Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 27

💵 Research supported by NRF_SouthAfrica (Grant 137791), EU Horizon 2020 @mycobiomics.bsky.social MSCA No. 101008129), and FLAIR (FLR\R1\201831). Thank you for making this work possible!

2

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 27

And with this, @claudettedewing.bsky.social is one step closer to completing her PhD, her thesis has been submitted for examination las week! 🎓👏 @cobusvisagie.bsky.social

1 2

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 27

3/ Several new species reveal a huge blind spot in our understanding of pasture fungi and their effects on livestock health. Our findings highlight the urgent need for better fungal monitoring to help protect cattle health and secure South Africa’s dairy industry.

1 1

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 27

2/ The genus #Fusarium was the most common, where we’ve already described three novel species. We also confirmed #Pseudopithomycestoxicarius, the fungus producing the toxin that causes SILD in South African cattle.
🐄 🇿🇦

Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures - Mycological Progress

Fungi in dairy pastures impact cattle health, yet the diversity of fungal species present in South African pastures remains understudied. Following an outbreak of Sporidesmin-Induced Liver Disease (SI...

link.springer.com

1 2

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 27

1/We unlocked hidden fungal diversity in 🇿🇦 🐄 pastures! After a 2020 Sporidesmin-Induced Liver Disease (SILD=facial eczema) outbreak in 🇿🇦, researchers found 132 fungal species across 55 genera, far more diversity than expected and previously reported. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

1 5

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 18

On a personal note: this was the first big event I was hands-on involved in organising—and I enjoyed it tremendously and learned so much along the way. The connections we made here go far beyond projects and grants, they’re for life. 🌍🍄🧫🔬🧪🧬 @bernardslippers.bsky.social @ms-fungi.bsky.social

1 4

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 18

The #Mycobiomics Meeting celebrated science & culture while strengthening global ties to tackle challenges in health, agriculture & biotech.
🗂️ Presentations are on Zenodo: zenodo.org/communities/...
Thanks to @MSCActions for the support! #Horizon2020 @mycobiomics.bsky.social

1 2

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 18

Beyond the science, the week was filled with memorable cultural and social events:
🍷 Welcome at @FutureAfrica
🔬 FABI, UPLC & NMR lab tours
🖼️ Private tour of the Javett Art Centre
🐘 Safari in Pilanesberg @funguscrous.bsky.social @ms-fungi.bsky.social @bernardslippers.bsky.social

1 1 5

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 18

The scientific programme featured 32 talks delivered in themed mini-symposia, covering topics from #fungaltaxonomy, biodiversity to natural products with a guest speaker Peter Mortimer (Applied Symbiotics) on “New perspectives on how we can use and produce #mushrooms – lessons from Asia.” 🍄

1 1

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 18

🧵1/ From 2–5 June, FABI hosted 40 researchers from 🇩🇪🇳🇱🇹🇭🇨🇿🇰🇪🇦🇹🇿🇦 as part of the @mycobiomics.bsky.social , funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 (RISE) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant. #msca#horizon2020
The week combined cutting-edge fungal science with vibrant cultural exchange @ms-fungi.bsky.social

1 1 4

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Current Biology @currentbiology.bsky.social · Jun 11

The Fungal Kingdom as a Rosetta Stone for biological discovery – a long-time Current Biology advisory board member, Joseph Heitman, introduces the special issue on ‘The Fungi’. www.cell.com/current-biol...

The Fungal Kingdom as a Rosetta Stone for biological discovery

Long-time Current Biology advisory board member, Joseph Heitman, introduces this special issue on ‘The Fungi’.

www.cell.com

1 32 51

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Current Biology @currentbiology.bsky.social · Jun 9

Our newest special issue is now live! Check it out to discover more about diverse and beautiful Fungi🍄🍄‍🟫🍄 On the cover: the fly agaric, Amanita muscaria, releasing its spores in the early morning light. www.cell.com/current-biol...

