What is the Chinese caterpillar fungusOphiocordyceps sinensis(Ophiocordycipitaceae)?

Mannitol mediates the mummification behavior of Thitarodes xiaojinensis larvae infected with Ophiocordyceps sinensis

Introduction

Parasites can facilitate their own spread and reproduction by manipulating insect hosts behavior, as seen in the interaction between Thitarodes xiaojinensis and Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Infection by O. sinensis leads to the mummification of T. xiaojinensis larvae, but the underlying mechanisms remain mysterious.

Methods

The morphology of O. sinensis infected larvae and fungal growth were first observed. Subsequently, the metabolite changes in the larvae before and after infection with the fungus were analyzed by LC/MS and targeted metabolomics. The expression of mannitol-related genes was detected using RT-qPCR, and morphological changes in larvae were observed after injection of different concentrations of mannitol into the O. sinensis-infected larvae.

Results

Significant changes were found in phenotype, fungal morphology in hemocoel, larval hardness, and mannitol metabolites in infected, mummified 0 h larvae and larvae 5 days after mummification behavior. Surprisingly, the occurrence of mummification behavior was accompanied by fungal dimorphism, as well as the absence of mannitol in both infected and non-infected larvae, until the initial accumulation of mannitol and the expression of mannitol-associated genes occurred at the time of mummification behavior. The presence of mannitol may promote fungal dimorphism to mediate changes in fungal toxicity or resistance, leading to the end of the fungus-insect coexistence period and the incidence of mummification behavior. Furthermore, mannitol injections increase the mummification rate of the infected larvae without significant difference from the normal mummification phenotype.

Discussion

This finding suggests the importance of mannitol in the mummification of host larvae infected with O. sinensis.

Rapid discrimination between wild and cultivated Ophiocordyceps sinensis through comparative analysis of label-free SERS technique and mass spectrometry

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a genus of ascomycete fungi that has been widely used as a valuable tonic or medicine. However, due to over-exploitation and the destruction of natural ecosystems, the shortage of wild O. sinensis resources has led to an increase in artificially cultivated O. sinensis. To rapidly and accurately identify the molecular differences between cultivated and wild O. sinensis, this study employs surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with machine learning algorithms to distinguish the two O. sinensis categories. Specifically, we collected SERS spectra for wild and cultivated O. sinensis and validated the metabolic profiles of SERS spectra using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS). Subsequently, we constructed machine learning classifiers to mine potential information from the spectral data, and the spectral feature importance map is determined through an optimized algorithm. The results indicate that the representative characteristic peaks in the SERS spectra are consistent with the metabolites identified through metabolomics analysis, confirming the feasibility of the SERS method. The optimized support vector machine (SVM) model achieved the most accurate and efficient capacity in discriminating between wild and cultivated O. sinensis (accuracy = 98.95%, 5-fold cross-validation = 98.38%, time = 0.89s). The spectral feature importance map revealed subtle compositional differences between wild and cultivated O. sinensis. Taken together, these results are expected to enable the application of SERS in the quality control of O. sinensis raw materials, providing a foundation for the efficient and rapid identification of their quality and origin.

From Nature to Technology: Exploring the Potential of Plant-Based Materials and Modified Plants in Biomimetics, Bionics, and Green Innovations

This review explores the extensive applications of plants in areas of biomimetics and bioinspiration, highlighting their role in developing sustainable solutions across various fields such as medicine, materials science, and environmental technology. Plants not only serve essential ecological functions but also provide a rich source of inspiration for innovations in green nanotechnology, biomedicine, and architecture. In the past decade, the focus has shifted towards utilizing plant-based and vegetal waste materials in creating eco-friendly and cost-effective materials with remarkable properties. These materials are employed in making advancements in drug delivery, environmental remediation, and the production of renewable energy. Specifically, the review discusses the use of (nano)bionic plants capable of detecting explosives and environmental contaminants, underscoring their potential in improving quality of life and even in lifesaving applications. The work also refers to the architectural inspirations drawn from the plant world to develop novel design concepts that are both functional and aesthetic. It elaborates on how engineered plants and vegetal waste have been transformed into value-added materials through innovative applications, especially highlighting their roles in wastewater treatment and as electronic components. Moreover, the integration of plants in the synthesis of biocompatible materials for medical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds and artificial muscles demonstrates their versatility and capacity to replace more traditional synthetic materials, aligning with global sustainability goals. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current and potential uses of living plants in technological advancements, advocating for a deeper exploration of vegetal materials to address pressing environmental and technological challenges.

Integrated Comparative Transcriptome and Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Provide Valuable Insights into the Mechanisms of Pinhead Initiation in Chinese Caterpillar Mushroom Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Ascomycota)

The initiation and formation of the "pinhead" is the key node in growth process of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Chinese Cordyceps). The research on the mechanism of changes in this growth stage is the basis for realizing the industrialization of its artificial cultivation. Clarifying the mechanisms of pinhead initiation is essential for its further application. Here, we performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of pinhead initiation process in O. sinensis. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed remarkable variation in gene expression and enriched pathways at different pinhead initiation stages. Gene co-expression network analysis by WGCNA identified 4 modules highly relevant to different pinhead initiation stages, and 23 hub genes. The biological function analysis and hub gene annotation of these identified modules demonstrated that transmembrane transport and nucleotide excision repair were the topmost enriched in pre-pinhead initiation stage, carbohydrate metabolism and protein glycosylation were specially enriched in pinhead initiation stage, nucleotide binding and DNA metabolic process were over-represented after pinhead stage. These key regulators are mainly involved in carbohydrate metabolism, synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids. This work excavated the candidate pathways and hub genes related to the pinhead initiation stage, which will serve as a reference for realizing the industrialization of artificial cultivation in O. sinensis.

