Filamentous fungi represent an important group of eukaryotic microorganisms with diverse ecological functions and ubiquitous distribution in various ecosystems. Among them, many species are closely associated with agriculture, functioning as major plant pathogens that cause yield losses and produce mycotoxins to compromise both the quality and safety of agricultural products. In recent years, the CRISPR/Cas system has emerged as a powerful and programmable genome editing tool, and it has been extensively applied to the genetic study of plant pathogenic fungi. This technology has greatly facilitated the investigation of pathogenic mechanisms, mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways and key gene functions, antifungal resistance, and rapid pathogen detection. This review summarizes the development of CRISPR/Cas systems and the key strategies for their application in plant pathogenic fungi and makes an outlook on the practical deployment. With the continuous advancement of gene editing technologies, emerging fungal-adapted editing systems hold great promise for advancing functional genomics and enabling innovations in disease-resistant breeding and sustainable crop protection.
Gene Editing/methods* ; Fungi/pathogenicity* ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics* ; Plant Diseases/microbiology* ; Plants/microbiology* ; Genome, Fungal/genetics*

Bacteria/pathogenicity* ; Fungi/pathogenicity* ; Guidelines as Topic ; Humans ; Viruses/pathogenicity*

Leaf blight is the main disease of Asarum. At present, chemical treatment is main measure for disease control, and there is no report on biological control. In order to achieve the biological control of Asarum leaf blight, the biocontrol strains with antagonistic effect on Asarum leaf blight were screened. The rhizosphere bacteria of healthy Asarum plants were isolated by soil dilution method, and the isolated strains were screened by the methods of antagonistic antifungal and fermentation liquid antifungal, then the strains were identified and the control effect in vivo was determined. Abiocontrol bacterial strains S2-31 which with high antagonism to leaf blight was obtained from more than 100 isolated strains. The inhibitory rates of antagonistic antifungal and fermentation liquid antifungal reached 92.47% and 60.56%, respectively. It was identified by morphology and 16 S rDNA sequence analysis, and the strain was identified as Brevibacillus laterosporus. The results of indoor potted experiment showed that the control effect was 79.87%, 71.44% and 66.82% on the 3 rd, 5 th and 7 th day after inoculation, respectively, which indicated that S2-31 could reduce the disease index and control the development of Asarum leaf blight.
Antibiosis ; Asarum/microbiology* ; Biological Control Agents ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Firmicutes ; Fungi/pathogenicity* ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control* ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology

Fungal disease is an important factor restricting the healthy development of Gastrodia elata industry. The control of fungal disease in G. elata is an important issue in production. This paper makes a detailed investigation on the current situation of G. elata disease in China through statistics on the failure rate, rotten pit rate and occurrence rate of G. elata disease in the main producing areas of China. It was found that G. elata disease was mainly infected from the top bud and junction, causing the occurrence rate of disease was 6%-17%, and the yield decreased by 10%-30%. The 23 dominant fungi were isolated from 18 typical G. elata disease samples. Through identification of colony morphology, mycelium morphology, spore morphology and genetic characteristics, they were finally identified as 13 species, belonging to 7 families and 7 genera. Trichoderma harzianum, Ilyonectria sp. and Ilyonectria destructans are the most frequently separated. Their isolation frequency were 22.22%,16.67%,16.67% respectively. Ilyonectria sp. and I. destructans were the first time isolated from G. elata disease samples. They may be the main pathogens causing soil-borne diseases of G. elata. T. harzianum has certain potential as Gastrodia biocontrol bacteria. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the research and development of control technology of Gastrodia fungi disease.
China ; Fungi/pathogenicity* ; Gastrodia/microbiology* ; Plant Diseases/microbiology*

With the increasing number of immunocompromised hosts, the epidemiological characteristics of fungal infections have undergone enormous changes worldwide, including in China. In this paper, we reviewed the existing data on mycosis across China to summarize available epidemiological profiles. We found that the general incidence of superficial fungal infections in China has been stable, but the incidence of tinea capitis has decreased and the transmission route has changed. By contrast, the overall incidence of invasive fungal infections has continued to rise. The occurrence of candidemia caused by Candida species other than C. albicans and including some uncommon Candida species has increased recently in China. Infections caused by Aspergillus have also propagated in recent years, particularly with the emergence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus. An increasing trend of cryptococcosis has been noted in China, with Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii ST 5 genotype isolates as the predominant pathogen. Retrospective studies have suggested that the epidemiological characteristics of Pneumocystis pneumonia in China may be similar to those in other developing countries. Endemic fungal infections, such as sporotrichosis in Northeastern China, must arouse research, diagnostic, and treatment vigilance. Currently, the epidemiological data on mycosis in China are variable and fragmentary. Thus, a nationwide epidemiological research on fungal infections in China is an important need for improving the country's health.
Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Fungi ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Genotype ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mycoses ; epidemiology ; transmission

OBJECTIVETo screen a new strain which can transform panaxadiol saponins into the rare ginsenoside compound K.

