The endophytic fungus Cosmosporella sp. VM-42 from Vinca minor is a source of bioactive compounds with potent activity against drug-resistant bacteria

Medicinal plants serve as valuable resources for the isolation of endophytic fungi. Vinca minor is a well-known producer of important vinca alkaloids and emerges as a promising source of endophytic fungi with antibacterial potential and biosynthetic capacity. In this study, we isolated an endophytic fungus from V. minor and identified it as Cosmosporella sp. VM-42. To date, relatively little is known about this fungal genus. The ethyl acetate extract of this isolate selectively inhibited Gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA). Therefore, we isolated the most abundant compound from the crude extract and identified it as nectriapyrone with MIC and MBC values ranging from 125 to 62.5 µg/mL against MSSA and MRSA strains. We further sequenced and annotated the 39.07 Mb genome of the isolate, revealing that it encodes 9842 protein-coding genes, including 415 genes for carbohydrate-active enzymes and various biosynthetic gene clusters. Our untargeted metabolomic analysis shows that the fungus produces various secondary metabolites, including cyclodepsipeptides, dimeric naphtho-γ-pyrones, and macrolactones, which are known to have antifungal and antibacterial activities. In addition, we used small-molecule epigenetic modulators to activate the expression of silent biosynthetic gene clusters to broaden the chemical profile of Cosmosporella sp. VM-42. Taken together, we provide a first systematic analysis of Cosmosporella sp. VM-42, and our results show that it is a promising source of compounds with pharmacological potential against drug resistant bacteria.

Resin outpourings on conifers are inhabited by more members of Nectriaceae (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes) than previously thought

Resin outpourings on conifers are a quite unique habitat occurring in nature. Conifer resins are composed mainly from monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and resin acids which are recalcitrant to microbial decomposition. Moreover, resins exhibit antimicrobial properties. Despite that, they are colonised by different microorganisms including fungi. They are called resinicolous fungi. They constitute a poorly explored group of the fungal kingdom. In this study, during investigation of resinicolous fungi in Poland, seven strains were assigned to the family Nectriaceae. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, rpb2, tef1 and tub2 sequence data were used for molecular identification. As a result, two new species (including a new genus) and two known species were identified. Pulchrosporaresinae gen. et sp. nov. and Cosmosporaelegans sp. nov. were described, characterised and proposed herein. Known species such as Cosmosporaviridescens and Cosmosporellapruni were isolated from resin substrate for the first time.

Heteroverticillium phytelephatis gen. et sp. nov. intercepted from nuts of Phytelephas macrocarpa, with an updated phylogenetic assessment of Nectriaceae

An entry postal parcel with mature nuts of Phytelephas macrocarpa from Togo was inspected at Dalian Customs (China) in December 2021, and four strains were isolated from symptomatic tissues of the nuts. Based on morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses, above strains were identified as a new species which is mainly characterised by the verticillately branching conidiophores. Based on multi-locus phylogenetic analyses, this new species forms a monophyletic clade closely related to Corallomycetella, Paracremonium and Xenoacremonium but could not be accommodated in any known genera of Nectriaceae. Thus, a new genus Heteroverticillium is established to accommodate this new species (H. phytelephatis). To our knowledge, this is the first time that Chinese customs have intercepted a new fungal genus. In addition, we provided an updated backbone tree for the generic relationships in Nectriaceae, which may largely assist future identification of nectriaceous fungi to genus level in quarantine inspections. Based on our analysis, Varicosporellopsis is likely a late synonym of Paracremonium.

Three New Species of Fusicolla (Hypocreales) from China

To explore the species diversity of the genus Fusicolla, specimens from Henan, Hubei and Jiangsu Provinces in China are examined, and three undescribed taxa are encountered. The morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analyses of the combined acl1, ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2 regions support their placement in Fusicolla and their recognition as new species. Fusicolla aeria sp. nov. is distinguished by the formation of abundant aerial mycelia on PDA, falcate, (1-)3-septate macroconidia 16-35 × 1.5-2.8 μm and subcylindrical, aseptate microconidia 7.5-13 × 0.8-1.1 μm. Fusicolla coralloidea sp. nov. has a coralloid colony on PDA, falcate, 2-5-septate macroconidia 38-70 × 2-4.5 μm and rod-shaped to ellipisoidal, aseptate microconidia 2-7 × 1-1.9 μm. Fusicolla filiformis sp. nov. is characterized by filiform, 2-6-septate macroconidia 28-58 × 1.5-2.3 μm and lacking microconidia. Morphological differences between these novel species and their close relatives are compared in detail. The previously recorded species of the genus in China are listed and a key to these taxa is provided.

