Review
Mycology
Mao-Qiang He, Rui-Lin Zhao, Dong-Mei Liu, Teodor T. Denchev, Dominik Begerow, Andrey Yurkov, Martin Kemler, Ana M. Millanes, Mats Wedin, A. R. McTaggart, Roger G. Shivas, Bart Buyck, Jie Chen, Alfredo Vizzini, Viktor Papp, Ivan Zmitrovich, Naveed Davoodian, Kevin D. Hyde
Summary: This study reviews the species diversity of Basidiomycota in different lifestyles and habitats, highlighting the higher publication rate of new species in lichenicolous yeast-like taxa and the lower discovery rate of plant parasitic basidiomycetes. The establishment of a comprehensive taxonomic system through a global initiative by mycologists is found to be important for promoting and standardizing the recognition of taxa. Estimates suggest that over 54,000 species of Basidiomycota will be discovered by 2030, highlighting the significant gap between described and unknown diversity in this phylum.
Article
Microbiology
Yang Yang, Qianquan Jiang, Qi Li, Jiawei Yang, Li Cha, Lijun Cheng, Shunqiang Yang, Changlin Zhao, Hongmin Zhou, Seung-Yoon Oh
Summary: This study proposes three new wood-inhabiting fungal taxa, Hyphoderma niveomarginatum, H. sordidum, and H. weishanense. Phylogenetic analysis using gene sequences confirmed their placement within the genus Hyphoderma.
Article
Forestry
Jiri Kout, Fang Wu
Summary: A new species of wood-inhabiting fungus, Auricularia cerrina, was discovered and characterized through morphological and molecular methods. It shows distinct differences from other Auricularia species and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis was conducted.
Article
Microbiology
Kai-Yue Luo, Zhuo-Yue Chen, Chang-Lin Zhao
Summary: This study discovered three new fungal species in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China, and identified their taxonomic positions through morphology and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, further research on the phylogeny at the genus level suggested that six genera should accommodate members of Hyphodontia sensu lato.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luisa M. Manici, Isabella De Meo, Maria Ludovica Sacca, Enrico Ceotto, Francesco Caputo, Alessandro Paletto
Summary: This study investigated the changes in fungal community of deadwood based on the host plants and wood degradation levels. The results showed that the composition of wood colonizing fungal communities varied depending on the host plants and wood decay. White rot fungal species were dominant in black locust and poplar, while lignin-degrading ascomycete Daldinia chilidiae colonized willow along with fungi associated with tree dieback.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ya-Nan Zhao, Shuang-Hui He, Karen K. Nakasone, K. L. Wasantha Kumara, Che-Chih Chen, Shi-Liang Liu, Hai-Xia Ma, Man-Rong Huang
Summary: The study focused on the phylogeny and taxonomy of the corticioid genus Phlebiopsis, identifying new taxa and proposing new combinations while clarifying and comparing morphologically similar species. This research provides a detailed analysis of the relationship between Phlebiopsis and its sister clades, as well as an updated description of the genus and an identification key to accepted species.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Chang Liu, Xin-Cun Wang, Zhi-He Yu, Wen-Ying Zhuang, Zhao-Qing Zeng
Summary: This article reports the discovery and description of seven new species of Eurotiales from tidal flat sediments in China. They belong to different subgenera and sections of the Eurotiales. Morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analyses were used to confirm their classification as new species, and detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided.
