Mycology

Research topics

(credit A. Miłobędzka)

Our group is mostly interested in evolutionary old lineages of land fungi (Mucoromycota) and their interactions with bacteria. Mucoromycota representatives are common fungi which can be found in various habitats all around the world. The vast majority of them are organisms which degrade dead organic matter. In recent years it has been discovered that some Mycoromycota may contain bacteria inside their hyphae. However, the diversity and factors influencing the frequency of occurrence or the effect on the host of these bacteria remains poorly understood. Our team studies evolution and ecology as well as physiology of this group of fungi. We are interested in their adaptations to extreme environments (Arctic, Antarctic, oil reservoirs in Iran, contaminated soil) and how endohyphal bacteria can influence these adaptations. In our research we use both classical culturing methods and modern molecular methods paired with bioinformatic tools.

Moreover, we are working on DNA barcoding and mapping distribution of mushrooms in Poland and Europe. Aside from research, we have an active outreach group (e.g. film). We also perform mycological inventories and expertises.

Ongoing research projects

NCN WEAVE-UNISONO 2024/06/Y/NZ8/00013: Mortierellaceae Functional Diversity in Alpine Ecosystems (leader Julia Pawłowska)
NCN Preludium 20 nr 2021/41/N/NZ8/01994 : Together or alone? How endohyphal bacteria impact their fungal host? (leader Alicja Okrasińska)
Perły Nauki PN/02/0042/2023: Interactions of algae and ancestral, terrestrial fungi (leader Beniamin Abramczyk)
Perły Nauki PN/02/0043/2023: Arctic fungi in break down of plastic (leader Dorota Wiktorowicz)
Biodiversa+ BiodivMon 2023/05/Y/NZ9/00106: FunDive – Monitoring and mapping fungal diversity for nature conservation (PI: Julia Pawłowska)
Interreg Baltic Sea Region: PestSpace – Improving resilience to the spread of plant diseases via a regional Pest Common Data Space (Julia Pawłowska)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-02: Pathfood: Creating a Sustainable Functional Food Chain (Julia Pawłowska, Mikołaj Dziurzyński)
Visegrad Grant No. 22420237: Courses to improve Collaboration in V4 Countries to learn about Cryptic fungi

Completed research projects

NCBR Tango-IV-C/0005/2019: Biostarters development for dry aged beef production (leader: Julia Pawłowska)
MEiN SKN/SP/570335/2023: Assessment of the potential of Entomortierella parvispora in the bioremediation of soil contaminated with iron
NCN OPUS 13 nr 2017/25/B/NZ8/00473 (2017-2021): Influence of soil contamination on the occurence and diversity of Mucoromycota and their endosymbiotic bacteria (leader: Julia Pawłowska)
NCN SONATA nr 2015/17/D/NZ8/00778 (2015-2019):Evolution of carbon assimilation abilities within Mucorales representatives (leader: Julia Pawłowska)
MNiSW nr DI2014012344: Phylogenetic classification of Laboulbeniales in the light of evolution of other entomopathogenic fungi (leader: Michał Gorczak).
Iranian National Science Foundation nr 96003337 (2016-2019): Phylogenetic and evolutionary study of black yeasts from Iran with bioremediation potential for oil- contaminated soils (leader: Somayeh Dolatabadi)
MNiSW nr N303 548839 (2010-2014): Phylogenetics and taxonomy of Thamnidiaceae based on morphological, molecular and physiological data (leader: Bożena Zakryś)
The spread of Aureoboletus projectellus in Europe

Selected publications

2023

Sokołowska, Blanka; Orłowska, Małgorzata; Okrasińska, Alicja; Piłsyk, Sebastian; Pawłowska, Julia; Muszewska, Anna

What can be lost? Genomic perspective on the lipid metabolism of Mucoromycota Journal Article

In: IMA Fungus, vol. 14, iss. 22, 2023.

Links | BibTeX

Siedlecki, Igor; Piątek, Marcin; Majchrowska, Maria; Okrasińska, Alicja; Owczarek-Kościelniak, Magdalena; Pawłowska, Julia

Discovery of Formicomyces microglobosus gen. et sp. nov. strengthens the hypothesis of independent evolution of ant-associated fungi in Trichomeriaceae Journal Article

In: Fungal Biology, 2023, ISSN: 1878-6146.

