When human immune function is compromised,infections caused by pathogenic fungi are often difficult to cure,with invasive fungal diseases frequently associated with high mortality rates.Presently,the types of antifung...When human immune function is compromised,infections caused by pathogenic fungi are often difficult to cure,with invasive fungal diseases frequently associated with high mortality rates.Presently,the types of antifungal drugs available for clinical use are limited,and their toxicity and safety issues can lead to adverse effects for patients.The emergence of drug-resistant strains and the“super fungus”Candida auris has further complicated treatment.Consequently,the identification of new antifungal medications and the formulation of effective combination therapy strategies have emerged as pivotal research priorities within this discipline.Natural products are specialized small molecules that are produced in nature and play pivotal roles in numerous cellular processes and are considered to be among the most significant pharmaceutical agents in the field of human healthcare.Accordingly,the objective of this paper is to review natural products and relevant compounds that exhibit antifungal activity by targeting key components of the fungal cell walls or cell membranes.We focused on the most recent research findings from 2022 to 2025 concerning antifungal natural products derived from plants,fungi,and bacteria,and conducted a comprehensive summary of the sources and types of natural products,along with their antifungal mechanisms of action.Furthermore,we analyzed the application prospects of combining novel natural products with existing antifungal drugs from the perspective of compensatory mechanisms of fungal cell structures,thus establishing new treatment strategies for fungal infections.展开更多
Human activities contribute to elevated nitrogen input in terrestrial ecosystems,influencing the composition of soil nutrients and microbial diversity in forest ecosystems.In this study,we built four addition treatmen...Human activities contribute to elevated nitrogen input in terrestrial ecosystems,influencing the composition of soil nutrients and microbial diversity in forest ecosystems.In this study,we built four addition treatments(0,20,40,and 80 kg ha^(−1)a^(−1)N for 6 a)at a Korean pine plantation of different soil horizons(organic(O)horizon,ranging from 0 to 10 cm,and organomineral(A)horizon,extending from 10 to 20 cm)to evaluate responses of the structure of saprophytic fungal communities.Here,80 kg ha^(−1)a^(−1)N treatment significantly decreased the community richness in soil A horizon with the Chao1 index decreasing by 12.68%.Nitrogen addition induced changes in the composition of saprophytic fungi community between the different soil horizons.The co-occurrence network and its associated topological structure were utilized to identify mycoindicators for specific fungi to both soil horizons and nitrogen addition levels.In soil O horizon,the mycoindicators included Penicillium,Trichoderma,Aspergillus,and Pseudeurotium across control,low,medium,and high nitrogen treatments.In soil A horizon,Geomyces,Cladophialophora,Penicillium,and Pseudeurotium were identified as mycoindicators.Structural equation modeling determined NH_(4)^(+)-N as the key factor driving changes in saprotrophic fungal communities.Our study aimed to screen mycoindicators that can respond to the increasing global nitrogen deposition and to assess the roles of these mycoindicators in the saprophytic fun-gal community structure within Korean pine plantations in northeast China.展开更多
BACKGROUND Fungal esophagitis(FE)is caused by fungal invasion of the esophageal mucosa.Under endoscopy,the esophageal mucosa shows edema,congestion,erosion,and ulceration,and bleeds easily when touched,and the surface...BACKGROUND Fungal esophagitis(FE)is caused by fungal invasion of the esophageal mucosa.Under endoscopy,the esophageal mucosa shows edema,congestion,erosion,and ulceration,and bleeds easily when touched,and the surface of the mucosa is covered with small white spots like"bean curd residue".Clinical cases showing typical FE under endoscopic imaging but negative esophageal mucosal brush(referred to as suspected FE)have increased the difficulty and challenge of clinical diagnosis and treatment.At present,the esophageal fungal flora of suspected case has not been thoroughly studied.AIM To characterize the fungal flora in FE,suspected FE,and the esophageal normal controls(NCs),and to identify marker species to improve detection of FE.METHODS This was a case-control study.A total of 19 patients with FE,16 with suspected FE,and 10 NCs were selected by endoscopy.The esophageal cell brush samples of each group were sequenced by internal transcribed spacer(ITS)1 and analyzed by bioinformatics.RESULTS In FE and suspected FE patients,species richness,species diversity and species evenness,as measured by the Chao1 index,Shannon index and Pielou index,were lower than in the NCs,and the comparison between the FE and NCs was the most significant(P<0.05).Compared with the NCs,the relative abundance of Candida in FE and suspected FE patients was significantly increased(P<0.001),while the relative abundance of Yarrowia was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Moreover,Yarrowia abundance in the FE group was significantly lower than in the NCs and suspected FE groups(P<0.001).The area under the curve for Candida in FE and suspected FE patients was 99.5%(P<0.05)and 81.3%(P<0.05),respectively.Finally,compared with FE patients,the relative abundance of Ascomycota and Candida in the esophageal flora of suspected FE patients was decreased,while the relative abundance of Yarrowia,Thermomyces and Pichia was increased.CONCLUSION ITS showed that composition of the fungal community was similar in the FE and suspected FE groups.ITS can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic method for FE and provide a theoretical basis for follow-up diagnosis and treatment.展开更多
Posaconazole(PCZ)is a broad-spectrum anti-fungal drug approved by FDA and currently used off-label for the treatment of fungal keratitis(FK).Although ocular route serves as the most bioavailable route for treating FK,...Posaconazole(PCZ)is a broad-spectrum anti-fungal drug approved by FDA and currently used off-label for the treatment of fungal keratitis(FK).Although ocular route serves as the most bioavailable route for treating FK,delivery of PCZ to the eye remains a challenge due to poor permeation though the cornea and rapid elimination from the eye.Here we outline a comprehensive formulation development process,beginning with in silico studies,progressing through in vitro evaluations,and ultimately achieving therapeutic benefits in vivo.We report modified niosome-like surfactant vesicles,hereafter termed as NioTherms,formulated using a novel and simple heat-mix method,encapsulating PCZ for ocular administration in the form of an in situ gel.Excipient screening performed using in silico simulations highly correlate with in vitro studies(R^(2)=0.77),guiding optimization by Quality by Design(QbD)approach for encapsulating PCZ in NioTherms resulting in particles with an average size of 180.7±2.3 nm,zeta potential of +27.5±2.2 mV and entrapment efficiency of 87.6%±1.7%.A 2-fold increase in both mucin binding and cellular uptake indicates a functional role of positive surface charge in enhancingmucoadhesive properties of PCZ-NioTherms.In an in vivo murine ocular keratitis model,we demonstrate a 2-fold enhancement in trans-corneal permeability of PCZ-NioTherms and a 3-fold reduction in fungal burden compared to the control standard of care,the PCZ solution.Owing to a facile formulation process,we anticipate that PCZ-NioTherms would serve as a clinically translatable and patient compliant therapeutic intervention for treating FK.展开更多