Article
Mycology
Javier Isaac de la Fuente, Jesus Garcia-Jimenez, Tania Raymundo, Marcos Sanchez-Flores, Ricardo Valenzuela, Gonzalo Guevara-Guerrero, Erika Cecilia Perez-Ovando, Cesar Ramiro Martinez-Gonzalez
Summary: Two new species of sequestrate fungi from south Mexico are described, Elaphomyces castilloi characterized by yellowish mycelial mat, dull blue gleba, and ascospores of 9.7-11.5 μm and Entoloma secotioides characterized by secotioid basidiomata, sulcate, pale cream pileus, and basidiospores of 7-13 x 5-9 μm. These fungi grow in montane cloud forest under Quercus sp. in Chiapas, Mexico. Descriptions, photographs, and multilocus phylogeny are provided.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jan Walter, Ivana Hradska, Jiri Kout, Jan Bures, Martin Konvicka
Summary: Post-mining sites serve as important refuges for invertebrates and fungal species, providing biodiversity hotspots in homogeneous landscapes. This study examined carabid beetles, spiders, and macromycetes assemblages in abandoned kaolin quarries and their surroundings in the Czech Republic. The impact of past mining, vegetation composition, herb and tree layers, and dead wood on these groups was analyzed. The results showed that open post-mining sites attract a diverse range of species, including Red-listed ones, serving as substitutes for endangered habitats.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jun-Hong Dong, Xun-Chi Zhang, Jia-Jia Chen, Zhong-Long Zhu, Chang-Lin Zhao
Summary: The wood-inhabiting fungi contribute significantly to wood degradation and ecological matter cycling. Three new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Steccherinum fissurutum, S. punctatum, and S. subtropicum, were identified based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. These fungi produce various enzymes to break down woody lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the classification of the new species within the genus Steccherinum and revealed their relationships with other closely related species.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Fabiola Lucini, Guilherme Afonso Kessler de Andrade, Filipe de Carvalho Victoria, Margeli Pereira de Albuquerque
Summary: This study characterized fungi isolated from the leaves of two plant species in Antarctica. The identified fungi were associated with the plants and showed characteristics of both plant pathogens and endophytic fungi. These findings provide important information about the relationship between endemic Antarctic biota.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hugh Morris, Kevin T. Smith, Seri C. Robinson, Maximilian Goettelmann, Siegfried Fink, Francis W. M. R. Schwarze
Summary: Zone lines in wood are narrow and sharply delineated dark lines that define decaying parts of the wood. Despite their economic potential, there is currently no commercial-scale production method for zone lines, requiring further research into wood behavior and fungal decay processes.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Elisa Garrido-Huescar, Elena Gonzalez-Burgos, Paul M. Kirika, Joel Boustie, Solenn Ferron, M. Pilar Gomez-Serranillos, Helge Thorsten Lumbsch, Pradeep K. Divakar
Summary: This study used molecular data to address species delineation in the parmelioid genus Canoparmelia and identified two clades with distinct pharmacological properties. The phylogenetic analysis supported the separation of these two clades as distinct species, with the proposal of a new species C. kakamegaensis. This study highlights the importance of using molecular data to detect potential species with overlooked pharmacological properties.
Article
Microbiology
Hong-Min Zhou, Hong-Gao Liu, Genevieve M. Gates, Fang Wu, Yu-Cheng Dai, Jerry A. Cooper
Summary: Four new species of toothed jelly fungus have been discovered in samples from Asia and Oceania, along with a new combination of a previously known species. These new taxa can be differentiated based on their morphology, hosts, and geographical distribution.
Article
Polymer Science
Ahmet Can, Eylem D. Tomak, Mahmut A. Ermeydan, Onur Aykanat
Summary: This study evaluated the decay resistance of basalt and/or wood fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites. The water absorption rate increased by 52.4-67.5% for wood fiber composites compared to basalt fiber-reinforced biocomposites. PLA showed good decay resistance against all fungi attacks, but the resistance decreased as the ratio of basalt and wood fiber increased in the hybrid biocomposites. SEM and FTIR analysis confirmed the degradation and revealed the degradation mechanism.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Valeria Ferraro, Giuseppe Venturella, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Wenyuan Gao, Maria Letizia Gargano
Summary: Fungi have high nutritional value and significant content of bioactive compounds, making them a good source for nutraceuticals, mycotherapeutics, cosmeceuticals, and functional foods. Cultivating fungi not only allows for the management of agricultural and industrial waste, but also provides a good opportunity for the development of economically depressed rural areas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lorenzo Pecoraro, Hanne N. Rasmussen, Sofia I. F. Gomes, Xiao Wang, Vincent S. F. T. Merckx, Lei Cai, Finn N. Rasmussen
Summary: Epiphytic orchids show varying degrees of specificity towards different tree species on which they grow. Environmental factors such as bark features and fungal communities on the host trees can influence orchid seed germination and diversity. Analysis using morphological, molecular culture-based methods, and metabarcoding revealed significant differences in fungal communities between different tree and orchid species, suggesting that the orchid-host tree association is influenced by the fungal communities on the host tree bark.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Alka Sagar, Parikshita Rathore, Pramod W. Ramteke, Wusirika Ramakrishna, Munagala S. Reddy, Lorenzo Pecoraro
Summary: Soil salinity is a significant issue leading to reduced profitability and crop development, but dual inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance crop tolerance and productivity under both normal and stressed conditions. The synergistic PGPR + AMF combination is an efficient and cost-effective approach for improving plant tolerance against salinity stress, making it a valuable tool for sustainable agriculture.
Article
Microbiology
Domenico Davolos, Fabiana Russo, Loredana Canfora, Eligio Malusa, Malgorzata Tartanus, Ewa Maria Furmanczyk, Andrea Ceci, Oriana Maggi, Anna Maria Persiani
Summary: Trichoderma hamatum FBL 587 isolated from DDT-contaminated agricultural soils shows resistance to DDT and enhances its degradation in soil. Genome and transcriptome studies reveal upregulated genes potentially involved in DDT translocation and degradation in response to DDT exposure, suggesting a possible DDT degradation pathway involving various enzymatic processes.
