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Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ard - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Ophiocordyceps flavida sp. nov. (Ophiocordycipitaceae), a new species from Thailand associated with Pseudogibellula formicarum (Cordycipitaceae), and their bioactive secondary metabolites
Mycological Progress, 2021Co-Authors: Suchada Mongkolsamrit, M. Stadler, Wasana Noisripoom, Robert A. Samson, Siraphop Pumiputikul, Chollaratt Boonlarppradab, Kevin Becker, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ardAbstract:During a diversity study of entomopathogenic fungi in an agricultural ecosystem, two fungi were collected, isolated, and identified based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of three nuclear loci (LSU, TEF1 , and RPB1 ) combined with morphological data. In this study, one novel species is described, Ophiocordyceps flavida , and a new record of Pseudogibellula formicarum for Thailand. Ophiocordyceps flavida morphologically resembles the Hirsutella anamorph of Ophiocordyceps pruinosa by having a mononematous character of the conidiophores and the same insect host (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Pseudogibellula formicarum is found to occur simultaneously with O. flavida , producing white conidiophores on the host . Additionally, secondary metabolites of both fungi were investigated and the major compound in O. flavida was identified as 2-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-oxirane. Pseudogibellula formicarum from Ghana and Thailand produces 6-methoxy-1 H -indole-3-carbonitrile as a main component. These compounds are known from chemical synthesis or as products of biotransformation, respectively. However, they were obtained in our study as genuine fungal metabolites for the first time and may even constitute chemotaxonomic markers for the respective species.
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Ophiocordyceps asiana and Ophiocordyceps tessaratomidarum (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales), two new species on stink bugs from Thailand
Mycological Progress, 2021Co-Authors: Srikhun Khao-ngam, Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Wasana Noisripoom, Winanda Himaman, Nattawut Rungjindamai, Wuttikorn Pooissarakul, Jomsurang Duangthisan, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ardAbstract:Two new Ophiocordyceps species from Thailand, which belong to Ophiocordyceps nutans species complex and attack adult and nymph of stink bugs, are described: Ophiocordyceps asiana and O. tessaratomidarum. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS and a combined sequence data of LSU, RPB1 and TEF1 revealed that these two new species are distinct from other known species in Ophiocordyceps nutans species complex. Based on the findings on morphological studies, they further support the naming of these two novel species. Ophiocordyceps asiana is parasitic on adult and nymph stink bugs, members of Coreidae and Pentatomidae which were recorded from China, Japan and Thailand, while O. tessaratomidarum is reported from Thailand for the first time and is only found as a parasite on adult stink bug, Tessaratoma papillosa (Tessaratomidae, Hemiptera). The fertile heads of O. asiana are shorter than reported for O. tessaratomidarum , and the colours of fertile heads producing teleomorph of these two species differs from each other by having strong reddish orange or light yellowish pink in O. asiana and pale yellow in O. tessaratomidarum .
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Resurrection of Paraisaria in the Ophiocordycipitaceae with three new species from Thailand
Mycological Progress, 2019Co-Authors: Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Wasana Noisripoom, Nuntanat Arnamnart, Supaporn Lamlertthon, Winanda Himaman, Panrada Jangsantear, Robert A. Samson, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ardAbstract:Paraisaria is distinct from Ophiocordyceps and is resurrected as a valid genus within Ophiocordycipitaceae . Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses and morphological characterization support the split of Paraisaria from Ophiocordyceps. Three new species are named from Thailand including Paraisaria orthopterorum , P. phuwiangensis , and P. yodhathaii . New species combinations are made for Ophiocordyceps amazonica , O. blattarioides , O. coenomyiae , O. gracilioides , O. gracilis , O. heteropoda , O. paramyrmicarum (= Paraisaria myrmicarum ), and O. tettigonia.