BACKGROUND Individuals with liver cirrhosis(LC)are likely to experience multiple infectious processes due to the immune dysfunction caused by the disease.Our hypothesis is that this group of patients is predisposed to...BACKGROUND Individuals with liver cirrhosis(LC)are likely to experience multiple infectious processes due to the immune dysfunction caused by the disease.Our hypothesis is that this group of patients is predisposed to fungal infections.To date,the incidence of spontaneous fungal peritonitis(SFP)has not been determined in Mexico;this endeavor is of great importance because many patients may be suffering from this condition without receiving targeted treatment,which may increase mortality.AIM To report the incidence of SFP in patients presenting with decompensated LC with ascites.METHODS This was a prospective,single-center,descriptive,observational and crosssectional study where patients presenting with decompensated LC with ascites were evaluated from November 2023 to May 2024 in Mexico City.Fungal cultures of ascites were performed and the samples kept in an incubator for 10 days to 14 days,and molecular tests(the API 20 C AUX test)were used for molecular characterization.RESULTS Of the 48 patients included,54.2%were women,77.1%had a comorbidity,47.9%had LC secondary to metabolic dysfunction,43.8%were classified as Child-Pugh C with a model for end-stage liver disease 3.0 median score of 22,and 10.4%were in secondary prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP).Only four patients had positive cultures where Candida parapsilosis and Candida albicans were isolated,with two of the four patients being positive for Rhodotorula minuta;an SBP incidence of 8.3%was thus calculated.Chronic kidney disease[P=0.012 and relative risk(RR)=15]and secondary prophylaxis for SBP(P=0.049 with RR=8.6)were statistically significant and associated with a high mortality risk(P=0.001 with RR=33).CONCLUSION The presence of infection of fungal origin in ascites in patients presenting with cirrhosis increases short-and medium-term mortality;therefore,it is recommended that fungal culture tests are performed in those patients who visit the emergency room or experience continuous admission with acute decompensation and no bacteria identified in ascites cultures,and even more so in patients with chronic kidney disease and a history of antibiotic use as prophylaxis for SBP.Further studies are needed for the identification of clinical and biochemical data that can help to define SFP so that its presence may be assessed without the need to wait for a positive fungal culture.Thus,treatment may be initiated early in the hope of having a positive impact on the prognosis in this group of patients.展开更多
Rice blast,caused by Magnaporthe oryzae,is a fungal disease that causes devastating damage to rice production worldwide.During infection,pathogens secrete effector proteins that modulate plant immunity.Disulfide bond ...Rice blast,caused by Magnaporthe oryzae,is a fungal disease that causes devastating damage to rice production worldwide.During infection,pathogens secrete effector proteins that modulate plant immunity.Disulfide bond formation catalyzed by protein disulfide isomerases(PDI)is essential for protein folding and maturation.However,the biological function of Pdi1 in M.oryzae has not yet been characterized.In this study,we identified the endoplasmic reticulum(ER)-located protein,MoPdi1,in M.oryzae.MoPdi1 regulates conidiation,cell wall stress,and pathogenicity of M.oryzae.Furthermore,the CGHC active sites in the a and a'redox domain of MoPdi1 were essential for the biological function of MoPDI1.Further tests demonstrated that MoPdi1 was involved in the regulation of ER stress and positively regulated ER phagy.We also found that MoPdi1 interacted with MoHut1.Deletion of MoPDI1 led to the bereft of MoHut1 dimerization,which depends on the formation of disulfide bonds.In addition,MoPdi1 affected the normal secretion of the cytoplasmic effector AVR-Pia.We provided evidence that MoHut1 is important for the vegetative growth,conidiation,and pathogenicity in M.oryzae.Therefore,our findings could provide a suitable target point for designing antifungal agrochemicals against rice blast fungus.展开更多
The advancement of medical science has elevated medical English to a critical role in facilitating international medical exchange and scientific collaboration.However,traditional medical English pedagogy often suffers...The advancement of medical science has elevated medical English to a critical role in facilitating international medical exchange and scientific collaboration.However,traditional medical English pedagogy often suffers from an overemphasis on linguistic knowledge at the expense of practical application and a teacher-centered approach that neglects knowledge construction.These limitations hinder the cultivation of interdisciplinary talents required for clinical practice and scientific research.Guided by constructivist learning theory and utilizing the teaching case of the course“Emerging Pathogenic Fungal Infections,”this study explores reform pathways through reconstructing teaching objectives,redesigning instructional processes,and optimizing assessment systems.Specifically,targeted curriculum enhancements were implemented to strengthen students’international literature reading proficiency.The reform aims to holistically improve students’ability to utilize medical English for solving practical problems,offering valuable insights for medical English education.展开更多
This study investigated the potential of locally sourced mushrooms as a sustainable alternative to marine-derived chitosan in papermaking.Chitosan was extracted from four local(Boletus edulis,Suillus luteus,Leccinum a...This study investigated the potential of locally sourced mushrooms as a sustainable alternative to marine-derived chitosan in papermaking.Chitosan was extracted from four local(Boletus edulis,Suillus luteus,Leccinum auran-tiacum,Suillus variegatus),one commercially available(Agaricus bisporus)and one laboratory-grown(Phanero-chaete chrysosporium)fungal species.Paper handsheets were prepared using either 100%regenerated paper or a 50/50 blend of regenerated paper and hemp fibres.2.5%chitosan(based on dry mass)was incorporated into the paper mass,using chitosan sourced from B.edulis,A.bisporus,P.chrysosporium,and crustacean chitosan.Fungal chitosan sources were selected based on multiple factors.B.edulis exhibited the highest chitosan yield(5.03%),the highest degree of deacetylation(77.0%)and the highest molecular weight(59.18 kDa).It is also a widely prevalent species in the Baltic region.A.bisporus demonstrated the highest degree of crystallinity(62.7%).Additionally,it has readily available waste material due to its popularity in the food industry.P.chysosporium,with its low degree of crystallinity(33.9%)and small molecular weight(9.06 kDa),is easily cultivable in laboratory conditions.Mechanical testing of papers showed that fungal chitosan significantly improved tensile index and elongation at break(in wet and dry states)and burst strength while reducing air permeability.Notably,fungal chitosan con-sistently outperformed crustacean chitosan.Commercially available A.bisporus and locally sourced B.edulis emerged as promising alternatives to crustacean chitosan in papermaking.Further research is needed to explore other applications for fungal chitosan.展开更多
The corrosion behavior of deposit-covered aluminum alloy 7075(AA7075)caused by fungus Aspergillus terreus(A.terreus)was thoroughly investigated in artificial seawater aiming to offer some new insights into the under-d...The corrosion behavior of deposit-covered aluminum alloy 7075(AA7075)caused by fungus Aspergillus terreus(A.terreus)was thoroughly investigated in artificial seawater aiming to offer some new insights into the under-deposit corrosion mechanism of aluminum alloys in marine environments containing fungi.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,polarization curves,wire beam electrodes,and surface analysis were performed.Results indicate that A.terreus can survive beneath the deposit but the counts of sessile spores decline as the increase of deposit thickness,suggesting a poor biological activity of A.terreus beneath the deposit.Both the uniform corrosion and pitting corrosion are accelerated by A.terreus,while the pitting corrosion of AA7075 alloys beneath the deposit derives from a galvanic cell with a small anode and a large cathode.Deposits have a corrosion inhibition effect on AA7075.However,the galvanic effect caused by the bare and deposit-covered AA specimens is obviously enhanced by A.terreus.展开更多
Wheat fungal infections pose a danger to the grain quality and crop productivity.Thus,prompt and precise diagnosis is essential for efficient crop management.This study used the WFD2020 image dataset,which is availabl...Wheat fungal infections pose a danger to the grain quality and crop productivity.Thus,prompt and precise diagnosis is essential for efficient crop management.This study used the WFD2020 image dataset,which is available to everyone,to look into howdeep learningmodels could be used to find powdery mildew,leaf rust,and yellow rust,which are three common fungal diseases in Punjab,India.We changed a few hyperparameters to test TensorFlowbased models,such as SSD and Faster R-CNN with ResNet50,ResNet101,and ResNet152 as backbones.Faster R-CNN with ResNet50 achieved amean average precision(mAP)of 0.68 among these models.We then used the PyTorch-based YOLOv8 model,which significantly outperformed the previous methods with an impressive mAP of 0.99.YOLOv8 proved to be a beneficial approach for the early-stage diagnosis of fungal diseases,especially when it comes to precisely identifying diseased areas and various object sizes in images.Problems,such as class imbalance and possible model overfitting,persisted despite these developments.The results show that YOLOv8 is a good automated disease diagnosis tool that helps farmers quickly find and treat fungal infections using image-based systems.展开更多
Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogens causing invasive fungal infections,with a mortality rate of up to 20%-50%.Amphotericin B(AmB),a biopharmaceutics classification system(BCS)IV drug,significantly inh...Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogens causing invasive fungal infections,with a mortality rate of up to 20%-50%.Amphotericin B(AmB),a biopharmaceutics classification system(BCS)IV drug,significantly inhibits Candida albicans.AmB is primarily administered via oral and intravenous infusion,but severe infusion adverse effects,nephrotoxicity,and potential hepatotoxicity limit its clinical application.Deep eutectic solvents(DESs),with excellent solubilization ability and skin permeability,are attractive for transdermal delivery.Herein,we used DESs to deliver AmB for antifungal therapy transdermally.We first prepared and characterized DESs with different stoichiometric ratios of choline(Ch)and geranate(Ge).DESs increased the solubility of AmB by a thousand-fold.In vitro and in vivo,skin permeation studies indicated that DES_(1:2)(Ch and Ge in 1:2 ratio)had the most outstanding penetration and delivered fluorescence dye to the dermis layer.Then,DES_(1:2)-AmB was prepared and in vitro antifungal tests demonstrated that DES_(1:2)-AmB had superior antifungal effects compared to AmB and DES_(1:2).Furthermore,DES_(1:2)-AmB was skin-irritating and biocompatible.In conclusion,DES-AmB provides a new and effective therapeutic solution for fungal infections.展开更多
Fungi play a crucial role in the utilization and storage of soil organic carbon(SOC).Biochars can potentially influence soil carbon(C)turnover by mediating extracellular electron transfer,which can be facilitated by f...Fungi play a crucial role in the utilization and storage of soil organic carbon(SOC).Biochars can potentially influence soil carbon(C)turnover by mediating extracellular electron transfer,which can be facilitated by fungi.However,the effects of biochar and soil type on the community,abundance,enzyme secretion,and necromass of fungi mediating SOC storage remain unclear.A mesocosm incubation experiment was conducted using forest and paddy soils from southern China to study the impact of biochars pyrolyzed at low(300℃BL)and high(700℃BH)temperatures on fungal abundance,community composition,necromass abundance,and C-degrading enzyme activities.The SOC retention ratio was higher under BL(84.0%)than under BH(76.3%).Addition of BL increased fungal abundance in the forest soil by 230%.In contrast,addition of BH decreased fungal abundance in the paddy soil by 20.8%.Biochar addition affected fungal necromass accumulation and oxidase activity and regulated SOC turnover.The high available C content and moderate liming effect of BL significantly increased fungal abundance and necromass abundance in the forest soil compared to the paddy soil.Moreover,after 16 weeks of incubation,BL addition decreased peroxidase activity by 32.1%in the forest soil due to the higher C use efficiency of fungi(i.e.,the enrichment of Talaromyces,Umbelopsis,and Trichoderma),decreasing C-degrading enzyme secretion and reducing SOC degradation compared to the paddy soil.However,BH addition increased the Fusarium abundance,which regulated the polyphenol oxidase activity and promoted SOC degradation in the paddy soil.We concluded that biochars could alter the soil environment and extracellular electron transfer to mediate fungal necromass content and C-degrading enzyme activities,thus affecting SOC storage in the forest and paddy soils.展开更多
The Yellow River Delta(YRD)of China is one of the most active land-sea interaction deltas in the world.However,due to human activities and climate change,it has undergone significant changes,including the degradation ...The Yellow River Delta(YRD)of China is one of the most active land-sea interaction deltas in the world.However,due to human activities and climate change,it has undergone significant changes,including the degradation of natural wetlands and saltwater intrusion.As an integral part of soil microorganisms,fungi play a crucial role in maintaining and stabilizing the function of wetland ecosystems.To better understand the composition and diversity changes of fungal communities along a salinity gradient in the YRD of China and their relationship with environmental factors,fungal diversity,abundance,and composition in the sediments of four typical vegetation communities spanning from the riverbank to the seaside were investigated.The results showed that the electrical conductivity(EC)increased significantly from the riverbank to the coastal area(P<0.05),but the levels of total nitrogen(TN),total carbon(TC),total sulfur(TS),available phosphorous(AP),and ammonium(NH_(4)^(+)-N)increased in Phragmites australis community and then experienced a significant decrease in Tamarix chinensis community and Suaeda salsa community(P<0.05).The alpha diversity(Shannon and Simpson indices)of the soil fungal community exhibited a negative correlation with EC.There was a significant alteration in the structure of the fungal community,primarily influenced by EC and NO_(3)^(-)-N.Ascomycota was found to be the most abundant phylum,and its relative abundance is positively correlated with pH and TS.The relative abundance of Sordariomycetes,the second-largest class of Ascomycota,reached 38.95%.Salinity was identified as the most important factor driving changes in soil fungal community composition.In summary,the fungal community changed significantly along the salinity gradient,and different environmental factors impacted various tiers of fungal populations differently.The findings of this study lay the groundwork for comprehending soil fungal communities and their primary influencing factors in newly formed wetlands.展开更多
High-performance electrode materials are critical for the development of the capacitive deionization(CDI)technology for efficient water desalination.In this study,binder-free porous carbon electrodes were successfully...High-performance electrode materials are critical for the development of the capacitive deionization(CDI)technology for efficient water desalination.In this study,binder-free porous carbon electrodes were successfully prepared from the fungal hyphae sheet with the formation and growth of metal-organic framework(MOF)crystals on the surface of hyphal fibers.The continuous fungal fibrous structure with abundant surface functional groups provided an ideal supporting substrate for in-situ oriented MOF growth.The MOF-fungal hyphae derived carbon(MOF-Fhy-C)exhibited an excellent property for CDI application,such as a large accessible surface area,excellent electrical conductivity,high porosity and hydrophilicity.The MOF-Fhy-C electrode achieved an outstanding CDI performance with a salt adsorption capacity of 40.8 mg g^(-1)and an average salt adsorption rate of 1.4 mg g^(-1)min-1for treating 10 mmol L^(-1)NaCl solution at a cell voltage of 1.2 V,which are considerably higher than most of carbon-based electrodes reported in the literature.This research presents an effective strategy for fabricating freestanding CDI electrodes from fungal materials with MOF for high-performance desalination.展开更多
Phosphorus(P)is crucial for plant growth.However,its low availability in subtropical soils necessitates that trees rely on microorganisms for effective P acquisition.The introduction of broadleaf trees has been shown ...Phosphorus(P)is crucial for plant growth.However,its low availability in subtropical soils necessitates that trees rely on microorganisms for effective P acquisition.The introduction of broadleaf trees has been shown to facilitate P acquisition in coniferous plantations by altering the rhizosphere fungal communities.Despite this,functional shifts in these communities and the expression of root phosphorus cycling genes(PCGs)remain inadequately understood.This study investigated coniferous Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations interplanted with broadleaf species associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)or ectomycorrhizal(ECM)fungi.Rhizosphere soil and fine roots from the conifers were analyzed to examine soil bioavailable P fractions,root mycorrhizal colonization,rhizosphere fungal community composition,enzyme function predictions,and root PCGs expression.We found that citric-P in rhizospheric soil of P.massoniana increased with the introduction of Quercus gilva(an ECM-associated tree species),whereas Bray-P content in the rhizosphere of C.lanceolata decreased upon the introduction of either Q.gilva or Phoebe zhennan(an ECM-associated tree species).Moreover,the relative abundance of saprophytic fungi(e.g.,Mortierella)increased following the introduction of broadleaf trees.Specifically,the introduction of Q.gilva was associated with elevated levels of organic P mineralization genes(e.g.,phoA)and enzymes(e.g.,phytases and acid phosphatase(ACP))in conifers.In contrast,the introduction of P.zhennan increased the expression of inorganic P solubilization genes(such as qppC in P.massoniana roots and ppa in C.lanceolata roots).Key contributors to P absorption in conifer roots included Cenococcum,Rhizopogon,and Glomus.This study advances our understanding of P cycling in coniferous rhizospheres and the dynamics of coexisting mycorrhizal tree systems,yielding valuable insights into sustainable management of plantation ecosystems.展开更多
