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| Open AccessDiscovery of fungal oligosaccharide-oxidising flavo-enzymes with previously unknown substrates, redox-activity profiles and interplay with LPMOs
Microbial oxidoreductases are key in biomass breakdown. Here, the authors expand the specificity and redox scope within fungal auxiliary activity 7 family (AA7) enzymes and show that AA7 oligosaccharide dehydrogenases can directly fuel cellulose degradation by lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.
- Majid Haddad Momeni
- , Folmer Fredslund
- & Maher Abou Hachem
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Article
| Open AccessDiscovery of fungal surface NADases predominantly present in pathogenic species
Some bacterial pathogens release NADase enzymes into the host cell that deplete the host’s NAD+ pool, thereby causing rapid cell death. Here, Strømland et al. identify NADases on the surface of fungal spores, and show that the enzymes display unique biochemical and structural properties.
- Øyvind Strømland
- , Juha P. Kallio
- & Mathias Ziegler
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Article
| Open AccessSomatic deficiency causes reproductive parasitism in a fungus
Mycelial fusion can favour fungal strains that exploit each other, but the mechanism is not well understood. Here, Grum-Grzhimaylo et al. show that different cheater lineages share similar deficiencies in initiating fusion that nevertheless enable them to preferentially obtain the benefits of fusion initiated by wild-type mycelia.
- Alexey A. Grum-Grzhimaylo
- , Eric Bastiaans
- & Duur K. Aanen
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Article
| Open AccessCryptic terrestrial fungus-like fossils of the early Ediacaran Period
Fungi may have evolved up to 2.4 billion years ago, but it is unclear when they first colonized land. Here Gan and colleagues report filamentous Ediacaran microfossils from South China that may represent early terrestrial fungi.
- Tian Gan
- , Taiyi Luo
- & Shuhai Xiao
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Article
| Open AccessBridgin connects the outer kinetochore to centromeric chromatin
The kinetochore is a multi-complex structure that helps attach chromosomes to spindle microtubules, ensuring accurate chromosome segregation during cell division. Kinetochores are thought to be evolutionarily conserved, but which components are conserved is unclear. Here, the authors report that some members of the fungal phylum of Basidomycota lack many conventional kinetochore linker proteins. Instead, they possess a human Ki67-like protein that bridges the outer part of the kinetochore to centromere DNA, which may compensate for the loss of a conventional linker.
- Shreyas Sridhar
- , Tetsuya Hori
- & Kaustuv Sanyal
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Article
| Open AccessAn oxindole efflux inhibitor potentiates azoles and impairs virulence in the fungal pathogen Candida auris
The fungal pathogen Candida auris is resistant to multiple drugs including the common antifungal fluconazole. Here, Iyer et al. identify a compound that potentiates fluconazole activity against C. auris in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting a major efflux pump and thus increasing intracellular fluconazole accumulation.
- Kali R. Iyer
- , Kaddy Camara
- & Leah E. Cowen
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Article
| Open AccessA conserved regulator controls asexual sporulation in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans
Transcription factor Rme1 regulates meiosis and pseudohyphal growth in baker’s yeast, but its role in the meiosis-defective pathogen Candida albicans is unclear. Here, Hernández-Cervantes et al. show that Rme1 activates the expression of genes required for formation of asexual spores in Candida species.
- Arturo Hernández-Cervantes
- , Sadri Znaidi
- & Christophe d’Enfert
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Article
| Open AccessTwo nuclear effectors of the rice blast fungus modulate host immunity via transcriptional reprogramming
Plant pathogens secrete various effectors to manipulate host immunity. Here, Kim et al. describe two Magnaporthe oryzae effectors that translocate into the nuclei of infected rice cells and reprogram expression of immunity-associated genes, increasing susceptibility to hemibiotrophic pathogens.
- Seongbeom Kim
- , Chi-Yeol Kim
- & Yong-Hwan Lee
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Article
| Open AccessEstablishment of Neurospora crassa as a model organism for fungal virology
The fungus Neurospora crassa is a model organism for the study of various biological processes, but it is not known to be infected by any viruses. Here, Honda et al. identify RNA viruses that infect N. crassa and examine viral replication and RNAi-mediated antiviral responses, thus establishing this fungus as a model for the study of host-virus interactions.
