Low blood level of tumour suppressor miR-5193 as a target of immunotherapy to PD-L1 in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have identified that low levels of some tumour suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood contribute to tumour progression and poor outcomes in various cancers. However, no study has proved these miRNAs are associated with cancer immune mechanisms. METHODS: From a systematic review of the NCBI and miRNA databases, four tumour suppressor miRNA candidates were selected (miR-5193, miR-4443, miR-520h, miR-496) that putatively target programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). RESULTS: Test-scale and large-scale analyses revealed that plasma levels of miR-5193 were significantly lower in gastric cancer (GC) patients than in healthy volunteers (HVs). Low plasma levels of miR-5193 were associated with advanced pathological stages and were an independent prognostic factor. Overexpression of miR-5193 in GC cells suppressed PD-L1 on the surface of GC cells, even with IFN-γ stimulation. In the coculture model of GC cells and T cells stimulated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 beads, overexpression of miR-5193 increased anti-tumour activity of T cells by suppressing PD-L1 expression. Subcutaneous injection of miR-5193 also significantly enhanced the tumour-killing activity and trafficking of T cells in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Low blood levels of miR-5193 are associated with GC progression and poor outcomes and could be a target of nucleic acid immunotherapy in GC patients.

Risk factors for stoma prolapse after laparoscopic loop colostomy.

BACKGROUND: Stoma prolapse (SP) is a common stoma-related complication, particularly in loop colostomies. This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors for SP development after laparoscopic loop colostomy. METHODS: In total, data from 140 patients who underwent laparoscopic loop colostomy were analyzed between September 2016 and March 2022. Risk factors for SP were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration after colostomy was 12.5 months, and SP occurred in 33 (23.6%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that being overweight (body mass index ≥ 25; odds ratio [OR], 8.69; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.61-46.72; p = 0.012) and having a thin rectus abdominis penetration of the stoma (< 8.9 mm; OR, 8.22; 95% CI, 2.50-27.05; p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for SP. Other patient characteristics and surgical factors associated with stoma construction were unrelated to SP development. CONCLUSIONS: Being overweight and the route penetrating the thinner rectus abdominis during stoma construction was associated with a significantly higher incidence of SP after laparoscopic loop colostomy. Selecting a construction site that penetrates the thicker rectus abdominis muscle may be crucial for preventing SP.

Quantitative Microscopic Observation of Base-Ligand Interactions via Hydrogen Bonds by Single-Molecule Counting.

Chemical properties have been based on statistical averages since the introduction of Avogadro's number. The lack of suitable methods for counting identified single molecules has posed challenges to counting statistics. The selectivity, affinity, and mode of hydrogen bonding between base and small molecules that make up DNA, which is vital for living organisms, have not yet been revealed at the single molecule level. Here, we show the quantitation of the above-mentioned parameters via single-molecule counting based on the combination of single-molecule electrical measurements and AI. The binding selectivity values of five ligands to four different base molecules were evaluated quantitatively by determining the ratio of the number of aggregates in a solution mixture of base molecules and a ligand. In addition, we show the ligand dependence of the mode and number of microscopic hydrogen bonds via single-molecule counting and quantum chemical calculations.

Plasma miR-1254 as a predictive biomarker of chemosensitivity and a target of nucleic acid therapy in esophageal cancer.

This study investigated novel tumor suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs) that decrease in plasma and predict chemosensitivity to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and revealed their usefulness as novel therapeutic agents. We selected four miRNA candidates (miR-323, 345, 409, and 1254) based on the microRNA microarray comparing pre-treatment plasma levels in ESCC patients with high and low histopathological responses to NAC and an NCBI database review. Among these miRNA candidates, miR-1254 was more highly elevated in pre-treatment plasma of ESCC patients with a high histopathological response than in those with a low histopathological response (P = 0.0021, area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.7621). High plasma miR-1254 levels tended to correlate with the absence of venous invasion (P = 0.0710) and were an independent factor predicting a higher response to chemotherapy (P = 0.0022, odds ratio 7.86) and better prognosis (P = 0.0235, hazard ratio 0.23). Overexpressing miR-1254 in ESCC cells significantly enhanced chemosensitivity to cisplatin through the transcriptional regulation of ABCC1 in vitro. Moreover, increased plasma miR-1254 levels by subcutaneous injection significantly improved responses to cisplatin in mice. Plasma miR-1254 might be a useful biomarker for predicting responses to NAC, and the restoration of plasma miR-1254 levels might improve chemosensitivity in ESCC.

