Article
Microbiology
Roberto De Carolis, Agnese Cometto, Patricia Moya, Eva Barreno, Martin Grube, Mauro Tretiach, Steven D. Leavitt, Lucia Muggia
Summary: This study investigated the diversity of Trebouxia spp. associated with the lichen-forming fungi Rhizoplaca melanophthalma and Tephromela atra in montane habitats worldwide. The greatest diversity of Trebouxia species-level lineages was found in the altitudinal range of 1,000-2,500 m. A total of 10 distinct Trebouxia species-level lineages were identified, including one previously unrecognized lineage.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Jessica L. Allen, James C. Lendemer
Summary: Several decades of research have shifted the perspective on symbiotic relationships, revealing the dynamism of fungal mutualisms such as mycorrhizae. Lichens, as important fungal mutualisms, require reconceptualization to realize their potential as model systems.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Toby Spribille, Philipp Resl, Daniel E. Stanton, Gulnara Tagirdzhanova
Summary: This review explores the exchange of goods and services between fungus and phototroph in lichens and how it contributes to the success of both symbionts and their symbiosis. Lichen fungal symbionts have the unique characteristic of exposing most of their mycelium to an aerial environment. Phototrophs provide carbohydrates to the fungus, which are converted into specific polyols with multiple functions, including growth, respiration, and desiccation tolerance. Fungal symbionts provide protection against herbivory and light stress for phototrophs and influence fungal sex and morphogenesis. These interactions create a multiplayer marketplace that drives symbiont selection and lichen diversification.
Article
Plant Sciences
Kwanele Goodman Wandile Mkhize, Farida Minibayeva, Richard Peter Beckett
Summary: The study shows that pretreatment at a moderate light intensity can increase tolerance to photoinhibition in cephalolichen, Crocodia aurata. Increased tolerance is correlated with the ability to dissipate excess energy as heat, thereby avoiding oxidative stress.
ACTA PHYSIOLOGIAE PLANTARUM
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexei Y. Kostygov, Anna Karnkowska, Jan Votypka, Daria Tashyreva, Kacper Maciszewski, Vyacheslav Yurchenko, Julius Lukes
Summary: Euglenozoa is a species-rich group of protists with diverse lifestyles, including free-living and parasitic kinetoplastids, diplonemids, euglenids, and symbiontids. The article presents updated taxonomy and photos of representative species, while summarizing the diversity, distribution, biology, and relationships with viruses and bacteria among euglenozoans.
Article
Microbiology
Patricia Moya, Arantzazu Molins, Pavel Skaloud, Pradeep K. Divakar, Salvador Chiva, Cristina Dumitru, Maria Carmen Molina, Ana Crespo, Eva Barreno
Summary: A study on the lichen-forming genus Parmelia revealed two main groups of mycobionts, PSULgp and PSAXgp, with 13 fungal and 15 algal species-level lineages. The research also showed high specificity of Parmelia species for specific Trebouxia clades, with PSAXgp having interactions with a greater diversity of Trebouxia species.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Miguel Blazquez, Lucia S. Hernandez-Moreno, Francisco Gasulla, Israel Perez-Vargas, Sergio Perez-Ortega
Summary: Speciation in oceanic islands has been a topic of interest for scientists since the 19th century. Adaptive radiation, which is the process of a lineage giving rise to different species through ecological speciation, is a striking evolutionary phenomenon that can be observed in islands. This study examines the role of the trophic niche in a potential radiation of endemic species from the Macaronesian Region, specifically the Ramalina decipiens group. The research finds that there is no segregation of the trophic niche in this group.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Mycology
Piotr Osyczka, Anna Lenart-Boron, Piotr Boron, Kaja Rola
Summary: Lichens demonstrate strong selectivity in choosing their algal partners, with the biological properties of the photobiont significantly affecting their habitat requirements. The flexibility in photobiont choice expands the ecological range of lichens and may serve as an important adaptive strategy for colonization of extreme habitats. The presence of specific algae in lichen species is influenced by habitat type and levels of soil pollution, with potential alternative photosynthetic partners like Trebouxia adapting well to metal pollution.
Article
Mycology
Agnese Cometto, Steven D. Leavitt, Martin Grube, Sybren De Hoog, Lucia Muggia
Summary: Lichens are self-sustaining and long-living ecosystems that house a variety of microorganisms in addition to the main symbiotic partners. Recent studies using DNA metabarcoding and culture isolations have revealed the diverse species of lichen-associated fungi, including both filamentous and yeast species. New lineages within Chaetothyriales have been recognized, and a range of other fungal lineages have been identified in lichen thalli, expanding our understanding of the high fungal diversity in lichens.
