Reviews, Perspectives, and Commentaries in Fungi-Animal Interactions

Fungi–animal interactions represent a dynamic field at the intersection of ecology, evolution, and molecular biology, offering insights into the reciprocal influences between these diverse groups. In recent years, research has increasingly demonstrated that fungi play multifaceted roles in shaping animal health, behavior, nutrition, and survival, while animals, in turn, significantly affect fungal dispersal, population structure, and adaptive strategies. Despite notable discoveries such as the elucidation of fungal metabolites in animal communication, advances in understanding coevolutionary dynamics, and the application of omics techniques; substantial questions remain about the mechanisms underpinning these associations, their variation across systems, and their broader ecosystem consequences. The impact of global change, including climate and land use shifts, further underscores the need for critical synthesis and integration of current findings. Recent studies have begun to unravel the networks of mutualism, symbiosis, and pathogenesis that define fungi–animal interactions, using comparative, integrative, and methodological approaches spanning laboratory, field, and computational platforms. However, challenges persist in contextualizing highly specific findings within broader conceptual frameworks and translating fundamental knowledge into applied contexts such as conservation, agriculture, and public health. There is ongoing debate about the spectrum from beneficial to harmful outcomes in these relationships, the effect of environmental factors on interaction dynamics, and the best methodologies for capturing their complexity. This highlights the necessity for critical assessments, identification of knowledge gaps, and the setting of research priorities to advance both theory and practical applications. This Research Topic aims to assemble Reviews, Perspectives, and Commentaries that integrate current understanding and push the boundaries of knowledge on fungi–animal interactions. The goal is to clarify conceptual advances, draw attention to unresolved questions, and propose integrative frameworks that connect mechanistic insights with ecological and evolutionary processes. Contributors are encouraged to address field-wide challenges, recommend methodological best practices, and consider interdisciplinary perspectives that bridge basic and applied science. While the focus is on broad conceptual and integrative work, submissions can encompass any aspect of fungi–animal interactions. To gather further insights in this area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: *Mutualisms, symbioses, and fungal associations with insects and other animals *Roles of fungi in animal microbiomes and mycobiomes *Fungal pathogenesis, host susceptibility, and immune interactions *Transmission routes, environmental reservoirs, and dispersal patterns *Chemical ecology and the function of fungal metabolites *Physiological and developmental impacts of fungal colonization on animals *Coevolutionary processes across ecological and evolutionary scales *Effects of environmental change, land use, and biodiversity loss *Comparative and integrative approaches, including multi-omics and interdisciplinary research We welcome submissions that provide field-wide synthesis, critical evaluation, conceptual advances, or recommendations for future research priorities. Topic editors: Chengshu Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78105/reviews-perspectives-and-commentaries-in-fungi-animal-interactions