Two novel species of arctic-alpine lichen-forming fungi (Ascomycota, Megasporaceae) from the Deosai Plains, Pakistan.

Members of the lichen-forming fungal genus are known to occur in cold polar and high altitudinal environments. Two new species, and , are now described from the high altitude Deosai Plains, Pakistan, based on phenotypic, multigene phylogenetic and chemical evidence. Phenotypically, is characterised by orbicular light-brown thalli 1.

New colours for old in the blue-cheese fungus Penicillium roqueforti.

Penicillium roqueforti is used worldwide in the production of blue-veined cheese. The blue-green colour derives from pigmented spores formed by fungal growth. Using a combination of bioinformatics, targeted gene deletions, and heterologous gene expression we discovered that pigment formation was due to a DHN-melanin biosynthesis pathway.

The human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus can produce the highest known number of meiotic crossovers.

Sexual reproduction involving meiosis is essential in most eukaryotes. This produces offspring with novel genotypes, both by segregation of parental chromosomes as well as crossovers between homologous chromosomes. A sexual cycle for the opportunistic human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is known, but the genetic consequences of meiosis have remained unknown.

Citizen science reveals landscape-scale exposures to multiazole-resistant bioaerosols.

Using a citizen science approach, we identify a country-wide exposure to aerosolized spores of a human fungal pathogen, , that has acquired resistance to the agricultural fungicide tebuconazole and first-line azole clinical antifungal drugs. Genomic analysis shows no distinction between resistant genotypes found in the environment and in patients, indicating that at least 40% of azole-resistant infections are acquired from environmental exposures. Hotspots and coldspots of aerosolized azole-resistant spores were not stable between seasonal sampling periods.

Use of Bulk Segregant Analysis for Determining the Genetic Basis of Azole Resistance in the Opportunistic Pathogen .

A sexual cycle was described in 2009 for the opportunistic fungal pathogen , opening up for the first time the possibility of using techniques reliant on sexual crossing for genetic analysis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether the technique 'bulk segregant analysis' (BSA), which involves detection of differences between pools of progeny varying in a particular trait, could be applied in conjunction with next-generation sequencing to investigate the underlying basis of monogenic traits in . Resistance to the azole antifungal itraconazole was chosen as a model, with a dedicated bioinformatic pipeline developed to allow identification of SNPs that differed between the resistant progeny pool and resistant parent compared to the sensitive progeny pool and parent.

Citizen Science Surveillance of Triazole-Resistant in United Kingdom Residential Garden Soils.

Compost is an ecological niche for Aspergillus fumigatus due to its role as a decomposer of organic matter and its ability to survive the high temperatures associated with the composting process. Subsequently, composting facilities are associated with high levels of A. fumigatus spores that are aerosolized from compost and cause respiratory illness in workers.

Novel Biological Functions of the NsdC Transcription Factor in Aspergillus fumigatus.

The fungal zinc finger transcription factor NsdC is named after, and is best known for, its essential role in sexual reproduction (ever in exual evelopment). In previous studies with , it was also shown to have roles in promotion of vegetative growth and suppression of asexual conidiation. In this study, the function of the homologue in the opportunistic human pathogen was investigated.

Global Sexual Fertility in the Opportunistic Pathogen and Identification of New Supermater Strains.

A sexual cycle in was first described in 2009 with isolates from Dublin, Ireland. However, the extent to which worldwide isolates can undergo sexual reproduction has remained unclear. In this study a global collection of 131 isolates was established with a near 1:1 ratio of mating types.

Novel Multiplex and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays for Rapid Species and Mating-Type Identification of and (Causal Agents of Cereal Eyespot), and Application for Detection of Ascospore Dispersal and In Planta Use.

Eyespot, caused by the related fungal pathogens and , is an important cereal stem-base disease in temperate parts of the world. Both species are dispersed mainly by splash-dispersed conidia but are also known to undergo sexual reproduction, yielding apothecia containing ascospores. Field diagnosis of eyespot can be challenging, with other pathogens causing similar symptoms, which complicates eyespot management strategies.

Identification of SclB, a Zn(II)Cys transcription factor involved in sclerotium formation in Aspergillus niger.

Certain Aspergillus species such as Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are well known for the formation of sclerotia. These developmental structures are thought to act as survival structures during adverse environmental conditions but are also a prerequisite for sexual reproduction.

