Tag Archives: fungus

Deadly Fungus Causes Ill Frogs to Leap Great Distances, Possibly in Search of Mates

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Bellow’s alpine tree frogs enhance their jumping ability when infected with a common fungus

Robert Valentich/naturepl.com

The chytrid fungus is a lethal pathogen affecting amphibians amid an ongoing global crisis, capable of wiping out entire populations. Yet, for one endangered frog species in Australia, the infection has led to an unusual positive effect: significantly larger hops.

Verreaux’s alpine tree frog (Litoria Verouki Alpina) is impacted by the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Those infected can leap nearly a quarter further than their uninfected counterparts.

“These findings remind us of the incredible resilience of these amphibians and their responses to threats from this daunting pathogen. Remarkably, their bodies can display unexpected adaptations,” says Teagan McMahon from the University of Connecticut in New London, who was not involved in the research.

Alexander Wendt and colleagues at the University of Melbourne, Australia, investigated the impact of Bd infection on the health of alpine tree frogs, using their locomotion as an indicator of physiological health.

In their laboratory study, the researchers separated 60 frogs into groups based on infection status. Wendt and his team assessed how the frogs responded to extreme temperature conditions and measured their jumping distances when gently stimulated.

Remarkably, six weeks after infection, the frogs that had contracted Bd exhibited an increase in jumping distance of nearly 24% compared to uninfected ones. Typically, in other amphibian species, energy reserves are drained as the immune system combats the fungus. The physiological responses to Bd can vary significantly among amphibian species, offering temporary advantages in cases of sublethal infections.

“However, as soon as clinical symptoms emerge, it becomes exceedingly challenging for most species,” Wendt notes.

The immune response of alpine tree frogs does not appear robust enough to hinder their reaction to Bd, suggesting that such enhancements may aid them in locating mates quickly before their condition worsens. Other frog species are also known to amplify their mating calls when infected with Bd.

This short-term bolstering of jumping ability can be advantageous when faced with Bd. “From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense,” McMahon adds. “Enhanced mobility may contribute to increased transmission rates and prolong the host’s lifespan.”

The influence of Bd on amphibians is increasingly recognized as being shaped by complex interactions between host biology, the fungus, and the surrounding environment. “All we can do is gather as much information as possible to assist these species in surviving and mitigating the spread of Bd before it reaches a critical point,” Wendt emphasizes.

Topic:

  • Animal Behavior/
  • Amphibian

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Lethal Fungus Linked to Tutankhamun’s “Curse” May Now Hold Life-Saving Potential

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The fungus that has long been linked to the death of the archaeologist who uncovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb may now have a role in saving lives. Researchers have utilized the toxic bacteria Aspergillus flavus—often associated with the so-called “Pharaoh’s Curse”—to develop a potent new compound capable of killing cancer cells.

A study published in Natural Chemistry Biology revealed that the fungus produced previously unknown molecules, which the research team subsequently corrected and tested against human leukemia cells.

Two compounds known as asperigycin exhibited strong anti-cancer activity. After correction, one variant, along with two FDA-approved drugs, was effective in eliminating cancer cells.

“We know that fungi have significant potential to generate bioactive molecules,” stated senior author Professor Sherry Gao in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “However, only a small fraction of these possible molecules has been discovered.”

A. flavus carries a grim legacy. Following the opening of King Tut’s tomb in the 1920s, a wave of fatalities fueled the myth of the Pharaoh’s curse. Subsequent investigations indicated that spores of A. flavus, sealed within the tomb for millennia, could have triggered deadly pulmonary infections.

A similar incident occurred in the 1970s, where 10 out of 12 scientists who entered the tomb of a Polish king died shortly after exposure to the fungus.

Samples of Aspergillus flavus cultured in GAO labs. – Credit: Veracielbo

Now, the same lethal fungus may catalyze a medical advancement. The research team discovered that A. flavus produces a type of molecule called RIPP, short for ribosome-synthesized post-translationally modified peptides.

These molecules are known for their intricate structure and significant biological effects, yet few have been identified from fungi.

