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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.04.03.716289

Survey of Climate-structured Mycobiomes in Staple Maize: Implications for Endemic Keshan and Kashin-Beck Diseases

Wang, Y.·Zhang, K.·Sun, Y.·Yang, L.·Yang, J.·Wang, X.·Wan, Y.·Xi, G.·Guo, L.·Sun, S.
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Abstract

Keshan disease (KD) and Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) are geographically restricted disorders in rural China with overlapping environmental and dietary risk factors. Selenium deficiency alone cannot explain their regional heterogeneity. Maize, a dietary staple in endemic areas, represents a key exposure pathway for climate-sensitive foodborne fungi and their metabolites. We profiled maize-associated fungal communities from seven villages across KD-, KBD-, KD-KBD co-endemic, and non-endemic regions using ITS sequencing and integrative bioinformatics. Fungal diversity, composition, trophic structure, and predicted biosynthetic gene cluster potential differed markedly among regions. KD-endemic areas were enriched in saprotrophic taxa such as Penicillium and Aspergillus, KBD-endemic regions favored cold- and humidity-adapted fungi, and KD-KBD co-endemic areas exhibited the highest predicted mycotoxin potential. Fungal patterns were strongly associated with regional temperature and humidity. These findings support a climate-sensitive, foodborne exposome framework, suggesting that variation in maize-associated fungi may contribute to endemic disease risk and highlighting the need for fungal surveillance in public health strategies. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=115 SRC="FIGDIR/small/716289v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (43K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2cf23borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d31e5aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@6dbcadorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7e0734_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

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Wang, Y., Zhang, K., Sun, Y., Yang, L., Yang, J., Wang, X., Wan, Y., Xi, G., Guo, L., Sun, S.. 2026-04-04. Survey of Climate-structured Mycobiomes in Staple Maize: Implications for Endemic Keshan and Kashin-Beck Diseases. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.03.716289

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