Maize Aspergillus section Flavi isolate diversity may be distinct from that of soil and subsequently the source of aflatoxin contamination.

Aspergillus section Flavi (Flavi) is a diverse group of fungal species whose common members include A. flavus and A. parasiticus.

Two distinct Fusarium graminearum populations colonized European wheat in the past two decades.

Fusarium graminearum is the main causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease in wheat in Europe. To reveal population structure and to pinpoint genetic targets of selection we studied genomes of 96 strains of F. graminearum using population genomics.

Aflatoxigenic Modulates Aflatoxin-B1 Levels through an Antioxidative Mechanism.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are considered to play important functions in species of section including an antioxidative role, as a deterrent against fungivorous insects, and in antibiosis. Atoxigenic are known to degrade AF-B1 (B1). To better understand the purpose of AF degradation, we investigated the degradation of B1 and AF-G1 (G1) in an antioxidative role in .

Preharvest Maize Fungal Microbiome and Mycotoxin Contamination: Case of Zambia's Different Rainfall Patterns.

The preharvest maize mycobiome may be crucial in defining the health of the crop in terms of potential disease burden and mycotoxins. We investigated the preharvest maize mycobiome structure, including the influence of weather patterns, in terms of rainfall intensity, on its composition. In addition, we investigated correlation of genera and with maize fumonisin-B1 and aflatoxin.

Whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis for typing the pandemic pathogen sensu stricto.

Recent improvements in microbiology and molecular epidemiology were largely stimulated by whole- genome sequencing (WGS), which provides an unprecedented resolution in discriminating highly related genetic backgrounds. WGS is becoming the method of choice in epidemiology of fungal diseases, but its application is still in a pioneer stage, mainly due to the limited number of available genomes. Fungal pathogens often belong to complexes composed of numerous cryptic species.

Classification of the plant-associated lifestyle of Pseudomonas strains using genome properties and machine learning.

The rhizosphere, the region of soil surrounding roots of plants, is colonized by a unique population of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). Many important PGPR as well as plant pathogens belong to the genus Pseudomonas. There is, however, uncertainty on the divide between beneficial and pathogenic strains as previously thought to be signifying genomic features have limited power to separate these strains.

Evaluation of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in 410 Chinese Wheat Cultivars Selected for Their Climate Conditions and Ecological Niche Using Natural Infection Across Three Distinct Experimental Sites.

Exploiting wheat cultivars with stable resistance to Fusarium Head blight (FHB) and toxin accumulation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy to reduce the risk of yield losses and contamination with mycotoxins. To facilitate the deployment of stable cultivar resistance, we evaluated FHB resistance and resistance to mycotoxin accumulation in 410 wheat lines bred by local breeders from four major wheat growing regions in China after natural infection at three distinct locations (Hefei, Yangzhou and Nanping). Significant differences in disease index were observed among the three locations.

Why Plants Harbor Complex Endophytic Fungal Communities: Insights From Perennial Bunchgrass in the Namib Sand Sea.

All perennial plants harbor diverse endophytic fungal communities, but why they tolerate these complex asymptomatic symbioses is unknown. Using a multi-pronged approach, we conclusively found that a dryland grass supports endophyte communities comprised predominantly of latent saprophytes that can enhance localized nutrient recycling after senescence. A perennial bunchgrass, , which persists along a gradient of extreme abiotic stress in the hyper-arid Namib Sand Sea, was the focal point of our study.

Contamination and Translocation of Deoxynivalenol and Its Derivatives Associated with Fusarium Crown Rot of Wheat in Northern China.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is one of the most important wheat diseases in northern China. The main causal agent of FCR, , can produce mycotoxins such as type B trichothecenes. Therefore, FCR could be an additional source of mycotoxin contamination during wheat production.

Phylogenomic Analysis of a 55.1-kb 19-Gene Dataset Resolves a Monophyletic that Includes the Species Complex.

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user's needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important species, including the species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus , with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of is polyphyletic.

No to : Phylogenomic and Practical Reasons for Continued Inclusion of the Fusarium solani Species Complex in the Genus .

This article is to alert medical mycologists and infectious disease specialists of recent name changes of medically important species of the filamentous mold species can cause localized and life-threating infections in humans. Of the 70 species that have been reported to cause infections, close to one-third are members of the species complex (FSSC), and they collectively account for approximately two-thirds of all reported infections. Many of these species were recently given scientific names for the first time by a research group in the Netherlands, but they were misplaced in the genus In this paper, we present genetic arguments that strongly support inclusion of the FSSC in There are potentially serious consequences associated with using the name for species because clinicians need to be aware that fusaria are broadly resistant to the spectrum of antifungals that are currently available.

