蔡枫

个人简介 | BIOGRAPHY

蔡枫，中山大学“百人计划”副教授、博士生导师，南京农业大学植物营养学与维也纳理工大学微生物学双博士，长期从事真菌生态基因组学和微生物分子生态学研究，以木霉属等丝状真菌为主要研究体系，解析真菌生态适应与性状演化的遗传基础。代表性成果包括：建立木霉属DNA条形码和分子鉴定体系，推动真菌分类与物种识别标准化；发展融合表型组学、比较基因组学和机器学习的研究框架，揭示性状置换与趋同演化共同塑造木霉生态可塑性；围绕“菌丝际—塑料际”界面解析分泌型小蛋白基因功能。近年来在Nature Microbiology、The ISME Journal、Fungal Diversity、PLOS Genetics、Biotechnology Advances等期刊发表系列论文。

课题组面向真菌多样性形成、极端环境适应与微生物资源利用等前沿问题，开展以木霉菌为代表的真菌基因组学研究，致力于解析真菌有性生殖与配偶识别系统、真菌耐盐与耐热的分子基础及演化机制、火后真菌群落组装和演替过程；同时关注菌丝际小蛋白的分子进化、界面活性与生态功能，比较肉座菌目菌寄生生活方式的起源、分化及宿主互作机制。研究综合系统发育基因组学、群落生态学、基因编辑、多组学与机器学习等手段，旨在贯通从基因功能、性状形成到群落过程的多尺度机制，并为宿主微生物组调控、极端环境生态修复和塑料污染生物治理提供理论依据与可利用资源。

Feng M. Cai is an Associate Professor at the School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University. His research integrates fungal genomics, evolutionary biology and molecular microbial ecology to understand how filamentous fungi diversify, adapt and engineer their ecological niches. Using Trichoderma and related hypocrealean fungi as principal systems, he has established DNA-barcoding and taxogenomic resources for species identification, developed phenomics and machine-learning approaches for linking genomes to fitness-related traits, and characterized surface-active small proteins that regulate the hyphosphere, spore dormancy and fungal attachment. His work connects genome evolution with ecological plasticity and tries to provide an evolutionary framework for the safe use of beneficial fungi.

Recently, his group investigates fungal sexual reproduction and mate recognition, post-fire mycobiome assembly and succession, and the molecular and evolutionary bases of halotolerance and thermotolerance in fungi. Additional priorities include the evolution and function of small secreted proteins at the hyphal interface, the emergence and diversification of mycoparasitism in Hypocreales, and the discovery of plastic-degrading microorganisms, enzymes and functional genes from natural and anthropogenic habitats. By combining comparative and population genomics, gene editing, multi-omics, experimental ecology and community analysis, the group aims to bridge mechanisms across genes, phenotypes and ecosystems, while developing microbial resources for host health, sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience and plastic-pollution mitigation.

教育和工作经历 | EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE

2021–至今，中山大学，生态学院，副教授

2014–2021，维也纳理工大学，微生物学，博士

2011–2017，南京农业大学，植物营养学，博士

2007–2011，南京农业大学，农业资源与环境，学士

学术兼职 | ACADEMIC SERVICES

2025–至今，IMA Fungus，编辑

2021–2026，Applied and Environmental Microbiology，编委

国际会议 | CONFERENCES

2025.11，分论坛主席 / 分会场报告｜Phenogenomic determinants of ecological plasticity and fitness in Trichoderma｜2025亚洲菌物学大会（AMC 2025）

2025.03，分论坛主席｜Familiar stranger: uncovering the unanswered questions about Trichoderma｜国际木霉和粘帚霉专题研讨会

2025.03，分论坛报告｜Taxogenomic analysis reveals the reticulate evolution of the genus Trichoderma｜第17届欧洲真菌遗传学大会（ECFG17）

2024.08，墙报｜The role of HFB1 in the mate recognition and sexual reproduction initiation in Trichoderma reesei｜第12届国际真菌大会（IMC12）

2023.10，特邀报告｜Coastal plastisphere: a reservoir of plastic-degrading microorganisms｜第2届塑料可持续利用研讨会（PlastiLOOP2.0）

2023.10，墙报｜AI-aided phenotype microarrays for genotype–phenotype linking in conidial fungi｜2023亚洲菌物学大会（AMC 2023）

2021.05，大会报告｜真菌表面疏水性与其环境适应性间的进化权衡及其对物种形成的影响｜第13届中国模式真菌研讨会

2020.02，分会场报告｜Evolutionary compromises between spore hydrophobicity and fitness in fungi｜第15届欧洲真菌遗传学大会（ECFG15）

