Draft genome sequence of Annulohypoxylon stygium, Aspergillus mulundensis, Berkeleyomyces basicola (syn. Thielaviopsis basicola), Ceratocystis smalleyi, two Cercospora beticola strains, Coleophoma cylindrospora, Fusarium fracticaudum, Phialophora cf. hyalina, and Morchella septimelata

Draft genomes of the species Annulohypoxylon stygium, Aspergillus mulundensis, Berkeleyomyces basicola (syn. Thielaviopsis basicola), Ceratocystis smalleyi, two Cercospora beticola strains, Coleophoma cylindrospora, Fusarium fracticaudum, Phialophora cf. hyalina and Morchella septimelata are presented. Both mating types (MAT1-1 and MAT1-2) of Cercospora beticola are included. Two strains of Coleophoma cylindrospora that produce sulfated homotyrosine echinocandin variants, FR209602, FR220897 and FR220899 are presented. The sequencing of Aspergillus mulundensis, Coleophoma cylindrospora and Phialophora cf. hyalina has enabled mapping of the gene clusters encoding the chemical diversity from the echinocandin pathways, providing data that reveals the complexity of secondary metabolism in these different species. Overall these genomes provide a valuable resource for understanding the molecular processes underlying pathogenicity (in some cases), biology and toxin production of these economically important fungi

Diversity and structure of the fungal endophytic assemblages from two sympatric coastal grasses.

Ammophila arenaria and Elymus farctus are two grasses which grow in sympatry in sand dunes of the Atlantic coasts of Europe. Culturable fungal endophytes were isolated from leaf and rhizome tissues of eigthy four plants of each species, sampled in 12 different locations in beaches of the northern coast of Galicia (Spain). Morphological and molecular techniques were used for the identification of fungi. One hundred and three different endophytic species were identified in both grasses, 75 in Ammophila and 54 in Elymus. The mean number of species identified did not significantly differ between leaves or rhizomes for any of the grasses. The endophytic assemblages of both grasses were dominated by species capable of infecting both hosts. Endophytes found in both grasses comprised 25% of all species recorded, but produced 61% of all isolates obtained. A statistically significant inverse relationship existed between the similarity of endophytic assemblages and their distance. This spatial effect and species accumulation curves suggested that increasing the number of plants or locations examined would reveal new endophytic species, mostly singletons represented by single isolates, on both grasses.Peer reviewe

The endophytic mycobiota of the grass Dactylis glomerata

Fungal endophytes were isolated from asymptomatic and symptomatic plants of Dactylis glomerata sampled in different ecosystems in Spain. Fungi were identified using morphological, as well as molecular methods based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and ribosomal DNA sequencing. Molecular data provided a framework for identification and assessing the phylogenetic position of isolates. One hundred and nine different fungal species were identified. Eighteen of these species were potentially unknown. The endophytic assemblage consists of grass-specific, as well as generalist species, and is quite different from those described for perennial woody species. Species richness curves showed that the survey discovered most species commonly infecting this grass, but the number of sporadic infections of singleton species continued to increase with more sampling effort. A large endophytic assemblage consisting of fungi with diverse ecological roles, and potentially unknown species, was found in a small herbaceous plant.Peer reviewe

Fungal species diversity in juvenile and adult leaves of Eucalyptus globulus from plantations affected by Mycosphaerella leaf disease.

In recent years, Mycosphaerella leaf disease (MLD) has become very common in Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Galicia, northwest Spain. The aetiology of MLD is complex and is associated with several species of Mycosphaerella and Teratosphaeria. A survey of the fungal mycobiota associated with juvenile and adult leaves and with leaf litter of the same trees in MLD-affected plantations was made. The goal was to identify pathogens and endophytes, to determine whether the mycobiota of each leaf type differed and whether leaf litter might be a reservoir of MLD inoculum. Fungi belonging to 113 different species were isolated from the leaves of juvenile and adult trees sampled at 10 locations; 81 species occurred in juvenile and 65 in adult leaves. The average number of species obtained from juvenile leaves was significantly greater (P > 0.01) compared to adult leaves. This difference suggested that juvenile leaves are not only more susceptible to a group of pathogens, but to a wide range of fungi. Therefore, a general resistance mechanism might be lacking or be less effective in juvenile than in adult leaves. Several pathogenic species were identified in both leaf types. Leaf litter and living leaf mycobiotas were very different. However, some of the species they shared were MLD pathogens, suggesting that leaf litter could contribute to the inoculum of MLD.Peer reviewe

Are endophytes an important link between airborne spores and allergen exposure?

15 páginas, 2 tablas, 6 figuras. - The final publication is available at www.springerlink.comGrasses represent one of the Earth’s most common plant groups, and natural and cultivated habitats dominated by grasses cover about 40% of the land surface. In turn, each grass species hosts multiple fungal species which can behave as endophytes. An analysis of the endophytic taxa identified in surveys conducted in 14 grass species showed that some of the most frequent taxa on each grass were also present across several host grasses. These taxa were Alternaria, Epicoccum, Cladosporium, Fusarium, and a few others. A similar analysis of airborne fungi surveyed at 41 different locations throughout the world showed that some of the most geographically widespread, and most locally frequent airborne fungi belonged to the same genera that are dominant endophytes in grasses (i.e. Cladosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium, etc.). Therefore, airborne spores of genera that are ubiquitous in grasses are common worldwide and attain high atmospheric concentrations. In addition, spores of the above mentioned fungi are also important respiratory allergens. Direct observation indicates that saprobic colonization and sporulation of non-systemic grass endophytes could become unrestrained when their host plant tissue dies. Subsequently, when appropriate environmental conditions favour sporulation on grass host surfaces, the natural cycle for airborne conidia initiates, and large numbers of these conidia disperse as inoculum for new endophytic infections. Therefore, the cycle of endophytism may be an important link between climate, plant biology and public health.This work was funded by Project AGL2011-22783, granted by the Spanish Government. We thank members of COST Action FA1103.Peer reviewe

Advances in the treatment of invasive fungal disease.