While viral infections can disturb the host gut microbiome,the dynamic alterations in microbial composition following infection remain poorly characterized.This study identified SRV-8-infected monkeys and classified t...While viral infections can disturb the host gut microbiome,the dynamic alterations in microbial composition following infection remain poorly characterized.This study identified SRV-8-infected monkeys and classified them into five groups based on infection progression.16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed significant alterations in the relative and inferred absolute abundance of bacterial genera UCG-002,Agathobacter,Coprococcus,and Holdemanella during the early stage of SRV-8 infection,coinciding with provirus formation.These microbial shifts were accompanied by functional modifications in bacterial communities at the same stage.In contrast,ITS amplicon sequencing indicated no significant differences in fungal composition between healthy wild-type and SRV-8-infected monkeys.Spearman correlation analyses demonstrated close interactions between intestinal bacteria and fungi following SRV-8 infection.Additionally,SRV-8 seropositive groups exhibited significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory(TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-1β,and IL-6)and anti-inflammatory(IL-10)cytokine genes,highlighting close associations between inflammatory cytokines and immune responses.Overall,these findings provide a comprehensive characterization of bacterial and fungal microbiota dynamics and inflammatory cytokine responses associated with SRV-8 infection,clarifying the pathobiological mechanisms underlying SRV-8 infection from the perspective of the gut microbiome.展开更多
Candida albicans(C.abicans),вcommon pathogenic fungus in nature,has enough cæpity to cause Severe brain infection through various mesns under immunocompromised conditions.Currently,stablishing a basic animal dis...Candida albicans(C.abicans),вcommon pathogenic fungus in nature,has enough cæpity to cause Severe brain infection through various mesns under immunocompromised conditions.Currently,stablishing a basic animal disesse model has become the main rsrch tool,which isconducive to simulat ing fungal encephalitis effectively.However,the widely used bloodbarne infection model established by intravenoOus(I.V)injection in mice usually results in systenic infecions but cannot simulate significant bradn inflammation.Here,we developed&fungal en-cephaltis model by intracerebroventriaular(L.C.V)injection af C.albicansto better simulate the significant harm und consequencEs.Compared with I.V,a greater number of colony-for ming units(CFUa)in the brain was induced following I.CV.Magnetic resonane imaging MRM resulta revesled more obvious inflammatinn in the external capsule area of the brain.Menwhile,be havioral experiments with the Y-meze also indicated that abnormal activity behavior further relected significant short-term mamory impairment after I.C.Vof C.albicans.In summary,these studies not onby provide a novel fungal encephalitis model for understanding the pathogenesis mechanism of this disease but also lay a solid foundation for future effective tretment.展开更多
AIM： To report the fungal organisms, clinical features, surgical treatment strategies, and outcomes of patients with culture-proven exogenous fungal endophthalmitis （EFE） secondary to keratitis, and evaluate the ro...AIM： To report the fungal organisms, clinical features, surgical treatment strategies, and outcomes of patients with culture-proven exogenous fungal endophthalmitis （EFE） secondary to keratitis, and evaluate the role of surgery in the treatment. METHODS： The clinical records of 27 patients （27 eyes） with culture-proven EFE resulting from fungal keratitis treated at Shandong Eye Institute from January 2007 to January 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Information about fungal culture results, clinical features, surgical procedures, and final visual acuity was obtained. RESULTS： There were 39 positive culture results from samples of cornea, hypopyon, vitreous and lens capsule, accounting for 56%, 26%, 15% and 2.5%, respectively. Fusarium was identified in 44% （12/27） of the eyes, followed by Aspergillus in 22% （6/27）. Posterior segment infection was involved in 78% （21127） of the patients. The corneal infection was larger than 3 mmx3 mm in 89% （24/ 27） of the patients, and 22% （6/27） of them had the entire cornea, and even the sclera involved. Three eyes had silicone oil tamponade, and two eyes had retinal detachment. Twenty-two eyes （81.5%） underwent penetrating keratoplasty （PKP）, and over half of them （545%） were operated within 3d from the onset of antifungal therapy. Fourteen eyes （52%） underwent intracameral antifungal drug injection, and three of them required repeated injections. Fifteen eyes （55.6%） underwent pars plana vitrectomy （PPV）. The rate of the eyes undergoing PPV as the initial surgical procedure was 60% （9/15）, lower than 77% in PKP. Intravitreal injection was given in 59% of the eyes （16/27）, and 75% of them required repeated injections. The final visual acuity was 20/100 or better in 37% of the eyes, and better than counting fingers in 55.6% of the eyes. Five eyes （18.5%） were eviscerated. In the two eyes with concurrent retinal detachment, one achieved retinal reattachment, and the other was eviscerated. In the three eyes with silicone oil tamponade, two eyes received silicone oil removal, and the other one was eviscerated. CONCLUSION： Fusarium and Aspergillus are the dominant pathogens in EFE resulting from keratitis. Aggressive antifungal surgeries including multiple intravitreal injections, PKP and core vitrectomy （especially in the initial surgery） are helpful procedures to improve prognosis of severe EFE secondary to keratitis.展开更多
The artemisinin accumulation in the hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua L. was enhanced via a treatment of three fungal elicitors separately ( Verticillium dahliae Kleb., Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb. ex ...The artemisinin accumulation in the hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua L. was enhanced via a treatment of three fungal elicitors separately ( Verticillium dahliae Kleb., Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb. ex Fr.) Vuill and Colletotrichum dematium (Pers.) Grove). Among these three elicitors, V. dahliae had the highest inducing efficiency, but none of them manifests any noticeable effects on the cell growth of the hairy root cultures. The artemisinin content of the hairy root cultures treated with V. dahliae elicitor was 1.12 mg/g DW, which was 45% higher than the control (0.77 mg/g DW). The results showed that elicitation was dependent on the elicitor concentration, the incubation period and the physiological stage at which the hairy root cultures were treated. In addition, the authors found that for V. dahliae , the optimum concentration was 0.4 mg carbohydrate per millilitre medium, the strongest response of A. annua hairy root cultures to the elicitation was at the late exponential growth stage, and the highest artemisinin content of the hairy root cultures was on the 4th day post treatment.展开更多
Background: Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a global public health problem with devastating effects, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Addressing AFR requires a One Health approach including Antifungal St...Background: Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a global public health problem with devastating effects, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Addressing AFR requires a One Health approach including Antifungal Stewardship (AFS). This study aimed to comprehensively review global studies published on fungal infections and AFR and to recommend solutions to address this growing problem. Materials and Methods: This was a narrative review that was conducted using published papers on fungal infections, AFR, and AFS between January 1961 and March 2024. The literature was searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results: This found that there has been an increase in fungal infections globally, especially among immunocompromised patients. Due to this increase in fungal infections, there has been a proportionate increase in the use of antifungal agents to prevent and treat fungal infections. This increased use of antifungal agents has worsened the problem of AFR contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Globally, fungal infections have contributed to 150 million infections annually and 1.7 million deaths per year. By the year 2023, over 3.8 million people died from fungal infections. Addressing AFR remains a challenge because the treatment of antifungal-resistant infections is difficult. Finally, the treatment of fungal infections is a global challenge exacerbated by the limited number of antifungal agents to treat invasive fungal infections. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that fungal infections and AFR are prevalent across humans, animals, agriculture, and the environment. Addressing this problem requires the provision of solutions such as improving the awareness of AFR, conducting further research on the discovery of new antifungal agents, and implementing AFS programs. If this global problem is not addressed, the morbidity and mortality associated with AFR will continue to rise in the future.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82322075).
