The vast majority of transformation protocols for filamentous fungi are based on permeabilizing cell membranes with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or electroporation. Both methods typically require preparing protoplasts or osmotically sensitive cells prior to transformation (Herzog et al., 1996; Goldman et al., 1990; a detailed review of fungal transformation systems is given by Lemke and Peng, 1995...

A homologue of the gene encoding the transcription factor Rim101 (PacC), involved in pH signal transduction in fungi, was identified in the pathogenic basidiomycete Ustilago maydis. The gene (RIM101) encodes a protein of 827 amino acid residues, which shows highest similarity to PacC proteins from Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger. The gene had the capacity to restore protease activity t...

The parasitoid Spalangia endius Walker is an efficient controller of Dipteran pupae, such as Musca domestica L. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuil. is a regulator of insect populations, including these synanthropic pests. The aim of this work was to explore the possibilities of utilizing both agents in a combined form for the biocontrol of the domestic fly. Recently for...

Stachybotrys chartarum is a black mitosporic fungus capable of dense colonization of cellulose-based building materials such as drywall. The presence of S. chartarum in indoor environments has been reported as linked to a variety of alleged environment-related illnesses including infant acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage, although there continues to be insufficient (especially exposure) data...

THE determining factors of the disease are the giant cane (Arundo donax) and the mycete Acremonium. The giant cane belongs to the family Gramineae, which is to be found all over the earth. The full-grown stem, dried and stripped of its blade-like leaves, is used for weaving baskets and for building huts. In agriculture and horticulture it is used to make props for vines, garden plants, and tran...

A novel 'white' laccase was purified from the deuteromycete fungus, Myrothecium verrucaria NF-05, which was a high laccase-producing strain (40.2 U·ml(-1) on the thirteenth day during fermentation). SDS-PAGE and native-PAGE revealed a single band with laccase activity corresponding to a molecular weight of approximately 66 kDa. The enzyme had three copper and one iron atoms per protein molecule...

Ribosomal RNA sequences have been shown to be a target of choice for the interand intraspecies identification and classification of a number of microorganisms (For example: 1, 2). However, no known large subunit rRNAs (LSU) sequence of pathogenic yeasts have yet been obtained. Therefore, during the course of an epidemiologic study of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, we decided to determine t...

St. Nectaire cheese is a semisoft cheese of French origin that, along with Brie and Camembert cheeses, belongs to the class of surface mold-ripened cheese. The surface microorganisms that develop on the cheese rind during ripening impart a distinctive aroma and flavor to this class of cheese. We have documented the sequential appearance of microorganisms on the cheese rind and in the curd over ...

The full-length cDNA of the gene PoLOX1 encoding a lipoxygenase (LOX) and its corresponding genomic DNA were isolated from the basidiomycete mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus strain H1. The deduced amino acid sequence of PoLOX1 showed similarity to a valencene dioxygenase of Pleurotus sapidus, putative LOX-like proteins from ascomycete, basidiomycete, and deuteromycete fungi, and known LOXs from pla...

Research on cell communication and differentiation in filamentous fungi has provided a number of novel insights into chemoattractive mechanisms in recent years. Still, identification of specific chemoattractant molecules, cognate receptors and downstream signaling pathways is strongly biased towards those involved in mating; probably due to the relative ease of functional genomic comparison to ...