A shorter distal resection margin is a surrogate marker of nodal metastasis and poor prognosis in distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although a 3-5 cm surgical margin distance is recommended for advanced gastric cancer (GC) in Japanese guidelines, little is known about the clinical effects of the surgical margin, especially the distal resection margin (DM). This study aims to clarify the clinical significance of DM in GC. METHODS: A total of 415 GC patients who underwent curative distal gastrectomy between 2008 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The DM significantly stratified recurrence-free survival (P = 0.002), and a DM < 30 mm was an independent factor of a poor prognosis (P = 0.023, hazard ratio: 1.91). Lymphatic recurrence occurred significantly more frequently in the DM < 30 mm group than in the DM ≥ 30 mm group (P = 0.019, 6.9% vs. 1.9%). Regarding the station No.6 lymph node metastases in advanced GC (DM < 30 mm vs. 30 mm ≤ DM ≤ 50 mm vs. DM > 50 mm), the number (P < 0.001, 1.42 ± 1.69 vs. 1.18 ± 1.80 vs. 0.18 ± 0.64), the positive rate (P < 0.001, 59.0% vs. 46.7% vs. 11.3%) and therapeutic value index (43.3 vs. 14.5 vs. 8.0) were significantly higher in the DM < 30 mm group. By subdivision using the DM distance of 30 mm, more segmented prognostic stratifications were possible (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A DM of less than 30 mm could be a surrogate marker of poor RFS, especially increasing nodal recurrence. More intensive treatment strategies, including lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy, are needed for patients with this condition.

Overexpression of Tetraspanin31 contributes to malignant potential and poor outcomes in gastric cancer.

Tetraspanin has important functions in many cancers by aggregating with various proteins that interact with intracellular signaling proteins. The molecular function of Tetraspanin31 (TSPAN31), located in the 12q14 amplified region in various cancers, remains unclear in gastric cancer (GC). We tested whether TSPAN31 acts as a cancer-promoting gene through its activation or overexpression in GC. We analyzed seven GC cell lines and 189 primary tumors, which were curatively resected in our hospital between 2011 and 2013. Overexpression of the TSPAN31 protein was frequently detected in three GC cell lines (42.9%) and 62 primary GC specimens (32.8%). Overexpression of TSPAN31 was significantly correlated with lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, more advanced pT and pN stages, and a higher recurrence rate. Moreover, TSPAN31 positivity was an independent factor predicting worse patient outcomes (p = 0.0283, hazard ratio 3.97). Ectopic overexpression of TSPAN31 facilitated cell proliferation of GC cells, and knockdown of TSPAN31 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of GC cells through the PI3K-Akt pathway and increased cell apoptosis in a TP53 mutation-independent manner. In vivo analysis also revealed knockdown of TSPAN31 suppressed tumor progression. In addition, knockdown of TSPAN31 improved chemosensitivity to cisplatin through the suppression of ABCC2. These findings suggest that TSPAN31 plays a crucial role in tumor-malignant potential through overexpression, highlighting its utility as a prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target in GC.

Isomerization kinetics of bacteriochlorophyll b and bacteriopheophytin b under acidic conditions.

Bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) b has a unique π-conjugation system, in which the bacteriochlorin macrocycle is conjugated with the C8-ethylidene group. This π-system is converted easily to the chlorin macrocycle. However, the effects of the central magnesium in BChl b on this conversion are unclear. In this study, the isomerization kinetics of BChl b and its demetalated pigment, bacteriopheophytin (BPhe) b, was analyzed under weakly acidic conditions. BChl b exhibited faster acid-induced isomerization than BPhe b. These results were attributed to the stabilization of a cationic intermediate, whose C8-ethylidene group is protonated, during the isomerization of BChl b compared to BPhe b because of a difference in the electron densities of the π-conjugation systems between BChl b and BPhe b. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses indicated that BChl b was primarily isomerized to 3-acetyl Chl a, followed by demetalation. The reaction order was due to the slower demetalation kinetics of metallobacteriochlorins than metallochlorins. These results will be helpful for handling unstable BChl b and BPhe b. The reaction properties of BChl b and BPhe b demonstrated here will be helpful for understanding the in vivo formation of BPhe b, which acts as the primary electron acceptor in photosynthetic reaction center complexes in BChl b-containing purple photosynthetic bacteria.

Small Molecule-Induced Dimerization of Hairpin RNA Interfered with the Dicer Cleavage Reaction.

MicroRNAs are potential targets for drug development. Small molecules that can inhibit or promote a specific miRNA's biogenesis would be useful for regulating its target genes. Various types of small molecules have been investigated so far for their potential application in modulating miRNA biogenesis. They bind to the target primary or precursor miRNAs and inhibit the processing of these precursors by Drosha or Dicer. However, the binding site that effectively interferes with the Dicer cleavage reaction is still undetermined. Here we report that our designed small molecule restricted naphthyridine dimer (RND) binds to the hairpin loop of a hairpin RNA and induces its dimerization. This study shows that the binding of the RND to the hairpin loop was not effective in interfering with the Dicer cleavage reaction, but dimerization of the hairpin RNA by RND binding effectively interfered with the Dicer cleavage reaction.

Mycoavidus sp. Strain B2-EB: Comparative Genomics Reveals Minimal Genomic Features Required by a Cultivable Burkholderiaceae-Related Endofungal Bacterium.

Obligate bacterial endosymbionts are critical to the existence of many eukaryotes. Such endobacteria are usually characterized by reduced genomes and metabolic dependence on the host, which may cause difficulty in isolating them in pure cultures. Family Burkholderiaceae-related endofungal bacteria affiliated with the Mycoavidus-Glomeribacter clade can be associated with the fungal subphyla Mortierellomycotina and Glomeromycotina. In this study, a cultivable endosymbiotic bacterium, Mycoavidus sp. strain B2-EB, present in the fungal host Mortierella parvispora was obtained successfully. The B2-EB genome (1.88 Mb) represents the smallest genome among the endofungal bacterium Mycoavidus cysteinexigens (2.64-2.80 Mb) of Mortierella elongata and the uncultured endosymbiont "Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum" (1.37 to 2.36 Mb) of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Despite a reduction in genome size, strain B2-EB displays a high genome completeness, suggesting a nondegenerative reduction in the B2-EB genome. Compared with a large proportion of transposable elements (TEs) in other known Mycoavidus genomes (7.2 to 11.5% of the total genome length), TEs accounted for only 2.4% of the B2-EB genome. This pattern, together with a high proportion of single-copy genes in the B2-EB genome, suggests that the B2-EB genome reached a state of relative evolutionary stability. These results represent the most streamlined structure among the cultivable endofungal bacteria and suggest the minimal genome features required by both an endofungal lifestyle and artificial culture. This study allows us to understand the genome evolution of Burkholderiaceae-related endosymbionts and to elucidate microbiological interactions.IMPORTANCE This study attempted the isolation of a novel endobacterium, Mycoavidus sp. B2-EB (JCM 33615), harbored in the fungal host Mortierella parvispora E1425 (JCM 39028). We report the complete genome sequence of this strain, which possesses a reduced genome size with relatively high genome completeness and a streamlined genome structure. The information indicates the minimal genomic features required by both the endofungal lifestyle and artificial cultivation, which furthers our understanding of genome reduction in fungal endosymbionts and extends the culture resources for biotechnological development on engineering synthetic microbiomes.

[A Case of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy(TANKO)for Gallbladder Cancer with Torsion].

