A distinctive medicinal fungus-insect complex formed by Ophiocordyceps gracilis on the larvae of Ahamus altaicola in the Altai Mountains of Xinjiang, China, has demonstrated considerable potential in immunomodulation, antioxidant, antitumor, and antibacterial activities due to its richness of bioactive compounds, such as nucleosides, polysaccharides, cordycepic acid, and amino acids. This review systematically summarizes the research progress on O. gracilis, covering its taxonomy and nomenclature, resource distribution and biological characteristics, chemical composition, pharmacological activities, and artificial cultivation. Key current challenges are proposed including evaluation of natural distribution and resources, pharmaceutical activities, artificial cultivation, and in vivo efficacy and clinical trials. Future research directions are proposed, emphasizing the need to enhance natural resource ecology and conservation, elucidation of the mechanisms of fungus-host interaction, and establishment of a multi-dimensional quality control system. This review aims at providing a scientific framework to guide the sustainable utilization and advanced development of this valuable medicinal resource.
Based on morphological, chemical, and phylogenetic analyses, a new species of the lichenized fungal genus Synarthonia, Synarthonia hainanensis, is described. This species is currently known only from Hainan Province. Synarthonia hainanensis is characterized by whitish-green thallus, short lirelliform to elongate, reddish-brown to black and epruinose ascomata, I+ reddish-purple hymenium, K/I- blue distinct ocular chamber in the asci, hyaline, 4-septate, and oblong-ovoid ascospores with the size of 18-24.5 × 6.5-9.5 µm. Molecular data, detailed taxonomic description, and images illustrating the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the new species are provided. A discussion on the differences between the new species and its similar species is also included. In addition, a key to 25 species of this genus is presented herein.
Guizhou Province, located in the eastern Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, has complex topography and a warm, humid climate, providing high potential for fungal diversity. However, lignicolous macro-basidiomycetes in this region lacked systematic assessment for a long time. A comprehensive compilation of lignicolous macro-basidiomycetes in Guizhou was conducted based on specimen records of four investigation teams and recently published literature. A total of 738 species were recorded, belonging to 3 classes, 16 orders, 74 families, and 253 genera within Basidiomycota. The dominant class is Agaricomycetes, with the sum of species accounting for 97.15% of all known lignicolous macro-basidiomycetes species in Guizhou. The dominant orders are Polyporales, Agaricales, and Hymenochaetales, and the sum of species accounts for 81.44% (601 species) of all lignicolous macro-basidiomycetes in Guizhou. The ten dominant families include 391 species, accounting for 52.98% of total known species. The eleven dominant genera consist of 202 species, accounting for 27.37% of the total known species. Additionally, 48 species are described on the basis of holotype or paratype collected from Guizhou. This is the first province-level systematic overview of lignicolous macro-basidiomycetes in Guizhou Province.
The community structure and distribution patterns of endophytic fungi in wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca), an endemic species exclusively distributed in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China was investigated. During 2023-2024, healthy plant tissues (leaves, buds, branches, bark) were collected from Turgun Town of Xinyuan County, Xinyuan County Botanical Garden, Fushou Mountain of Huocheng County, and Liuhuanggou of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture. Endophytic fungi were isolated using tissue culture methods and identified through morphological analysis and ITS sequencing. The obtained 2 749 isolates were classified into 6 classes, 20 orders, 38 families, and 64 genera, with Dothideomycetes dominating at the class level (isolation frequency, IF=88.7%), Pleosporales at the ordinal level (IF=83.41%), Dothideaceae at the family level (69.33%), and Alternaria at the generic level (IF=67.01%). Ten genera were common to all sampling sites, while endemic genera numbered 8 in Turgun, 14 in Botanical Garden, 12 in Fushou Mountain, and 6 in Liuhuanggou. α-Diversity was the highest in Turgun (Shannon Hʹ=1.206±0.111 9; Simpson D=0.531±0.050) and lowest in Liuhuanggou (Hʹ=0.983±0.128; D=0.468±0.055). β-Diversity analysis revealed the most significant community divergence between Liuhuanggou and Turgun (Bray-Curtis P=0.006 4). These results demonstrate rich taxonomic diversity (64 genera) and distinct regional variations in community composition, relative abundance, and dominant taxa among wild apricot endophytes in Xinjiang.
