MycoWeekly Newsletter

Your Weekly Dose of Mycology Research

Solid-state NMR Reveals Reorganization of the Aspergillus fumigatus Cell Wall Due to a Host-Defence Peptide.

2025-06-27
Angewandte Chemie • Level 3 (4 panels)
A. Bishoyi, Jacq van Neer, Salima Bahri, Sophie Lorenz, Hans de Cock, Marc Baldus

A novel study employing solid-state NMR has elucidated the impact of the host-defence peptide cathelicidin-2 on the cell wall of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus. This research identifies alterations in galactosaminogalactan and key cell wall polysaccharides, enhancing water penetration into rigid domains, thus potentially paving the way for innovative antifungal strategies.

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Generation of two novel furanosteroids via heterologous expression of demethoxyviridin biosynthetic genes in a wortmannin-producing strain.

2025-06-18
Organic and biomolecular chemistry • Level 2 (4 panels)
Wei Jiang, Lin-Huan Li, Lin-Min Zhang, Huan Zhao, Shao-Yang Li, Gao-Qian Wang, Guo-Dong Chen, Jian-Ming Lv, Dan Hu, Hao Gao

Furanosteroids, such as wortmannin and demethoxyviridin, are structurally distinct steroids with notable bioactivity. This study reports the heterologous expression of demethoxyviridin biosynthetic genes in Talaromyces wortmannii ATCC 26942, resulting in four potential novel furanosteroids. Two isolates exhibited antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger R330 and Candida albicans FIM709.

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Comprehensive review of plant-derived triterpenoid types, structures and cytotoxicity: an update from 2015 to 2024.

2025-06-10
Organic and biomolecular chemistry • Level 2 (4 panels)
O. Z. Olatunde, Jianping Yong, Danian Tian, Can-zhong Lu

Triterpenoids, complex natural compounds found in plants, fungi, and marine organisms, exhibit notable cytotoxicity against cancer. This review updates their types, structures, and cytotoxicity from 2015 to 2024. With insights into structure-activity relationships, the study proposes strategies for structural modifications, aiming to enhance the development of novel anticancer agents.

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Drought response of trees: differences across mycorrhizal type at the global scale

2025-06-08
Oikos • Level 2 (6 panels)
H. Liao, Hengjun Zhao, Zihao Chen, Shaolin Peng

This study explores the global drought response variations between trees associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. EM trees showed higher drought mortality but less growth reduction and recovery issues than AM trees. Key drought influences include soil pH and climate seasonality, suggesting a potential shift towards AM trees with climate changes.

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