Abstract 1. Context Capturing and identifying airborne biological matter (bioaerosols) enables detailed characterisation of ecological communities, but the cost and weight of existing commercially available active air samplers limits the deployment of multiple devices needed to realise this potential. 2. Method We present the AberTrap, a lightweight (∼50g), open-source (CC-BY-SA), programmable rotating-arm bioaerosol sampler that can be self-built from common laboratory components and makerspace equipment at low cost (ca £20 per unit, exc. power supply). To characterise the device’s performance, we first explored the influence of rotational speed and paddle design on aerosol capture under controlled conditions, using fluorescein and a range of biological aerosols (4.5-33 µm). To demonstrate its utility for ecological applications, we then validated field performance in a species-rich broadleaf woodland (England, UK), deploying eight samplers over five days and identifying captured fungal aerosols by ITS2 metabarcoding. 3. Key results Modifying paddle design allowed us to influence particle selection and capture efficiency. Slotted paddles captured significantly more aerosols than plain paddles despite sampling less air, which we traced to the concentration of aerosols at the paddle leading edges. This effect was most pronounced for the smallest particles and outweighs the influence of rotational speed. In the field, 20 daily samples (four samplers over five days) detected 2,431 fungal taxa, 78.9% of the Chao2-estimated total fungal richness. A single sampler captured only 59% of this richness. Continuous 5-day sampling recovered 78% of the taxa detected by daily sampling, indicating only modest paddle saturation over this period. Our time segregated design allowed us to infer dispersal dynamics; 35% of taxa were recorded only on one day, and 19% recorded across all five days. Overall, replicate AberTraps provided high sampling completeness. 4. Implications The AberTrap provides a low-cost, lightweight and programmable alternative to commercial rotating-arm samplers, enabling levels of spatial and temporal replication impractical with existing devices. Low cost and portability facilitate deployment in remote or resource-limited contexts. Its open-source, adaptable design allows the device to be tailored for applications in biodiversity assessment, pathogen surveillance and ecological monitoring.

The phylogenetic affiliations of anaerobic gut fungi ( Neocallimastigomycota ) are typically evaluated using single-gene markers. However, this approach often fails to resolve relationships between closely related lineages. To address this issue and identify alternative markers, we created a curated database comprising the complete ribosomal operon sequences of 156 isolates, representing 20 of the 22 recognized genera and two new genus-level clades. Using long-read sequencing, we obtained ~9 kbp operon sequences and developed a robust analysis pipeline. Incorporating both coding genes and non-coding regions (excluding IGS1) improved phylogenetic resolution. This phylogenetic approach successfully resolved the Cyllamyces and Caecomyces clades (hard-to-distinguish genetically), as well as seven analysed Piromyces species. We also scanned the operon for markers that are suitable for short-read sequencing platforms, with the aim of enhancing biodiversity and phylogenetic studies. Notably, the ETS1 genetic region also enabled the distinction between these lineages, indicating its phylogenetic value within the ribosomal operon. The resulting database is a valuable resource for expanding and strengthening phylogenetic frameworks.

Dermoloma is traditionally known as a small genus of agarics classified in the family Tricholomataceae. This study implemented a multilocus phylogeny of six DNA regions to recognize phylogenetic species within the genus. The species concept is reinforced by observations of well-defined morphological characters enhanced by long term sampling effort in Europe and North America. Thirty European Dermoloma species are described, including 16 new species from Europe and three from North American. These species are classified into two subgenera morphologically distinguished by spores with positive or negative amyloid reaction. A new genus Neodermoloma is introduced for the Dermoloma-like species N. campestre. Localized or continental-scale species endemicity was confirmed based on studied material, but more inclusive phylogenetic clustering supported a mixture of North American species among the European clades. Of the 22 names validly published from Europe prior to this study, 11 could be assigned to well-defined Dermoloma species recognized here. Of the remaining 11 names, two were considered representing Dermoloma species not recorded since their description, and nine were established as later synonyms of other species. Morphological studies of Dermoloma are challenging due to the relatively low number of characters suitable for identification of species. The majority of morphological characters showed continuous variation with high overlap throughout the genus. For this reason, species identification requires an awareness of morphological variability within species, and multiple distinguishing characters need to be combined, and furthermore, often a barcode sequence is needed for a certain identification. Stable isotope analysis in Dermoloma of δ13C and δ15N revealed an ecological signature similar to known CHEGD fungi, i.e. Clavariaceae and Hygrocybe s.l. This indicates that Dermoloma species are biotrophic but neither ectomycorrhizal nor saprotrophic and may form mutualistic root endophytic associations with vascular plants.