Anhui Province is located in the transitional region between the warm temperate zone and the subtropical zone in eastern China. Its complex terrain and diverse climate have fostered abundant macrofungal resources. Systematic surveys and sampling of macrofungi in Guniujiang, Dabie Mountain, Huangshan, and Mazongling mountainous areas in the province were conducted. Species identification and taxonomic statistics were carried out based on combining morphological characteristics and molecular analysis. A total of 2 682 specimens was collected, belonging to 2 phyla, 8 classes, 25 orders, 95 families, 280 genera, and 922 species. Among them, 23 families including Russulaceae, Boletaceae, Amanitaceae, Polyporaceae, Agaricaceae, and Entolomataceae are dominant. Dominant genera totaled 42, including Russula, Amanita, Entoloma, Lactarius, Marasmius, and Inocybe. There are 68 species of edible fungi, 57 species of medicinal fungi, 78 species of poisonous fungi, 60 species of edible and medicinal dual-purpose fungi, and 24 species of simultaneously medicinal and toxic fungi. Funga analysis revealed that cosmopolitan genera, northern temperate genera, and tropical-subtropical genera were the dominant components. This study provides fundamental data supporting taxonomic statistics, ecological conservation, and industrial development of regional fungal resources.
The pomelo (Citrus maxima) is one of the most important cultivated fruit trees in the genus Citrus of the Rutaceae. It has a long cultivation history and great economic value in China. In recent years, a pomelo disease locally called “red flower blight” has been discovered in Pinghe County of Fujian Province, the largest pomelo production area in China. It could cause new shoot blight, rotting and reddening of the flower buds and petals of the variety “Guanximiyou”, ultimately leading to flower and fruit drop. In the seriously infected orchards, over 80% of fruitlets dropped. The disease has been spreading from mountainous areas to plains, with affected orchard areas expanding year by year. Based on the disease symptoms, it was speculated to be post-bloom fruit drop (PFD), a citrus disease reported in South America and Florida. However, there are still some differences in host range and infected organs between this disease and PFD. From the infected specimens, orange powdery substances and conidia resembling to Colletotrichum acutatum were observed. Five single-spore isolates showing identical colonial morphology were obtained. Based on the morphological characteristics, multi-loci (ACT, CHS-1, GAPDH, HIS3, ITS and TUB2) phylogenetic analysis, and pathogenicity test, the causal agent was identified as C. fioriniae in C. acutatum species complex. Given that this disease has only been found on pomelo so far, affecting not only flowers but also young shoots and fruits, and the pathogen differs from that of PFD and common anthracnose, this disease is named as “pomelo anthracnose”. This is the first report of C. fioriniae as a pathogen infecting citrus and causing anthracnose. The accurate identification of the pathogen provides a scientific basis for precise control of the disease.
Heart rot disease poses a severe threat to the health of Abies georgei var. smithii forests in southeastern Xizang. This study aimed at identifying the causal pathogen and screening highly antagonistic Trichoderma strains as well as evaluating their antifungal activity to provide potential biocontrol resources for managing this disease. The pathogen was identified through tissue isolation, morphology observation and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Antagonistic Trichoderma strains were initially screened using the dual-culture assay, and their inhibitory activity was further evaluated by assessing both volatile metabolites (via the two-sealed-base- plates method) and non-volatile metabolites (via the solid dilution method with sterile culture filtrates). Results indicated that the dominant pathogen infecting living A. georgei var. smithii trees was Fomitopsis subpinicola. In total, 36 Trichoderma strains were isolated, among which strain M28 exhibited the strongest inhibition in the dual-culture assay. Assessment of volatile metabolites revealed that Trichoderma afroharzianum M28 had the highest inhibitory effect, and T. atroviride M49 was in the next place. Tests with sterile culture filtrates demonstrated that filtrates of all seven selected Trichoderma strains inhibited the pathogen’s growth at different tested concentrations. The filtrate of T. atroviride M49 exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity at concentrations of 25% and 33%. This study confirms F. subpinicola as the causal agent of heartwood brown rot in A. georgei var. smithii in southeastern Xizang, and highly antagonistic Trichoderma strains M49 and M28 are excellent candidates of biological control agents.
Gastric cancer (GC) is a multifactorial malignancy closely linked to environmental risk factors. Ochratoxin A (OTA), a widely distributed mycotoxin, has been classified as a probable human carcinogen. This study systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying OTA-induced gastric carcinogenesis. For the first time, through an integrated approach combining network toxicology, machine learning, and Mendelian randomization analysis, four key pathogenic genes (ESR1, GSK3β, MET, and MMP2) were identified and validated. The research further clarifies how OTA disrupts hormone signaling, metabolic homeostasis, and the tumor immune microenvironment, thereby driving cancer development through multi-pathway synergy. Notably, GSK3β was genetically confirmed for the first time to have a causal relationship with gastric cancer. These gene markers play a central regulatory role in gastric carcinogenesis and demonstrate significant diagnostic potential, providing novel biomarkers and a theoretical foundation for risk prediction and targeted intervention in OTA-associated gastric cancer.