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Cryptic species within Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila complex on formicine ants from Thailand
Mycological Progress, 2019Co-Authors: Artit Khonsanit, Noppol Kobmoo, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ard, Onuma PiasaiAbstract:The Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila complex is composed of pathogens specific to ants, found on the leaf litter or buried in soil and produce Hymenostilbe asexual morph. Species in this complex are morphologically highly similar and can hardly be distinguished macroscopically. To date, it has only been observed on formicine ants of the genera Polyrhachis and Camponotus . In this study, observations were conducted in three sites at Khao Yai National Park of Thailand where three new species are proposed. Molecular phylogenies based on the large subunit of the ribosomal DNA (LSU), partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF), and the largest and second largest subunits of the RNA polymerase Π (PRB1 and RPB2) revealed distinct clades separating these new species, namely Ophiocordyceps megacuculla , Ophiocordyceps khaoyaiensis , and Ophiocordyceps granospora . The morphological features of these three new species are clearly different from Ophiocordyceps thanathonensis , a recently described species of the complex, but mostly overlap between these three. However, they are proposed as distinct species based on molecular phylogenetic relationships, genetic distance, and minor morphological characters related to sexual structures.
David P. Hughes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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zombie ant fungi across continents 15 new species and new combinations within Ophiocordyceps i myrmecophilous hirsutelloid species
Studies in Mycology, 2018Co-Authors: Joao P M Araujo, Harry C. Evans, Ryan M. Kepler, David P. HughesAbstract:Ophiocordyceps species infecting ants - the so-called zombie-ant fungi - comprise one of the most intriguing and fascinating relationships between microbes and animals. They are widespread within tropical forests worldwide, with relatively few reports from temperate ecosystems. These pathogens possess the ability to manipulate host behaviour in order to increase their own fitness. Depending on the fungal species involved the infected ants are manipulated either to leave the nest to ascend understorey shrubs, to die biting onto vegetation, or descend from the canopy to die at the base of trees. Experimental evidence has demonstrated that the behavioural change aids spore dispersal and thus increases the chances of infection, because of the existing behavioural immunity expressed inside ant colonies that limits fungal development and transmission. Despite their undoubted importance for ecosystem functioning, these fungal pathogens are still poorly documented, especially regarding their diversity, ecology and evolutionary relationships. Here, we describe 15 new species of Ophiocordyceps with hirsutella-like asexual morphs that exclusively infect ants. These form a monophyletic group that we identified in this study as myrmecophilous hirsutelloid species. We also propose new combinations for species previously described as varieties and provide for the first time important morphological and ecological information. The species proposed herein were collected in Brazil, Colombia, USA, Australia and Japan. All species could readily be separated using classic taxonomic criteria, in particular ascospore and asexual morphology.
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Survival rates.
2018Co-Authors: Emilia Solá Gracia, Charissa De Bekker, Ephraim M. Hanks, David P. HughesAbstract:Each line color represents the survival rate observed in a different treatment: green (infected, n = 60), blue (sham, n = 59), and red (healthy, n = 91). Values on the y-axis denote the proportion of individuals which survived, while the x-axis represents time post-injection. We found individuals injected with Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae had a significantly higher mortality rate than other treatments (Kaplan-Meier log rank: P
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ant infecting Ophiocordyceps genomes reveal a high diversity of potential behavioral manipulation genes and a possible major role for enterotoxins
Scientific Reports, 2017Co-Authors: Harry C. Evans, Charissa De Bekker, Andreas Brachmann, Robin A Ohm, David P. HughesAbstract:Much can be gained from revealing the mechanisms fungal entomopathogens employ. Especially intriguing are fungal parasites that manipulate insect behavior because, presumably, they secrete a wealth of bioactive compounds. To gain more insight into their strategies, we compared the genomes of five ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps species from three species complexes. These species were collected across three continents, from five different ant species in which they induce different levels of manipulation. A considerable number of (small) secreted and pathogenicity-related proteins were only found in these ant-manipulating Ophiocordyceps species, and not in other ascomycetes. However, few of those proteins were conserved among them, suggesting that several different methods of behavior modification have evolved. This is further supported by a relatively fast evolution of previously reported candidate manipulation genes associated with biting behavior. Moreover, secondary metabolite clusters, activated during biting behavior, appeared conserved within a species complex, but not beyond. The independent co-evolution between these manipulating parasites and their respective hosts might thus have led to rather diverse strategies to alter behavior. Our data indicate that specialized, secreted enterotoxins may play a major role in one of these strategies.
