Research Articles

Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus, poses significant treatment challenges. This study reveals that sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH), derivatives from Houttuynia cordata, effectively inhibit C. auris growth, adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation. These findings highlight SH and SNH's potential for novel antifungal therapies.

Phosphorylation, a biological process influencing molecular functions, is explored in PsiK kinase from Psilocybe cubensis. PsiK selectively phosphorylates phenols and benzenediols, extending beyond its native psilocin substrate. Active site mutations enhance substrate range and site-selectivity, with DESI-MS aiding rapid analysis. This work emphasizes PsiK's potential in mild, selective phosphorylation.

This research explores the integration of non-thermal technologies and microbial biotechnologies in sustainable wine production on the Iberian Peninsula. It highlights how High Hydrostatic Pressure, Ultrasounds, and other methods enhance phenol extraction and microbial control, reducing chemical usage. The region's unique setting offers a model for environmentally sustainable practices in global viticulture.

Aspergillus fumigatus, a major cause of invasive fungal infections, shows increased triazole resistance linked to the loss of spindle assembly checkpoint components SldA or SldB. This study reveals that these losses induce heteroresistance by fostering conidial populations with potential aneuploidy, specifically under ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition, highlighting new resistance mechanisms.

Single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) are engineered enzyme mimics offering enhanced catalytic capabilities. This study introduces Ce-induced adaptive synergism, where a Ce atom activates Ni-Fe sites to enhance multi-enzymatic functions of Ce-MOF, showing potent antifungal effects against Fusarium solani and fostering beneficial microbial recovery, thereby supporting sustainable Panax ginseng cultivation.

Conidial germination initiates fungal colonization, leading to disease or symbiosis. This study compares Fusarium graminearum, a plant pathogen, and Metarhizium anisopliae, an endophyte, revealing distinct gene expression profiles. F. graminearum upregulates pathogenesis-related genes, while M. anisopliae enhances phytohormone pathways, elucidating divergent host interaction strategies.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) offers a promising diagnostic advantage for detecting invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in immunocompromised ICU patients. A study across six Chinese hospitals demonstrated mNGS's superior specificity and sensitivity over conventional tests, significantly reducing 28-day mortality rates through guided antibiotic adjustments, indicating improved patient outcomes.

This study evaluates MALDI-TOF MS, a key technology for identifying clinical pathogens, by comparing the Smart MS 5020 from Zhuhai DL Biotech to the Biotyper Microflex LT. Testing 612 isolates, including fungi, both systems showed high accuracy, with 96.9% and 96.6% correct species identification rates, respectively. Results highlight the Smart MS 5020 as a viable, cost-effective diagnostic tool.

Researchers have utilized a "mutator" strain of Entamoeba histolytica to accelerate the study of drug resistance mechanisms. Introducing an error-prone DNA polymerase δ, the strain's mutation rate increased 60-fold, aiding in the identification of genes involved in resistance to miltefosine, including notable mutations in P4-ATPase linked to resistance in other species.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a symbiotic relationship between land plants and Glomeromycota fungi. New findings demonstrate that the liverwort Marchantia paleacea utilizes Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinases (LysM-RLKs), specifically MpaLYKa, to facilitate AM formation, indicating an ancestral role in symbiotic perception. Moreover, MpaLYR triggers responses to chito- and lipochito-oligosaccharides, hinting at undiscovered AM fungal signals.

Carbon dots (CDs) are nanomaterials derived from medicinal and edible resources, such as Ganoderma lucidum, offering significant potential as biosensors and in drug delivery. This review highlights their synthesis and applications, suggesting CDs' pivotal role in bridging traditional medicine with modern technology, promising advancements in interdisciplinary research and practical applications.

A comprehensive study on fungi associated with pteridophytes—vascular plants like ferns—utilizing morphology and multi-gene phylogeny has identified 48 species within the Ascomycota phylum. This research covers three classes, nine orders, 17 families, and 30 genera, based on 81 collections made in Guizhou Province, China, offering valuable insights into fungal biodiversity.