the pathogen complex associated with this disease has been poorly characterized in most provinces. To address this critical knowledge gap, we conducted nationwide surveys during 2016–2018, systematically sampling 1–10 symptomatic plants from each of 121 (2016) and 170 (2018) field sites across 17 provinces in China’s major vegetable production regions. Isolates obtained from symptomatic root tissues underwent morphological screening, followed by molecular identification using partial sequences of EF1-α for Fusarium species and ITS regions for other genera. Pathogenicity of representative isolates was subsequently confirmed through controlled greenhouse assays. This integrated approach revealed fourteen fungal and oomycete genera, with Fusarium (predominantly F. oxysporum and F. solani) and Rhizoctonia (R. solani) emerging as the most prevalent pathogens. Notably, pathogen composition exhibited significant regional variation and underwent temporal shifts across developmental stages. Additionally, F. oxysporum, F. solani, and R. solani demonstrated significant interspecies associations with frequent co-occurrence in bean root rot systems. Collectively, this first comprehensive characterization of China’s common bean root rot complex not only clarifies spatial–temporal pathogen dynamics but also provides actionable insights for developing region- and growth stage-specific management strategies, particularly through targeted control of dominant pathogens during key infection windows. Full article

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is a key crop in Mediterranean agriculture, now increasingly threatened by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. Fastidiosa (Xff), the causal agent of Pierce’s disease. This study investigated: (1) the diversity of culturable fungal endophytes in the xylem sap of naturally Xff-infected grapevines, and (2) the interaction between Xff and the pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum identified in the sap. The xylem sap was collected from Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Mallorca, Spain, and fungal communities were characterized using culture-dependent methods. Both beneficial fungi (e.g., Aureobasidium pullulans, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa) and pathogenic species (e.g., S. sclerotiorum, Cladosporium sp., Alternaria alternata, and the Phoma complex) were isolated from both Xff-positive and Xff-negative plants, indicating similar community profiles. Although limited by small sample size, these findings offer preliminary evidence of complex ecological interactions between Xff and the xylem-associated mycobiota, with potential implications for grapevine health and disease development under varying environmental and management conditions. Further experiments under controlled conditions revealed that grapevines co-inoculated with Xff and S. sclerotiorum showed increased disease severity, suggesting a synergistic interaction. These preliminary results highlight the complex interplay between Xff and the fungal endophytic microbiome, which may modulate grapevine susceptibility depending on environmental and management conditions. Full article

Overuse of antibiotics is a concern in ‘culture-negative sepsis’ but it is unclear whether this is due to infection with viruses, fungi or other microbes that are not easily cultured, or whether it results from inflammatory processes. In a prospective study, we enrolled 50 preterm neonates with culture-positive sepsis (CP), culture-negative sepsis (CN), and asymptomatic preterm controls (CO). The microbiome of stool, skin, and blood, including bacterial, viral and fungal components and serum cytokine profiles were evaluated. The microbiome alpha or beta diversity did not differ between CN and CO groups. A MaAsLin analysis revealed increased relative abundances of specific bacterial and fungal genera in stool and skin samples in the CN group compared to CO. The virome analysis identified 24 viruses from skin samples, but they were not statistically different among the three groups. The cytokine and chemokine biomarker profiles were elevated in the CP group but were not statistically different between the CN and CO groups. Although the CN group had a longer hospital stay and higher BPD rates than the controls in unadjusted analyses, these differences were not significant after adjusting for gestational age and birth weight. The CN infants demonstrated microbial shifts without systemic immune activation or significantly worse clinical outcomes, supporting the rationale for discontinuing antibiotics in the absence of positive cultures. Full article

Pepper anthracnose is a globally devastating fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying anthracnose resistance in Capsicum annuum by comparing a resistant variety 225 with a susceptible variety 307. Phenotypic analysis revealed that variety 225 displayed stronger resistance than variety 307. Through comparative transcriptome analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), 17 gene modules were identified, among which the salmon module showed a strong association with resistance in variety 225. Within this module, 18 hub genes—including Ca59V2g00372.1 (CaTLP6), encoding a thaumatin-like protein (TLP)—were significantly upregulated upon infection. A genome-wide analysis identified 31 CaTLP genes in C. annuum, with members of group V (such as CaTLP6) exhibiting induced expression post-inoculation of Colletotrichum scovillei. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that group V CaTLP proteins were associated with the plasma membrane, suggesting a role in pathogen recognition. These findings highlight the significance of CaTLP genes, particularly those in group V, in pepper’s defense against anthracnose caused by C. scovillei and offer promising targets for breeding resistant cultivars. Full article

Aspergillus spp., particularly A. fumigatus, are increasingly reported as emerging pathogens in cetaceans, yet their clinical and ecological relevance remains poorly characterized. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 34 studies involving 106 animals, identifying respiratory, neurological, and otic infections as the most frequent presentations with potential interspecies tropism. Invasive disease, frequently fatal, was linked to co-infections—especially with morbillivirus—and environmental stressors such as pollution- and climate-related immune suppression. Despite cetaceans’ role as sentinel species, antifungal susceptibility testing and species-level identification were inconsistently performed. Additionally, azole-resistant A. fumigatus strains were isolated from wild porpoises, indicating environmental antifungal exposure and potential public health implications. Aspergillosis remains underdiagnosed in free-ranging populations, particularly in remote or pelagic species. Conservation implications were scarcely addressed, despite evidence suggesting that fungal disease may contribute to morbidity, stranding, and population impact. This review underscores the need for enhanced surveillance, integrative diagnostics, and recognition of fungal pathogens in a One Health framework. The growing intersection of climate change, emerging mycoses, and wildlife conservation positions Aspergillus infections in cetaceans as both a marine mammal health concern and an ecological indicator of broader environmental changes. Full article