- Shinji Honda
- , Ana Eusebio-Cope
- & Nobuhiro Suzuki
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Article
| Open AccessPresence of low virulence chytrid fungi could protect European amphibians from more deadly strains
The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (BD) associated with widespread amphibian declines is present in Europe but has not consistently caused disease-induced declines in that region. Here, the authors suggest that an endemic strain of BD with low virulence may protect the hosts upon co-infection with more virulent strains.
- Mark S. Greener
- , Elin Verbrugghe
- & An Martel
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Article
| Open AccessA bacterial endophyte exploits chemotropism of a fungal pathogen for plant colonization
Soil-borne fungal pathogens use chemotropism and extracellular pH alkalinisation to reach and penetrate plant roots. Here, Palmieri et al. show that soil endophytic bacteria swim along fungal hyphae to colonize plant roots and protect host plants by modulating the pH of the rhizosphere.
- Davide Palmieri
- , Stefania Vitale
- & David Turrà
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| Open AccessFungal oxylipins direct programmed developmental switches in filamentous fungi
Fungi produce oxygenated fatty acids, or oxylipins, of unclear function. Here, Niu et al. show that an Aspergillus oxylipin induces various developmental processes in several fungi, including lateral branching in human pathogenic Aspergillus species, and appressorium formation in the plant pathogen Magnaporthe grisea.
- Mengyao Niu
- , Breanne N. Steffan
- & Nancy P. Keller
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| Open AccessAn orphan protein of Fusarium graminearum modulates host immunity by mediating proteasomal degradation of TaSnRK1α
Fusarium graminearum is a major fungal pathogen of cereals. Here the authors show that F. graminearum secretes an effector, Osp24, that induces degradation of the wheat TaSnRK1α kinase to promote disease while an orphan wheat protein, TaFROG1, can compete with Osp24 for binding to TaSnRK1α and protect it from degradation
- Cong Jiang
- , Ruonan Hei
- & Jin-Rong Xu
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Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide functional analysis of phosphatases in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans
Phosphatases are key components in cellular signalling networks. Here, the authors present a systematic functional analysis of phosphatases of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, revealing roles in virulence, stress responses, O-mannosylation, retromer function and other processes.
- Jae-Hyung Jin
- , Kyung-Tae Lee
- & Yong-Sun Bahn
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Article
| Open AccessLipo-chitooligosaccharides as regulatory signals of fungal growth and development
Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are signaling molecules produced by certain bacteria and fungi that establish symbiotic relationships with plants. Here, the authors show that LCOs are produced also by many other, non-symbiotic fungi, and regulate fungal growth and development.
- Tomás Allen Rush
- , Virginie Puech-Pagès
- & Jean-Michel Ané
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| Open AccessJawsamycin exhibits in vivo antifungal properties by inhibiting Spt14/Gpi3-mediated biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol
Biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) is essential for the integrity of the fungal cell wall. Here, the authors show that the natural product jawsamycin inhibits GPI biosynthesis by targeting a subunit of the fungal UDP-glycosyltransferase, and displays pronounced activity against pathogenic fungi of the order Mucorales.
- Yue Fu
- , David Estoppey
- & Dominic Hoepfner
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| Open AccessThe phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum detoxifies plant glucosinolate hydrolysis products via an isothiocyanate hydrolase
Some plants produce toxic isothiocyanates that protect them against pathogens. Here, Chen et al. show that the plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum converts isothiocyanates into non-toxic compounds via glutathione conjugation and, more effectively, via hydrolysis to amines using an isothiocyanate hydrolase.
- Jingyuan Chen
- , Chhana Ullah
- & Daniel G. Vassão
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| Open AccessGeometry and evolution of the ecological niche in plant-associated microbes
The ecological niche of host-associated microbes is defined by both abiotic and biotic dimensions. Here the authors analyse published data on fungal and oomycete pathogens of plants, demonstrating that specialization can evolve independently on abiotic and biotic axes and that interactions with host plants reduce thermal niche breadth.
- Thomas M. Chaloner
- , Sarah J. Gurr
- & Daniel P. Bebber
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| Open AccessSpitzenkörper assembly mechanisms reveal conserved features of fungal and metazoan polarity scaffolds
The Spitzenkörper (SPK) is a polarized accumulation of proteins and secretory vesicles associated with tip growth of fungal hyphae. Here, Zheng et al. study SPK assembly and dynamics, identify SPK protein scaffolds and associated proteins, and reveal similarities with other scaffolds from metazoans.