2019.03，分会场报告｜Hydrophobins influence fungal fitness by modulating spore dispersal and survival｜第30届国际真菌遗传学大会

2018.02，墙报｜HFB8, the orphan hydrophobin of Trichoderma guizhouense, is involved in mycoparasitism｜第14届欧洲真菌遗传学大会（ECFG14）

2016.04，墙报｜HFBs of Trichoderma guizhouense inhibit tomato defense system for colonization｜第13届欧洲真菌遗传学大会（ECFG13）

承担项目 | PROJECTS

2025–2028，国家自然科学基金面上项目｜主持，在研

2024–2027，国家重点研发计划青年科学家项目｜主要牵头人，在研

2024–2026，广东省教育厅普通高校特色创新项目｜主持，在研

2024–2025，中央高校基本科研业务费青年拔尖人才培育计划项目｜主持，结题

2019–2021，国家自然科学基金青年基金项目｜主持，结题

2018–2020，江苏省自然科学基金青年基金项目｜主持，结题

2018–2019，中国博士后科学基金面上项目（一等资助）｜主持，结题

代表性论著 | BOOKS & CHAPTERS

Pang, G.; Cai F. M. Extraction of orthologs from genome-sequencing data for phylogenetic analysis. Bio-protocol. 2024, 14(11): e5001.

Cai F.; Dou, K.; Wang, P.; Chenthamara, K.; Chen, J.; Druzhinina, I.S. The current state of Trichoderma taxonomy and species identification. Advances in Trichoderma Biology for Agricultural Applications. 2022, Springer Nature, pp. 3–35.

Cai F.; Kubicek, C.P.; Druzhinina, I.S. Genetic transformation of Trichoderma spp. Methods in Molecular Biology. 2021, Springer Nature, pp. 171–186.

Chenthamara, K.; Rahimi, M.; Grujic, M.; Druzhinina, I.S.; Cai F. Ecological genomics and evolution of Trichoderma reesei. Methods in Molecular Biology. 2021, Springer Nature, pp. 1–21.

Rahimi, M.; Cai F.; Grujic, M.; Chenthamara, K.; Druzhinina, I.S. Molecular identification of Trichoderma reesei. Methods in Molecular Biology. 2021, Springer Nature, pp. 157–175.

Chen, P.J.; Pang, G.; Cai F.; Druzhinina, I.S. Strain improvement and genetic engineering of Trichoderma for industrial applications. Encyclopedia of Mycology. 2021, Elsevier, pp. 505–517.

代表性论文 | SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2026

Andrei S. Steindorff; Feng M. Cai; ... Irina S. Druzhinina. Phenogenomics reveals the ecology and evolution of Trichoderma fungi for sustainable agriculture. Nature Microbiology. 2026, 11: 815–831. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-026-02260-3（共同一作/共同通讯）

Mingyue Ding; Guan Pang; Mengting Huang; Yujie Shi; Fan Yi; Paolo Wong; Dongxin Shi; Zhilin Yuan; Lanxi Su; Junjie Guo; Weixiang Wang; Oded Yarden; Feng M. Cai; Irina S. Druzhinina; Qirong Shen. Regulatory adaptation of an accessory gene controls fungal halotolerance and niche expansion. The ISME Journal. 2026, 20(1): wrag162. https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wrag162（共同通讯）

Fan Yi; Yuanchao Liu; Huiping Hu; Mingyue Ding; Irina S. Druzhinina; Feng M. Cai. De novo chromosome-scale genome assembly of two mycoparasitic hypocreaceous fungi (Hypocreaceae, Ascomycota). Scientific Data. 2026, Article in press. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-08051-z（共同通讯）

Marisel M. Mamani; Lilia Catacora; Nélida Nina; Wendy D. Tola; Feng M. Cai; Jesper Rydén; Irina S. Druzhinina; Dan Funck Jensen; Carla F. Crespo; Magnus Karlsson; Mukesh Dubey. Diversity of Trichoderma in the unexplored Bolivian Amazon region and their potential for coffee diseases control. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 2026, 373: fnaf142. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnaf142

Siqi Jiang; Tuo Li; Jiaxin Lu; Feng Cai; Guan Pang; Jing Liu; Dongyang Liu; Qirong Shen. From degradation to alleviation: Trichoderma facilitates plants resisting the PBAT stress through secreting a cutinase-like enzyme. Environment International. 2026, 210: 110228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110228

