BACKGROUND: The impacts of man-made chemicals, in particular of persistent organic pollutants, are multifactorial as they may affect the integrity of ecosystems, alter biodiversity and have undesirable effects on many organisms. We have previously demonstrated that the belowground mycobiota of forest soils acts as a buffer against the biocide pollutant pentachlorophenol. However, the trade-offs made by mycobiota to mitigate this pollutant remain cryptic. RESULTS: Herein, we demonstrate using a culture-dependent approach that exposure to pentachlorophenol led to alterations in the composition and functioning of the metacommunity, many of which were not fully alleviated when most of the biocide was degraded. Proteomic and physiological analyses showed that the carbon and nitrogen metabolisms were particularly affected. This dysregulation is possibly linked to the higher pathogenic potential of the metacommunity following exposure to the biocide, supported by the secretion of proteins related to pathogenicity and reduced susceptibility to a fungicide. Our findings provide additional evidence for the silent risks of environmental pollution, particularly as it may favour the development of pathogenic trade-offs in fungi, which may impose serious threats to animals and plant hosts.

Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry University of Barcelona Martí i Franquès 1 11 08028 Barcelona Spain

Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research School of Science and Sport University of the West of Scotland Paisley Campus PA1 2BE Paisley UK

Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier Universidade Nova de Lisboa Av da República 2780 157 Oeiras Portugal

Instituto Nacional Investigação Agrária e Veterinária Av da República 2780 157 Oeiras Portugal

Integrative biology platform Environmental Research and Technology Platform Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology Belvaux Luxembourg

Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Videnska 1083 14220 Prague 4 Czech Republic

Serra Hunter Fellow Generalitat de Catalunya Barcelona Spain

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