The autophagy-related gene family members in Lentinula edodes (LeATG family members) were identified based on the whole genome data of L. edodes using homologous alignment methods, and their biological information was analyzed. The expression patterns of these family members during mycelial colouring process were analyzed by combining transcriptome sequencing data and RT-qPCR. The results showed that 29 LeATG family members belonging to 23 classes of autophagy-related genes were identified in the L. edodes genome. Chromosomal localization analysis revealed that they were mainly distributed on chromosomes 4 and 1; no distribution was detected on chromosome 9. The full length of LeATG family members ranges from 595 to 6 772 bp. The length of protein sequence encoded by the LeATG gene ranged from 127 to 1 998 aa, with relative molecular weights of 14.8-219.7 kDa and theoretical isoelectric points of 4.27-9.51. Except for LeATG9, LeATG22, and LeATG27, the other 24 LeATG proteins contained no transmembrane domains. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the 29 LeATG proteins clustered into three evolutionary branches, and proteins of the same class were dispersed across different sub-branches, suggesting significant differences in protein structure. Transcriptome data analysis and RT-qPCR revealed differential expression patterns of LeATG genes before and after mycelial colouring process: 2 LeATG genes were highly expressed before browning, 5 were highly expressed after colouring. It was speculated that these 7 genes might be involved in regulating the mycelial colouring process. This study systematically identified the LeATG gene family in L. edodes, and preliminarily revealed their expression regulation patterns during mycelial colouring process, laying an important foundation for further analysis of the molecular mechanism of the LeATG gene during mycelial colouring process of L. edodes.
Adenylosuccinate synthetase (ADSS) plays an important role in cellular energy metabolism and signal transduction. However, ADSS had not been reported in entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, function of ADSS family protein MrADSS-1 to the growth, stress resistance and pathogenicity in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii was characterized by investigating the protein subcellular localization and gene disruption, complementation and over-expression. Results showed that MrADSS-1 is exclusively localized within the vacuole. Disruption of the MrADSS-1 resulted in marked reduction of radial growth of the fungus on maltose medium and a significant decrease in UV-B tolerance, but unexpectedly enhanced thermotolerance. Bioassays revealed that loss of MrADSS-1 led to a pronounced increase in appressorium formation and penetration efficiency through cicada wings, resulting in elevated pathogenicity toward Galleria mellonella larvae. Conversely, over-expression of MrADSS-1 attenuated fungal virulence. These findings demonstrated that MrADSS-1 functions as a repressor of both thermotolerance and virulence in M. robertsii.
Phylogenetic relationships and the characteristics of CAZy extracellular degradative enzymes of edible and medicinal fungi, were analyzed based on annotated proteins from 14 strains of edible and medicinal fungi. By combining gene functions with substrate degradation capabilities, the degradation attributes of CAZy extracellular secretory enzymes in relation to substrates such as lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, chitin, and starch were inferred. The phylogenetic analysis results showed that truffles and morels belonging to the Ascomycota, clustered into one branch, while the remaining strains belonging to the Basidiomycota clustered into another, being consistent with the fungal classification framework and supporting their early evolutionary status. Analysis of extracellular CAZy degradation enzymes showed that the top three strains with the highest quantity of such enzymes were Auricularia subglabra, A. cornea, and Pleurotus ostreatus, whereas the bottom three were Tricholoma matsutake, Tuber borchii, and T. melanosporum. The arrangement of strains based on the quantity of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes from high to low was: Auricularia subglabra, A. cornea, Volvariella volvacea, Pleurotus ostreatu, Ganoderma sinense, G. leucocontextum, Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina filiformis ym5, Morchella sextelata, Flammulina filiformis wm14, Morchella conica, Tricholoma matsutake, Tuber borchii, and T. melanosporum. This study aims at providing preliminary reference for subsequent development of cultivation substrate formulations and ecological adaptability studies for these edible and medicinal fungi.
Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are present in fungi, but their functions remain poorly understood. In this study, analysis of differentially expressed genes between sclerotia and mycelia of Sclerotinia nivalis revealed that genes encoding pore-forming toxin proteins were highly expressed in sclerotia. Further proteomic profiling by mass spectrometry confirmed the abundant accumulation of these proteins in sclerotia. Sequence and structural analyses indicated that three pore-forming toxin proteins SnCry6Aa1, SnCry6Aa2, and SnCry6Aa3 were encoded by S. nivali SnTB1. All of which contain the conserved ClyA_Cry6Aa-like PFTs domain and exhibit the characteristic three-dimensional structure of α-PFTs. The recombinant SnCry6Aa1 and SnCry6Aa2 were successfully expressed and purified using a prokaryotic system, and their hemolytic activity and nematidal/insecticidal toxicity were subsequently assessed. The results showed that SnCry6Aa1 exhibited significant hemolytic activity at concentrations over 6.25 ng/mL under acidic conditions, whereas no similar activity was detected for SnCry6Aa2. Neither SnCry6Aa1 nor SnCry6Aa2 showed notable toxicity against Caenorhabditis elegans, Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura, Grapholita molesta, or Bradysia odoriphaga. However, both displayed low but detectable insecticidal activity against larvae of Pnyxia scabiei, with corrected mortality rates of 14% and 17%, respectively. This study is the first to identify the presence of ClyA_Cry6Aa-like PFTs at high abundance in the sclerotia of S. nivalis and provides initial insights into their biological roles, laying a foundation for further functional studies and potential applications of these proteins.
To evaluate the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of dermatophytes to nine antifungal agents, 153 dermatophyte strains deposited in the Dermatological and Mycological Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between 2010 and 2023 were identified by using morphological and molecular biological methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of terbinafine, amorolfine, luliconazole, amphotericin B, ciclopirox, itraconazole, voriconazole, griseofulvin, and fluconazole were determined by the microdilution method. Nine species of dermatophytes were identified, including 59 strains of Trichophyton rubrum (39%), 17 strains of T. interdigitale (11%), 15 strains of T. mentagrophytes (10%), 9 strains of T. tonsurans (6%), 8 strains of T. verrucosum (5%), 9 strains of T. violaceum (6%), 3 strains of T. schoenleinii (2%), 19 strains of Microsporum canis (12%), and 14 strains of M. ferrugineum (9%). In vitro susceptibility test revealed that luliconazole exhibited the strongest antifungal activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.000 5 to 0.004 μg/mL. Terbinafine (MIC: 0.000 125-0.25 μg/mL) itraconazole (MIC: 0.004-1 μg/mL), voriconazole (MIC: 0.004-0.5 μg/mL), amorolfine (MIC: 0.004-1 μg/mL), and ciclopirox (MIC: 0.063-4 μg/mL) also showed potent activity. Griseofulvin (MIC: 0.016-32 μg/mL) and amphotericin B (MIC: 0.032-16 μg/mL) displayed relatively weak antifungal effects. Fluconazole showed the poorest activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.125 to 64 μg/mL; notably, two strains of Microsporum ferrugineum and one strain of Trichophyton violaceum exhibited fluconazole MICs >64 μg/mL. Among all tested antifungal agents, luliconazole and terbinafine demonstrated the strongest in vitro activity against dermatophytes, whereas fluconazole and amphotericin B showed the weakest efficacy, with the emergence of resistant isolates.
This study primarily investigates the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory components in the fermentation product of the endophytic fungus Alternaria alternata FL7 from Huperzia serrata. Using silica gel column chromatography, preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (preparative HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), 19 monomeric compounds were isolated and identified. These include mannitol (1), uracil (2), alternariol monomethyl ether (3), cerevisterol (4), 1-methyl 5-acetamidopentanoate (5), cyclo (L-Pro-L-Pro) (6), stigmasterol (7), xanthine (8), 2(3H)-benzothiazolethione (9), catechol (10), 1-methyl β-D-glucopyranoside (11), cycol (L-Pro-L-Tyr) (12), cycol (L-Pro-L-Val) (13), alteamide (14), (4S,5S)-5-[(S)-sec-butyl]-4-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-one (15), allahabadolactones A (16), Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (17), methyl 4-acetamidobutanoate (18) and 2-phenylethyl α-D-glucopyranoside (19). Compound 3 was found to exhibit moderate AChE inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of (15.8±0.13) µmol/L, as determined using the modified Ellman method. Molecular docking simulations suggest that serine at position 122 of AChE may be its binding target. Additionally, compounds 5, 15, and 18 are reported as newly identified natural products, and the structure of compound 14 is revised. This study provides reference for the development and utilization of microbial resources from Huperzia serrata.
