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Rhizopus oryzae: Genetic Secrets of an Emerging Human Pathogen

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Genomics of Soil- and Plant-Associated Fungi

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 36))

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Abstract

Rhizopus oryzae is a zygomycetous fungus with both commercial and medical importance. It has been exploited for centuries for its fermentation capabilities and has also been harnessed commercially for its ability to produce a number of important organic compounds. Unfortunately, R. oryzae is also an important and growing human fungal pathogen that is capable of causing fatal infections. The recently completed genome sequence has provided some explanations for the dual importance of this fungus as both a pathogen and commercial asset. Basic research on R. oryzae at the molecular level has made steady progress and some important contributions have been made because of this research into the areas of both strain improvement and disease management. Continued progress is needed and new investigators entering the field are required in order to continue advancing what we know about this fungus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Mail Code 7758, Room 5.027V, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA

    Brian L. Wickes

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  1. Brian L. Wickes
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Correspondence to Brian L. Wickes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dep. of Biology, Technion – Israel Inst. of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Benjamin A. Horwitz

  2. Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, India

    Prasun K. Mukherjee

  3. Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, India

    Mala Mukherjee

  4. Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria

    Christian P. Kubicek

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Wickes, B.L. (2013). Rhizopus oryzae: Genetic Secrets of an Emerging Human Pathogen. In: Horwitz, B., Mukherjee, P., Mukherjee, M., Kubicek, C. (eds) Genomics of Soil- and Plant-Associated Fungi. Soil Biology, vol 36. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39339-6_11

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