Search Results (5,225)

Background: Saffron corm rot causes significant yield losses worldwide. Although synthetic pesticides are commonly used for management, their overuse can lead to increased fungal resistance and pose a risk to public health. Numerous plants possessing antifungal properties hold significant potential for development as biocontrol agents against saffron corm rot. Result: In this study, the efficacy of biocontrol agents derived from natural plants was evaluated for managing saffron corm rot. Aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts from 15 plants were investigated for antifungal activity and virulence suppression against three saffron pathogens: Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium citrinum, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. Antifungal activity experiments indicated that clove ethanol extract at a concentration of 20 mg/mL exhibited the highest inhibition rate, with values of 93.27 ± 0.0% for Fusarium oxysporum, 86.47 ± 5.55% for Penicillium citrinum, and 68.65 ± 2.40% for Aspergillus brasiliensis. Compared with the model group, clove ethanol extract significantly reduced corm rot and normalized the metabolism of infected corms. On day 30, compared with the model group (34.3 ± 3.7%), the rot rate of clove-treated corms was reduced to 17.2 ± 1.4%, and on day 60, it was reduced to 27.5 ± 1.5% (versus 52.9 ± 3.3% in the model group). Compared with the model group, the levels of soluble sugar, starch, α-amylase, soluble protein, and superoxide dismutase in clove-treated infected corms approached those observed in the control group. Field trials confirmed that clove ethanol extract effectively improved plant growth and reduced the disease severity index (37.00 ± 3.51) in infected corms. Conclusion: Clove ethanol extract is a promising candidate to replace or reduce the use of synthetic pesticides. It provides a theoretical and practical basis for the biocontrol of saffron corm rot. Full article

Amomum villosum is an evergreen perennial herb widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with significant economic and medicinal importance. Throughout the cultivation process, it faces severe fungal disease problems that significantly impact its yield and quality. In July 2025, leaf spot disease with a 56% incidence was observed on A. villosum in Wenshan, Yunnan, China. Affected leaves initially developed irregular grayish-white lesions surrounded by brown margins. As symptom development progressed, semi-submerged black spots formed on the lesion surfaces. Severe infections resulted in premature leaf abscission and, ultimately, death of the entire plant. To identify the pathogen responsible, we conducted isolation and pathogenicity studies. Through morphological characterization, phylogenetic analysis (ITS, LSU, and TUB), and pathogenicity tests, Pestalotiopsis microspora was determined as a pathogen. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled on attached leaves. After 15 days, typical necrotic lesions appeared on inoculated leaves, while controls remained symptom-free. This is the first report of A. villosum leaf spot caused by P. microspora in China. Biocontrol assays revealed that Trichoderma harzianum T15 and T. asperellum T16 exhibited significant antagonistic activity against P. microspora, with inhibition rates of 44.77% and 50.70%, respectively. In addition, Bacillus velezensis SWFU41, isolated from healthy A. villosum leaves, showed superior disease suppression, achieving a control efficacy of 60.52%. Compared with the fungal biocontrol agents, B. velezensis demonstrated greater inhibitory activity against the pathogen, suggesting that bacterial antagonists may provide a more effective biological control strategy for managing A. villosum leaf spot disease. This is the first report of P. microspora-caused leaf spot disease on A. villosum. Furthermore, the comparative evaluation of fungal and bacterial antagonists demonstrated that B. velezensis SWFU41 outperformed T. harzianum and T. asperellum in disease suppression, highlighting its potential as a promising biocontrol agent for sustainable disease management. These findings provide a scientific basis for pathogen monitoring, epidemiological studies, and the development of integrated biological control strategies for A. villosum cultivation. Full article

Invasive fungal infections, including candidemia and invasive aspergillosis, remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality in at-risk patient populations. Rapid, accurate diagnosis is critical for timely antifungal therapy and improved clinical outcomes. We evaluated two commercial molecular assays, the CandID Multiplex PCR and AspID Real-Time PCR, for detection of clinically relevant Candida and Aspergillus species, respectively, in at-risk patients in Paraguay. The CandID assay demonstrated strong agreement with blood culture in detecting candidemia. The AspID assay showed high concordance with galactomannan testing, particularly in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens, supporting its role as a complementary diagnostic tool. Our findings underscore the value of integrating molecular diagnostics into routine fungal diagnostic workflows to improve early detection of invasive fungal infections. Full article

