Model systems for studying the biology of filamentous fungi: Rumors of their death should be postponed

Abstract

If judged by the almost doubling of the number of publications concerning fungalrelated topics during the past decade, fungal research is ourishing. The motivation that fuels the study of lamentous fungi ranges from the use of fungi as model systems for the study of eukaryote biology in general and fungal biology specically , to facing plant, animal and human fungal-based health threats and to the harnessing of fungi (or their traits) for industrial applications (19). The availability of the complete genome sequence of an organism provides an invaluable tool for hypothesis-driven research as well as setting the basis for comparative analyses. Coupled with the technological advances that allow for genetic and environmental manipulation of a growing number of fungi, a genome database can be used for functional analysis of almost any conceivable fungal trait. Furthermore, with the proper efforts invested, almost any fungal species can be rendered amenable (with various limitations) to genetic manipulations. One of the outcomes of the technological progress made is the raising of doubts concerning the future validity, potential contribution and, subsequently, justication for continued support for research of so-called ‘fungal model systems’ (and, more specically , lamentous fungi). Model systems are usually chosen on the basis of amenability to growth, manipulation and analysis (including the capability to