Phylogenetic position of freshwater and marine Sigmoidea species: introducing a marine hyphomycete Halosigmoidea gen. nov. (Halosphaeriales)

The aquatic hyphomycete genus Sigmoidea, with freshwater and marine representatives, is re-examined at the morphological and molecular levels. Currently six species are accepted, four from freshwater habitats (S. prolifera, S. aurantiaca, S. contorta, S. praelonga) and two marine species (S. marina, S. luteola). Phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal small subunit rRNA gene sequences of freshwater and marine Sigmoidea species indicate that the marine species are distantly placed from the freshwater species, S. prolifera and Pseudosigmoidea cranei. The latter species are placed in the Dothideomycetes, in sister clades, with 81% bootstrap support. The phylogenetic placement of both marine Sigmoidea species, inferred from large subunit rRNA gene sequences, was within the genus Corollospora (Halosphaeriales, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina). An undescribed Sigmoidea species isolated from the Baltic Sea and one previously incorrectly identified as S. marina from Japan (S. parvulasp. nov.) formed a clade together with Corollospora quinqueseptata and Varicosporina ramulosa, and were located in a sister group to S. luteola and S. marina. Based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, Halosigmoidea gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate the three marine Sigmoidea species (S. luteola, S. marina,S. parvula sp. nov.). Identification keys to the genera Halosigmoidea, Pseudosigmoidea and Sigmoidea, and Halosigmoidea species are provided

Genome-Wide Association Study in BRCA1 Mutation Carriers Identifies Novel Loci Associated with Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk

BRCA1-associated breast and ovarian cancer risks can be modified by common genetic variants. To identify further cancer risk-modifying loci, we performed a multi-stage GWAS of 11,705 BRCA1 carriers (of whom 5,920 were diagnosed with breast and 1,839 were diagnosed with ovarian cancer), with a further replication in an additional sample of 2,646 BRCA1 carriers. We identified a novel breast cancer risk modifier locus at 1q32 for BRCA1 carriers (rs2290854, P = 2.7×10-8, HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20). In addition, we identified two novel ovarian cancer risk modifier loci: 17q21.31 (rs17631303, P = 1.4×10-8, HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38) and 4q32.3 (rs4691139, P = 3.4×10-8, HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38). The 4q32.3 locus was not associated with ovarian cancer risk in the general population or BRCA2 carriers, suggesting a BRCA1-specific associat

A case-only study to identify genetic modifiers of breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers

Breast cancer (BC) risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers varies by genetic and familial factors. About 50 common variants have been shown to modify BC risk for mutation carriers. All but three, were identified in general population studies. Other mutation carrier-specific susceptibility variants may exist but studies of mutation carriers have so far been underpowered. We conduct a novel case-only genome-wide association study comparing genotype frequencies between 60,212 general population BC cases and 13,007 cases with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. We identify robust novel associations for 2 variants with BC for BRCA1 and 3 for BRCA2 mutation carriers, P < 10−8, at 5 loci, which are not associated with risk in the general population. They include rs60882887 at 11p11.2 where MADD, SP11 and EIF1, genes previously implicated in BC biology, are predicted as potential targets. These findings will contribute towards customising BC polygenic risk scores for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Biodiversity of Fungi on &lt;I&gt;Calamus&lt;/I&gt; (Palmae) in Thailand

A study of saprotrophic microfungi associated with the palm Calamus sp. in Thai forests yielded 88 species, with 40 ascomycetes (45.5), and 48 anamorphic taxa (54.5) from 212 fungal collections. The most common fungi were Tetraploa sp. (14.1 of all records), Morenoina palmicola (11.8), Circinoconis paradoxa (5.2), Diaporthe sp. (4.7), and Helminthosporium sp. (4.7). The percentage of fungi occurring on dry versus damp materials were 68.5 and 31.5, respectively, with 61 of fungi occurring on petioles and 39 on rachides. The fungi occurring on Calamus sp. are compared with those recorded on other palms in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong and Thailand.</p

Trematosphaeriaceae fam. nov. (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota)

Trematosphaeriaceae fam. nov. is introduced to accommodate the genera Falciformispora, Halomassarina and Trematosphaeria. The main distinguishing characters of the family are medium-sized rounded ascomata with a papillate ostiole, a relatively wide, coriaceous peridium, cellular pseudoparaphyses and cylindro-clavate asci. The ascospores are two-celled or many celled, hyaline or brown. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from combined nuclear SSU and LSU rRNA and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1-alpha) and second largest subunit of RNA polymerase (RPB2) datasets show that these genera form a strongly supported cluster within the Pleosporales. The type species of each genus is illustrated and briefly discussed. Asteromassaria pulchra has been included in the family in previous publications; however, since the type of the genus (A. macrospora) was not included in the phylogenetic analysis, the familial placement cannot be confirmed. Furthermore Asteromassaria pulchra did not cluster in Trematosphaeriaceae in the analysis presented in this paper.</p

Dyfrolomycetaceae, a new family in the Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota

A new mangrove fungus collected in Tioman Island, Malaysia, is morphologically similar to marine species of Saccardoella. It also phylogenetically groups with Saccardoella rhizophorae in the Dothideomycetes, based on combined analysis of partial SSU, LSU rRNA and TEF1 gene sequences. The new fungus and S. rhizophorae form a well-supported clade with Acrospermum spp. in the Acrospermaceae. Both species therefore do not belong in Saccardoella, a genus with unitunicate asci. A new genus, Dyfrolomyces, is established to accommodate the new fungus (Dyfrolomyces tiomanensis) while the three marine Saccardoella species (S. mangrovei, S. marinospora, S. rhizophorae) are transferred to the new genus. Dyfrolomyces is characterized by forming a clypeus on substrates, with immersed perithecial ascomata, bitunicate/fissitunicate asci and multi-septate ascospores with/without a sheath. Since D. rhizophorae and D. tiomanensis do not cluster with any known families in the Dothideomycetes, a new family, Dyfrolomycetaceae, is introduced to accommodate the Dyfrolomyces species.</p

Diversity of higher marine fungi at Hat Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, Southern Thailand

Species occurrence and distribution of higher marine fungi at Hat Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, Nakhon SiThammarat Province, Southern Thailand was investigated. Four collections from four sites yielded 112 higher marine fungirepresenting 79 ascomycetes, 3 basidiomycetes, 30 anamorphic fungi, while others await further identification. Average percentageoccurrence of fungi recorded ranged from 0.05-11.3%. Species diversity, richness, and evenness were greatest atSite IV, Ao Tok, Koh Taen. The most frequently encountered taxa for all sites (>10%) were Corollospora maritima andLindra thallasiae. Lindra thallasiae and Swampomyces aegyptiacus were recorded for the first time in Thailand