Indoor-air research has largely examined infection, microbial ecology, immune effects and antimicrobial resistance separately, leaving the pathway from indoor biological sources to chronic respiratory outcomes insufficiently integrated. This narrative review synthesises evidence on indoor airborne pathogens and non-viable microbial components as health-relevant biological exposures beyond acute infection. Literature published between 2000 and February 2026 was reviewed from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, supplemented by guidance from WHO, ECDC, US EPA and ASHRAE. Viable microorganisms and non-viable components, including endotoxin, β-(1→3)-glucans, microbial DNA and extracellular vesicles, engage epithelial pattern-recognition pathways and promote inflammatory signalling. Findings included 6.5% higher TNF-α and 5% higher IL-8 per log-unit increase in fungal-spore exposure among sawmill workers; uncontrolled asthma in 45% of moisture- or mould-exposed versus 33% of non-exposed children; airborne resistance-gene and mobile-element loads of 0.55–479.44 copies/m³ in hospital departments; and a 32.8% reduction in viral diversity, but no significant reduction in high viral exposure, following classroom HEPA filtration. These findings support biological plausibility but reveal a fragmented evidence base dominated by observational studies, heterogeneous sampling and limited longitudinal exposure–response data. Indoor bioaerosols should be considered continuous exposures within the exposome, requiring research and regulation across microbiology, environmental engineering, medicine and public health. Full article

Fragrant pear canker, caused by Cytospora pyri, is a major branch disease that reduces the productivity and longevity of Korla fragrant pear orchards in Xinjiang, China. During infection and lesion expansion in woody tissues, C. pyri must breach the host cell wall barrier, in which pectin degradation plays a central role by weakening intercellular adhesion and disrupting tissue integrity. Members of glycoside hydrolase family 28 (GH28), represented mainly by polygalacturonases and other pectin-degrading enzymes, are closely involved in fungal invasion and colonization. However, the composition and virulence-related functions of this gene family encoding for these enzymes in C. pyri remain unclear. In this study, GH28 genes were systematically identified and comparatively analyzed in C. pyri and closely related Cytospora species. Infection-stage expression profiling and functional validation were then performed to assess their roles in pathogenicity. A total of 73 GH28 genes were identified across five Cytospora species, including 15 in C. pyri. Most C. pyri GH28 proteins were predicted to be acidic, hydrophilic, extracellularly secreted proteins carrying conserved motifs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. pyri GH28 members were closely related to homologs from C. mali. Genomic distribution analysis revealed that these genes were dispersed across multiple scaffolds, with no obvious tandem duplication events. RT-qPCR analysis showed that all seven candidate GH28 genes were induced during infection of fragrant pear branches, with VP1G_08835 and VP1G_03209 exhibiting strong expression responses at 6 dpi. Functional validation further showed that deletion of VP1G_08835 impaired vegetative growth and reduced lesion length on detached pear branches by 26.62% compared with the wild type, whereas complementation restored these phenotypes. These findings demonstrate that GH28 genes participate in C. pyri infection and identify VP1G_08835 as an important GH28 member required for normal growth and contributing to virulence. Full article

Lycium barbarum L. is a characteristic agricultural crop in Ningxia. Powdery mildew is a serious fungal disease affecting Lycium barbarum. Resistance analysis of Lycium barbarum varieties is rarely reported, and comparative information on field resistance and associated anatomical and physiological responses remains limited. This study evaluated powdery mildew resistance in 26 Lycium barbarum germplasm accessions under natural field conditions over two years, compared leaf anatomical traits in eight representative accessions, and characterized early physiological responses in the genotype Ningqi-1 after inoculation. Based on the two-year mean disease index (DI), the 26 accessions were assigned to four descriptive resistance categories. Four sigmoidal equations were fitted to the observed disease-progress data; these equations were used only as descriptive curves and were not treated as independently validated predictive models. Across the eight representative accessions, the 2021 DI was negatively correlated with the number of palisade tissue layers, palisade tissue thickness, and leaf compactness, but positively correlated with spongy tissue thickness (two-tailed Pearson correlation, n = 8). In Ningqi-1, inoculation induced time-dependent changes in antioxidant-enzyme activities, malondialdehyde content, defense-related enzyme activities, lignin content, soluble protein content, and soluble sugar content during the first 48 h. The increase in malondialdehyde content suggested enhanced membrane lipid peroxidation during infection, which may reflect oxidative stress associated with powdery mildew infection. Overall, this study characterized field disease responses, candidate anatomical traits associated with DI, and early physiological responses in Ningqi-1. These findings provide preliminary information for future resistance screening, but validation in larger germplasm populations and under controlled inoculation conditions is still required. Full article