Fungi are among the most diverse and ecologically important kingdoms in life. However, the distributional ranges of fungi remain largely unknown as do the ecological mechanisms that shape their distributions(1,2). To provide an integrated view of the spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi, we implemented a globally distributed standardized aerial sampling of fungal spores(3). The vast majority of operational taxonomic units were detected within only one climatic zone, and the spatiotemporal patterns of species richness and community composition were mostly explained by annual mean air temperature. Tropical regions hosted the highest fungal diversity except for lichenized, ericoid mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi, which reached their peak diversity in temperate regions. The sensitivity in climatic responses was associated with phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that large-scale distributions of some fungal groups are partially constrained by their ancestral niche. There was a strong phylogenetic signal in seasonal sensitivity, suggesting that some groups of fungi have retained their ancestral trait of sporulating for only a short period. Overall, our results show that the hyperdiverse kingdom of fungi follows globally highly predictable spatial and temporal dynamics, with seasonality in both species richness and community composition increasing with latitude. Our study reports patterns resembling those described for other major groups of organisms, thus making a major contribution to the long-standing debate on whether organisms with a microbial lifestyle follow the global biodiversity paradigms known for macroorganisms(4,5).

Novel methods for sampling and characterizing biodiversity hold great promise for re-evaluating patterns of life across the planet. The sampling of airborne spores with a cyclone sampler, and the sequencing of their DNA, have been suggested as an efficient and well-calibrated tool for surveying fungal diversity across various environments. Here we present data originating from the Global Spore Sampling Project, comprising 2,768 samples collected during two years at 47 outdoor locations across the world. Each sample represents fungal DNA extracted from 24 m3 of air. We applied a conservative bioinformatics pipeline that filtered out sequences that did not show strong evidence of representing a fungal species. The pipeline yielded 27,954 species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Each OTU is accompanied by a probabilistic taxonomic classification, validated through comparison with expert evaluations. To examine the potential of the data for ecological analyses, we partitioned the variation in species distributions into spatial and seasonal components, showing a strong effect of the annual mean temperature on community composition.

The Global Consortium for the Classification of Fungi and fungus-like taxa is an international initiative of more than 550 mycologists to develop an electronic structure for the classification of these organisms. The members of the Consortium originate from 55 countries/regions worldwide, from a wide range of disciplines, and include senior, mid-career and early-career mycologists and plant pathologists. The Consortium will publish a biannual update of the Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa, to act as an international scheme for other scientists. Notes on all newly published taxa at or above the level of species will be prepared and published online on the Outline of Fungi website (https://www.outlineoffungi.org/), and these will be finally published in the biannual edition of the Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa. Comments on recent important taxonomic opinions on controversial topics will be included in the biannual outline. For example, 'to promote a more stable taxonomy in Fusarium given the divergences over its generic delimitation', or 'are there too many genera in the Boletales?' and even more importantly, 'what should be done with the tremendously diverse 'dark fungal taxa?' There are undeniable differences in mycologists' perceptions and opinions regarding species classification as well as the establishment of new species. Given the pluralistic nature of fungal taxonomy and its implications for species concepts and the nature of species, this consortium aims to provide a platform to better refine and stabilise fungal classification, taking into consideration views from different parties. In the future, a confidential voting system will be set up to gauge the opinions of all mycologists in the Consortium on important topics. The results of such surveys will be presented to the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF) and the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF) with opinions and percentages of votes for and against. Criticisms based on scientific evidence with regards to nomenclature, classifications, and taxonomic concepts will be welcomed, and any recommendations on specific taxonomic issues will also be encouraged; however, we will encourage professionally and ethically responsible criticisms of others' work. This biannual ongoing project will provide an outlet for advances in various topics of fungal classification, nomenclature, and taxonomic concepts and lead to a community-agreed classification scheme for the fungi and fungus-like taxa. Interested parties should contact the lead author if they would like to be involved in future outlines.

