Unraveling the Secrets of a Double-Life Fungus by Genomics: Ophiocordyceps australis CCMB661 Displays Molecular Machinery for Both Parasitic and Endophytic Lifestyles

Ophiocordyceps australis (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) is a classic entomopathogenic fungus that parasitizes ants (Hymenoptera, Ponerinae, Ponerini). Nonetheless, according to our results, this fungal species also exhibits a complete set of genes coding for plant cell wall degrading Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes), enabling a full endophytic stage and, consequently, its dual ability to both parasitize insects and live inside plant tissue. The main objective of our study was the sequencing and full characterization of the genome of the fungal strain of O. australis (CCMB661) and its predicted secretome. The assembled genome had a total length of 30.31 Mb, N50 of 92.624 bp, GC content of 46.36%, and 8,043 protein-coding genes, 175 of which encoded CAZymes. In addition, the primary genes encoding proteins and critical enzymes during the infection process and those responsible for the host-pathogen interaction have been identified, including proteases (Pr1, Pr4), aminopeptidases, chitinases (Cht2), adhesins, lectins, lipases, and behavioral manipulators, such as enterotoxins, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs), and Glycoside Hydrolases (GHs). Our findings indicate that the presence of genes coding for Mad2 and GHs in O. australis may facilitate the infection process in plants, suggesting interkingdom colonization. Furthermore, our study elucidated the pathogenicity mechanisms for this Ophiocordyceps species, which still is scarcely studied.

The Program for Biodiversity Research in Brazil: The role of regional networks for biodiversity knowledge, dissemination, and conservation

The Program for Biodiversity Research (PPBio) is an innovative program designed to integrate all biodiversity research stakeholders. Operating since 2004, it has installed long-term ecological research sites throughout Brazil and its logic has been applied in some other southern-hemisphere countries. The program supports all aspects of research necessary to understand biodiversity and the processes that affect it. There are presently 161 sampling sites (see some of them at Supplementary Appendix), most of which use a standardized methodology that allows comparisons across biomes and through time. To date, there are about 1200 publications associated with PPBio that cover topics ranging from natural history to genetics and species distributions. Most of the field data and metadata are available through PPBio web sites or DataONE. Metadata is available for researchers that intend to explore the different faces of Brazilian biodiversity spatio-temporal variation, as well as for managers intending to improve conservation strategies. The Program also fostered, directly and indirectly, local technical capacity building, and supported the training of hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students. The main challenge is maintaining the long-term funding necessary to understand biodiversity patterns and processes under pressure from global environmental changes.

Bambusicolous Fomitiporia revisited: multilocus phylogeny reveals a clade of host-exclusive species

FOMITIPORIA

is a genus of wood-inhabiting Hymenochaetaceae (Agaricomycetes) that includes pathogens and decomposers occurring on a wide array of plant substrates. Some species decay culms of woody bamboos, a poorly known biotic interaction. Four bambusicolous species of Fomitiporia are currently known. However, no studies concerning their phylogenetic relationships have been performed. In order to assess species boundaries and their relationships to each other, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and portions of nuc 28S rDNA (28S), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), as well as morphological analyses. Four species that occur on culms of woody bamboos, F. bambusarum, F. spinescens, F. uncinata, and the new species F. bambusipileata, grouped together in an exclusive clade within a primarily Neotropical lineage. The new species differs from all other species in the group by the pileate basidiomata. Hypotheses regarding host-exclusivity are discussed.

A Micologia como conteúdo da disciplina de Biologia no Ensino Médio: uma análise dos livros didáticos aprovados no PNLD-2018

Os fungos são o objeto de estudo de uma ciência conhecida por Micologia e, em virtude de seu papel na história da vida no planeta e de sua importância ecológica e econômica, compõem o saber escolar da disciplina de Biologia no Ensino Médio. Sendo assim, nesse trabalho objetivamos realizar uma análise descritiva dos conteúdos de Micologia presentes nas dez coleções de Biologia aprovadas na edição de 2018 do Programa Nacional do Livro Didático. A análise revelou que, apesar de melhorias em termos conceituais e de abordagem metodológica, as ilustrações presentes nos livros analisados ainda apresentam eventuais erros que podem prejudicar a compreensão do conteúdo. Outro fator potencialmente problemático é a ausência de contextualização com os demais aspectos ecológicos, saúde humana e relações com outros seres vivos, tornando os tópicos sobre Micologia reduzidos a uma abordagem desconexa com a realidade dos estudantes. Assim sendo, concluímos que seja relevante que se continue a investigar a temática da Micologia nos livros didáticos de Biologia.

Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa

Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.

Decrypting the Polyporus dictyopus complex: Recovery of Atroporus Ryvarden and segregation of Neodictyopus gen. nov. (Polyporales, Basidiomyocta)

Polyporus dictyopus, with a large number of heterotypic synonyms, has been traditionally considered a species complex, characterized by wide morphological variation and geographic distribution. Thus, neotropical specimens previously identified as P. dictyopus from Amazonia, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes were studied based on detailed macro- and micromorphological examination and phylogenetic analyses, using distinct ribosomal and protein-coding genomic regions: the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS), nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU), and RNA polymerase II second subunit (RPB2). Two unrelated generic lineages, each one represented by different species, are reported: Atroporus is recovered and re-circumscribed to include A. diabolicus and A. rufoatratus comb. nov.; Neodictyopus gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate N. dictyopus comb. nov. and two new species, N. atlanticae and N. gugliottae. Our study showed that at least five distinct species were hidden under the name P. dictyopus. Detailed descriptions, pictures, illustrations, and a key are provided for Atroporus and Neodictyopus species.

Amauroderma trichodermatum (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota): first record from Bolivia and geographic distribution map, with notes on nomenclature and morphology

Amauroderma trichodermatum is reported from Bolivia, the collection being the fourth one known worldwide. The species is unique in the genus by having a hirsute pileus and a monomitic hyphal system. The use of the epithet “trichodermatum” as a correction for the typographical error “trichodematum” is proposed. A description and illustrations are provided based on the fresh Bolivian specimen, which has been compared with the type.

New records of Auriculariales, Hymenochaetales and Polyporales (Fungi: Agaricomycetes) for the Caatinga Biome

Macrofungi from exclusive Brazilian biome of semi-arid region are poorly known and more efforts are necessary to document the diversity and distribution of this group among all the different ecosystems of the Caatinga. Sixty one exsiccata kept at ALCB, CEPEC, HUVA and IPA herbaria were revised which corresponded to 36 species. Fourteen of these, Auricularia polytricha, Amauroderma partitum, A. sprucei, Dichomitus cavernulosus, Flabellophora parva, Flaviporus hydrophilus, Ganoderma resinaceum, Hexagonia papyracea, Perenniporia aurantiaca, Phellinus shaferi, Polyporus ianthinus, Rigidoporus lineatus, R. ulmarius, and Steccherinum reniforme, are first records for the Caatinga biome.

New records of Flaviporus hydrophilus and Phellinus portoricensis (Fungi: Polypores)

Flaviporus hydrophilus and Phellinus portoricensis, collected in the Parque Municipal do Morro do Finder, are reported as new records for the Atlantic Rain Forest of Santa Catarina state and for Southern Brazil, respectively. Descriptions, illustrations and notes on distribution of these species are presented.