Molecular Phylogenetics and Estimation of Evolutionary Divergence and Biogeography of the Family Cordycipitaceae (Ascomycota, Hypocreales).

The Cordycipitaceae family of insecticidal fungi is widely distributed in nature, is the most complex in the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota), with members displaying a diversity of morphological characteristics and insect host ranges. Based on Bayesian evolutionary analysis of five genomic loci(the small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU) gene, the large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU) gene, the translation elongation factor 1-α () gene, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (), we inferred the divergence times for members of the Cordycipitaceae, improving the internal phylogeny of this fungal family. Molecular clock analyses indicate that the ancestor of occurred in the Paleogene period (34.

New Species of () from Diseased Leaves in Fujian Province, China.

Fungal biota represents important constituents of phyllosphere microorganisms. It is taxonomically highly diverse and influences plant physiology, metabolism and health. Members of the order are distributed worldwide and include devastating plant pathogens as well as endophytes and saprophytes.

Alcohol dehydrogenase 1 acts as a scaffold protein in mitophagy essential for fungal pathogen adaptation to hypoxic niches within hosts.

Fungi have evolved diverse physiological adaptations to hypoxic environments. However, the mechanisms mediating such adaptations remain obscure for many filamentous pathogenic fungi. Here, we show that autophagy mediated mitophagy occurs in the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana under hypoxic conditions induced by host cellular immune responses.

Discovery of from Infected Spiders and Analysis of the Surrounding Fungal Entomopathogen Community.

Characterization of fungal spider pathogens lags far behind their insect counterparts. In addition, little to nothing is known concerning the ecological reservoir and/or fungal entomopathogen community surrounding infection sites. Five infected spider cadavers were identified in the neo-tropical climate of north-central Florida, USA, from three of which viable cultures were obtained.