ITS rDNA Barcodes Clarify Molecular Diversity of Aquatic Hyphomycetes

Aquatic hyphomycetes are key microbial decomposers of allochthonous organic matter in freshwater ecosystems. Although their importance in carbon flow and food webs in streams is widely recognized, there are still gaps in our understanding of their molecular diversity and distribution patterns. Our study utilized the growing database of ITS rDNA barcodes of aquatic hyphomycetes (1252 sequences) and aimed to (i) produce new barcodes for some lesser-known taxa; (ii) clarify the taxonomic placement of some taxa at the class or order level, based on molecular data; and (iii) provide insights into the biogeographical origins of some taxa. This study increased the number of aquatic hyphomycete species with available ITS barcodes from 119 (out of ~300 species described) to 136. Phylogenetically, the 136 species were distributed between 2 phyla, 6 classes, and 10 orders of fungi. Future studies should strive to increase the database of ITS sequences, especially focusing on species with unclear phylogenetic relationships (incertae sedis) and with few sequences available. The geographical distribution of species with available ITS sequences included 50 countries from five continents, but 6 countries had more than 20 species associated, showing a bias toward the northern hemisphere, likely due to sampling bias.

Lignicolous freshwater fungi in Yunnan Province, China: an overview

Yunnan Province is one of the rich biodiversity hotspots with abundant resources of lignicolous freshwater fungi. A total of 281 species of lignicolous freshwater fungi from 1986 to the present in Yunnan Province. They are mostly distributed in the classes Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes, a few species in the Eurotiomycetes and Leotiomycetes, and rarely reported in Orbiliomycetes and Pezizomycetes. Lignicolous freshwater fungi can decompose lignocellulose substrates and release energy and nutrients, and thus playing an important role in freshwater environment. This study briefly reviewed the biodiversity and taxonomic status of lignicolous freshwater fungi in Yunnan, the ecological functions of lignicolous freshwater fungi, factors affecting community distribution, application status, and research difficulties.

Fusarium: more than a node or a foot-shaped basal cell

Recent publications have argued that there are potentially serious consequences for researchers in recognising distinct genera in the terminal fusarioid clade of the family Nectriaceae. Thus, an alternate hypothesis, namely a very broad concept of the genus Fusarium was proposed. In doing so, however, a significant body of data that supports distinct genera in Nectriaceae based on morphology, biology, and phylogeny is disregarded. A DNA phylogeny based on 19 orthologous protein-coding genes was presented to support a very broad concept of Fusarium at the F1 node in Nectriaceae. Here, we demonstrate that re-analyses of this dataset show that all 19 genes support the F3 node that represents Fusarium sensu stricto as defined by F. sambucinum (sexual morph synonym Gibberella pulicaris). The backbone of the phylogeny is resolved by the concatenated alignment, but only six of the 19 genes fully support the F1 node, representing the broad circumscription of Fusarium. Furthermore, a re-analysis of the concatenated dataset revealed alternate topologies in different phylogenetic algorithms, highlighting the deep divergence and unresolved placement of various Nectriaceae lineages proposed as members of Fusarium. Species of Fusarium s. str. are characterised by Gibberella sexual morphs, asexual morphs with thin- or thick-walled macroconidia that have variously shaped apical and basal cells, and trichothecene mycotoxin production, which separates them from other fusarioid genera. Here we show that the Wollenweber concept of Fusarium presently accounts for 20 segregate genera with clear-cut synapomorphic traits, and that fusarioid macroconidia represent a character that has been gained or lost multiple times throughout Nectriaceae. Thus, the very broad circumscription of Fusarium is blurry and without apparent synapomorphies, and does not include all genera with fusarium-like macroconidia, which are spread throughout Nectriaceae (e.g., Cosmosporella, Macroconia, Microcera). In this study four new genera are introduced, along with 18 new species and 16 new combinations. These names convey information about relationships, morphology, and ecological preference that would otherwise be lost in a broader definition of Fusarium. To assist users to correctly identify fusarioid genera and species, we introduce a new online identification database, Fusarioid-ID, accessible at www.fusarium.org. The database comprises partial sequences from multiple genes commonly used to identify fusarioid taxa (act1, CaM, his3, rpb1, rpb2, tef1, tub2, ITS, and LSU). In this paper, we also present a nomenclator of names that have been introduced in Fusarium up to January 2021 as well as their current status, types, and diagnostic DNA barcode data. In this study, researchers from 46 countries, representing taxonomists, plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, and students, strongly support the application and use of a more precisely delimited Fusarium (= Gibberella) concept to accommodate taxa from the robust monophyletic node F3 on the basis of a well-defined and unique combination of morphological and biochemical features. This F3 node includes, among others, species of the F. fujikuroi, F. incarnatum-equiseti, F. oxysporum, and F. sambucinum species complexes, but not species of Bisifusarium [F. dimerum species complex (SC)], Cyanonectria (F. buxicola SC), Geejayessia (F. staphyleae SC), Neocosmospora (F. solani SC) or Rectifusarium (F. ventricosum SC). The present study represents the first step to generating a new online monograph of Fusarium and allied fusarioid genera (www.fusarium.org).