Links | BibTeX

2021

Muszewska, Anna; Okrasińska, Alicja; Steczkiewicz, Kamil; Drgas, Olga; Orłowska, Małgorzata; Perlińska-Lenart, Urszula; Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk, Tamara; Szatraj, Katarzyna; Zielenkiewicz, Urszula; Piłsyk, Sebastian; Malc, Ewa; Mieczkowski, Piotr; Kruszewska, Joanna S.; Bernat, Przemysław; Pawłowska, Julia

Metabolic Potential, Ecology and Presence of Associated Bacteria Is Reflected in Genomic Diversity of Mucoromycotina Journal Article

In: Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, pp. 239, 2021.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

@article{muszewska2021,

title = {Metabolic Potential, Ecology and Presence of Associated Bacteria Is Reflected in Genomic Diversity of Mucoromycotina},

author = {Anna Muszewska and Alicja Okrasińska and Kamil Steczkiewicz and Olga Drgas and Małgorzata Orłowska and Urszula Perlińska-Lenart and Tamara Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk and Katarzyna Szatraj and Urszula Zielenkiewicz and Sebastian Piłsyk and Ewa Malc and Piotr Mieczkowski and Joanna S. Kruszewska and Przemysław Bernat and Julia Pawłowska},

url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2021.636986},

doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2021.636986},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-02-15},

journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},

volume = {12},

pages = {239},

abstract = {Mucoromycotina are often considered mainly in pathogenic context but their biology remains understudied. We describe the genomes of six Mucoromycotina fungi representing distant saprotrophic lineages within the subphylum (i.e., Umbelopsidales and Mucorales). We selected two Umbelopsis isolates from soil (i.e., U. isabellina, U. vinacea), two soil-derived Mucor isolates (i.e., M. circinatus, M. plumbeus), and two Mucorales representatives with extended proteolytic activity (i.e., Thamnidium elegans and Mucor saturninus). We complement computational genome annotation with experimental characteristics of their digestive capabilities, cell wall carbohydrate composition, and extensive total lipid profiles. These traits inferred from genome composition, e.g., in terms of identified encoded enzymes, are in accordance with experimental results. Finally, we link the presence of associated bacteria with observed characteristics. Thamnidium elegans genome harbors an additional, complete genome of an associated bacterium classified to Paenibacillus sp. This fungus displays multiple altered traits compared to the remaining isolates, regardless of their evolutionary distance. For instance, it has expanded carbon assimilation capabilities, e.g., efficiently degrades carboxylic acids, and has a higher diacylglycerol:triacylglycerol ratio and skewed phospholipid composition which suggests a more rigid cellular membrane. The bacterium can complement the host enzymatic capabilities, alter the fungal metabolism, cell membrane composition but does not change the composition of the cell wall of the fungus. Comparison of early-diverging Umbelopsidales with evolutionary younger Mucorales points at several subtle differences particularly in their carbon source preferences and encoded carbohydrate repertoire. Nevertheless, all tested Mucoromycotina share features including the ability to produce 18:3 gamma-linoleic acid, use TAG as the storage lipid and have fucose as a cell wall component.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

Mucoromycotina are often considered mainly in pathogenic context but their biology remains understudied. We describe the genomes of six Mucoromycotina fungi representing distant saprotrophic lineages within the subphylum (i.e., Umbelopsidales and Mucorales). We selected two Umbelopsis isolates from soil (i.e., U. isabellina, U. vinacea), two soil-derived Mucor isolates (i.e., M. circinatus, M. plumbeus), and two Mucorales representatives with extended proteolytic activity (i.e., Thamnidium elegans and Mucor saturninus). We complement computational genome annotation with experimental characteristics of their digestive capabilities, cell wall carbohydrate composition, and extensive total lipid profiles. These traits inferred from genome composition, e.g., in terms of identified encoded enzymes, are in accordance with experimental results. Finally, we link the presence of associated bacteria with observed characteristics. Thamnidium elegans genome harbors an additional, complete genome of an associated bacterium classified to Paenibacillus sp. This fungus displays multiple altered traits compared to the remaining isolates, regardless of their evolutionary distance. For instance, it has expanded carbon assimilation capabilities, e.g., efficiently degrades carboxylic acids, and has a higher diacylglycerol:triacylglycerol ratio and skewed phospholipid composition which suggests a more rigid cellular membrane. The bacterium can complement the host enzymatic capabilities, alter the fungal metabolism, cell membrane composition but does not change the composition of the cell wall of the fungus. Comparison of early-diverging Umbelopsidales with evolutionary younger Mucorales points at several subtle differences particularly in their carbon source preferences and encoded carbohydrate repertoire. Nevertheless, all tested Mucoromycotina share features including the ability to produce 18:3 gamma-linoleic acid, use TAG as the storage lipid and have fucose as a cell wall component.

