Fungi are essential in natural ecosystems, continuously shaping them and contributing significantly to biogeochemical processes [1]. Beyond their well-established use in biotechnology as versatile biofactories, their potential as alternative materials and food sources has further elevated their industrial significance [2]. In recent years, fungi have also captured increasing public interest, fueled by TV shows, documentaries, and social media, sparking curiosity about their untapped potential 1, 3.

Yet, despite the existence of millions of fungal species, only a small fraction has been studied and harnessed for their biological, biomedical, and industrial applications. Among them, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae stands out as one of the most well-characterized model organisms [4]. In contrast, research on filamentous fungi — aside from notable exceptions, some of which are discussed here — has lagged behind, particularly in the adoption of molecular tools and synthetic biology approaches. And while recent reviews have extensively covered both fundamental and applied aspects of S. cerevisiae research [4], literature on filamentous fungi has been less extensively examined. In the following sections, we aim to bridge this gap, with a particular emphasis on synthetic biology strategies, such as transcriptional rewiring. Indeed, this type of strategy enables to genetically reprogram fungi at will, which could have a major impact on emerging areas, such as the development of meat substitutes in the food industry and the production of mycelium-based materials, including eco-leather and sustainable building materials 5, 6, 7••.