Background: Growing interest in the gut mycobiome has renewed focus on Candida spp. in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet, fecal detection remains difficult to interpret, given its uncertain relationship with intestinal inflammation. This narrative review synthesizes historical, mechanistic, observational, and interventional evidence to distinguish colonization, relative abundance, mucosal invasion, virulence transitions, and potential contributions to IBD. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched, focusing on human studies and major mechanistic or interventional contributions. The final synthesis included 43 studies, 41 research articles, and two historical monographs. Results: Fungal alterations in IBD are heterogeneous and method-dependent across studies. Longitudinal cohorts have associated increased relative abundance of the genus Candida with active disease, but findings have not been consistently replicated across populations. Experimental evidence suggests that fungal expansion, morphology, and strain-specific virulence may trigger inflammation in selected settings, although stool sequencing cannot establish viability, invasion, morphology, or causality. Antifungal therapy, fecal microbiota transplantation, and nutraceutical approaches may modify microbial or inflammatory markers, but consistent clinical benefits remain unproven. Conclusions: Fecal detection of Candida spp. should generally be interpreted as a context-dependent signal of disrupted bacterial–fungal–immune interactions, not as evidence of infection or a compelling indication for antifungal treatment. Full article

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in insect immune regulation, but their relationship with antioxidant responses during fungal infection remains unclear. Here, we examined a candidate regulatory relationship among lncRNA1386.1, novel-miR0032-5p, and the catalase gene (CAT) in Apis cerana worker larvae infected with Ascosphaera apis. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that M-miR0032-5p reduced the activity of reporters containing the predicted miRNA response element within lncRNA1386.1 or CAT, whereas mutation of these sequences weakened or abolished the response. In infected larvae, lncRNA1386.1 silencing and novel-miR0032-5p overexpression reduced CAT transcript abundance and CAT protein concentration, and increased dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence intensity. These treatments were also accompanied by alterations in the transcript abundance of the host genes Dorsal1 and Relish and the fungal genes Chit3 and STE11-like. Novel-miR0032-5p inhibition generally produced opposite changes in CAT-related measurements, DHE fluorescence intensity, and the selected host and fungal transcripts. lncRNA1386.1 silencing was associated with increased larval survival, whereas novel-miR0032-5p inhibition was associated with a higher hazard of first visible external mycelial growth without significantly affecting survival. These findings support a negative regulatory role of novel-miR0032-5p in CAT expression and indicate that lncRNA1386.1 participates in a candidate shared miRNA-responsive regulatory relationship. This candidate regulatory relationship was associated with CAT-related antioxidant regulation, superoxide-associated DHE fluorescence, immune-related transcription, selected fungal transcriptional responses, and visible external mycelial growth during A. apis infection. Full article

Background: Invasive and mucosal infections caused by Candida species continue to pose a significant global health burden, particularly due to the species’ increasing resistance to conventional antifungal agents. This systematic review evaluates the antifungal potential of pyrrolidine-based derivatives, focusing on structure–activity relationships, mechanisms of action, and activity against Candida species. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between January 2015 and January 2026, following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261279035). Studies reporting in vitro, in vivo, or in silico evaluation of pyrrolidine derivatives against Candida species were included. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were performed using predefined criteria. Results: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, describing diverse pyrrolidine-based scaffolds, including spirooxindole, dispiro, triazole-linked, tetrazole, and quinoline-fused derivatives. The compounds demonstrated antifungal activity against multiple Candida species, including resistant isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from approximately 0.5 to 16 µg/mL. Several derivatives showed comparable activity to standard antifungal agents under the reported experimental conditions. Mechanistic investigations indicated inhibition of biofilm formation, disruption of fungal cell wall and membrane integrity, suppression of hyphal transition, and modulation of virulence-associated pathways. Multi-mechanism antifungal effects were reported across different structural classes. Conclusions: Pyrrolidine-based derivatives represent promising antifungal scaffolds with potent activity against Candida species and associated virulence factors. However, limited in vivo validation and insufficient pharmacokinetic and toxicity data remain major barriers to clinical translation. Further optimization of structure–activity relationships and comprehensive preclinical evaluation are required to advance these scaffolds toward therapeutic development. Full article

