For 110 years, the Hubrecht Institute has been studying the development of cells, tissues and organisms to discover how life works on the smallest scale. To celebrate this, we are opening our doors on Saturday, 6 June 2026. Read more here: www.hubrecht.eu/zooming-in-o...

Join the Fungal Biodiversity Course at the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute and explore the amazing diversity of fungi through hands-on experience. 👩‍🔬 Discover, identify, and explore the fungal world! https://wi.knaw.nl/CourseFungalBiodiversity

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course at the Westerdijk Institute 👉 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://wi.knaw.nl/CourseFungalBiodiversity

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course! Fungi are among the most diverse and essential organisms on our planet. They influence ecosystems, agriculture, medicine, and industry. This comprehensive course offers a deep dive into the biodiversity, systematics, and ecology of the Fungal Kingdom.

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course at the Westerdijk Institute! 👇 🔬 Explore fungal systematics, ecology, and diagnostics—from soil mycology to plant pathogens. 💡 Learn both morphological and molecular identification methods.

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course 23–27 February 2026👇  The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute invites you to an intensive, hands-on course exploring the vast and fascinating kingdom of fungi. 🔗 More information & registration: https://wi.knaw.nl/CourseFungalBiodiversity

Join the Fungal Biodiversity Course at the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute and explore the amazing diversity of fungi through hands-on experience. 👩‍🔬 Discover, identify, and explore the fungal world! https://wi.knaw.nl/CourseFungalBiodiversity

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course at the Westerdijk Institute 👉 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://wi.knaw.nl/CourseFungalBiodiversity

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course! Fungi are among the most diverse and essential organisms on our planet. They influence ecosystems, agriculture, medicine, and industry. This comprehensive course offers a deep dive into the biodiversity, systematics, and ecology of the Fungal Kingdom.

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course at the Westerdijk Institute! 👇 🔬 Explore fungal systematics, ecology, and diagnostics—from soil mycology to plant pathogens. 💡 Learn both morphological and molecular identification methods.

A newly published study takes a major step toward solving one of lichen biology’s biggest questions, namely, how these symbiotic organisms produce their remarkable array of compounds known as lichen acids.

This week, we celebrated an exciting milestone for biodiversity research in the Netherlands!

A new outline/classification for the genera of Leotiomycetes 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: An updated multigene phylogeny of Leotiomycetes https://doi.org/10.3114/persoonia.2025.55.13 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 Johnston, P.R.; Park, D.

21 Fusarioid taxa associated with Citrus cankers, of which several caused gummosis as well as cortex and xylem necrosis 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: Species of Fusarium and Neocosmospora associated with citrus branch diseases in China https://doi.org/10.3114/persoonia.2025.55.12

Join our Fungal Biodiversity Course 23–27 February 2026👇  The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute invites you to an intensive, hands-on course exploring the vast and fascinating kingdom of fungi. 🔗 More information & registration: https://wi.knaw.nl/CourseFungalBiodiversity

Today, Dr. Ya Bin Zhou shared his insights on the role of 𝘊𝘺𝘱51 genes in 𝘈𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘶𝘴. He discusses: ⭐The emergence and importance of antifungal resistance in 𝘈𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘶𝘴 ⭐Homologous Cyp51 mutations that confer antifungal resistance A. flavus

How hot is too hot for fungi🔥? Fungal ascospores, the survival structures of many mold species, can endure heat levels that rival those tolerated by bacterial spores like Bacillus subtilis.

We are delighted to share that the recently published book Dwalen door de Domstad (“Wandering through the Cathedral City”) by author Iris Dijkstra features an inspiring story about Johanna Westerdijk, our institute’s namesake and one of the most remarkable figures in Dutch science history. 1/9

Fungal infections are an often-overlooked challenge in public health, but Aspergillus fumigatus is an example of how serious the issue can become. Increasing resistance to azole antifungals, which are essential treatments for patients with weakened immune systems, poses an urgent threat.

Today, Dr. Marizeth Groenewald shared her insights and knowledge on (bio)security. In her talk she discusses: ⭐The definition and importance of biosecurity, also related to research and digital security ⭐ Information on the various biosecurity risk groups ⭐ The 8 pillars of biosecurity

During his recent visit to JEOL, our researcher Dr. Jan Dijksterhuis gave a presentation on his work with electron microscopy. To his surprise, he discovered that one of the microscopic images he created years ago was proudly displayed in the JEOL building itself!

Lepiota is currently one of the largest genera in Agaricales. Although only one species of Lepiota was previously known from Benin, the present study introduces a further 13 that are new to science. 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://f.mtr.cool/wuysydchkm

Cytospora from above: The genus Cytospora was divided into 10 species complexes, with 23 new species being described from Tibet 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: Species diversity of Cytospora associated with forest canker diseases in Xizang (Tibet), China https://f.mtr.cool/qqfdbhthin

Culturable lichen-associated fungi from the Antarctic revealed several new species in genera such as Dactylospora, Petrophila, Knufia, Pseudeurotium and Kurtzmanomyces. 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://f.mtr.cool/rmjvmyfruj

Today, Jiayao Tian from the Fungal Natural Products group of Jerome shared her insights on discovering novel antibiotics from microbial resources.

A new study led by researchers at the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute reveals how one of the world’s most studied industrial fungi, Aspergillus niger, regulates the use of plant-derived sugars

Yesterday, members of the Westerdijk Institute joined the BioSB HotTopics & NIME Symposium: Microbial Ecology, held right here at Utrecht Science Park Our researchers showcased the exciting breadth of microbial ecology studied at the institute:

Raquel Ledo (Westerdijk @westerdijkinst.bsky.social): Exploring fungal diversity in the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean #MarineFungi #NIME2025

A revision of genera of Sordariomycetes displaying holoblastic-denticulate conidiogenesis, with notes on their ecology and global distribution 🔗 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://f.mtr.cool/zklifsyjhf

Yesterday, our own Dr. Jan Dijksterhuis took the audience on a fascinating journey into the world of fungi during Utrecht Science Week. In his lecture he shared: 🍄 The rich history of the Westerdijk Institute & Johanna Westerdijk 🌍 What fungi are and their crucial role in nature