Press review: Fungi in the spotlight

A revealing glimpse into a largely overlooked fungal world
With a spotlight on BIOGER’s work on specialized metabolites.

In issue 28 of L’Édition, read a feature on fungi and the research carried out by teams at Université Paris Saclay, notably at BIOGER: https://cirrus.universite-paris-saclay.fr/s/oPXaXDPdn7rxRqB

Overview: Distinct from plants and animals, fungi make up their own kingdom, quiet but indispensable. Lurking beneath our feet, they form vast hidden networks, break down organic matter, sustain forests, sometimes ravage crops, and spark scientific curiosity.

From mycorrhizal partnerships to the genetic mysteries of Podospora anserina, and from plant diseases to the hunt for life saving metabolites, Université Paris Saclay researchers are pulling back the curtain on organisms with surprising powers.

By investigating the specialized metabolites produced by pathogenic fungi like Colletotrichum higginsianum, BIOGER scientists are unraveling how these formidable organisms infect hosts and adapt to their environments.
In the article, Jean-Félix Dallery offers his take on the research and explains how the ECCP team uncovers the molecular tactics fungi deploy to breach plant defenses.

Objective: to gain a clearer picture of how fungi evade plant immunity, so we can devise new, sustainable control methods and, possibly, identify compounds of interest for medicine and agriculture.

A compelling journey into the fungal realm,
where ecology, genetics, and future promise meet.