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International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024The genus consists of obligate parasites that cause ring spot, scab, and leaf blight diseases in higher plant species. We assembled the three complete mitogenomes for...
The genus consists of obligate parasites that cause ring spot, scab, and leaf blight diseases in higher plant species. We assembled the three complete mitogenomes for the guava fruit ring spot pathogen, . The mitogenomes are circular, with sizes of 38,666 bp, 33,846 bp, and 32,593 bp. The comparative analyses with showed that differs greatly from it in the length of the mitogenomes and the number of introns. Moreover, they showed significant differences in the gene content and tRNAs. The two genera showed little difference in gene skewness and codon preference for core protein-coding genes (PCGs). We compared gene sequencing in the mitogenomes of the order and found large-scale gene rearrangement events, such as gene translocations and the duplication of tRNAs. shows a unique evolutionary position in the phylum constructed in phylogenetic analyses. We also found a more concentrated distribution of evolutionary pressures on the PCGs of in the phylum and that they are under little selective pressure compared to other species and are subjected to purifying selection. This study explores the evolutionary dynamics of the mitogenomes of and provides important support for genetic and taxonomic studies.
Topics: Phylogeny; Xylariales; RNA, Transfer; Introns; Genome, Mitochondrial
PubMed: 38542068
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063093 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024Lamb. is an important, common afforestation and timber tree species in China. Species of are well-known pathogens of needle blight. In this study, the five...
Lamb. is an important, common afforestation and timber tree species in China. Species of are well-known pathogens of needle blight. In this study, the five representative strains were isolated from needle blight from needles of in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Based on multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of the three genomic loci (ITS, , and ), in conjunction with morphological characteristics, a new species, namely sp. nov., was described and reported. Pathogenicity tests revealed that the five representative strains of the species described above were pathogenic to . The study revealed the diversity of pathogenic species of needle blight on . This is the first report of needle blight caused by on in China and worldwide. This provides useful information for future research on management strategies of this disease.
PubMed: 38535238
DOI: 10.3390/jof10030230 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology Apr 2024In this work, we aimed to isolate marine bacteria that produce metabolites with antifungal properties.
AIMS
In this work, we aimed to isolate marine bacteria that produce metabolites with antifungal properties.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Paenibacillus polymyxa 188 was isolated from a marine sediment sample, and it showed excellent antifungal activity against many fungi pathogenic to plants (Fusarium tricinctum, Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Fusarium oxysporum, F. oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc), Curvularia plantarum, and Talaromyces pinophilus) and to humans (Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium oxalicum, and Microsphaeropsis arundinis). The antifungal compounds produced by P. polymyxa 188 were extracted and analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The complete genome sequence and biosynthetic gene clusters of P. polymyxa 188 were characterized and compared with those of other strains. A total of 238 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were identified in P. polymyxa 188. Two antibiotic gene clusters, fusaricidin and tridecaptin, exist in P. polymyxa 188, which is different from other strains that typically have multiple antibiotic gene clusters.
CONCLUSIONS
Paenibacilluspolymyxa 188 was identified with numerous biosynthetic gene clusters, and its antifungal ability against pathogenic fungi was verified.
Topics: Humans; Paenibacillus polymyxa; Antifungal Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Paenibacillus
PubMed: 38509027
DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae075 -
MycoKeys 2024Chinese yew, Taxuschinensisvar.mairei is an endangered shrub native to south-eastern China and is widely known for its medicinal value. The increased cultivation of...
Chinese yew, Taxuschinensisvar.mairei is an endangered shrub native to south-eastern China and is widely known for its medicinal value. The increased cultivation of Chinese yew has increased the incidence of various fungal diseases. In this study, Pestalotioid fungi associated with needle spot of Chinese yew were isolated from Guangxi Province. Based on morphological examinations and multi-locus (ITS, , ) phylogenies, these isolates were identified to five species, including two new species, and , two potential novel species, sp. 3 and sp. 4, with a known species (), firstly recorded from Chinese yew. These two new species were morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from the extant Pestalotioid species in Chinese yew. Pathogenicity and culture characteristic tests of these five Pestalotioid species were also performed in this study. The pathogenicity test results revealed that sp. 3 can cause diseases in Chinese yew needles. These results have indicated that the diversity of Pestalotioid species associated with Chinese yew was greater than previously determined and provided helpful information for Chinese yew disease diagnosis and management.