Detecting Introgression Between Members of the and Species Complexes by Comparative Mitogenomics.

The species complex (FFSC) and species complex (FOSC) are two related groups of plant pathogens causing a wide diversity of diseases in agricultural crops world wide. The aims of this study are (1) to clarify the phylogeny of the FFSC, (2) to identify potential deviation from tree-like evolution, (3) to explore the value of using mitogenomes for these kinds of analyses, and (4) to better understand mitogenome evolution. In total, we have sequenced 24 species from the FFSC and a representative set of recently analyzed FOSC strains was chosen, while was used as outgroup for the two species complexes.

Diversity of Mobile Genetic Elements in the Mitogenomes of Closely Related and sensu stricto Strains and Its Implication for Diagnostic Purposes.

Much of the mitogenome variation observed in fungal lineages seems driven by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which have invaded their genomes throughout evolution. The variation in the distribution and nucleotide diversity of these elements appears to be the main distinction between different fungal taxa, making them promising candidates for diagnostic purposes. Fungi of the genus display a high variation in MGE content, from MGE-poor ( and species complex) to MGE-rich mitogenomes found in the important cereal pathogens and sensu stricto.

Population Genomic Analysis Reveals a Highly Conserved Mitochondrial Genome in .

is one of the pivotal members of the species complex (FGSC) causing Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat, barley and rice in large parts of Asia. Besides resulting in yield losses, FHB also causes the accumulation of mycotoxins such as nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON). The aim of this study was to conduct population studies on from Southern China through mitochondrial genome analyses.

. in Loggerhead Sea Turtles (): From Colonization to Infection.

With the aim of evaluating the presence of . in sea turtles with and without lesions and assessing the risk factors favoring colonization and/or infection, 74 loggerhead sea turtles () admitted to rescue and rehabilitation clinics in Italy were analyzed. The study compared 31 individuals with no apparent macroscopic lesions and 43 individuals with macroscopic lesions.

, a Peroxisome Biogenesis Factor, Is Involved in Regulating Vegetative Growth, Conidiation, Sexual Development, and Virulence in .

Peroxisomes are involved in a wide range of important cellular functions. Here, the role of the peroxisomal membrane protein PEX3 in the plant-pathogen and mycotoxin producer was studied using knock-out and complemented strains. To fluorescently label peroxisomes' punctate structures, GFP and RFP fusions with the PTS1 and PTS2 localization signal were transformed into the wild type PH-1 and Δ knock-out strains.

Transcriptome analysis of virulence-differentiated Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum isolates during cucumber colonisation reveals pathogenicity profiles.

Background: Cucumber Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (Foc), is one of the most notorious diseases in cucumber production.

One Health - Cycling of diverse microbial communities as a connecting force for soil, plant, animal, human and ecosystem health.

The One Health concept proposes that there is a connection between human, animal and environmental health. Plants and their health are not explicitly included. In this review, we broaden the One Health concept to include soil, plant, animal and ecosystem health.

First steps towards mitochondrial pan-genomics: detailed analysis of mitogenomes.

There is a gradual shift from representing a species' genome by a single reference genome sequence to a pan-genome representation. Pan-genomes are the abstract representations of the genomes of all the strains that are present in the population or species. In this study, we employed a pan-genomic approach to analyze the intraspecific mitochondrial genome diversity of .

Aspergillus species from Brazilian dry beans and their toxigenic potential.

Aspergilli are common contaminants of food and feed and a major source of mycotoxins. In this study, 87 Aspergillus strains were isolated from beans from 14 different cities in Brazil and identified to the species level based on partial calmodulin and β-tubulin sequence data. All green spored isolates belonged to section Flavi and were identified as A.

Eighty Years of Mycopathologia: A Retrospective Analysis of Progress Made in Understanding Human and Animal Fungal Pathogens.

Mycopathologia was founded in 1938 to 'diffuse the understanding of fungal diseases in man and animals among mycologists.' This was an important mission considering that pathogenic fungi for humans and animals represent a tiny minority of the estimated 1.5-5 million fungal inhabitants on Earth.

Mycotic Keratitis Caused by Fusarium solani sensu stricto (FSSC5): A Case Series.

Owing to a lack of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for mycotic keratitis, approximately one million cases of preventable corneal blindness are reported each year. The number of keratitis cases due to infection with Fusarium is increasing significantly worldwide, many of which are not treated adequately and in a timely manner due to frequent misdiagnosis. In the current report, we describe three cases of keratitis caused by Fusarium solani sensu stricto (FSSC5) from Turkey and The Netherlands, following ocular trauma.