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Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
OMICS and Other Advanced Technologies in Mycological Applications
Nalin N Wijayawardene1,2,3, Nattawut Boonyuen4, Chathuranga B Ranaweera5
1Centre for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China.
Advanced molecular techniques like DNA sequencing and omics are revolutionizing fungal identification, especially for challenging "dark taxa". This expands our understanding of fungi
Area of Science:
- Mycology and Molecular Biology
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Fungal Roles
Background:
- Fungi are crucial to ecosystems, but precise identification is vital for various applications.
- Traditional morphological identification is limited, especially for fungi lacking distinct features ('dark taxa').
- Technological advancements offer improved fungal identification and classification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss diverse taxonomic approaches for fungal identification.
- To highlight the significance of omics techniques in fungal research.
- To explore the applications of fungal knowledge in food security and medicine.
Main Methods:
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and DNA sequencing of ribosomal DNA (rDNA).
- Multi-loci phylogenetic analyses for robust classification.
- Application of various omics techniques: proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, etc.
Main Results:
- Advanced sequencing and metagenomics aid in identifying novel fungal lineages, including 'dark taxa'.
- Omics technologies provide a comprehensive understanding of fungal biology and functions.
- These methods are critical for expanding knowledge on fungal impacts and applications.
Conclusions:
- Modern molecular and omics approaches are essential for accurate fungal taxonomy and discovery.
- Understanding fungi is key to advancements in food safety, medicine, and biotechnology.
- Further exploration of fungi in extreme and understudied environments is crucial for identifying new lineages.
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