With over 300 million severe cases and 1.5 million deaths annually, invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are a major medical burden and source of global morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released the first-ever fungal priority pathogens list including 19 fungal pathogens, considering the perceived public health importance. Most of the pathogenic fungi are opportunistic and cause diseases in patients under immunocompromised conditions such as HIV infection, cancer, chemotherapy, transplantation, and immune suppressive drug therapy. Worryingly, the morbidity and mortality caused by IFDs are continuously on the rise due to the limited available antifungal therapies, the emergence of drug resistance, and the increase of population that is vulnerable to IFDs. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened IFDs as a globe health threat as it predisposes the patients to secondary life-threatening fungi. In this mini-review, we provide a perspective on the advances and strategies for combating IFDs with antifungal therapies

Biodiversity of fungi : inventory and monitoring methods

xviii, 777 p. : il.; 28 cm

Longimicrobium terrae gen. nov., sp. nov., an oligotrophic bacterium of the under-represented phylum Gemmatimonadetes isolated through a system of miniaturized diffusion chambers.

A novel chemo-organoheterotroph bacterium, strain CB-286315T, was isolated from a Mediterranean forest soil sampled at the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park, Spain, by using the diffusion sandwich system, a device with 384 miniature diffusion chambers. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses identified the isolate as a member of the under-represented phylum Gemmatimonadetes, where 'Gemmatirosa kalamazoonensis' KBS708, Gemmatimonas aurantiaca T-27T and Gemmatimonas phototrophica AP64T were the closest relatives, with respective similarities of 84.4, 83.6 and 83.3 %. Strain CB-286315T was characterized as a Gram-negative, non-motile, short to long rod-shaped bacterium. Occasionally, some cells attained an unusual length, up to 35-40 μm. The strain showed positive responses for catalase and cytochrome-c oxidase and division by binary fission, and exhibited an aerobic metabolism, showing optimal growth under normal atmospheric conditions. Strain CB-286315T was also able to grow under micro-oxic atmospheres, but not under anoxic conditions. The strain is a slowly growing bacterium able to grow under low nutrient concentrations. Major fatty acids included iso-C17 : 1ω9c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified glycolipids and three phospholipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-8 and the diagnostic diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was 67.0 mol%. Based on a polyphasic taxonomic characterization, strain CB-286315T represents a novel genus and species, Longimicrobium terrae gen. nov., sp. nov., within the phylum Gemmatimonadetes. The type strain of Longimicrobium terrae is strain CB-286315T ( = DSM 29007T = CECT 8660T). In order to classify the novel taxon within the existing taxonomic framework, the family Longimicrobiaceae fam. nov., order Longimicrobiales ord. nov. and class Longimicrobia classis nov. are also proposed

Non-systemic fungal endophytes of grasses.

[ENG] Many fungi behave as endophytes in grasses. Unlike the well known Epichloë/Neotyphodium species, most other endophytes are not capable of systemic colonization of plant organs, or seed transmission. The species diversity of the non-systemic endophytic mycobiota of grasses is large, dominated by ascomycetes. The relative abundance of species is very unequal, a few dominant taxa like Acremonium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, and Penicillium spp., occur in many grasses and locations. In contrast, many rare species are isolated only once in endophyte surveys. The possible ecological functions of endophytes are diverse, and often unknown. Latent pathogens represent a small fraction of endophytic mycobiotas, indicating that many non pathogenic fungal taxa have the capability to penetrate plants overriding defence reactions. Some dominant species behave as latent saprophytes, sporulating when the host tissue dies. Endofungal viruses and bacteria occur among endophytic species, but their effect in their hosts is largely unknown.We are grateful for comments and suggestions to Pedro Gundel and Soledad SacristánPeer reviewe

Non-systemic fungal endophytes of grasses.

[ENG] Many fungi behave as endophytes in grasses. Unlike the well known Epichloë/Neotyphodium species, most other endophytes are not capable of systemic colonization of plant organs, or seed transmission. The species diversity of the non-systemic endophytic mycobiota of grasses is large, dominated by ascomycetes. The relative abundance of species is very unequal, a few dominant taxa like Acremonium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, and Penicillium spp., occur in many grasses and locations. In contrast, many rare species are isolated only once in endophyte surveys. The possible ecological functions of endophytes are diverse, and often unknown. Latent pathogens represent a small fraction of endophytic mycobiotas, indicating that many non pathogenic fungal taxa have the capability to penetrate plants overriding defence reactions. Some dominant species behave as latent saprophytes, sporulating when the host tissue dies. Endofungal viruses and bacteria occur among endophytic species, but their effect in their hosts is largely unknown.We are grateful for comments and suggestions to Pedro Gundel and Soledad SacristánPeer reviewe