The team isolated four peptides featuring a distinctive ring-shaped structure. When tested on cancer cells, two were particularly effective against leukemia. The third, artificially modified with a fatty molecule known as a “lipid chain,” exhibited effects similar to conventional chemotherapeutics like cytarabine and donorubicin.

“After modification, the compounds were better at entering the cell,” Gao explained. “I believe that once inside, there is a mechanism to inhibit cell division.”

GAO noted that further research is essential to understand how RIPPS target cancer cells and why they are effective against leukemia but not other tested cancer types.

According to GAO, the team aims to develop a platform to identify more potentially beneficial products derived from fungi.

“Nature has gifted us this incredible pharmacy,” Gao remarked in a statement. “It is up to us to uncover that secret.”

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About our experts

Xue (Sherry) Gao serves as an Associate Professor of President Pen Compact at the University of Pennsylvania. Her laboratory is focused on developing highly specific and effective genome editing tools for diverse applications in disease treatment, diagnosis, and the exploration of new small molecule drugs.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists have revealed that the extinct MOA used to eat a vibrant truffle-like fungus

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Paleontologists have discovered ancient DNA and truffle-like fungal spores, including at least one colorful species. Upland More (Megalapteryx didinus) an extinct species of giant flightless bird endemic to New Zealand.

Boast et al. We report ancient DNA and spores from inside two coprolites in the highland MOA (Megalapteryx didinus) that reveals the consumption and possible dispersal of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Image credit: Jiji et al. , doi:10.1098/rsbl.2024.0440.

Fungi like truffles have fruit bodies that never fully open and have no way to expel the spores.

Other fungi do this by wind, but fungi like truffles rely on animals to consume them and disperse their spores.

Overseas, such fungi, including true truffles, are generally monotonous, have a strong aroma, and are very attractive to mammals.

In contrast, New Zealanders are often brightly colored, resembling fallen fruit on the forest floor.

These fungi may have relied on fruit-eating birds for dispersal, but there is little evidence that modern native birds eat them.

Ecologists have long debated that the original disperser must have been an extinct bird, but this has never been demonstrated.

In new research, Dr. Alexander boasts about Manaki.

The specimen was discovered in Hodges Creek Cave, near the Upper Takaka River basin in northwest Nelson and Takaha Valley (TV) in Fiordland on New Zealand’s South Island.

“Previous studies on coprolites have already shown that extinct MOAs ate brightly colored fruits and other plant matter, but new analysis shows that MOAs actually fed on these colorful truffle-like fungal species. ,” the researchers said.

“This discovery adds weight to the idea that these fungi have specifically evolved to be attractive to fruit-eating birds.”

“The MOA would have been good at dispersing fungal spores. Comparisons with its distant cousin The Ostrich, which retains food for about 36 hours after eating it, suggest that the MOA would have carried spores into the intestines over long distances.” It shows that we were able to do it.”

“But given that large birds are going extinct, what if these fungi are driving the dispersal they once depended on?”

“What will ultimately happen to these evolutionary anachronisms? Species that rely on other species to establish and thrive on things that are no longer there?”

“Furthermore, how might this loss affect the resilience and ability of current native forests to regenerate and expand?”

“Remaining species of herbivorous subterranean birds such as Weka are unlikely to compensate for the loss of MOA in dispersing these fungi.”

“In turn, this may have a knock-on effect on overall forest resilience today.”

“Forest species such as beech in New Zealand have evolved symbiotic relationships with native fungi, such as those detected at MoA Poos, benefiting regeneration and resilience, and the native fungi in the mix help improve forest resilience. may decrease.”

team’s paper Published in journal biology letters.

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Alexander P. Boasts et al. 2025. Coprolite DNA and spores reveal that the colorful truffle-like fungus endemic to New Zealand was consumed by the extinct MOA (Dinornithiformes). Biol. Lett 21(1):20240440; doi:10.1098/rsbl.2024.0440

Source: www.sci.news

The hidden dangers of the alarming ‘zombie hand’ fungus

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Please envision the setting. It’s Halloween, and you decide to take a daring walk through a cemetery on the edge of town.