EDITORIAL article Front. Microbiol., 08 February 2023Sec. Systems Microbiology Volume 14 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1137550

Inflorescence rot is a devastating disease of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) but has not been extensively characterised. Mauginiella scaettae Cav. 1925 (Pleosporales; Ascomycota), causal agent of this disease, was isolated from infected male and female inflorescences of date palm from different oases in the southeast of Algeria: Ouargla (strains OU1, OU2, OU3), Tougourt (strains TO1, TO2), Hadjira (strain HA), Oued (strains OE1, OE2), Ghardaia (strain GA) and Biskra (strain BI). Each strain of M. scaettae was used to infect healthy male inflorescence of date palms to satisfy Koch's postulates but follow on assessments were based on GA. Phylogenetic reconstruction using the rRNA sequence data (ITS and LSU regions) found no intraspecific differentiation of strains and confirmed the placement of M. scaettae within the family Phaeosphaeriaceae. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) metabolite fingerprinting discriminated between fungal strains originating from male and female inflorescences. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterisation of the infection processes for M. scaettae in both male and female inflorescences suggested a preference for stomatal entry. Our characterisation provides new insights into this inflorescence rot to allow better detection and management of the disease.

Anaerobic fungi (AF), belonging to the phylum Neocallimastigomycota, are a pivotal component of the digestive tract microbiome of various herbivorous animals. In the last decade, the diversity of AF has rapidly expanded due to the exploration of numerous (novel) habitats. Studies aiming at understanding the role of AF require robust and reliable isolation and cultivation techniques, many of which remained unchanged for decades. Using amplicon sequencing, we compared three different media: medium with rumen fluid (RF), depleted rumen fluid (DRF), and no rumen fluid (NRF) to enrich the AF from the feces of yak, as a rumen control; and Przewalski’s horse, llama, guanaco, and elephant, as a non-rumen habitats. The results revealed the selective enrichment of Piromyces and Neocallimastix from the feces of elephant and llama, respectively, in the RF medium. Similarly, the enrichment culture in DRF medium explicitly manifested Piromyces-related sequences from elephant feces. Five new clades (MM1-5) were defined from llama, guanaco, yak, and elephant feces that could as well be enriched from llama and elephant samples using non-conventional DRF and NRF media. This study presents evidence for the selective enrichment of certain genera in medium with RF and DRF from rumen as well as from non-rumen samples. NRF medium is suggested for the isolation of AF from non-rumen environments.

Establishing a solid taxonomic framework is crucial for enabling discovery and documentation efforts. This ensures effective communication between scientists as well as reproducibility of results between laboratories, and facilitates the exchange and preservation of biological material. Such framework can only be achieved by establishing clear criteria for taxa characterization and rank assignment. Within the anaerobic fungi (phylum Neocallimastigomycota), the need for such criteria is especially vital. Difficulties associated with their isolation, maintenance and long-term storage often result in limited availability and loss of previously described taxa. To this end, we provide here a list of morphological, microscopic, phylogenetic and phenotypic criteria for assessment and documentation when characterizing newly obtained Neocallimastigomycota isolates. We also recommend a polyphasic rank-assignment scheme for novel genus-, species- and strain-level designations for newly obtained Neocallimastigomycota isolates.

Ganoderma spp. are wood decay fungi forming a white rot of wood by secretion of various extracellular ligninolytic enzymes. In this study, growth and ligninolytic activity of two Ganoderma species on sawdust of European ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) wood were monitored over an eight week incubation period. One of these species, G. mbrekobenum is a recently-discovered species found growing on Citrus limon trees in Egypt, whilst the second G. lucidum is one of the best studied species in the genus and both a mononkaryon (1N) and a dikaryon (2N) strain of the species were studied here. Growth on sawdust was monitored using the fungal specific sterol (ergosterol) and the activities of three ligninolytic enzymes (Manganese independent peroxidase [MiP], manganese dependant peroxidase [MnP] and laccase). Chemical changes in ash wood composition were monitored using TMAH-thermochemolysis (Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide).

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic has proceeded, ventilation has been recognized increasingly as an important tool in infection control. Many hospitals in Ireland and the UK do not have mechanical ventilation and depend on natural ventilation. The effectiveness of natural ventilation varies with atmospheric conditions and building design. In a challenge test of a legacy design ward, this study showed that portable air filtration significantly increased the clearance of pollutant aerosols of respirable size compared with natural ventilation, and reduced spatial variation in particle persistence. A combination of natural ventilation and portable air filtration is significantly more effective for particle clearance than either intervention alone.