MYCOLOGICAL PROGRESS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Xu Lu, Hai-Sheng Yuan
Summary: This study identified three new fungal species in the genus Tomentella from Northwest China, based on molecular and morphological characteristics. These new species share similar features such as arachnoid basidiocarps and byssoid sterile margins, which can be used for species delimitation.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lidan Wang, Shenglu Zhang, Jinjin Fang, Xinjie Jin, Reyim Mamut, Pan Li
Summary: Lichens are a symbiotic association of algae and fungi. In this study, researchers isolated and purified a lichen symbiotic alga (Treboiophyceae sp. DW1) and obtained its chloroplast genome information. The study revealed the genetic characteristics and changes in Treboiophyceae genomes, as well as the unstable chloroplast genome structure of the species. Phylogenetic analysis showed the relationship of Treboiophyceae sp. DW1 with other related species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alejandro Berlinches de Gea, Miguel Verdu, Mar Villar-dePablo, Sergio Perez-Ortega
Summary: The study of mycobiont specialisation towards their photobionts in epiphytic lichen communities in a fragmented Mediterranean forest revealed a complex interaction between species' life history traits and habitat fragmentation. In particular, this interplay had a significant impact on the specialisation of mycobionts. The results show the ability of some species to modulate their specialisation according to habitat conditions, suggesting that some species may be more resilient to abiotic changes than expected.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Martin Backor, Michal Goga, Dajana Rucova, Dana Urminska, Miriam Backorova, Borivoj Klejdus
Summary: In this study, the influence of lichen secondary metabolites on selected algae species was investigated. The secondary compounds inhibited the growth and chlorophyll a fluorescence of the tested algae, and caused a decrease in ascorbic acid and glutathione levels. The composition of organic acids was also significantly affected. These metabolites may act as phytotoxic substances, leading to oxidative stress in photobiont cells.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
William B. Sanders, Hiroshi Masumoto
Summary: This review presents the algal symbionts associated with lichen-forming fungi, summarizing their biology relevant to lichen symbioses. Approximately 50 genera of algae are believed to include lichen symbionts, with references tabulated to emphasize recent publications providing molecular evidence for their identifications. The review is dedicated to Austrian phycologist Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess for her significant contributions to the knowledge of lichen algae.
Article
Biology
Naomi Pierce, Even Dankowicz
Summary: At least 30 different groups of butterflies and moths have ant-associated caterpillars. Over 900 ant-associated species have been documented from the families Lycaenidae and Riodinidae, showing a range of relationships from parasitism to mutualism. Some caterpillars manipulate ants through deceptive chemical and vibratory signals. The costs and benefits of caterpillar integration with ants depend on the context and both top-down and bottom-up effects contribute to the evolution of ant associations.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gabriele Berg, Daria Rybakova, Martin Grube, Martina Koeberl
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2016)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Elisabeth Santigli, Eva Leitner, Gernot Wimmer, Harald H. Kessler, Gebhard Feierl, Martin Grube, Katharina Eberhard, Barbara Klug
CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2016)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Delphine Parrot, Nathalie Legrave, Laurent Intertaglia, Isabelle Rouaud, Patrick Legembre, Martin Grube, Marcelino T. Suzuki, Sophie Tomasi
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2016)
Article
Mycology
Antonia Fleischhacker, Martin Grube, Andreas Frisch, Walter Obermayer, Josef Hafellner
Article
Mycology
Sergio Perez-Ortega, Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Martin Grube, Rocio Olmo, Asuncin de los Rios
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Christine Eymann, Christian Lassek, Uwe Wegner, Joerg Bernhardt, Ole Arno Fritsch, Stephan Fuchs, Andreas Otto, Dirk Albrecht, Ulf Schiefelbein, Tornislav Cernava, Ines Aschenbrenner, Gabriele Berg, Martin Grube, Katharina Riedel
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2017)
Article
Microbiology
Pol Alonso-Pernas, Erika Arias-Cordero, Alexey Novoselov, Christina Ebert, Juergen Rybak, Martin Kaltenpoth, Martin Westermann, Ute Neugebauer, Wilhelm Boland
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2017)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
David L. Hawksworth, Martin Grube
Article
Microbiology
Pilar Hurtado, Maria Prieto, Francesco de Bello, Gregorio Aragon, Jesus Lopez-Angulo, Paolo Giordani, Eva Maria Diaz-Pena, Rebeca Vicente, Sonia Merinero, Alica Kosuthova, Renato Benesperi, Elisabetta Bianchi, Helmut Mayrhofer, Juri Nascimbene, Martin Grube, Mats Wedin, Martin Westberg, Isabel Martinez
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Ilse Kranner, Gregor Pichler, Martin Grube
Review
Plant Sciences
Gregor Pichler, Lucia Muggia, Fabio Candotto Carniel, Martin Grube, Ilse Kranner
Summary: Lichens are unique fungal symbioses that can form a new structure together with photosynthetic partners. The signals involved in the transition from a free-living state to a symbiotic state, called lichenization, and the maintenance of the symbiosis are not well understood. This study synthesizes existing knowledge into a concept of signaling involved in lichenization, including five stages: pre-contact, contact, envelopment, incorporation, and differentiation. Compounds such as fungal lectins and algal cyclic peptides may initiate early contact, while phytohormone signaling, antioxidant protection, and carbon exchange are important throughout all stages.
Article
Plant Sciences
Josef Hafellner, Martin Grube
Summary: This article describes two new species of Arthonia that are parasites of Lecanora polytropa. They differ in pathogenicity and appearance, with one species being widely distributed in the Alps, Europe and North America, while the other species is found in a limited number of locations.
Article
Ecology
Lina K. K. Muehlbauer, Giorgio Zavattoni, Risto Virtanen, Martin Grube, Bettina Weber, Adam Thomas Clark
Summary: The importance of microclimate conditions in ecological research is increasingly recognized. Measuring microclimate variability requires a large number of sensors that can sample across small and large scales, which calls for cost-effective sensor networks.
ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE
(2023)
Letter
Plant Sciences
David L. Hawksworth, Martin Grube
Article
Mycology
Patrick Jung, Karen Baumann, Dina Emrich, Michael Schermer, Kai-Uwe Eckhardt, Gerald Jandl, Peter Leinweber, Felix Harion, Andreas Wruck, Martin Grube, Burkhard Buedel, Michael Lakatos
Summary: This study investigates the mutualistic-parasitic continuum dynamics between an orange lichen and a lichenicolous fungus, revealing the impact of the fungus infection on the lichen, including changes in photosynthetic activity, surface roughness, and inhibition of parietin synthesis. This study provides a new level of understanding of interactions within lichens.