A new study led by researchers at the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute reveals how one of the world’s most studied industrial fungi, Aspergillus niger, regulates the use of plant-derived sugars

Yesterday, members of the Westerdijk Institute joined the BioSB HotTopics & NIME Symposium: Microbial Ecology, held right here at Utrecht Science Park Our researchers showcased the exciting breadth of microbial ecology studied at the institute:

Raquel Ledo (Westerdijk @westerdijkinst.bsky.social): Exploring fungal diversity in the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean #MarineFungi #NIME2025

A revision of genera of Sordariomycetes displaying holoblastic-denticulate conidiogenesis, with notes on their ecology and global distribution 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://f.mtr.cool/zklifsyjhf

Yesterday, our own Dr. Jan Dijksterhuis took the audience on a fascinating journey into the world of fungi during Utrecht Science Week. In his lecture he shared: 🍄 The rich history of the Westerdijk Institute & Johanna Westerdijk 🌍 What fungi are and their crucial role in nature

Several genera of Lecanicillium-like microfungi are potential biocontrol agents of Hemileia vastatrix – the causal agent of coffee leaf rust (CLR)  🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://f.mtr.cool/rwuehifacp

Accepted species lists for Eurotiales (incl. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Paecilomyces and Talaromyces) as revealed by a phylogenetic species concept. Of the species described since 2023, 130 of the 171 species are accepted, and 41 are reduced to synonyms.

We are proud to have contributed to the special Walking Dinner at the Utrecht Science Park, where the central theme was infectious diseases.

Today, Martin Meijer, on behalf of the lab managers of the Westerdijk Institute, shared insights on lab safety and sustainability. In his talk, he discusses the 4 areas of lab safety, which include: ⭐ Personal & Emergency Safety ⭐ Chemical & Biological Management

Discover History and Nature at the IISG Open Day!  On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the International Institute of Social History (IISG) will open its doors for a festive Open Day. This year marks IISG’s 90th anniversary, the perfect moment to explore the richness of its archives.

Fungi are everywhere: on your food, in the soil, and in the air. Yet, how much do we really know about them? As part of 𝐔𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤, the Westerdijk Institute is opening its doors and joining the program with a unique in-person lecture by microbiologist Dr. Jan Dijksterhuis.

Today, Dr. Roya Choupannejad from the Fungal Natural Products Group headed by Jerome Collemare shared her insights on natural antimicrobials against food spoilage fungi. She discusses: ⭐ The challenges food spoilage fungi present to food and beverage industries

🎓 PhDone! On September 17th, Lin Zhao from the Evolutionary Phytopathology Group of Pedro Crous successfully defended her PhD entitled ‘Revision of Bionectriaceae and acremonium-like fungi in Hypocreales’. 1/4

A new study uncovers surprising differences between two enzymes in Aspergillus niger that are central to how fungi break down plant biomass. 🔗 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞:  L-Xylulose Reductase A and B from Aspergillus niger Have Distinct Biochemical Properties and Expression Profiles https://f.mtr.cool/zznquyzovd

Thanks for a great #ECCOXLIII @westerdijkinst.bsky.social 🍄‍🟫. We enjoyed meeting colleagues from culture collections around Europe 🧫🇪🇺 On tuesday, Lorenz Reimer presented the upcoming Strain Discovery Database 🖥 that is being developed within the #Bioindustry4.0 project.

This week, the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute had the honor of hosting the ECCO XLIII Meeting under the theme: “Securing and exploring microbial biodiversity for a sustainable and healthy future.”

Zombie-ants now also found in Mexico! 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: Zombie-ant fungi from western Mexico: six new species in the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis complex (Hypocreales: Ascomycota) and a new host association with Cephalotes ants https://f.mtr.cool/frgabuybes

Today, Elske Dwars from the group of Wieland Meyer shared her insights on Cryptococcus. She discusses  ⭐The differences between Cryptococcus species neoformans and gattii ⭐The detection of a rare case of Cryptococcal meningitis in a koala due to Cryptococcus neoformans VNI/AFLP1

🚀The Future is Fungi Award is back—ready to back the next wave of fungi innovators!  The awards' mission is to catalyze groundbreaking fungal innovations that address some of humanity’s biggest environmental challenges—and to support the startups and science entrepreneurs pioneering these solutions.

From September 9 to 11, 2025, our colleague Jos Houbraken organized and taught the workshop “Identification of Food and Indoor Fungi” in Zagreb, Croatia, together with Manuela Zadravec from the Croatian Veterinary Institute.

We are proud that our colleague Dr. Jos Houbraken, group leader in Food and Indoor Mycology at the Westerdijk Institute, was recently hosted by the Croatian Veterinary Institute in Zagreb, Croatia.

A hidden diversity of stromatal metabolites of 14 newly described Annulohypoxylon species, and diagnostic keys for identification, with Rostrohypoxylon reduced to synonymy under Annulohypoxylon. 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://f.mtr.cool/madfhtfvwn

Today, Dr. Khyati Bhatt from the Fungal Natural Products group shared her insights on fungal biocontrol agents against Striga.

Fungi are everywhere: on your food, in the soil, and in the air. Yet, how much do we really know about them? As part of 𝐔𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤, the Westerdijk Institute is opening its doors and joining the program with a unique in-person lecture by microbiologist Dr. Jan Dijksterhuis.