PubMed: 38449923
DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.102.113696 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024Black spot needle blight is a minor disease in Mongolian Scots pine ( var. ) caused by , but it can cause economic losses in severe cases. Sodium pheophorbide a (SPA),...
Black spot needle blight is a minor disease in Mongolian Scots pine ( var. ) caused by , but it can cause economic losses in severe cases. Sodium pheophorbide a (SPA), an intermediate product of the chlorophyll metabolism pathway, is a compound with photoactivated antifungal activity, which has been previously shown to inhibit the growth of . In this study, SPA significantly reduced the incidence and disease index and enhanced the chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activities of var. . To further study the molecular mechanism of the inhibition, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis of mycelia with and without SPA treatment. The cellular proteins were obtained from mycelial samples and subjected to a tandem mass tag (TMT)-labelling LC-MS/MS analysis. Based on the results of de novo transcriptome assembly, 613 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) ( < 0.05) were identified, of which 360 were upregulated and 253 downregulated. The 527 annotated DEPs were classified into 50 functional groups according to Gene Ontology and linked to 256 different pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database as a reference. A joint analysis of the transcriptome and proteomics results showed that the top three pathways were Amino acid metabolism, Carbohydrate metabolism, and Lipid metabolism. These results provide new viewpoints into the molecular mechanism of the inhibition of by SPA at the protein level and a theoretical basis for evaluating SPA as an antifungal agent to protect forests.
PubMed: 38392774
DOI: 10.3390/jof10020102 -
Plant Disease Jun 2024Hua is a perennial herb of the Asparagaceae family that is used for both dietary and medicinal purposes in China. In September 2019, a new leaf spot disease on was...
Hua is a perennial herb of the Asparagaceae family that is used for both dietary and medicinal purposes in China. In September 2019, a new leaf spot disease on was detected and is currently widespread in Huaihua, Hunan Province, China. Pathogenic fungi were isolated and purified from samples of diseased tissue that were collected for morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies. The pathogen was identified using multilocus (ITS, TEF-1, and TUB2) phylogenies, as well as morphological characters, and was found to be clustered but separately divergent from species of . However, there were significant morphological differences between the pathogen and similar species. The pathogen was finally identified as a new species that was designated . This is the first report of serving as the causal agent of gray leaf spot on . This study will provide useful information for the diagnosis and management of this disease.
PubMed: 38381962
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-12-23-2743-SC -
Current Medical Mycology Sep 2023Onychomycosis caused by dematiaceous fungi is rarely reported and the identification is also quite tricky due to poor sporulation. Recent emergence of dematiaceous fungi...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Onychomycosis caused by dematiaceous fungi is rarely reported and the identification is also quite tricky due to poor sporulation. Recent emergence of dematiaceous fungi as a major cause of onychomycosis is a matter of concern in the field of mycology. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the dematiaceous fungi as a possible cause of onychomycosis, especially among agricultural workers. In addition, the evaluation of the antifungal susceptibility patterns led to the idea of an accurate drug that will help to treat and prevent antifungal resistance.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The standard procedure was followed for direct microscopic examination and fungi isolation. Furthermore, antifungal susceptibility testing was conducted in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M-38-A2 protocol.
RESULTS
Both potassium hydroxide and fungal positivity were found in 275 out of 356 suspected cases, 52%, 4.3%, 28.7%, and 14.9% of which were non-dermatophytic molds (NDMs), yeast, dermatophytes, and sterile hyphae, respectively. Among NDMs (52%, n=143), 45.5% (n=65) were hyaline hyphomycetes and 54.5% (n=78) were dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Among dematiaceous fungi, spp. and spp. were the commonly isolated ones. Additionally, azoles, amphotericin-B, and anidulafungin showed excellent antifungal activity against tested isolates.
