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Yongjie Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • mitochondrial genome comparative analysis and evolutionary insights into the entomopathogenic fungus hirsutella thompsonii
    Environmental Microbiology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Lin Wang, Shu Zhang, Yongjie Zhang
    Abstract:

    Nuclear genomes of two isolates of Hirsutella thompsonii, a pathogen causing epizootics among mites, have been reported; in contrast, its mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has remained unknown, limiting our understanding of its evolution. Herein, we annotated the first complete mitogenome of H. thompsonii, which encoded all standard fungal mitochondrial genes plus three free-standing ORFs. Transcriptional analyses validated the expression of most conserved genes and revealed some interesting transcription patterns of mitochondrial genes. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed its placement in Ophiocordycipitaceae. Comparison of five different isolates originally collected from different locations revealed mitogenome size variations (60.3-66.4 kb) mainly due to different numbers of introns. A total of 15 intron loci were identified, with 11 existing in all 5 isolates and 4 showing presence/absence dynamics. These introns were most likely obtained through horizontal transfer from other fungal organisms. Those common introns might have been in H. thompsonii mitogenomes since the divergence of the fungus from its putative sister species H. minnesotensis, whereas those dynamic introns might have experienced 1-2 gain or loss events. We also detected evidence of degeneration for some introns. Overall, our study shed new insights into the mitochondrial evolution of the acaropathogenic fungus H. thompsonii.

  • what is the chinese caterpillar fungus ophiocordyceps sinensis Ophiocordycipitaceae
    Mycology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Bhushan Shrestha, Weimin Zhang, Yongjie Zhang
    Abstract:

    Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a well-known insect fungus, naturally distributed in the Tibetan Plateau of Asia. It has been long known by its synonym Cordyceps sinensis both in scientific and non-scientific communities but was recently transferred to Ophiocordyceps. Over the last 300 years, the morphological characters of this taxon have been studied by different professionals and experts, such as religious persons, travelers, entomologists, pharmacologists and mycologists. Morphological descriptions of mature O. sinensis stroma based on recent studies are compared in this study with those of the type specimens of Berkeley (Lond J Bot. 2:205–211;1843). A literature review indicates that the specimens of Berkeley (1843) are immature. New names have been proposed for O. sinensis-like species from alpine regions, such as O. gansuensis, O. crassispora, O. kangdingensis, O. multiaxialis and O. nepalensis, and it is not obvious how these differ from O. sinensis. Epitypification and revision of O. sinensis is, ther...

Kathryn E Bushley - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • isolation of the mat1 1 mating type idiomorph and evidence for selfing in the chinese medicinal fungus ophiocordyceps sinensis
    Fungal Biology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Kathryn E Bushley, Yi Li, Wenjing Wang, Xiaoliang Wang, Lei Jiao, Joseph W Spatafora
    Abstract:

    Abstract Ophiocordyceps sinensis is one of the most valued medicinal fungi in China. Research on the mating system and sexual development is vitally important to this endangered species. Previous efforts devoted to investigate the mating type (MAT) locus of O. sinensis, however, resulted in an incomplete understanding. In this study, the MAT1-1 locus of O. sinensis was investigated. The conserved α-box and HMG-box regions of the MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-1-3 genes, respectively, and a conserved region of the DNA lyase gene were successfully amplified using degenerate PCR. A combination of TAIL-PCR and long-range PCR were used to connect these genes and obtain the sequence of the MAT1-1 locus. Screening of 22 single spore isolates by PCR demonstrated that both the MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 genes cooccurred within the same isolate. Additionally, both MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 are expressed in vegetative mycelia, providing evidence that O. sinensis is likely capable of selfing. DAPI (4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining of ascospores and hyphae showed that a majority of hyphal compartments are binucleate, suggesting that O. sinensis may be pseudohomothallic. Analyses of sequence diversity showed lower levels of genetic diversity in MAT1-1-1 compared to MAT1-2-1, indicating the possibility that different selective pressures act on the two MAT idiomorphs. The MAT1-1-1 sequences of O. sinensis and Tolypocladium inflatum cluster as a monophyletic group consistent with phylogenetic classification of Ophiocordycipitaceae. Comparison of the structure of the MAT1-1 locus across hypocrealean taxa showed that O. sinensis contains all three mating type genes (MAT1-1-1, MAT1-1-2, and MAT1-1-3) and supported previous observations that of the four families in Hypocreales, MAT1-1-3 has undergone a lineage specific loss only in some members of the Cordycipitaceae.

