About this Research Topic
Mitochondria play central physiological roles in most eukaryotic cells by the delicate metabolic activities and stress responses that are essential to ensure cellular homeostasis. In the context of fungal biology, mitochondrial function is critically important in pathogenic fungi during host interactions, allowing either adaptation to changing environments or detoxification of antifungal drugs.
Although fungal phyto- and human pathogens face different environmental challenges within their hosts, both rely on mitochondria in the genesis of fungal diseases.
Consequently, there remains lots of open and unexplored questions about how the organelle impacts fungal survival, virulence, pathogenicity and antifungal drug tolerance or resistance. Since several mitochondrial genes in fungi do not have close orthologs in humans, mitochondria can also be considered an attractive target for antifungal development. In fact, inhibition of mitochondrial function has been successfully demonstrated to combat fungal infections, with important socio-economical implications in communities where these microorganisms represent serious threats (e.g. Medicine and Agriculture).
This Research Topic focuses on mitochondrial studies in both plant and human fungal pathogens. We welcome the submission of papers (including e.g. original research, perspectives, minireviews, commentaries and opinion papers) in multiple research areas of mitochondrial metabolism and physiology. Our goal is to offer a broad range of studies that support the integration of mitochondrial function and dysfunction with fungal pathogenesis, including the exploitation of mitochondria as a potential therapeutic target. Topics to be covered may include:
- Mitochondrial-driven hypo- or hypervirulence in fungi
- Mitochondrial genes, genomes and genetics in fungal pathogenesis
- Mechanisms of mitochondrial involvement in drug susceptibility, tolerance or/and resistance.
- Mitochondrial targets for antifungal drug development.
Topic Editors declare no conflict of interest.
Although fungal phyto- and human pathogens face different environmental challenges within their hosts, both rely on mitochondria in the genesis of fungal diseases.
Consequently, there remains lots of open and unexplored questions about how the organelle impacts fungal survival, virulence, pathogenicity and antifungal drug tolerance or resistance. Since several mitochondrial genes in fungi do not have close orthologs in humans, mitochondria can also be considered an attractive target for antifungal development. In fact, inhibition of mitochondrial function has been successfully demonstrated to combat fungal infections, with important socio-economical implications in communities where these microorganisms represent serious threats (e.g. Medicine and Agriculture).
This Research Topic focuses on mitochondrial studies in both plant and human fungal pathogens. We welcome the submission of papers (including e.g. original research, perspectives, minireviews, commentaries and opinion papers) in multiple research areas of mitochondrial metabolism and physiology. Our goal is to offer a broad range of studies that support the integration of mitochondrial function and dysfunction with fungal pathogenesis, including the exploitation of mitochondria as a potential therapeutic target. Topics to be covered may include:
- Mitochondrial-driven hypo- or hypervirulence in fungi
- Mitochondrial genes, genomes and genetics in fungal pathogenesis
- Mechanisms of mitochondrial involvement in drug susceptibility, tolerance or/and resistance.
- Mitochondrial targets for antifungal drug development.
Topic Editors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: fungal pathogenesis, mitochondria, metabolism, stress responses, physiology, antifungals
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