Anti-inflammatory constituents from a sea anemone-derived fungus Arthrinium arundinis MA30

In this study, preliminary field-sampling of bioactive fungal strains and bioassay-guided selection were conducted. A number of fungal strains were isolated from sea anemones along the northeastern coast of Badouzi, Keelung, Taiwan. Among them, Arthrinium arundinis MA30 showed significant anti-inflammatory activity and was thus selected for further chemical investigation. After a series of purification and isolation using different chromatographic techniques on the fermented products of A. arundinis MA30, thirty-one compounds were identified, five of which were previously unreported, including arthrinoic acid, hexylaconitic anhydride methyl ester, (3S,8R)-8-hydroxy-3-carboxy-2-methylenenonanoic acid, and arthripenoids G and H. These compounds were subjected to comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis. Of all the isolates, 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-8-methylxanthone and arthripenoid C demonstrated the most distinctive inhibitory activities against nitric oxide production in mouse microglial BV-2 cells, with their respective inhibitory rates being 71% and 81% at 10 μM concentration, and their respective IC50 values were further determined to be 5.3 ± 0.6 and 1.6 ± 0.4 μM. These compounds showed no significant cytotoxicity, and curcumin was used as a positive control in this study.

Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Updates on Apiospora: Introducing Four New Species from Wurfbainia villosa and Grasses in China

Apiospora, an ascomycetous genus in Apiosporaceae, comprises saprobes, endophytes, and pathogens of humans and plants. They have a cosmopolitan distribution with a wide range of hosts reported from Asia. In the present study, we collected and isolated Apiospora species from Wurfbainia villosa and grasses in Guangdong and Yunnan provinces in China. Multi-locus phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer, the large subunit nuclear rDNA, the partial translation elongation factor 1-α, and β-tubulin was performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the Apiospora species. Based on the distinctive morphological characteristics and molecular evidence, Ap. endophytica, Ap. guangdongensis, Ap. wurfbainiae, and Ap. yunnanensis are proposed. Descriptions, illustrations, and notes for the newly discovered species are provided and compared with closely related Apiospora species. An updated phylogeny of Apiospora is presented, along with a discussion on the phylogenetic affinities of ambiguous taxa.

Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal three new species of Apiospora in China

Species of Apiospora are distributed worldwide as endophytes, pathogens and saprobes. In this study, we analysed Apiospora strains isolated from diseased leaves in Yunnan Province and dead culms in Shaanxi Province, China and we identified fungal species based on multi-locus phylogeny of ITS, LSU, tef1 and tub2 genes, along with the morphological characters, host and ecological distribution. Analyses revealed three new species, namely A.corylisp. nov., A.lophatherisp. nov. and A.oenotheraesp. nov. and one known species A.arundinis. Illustrations and descriptions of the four taxa are provided, along with comparisons with closely-related taxa in the genus.

New studies on Apiospora (Amphisphaeriales, Apiosporaceae): epitypification of Sphaeriaapiospora, proposal of Ap.marianiae sp. nov. and description of the asexual morph of Ap.sichuanensis

In the present work, an epitype for Sphaeriaapiospora, the basionym of the type species of the genus Apiospora, Apiosporamontagnei, is selected among collections growing in the host plant species reported in the original protologue, Arundomicrantha. Most samples obtained from localities near that of the lectotype (Perpignan, France) belong to the same species, which is not significantly different from the clade previously named Ap.phragmitis, suggesting that this name is a later synonym of Ap.montagnei. In addition, the name Ap.marianiae is here proposed to accommodate a newly discovered species found in the Balearic Islands (Spain), and the asexual state of Ap.sichuanensis is described for the first time from samples growing in the same islands.

