fungi

Early Release – Pulmonary Complications in Fatal Yellow Fever, Brazil, 2017–2019 – Volume 32, Number 2—February 2026 – Emerging Infectious Diseases journal

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Disclaimer: Early release articles are not considered as final versions. Any changes will be reflected in the online version in the month the article is officially released. Author affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (A.N. Duarte-Neto, K.C. Dantas, F.R. Giugni, M.P. Cunha, S.Z. Pour, F.L. Ledesma, Y.-L. Ho, A.C.S. Nastri, … Read more

Common human fungus found to worsen melanoma aggressiveness

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Cancer is one of the causes responsible for the most deaths worldwide; in 2020, for example, it resulted in ten million deaths. It has been estimated that micro-organism infections caused between 13-18% of these cases. Until now, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified thirteen micro-organisms as carcinogenic, which include viruses, bacteria … Read more

Bacteria repurpose viral injection systems to target diverse cells

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New study shows how bacteria adapted a virus-derived injection system to recognize and attach to many different types of cells. By systematically identifying thousands of rapidly evolving receptor-binding proteins, the researchers explain how these systems can be retargeted again and again in nature by swapping the part that binds to cells. The work not only … Read more

Chemical inhibitor helps viruses overcome bacterial immune defenses

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Antimicrobial resistance – when bacteria and fungi defend themselves against the drugs design to kill them – is an urgent threat to global public health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To combat this threat, the Gerdt Lab at Indiana University Bloomington studies how to weaken bacteria’s defenses against viruses. “Bacteria get sick, … Read more

Blood protein albumin identified as key defense against deadly black fungus

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A new international study published in Nature has identified albumin, the most abundant protein in human blood, as a powerful and previously unrecognized defense against mucormycosis, a rare but often fatal fungal infection. The research was led by George Chamilos, MD and his laboratory at the University of Crete and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, with critical contributions from a Lundquist Institute for Biomedical … Read more

160-Million-Year-Old Blue-Stain Fungus Fossils Found in China

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The discovery of a fossil blue-stain fungus colonizing the insect-infested conifer wood Xenoxylon phyllocladoides in China’s Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation extends the earliest fossil record of blue-stain fungi by approximately 80 million years, reshaping the timeline of evolution of this fungal group, and provides new insights into the evolution of their ecological associations with wood-boring insects. … Read more

Climate models predict spread of deadly Aspergillus pathogens

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As global temperatures rise, new research reveals that Aspergillus species are on the move, reshaping the landscape of infectious disease and threatening the world’s food supply in unexpected ways. Research: Climate change-driven geographical shifts in Aspergillus species habitat and the implications for plant and human health. Image Credit: CI Photos / Shutterstock *Important notice: Research Square publishes … Read more

Vitamin D curbs colorectal cancer by boosting immunity and blocking tumor growth

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Vitamin D’s anti-cancer powers go beyond bones, new findings reveal how it suppresses inflammation, boosts immune surveillance, and disrupts tumor development to guard against colorectal cancer. Study: Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Immunological Mechanisms, Inflammatory Pathways, and Nutritional Implications. Image Credit: crystal light / Shutterstock.com A recent study in the journal Nutrients reviews the role of vitamin … Read more

How your skin’s microbes shape immunity, inflammation, and chronic skin disease

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From babyhood to adulthood, the bacteria and fungi on your skin help train your immune system—but when that balance tips, chronic inflammation can follow. This new review reveals how and why. Study: Conversation between skin microbiota and the host: from early life to adulthood. Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock In a recent review published in … Read more

Study examines hidden toxin delivery systems across life forms

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Venom is not exclusive to animals—plants, fungi, protists, bacteria, and even viruses use venom-like mechanisms for defense, predation, and competition. Dodder – Cuscuta on a potato bush. Review Article: It’s a Small World After All: The Remarkable but Overlooked Diversity of Venomous Organisms, with Candidates Among Plants, Fungi, Protists, Bacteria, and Viruses. Image Credit: EVGEIIA / Shutterstock … Read more