Background: Chronic wounds are frequently associated with biofilms, in which not only bacterial but also fungal pathogens can impair wound healing. Among the most relevant opportunistic pathogens is Staphylococcus aureus; together with Candida albicans, both are part of the human skin microbiome but can also colonize chronic wounds. Interkingdom biofilms formed by these microorganisms have been shown to exacerbate the course of diseases compared to infections caused by either species alone. Methods: To address the limited number of studies examining fungal–bacterial interactions in wound environments, leucocyte-rich human plasma biofilm models (lhBIOMs) inoculated with S. aureus and C. albicans were prepared. The efficacy of the commonly used clinical antiseptics octenidine dihydrochloride/phenoxyethanol (OCT/PE) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) was examined using the quantitative suspension method (QSM). In addition, spatial distribution and morphology of the microorganisms within this biofilm model were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results: In this study, the presence of S. aureus triggered an increase in the formation of filamentation of C. albicans in contrast to the single-species biofilm. In addition, treatment with the tested antimicrobial agents was effective against C. albicans after repetitive applications and showed a clear reduction against S. aureus. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis of the co-culture revealed increased growth of S. aureus in the control culture compared to the single-species model. Conclusions: These findings highlight the pathogenic relevance of interkingdom biofilms in chronic wounds and emphasize the importance of effective species-independent antimicrobial treatment strategies. Full article

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) represent a major clinical challenge, particularly in patients with suspected sepsis, where rapid pathogen identification is critical for timely and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Blood culture (BC) remains the reference diagnostic method but is limited by a long turnaround time and reduced sensitivity, especially in patients receiving prior antibiotics. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and clinical added value of culture-independent digital PCR (dPCR) performed directly on whole blood compared with paired BC. A total of 37 samples from 27 patients with suspected BSI admitted to a tertiary-care hospital were analyzed. dPCR demonstrated the ability to detect a broader spectrum of pathogens compared with BC (34 vs. 28 species), with improved identification of fastidious organisms and fungi, particularly Candida spp. Diagnostic performance analysis showed a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 53.8%, with a positive predictive value of 75.0% and a negative predictive value of 53.8%. Likelihood ratios indicated moderate rule-in capability (Likelihood ration positive 1.62) but limited rule-out performance (Likelihood ratio negative 0.46). Importantly, concordance analysis integrating microbiological and clinical data revealed that a substantial proportion of discordant dPCR-positive results were clinically plausible, suggesting detection of infections not captured by BC, particularly in polymicrobial settings, under antibiotic pressure, or in fungal infections. Longitudinal observations further highlighted the potential of dPCR for monitoring pathogen dynamics and treatment response. Overall, dPCR provides rapid and complementary diagnostic information, enabling earlier pathogen detection, identification of antimicrobial resistance markers, and improved characterization of complex infections. While not suitable as a standalone test due to limited negative predictive value, its integration with conventional microbiology may enhance diagnostic accuracy and support antimicrobial stewardship in the management of BSIs. Full article

Fusarium proliferatum is a fungal pathogen with an exceptionally broad host range, infecting ornamental plants and forest trees such as Populus and Cedrus deodara, and causing heart rot, root rot, and other diseases that lead to severe yield losses. It can also produce mycotoxins, including fumonisins, which threaten human and animal health. Conventional detection relies on isolation, culture, and morphological identification, which are time-consuming and prone to misidentification. Here, we established a rapid, visual molecular detection method by combining recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with the CRISPR/Cas12a system, targeting the F. proliferatum-specific gene Fpro_15953. The assay exhibited high specificity: the F. proliferatum isolate from C. deodara tested positive, while 37 non-target isolates (10 other Fusarium species, 10 other fungi, 15 oomycetes, and 2 Bursaphelenchus nematodes) produced no detectable signal. Under isothermal conditions at 37 °C, after 10 min of RPA followed by 10 min of Cas12a cleavage, as little as 0.001 ng·μL⁻¹ of F. proliferatum genomic DNA could be detected. The method further succeeded in detecting F. proliferatum in artificially inoculated C. deodara needles and Populus × hopeiensis stem and root segments. This RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a platform provides an efficient, accurate tool for F. proliferatum detection and supports rapid field diagnosis. Full article