文摘When human immune function is compromised,infections caused by pathogenic fungi are often difficult to cure,with invasive fungal diseases frequently associated with high mortality rates.Presently,the types of antifungal drugs available for clinical use are limited,and their toxicity and safety issues can lead to adverse effects for patients.The emergence of drug-resistant strains and the“super fungus”Candida auris has further complicated treatment.Consequently,the identification of new antifungal medications and the formulation of effective combination therapy strategies have emerged as pivotal research priorities within this discipline.Natural products are specialized small molecules that are produced in nature and play pivotal roles in numerous cellular processes and are considered to be among the most significant pharmaceutical agents in the field of human healthcare.Accordingly,the objective of this paper is to review natural products and relevant compounds that exhibit antifungal activity by targeting key components of the fungal cell walls or cell membranes.We focused on the most recent research findings from 2022 to 2025 concerning antifungal natural products derived from plants,fungi,and bacteria,and conducted a comprehensive summary of the sources and types of natural products,along with their antifungal mechanisms of action.Furthermore,we analyzed the application prospects of combining novel natural products with existing antifungal drugs from the perspective of compensatory mechanisms of fungal cell structures,thus establishing new treatment strategies for fungal infections.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number:31971527,32001126)Heilongjiang Provincial Key Research and Development Plan Guidance Projects(grant number:GZ20210009)Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(grant number:TD2019C002).
文摘Human activities contribute to elevated nitrogen input in terrestrial ecosystems,influencing the composition of soil nutrients and microbial diversity in forest ecosystems.In this study,we built four addition treatments(0,20,40,and 80 kg ha^(−1)a^(−1)N for 6 a)at a Korean pine plantation of different soil horizons(organic(O)horizon,ranging from 0 to 10 cm,and organomineral(A)horizon,extending from 10 to 20 cm)to evaluate responses of the structure of saprophytic fungal communities.Here,80 kg ha^(−1)a^(−1)N treatment significantly decreased the community richness in soil A horizon with the Chao1 index decreasing by 12.68%.Nitrogen addition induced changes in the composition of saprophytic fungi community between the different soil horizons.The co-occurrence network and its associated topological structure were utilized to identify mycoindicators for specific fungi to both soil horizons and nitrogen addition levels.In soil O horizon,the mycoindicators included Penicillium,Trichoderma,Aspergillus,and Pseudeurotium across control,low,medium,and high nitrogen treatments.In soil A horizon,Geomyces,Cladophialophora,Penicillium,and Pseudeurotium were identified as mycoindicators.Structural equation modeling determined NH_(4)^(+)-N as the key factor driving changes in saprotrophic fungal communities.Our study aimed to screen mycoindicators that can respond to the increasing global nitrogen deposition and to assess the roles of these mycoindicators in the saprophytic fun-gal community structure within Korean pine plantations in northeast China.
基金Supported by Hebei Province 2023 Annual Medical Science Research Project,No.20230597Hebei Province 2024 Annual Medical Applicable Technology Tracking Project,No.GZ2024017.
文摘BACKGROUND Fungal esophagitis(FE)is caused by fungal invasion of the esophageal mucosa.Under endoscopy,the esophageal mucosa shows edema,congestion,erosion,and ulceration,and bleeds easily when touched,and the surface of the mucosa is covered with small white spots like"bean curd residue".Clinical cases showing typical FE under endoscopic imaging but negative esophageal mucosal brush(referred to as suspected FE)have increased the difficulty and challenge of clinical diagnosis and treatment.At present,the esophageal fungal flora of suspected case has not been thoroughly studied.AIM To characterize the fungal flora in FE,suspected FE,and the esophageal normal controls(NCs),and to identify marker species to improve detection of FE.METHODS This was a case-control study.A total of 19 patients with FE,16 with suspected FE,and 10 NCs were selected by endoscopy.The esophageal cell brush samples of each group were sequenced by internal transcribed spacer(ITS)1 and analyzed by bioinformatics.RESULTS In FE and suspected FE patients,species richness,species diversity and species evenness,as measured by the Chao1 index,Shannon index and Pielou index,were lower than in the NCs,and the comparison between the FE and NCs was the most significant(P<0.05).Compared with the NCs,the relative abundance of Candida in FE and suspected FE patients was significantly increased(P<0.001),while the relative abundance of Yarrowia was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Moreover,Yarrowia abundance in the FE group was significantly lower than in the NCs and suspected FE groups(P<0.001).The area under the curve for Candida in FE and suspected FE patients was 99.5%(P<0.05)and 81.3%(P<0.05),respectively.Finally,compared with FE patients,the relative abundance of Ascomycota and Candida in the esophageal flora of suspected FE patients was decreased,while the relative abundance of Yarrowia,Thermomyces and Pichia was increased.CONCLUSION ITS showed that composition of the fungal community was similar in the FE and suspected FE groups.ITS can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic method for FE and provide a theoretical basis for follow-up diagnosis and treatment.
文摘Posaconazole(PCZ)is a broad-spectrum anti-fungal drug approved by FDA and currently used off-label for the treatment of fungal keratitis(FK).Although ocular route serves as the most bioavailable route for treating FK,delivery of PCZ to the eye remains a challenge due to poor permeation though the cornea and rapid elimination from the eye.Here we outline a comprehensive formulation development process,beginning with in silico studies,progressing through in vitro evaluations,and ultimately achieving therapeutic benefits in vivo.We report modified niosome-like surfactant vesicles,hereafter termed as NioTherms,formulated using a novel and simple heat-mix method,encapsulating PCZ for ocular administration in the form of an in situ gel.Excipient screening performed using in silico simulations highly correlate with in vitro studies(R^(2)=0.77),guiding optimization by Quality by Design(QbD)approach for encapsulating PCZ in NioTherms resulting in particles with an average size of 180.7±2.3 nm,zeta potential of +27.5±2.2 mV and entrapment efficiency of 87.6%±1.7%.A 2-fold increase in both mucin binding and cellular uptake indicates a functional role of positive surface charge in enhancingmucoadhesive properties of PCZ-NioTherms.In an in vivo murine ocular keratitis model,we demonstrate a 2-fold enhancement in trans-corneal permeability of PCZ-NioTherms and a 3-fold reduction in fungal burden compared to the control standard of care,the PCZ solution.Owing to a facile formulation process,we anticipate that PCZ-NioTherms would serve as a clinically translatable and patient compliant therapeutic intervention for treating FK.