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Daily rhythms and enrichment patterns in the transcriptome of the behavior-manipulating parasite Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae - Fig 1
2017Co-Authors: Charissa De Bekker, David P. Hughes, Ian Will, Andreas Brachmann, Martha MerrowAbstract:Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae growth conditionsO. kimflemingiae was grown in its blastospore state (A), rather than in its vegetative growth state (B). Blastospores were synchronized under constant light, followed by entrainment in 24 h LD (12 h:12 h) cycles before harvesting samples under either cycling or free-running conditions (C).
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Daily rhythms and enrichment patterns in the transcriptome of the behavior-manipulating parasite Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae
2017Co-Authors: Charissa De Bekker, David P. Hughes, Ian Will, Andreas Brachmann, Martha MerrowAbstract:Various parasite-host interactions that involve adaptive manipulation of host behavior display time-of-day synchronization of certain events. One example is the manipulated biting behavior observed in Carpenter ants infected with Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato. We hypothesized that biological clocks play an important role in this and other parasite-host interactions. In order to identify candidate molecular clock components, we used two general strategies: bioinformatics and transcriptional profiling. The bioinformatics approach was used to identify putative homologs of known clock genes. For transcriptional profiling, RNA-Seq was performed on 48 h time courses of Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae (a recently named species of the O. unilateralis complex), whose genome has recently been sequenced. Fungal blastospores were entrained in liquid media under 24 h light-dark (LD) cycles and were harvested at 4 h intervals either under LD or continuous darkness. Of all O. kimflemingiae genes, 5.3% had rhythmic mRNAs under these conditions (JTK Cycle, ≤ 0.057 statistical cutoff). Our data further indicates that a significant number of transcription factors have a peaked activity during the light phase (day time). The expression levels of a significant number of secreted enzymes, proteases, toxins and small bioactive compounds peaked during the dark phase or subjective night. These findings support a model whereby this fungal parasite uses its biological clock for phase-specific activity. We further suggest that this may be a general mechanism involved in parasite-host interactions.
Suchada Mongkolsamrit - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Ophiocordyceps flavida sp. nov. (Ophiocordycipitaceae), a new species from Thailand associated with Pseudogibellula formicarum (Cordycipitaceae), and their bioactive secondary metabolites
Mycological Progress, 2021Co-Authors: Suchada Mongkolsamrit, M. Stadler, Wasana Noisripoom, Robert A. Samson, Siraphop Pumiputikul, Chollaratt Boonlarppradab, Kevin Becker, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ardAbstract:During a diversity study of entomopathogenic fungi in an agricultural ecosystem, two fungi were collected, isolated, and identified based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of three nuclear loci (LSU, TEF1 , and RPB1 ) combined with morphological data. In this study, one novel species is described, Ophiocordyceps flavida , and a new record of Pseudogibellula formicarum for Thailand. Ophiocordyceps flavida morphologically resembles the Hirsutella anamorph of Ophiocordyceps pruinosa by having a mononematous character of the conidiophores and the same insect host (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Pseudogibellula formicarum is found to occur simultaneously with O. flavida , producing white conidiophores on the host . Additionally, secondary metabolites of both fungi were investigated and the major compound in O. flavida was identified as 2-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-oxirane. Pseudogibellula formicarum from Ghana and Thailand produces 6-methoxy-1 H -indole-3-carbonitrile as a main component. These compounds are known from chemical synthesis or as products of biotransformation, respectively. However, they were obtained in our study as genuine fungal metabolites for the first time and may even constitute chemotaxonomic markers for the respective species.