Histopathological observations and comparative transcriptome analysis of Ophiocordyceps sinensis infection of Hepialus xiaojinensis in the early stage

Hepialus xiaojinensis is a Lepidopteran insect and one of the hosts for the artificial cultivation of Cordyceps. Ophiocordyceps sinensis can infect and coexist with H. xiaojinensis larvae for a long time. Little studies focused on the interaction process through its early infection stage. In this research, we particularly study the interaction of infected and uninfected larvae in the 3rd (OS-3, CK-3) and 4th (OS-4, CK-4) instars. O. sinensis was distributed within the larvae and accompanied by pathological changes in some tissue structures. In response to O. sinensis infection, OS-3 enhanced the antioxidant defense ability, while OS-4 decreased. The transcriptome analysis showed that OS-3 resisted the invasion of O. sinensis by the immune and nervous systems. Correspondingly, OS-4 reduced immune response and utilized more energy for growth and development. This study provides a comprehensive resource for analyzing the mechanism of H. xiaojinensis and O. sinensis interaction.

Genotype-Controlled Vertical Transmission Exerts Selective Pressure on Community Assembly of Salvia miltiorrhiza

The plant's endophytic fungi play an important role in promoting host development and metabolism. Studies have shown that the factors affecting the assembly of the endophyte community mainly include host genotype, vertical transmission, and soil origin. However, we do not know the role of vertically transmitted endohytic fungi influences on the host-plant's endophytic community assembly. Salvia miltiorrhiza from three production areas were used as research objects; we constructed three production area genotypes of S. miltiorrhiza regenerated seedlings simultaneously. Based on high-throughput sequencing, we analyzed the effects of genotype, soil origin, and vertical transmission on endophytic fungal communities. The results show that the community of soil origins significantly affected the endophytic fungal community in the regenerated seedlings of S. miltiorrhiza. The influence of genotype on community composition occurs through a specific mechanism. Genotype may selectively screen certain communities into the seed, thereby exerting selection pressure on the community composition process of offspring. As the number of offspring increases gradually, the microbiota, controlled by genotype and transmitted vertically, stabilizes, ultimately resulting in a significant effect of genotype on community composition.Furthermore, we observed that the taxa influencing the active ingredients are also selected as the vertically transmitted community. Moreover, the absence of an initial vertically transmitted community in S. miltiorrhiza makes it more vulnerable to infection by pathogenic fungi. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and comprehend the selection model of the vertically transmitted community under varying genotypes and soil conditions. This research holds significant implications for enhancing the quality and yield of medicinal plants and economic crops.

Nature's Own Pharmacy: Mushroom-Based Chemical Scaffolds and Their Therapeutic Implications

Mushrooms are new potential sources of valuable medicines, long neglected because of difficulties experienced in their cultivation. There is a large variety of medicinal mushrooms which possess significant therapeutic properties and are used as medications for various diseases because they contain several novel highly bioactive components. Medicinal mushrooms can be identified based on their morphology, size, mass, and the color of the stalk, cap and spore, and attachment to the stalk. Medicinal mushrooms possess a variety of important biological activities and are used as antioxidants, hepatoprotectors, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial agents, among others. This review provides a basic overview of the chemical scaffolds present in mushrooms and their therapeutic implications in the human body.

Systematic analyses with genomic and metabolomic insights reveal a new species, Ophiocordyceps indica sp. nov. from treeline area of Indian Western Himalayan region

Ophiocordyceps is a species-rich genus in the order Hypocreales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) depicting a fascinating relationship between microbes and insects. In the present study, a new species, Ophiocordyceps indica sp. nov., is discovered infecting lepidopteran larvae from tree line locations (2,202-2,653 m AMSL) of the Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, Indian Western Himalayan region, using combinations of morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. A phylogeny for Ophiocordyceps based on a combined multigene (nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, and RPB1) dataset is provided, and its taxonomic status within Ophiocordycipitaceae is briefly discussed. Its genome size (~59 Mb) revealed 94% genetic similarity with O. sinensis; however, it differs from other extant Ophiocordyceps species based on morphological characteristics, molecular phylogenetic relationships, and genetic distance. O. indica is identified as the second homothallic species in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae, after O. sinensis. The presence of targeted marker components, viz. nucleosides (2,303.25 μg/g), amino acids (6.15%), mannitol (10.13%), and biological activity data, suggests it to be a new potential source of nutraceutical importance. Data generated around this economically important species will expand our understanding regarding the diversity of Ophiocordyceps-like taxa from new locations, thus providing new research avenues.

Fractional extraction and structural characterization of glycogen particles from the whole cultivated caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis) is a valuable medicinal fungus in traditional Chinese medicine, and one or more polysaccharides are the key constituents with important medical effects. Glycogen as a functional polysaccharide is widely identified in eukaryotes including fungi. However, there is no definitive report of glycogen presence in O. sinensis. In this study, we carefully fractionated polysaccharides from cultivated caterpillar fungus O. sinensis, which were then characterized via methods for glycogen analysis. According to the results, 1.03 ± 0.43 % of polysaccharides were quantified via amyloglucosidase digestion in the whole cultivated caterpillar fungus, which had a typical spherical shape under transmission electron microscope with an average peak radius of 37.63 ± 0.57 nm via size exclusion chromatography and an average chain length of 12.47 ± 0.94 degree of polymerization via fluorophore-assisted capillary electrophoresis. Taken together, this study confirmed that the polysaccharides extracted form O. sinensis were mostly glycogen.

Out of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau: Origin, evolution and historical biogeography of Morchella (both Elata and Esculenta clades)

Introduction

Morchella has become a research hotspot because of its wide distribution, delicious taste, and phenotypic plasticity. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau subkingdoms (QTPs) are known as the cradle of Ice age biodiversity. However, the diversity of Morchella in the QTPs has been poorly investigated, especially in phylogenetic diversity, origin, and biogeography.

