Ophiostomatoid species associated with pine trees (Pinus spp.) infested by Cryphaluspiceae from eastern China, including five new species

Ophiostomatalean Fungi (Ascomycota, Ophiostomatales) Associated with Three Beetles from Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Heilongjiang, China

Globally, forest decline and tree mortality are rising due to climate change. As one of the important afforestation trees in northeast China, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica is suffering from forest decline and the accompanying pests. Certain fungi from the ophiostomatalean contribute to forest pest outbreaks and can be pathogenic to pine trees. However, only a limited number of ophiostomatalean fungi associated with beetles infesting Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica have been identified. In this study, 293 ophiostomatalean fungi were isolated from Acanthocinus griseus, Ips chinensis, and Pissodes nitidus infesting Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Heilongjiang Province, including Graphilbum griseum sp. nov., Gra. nitidum sp. nov., Graphilbum sp., and Ophiostoma ips. Ophiostoma ips was the dominant species, followed by Graphilbum sp., Graphilbum griseum, and Gra. nitidum, which accounted for 73.38, 17.41, 7.17, and 2.05% of the isolated ophiostomatalean fungi, respectively. Fungi associated with different beetles are diverse, even within the same host. This study deepens our understanding of the pest-associated fungi of P. sylvestris var. mongolica and provides a basis for exploring the causes of forest decline.

Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis: A South African Perspective on a Growing Global Health Threat

Sporotrichosis is a disease that arises from a fungal infection caused by members of the Ascomycete genus Sporothrix. The disease has a unique history in South Africa, due to an association with gold mines, where large numbers of mine workers were infected in the 1930s and 1940s. This was likely driven by hot humid conditions and timber supports used in these mine shafts. Furthermore, the disease is the most common subcutaneous fungal infection amongst the general population in South Africa, and the large number of immunocompromised individuals increases the public health risk in the country. Sporothrix is a genus in the Ophiostomatales, a fungal order primarily associated with environmental habitats. Unsurprisingly, sporotrichosis therefore has a documented history of sapronotic transmission from contaminated plant material. This review provides insights into the understanding of sporotrichosis and Sporothrix species, with a particular emphasis on the South African situation. We highlight knowledge gaps, particularly regarding the ecological factors influencing the occurrence and distribution of these species, which in turn affect the patterns of sporotrichosis. We also emphasise a need for ongoing proactive research and surveillance to prevent future outbreaks of sporotrichosis, an emerging disease with growing health implications worldwide.

Taxonomic reappraisal of the European fauna of the bark beetle genus Cryphalus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

Species in the genus Cryphalus are small and notoriously difficult to identify. Even among the relatively well studied European species, erroneous identifications are evident from literature and in museum collections. These misidentifications relate to the small size and similar appearance of Cryphalus species but they are also a product of insufficient diagnostic characters. This is especially unfortunate since some European species are considered pests. Based on the study of more than 1000 specimens and a thorough literature review, robust morphological and molecular evidence supporting all five hitherto recognised native species of Cryphalus in Europe is provided. A key for the reliable identification of these repetition species including new diagnostic characters recognised for the first time, including those from male genitalia, has been constructed. Each native species is provided with a detailed morphological description and their economic significance, distribution, and ecology discussed. Significant genetic variability is observed between certain clusters that should be further explored in a broader geographic context. Lastly, the need for a taxonomic revision of the genus Cryphalus for the entire Palearctic region due to the presence of many similar looking species which are often confused, thus distorting the knowledge of each species is highlighted.

Diversity of fungi associated with Monochamusalternatus larval habitats in Bursaphelenchusxylophilus-infected Pinusmassoniana and identification of two new ophiostomatalean species (Ascomycota, Ophiostomatales)

Bursaphelenchusxylophilus, a pathogenic pine wood nematode (PWN), is responsible for pine wilt disease (PWD), which has caused significant economic and ecological damage worldwide, particularly in East Asia. Multiple biological factors, such as the beetle vector Monochamus, symbiotic bacteria and associated fungi, are involved in the disease infection cycle. This study isolated and identified the fungal communities of Monochamusalternatus larval galleries and pupal chambers from different instars through field investigation, morphological observation and multi-locus DNA sequence analyses in Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 255 and 454 fungal strains were isolated from M.alternatus galleries and pupal chambers infected with PWN, from the 2nd-3rd and 4th-5th instar larvae, respectively. A total of 18 species of fungi were identified, 14 species were isolated from the 2nd-3rd instar larval galleries and six species from the galleries and pupal chambers of the 4th-5th instar larvae. Amongst them were six species belonging to four genera of ophiostomatalean fungi, including two novel species, Graphilbumxianjuensis sp. nov. and Ophiostomataizhouense sp. nov. and four known species, Ceratocystiopsisweihaiensis, Ophiostomaips, Sporothrixzhejiangensis and S.macroconidia. The findings revealed that the fungal diversity and abundance of the 2nd-3rd instar larvae differed markedly from those of the 4th-5th instar larvae. This difference could be the result of fungal succession. This study provides a thorough understanding of the fungi associated with PWD and lays the groundwork for future research.