Acrogenospora (Acrogenosporaceae, Minutisphaerales) Appears to Be a Very Diverse Genus

During a study of diversity and taxonomy of lignicolous freshwater fungi in China, nine species of Acrogenospora were collected. Seven of these were new species and they are described and illustrated. With morphology, additional evidence to support establishment of new species is provided by phylogeny derived from DNA sequence analyses of a combined LSU, SSU, TEF1α, and RPB2 sequence dataset. Acrogenospora subprolata and A. verrucispora were re-collected and sequenced for the first time. The genus Acrogenospora is far more species rich than originally thought, with nine species found in a small area of Yunnan Province, China.

Lignicolous freshwater ascomycota from Thailand: Phylogenetic and morphological characterisation of two new freshwater fungi: Tingoldiago hydei sp. nov. and T. clavata sp. nov. from Eastern Thailand

Lignicolous freshwater fungi represent one of the largest groups of Ascomycota. This taxonomically highly diverse group plays an important role in nutrient and carbon cycling, biological diversity and ecosystem functioning. The diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi along a north-south latitudinal gradient is currently being studied in Asia. In this paper, we introduce two novel freshwater taxa viz. Tingoldiagohydeisp. nov. and T.clavatasp. nov. which were collected from freshwater substrates in Eastern Thailand. Morphological comparison based on the size of ascomata, asci and ascospores, as well as multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on LSU, SSU, ITS and TEF1-α DNA sequences, supports their placement in Tingoldiago (Lentitheciaceae). Descriptions and illustrations of these two new species are provided.

Freshwater Sordariomycetes

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota that comprises a highly diverse range of fungi mainly characterized by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. Freshwater Sordariomycetes play an important role in ecosystems and some of them have the potential to produce bioactive compounds. This study documents and reviews the freshwater Sordariomycetes, which is one of the largest and important groups of fungi in aquatic habitats. Based on evidence from DNA sequence data and morphology, we introduce a new order Distoseptisporales, two new families, viz. Ceratosphaeriaceae and Triadelphiaceae, three new genera, viz. Aquafiliformis, Dematiosporium and Neospadicoides, 47 new species, viz. Acrodictys fluminicola, Aquafiliformis lignicola, Aquapteridospora fusiformis, Arthrinium aquaticum, Ascosacculus fusiformis, Atractospora aquatica, Barbatosphaeria lignicola, Ceratosphaeria aquatica, C. lignicola, Chaetosphaeria aquatica, Ch. catenulata, Ch. guttulata, Ch. submersa, Codinaea yunnanensis, Conioscypha aquatica, C. submersa, Cordana aquatica, C. lignicola, Cosmospora aquatica, Cylindrotrichum submersum, Dematiosporium aquaticum, Dictyochaeta cangshanensis, D. ellipsoidea, D. lignicola, D. submersa, Distoseptispora appendiculata, D. lignicola, D. neorostrata, D. obclavata, Hypoxylon lignicola, Lepteutypa aquatica, Myrmecridium aquaticum, Neospadicoides aquatica, N. lignicola, N. yunnanensis, Ophioceras submersum, Peroneutypa lignicola, Phaeoisaria filiformis, Pseudostanjehughesia lignicola, Rhodoveronaea aquatica, Seiridium aquaticum, Sporidesmiella aquatica, Sporidesmium lageniforme, S. lignicola, Tainosphaeria lunata, T. obclavata, Wongia aquatica, two new combinations, viz. Acrodictys aquatica, Cylindrotrichum aquaticum, and 9 new records, viz. Chaetomium globosum, Chaetosphaeria cubensis, Ch. myriocarpa, Cordana abramovii, Co. terrestris, Cuspidatispora xiphiago, Sporidesmiella hyalosperma, Stachybotrys chartarum,S. chlorohalonata. A comprehensive classification of the freshwater Sordariomycetes is presented based on updated literature. Phylogenetic inferences based on DNA sequence analyses of a combined LSU, SSU, RPB2 and TEF1α dataset comprising species of freshwater Sordariomycetes are provided. Detailed information including their habitats distribution, diversity, holotype, specimens collected and classification are provided.

Nectria-related fungi causing dieback and canker diseases in China, with Neothyronectriacitri sp. nov. described

To clarify phylogenetic relationships amongst Nectria, Neothyronectria and Thyronectria in Nectriaceae, we examined detailed morphological characters and performed phylogenetic analyses of a concatenated dataset, based on the ITS, LSU, tef1 and tub2 DNA sequences of fungal specimens in China. Four species of nectria-related fungi were identified, i.e. Nectriadematiosa, N.pseudotrichia, Neothyronectriacitri and Thyronectriapinicola. The newly described species, Neothyronectriacitri, is characterised by its ascomatal wall with bright yellow scurf, unitunicate asci, each with 4-spored and ascospores allantoid to short-cylindrical, uniseriate, muriform, hyaline to slightly yellowish-brown. This species has affinities with other one known species of Neothyronectria and can be distinguished by molecular data.