AFRICAN MYCOLOGY WORKSHOP (IMC12)

The 12th edition of the International Mycological Congress (IMC12), one of the most prestigious international mycological meetings was held in the city of Maastricht, Netherlands, from 11-15 August 2024.

For the first time since the first IMC-1 held at Exeter, U.K., in 1971, the African Mycology and AfriMa represented a full workshop dedicated to the fungi in Africa.Fungi play a pivotal role in ecosystems, infl uencing nutrient cycling and maintaining ecological balance. However,the intricate interplay of climate change, habitat degradation, and anthropogenic activities disrupts fungal ecology,leading to the emergence of novel pathogens and the alteration of disease dynamics. A profound understanding ofthe origin, ecology, and diversity of fungi globally is imperative to elucidate disease epidemiology and comprehendpathogen distribution patterns. Notably, the majority of currently known fungal species are described fromtemperate regions, leaving the rich diversity of African fungi largely overlooked and unexplored. This workshopaims to provide a holistic overview of the latest advancements in African mycology, embracing a One Healthapproach. By uniting expert across disciplines, the workshop seeks to unravel the mysteries of African fungi andpromote a comprehensive One Health strategy for their understanding, preservation, and sustainable application.The event also highlights the recent revival of the African Mycological Association (AfriMA).

Workshop chairs are Dr. Sarah Ahmed (Sudan) (A guest researcher at the RadboudUMC/CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology in Nijmegen, The Netherlands) and Dr. Harun M. Murithi (Kenya) (Postdoc at ARS-USDA/ORISE).

Plenary speakers included the followings:

1-Feng-Yan Bai (China) "GENETIC DIVERSITY, EVOLUTION, AND DOMESTICATION OF SACCHAROMYCESCEREVISIAE IN AFRICA.

2-Sharfi A. Ahmed (Saudi Arabia) "FUNGAL DISEASES IN ENT SPECIALTY IN NORTH AND EAST AFRICA: AMAZING CASESOF FUNGAL SINUSITIS.

3-Sarah Ahmed (Netherlands) "DOES CHRONIC ASPERGILLUS SINUSITIS PREDISPOSE FOR NASOPHARYNGEALCARCINOMA?"

4-Johannes Benjamin Stielow (Germany) "DEEP LEARNING AND COMPUTER VISION AS EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FORACCURATE IDENTIFICATION OF CLINICAL FUNGI".