Nuankaew, S., Chuaseeharonnachai, C., Somrithipol, S., Kwantong, P., Srihom, C., Ros, C. & Boonyuen, N. (2021) Contribution to Chaetosphaeriaceae-Kionochaeta setosimplicia sp. nov. from Thailand. Phytotaxa 508 (2): 175-186.

Nuankaew, S., Chuaseeharonnachai, C., Somrithipol, S., Kwantong, P., Srihom, C., Ros, C., Boonyuen, N. (2021): Nuankaew, S., Chuaseeharonnachai, C., Somrithipol, S., Kwantong, P., Srihom, C., Ros, C. & Boonyuen, N. (2021) Contribution to Chaetosphaeriaceae-Kionochaeta setosimplicia sp. nov. from Thailand. Phytotaxa 508 (2): 175-186. Phytotaxa 508 (3): 300-300, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.508.3.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.508.3.

The role of short-chain dehydrogenase/oxidoreductase, induced by salt stress, on host interaction of B. pseudomallei.

BACKGROUND: Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a frequently occurring disease in northeastern Thailand, where soil and water high in salt content are common. Using microarray analysis, we previously showed that B. pseudomallei up-regulated a short-chain dehydrogenase/oxidoreductase (SDO) under salt stress. However, the importance of SDO in B. pseudomallei infection is unknown. This study aimed to explore the function of B. pseudomallei SDO, and to investigate its role in interactions between B. pseudomallei and host cells. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis of B. pseudomallei SDO structure, based on homology modeling, revealed a NAD+ cofactor domain and a catalytic triad containing Ser149, Tyr162, and Lys166. This is similar to Bacillus megaterium glucose 1-dehydrogenase. To investigate the role of this protein, we constructed a B. pseudomallei SDO defective mutant, measured glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) activity, and tested the interactions with host cells. The B. pseudomallei K96243 wild type exhibited potent GDH activity under condition containing 300 mM NaCl, while the mutant showed activity levels 15 times lower. Both invasion into the A549 cell line and early intracellular survival within the J774A.1 macrophage cell were impaired in the mutant. Complementation of SDO was able to restore the mutant ability to produce GDH activity, invade epithelial cells, and survive in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that induced SDO activity during salt stress may facilitate B. pseudomallei invasion and affect initiation of successful intracellular infection. Identifying the role of B. pseudomallei SDO provides a better understanding of the association between bacterial adaptation and pathogenesis in melioidosis

A taxonomic revision and phylogenetic reconstruction of the Jahnulales (Dothideomycetes), and the new family Manglicolaceae

Genera assigned to the Jahnulales are morphologically diverse, especially in ascospores equipped with or without appendages, sheaths or apical caps. They are predominantly freshwater fungi occurring on woody substrata, with Manglicola guatemalensis, Xylomyces chlamydosporus and X. rhizophorae the only species known from marine habitats. The order Jahnulales with 4 teleomorphic genera: Jahnula (15 species), Aliquandostipite (5), Megalohypha (1), Manglicola (2) and the anamorphic genera Brachiosphaera (2), Speiropsis (9), Xylomyces (8), amounting to a total of 42 species, is reviewed and nomenclatural changes are proposed. Twenty species are treated at the molecular level, with 94 sequences, 13 of which are newly generated for this review. Three species are rejected (Speiropsis irregularis, Xylomyces aquaticus, X. elegans) while the phylogenetic placement of 6 Xylomyces, 7 Speiropsis, 1 Brachiosphaera and 1 Manglicola require molecular data to confirm their placement in the order. Sequences are derived from ex-holotype isolates and new collections made in Thailand. Most taxa are included in the family Aliquandostipitaceae and a new family Manglicolaceae is erected for the marine ascomycete Manglicola guatemalensis with its large ascomata (1,100-1,750 x 290-640 mu m), wide ostioles and ascospores that are fusiform, unequally one-septate with the apical cell larger than the turbinate basal cell and bear apical gelatinous appendages. The genus Jahnula is polyphyletic grouping in three clades with J. aquatica, J. granulosa, J. rostrata, J. potamophila and Megalohypha aqua-dulces in the Jahnula sensu stricto clade. No taxonomical changes are proposed for Jahnula species not grouping in the Jahnula sensu stricto clade, until further species are isolated and sequenced

Genetic analysis of the orthologous crt and mdr1 genes in Plasmodium malariae from Thailand and Myanmar