As the sounds of trick-or-treaters fade away, a dense fog creeps in and envelops the tombstones. It already has the vibe of a scene from Scooby-Doo, but things are about to escalate.

You trip and tumble, landing face-first in the debris, where you come across a decaying hand protruding from the ground. The digits are contorted. Long, gnarled nails. You attempt to scream, but the sound gets stuck in your throat.

Where is Velma Dinkley when you require her? Then you take another look and realize it’s not a hand after all. It’s a dead person’s finger (Xylaria polymorpha). It may appear to be on the end of a deceased person’s arm, but it’s actually a fungus.

Dead Man’s Finger Reaching Out of the Ground – Credit: Nik Taylor

A brief introduction to fungi: Fungi cannot consume food like animals or produce food like plants or algae. Instead, they secrete enzymes that break down nearby organic matter, releasing nutrients that they can absorb.

Unfortunately, despite its zombie-like appearance, this fungus decomposes dead wood, not bodies. It emerges from the decaying roots of hardwood trees like beech and oak. Hence the first part of its Latin name “Xylaria” which means “grows on trees.”

The second part of the Latin name, ‘polymorpha,’ means “various shapes” and reflects the fact that this fungus changes its appearance over time. When it sprouts in the spring, it forms clusters of three to six pale to dark gray “fingers,” each with a pale “claw” at the top.

However, when mature in winter, each finger can reach up to 10 cm (4 in) tall and be dark brown to blue-black in color. This has led to descriptions likening it to a decaying finger, burnt wood, or a mummified penis. Fungi spread by producing spores as they cannot move, and in this case, the fingers act as the fruiting bodies.

Like many fungi, X. polymorpha has two modes of reproduction: asexual and sexual. Asexual reproduction results in genetically identical copies of the fungus. It occurs in spring when the fungus releases spores called conidia from its surface.

On the other hand, sexual reproduction involves the release of ascospores through an upper opening. When ascospores from different parents fuse, a new genetically distinct fungus is produced.

Despite its odd and somewhat grotesque appearance, this fungus provides a food source for various invertebrates that feed on its nutrient-rich remains.

But refrain from trying to consume it yourself. A 2018 study found that this eerie-looking fungus contains toxins similar to those found in deadly mushrooms like the death cap. Consume it, and you might end up in the graveyard!

Explore our fantastic fun facts and other captivating science articles.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study suggests nasal fungus may be the cause of your allergies

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It’s that time of the year again when runny nose season has already arrived. However, for some people, runny noses are a year-round struggle due to allergies. In fact, an estimated 25-40% of people worldwide are affected by allergic rhinitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the nose’s mucous membranes.

So, what’s behind this constant sniffing? Scientists may have an answer: individuals with allergies harbor a variety of fungi in their noses.

Despite this discovery, the presence of any fungus in our noses is quickly countered by our immune system. We all have fungi in our nasal mycobiome, a diverse community of fungal microorganisms that reside in our nostrils and sinuses, contributing to our overall microbial diversity essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and fighting off harmful pathogens.

In a study on nasal mycobiome, researchers collected nasal swabs from 214 allergic patients and 125 healthy individuals. The swabs showed significant differences in the prevalence and diversity of nasal fungi between the two groups, with allergic patients exhibiting more abundant and diverse mycobiomes.

“These findings suggest that the nasal cavity serves as a reservoir for fungi that may contribute to allergic rhinitis,” said Dr. Luis Delgado, a Professor at the University of Porto, Portugal, and one of the authors of a new study published in 2006 in the journal Frontiers of Microbiology.

The study also identified specific metabolic pathways more common in the fungal communities of allergic rhinitis patients, potentially paving the way for future allergy treatments.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists Study Pest-Killing Fungus by Collecting Sexually-Excited Zombie Cicadas

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With their bulging red eyes and alien-like mating sounds, periodical cicadas may seem scary and weird, but some of them are speed-freak, sex-crazed zombies that have been hijacked by super-sized fungi.