Members of the anaerobic gut fungi (Neocallimastigomycota) reside in the rumen and alimentary tract of larger mammalian and some reptilian, marsupial and avian herbivores. The recent decade has witnessed a significant expansion in the number of described Neocallimastigomycota genera and species. However, the difficulties associated with the isolation and maintenance of Neocallimastigomycota strains has greatly complicated comparative studies to resolve inter- and intra-genus relationships. Here, we provide an updated outline of Neocallimastigomycota taxonomy. We critically evaluate various morphological, microscopic and phylogenetic traits previously and currently utilized in Neocallimastigomycota taxonomy, and provide an updated key for quick characterization of all genera. We then synthesize data from taxa description manuscripts, prior comparative efforts and molecular sequence data to present an updated list of Neocallimastigomycota genera and species, with an emphasis on resolving relationships and identifying synonymy between recent and historic strains. We supplement data from published manuscripts with information and illustrations from strains in the authors' collections. Twenty genera and 36 species are recognized, but the status of 10 species in the genera Caecomyces, Piromyces, Anaeromyces and Cyllamyces remains uncertain due to the unavailability of culture and conferre (cf.) strains, lack of sequence data, and/or inadequacy of available microscopic and phenotypic data. Six cases of synonymy are identified in the genera Neocallimastix and Caecomyces, and two names in the genus Piromyces are rejected based on apparent misclassification.

Anaerobic fungi from the herbivore digestive tract (Neocallimastigomycetes) are primary lignocellulose modifiers and hold promise for biotechnological applications. Their molecular detection is currently difficult due to the non-specificity of published primer pairs, which impairs evolutionary and ecological research with environmental samples. We developed and validated a Neocallimastigomycetes-specific PCR primer pair targeting the D2 region of the ribosomal large subunit suitable for screening, quantifying, and sequencing. We evaluated this primer pair in silico on sequences from all known genera, in vitro with pure cultures covering 16 of the 20 known genera, and on environmental samples with highly diverse microbiomes. The amplified region allowed phylogenetic differentiation of all known genera and most species. The amplicon is about 350 bp long, suitable for short-read high-throughput sequencing as well as qPCR assays. Sequencing of herbivore fecal samples verified the specificity of the primer pair and recovered highly diverse and so far unknown anaerobic gut fungal taxa. As the chosen barcoding region can be easily aligned and is taxonomically informative, the sequences can be used for classification and phylogenetic inferences. Several new Neocallimastigomycetes clades were obtained, some of which represent putative novel lineages such as a clade from feces of the rodent Dolichotis patagonum (mara).

The cryptic lifestyle of most fungi necessitates molecular identification of the guild in environmental studies. Over the past decades, rapid development and affordability of molecular tools have tremendously improved insights of the fungal diversity in all ecosystems and habitats. Yet, in spite of the progress of molecular methods, knowledge about functional properties of the fungal taxa is vague and interpretation of environmental studies in an ecologically meaningful manner remains challenging. In order to facilitate functional assignments and ecological interpretation of environmental studies we introduce a user friendly traits and character database FungalTraits operating at genus and species hypothesis levels. Combining the information from previous efforts such as FUNGuild and Fun Fun together with involvement of expert knowledge, we reannotated 10,210 and 151 fungal and Stramenopila genera, respectively. This resulted in a stand-alone spreadsheet dataset covering 17 lifestyle related traits of fungal and Stramenopila genera, designed for rapid functional assignments of environmental studies. In order to assign the trait states to fungal species hypotheses, the scientific community of experts manually categorised and assigned available trait information to 697,413 fungal ITS sequences. On the basis of those sequences we were able to summarise trait and host information into 92,623 fungal species hypotheses at 1% dissimilarity threshold.

The taxonomy of Polyporales is complicated by the variability in key morphological characters across families and genera, now being gradually resolved through molecular phylogenetic analyses. Here a new resupinate species, Crystallicutis damiettensis sp. nov. found on the decayed trunks of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) trees in the fruit orchards of the Nile Delta region of Egypt is reported. Multigene phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, EF1α, RPB1 and RPB2 loci place this species in Irpicaceae, and forming a distinct clade with Ceraceomyces serpens and several other hitherto unnamed taxa, which we also incorporate into a new genus Crystallicutis. We name two of these species, Crystallicutis huangshanensis sp. nov. and Crystallicutis rajchenbergii sp. nov. The distinctive feature of Crystallicutis gen. nov. is the presence of crystal-encrusted hyphae in the hymenium and subiculum. Basidiomes are usually honey-yellow with white margins but there is variability in the presence of clamp connections and cystidia, as noted for other genera within Irpicacae. C. damiettensis is hitherto consistently associated with date palms killed by the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, a highly damaging and invasive pest, recently spread to the Mediterranean region. C. damiettensis causes rapid wood decay by a potentially unusual white-rot mechanism and may play a role in the damage caused by R. ferrugineus.