Methods

The genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR, based on Bayesian evolutionary analysis using sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), nuclear large subunit rDNA (nrLSU), translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α), and the largest and second largest subunits of RNA polymerase II (RPB1 and RPB2)), differentiation time estimation, and ancestral region reconstruction were used to infer Morchella's phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography in the QTPs.

Results

Firstly, a total of 18 Morchella phylogenetic species are recognized in the QTPs, including 10 Elata clades and 8 Esculenta clades of 216 individuals Secondly, the divergences of the 18 phylogenetic species were 50.24-4.20 Mya (Eocene-Pliocene), which was closely related to the geological activities in the QTPs. Furthermore, the ancestor of Morchella probably originated in the Northern regions (Qilian Shan, Elata cade) and southwestern regions (Shangri-La, Esculenta clade) of QTPs and might have migrated from North America (Rufobrunnea clade) via Beringian Land Bridge (BLB) and Long-Distance Dispersal (LDD) expansions during the Late Cretaceous. Moreover, as the cradle of species origin and diversity, the fungi species in the QTPs have spread out and diffused to Eurasia and South Africa starting in the Paleogene Period.

Conclusion

This is the first report that Esculenta and Elata clade of Morchella originated from the QTPs because of orogenic, and rapid differentiation of fungi is strongly linked to geological uplift movement and refuge in marginal areas of the QTPs. Our findings contribute to increasing the diversity of Morchella and offer more evidence for the origin theory of the QTPs.

The invasion process of the entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis into the larvae of ghost moths (Thitarodes xiaojinensis) using a GFP-labeled strain

Chinese cordyceps is a well-known and valuable traditional Chinese medicine that forms after Ophiocordyceps sinensis parasitizes ghost moth larvae. The low natural infection rate of O. sinensis limits large-scale artificial cultivation of Chinese cordyceps, and the invasion process is unclear. To investigate the temporal and spatial regulation when O. sinensis enters ghost moths, we constructed an O. sinensis transformant that stably expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP). Inoculating Thitarodes xiaojinensis larvae with a high concentration of GFP-labeled O. sinensis, we observed that O. sinensis conidia could adhere to the host cuticle within 2 days, germinate penetration pegs within 4 days, and produce blastospores in the host hemocoel within 6 days. The reconstructed three-dimensional (3D) structures of the invasion sites showed that penetration pegs germinated directly from O. sinensis conidia at the joining site with the larval cuticle. Differentiated appressoria or hyphae along the host epicuticle are not required for O. sinensis to invade ghost moths. Overall, the specific invasion process of O. sinensis into its host is clarified, and we provided a new perspective on the invasion process of entomopathogenic fungi.

Immulectin-2 from the ghost moth, Thitarodes xiaojinensis (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), modulates cellular and humoral responses against fungal infection

C type-lectins constitute a large family of pattern recognition receptors, playing important roles in insect immune defenses. Thitarodes xiaojinensis larvae showed distinct immune features after Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris, or Beauveria bassiana infection. Based on transcriptome and immunoblot analysis, we found that immulectin-2 (IML2) was induced after T. xiaojinensis larvae were infected by C. militaris or B. bassiana but maintained at a low level after larvae injected with O. sinensis or Ringer's buffer. Recombinant IML2 (rIML2) could promote melanization, encapsulation, phagocytosis, and hemocyte aggregation in vitro. RNA interference with IML2 induced a significant reduction in the transcript levels of various antimicrobial peptides. Importantly, we found that the abundance of O. sinensis blastospores coated with rIML2 dramatically decreased in the host hemolymph. Overall, this study demonstrated that T. xiaojinensis IML2 modulates cellular and humoral responses to entomopathogenic fungi, broadening our view of the immune interaction between O. sinensis and its host.

Medicinal Mushrooms Ophiocordyceps Sinensis and Paecilomyces Hepiali

The fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) belong to entomopathogenic fungi. Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been used as a tonic and medicinal product in China for more than 2,000 years. A number of scientific papers have described the clinical use of this parasitic fungus with subsequent biological and pharmacological effects. The various chemical compounds identified in these fungi are responsible for a wide range of biological activity: cordycepin, cordycepic acid, D-mannitol, polysaccharides, nucleotides, proteins, amino acids, and unsaturated fatty acids. Our research focused on the determinations of the biologically active chemical compounds in extracts from cultivated Ophiocordyceps fungi using UV/VIS (Ultraviolet/Visible) spectrophotometry and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy. The testing of antimicrobial activity of extracts against the collection strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated that the percentage of RIZD (relative inhibition zone diameter) ranged from 83 % to 166 %. The increased antimicrobial activity against E. coli was observed in comparison with that against S. aureus.

Mitogenomics, Phylogeny and Morphology Reveal Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis Sp. Nov., an Entomopathogenic Fungus from China

The new entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis, collected from Southeast China, was described by mitogenomic, morphological, and phylogenetic evidence. The systematic position of O. pingbianensis was determined by phylogenetic analyses based on six nuclear gene (ITS, tef1-α, nrSSU, nrLSU, rpb1 and rpb2) and 14 mitochondrial protein-coding gene (PCGs) (cox1, cox2, cox3, atp6, atp8, atp9, cob, nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad5, nad6 and nad4L) data. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that O. pingbianensis was belonged to the Hirsutella nodulosa clade in the genus Ophiocordyceps of Ophiocordycipiaceae. This fungus exhibits distinctive characteristics which differed from other related Ophiocordyceps species with slender and geminate stromata, monophialidic conidiogenous cells with an inflated awl-shaped base, a twisty and warty phialide neck and a fusiform or oval conidia, as well as being found on a tiger beetle of Coleoptera buried in moss at the cave. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. pingbianensis was a circular DNA molecule 80,359 bp in length, containing 15 PCGs, 24 open reading frames genes (ORFs), 25 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and 27 introns. Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis, containing 27 introns, has the second largest mitogenome in Ophiocordycipiaceae and was next to O. sinensis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the mitogenome from a new entomopathogenic fungus, and thus provides an important foundation for future studies on taxonomy, genetics and evolutionary biology of Ophiocordycipiaceae.

mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq profiling analyses reveal molecular mechanisms regulating induction of fruiting body in Ophiocordyceps sinensis

Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been a source of valuable materials in traditional Asian medicine for over two thousand years. With recent global warming and overharvest, however, the availability of these wild fungi has decreased dramatically. While fruiting body of O. sinensis has been artificially cultivated, the molecular mechanisms that govern the induction of fruiting body at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels are unclear. In this study, we carried out both mRNA and small RNA sequencing to identify crucial genes and miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) involved in the development of fruiting body. A total of 2875 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 71 differentially expressed milRNAs (DEMs) were identified among the mycoparasite complex, the sclerotium (ST) and the fruiting body stage. Functional enrichment and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis indicated that the ST had increased oxidative stress and energy metabolism and that mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling might induce the formation of fruiting body. Integrated analysis of DEGs and DEMs revealed that n_os_milR16, n_os_milR21, n_os_milR34, and n_os_milR90 could be candidate milRNAs that regulate the induction of fruiting body. This study provides transcriptome-wide insight into the molecular basis of fruiting body formation in O. Sinensis and identifies potential candidate genes for improving induction rate.

A simple and effective method to discern the true commercial Chinese cordyceps from counterfeits

The Chinese cordyceps, a complex of the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis and its species-specific host insects, is also called "DongChongXiaCao" in Chinese. Habitat degradation in recent decades and excessive harvesting by humans has intensified its scarcity and increased the prices of natural populations. Some counterfeits are traded as natural Chinese cordyceps for profit, causing confusion in the marketplace. To promote the safe use of Chinese cordyceps and related products, a duplex PCR method for specifically identifying raw Chinese cordyceps and its primary products was successfully established. Chinese cordyceps could be precisely identified by detecting an internal transcribed spacer amplicon from O. sinensis and a cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 amplicon from the host species, at a limit of detection as low as 32 pg. Eleven commercial samples were purchased and successfully tested to further verify that the developed duplex PCR method could be reliably used to identify Chinese cordyceps. It provides a new simple way to discern true commercial Chinese cordyceps from counterfeits in the marketplace. This is an important step toward achieving an authentication method for this Chinese medicine. The methodology and the developmental strategy can be used to authenticate other traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Phylogeographic structures of the host insects of Ophiocordyceps sinensis

A fungus-insect complex, known as DongChong XiaCao, is formed from the infection of the hepialid larvae by the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which is endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Due to previously limited sample collection size, the data about the diversity and structure of the host insect was insufficient and lacked details. The purpose of this study was aimed to discuss the diversity and phylogeography of the host insects of O. sinensis with a large-scale sampling. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (cox1) was sequenced and analyzed among 710 samples representing 88 geographic locations. 205 haplotypes of cox1 were identified from all the 710 samples and 4 phylogenetic clades with 12 subclades were identified. Instead of the single latitude-based divergence suggested previously, three distribution patterns were deduced to correspond to the phylogeographic structures, including but not limited to the co-existence of a wide and specific local phylogeographic distribution structures. Two separate genetic diversity and differentiation centers, namely the northwestern Yunnan and the southeastern Tibet were identified. Dating analyses from three calibrations supported that the divergence of the 4 clades occurred in the Oligocene-Miocene period (30.54-13.66 million years ago) (Ma), which were connected with the second and third geological movements of the QTP (17-25, 8-13 Ma). Our results provide a more detailed understanding of the divergence and distribution patterns of the host insects of O. sinensis.

Developmental transcriptomics of Chinese cordyceps reveals gene regulatory network and expression profiles of sexual development-related genes

BACKGROUND

Chinese cordyceps, also known as Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis, syn. Cordyceps sinensis), is of particular interest for its cryptic life cycle and economic and ecological importance. The large-scale artificial cultivation was succeeded recently after several decades of efforts and attempts. However, the induction of primordium, sexual development of O. sinensis and the molecular basis of its lifestyle still remain cryptic.

RESULTS

The developmental transcriptomes were analyzed for six stages covering the whole developmental process, including hyphae (HY), sclerotium (ST), primordium (PR), young fruiting body (YF), developed fruiting body (DF) and mature fruiting body (MF), with a focus on the expression of sexual development-related genes. Principal component analysis revealed that the gene expression profiles at the stages of primordium formation and fruiting body development are more similar than those of the undifferentiated HY stage. The PR and MF stages grouped together, suggesting that primordium differentiation and sexual maturation have similar expression patterns. Many more DEGs were identified between the ST and HY stages, covering 47.5% of the O. sinensis genome, followed by the comparisons between the ST and PR stages. Using pairwise comparisons and weighted gene coexpression network analysis, modules of coexpressed genes and candidate hub genes for each developmental stage were identified. The four mating type loci genes expressed during primordium differentiation and sexual maturation; however, spatiotemporal specificity of gene expression indicated that they also expressed during the anamorphic HY stage. The four mating type genes were not coordinately expressed, suggesting they may have divergent roles. The expression of the four mating type genes was highest in the fertile part and lowest in the sclerotium of the MF stage, indicating that there is tissue specificity. Half of genes related to mating signaling showed as the highest expression in the ST stage, indicating fruiting was initiated in the ST stage.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide a new perspective to understanding of the key pathways and hub genes, and sexual development-related gene profile in the development of Chinese cordyceps. It will be helpful for underlying sexual reproduction, and add new information to existing models of fruiting body development in edible fungi.