Article
Microbiology
Dawood Shah, Mohammad Sayyar Khan, Shahkaar Aziz, Haidar Ali, Lorenzo Pecoraro
Summary: Endophytic bacteria isolated from Pakistani wheat seeds showed beneficial characteristics such as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, and antimicrobial activity. The GI-6 strain exhibited strong salt tolerance and growth-promoting effects on wheat plants.
Article
Microbiology
Lorenzo Pecoraro, Xiao Wang, Dawood Shah, Xiaoxuan Song, Vishal Kumar, Abdul Shakoor, Keshawanand Tripathi, Pramod W. Ramteke, Rupa Rani
Summary: Iron, the fourth most abundant element on earth, is essential for life. Microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to acquire iron from the environment through the formation of small molecules known as siderophores. These siderophores have diverse applications in various fields.
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Yu Liu, Ni-Na Cui, Xuan-Shuo Liu, Peng-Cheng Lin, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Giuseppe Venturella, Shu-Li Man, Wen-Yuan Gao
Summary: This study used high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to identify the constituents in rat plasma after oral administration of Huashanshen dripping pill (HSS). The results showed that HSS inhibited the release of inflammatory mediators, regulated T-helper cell balance, and relaxed the tracheal smooth muscle to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yixuan Lu, Xiao Wang, Lucineidy C. S. de S. Almeida, Lorenzo Pecoraro
Summary: Airborne fungi are widely distributed in the environment and can have adverse effects on human health. This study conducted a 12-month survey on the diversity and concentration of culturable airborne fungi in a research and teaching building of Tianjin University. The results showed that the concentration of fungi was significantly higher outdoors than indoors, and temperature and sampling month were important factors influencing the fungal community in the building, while relative humidity and wind speed were highly correlated with fungal composition outdoors.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Junping He, Lu Yao, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Changxiao Liu, Juan Wang, Luqi Huang, Wenyuan Gao
Summary: This review summarizes the mechanisms by which cold stress promotes the accumulation of flavonoids and terpenoids in plants, including the regulation of plant hormones, transcription factors, and key enzyme genes. This provides valuable insights for future research in plant genetic engineering breeding, metabolism regulation, and synthetic biology.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Chaonan Yuan, Xiao Wang, Lorenzo Pecoraro
Summary: The study investigated the airborne fungal diversity and concentration in indoor and outdoor environments within the Tianjin University campus. The results showed a variety of fungal species, with dominant genera including Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Epicoccum. Fungal concentration varied seasonally at different sites, with temperature and relative humidity positively correlated with fungal concentration and diversity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yumna Nageen, Xiao Wang, Lorenzo Pecoraro
Summary: Airborne fungi are widely present in human living environments and may contribute to respiratory problems, allergies, and other health issues. A 12-month study was conducted in Tianjin City to investigate the diversity, concentration, and community structure of culturable airborne fungi in different outdoor environments. The study identified a total of 1,015 fungal strains belonging to 175 species and 82 genera using morphological and molecular analysis. The fungal community composition and concentration varied across seasons and were influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and air pressure. The study provides valuable information for air quality monitoring, microbial contamination control, and health risk assessment in urban environments.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yu Liu, Yingfang Cui, Xv Liang, Shuli Man, Xia Li, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Giuseppe Venturella, Wenyuan Gao
Summary: This research provided a new strategy for comprehensively evaluating the quality of Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc. The analysis of iridoid glycosides and polyphenols showed a high correlation with the appearance of cornus, indicating their potential as quality markers.
Article
Microbiology
Amran A. Q. A. Al-Shaarani, Ziwei M. Quach, Xiao Wang, Mohammed H. M. Muafa, Md M. H. Nafis, Lorenzo Pecoraro
Summary: This study investigated the diversity and concentration of airborne fungi on pedestrian bridges in Tianjin, China. The results showed a high abundance of fungi in the air, with no significant difference in the distribution and abundance between the two investigated sites. However, many low-abundance species belonging to pathogenic fungal genera were exclusively present in one of the sites. Relative humidity had a stronger influence on the diversity and concentration of airborne fungi compared to temperature. These findings provide valuable information for air quality monitoring and assessing human health risks associated with microbial pollution.
Article
Microbiology
Md M. H. Nafis, Ziwei M. Quach, Amran A. Q. A. Al-Shaarani, Mohammed H. M. Muafa, Lorenzo Pecoraro
Summary: Airborne fungi, particularly Aspergillus strains, isolated from indoor and outdoor environments at Tianjin University, were found to be pathogenic to fruit flies and may pose a potential health risk to humans.
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Mirabile, Valeria Ferraro, Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Fortunato Cirlincione
Summary: Fungal biodiversity in freshwater habitats, especially in Italy, is often underestimated and data on the diversity of freshwater fungi in Italy is fragmented and incomplete.