Gallbladder torsion is comparatively rare. Gallbladder cancer is found in 1.5% of cases of acute cholecystitis. We report a case of laparoscopic cholecystectomy(TANKO)for gallbladder cancer with torsion. CASE: A 54-year-old woman with epigastric pain underwent enhanced computed tomography. Gallbladder torsion and a tumor at the gallbladder neck were suspected, and ascites was observed. She was diagnosed with gallbladder torsion, and surgery was performed the same day. Intraoperative findings: The gallbladder was movable, minimally attached to the liver bed, rotated 360°around the cystic duct and cystic artery, and appeared necrotic. The torsion was relieved and laparoscopic cholecystectomy(TANKO)was performed. We accidentally perforated the gallbladder and bile leaked out. COURSE: The patient did well postoperatively. Pathological diagnosis revealed gallbladder cancer. DISCUSSION: Gallbladder cancer with torsion has been reported in 14 cases, not including ours. Among these, none were performed using laparoscopic cholecystectomy(TANKO). We believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is appropriate for such cases, but the approach must be carefully considered because of the risk of perforation.

[Efficacy of Palliative Radiotherapy for Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer with Bleeding].

Bleeding and obstruction negativelyimpact qualityof life for patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer. There are several choices against bleeding and obstruction such as surgery, endoscopic therapy, radiotherapy and interventional radiology. We report on an 85-year-old woman with StageIV gastric cancer with tumor bleeding. Radiation therapyof 30 Gyin 10 fractions was performed. Anyadverse events were not confirmed. Bleeding or obstruction did not occur for 7 months after radiation therapy. Palliative radiation therapy to gastric cancer can be a reasonable option for patients with unsuitable general conditions for surgical intervention.

[A Case of Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel Therapy for Multiple Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer].

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in Japan. Nab-paclitaxel(nab-PTX)and gemcitabine( GEM)combination chemotherapysignificantlyimproved overall survival in a phase III trial(MPACT). This combination chemotherapyhas become one of the first-line treatments for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer since December 2014. We report a case of a patient who underwent this chemotherapyfor recurrence of pancreatic head cancer. A 64-yearold man, who underwent curative resection of pancreatic cancer 2 years ago, relapsed with multiple lung metastases and a para-aortic nodal metastasis. The patient was treated with combination chemotherapyof nab-PTX 125mg/m2 plus GEM 1,000mg/m2. He died from carcinomatous pleurisy1 9 months after starting the chemotherapy. The patient skipped scheduled chemotherapyonly3 times due to Grade 3 neutropenia during his clinical course over 19 months. The combination regimen of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine is thought to be a well-tolerated and standard treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Mycoavidus cysteinexigens gen. nov., sp. nov., an endohyphal bacterium isolated from a soil isolate of the fungus Mortierella elongata.

An endohyphal bacterium (strain B1-EBT) living in association with the fungus Mortierella elongata FMR23-6 I-B1 was isolated from a fungal cell homogenate and studied for its taxonomic allocation. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, non-motile, and negative for oxidase and catalase. Strain B1-EBT required cysteine for growth and grew at temperatures between 4 and 35 °C. A comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain B1-EBT forms a distinct clade in the family Burkholderiaceae, encompassing a group of endosymbionts associated with several soil isolates of M. elongata. The most closely related genus is 'Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum', an endosymbiont of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita. The major cellular fatty acids of strain B1-EBT were C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c or C18 : 1ω6c). Ubiquinone Q-8 was the only quinone detected. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unknown aminophospholipid and two unknown aminolipids. The DNA G+C content was 49.8 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic characteristics, strain B1-EBT represents a novel genus and novel species in the family Burkholderiaceae, for which the name Mycoavidus cysteinexigens gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1-EBT ( = JCM 30646T = LMG 28693T = NBRC 110909T).

[A Case of Giant Liver Metastasis from Gastric Cancer after Surgery for Which Transcatheter Arterial Embolization and Chemotherapy Made Hepatic Resection Possible].

