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Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Chytrids in Soil Environments: Unique Adaptations and Distributions
Chytridiomycota (zoosporic true fungi) have a consistent presence in soils and have been frequently identified within many diverse terrestrial environments. However, Chytridiomycota and other early-diverging fungi have low representation in whole-genome sequencing databases compared to Dikarya. New molecular techniques have provided insights into the diversity and abundance of chytrids in soils and the changes in their populations both spatially and temporally. Chytrids complete their life cycle within rapidly changing soil environments where they may be more common within micropores due to protection from predation, desiccation, and extreme temperatures. Reproductive and morphological changes occur in response to environmental changes including pH, fluctuating nutrient concentrations, and metals at levels above toxic thresholds. Rhizoids share some features of hyphae, including the spatial regulation of branching and the ability to attach, adapt to, and proliferate in different substrates, albeit on a microscale. Soil chytrids provide a pool of novel enzymes and proteins which enable a range of lifestyles as saprotrophs or parasites, but also can be utilised as alternative tools with some biotechnological applications. Thus, 3D live-cell imaging and micromodels such as MicroCT may provide insight into zoospore functions and rhizoid plasticity, respectively, in response to various conditions. A combination of classical techniques of soil chytrid baiting with simultaneous molecular and ecological data will provide insights into temporal population changes in response to environmental change. The authors emphasise the need to review and improve DNA-based methodologies for identifying and quantifying chytrids within the soil microbiome to expand our knowledge of their taxonomy, abundance, diversity, and functionality within soil environments.
  • 922
  • 22 May 2023
Topic Review
Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, is an endemic fungal infection commonly found in the southwestern parts of the United States. However, the disease has seen an increase in both in its area of residency and its prevalence. This entry compiles some of the latest information on the epidemiology, current and in-development pharmaceutical approaches to treat the disease, trends and projections, diagnostic concerns, and the overlapping dynamics of coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19, including in special populations. This entry provides an overview of the current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and identifies areas of future development.
  • 840
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Cryptococcus
Cryptococcosis is a disease caused by the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, both environmental fungi that cause severe pneumonia and may even lead to cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Although C. neoformans affects more fragile individuals, such as immunocompromised hosts through opportunistic infections, C. gattii causes a serious indiscriminate primary infection in immunocompetent individuals. Typically seen in tropical and subtropical environments, C. gattii has increased its endemic area, largely due to climatic factors that favor contagion in warmer climates. It is important to point out that not only C. gattii, but the Cryptococcus species complex produces a polysaccharidic capsule with immunomodulatory properties, enabling the pathogenic species of Cryptococccus to subvert the host immune response during the establishment of cryptococcosis, facilitating its dissemination in the infected organism. C. gattii causes a more severe and difficult-to-treat infection, with few antifungals eliciting an effective response during chronic treatment. 
  • 492
  • 26 Jul 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Cultures of Spalting
Wood decayed and colored by fungi, colloquially known as ‘spalted wood’, has been a source of art and folklore across numerous cultures. From intarsia and marquetry in Italy and Germany to woodturning in the U.S. and carving and mythology in Chile, the uses of, and stories about, spalted wood are explored, as well as how those have shaped their surrounding cultures as well as modern science. 
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Current Landscape of Disease
Infectious diseases limit productivity and result in significant economic losses in each sector. Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) are economically important, have global reach, and require management. TADs can have significant implications for food security. Food-borne pathogens comprise microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as parasites that cause food spoilage and infection. Food-borne pathogens are a major threat to food safety, as they can cause human diseases if animal products infected with toxins are consumed. The emergence of diseases stems from intricate interactions between microbes and humans, often influenced by a variety of complex factors. Key contributors to disease emergence include microbial adaptation and change, ecological shifts, human demographics and behavior, advancements in technology and healthcare, travel, trade, and industrial activities, breakdowns in public health measures, and varying levels of susceptibility to infection.
  • 95
  • 27 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Debaryomyces Hansenii in Sausages, Dry-Meat
Debaryomyces hansenii is a hemiascomycetous yeast of undoubted biotechnological importance. It is a heterogeneous yeast species able to grow under extreme conditions, such as high salt or relatively alkaline pH levels. This yeast has high respiratory and low fermentative activity. It ferments with important variations, depending on the strain and growth conditions used. Briefly, some examples of its beneficial effects are the production of xylitol, lipases, and exopeptidases important in the food industry, and of thermophilic β-glucosidases essential to produce fuel alcohol. Debaryomyces hansenii is, most probably, the most abundant yeast found in sausages and dry-meat products manufactured all around the world.
  • 1.8K
  • 04 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Diversity of Mycogenic Oxide and Chalcogenide Nanoparticles
Oxide and chalcogenide nanoparticles have great potential for use in biomedicine, engineering, agriculture, environmental protection, and other research fields. The myco-synthesis of nanoparticles with fungal cultures, their metabolites, culture liquids, and mycelial and fruit body extracts is simple, cheap and environmentally friendly. The characteristics of nanoparticles, including their size, shape, homogeneity, stability, physical properties and biological activity, can be tuned by changing the myco-synthesis conditions.
  • 201
  • 30 May 2023
Topic Review
Ecological Characteristics of Floccularia luteovirens
Floccularia luteovirens, a rare wild edible and medicinal fungus, is endemic to the Tibetan plateau. However, attempts to artificially domesticate this species have not been successful, resulting in extremely limited utilization of this valuable resource. The geographical distribution of F. luteovirens, along with its ecological and biological characteristics are presented. It explores population relations, symbiotic relationships, soil microbial community relations, fruiting body occurrence conditions, nutritional metabolism, and reproductive patterns. The cultivation techniques, as well as the edible and medicinal value of this mushroom, are also reviewed. Through an overall analysis of the physiological characteristics and current research status of F. luteovirens,  its development prospects were discussesed.
  • 198
  • 21 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Endophytism of Lecanicillium and Akanthomyces
The rise of the holobiont concept confers a prominent importance to the endophytic associates of plants, particularly to species known to be able to exert a mutualistic role as defensive or growth-promoting agents. The finding that many entomopathogenic fungi are harbored within plant tissues and possess bioactive properties going beyond a merely anti-insectan effect has recently prompted a widespread investigational activity concerning their occurrence and functions in crops, in the aim of an applicative exploitation conforming to the paradigm of sustainable agriculture.
  • 554
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Fungal Aeroallergens
The incidence of allergic diseases worldwide is rapidly increasing, making allergies a modern pandemic. Human activity and climate change have an impact on the spread of fungi and their plant hosts. Particular attention should be paid to microfungi, i.e., plant parasites that may be an underestimated source of new allergens.
  • 257
  • 06 Jun 2023
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