CONCLUSION
Dematiaceous fungi are now becoming a potential cause of onychomycosis. A more detailed study is needed on the identification of these emerging isolates and the mode of action of antifungal drugs for a better treatment strategy.
PubMed: 38361959
DOI: 10.22034/cmm.2023.345077.1428 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024American ginseng, a highly valuable crop in North America, is susceptible to various diseases caused by fungal pathogens, including spp., spp., and spp. The...
American ginseng, a highly valuable crop in North America, is susceptible to various diseases caused by fungal pathogens, including spp., spp., and spp. The development of alternative control strategies that use botanicals to control fungal pathogens in American ginseng is desired as it provides multiple benefits. In this study, we isolated and identified three fungal isolates, , , and , from diseased American ginseng plants. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts from the roots and leaves of goldenseal were prepared, and the major alkaloid constituents were assessed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Next, the antifungal effects of goldenseal extracts were tested against these three fungal pathogens. Goldenseal root ethanolic extracts exhibited the most potent inhibition against fungal growth, while goldenseal root aqueous extracts and leaf ethanolic extracts showed only moderate inhibition. At 2% (/) concentration, goldenseal root ethanolic extracts showed an inhibition rate of 86.0%, 94.9%, and 39.1% against , , and , respectively. The effect of goldenseal root ethanolic extracts on the mycelial morphology of fungal isolates was studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mycelia of the pathogens treated with the goldenseal root ethanolic extract displayed considerable morphological alterations. This study suggests that goldenseal extracts have the potential to be used as a botanical fungicide to control plant fungal diseases caused by , , or
Topics: Hydrastis; Panax; Plant Roots; Alkaloids; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38338301
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29030556 -
MycoKeys 2024, commonly referred to as pestalotiopsis-like fungi, exhibit a broad distribution and are frequently found as endophytes, saprobes and pathogens across various plant...
, commonly referred to as pestalotiopsis-like fungi, exhibit a broad distribution and are frequently found as endophytes, saprobes and pathogens across various plant hosts. The taxa within pestalotiopsis-like fungi are classified into three genera viz. , and , based on the conidial colour of their median cells and multi-locus molecular phylogenies. In the course of a biodiversity investigation focusing on pestalotiopsis-like fungi, a total of 12 fungal strains were identified. These strains were found to be associated with stromata of , and in various regions of Taiwan from 2018 to 2021. These strains were evaluated morphologically and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer), (translation elongation factor 1-α) and (beta-tubulin) gene regions were conducted for genotyping. The results revealed seven well-classified taxa and one tentative clade in and . One novel species, and four new records, , , and , were reported for the first time in Taiwan. In addition, and an unclassified strain of were identified, based on similarities of phylogeny and morphology. However, the data obtained in the present study suggest that the currently recommended loci for species delimitation of pestalotiopsis-like fungi do not deliver reliable or adequate resolution of tree topologies. The mycelial growth rates of selected strains from these taxa had an optimum temperature of 25 °C, but growth ceased at 5 °C and 35 °C, while all the strains grew faster under alkaline than acidic or neutral pH conditions. This study provides the first assessment of pestalotiopsis-like fungi, associated with entomopathogenic taxa.
PubMed: 38333551
DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.101.113090 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Two new caryophyllene-type sesquiterpenes pestalotiopsins U and V ( and ) and three known compounds pestalotiopsin B (), pestaloporinate B (), and pestalotiopsin C ()...
Two new caryophyllene-type sesquiterpenes pestalotiopsins U and V ( and ) and three known compounds pestalotiopsin B (), pestaloporinate B (), and pestalotiopsin C () were isolated by the cultivation of the endophytic fungus on solid rice medium, while four additional new caryophyllene pestalotiopsins W-Z (-) were obtained when 3.5% NaI was added to the fungal culture medium. The structures of the new compounds were determined by HRESIMS and 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance data. Compounds - were tested for cytotoxicity against the mouse lymphoma cell line L5178Y, but only displayed significant activity with an IC value of 2.4 μM.
PubMed: 38274753
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1248896