- Peng Zheng
- , Tu Anh Nguyen
- & Gregory Jedd
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| Open AccessA mechanistic explanation of the transition to simple multicellularity in fungi
Multicellularity is one of the major transitions in evolution. Here, authors use a model to show that compared to unicellular bacteria, multicellular fungi can more rapidly colonise immobile, nutrient poor resources because exoenzymes provide greater or longer lasting benefits to mycelial organisms.
- Luke L. M. Heaton
- , Nick S. Jones
- & Mark D. Fricker
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Article
| Open AccessIntestinal fungi are causally implicated in microbiome assembly and immune development in mice
The immunomodulatory role of commensal gut fungi and interactions with bacteria remain unclear. Here, using germ-free mice colonized with defined species of bacteria and fungi, the authors find that fungal colonization induces changes in bacterial microbiome ecology while having an independent effect on innate and adaptive immunity in mice.
- Erik van Tilburg Bernardes
- , Veronika Kuchařová Pettersen
- & Marie-Claire Arrieta
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| Open AccessStructural and biochemical characterization of the exopolysaccharide deacetylase Agd3 required for Aspergillus fumigatus biofilm formation
The exopolysaccharide galactosaminogalactan (GAG) is an important virulence factor of the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Here, the authors study an A. fumigatus enzyme that deacetylates GAG in a metal-dependent manner and constitutes a founding member of a new carbohydrate esterase family.
- Natalie C. Bamford
- , François Le Mauff
- & P. Lynne Howell
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| Open AccessImmune modulation by complement receptor 3-dependent human monocyte TGF-β1-transporting vesicles
Extracellular vesicles can carry immunoregulatory cytokines such as TGF-β. Here the authors use CD11b-deficient mice and macrophages to show that such vesicles carrying TGF-β are produced in response to Candida albicans infections and can limit the proinflammatory response partly via a positive feedback on TGF-β production by endothelial cells.
- Luke D. Halder
- , Emeraldo A. H. Jo
- & Christine Skerka
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| Open AccessNeutrophil swarming delays the growth of clusters of pathogenic fungi
Neutrophils employ several mechanisms to control the growth of fungi, including enzymes, reactive oxygen species, extracellular traps, and formation of “swarms”. Here, Hopke et al. study how the different mechanisms work together, using an in vitro assay with human neutrophils and clusters of live Candida cells.
- Alex Hopke
- , Allison Scherer
- & Daniel Irimia
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Article
| Open AccessA fungal pathogen induces systemic susceptibility and systemic shifts in wheat metabolome and microbiome composition
The fungal plant pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici is a major threat to wheat yield. Here Seybold et al. show that Z. tritici can suppress immune responses not only in infected tissue but also on other leaves, a phenomenon termed “systemic induced susceptibility” that is correlated with systemic changes in metabolite accumulation.
- Heike Seybold
- , Tobias J. Demetrowitsch
- & Eva H. Stukenbrock
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Article
| Open AccessA lipophilic cation protects crops against fungal pathogens by multiple modes of action
New fungicides are needed due to emerging resistance shown by crop pathogens. Here, the authors show that a mono-alkyl lipophilic cation protects plants from fungal pathogens by inhibiting fungal mitochondrial respiration, inducing production of reactive oxygen species, triggering fungal apoptosis, and activating innate plant defense.
- Gero Steinberg
- , Martin Schuster
- & Sreedhar Kilaru
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| Open AccessFungal kinases and transcription factors regulating brain infection in Cryptococcus neoformans
Cryptococcus neoformans causes fatal fungal meningoencephalitis. Here, the authors identify fungal kinases and transcription factors involved in blood-brain barrier crossing and brain infection in mice.
- Kyung-Tae Lee
- , Joohyeon Hong
- & Yong-Sun Bahn
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| Open AccessA comparative genomics study of 23 Aspergillus species from section Flavi
Aspergillus fungi classified within the section Flavi include harmful and beneficial species. Here, Kjærbølling et al. analyse the genomes of 23 Flavi species, showing high genetic diversity and potential for synthesis of over 13,700 CAZymes and 1600 secondary metabolites.