West Virginia University mycology professor Matt Casson, his 9-year-old son Oliver, and graduate student Angie Macias have been tracking a pesky fungus called Massospora cicadina, the only fungus on Earth that can hijack an animal’s body to make amphetamines (a drug known as speed)—and sure enough, it’s taking over cicadas, increasing their sex drive and spreading a parasite that’s transmitted sexually.

“They’re zombies, totally at the mercy of the fungus,” says John Cooley, a cicada researcher at the University of Connecticut.

The fungus has the largest genome of any known fungus—about 1.5 billion base pairs, Casson says, making it about 30 times longer than any common fungus we know—and while the periodical cicada lives underground for 17 years (13 years in the southern U.S.), its spores typically remain underground as well.

“It’s been a mycological oddity for a long time,” says Casson, “and it has the largest genome, produces wild compounds, keeps its host active, and has a whole host of other strange characteristics.”

Matt Cusson, a professor of mycology at West Virginia University, dissects fungal tissue from the posterior abdomen of a female periodical cicada infected with the fungus Massospora cicadina.Carolyn Custer/AP

This year, Casson decided to ask people to send him infected cicadas from around the country, and despite his injured leg, he, his son, and Mathias traveled from West Virginia to the Morton Arboretum outside Chicago, where they reported a fungus that takes over the lower half of the cicada’s body, discarding its reproductive organs and replacing them with a rather conspicuous mass that’s white, sticky but flaky. The spores then spill out like salt from a shaker.

Infected cicadas can be hard to spot.

Ten seconds after jumping off the golf cart, Macias was in the trees, looking around. She triumphantly raised the semi in the air and shouted, “I got it!”

“That was just luck,” Oliver complained.”

“Luck, eh? Good luck,” Macias replies.

Ten seconds later, Oliver spotted another bird in the bushes next to him, and a little later the photographer spotted a third.

Casson is tracking the only bacteria on Earth that produces amphetamines in living organisms when it takes control of them.Carolyn Custer/AP

Kasson and his small team collected 36 infected cicadas during a quick trip around Chicago, and another 200 or so have been sent in from elsewhere. He’s still waiting for the results of an RNA analysis of the fungus.

Some cicada experts estimate that one in every 1,000 periodical cicadas is infected with the fungus, but that’s just a guess, says Gene Kritsky, a biologist at Mount St. Joseph University who has written a book about the fungus. This year’s unique double appearanceHe said the numbers could be skewed because healthy cicadas tend to stay higher in trees.

“This year’s fungal situation is business as usual and not particularly unusual,” Cooley said in an email.

Scientists debate whether the fungus burrows deep underground and then infects the cicadas that emerge after 13 or 17 years, or whether it infects newly hatched larvae as they make their way underground for more than a decade.

The fungus isn’t a parasite that kills its host, but rather needs to keep it alive, Casson said. Infected cicadas will try to mate with other cicadas, spreading the spores to their mates/victims. Males may also become hypersexual and pose as females to lure and infect other males, Casson said.

Test tubes containing live periodical cicadas infected with the fungus Massospora cicadina await field processing at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, on June 6, 2024.Carolyn Custer/AP

A related species of the fungus that infects annual cicadas in the West also produces psychoactive compounds in the cicadas that are more similar to hallucinogens like magic mushrooms, Kasson said. That’s why some people, even experts, confuse the amphetamines produced by infected 17- and 13-year cicadas with the highly hallucinogenic compounds in the annual insects, he said.

Either way, don’t try this at home. The cicada itself is edible, Not many people are infected.

Out of scientific curiosity, Casson experimented on one during this emergence, ensuring that it was taken from the body of a female, which was more sterile.

“It was really bitter,” Cason said, explaining that she quickly rinsed her mouth. “It tasted like poison.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Be prepared: A fungus is threatening to eradicate millions of ‘zombie cicadas’ in the US. Here’s what to expect.

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It’s finally here. Once every 200 years, two flocks of periodical cicadas will emerge from the ground.

Across much of the US, billions of winged insects are emerging from the ground in search of a mating opportunity, but an unlucky few have been infected by a mysterious pathogen that is transforming them into flying insects. The salt shaker of death.