A team of researchers has discovered a new yeast species, named Candidozyma molenica. This species is part of the Candidozyma haemuli group, which has drawn attention worldwide since the rise of the drug-resistant hospital pathogen Candidozyma auris. 1/5

Opportunistic fungi can thrive on decaying fruits and vegetables and in soil, and when a crop is wounded or stressed, they move in. A publication by Jan Dijksterhuis and Jos Houbraken elaborates further on this. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: 🔗https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-81904-9_3 1/4

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐢 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤—𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐢 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬! 🌍🍄 The awards mission is to 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐳𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 that address some of humanity’s biggest environmental challenges—and to support the 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 pioneering these solutions

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐍𝐀-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐢 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫! 👇 The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute will host a specialized training on DNA-based Identification of Fungi: 📆 October 9–10, 2025 (2 days) 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: https://f.mtr.cool/wrirtjfrww

From one continent to another: Linking the asexual genus Nematoctonus to sexual morphs in Hohenbuehelia 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: The sexual morph of Hohenbuehelia subreniformis (Pleurotaceae) discovered in Finland https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.16.17

Seven new species of Marasmius from Australia highlights a frequently overlooked species complex 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: Purple Pinwheel and more: The Marasmius haematocephalus complex (Marasmiaceae) in Australia https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.16.16

Newly described species of Pestalotiopsis from conifers in the USA affected by Rosellinia needle blight 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: Two novel species of Pestalotiopsis on Picea and Tsuga from temperate forests in the United States https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.16.15

🚨 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫!  The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute is offering two specialised courses for professionals and researchers in food safety, microbiology, and related sectors.

A manipulative, novel Ophiocordyceps species changing the behaviour of ants in Brazilian forests Link: There is gold in the graveyard: a new lineage of zombie-ant fungi in the genus Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) from Minas Gerais, Brazil https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.16.14

New insights into pectin-degrading enzymes in plant-pathogen battles 👇  This recent study examines how a unique enzyme family, AA17 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), targets one of the plant cell wall’s key components: homogalacturonan (HG), the main form of pectin.

Introducing the FUNG-GROWTH Database A new open-access resource, FUNG-GROWTH, offers an unprecedented link between fungal genetic potential and actual growth performance on diverse carbon sources 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞:  https://f.mtr.cool/mmkqiztrft

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🚨 Dissecting fungal metabolism for smarter fungal cell factories 👇 A recent study reveals just how complex fungal sugar metabolism really is and why it matters for industrial biotechnology. 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmicr.2025.100454

🚨 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫!  The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute is offering two specialised courses for professionals and researchers in food safety, microbiology, and related sectors. 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬:  https://wi.knaw.nl/courses

Hericium is considered both a highly prized edible mushroom as well as a valuable medicinal resource, and this revision of European and American taxa provides an important phylogenetic revision. 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://doi.org/10.3114/persoonia.2025.55.04

A serious leaf-spot disease in Europe on anise (Pimpinella anisum), is shown to be caused by a species of Fusoidiella (Mycosphaerellaceae), formerly known as Cercospora malkoffii 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.16.13

Arctic and Antarctic environments reveal novel yeast families, genera and species 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://doi.org/10.3114/persoonia.2025.55.03

Famous Oregon Black Truffle finally receives an official name 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: Phylogenomics, trophic ecology, and systematics of the truffle-forming Morchellaceae https://doi.org/10.3114/persoonia.2025.55.02

Although polar, high altitude montane and cold desert environments harbour only sparse plant life, they do provide an environment for numerous new species of fungi 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2025.112.03

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧🚨 Unlocking the Power of Marine Fungi for a Sustainable Future👇 A new review by Raquel Ledo Doval, Klaas Timmermans, and Ronald de Vries explores an underappreciated ally in this challenge: 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐢 📌 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬: ✅ Marine fungi can efficiently degrade seaweed polysaccharides

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🚨 Three members of ectomycorrhizal fungi belonging to Russula subsection Castanopsidum are described from neotropical montane forests dominated by species of Fagaceae in Panama and Colombia.

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🚨 Uwebraunomyces (Mycosphaerellaceae) represents a novel genus of cercosporoid fungi named in honour of Prof. dr. Uwe Braun, who played a major role in monographing this important family of plant pathogenic fungi

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🚨 Rhizocarpon is a species-rich lichenicolous genus in the Rhizocarpaceae. With 24 new combinations, this study provides new circumscriptions of Catolechia, Poeltinula, and Rhizocarpon, and proposes synonymizing Epilichen with Catolechia and the resurrection of Rehmia.

More than 90% of the planet’s below-the-surface fungi are not found in protected parts of the globe, according to a new study. scim.ag/3J0uwJ9

Congratulations to Astrid Müller, who has been awarded her first NWO ENW-XS grant for MycoPET. Her research explores how fungal enzymes can upcycle PET plastic into valuable chemical building blocks, which is a big step toward a circular, bio-based future and addressing plastic waste. 1/2

🚨 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫!  The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute will host two complementary courses designed for professionals and researchers working in food safety, indoor air quality, microbiology, and related fields. 1/5

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🚨 An overview of phylogenetically supported “bovinoid” Cortinarius species from deciduous forests on calcareous soils of Europe, with new species and synonymies  🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://doi.org/10.3114/persoonia.2025.55.01