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Ophiocordyceps asiana and Ophiocordyceps tessaratomidarum (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales), two new species on stink bugs from Thailand
Mycological Progress, 2021Co-Authors: Srikhun Khao-ngam, Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Wasana Noisripoom, Winanda Himaman, Nattawut Rungjindamai, Wuttikorn Pooissarakul, Jomsurang Duangthisan, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ardAbstract:Two new Ophiocordyceps species from Thailand, which belong to Ophiocordyceps nutans species complex and attack adult and nymph of stink bugs, are described: Ophiocordyceps asiana and O. tessaratomidarum. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS and a combined sequence data of LSU, RPB1 and TEF1 revealed that these two new species are distinct from other known species in Ophiocordyceps nutans species complex. Based on the findings on morphological studies, they further support the naming of these two novel species. Ophiocordyceps asiana is parasitic on adult and nymph stink bugs, members of Coreidae and Pentatomidae which were recorded from China, Japan and Thailand, while O. tessaratomidarum is reported from Thailand for the first time and is only found as a parasite on adult stink bug, Tessaratoma papillosa (Tessaratomidae, Hemiptera). The fertile heads of O. asiana are shorter than reported for O. tessaratomidarum , and the colours of fertile heads producing teleomorph of these two species differs from each other by having strong reddish orange or light yellowish pink in O. asiana and pale yellow in O. tessaratomidarum .
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Resurrection of Paraisaria in the Ophiocordycipitaceae with three new species from Thailand
Mycological Progress, 2019Co-Authors: Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Wasana Noisripoom, Nuntanat Arnamnart, Supaporn Lamlertthon, Winanda Himaman, Panrada Jangsantear, Robert A. Samson, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ardAbstract:Paraisaria is distinct from Ophiocordyceps and is resurrected as a valid genus within Ophiocordycipitaceae . Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses and morphological characterization support the split of Paraisaria from Ophiocordyceps. Three new species are named from Thailand including Paraisaria orthopterorum , P. phuwiangensis , and P. yodhathaii . New species combinations are made for Ophiocordyceps amazonica , O. blattarioides , O. coenomyiae , O. gracilioides , O. gracilis , O. heteropoda , O. paramyrmicarum (= Paraisaria myrmicarum ), and O. tettigonia.
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new species of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis an ubiquitous pathogen of ants from thailand
Fungal Biology, 2015Co-Authors: Noppol Kobmoo, Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Taksadon Wutikhun, Kanoksri Tasanathai, Artit Khonsanit, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Janet Jennifer LuangsaardAbstract:Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is an ubiquitous pathogen of ants with hidden phylogenetic diversity associated with host specificity. In this study, we describe two new species to this species complex: Ophiocordyceps septa and Ophiocordyceps rami. Both were found on unidentified ants of the genus Camponotus (C. sp.1 and C. sp2 respectively). Ophiocordyceps septa is very similar to Ophiocordyceps polyrhachis-furcata, Ophiocordyceps camponoti-leonardi, and Ophiocordyceps camponoti-saundersi (found respectively on the ants Polyrhachis furcata, Camponotus leonardi, and Camponotus saundersi) but differs in the size, the shape and the septation of the ascospores, while O. rami is clearly identifiable with macro-morphological features including multiple stromata similar to Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis on Camponotus gigas. A thorough morphological examination was also provided for O. polyrhachis-furcata, O. camponoti-leonardi, and O. camponoti saundersi, showing that the first was apparently distinguishable from the others by the absence of septation of the ascospores. A combined molecular phylogeny also supports O. septa and O. rami as distinct new species.
Donnaya Thanakitpipattana - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Three new Ophiocordyceps species in the Ophiocordyceps pseudoacicularis species complex on Lepidoptera larvae in Southeast Asia
Mycological Progress, 2020Co-Authors: Kanoksri Tasanathai, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Winanda Himaman, Keo Phommavong, Ngeun Dengkhhamounh, Jennifer Luangsa-ardAbstract:Three new Ophiocordyceps species with superficial perithecia on Lepidoptera larvae are described: O. campes , O. longistromata , and O. phuwiangensis . Ophiocordyceps longistromata is characterized by long stromata and is closely related to O. campes based on morphological characters and phylogenetic position. Ophiocordyceps phuwiangensis is distinguished from closely related species by producing small ovoid superficial perithecia and multiseptate whole ascospores. Molecular phylogenies based on LSU, TEF , RPB1 , and RPB2 gene loci also confirmed the distinctiveness of these new species and clustered with other specimens that produced the Hirsutella asexual morph with helical twisting of the phialide necks and are phylogenetically distinct from other known species characters in this clade.