Yartsagunbu: transforming people's livelihoods in the Western Himalaya

Rural communities in developing countries extract provisioning ecosystem services from the natural environment to meet their subsistence needs, generate cash income and create employment opportunities. Caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, known as yartsagunbu in Tibet and in the literature on this subject, is a medicinal resource extracted by the mountain communities of the Himalaya. Studies of the contribution of the fungus to local livelihoods in the Indian Himalaya are scarce. We investigated trade and harvest and analysed the contribution of caterpillar fungus to household economies in 32 villages in Dhauliganga Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, in the Western Himalaya. Caterpillar fungus harvesting has become an integral part of local livelihoods in the study area, and on average contributes c. 74% of household cash income. The majority of harvesters perceived that harvesting had become more difficult during 2010–2015 as a result of competition and a decline in abundance of the species. The mean annual per capita harvest declined by 54 pieces during 2011–2015. Increasing harvesting and trade, coupled with the dependency of local communities on the fungus, may result in greater extraction of the resource for short-term economic benefits, and could eventually lead to depletion and ecological damage. Harvesting of the fungus has already created environmental, legal and social challenges, although it has become a lucrative livelihood opportunity. The ongoing decline of the fungus threatens local livelihoods. Good governance and livelihood security should be integrated with biodiversity conservation when devising government policies and plans for sustainable management of the caterpillar fungus.

High altitude organic gold: The production network for Ophiocordyceps sinensis from far-western Nepal

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H.Sung, J.M.Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, a high altitude Himalayan fungus-caterpillar product found in alpine meadows in China, Bhutan, Nepal, and India, has been used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine system for over 2000 years. Heightened demand in China over the past 15 years, coupled with limited production, has led to a price hike and increased economic importance of harvests to rural households throughout the species' range. There is, however, limited knowledge on the actors and profit distribution in the O. sinensis production network, especially from the distribution areas on the southern flanks of the Himalayas. Filling in this knowledge gap is essential to the identification and design of public interventions.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To describe and quantify the O. sinensis production network originating from Darchula District in far-western Nepal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data was collected, for fiscal year 2014-15, in spring and summer 2016 using standardized collector (n=56) and trader (n=45) questionnaires in Darchula District, and central wholesaler (n=9) questionnaires in cities of Nepal. All questionnaires contained quantitative and qualitative components focusing on key elements of the production network, i.e. value creation, enhancement, and capture; and network and territorial embeddedness.

RESULTS

Trade is sustained and significant even at the margins of the distributional range, with 384.1 kg of O. sinensis harvested in and traded from Darchula District in 2014-15, having a collector value of approximately USD 4.7 million and constituting the dominant household-level source of income for collectors. The functioning production network is characterised by conflicts in relation to value creation, a high share of value capture by collectors, limited value enhancement, and a high degree of network and territorial embeddedness.

CONCLUSIONS

O. sinensis income is of major economic importance for rural households at the margin of its distribution range in Nepal. Production networks operated by informal actors establishing trust-based relationships allow responses to cross-border market signals, enabling the flow of rural and remote environmental resources to urban centres of demand. There is scope for public interventions, e.g. to determine the drivers of demand.

Current nomenclatural changes in Cordyceps sensu lato and its multidisciplinary impacts

Innumerable name changes have occurred in Cordyceps and allied taxa, after the phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps, coupled by the application of one fungus one name after the amendment of ICN. Complying with one fungus one name, many generic names have been protected for monophyletic clades in Clavicipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae that have made tremendous transfer of Cordyceps spp. to both sexual and asexual genera. Species compositions of the accepted genera Ophiocordyceps, Tolypocladium, Metarhizium, Perennicordyceps, Polycephalomyces and Purpureocillium are briefly discussed to update the readers with the current placements of Cordyceps spp. Some examples of frequent name changes of Cordyceps spp. are also mentioned, with reference to use of older scientific names in non-mycological publications.

Detection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Its Common Adulterates Using Species-Specific Primers

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a fungus that infects Hepialidae caterpillars, mummifying the larvae and producing characteristic fruiting bodies (stromata) that are processed into one of the most valued traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). The product commands a very high price due to a high demand but a very limited supply. Adulteration with other fungi is a common problem and there is a need to test preparation for the presence of the correct fungus. In the current study, a PCR-based approach for the identification of O. sinensis based on a segment of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was developed. The segments is 146-bp in size and is likely to be amplified even in materials where processing led to DNA fragmentation. Primer development was based on the alignment of sequence data generated from a total of 89 samples of O. sinensis and potential adulterants as well as sequences date from 41 Ophiocordyceps species and 26 Cordyceps species available in GenBank. Tests with primer pair, DCF4/DCR4, demonstrated generation of an amplicon from DNA extracted from O. sinensis stromata, but not from extracts derived from adulterants. Species-specific primer pairs were also developed and tested for detection of the common adulterants, Cordyceps gunnii, Cordyceps cicadae, Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps liangshanensis and Ophiocordyceps nutans. The collection of primers developed in the present study will be useful for the authentication of preparation claiming to only contain O. sinensis and for the detection of fungi used as adulterants in these preparations.