- Inge Kjærbølling
- , Tammi Vesth
- & Mikael R. Andersen
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Article
| Open AccessDNA repair by Rad52 liquid droplets
Genome dynamics allow cells to repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are highly toxic DNA lesions. Here the authors reveal that in S. cerevisiae, Rad52 DNA repair proteins assemble in liquid droplets that work with dynamic nuclear microtubules to relocalize lesions to the nuclear periphery for repair.
- Roxanne Oshidari
- , Richard Huang
- & Karim Mekhail
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Article
| Open AccessThe negative cofactor 2 complex is a key regulator of drug resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus
Resistance to primary treatments of invasive aspergillosis is growing. Here, the authors generate a knockout library for 484 transcription factors in Aspergillus fumigatus, and show that loss of the NCT complex leads to cross-resistance to all primary and some salvage therapeutics without affecting pathogenicity.
- Takanori Furukawa
- , Norman van Rhijn
- & Michael J. Bromley
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| Open Access5-fluorocytosine resistance is associated with hypermutation and alterations in capsule biosynthesis in Cryptococcus
The authors show that resistance to the antifungal 5-fluorocytosine in Cryptococcus deuterogattii is acquired more frequently in isolates with elevated mutation rate, and is associated with alterations in capsule biosynthesis and nucleotide metabolism.
- R. Blake Billmyre
- , Shelly Applen Clancey
- & Joseph Heitman
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Article
| Open AccessFungal community assembly in drought-stressed sorghum shows stochasticity, selection, and universal ecological dynamics
Fungal community assembly on crop plants is thought to be driven by deterministic selection exerted by the host. Here Gao et al. use a sorghum system to show that stochastic forces act on fungal community assembly in leaves and roots early in host development and when sorghum is drought stressed.
- Cheng Gao
- , Liliam Montoya
- & John W. Taylor
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| Open AccessAn effector protein of the wheat stripe rust fungus targets chloroplasts and suppresses chloroplast function
Chloroplasts are important for plant immunity against microbial pathogens. Here Xu et al. identify, in the wheat stripe rust fungus, a haustorium-specific protein that is translocated into chloroplasts and affects chloroplast function by interacting with a putative component of the plant cytochrome b6-f complex.
- Qiang Xu
- , Chunlei Tang
- & Xiaojie Wang
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| Open AccessNon-canonical signalling mediates changes in fungal cell wall PAMPs that drive immune evasion
The authors show that the fungal pathogen Candida albicans exploits diverse host-associated signals, including specific nutrients and stresses, to promote immune evasion by masking cell wall β-glucan, a major pathogen-associated molecular pattern.
- Arnab Pradhan
- , Gabriela M. Avelar
- & Alistair J. P. Brown
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Article
| Open AccessA meta-analysis of global fungal distribution reveals climate-driven patterns
The authors assemble and analyse previously generated mycobiome data linked to geographical locations across the world. They describe the distribution of fungal taxa and show that climate is an important driver of fungal biogeography and that fungal diversity appears to be concentrated at high latitudes.
- Tomáš Větrovský
- , Petr Kohout
- & Petr Baldrian
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| Open AccessEmergence of the Ug99 lineage of the wheat stem rust pathogen through somatic hybridisation
Strain Ug99 of the wheat stem rust pathogen, Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is a major threat to global food security. Here, the authors present genomic analyses supporting that Ug99 arose as a result of non-sexual genetic exchange between dikaryotic ancestors.
- Feng Li
- , Narayana M. Upadhyaya
- & Melania Figueroa
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Article
| Open AccessThermotolerance in the pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is linked to antigen masking via mRNA decay-dependent reprogramming
The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans can adapt to mammalian core body temperature. Here, Bloom et al. show that Ccr4-mediated decay of ribosomal protein mRNAs is important for thermotolerance and immune evasion by promoting masking of cell wall glucans.
- Amanda L. M. Bloom
- , Richard M. Jin
- & John C. Panepinto
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Article
| Open AccessA secreted metal-binding protein protects necrotrophic phytopathogens from reactive oxygen species
The authors identify a family of iron-binding proteins that is present in phytopathogenic bacteria, fungi and oomycetes. Some of these proteins are secreted, bind metals, protect the pathogen from H2O2-induced death, and are involved in plant infection.
- Lulu Liu
- , Virginie Gueguen-Chaignon
- & Guy Condemine
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Article
| Open AccessFRQ-CK1 interaction determines the period of circadian rhythms in Neurospora
Circadian clocks control daily rhythms of molecular and physiological activities. Here, the authors show that the interaction between proteins FRQ and CK1, rather than FRQ stability, is a major rate-limiting step in circadian period determination in the model fungus Neurospora.