Okrasińska, Alicja; Bokus, Aleksandra; Duk, Katarzyna; Gęsiorska, Aleksandra; Sokołowska, Blanka; Miłobędzka, Aleksandra; Wrzosek, Marta; Pawłowska, Julia

New Endohyphal Relationships between Mucoromycota and Burkholderiaceae Representatives Journal Article

In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 87, no. 7, 2021, ISSN: 0099-2240.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

@article{Okrasińskae02707-20,

title = {New Endohyphal Relationships between Mucoromycota and Burkholderiaceae Representatives},

author = {Alicja Okrasińska and Aleksandra Bokus and Katarzyna Duk and Aleksandra Gęsiorska and Blanka Sokołowska and Aleksandra Miłobędzka and Marta Wrzosek and Julia Pawłowska},

editor = {Maia Kivisaar},

url = {https://aem.asm.org/content/87/7/e02707-20},

doi = {10.1128/AEM.02707-20},

issn = {0099-2240},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology},

volume = {87},

number = {7},

publisher = {American Society for Microbiology Journals},

abstract = {Mucoromycota representatives are known to harbor two types of endohyphal bacteria (EHB)—Burkholderia-related endobacteria (BRE) and Mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE). While both BRE and MRE occur in fungi representing all subphyla of Mucoromycota, their distribution is not well studied. Therefore, it is difficult to resolve the evolutionary history of these associations in favor of one of the following two alternative hypotheses explaining their origin: textquotedblleftearly invasiontextquotedblright and textquotedblleftlate invasion.textquotedblright Our main goal was to fill this knowledge gap by surveying Mucoromycota fungi for the presence of EHB. We screened 196 fungal strains from 16 genera using a PCR-based approach to detect bacterial 16S rRNA genes, complemented with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging to confirm the presence of bacteria within the hyphae. We detected Burkholderiaceae in ca. 20% of fungal strains. Some of these bacteria clustered phylogenetically with previously described BRE clades, whereas others grouped with free-living Paraburkholderia. Importantly, the latter were detected in Umbelopsidales, which previously were not known to harbor endobacteria. Our results suggest that this group of EHB is recruited from the environment, supporting the late invasion scenario. This pattern complements the early invasion scenario apparent in the BRE clade of EHB.IMPORTANCE Bacteria living within fungal hyphae present an example of one of the most intimate relationships between fungi and bacteria. Even though there are several well-described examples of such partnerships, their prevalence within the fungal kingdom remains unknown. Our study focused on early divergent terrestrial fungi in the phylum Mucoromycota. We found that ca. 20% of the strains tested harbored bacteria from the family Burkholderiaceae. Not only did we confirm the presence of bacteria from previously described endosymbiont clades, we also identified a new group of endohyphal Burkholderiaceae representing the genus Paraburkholderia. We established that more than half of the screened Umbelopsis strains were positive for bacteria from this new group. We also determined that, while previously described BRE codiverged with their fungal hosts, Paraburkholderia symbionts did not.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

Mucoromycota representatives are known to harbor two types of endohyphal bacteria (EHB)—Burkholderia-related endobacteria (BRE) and Mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE). While both BRE and MRE occur in fungi representing all subphyla of Mucoromycota, their distribution is not well studied. Therefore, it is difficult to resolve the evolutionary history of these associations in favor of one of the following two alternative hypotheses explaining their origin: textquotedblleftearly invasiontextquotedblright and textquotedblleftlate invasion.textquotedblright Our main goal was to fill this knowledge gap by surveying Mucoromycota fungi for the presence of EHB. We screened 196 fungal strains from 16 genera using a PCR-based approach to detect bacterial 16S rRNA genes, complemented with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging to confirm the presence of bacteria within the hyphae. We detected Burkholderiaceae in ca. 20% of fungal strains. Some of these bacteria clustered phylogenetically with previously described BRE clades, whereas others grouped with free-living Paraburkholderia. Importantly, the latter were detected in Umbelopsidales, which previously were not known to harbor endobacteria. Our results suggest that this group of EHB is recruited from the environment, supporting the late invasion scenario. This pattern complements the early invasion scenario apparent in the BRE clade of EHB.IMPORTANCE Bacteria living within fungal hyphae present an example of one of the most intimate relationships between fungi and bacteria. Even though there are several well-described examples of such partnerships, their prevalence within the fungal kingdom remains unknown. Our study focused on early divergent terrestrial fungi in the phylum Mucoromycota. We found that ca. 20% of the strains tested harbored bacteria from the family Burkholderiaceae. Not only did we confirm the presence of bacteria from previously described endosymbiont clades, we also identified a new group of endohyphal Burkholderiaceae representing the genus Paraburkholderia. We established that more than half of the screened Umbelopsis strains were positive for bacteria from this new group. We also determined that, while previously described BRE codiverged with their fungal hosts, Paraburkholderia symbionts did not.