Background Plasmodium malariae is a widely spread but neglected human malaria parasite, which causes chronic infections. Studies on genetic polymorphisms of anti-malarial drug target genes in P. malariae are limited. Previous reports have shown polymorphisms in the P. malariae dihydrofolate reductase gene associated with pyrimethamine resistance and linked to pyrimethamine drug pressure. This study investigated polymorphisms of the P. malariae homologous genes, chloroquine resistant transporter and multidrug resistant 1, associated with chloroquine and mefloquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. Methods The orthologous P. malariae crt and mdr1 genes were studied in 95 patients with P. malariae infection between 2002 and 2016 from Thailand (N = 51) and Myanmar (N = 44). Gene sequences were analysed using BioEdit, MEGA7, and DnaSP programs. Mutations and gene amplifications were compared with P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax orthologous genes. Protein topology models derived from the observed pmcrt and pmmdr1 haplotypes were constructed and analysed using Phyre2, SWISS MODEL and Discovery Studio Visualization V 17.2. Results Two non-synonymous mutations were observed in exon 2 (H53P, 40%) and exon 8 (E278D, 44%) of pmcrt. The topology model indicated that H53P and E278D were located outside of the transmembrane domain and were unlikely to affect protein function. Pmmdr1 was more diverse than pmcrt, with 10 non-synonymous and 3 synonymous mutations observed. Non-synonymous mutations were located in the parasite cytoplasmic site, transmembrane 11 and nucleotide binding domains 1 and 2. Polymorphisms conferring amino acid changes in the transmembrane and nucleotide binding domains were predicted to have some effect on PmMDR1 conformation, but were unlikely to affect protein function. All P. malariae parasites in this study contained a single copy of the mdr1 gene. Conclusions The observed polymorphisms in pmcrt and pmmdr1 genes are unlikely to affect protein function and unlikely related to chloroquine drug pressure. Similarly, the absence of pmmdr1 copy number variation suggests limited mefloquine drug pressure on the P. malariae parasite population, despite its long time use in Thailand for the treatment of falciparum malaria.</p

Ecological and Oceanographic Perspectives in Future Marine Fungal Taxonomy

Marine fungi are an ecological rather than a taxonomic group that has been widely researched. Significant progress has been made in documenting their phylogeny, biodiversity, ultrastructure, ecology, physiology, and capacity for degradation of lignocellulosic compounds. This review (concept paper) summarizes the current knowledge of marine fungal diversity and provides an integrated and comprehensive view of their ecological roles in the world&rsquo;s oceans. Novel terms for &lsquo;semi marine fungi&rsquo; and &lsquo;marine fungi&rsquo; are proposed based on the existence of fungi in various oceanic environments. The major maritime currents and upwelling that affect species diversity are discussed. This paper also forecasts under-explored regions with a greater diversity of marine taxa based on oceanic currents. The prospects for marine and semi-marine mycology are highlighted, notably, technological developments in culture-independent sequencing approaches for strengthening our present understanding of marine fungi&rsquo;s ecological roles

OMICS and Other Advanced Technologies in Mycological Applications

Fungi play many roles in different ecosystems. The precise identification of fungi is important in different aspects. Historically, they were identified based on morphological characteristics, but technological advancements such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing now enable more accurate identification and taxonomy, and higher-level classifications. However, some species, referred to as “dark taxa”, lack distinct physical features that makes their identification challenging. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomics of environmental samples provide a solution to identifying new lineages of fungi. This paper discusses different approaches to taxonomy, including PCR amplification and sequencing of rDNA, multi-loci phylogenetic analyses, and the importance of various omics (large-scale molecular) techniques for understanding fungal applications. The use of proteomics, transcriptomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and interactomics provides a comprehensive understanding of fungi. These advanced technologies are critical for expanding the knowledge of the Kingdom of Fungi, including its impact on food safety and security, edible mushrooms foodomics, fungal secondary metabolites, mycotoxin-producing fungi, and biomedical and therapeutic applications, including antifungal drugs and drug resistance, and fungal omics data for novel drug development. The paper also highlights the importance of exploring fungi from extreme environments and understudied areas to identify novel lineages in the fungal dark taxa

Emendation of the genus Bactrodesmiastrum (Sordariomycetes) and description of Bactrodesmiastrum monilioides sp. nov. from plant debris in Spain

Bactrodesmiastrum monilioides sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the twig of an unidentified plant collected in Spain. This fungus is characterized by sporodochial conidiomata with moniliform conidiophores, its conidia being solitary, broadly navicular to obovoid, mostly 2-septate, dark brown, with a black band at the septa and basal cell pale brown to brown. Analysis of the ITS region and D1/D2 domains of the LSU of rDNA sequences confirms the placement of this fungus in Bactrodesmiastrum (Sordariomycetes). Because the genus Bactrodesmiastrum was originally characterized by solitary or aggregated conidiophores reduced to a single brown monoblastic conidiogenous cell, an emended description of the genus is provided to accommodate the novel species. A key to species of Bactrodesmiastrum is provided.Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Grant CGL 2011–27185.http://link.springer.com/journal/115572016-06-30hb201

Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa - 2021.

This paper provides an updated classification of the Kingdom Fungi (including fossil fungi) and fungus-like taxa. Five-hundred and twenty-three (535) notes are provided for newly introduced taxa and for changes that have been made since the previous outline. In the discussion, the latest taxonomic changes in Basidiomycota are provided and the classification of Mycosphaerellales are broadly discussed. Genera listed in Mycosphaerellaceae have been confirmed by DNA sequence analyses, while doubtful genera (DNA sequences being unavailable but traditionally accommodated in Mycosphaerellaceae) are listed in the discussion. Problematic genera in Glomeromycota are also discussed based on phylogenetic results