Fernando E Vega - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Bhushan Shrestha - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Current nomenclatural changes in Cordyceps sensu lato and its multidisciplinary impacts
    Taylor & Francis Group, 2017
    Co-Authors: Bhushan Shrestha, Giho Sung, Jaemo Sung
    Abstract:

    Innumerable name changes have occurred in Cordyceps and allied taxa, after the phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps, coupled by the application of one fungus one name after the amendment of ICN. Complying with one fungus one name, many generic names have been protected for monophyletic clades in Clavicipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae that have made tremendous transfer of Cordyceps spp. to both sexual and asexual genera. Species compositions of the accepted genera Ophiocordyceps, Tolypocladium, Metarhizium, Perennicordyceps, Polycephalomyces and Purpureocillium are briefly discussed to update the readers with the current placements of Cordyceps spp. Some examples of frequent name changes of Cordyceps spp. are also mentioned, with reference to use of older scientific names in non-mycological publications

  • new 1f1n species combinations in Ophiocordycipitaceae hypocreales
    IMA fungus, 2015
    Co-Authors: Alisha C Quandt, Nigel L Hyweljones, Bhushan Shrestha, Ryan M. Kepler, Janet Jennifer Luangsaard
    Abstract:

    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.

  • what is the chinese caterpillar fungus ophiocordyceps sinensis Ophiocordycipitaceae
    Mycology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Bhushan Shrestha, Weimin Zhang, Yongjie Zhang
    Abstract:

    Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a well-known insect fungus, naturally distributed in the Tibetan Plateau of Asia. It has been long known by its synonym Cordyceps sinensis both in scientific and non-scientific communities but was recently transferred to Ophiocordyceps. Over the last 300 years, the morphological characters of this taxon have been studied by different professionals and experts, such as religious persons, travelers, entomologists, pharmacologists and mycologists. Morphological descriptions of mature O. sinensis stroma based on recent studies are compared in this study with those of the type specimens of Berkeley (Lond J Bot. 2:205–211;1843). A literature review indicates that the specimens of Berkeley (1843) are immature. New names have been proposed for O. sinensis-like species from alpine regions, such as O. gansuensis, O. crassispora, O. kangdingensis, O. multiaxialis and O. nepalensis, and it is not obvious how these differ from O. sinensis. Epitypification and revision of O. sinensis is, ther...

  • phylogenetic classification of cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi
    Studies in Mycology, 2007
    Co-Authors: Giho Sung, Nigel L Hyweljones, Jaemo Sung, Janet Jennifer Luangsaard, Bhushan Shrestha
    Abstract:

    Cordyceps, comprising over 400 species, was historically classified in the Clavicipitaceae, based on cylindrical asci, thickened ascus apices and filiform ascospores, which often disarticulate into part-spores. Cordyceps was characterized by the production of well- developed often stipitate stromata and an ecology as a pathogen of arthropods and Elaphomyces with infrageneric classifications emphasizing arrangement of perithecia, ascospore morphology and host affiliation. To refine the classification of Cordyceps and the Clavicipitaceae, the phylogenetic relationships of 162 taxa were estimated based on analyses consisting of five to seven loci, including the nuclear ribosomal small and large subunits (nrSSU and nrLSU), the elongation factor 1α (tef1), the largest and the second largest subunits of RNA polymerase ІІ (rpb1 and rpb2), β-tubulin (tub), and mitochondrial ATP6 (atp6). Our results strongly support the existence of three clavicipitaceous clades and reject the monophyly of both Cordyceps and Clavicipitaceae. Most diagnostic characters used in current classifications of Cordyceps (e.g., arrangement of perithecia, ascospore fragmentation, etc.) were not supported as being phylogenetically informative; the characters that were most consistent with the phylogeny were texture, pigmentation and morphology of stromata. Therefore, we revise the taxonomy of Cordyceps and the Clavicipitaceae to be consistent with the multi-gene phylogeny. The family Cordycipitaceae is validated based on the type of Cordyceps, C. militaris, and includes most Cordyceps species that possess brightly coloured, fleshy stromata. The new family Ophiocordycipitaceae is proposed based on Ophiocordyceps Petch, which we emend. The majority of species in this family produce darkly pigmented, tough to pliant stromata that often possess aperithecial apices. The new genus Elaphocordyceps is proposed for a subclade of the Ophiocordycipitaceae, which includes all species of Cordyceps that parasitize the fungal genus Elaphomyces and some closely related species that parasitize arthropods. The family Clavicipitaceae s. s. is emended and includes the core clade of grass symbionts (e.g., Balansia, Claviceps, Epichloe, etc.), and the entomopathogenic genus Hypocrella and relatives. In addition, the new genus Metacordyceps is proposed for Cordyceps species that are closely related to the grass symbionts in the Clavicipitaceae s. s. Metacordyceps includes teleomorphs linked to Metarhizium and other closely related anamorphs. Two new species are described, and lists of accepted names for species in Cordyceps, Elaphocordyceps, Metacordyceps and Ophiocordyceps are provided. & Spatafora, O. aphodii (Mathieson) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. appendiculata (Kobayasi & Shimizu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. arachneicola (Kobayasi) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. arbuscula (Teng) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. armeniaca (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. asyuensis (Kobayasi & Shimizu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. aurantia (Kobayasi & Shimizu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. australis (Speg.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. barnesii (Thwaites) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. bicephala (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. bispora (Stifler) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. brunneipunctata (Hywel-Jones) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. cantharelloides (Samson & H.C. Evans) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. carabidicola (Kobayasi & Shimizu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. cicadicola (Teng) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. clavata (Kobayasi & Shimizu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. coccidiicola (Kobayasi) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. coccigena (Tul. & C. Tul.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. cochlidiicola (Kobayasi & Shimizu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. corallomyces (A. Moller) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. crassispora (M. Zang, D. R. Yang & C.D. Li) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. crinalis (Ellis ex Lloyd) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. cucumispora (H.C. Evans & Samson) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. curculionum (Tul. & C. Tul.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. cusu (Pat.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. cylindrostromata (Z.Q. Liang, A.Y. Liu & M.H. Liu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. dayiensis (Z.Q. Liang) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, O. dermapterigena (Z.Q. Liang, A.Y. Liu & M.H. Liu) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones &

Richard A. Humber - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Characterization of Tolypocladium cylindrosporum (Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) isolates from Brazil and their efficacy against Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae).
    Journal of applied microbiology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Cristian Montalva, J.j. Silva, Luiz F.n. Rocha, Christian Luz, Richard A. Humber
    Abstract:

    AIMS To survey and to characterize entomopathogenic fungi as natural enemies of mosquitoes in Central Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS Tolypocladium cylindrosporum (Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) was isolated for the first time in South America by using Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae) as sentinel larvae in a stagnant mosquito breeding site in a secondary tropical forest. Two isolates were morphologically and molecularly identified, and their activity tested against A. aegypti eggs, larvae and adults. CONCLUSIONS Findings emphasize the importance of T. cylindrosporum as a natural fungal antagonist of mosquitoes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Both isolates affected larvae and adults but were less effective against eggs; both have potential for development as a mycoinsecticide especially against larvae of A. aegypti the main vector of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and urban yellow fever.

  • Phylogenetic-based nomenclatural proposals for Ophiocordycipitaceae (Hypocreales) with new combinations in Tolypocladium.
    IMA fungus, 2014
    Co-Authors: C. Alisha Quandt, Richard A. Humber, Ryan M. Kepler, Joao P M Araujo, H C Evans, David P Hughes, Walter Gams, Sayaka Ban, Nigel L Hywel-jones
    Abstract:

    Ophiocordycipitaceae is a diverse family comprising ecologically, economically, medicinally, and culturally important fungi. The family was recognized due to the polyphyly of the genus Cordyceps and the broad diversity of the mostly arthropod-pathogenic lineages of Hypocreales. The other two cordyceps-like families, Cordycipitaceae and Clavicipitaceae, will be revised taxonomically elsewhere. Historically, many species were placed in Cordyceps, but other genera have been described in this family as well, including several based on anamorphic features. Currently there are 24 generic names in use across both asexual and sexual life stages for species of Ophiocordycipitaceae. To reflect changes in Art. 59 in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), we propose to protect and to suppress names within Ophiocordycipitaceae, and to present taxonomic revisions in the genus Tolypocladium, based on rigorous and extensively sampled molecular phylogenetic analyses. When approaching this task, we considered the principles of priority, monophyly, minimizing taxonomic revisions, and the practical utility of these fungi within the wider biological research community.