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Cryptic species within Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila complex on formicine ants from Thailand
Mycological Progress, 2019Co-Authors: Artit Khonsanit, Noppol Kobmoo, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ard, Onuma PiasaiAbstract:The Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila complex is composed of pathogens specific to ants, found on the leaf litter or buried in soil and produce Hymenostilbe asexual morph. Species in this complex are morphologically highly similar and can hardly be distinguished macroscopically. To date, it has only been observed on formicine ants of the genera Polyrhachis and Camponotus . In this study, observations were conducted in three sites at Khao Yai National Park of Thailand where three new species are proposed. Molecular phylogenies based on the large subunit of the ribosomal DNA (LSU), partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF), and the largest and second largest subunits of the RNA polymerase Π (PRB1 and RPB2) revealed distinct clades separating these new species, namely Ophiocordyceps megacuculla , Ophiocordyceps khaoyaiensis , and Ophiocordyceps granospora . The morphological features of these three new species are clearly different from Ophiocordyceps thanathonensis , a recently described species of the complex, but mostly overlap between these three. However, they are proposed as distinct species based on molecular phylogenetic relationships, genetic distance, and minor morphological characters related to sexual structures.
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Novel and interesting Ophiocordyceps spp. ( Ophiocordycipitaceae , Hypocreales ) with superficial perithecia from Thailand
Studies in mycology, 2018Co-Authors: J. Luangsa-ard, Kanoksri Tasanathai, Artit Khonsanit, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, M. StadlerAbstract:Abstract Ophiocordyceps is a heterogeneous, species-rich genus in the order Hypocreales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) that includes invertebrate-pathogenic taxa. In this study, seven new species in Ophiocordyceps producing superficial perithecia infecting various insect hosts (Lepidoptera, Hemiptera) are described from Thailand – Ophiocordyceps brunneinigra, O. brunneiperitheciata, O. geometridicola, O. multiperitheciata, O. pauciovoperitheciata, O. pseudoacicularis and O. spataforae. Phylogenetic analyses based on multigene loci comprising the large subunit of the ribosomal DNA (LSU), partial sequences of elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) and the largest and second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase (RPB1, PRB2) strongly support these new species of Ophiocordyceps in the Ophiocordycipitaceae. They differ from species previously described species Ophiocordyceps acicularis, O. atewensis, O. cochlidiicola, and O. crinalis, in the shape and sizes of distinguishing characters such as perithecia, ascospores and conidia. We also report a new record of O. macroacicularis in Thailand.
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new species of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis an ubiquitous pathogen of ants from thailand
Fungal Biology, 2015Co-Authors: Noppol Kobmoo, Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Taksadon Wutikhun, Kanoksri Tasanathai, Artit Khonsanit, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Janet Jennifer LuangsaardAbstract:Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is an ubiquitous pathogen of ants with hidden phylogenetic diversity associated with host specificity. In this study, we describe two new species to this species complex: Ophiocordyceps septa and Ophiocordyceps rami. Both were found on unidentified ants of the genus Camponotus (C. sp.1 and C. sp2 respectively). Ophiocordyceps septa is very similar to Ophiocordyceps polyrhachis-furcata, Ophiocordyceps camponoti-leonardi, and Ophiocordyceps camponoti-saundersi (found respectively on the ants Polyrhachis furcata, Camponotus leonardi, and Camponotus saundersi) but differs in the size, the shape and the septation of the ascospores, while O. rami is clearly identifiable with macro-morphological features including multiple stromata similar to Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis on Camponotus gigas. A thorough morphological examination was also provided for O. polyrhachis-furcata, O. camponoti-leonardi, and O. camponoti saundersi, showing that the first was apparently distinguishable from the others by the absence of septation of the ascospores. A combined molecular phylogeny also supports O. septa and O. rami as distinct new species.