Self/Non-self Recognition: Microbes Playing Hard to Get.

Fungi can fuse with other individuals to enable cooperative growth, although this process is restricted by certain self/non-self recognition systems. A novel layer of compatibility has now been discovered, acting at the stage of germling cell wall fusion, showing the remarkable complexity of allorecognition in fungi.

Culturing and Mating of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen, capable of causing invasive aspergillosis in patients with compromised immune systems. The fungus was long considered a purely asexual organism. However, a sexual cycle was reported in 2009, with methods described to induce mating under laboratory conditions.

First application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for rapid identification of mating type in the heterothallic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.

Background: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays, which operate at a single temperature and require no postreaction processing, have been described for rapid species-specific detection of numerous fungi. The technology has much less commonly been applied to identification of other key genetic traits such as fungicide resistance, and has not yet been applied to mating-type determination in any fungus.

Objectives: To develop first LAMP assays for mating-type identification in a fungus, in this instance with the saprophytic mould and human opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, a heterothallic ascomycete requiring isolates of opposite mating type (MAT1-1, MAT1-2) for sexual reproduction.

Amblypygid-fungal interactions: The whip spider exoskeleton as a substrate for fungal growth.

Fungi and arthropods represent some of the most diverse organisms on our planet, yet the ecological relationships between them remain largely unknown. In animals, fungal growth on body surfaces is often hazardous and is known to cause mortality. In contrast, here we report the presence of an apparently non-harmful mycobiome on the cuticle of whip spiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi).

Whole-Genome Sequence Data Uncover Widespread Heterothallism in the Largest Group of Lichen-Forming Fungi.

Fungal reproduction is regulated by the mating-type (MAT1) locus, which typically comprises two idiomorphic genes. The presence of one or both allelic variants at the locus determines the reproductive strategy in fungi-homothallism versus heterothallism. It has been hypothesized that self-fertility via homothallism is widespread in lichen-forming fungi.

The novel Aspergillus fumigatus MAT1-2-4 mating-type gene is required for mating and cleistothecia formation.

Sexual propagation accompanied by recombination and the formation of spore-containing fruiting bodies is a cornerstone of fungal genetics and biology. In the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus sexual identity has previously been shown to be determined by MAT1-1-1 or MAT1-2-1 genes which act as transcriptional regulators and are present within idiomorphs found at the MAT locus. We here report the identification and first characterization of a further novel gene, termed MAT1-2-4, that is present in the MAT1-2 idiomorph of A.

Sex and the Imperfect Fungi.

Approximately 20% of species in the fungal kingdom are only known to reproduce by asexual means despite the many supposed advantages of sexual reproduction. However, in recent years, sexual cycles have been induced in a series of emblematic "asexual" species. We describe how these discoveries were made, building on observations of evidence for sexual potential or "cryptic sexuality" from population genetic analyses; the presence, distribution, and functionality of mating-type genes; genome analyses revealing the presence of genes linked to sexuality; the functionality of sex-related genes; and formation of sex-related developmental structures.

Comparative genomics reveals high biological diversity and specific adaptations in the industrially and medically important fungal genus Aspergillus.

Background: The fungal genus Aspergillus is of critical importance to humankind. Species include those with industrial applications, important pathogens of humans, animals and crops, a source of potent carcinogenic contaminants of food, and an important genetic model. The genome sequences of eight aspergilli have already been explored to investigate aspects of fungal biology, raising questions about evolution and specialization within this genus.

Name changes in medically important fungi and their implications for clinical practice.

Recent changes in the Fungal Code of Nomenclature and developments in molecular phylogeny are about to lead to dramatic changes in the naming of medically important molds and yeasts. In this article, we present a widely supported and simple proposal to prevent unnecessary nomenclatural instability.

Aspergillus: sex and recombination.

The genus Aspergillus is one of the most widespread groups of fungi on Earth, comprised of about 300-350 species with very diverse lifestyles. Most species produce asexual propagula (conidia) on conidial heads. Despite their ubiquity, a sexual cycle has not yet been identified for most of the aspergilli.

Sexual reproduction of human fungal pathogens.

We review here recent advances in our understanding of sexual reproduction in fungal pathogens that commonly infect humans, including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Where appropriate or relevant, we introduce findings on other species associated with human infections. In particular, we focus on rapid advances involving genetic, genomic, and population genetic approaches that have reshaped our view of how fungal pathogens evolve.