2 42 100

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Mycobiomics @mycobiomics.bsky.social · Jun 11

5/ The expedition didn’t end in the field. Most of the team then travelled to 🇿🇦 to join the Mycobiomics meeting at #FABI, continuing discussions & strengthening international networks in fungal research @ms-fungi.bsky.social @funguscrous.bsky.social @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social

1 4 11

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Mycobiomics @mycobiomics.bsky.social · Jun 11

4/ From forest floors to lab benches to conference halls, this collaboration is a powerful reminder of how global partnerships drive science forward, especially in uncovering the hidden world of fungi. 🍄💡

1 4 10

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Mycobiomics @mycobiomics.bsky.social · Jun 11

3/ Each day ended with lab sessions: processing samples, exchanging techniques, and diving deep into the shared passion for fungal diversity. These moments of collaboration were as valuable as the time in the forest. 🔬💬✨ @ms-fungi.bsky.social @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social

1 4 7

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Mycobiomics @mycobiomics.bsky.social · Jun 11

2/ Hosted by Josphat Matasyoh (@EgertonUniversity), the team explored multiple sites to collect soil, mushrooms, and insect- & plant-associated fungi in one of East Africa’s richest biodiversity hotspots. 🌱🌿🪲 @ms-fungi.bsky.social @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social @lisha-hzi.bsky.social

1 4 5

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Mycobiomics @mycobiomics.bsky.social · Jun 11

1/🌍 The Mycobiomics team from the Czech Republic, Germany, Kenya, South Africa, and Thailand came together for an exciting expedition in the biodiverse Arabuko Sokoke Forest, north of Malindi, Kenya. 🍄🧵 @ms-fungi.bsky.social @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social @lisha-hzi.bsky.social

1 6 12

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 6

4/ Although Bisifusarium spp. are seen as saprotrophs, genomics suggest more... 👀 B. domesticum has few CAZymes but many small-secreted proteins, possible hidden pathogenicity? This is something we will look at in the future
Big thanks to the team and more to come 🧬🍄 @mycobiomics.bsky.social

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 6

3/ One of the new species was isolated by us in the Gobabeb desert (Namibia) back in Nov 2019—from arid soil! 🌍 Fungal biodiversity in extreme environments continues to surprise us.

1 1

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 6

2/ In this study, Zhang et al. examined 116 isolates and expanded the genus from 16 to 25 species, 8 of which are newly described! 📈🧫
www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/...

Taxonomic revision of Bisifusarium (Nectriaceae): Ingenta Connect Fast Track Article

www.ingentaconnect.com

1

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 6

1/ 🚨 A big update: Our paper on #Bisifusarium taxonomy is now out!
This genus (formerly Fusarium dimerum complex) is linked to cheese 🧀, soil & arid plants 🌵, and even opportunistic human infections 🧬 @funguscrous.bsky.social @westerdijkinst.bsky.social

2 2 4

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Annie Hatmaker, Ph.D. @annemakerofhats.bsky.social · Jun 5

Nice reporting from CBS on how F. graminearum is already in the USA, an overview of head blight, and the impact of the mycotoxins the fungus produces.
Features a familiar name for many in the Fusarium world—retired USDA plant pathologist Corby Kistler!

www.cbsnews.com/news/fungus-...

Fungus in "agroterrorism" arrest already widely prevalent in U.S., researcher says

Two Chinese researchers were charged with trying to smuggle strains of a fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the U.S.

www.cbsnews.com

4 10

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

Team Thomma @teamthomma.bsky.social · Jun 4

📣 We have a postdoc position in fungus-microbiota interactions! Apply here: jobportal.uni-koeln.de/bewerben/2197
⁩
For more details, visit: bewerbungsmanagement.uni-koeln.de/ausschreibun...

bewerbungsmanagement.uni-koeln.de

2 59 50

Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪 @nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social · Jun 3

Back from an inspiring #MycotoxinWorkshop in Martina Franca🇮🇹 where I presented findings from our survey on #Fusarium ear rots & mycotoxins in 🇿🇦 maize. The meeting was full of science, food & friendships at their best!

1

Reposted by Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · May 26

The only reason you love chocolate is because of FUNGUS.

Cacao seeds contain high amounts of polyphenols, making them intensely bitter & unpleasant. There are two natural fungi that do the heavy lifting in turning them into chocolate.

Let's do a quick tour of the process of chocolate making.

"A cacao tree with fruit pods in various stages of ripening. Taken on the Big Island (Hawaii) in the botanical gardens."
"Chocolate is created from the cocoa bean. A cacao tree with fruit pods in various stages of ripening."
Photo by Medicaster, Wikimedia

13 130 500