fungi News and Research

RSS

Composition of poplar tree microbiome changes dramatically over time, study finds

Recent work shows that the plant microbiome-;the microorganisms in a plant and its immediate environment-;influences plant health, survival, and fitness. The initial assembly of the microbiome is particularly important.

9 Jan 2022

MRSA superbugs emerged on hedgehogs around 200 years ago

Scientists have found evidence that a type of the antibiotic resistant superbug MRSA arose in nature long before the use of antibiotics in humans and livestock, which has traditionally been blamed for its emergence.

5 Jan 2022

Horizontal gene transfer between viruses and hosts plays a major role in driving evolution

The first comprehensive analysis of viral horizontal gene transfer (HGT) illustrates the extent to which viruses pick up genes from their hosts to hone their infection process, while at the same time hosts also co-opt useful viral genes.

5 Jan 2022

New biodegradable smart food packaging material helps kill harmful microbes

A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, US, has developed a 'smart' food packaging material that is biodegradable, sustainable and kills microbes that are harmful to humans. It could also extend the shelf-life of fresh fruit by two to three days.

29 Dec 2021

Environmental microbiome's impact on COVID-19 mortality

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server was based on the hypothesis that the environmental mycobiome (fungi) is a likely important factor in determining area-level variation in COVID-19 mortality.

19 Dec 2021

Scientists develop novel method to monitor remote immune processes within cells

Our immune systems work hard to keep us healthy and to protect us against bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and cancerous cells.

15 Dec 2021

Evaluating the virucidal activity of blue LED light against SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study provides some possible explanations to the mechanisms by which antiviral activity is exerted by blue LED light and indicated that the alteration of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein requires the presence of photosensitizers.

13 Dec 2021

AI-based technology to identify patients at risk of serious illness as a result of blood infections

A new technology developed at Tel Aviv University will make it possible, using artificial intelligence, to identify patients who are at risk of serious illness as a result of blood infections.

8 Dec 2021

Review highlights oncolytic viruses with remarkable ability to destroy cancer cells

With the world still in the grip of a devastating pandemic, it's hard to imagine viruses as something other than hostile enemies to be vanquished.

30 Nov 2021

Research on psychedelics could lead to new treatments for mental illness

One in five U.S. adults will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, according to the National Alliance of Mental Health. But standard treatments can be slow to work and cause side effects.

24 Nov 2021

Study reveals molecular architecture of fungal cell walls and structural responses to stress

In a new study published in Nature Communications, Associate Professor Tuo Wang and his research team from the Department of Chemistry at Louisiana State University revealed the molecular architecture of fungal cell walls and the structural responses to stresses, aiding the development of antifungal drugs targeting cell wall components.

21 Nov 2021

NAU team receives $3 million from NSF to translate the codex contained in algal microbiome

The tiny cosmos of organisms living on a streamer of algae in a river-;the algal microbiome-;could help scientists learn what turns an environment from healthy to toxic and back again.

20 Nov 2021

Researchers identify compounds that tackle fungal infections in a new way

Current medications aren't particularly effective against fungi. The situation is becoming more challenging because these organisms are developing resistance to antimicrobial treatments, just as bacteria are.

17 Nov 2021

Scientists predict structures of eukaryotic protein complexes using AI

UT Southwestern and University of Washington researchers led an international team that used artificial intelligence (AI) and evolutionary analysis to produce 3D models of eukaryotic protein interactions.

17 Nov 2021

Study assesses whether medicinal mushrooms and Chinese herbs can help treat COVID-19

A novel study is assessing whether medicinal mushrooms and Chinese herbs provide therapeutic benefit in treating acute COVID-19 infection.

12 Nov 2021

Study discovers how the immune system triggers an 'emergency' dendritic cell response during infection

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have found how the immune system triggers an 'emergency' dendritic cell response during infection, with dendritic cells at the site of infection being reinforced by new cells which travel from the bone marrow.

6 Nov 2021

New genetic epidemiology tool provides detailed information about viruses, coinfections

With mask wearing and social distancing on the decline and the cold and flu season upon us, researchers have developed a viral panel that enables the simultaneous testing for SARS-CoV-2 along with numerous common respiratory viruses, that tells us whether other viruses also are at play in patients hard hit by COVID.

1 Nov 2021

Chlorophyll catabolite pheophorbide A shows potential against SARS-CoV-2

A new study identifies a potent SARS-CoV-2 antiviral, Pheophorbide a (PheoA), which is a compound derived from the plant Marchantia polymorpha L.

27 Oct 2021

Studies test intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of Kawasaki disease and MIS-C

Kawasaki disease (KD) is rare, with fewer than 6,000 diagnosed cases per year in the United States. It is most common in infants and young children and causes inflammation in the walls of some blood vessels in the body.