- Xiao Liu
- , Ahai Chen
- & Yi Liu
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Article
| Open AccessA fungal pathogen deploys a small silencing RNA that attenuates mosquito immunity and facilitates infection
Fungi that infect insects can potentially be exploited for disease vector control. Here the authors show that the fungus Beauveria bassiana exports a microRNA-like RNA into mosquito cells that modulates host immunity by suppressing expression of Toll receptor ligand Spätzle 4.
- Chunlai Cui
- , Yan Wang
- & Sibao Wang
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Article
| Open AccessComparative genomics reveals the origin of fungal hyphae and multicellularity
Hyphae are a major innovation in fungi associated with transitions to multicellularity. Here, Kiss and colleagues use comparative genomic analyses to reconstruct the evolutionary origins of hyphae and the molecular evolution of hypha morphogenesis genes.
- Enikő Kiss
- , Botond Hegedüs
- & László G. Nagy
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Article
| Open AccessSpace Station conditions are selective but do not alter microbial characteristics relevant to human health
The International Space Station is a unique habitat for humans and microbes. Here, Mora et al. analyze microbial communities from several areas aboard, finding similarities with those of ground-based indoor environments, as well as adaptations towards biofilm formation but not necessarily relevant to human health.
- Maximilian Mora
- , Lisa Wink
- & Christine Moissl-Eichinger
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Article
| Open AccessBis-naphthopyrone pigments protect filamentous ascomycetes from a wide range of predators
It is thought that fungi protect themselves from predators by the production of toxic compounds. Here, Xu et al. show that a wide range of animal predators avoid feeding on Fusarium fungi, and this depends on fungal production of a bis-naphthopyrone pigment that is not toxic to the predators.
- Yang Xu
- , Maria Vinas
- & Petr Karlovsky
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Article
| Open AccessMFS transporter from Botrytis cinerea provides tolerance to glucosinolate-breakdown products and is required for pathogenicity
Plant glucosinolates are important in defense against fungal pathogens. Here, the authors identify a major facilitator superfamily transporter protein of the pathogen Botrytis cinerea, mfsG, that plays a role in efflux and detoxification of glucosinolate-breakdown products during plant–pathogen interactions.
- David Vela-Corcía
- , Dhruv Aditya Srivastava
- & Maggie Levy
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Article
| Open AccessEuropean mushroom assemblages are darker in cold climates
The functions of color in fungi are not well characterized. Here, Krah and colleagues investigate the color of mushroom assemblages across Europe and show relationships with climate, nutritional mode (saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal) and seasonality.
- Franz-Sebastian Krah
- , Ulf Büntgen
- & Claus Bässler
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Article
| Open AccessA few Ascomycota taxa dominate soil fungal communities worldwide
Soil fungi play essential roles in ecosystems worldwide. Here, the authors sequence and analyze 235 soil samples collected from across the globe, and identify dominant fungal taxa and their associated environmental attributes.
- Eleonora Egidi
- , Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- & Brajesh K. Singh
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Article
| Open AccessCandidalysin activates innate epithelial immune responses via epidermal growth factor receptor
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Here, the authors identify a novel mechanism of host immune stimulation and highlight candidalysin and EGFR signalling components as potential targets for prophylactic and therapeutic intervention of mucosal candidiasis.
- Jemima Ho
- , Xuexin Yang
- & Julian R. Naglik
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Article
| Open AccessThree phylogenetic groups have driven the recent population expansion of Cryptococcus neoformans
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen which primarily affects people with immune defects including those living with HIV. Here, the authors sequence and analyze genomes of 699 isolates, and identify recent population expansion driven by three phylogenetic groups.
- P. M. Ashton
- , L. T. Thanh
- & J. N. Day
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| Open AccessMechanisms of redundancy and specificity of the Aspergillus fumigatus Crh transglycosylases
Transglycosylases strengthen the fungal cell wall by forming a rigid network of crosslinks. Here, Fang et al. show that the five Crh transglycosylases of Aspergillus fumigatus are dispensable for cell wall integrity in vitro, and solve the crystal structure of Crh5 in complex with chitooligosaccharides.
- Wenxia Fang
- , Ana Belén Sanz
- & Daan M. F. van Aalten