Songrong Li; Xian Wen; Siqiao Chen; Yishen Zhao; Jinhao Chen; Wanrong Li; Yajuan Chen; Mingyue Ding; Siqi Jiang; Wilfred Mabeche Anjago; Dongmei Zhou; Feng M. Cai; Irina S. Druzhinina; Min Jiu; Lihui Wei; Paul Daly. Dual biocontrol and plant growth-promoting effects of Trichoderma nordicum V1 against oomycete plant pathogens. Journal of Fungi. 2026, 12: 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12040292

Zhizhou Jia; Yuanyuan Meng; Wenting Wang; Jocelyn Behm; Feng M. Cai; Sandhya Mishra; Shangwen Xia; Shengjie Liu; Xiaodong Yang. Differential responses of termite gut bacterial and fungal community to tropical forest conversion. Communications Biology. 2026, 9: 746. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-09939-7

2025

Feng M. Cai; Siqi Jiang; Paul Daly; Mounes Bakhshi; Kai Cartwright; Irina S. Druzhinina. Guidelines toward ecologically-informed bioprospecting for microbial plastic degradation. Biotechnology Advances. 2025, 82: 108590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108590（独立一作/共同通讯）

Feng M. Cai; Mounes Bakhshi; Irina S. Druzhinina. Which fungus it might be? Calling for a collaborative DNA barcoding exercise for mycologists. Fungal Biology Reviews. 2025, 52: 100416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbr.2025.100416（独立一作/共同通讯）

Beining Shi; Jiayin Zheng; Xiaohao Zhuang; Yuanyuan Meng; Mark Maraun; Feng M. Cai; Shengjie Liu. Seasonal and land-use impact on the stable isotopic signatures of termites. Applied Soil Ecology. 2025, 215: 106439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106439（共同通讯）

Dan Sun; Xiang Zhang; Wenjing Tian; Yanzhao Bi; Feng M. Cai; Tian Qiu; Chunyan Hu; Chenjing Liu; Huayuan Feng; Yetao Tang; Yue Cao; Lena Q. Ma; Rongliang Qiu. Homologous gene analysis reveals ACR3 expansion as a key driver of arsenic hyperaccumulation in plants. Environmental Science & Technology. 2025, 59: 27786–27799. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c02972（副封面论文）

Xiaodong Xin; Zi Wang; Shuyan Chen; Mengsha Song; Feng Cai; Wangwang Yan. The dual role of indigenous Trichoderma in sludge anaerobic digestion: Enhanced hydrolysis versus methanogenesis inhibition. ACS ES&T Engineering. 2025, 5(12): 3390–3399. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.5c00567

Nadine J. Hochenegger; Gabriel A. Vignolle; Matthias Schmal; Robert L. Mach; Astrid R. Mach-Aigner; Mohammad Javad Rahimi; Chin Mei Chan; Feng M. Cai; Irina S. Druzhinina; Christian Zimmermann. Genome sequencing and physiological characterization of three Neoarthrinium moseri strains. BMC Microbiology. 2025, 25: 526. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04274-z

Jinghua Yao; Yajuan Chen; Deyu Zhuo; Siqiao Chen; Baichao Xu; Congwei Yan; Wanrong Li; Hui Feng; Sheng Deng; Feng M. Cai; Andrei S. Steindorff; Irina S. Druzhinina; Lei Xiao; Lihui Wei; Paul Daly. Genome and transcriptome analysis of the lignite-degrading Trichoderma cf. simile WF8 strain highlights potential degradation mechanisms. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 2025, 198: 105997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2025.105997

2024

Kevin D. Hyde; et al. (including Feng M. Cai). The 2024 outline of fungi and fungus-like taxa. Mycosphere. 2024, 15(1): 5146–6239. https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/15/1/25（ESI高被引；热点论文）

Siqiao Chen; Paul Daly; Wilfred Mabeche Anjago; Rong Wang; Yishen Zhao; Xian Wen; Dongmei Zhou; Sheng Deng; Xisha Lin; Josef Voglmeir; Feng Cai; Qirong Shen; Irina S. Druzhinina; Lihui Wei. Genus-wide analysis of Trichoderma antagonism toward Pythium and Globisporangium plant pathogens and the contribution of cellulases to the antagonism. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2024, 90: e00681-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00681-24

2023

Guan Pang; Xuesong Li; Mingyue Ding; Siqi Jiang; Peijie Chen; Zheng Zhao; Renwei Gao; Bin Song; Xiaowei Xu; Qirong Shen; Feng M. Cai; Irina S. Druzhinina. The distinct plastisphere microbiome in the terrestrial–marine ecotone is a reservoir for putative degraders of petroleum-based polymers. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2023, 453: 131399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131399（共同通讯）（媒体报道：https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2023-11-01/Can-fungi-and-bacteria-eat-away-plastic-pollution--1om3urJPc52/index.html）

