Neriman Yilmaz 🧫🔬🧬🧪

💵 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!

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

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.

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...

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.
🐄 🇿🇦

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...

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

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

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

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/ 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

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’.

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...

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...

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

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. 🍄💡

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

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/🌍 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

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

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.

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/...

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

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.

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-...

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

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!

"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

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.

An interview worth to listen 🎧 Joe touched on so many fascinating aspects of #fungi, both threats and opportunities and everything in between. How lucky we are to work with these fascinating organisims 🍄🍄‍🟫

Today we celebrate #JackieRobinsonDay, a tradition introduced to FABI by our American friends Anne Pringle & David Johnson. As #FABI, we proudly continue honoring diversity and inclusion. #42 #DiversityMatters #FABI

Three new species of Fusarium (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales) isolated from Eastern Cape dairy pastures in South Africa A survey of the fungal diversity associated with mixed pastures from Eastern Cape dairy farms in South Africa led to the isolation of 155 Fusarium strains that belong to the Fusarium incarnatum-equise...

Three Fusarium species discovered in S. Africa's Eastern Cape dairy pastures reveal potential implications for cattle health.

One species was named Fusarium mariecurieae to honour Marie Curie and recognise @mycobiomics.bsky.social.

🔗 doi.org/10.3897/myco...

@nerimanyilmaz82.bsky.social

New post doc opportunity in our team at Kiel University in the north of Germany. We are looking for a motivated molecular biologists to unravel plant-microbe interactions in grasses. Please see: www.uni-kiel.de/personal/de/...

More to our research and group here: www.environmental-genomics.de

Lake Neuchatel and the Swiss Alps

Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA)

Excited by fungi, genomes, transposons, sustainable agriculture, microbiomes or other topics?

Looking for a friendly and interactive lab located in one of the most beautiful towns in Switzerland? 🇨🇭⛰️⛵

Get in touch and please share!

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