The ApMat marker can resolve Colletotrichum species: a case study with Mangifera indica

Anthracnose disease caused by the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex is a major problem worldwide.In this study,we investigated the phylogenetic diversity of 207 Indian Colletotrichum isolates,associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic tissues of mango,belonging to this species complex.Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on a 6-gene dataset(act,cal,chs1,gapdh,ITS and tub2),followed by ApMat sequence-analysis.The ApMat-based phylogeny was found to be superior as it provided finer resolution in most of the species-level clades.Importantly,the ApMat marker identified seven lineages within C.siamense sensu lato,including C.jasmini-sambac,C.hymenocallidis,C.melanocaulon,C.siamense sensu stricto and three undesignated,potentially novel lineages.In this study,C.fragariae sensu stricto,C.fructicola,C.jasmini-sambac,C.melanocaulon and five undesignated,potentially novel lineages were found to be associated with mango tissues.There is a need to develop a consensus among mycologists as to which genes should be used to define and delimit a Colletotrichum species and in the mean time mycologists should voluntarily restrain from describing new species based on inadequate datasets.

The plant N-degron pathways of ubiquitinmediated proteolysis

The amino-terminal residue of a protein(or amino-terminus of a peptide following protease cleavage)can be an important determinant of its stability,through the Ubiquitin Proteasome System associated N-degron pathways.Plants contain a unique combination of N-degron pathways(previously called the N-end rule pathways)E3 ligases,PROTEOLYSIS(PRT)6 and PRT1,recognizing non-overlapping sets of amino-terminal residues,and others remain to be identified.Although only very few substrates of PRT1 or PRT6 have been identified,substrates of the oxygen and nitric oxide sensing branch of the PRT6 N-degron pathway include key nuclear-located transcription factors(ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR VIIs and LITTLE ZIPPER 2)and the histone-modifying Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 component VERNALIZATION 2.In response to reduced oxygen or nitric oxide levels(and other mechanisms that reduce pathway activity)these stabilized substrates regulate diverse aspects of growth and development,including response to flooding,salinity,vernalization(cold-induced flowering)and shoot apical meristem function.The N-degron pathways show great promise for use in the improvement of crop performance and for biotechnological applications.Upstream proteases,components of the different pathways and associated substrates still remain to be identified and characterized to fully appreciate how regulation of protein stability through the amino-terminal residue impacts plant biology.

Resolving the Colletotrichum siamense species complex using ApMat marker

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato has been associated with anthracnose in diverse commercial crops.It is now established that C.gloeosporioides sensu lato comprises 33 phylogenetic species and C.gloeosporioides sensu stricto is not a common pathogen of tropical fruits.In this study,we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of 85 Colletotrichum isolates associated with select tropical fruits and flowering plants from India.In the ApMat marker analysis,the 85 isolates clustered with 7 known Colletotrichum species(C.aotearoa,C.dianesei,C.endomangiferae,C.musae,C.siamense,C.theobromicola,Glomerella cingulata f.sp.camelliae)and six novel lineages.One of the novel lineages is described and illustrated in this paper as Colletotrichum communis sp.nov.,while new-host pathogen associations for C.aotearoa,C.endomangiferae,C.dianesei and C.theobromicola are reported from India.Out of the 85 isolates analysed in this paper,73 isolates clustered within the C.siamense species complex,indicating that C.siamense species complex,not C.gloeosporioides sensu stricto,is common on tropical fruits.In comparison with act,cal,gapdh,ITS and tub2 gene markers,we recommend the use of the ApMat marker for accurate identification of cryptic species within the C.siamense species complex.We believe that the ApMat marker,in combination with one or two similar‘phylogenetically superior’gene markers,is a better candidate for specieslevel classification of fungi that were traditionally identified as‘Colletotrichum gloeosporioides’.

The curative effect of fucoidan on visceral leishmaniasis is mediated by activation of MAP kinases through specific protein kinase C isoforms

Fucoidan can cure both antimony-sensitive and antimony-resistant visceral leishmaniasis through immune activation. However, the signaling events underlying this cellular response remain uncharacterized. The present study reveals that fucoidan induces activation of p38 and ERKI/2 and NF-κB DNA binding in both normal and Leishmania donovani.infected macrophages, as revealed by western blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay （EMSA）, respectively. Pharmacological inhibition of p38, ERKI/2 or the NF-κB pathway markedly attenuated fucoidan-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） gene transcription, resulting in a reduction of parasite clearance. To decipher the underlying mechanism of fucoidan-mediated parasite suppression, the expression and functionality of various protein kinase C （PKC） isoforms were evaluated by immunoblotting and enzyme activity assay. Fucoidan elicited an increase in expression and activity of PKC-α, -β1 and -βⅡ isoforms in infected macrophages. Functional knockdown of PKC-α and -β resulted in downregulation of p38 and ERKI/2, along with a marked reduction of IL-12 and TNF-α production in fucoidan-treated infected macrophages. Collectively, these results suggest that the curative effect of fucoidan is mediated by PKC-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）/NF-κB pathway, which ultimately results in the production of nitric oxide （NO） and disease-resolving pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Notes for genera:Ascomycota

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi,has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques,over the past 10–15 years,and continues to accelerate.Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic,and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended.New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera.The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011,has also caused changes in fungal generic names.In order to facilitate access to all important changes,it was desirable to compile these in a single document.The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota(approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016),including those which are lichen-forming.Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of‘Ainsworth&Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’in 2008 are provided.The notes include the number of accepted species,classification,type species(with location of the type material),culture availability,life-styles,distribution,and selected publications that have appeared since 2008.This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the"Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi"published in 2013,which will be developed into a list of protected generic names.This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists,and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi(NCF).The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis,Collophora(as Collophorina),Cryomyces,Dematiopleospora,Heterospora(as Heterosporicola),Lithophila,Palmomyces(as Palmaria)and Saxomyces are validated,as are two previously invalid family names,Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae.Four species of Lalaria,which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations.Catenomycopsis Tibell&Constant.is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain.,while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces.&De Not.(Art.59).