The mitochondrial genome of the lepidopteran host cadaver (Thitarodes sp.) of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and related phylogenetic analysis

To understand the phylogeny of the host insect (Thitarodes sp.) of the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, we sequenced, annotated and characterized the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the host cadaver of a natural O. sinensis. Further, we compared the Thitarodes sp. mt genome with those of the other 7 sequenced Hepialidae and examined the phylogenetic relationships using a constructed Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree and mt genomic features (genetic distances and intergenic spacers). The mt genome is a circular molecule of 16,280bp in length with a high A+T content (81.20%) and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and an AT-rich region. The gene arrangement is identical to the ancestral arrangement but differs from those of other lepidopteran mt genomes because of the arrangement of tRNA genes. The tRNA region, which is located between the AT-rich region and nad2, is trnI/trnQ/trnM (IQM) in Thitarodes sp., rather than the trnM/trnI/trnQ (MIQ) of the Lepidoptera-specific rearrangement. All PCGs begin with the canonical start codons ATN or NTG, except for cox1, which starts with CGA. Most PCGs terminate with the typical stop codon TAA, although some have an incomplete stop codon (T). The 1473bp AT-rich region is located between the rrnS (12S rRNA) and trnI, which is the longest sequenced in a Thitarodes mt genome to date, containing nine 112bp copies and one partial copy of a 55bp sequence. The results derived from the phylogenetic tree, the genetic distances and the intergenic spacers of the mt genome show that the host insect of O. sinensis belongs to the Thitarodes, while Endoclita signifer and Napialus hunanensis form a relatively distinct lineage from Thitarodes. The sequence and full annotation of this moth mt genome will provide more molecular information about the Exoporia within the Lepidoptera, and the clarification of its phylogeny will improve the management of this insect resource and the conservation and sustainable use of this endangered medicinal species in China.

Pyrosequencing analysis revealed complex endogenetic microorganism community from natural DongChong XiaCao and its microhabitat

BACKGROUND

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (DongChong XiaCao (DCXC) in Chinese), a fungal parasite of caterpillars, is a traditional Chinese medicine. Bioactive components isolated from natural DCXC possess a wide range of pharmacological actions. Many efforts have been directed towards isolating the fungi based on culture-dependent methods for investigation of fungal diversity in order to determine the anamorph of natural DCXC and find new medicinal fungi resources, and the results have been varied.

RESULTS

In the present study, a total of 44,588 bacterial and 51,584 fungal sequences corresponding to 11,694 and 9297 putative operational taxonomic units (OTU) were respectively identified by a Roche/454-based, high throughput sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes and ITS regions. The main bacterial groups were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, while the Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Zygomycota were the main fungal phyla. Proteobacteria presented 68.4, 49.5, 38.9 and 35.6 % of all bacteria in the sclerotia, stromata, external mycelial cortices and soil, respectively. As the main fungi phyla, Ascomycota presented 21.0, 45.6 26.4 and 59.3 % in the sclerotia, stromata, external mycelial cortices and soil, respectively. Bacterial and fungal communities were more diverse in the environmental sample than in the natural DCXC sample. Microbial communities were obviously distinct in each sample. Several novel unclassifiable bacterial (10.41 %) and fungal (37.92 %) species were also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed an abundant endogenetic fungal and bacterial resources and a variety of genetic information in natural DCXC by high-throughput 454 sequencing technology. Microorganism that had been discovered in natural DCXC will provide sources for screening the new bioactive metabolites and its biotechnological application.

Coleopteran and Lepidopteran Hosts of the Entomopathogenic Genus Cordyceps sensu lato

Entomophthoralean and ascomycetous fungi are the two major groups known to parasitize arthropods in almost every terrestrial habitat of the earth. Within Ascomycota, Cordyceps sensu lato is a large genus with more than 400 spp. described on numerous orders of Arthropoda. Among the hosts of Cordyceps, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera are the two major orders. Out of the estimated 200 Cordyceps spp. recorded on coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts, we have documented 92 spp. based on the available information of their host species. Among coleopteran hosts, Scarabaeidae and Elateridae are the two major families. Similarly, among lepidopterans, Hepialidae is the largest host family. Cordyceps militaris shows the widest host range, extending to 2 orders, 13 families, and 32 spp. We hope such accumulative work will be useful as a quick reference for interested biologists, forest ecologists, biocontrol researchers, and fungal and insect taxonomists to apprehend host range and host specificities of Cordyceps fungi.

Development of Ophiocordyceps sinensis through Plant-Mediated Interkingdom Host Colonization

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a well-known entomogenous and medicinal fungus. After its anamorphs parasitize the larvae of the genus Thitarodes, fruit-bodies may form to be used as medicine. However, its developmental mechanisms remain unknown. The distribution of O. sinensis was determined in different tissues of the Thitarodes larvae and the dominant plant species using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, respectively. We found that more fungal material was located in plants than in larvae, especially in Ranunculus tanguticus. A considerable amount was detected in larval intestinal-wall and plant roots. It is suggested that plants are the potential hosts of O. sinensis, which modifies our understanding of the life cycle of O. sinensis and indicates that the phytophagous larvae may become infected as they feed. Our research may contribute to the study of systematic evolution and population ecology of O. sinensis, elucidate its developmental mechanism and promote sustainable harvesting.

Metabolic characterization of natural and cultured Ophicordyceps sinensis from different origins by 1H NMR spectroscopy

Ophicordyceps sinensis is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine and cultured mycelium is a substitute for wild O. sinensis. Metabolic profiles of wild O. sinensis from three geographical locations and cultivated mycelia derived from three origins were investigated using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis combined with multivariate statistical analysis. A total of 56 primary metabolites were identified and quantified from O. sinensis samples. The principle component analysis (PCA) showed significant differences between natural O. sinensis and fermentation mycelia. Seven metabolites responsible for differentiation were screened out by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The concentrations of mannitol, trehalose, arginine, trans-4-hydroxyproline, alanine and glucitol were significantly different between wild and cultured groups. The variation in metabolic profiling among artificial mycelia was greater than that among wild O. sinensis. Furthermore, wild samples from different origins were clearly distinguished by the levels of mannitol, trehalose and some amino acids. This study indicates that (1)H NMR-based metabolomics is useful for fingerprinting and discriminating O. sinensis of different geographical regions and cultivated mycelia of different strains. The present study provided an efficient approach for investigating chemical compositions and evaluating the quality of medicine and health food derived from O. sinensis.

