Fungi are a major eukaryotic lineage studied across biological topics for their distinct cellular organization, ecological roles, and interactions with other organisms. They possess chitinous cell walls, typically form filamentous hyphae organized into mycelia, and reproduce via diverse sexual and asexual spores. Fungi function as principal decomposers of organic matter, key symbionts in mycorrhizal and lichen associations, and potent pathogens of plants, animals, and humans. Their metabolic versatility underpins numerous biotechnological and research applications, including model systems for genetics and cell biology, production of enzymes and secondary metabolites, and regulation of nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
In a new study published in Trends in Biotechnology, researchers used a gene-editing technology called CRISPR to increase a fungus's production efficiency and cut its production-related environmental impact by as much as ...
Biotechnology
Nov 19, 2025
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A Chinese plant scientist at the University of Michigan who drew national attention in June 2025 when she was arrested and accused along with another Chinese scientist of smuggling a crop-damaging fungus into the U.S. pleaded ...
Cell & Microbiology
Nov 13, 2025
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106
A fungal infection solution could help eliminate up to 86% of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, offering a powerful new tool in the global fight against the disease, according to new research.
Ecology
Nov 13, 2025
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Researchers from the Natural History Museum and Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University (SLCU) have identified a new species of ancient symbiotic fungus preserved within a 407-million-year-old plant fossil from Scotland. ...
Ecology
Nov 12, 2025
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A new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that common fungal species may be adapting to higher temperatures in warmer sites within cities compared to cooler sites in the same ...
Evolution
Nov 5, 2025
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Barley is a widely grown cereal crop that is used chiefly for livestock feed, food, and malting to produce alcoholic beverages such as beer and whiskey. Unfortunately, both the yield and quality of the crop can be lowered ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 4, 2025
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18
Forest ecosystems play a vital role in the global carbon cycle. While the significance of tree mycorrhizal fungi in this process is well-documented, the manner in which different types of tree mycorrhizae influence forest ...
Ecology
Nov 4, 2025
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Rot development during fruit storage is a problem. Now, metabarcoding may become a tool for detecting fungi that can cause diseases in apples.
Molecular & Computational biology
Nov 4, 2025
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Soil microbes benefit plants by helping with nutrient uptake and disease resistance. Modulating these communities of bacteria and fungi could potentially sustainably improve agriculture, according to the Food and Agriculture ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 3, 2025
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24
As British Columbia faces increasingly severe wildfire seasons, new research at UBC is revealing the hidden helpers at work underneath the ash. Assistant professor Dr. Monika Fischer studies pyrophilous fungi—fire-loving ...
Ecology
Nov 3, 2025
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