文摘BACKGROUND Individuals with liver cirrhosis(LC)are likely to experience multiple infectious processes due to the immune dysfunction caused by the disease.Our hypothesis is that this group of patients is predisposed to fungal infections.To date,the incidence of spontaneous fungal peritonitis(SFP)has not been determined in Mexico;this endeavor is of great importance because many patients may be suffering from this condition without receiving targeted treatment,which may increase mortality.AIM To report the incidence of SFP in patients presenting with decompensated LC with ascites.METHODS This was a prospective,single-center,descriptive,observational and crosssectional study where patients presenting with decompensated LC with ascites were evaluated from November 2023 to May 2024 in Mexico City.Fungal cultures of ascites were performed and the samples kept in an incubator for 10 days to 14 days,and molecular tests(the API 20 C AUX test)were used for molecular characterization.RESULTS Of the 48 patients included,54.2%were women,77.1%had a comorbidity,47.9%had LC secondary to metabolic dysfunction,43.8%were classified as Child-Pugh C with a model for end-stage liver disease 3.0 median score of 22,and 10.4%were in secondary prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP).Only four patients had positive cultures where Candida parapsilosis and Candida albicans were isolated,with two of the four patients being positive for Rhodotorula minuta;an SBP incidence of 8.3%was thus calculated.Chronic kidney disease[P=0.012 and relative risk(RR)=15]and secondary prophylaxis for SBP(P=0.049 with RR=8.6)were statistically significant and associated with a high mortality risk(P=0.001 with RR=33).CONCLUSION The presence of infection of fungal origin in ascites in patients presenting with cirrhosis increases short-and medium-term mortality;therefore,it is recommended that fungal culture tests are performed in those patients who visit the emergency room or experience continuous admission with acute decompensation and no bacteria identified in ascites cultures,and even more so in patients with chronic kidney disease and a history of antibiotic use as prophylaxis for SBP.Further studies are needed for the identification of clinical and biochemical data that can help to define SFP so that its presence may be assessed without the need to wait for a positive fungal culture.Thus,treatment may be initiated early in the hope of having a positive impact on the prognosis in this group of patients.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32202253)the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Higher Education Institutions,China(KJ2020A0102)the Talent Research Project of Anhui Agricultural University,China(rc342001)。
文摘Rice blast,caused by Magnaporthe oryzae,is a fungal disease that causes devastating damage to rice production worldwide.During infection,pathogens secrete effector proteins that modulate plant immunity.Disulfide bond formation catalyzed by protein disulfide isomerases(PDI)is essential for protein folding and maturation.However,the biological function of Pdi1 in M.oryzae has not yet been characterized.In this study,we identified the endoplasmic reticulum(ER)-located protein,MoPdi1,in M.oryzae.MoPdi1 regulates conidiation,cell wall stress,and pathogenicity of M.oryzae.Furthermore,the CGHC active sites in the a and a'redox domain of MoPdi1 were essential for the biological function of MoPDI1.Further tests demonstrated that MoPdi1 was involved in the regulation of ER stress and positively regulated ER phagy.We also found that MoPdi1 interacted with MoHut1.Deletion of MoPDI1 led to the bereft of MoHut1 dimerization,which depends on the formation of disulfide bonds.In addition,MoPdi1 affected the normal secretion of the cytoplasmic effector AVR-Pia.We provided evidence that MoHut1 is important for the vegetative growth,conidiation,and pathogenicity in M.oryzae.Therefore,our findings could provide a suitable target point for designing antifungal agrochemicals against rice blast fungus.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project No.:82302546)。
文摘The advancement of medical science has elevated medical English to a critical role in facilitating international medical exchange and scientific collaboration.However,traditional medical English pedagogy often suffers from an overemphasis on linguistic knowledge at the expense of practical application and a teacher-centered approach that neglects knowledge construction.These limitations hinder the cultivation of interdisciplinary talents required for clinical practice and scientific research.Guided by constructivist learning theory and utilizing the teaching case of the course“Emerging Pathogenic Fungal Infections,”this study explores reform pathways through reconstructing teaching objectives,redesigning instructional processes,and optimizing assessment systems.Specifically,targeted curriculum enhancements were implemented to strengthen students’international literature reading proficiency.The reform aims to holistically improve students’ability to utilize medical English for solving practical problems,offering valuable insights for medical English education.
基金funded by the Latvian Council of Science Project No.lzp-2023/1-0123“Development of Biopolymer-Based Hydrophobic Multi-Layer Packaging Material from Biomass Waste Streams”。
文摘This study investigated the potential of locally sourced mushrooms as a sustainable alternative to marine-derived chitosan in papermaking.Chitosan was extracted from four local(Boletus edulis,Suillus luteus,Leccinum auran-tiacum,Suillus variegatus),one commercially available(Agaricus bisporus)and one laboratory-grown(Phanero-chaete chrysosporium)fungal species.Paper handsheets were prepared using either 100%regenerated paper or a 50/50 blend of regenerated paper and hemp fibres.2.5%chitosan(based on dry mass)was incorporated into the paper mass,using chitosan sourced from B.edulis,A.bisporus,P.chrysosporium,and crustacean chitosan.Fungal chitosan sources were selected based on multiple factors.B.edulis exhibited the highest chitosan yield(5.03%),the highest degree of deacetylation(77.0%)and the highest molecular weight(59.18 kDa).It is also a widely prevalent species in the Baltic region.A.bisporus demonstrated the highest degree of crystallinity(62.7%).Additionally,it has readily available waste material due to its popularity in the food industry.P.chysosporium,with its low degree of crystallinity(33.9%)and small molecular weight(9.06 kDa),is easily cultivable in laboratory conditions.Mechanical testing of papers showed that fungal chitosan significantly improved tensile index and elongation at break(in wet and dry states)and burst strength while reducing air permeability.Notably,fungal chitosan con-sistently outperformed crustacean chitosan.Commercially available A.bisporus and locally sourced B.edulis emerged as promising alternatives to crustacean chitosan in papermaking.Further research is needed to explore other applications for fungal chitosan.
基金supported by Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation,China(No.2023A1515012146)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52271083).
文摘The corrosion behavior of deposit-covered aluminum alloy 7075(AA7075)caused by fungus Aspergillus terreus(A.terreus)was thoroughly investigated in artificial seawater aiming to offer some new insights into the under-deposit corrosion mechanism of aluminum alloys in marine environments containing fungi.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,polarization curves,wire beam electrodes,and surface analysis were performed.Results indicate that A.terreus can survive beneath the deposit but the counts of sessile spores decline as the increase of deposit thickness,suggesting a poor biological activity of A.terreus beneath the deposit.Both the uniform corrosion and pitting corrosion are accelerated by A.terreus,while the pitting corrosion of AA7075 alloys beneath the deposit derives from a galvanic cell with a small anode and a large cathode.Deposits have a corrosion inhibition effect on AA7075.However,the galvanic effect caused by the bare and deposit-covered AA specimens is obviously enhanced by A.terreus.
基金supported by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number(PNURSP2025R432),Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘Wheat fungal infections pose a danger to the grain quality and crop productivity.Thus,prompt and precise diagnosis is essential for efficient crop management.This study used the WFD2020 image dataset,which is available to everyone,to look into howdeep learningmodels could be used to find powdery mildew,leaf rust,and yellow rust,which are three common fungal diseases in Punjab,India.We changed a few hyperparameters to test TensorFlowbased models,such as SSD and Faster R-CNN with ResNet50,ResNet101,and ResNet152 as backbones.Faster R-CNN with ResNet50 achieved amean average precision(mAP)of 0.68 among these models.We then used the PyTorch-based YOLOv8 model,which significantly outperformed the previous methods with an impressive mAP of 0.99.YOLOv8 proved to be a beneficial approach for the early-stage diagnosis of fungal diseases,especially when it comes to precisely identifying diseased areas and various object sizes in images.Problems,such as class imbalance and possible model overfitting,persisted despite these developments.The results show that YOLOv8 is a good automated disease diagnosis tool that helps farmers quickly find and treat fungal infections using image-based systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81872823,82073782,and 82241002)the Key R&D Plan of Ganjiang New District of Jiangxi(No.2023010).
