About this Research Topic
Aspergillus and Fusarium are two of the most important fungal genera in industrial microbiology. They are involved in the production of several metabolites with wide uses, but also, they stand out by being causative agents of health problems and food spoilage, such as A. flavus. F. graminearum and F. oxysporum. Some species are very important enzyme producers, and some of the enzymes or metabolites that they produce serve also as raw materials for food commodities. Such is the case of A. niger, which is one of the main producers of several CWDE enzymes but is also a great producer of organic acids, such as citric acid; and F. venenatum, used frequently to prepare the Quorn® mycoprotein. On the other hand, some strains of these fungal species are quite harmful, as they produce different kinds of toxins and affect crops like corn, cotton, and others, becoming a considerable problem for food and agricultural industries. One key factor for the versatility of these fungi is their enzymatic potential, which allows them to adapt to different environmental conditions.
Filamentous fungi can penetrate and colonize plant material, both living plants, and decaying material, due to their ability to produce enzymes with diverse functions. Many of these enzymes have an important role, not only in the infection process by fungi but also in the industrial sector. The great number of genomes known nowadays allows us to seek out the enzymatic potential to find out the mechanism for the penetration and colonization of plant material. Aspergillus and Fusarium species are excellent candidates to compare the information related to the infection and colonization process mechanisms and the participating enzymes. It is of fundamental importance to highlight the enormous number of enzymes produced by the Aspergillus and Fusarium genera, their role in nature, and the diversity of applications. Therefore, the research topic will focus on the role of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE) including lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMO), and proteases among others. But it will also consider insights for discovering the ways to use the genome knowledge to find novel enzymes and/or applications. Research reporting works with Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum will be highly welcomed, as well as many other species of the above genera.
• Aspergillus and Fusarium enzymes involved in the infection process of plants, and their biotechnological potential
• Role of Aspergillus and Fusarium cell wall (e.g., cellulose) and storage (e.g., starch) polysaccharide degrading enzymes (including LPMOs), in the colonization of decayed (dead) plant biomass
• Protocols or methods to discover novel enzymes with biotechnological potential produced by Aspergillus and Fusarium species
• Novel applications of enzymes produced by Aspergillus and Fusarium
• The use of fungal biomass of Aspergillus and Fusarium species as food commodities (e.g., as a source of protein).
Filamentous fungi can penetrate and colonize plant material, both living plants, and decaying material, due to their ability to produce enzymes with diverse functions. Many of these enzymes have an important role, not only in the infection process by fungi but also in the industrial sector. The great number of genomes known nowadays allows us to seek out the enzymatic potential to find out the mechanism for the penetration and colonization of plant material. Aspergillus and Fusarium species are excellent candidates to compare the information related to the infection and colonization process mechanisms and the participating enzymes. It is of fundamental importance to highlight the enormous number of enzymes produced by the Aspergillus and Fusarium genera, their role in nature, and the diversity of applications. Therefore, the research topic will focus on the role of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE) including lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMO), and proteases among others. But it will also consider insights for discovering the ways to use the genome knowledge to find novel enzymes and/or applications. Research reporting works with Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum will be highly welcomed, as well as many other species of the above genera.
• Aspergillus and Fusarium enzymes involved in the infection process of plants, and their biotechnological potential
• Role of Aspergillus and Fusarium cell wall (e.g., cellulose) and storage (e.g., starch) polysaccharide degrading enzymes (including LPMOs), in the colonization of decayed (dead) plant biomass
• Protocols or methods to discover novel enzymes with biotechnological potential produced by Aspergillus and Fusarium species
• Novel applications of enzymes produced by Aspergillus and Fusarium
• The use of fungal biomass of Aspergillus and Fusarium species as food commodities (e.g., as a source of protein).
Keywords: Aspergillus, Fusarium, CWDE, LPMO, fungal infection of plants, novel fungal enzymes, Omics approaches
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