Cordyceps industry in China

Cordyceps, as a general term, describes a group of ascomycetous fungi growing on arthropods and other related fungi. Some cordyceps have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and cordyceps-derived products are currently a big industry in China. A number of medicinal and health products have been developed and extensively commercialized from natural Chinese cordyceps, its anamorphic fungus (Hirsutella sinensis), and other fungi known as Chinese cordyceps. The lack of a defined classification system for medicinal cordyceps fungi is a source of confusion in the industry and the public, and even among pharmaceutical scientists. This review summarizes the cordyceps fungi currently used in the industry in China with a special reference to clarify Chinese cordyceps and associated fungi. Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps guangdongensis and Isaria cicadae are well recognized and commercialized cordyceps fungi in China. Except the natural Chinese cordyceps and its anamorphic fungus, Paecilomyces hepiali, Mortierella hepiali, Cephalosporium sinensis and Clonostachys rosea isolated from natural Chinese cordyceps are classified as Chinese cordyceps–associated fungi. P. hepiali is a cordyceps fungus based on current phylogenetic analysis of Hypocreales, while M. hepiali is a fungus in the Zygomycetes and should only be treated as associated fungus of Chinese cordyceps. C. sinensis and C. rosea belong to the Hypocreales and their relationship to cordyceps fungi should be further studied. The exploitation of the resources of cordyceps fungi and their quality control in the industry should be major topics for future studies. Cooperation between the industry and the research community will enhance the whole cordyceps industry.

Phylogenetic-based nomenclatural proposals for Ophiocordycipitaceae (Hypocreales) with new combinations in Tolypocladium

Ophiocordycipitaceae is a diverse family comprising ecologically, economically, medicinally, and culturally important fungi. The family was recognized due to the polyphyly of the genus Cordyceps and the broad diversity of the mostly arthropod-pathogenic lineages of Hypocreales. The other two cordyceps-like families, Cordycipitaceae and Clavicipitaceae, will be revised taxonomically elsewhere. Historically, many species were placed in Cordyceps, but other genera have been described in this family as well, including several based on anamorphic features. Currently there are 24 generic names in use across both asexual and sexual life stages for species of Ophiocordycipitaceae. To reflect changes in Art. 59 in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), we propose to protect and to suppress names within Ophiocordycipitaceae, and to present taxonomic revisions in the genus Tolypocladium, based on rigorous and extensively sampled molecular phylogenetic analyses. When approaching this task, we considered the principles of priority, monophyly, minimizing taxonomic revisions, and the practical utility of these fungi within the wider biological research community.

Transcriptome analysis of the Ophiocordyceps sinensis fruiting body reveals putative genes involved in fruiting body development and cordycepin biosynthesis

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a highly valuable and popular medicinal fungus used as a tonic and roborant for thousands of years in traditional Asian medicine. However, unsustainable harvesting practices have endangered this species and very little is known about its developmental programming, its biochemistry and genetics. To begin to address this, the transcriptome of the medicinal O. sinensis fruiting body was analyzed by high-throughput. In this O. sinensis 454-EST dataset, four mating type genes and 121 genes that may be involved in fruiting body development, especially in signal transduction and transcription regulation, were discovered. Moreover, a model was developed for the synthesis of the primary medicinal compound, cordycepin, and the putative biosynthetic enzymes identified. This transcriptome dataset provides a significant new resource for gene discovery in O. sinensis and dissection of its valuable biosynthetic and developmental pathways.

DNA barcoding the commercial Chinese caterpillar fungus

Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) has been widely used as tonic in Asian medicine. Considering its curative effect and high cost, various counterfeit versions of O. sinensis have been introduced and are commercially available. These counterfeits have morphological characteristics that are difficult to distinguish based on morphology alone, thereby causing confusion and threatening its safe use. In this study, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences as a DNA barcode were analyzed and assessed for rapid and accurate identification of 131 O. sinensis samples and 12 common counterfeits and closely related species. Results showed that sufficient ITS sequence differences, also known as 'barcode gaps', existed to distinguish between O. sinensis and counterfeit species. ITS sequence correctly identified 100% of the samples at the species and genus level using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool 1 and the nearest distance method. Furthermore, O. sinensis, counterfeits, and closely related species can be successfully identified using tree-based methods including maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining, and maximum likelihood analysis. These results indicated that DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish O. sinensis from counterfeits and closely related species to ensure its safe use.

Advances in research of the artificial cultivation of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in China

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis), a traditional Chinese medicine called DongChongXiaCao (DCXC) in Chinese, is well known and has been used in Asia countries since the fifteenth century, and it contains some valuable medicinal component defined by modern pharmacological science. DCXC only appears at high altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Consequently, it is difficult to find and harvest. Because of its rarity and medicinal value, DCXC has always been one of the most expensive medicines known. As the price of DCXC has risen in recent years, thousands of migrants have entered into the various grasslands to search for them in season, which makes ecological environments of the grassland more fragile. In order to relieve the environmental pressures and protect this valuable resource, the artificial cultivation of DCXC involving two aspects of the genus Hepialus and the fungi of the host larvae should be employed and applied at the first available time point. In this article, the reproduction of moth larvae of the genus Hepialus is first described, which includes their ecological characteristics and the methods of artificial feeding. Second, the generation and isolation method of the fungi from DCXC are subsequently summarized, and then the mechanism of fungal spores to attack the moth larvae are restated. Finally, the basic model of artificial cultivation of DCXC is introduced; meanwhile, the potential application of modern biotechnology to the artificial cultivation is analyzed in prospect. This review article will not only expand people's knowledge regarding the artificial cultivation of DCXC, but also hopefully provide an informative reference for the development of this valuable resource and the environmental protection of alpine meadows.