The prognosis of liver metastasis from gastric cancer, which often exhibits incurable factors, is dismal, and no effective therapy exists. We report a case of giant liver metastasis from gastric cancer after surgery, for which transcatheter arterial embolism and chemotherapy(G-SOX)made it possible to perform hepatic resection. The patient was a 78-year-old woman who underwent distal gastrectomy combined with D2 lymphadenectomy at our department in August 2014. She complained of abdominal distension, and a liver metastasis measuring more than 16 cm in diameter was found on computed tomography in April 2015. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed followed by chemotherapy(9 courses of G-SOX were administered). These therapies were effective, enabling partial hepatic resection to be performed. The patient remains alive and free from recurrence 4 months after surgery. Although no effective therapy exists for liver metastasis from gastric cancer, intensive therapies may enable curative resection.

Investigating Endobacteria that Thrive Within Mucoromycota.

Metagenomics approaches have revealed the importance of Mucoromycota in the evolution and functioning of plant microbiomes. Comprised of three subphyla (Glomeromycotina, Mortierellomycotina, and Mucoromycotina), this early diverging lineage of fungi encompasses species of mycorrhizal fungi, root endophytes, plant pathogens, and many decomposers of plant debris. Interestingly, several taxa of Mucoromycota share a common feature, that is, the presence of endobacteria within their mycelia and spores. The study of these endosymbiotic bacteria is still a challenging task. However, given recent improvements in the sensitivity of culture-free approaches, a deeper understanding of such microbial interactions is now possible and fuels an emerging research field. In this chapter, we report how Mucoromycota, in particular Mortierellomycotina, and their endobacteria can be investigated using a combination of diverse cellular biology, microscopy, and molecular techniques.

Detection and isolation of a new member of Burkholderiaceae-related endofungal bacteria from Saksenaea boninensis sp. nov., a new thermotolerant fungus in Mucorales.

Thermotolerance in Mucorales (Mucoromycotina) is one of the factors to be opportunistic pathogens, causing mucormycosis. Among thermotolerant mucoralean fungi, Burkholderiaceae-related endobacteria (BRE) are rarely found and the known range of hosts is limited to Rhizopus spp. The phylogenetic divergence of BRE has recently expanded in other fungal groups such as Mortierellaceae spp. (Mortierellomycotina); however, it remains unexplored in Mucorales. Here, we found a thermotolerant mucoralean fungus obtained from a litter sample collected from Haha-jima Island in the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, Japan. The fungus was morphologically, phylogenetically, and physiologically characterized and proposed as a new species, Saksenaea boninensis sp. nov. Besides the fungal taxonomy, we also found the presence of BRE in isolates of this species by diagnostic PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene from mycelia, fluorescence microscopic observations, and isolation of the bacterium in pure culture. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of BRE revealed that it is distinct from all known BRE. The discovery of a culturable BRE lineage in the genus Saksenaea will add new insight into the evolutional origin of mucoralean fungus-BRE associations and emphasize the need to pay more attention to endofungal bacteria potentially associated with isolates of thermotolerant mucoralean fungi causing mucormycosis.

Pancreatic fistula as a pivotal prognostic factor among postoperative complications in gastric cancer.

Recent studies have identified that postoperative infectious complications (PICs) have contributed to poor prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we investigated which complication among PICs most strongly contributes to a poor prognosis. This study included 1,653 consecutive patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for GC between 1997 and 2018. A Clavien-Dindo classification of grade II or higher was used as a cut-off for PICs. PICs occurred in 17.1% of all GC patients. Patients with a PIC had a poorer prognosis than those without [Hazard ratio (HR): 17.5, P < 0.001]. Among PICs, pancreatic fistula (PF) had the strongest effect on poor prognosis (HR: 3.16) compared to anastomotic leakage (HR: 2.41), pneumonia (HR: 2.11) and intra-abdominal abscess (HR: 1.98). Multivariate analysis on pStage II or III GC showed that PF had the strongest poor prognostic effect (P = 0.025, HR: 2.21, 95%-CI: 1.07-3.99). Patients with PF had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on postoperative days 1 (P = 0.039) and 3 (P = 0.044), tended to experience a prolonged period of high inflammation, with CRP levels above 10 mg/dL (P = 0.086), and had the highest incidence of recurrence compared to other PICs. Robotic gastrectomy had no incidence of PF, while open gastrectomy resulted in a 2% occurrence, and laparoscopic gastrectomy had a 1.8% occurrence. In conclusion, PF had the strongest effect on poor prognosis among PICs. Robotic gastrectomy might be the optimal approach for avoiding PF.