Two Unrecorded Apiospora Species Isolated from Marine Substrates in Korea with Eight New Combinations (A. piptatheri and A. rasikravindrae)

Although Apiospora Sacc. has previously been considered a sexual morph of Arthrinium species on the basis of phylogenetic, morphological, and ecological diagnoses, a recent study delimited these as different species. Recently, 14 species, including eight new species, of marine Arthrinium have been reported from Korea. Six known species have previously been renamed as species in the genus Apiospora (A. arundinis, A. marii, A. piptatheri, A. rasikravindrae, A. sacchari, and A. saccharicola). However, the eight new species of marine Arthrinium (Ar. agari, Ar. arctoscopi, Ar. fermenti, Ar. koreanum, Ar. marinum, Ar. pusillispermum, Ar. sargassi, and Ar. taeanense) are yet to be studied, and thus the taxonomic status of these species remains to be clarified. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses using the internal transcribed spacer, 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and beta-tubulin regions to confirm the phylogenetic position of these eight species. Based on these analyses, we re-identified the eight Arthrinium species as new combinations in Apiospora. Additionally, among the six known Apiospora species, two (A. piptatheri and A. rasikravindrae) have not previously been recorded in Korea. On the basis of morphological and molecular analyses, we report these as new species in Korea. Herein, we present scanning electron micrographs detailing the morphologies of these species, along with phylogenetic trees and detailed descriptions.

Bioactive cytochalasans from the fungus Arthrinium arundinis DJ-13

The investigation of the metabolites from Arthrinium arundinis DJ-13 grown in solid medium revealed six undescribed cytochalasans, arundisins A-F and twelve known compounds. Their structures were initially investigated in detail by spectroscopic analyses and were further confirmed by X-crystallography and ECD experiments. In the in vitro bioassays, arundisins A and B showed cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with IC₅₀ values of 18.82 ± 0.36 and 15.20 ± 0.42 μM, respectively. Arundisin F exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli with MIC of 8.00 μg/mL (kanamycin, 2.00 μg/mL), and arundisin D displayed gently antibacterial activity against Candida albicans with MIC of 32.00 μg/mL (Nystatin, 1.00 μg/mL).

Phylogenetic delimitation of Apiospora and Arthrinium

In the present study six species of Arthrinium (including a new taxon, Ar. crenatum) are described and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of ITS and 28S rDNA, as well as sequences of tef1 and tub2 exons suggests that Arthrinium s. str. and Apiospora represent independent lineages within Apiosporaceae. Morphologically, Arthrinium and Apiospora do not seem to have clear diagnostic features, although species of Arthrinium often produce variously shaped conidia (navicular, fusoid, curved, polygonal, rounded), while most species of Apiospora have rounded (face view) / lenticular (side view) conidia. Ecologically, most sequenced collections of Arthrinium were found on Cyperaceae or Juncaceae in temperate, cold or alpine habitats, while those of Apiospora were collected mainly on Poaceae (but also many other plant host families) in a wide range of habitats, including tropical and subtropical regions. A lectotype for Sphaeria apiospora (syn.: Ap. montagnei, type species of Apiospora) is selected among the original collections preserved at the PC fungarium, and the putative identity of this taxon, found on Poaceae in Mediterranean lowland habitats, is discussed. Fifty-five species of Arthrinium are combined to Apiospora, and a key to species of Arthrinium s. str. is provided. Citation: Pintos Á, Alvarado P (2021). Phylogenetic delimitation of Apiospora and Arthrinium. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 7: 197-221. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2021.07.10.

Multigene Phylogeny Reveals Haploanthostomella elaeidis gen. et sp. nov. and Familial Replacement of Endocalyx (Xylariales, Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota)

During our investigation of palm fungi in Thailand, two interesting taxa from Elaeis guineensis and Metroxylon sagu (Arecaceae) were collected. Based on phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset of ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tub2 nucleotide sequences as well as unique morphological characteristics, we introduce the new genus Haploanthostomella within Xylariales, and a new species Endocalyx metroxyli. Additionally, in our study, the genus Endocalyx is transferred to the family Cainiaceae based on its brown conidia and molecular phylogenetic evidence.

