Mycology research on the front line of environmental and health challenges

Mycology crucially contributes to our understanding of the threat fungi present for humans, plants and animals, as well as their role in ecology and environment diversity. David Hawksworth, Editor-in-Chief, and Wieland Meyer, President of the International Mycological Association, tell us more about the journal IMA Fungus, now publishing with BMC. What makes this journal unique? David: It is the official journal of the International Mycological Association providing, in addition to original research papers regarded as of wide interest to mycologists, reports and news or concerning activities of the IMA and member organizations, and also with the unique role as the place where proposals to modify the international rules on the naming of fungi must be published, as are lists of names for protection. What does excite you most of your research activity and field? Wieland: The beauty of fungi, their diversity in color and form are an art in itself. I work with both environmental and pathogenic fungi and both overlap. My work is directed towards understanding the spread of those fungi globally and this gets me in contact with a very diverse range of people in many places of the globe. It excites me to be able to help to be part of a big picture, which hopefully helps to get better diagnostics and treatments of fungal infections, improving and saving lives. My work has a direct impact on the quality of human life. David: The sheer enormity of fungal diversity. How little we know an...
Source: BioMed Central Blog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Biology Health Open Access Publishing biotechnology ecology fungi IMA Fungus mycology Source Type: blogs