Suillus: an emerging model for the study of ectomycorrhizal ecology and evolution.

Research on mycorrhizal symbiosis has been slowed by a lack of established study systems. To address this challenge, we have been developing Suillus, a widespread ecologically and economically relevant fungal genus primarily associated with the plant family Pinaceae, into a model system for studying ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations. Over the last decade, we have compiled extensive genomic resources, culture libraries, a phenotype database, and protocols for manipulating Suillus fungi with and without their tree partners.

Hydrogen production promotion and energy saving in anaerobic co-fermentation of heat-treated sludge and food waste.

The objective of this paper is to gain insights into the synergistic advantage of anaerobic co-fermentation of heat-treated sludge (HS) with food waste (FW) and heat-treated food waste (HFW) for hydrogen production. The results showed that, compared with raw sludge (RS) mixed with FW (RS-FW), the co-substrate of HS mixed with either FW (HS-FW) or HFW (HS-HFW) effectively promoted hydrogen production, with HS-HFW promoted more than HS-FW. The maximum specific hydrogen production (MSHP) and the maximum hydrogen concentration (MHC) of HS-HFW were 40.

PacBio high-throughput multi-locus sequencing reveals high genetic diversity in mushroom-forming fungi.

Multi-locus sequence data are widely used in fungal systematic and taxonomic studies to delimit species and infer evolutionary relationships. We developed and assessed the efficacy of a multi-locus pooled sequencing method using PacBio long-read high-throughput sequencing. Samples included fresh and dried voucher specimens, cultures and archival DNA extracts of Agaricomycetes with an emphasis on the order Cantharellales.

Genomic determination of breeding systems and trans-specific evolution of HD MAT genes in suilloid fungi.

Studying the signatures of evolution can help to understand genetic processes. Here, we demonstrate how the existence of balancing selection can be used to identify the breeding systems of fungi from genomic data. The breeding systems of fungi are controlled by self-incompatibility loci that determine mating types between potential mating partners, resulting in strong balancing selection at the loci.

Differential Refractive Index Sensor Based on Coupled Plasmon Waveguide Resonance in the C-Band.

We proposed a differential fiber-optic refractive index sensor based on coupled plasmon waveguide resonance (CPWR) in the C-band. The sensor head is a BK7 prism coated with ITO/Au/ITO/TiO film. CPWR is excited on the film by the S-polarized components of an incident light.

Fungal heavy metal adaptation through single nucleotide polymorphisms and copy-number variation.

Human-altered environments can shape the evolution of organisms. Fungi are no exception, although little is known about how they withstand anthropogenic pollution. Here, we document adaptation in the mycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus driven by soil heavy metal contamination.

Mp1 Protein, a Novel Virulence Factor, Carries Two Arachidonic Acid-Binding Domains To Suppress Inflammatory Responses in Hosts.

infection causes talaromycosis (previously known as penicilliosis), a very important opportunistic systematic mycosis in immunocompromised patients. Different virulence mechanisms in have been proposed and investigated. In the sera of patients with talaromycosis, Mp1 protein (Mp1p), a secretory galactomannoprotein antigen with two tandem ligand-binding domains (Mp1p-LBD1 and Mp1p-LBD2), was found to be abundant.

Rhinovirus respiratory tract infection in hospitalized adult patients is associated with T2 response irrespective of asthma.

Objectives: We assessed the immunological response of hospitalized adult patients with rhinovirus infection, including critically-ill patients.

Methods: The differential white blood cell (WBC) count and the levels of 29 plasma cytokines/chemokines were compared between 50 adult hospitalized patients with rhinovirus infection and 100 age-matched controls with influenza virus infection.

Results: The demographics and comorbidities were similar between rhinovirus and influenza patients, but severe disease was more common for the rhinovirus cohort.

A tricyclic pyrrolobenzodiazepine produced by is associated with cytotoxicity in antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis.

Cytotoxin-producing is the causative agent of antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis (AAHC). Recently, the cytotoxin associated with AAHC was identified as tilivalline, a known pentacyclic pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) metabolite produced by Although this assertion of tilivalline's role in AAHC is supported by evidence from animal experiments, some key aspects of this finding appear to be incompatible with toxicity mechanisms of known PBD toxins. We therefore hypothesized that may produce some other uncharacterized cytotoxins.

Correlations between single nucleotide polymorphisms and prognosis of patients with septic shock.

The aim of the present study is to investigate association between septic shock (SS) and angiotensin I-converting enzyme () single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). From October 2009 to December 2016, 238 SS patients and 242 healthy individuals were selected for our study. ACE activity was detected, rs4291 and rs4646994 polymorphisms were detected using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Talaromyces marneffei Mp1p Is a Virulence Factor that Binds and Sequesters a Key Proinflammatory Lipid to Dampen Host Innate Immune Response.

Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei is one of the leading causes of systemic mycosis in immunosuppressed or AIDS patients in Southeast Asia. How this intracellular pathogen evades the host immune defense remains unclear. We provide evidence that T.

Two rare ophiocordycipitaceous fungi newly recorded in Taiwan.

Background: Ophiocordycipitaceae is a highly diverse fungal family parasitizing a wide range of arthropods and hypogeous fungi. We collected two ophiocordycipitaceous species previously unknown in Taiwan: one emerged from hypogeous fruiting bodies of an Elaphomyces fungus and the other was associated with dragonflies.

Results: Based on gross morphology, microscopic features, ITS sequences, and hosts, the two ophiocordycipitaceous fungi were identified as Tolypocladium japonicum and Ophiocordyceps odonatae.

Lipid mediators of inflammation as novel plasma biomarkers to identify patients with bacteremia.

Objectives: Rapid diagnostic tests for bacteremia are important for early treatment to improve clinical outcome. We sought to identify plasma biomarkers that can identify patients with bacteremia using an untargeted global metabolomic analysis.

Methods: Plasma metabolomic profiles were analyzed for 145 adult patients with (cases) and without (controls) bacteremia using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS).

Backbone and side-chain ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N assignments of the PPIase domain of macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) protein from Coxiella burnetii.

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacterium uniquely evolved to thrive in the inhospitable phagolysosome of macrophage. C. burnetii causes Q fever in humans and animals, which is emerging as a global public health concern.