Bin Song; Siyi Shang; Feng M. Cai; Zihao Liu; Jie Fang; Na Li; Jonathan M. Adams; Bahar S. Razavi. Microbial resistance in rhizosphere hotspots under biodegradable and conventional microplastic amendment: Community and functional sensitivity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2023, 180: 108989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.108989（ESI高被引）

2022

Guan Pang; Tingting Sun; Mingyue Ding; Jun Li; Zheng Zhao; Qirong Shen; Feng M. Cai. Characterization of an exceptional fungal mutant enables the discovery of the specific regulator of a silent PKS–NRPS hybrid biosynthetic pathway. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2022, 70: 11769–11781. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03550（独立通讯）（副封面论文）

Nalin N. Wijayawardene; Alan J.L. Phillips; Diana Santos Pereira; Dong-Qin Dai; et al. (including Feng Cai). Forecasting the number of species of asexually reproducing fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota). Fungal Diversity. 2022, 114: 463–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-022-00500-5（ESI高被引）

Siqiao Chen; Paul Daly; Dongmei Zhou; Jingjing Li; Xiaoyu Wang; Sheng Deng; Hui Feng; Chunting Wang; Taha M.M. Sheikh; Yifan Chen; Taiqiang Xue; Feng Cai; Christian P. Kubicek; Lihui Wei; Irina S. Druzhinina. The use of mutant and engineered microbial agents for biological control of plant diseases caused by Pythium: Achievements versus challenges. Fungal Biology Reviews. 2022, 40: 76–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbr.2022.03.001

Paul Daly; Dongmei Zhou; Danyu Shen; Yifan Chen; Taiqiang Xue; Siqiao Chen; Qimeng Zhang; Jinfeng Zhang; Jamie McGowan; Feng Cai; Guan Pang; Nan Wang; Taha M.M. Sheikh; Sheng Deng; Jingjing Li; Hüseyin Okan Soykam; Irem Kara; David A. Fitzpatrick; Irina S. Druzhinina; Günseli Bayram Akcapinar; Lihui Wei. Genome of Pythium myriotylum uncovers an extensive arsenal of virulence-related genes among the broad-host-range necrotrophic Pythium plant pathogens. Microbiology Spectrum. 2022, 10(4): e02268-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02268-21

Zhilin Yuan; Qi Wu; Liangxiong Xu; Irina S. Druzhinina; Eva H. Stukenbrock; Bart P.S. Nieuwenhuis; Zhenhui Zhong; Zhong-Jian Liu; Xinyu Wang; Feng Cai; Christian P. Kubicek; Xiaoliang Shan; Jieyu Wang; Guohui Shi; Long Peng; Francis M. Martin. Genomic landscape of a relict fir-associated fungus reveals rapid convergent adaptation towards endophytism. The ISME Journal. 2022, 16: 1294–1305. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01176-6

Jun Zhang; Jian Chen; Yi-Fei Wu; Zi-Ping Wang; Ji-Guo Qiu; Xiao-Long Li; Feng Cai; Ke-Qing Xiao; Xiao-Xu Sun; Barry P. Rosen; Fang-Jie Zhao. Oxidation of organoarsenicals and antimonite by a novel flavin monooxygenase widely present in soil bacteria. Environmental Microbiology. 2022, 24: 752–761. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15488

2021

Feng Cai; Irina S. Druzhinina. In honor of John Bissett: Authoritative guidelines on molecular identification of Trichoderma. Fungal Diversity. 2021, 107: 1–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-020-00464-4（独立一作）（ESI高被引）

Zheng Zhao; Feng Cai; Renwei Gao; Mingyue Ding; Siqi Jiang; Peijie Chen; Guan Pang; Komal Chenthamara; Qirong Shen; Günseli Bayram Akcapinar; Irina S. Druzhinina. At least three families of hyphosphere small secreted cysteine-rich proteins can optimize surface properties to a moderately hydrophilic state suitable for fungal attachment. Environmental Microbiology. 2021, 23: 5750–5768. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15413（共同通讯）

Feng Cai; Zheng Zhao; Renwei Gao; Peijie Chen; Mingyue Ding; Siqi Jiang; Zhifei Fu; Pingyong Xu; Komal Chenthamara; Qirong Shen; Günseli Bayram Akcapinar; Irina S. Druzhinina. The pleiotropic functions of intracellular hydrophobins in aerial hyphae and fungal spores. PLoS Genetics. 2021, 17(11): e1009924. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009924（共同一作）