Ceratocystiopsis spp. associated with pine- and spruce-infesting bark beetles in Norway

The genus Ceratocystiopsis (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota) includes 21 species, which can be found mainly in association with bark beetles in the Northern Hemisphere. A survey of Ceratocystiopsis species associated with bark beetles infesting Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in Norway yielded 126 isolates, representing Ceratocystiopsis neglecta and Ceratocystiopsis rollhanseniana, and four species described herein as Ceratocystiopsis chalcographii, Ceratocystiopsis debeeria, Ceratocystiopsis norroenii and Ceratocystiopsis troendelagii. The new taxa were morphologically characterised and phylogenetically analysed on the basis of sequence data of multiple loci (ITS, LSU, beta-tubulin (TUB2), calmodulin (CAL) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) genes). Ceratocystiopsis norroenii and C. rollhanseniana were the most frequently isolated species, and the latter species had the wider vector range.

Sporotrichosis in Children: Case series and Narrative Review

Purpose of Review

Pediatric sporotrichosis has not been sufficiently studied; this review aims to evaluate the risk and prognostic factors related to the development of sporotrichosis associated to this age group. Also, we want to evaluate the causes of the increased number of cases of sporotrichosis in the pediatric population such as environmental changes in endemic areas, the biodiversity, and virulence among the pathogenic clade causing sporotrichosis in different areas of the globe, and especially the progression of the zoonotic transmission of infections caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis infections, associated to zoonotic transmission in Brazil and other endemic sporotrichosis countries.

Recent Findings

After evaluating a case series of 40 patients, we found that pediatric sporotrichosis in Mexico is mainly caused by Sporothrix schenckii which prevails in rural areas and is mainly sapronotically transmitted. In Brazil, the longest and largest pediatric sporotrichosis outbreak is caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis, etiologically related to sick cats, directly from lesions containing a high yeast cell burden. When affecting children S. schenckii and S. brasiliensis may cause distinct clinical manifestations especially in the onset of the disease and affected anatomical site. In Mexico, most of the patients are successfully treated with potassium iodide, whereas in Brazil, all patients respond to itraconazole.

Summary

Sporothrix schenckii is the major etiologic agent in Mexico, being sapronotically transmitted, while in Brazil, Sporothrix brasiliensis is only transmitted by cats. In Mexico, the disease prevails in male patients (60%) from rural areas; in Brazil, the disease is more frequent in females (60%) from an urban region. Due to the zoonotic sporotrichosis outbreak in Brazil, the time of evolution seems to be shorter in Brazilian patients than in Mexican patients. Most Brazilian patients presented with facial lesions, including ocular involvement, while in Mexico, most of the children presented upper limbs involvement. In Mexico, treatment with potassium iodide in children was observed to induce faster remission than itraconazole, but controlled studies are lacking to evaluate this versus itraconazole, due to the low number of cases. A comparative study should be designed to evaluate the best and safest antifungal therapy for pediatric sporotrichosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12281-022-00429-x.

Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal a New Species of Ceratocystiopsis (Ophiostomataceae, Ophiostomatales) Associated with Ips subelongatus in Inner Mongolia (China) with Weak Host Pathogenicity

Ophiostomatoid fungi are known for their associations with bark beetles, and some species are important sources of tree diseases. Ceratocystiopsis is a genus of the ophiostomatoid fungi in order Ophiostomatales. The shortage of DNA barcodes for many species in this genus has resulted in the presence of many unnamed cryptic species. In this study, Ceratocystiopsis subelongati sp. nov. associated with Ips subelongatus infesting Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Inner Mongolia, China, was identified and described based on phylogenetic inference of multi-gene DNA sequences and morphological characteristics. The species is characterized by a hyalorhinocladiella- to sporothrix-like asexual state and an optimal growth temperature of 30 °C. Artificial inoculation tests in the field showed that it is mildly pathogenic to five-year-old larch trees, the main host of I. subelongatus. It is also the first described Ceratocystiopsis species associated with I. subelongatus in China. This discovery should provide new avenues for studying the symbiosis between bark beetles and ophiostomatoid fungi.