文摘Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogens causing invasive fungal infections,with a mortality rate of up to 20%-50%.Amphotericin B(AmB),a biopharmaceutics classification system(BCS)IV drug,significantly inhibits Candida albicans.AmB is primarily administered via oral and intravenous infusion,but severe infusion adverse effects,nephrotoxicity,and potential hepatotoxicity limit its clinical application.Deep eutectic solvents(DESs),with excellent solubilization ability and skin permeability,are attractive for transdermal delivery.Herein,we used DESs to deliver AmB for antifungal therapy transdermally.We first prepared and characterized DESs with different stoichiometric ratios of choline(Ch)and geranate(Ge).DESs increased the solubility of AmB by a thousand-fold.In vitro and in vivo,skin permeation studies indicated that DES_(1:2)(Ch and Ge in 1:2 ratio)had the most outstanding penetration and delivered fluorescence dye to the dermis layer.Then,DES_(1:2)-AmB was prepared and in vitro antifungal tests demonstrated that DES_(1:2)-AmB had superior antifungal effects compared to AmB and DES_(1:2).Furthermore,DES_(1:2)-AmB was skin-irritating and biocompatible.In conclusion,DES-AmB provides a new and effective therapeutic solution for fungal infections.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32101397,42177195,42307527,and 42307567)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation,China(Nos.2021A1515011559,2024A1515012566,and 2023A1515012248)+1 种基金the Guangdong Foundation for Program of Science and Technology Research,China(No.2023B1212060044)GDAS'Project of Science and Technology Development,China(Nos.2023 GDASZH-2023010103 and 2020GDASYL-20200103074).
文摘Fungi play a crucial role in the utilization and storage of soil organic carbon(SOC).Biochars can potentially influence soil carbon(C)turnover by mediating extracellular electron transfer,which can be facilitated by fungi.However,the effects of biochar and soil type on the community,abundance,enzyme secretion,and necromass of fungi mediating SOC storage remain unclear.A mesocosm incubation experiment was conducted using forest and paddy soils from southern China to study the impact of biochars pyrolyzed at low(300℃BL)and high(700℃BH)temperatures on fungal abundance,community composition,necromass abundance,and C-degrading enzyme activities.The SOC retention ratio was higher under BL(84.0%)than under BH(76.3%).Addition of BL increased fungal abundance in the forest soil by 230%.In contrast,addition of BH decreased fungal abundance in the paddy soil by 20.8%.Biochar addition affected fungal necromass accumulation and oxidase activity and regulated SOC turnover.The high available C content and moderate liming effect of BL significantly increased fungal abundance and necromass abundance in the forest soil compared to the paddy soil.Moreover,after 16 weeks of incubation,BL addition decreased peroxidase activity by 32.1%in the forest soil due to the higher C use efficiency of fungi(i.e.,the enrichment of Talaromyces,Umbelopsis,and Trichoderma),decreasing C-degrading enzyme secretion and reducing SOC degradation compared to the paddy soil.However,BH addition increased the Fusarium abundance,which regulated the polyphenol oxidase activity and promoted SOC degradation in the paddy soil.We concluded that biochars could alter the soil environment and extracellular electron transfer to mediate fungal necromass content and C-degrading enzyme activities,thus affecting SOC storage in the forest and paddy soils.
基金Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42471111,42107419)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR2023MD076)+2 种基金Talent Induction Program for Youth Innovation Teams in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province(No.2022-2024)Youth Innovation Teams in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province(No.2022KJ118)Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology Project(No.20230203174SF)。
文摘The Yellow River Delta(YRD)of China is one of the most active land-sea interaction deltas in the world.However,due to human activities and climate change,it has undergone significant changes,including the degradation of natural wetlands and saltwater intrusion.As an integral part of soil microorganisms,fungi play a crucial role in maintaining and stabilizing the function of wetland ecosystems.To better understand the composition and diversity changes of fungal communities along a salinity gradient in the YRD of China and their relationship with environmental factors,fungal diversity,abundance,and composition in the sediments of four typical vegetation communities spanning from the riverbank to the seaside were investigated.The results showed that the electrical conductivity(EC)increased significantly from the riverbank to the coastal area(P<0.05),but the levels of total nitrogen(TN),total carbon(TC),total sulfur(TS),available phosphorous(AP),and ammonium(NH_(4)^(+)-N)increased in Phragmites australis community and then experienced a significant decrease in Tamarix chinensis community and Suaeda salsa community(P<0.05).The alpha diversity(Shannon and Simpson indices)of the soil fungal community exhibited a negative correlation with EC.There was a significant alteration in the structure of the fungal community,primarily influenced by EC and NO_(3)^(-)-N.Ascomycota was found to be the most abundant phylum,and its relative abundance is positively correlated with pH and TS.The relative abundance of Sordariomycetes,the second-largest class of Ascomycota,reached 38.95%.Salinity was identified as the most important factor driving changes in soil fungal community composition.In summary,the fungal community changed significantly along the salinity gradient,and different environmental factors impacted various tiers of fungal populations differently.The findings of this study lay the groundwork for comprehending soil fungal communities and their primary influencing factors in newly formed wetlands.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Project 2024YFE0202100)International Collaboration Program of Huangpu District in Guangzhou(Project 2023GH13)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Projects 52300153,52270128,and 52400150)the Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Government(Project 2024A050509001)Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(Project 2024A0505090013)the Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Government(Projects SGDX20230116092359002 and KCXFZ20240903094205008),China。
文摘High-performance electrode materials are critical for the development of the capacitive deionization(CDI)technology for efficient water desalination.In this study,binder-free porous carbon electrodes were successfully prepared from the fungal hyphae sheet with the formation and growth of metal-organic framework(MOF)crystals on the surface of hyphal fibers.The continuous fungal fibrous structure with abundant surface functional groups provided an ideal supporting substrate for in-situ oriented MOF growth.The MOF-fungal hyphae derived carbon(MOF-Fhy-C)exhibited an excellent property for CDI application,such as a large accessible surface area,excellent electrical conductivity,high porosity and hydrophilicity.The MOF-Fhy-C electrode achieved an outstanding CDI performance with a salt adsorption capacity of 40.8 mg g^(-1)and an average salt adsorption rate of 1.4 mg g^(-1)min-1for treating 10 mmol L^(-1)NaCl solution at a cell voltage of 1.2 V,which are considerably higher than most of carbon-based electrodes reported in the literature.This research presents an effective strategy for fabricating freestanding CDI electrodes from fungal materials with MOF for high-performance desalination.
文摘Phosphorus(P)is crucial for plant growth.However,its low availability in subtropical soils necessitates that trees rely on microorganisms for effective P acquisition.The introduction of broadleaf trees has been shown to facilitate P acquisition in coniferous plantations by altering the rhizosphere fungal communities.Despite this,functional shifts in these communities and the expression of root phosphorus cycling genes(PCGs)remain inadequately understood.This study investigated coniferous Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations interplanted with broadleaf species associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)or ectomycorrhizal(ECM)fungi.Rhizosphere soil and fine roots from the conifers were analyzed to examine soil bioavailable P fractions,root mycorrhizal colonization,rhizosphere fungal community composition,enzyme function predictions,and root PCGs expression.We found that citric-P in rhizospheric soil of P.massoniana increased with the introduction of Quercus gilva(an ECM-associated tree species),whereas Bray-P content in the rhizosphere of C.lanceolata decreased upon the introduction of either Q.gilva or Phoebe zhennan(an ECM-associated tree species).Moreover,the relative abundance of saprophytic fungi(e.g.,Mortierella)increased following the introduction of broadleaf trees.Specifically,the introduction of Q.gilva was associated with elevated levels of organic P mineralization genes(e.g.,phoA)and enzymes(e.g.,phytases and acid phosphatase(ACP))in conifers.In contrast,the introduction of P.zhennan increased the expression of inorganic P solubilization genes(such as qppC in P.massoniana roots and ppa in C.lanceolata roots).Key contributors to P absorption in conifer roots included Cenococcum,Rhizopogon,and Glomus.This study advances our understanding of P cycling in coniferous rhizospheres and the dynamics of coexisting mycorrhizal tree systems,yielding valuable insights into sustainable management of plantation ecosystems.
