MycoWeekly Newsletter

Your Weekly Dose of Mycology Research

MXenes in microbiology and virology: from pathogen detection to antimicrobial applications.

2025-03-26
Nanoscale • Level 3 (3 panels)
Begüm Sarac, Seydanur Yücer, Fatih Ciftci

MXenes, two-dimensional nanomaterials, exhibit promising antibacterial properties through mechanisms such as membrane disruption, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and photothermal inactivation. This study explores MXenes' diverse applications in pathogen detection and their enhanced bioactivity through hybridization strategies, offering potential advancements in mycological pathogen management.

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GM-CSF-mediated epithelial-immune cell cross-talk orchestrates pulmonary immunity to Aspergillus fumigatus.

2025-03-21
Science immunology • Level 3 (11 panels)
Kathleen A. M. Mills, Frederike Westermann, V. Espinosa, Eric Rosiek, Jigar V Desai, Mariano A. Aufiero, Yahui Guo, Fitty L Liu, Kennedy A Mitchell, Selma Tuzlak, Donatella De Feo, Michail S. Lionakis, A. Rivera, Burkard Becher, Tobias M. Hohl

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) facilitates communication between epithelial and immune cells in the lungs. This study reveals that epithelial-derived GM-CSF boosts the accumulation and fungicidal activity of GM-CSF-responsive neutrophils, crucial for host survival against Aspergillus fumigatus. These findings underscore the importance of epithelial-driven immune modulation in pulmonary antifungal defense.

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The P-loop NTPase RUVBL2 is a conserved clock component across eukaryotes.

2025-03-26
Nature • Level 3 (24 panels)
Meimei Liao, Yanqin Liu, Zhancong Xu, Mingxu Fang, Ziqing Yu, Yufan Cui, Zhengda Sun, Ran Huo, Jieyu Yang, Fusheng Huang, Mingming Liu, Qin Zhou, Xiaocui Song, Hui Han, She Chen, Xiaodong Xu, Ximing Qin, Qun He, Dapeng Ju, Tao Wang, Nirav Thakkar, Paul E Hardin, Susan S. Golden, Eric Erquan Zhang

In the intricate world of circadian rhythms, P-loop NTPases are essential enzymes that hydrolyze nucleotides. A recent study identifies RUVBL2, a P-loop NTPase, as a conserved circadian clock component across eukaryotes, including fungi. Its slow ATPase activity parallels the KaiC-based clock in cyanobacteria, influencing the circadian period—offering insights into the evolutionary conservation of timekeeping mechanisms.

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Genome duplication in a long-term multicellularity evolution experiment.

2025-03-05
Nature • Level 3 (24 panels)
Kai Tong, Sayantan Datta, Vivian Cheng, Daniella J. Haas, Saranya Gourisetti, Harley L. Yopp, Thomas C Day, Dung T Lac, Ahmad S. Khalil, Peter L. Conlin, G. Bozdag, W. Ratcliff

In the context of fungi, genome duplication, or tetraploidy, involves the doubling of an organism's entire set of chromosomes. A recent study investigating genome duplication during multicellularity evolution reveals that tetraploidy offers immediate fitness advantages. This adaptation results in larger, longer cells and subsequently larger cellular clusters, enhancing survival and growth under specified selective pressures.

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