Call for papers - Current trends and future directions in mycology

Guest Editors

Ruvishika Jayawardena, PhD, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand
Ejaj Pathan, PhD, Symbiosis International University, India
Nalin N. Wijayawardene, PhD, Qujing Normal University, China

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 30 January 2026

BMC Microbiology launches the Collection, Current trends and future directions in mycology. This Collection considers submissions that explore mycology research highlighting the microbiological, ecological and biomedical significance of fungi. We welcome research on topics such as fungal diversity, ecology and response to environmental cues, interactions within fungal communities, and potential biotechnological applications of fungi. Research without a clear focus on fungi, fungal communities or host-fungi interactions will not be considered.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Ruvishika Jayawardena, PhD, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand

Dr Ruvishika Jayawardena's academic and research career focuses on fungal biology, plant pathology, and ecological microbiology. Her interdisciplinary work spans Asia's tropical and subtropical agroecosystems, forest ecosystems, and coastal and freshwater habitats. Dr Jayawardena has contributed significantly to the understanding of fungal diversity, plant-fungal interactions, and the taxonomy of pathogenic and symbiotic fungi. Her research spans economically vital crops such as rice, pineapple, mango, dragon fruit, citrus, and coffee, as well as underexplored ecosystems including mangroves, freshwater systems, ant nests, and forest understories. She has also studied various functional groups of fungi, including plant pathogens, endophytes, entomopathogens, and fungicolous species. Through a prolific publication record and international collaborations, Dr Jayawardena has built a reputation for scientific rigor, taxonomic precision, and ecological insight.

Ejaj Pathan, PhD, Symbiosis International University, India

Dr Ejaj Pathan's research began with the study of fungal morphogenesis in Benjaminiella poitrasii, where his work identified glutamate dehydrogenases (GDHs) as potential antifungal targets against dimorphic pathogenic fungi. He subsequently focused on the production of low molecular weight fungal chitosan, investigating its applications in healthcare and its potential for pest and pathogen control in crop plants.
During his postdoctoral work, Dr Pathan examined the relationship between fungal morphology and citric acid production in Aspergillus niger. He now leads a research group dedicated to several key areas: the production of secondary metabolites for healthcare applications, development of fungal platforms for the expression of eukaryotic proteins, generation of highly deacetylated chitosan for biomedical use, structural studies of fungal glutamate dehydrogenases and chitin synthases, and exploring the links between fungi and cancer.

Nalin N. Wijayawardene, PhD, Qujing Normal University, China

Dr Nalin Wijayawardene joined the College of Biological Resources and Food Engineering at Qujing Normal University (China) in 2019 as a Professor of Mycology. He obtained his PhD in Mycology from Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand under the supervision of Prof Kevin D. Hyde, focusing on the taxonomy and phylogeny of dematiaceous coelomycetes and the nomenclature of asexual fungi. Dr Wijayawardene has published over 130 SCI papers, with an H-index of 37. He was recognized as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide in 2021 and 2022. He serves as an editor for several leading mycology journals and has been a member of the International Commission on Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF) since 2022. His current research interests include the taxonomy and phylogeny of asexual fungi, freshwater and marine fungi, and fungi from extreme environments.

About the Collection

Fungi are a diverse ubiquitous group of eukaryotic organisms, comprising e.g. unicellular yeasts as well as multicellular filamentous microorganisms and mushrooms. They exhibit remarkable morphological and ecological diversity and fulfil a wide array of biological and ecological roles as pathogens, decomposers, and mutualists. The field of mycology, dedicated to the study of fungi, has gained increasing importance in recent years, owing to both the beneficial and harmful impact of fungi on human health, agriculture, and the environment.

Recent advances in next generation sequencing, multi-Omics technologies, molecular biology and bioinformatics have significantly enhanced our understanding of the biology and ecology of fungi, as well as the complex interactions within fungal communities and their habitat. Research and innovation in fungal biotechnology have led to the development of antifungal agents, biocontrol methods, and the application of fungi in bioremediation and sustainable biofuel production. Meanwhile, research on fungal ecology has deepened our knowledge of the impact of fungi on ecosystem functioning and the implications of climate change on fungal diversity and distribution.

In support of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being), BMC Microbiology launches the Collection Current trends and future directions in mycology. This Collection invites contributions to current research and future perspectives in mycology, covering a wide range of topics e.g., related to the fungal ecological roles and response to environmental changes, as well as novel biotechnological applications of fungi. Research without a clear focus on fungi, fungal communities, or host-fungi interactions will not be considered. We invite researchers and experts in the field to submit research articles covering a broad range of topics including, but not limited to:

Molecular mechanisms in the development and pathogenesis of fungi
Parasitic fungi as models to study host-pathogen interactions
Taxonomy and phylogeny of fungi, with particular interest in poorly studied habitats and extreme environments
Resolving species complexes and generic concepts of speciose fungal genera
The role of saprotrophic fungi in nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning
Diversity and ecological significance of endophytic fungi for plant health
Ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Impact of climate change on the distribution and function of fungal communities
The potential of fungal secondary metabolites for novel drug discovery
Mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance in pathogenic fungi
Mycotoxins in food security
Applications of fungal enzymes for sustainable industrial applications
Mechanisms of mechanosensing and fungal contact sensing

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Current trends and future directions in mycology" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.