Are you locking the door and hiding under the covers? Before you do, hear this: Although zombie insects sound like the plot of a low-budget ’70s horror movie, they’re completely harmless to humans, plants, and pets, so feel free to marvel (probably from afar) as one of nature’s most powerful forces takes control.

Why do cicadas turn into zombies?

Cicada species live all over the planet, but the species currently abundant across the US are called “periodic cicadas,” which spend years underground as larvae before emerging as adults to mate.

Currently, two so-called “swarms” occur simultaneously in parts of the eastern U.S.: one that appears every 13 years, the other every 17. If you live in an area where this phenomenon is occurring, you’ll notice that it’s accompanied by a noise that’s louder than traffic.

The current occupation is expected to continue until the end of June, by which time most of the cicadas will have died and their eggs will have hatched and burrowed underground for another 13 to 17 years.

“One of the main reasons for this periodic emergence is to prevent predators from developing specialized ways to catch them,” says Dr. Jonathan Larson, an entomologist at the University of Kentucky. BBC Science Focus.

The only exception, Larson said, is Massospora cicadaina. “It’s likely that the disease will play a long game and remain dormant and not cause any symptoms until the cicadas emerge as adults above ground,” he said.

Once above ground, the infected cicada’s normally hollow body fills with white fungal spores and the abdomen bursts open to reveal what Larson describes as a “chalky white mass.”

Once exposed, the spores are free to infect other cicadas…

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How bacteria reproduce

Imagine a third of your body being filled with a harmful pathogen. You might not feel too great, and for good reason. However, infected cicadas can carry on with life as normal. In fact, the fungus changes the cicada’s behavior in some pretty significant ways.

“They can continue to act normally as if they are not infected, which allows them to continue spreading the virus,” Larson explains.

What is normal cicada behavior? After 17 years (or 13) underground, all they have on their mind is finding a mate. Male cicadas shake their abdomens to attract females, hence the loud explosion. Infected males do the same, killing unsuspecting females.

But the fungus has another trick up its sleeve.

“Female cicadas flap their wings in response to the loud, boisterous calls of males,” Larson explains, “but if the males are infected, they also start flapping their wings, fooling other males into thinking they’re mating with the female.”

How cicadas manage to stay alive with so many parts of their bodies packed with spores remains a mystery, but scientists have found some clues in recent years.

Billions of cicadas will emerge in the United States this year in a once-in-200-year event. – Image credit: Getty

For example, a study published in the journal Fungal Ecology It turns out that the fungus produces a type of amphetamine in its mass, which is used as a powerful human stimulant. Massospora Cicadina Will it stick?

Larson explains that it’s not clear exactly how the psychoactive substances affect the cicadas, but that the insects must be stimulated in some way. “That’s the real zombification part: They’re doing their job, they’re alive, but they’re just going through the motions. The lights are on, but no one’s home,” Larson says.

Should we worry about zombies?

First, the percentage of infected insects is very small, less than 5%, but 5% out of billions or even trillions of insects is still a lot of zombies flying around.

Thankfully, this fungus is specialized for cicadas. Massospora Cicadina ‘ is just a little hint so you don’t have to worry about infecting yourself.

“Transmission tends to be very localized, so while there are hotspots, it’s not common everywhere,” Larson said.

However, if you are planning to eat cicadas, you should definitely be careful. Yes, there are a lot of people out there who eat cicadas. Spicy Popcorn Cicada RecipeIf you’re interested, however, you should definitely avoid eating infected varieties.

“If you’re catching cicadas, the infected ones will be noticeably different,” Larson says. “If some fall off and you see a whitish lump, throw it away and don’t eat it.” Who would have thought eating insects infected with a pathogenic zombie fungus would be a bad idea? Everyone would.

About our experts

Jonathan Larson He is an entomologist and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky who provides his insect expertise to those dealing with problems in urban landscapes, lawns, nurseries, greenhouses and the home, and he is co-host of the informative insect podcast, The Insect Podcast. Arthropods.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com