Bambusicolous Arthrinium Species in Guangdong Province, China

A survey of bambusicolous fungi in Bijiashan Mountain Park, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, revealed several Arthrinium-like taxa from dead sheaths, twigs, and clumps of Bambusa species. Phylogenetic relationships were investigated based on morphology and combined analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU), beta tubulin (β-tubulin), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef 1-α) gene sequences. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic data, Arthrinium acutiapicum sp. nov. and Arthrinium pseudorasikravindrae sp. nov. are introduced herein with descriptions and illustrations. Additionally, two new locality records of Arthrinium bambusae and Arthrinium guizhouense are described and illustrated.

Arthrinium species associated with bamboo and reed plants in China

Arthrinium species are presently recognised based on a combination of morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. In the present study fresh Arthrinium specimens from bamboo and reed plants were collected in China. Morphological comparison and phylogenetic analyses were subsequently performed for species identification. From the results obtained two new species, Arthrinium gaoyouense and A. qinlingense are proposed, and three known species, Arthrinium arundinis, A. paraphaeospermum and A. yunnanum are identified based on morphological characteristics from the host and published DNA sequence data.

Phylogenetic reassessment of Nigrospora: Ubiquitous endophytes, plant and human pathogens

Species of Nigrospora commonly occur as plant pathogens, endophytes or saprobes, and have been shown to be extremely interesting for the discovery of novel metabolites. The familial placement, as well as phylogenetic relationships among Nigrospora species remain ambiguous. In this study, Nigrospora (= Khusia) is confirmed as a monophyletic genus belonging to Apiosporaceae (Xylariales), based on a phylogeny inferred from LSU sequence data. A multi-locus phylogeny based on ITS, TEF1-α and TUB2, in conjunction with morphological characters, host associations, and ecological data was employed for species delimitation in Nigrospora, as well as identification of 165 recently collected isolates from China, and three from Europe. In total 13 novelties are proposed including 12 new species and 1 new combination. Five species are re-described based on an examination of type specimens and/or fresh collections. New species described in this paper include: N. aurantiaca, N. bambusae, N. camelliae-sinensis, N. chinensis, N. guilinensis, N. hainanensis, N. lacticolonia, N. osmanthi, N. pyriformis, N. rubi, N. vesicularis and N. zimmermanii. Furthermore, N. vietnamensis is transferred to Arthrinium. Our results indicate a high level of species diversity within Nigrospora, with a general lack in host specificity. Taxa that cluster basal in Nigrospora have wide host ranges, whereas those that diverged later tend to have narrow host ranges. The currently available data suggest, therefore, that the general evolutionary direction in the genus Nigrospora is from a wide to a narrow host range.

A phylogenetic re-evaluation of Arthrinium

Although the genus Arthrinium (sexual morph Apiospora) is commonly isolated as an endophyte from a range of substrates, and is extremely interesting for the pharmaceutical industry, its molecular phylogeny has never been resolved. Based on morphology and DNA sequence data of the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU, 28S) and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S rRNA gene of the nrDNA operon, the genus Arthrinium is shown to belong to Apiosporaceae in Xylariales. Arthrinium is morphologically and phylogenetically circumscribed, and the sexual genus Apiospora treated as synonym on the basis that Arthinium is older, more commonly encountered, and more frequently used in literature. An epitype is designated for Arthrinium pterospermum, and several well-known species are redefined based on their morphology and sequence data of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF), beta-tubulin (TUB) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) gene regions. Newly described are A. hydei on Bambusa tuldoides from Hong Kong, A. kogelbergense on dead culms of Restionaceae from South Africa, A. malaysianum on Macaranga hullettii from Malaysia, A. ovatum on Arundinaria hindsii from Hong Kong, A. phragmites on Phragmites australis from Italy, A. pseudospegazzinii on Macaranga hullettii from Malaysia, A. pseudosinense on bamboo from The Netherlands, and A. xenocordella from soil in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the genera Pteroconium and Cordella are also reduced to synonymy, rejecting spore shape and the presence of setae as characters of generic significance separating them from Arthrinium.