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Sharma H, Sharma N, An SSA. Unique Bioactives from Zombie Fungus ( Cordyceps) as Promising Multitargeted Neuroprotective Agents. Nutrients 2023; 16:102. [PMID: 38201932 PMCID: PMC10780653 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cordyceps, also known as "zombie fungus", is a non-poisonous mushroom that parasitizes insects for growth and development by manipulating the host system in a way that makes the victim behave like a "zombie". These species produce promising bioactive metabolites, like adenosine, β-glucans, cordycepin, and ergosterol. Cordyceps has been used in traditional medicine due to its immense health benefits, as it boosts stamina, appetite, immunity, longevity, libido, memory, and sleep. Neuronal loss is the typical feature of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) (Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)) and neurotrauma. Both these conditions share common pathophysiological features, like oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and glutamatergic excitotoxicity. Cordyceps bioactives (adenosine, N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine, ergosta-7, 9 (11), 22-trien-3β-ol, active peptides, and polysaccharides) exert potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities and display beneficial effects in the management and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders in vitro and in vivo. Although a considerable list of compounds is available from Cordyceps, only a few have been evaluated for their neuroprotective potential and still lack information for clinical trials. In this review, the neuroprotective mechanisms and safety profile of Cordyceps extracts/bioactives have been discussed, which might be helpful in the identification of novel potential therapeutic entities in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Niti Sharma
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
| | - Seong Soo A. An
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
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Tang D, Zhao J, Lu Y, Wang Z, Sun T, Liu Z, Yu H. Morphology, phylogeny and host specificity of two new Ophiocordyceps species belonging to the "zombie-ant fungi" clade (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales). MycoKeys 2023; 99:269-296. [PMID: 37881189 PMCID: PMC10594121 DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.99.107565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Species of the genus Ophiocordyceps, which include species able to manipulate the behaviour of ants, are known as the "zombie-ant fungi" and have attracted much attention over the last decade. They are widespread within tropical, subtropical and even temperate forests worldwide, with relatively few reports from subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest. Fungal specimens have been collected from China, occurring on ants and producing hirsutella-like anamorphs. Based on a combination of morphological characters, phylogenetic analyses (LSU, SSU, TEF1a, RPB1 and RPB2) and ecological data, two new species, Ophiocordycepstortuosa and O.ansiformis, are identified and proposed herein. Ophiocordycepstortuosa and O.ansiformis are recorded on the same species of Colobopsis ant, based on phylogenetic analyses (COI), which may be sharing the same host. Ophiocordycepstortuosa and O.ansiformis share the morphological character of producing lanceolate ascospores. They have typical characteristics distinguished from other species. The ascospore of O.tortuosa are tortuously arranged in the ascus and the ascospore of O.ansiformis have a structure like a handle-shape in the middle. Our molecular data also indicate that O.tortuosa and O.ansiformis are clearly distinct from other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexiang Tang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, ChinaYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Jing Zhao
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, ChinaYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Yingling Lu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, ChinaYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Zhiqin Wang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, ChinaYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Tao Sun
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, ChinaYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Zuoheng Liu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, ChinaYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Hong Yu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, ChinaYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
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Tang D, Huang O, Zou W, Wang Y, Wang Y, Dong Q, Sun T, Yang G, Yu H. Six new species of zombie-ant fungi from Yunnan in China. IMA Fungus 2023; 14:9. [PMID: 37170179 PMCID: PMC10173673 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00114-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Some Ophiocordyceps species infecting ants are able to manipulate the host behavior. The hosts are manipulated in order to move to location that are advantageous for fungal spore transmission. Ophiocordyceps species that are able to manipulate the ant's behavior are called "zombie-ant fungi". They are widespread within tropical forests worldwide, with relatively few reports from subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaf forest. Zombie-ant fungi have been described and reported in different countries worldwide. However, there were a few reports from China. This study proposed six new species of zombie-ant fungi from China based on multi-gene (SSU, LSU, TEF, RPB1 and RPB2) phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics. Six novel species of Ophiocordyceps from China were identified as the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis core clade, forming a separate lineage with other species. Six novel species of Ophiocordyceps with hirsutella-like asexual morphs exclusively infecting ants were presented herein, namely, Ophiocordyceps acroasca, Ophiocordyceps bifertilis, Ophiocordyceps subtiliphialida, Ophiocordyceps basiasca, Ophiocordyceps nuozhaduensis and Ophiocordyceps contiispora. Descriptions and illustrations for six taxon were provided. Five of these species were collected from the subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaf forest, and one was collected from the rainforest and subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaf forest. This work proposes that the same host of Camponotus can be infected by multiple ant pathogenic fungi, while multiple ants of Polyrhachis can be infected by the same pathogenic fungi at the same time. This study contributes towards a better understanding of the evolutionary relationship between hosts and fungi, and provides novel insights into the morphology, distribution, parasitism, and ecology of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato. We have provided a method for obtaining living cultures of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis complex species and their asexual morphs based on the living cultures, which is of significant value for further studies of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis complex species in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexiang Tang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Ou Huang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Weiqiu Zou
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Yuanbing Wang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Quanying Dong
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Gang Yang
- The Council of Management and Conservation of Sun River National Park, Puer, 665000, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China.