基金supported by the National Science and Technology Innovation 2030 Major Program(2021ZD0200900)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF0710901)+3 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(82021001,31825018)Biological Resources Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KFJBRP-005)111 Project D18007a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)。
文摘While viral infections can disturb the host gut microbiome,the dynamic alterations in microbial composition following infection remain poorly characterized.This study identified SRV-8-infected monkeys and classified them into five groups based on infection progression.16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed significant alterations in the relative and inferred absolute abundance of bacterial genera UCG-002,Agathobacter,Coprococcus,and Holdemanella during the early stage of SRV-8 infection,coinciding with provirus formation.These microbial shifts were accompanied by functional modifications in bacterial communities at the same stage.In contrast,ITS amplicon sequencing indicated no significant differences in fungal composition between healthy wild-type and SRV-8-infected monkeys.Spearman correlation analyses demonstrated close interactions between intestinal bacteria and fungi following SRV-8 infection.Additionally,SRV-8 seropositive groups exhibited significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory(TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-1β,and IL-6)and anti-inflammatory(IL-10)cytokine genes,highlighting close associations between inflammatory cytokines and immune responses.Overall,these findings provide a comprehensive characterization of bacterial and fungal microbiota dynamics and inflammatory cytokine responses associated with SRV-8 infection,clarifying the pathobiological mechanisms underlying SRV-8 infection from the perspective of the gut microbiome.
基金financially supported by the ResearchInitiation Ftnd Project at Hainan University(Grant Nos.KYQD(ZR)20078 and KYQD(ZR)23179).
文摘Candida albicans(C.abicans),вcommon pathogenic fungus in nature,has enough cæpity to cause Severe brain infection through various mesns under immunocompromised conditions.Currently,stablishing a basic animal disesse model has become the main rsrch tool,which isconducive to simulat ing fungal encephalitis effectively.However,the widely used bloodbarne infection model established by intravenoOus(I.V)injection in mice usually results in systenic infecions but cannot simulate significant bradn inflammation.Here,we developed&fungal en-cephaltis model by intracerebroventriaular(L.C.V)injection af C.albicansto better simulate the significant harm und consequencEs.Compared with I.V,a greater number of colony-for ming units(CFUa)in the brain was induced following I.CV.Magnetic resonane imaging MRM resulta revesled more obvious inflammatinn in the external capsule area of the brain.Menwhile,be havioral experiments with the Y-meze also indicated that abnormal activity behavior further relected significant short-term mamory impairment after I.C.Vof C.albicans.In summary,these studies not onby provide a novel fungal encephalitis model for understanding the pathogenesis mechanism of this disease but also lay a solid foundation for future effective tretment.
文摘AIM： To report the fungal organisms, clinical features, surgical treatment strategies, and outcomes of patients with culture-proven exogenous fungal endophthalmitis （EFE） secondary to keratitis, and evaluate the role of surgery in the treatment. METHODS： The clinical records of 27 patients （27 eyes） with culture-proven EFE resulting from fungal keratitis treated at Shandong Eye Institute from January 2007 to January 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Information about fungal culture results, clinical features, surgical procedures, and final visual acuity was obtained. RESULTS： There were 39 positive culture results from samples of cornea, hypopyon, vitreous and lens capsule, accounting for 56%, 26%, 15% and 2.5%, respectively. Fusarium was identified in 44% （12/27） of the eyes, followed by Aspergillus in 22% （6/27）. Posterior segment infection was involved in 78% （21127） of the patients. The corneal infection was larger than 3 mmx3 mm in 89% （24/ 27） of the patients, and 22% （6/27） of them had the entire cornea, and even the sclera involved. Three eyes had silicone oil tamponade, and two eyes had retinal detachment. Twenty-two eyes （81.5%） underwent penetrating keratoplasty （PKP）, and over half of them （545%） were operated within 3d from the onset of antifungal therapy. Fourteen eyes （52%） underwent intracameral antifungal drug injection, and three of them required repeated injections. Fifteen eyes （55.6%） underwent pars plana vitrectomy （PPV）. The rate of the eyes undergoing PPV as the initial surgical procedure was 60% （9/15）, lower than 77% in PKP. Intravitreal injection was given in 59% of the eyes （16/27）, and 75% of them required repeated injections. The final visual acuity was 20/100 or better in 37% of the eyes, and better than counting fingers in 55.6% of the eyes. Five eyes （18.5%） were eviscerated. In the two eyes with concurrent retinal detachment, one achieved retinal reattachment, and the other was eviscerated. In the three eyes with silicone oil tamponade, two eyes received silicone oil removal, and the other one was eviscerated. CONCLUSION： Fusarium and Aspergillus are the dominant pathogens in EFE resulting from keratitis. Aggressive antifungal surgeries including multiple intravitreal injections, PKP and core vitrectomy （especially in the initial surgery） are helpful procedures to improve prognosis of severe EFE secondary to keratitis.
文摘The artemisinin accumulation in the hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua L. was enhanced via a treatment of three fungal elicitors separately ( Verticillium dahliae Kleb., Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb. ex Fr.) Vuill and Colletotrichum dematium (Pers.) Grove). Among these three elicitors, V. dahliae had the highest inducing efficiency, but none of them manifests any noticeable effects on the cell growth of the hairy root cultures. The artemisinin content of the hairy root cultures treated with V. dahliae elicitor was 1.12 mg/g DW, which was 45% higher than the control (0.77 mg/g DW). The results showed that elicitation was dependent on the elicitor concentration, the incubation period and the physiological stage at which the hairy root cultures were treated. In addition, the authors found that for V. dahliae , the optimum concentration was 0.4 mg carbohydrate per millilitre medium, the strongest response of A. annua hairy root cultures to the elicitation was at the late exponential growth stage, and the highest artemisinin content of the hairy root cultures was on the 4th day post treatment.
文摘Background: Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a global public health problem with devastating effects, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Addressing AFR requires a One Health approach including Antifungal Stewardship (AFS). This study aimed to comprehensively review global studies published on fungal infections and AFR and to recommend solutions to address this growing problem. Materials and Methods: This was a narrative review that was conducted using published papers on fungal infections, AFR, and AFS between January 1961 and March 2024. The literature was searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results: This found that there has been an increase in fungal infections globally, especially among immunocompromised patients. Due to this increase in fungal infections, there has been a proportionate increase in the use of antifungal agents to prevent and treat fungal infections. This increased use of antifungal agents has worsened the problem of AFR contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Globally, fungal infections have contributed to 150 million infections annually and 1.7 million deaths per year. By the year 2023, over 3.8 million people died from fungal infections. Addressing AFR remains a challenge because the treatment of antifungal-resistant infections is difficult. Finally, the treatment of fungal infections is a global challenge exacerbated by the limited number of antifungal agents to treat invasive fungal infections. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that fungal infections and AFR are prevalent across humans, animals, agriculture, and the environment. Addressing this problem requires the provision of solutions such as improving the awareness of AFR, conducting further research on the discovery of new antifungal agents, and implementing AFS programs. If this global problem is not addressed, the morbidity and mortality associated with AFR will continue to rise in the future.
