Mycology

SWISS MYCOLOGY NETWORK: 

General:
The purpose of the mycology section within the SSM is to foster contacts between people active in the field of mycology in Switzerland and other sections of the SSM.

The field of mycology is very diverse in terms of research areas. The section of mycology decided to reflect this diversity by subdividing the section into three different fields of interest or working groups covering the major research areas in Switzerland: Molecular and Cellular Mycology, Medical Mycology, and Environmental Mycology. The interest groups are meant as entities where specific activities (e.g., educational workshops) can be created. To coordinate the activities of the different interest groups, a steering committee was established with the following representatives listed below.

Molecular and Cellular Mycology:
Markus Künzler and Aleksandar Vjestica as coordinators

The aim of this working group is to facilitate interactions, promote exchange, and develop synergies between scientists interested in the understanding of intra- and intercellular processes of yeasts and multicellular fungi at a molecular level.

Medical Mycology:
Salomé LeibundGut-Landmann, Philipp Bosshard, Frédéric Lamoth and Arnaud Riat as coordinators

The ‘Medical mycology’ working group brings together infectious disease specialists, people involved in diagnostics of fungal pathogens and basic researchers interested in antifungal resistance and in the biology of fungal-host interactions. We aim at enhancing the exchange between people interested in the field of medical mycology, coordinating activities and increasing visibility and awareness.

Environmental Mycology:
Saskia Bindschedler and Jürg Enkerli as coordinators

This working group aims at bringing together scientists interested in fungal community ecology and ecosystem functioning. This includes: understanding diversity of fungi in the environment; assessment of their role in nutrient and element cycling, degradation of recalcitrant materials, and soil formation; and investigation of interactions of fungi, either positive or negative, with other fungi or organisms such as plants, bacteria and animals.