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Nishi O, Sushida H, Higashi Y, Iida Y. Entomopathogenic fungus Akanthomyces muscarius (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) strain IMI 268317 colonises on tomato leaf surface through conidial adhesion and general and microcycle conidiation. Mycology 2022; 13:133-142. [PMID: 35711329 PMCID: PMC9196654 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2021.1944929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Oumi Nishi
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Mie, Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Sushida
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Mie, Japan
| | - Yumiko Higashi
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Mie, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Iida
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Mie, Japan
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Nicoletti R, Becchimanzi A. Ecological and Molecular Interactions between Insects and Fungi. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10010096. [PMID: 35056545 PMCID: PMC8779020 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects and fungi represent two of the most widespread groupings of organisms in nature, occurring in every kind of ecological context and impacting agriculture and other human activities in various ways. Moreover, they can be observed to reciprocally interact, establishing a wide range of symbiotic relationships, from mutualism to antagonism. The outcome of these relationships can in turn affect the extent at which species of both organisms can exert their noxious effects, as well as the management practices which are to be adopted to counter them. In conjunction with the launch of a Special Issue of Microorganisms with the same title, this article offers a general overview of the manifold aspects related to such interactions from the perspective of implementing our capacity to regulate them in a direction more favorable for the environment, crop production and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Nicoletti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 81100 Caserta, Italy
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Becchimanzi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy;
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Possible impacts of the predominant Bacillus bacteria on the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s. l. in its infected ant cadavers. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22695. [PMID: 34811424 PMCID: PMC8609033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02094-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal hosts infected and killed by parasitoid fungi become nutrient-rich cadavers for saprophytes. Bacteria adapted to colonization of parasitoid fungi can be selected and can predominate in the cadavers, actions that consequently impact the fitness of the parasitoid fungi. In Taiwan, the zombie fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato (Clavicipitaceae: Hypocreales), was found to parasitize eight ant species, with preference for a principal host, Polyrhachis moesta. In this study, ant cadavers grew a fungal stroma that was predominated by Bacillus cereus/thuringiensis. The bacterial diversity in the principal ant host was found to be lower than the bacterial diversity in alternative hosts, a situation that might enhance the impact of B. cereus/thuringiensis on the sympatric fungus. The B. cereus/thuringiensis isolates from fungal stroma displayed higher resistance to a specific naphthoquinone (plumbagin) than sympatric bacteria from the environment. Naphthoquinones are known to be produced by O. unilateralis s. l., and hence the resistance displayed by B. cereus/thuringiensis isolates to these compounds suggests an advantage to B. cereus/thuringiensis to grow in the ant cadaver. Bacteria proliferating in the ant cadaver inevitably compete for resources with the fungus. However, the B. cereus/thuringiensis isolates displayed in vitro capabilities of hemolysis, production of hydrolytic enzymes, and antagonistic effects to co-cultured nematodes and entomopathogenic fungi. Thus, co-infection with B. cereus/thuringiensis offers potential benefits to the zombie fungus in killing the host under favorable conditions for reproduction, digesting the host tissue, and protecting the cadaver from being taken over by other consumers. With these potential benefits, the synergistic effect of B. cereus/thuringiensis on O. unilateralis infection is noteworthy given the competitive relationship of these two organisms sharing the same resource.
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