Paul Daly; Feng Cai; Christian P. Kubicek; Siqi Jiang; Marica Grujic; Mohammad Javad Rahimi; Mohamed Salah Sheteiwy; Richard Giles; Asad Riaz; Ronald P. de Vries; Günseli Bayram Akcapinar; Lihui Wei; Irina S. Druzhinina. From lignocellulose to plastics: Knowledge transfer on the degradation approaches by fungi. Biotechnology Advances. 2021, 50: 107770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107770

Yifan Li; Tingting Sun; Degang Guo; Jia Gao; Jian Zhang; Feng Cai; Reinhard Fischer; Qirong Shen; Zhenzhong Yu. Comprehensive analysis of the regulatory network of blue-light-regulated conidiation and hydrophobin production in Trichoderma guizhouense. Environmental Microbiology. 2021, 23: 6241–6256. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15748

Zhilin Yuan; Irina S. Druzhinina; John G. Gibbons; Zhenhui Zhong; Yves Van de Peer; Russell J. Rodriguez; Zhongjian Liu; Xinyu Wang; Huanshen Wei; Qi Wu; Jieyu Wang; Guohui Shi; Feng Cai; Long Peng; Francis M. Martin. Divergence of a genomic island leads to the evolution of melanization in a halophyte root fungus. The ISME Journal. 2021, 15: 3468–3479. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01023-8

2020

Feng Cai; Renwei Gao; Zheng Zhao; Mingyue Ding; Siqi Jiang; Civan Yagtu; Hong Zhu; Jian Zhang; Thomas Ebner; Michael Mayrhofer-Reinhartshuber; Philipp Kainz; Komal Chenthamara; Günseli Bayram Akcapinar; Qirong Shen; Irina S. Druzhinina. Evolutionary compromises in fungal fitness: Hydrophobins can hinder the adverse dispersal of conidiospores and challenge their survival. The ISME Journal. 2020, 14: 2610–2624. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-020-0709-0（独立一作）

Mingyue Ding; Wei Chen; X.C. Ma; B.W. Lv; Siqi Jiang; Y.N. Yu; M.J. Rahimi; Renwei Gao; Zheng Zhao; Feng Cai; Irina S. Druzhinina. Emerging salt marshes as a source of Trichoderma arenarium sp. nov. and other fungal bioeffectors for biosaline agriculture. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2020, 130: 179–195. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14751（独立通讯）

Renwei Gao; Mingyue Ding; Siqi Jiang; Zheng Zhao; Komal Chenthamara; Qirong Shen; Feng Cai; Irina S. Druzhinina. The evolutionary and functional paradox of cerato-platanins in fungi. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2020, 86: e00696-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00696-20（独立通讯）

Nalin N. Wijayawardene; Kevin D. Hyde; Dong-Qin Dai; Li-Zhou Tang; et al. (including Feng Cai). A dynamic portal for a community-driven, continuously updated classification of fungi and fungus-like organisms: outlineoffungi.org. Mycosphere. 2020, 11(1): 1514–1526. https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/11

发明专利 | PATENTS

曹越，朱璨，郑婷婷，金语彤，胡蓝方，蔡枫，仇荣亮。专利号：ZL202510594437.0；一种Enterobacter菌株及其在砷污染土壤植物修复中的应用；授权时间：2026年4月7日；中国发明专利

庞冠，蔡枫，沈其荣。专利号：ZL202210449442.9；一种harzianic acid高产木霉菌株的构建方法；授权时间：2023年9月8日；中国发明专利

蔡枫，丁明月，伊瑞娜·杜鲁兹尼娜。专利号：ZL202010377558.7；一株耐盐碱的新木霉及其应用；授权时间：2022年2月18日；中国发明专利

丁明月，蔡枫，陈巍，伊瑞娜·杜鲁兹尼娜。专利号：ZL202010378203.X；一株耐盐碱拟棘孢木霉及其应用；授权时间：2021年11月9日；中国发明专利

沈其荣，张杨，李荣，蔡枫，张建，庞冠。专利号：ZL201810768488.0；两步基因组比较法设计贵州木霉NJAU 4742定量PCR特异性引物的方法；授权时间：2019年12月27日；中国发明专利

沈其荣，蔡枫，黄启为。专利号：ZL201610235081.2；一种促进哈茨木霉定殖的蛋白及其应用；授权时间：2017年9月12日；中国发明专利