METHODThe total saponins in stems and leaves of Panax notoginseng was used as a substrate in the liquid state fermentation process, and the results were detected by TLC and HPLC-ELSD to screen a strain from twelve plant pathogenic fungi which can produce ginsenoside compound K.

RESULTFusarium moniliforme was found to transform the total saponins to ginsenoside compound K efficiently in the all twelve fungal strains. In the fermentation process, ginsenoside Rb1 was transformed almost completely, and the content of ginsenoside Rd was decreasing evidently.

CONCLUSIONF. moniliforme is selected as a new high-yield strain. It is expected to be used to produce the high activity infrequent ginsenoside compound K and to improve the content of active principles in medicinal plants.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Fungi ; pathogenicity ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; microbiology

This is a case report of mediastinal fungal granuloma in an immunocompetent host. The definite diagnosis was made by pathological biopsy via video-assisted thoracoscopy and silver methenamine staining showed aspergillus hyphae and spores in the epithelioid granuloma. In conclusion, opportunistic pathogenic fungi can cause granulomatous inflammation in mediastinal lymph nodes in an immunocompetent host, as it can do in an immunocompromised host. More attention should be paid on tissue biopsy and pathological examination to ensure a correct diagnosis for these kinds of cases.
Adolescent ; Fungi ; immunology ; pathogenicity ; Granuloma ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; immunology ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; microbiology ; Male ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography

The discovery of quorum sensing (QS) system and its critical role in bacterial virulence have revealed a new way to attack pathogenic bacterium. The pathogenecity of QS deletion mutants decreases significantly. Targeting bacterial QS system is a promising therapeutic approach to control infections and anti-microbial resistance. To obtain natural QS inhibitors from marine organisms, marine fungi (69 strains) were isolated from marine mollusca, and their extracts were screened using improved QSIS2 (Quorum Sensing Inhibitor Selector 2) assay and Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. To improve the efficiency of QSIS2 screening, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining method was used. Extract from strain QY013 was found to have QS inhibitory activity. Further experiment indicated that pyocyanin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAOI and violacein in C. violaceum CV026 were reduced by QY013 extract, without affecting bacterial growth. Morphological and 18S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that strain QY013 was most closely related to Penicillium species. The above results suggest that active constituents from QY013 may be used as novel antimicrobial agents against bacterial infection.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Marine Biology ; Mollusca ; microbiology ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; Quorum Sensing ; drug effects ; Virulence ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presentation and the management of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS). METHOD: One case of AFRS was reported and the relevant literatures were reviewed. CT scan showed high-attenuation like "cloud and mist", Charcot-Leyden crystals and fungal hyphae were found in nasal smear. RESULT: The patient removed after a combined therapy of endoscopic sinus surgery, steroids and local antifungal drugs. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of AFRS depends on history, the characteristics of CT scanning, pathology, mycologic and immunologic test. The management of surgery, systemic immunotherapy, local antifungal drugs and longer follow up is very important.
Fungi ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate diseases occurring in Rheum palmatum in Gansu province and identify pathogen.

METHODField survey in the main R. palmatum producing area and the pathogens were identified on the base of morphology.

RESULTEight fungal diseases have been found after disease surveys on R. palmatum in Gansu province from 2004 to 2007. They were leaf smut (Thecaphora schwarzmaniana), leaf spot (Septoria sp.), rust (Puccinia rheipalmati), ring spot (Ascochyta rhei), powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni.), grey mold (Botrytis sp.), root rot(Fusarium oxyxporium) and a virus disease.

CONCLUSIONLeaf smut, a severe disease with the incidence of 14%-26%, is the urgent problem waiting to be solved effectively. Powdery mildew and grey mold were reported for the first time in China.

Ascomycota ; pathogenicity ; Basidiomycota ; pathogenicity ; Botrytis ; pathogenicity ; China ; Fungi ; pathogenicity ; Fusarium ; pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Rheum ; microbiology