Short-term clinical evaluation of teduglutide for patients with Crohn's disease on home parenteral support for postoperative short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND & AIM: The short-term effects of teduglutide (TED) for short bowel syndrome with chronic intestinal failure (SBS-IF) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TED in patients with CD on home parenteral support (PS) for SBS-IF. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients with CD associated with SBS-IF who initiated TED between 2020 and 2021. The primary outcomes were the change in PS volume and proportion of patients with a reduction of PS volume by ≥ 20% at week 8. Secondary outcomes were the change in PS volume in patients with CD without/with colon in continuity and adverse events during the observation period. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with CD who underwent home PS for SBS-IF were included in this study. Two patients were excluded owing to intolerable abdominal pain or vomiting within 8 weeks (11%). Sixteen patients continued TED throughout the observation period. The median PS duration was 10.5 years. The median observation period was 22 weeks after starting TED. TED significantly reduced the PS volume from 15,825.0 mL/week to 10,700.0 mL/week (p = 0.0038), and the PS volume decreased by ≥ 20% in 7 patients (43.8%) at week 8. The PS volume was significantly reduced at week 4 (p = 0.0078) in 11 patients without colon in continuity but not in 5 patients with colon in continuity. Two patients successfully stopped home PS. No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: TED administration significantly reduced PS volume at week 8 in patients with CD associated with SBS-IF, and at week 4 in patients without colon in continuity.

A new genus Unguispora in Kickxellales shows an intermediate lifestyle between saprobic and gut-inhabiting fungi.

Kickxellomycotina encompasses two fungal groups: a saprobic group in excrement and soil and an arthropod gut-inhabiting group. The evolutionary transition between these two lifestyles is unclear due to the lack of knowledge on intermediate forms and lifestyles. Here, we describe a new species, Unguispora rhaphidophoridarum, that was isolated from the excrement of cave crickets (Rhaphidophoridae) in Japan. This species has a novel lifestyle that is intermediate between the saprobic and gut-inhabiting groups. The new genus Unguispora is a member of the Kickxellales and characterized by the sterile appendages born on the sporocladium and by the claw-like ornamentation of the sporangiole. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S and 28S nuclear ribosomal DNA showed that this fungus is distinct from all known kickxellalean genera and is sister to Linderina. The sporangiospore of the new species germinated only in anaerobiosis and grew in a yeast-like form. The yeast-like cells, defined as "secondary spores," germinated into hyphae in aerobiosis. In the alimentary tract of cave crickets, the sporangiola are attached to the proventriculus (foregut) by the claw-like ornamentation and multiplicate in the same yeast-like form as under culture. We introduce a new term, "amphibious fungi," to describe fungi that have two life stages, one outside and the other inside the host gut, like U. rhaphidophoridarum. The discovery of an amphibious fungus in Kickxellales, which was formerly considered to be only saprobic, suggests that Kickxellomycotina has evolved in association with the animal gut.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Entomortierella parvispora E1425, a Mucoromycotan Fungus Associated with Burkholderiaceae-Related Endosymbiotic Bacteria.

Some mucoromycotan fungi establish symbiotic associations with endohyphal bacteria. Here, the genome of Entomortierella parvispora E1425 (synonymously known as Mortierella parvispora E1425), which harbors a cultured Burkholderiaceae-related endobacterium (BRE) designated Mycoavidus sp. strain B2-EB, was sequenced. We provide genomic information to elucidate fungal-BRE symbiotic features.