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gatti are the two most common pathogenic species of the encapsulated yeast genus Cryptococcus and have been linked to fatal neurologic infections in both immunocompromised and healthy individuals. Cryptococcosis, which includes AIDS-defining diseases such as cryptococcal meningitis and meningoencephalitis, is the most frequent fungal infection of the central nervous system, with Africa having the greatest fatality rate. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize C. neoformans from pigeon and bat droppings, which are thought to be environmental reservoirs for the yeast and to determine their relatedness to clinical species. A total of 588 dried and 55 moist pigeon droppings, as well as 50 moist bat droppings, were collected from 18 sites in Ghana’s Greater Accra and Western regions, from sources which included markets, a church, households, and a public park. Seven clinical archived C. neoformans isolates were also retrieved from the Central Laboratory of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Greater Accra. Using conventional methods and partial Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), 49 Cryptococcus neoformans var grubii were isolated from dried pigeon droppings only, yielding a prevalence of 7%. The sequence type (ST)/MLST group could not be defined based on the available data, although the allele types of the housekeeping genes in some of the isolates were identified. Some clinical strains had allele types that were found among the environmental strains, giving preliminary evidence of possible genetic relatedness, highlighting the need for more comprehensive genomic surveillance approaches, to better characterize environmental and clinical cryptococcal isolate transmission patterns and genetic relationships. This work also adds to the global literature supporting pigeon droppings as favorable ecological niches for Cryptococcus. This study was conducted within a One Health framework, recognizing the interconnected roles of environmental reservoirs, animal-associated sources, and human health in the epidemiology of Cryptococcus infections. Full article

Potato early blight is a fungal disease caused by Alternaria solani that seriously affects potato production. Catalase (CAT), an important antioxidant enzyme in plants, regulates the basal immune response to necrotrophic pathogens by decomposing hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); however, its role in potato early blight remains unclear. The results revealed that using a H₂O₂ biosensor for transient overexpression in Nicotiana benthamiana, we found that A. solani infection significantly induced sustained H₂O₂ accumulation in tobacco leaves. Exogenous application of H₂O₂ to potato leaves followed by inoculation with A. solani showed that elevated H₂O₂ levels promoted infection by the pathogen. StCAT1 expression was upregulated upon A. solani infection. Silencing StCAT1 in potato reduced antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, PAL, CAT) and disease resistance, accompanied by elevated H₂O₂ accumulation. Overexpression of StCAT1 enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and disease resistance while decreasing H₂O₂ levels. Additionally, StABI5 was identified as an upstream transcription factor that activates StCAT1 expression, and silencing StABI5 compromised potato resistance to early blight. In conclusion, this study confirms that StCAT1 acts as a positive regulatory factor and mediates potato resistance to early blight through the StABI5-StCAT1 signaling pathway, providing scientific basis and genetic resources for disease-resistant breeding. Full article

Cryptococcosis is a severe fungal infection affecting immunocompromised individuals, with treatment limited to FLZ, AMB, and FC. This study investigated the antifungal potential of fluconazole (FLZ)-, amphotericin B (AMB)-, 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ)-, and clioquinol (CQ)-based combinations against Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. Drug interactions were assessed by checkerboard assay, followed by time–kill curves, irritability, toxicity, and virulence factors inhibition tests. The FLZ + AMB combination showed weak synergism, whereas FLZ combined with CQ or 8HQ exhibited strong synergistic effects (p < 0.001) at low concentrations (0.125–0.25 µg/mL), up to three times greater than those of FLZ + AMB. This effect persisted across other strains, including less FLZ-susceptible isolates. Moreover, FLZ + CQ inhibited melanin production in both species without causing significant irritability or toxicity in the tested models. These results indicate that combining drugs with distinct mechanisms of action can enhance antifungal efficacy while potentially reducing treatment doses. The FLZ + CQ/8HQ combinations represent promising candidates for future in vivo models for therapeutic evaluation. Full article