A real-time qPCR assay to quantify Ophiocordyceps sinensis biomass in Thitarodes larvae

Ophiocordyceps sinensis, an entomogenous fungus parasitic in the larvae of moths (Lepidoptera), is one of the most valuable medicinal fungi, and it only distributed naturally on the Tibetan Plateau. The parasitical amount of O. sinensis in various tissues of the host Thitarodes larvae has an important role in study the occurrence and developmental mechanisms of O. sinensis, but there no an effective method to detect the fungal anamorph. A real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) system, including a pair of species-specific ITS primers and its related program, was developed for O. sinensis assay with high reliability and efficiency. A calibration curve was established and exhibited a very good linear correlation between the fungal biomass and the C T values (R (2)=0.999419) by the qPCR system. Based on this method, O. sinensis was detected rapidly in four tissues of its host caterpillars, and the results were shown as following: the maximum content of O. sinensis parasitized in the fat-body, and next came body-wall; both of them were much larger than that observed in the haemolymph and intestinal-wall. Taken together, these results show that qPCR assays may become useful tools for study on developmental mechanism of O. sinensis.

Detection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in soil by quantitative real-time PCR

Ophiocordyceps sinensis, one of the best known entomopathogenic fungi in traditional Chinese medicine, parasitizes larvae of the moth genus Thitarodes, which lives in soil tunnels. However, little is known about the spatial distribution of O. sinensis in the soil. We established a protocol for DNA extraction, purification, and quantification of O. sinensis in soil with quantitative real-time PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer region. The method was assessed using 34 soil samples from Tibet. No inhibitory effects in purified soil DNA extracts were detected. The standard curve method for absolute DNA quantification generated crossing point values that were strongly and linearly correlated to the log10 of the initial amount of O. sinensis genomic DNA (r(2) = 0.999) over 7 orders of magnitude (4 × 10(1) to 4 × 10(7) fg). The amplification efficiency and y-intercept value of the standard curve were 1.953 and 37.70, respectively. The amount of O. sinensis genomic DNA decreased with increasing soil depth and horizontal distance from a sclerotium (P < 0.05). Our protocol is rapid, specific, sensitive, and provides a powerful tool for quantification of O. sinensis from soil.

On the reliability of DNA sequences of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in public databases

Some DNA sequences in the International Nucleotide Sequence Databases (INSD) are erroneously annotated, which has lead to misleading conclusions in publications. Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis) is a fungus endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, and more than 100 populations covering almost its distribution area have been examined by us over recent years. In this study, using the data from authentic materials, we have evaluated the reliability of nucleotide sequences annotated as O. sinensis in the INSD. As of October 15, 2012, the INSD contained 874 records annotated as O. sinensis, including 555 records representing nuclear ribosomal DNA (63.5 %), 197 representing protein-coding genes (22.5 %), 92 representing random markers with unknown functions (10.5 %), and 30 representing microsatellite loci (3.5 %). Our analysis indicated that 39 of the 397 internal transcribed spacer entries, 27 of the 105 small subunit entries, and five of the 53 large subunit entries were incorrectly annotated as belonging to O. sinensis. For protein-coding sequences, all records of serine protease genes, the mating-type gene MAT1-2-1, the DNA lyase gene, the two largest subunits of RNA polymerase II, and elongation factor-1α gene were correct, while 14 of the 73 β-tubulin entries were indeterminate. Genetic diversity analyses using those sequences correctly identified as O. sinensis revealed significant genetic differentiation in the fungus although the extent of genetic differentiation varied with the gene. The relationship between O. sinensis and some other related fungal taxa is also discussed.

Determining novel molecular markers in the Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis by screening a shotgun genomic library

The Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, endemic to alpine regions on the Tibetan Plateau, is one of the most valuable medicinal fungi in the world. Genetic differentiation within this fungus was observed; however, due to lack of highly efficient molecular markers, the overall genetic structure of this fungus has not been clarified. In this study, a shotgun genomic library of O. sinensis was constructed, and >181,848 nt were analyzed from >250 random clones. Primers from 33 sequenced fragments were then designed to amplify O. sinensis samples collected from widely separated regions on the Tibetan Plateau. Ten of the 33 fragments had no amplification or poor sequencing quality from all or certain samples. Sequence variations of the remaining 23 fragments among different samples were investigated in detail. Three fragments (OSRC14, OSRC19, and OSRC32) were the most variable with 7-43 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites, representing the SNP frequency of 1.2-6.7 % per nucleotide site. These three fragments have the potential to be useful molecular markers for studying the population genetics of O. sinensis. These results also showed that constructing and screening a shotgun genomic library was an efficient approach to identify novel molecular markers from non-model organisms.

Growth and Cultural Characteristics of Ophiocordyceps longissima Collected in Korea

We investigated the effect of nutritional and environmental factors on Ophiocordyceps longissima mycelial growth. The longest colony diameter was observed on Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract, Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics minimal medium, and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA); however, malt-extract yeast-extract agar, SDA plus yeast extract, yeast-extract malt-extract peptone dextrose agar, SDA, oatmeal agar, and potato dextrose agar showed higher mycelia density. A temperature of 25℃ was optimum and 7.0 was the optimum pH for mycelial growth. Colony diameter was similar under light and dark conditions. Maltose and yeast extract showed the highest mycelial growth among carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. The effect of mineral salts was less obvious; however, K(3)PO(4) showed slightly better growth than that of the other mineral salts tested. Among all nutrition sources tested, complex organic nitrogen sources such as yeast extract, peptone, and tryptone were best for mycelial growth of O. longissima. Ophiocordyceps longissima composite medium, formulated by adding maltose (2% w/v), yeast extract (1% w/v), and K(3)PO(4) (0.05% w/v) resulted in slightly longer colony diameter. In vitro mycelial O. longissima growth was sustainable and the production of fruiting bodies could be used for commercial purposes in the future.