Mulching (cutting of vegetation without removal of clippings) is used as a low-cost method for maintaining remote or abandoned grasslands in Slovakia. The likely consequence of mulching is seasonal nutrient enrichment resulting from decomposition of plant litter by saprotrophic organisms. The potential changes in biodiversity of the ecosystem caused by long-term application of mulching are to date only very poorly understood. In order to examine the impact of mulching on soil mycobiota, we compared six different grassland management regimes applied over nine years on a sub-montane oligotrophic Nardus pasture in the Central Slovakia. The diversity of soil fungi was assessed using DNA metabarcoding of the ITS2 regions of the nrRNA locus performed by Illumina MiSeq. We focused on a particular group of macrofungi which is characteristic of traditionally managed and undisturbed European grasslands, and which are often the dominant soil fungi in these habitats. These are collectively known as CHEGD fungi (the acronym of the constituent taxa: Clavariaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Entolomataceae, Geoglossaceae and Dermoloma). We compared the relative abundance and diversity of CHEGD fungi with the total fungal and plant diversity. CHEGD fungi were dominant across all management treatments. Although there were no statistical effects of treatments on total fungal richness and diversity, CHEGD fungi and vascular plants diversity and richness were lower on plots where mulching or no management were imposed, suggesting that such management regimes would have a negative impact on grassland fungi. However, no single treatment covered the total CHEGD diversity of the study, indicating that the localized use of mulching in addition to traditional managements can enhance overall diversity of grasslands in the area. Our results also suggest that the impact of mulching depends on the season when the grassland is mulched and it might be reduced by combination with other management treatments. The high relative abundance and sensitivity of CHEDG fungi in oligotrophic grasslands to management treatments makes them excellent indicators of grassland natural quality and is consistent with the ecological importance of this fungal group. (c) 2021 Gesellschaft fur Okologie. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The increasing number of new fungal species described from all over the world along with the use of genetics to define taxa, has dramatically changed the classification system of early-diverging fungi over the past several decades. The number of phyla established for non-Dikarya fungi has increased from 2 to 17. However, to date, both the classification and phylogeny of the basal fungi are still unresolved. In this article, we review the recent taxonomy of the basal fungi and re-evaluate the relationships among early-diverging lineages of fungal phyla. We also provide information on the ecology and distribution in Mucoromycota and highlight the impact of chytrids on amphibian populations. Species concepts in Chytridiomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Rozellomycota, Neocallimastigomycota are discussed in this paper. To preserve the current application of the genus Nephridiophaga (Chytridiomycota: Nephridiophagales), a new type species, Nephridiophaga blattellae, is proposed.

Grass (Poaceae) pollen is the most important outdoor aeroallergen,(1) exacerbating a range of respiratory conditions, including allergic asthma and rhinitis ("hay fever'').(2-5) Understanding the relationships between respiratory diseases and airborne grass pollen with a view to improving forecasting has broad public health and socioeconomic relevance. It is estimated that there are over 400 million people with allergic rhinitis(6) and over 300 million with asthma, globally,(7) often comorbidly.(8) In the UK, allergic asthma has an annual cost of around US$ 2.8 billion (2017).(9) The relative contributions of the >11,000 (worldwide) grass species (C. Osborne et al., 2011, Botany Conference, abstract) to respiratory health have been unresolved,(10) as grass pollen cannot be readily discriminated using standard microscopy.(11) Instead, here we used novel environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and qPCR(12-15) to measure the relative abundances of airborne pollen from common grass species during two grass pollen seasons (2016 and 2017) across the UK. We quantitatively demonstrate discrete spatiotemporal patterns in airborne grass pollen assemblages. Using a series of generalized additive models (GAMs), we explore the relationship between the incidences of airborne pollen and severe asthma exacerbations (sub-weekly) and prescribing rates of drugs for respiratory allergies (monthly). Our results indicate that a subset of grass species may have disproportionate influence on these population-scale respiratory health responses during peak grass pollen concentrations. The work demonstrates the need for sensitive and detailed biomonitoring of harmful aeroallergens in order to investigate and mitigate their impacts on human health.

There were errors in the name of author László G. Nagy and in affiliation no. 31 in the original publication. The original article has been corrected.