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Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis a new species of Ophiocordyceps pathogenic to camponotus gigas in hala bala wildlife sanctuary southern thailand
Fungal Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Jennifer J Luangsaard, Kanoksri Tasanathai, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Rungpet Ridkaew, Nigel L HyweljonesAbstract:Several fungal pathogens of ants have been reported as members of the family Ophiocordycipitaceae in the order Hypocreales. Surveys in the south of Thailand have shown specimens showing characteristics that are morphologically similar to Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a very common ant pathogen, by producing a lateral pad on one side of the stroma and producing whole ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses of the partial elongation factor tef1-α and the internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA have shown that this is a distinct species from O. unilateralis. The morphological characters of Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis differs from O. unilateralis in the possession of bigger perithecia and ascospores, and molecular analyses have shown that this ant-specific fungus is sufficiently different from O. unilateralis, deserving the naming of a new species. Aspects of morphology, host association/host-specificity, and taxonomic position are discussed.
Jennifer J Luangsaard - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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multigene phylogenetics of polycephalomyces ophiocordycipitaceae hypocreales with two new species from thailand
Scientific Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Jennifer J Luangsaard, Yuanpin Xiao, Tingchi Wen, Sinang Hongsanan, Rajesh Jeewon, Siraprapa Brooks, Dhanushka N Wanasinghe, Fengyao Long, Kevin D HydeAbstract:Polycephalomyces (Ophiocordycipitaceae) species are found in subtropical regions and are parasitic or hyperparasitic on insects. Two new species, P. aurantiacus and P. marginaliradians, parasitic on Ophiocordyceps barnesii and larva of Cossidae respectively, are introduced in this paper. Morphological comparison with extant species and DNA based phylogenies from analyses of a multigene dataset support the establishment of the new taxa. Polycephalomyces aurantiacus, exhibiting a hyperparasitic lifestyle on Ophiocordyceps barnesii, differs from other species in producing orange conidia in mass and have longer β-phialides in culture. Polycephalomyces marginaliradians differs from other Ophiocordyceps species by producing single stromata with a stipe, smaller perithecia and branched α-phialides and catenate α-conidia and is parasitic on Cossidae. A combined nrSSU, nrLSU, ITS, tef-1a, rpb1 and rpb2 sequence data was analysed phylogenetically including Ophiocordyceps and Polycephalomyces taxa. The new species described herein are clearly distinct from other species in Polycephalomyces. We provide a key to the species of Polycephalomyces and discuss relevant interspecies relationships.
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new 1f1n species combinations in ophiocordycipitaceae hypocreales
IMA fungus, 2015Co-Authors: Alisha C Quandt, Bhushan Shrestha, Gi-ho Sung, Ryan M. Kepler, Nigel L Hyweljones, Jennifer J LuangsaardAbstract:Based on the taxonomic and nomenclatural recommendations of Quandt et al. (2014) new species combinations are made for Ophiocordycipitaceae. These new combinations are compliant with recent changes in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) and the abolition of the dual system of nomenclature for fungi. These changes include 10 new combinations into Drechmeria, four new combinations into Harposporium, 23 new combinations and 15 synonymies in Ophiocordyceps, and one new combination into Purpureocillium.
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Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis a new species of Ophiocordyceps pathogenic to camponotus gigas in hala bala wildlife sanctuary southern thailand
Fungal Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Jennifer J Luangsaard, Kanoksri Tasanathai, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Rungpet Ridkaew, Nigel L HyweljonesAbstract:Several fungal pathogens of ants have been reported as members of the family Ophiocordycipitaceae in the order Hypocreales. Surveys in the south of Thailand have shown specimens showing characteristics that are morphologically similar to Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a very common ant pathogen, by producing a lateral pad on one side of the stroma and producing whole ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses of the partial elongation factor tef1-α and the internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA have shown that this is a distinct species from O. unilateralis. The morphological characters of Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis differs from O. unilateralis in the possession of bigger perithecia and ascospores, and molecular analyses have shown that this ant-specific fungus is sufficiently different from O. unilateralis, deserving the naming of a new species. Aspects of morphology, host association/host-specificity, and taxonomic position are discussed.